Wednesday, January 29, 2020

What do you find irritating about a certain media text Essay Example for Free

What do you find irritating about a certain media text Essay A media text that I find quite irritating is the reality television programme Big Brother. This programme has become something of a phenomenon since it began in the Netherlands in 1999, spreading throughout various countries normally a series or two each year. The show is based around a number of contestants who are isolated from the outside world in a Big Brother House one by one being eliminated until there is an ultimate winner. The show relies on its vast audience to vote for whom they would like to be eliminated from the house each week. It is this huge response that the producers receive each year that keeps the show running, however over the years, this huge following has resulted in each contestant only applying for the show because of the quick rise to fame that follows after the show ends, and according to the Learning and Skills Council; one in seven UK teenagers hope to gain fame by appearing on reality television. The media have also become obsessed with the programme, and it is not unusual to see these contestants on the front pages of magazines, revealing shocking stories of their past. The fascination and ultimate obsession that the public has with these ordinary contestants has caused many unnecessary disagreements both on and off the show, which have dominated newspaper headlines when there may be something of greater importance to account. The idea of Big Brother did originate from Dutchman John De Mol, however the shows name comes from George Orwells novel Nineteen-Eighty-Four, in which there is a character named Big Brother who oversees all of dystopian Oceania. The contestants that are sent into the house are often chosen from a sociological perspective, where tension can arise quite easily between people, i. e. placing a loud extroverted person with quite a withdrawn individual in the same room would cause a lot of arguments due to clash of personality. These clashes of personality have cause many incidents over each series of the show, often escalating each year. One example of this would be the fifth series of Celebrity Big Brother (a spin off show of Big Brother containing contestants of a small celebrity status) which took place in January 2007, where a row sparked by racial comments towards Asian contestant Shilpa Shetty was heard around the world. Channel 4 stated that they received a record number of complaints citing racial bullying, and blamed producers for not intervening with the situation. The current prime minister Gordon Brown was hounded by the media to give his views on the incident, which one may find incredibly absurd, as it seems we live in a world where a television programme has more priority than important political affairs. The reaction in Shettys native country, India, was also incredibly shocking as citizens took to the streets of India and burned effigies of the shows organisers. After this huge and rather outrageous reaction, many protested that Big Brother should be axed from Channel 4 and a new series should not return, however this is not happen and Big Brother returned in the summer for an eighth series. The continuation of the show has much relevance to the key concepts, involving the institutions that produce shows such as Big Brother and the audiences that consume them. The reaction that the media and audiences gave to the producers on the racial bullying that appeared on Big Brother may not have been incredibly positive, however it still caused an enormous controversial uproar in the media world, which acted as good publicity for the Big Brother brand. This is proven with the rating figures that followed with Big Brother 8 which were some of the highest the show had ever received, and there is a simple reason for this audiences are addicted to the taboo effect that the show can bring into the household, along with an incredible fascination with watching and analysing ordinary people in an extraordinary environment. What is normally kept behind closed doors in everyday life is available for all to see on national television, and audiences take full advantage of the fact that it is possible to peek into anothers personal space. The media (magazines, newspapers etc. ) observe this fascination and fuel it with articles that ridicule certain contestants to pass them up to the public for furthermore analysing and examination. However, the scrutiny of certain individuals on the show does not seem fair in my opinion, but the show has become so widespread it is now a known fact that any person that enters the house is aware that the media will ridicule their lifestyle. Screenwriter Sheryl Longin stated the difference to the brain between watching reality television and scripted drama is like the difference to our vision between High Definition television and 1970s quality video. In my opinion this is incredibly unfortunate as television is being dominated by these reality television shows due to our obsession with.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Graduation Speech: Always Look On The Bright Side of Life :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

I have been chosen today to come before you and give some words of encouragement to the graduating class because I am seen as an example of one who has succeeded in school. And yet, I am by no means the only person in our class who has succeeded. Woody Allen once said, â€Å"Success is 80 percent showing up† and since all of you have shown up here today and at school for the last 12 years, you all are most of the way there. So what makes up the remaining 20 percent? Not getting all As on your tests, or going to state or winning first prize in a contest. It is merely trying. If you try your best, you have already succeeded, regardless of where you end up. The world is a fickle place and too often the most deserving, hardest-working people are passed over in favor of the ones who obtain the best-looking accomplishments. Thus, one’s measure of success should be based not on how well you do by society’s standards, but on how hard you worked and how much you got out o f it. As Tennyson once said, â€Å"How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use!† But rather, we should be, as he said, like the â€Å"spirit yearning in desire To follow knowledge like a sinking star, Beyond the utmost bound of human thought ... To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.† Just because we are graduating today does not mean we now know everything; rather, it is just the opposite. As we go out into the world we will continue to grow, to learn, to mature. Indeed, this is perhaps one of the greatest qualities of mankind, that we can develop our minds to better understand. It is a rare and important gift that should not be abused through neglect or halfhearted attention. Never stop trying and never stop learning because the moment you do, you begin to die. Once you leave here tonight, you will no longer be seniors. You will be adults, set adrift with the entire world at your disposal. It will be up to you, and you alone, to decide your futures. Today more than ever, as we stand at the dawn of the new millennium, you have the opportunity to become something great, to achieve wondrous deeds.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Connecting Superstition From Macbeth to Modern Day Society Essay

Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, it is one of his more dark and sinister pieces. Even so, the multiple themes that Shakespeare incorporated into his play can be found in modern day society. Superstition, one of his many themes, is present even in the twenty-first century. Many people now believe in UFO’s (unidentified flying objects) coming to overrun our planet, the illuminati a group of influential and powerful people trying to take over the United Nations and unesco, along with old wives tales of superstition. Many different people have sited UFO’s all around the world. Some even claim to have been abducted, like Clayton and Donna Lee. They are a married couple living in Houston, Texas, they say that they have been abducted more than once, including an incident where Donna was pregnant and her baby was taken from her. Not only are UFO’s abducting people but they are also leaving signs in cornfields. A man living in the United Kingdom claims that aliens came over night and left a crop circle in his field, that isn’t all. The following day he caught a glimpse of an alien. No one knows what is to come but the people who have witnessed UFO’s and aliens first hand suspect they are planning to take over the Earth. Furthermore the illuminati want a new world order, where there is one government. There are famous people that are known to have joined the illuminati like late Michael Jackson, Beyoncà © and Lady Gaga. Before Michael’s death he started to reveal information on the illuminati because he was trying to free himself from their grasp, but by defying his contract he was murdered. You can tell which famous star is apart of the group quite easily. Their music videos would contain symbols of a triangle with an eye in the middle, like most of Lady Gaga’s videos. Or even by playing some of Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s music backwards, you can hear her saying bow down to the devil. To achieve their goal they have pawns that made a deal with the devil in return gained power and wealth. They make their move in the shadows, so they are unnoticed and a step closer to the civilization they want. Along with those two superstitious concepts are old wives tales. Few families have reported about â€Å"death knocks†, the family would here three loud knocks, and no one would be at the door. A few days later or even the next day someone in their family will be dead. Many people today believe in signs of what is to come like bad luck if they break a mirror or open an umbrella indoors. In conclusion all of these stories and events are relevant to Macbeth, to prove that a lot of modern day society is still relatable to old English literature.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

The For The Advancement Of Human Reproduction Essay

Many different techniques are available to be used for the advancement of human reproduction. I have identified two of the best available manipulations that can be used and through this presentation I will be giving an overview of both of them. I will also be outlining two techniques that can be used for each manipulation and the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques. There will then be a comparison and contrast of the two manipulations in terms of the health and survival of the individuals who will be a product of these manipulations as well as how evolution of humans will be affected through the manipulations. The two manipulations are: 1. Whole Organism Cloning using Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, (SCNT.) 2. Embryo selection using Pre-implantation Genetic Profiling, (PGP.) SCNT Cloning by definition is the process of producing genetically identical individuals this can occur through many different artificial methods. However naturally it does occur during the formation of twins within humans and other animals as well as through budding and Binary Fission within plants. The manipulation of whole organism cloning I believe would be most beneficial within the advancement of human reproduction is Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, (SCNT.) SCNT is a lab technique that involves creating an ovum with a donor nucleus. There are 3 main steps that occur in the process of SCNT. Steps: 1. A somatic cell from the organism which is to be cloned is taken from the body. TheShow MoreRelatedThe Use Of Genetics And Reproduction Essay1052 Words   |  5 PagesThe use of genetics and reproduction sciences has been an ongoing debate for years. Some argue that the use of genetics and reproduction sciences are unjust, unethical and inhumane. The other side of the debate argues that the use of such sciences is a â€Å"life saver†, that it will improve medical advancements, health, and society. Genetics and reproduction sciences are used for informing individuals about possible outcomes, abnormalities, and genes of current and future pregnancies. Genetic testingRead MoreReaction Of Walter Benjamin And The Film Shadow Magic 915 Words   |  4 Pagesgeneralize by saying: the technique of reproduction detaches the reproduced object from the domain of tradition. By making many reproductions it substitutes a plurality of copies for a unique existence. And in permitting the reproduction to meet the beholder or listener in his own particular situation, it reactivates the object reproduced.† - Walter Benjamin, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (1936) Benjamin is saying that reproductions reduce the integrity of the art becauseRead MoreCell Research : Stem Cell Therapy1095 Words   |  5 Pagesstem cell research, but I remember when it first stood out to me was when quarterback Peyton Manning went over to Europe to get stem cell therapy done on his neck to prevent him from getting surgery done. Stem cells offer much hope for medical advancement because of their ability to grow into almost any kind of cell. Stem cells are crucial to develop organisms. They are non-specialized cells which have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early lifeRead MoreThe Field Of Reproductive Technology1484 Words   |  6 Pagestechnology. Advancements in this field has expanded family options significantly with the advent of reproductive technologies such as in vetro fertilization, embryo transplant, and varying genetic testing and screening (Finsterbusch, 2008). However, what drives humanity to want to modify humankind? Should there be limits placed on these modifications? And, how far should we really go? According to the President’s Council on Bioethics, the completion of the DNA sequencing phase of the Human Genome ProjectRead MoreObserving the Similarities and Differences between Handmaids Tale and Gattaca1127 Words   |  4 PagesDystopian fiction has dominated human imagination for centuries and themes of futuristic societies oppressed by bureaucratic and technological control have become consistent throughout various novels, films and television shows. The absence and mistreatment of humanity due to factors such as war, famine and poverty criticize current global issues while also foreshadowing the consequences of those issues if left unresolved. Both Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and the movie GattacaRead MoreThe Great Depression Of The Brave New World934 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the Brave New World there were many interesting things that occurred, but would not be acceptable within today s society. As human have become more civilized the evolution of eugenics, economies, and politics recently occurring events could lead one to believe that humans will eventually have a society like the one in Brave New World . The first example is how every country s economy is in some type of national debt. If major economy were to collapses it will cause a rippleRead MoreArtificial Wombs Will Spawn New Freedoms Essay1148 Words   |  5 PagesIn this article Olson and Pellisier discuss how artificial wombs will change human reproduction. The authors believe that over time the concept of an egg, an artificial womb, will be used for human reproduction, rather than incubation of fetus within a woman’s body. This process is called ectogenesis, which is â€Å"the development of artificial wombs that can sustain fetuses to term without the need for womens bodies.† (Smajdor, 2007) This article discusses the concept of an artificial womb, the healthRead MoreTechnology And Science Have Changed The Way Society Views981 Words   |  4 PagesReproductive technology, bio-medical technology, and even simple household appliances have changed how people live, think, and interact. According to Science Daily, scientists are researching another technological advancement to look forward to in the future, human genome editing. Human genome editing is a form of genome therapy. Genome Therapy refers to the removal of faulty genes or adding new genes to cure or prevent disease (Placeholder1). This news article, found on multiple sites like ScienceRead MoreTo survive in the wild, plants must form defenses to protect themselves from herbivory. The main800 Words   |  4 Pagesdefenses or other means. A common defense of animals is poison. This poison either builds in the body of the animal or they can accumulate it through nature. Creatures such as frogs secrete poison through their skin and can kill creatures as great as humans. Snakes too have poison, but they distribute it to their predators and prey through lethal or crippling bites. Also, animals make sounds that deter predators by frightening or displeasing them. Finally, they have physical defenses such as thorns andRead MoreHuman Reproductive Cloning Is Immoral And Unnatural1570 Words   |  7 Pages Amber Cady Human Reproductive Cloning is Immoral and Unnatural Westmoreland County Community College Introduction In some ways, the never-ending scientific possibilities of our time have continued to exceed our expectations. Within the 20th century there has been new medical research on stem cell research, and we have successfully completed organ transplants—more recently face and skin transplants. Without progressions like this from science, many would not be alive today. But when does