Impact of World War One on American Literature Essay -- Literature Ess

The Impact of World War One on American Literature As people mature, their beliefs evolve; as a child it is easy to be guided by adults, to believe in adults. As adults, people have their own beliefs. It is the period in the middle that is the hardest. As children begin to grow, they begin to push limits and question authority. The modernist period in American literature is comparable to those teenage years. In the early stages of American literature, America looked to her mother England for guidance. The very traditional literature that resulted had a strong emphasis on religion, family, and country. In early literature it was scandalous to question God; the family was only to be portrayed as a supportive, loving community; and dying for one's country was the ultimate act of bravery and honor. This glorification of war in early American literature and attitude created unrealistic expectations in Americans concerning war. When these same young Americans marched into World War I, they were struck by the true horror of war; the result was a backlash at the society that had deceived them. America has a long history of glorifying war. Many of America's early presidents were war heroes, a tradition that started with America's first president, George Washington, who was a soldier in the American Revolution. Being a war hero was sometimes all that was needed for a candidate to be successful in his bid for the presidency. Zachary Taylor, for instance, had never even voted in a national election prior to his becoming president, but he was a war hero (Tindall 513). This exalted view of war filtered into American literature. American literature portrays war as the true test of manhood. Any "real" man should be more than willing to d... ...orks Cited Eliot, T. S. The Waste Land. McQuade, et al. 2: 1382-1399. Faulkner, William. "Barn Burning." McQuade, et al. 2: 1137-1150. Howells, William Dean. "Editha." McQuade, et al. 2: 362-371. March, William. "The Fate of Honor, Courage, and Patriotism." Company K. McQuade, et al. 2: 931. McQuade, Donald, et al., eds. The Harper American Literature. 2nd ed. 2 Vols. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. Owen, Wilfred. "Dulce et Decorum Est." The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 5th ed. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1993. 763. Pound, Ezra. "Hugh Selwyn Maubery." McQuade, et al. 2: 1325-1329. Stevens, Wallace. "Sunday Morning." McQuade, et al. 2: 1273-1276. Tindall, George, and David Shi, eds. America: A Narrative History. 5th ed. New York: Norton, 2000.

The “High Court Ruling Only Tweaks Sarbanes-Oxley Act” Article

ARTICLE SYNOPSISThe â€Å"High Court Ruling Only Tweaks Sarbanes-Oxley Act† article is about the Supreme Court ruling in Free Enterprise Fund vs. PCAOB indicating that Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) will remain â€Å"fully operative as a law† with the exception to remove members of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Prior to the SOX Act, the removal of member was said to violate the appointments clause of the Constitution. In addition to discussing the ruling, the following will explain how the Sarbanes-Oxley act affects ethical decisions in today’s business and the criminal penalties that it provides.ETHICAL DECISIONThe process of making decisions consists of ethical attribute that include integrity, transparency, and accountability. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has the effect of ensuring investor confidence through the existence of regulatory provisions effective in enhancing ethical standards. In the case of Free Enterprise Fund v. PCAOB shows the extent to which the issue of separation of powers is upheld. The main argument in the case was the excess power granted to the board as it was appointed by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) other than the president.This means that the board had regulatory non-restricted power by the executive. According to the ruling, PCAOB has the power to continue overseeing public company audits with the intention of protecting investors interest (Jaeger, 2010). This is a major development as it relates to ensuring that proper measures supports the scope of executives ensuring that proper decisions are effective in protecting the interests of investors. The court’s ruling indicated that PCAOB board members will be removed from office by SEC at will other than for good cause (Jaeger, 2010).However, other programs of PCAOB remain unaffected by the decision of the court. It is important to note that the enactment of the SOX Act is a major development that has ensured integrity in decision-making proce ss essential in protecting the integrity of investors. As a result of maintaining proper books of accounts and ensuring proper internal controls are in place, the SOX Act ensures ethical decisions are made enhancing the integrity and transparency. Ultimately, the impact of the SOX Act is to protect the interest of investors through prevention of accounting frauds.CRIMINAL PENALTIES The SOXAct provides for various criminal penalties under certain sections. Section 802 of the SOX Act provides criminal penalties for influencing the United States agency investigation, which is also known as proper administration. The criminal penalty punishes any person who knowingly falsifies information or document with the intention of obstructing a particular investigation. An individual can be put in jail if found guilty of this criminal offense for a period not exceeding 20 years.Another criminal penalty under the SOX Act is retaliation against whistleblowers (Jaeger, 2010). This relates to any pe rson who takes harmful action against another person with the intention to retaliate. A fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years can be placed if a person is found guilty for this criminal offense. Section 906 of the SOX Act provides for criminal penalties for CEO or CFO financial statement certification. According to this section, any corporate officer who fails to certify financial reports is liable for a jail term not exceeding 20 years.

Biography of Sol LeWitt, Conceptual Artist

Biography of Sol LeWitt, Conceptual Artist Solomon Sol LeWitt (September 9, 1928–April 8, 2007) was an American artist regarded as a pioneer in both the Conceptual and Minimalist Art movements. LeWitt stated that ideas, not physical creations, are the substance of art. He developed instructions for wall drawings that are still being created to this day. Fast Facts: Sol LeWitt Occupation: ArtistArtistic Movements: Conceptual and Minimalist ArtBorn: September 9, 1928 in Hartford, ConnecticutDied: April 8, 2007 in New York City, New YorkEducation: Syracuse University, School of Visual ArtsSelected Works: Lines in Four Directions (1985), Wall Drawing #652 (1990), 9 Towers (2007)Notable Quote: The idea becomes the machine that makes the art. Early Life and Education Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Sol LeWitt grew up in a family of Russian Jewish immigrants. His father died when Sol was only six years old. With encouragement from his mother, he attended art classes at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut. LeWitt showed a talent for creating humorous drawings. Most children in LeWitts neighborhood took industrial jobs, but he pursued art to rebel against expectations. Although he wanted to skip college, Sol compromised with his mother and attended Syracuse University. While in college, he won a $1,000 award for his work creating lithographs. The grant helped fund a trip to Europe in 1949 where LeWitt studied the work of the Old Masters. Drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War in 1951, Sol LeWitt served in the Special Services and created posters among other duties. He visited many shrines and temples in both Korea and Japan. LeWitt returned to New York in 1953, set up his first art studio, and began working as a design intern at Seventeen magazine. He also attended classes at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. LeWitt joined I.M. Peis architectural firm in 1955 as a graphic designer. There he began developing his idea that art is a concept or a blueprint for creation, and not necessarily the finished work- meaning that the physical work could be executed by someone other than the artist. Sol Lewitt in New York (1969). Jack Robinson / Getty Images After taking an entry-level job as a clerk at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1960, Sol LeWitt had firsthand exposure to the landmark 1960 exhibit Sixteen Americans. Among the featured artists were Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Frank Stella. Structures Showing independence from the tradition of sculpture in the arts, LeWitt called his three-dimensional works Structures. Initially, he created closed wooden objects lacquered by hand. However, in the mid-1960s, he decided it was necessary to reveal the internal structure leaving only a skeletal form. In 1969, LeWitt began creating his structures on a large scale often constructed out of fabricated aluminum or steel. X with Columns (1996). Raymond Boyd / Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images In the 1980s, LeWitt began creating large public structures out of stacked cinder blocks. He started working with concrete in 1985 creating the cement Cube for a park in Basel, Switzerland. Beginning in 1990, he created multiple variations on a tower of concrete blocks for locations around the world. One of LeWitts final structures was the 2007 design for 9 Towers to be constructed in Sweden out of over 1,000 light-colored bricks. Wall Drawings In 1968, LeWitt began developing guidelines and diagrams for making works of art by drawing directly on the wall. At first, they used a graphite pencil, then crayon, colored pencil, and later India ink, acrylic paint, and other materials. Many of LeWitts wall drawings were executed by other people using his guidelines. LeWitt stated that the wall drawings are never the same, as everyone understands the instructions differently and draws lines uniquely. Even after his death, LeWitt wall drawings are still being produced. Many are created for exhibitions and destroyed once the exhibition is over. John Hogan creating a Sol Lewitt line drawing. Andy Kropa / Getty Images A characteristic example of LeWitts wall drawing instructions is as follows: Draw all combinations of two lines crossing, placed at random, using arcs from corners and sides, straight, not straight, and broken lines. This example comes from Wall Drawing #122, executed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After moving to Spoleto, Italy in the late 1970s, LeWitt began creating wall drawings with crayon and other brightly colored materials. He credited the change to his exposure to Italian frescoes. In 2005, LeWitt began developing a series of scribbled wall drawings. As with his other works, the instructions for creation are highly specific. The scribbles are done with six different densities that ultimately imply a three-dimensional work. Major Exhibitions New Yorks John Daniels gallery mounted Sol LeWitts first solo show in 1965. In 1966, he took part in the Primary Structures exhibition at the Jewish Museum of New York. It was a defining event for Minimalist Art. The Museum of Modern Art in New York launched a Sol LeWitt retrospective in 1978. Many art critics embraced LeWitt for the first time following the exhibition. The 1992 Sol LeWitt Drawings 1958-1992 exhibit began at Gemeentemuseum in The Hague Netherlands before traveling to museums around the world for the next three years. A major LeWitt retrospective by the San Francisco Musem of Modern Art in 2000 traveled to Chicago and New York. Sol Lewitt Line Drawing #84 (2011). Andy Kropa / Getty Images A massive exhibition titled Sol LeWitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective- a collaborative project of Yale University, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and Williams College- opened in 2008, a year after the artists death. It includes almost an acre of wall space devoted to more than 105 drawings created to LeWitts specifications. Sixty-five artists and students executed the works. Housed in a 27,000-square-foot historic mill building, the exhibition will remain open for viewing for 25 years. Legacy and Influence LeWitts methods of using lines, shapes, blocks, and other simple elements made him a key figure in Minimalist Art. However, his primary legacy is his vital role in the development of Conceptual Art. He believed that concepts and ideas are the substance of art, not the final piece that is created. He also insisted that art is not about anything in particular. These ideas distinguished LeWitt from the romantic and emotional work of the abstract expressionists. LeWitts 1967 essay Paragraphs on Conceptual Art, published in ArtForum, is a defining statement for the movement; in it, he wrote, The idea becomes the machine that makes the art. Source Cross, Susan, and Denise Markonish. Sol LeWitt: 100 Views. Yale University Press, 2009.

The Pros and Cons of Majoring in Journalism

The Pros and Cons of Majoring in Journalism So youre starting college (or going back after working awhile) and want to pursue a journalism career. Should you major in journalism? Take a few journalism courses and get a degree in something else? Or steer clear of j-school altogether? The Pros of Getting a Journalism Degree By majoring in journalism you get a solid foundation in the fundamental skills of the trade. You also get access to specialized, upper-level journalism courses. Want to be a sportswriter? A film critic? Many j-schools offer specialized classes in these areas. Most also offer training in the kind of multimedia skills that are increasingly in demand. Many also have internship programs for their students. Majoring in journalism also gives you access to mentors, namely the j-school faculty, who have worked in the profession and can offer valuable advice. And since many schools include faculty who are working journalists, youll have the chance to network with professionals in the field. The Cons of Getting a Journalism Degree Many in the news business will tell you that the basic skills of reporting, writing and interviewing are best learned not in a classroom, but by covering real stories for the college newspaper. Thats how many journalists learned their craft, and in fact, some of the biggest stars in the business never took a journalism course in their life. Also, journalists are increasingly being asked not just to be good reporters and writers, but to also have specialized knowledge in a particular field. So by getting a journalism degree, you may be  limiting your opportunity to do that, unless you plan on going to grad school. Lets say your dream is to become a foreign correspondent in France. Many would argue that youd be better served by studying French language and culture  while picking up the necessary journalism skills along the way. In fact, Tom, a friend of mine who became a Moscow correspondent for The Associated Press did just that: He majored in Russian studies in college, but put in plenty of time at the student paper, building up his skills and his clip portfolio. Other Options Of course, it doesnt have to be an all-or-nothing scenario. You could get a double major in journalism and something else. You could take just a few journalism courses. And theres always grad school. In the end, you should find a plan that works for you. If you want access to everything that a journalism school has to offer (mentors, internships, etc.) and want to take plenty of time to hone your journalism skills, then j-school is for you. But if you think you can learn how to report and write by jumping in headfirst, either by freelancing or working at the student paper, then you may be better served by learning your journalism skills on-the-job  and majoring in something else entirely. Whos More Employable? It all comes down to this: Whos more likely to get a journalism job after graduation, a journalism major or someone with a degree in another area? Generally, j-school grads may find it easier to land that first news job right out of college. Thats because the journalism degree gives employers a sense that the graduate has learned the fundamental skills of the profession. On the other hand, as journalists move forward in their careers and start to seek out more specialized and prestigious jobs, many find that a degree in an area outside of journalism gives them a leg up on the competition (like my friend Tom, who majored in Russian). Put another way, the longer youve been working in the news business, the less your college degree matters. What counts most at that point is your knowledge and job experience.

Training day essays

Training day essays Everyday there is a war being waged on America's inner city streetsa war between residents, drug dealers and the people sworn to protect one from the other. This war has its casualties, none greater than L.A.P.D. Detective Sergeant Alonzo Harris, a 13-year veteran narcotics officer whose questionable methodology blurs the line between legality and corruption. His optimism has long since been chipped away by his tour of duty in the streets, where fighting crime by the book can get you killed and getting the job done often requires Alonzo and his colleagues to break the laws they are empowered to enforce. This crime tale shadows Alonzo as he tests the resolve of wide-eyed, idealistic rookie Jake Hoyt, who has one day and one day only to prove himself to his fiercely charismatic superior. Over the next 24-hours, Jake will be pulled deeper and deeper into the ethical mire of Alonzo's logic as both men put their lives and careers on the line to serve their conflicting notions of justice It's obvious why perennial good-guy Denzel Washington was intrigued by the malevolent role of veteran L.A.P.D. Detective Sergeant Alonzo Harris, who heads an elite, undercover narcotics squad. He's a dedicated rogue cop who's glib that "you gotta have a little dirt on you for anyone to trust you." His "street justice" ethics and morality are outside the norm but he has his own ambiguous integrity. So when Jake Hoyt, an idealistic rookie, played by Ethan Hawke, wants to join his unit, Harris gives him 24 hours to prove himself saying, "You've got today and today only to show me what you're made of....You've got to decide if you're a sheep or a wolf." Their day begins with drugs and alcohol, part of "getting to know the streets," and includes extortion, execution, and a $4 million seizure, which quickly decreases to $3 million as the corrupt cops take their cut. "It's ugly but it's necessary," rationalizes Harris. "Play the game, grow wise and then you can...

Contemporary Retail Environments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Contemporary Retail Environments - Essay Example Shopping is no more a simple act based on the human need, exchange of the currency and the goods but much more. The perception of shopping and its experience differs as few people perceive it to be a part of entertainment, act of expression, path for happiness and stress therapy (Tuttle, 2010). The experience of the shopping is judged by the accomplishment of the individual perception in the retail environment. Shopping can be deciphered as a contradiction that yields both pleasures and anxieties among the people based on their experience. The concept of shopping experience has changed to a greater degree for the modern shoppers based on their psychology, lifestyle and requirements. Consequently, the shopping experience is the point at which the tension, promises of modernity and postmodernity are apparent. The experience of shopping can be evaluated by the people on the basis of the information gathered, product variety and wide range of products. The easy accessibility of the servi ces and goods through the use of online sources and mobiles has made the shopping experience convenient, economical and exciting (Falk & Campbell, 1997). Shopping experience can be a recreational aspect depending on the consumer behaviour and their considerations. Shopping experience is cherished by meeting the emotional value and affect behaviour of the individual. As illustrated by Levy, â€Å"People buy products not only for what they can do, but also for what they mean† (Hirschman, 1986). The objective of the essay is to emphasise the shopping behaviour and experience of the individuals in the retail environment. It evaluates the component, motivational factors, role of environment and the models to explain the shopping experience. Explanation of Shopping Experience The shopping process is initiated by the need recognition of the individuals. It the behaviour by which the unwanted needs of the individuals are realised and are being fulfilled in the retail shop. The needs of the people differ and so the choice of buying, some prefer design over brand, some look for uniqueness and some consider budget. It is observed that before buying a product customers tend to gather information by searching for the same products in various shops. This process of gathering information and taking advices are part of the holistic shopping experience. Information gathering through various sources to get the knowledge about the price of the product, availability and features influence the shopping decision of the individuals. Moreover, the evaluation of the alternatives is a part of shopping wherein the personal views and opinions along with advices from the friends influence the decision process of the individual. The huge displays of the products in the retail environments affect the process of evaluation of the individuals and make their shopping process easier or at times complex. Individuals tend to shop based on their need but at times due to the influence of ret ail environment they tend to buy products which are not desired by them before coming to the retail shop. The impulsive shopping makes the experience of shopping great as it signifies the fulfilment of the undesired

Aphra Behn Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Aphra Behn - Term Paper Example She stood up and demanded to be heard and accepted; she never looked back and always stood her ground. She is certainly not to be forgotten. This essay functions as a general retrospective of the life and writings of Aphra Behn. Section I considers her background and career as a writer, including her time spent working as a spy for England; section II is an in-depth analysis of one of Behn’s most renowned works, the novel Oroonoko; finally, section III considers the extent to which Aphra Behn should assume her rightful place among the Western literary canon, ultimately arguing for her inclusion. Aphra Behn, also known as Afra, Aphara, or Ayfara, was baptized at Waye, Kent, in 1640. Behn’s father was a barber named John Johnson. During the restoration period in which her father was raised record keeping wasn’t as well structured as contemporary standards; as a result, Behn’s father’s status is not entirely known and parts of Behn’s early childhood are shrouded in history. As a result, historians turn to her works for insight into these early childhood years. During these years she went to Surinam, and then in 1658 she returned to England. Behn’s time in Surinam was a pivotal development period in her life, as it was during this period that she acquired significant historical knowledge of the area, as well as personal knowledge of the African prince Oroonoko. Later in life this experience would be explored in her seminal novel Oroonoko (Hobby 1990). After returning to England from Surinam she married a London merchant with a Dutch extraction. Her intelligence and extraordinary wit made her a favorite at the royal court. After her husband’s death Charles II appointed her to a position as a spy within Netherlands for the Dutch war. She proved to be an effective spy for England; her code name was â€Å"Astrea†, and she was also known as Agent one hundred