The Character of Tom Joad free essay sample

The Character of Tom Joad In the novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck delves deep into each character thoroughly. Throughout the book, Steinbeck uses intricate descriptions in order to depict the development and subtleties of each character. Each character has a unique personality that essentially develops into new qualities and attributes. Such development is seen in many characters throughout the book, including Rose of Sharon. She is seen as immature at the start of the book, but by the end, she quickly learns to take the world into account and grows to become less selfish. This is only one of the substantial growths in character can be seen in the characters of this novel. One of the many characters in this novel that greatly portrays this character development is Tom Joad. Tom Joad, as a character, changes severely throughout the book from the selfish person he was, to a figure committed to bettering the future, as well as an improved leader for the family. We will write a custom essay sample on The Character of Tom Joad or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Several examples of Tom’s changes can be seen throughout the book, as a result from his experiences with Jim Casy, as well as conversations he has with his mother. Tom Joad shows that he is a selfish person at the very beginning of the book. At the beginning of the novel, Tom is introduced as a former fugitive now on parole. At most, the reader may think that he is the antagonist of the book because of the fact that he had killed a man. Tom is introduced as selfish from the very moment he is described. â€Å"‘I’d do what I done-again,† said Joad. â€Å"I killed a guy in a fight. We was drunk at a dance. He got a knife in me, an’ I killed him with a shovel that was layin’ there,†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (25). Tom Joad was not reluctant at all when he was telling his story of how he got into prison. The fact that he does not care that he killed a man, and even offered to do it again shows that he is a selfish person. He did not care for another mans life, and did not bother to look for an alternate solution to the situation he was in. He only cared about himself when it came to killing, and showed no mercy. If given the decision to take back what he had done, Tom Joad would have kept things the way they were, proving his egotism. As the novel progresses, Tom transforms from this selfish nature to become a caring person. Several examples of this transformation are seen throughout various chapters. When the Joads are traveling west to California with the Wilson’s, Tom offers to help them when their car breaks down. â€Å"Tom said nervously, ‘Look Al. I done my time, an’ now it’s done†¦ Let’s jus’ try an’ get a con-rod an’ the hell with the res’ of it. ’† Tom is showing a little more care for other people’s problems, however, he still has a selfish side because he still does not regret killing a man. He knew he had to pay for it by going to prison, but he still believes he did nothing wrong by taking a man’s life. By offering to help out with the Wilson’s’ car, he is on his way to becoming a less selfish person. As the book draws to a close, Tom stumbles upon Jim Casy again, who is murdered in front of his own eyes. As a result, he is thrown into a silent rage and kills another man which causes him to hide in the forest. He realizes that he is a danger to his family, so he sacrifices his safety in order for his family to be safe. ‘â€Å"Ya can’t do that, Ma. I tell you I’m jus’ a danger to ya,†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (391). There is a clear transition from Tom acting selfish at the beginning of the book to him acting completely selfless at the end. This selflessness also contributed to him being a figure committed to bettering the future. As Tom Joad becomes more selfless, this particular quality helps him to become a person who has the future in mind. The main ideals that influence him are the philosophies of Jim Casy as the Joad family is traveling west to California. Tom is first exposed to Jim Casy’s principles in the very beginning of their journey to California. Casy says to Tom, ‘â€Å"I figgered, ‘Why do we got to hang it on God or Jesus? Maybe,’ I figgered, ‘maybe it’s all men an’ all women we love; maybe that’s the Holy Sperit-the human sperit-the whole shebang,’† (24). Tom begins to believe in Casy’s beliefs as he tells him of his ideals and as they spend time together. Tom begins to follow Casy and his belief of â€Å"the human sperit,† and that it could be humans that we need to spend time on; not God or Jesus. This idea gradually begins to dwell on Tom, and it results in him becoming less selfish over time. He begins to be more helpful towards his family and towards others in general, and becomes valuable to the family. The ideals Casy invoked in Tom clearly made him committed towards the future by the end of the book. As Tom was hiding in the woods, he told Ma his thoughts that were inspired by Jim Casy. â€Å"Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’-I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry an’ the y know supper’s ready. An’ when our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in the houses they build-why, I’ll be there,†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (419). Jim Casy’s death allowed Tom to realize that he wanted to help the world using what he had learned from Casy’s ideals. After all of Casy’s advice, Tom had finally changed his view of the world. He realized he had a purpose in life, and he wanted to use it to protect humanity. Tom rambled onto Ma about how he wanted to help whoever was in need and to make the world a better place. This is far from what he aspired to do at the beginning of the book. As the novel progresses, Tom’s character develops from wanting to live a normal life to wanting to live the life of a person who wants to better the world. As Tom gains this new view of the world, he begins to become a leader for the Joad family. The Joad family comes across many hardships as they make their way across the United States to California. Life changing experiences were brought upon the family members, including the death of loved ones, such as Grandpa and Grandma. Pa was beginning to lose his authority as the figure to look up to, and began to look weak. Ma was doing the best she could to help the family, as she was main person who interacted with everyone, as well as made food for the family. As the Joads made their way across the states, a father figure had to spring up in order to keep the family together. Al was not yet mature enough, as he was only seventeen, and expressed constantly that he only cared about himself. We can see this attitude when he talks about leaving the family when they get to California, as well as when he gets married to a person he knows for only a few weeks. With the older and younger figures out of the loop, Tom was the likely candidate to be the new leader of the Joad family. Tom was practically forced to become the leader to guide his family, as no one else either volunteered or was capable of taking the job. When the Joad family arrives at the Weedpatch government camp, the first thing Tom does after they settle down is look for work. â€Å"Don’t you wake nobody up, but when they get up, you tell ‘em I got a chancet at a job, an’ I’m a-goin’ for it. Tell Ma I et breakfas’ with some neighbors. You hear that? †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (292). Tom acts like a leader by trying to find work and providing for his family in any way possible. This leadership role had built up his character because he had to step up into a new and unfamiliar role, making him a stronger person. Tom Joad has developed greatly throughout the novel The Grapes of Wrath. There was an immense change in the character of Tom from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. He transformed from the selfish person he was to a caring, selfless person. Including this increase in character, Tom also committed to bettering the future through adopting Casy’s teachings. Jim Casy’s principles were the driving force for all of his character development. The commitment to better the future allowed Casy to become a selfless person. By bettering the future, one has to care for others, so by using Casy’s teachings, he was able to further develop into a better person. In addition, Tom has to adopt a role as the leader for the Joad family. By doing this, he is putting himself into a new situation which only strengthens his character and tests his ability to keep the family together. Casy’s teachings also apply to Tom’s becoming a leader. Due to the role of Tom becoming a person who wants to better the future, one of the roles in which he could promote this ideal is by being a leader. By leading the people he is close to, he would be able to become someone who can lead other groups of people in order to help better the future. Tom grows into a whole new person by the end of this book, and learns many new things from the people around him.

Free Essays on Rene

Renà © Ce passage du rà ©cit decrit les pensà ©es de Renà © avant son suicide protejà ©. Ceci nous donne un dessein de l’à ©tat de son à ¢me ce moment. C’est important parce que plusieurs thà ¨mes du rà ©cit sont reprà ©sentà ©s, à ©galement c’est le pinacle avant le retournement du rà ©cit quand mele sauve Renà © de sa solitude. Le thà ¨me le plus important du rà ©cit est le rà ´le de la religion. Ceci est à ©vident par le titre du roman La Gà ©nie du Christianisme. Dans ce passage, il s’inquià ¨te beaucoup de Dieu – â€Å"mon coeur aimait Dieu, et mon esprit le mà ©connaissait†. D’abord il est allà © un prà ªtre pour à ªtre pardonnà © avant son suicide. La premià ¨re raison il s’est jettà © dans la solitude est de n’à ªtre pas dans les masses des hommes dont il a trouvà © tellement impieuses – â€Å"tout à ©tait subtiment la souplesse de l’esprit, l’impià ©tà ©, la corruption.† (p.552, l.5-6) Il y ont les points principals faisant sur la rà ©ligion. Tout d’abord, pourquoi est-ce qu’on s’inquià ¨te tellement sur les morales? Pourquoi est-ce qu’on doit affrontà © ce problà ¨me fondamental? Renà © nous dit ceci est grà ¢ce de la religion, du christianisme. Il (le christianisme) nous d onne les rà ©gles de la vie, il nous affronte avec ce malheur premier. Il nous dit que la vie est vide, est le vrai bonheur est avec Dieu au ciel – â€Å"la religion nous offr! e...des chagrins de la terre et des joies celestes† (p.541- dans l’introduction). melie l’atteste aussi dans dans sa deuxià ¨me lettre, qu’elle trouve le bonheur seuelement en à ©tant dans la vie sainte – â€Å"je songe au bonheur que j’ai eu trouver un abri contre la temepà ªte† (p.556, l.20-21). Renà © aperà §evoit que les Natchez, qui sont sans le christianisme, sont les â€Å"Heureux Sauvages† qui laissent â€Å"couler les jours sans les compter.† (p.550, l.25-27). Heureusement, puisque la religion nous a donnà © ce problà ¨me, elle nous donne aussi une solution. ... Free Essays on Rene Free Essays on Rene Renà © Ce passage du rà ©cit decrit les pensà ©es de Renà © avant son suicide protejà ©. Ceci nous donne un dessein de l’à ©tat de son à ¢me ce moment. C’est important parce que plusieurs thà ¨mes du rà ©cit sont reprà ©sentà ©s, à ©galement c’est le pinacle avant le retournement du rà ©cit quand mele sauve Renà © de sa solitude. Le thà ¨me le plus important du rà ©cit est le rà ´le de la religion. Ceci est à ©vident par le titre du roman La Gà ©nie du Christianisme. Dans ce passage, il s’inquià ¨te beaucoup de Dieu – â€Å"mon coeur aimait Dieu, et mon esprit le mà ©connaissait†. D’abord il est allà © un prà ªtre pour à ªtre pardonnà © avant son suicide. La premià ¨re raison il s’est jettà © dans la solitude est de n’à ªtre pas dans les masses des hommes dont il a trouvà © tellement impieuses – â€Å"tout à ©tait subtiment la souplesse de l’esprit, l’impià ©tà ©, la corruption.† (p.552, l.5-6) Il y ont les points principals faisant sur la rà ©ligion. Tout d’abord, pourquoi est-ce qu’on s’inquià ¨te tellement sur les morales? Pourquoi est-ce qu’on doit affrontà © ce problà ¨me fondamental? Renà © nous dit ceci est grà ¢ce de la religion, du christianisme. Il (le christianisme) nous d onne les rà ©gles de la vie, il nous affronte avec ce malheur premier. Il nous dit que la vie est vide, est le vrai bonheur est avec Dieu au ciel – â€Å"la religion nous offr! e...des chagrins de la terre et des joies celestes† (p.541- dans l’introduction). melie l’atteste aussi dans dans sa deuxià ¨me lettre, qu’elle trouve le bonheur seuelement en à ©tant dans la vie sainte – â€Å"je songe au bonheur que j’ai eu trouver un abri contre la temepà ªte† (p.556, l.20-21). Renà © aperà §evoit que les Natchez, qui sont sans le christianisme, sont les â€Å"Heureux Sauvages† qui laissent â€Å"couler les jours sans les compter.† (p.550, l.25-27). Heureusement, puisque la religion nous a donnà © ce problà ¨me, elle nous donne aussi une solution. ...

Sexual offence Investigation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sexual offence Investigation - Assignment Example The overview of laws will be provided and their efficiency will be evaluated. According to the statistics, 20-40% of girls and 1 out of 6 boys become victims of undesirable sexual contacts until they become 18. The so-called â€Å"rule of silence† around the theme of sexual offence allows to assume that such cases happen much more often. Sexual violence takes place when a personality, a child or an adult, is used by an older or stronger individual for the satisfaction of his own sexual desires. There are many kinds of violence: verbal, visual and physical contact without victim’s consent. In order to understand the nature and the consequences of sexual aggression in relation to children, it is essential to realize that the offence happens in the context of relations with a adult, who was supposed to defend a child and take care of it. In the majority of cases the offence is committed by an adult who has an easy access to child and has a certain power over it. Usually it is a relative or a friend of a family. In 12% of cases, which become known, a child is offended by a person, who was unknown to a child. The majority of offenders are men and they are usually much older than their victims. A great number of researches held in the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany proved that the growth of sexual crimes is connected with the development of pornographic industry. In 2003 the Sexual Offences Act was issued in Great Britain. According to this Act, any sexual contact with a person under 12 years is considered to be a sexual offence and the only possible punishment for that is imprisonment for life. However, the hard punishment for sexual offenders is only half the work. It is important to exercise control over the released criminal, whose crime is connected with sexual offence. Thus, the Violent and Sex Offender Register (ViSOR) was introduced in 2003 under the Sexual Offences Act

Pros and Cons about Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pros and Cons about Abortion - Essay Example Undergoing abortion is a very difficult step to take for any woman and it takes a lot of guts to take the decision. This paper will throw light upon why women choose to abort. Abortion according to many is a very big sin, killing the unborn is an unmerciful act. The irresponsible people in the society, without thinking about the circumstances put themselves in a situation which is extremely undesirable. Everyone must act and behave responsibly to avoid a situation which is undesirable and abortion is without a doubt an undesirable situation for any human being to be in. The biggest con of abortion is that it an unmerciful act, the unborn infant does not deserve to die; there is no mistake of the infant for which the infant should be punished. "Half the percentage of women obtaining abortions is below 25." (Pros and Cons of Abortion, 6 December 2008). This is the age when the people are sexually active and it is highly immoral to involve yourself in a relation without accepting the responsibility which the relation brings with it and opting for abortion is refusing to accept the responsibility. No society appreciates women opting for abortion because it is an immoral act and the same is its biggest con "Some women use abortion as a type of birth control. They sleep with men and do not use protection and think nothing of it to go to the clinic as many as five times in their life to have an abortion. A con against abortion is the nagging thought that a woman went to a clinic, had an abortion, and thus the world was prevented from seeing the birth of the only person capable of attaining a leadership role and initiating a peace accord between warring factions in the Middle East, thus preventing decades of strife and murder. A stable home life is not a guarantee of talent, and illegitimate children have shown themselves to be very bright on occasion, Lawrence of Arabia for one." (Pros and Cons of Abortion, 10 May 2009) Abortion is a very big risk to the health of the woman who opts to undergo abortion. Miscarriages are one of the biggest risks involved when a woman opts for abortion; the biggest risk is to the life of the woman who opts for abortion. There is a high possibility of a woman losing her life when she opts to undergo abortion. Considering the same it is highly insensible to put an individual in a situation where abortion is the only solution. "Every year nearly 42 million women decide to have an abortion and about 20 million of them are forced to resort to unsafe abortion, 98% of which are in developing countries. Unsafe abortion was the cause of 66,500 deaths in 2003, representing 13% of all maternal deaths worldwide. Incidence of unsafe abortion is highest in South America and Eastern Africa whereas mortality rates due to unsafe abortion are much higher in Africa than anywhere else in the world." (Unsafe Abortion, 10 May 2009). An Insight Abortion can have a positive as well as a negative impact on the health of a woman. Women suffering from serious health problems like heart disease, kidney disease etc, have a positive impact of abortion on their health. The body has to be well prepared for childbirth, diseases weakens the body and opting for an abortion many a time helps women in avoiding further health complications. In societies where women are considered child bearing machines, opting for abortion gives them their own identity and the right to choose the fate of their unborn baby. Many women use abortion as a contraceptive, this is both good as well as bad. Good because it keeps a check on the size of the family and limits the expansion of the family, bad because it has

Otaku Positive Effect On The Japanese Culture Media Essay

Otaku Positive Effect On The Japanese Culture Media Essay I believe otaku are a new breed born in the 20th century visual culture era. In other words, otaku are people with a viewpoint based on an extremely evolved sensitivity toward images. Toshio Okada, Introduction to Otakuology Otaku is one of Japanese popular cultures. The term otaku is used in the Japanese environment to refer to someone who is an extremely obsessive fan of something. It is a person that is devoted to something anime, manga, movies, music, computer gadgets, computer games, and other fields of interest. Literally, it means your home or you in formal terms. However, these meanings are from my point of view not an otaku, nor an otaku expert what is otaku really all about? In this research paper, many aspects of otaku will be discussed: Its history as well as the effect of otaku on the Japanese culture, economy and even around the world. Most importantly, the paper is also going to discuss the negative connotation of this term which was rampant in Japan in the late 80s. Even though negative image of the otaku still exist in the Japanese society today, the otaku has many positive effects in the Japanese culture, the economy and the promotion of Japanese art and culture around the world. History of the Otaku The Otaku is very rampant today in international countries like US and Taiwan. It is a term that has many different meanings, interpretations, positive and negative connotations for every society. In the The Origins of Otaku, it was discussed that many accounts have been vaguely consistent with how the term otaku was associated with anime and manga fans. Also, it was reported that Journalist Akio Nakamori was the first person to publicly write about otaku as related to strange and obsessive fans. Nakamori said that these fans called each other otaku which he believes to be an extremely formal way of saying you (Eng). William Gibson calls otaku passionate obsessive(s). Volker Grassmuck describes them as information fetishists. Lawrence Eng defined it to be Self-defined cyborgs. All of the definitions fall down to the term obssession. Many authors tried to define Otaku more specifically. Here are some of the definitions, Rebecca Scudder reported that there are different otaku subcultures, ranging from people devoting themselves to anime, manga, computer games, movies, radio, and other fields of interest(1). The culture has however continued to spread wide within the country and even internationally. Also, she said that in the US, otaku means the popular subculture that is devoted to anime and manga (1). Lawrence Eng noted that there are some Otaku, who use the term as a reference to themselves or their friends in a humorous manner. This group makes effort to reclaim the term from negative association. Most Japanese would be reluctant to be referred to by this term especially in serious circumstances (Scudder, 2). Karl Taro Greenfield stated that for an otaku, information is the fuel that drives their worshipped dissemination systems. Furthermore, for an otaku, the only thing that matters is the accuracy of the ans wer and not its relevance. He said that no tiny little piece is trivial for them. Also, the object is not important for them, but the information is the heart of the matter. These are some of the definitions of Otaku as from a researchers point of view. However, there are also some views that define it in a larger point of view such as that of the society. Otakus negative image in the Japanese society The Otaku exists as a negative element of the Japanese society, which is an unreasonable and unfair judgement to give them. Otaku was an underground market in the beginning. No one wanted to be associated with the otaku. In Japan, the otaku was treated with intense negativity. For years, it was associated with depressing and downbeat colors. Lawrence Eng suggested that this was due to the growing anxiety of the Japanese adult society which thinks that the present young generation is growing more individualistic and isolated. Furthermore, that the young generation is not willing to fulfill mainstream duties and responsibilities for the country such as studying and working or finding a job(Eng). Also, the otaku has been associated with the alienation and isolation of the youth (Stenberg, 191). Media has also played a big role in building otakus negative image. According to Rebecca Scudder who reported that in 1983, Japanese media portrayed otaku with varying degrees of mockery. Otaku was labeled as antisocial, overweight, and unpopular the typical description of nerds and geeks in the US. Otaku was stereotyped as the persons who lived with a huge collection of their mania, unwilling to leave the house or get a job (2). With all the negativity of otaku building during the eighties, one incident really highlighted the negative image of otaku. In 1989, a psychopath named Tsutomu Miyazaki kidnapped, assaulted and murdered 4 little children (Scudder, 2). Police labeled him as otaku because they found a huge collection of anime and manga in his apartment (Eng). Some of the manga were pornographic which added fuel in the fire. Rebecca Scudder stated that Miyazaki was popularized by the media as an otaku murderer (2). This was the start of the otaku panic, as stated by Kinsella, that led to the association of the otaku to sociopaths like Miyazaki (qtd. by Lawrence Eng). The media accounted this deviant behavior on anime and manga, which led to the revulsion and panic (Eng). Since this incident, the otaku hit the mainstream with mostly derogatory remarks with strong hints of fear and loathing (Eng). Takashi Murakami, a self-confessed otaku and famous otaku/pop artist, acknowledged that the otaku culture is discriminated in against in Japan. This negative connotation has been generalized to all the otaku. Takashi Murakami said in an interview that when the police revealed Miyazakis room, it was just like an exact replica of his room. What he means is that, manga and anime are not the ones that are responsible for the deviant behaviour of Miyazaki. Murakami suggested that Miyazaki is a loser who lacked the critical ability of accumulating enormous information in order to survive and win at a debate among otaku. Azuma suggested that to understand the structure of Japanese post-modernity, one must understand the factors that led to the neglect of the otaku culture (1). These factors are: The association of otaku to the famous serial killer, Miyazaki The otaku has an existing strong collective hostility against those who do not share the same interests with them. Azuma suggested that their introversive and defensive tendencies can be thought of as a kind of inevitable reaction against social pressures. The socio-psychological problem of Japanese post-war identity Azuma stated that the Japanese had an existing difficulty after the Second World War to be able to evaluate and be proud of its own culture (1). These negative connotations affected the Otaku so much, but definitely, these ways of definition and seeing things is not proven. They do not have concrete arguments and proofs that Otaku is a negative culture. Positive effects of the Otaku on the Japanese culture There are many positive effects of the Otaku on the Japanese culture, as well as internationally. These positive effects are proven and are validated by concrete facts. First, looking at what Otaku means from their own perspective gives understanding on the real views of the Otaku. From a previous point, information is what is crucial for an otaku. But what does otaku really mean from an otakus perspective? When and where did the otaku started? And how did it really shape the Japanese culture and society. The Otaku is a misunderstood in most times because of the different changes in the history of Japan. To be able to understand the effects it has on the Japanese culture, one must understand first the history and definitions of the word from the otaku themselves. Hiroki Azuma stated that the otaku is a new cultural group that emerged in 1970s. It consists of enthusiastic consumers that were fascinated by different post-war Japanese subcultures, such as anime, manga, computer games, gadgets, music, movies, and so on (1). Hiroki Azuma discussed that otaku is one of the most important factors in the analysis of the Japanese Contemporary culture. He added that this was because the otakus mentalities have greatly influenced the Japanese society. Murakamis superflat conceptualities are being accounted to the artistic quality of the otaku sensibilities. Hiroki Azuma discussed that otaku culture is claimed to be a cultural successor of the pre-modern Japanese traditions, specifically the Edo tradition. This succession theory was emphasized by otaku critics, Toshio Okada and Eiji Otsuka. However, according to Azuma, the otaku culture should be accounted to the recent domestication of post-war American culture. Furthermore, Azuma claimed that the otaku culture is essentially nationalistic, which was developing at the same time with the Japanese rapid economical growth and the recovery of national self-confidence in 1950s and 1960s (1). Therefore, the Otaku culture is positive, in the sense that it was made to promote nationalism. Examples of this nationalistic view are: Spaceship Yamato (TV anime film 1970s) which is claimed to be an imitation of the pre-war Japanese military (Azuma, 1). Saber Marionette J (TV anime film) which was claimed to be an allegory abstracted from an actual otaku situation (Azuma, 1). For an otaku, examination of the content is a very crucial task. Information is the heart of their goals. Azuma discussed further that the otaku culture has two layers of simulacra and database. This means that an otaku does not only appreciate the superficial design aesthetically. An otaku immediately decomposes the image into many elements and feels zeal to reassemble them up into another character (2). Promoting nationalism is a positive thing. From these facts and descriptions, we can say that the Otaku contributed to these nationalist views. How the Otaku changed the Japanese culture The Otaku has changed the Japanese culture in the most unthinkable ways. It started internationally, then eventually, was slowly accepted in the society. In 1991, some interesting modern approach to the Otaku culture has surfaced. The development Otaku no Video (Studio Gainax animation production) that has given rise to a profound interest on the otaku culture. It has also reduced the negative perception and even stereotypes previously associated with the culture thereby increasing the acceptability of the otaku culture and the associated hobbies. After that, the culture has been used by some political leaders to promote the state of Japan to the international community. Even the former Prime Minister of Japan Taro Aso claimed himself to be an otaku (Scudder, 2). After the worldwide release of the film in 1992, fans US, Great Britain, France, Canada began to use otaku as a term to describe themselves. The Otaku sensation paved way for the creation of a hit novel, Train Man. This promoted self-confidence in ones culture. Everyone has a right to be proud of himself, be it an Otaku or not. In 2004, Train Man, a novel by Hitori Nakano, was popularized worldwide because of its unusual love theme. It has also been made into a TV and animation series. It focuses on the love complications of a computer geek (otaku). It portrays another side of the otaku that made the computer otaku popular. It showed that geeks also have hearts. They are capable of communicating, however there arises difficulties. The novel shows that even computer geeks can change for the better. Carlo Santos described it as a novel that pictures a young mans journey from self-deprecation to self-confidence. This gave the otaku culture a light to promote that they are nowhere near the negative connotations attached to them (1). Confidence in ones culture is another positive effect that the Otaku contributed in the Japane se society. Effects of the Otaku in the International Scene The otaku made a successful new market culture in the international scene. From US back to Asia, Otaku has become a craze, shaping the minds of other cultures. Anthony Chatfield reported that anime first appeared in the US market in the 60s in the form of Kimba the White Lion and Astroboy. However, these did not earn a favourable response. Only when Speed Racer arrived did the anime market was distinguished. This was the beginning of the consciousness that Japan was creating something new and exciting. Although the popularity of Speed Racer was not comparable to its American contemporaries, it paved a way to introduce more Japanese otaku to the international market. Different fanbases emerged they were willing to consume the latest offerings such as Starblazers and Robotech. However, the results were mostly underground (1). In 1989, Akira was released internationally and the effect was booming. The international audience was eagerly waiting for more new releases from Japan (Chatfield, 1). In Japan, this was a major business expansion. Shows like Gundam and Dragon Ball overgrew and made runway sensations. The manga industry also expanded along with the anime industry (Chatfield, 1). The international effects of the Otaku are worth mentioning and needs praise. Effects of the otaku in the Japanese Economy The international hit booming of the Otaku led to the advances and innovations in the Japanese economy. The Otaku industry is becoming more and more successful in the development of the economy through the international self-acclaimed Otakus. In 1990s, the anime became mainstream in Japan. Examples were the monumental runs of Dragonball, which had 156 episodes and Dragonball Z, which had 276 episodes. The Japanese otaku economy boomed, earning companies billions of yen, acquiring commercial sponsorships, and funding vast incredible projects that require sums of money to complete (Chatfield, 2). In 1995, American producers saw the huge effect of the anime market happening in Japan. They tried marketing some of these anime Dragonball Z and Sailormoon in the air. Then, Neon Genesis Evangelion release in Japan and show releases in the US made the otaku interest roar abroad (Chatfield, 3). In 1998, the Gameboy conquered the American market along with the enormously popular Pokemon anime. Films began to pour liberally in the US, at that time, the fansub scene was the only way to access some of the more obscure titles that are currently released in Japan. As the market boomed, so did the licensing of major companies. This was the beginning of the final and full assimilation of Japanese pop culture into American (Chatfield, 3). Nowadays, anime products and merchandise are rampant in the isle of supermarkets. The Anime Network also gained its growing success. Magazines such as Japanese trade magazines for the anime industry has now been translated and marketed in the US. Even American director James Cameron is fond of the manga named Battle Angel Alita (Chatfield, 4). This is a clear picture that otaku has made a big step in advancing Japanese art and culture in the international market. Furthermore, the marketing volumes of the Japanese anime and manga proved to be a big advancement, as well as achievement, in the Japanese economy. The otaku craze has also infected Taiwan and other neighboring countries. When compared with the Taiwans Otaku, the perception to otaku is different from the tradition Japanese stereotyping. The Taiwanese otaku emerged in the 1990s. During this period, the computers and internet had gained acceptability and wide range of usage. The usage of this technology had gained unmatched popularity that was not there prior to this period. The otaku was basically viewed as a group of consumers who had preference for some given obsession. This group exhibited craze for anime, some games and manga. People have created new things based on their common interest and obsession. They otaku have to spend money to meet their obsession. This had led to creativity as this people strive to satisfy their obsession and fantasies. The otaku have been found to be fewer prizes sensitive when comparison is made with other consumers. They have formed communities through online or using internet as medium of interaction. It has been evidenced that among the otaku, the information is exchanged rather fast. Jack Hsu reported that the Taiwan otaku is at its consumption stage, meaning, they rather consume than produce their own anime or manga. Furthermore, he reported that the Taiwanese otaku show extremely high preferences towards Japanese Cultural commodities. Taiwanese otaku were found to consume Japanese productions such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Spreading Excitement All over the World with the Haruhi Suzumiya Brigade, Densha Otoko, Akihabara @ Deep and KERORO. Because of this success and popularity, the otaku was popularized as a huge market. And for a true otaku, a price does not matter. In other words, otaku was treated as a new group of mass consumers. Thus, this gives another boom for the Japanese marketing economy. The generation gap associated with stereotypes and the otaku has been fading. The resistance toward the otaku culture also seems to have considerably weathered. This is because, some of the product that were originally associated with the otaku have become domesticated and publicly acceptable. The otaku have been considered as a general group of what can be referred to as mass consumers. Attention should also be paid to the potential for creativity that is likely to be derived from the otaku. To many, the otaku culture is associated with mystery. The otaku became obsessed with some hobbies, which became part of them. The otaku use the media and materials to craft a self and even space. The otaku emerged out of young people conviction that through animation, they could influence the next generation (Dave, 27). This was born out of frustration and boredom. A lot of people and especially the youth were displaced. The economic potential and the creativity of otaku only gained appreciatio n at the turn of the millennium. The otaku culture became appreciated in Japan. The otaku culture has many positive effects especially since the time it gained popularity in Japan and the world over (Flemming et al., 60). These were evident in the American otaku industry and the Taiwan otaku market industry. The otaku culture has also gone revolution associated with the modern and the post modernity period. There were fundamental conditions that changed culture associated with capitalism. This change was attributed to the late capitalist societies that included the Japan, the European countries and the American. The changes were consequently accompanied by the transformation of many areas of cultural production. (Azuma, 10). The Otaku culture is proven to effectively develop and advance the Japanese economy through the international fan scenes. Conclusion The Otaku in spite of the wrong negative connotations that are associated with it, grew to be the one promoting nationalism, international applause, and economic development. The otaku culture has therefore played a significant role, both as the consumers of the popular culture and also as producers of this culture. They are also consumers and producers of the mass media products (Steinberg et al, 191). Iles furthered the idea that the otaku are intimate representatives of contemporary Japan. The Otaku is not of the mainstream. However, the otaku who stand as avatars of the Japanese consumer in fact play an important role in qualifying the nature of postmodern consumption. The otaku has proved to be effective representatives in the promotion, growth and expansion in the Japanese culture, the economy and the promotion of Japanese art and culture around the world.

The Tomatis Method Essay -- Health Medical Essays

The Tomatis Method Dr. Alfred A. Tomatis is a French ear, nose, and throat doctor who made astonishing medical and psychological discoveries that led to audio-psycho-phonology, or the Tomatis method. Also called â€Å"auditory training†, auditory stimulation†, and â€Å"listening therapy†, the purpose of this treatment is to reeducate the way we listen, and it is used in over two hundred and fifty centers around the world. (http://www.tomatis.com/overview.html) The Tomatis method claims to benefit a wide variety of people. People suffering from auditory processing problems, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, autism, and learning disorders can improve their communication and social behavior by auditory stimulation, which can eliminate or reduce the severity of the disorder. This is based on the belief that the symptoms of these disorders are not caused by the disorder itself, but by a sensory regulation problem that begins in our most primordial sensory instrument, the inner ear. (http://www.tomatis.net/Tomatis_tomatis.html) In addition, those suffering from depression, low self-esteem, or just wanting to learn a new language or fine tune their musical talent can also benefit from this unique treatment. Attention, focus, learning, and language abilities can all be improved by retraining the ear to listen using â€Å"charging high-frequency sounds†. (http://www.tomatis.com/overview.html) BACKGROUND: THE EAR The ear has three basic functions. The first is the most obvious, the filtration and analysis of sound by a part of the ear called the cochlea. This function consists of two parts: hearing and listening. Hearing is a passive process and we have limited abilities to improve it. Listening, ho... ...vailable one can conclude that it lacks the concrete evidence needed to become a standard treatment. Bibliography Anonymous. (1994). Auditory Integration Training. ASHA, 36, 55-58. Cummings, Richard Lloyd. (1986). An Evaluation of the Tomatis Listening Training Program. Dissertation Abstracts International, 47, 858-859. Kershner, John R. (1990). Journal of the Division for Children with Learning Disabilities. Learning Disabilities Quarterly, 13, 43-53. Kershner, John R. (1986). Evaluation of the Tomatis Listening Program. Canadian Journal of Special Education, 2, 1-32. Tomatis, Alfred. (1969). Dyslexia. Ontario: University of Ottawa Press, 83. Van-Jaarsveld, Pieter E; du-Plessis, Wynand F. (1988). Audio-psycho-phonology at Potchefstroom: A review. South African Journal of Psychology, 18, 136-143.

Constance Baker Motley: A Biography

Constance Baker Motley was born on September 14, 1921, in New Haven, Connecticut. She was the ninth of twelve children born to parents, whom emigrated from the island of Nevis in the West Indies. Her mother was Rachel Baker and she was a founder of the New Haven NAACP. Her father was Willoughby Alva Baker and he was a chef for student organizations at Yale University. At the age of fifteen, Constance joined the local NAACP were she was denied admission to a local skating rink and public beach. This is what sparked her interest in law and helped her pioneering career as a civil rights lawyer, lawmaker and judge (which spanned six decades) and was highlighted by numerous historic achievements, including the first African American elected to the New York Senate, the first black woman to hold the position of Manhattan Borough President, and the first African American woman appointed to serve as a federal district judge. Constance attended New Haven's integrated public schools. By the age of 15, she decided that she wanted to be a lawyer because of all the active reading she was doing. She also attended Fisk University and then transferred to New York University, were she received a bachelor's degree in economics. She was accepted at Columbia University Law School in 1944 and she went and graduated in 1946. In 1945, she became the law clerk for Thurgood Marshall, then became the chief counsel of the NAACP'S Legal Defense and their educational fund. Over the next 20 years, she did some hard work on some of the United States' civil rights cases, including preparing the draft complaint in 1950, for what would later become Brown v. Board of Education. In the early 1960's, Motley successfully argued for one thousand schoolchildren, who were expelled for demonstrating. She also represented a group called the â€Å"Freedom Fighters,† who rode interstate buses to test desegregation laws. From 1961 to 1964, Motley won nine of ten civil rights cases because she argued with the Supreme Court decision on every case. In the late 1960's, Motley became interested in politics and by 1964, she had left the NAACP to become the first black woman to serve on the New York State Senate. In 1965, she became the first woman president of the Borough of Manhattan. She worked to decrease racial segregation in schools. In particular, she directed the campaign that resulted in James H. Meredith admission to the University of Mississippi. Later in 1966, President Johnson nominated Motley to the federal bench in Manhattan. Over the next 40 years. Motley handled civil rights cases such as, when she made the decision in 1978 allowing a girl to change in the New York Yankees' locker room. During this time she was a big success to Dr. Martin Luther King and all the other civil rights activists. Her and King fought together so that the nation would be equal among citizens and there would not be anymore segregation. In 1982, Motley became the first female chief judge. Her style could be deceptive, often challenging a witness to get away with one lie after another. Judge Motley won cases that ended segregation in Memphis restaurants and white-only lunch counters in Birmingham, Alabama. Judge Constance Baker Motley was a tall, gracious and stately woman whose main goal was sometimes elusive: dignity for all people. Her personal approach was also dignified. As a black woman practicing law in the South, she endured gawking and more than a few physical threats. But through those trials and tribulations, she still remained positive and influenced others to do the same. Constance Baker Motley was a very famous person to remember. She did a lot of things to help young individuals. This lady changed society because she was the first to serve in high ranking categories, which gave the African American race a chance to follow in her footsteps or even go beyond that. Constance Baker Motley died of congestive heart failure on September 28, 2005, at the age of eighty-four years old. Although she had assumed senior status as a judge in 1986, handling a reduce caseload, she continued to work until her death. She was survived by her husband, Joel Wilson Motley, whom she married in 1949, and she had one son Joel Motley and several siblings. Constance Baker Motley played a vital role in today's society because there are many people that will not be active in civil rights and the well-being of themselves and others. She will always be remembered of as one of the greatest women of lifetime history because she was positively influenced, which made her work be positive. This is a true role-model for people all across America to want to do something similar to what this woman did for the African American race.