THE INTERSECTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF MANIFEST CONTENT AND LATENT SIGNIFICANCE IN THE DREAM REALM

Every night, every single person has one or more dreams. Sometimes these dreams are more memorable and logical than others. Freud describes dreams as the fulfilment of a wish, in this sense, more often than not, the wish or secret desire that is being fulfilled is something that is subconscious to the mind in waking life. In waking life, the body goes through voluntary actions and the way we think and feel about certain things is designated by our conscious thoughts. Thus, when one is sleeping, a dream is an involuntary reaction expressing many thoughts, fears, or anxieties that are brought to the surface by the subconscious mind because the ego, in turn, is weakened and captured between the imaginations of the dream realm. Conceptually, it can be said that dreams are the foundation of the subconscious mind, without them there would not be such a clear distinction of the function of the subconscious mind.

As this case study has presented, Freud talks theoretically of “The Interpretation of Dreams” designating that dreams have a manifest content and latent significance rooted In the core of the dream-work.“The transformation of the latent dream-thoughts into the manifest dream-content deserves all our attention, since it is the first instance known to us of physical material being changed over from one mode of expression to another” (Freud 148).  He explains briefly, three types of dreams: the ones that are in a way, rational – “making sense and intelligible,” dreams that a puzzling and “bewildering” – irrational perhaps, and dreams that are disconnected with “no sense of intelligibility” (149).

He then continues to dissect a dream that happened on July 23^rd-24^th, 1895 about a patient of his named Irma, as Freud analyses segments of his dream sequentially, it becomes apparent to the reader that these unconscious representations, in turn, symbolically indicate certain things to the dreamer. Through strategic interpretation, the dreamer is able to critically analyze the associations and parallels of actions, thoughts, reactions, and emotions presented within the dream, and thus gain a deeper understanding of the intersections of the ego and the unconscious mind regarding suppressed deep rooted desires, or wishes to be fulfilled.

Through Freud’s theoretical approach, it is easy to identify that there can be implications to specific dream interpretations that are secular to the individual. These implications intersect the successful analysis of dreams if the manifest content or latent significance is ambiguous to the dreamer because the content of dreams is, as Freud puts it, “disconnected fragments” (157). To further complications that can arise from dream interpretation, there is also a chance for distortion when critically assessing the content of dreams in relation to the memory or associations of them. The intersections of condensation and displacement become apparent: Freud cites that “the process of condensation further explains certain constituents of the content of dreams which are particular to them and are not found in waking ideation” (152). Displacement therefore plays a key role in the interaction of condensation based on the associations put onto dream significance by the process of analysis, because displacement is blurring associations and transferring the ideas onto other ideas or concepts.

 

A few days ago I had a dream that I found a little kitten and took it home, and looked after it. Eventually, me and this kitten, I named Otto, became very close. He was a very loving cat, loyal and kind but then he became sick in my dream and I knew that he was dying. This was a very interesting dream for me to have, because I am allergic to cats. On the process of interpreting dreams, Freud cites: “while I was carrying it out, I had some difficulty in keeping at bay all the ideas which were bound to be provoked by a comparison between the content of the dream and the concealed thoughts lying behind it” (140).This is to say that at first attempt to dissect my dream, I, like Freud, had a brief moment of thinking about all the underlying thoughts that can be associated with the manifest content and latent significance of my dream – many channels of interpretation are provoked, but it is important for me to not distort the possible meaning by censoring out some of my distinctions, or distorting them, by the processes of condensation and displacement. When taking Freud’s methodology to analyzing dreams, it becomes apparent that my dream, put into the context of what is happening in my life in that moment, can symbolically represent how my pet fish, Archie has gotten sick and I have a deep rooted fear that he is dying. This dream was easy for me to draw parallels because it was a dream that made sense and was intelligible – that is to say that it was not like some of my other dreams that are bewildering, with subjects often having exaggerated characteristics or circumstances.

Ultimately, it is beneficial that through the analysis of my dream no distortion of condensation or displacement has been made. This can be attributed to the fact that my dream, in and of itself, wasn’t incoherent – the manifest content and latent significance coincided, also as I interpreted my dream, I remembered that the previous night I had gone to bed thinking about my fish, thus allowing for a diverse interaction of ‘fish thoughts’ in my subconscious. If Freud states that a dream is the fulfillment of a wish, it becomes obvious in reflection and recollection of my dream that my wish to be fulfilled is the prompt recovery of my sick fish Archie because he is a very special friend.

 

Works Cited:

 

Freud, Sigmund, and Peter Gay. “The Interpretation of Dreams.” The Freud Reader. New York:

W.W. Norton, 1989. 129-142. Print.

Freud and Hysteria – The Anna O Case Study

The Anna O case study as edited by Peter Gay in The Freud Reader roots the revelation of hysteria in women. “Hysteria, derived from the Greek word for womb or uterus, was considered a symptom of woman’s insatiable and/or dislocated sexual desire” (Starr). Plato described the “wandering womb” as a lustful, angry, and suffocating animal, ravenous for release. Lacking sexual satisfaction, it was thought to pull up into the throat, causing the choking and shortness of breath associated with hysteria (Starr). Hysteria became a diagnosis for people who had numerous symptoms such as spasm, speech problems without any medical evidence. It is easy to see through this account, that the symptoms of hysteria were also believed to be rooted within the core of the female genitalia earlier in history. Freud takes on the Anna O case in 1885 and monitors her behavior through numerous states of her ailment as hysteria was believed to have no known cure:

I at once recognized the seriousness of the physical disturbance with which I have to deal. Two entirely distinct states of consciousness were present which alternated very frequently and without warning and which became more and more differentiated in the course of the illness. (63)

He notes that as time progresses in the case, even her moments of relatively clear consciousness become invaded with these disturbances.“In one of these states she recognized her surroundings; she was melancholy and anxious, but relatively normal. In the other, she was hallucinated and was ‘naughty’- that is to say, she was abusive” (63).

 

This landmark case is also cited as being the origin of psychoanalysis – the talking cure, as founded by both Freud and Breuer but the term coined by Anna O. Freud describes Anno O’s behaviour when he undertook her treatment: “There were extremely rapid changes of mood leading to excessive but quite temporary high spirits, and at other times, severe anxiety, stubborn opposition to every therapeutic effort and frightening hallucinations of black snakes” (64). It is also drawn upon that Anna O has encountered some personal afflictions like the nursing and ultimate death of her father that could possibly affect her mental stability and capacity of cognitive consciousness.

Freud did recognize the significant part that sick nursing played in “the pre-history of hysteria” (1893-1895, p.161) What he failed to realize however, was that the “emotion work” which women’s sick nursing entailed and the social and economic powerlessness that they experienced were not simply characteristic of his patient’s personal histories… but as a syndrome related to the social conditions of middle-class women in turn-of-the-century Vienna. (Pierce)

The cultural aspects of life for women in that time period surrounding her illness are not acknowledged fully in the Anna O case, it can be said that her whole ailment could originate back to the construction of her surroundings and the environment of which her circumstances of life events played out. Nonetheless, Freud’s assertations of her ailment lead way to the diagnosis of her condition and his ultimate treatments of her symptoms through the talking cure. During the course of her treatment she would say that things were tormenting her and at a climax of her illness, she was unable to properly speak and successfully conjugate verbs. At one point, she became as Freud puts it “completely deprived of words” so much so that at one point she became unintelligible.

 

Throughout history, it is interesting to note that the intellectuals prior to Freud have had adamant opinions about the designation of hysteria:

Since the time of Hippocrates until the early 20th century, hysteria was associated with the pathology of female sexuality and reproduction. As such, the female genitals became the site of medical attention and intervention.

This distinction of hysteria being associated and attributed to female sexuality is one that can be dignified throughout history. It was indeed Plato who described the vagina as the ‘wandering womb’ in regards to the encompassing concept of hysteria. Before numerous technological advances and inventions, bizarre acts of stimulation were considered standard medical practise. “Genitals were massaged and electrically stimulated as well as shocked, cauterized, and surgically altered.” While all these interventions are relevant to an understanding of the medical approach to hysteria—indeed they are “two sides of the same coin of the patriarchal, medical control of female sexuality” (Starr).

Through the discourse of the Anna O case in The Freud Reader it becomes apparent that perhaps Freud has been genitally stimulating her. “Early written medical references to the practice of genital stimulation are unequivocally direct and explicit as to the sexual nature of the symptoms and their treatment” (Starr). Although there is no direct evidence to support this, it is easy to see the parallels between what other practitioners were doing for treatment at that time frame. If hysteria was incited in women because of a lack of sexual satisfaction, so to speak, it is easy to see the connection of the appropriated and hopefully de-sexualized ‘genital massage’ by physicians. Through the rhetoric used in the discourse of the Anna O case, the reader gets a sense of Freud’s very strong opinions about her condition; he does seem to recognize the circumstances of her situation in regards to the death of her father as playing a role in the decline of her health and mental stability.

When taking into consideration the intersections of genital stimulation as a treatment to hysteria and historical timeframes, it becomes evident that technological advances largely have a role to play in the diminishing diagnosis of hysteria over time. It is also interesting to note that the cultural designation of the women’s role in society can have an intersection with the perceived sexual ailment that was associated with hysteria. This could also be an indication of constuctionism that has roots in both social and cultural aspects of Anna O’s situation sense the 1800’s are marked with the end of the Victorian era, when any expression of sexuality was considered an outrage. Perhaps a connection is proven between the repression of sexual desires and the diagnosis of hysteria rooted in genital stimulation for treatment. This could have been an issue effecting Anno O and her unconscious, directly playing into her ailment at the time of Freud’s analysis.

Works Cited:

Freud, Sigmund, and Peter Gay. The Freud reader. New York: W.W. Norton, 1989. Print

Pierce, Jennifer L. “The Relation Between Emotion Work And Hysteria: A Feminist

Reinterpretation Of Freud’s Studies On Hysteria.” Women’s Studies 16.3/4 (1989):

255. Academic Search Premier. Web. 08 Apr. 2012.

Starr, Karen E., and Lewis Aron. “Women On The Couch: Genital Stimulation And The Birth Of

Psychoanalysis.” Psychoanalytic Dialogues 21.4 (2011): 373-392. Academic Search

Premier. Web. 08 Apr. 2012.

 

Subcultures and the Mainstream Media – Hackers

When is hacking considered wrong or immoral? To what extent does a hacker code of ethics blur the lines between criminal activity, and the moral dilemma presented in the foundations of right and wrongdoing in society, because, when paralleled with the ideal and practice of the hacking subculture, it becomes apparent that there is a predicament illustrated in the foundation of the concept itself, but more so if paired with the suave social engineering skills of a criminal. The moral dilemma is presented as a theoretical framework to evaluate the action hackers and the relationship of the overall participation in hacking before it turns criminal in regards to concepts of right and wrong and the implications of groups such as Anonymous and LulzSec on moral legalism.

 

Since the rise of the internet and the implications of the vast network called the World Wide Web in society, garnering access to information has never been easier. With this expanded accessibility comes increased scrutiny towards securing information and data. Large corporations, businesses and governments gather information and store it, but with the rise of the hacker subculture and hacktivism, it has become increasingly apparent in the media that our information may not be as safe as we think and that businesses are not really that good at protecting it. This has paved the way for a new kind of criminal and illicit activity that stems from the opportunities made possible by Hacktivism:

Hacktivism traces its roots back to the late 1990s, when a hacker collective called Electronic Disturbance Theater (EDT) protested against Mexican government policies that it considered oppressive by staging … attacks, using large networks of hijacked computers to jam up websites with so much traffic that they crash. That shut down several websites, including that of the Mexican president, igniting a flurry of concern about the security of the internet. (Murphy)

This was one of the first instances of an online breach of security and an attack on the government, quickly after this it was soon recognized that the internet can be used as an equal playground for a war of a different proportion and caliber. The hacker subculture effectively uses the hegemonic World Wide Web sphere and defines itself within the manipulation and infiltration of its realm, strategically knowing how coded systems work, and seeking loopholes and weaknesses in digital composition.

 

The problem arises when the loopholes in systems and security breaches, made feasible by these hacktivists become more unrestricted and taunting to the public through social media applications- Websites being taken over by hackers and displaying images, YouTube videos of support slogans and messages on Twitter. This rhetoric ultimately changes the message and discourse at the core of what hacking used to be defined as in the early 1990’s(Clayton). Now with more ‘hacktivist’ groups emerging, believing they are the authentic voice of reason (Misha), information is rapidly brought unwillingly into the public domain, this ultimately opens the floodgates to the birth of a new kind of criminal: the cyberthieves

Social networking has helped hacktivists unleash Web mayhem. Even scarier: cyberthieves are adopting the same techniques. So who would you like to hack today? A bank, a website, a corporation or perhaps a government agency that’s rubbing you the wrong way? The hacktivist group LulzSec is taking requests. Or maybe you’d like to get your hands on some stolen credit-card accounts to boost your personal spending level or purchase some malware that will divert a business’s payments from its vendors to you. A malware seller called Zeus not only can do that but also provides customer support. Hacking has become a service and entertainment business–and in a quantity and at a quality never before reached. (Saporito)

This association between the two is increasingly blurred when taking into consideration the foundations of the hacking activity and concurrently, the actions of groups such as Anonymous compared to that of LulzSec. It seems that Anonymous members believe themselves to be ideologically driven, “battling a dastardly conspiracy” of corporation and government control (Misha). Whereas, LulzSec is strictly crossing a line and engaging in criminal activity for gain, Anonymous is mostly acting as a whistleblower.

 

Without the role of the whistleblower in the hacker realm, cybercrime could have the potential to be in a far worse state then what it currently is, and hacktivists have a key role to play in the now thorough understanding of what cybersecurity means for both governments and companies alike.

Hacktivists see themselves as guardians of freedom on the internet: Anonymous and LulzSec have fought censorship and exposed fundamental security flaws across the internet everywhere from major corporations to the FBI by nabbing personal information and waving it around for the world to see. However you look at it, their tactics have worked and as a result of their actions, corporations and governments alike have never been more aware of the cybersecurity problem or made a more concerted attempt to fix it. (Murphy)

This is indeed is a good thing that has come out of the hacker subculture, as these issues have been brought into the mainstream and have been portrayed adamantly in the media. But whilst in the mainstream, there is a possibility to pose a moral dilemma as a theoretical framework to evaluate the underlying concept of hacking, are hackers acting morally or immorally. Does the outcome of a hack outweigh the action and morality of right to privacy – why should hackers be compromising security of citizens and flaunting that they have the ability to mess with government systems and companies.

 

As the motives for hacking and outcomes of a hack are ultimately a moral dilemma of right and wrong, it is easy to see where criminal activity has an opportunity to emerge and where the intersections of ‘hacktivist’ and ‘cyberthieve’ parlay. Hackers turn criminal through the intersections of the lucrative opportunities made possible simply by the act of ‘hacking’ and what it entails. With credit card information being easily published or bought online, any everyday citizen can become a cybercriminal. But what draws the differentiator between the degree of the crime for the person who steals the information and the person who uses said information where is the intersection of whistle blowing before it turns criminal. The biggest hacks for Anonymous have been “Scientology, Joe Lieberman, Switzerland’s PostFinance bank, MasterCard, Visa, PayPal, and Amazon.com. It has also threatened to attack NATO.” And LulzSec’s biggest hacks have been “the FBI, CIA, the Senate, the U.K.’s Serious Organised Crime Agency, Fox.com, PBS, Citigroup, InfraGard, Brazilian government websites, various websites run by Sony.” The cyber attack on Sony on April 20 cost the company one billion dollars in revenue (Saporito), and compromised the data of seventy seven million people. This is morally wrongdoing on behalf of LulzSec, it is misconduct that should have the same repercussions as any criminal offence against a company. This threatens the security of sensitive information, and a company or organization loses money. It is the same idea as if a person were to walk into Sony and steal this information manually, the only difference is that the intrusion and security breech is happening digitally. But it is still just as evasive, and possibly more evasive. It is an offence of the same degree and with this moral dilemma emerges a rationale of considering moral legalism.

 

When considering moral legalism, it is important to understand that it is based on proper ethical behavior as defined and dictated by governing laws (Leslie). This has the ability to affect the intrinsic ideology of the moral dilemma presented in the realm of hacking, this dignifies that, breaking the law in any sense of a moral inconsistency is permitting to oblige with the ideal of right and wrong as dictated by the laws of society. So where is the distinction between good and bad hackers? “James Harrison, co-founder of computer and Internet security firm Invisus, said he sees a very thin line between White Hat and Black Hat hackers.”The damage done by Black Hat hackers is enormous. White Hat hackers still do break laws,” he noted” (Germain).This is to say that the degree of the actions can be measured on the same scale and parlayed under the theoretical framework of a moral dilemma, and thus evaluated with moral legalism. Annd this is being exemplified with the new laws that are being put into place:

“Each Anonymous hacktivist convicted could face three consecutive 20year sentences, a punishment more severe than those given to rapists and some murderers” (Murphy).

 

It is evident that the implications of the hacking subculture, is having a key role to play in the ever changing infrastructure and architecture of cybersecurity for multichannel corporations, businesses and governments. Paired with the rhetoric parlayed in the media, and ultimately changing the discourse of hacktivism it becomes apparent that the future of hacking has yet to hit its peak. The actions and repercussions of groups such as Anonymous and LulzSec has allowed for crucial analysis of the lines between ‘hacktivist’ and ‘cyberthieve’ and realization of the blurred associations between right and wrongdoing. That is why it is crucial to remain a moral legalist to fully comprehend the scope of the crimes committed by some hackers when facing a moral dilemma of engaging in white hat hacker verses black hat hacker activities (“Hacker culture”).

 

 

Works Cited:

 

Clayton, Mark. “Anonymous unmasked: hacker ringleader turned FBI informant – CSMonitor.com.” The

 

Christian Science Monitor – CSMonitor.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

 

<http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2012/0306/Anonymous-unmasked-hacker-ringleader-

 

turned-FBI-informant>

 

Fischetti, Mark. “Data Theft: Hackers Attack.” Scientific American 305.4 (2011): 100. Academic Search

 

Premier. Web. 28 Mar. 2012

 

Germain, Jack M.. “Technology News: Best of ECT News: Moral Dilemma: Hackers for

 

Hire.”TechNewsWorld: All Tech – All The Time. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

 

<http://www.technewsworld.com/story/38256.html

 

“Hacker culture – hackers subculture – Programmer subculture.” List of subcultures – Subcultures list – list

 

of youth subcultures. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. <http://subcultureslist.com/hacker-culture/&gt;

 

Leslie, Larry Z.. “Glossary.” Mass communication ethics: decision making in postmodern culture. 2nd ed.

 

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. 310. Print.

 

“Misha Glenny: Hire the hackers! | Video on TED.com.” TED: Ideas worth spreading. N.p., n.d. Web. 28

 

Mar. 2012. <http://www.ted.com/talks/misha_glenny_hire_the_hackers.html&gt;

 

Murphy, Samantha. “Agents Provocateurs.” New Scientist 211.2829 (2011): 46-49. Academic Search

 

Premier. Web. 28 Mar. 2012

 

Saporito, Bill. “Hack Attack.” Time 178.1 (2011): 50-55. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.

Suite Francaise & Religion

Religion in this chapter has a key role to play in the creation of a universal faith that binds families and refugees going through a chaotic time period. Specific religious imagery helps the reader gain an overall understanding of the prevalence and importance of religion among characters, as correlations are presented between the religious imagery described and the characters’ actions throughout the chapter.

In the town they are passing through, Madame Pericand approaches the church in the centre of the town that signifies a place where people are brought together by faith. Families and refugees are camping out on the pavement and steps of the church and they take time to thank God for letting them arrive safely while passing through the town. The reader gets the sense that the church is relatively new to the community and is painted the purest colour, white, signifying the role of the church and its place for people to seek a certain innocence and salvation. The church is described as embracing two different worlds – “the normal world of daily routine and another existence, strange and feverish.”  This described existence fits into context perfectly with how the straggling masses of refugees are described while passing through the town – feverish, “weary pale faces dripping with sweat.”

Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus and she traditionally symbolizes a pureness because of that. She is seen as a kind-hearted and considerate person – it is interesting to note the correlation between the actions of the nun described as placing flowers at the Virgin Mary’s feet, and the contrasting actions of Madame Pericand – acting very kind towards the other refugees like a Virgin Mary figure. In this instance, she is acting with what genuinely seems like kindness in her heart and exemplifies the qualities and characteristics seen in the Virgin Mary. The nun‘s deed described is a homage to Madame Pericand’s charitable work – placing flowers at the statues feet associates with an intrinsic sense of recognition to a faithful religious image.

An old woman is sleeping in a chair holding her rosary beads, this signifies a serenity that is naturally associated with them, amid the chaos happening in the town she finds strength to sleep while holding her prayer beads, exemplifying the inherent value of having faith in religion in a chaotic world. This situation described plays directly into informing the reader of how prevalent and important religion is in the chapter. The statue of Joan of Arc near the church signifies an old French morale of having courage and bravery, candles are described as being lit around it. This statue and its meaning fit perfectly into the context of the events surrounding the town, as Joan of Arc is associated with the French army, and how she impacted  and challenged traditional ideals of war and leadership within the army.

THE INTERSECTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF MATERIALISM, AUTRAXIA AND AUTREAKIA ON THE ROAD TO INNATE HAPPINESS

“The good life” is distinguished by many to be living an extravagant and luxurious lifestyle. Inspired by the way celebrities and rich people live, this frivolous lifestyle is envisioned as being surrounded by expensive and fancy things. Problems arise when this dominant societal ideology leads way to wide scale consumption of materialistic items that are seen as gratification towards achieving the happiness inspired by the conceptual construct of “the good life.” This construct allows for misinterpretations of what innate happiness is defined as and in turn, what blessedness can be attributed to in the self realization and freedom of thought for man.

In The Letter to Menoeceus, Epicurus notes: “we must exercise ourselves in the things which bring happiness, since, if that be present, we have everything, and, if that be absent, all our actions are directed toward attaining it.” In this sense, when happiness is not present, we attempt to seek it out and acquire it. In the 21^st century, this is exemplified by the materialistic items that we are constantly garnering as status symbols. These status symbols have a direct role to play in the characterization of “the good life” and a construct of happiness in modern day society, through the mediums in which they are portrayed and advertised into the mainstream, making it an instinctive classification.

We are knowingly or unknowingly drawn towards the attainment of material possessions and the possessions themselves by the relationship of what they signify. Tactical strategies are set in place in the mainstream to solidify the causal relationship of product and emotion. In this case it is attaining a materialistic product equals an emotion of pleasure, concludes to an equated sense of happiness in oneself. In turn, this is allowing for a diverse yet pragmatic definition of “the good life” in society that that is driven by partial oblivion to the realization within the self that these variables have intersections, and the mainstream correlates and exploits these relationships.

This is what Epicurus tries to instill in the reader, as he cites:

For the end of all our actions is to be free from pain and fear, and, when once we have attained all this, the tempest of the soul is laid; seeing that the living creature has no need to go in search of something that is lacking, nor to look anything else by which the good of the soul and of the body will be fulfilled. When we are pained pleasure, then, and then only, do we feel the need of pleasure. For this reason we call pleasure the alpha and omega of a happy life (Epicurus).

This alludes to the notion that when the body and soul are fulfilled contently with happiness, we do not go searching for the pleasure that causes this happiness. In the 21^st century, it is this garnering of materialistic items that fabricate an illusion of happiness causing the misrepresentation that the emotion can be successfully attained, and attributed to the self. When if it were to be truly present, there would be no need to go in search of something that is missing. In this sense Epicurus cites the search for the pleasure that brings happiness as the beginning and the end of a happy life that has achieved blessedness.

The exploitation of the attainment of happiness via garnering materialistic items and the conceptual construct of “the good life” clearly shines light on the notion that, we, as humans often do not understand what we really need to be satisfied in ourselves and have happiness present.  As illustrated above, we are always searching for something when we are not fulfilled with innate happiness. We cannot see past the fabrications of happiness that are created in the attainment of material possessions, and they don’t naturally satisfy the roots of our desires.

We must also reflect that of desires some are natural, others are groundless; and that of the natural some are necessary as well as natural, and some natural only. And of the necessary desires some are necessary if we are to be happy, some if the body is to be rid of uneasiness, some if we are even to live. He who has a clear and certain understanding of these things will direct every preference and aversion toward securing health of body and tranquillity of mind, seeing that this is the sum and end of a happy life (Epicurus).

In order to achieve innate happiness and blessedness, one has to live a life that allows for an inner happiness to be intrinsically present. The intersections of garnering materialistic possessions and “the good life” make for a blurry distinction of what inner happiness is defined as, and what blessedness is ultimately attributed to. Epicurus believes that it is possible for man to be as blessed as a god, but one must be aware of the intersections between seeking pleasure that does not fulfill and the yearning desire to be fulfilled that constantly plagues the body and soul.

This is to say that he believes one should try to lead an analyzed life, full of self reflection and realization. Once man realizes that often the body and soul do not understand what it truly desires, and that in this state it aims to secure a sense of fabricated happiness – one can be self aware to reflect on these implications. Also at the same time, reflecting on the intersections and allusions created by the ideological construct of “the good life.”

Epicurus also makes obvious that in part of leading an analyzed life, there are certain things that are necessary and certain luxuries that can be deemed unnecessary, just as there are certain desires or pleasures that are natural and some that are groundless as quoted above. He notes:

Again, we regard. independence of outward things as a great good, not so as in all cases to use little, but so as to be contented with little if we have not much, being honestly persuaded that they have the sweetest enjoyment of luxury who stand least in need of it, and that whatever is natural is easily procured and only the vain and worthless hard to win. Plain fare gives as much pleasure as a costly diet, when one the pain of want has been removed, while bread an water confer the highest possible pleasure when they are brought to hungry lips. To habituate one’s se therefore, to simple and inexpensive diet supplies al that is needful for health, and enables a person to meet the necessary requirements of life without shrinking and it places us in a better condition when we approach at intervals a costly fare and renders us fearless of fortune (Epicurus).

This exemplifies that many luxuries are redundant and not needed. The ending of the passage expresses the idea that one should grow accustomed to the simple things because they provide for man just as contently as the luxurious does, and keeps one grounded in the realm of the simple and feasible attitude required for man. Because once one has realized this lesson, the self will have achieved the concept of autraxia with a diminished sense of anxiety towards the inner yearning, for, luxurious possessions that claim to bring happiness and the fear of fortune, as quoted above: “plain fare gives as much pleasure as costly diet.”

When we say, then, that pleasure is the end and aim, we do not mean the pleasures of the prodigal or the pleasures of sensuality, as we are understood to do by some through ignorance, prejudice, or willful misrepresentation. By pleasure we mean the absence of pain in the body and of trouble in the soul. It is not an unbroken succession of drinking-bouts and of merrymaking, not sexual love, not the enjoyment of the fish and other delicacies of a luxurious table, which produce a pleasant life; it is sober reasoning, searching out the grounds of every choice and avoidance, and banishing those beliefs through which the greatest disturbances take possession of the soul (Epicurus).

With this ultimate diminishing of anxieties and fears- autraxia, within the self regarding the complete gratification of the body soul, comes a realization that produces a certain freedom to be able to successfully take a step back from the situation and reflect upon its prevalence and effect on everyday life. Epicurus attests again that it is the simple things that bring the greatest pleasure, like stone- cold sober reasoning that is self reflecting, characteristic of another concept: autreakia, which in man exemplifies a self sufficiency and freedom of thought realizing that there is a need to “banish those beliefs through which the greatest disturbances take possession of the soul”

To Epicurus, the end aim is blessedness that intrinsically comes out of an inner happiness that is innate. This is not possible via the consumption of materialistic possessions that allow for fabrications, constructs and misinterpretations of happiness. It is ultimately, the self realization and freedom of thought for man that constitutes a true blessedness, emerging from its roots in innate happiness. If both acknowledged and put into practice, it is the simple, feasible things or small joys in life that allow for the greatest amount of pleasure in oneself, and not the luxurious things that fabricate the roots of the desire. The self-realization that is acquired with the concepts of autraxia and autreakia lead to innate happiness and blessedness through the respective satisfaction that is presented when both are self- actualized successfully, as these are the underlying root principles of “the good life” grounded in the success of the self

Exercise yourself in these and kindred precepts day and night, both by yourself and with him who is like to you; then never, either in waking or in dream, will you be disturbed, but will live as a god among people. For people lose all appearance of mortality by living in the midst of immortal blessings (Epicurus).

As Epicurus concludes The Letter to Menoeceus, it is evident that if one focuses on achieving these attributes and things that are analogous to them, happiness and blessedness will be intrinsically present within the self, and one will live like a god among men, for these are immortal blessings.

Works Cited:

Hicks, Robert. “The Internet Classics Archive | Letter to Menoeceus by Epicurus.” The

Internet Classics Archive: 441 searchable works of classical literature. N.p., n.d.

Web. 1 Mar. 2012. <http://classics.mit.edu/Epicurus/menoec.h

A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters

In  Julian Barnes’s A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters it becomes apparent that the message the author aims to convey through the discourse is one about both human existence, and the struggle that historical narratives have on versions of fragmented reality. He aims to shed light on what can be dignified as historical fact and the events that pertain to it in relation to fabulation. He aims to bring to fruition its influence and designation in society, in the ‘Parenthesis’ he also aims to comment on love but it becomes apparent that his real aim is to justify the accounts of the narratives juxtaposed and represented in the novel and explain the underlying thread that weaves interconnectedness in certain chapters throughout the entire book.

To what extent does the content of a History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters play into effecting the overall narrative technique and ultimate reader experience. Through vivid imagery and recounting aspects of events through multiple perspectives and voices, Barnes influences and shapes the portrayal of the narrative through its numerous incarnations that successfully add a different type of perception of overall meaning onto the reader. The techniques Barnes employs can be seen as methodological to his approach and ideal, adding to the convention of the content through strategic integrations of narrative voice and small motifs of interconnectedness within chapters. A thematic ideal of love is presented adamantly in the half chapter ‘Parenthesis’ but is only underlined minimally in all the other chapters of the novel. I believe the commentary he aims to make is that of the juxtaposition between how historical narratives are portrayed verses the voice that tells them chapter to chapter and how this in turn shapes the readers perceived notion of the version of the discourse.

The techniques in which Barnes shapes the narrative of the novel lends itself to creating perceived meaning to the reader, this is demonstrated with his choice to have the novel non-chronological in sequence. This effect adds to the dramatic recounting of historically based events that seems to be very random in nature because of the consecutively non-chronological order, which is unlike what would be the expected in the chronological ordering of a history book -chapter to chapter. When reading the novel, the reader in naturally inclined to look for connections between chapters based on the premise of usually doing so with many other novels; this is a technique that is not overlooked by Barnes and it adds to his approach of expressing his desired message through a manipulation of the readers’ intrinsic sense to do so.

Chapter one is a retelling of time spent on Noah’s ark by someone who was on it. Chapter two is about Arab pirates that hijack a ship. From moving from chapter one, to chapter to two, in sequence, it is clear to the reader immediately that the novel flows in a non-chronological way. This technique employed strategically by Barnes allows for a more open analysis of the text and he has chosen to use this technique to keep the reader guessing about what comes next so to speak. It is not until the reader realizes that pieces of the story are interconnected or laced with a common thread that is both done purposefully and very minimally that if the reader wasn’t fully immersed in the integration of the narrative, it could be overlooked completely. The first instance that this is exemplified to the reader, is after reading chapter one. When taking into consideration the content that is of chapter one – Noah’s Ark and the biblical reference in its incarnation it immediately comes presented in the text of chapter two how the passengers enter the cruise ship that is the setting for the events of the next chapter. It is described as “‘the animals came in two by two,’ Franklin commented” (33). This is a direct reference to the content of the previous chapter. It is this strategically hidden commentary that presents itself as an indicator of the threading between motifs of interconnectedness that present themselves almost symbolically in the discourse.

Another example of interconnectedness between chapters is presented with an instance of foreshadowing from chapter one to a particular scenario in chapter four. As presented in the text, many of the animals aboard Noah’s Ark were actually very afraid of Noah and one animal in particular that is depicted is the reindeer: “with the reindeer it was more complicated. They were always nervous, but it wasn’t just a fear of Noah, it was something deeper. You know some of us animals have power of foresight?” (12) The text goes on to mention that the fear is deep-rooted and suggests that it is long term. The interconnectedness becomes apparent to the reader in chapter four, when it is established that reindeer are being slaughtered if they have received any radiation from the nuclear incident. It is this motif of interconnectedness between chapters one and four that allow for it to become distinct to the reader Barnes ultimate juxtaposition between the novel being non-sequentially organized – with every chapter telling a different story, and the small instances of connectedness between narratives that weave together some sort of semblance to counter-balance the approach.

Through the content of chapter one, Barnes is juxtaposing the ideal of a narrative and the form in which it is recounted. In my opinion this is the most poignant chapter that strategically demonstrates the methodological approach of narration that will be employed to some extent throughout the rest of the novel. Barnes throughout the novel uses many narrative voices to create this approach. It sets the stage for the reader to gain an understanding of the commentary Barnes wishes to make on the influence of narrative and the way in which it is incarnated. This is demonstrated by the perceived narrator of the first chapter, as it is only at the end of the chapter the reader discovers the identity of the narrator – a woodworm. The reader is expected to take the story of the narrator at face value, and through this, a relationship is created between the ideals of fact and fabulation.

Fabulation plays a recurring role throughout the novel. From the first instance of chapter one- a story told by a woodworm, to the last chapter about an astronaut searching for Noah’s Ark, the novel is laced with vivid imagery of stories and settings that are too spectacular to not be questioned as fathomable fact. The voices of narration that Barnes chooses to utilize add to the fabulation of scenarios dramatically. From the morally sound voice of the woodworm in the first chapter, to the dream like voice utilized in the last chapter and all the ones in between – specifically the voice depicted in chapter eight consisting of all letters from an actor to his girlfriend. Barnes successfully depicts the appropriate voice and rhetoric to integrate and exemplify the characteristics that can be attributed to the personality in question, in this instance it is that of a frustrated actor, struggling with both his career and his surroundings in the jungle. “Bloody jungle. It just doesn’t give up. Bloody clouds of flies and biting things and humming whatsits. And for the first couple of weeks you think how extraordinary, well it doesn’t matter” (208).This passage strategically expresses the relationship of how the story is perceived to the reader via the voice and rhetoric that encompasses it and employs it. It becomes clear the association of the actor and his dignified species of capital – economic, cultural, social and his stature within society, attributed to his profession but parlayed by Barnes through the choice of wording for ‘whatsits’ that express this thoroughly.

When taking into consideration the encompassing overall discourse of the novel and the discourse of the specific half chapter entitled the ‘Parenthesis’ it is interesting to note that the narrative voice closely resembles that of a personal quality that can be considered the voice of Barnes, the author. This is another example of a narrative voice that is strategically used for dramatization. Throughout the content of the half chapter, he extends a consolatory commentary on the importance of love. He compares the words ‘I love you’ to being of great value, and not to leave them lying around, they should be hidden in the bank, protected he states. If they come too easily, they come without thought (227). He speaks candidly about the nature of love “both will say ‘I love you’ to keep fear at bay, to convince themselves of the deed by the word” (228). This illustrates that even though Barnes speaks candidly about the importance of love, stating that “what will survive of us is love” (226), there is an undertone of melodrama in the rhetoric he chooses to employ throughout the chapter. This chapter lends itself to moderately justifying the other chapters within the book. It puts perspective onto why many of the chapters were depicted, the way they were depicted: “the history of the world? Just voices echoing in the dark; images that burn for a few centuries and then fade; stories, old stories that sometimes seem to overlap; strange links, impertinent connections” (240). It is his connection in the chapter that ultimately stresses the way in which the other chapters are depicted and for what cause. Even though Barnes speaks adamantly about love, the point he is most accurately trying to make is that of perhaps what is considered the other side of love. And when taking into consideration the content of the entire novel, it can be considered that he is making a point about the other side of historical narratives, as the quote exemplifies a technique he used of ‘impertinent connections’ and how the narratives of each chapter are just ‘voices echoing in the dark’ that burn for a while and then fade.

The solace of love may be underlying in the events of many chapters, as many have hidden aspects of love if critically thought about at the bottom line, but it is my opinion that Barnes more accurately wishes to juxtapose the events of a narrative and the effects of narrative technique successfully derived from stylistic choices – sequential verses non-sequential, narrator voice mode and small instances of motifs that interpolate the meaning of the text designated in the readers mind. If the ‘Parenthesis’ is to be a strict commentary on the solace of love, why is it that throughout the text, Barnes makes reference to numerous interconnections within the novel – that of the Titanic relating to chapter seven and the Medusa in chapter five, he cites:

There’s one thing I’ll say for history. It’s very good at finding things. We try to over them up, but history doesn’t let go. It’s got time and science on its side, time and science. However ferociously we ink over our first thoughts, history finds a way of reading them, we bury our victims in secrecy…but history discovers what we did to them. We lost the Titanic, forever it seemed, in the squid-ink depths, but they turned it up. Thee found the wreck if the Medusa not long ago. (240-241)

This exemplifies the accuracy around the stories he has portrayed and the truth behind the factual and fictitious events that encompass our culture and society of storytelling.

Storytelling has always been a prominent feature of our society, to re-tell and relay information; it is the basis of our communication ability and understanding of the world around us. The first forms of storytelling in our civilization can be traced back to the Lascaux cave paintings, it was via these cave paintings that our ancestors garnered the viable skills to proceed in evolving. Throughout history, it is evident that stories have been told and retold for generations, and this in turns can affect the accuracy of the depiction, this is illustrated with the numerous folklore and legend stories that are still in circulation around the world. As presented in the ‘Parenthesis’ Barnes cites:

“We all know objective truth is not obtainable, that when some event occurs we shall have a multiplicity of subjective truths which we asses and then fabulate into history, into some God-eyed version of what ‘really happened’. This God-eyed version is really fake- a charming, impossible fake” (243)

Shining light on what I consider to be the foundation of the point of the novel, answering the ‘so what?’ factor of the novel and illustrating the premise on which the novel is based upon. It is interesting to note that he mentions before this, an ideal of love as being the only hope, but then he contradicts himself saying that love will fail us. The overall message that Barnes aims to influence on his reader is that of depictions of narratives rooted in fabulation of current events. He shines light on the notion that some portrayals in history have the ability to be tampered with. An example that comes to mind most prominently is that of the portrayal of the Titanic and its cinematic incarnation, many people believe that the love story presented in the film is factual. Ultimately it is through Barnes’s innate application of narrative techniques and stylistic decisions that shape the discourse of the novel, successfully achieving a juxtaposition between the content of the historical narratives and the symbolic significance of the way in which they are represented and by what perspective. “Our panic and our pain are only eased by soothing fabulation; we call it history” (240).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited:

Barnes, Julian. A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters. New York: Knopf , 1989. Print

Contemporary Narrative: Short Essay Assignment

The eye socket sucked sensually at the scalpel as I pulled it out. I would have left it there – such expedient instruments of cutting deserve their satisfaction-but l required a weapon. I wondered if I could push myself upright on the table, then realized I had already done it. Waring was backing away from me, toward the door. His escape now was unthinkable.

 My hands were slick with Drummond’s blood and vitreous Humour. I pressed the left one to my heart and it came away bloodier still. I risked a glance down at the wound. The skin around it was puckered, lipped; the blood poured down my naked chest and belly, soaking my  pubic hair, spattering the floor.  I thrust my hand at Waring, cupped and brimming with my own pestilence. He threw himself away from it – and away from the door.

I advanced on him, scalpel in one hand, disease in the other, and I watched his eyes. They were a crystalline English blue behind little gold-rimmed spectacles with thin square lenses. His hair was the colour of cornsilk, cut blunt like a young boy’s; his face was bland as butter. He might have stepped whole out of James Herriot’s Yorkshire; but for the thread of drool on his chin he might have  been the country vet’s perpetually  astonished  young  apprentice, stethoscope around his neck, a flush of sunburn staining his fresh-cream skin pale pink. Sweet simple lad! (Brite)

Focalization is the basis of the way in which the story is perceived by the audience and expressed through narration by the point of view of a focalizer. Focalization is shaped by the types of narration techniques chosen, characteristics of the focalizer influenced by those techniques, and indicators hidden in the discourse of the text. These techniques exemplify and influence the structure of the narration and overall meaning of the text adding a depth to the content and portrayal of the narrative as perceived by the reader.

 

In the first chapter of Exquisite Corpse, Brite shapes the meaning of the text by using a narrative focalization that plays a key role in the unfolding of the story and the overall tone of the events.

Narrative decisions influence the meaning of a story and the way in which the reader understands it. Narration types and techniques outline the structure of the mediated story. Overall narration techniques in the first chapter of the Exquisite Corpse create the identification of a character. The narrator type utilized directly shapes and influences the story’s effect. The main protagonist, Andrew Compton is telling a story about himself, he has experienced these events, and therefore this signifies that he is using a homo-diegetic consciousness. There is no other mediator portraying the story and he has an essential role in events of the narrative- this means that he is an intradiegetic homo-diegetic narrator. This identification of a character in the narration type directly establishes the structure in which the story will be narrated and the underlying structure of focalization via consciouness. It is exemplified that since the narration type is internal, the focalization type will largely be based internally and at the point of view of one conscious narrator who is focalized homodiagetically. At its highest level, the chosen type of narrator role largely influences the reader’s perception of the story and outlines the identification of a conscious character and the characteristics of the narration voice.

 

With the identification of an internal character perceived as ‘Andrew Compton’- as illustrated by the narrator type utilized, it then becomes apparent that a more descriptive integration of events will be expressed by an internal and conscious personal focalization on the part of the protagonist/narrator. Focalization has a key role to play in determining the expression and influence of the story being narrated by the focalizer. It can also comment on individual moral beliefs as defined by the characteristics and specific focalizations of a narrator “I advanced on him, scalpel in one hand, disease in the other, and I watched his eyes.” This specific passage illustrates internal focalization based on a single focalizer’s perception of the events taking place that he is internally and centrally involved in. It alludes to a point of view of what is being depicted and subsequently focalized by the focalizer. It is these concise descriptions of events rooted in the reality of the focalizer that influence the story and offer the reader conditional meaning and insight regarding the narrator’s actions based on inherent value systems. This relationship aids the reader’s understanding of the focalizer’s consciousness in the narrative, as exemplified in “My hands were slick with Drummond’s blood and vitreous Humour. I pressed the left one to my heart and it came away bloodier still”- this also grants insight into the realm in which the narrative is occurring, but moreover alludes to personal characteristics of the narrator – enjoying the humour of another mans blood on his hands.

 

A prominent question that comes to mind regarding focalization is the overall reliability of the focalizer’s perceptions. In this instance, and throughout the first chapter, the narrators vividly illustrated portrayal of events, allows the reader to comprehend that even though the events he narrates are deemed immoral or of wrongful actions, he doesn’t focalize any remorse to committing them and he doesn’t change his story which makes his accounts rational and reliable based upon his own standards, since there is only one intradiegetic narrator he is stable in a sense, and his stability influences the story in part because of the characteristics of expression that manipulates the reader into feeling no remorse based on the characteristics of descriptions focalized by the narrator.

 

 

Characteristically descriptive, consider the following text: “His hair was the colour of cornsilk, cut blunt like a young boy’s; his face was bland as butter. He might have stepped whole out of James Herriot’s Yorkshire; but for the thread of drool on his chin he might have  been the country vet’s perpetually astonished young apprentice, stethoscope around his neck.” It can be noted that the focalization of this text is inherently based upon the perceptions of the focalizer. This is especially exemplified in the part of “He might have stepped whole out of James Herriot’s Yorkshire.” This is a distinct external focalization made possible internally by the views/perceptions of the narrator regarding an outside illustration which is that of James Herriot’s Yorkshire – a novel. An external characteristic placed upon an internal character.

 

It is also interesting to note that in the first paragraph of the passage it seems like the narrator has tunnel vision, focusing on the feel and the sound of the scalpel – he is a little out of it, most likely on account of his wound and pretending to be dead. Then as he gets his bearings and feels his wounds and the wounds he is inflicting on others, he starts going back to his high-style of parole, using words like: “English blue” and “cornsilk” this is a characteristic example of a focalizer that is directly influenced by the events of the text and how they are able to manifest themselves textually.

 

Text indicators have a key role to play in the formation of story and indication of focalization. It is crucial to identify shifts in textual representations that accurately display prominent and precise focalizations because they in turn influence the ultimate meaning derived from the text by the subsequent reader and add value and insight to understanding the narrator’s character, values or beliefs

 

As exemplified in the following text from my chosen passage: “The eye socket sucked sensually at the scalpel as I pulled it out. I would have left it there – such expedient instruments of cutting deserve their satisfaction-but l required a weapon.” This focalization can be described as internal due to the fact that the narrator/protagonist pulled the scalpel out of the eye socket but it can also be viewed as external because he expresses the reason he did it – that he required a weapon. It is also interesting to note that the discourse of the following “socket sucked sensually at the scalpel” is a characteristic text choice of using alliterations to use a focalization that implies a specific perception of the event to the reader.

 

Another textual indictor of a focalization is evident in “My hands were slick with Drummond’s blood and vitreous Humour” – the capitalization of the ‘H’ signifies that it is literary play on words referencing the 1800’s when it was believed that the body was made up of 4 Humors. This internal focalization is referencing an external ideal, a conscious choice to add depth in a depiction of events.

 

 

As illustrated focalization is at the basis of every narrative and is recognized as having the ability to influence or manipulate readers rooted in technical narrator types, characteristically specific techniques and textual indicators that play to the overall structure of the narration and portrayal of the narrative as perceived by the reader.

Works Cited

 

Brite, Poppy Z.. “Chapter 1.” Exquisite Corpse.

New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1996. Page 27. Print.

 

Terence P. Moran: History of Communication

Throughout history, information has been stored and transmitted as a means to continue communication of knowledge throughout the eras. From the earliest forms of storing information via the Lascaux cave paintings to illustrate hunting to the earliest humans, to modern day corporations keeping internal documents for employees saved and relayed to reference. In its highest level, passing on knowledge through time and space to reach other audiences, is largely at the forefront of cultural survival.

All human communication is founded upon our language-structured ability to stretch the boundaries of our senses by inferring how the realities of time/space and energy/matter operate, and to imagine, design and construct techniques and technologies of communication that are able to provide and share more information than is naturally available through our sensory receptors. (Moran, 1)

 

When reading the first three chapters of Introduction to the History of Communication, it is outlined that there has so far been six key changes throughout the history of human communication that have affected how information is generated, stored and shared over time.

As illustrated by Moran, the key evolutions- revolutions in ways we communicate have evolved from oral and visual signs and symbols to today’s Age of Information (8).

 

After taking into consideration the symbiotic relationships of those key changes of evolution- revolution in technological development, it becomes apparent to me that another evolution- revolution has occurred in the way in which ‘cultural survival’ is no longer dependent on ‘human survival’. As humans and technologies have evolved throughout the eras, there has been an evolutionary shift in the symbiotic relationship between preserving information and relaying information.

 

As communicating information was formerly equated with human survival in earlier eras, it is my belief that in the 21^st century there has been a revolution in the standards that define and measure human survival. It is no longer ‘survival of the fittest’ for the human race, and lack of information doesn’t mean lack of life. For example, in the earliest forms of sharing information via Lascaux cave paintings – not accessing the information could potentially mean not eating ergo death, but in the 21^st century, there are many options of accessible techniques to garner information – look no further than ‘Googling’ grocery store locations to be well informed. Whereas in previous eras not being able to access stored information had a very negative effect on survival, in this day and age not being up-to-date with the latest social media or Cybernetic technology that information is being transmitted, stored, relayed on, doesn’t affect survival – it affects knowledge and ultimately the people choosing not to access the Cybernetic technologies that transmit information are without knowledge.

 

However, garnering knowledge and information is still at the forefront of every successful organization, business, and functioning society. Without information systematically managed, the flow of knowledge would be disrupted and we would never have technological advances (evolutions and revolutions) that largely define our way of life and help to shape emergent future cultures. Information therefore has a key role to play in the critical development of future technologies. For example, if in the late 1890’s the Lumière brothers were not able to access the information pioneered by Thomas Edison’s Kinetograph, the modern video camera as we know it today would cease to exist. It is this type of historical and monumental advances for technologies based on access to collective knowledge that exemplifies the absolute need for access to information that is saved and relayed through space and time.

 

Survival in its broadest sense, extrapolated into the 21^st century, Cybernetic age can be understood more accurately as learning to utilize available communication options,  new technologies and platforms that transmit, store,  and relay information. We are no longer relying on cave paintings and memories to store information. The 21^st century individual uses reference websites like Wikipedia to garner knowledge on a wide variety of topics and uses web applications that harness the collective intelligence provided by the end-user to then systematically manage content and display information accordingly e.g. LinkedIn “people you may know” and, Facebook – News Feeds sorted by navigation patterns.

 

Ultimately at one point in history, not being able to access information had a causal relationship with chances of survival.  Moving forward in our Age of Information society, survival isn’t directly and causally linked with access to information because now we have such a wealth of sources to rely on. The issue lies within the evolution and emergence of net new technologies and the rapid, revolutionary change they bring about in the symbiotic relationship between  ‘cultural survival’ and ‘human survival’, in the end triggered by these ‘new’ technologies becoming commonplace and redundant to effectively reach audiences relaying information that has been stored and can be accessed to further societal development.

The Internet’s Impact

This paper will aim to address the relationship between higher education and the internet, and what impacts the internet industry has had on the academic industry. From things like improved accessibility of academic timetables, coursework, and syllabuses to the impact of internet resources for buying term papers and plagiarism, the central theme of this paper will be the ability to access knowledge and how it is in turn shaping the landscape of academics.

The innovation of the internet has led to shifts in many industries, “the decline in library use specifically has many educators worried, the internet has become the resource of choice for many students” (Leslie 283). The industry has specifically paved the way for more non-traditional methods of acquiring information to emerge and shape our current culture that is obsessed with being able to access information at our fingertips. This in turn has crafted and influenced the new academic environment that presents itself online. This has challenged many traditional methods of accessing information, and with increased access to knowledge in turn comes more potential plagiarism opportunities in academic settings. This essay will address the extent of the internet revolution infringing upon traditional academic education systems ultimately facilitating unethical academic misconduct.

“The internet offers revolutionary potential for the global higher education market” (Pitinsky 69). The landscape of higher education is being influenced by the many new platforms available in the internet industry to facilitate a more diverse school and social interactions. This is seen evident in the many blackboard rooms, school syllabuses, wikis, and class schedules all available online to students. The continued evolution of the internet industry has created a large shift in the industry of higher education and has completely changed the relationship between what academic practises encompassing school work was ultimately defined as in the past and future. There have been substantial positive and negative effects that can be attributed to this change in dynamic and technological innovations have had a key role to play in the diverse way in which information can be accessed. Whereas previous generations had to physically research through numerous print sources, today’s student equates researching with ‘Googling’ and the knowledge is plentiful but the actual scope of researching can be very limited.

Although certainly the Internet can be used constructively to enhance learning, the concern among postsecondary education campuses in connection with student conduct is that an excessive dependence on the Internet will produce a diminished caliber of professionals who are incapable of independent work. Moreover, with the multitude of resources available through technology, students could, in extreme probabilities, graduate from a university without ever having written their own paper or struggled by themselves through a challenging assignment. (Gallant 66)

 

Traditional methods of gathering information have shifted dramatically because of the Internet’s impact on the dissemination of knowledge.

The Internet, in other words, has democratized access to expertise that previously was in the control of the privileged few (Connell 1981). It is significantly easier in the twenty-first century for students to find an abundance of information on any topic and to gather expert opinions and ideas, whether they are attending Harvard or the local community college. A simple Internet search on “homework help from experts” retrieves thousands of hits. (Gallant 69)

The effects of this new form of researching paired with the new architecture of an academic environment created by the internets’ innovation can be seen directly with an improved accessibility to information means a wider scope for general knowledge. With faceless and nameless users online, anyone can be an author or expert and the gap between general knowledge and someone else’s work is getting smaller and smaller as many students don’t attribute  and cite sources properly when what is written can be confused as general knowledge.

 

The widespread impact of the internet on many industries has a key role to play in the facilitation of academic misconduct.

Electronic plagiarism became a growing problem in higher education due to an increase in the number of the internet sites that offered assignments and to changes in students’ ethics (Wengert, 2001). Sommers (2001) reported that contemporary college students functioned in a moral haze, ignorant of thousands of years of moral experience and objective moral truths. (Yates 1)

As students become more dependent on internet resources that are easily accessible, actual facilitated learning decreases and regurgitation of information in the form of cut and paste technique increases “the problem addressed  … was that the availability of resources easily cut and pasted from the Internet facilitated widespread plagiarism in the submission of academic documents.” (Yates 2) information is widely available across many platforms and as expressed in the case study: Is There a Problem with my Term Paper it is expressed that academic students don’t regard buying term papers online as cheating.

“These students, the argument goes, have become so accustomed to downloading music and reading  articles free on the internet that they see it as acceptable to incorporate passages into their papers without attribution’ or to even submit the entire downloaded paper as their own. One Rutgers University professor said, “A typical attitude I hear from students is, ‘if it is on the Internet, it is public knowledge, and I do not have to cite it.” (Leslie 293)

The internet has ultimately “helped to define a specific type of academic misconduct (that is, plagiarism) as well as increased the ease of engaging in that very behaviour. The monetary value of written works is instilled in each subsequent generation by enforcing rules of citation and attribution and punishing those who break those rules.” (Gallant 67) Plagiarism will always be an issue faced win the ever changing environment of academia.  With so many new options available, individual morals and values come into play in decision making affecting academic integrity. Ultimately the relationship between the higher education industry and the internet industry must be monitored through preventative measures regarding plagiarism; it is changing the landscape of academics and infringing upon traditional academic education systems ultimately facilitating unethical academic misconduct through the many non-traditional ways to access knowledge that have emerged in the twenty-first century.

 

Works Cited:

 

Gallant, Tricia Bertram. “Twenty-First Century Forces Shaping Academic Integrity.” ASHE

Higher Education Report 33.5 (2008): 65-78. Academic Search Premier. Web.

 

Leslie, Larry Z.. Mass Communication Ethics: Decision Making in Postmodern Culture.

Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 2007. Print.

 

Pittinsky, Matthew Serbin. The Wired Tower: Perspectives on the Impact of the Internet on

Higher Education. Upper Saddle River: Financial Times/Prentice Hall, 2003. Print.

 

Power, Lori G. “University Students’ Perceptions Of Plagiarism.” Journal Of Higher

Education 80.6 (2009): 643-662.Academic Search Premier. Web.

 

Yates, William. Academic Integrity in the Internet Age.

Florida: ProQuest, 2007. Print.

 

 

An ethical look at the value of news in our society and the priorities of institutions An ethical look at the value of news in our society and the priorities of institutions

The shenanigans of Charlie Sheen and updates about his “Winning” tour leads in the nightly news broadcast, followed by the ever pressing reports about Prince William and Kate Middletons upcoming nuptials. This is notably the most important news of the day, broadcasted on every news channel, trumping virtually everything else: from politics to updates about the aftermath from the crisis in Japan and even progress in Libya, celebrity news takes front seat.

On any given day more than 22, 000 children die because of poor living conditions and sanitation in less developed countries. But this statistic doesn’t get mentioned in the nightly newscast and this issue, like many others seems to go unrecognized in the media as an ever pressing problem. It can be argued that we have lost touch with fully acknowledging critical issues that consume the less developed side of the world – problems that truly matter like that of the human rights violations in Cote d’Ivoire that resulted in thousands of deaths. This issue has been ongoing and was severely silenced and barely acknowledged by the international community and yet Charlie Sheen continues to make headline news and trending topics on Twitter feeds for the last few weeks – how is this morally right.

We are a society driven by the celebrity and global issues aren’t ranked nearly as important as they should be, and the number of celebrity magazines greatly outnumbers that of news magazines at the grocery checkout stand. We so are engulfed by our celebrity obsession we vote for film star, Arnold Swartzgeneger to be a governor of a state just because he has a recognizable status, a celebrity appeal. We put celebrities up on such a high pedestal and equate them as supreme beings, caring more about their daily overrated  issues (i.e. coffee iced or not) than the fact that daily 22,000 children die in the less developed world.

It seems that people are more attuned to the implications of what outfit Lady Gaga is wearing than the implications that the Monsanto conglomerate is doing unto the world. Lady Gaga is a completely irrelevant name to know at the dinner table, whereas Monsanto is actively threatening the dinner table and people don’t seem to take note.

With rise of the technological revolution, accessing information has become increasingly easy and perhaps this fans flames to the celebrity fire. Increased access to information has a key role to play in the ability to stalk celebrities. Since as a society, we are so obsessed with them, and not issues of significant importance, what does this say about culture and to what extent is their privacy valued?

A London based tabloid, News of the World is currently facing numerous lawsuits and investigations regarding mobile device hacking to gain information about numerous notable public figures such as: Sienna Miller, Andy Gray, aids to the Royal Family and many other politicians. The case, which originally dates back as early as 2004 is a key example of the ways in which integrity is diminishing in the media landscape and exemplifies just how much our society craves celebrity gossip. Another factor that plays into this news story is the role of the police, and how they handled the situation – from 2004 – 2006 they didn’t execute a proper investigation and warn the people it involved to be aware of the mobile hacking on their cell phones. It is interesting to note the many ethical principles that are being ignored just to gain juicy gossip. The role of the police is also interesting to note because under the human rights act, the police being a public body must operate to protect citizens privacy, and when they neglected to inform about this misconduct, they ultimately violated ethical standards.

Ethical problem arise from numerous cultural forces, and ultimately the culture we are living in puts so much emphasis on consumerism and the immaculate celebrity appeal that it seems our institutions are compromising their values. This poses concern for everyday citizens, because without the trust in our institutions – where does this leave us. With celebrity privacy diminished, what does this mean for the privacy of everyday citizens, because hacking sensitive information can be easily done – it seems like someone is always watching. And whilst the media continues to report on issues that are devoid of meaning like the breaking news of Justin Bieber’s haircut, what does this mean for our informed society? We are so engulfed by issues devoid of significance it can stand to reason that in the future all news will be celebrity news because we are becoming ignorant about global issues, leading the nightly newscast with news that shouldn’t be dignified news– for instance, take the tabloid name: “News of the World” this not even close to being news of the world and yet most treat it like a shining source of real world news that makes them more informed with what’s going on in society.

 

Works Cited:

 

1. “Children around the World.”Global Issues. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <www.globalissues.org/article/715/today-over-22000-children-died-around-the-world >
2. MacMillan, Robert. “News Corp denies Guardian wiretap story.” The Star Online. Web 16. Apr.2011 <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/11/worldupdates/2009-07-11T011549Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-409627-2&sec=Worldupdates&gt;.
3. “News of the World apologises for phone hacking scandal.”BBC. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13014161&gt;.
4. Shah, Anup. “Cote d‘€™Ivoire Crisis.” Global Issues. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. <http://www.globalissues.org/article/795/cote-divoire&gt;