The Military in Art

The word propaganda has come to have sinister overtones though this was not always the case. Propaganda today evokes images of sinister lies and obfuscations told by enemies of the state to sway the minds of the citizens. Yet in a larger sense all art is propaganda to some degree and military art is propaganda on a grand scale. Art is designed to cause an emotional response in the viewer. Throughout history artists have served the state, willingly or not so willingly, in an effort to further the aims of the government, be it republic or clan of elders.   Those works of art that are most effective are those that hit the viewer viscerally and cause a response that is near equal to the actual event being depicted in the art work. The works mentioned here are like that. I served in the United States Air Force for six years as a military policeman. I have traveled to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Korea. I have seen artwork that has evoked emotion in me and I have seen art that was truly representational of the events I have seen. James Dietz’ work, I Shall Defeat Them on the Battlefield, can be found as a limited edition print from the online gallery of the artist. The image size is 36† x 21.5 â€Å". It depicts the United States Army 75th Ranger Unit on the ground. This unit remains the Army’s premier special operations force capable of conducting a full spectrum of operations to include direct action raids and forced entry operations (JamesDietz.com). Dietz depicts an action scene in a dim setting. In the background is the skyline of a city that was ancient in the days when Christ walked the lands of the Middle East. The modern warriors, carrying firearms and dressed in body armor seem incongruent beneath the palms and the domed edifices creating the negative space in the lower portion of the sky. An automobile is in the streets where camels would seem more at home, juxtaposed in contrast to the ancient city and the modern warriors, signifying a delivery system of enemy fire. First Boots on the Ground, by William Phillips, is now available as a limited edition print, measuring 31† x 19 â€Å". It is a classic scene from the Viet Nam era, featuring a sky filled with helicopters and reminiscent of Apocalypse Now. The work depicts the 1965 battle of La Drang Valley, famous for its intensity.   â€Å"At 10:48 the helicopter touches down, and Lt. Col. Moore, Sgt. Major Plumley, Capt. Metsker, Bob Ovellette, Al Bosse and Vietnamese translator Mr. Nik become the first boots on the ground at La Drang† (OzarkAirFieldsArtworks 2005). This art is compelling and personal to me for it depicts the ultimate in warfare, that time when the soldier commits and becomes a weapon aimed at the heart of the enemy. He has left the relative safety of the helicopter. He no longer is behind the line depending on artillery or mortar fire, but rather advances, putting his life on the line as he moves inexorably toward the opposing warrior. Charlene Cooper’s moving artwork, titled with the acronym B.O.M.B., signifying Blood of My Brothers, is a drawing in graphite and colored pencil. The intense blue of the flag is complimented by the red of the tear streaming down the face of the warrior. It appeals to me for reasons that would be clear to most combat veterans, as it shows the side of a soldier seldom seen or discussed openly. The man holds a folded American Flag as that single tear, executed in the red of blood, is seen to escape his eye. He shows the pent up emotion which soldiers rarely display and gives the viewer the understanding that he is a flesh and blood creature, endowed with all the sentiment and feeling of any other man. He is proud of the job he has done, but keenly aware of the price that was ultimately paid by so many of his friends and compatriots. I find Cooper’s work the most compelling of these three, for it appeals to a side of me that is most often hidden from the view of others. It touches me in a place where I am alone with my feelings and appeals to me on a spiritual level. Even her choice of title is compelling, bringing to the piece a thought-provoking message that transcends the art and gives the viewer ideas that there is more to the piece than what appears on the surface, making it multi-leveled and multi-dimensional. Works Cited Artwanted.com  Ã‚  Ã‚   2007 B.O.M.B. (Blood of My Brothers) Retrieved 10-8-2007 From: http://www.artwanted.com/imageview.cfm?id=458010  Ã‚  Ã‚   JamesDietz.com 2007 I Shall Defeat Them on the Battlefield Retrieved 10-8-2007 OzarkAirFieldArtworks.com  Ã‚   2005   First Boots on the Ground Retrieved 10-8- 2007 from: http://www.ozarkairfieldartworks.com/firstbootsontheground.html                      .

Biography of Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Pioneer

Biography of Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Pioneer Rosa Parks (February 4, 1913–October 24, 2005) was a civil rights activist in Alabama when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white person: her case touched off the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was a significant milestone forcing the Supreme Court to end segregation. She once said, When people made up their minds that they wanted to be free and took action, then there was change. But they couldnt rest on just that change. It has to continue. Parks words encapsulate her work as a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. Fast Facts Known For: Civil rights activist in the American south of 1950s and 1960sBorn: February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, USAParents: James and Leona Edwards McCauley  Died: October 24, 2005, in Detroit, MichiganEducation: Alabama State Teachers College for NegroesSpouse: Raymond ParksChildren: None Early Life Born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her mother, Leona Edwards was a teacher and her father James McCauley, was a carpenter. Early in Parks childhood, she moved to Pine Level, right outside the capitol of Montgomery. Parks was a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) and attended primary school until the age of 11. Everyday Parks walked to school and realized the disparity between black and white children. In her biography, Parks recalled Id see the bus pass every day. But to me, that was a way of life; we had no choice but to accept what was the custom. The bus was among the first ways I realized there was a black world and white world. Education and Family Parks continued her education at the Alabama State Teachers College for Negroes for Secondary Education. However, after a few semesters, Parks returned home to care for her ailing mother and grandmother. In 1932, Parks married Raymond Parks, a barber and member of the NAACP. Through her husband, Parks became involved in the NAACP as well, helping to raise money for the Scottsboro Boys. In the daytime, Parks worked as a maid and hospital aide before finally receiving her high school diploma in 1933. Civil Rights Movement In 1943, Parks became even more involved in the Civil Rights Movement and was elected secretary of the NAACP. Of this experience, Parks said, I was the only woman there, and they needed a secretary, and I was too timid to say no. The following year, Parks used her role as secretary to research the gang rape of Recy Taylor. As a result, other local activist established the Committee for Equal Justice for Mrs. Recy Taylor. Through the help of newspapers such as Chicago Defender the incident received national attention. While working for a liberal white couple, Parks was encouraged to attend the Highlander Folk School, a center for activism in workers rights and social equality. Following her education at this school, Parks attended a meeting in Montgomery address the Emmitt Till case. At the end of the meeting, it was decided that African-Americans needed to do more to fight for their rights. The Montgomery Bus Boycott It was 1955 and just a few weeks before Christmas and Rosa Parks boarded a bus after working as a seamstress. Taking a seat in the colored section of the bus, Parks was asked by a white man to get up and move so that he could sit. Parks refused. As a result, the police were called and Parks was arrested. Parks refusal ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a protest that lasted 381 days and pushed Martin Luther King Jr. into the national spotlight. Throughout the boycott, King referred to Parks as the great fuse that led to the modern stride toward freedom. Parks was not the first woman to refuse to give up her seat on a public bus. In 1945, Irene Morgan was arrested for the same act. And several months before Parks, Sarah Louise Keys and Claudette Covin committed the same transgression. However, NAACP leaders argued that Parks- with her long history as a local activist- would be able to see a court challenge through. As a result, Parks was considered an iconic figure in the Civil Rights Movement and the fight against racism and segregation in the United States. Following the Boycott Although Parks courage allowed her to become a symbol of the growing movement, she and her husband suffered severely. Park was fired from her job at the local department store. No longer feeling safe in Montgomery, the Parks moved to Detroit as part of the Great Migration. While living in Detroit, Parks served as secretary for U.S. Representative John Conyers from 1965 to 1969. Following her retirement, Parks wrote an autobiography and lived a private life. In 1979, Parks received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. She was also the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal When Parks died in Detroit on October 24, 2005, she became the first woman and second non-U.S. government official to lie in honor at the Capitol Rotunda. Sources Rosa Parks, civil rights pioneer, dies. The New York Times, October 25, 2005.  Rowbotham, Sheila. Rosa Parks: Activist whose refusal to give up her bus seat ignited the US civil rights movement. The Guardian, October 25, 2005.Sullivan, Patricia. Bus Ride Shook a Nations Conscience. Washington Post, October 25, 2005.  Theoharis, Jeanne. The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. Boston: Beacon Press, 2013.

Discussion Questions to Use in English Conversation

Discussion Questions to Use in English Conversation Asking good questions is essential to having interesting conversations. Sometimes, its difficult to come up with good questions when learning a new language like English. Here are several questions divided up by category to help classes improve their conversational skills by discussing topics that play an important role in their daily life. If you are teaching questions, can feel free to print out the questions for use in class. If you are learning English on your own, use these questions as cues to help you have conversations with other English learning friends or English speakers. Language Learning Do you speak any other languages?How many languages do you speak?Which languages do you speak?How long have you been studying English?How much do you study English every day?What is the most difficult thing about English for you?Are you studying American English or British English?Does listening to songs in English help you learn the language? How?Why are you studying English?Do you use English at work? If yes, how do you use English at work?Do you use the Internet to help you with English? If yes, how do you use the internet to help you with English?What is the easiest thing about English for you?How do you learn new vocabulary in English?In your opinion, what is the best way to learn English?Do other people in your family speak English?How do you think English will be helpful for your future?What could you do to improve your English even more?Which activities do you find most helpful in English class?Which activities do you find least helpful in English class?Do you think learning English with a native English speaker is a good idea? Education Are you a student?Where are you currently studying?How long have you been studying?If you are not a student, when did you finish studying?What did you study when you were a student?Which classes do you like the most?Which classes do you like the least?Which classes do you think will help you the most in the future?Which classes do you think arent necessary for your future?Who is your favorite teacher? Why?How often do you go to school?How much homework do you have to do?Are you going to graduate soon? If so, when?Which techniques help you with your homework?How important are computers for your studies?Do you go to university? If so, what is your major?What could your teachers do to help you learn more?Is higher education expensive in your country?How often do you skip class?How do you have to take tests? Hobbies and Activities Do you have any hobbies?How do you stay fit?Do you play any sports? If so, which sports do you play?In your opinion, what are the advantages of team sports?In your opinion, what are the advantages of individual sports?How do hobbies help people enjoy life?Do you belong to any clubs? If so, which clubs do you belong to?How much time do you spend doing your hobbies?What type of outdoor activities do you enjoy?What type of indoor activities do you enjoy?How long have you been doing your favorite hobby?How many different types of hobbies can you name?Can you name any of the hobbies of your friends?How much do you spend on your free time activities?Is your hobby expensive? If so, why?Have you made any friends through your hobbies?What days of the week do you do your hobbies?Where do you go to participate in your hobby?Which hobby would you like to take up?Do you think everyone should have a hobby? If so, why? Money and Work Do you have a job? If so, what is it?How important is money to happiness?What do you enjoy about your job?Whats the most challenging part of your work?Whats the most satisfying part of your work?Describe your colleagues.Would you like to try another profession? If so, which?How long have you been working at your current job?Do you invest any of your savings?How do you take care of budgeting?How many people work in your family? What do they do?Is unemployment a problem in your country?What type of education do you need for your profession?What type of continuing education do you do for your profession?In your opinion, how important is a big salary to job satisfaction?Have you ever had a promotion? If so, when were you last promoted?Describe your boss.Do you enjoy working with people?Which sector do you work in?Do you have a retirement plan at work? Family and Friends How many siblings do you have?Are you married? If so, tell me about your husband / wife.Who is your best friend? Tell me about him / her.Do you have any children? How many children do you have?Do you have a lot of acquaintances?How do you make new friends?Whats a good way to make new friends?What type of things do you like doing with your friends?Which activities do you enjoy doing as a family?Do you eat together as a family? If so, which meals?Tell me about your favorite aunt or uncle. Why are they your favorite?If you dont have any children, would you like to have children?Do you spend more time with your family or your friends?Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend? If so, tell me about them.What bothers you about your brother or sister?What bothers you about your father or mother?Are you an only child?How would you describe your best friend?Have you ever done business with friends or family? If so, what was it like?What should parents do or not do for their children? Technology How important is technology in modern life?Which technologies do you use at work?Which technological gadgets do you have?How much time do you spend on the computer?Do you use social media? If so, how much time do you spend on social media?Which technology could you live without?Which technology could you not live without?In your opinion, whats the most important type of technology in our lives?Are you comfortable using a computer?Do you think we can trust what we read on the internet?How can we recognize if something is trustworthy on the internet?What type of device would you like to buy?How much money do you spend on technology every year?Can you program a computer? If not, would you like to learn?Do you spend more time watching TV or surfing the internet?Do you ever shop online? If so, what type of things do you buy online?What would happen if we lost electricity for a long period of time?If you could, would you use less or more technology every day?What type of technology do you find frustrating? Which type of technology do you find the most helpful in your daily life?

Answer the questions after read articles (Life Science) Article

Answer the questions after read articles (Life Science) - Article Example Based on these the basic organization of life was classified under 5 major divisions namely: Animalia, Plantea, Fungi, Protista and Monera. With the advent of new technologies and fossil records many scientists believe that kingdom Protista and Fungi cannot constitute a separate lineage as higher classes of organisms are believed to have evolved from these unicellular eukaryotes. Additionally the kingdom Monera which includes the prokaryotic life forms cannot be classified along with the others as there is a primary distinction between prokaryotes and the other eukaryotic organisms. The advent of sequencing has made the molecular sequences accessible which has in turn fuelled the need for a more formal taxonomical classification using the available molecular data. Hence these scientific breakthroughs have called for a new hierarchical system of classification. Archeabacteria resemble eubacteria more closely on a molecular level. The evolution of photosynthetic eubacteria along with archea and possibly eukaryotes dates back to 3 to 4 billion years ago. Archeabacteria resemble prokaryotes in their cell cytology but on the molecular level they resemble eubacteria. However, with the exception of some differences the archeabacterial molecules bear a close resemblance to the eukaryotic counterparts. The Bt gene discovered from the organism Bacillus thuringiensis, has the ability to destroy corn borers such as caterpillars by damaging their guts. Hence this gene was isolated from the bacterium and introduced into corn. Other similar genetically modified foods include tomatoes, rice and potatoes. The monarch caterpillar eats leaves of milkweed which is present in roadsides and edges of fields. The present study revealed that these caterpillars died after munching the milkweed leaves which contained Bt corn pollen. However, in California the government has passed laws to protect the habitat of these monarch caterpillars due to the increasing threats

Nuclear Medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nuclear Medicine - Essay Example Preparation of patient mostly is dependent on the type of procedure that will be performed. Allergy must be checked for radioactive tracer material used. Some of the procedures such as a bone scan do not need intensive patient preparation, but some require. A good example is thyroid body scan. When a patient is being prepared for thyroid test he or she should be instructed to speak with the technologist directly before the procedure is undertaken. The patient should be instructed to stop all thyroid medication since they may be falsely detected as a pathology with the machine. Before stopping the medication, they should seek clarification from the doctor. The patients sometimes are instructed to fast for two hours for the effectiveness of the nuclear medicine procedure (Chia-Ho, 2014). Nuclear medicine has many advantages. One is the advantage painless and less not invasive. It can help to diagnose, treat even predict the outcome of a wide range of condition without causing a lot of trauma to the patient. It helps to detect pathology within the body at the early time that in turn can help control the condition ahead of time. Nuclear medicine can also help to check how well the cancers are responding to therapy. Nuclear medicines also have a share of disadvantages and limitation. It involves exposure to ionizing radiation that can cause mutation if they are in huge doses. Some of the radioactive tracer materials injected into bodies have an allergic reaction that can be very detrimental. Hence, it is necessary to test for the presence of allergy with radioactive tracer material before nuclear medicine procedure is commenced. A time sedation may be needed because nuclear medicine procedure a time make patient feels claustrophobic (Mititelu, 2014) Most of the ailments that are diagnosed and treated with nuclear medicine are internal. This ailment will otherwise require a surgical procedure to be done for the diagnosis or therapeutic procedure to be done.

Rize-Film Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rize-Film Critique - Essay Example The setting and the effects used are accurate too. The scenes are moving and the characters express the right emotions when needed. For example, Tommy the Clown adjusts his expressions to make them hilarious for kids. This serves to show the relevance of the film. The social message, the authenticity of the dance moves and the accuracy of the setting make this film a commendable effort. There are several negative aspects of the film. One concerns the strip dancing routine. This raises a concern considering that there is a scene where preteen girls and dancers affiliated with strict Christian faith perform it. The speed and exaggeration of the dance moves could come out to some viewers as unrealistic too. Nevertheless, the negatives of this film are overwhelmed by the appealing views of this film. In conclusion, Rize is a very appealing and energetic film. It elicits high levels of amazement and interest in the viewer. The film director, David LaChapelle, shows his talent by making a captivating, accurate and a socially relatable film. The characters are instrumental in making the film a success by executing the dance moves powerfully and in a synchronized manner. Tommy the Clown serves as the main character and pioneer of the clowning dance, a mixture of break dancing and simulated fighting. He showcases transformation from a convict to a positively influential person on the streets through his unique form of dancing. The dance moves are fast but very real. This enhances the authenticity of the film.

Social Medias Impact on Youth Marketing Essay Example for Free

Social Medias Impact on Youth Marketing Essay Social networking and smartphones will play an all-important role in the youth marketing and media trends for 2011, as they have become part of the youth lifestyle and culture. The following trends will make it easy to see why they are and will continue to be a dominant force in the youth market for the year 2011 and beyond. 1. Social media Seen by most as the biggest shift since the industrial revolution, social media has become an important aspect of the youth culture. 2011 will see more youth becoming addicted to social networking and more companies targeting the youth through this means, due to its great viral effect. It makes it also easy to understand why Time magazine named Facebook founder Mark Zackerberg man of the year for 2010. 2. Smartphones Standard phones cannot fully cater to the online and social networking craving of the youth and, as more companies and universities introduce policies that limit the use of social networking sites during the day/working hours, this has led to more youth jumping onto the smartphone bandwagon as a means of countering these restrictions. The increase in the number of smartphone users has also been greatly fuelled by the decrease in prices, which has made the phones more affordable for the youth. 3. Apps More youth are discovering that they can do more with their phones and this interest has given rise to the downloading of different applications. Different brands have different apps ranging from business applications to entertainment, but the one thing apps have in common is the fact that they make it easier and more exciting to use phones. With Apple alone having over 300 000 applications to choose from and it having opened its Apple Mac application store on 6 January 2011 with over one million apps downloaded in one day and with all the new apps for the tablets, we can expect 2011 to be a year of apps. 4. BBM BBM BlackBerry Messenger has taken the youth market by storm, and it is easy to see why RIM is one of the fastest growing companies in the world. The youth love sharing and staying connected and this is what BBM does, enabling them to share through instant messaging (IM). The idea behind BBM is to make it easier to share with friends, BUT, since it must be BlackBerry to BlackBerry, we can expect to see a rise in the number of youth making use of BBM, since by word of mouth more and more youth are convince their peers to join the family. 5. Mobile commerce The rise in the number of youth using smartphones, and constantly logging onto the Internet through their phones, will see more and more companies seeking to engage and interact with the youth through their cellphone devices. Messages sent through other forms of media may easily be lost in the clutter or never seen, while those through the cellphone are direct and will definitely be opened by the cellphone owner. The youth are getting big on cellphone banking and making payments via their cellphones, so 2011 will see more youth doing mobile transactions. 6. Mobile learning The increase in the number of youth with smartphones and the increase in the time spent online will lead to more institutions and educational heads looking into conveying some of their educational material through cellphones, as a way of making education relevant to the youth culture and lifestyle. 7. Online advertising Traditional media platforms, such as television, radio and magazines, are under great threat from the Internet and its online community. As more people spend more time online, companies and brands are being forced to target them through this form of media. 2011 will see a continued rise in online advertising, targeting the youth, from both local and international perspectives. Consequently, we can expect to see an increase in online advertising spend targeting the youth. 8. Corporate social websites We are going to see a rise in website integration for companies or brands that are targeting the youth market. Previously, websites were all about the company; however, the new shift has seen a change to cater to the dialogue with the youth and encourage them mostly to follow through Twitter feeds and connect through Facebook fan pages. 9. Blogging The youth of today are very opinionated; they want to be able to express themselves. More often than not, this expression gives rise to word of mouth. 2011 will see the rise in the number of youth bloggers, who will post opinions about products and brands, and, with this kind of social activism on the rise, this is really going to keep a lot of companies on their feet. 10. Tablets For the early adopters and those that can afford it, the likes of the Apple iPad and the Blackberry Playbook are going to be the must-have tech gadgets. With Hewlett-Packard announcing its own webOS-based PalmPad, we can be sure to expect a decrease in price of the gadgets on the local market and more youth being able to afford and taking up these gadgets. The newest version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb was developed for devices such as tablets and is going to make them a pleasure to use. 11. Wifi hot spots Wifi hotspots will attract more youth as they strive to stay connected, even when they are out and about. We are therefore going to see more cafes and restaurants catering to this by enabling wifi on their premises its no longer just what you have on your menu, but rather if you can stay connected while you eat and/or drink.