Saturday, May 23, 2020
Effects of Consumerism - Free Essay Example
Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 265 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2017/09/16 Category Environment Essay Type Argumentative essay Tags: Ecological Footprint Essay Pollution Essay Did you like this example? Imprints on Planet Earth| Consumerism effects Is consumerism just another fancy word for shopping? Who is to say that one personââ¬â¢s ecological footprint from consuming has no effect on the planet? An ecological footprint, also known as a carbon footprint, is the scientific measure of oneââ¬â¢s consumption and the effect of their expenditure to the planet earth (Heddings Frazier,à 2009). Every small act of consumption is a connection to a larger picture. As the population grows, so does the amount of consumption. Many broad differences between consumerism and sustainability exist. Depending on oneââ¬â¢s perception of capitalism, which is the right of every being to acquire and have capital, be it money or tangible possessions. What one might consider a necessity, another might see as needless and wasteful. The desire for a better life often influences consumerism. While everyone needs to consume, unnecessary consumerism is damaging the planet by overflowin g the landfills, creating higher greenhouse gasses with pollution, and causing global warming. Finally, although every being needs to consume to some extent, consumerism in an excess of what is primarily for sustainability, is damaging the planet with air pollution and overflowing landfills. An interesting fact is there are places in Costa Rica that currently use the waste-to-energy system [ (Docksai, 2009) ]. Transported excrements from people and animals are broken down with enzymes and bacteria to form a natural gas used for energy in the villages [ (Docksai, 2009) ]. The same concept can be applied to the garbage from municipal solid waste. To reduce ones ecological footprint, there are small changes everyone can implement to make the difference. Donââ¬â¢t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Effects of Consumerism" essay for you Create order
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Essay on Are Red Light Cameras the Answer - 2053 Words
Are Red Light Cameras the Answer? The automobileââ¬â¢s invention revolutionized the American transportation system. It allowed people to move themselves and cargo from city-to-city and state-to-state in a much faster and efficient manner. Its numbers increased as it gained popularity and became affordable. This led to the development of road networks both within and between cities. Problems arose in the areas where roads intersected each other; accidents occurred at these intersections due to the lack in control of vehicular movements. Cities employed people to direct traffic at busy intersections to address this issue, but eventually the intersections became too numerous to control using this method. The development of automatedâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦However, this method of traffic enforcement is not without its drawbacks. Intersection monitoring with RLCs is not acceptable because they increase rear end collisions, suffer legal uncertainties, and effective alterna tive methods are available. Background Red light running is a serious issue in the United States. According to T. Walden and B. Bochner (2011), it is estimated these violations result in over 100,000 accidents and 1,000 fatalities each year. The economic impact is assessed to be over $14 billion dollars annually (ââ¬Å"Effectiveness of Red Light Cameras-Texas Statewide Evaluation,â⬠p. 30). Typical costs include items such as property damage, medical expenses, response expenditures, etc. The monetary costs are significant, but the loss of life is incalculable. N. Elminity and E. Radwan (2008) state that drivers who run red lights are the primary cause of high-speed angular collisions at intersections (ââ¬Å"Issues Related to Red-Light Camera Enforcement Systems,â⬠p. 32). RLCs are an attempt to increase safety and reduce risk at problematic intersections in order to mitigate these costs. RLCs utilize different triggering methods. According to the Redflex Traffic Systems website, their system uses radar activated cameras to observe intersections. The radar device mounts on poles at each corner near the traffic signals. This configuration provides coverage of theShow MoreRelatedRed Light Cameras: A Direction Violation of our Constitutional Rights, or a Necessary Safety Measure?1350 Words à |à 5 Pages Red Light Cameras: A Direction Violation of our Constitutional Rights, Or a Necessary Safety Measure? There is no doubt that red-light cameras have gained increasing popularity among local municipalities following Floridaââ¬â¢s 2010 decision allowing local governments to install them. The city of Lakeland elected to install nine additional cameras in just the past three years alone (Dunkelberger). Revenue and citations are not the only things that red-light cameras are generating; more and more citizensRead MorePhoto Enforcement Essay1505 Words à |à 7 Pagespresents of photo enforcement cameras on roadways have been an issue for a long time. There have been many debates about whether they are safe or dangerous on the roads. The companies, who make them claim they are safe, yet even some enforcement officials think they cause more accidents than preventing them. Representative Quayle, enforcement cameras should be banned because of the dangers they cause society, harming both the person and their rights. Photo enforcement cameras are causing quite a commotionRead MoreData Analysis Methods And Analysis Essay782 Words à |à 4 PagesBureau. ï ¶ Red Light Camera Programs: obtained through news reports and calls to city police departments or public works department. ï ¶ Calendar Years: 2004-2008 represented the latest 5 years for fatal crash rates available of the after study period while 1992-1996 represented the before study period. ï ¶ Fatality Analysis Reporting System: data on fatal crashes at intersections with signal lights extracted for 1992-1996 and 2004-2008. ï ¶ Poisson Regression Model: examines the relationship of camera enforcementRead MoreThe Wizard Of Oz By F. Frank Baum1423 Words à |à 6 Pagesexperience lessons and learn from them, rather than simply telling her an answer. In this scene, the Wicked Witch of the West goes to Munchkinland after discovering that her sister has been killed by, albeit, Dorothyââ¬â¢s house. The witch dramatically enters in a cloud of rich, red smoke. The munchkins scurry away, hide, and take cover. After Glinda introduces the witch to Dorothy, the witch proceeds to attempts to take the red ruby slippers from her sisterââ¬â¢s feet. However, Glinda magically transportsRead MoreQuotes For Lord Capulet737 Words à |à 3 PagesEssay Outline The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees play at least 22 games a year just against each other, not including playoffs. They are also the largest rival baseball team of all times. Romeo and Juliet could be portrayed using the Capulets as Boston and the Montagues as New York. At one of the games between them taking place in Fenway Park, Romeo and Juliet meet and hit it off right away. Although their rivals, they do not realize who they are until after the game. In my favorite sceneRead MoreAlfred Hitchcock s Marnie ( 1964 )1367 Words à |à 6 Pages Alfred Hitchcockââ¬â¢s Marnie (1964) depicts the psychological development of a young woman as she navigates a life of crime and familial melodrama, ultimately unlocking the suppressed memories that offer answers to her childhood traumas. The director utilizes evocative mise-en-scene, subjective point-of-view shots, and expressive lighting schemes in order to project the title characterââ¬â¢s internal state onto the physical world of the film. In doing so, Hitchcock crafts a diegetic universe that reflectsRead MoreInvestigation of Techniques used by Gary Sininse to Interest His Audience in His Screen Adaptation of Of Mice and Men693 Words à |à 3 Pagesthrough the village, which creates a chasing action packed mood. The director also decided to use a variety of different camera shot to be used in different places, for different reasons in order to make the film more exciting. Some examples for the different ranges of camera shots used, for e.g. a close up of the girl running at the start in the red dress to show her facial expressions and how scared and desperate she is. Also there is a long shot of a group of men approachingRead More Photography Essay1719 Words à |à 7 Pagesmedium and large format (Antonia LoSopio 7-8). Every photographer that uses a medium or large format camera is not a fine artists by any means, yet most average photographers donââ¬â¢t have a desire to shell out $5,000 for a medium format camera, nor do people want to take the time that a larger camera requires. I personally have spent up to four hours just composing the frame with a large format camera before I even used one piece of film. Also medium format and large format film cannot be processedRead MoreEssay about The Shawshank Redemption1040 Words à |à 5 Pagesinmates, Red Redding bet his buddies that Andy would be the first of the new inmates to break that night. Andy would prove him wrong many times over the years. Although pleading innocent, he quickly adapts to prison life keeping himself quiet and reserved from the other inmates but prisoners and guards alike are soon to realise that Andy Dufresne is unlike any man to enter Shawshank before. As he settles to Shawshank Andy begins to become friends with Red who isRead MoreCompare And Contrast The Matrix And Gorilla1360 Words à |à 6 Pagesthe universe of people is a substitute adaptation of reality reproduced through a PC of composed codes and projects, this world is known as the Matrix.In one of the most punctual scenes in the film, Neo is demonstrated gazing at a screen, which the camera concentrates on to uncover, the words take after the white rabbit. The intertextual reference to Lewis Carroll s 1865 novel Alice in Wonderland as of now starts to disclose the possibility of a substitute reality or universe to the audience
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Conversation Analysis and the X Factor Free Essays
string(190) " as justifying why they cannot answer the question, this response also subtly signals solidarity by communicating surreptitiously that there are no ââ¬Ëhard feelingsââ¬â¢ between them\." Part 1 I have selected an interview with X-Factor judge Kelly Rowland, in which she finds out that contestant Frankie Cocozza has been ââ¬Ëkicked offââ¬â¢ of the show. Transcription methods vary depending on what the analyst chooses to investigate. In this particular case, as I was interested in, not only how the speakers perform social activities through language (Seedhouse, 2008), but also the contribution of their non-verbal actions, I chose Conversation Analysis (CA). We will write a custom essay sample on Conversation Analysis and the X Factor or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, one must point out that, although CA emphasises empirical, data-led research ââ¬Å"to guard against building speculative theories,â⬠(Hewings, 2008, p. 4), it is futile to suppose one single, authoritative version of the original event exists (Graddol, 1994). Furthermore, not all features of spoken interaction can be captured, nor can specific motives be attributed to a certain non-verbal action. 01Reporter: of course we are a:bsolutely huge fans of you on the[x factor 02Kelly: [thank you 03Reporter:(loving watching [you 04Kelly: [thank you 05Reporter: um (. ) but b. but (. ) w. weââ¬â¢re sho(cked to hear today ((fiddles with hair)) that Frankieââ¬â¢s (. ) gone (. ) what can you tell ? us ? w. hat do you make of that 06Kelly:(0. 2) what(= 07PA:= I donââ¬â¢t we donââ¬â¢t weââ¬â¢ve been lo(cked in a room [all day 08Reporter: [oh re::ally( hah hah (. ) oh gosh yeah( th. they released a statement saying that he um (. ) that heââ¬â¢s decided to leave 09PA :(. ) oh I donââ¬â¢t know I think weââ¬â¢ll have [to ( ) 10Reporter: [oh Iââ¬â¢m sorry I ( ) 11Kelly: ((holds up hand as if to stop)) [yeah cos that would be quite the face to have from [that oh my god 12Reporter: [Iââ¬â¢m so sorry I didnââ¬â¢t realise it like broke all over twitter (. and I um we got a ? statement ? about it 13PA:((Kelly looks at her PA)) (0. 2) I donââ¬â¢t know weââ¬â¢ll have to cos (Ellenââ¬â¢s not (here from (. ) talkback we havenââ¬â¢t weââ¬â¢d need to get that [verified 14Kelly: [ye: :ah [Iââ¬â¢m sorry 15PA:[ ( ) music interview [today 16Reporter: [like no no Iââ¬â¢m sorry I didnââ¬â¢t mean to= 17PA: =well hahhah 18Reporter:I I didnââ¬â¢t mean to [like 19PA: [ ( ) 20Reporter:Yeah sorry I didnââ¬â¢t mean to [like um I didnââ¬â¢t realise that you (. ) didnââ¬â¢t know 21Kelly: [ ((she sighs loudly)) (0. 3) (poor guy( 380 words Part 2 Conversation Analysis is based on the idea that what is said draws a vast amount of meaning from what is left unsaid (Maybin, 2007). Seemingly incoherent conversations are actually organised in an orderly fashion, centred around the cooperation of participants (Hewings, 2008). The excerpt I have chosen is particularly interesting as, although it stems from a potentially scripted situation, due to Kellyââ¬â¢s misinformation, the entire conversation immediately shifts to unscripted. The conversation begins with informal ââ¬Ësmall talk,ââ¬â¢ known as phatic communion (Malinowski, 1923. Its primary purpose is not its content, but rather to bind the reporter and Kelly together before ââ¬Ëgetting down to business. ââ¬Ë The reporterââ¬â¢s opening comment of being an absolutely huge fan of hers on the X-Factor establishes an interactional framework for the encounter. As the interviewer, she is expected to lead the conversation, yet her continuous opening compliments ââ¬â ââ¬Å"loving watching youâ⬠- show that she is aware of Kellyââ¬â¢s higher status and, thus, is paying far more attention to face needs (Levinson, 1987). ââ¬Å"Faceâ⬠is a term coined by sociologist Goffman (1967) for peopleââ¬â¢s public self-image. Here, the reporter, keen to obtain a successful interview, uses compliments to focus on positive face needs, fitting with Holmesââ¬â¢ (1994) research that women are more likely to give compliments as a way of gaining popularity through ââ¬Ëegalitarian norms. ââ¬Ë Although turn-taking may be taken for granted, it is actually managed through a complex range of linguistic and social signals. In the transcript, we can see that normally one person talks at a time, and any instances of overlap are quickly repaired (lines 15-16). Early conversation analyst, Sacks (1974), suggests this is due to peopleââ¬â¢s shared cultural knowledge of the kind of ââ¬Ëscriptââ¬â¢ used in certain speech events. Therefore, turns can be roughly predicted. Furthermore, this intuitive knowledge is based on adjacency pairs, where particular utterances and responses tend to occur together ââ¬â e. g. , lines 1-4, where each compliment is answered with ââ¬Å"thank you. â⬠Through this dialogic comprehension, turns can easily be allocated. In addition to adjacency pairs, Sacks noticed that speakers unconsciously respond at the end of a grammatical unit, rather than in the middle. In lines 5-7, we see clear examples of transition relevance places (TRP), where the reporter pauses for a response, allowing both other interlocutors to speak. Sometimes, one can slightly overlap the previous speaker or break in before a TRP (e. g. , lines 9-10), which is classed as an interruption. The concept of maintaining face is a constant reference point throughout the interaction, especially when the journalist discovers that Kelly does not know that Frankie has left the competition. Determined to both satisfy Kellyââ¬â¢s face needs, as well as to protect her own, the journalist begins apologising profusely (lines 10-20), in addition to hedging expressions (line 18) to avoid a face-threatening act, personifying the British ââ¬Ënegative politenessââ¬â¢ culture (Brown, 1987). Line 12 even shows an example of typical political rhetoric whereby the journalist immediately changes her usage of the pronoun ââ¬ËIââ¬â¢ to ââ¬Ëweââ¬â¢ in order to give collective responsibility (Beard, 2008) for the news on Frankieââ¬â¢s departure. This signal of inclusiveness is another device used to save face and ensure that conversation continues running smoothly. It is interesting, however, that, contrary to the belief that a person will use ââ¬ËIââ¬â¢ when wanting credit for an idea, the journalist still uses ââ¬Ëweââ¬â¢ (line 5). Given that ââ¬Ëweââ¬â¢ can have various potential meanings, here it would appear to be a mechanism to emphasise with the British public ââ¬â ââ¬Ëwe,ââ¬â¢ as a whole, are shocked at the news. Even so, when apologising, the journalist shifts back to the first person singular, almost as if she feels she has the sole responsibility to maintain face, both for personal and professional motives. Spoken conversation is filled with inexplicit references that are understood by a considerable amount of shared knowledge between speakers. In line 13, when replying to the journalist, the PA announces that ââ¬ËEllenââ¬â¢ is not here ââ¬â we can assume that the journalist knows who Ellen is but, just to make sure, the PA adds ââ¬Ëfrom Talkbackââ¬â¢ (X-Factorââ¬â¢s Production Company). As well as justifying why they cannot answer the question, this response also subtly signals solidarity by communicating surreptitiously that there are no ââ¬Ëhard feelingsââ¬â¢ between them. You read "Conversation Analysis and the X Factor" in category "Essay examples" As Levinsonââ¬â¢s (1987) study shows, people are remarkably adept at interpreting these inexplicit nuances and, thus, it should serve to put the journalist more at ease. These references are closely linked to elliptical structures, such as in line 3 where, although the clause lacks some words, its meaning is inferable from its context. These half-finished sentences are a key part of everyday interactions, yet would seem highly inappropriate in written English. As all speakers are women in this transcript, it is easy to identify their specific style features. According to Lakoff (1975), women are more cooperative and work harder to make conversations run smoother. This aspect is clearly detectable throughout the extract by both the journalistââ¬â¢s repeated apologies and Kelly and her PAââ¬â¢s attempts to casually move away from the issue. This non-confrontational collaborative speech style also centres around an interest in peopleââ¬â¢s feelings (Goodwin, 1990). However, as opposed to Lakoffââ¬â¢s suggestion that women use more tag questions and weaker vocabulary, we see no examples of this in the conversation. One reason may be that the women have no reason to show deference, as there are no men involved and, thus, they do not have to conform to the belief that they occupy a less powerful position in society. One predominant metaphor comes in line 7 of the text when the PA states that they have been ââ¬Å"lockedâ⬠in a room all day. This device both emphasises that they truly have no idea about the news, as well as serving as a pointer to guide the conversation into a different direction. In response to this metaphor, we see continual repetition from the journalist (in particular, ââ¬Å"yeahâ⬠and ââ¬Å"sorryâ⬠). Although repetition is typically used to persuade, here it performs the dual function of consciously expressing the journalistââ¬â¢s nervousness as well as unconsciously signalling how the other speakers should respond. The repetition of ââ¬Å"sorryâ⬠is used to indicate the journalistââ¬â¢s desire to not impose upon them and avoid any act that may threaten face. In terms of prosody, the use of intonational shift is very significant, as it highlights particular key words, as well as prompting the other speakers when to reply (Atkinson, 1984). In line 6, Kellyââ¬â¢s voice rises up on ââ¬Å"What? â⬠to express disbelief and concern at the information that she has been given. Similarly, we see a fall in intonation on the last remark ââ¬Å"Poor guy,â⬠which signals completion as well as sadness. Likewise, the lengthy stress on ââ¬Å"yeahâ⬠(line 14) shows acknowledgement of the PAââ¬â¢s utterance and provides a sense of cooperation with her. A related concept is the function of softly spoken words. In line 5, ââ¬Ëusââ¬â¢ is murmured softly in order to place the journalist on the same level as the interviewee. Despite the typical image of a journalist, this lady wants to show that she is truly interested in how Kelly feels about Frankieââ¬â¢s departure on a personal level. In line 12, ââ¬Ëstatementââ¬â¢ is pronounced quietly to perhaps ââ¬Ësoften the blowââ¬â¢ of the news. As a statement is something official, it highlights the fact that the news is real, and not just a rumour. Therefore, in order to save face, the journalist tactfully pronounces the word. This conversation extract is filled with various meaningful pauses. A lot of these pauses occur within a syntactic unit before an important content word (e. g. line 20) to subtly inform the speaker that they are not finished yet. However, there are also prolonged pauses, such as in line 21 ââ¬â in this case, Kelly is genuinely shocked at the news and needs to carefully plan her answer before speaking. For celebrities, this is even more important, as anything they do say can be subject to scrutiny. The journalistââ¬â ¢s utterances are also classified by filled pauses, such as ââ¬Ëumââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëhahhahââ¬â¢ ââ¬â this shows hesitancy on her part and a caution to ensure that she does not make the situation anymore awkward than it already is. This also explains the reasons for her continual cluttered speech (e. . , line 5) ââ¬â on breaking the news, she cannot predict Kellyââ¬â¢s reaction, and so she nervously brings up the topic, not sure of the best approach, eluding the usual self-assured journalistic persona. Finally, when looking at body language, it appears that it communicates a lot non-verbally. Firstly, in line 5, the reporter fiddles with her hair as she relates the announcement. Although we cannot claim 100% what this means, it is highly likely that this is a comforting action in a tense situation. In line 11, Kellyââ¬â¢s raising of the hand signals that she wishes to stop and does not want her reaction recorded. Line 13 similarly expresses uncertainty on Kellyââ¬â¢s part when she looks at her PA for reassurance before speaking. Finally, in line 21, the prolonged sigh emphasises with Frankieââ¬â¢s grief. Overall, this particular extract fascinated me, as it shows how scripted conversation can quickly turn unscripted when typical conventions break down. Non-fluency features are common and evident ââ¬â there are excessive hesitations, stuttering and repetition by the journalist and spontaneous turn-taking procedures seen by the interruptions and overlaps of Kelly and her PA (Edwards, 2007). Furthermore, irregular supra segmental features are present, as well as fillers and echoes. Syntax is irregular, with convoluted utterances and incomplete sections as well as mid-sentence pauses. In my opinion, Conversation Analysis was the best method to transcribe this conversation as, without it, it would have been impossible to convey the specific emotions of each interlocutor as well as their non-verbal communication. Also, I felt that the false starts and fillers were incredibly relevant to the spontaneity of the extract, and provided an insight into each speakerââ¬â¢s thought process. I specifically chose to omit gaze in my transcript as CA has been criticised for over-analysing simple gestures ââ¬â e. g. , blinking could merely be something in the eye, rather than lying. Using this transcription method, I have been able to analyse both ideational and interpersonal meaning (Halliday, 1978) and how it specifically relates to my chosen example. 1706 words (2086 words in total) References Atkinson, J. M. (1984) Our Masterââ¬â¢s Voices: The Language and Body Language of Politics, London, Methuen Beard, A. 2007) ââ¬ËUsing English to persuadeââ¬â¢ in Maybin, J. , Mercer, N. , and Hewings, A. (eds) Using English, London, Routledge/The Open University, pp. 43-81 Brown, P. and Levinson, S. (1987) Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Crystal, D. (1985) ââ¬ËThings to remember when transcribing speech,ââ¬â¢ Child Language Teaching and Therapy, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 235-239 Edwards, V. (2007) U211 Exploring the En glish Language, DVD 1: Language Play in English, Block B, Unit 11, Section 5, Milton Keynes, The Open University Goffman, E. (1967) Interactional Ritual, Harmondsworth, Penguin Goodwin, M. H. (1990) ââ¬ËTactical use of stories: participation frameworks within girlsââ¬â¢ and boysââ¬â¢ disputesââ¬â¢, Discourse Processes, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 33-71 Graddol, D. , Cheshire, J. , and Swann, J. (1994) Describing Language (2nd edn), Buckingham, Open University Press Halliday, M. A. K. (1978) Language as Social Semiotic: The Social Interpretation of Language and Meaning, London, Edward Arnold Hewings, A. 2008) U211 Exploring the English Language, ââ¬ËConversation Analysis,ââ¬â¢ Resource and Reference Materials, Unit 9, Section 1, Milton Keynes, The Open University Holmes, J. (2001) Introduction to Sociolinguistics (2nd edn), London, Longman Lakoff, R. (1975) Language and Womenââ¬â¢s Place, New York, Harper Row Malinowski, B. (1923) ââ¬ËThe problem of meaning in primitive languagesââ¬â¢ in Ogden, C. K. and Richards, I. M. (eds) The Meaning of Meaning, London, Routledge Kegan Pa ul Maybin, J. (2007) ââ¬ËEveryday talkââ¬â¢ in Maybin, J. , Mercer, N. , and Hewings, A. eds) Using English, London, Routledge/The Open University, pp. 5-41 Percival, A. (2011) What? The moment Kelly finds out Frankie has been axed [online] London http://celebrity. aol. co. uk/2011/11/08/kelly-rowland-frankie-cocozza/ (Accessed: 29th Nov 2011) Sacks, H. , Schegloff, E. and Jefferson, G. (1974) ââ¬ËA simplest systematics for the organization of turn-taking in conversationââ¬â¢, Language, Vol. 50, No. 4, pp. 696-735 Seedhouse, P. (2008) U211 Exploring the English Language, DVD 1: Everyday Talk, Block B, Unit 9, Section 1, Milton Keynes, The Open University Vaid, V. (2011) 4 rules of Verbatim Transcription [online] Gurgaon http://www. indianscribes. com/4-rules-of-verbatim-transcription/ (Accessed: 2nd Dec 2011) ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â Key to transcription methods used in this excerpt (. )Short untimed pause (0. 6)Timed interval [ ]Overlapping utterances or actions ( )Transcription doubtful (Marked rising shift in pitch (Marked falling shift in pitch : :Extension of sound or syllable .Stopping falling tone ? ? Talk that is quieter than surrounding talk How to cite Conversation Analysis and the X Factor, Essay examples
Friday, May 1, 2020
Emma Goldman and Anarchism free essay sample
All of these issues and more were taken into account when Emma Goldsmith became an activist and proponent of anarchism. What is anarchism? A formal definition of it nowadays would probably state that anarchism is a political philosophy which considers the state undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful. Anarchism promotes a stateless society opposing authority in the conduct of human relations. Emma Goldman was a self-pronounced anarchist and in her 1933 speech, ââ¬Å"An Anarchist Looks at Life,â⬠we get a glimpse of her ideology. In 1987, author Martha Solomon wrote what is credited as the first detailed study of Goldman to focus on her achievements as a rhetorician rather than on her involvement in particular causes. Solomons goal is to evaluate her in a spirit she would have preferred: appreciating her creative contributions and acknowledging her limitations (Solomon 149). â⬠Solomon thoroughly examines a number of Goldmanââ¬â¢s essays on a wide range of topics as well as her role as writer and publisher of her magazine, ââ¬Å"Mother Earth. As Solomon analyzes Goldmanââ¬â¢s literary theory, she accuses her of being too vague in her description of anarchism and is convinced that her beliefs are contradictory. In her ââ¬Å"An Anarchist Looks at Lifeâ⬠speech, Emma Goldman starts off talking about ââ¬Å"America, with its huge factories [and] the pedaling of a machine for ten hours a day at two dollars fifty a week. â⬠Clearly she is talking about the highly industrialized state of the country as well as the dreadfully painstaking work schedule. The long hours mixed with the unsanitary and dangerous conditions of the workplace, made for an extremely stressful work environment. Injuries and even death were commonplace under these conditions which is why it made perfect sense for workers to demand better working conditions. Goldman alludes to this when she mentions the Haymarket Massacre in her speech. She describes it as ââ¬Å"the greatest event in [her] life, which made [her] what [she] is. â⬠The Haymarket Massacre, which took place at Haymarket Square in Chicago, began as a rally for striking workers who were advocating for an eight hour work day. It was during this rally when an unknown person threw a bomb at police officers resulting in ensuing gunfire. A group of anarchists were arrested and subsequently sent to death as a result of this. Goldman described this as five noble men being ââ¬Å"judicially murdered by the state of Illinois. â⬠The death of these Chicago ââ¬Å"martyrs was [her] spiritual birthâ⬠and ââ¬Å"their ideal became the motive of her entire life. â⬠Goldman continues her speech acknowledging her realization that most people at the time had ââ¬Å"a very inadequate, very strange and usually false conception of anarchism. She criticizes the press for causing this saying that the paper is ââ¬Å"the last place to seek for truth in any state of form. â⬠Goldman makes sure to convince people that it is not their fault that they feel the way they do. She says that it is the mediaââ¬â¢s fault for forcing their biased opinions upon them. She believed that ââ¬Å"the function of anarchism in a revolutionary period [was] to minimize the violence of the revolution and replace it by constructive efforts. Anarchism is a releasing and liberating force because it teaches people to rely on their own possibilities, teaches them faith in liberty, and inspires men and women to strive for a state of social life where everyone shall be free and secure. â⬠As an anarchist, Goldman proclaims that ââ¬Å"anarchism repudiates any attempt of a group of men or of any individual to arrange life for others. â⬠Obviously she feels that the government has too much input in how people live and manage their lives. The greater the freedom and the opportunities for every unit in society, the finer will be the individual and the better for society; and the more creative and constructive the life of the collectivity. â⬠This quote in essence, sums up Emma Goldmanââ¬â¢s ideology. In Martha Solomonââ¬â¢s analysis of Emma Goldman, she tries to convince the reader that Goldmanââ¬â¢s ideology is contradictory. She claims that Like a wide-angle lens on a camera, [Goldmanââ¬â¢s] anarchism widens her field of view but distorts her vision (Solomon, 86). She said earlier in her analysis that Goldmans ââ¬Å"theories are better as a model for the life of a rebel than as a foundation for a new society (Solomon, 60). â⬠Solomon makes it seem like Emma Goldmanââ¬â¢s ideas about anarchist are almost like the platform for a religion. Looking back at Goldmanââ¬â¢s speech, she does describe anarchism as a ââ¬Å"releasing and liberating forceâ⬠which ââ¬Å"teaches faith in liberty. â⬠How would this ideology be effective in solving the issues of the day concerning immigrants, civil rights, free speech, and criminal justice? Solomon uses Goldmanââ¬â¢s quote, ââ¬Å"the function of anarchism in a revolutionary period is to minimize the violence of the revolution and replace it by constructive efforts (Solomon, 62). â⬠Solomon believed that with this quote, Goldman was forced to acknowledge that the theory she cherished was too avant-garde to be useful in correcting immediate problems (Solomon, 62). â⬠In other words, she believed Goldman knew that her ideas pushed the boundaries of what was accepted as the norm a little too much. It was interesting looking at both Emma Goldmanââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"An Anarchist Looks at Lifeâ⬠and Martha Solomonââ¬â¢s analysis in ââ¬Å"Emma Goldmanâ⬠. It was interesting to see how Solomon tried to use Goldmanââ¬â¢s quotes to accuse her explanation of anarchism as being ââ¬Å"too vague and unconvincing (Solomon 62). â⬠The secondary source did fairly and effectively use the primary source, but I did not find it convincing. I donââ¬â¢t feel that Goldmanââ¬â¢s ideology was contradictory and I feel that she did truly believe that her beliefs could work. Bibliography: Martha Solomon, Emma Goldman, Boston, MA: Twayne Publishers, 1987. Emma Goldsmith (1933, March), An Anarchist Looks at Life, speech presented at the Foyles Twenty-ninth Literary Luncheon
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