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Because of a heavy schedule we often ?nd it really hard to keep track of how balanced our daily diet is. Also, there is the assumption that a healthy meal will be boring or tasteless, so we frequently choose fast food, pre-cooked or packaged food. This type of food always has an extended list of ingredients which is not a good sign usually because you can ?nd there hidden sodium, many preservatives and also a lot of calories.
Get original essayIn order to change your diet, you have to reduce the number of calories you eat every day. This means that you should avoid (or reduce) the dietary excess of bad fats (butter, margarine, shortening, beef or pork fat, etc.) and quick-release sugars because there are stored as fat within your body. Instead you’d better eat vegetables, fruit and lean proteins, good carbs (for example oats, rye, brown rice etc.), good fats (e.g. avocados, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, olives, olive oil etc.). You could also reduce the quantity of food that you eat for each meal. Moreover, calorie restriction keeps people away from age-related diseases according to the Pennington Biomedical Research Centre in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
You shouldn’t skip meals, especially breakfast which has to be generous, but, on the other hand, dinner has to be light. Researchers from the University of Hohenheim in Germany found out that on days with skipping meals, the other ones had extra calories for compensating the skipped meal, so, in fact, if you skip a meal you won’t eat less. Ideally you need to have 3 meals a day and two snacks (healthy ones like fruit, vegetables, almonds, etc.). Also, it can be very helpful to have a schedule for your meals and snacks and try not to eat something else between meals. If you get hungry you should drink water, coffee or tea (without sugar). Also it could help if you keep a diary of your meals where you can write down the timetable for each of your meals, ideas or the number of calories, so you can keep track of your diet.
To help you with your diet, it is better to choose starches for your meals (as often as possible) like whole-wheat pasta or bread, brown rice etc. They give you the feeling of satiety and provide you with the energy you need. Additionally a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found out that food high in protein also leads to a sensation of fullness.
Last but not least, one of the most important steps in order to keep a well-balanced diet is to think of your schedule. Try to plan the meals you have to cook in order to avoid food waste (for example if you have lunch with a client you shouldn’t cook for that day). Then make your menu taking into consideration the advice provided so far to keep your meals nutritionally balanced. Try going shopping in the weekend with a grocery list which comprises each of the ingredients you need for cooking for a whole week. Also, to organise your shopping list better you can sort the ingredients by section: meat, dairy, produce, etc. The last step is to prep and pack your food and store it in plastic containers so you have easy access to it.
Tiny hair cells inside your inner ear help you hear. They pick up sound waves and change them into the nerve signals that the brain interprets as sound. Hearing loss occurs when the tiny hair cells are damaged or die. The hair cells DO NOT regrow, so most hearing loss caused by hair cell damage is permanent.There is no known single cause of age-related hearing loss. Most commonly, it is caused by changes in the inner ear that occur as you grow older. Your genes and loud noise (from rock concerts or music headphones) may play a large role.
Get original essayThe following factors contribute to age-related hearing loss:
Family history (age-related hearing loss tends to run in families)
Repeated exposure to loud noises
Smoking (smokers are more likely to have such hearing loss than nonsmokers)
Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes
Certain medicines, such as chemotherapy drugs for cancer
Age-related hearing loss is a natural part of the aging process.
As we get on in years, our hearing drops off. The treatment for age-related hearing loss is hearing aids. However, researchers believe that music and our eating habits can delay or reduce age-related hearing loss.One of the major causes of hearing loss is ageing. Hearing loss is a natural consequence of getting older. As you get older, the hair cells in your inner ear begin to die and when more and more hair cells die our hearing gets worse and worse. This happens to all of us and we all begin to lose our hearing when we are in our 30’s and 40’s.
Some people lose their hearing and get an age-related hearing loss earlier and faster than others. Around the age of 50, we see that more and more people get age-related hearing loss. Age-related hearing loss is especially common among people in their 60’s and 70’s. Age-related hearing loss is also called Presbyacusis. The treatment for age-related hearing loss is always hearing aids. Age-related hearing loss and GPsA study has shown that Australian GPs only play a minor role when it comes to identifying age-related hearing loss. Australian researchers have found that the levels of identification and management of hearing loss by GPs in Australia are relatively low and there appear to be relatively few cases in which hearing loss is identified opportunistically.
Data from one former study showed that only about 3 out of 1000 GP consultations with patients above the age of 50 involved management of age-related hearing loss.Musical trainingA study suggests that musical training from an early age could account for why older musicians have better hearing than non-musicians. An American scientist has shown that the brain can be trained to overcome some age-related hearing loss and that people, for whom music has been a part of their life since childhood, had an advantage when distinguishing one consonant from another.
Folate may reduce hearing lossSurveys indicate that folate may benefit your hearing. Low blood-levels of folate are associated with a 35% increased risk of hearing loss, according to a study from Australia. Folate is the natural source of vitamin B9. This study supports the link between B-vitamins and hearing.Researchers at the University of Sydney have examined blood levels of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine and correlated this with the risk of age-related hearing loss.
In 2009, researchers revealed that men over the age of 60 with high folate intake from foods and supplements had a 20% decrease in the risk of developing hearing loss. In 2007, in a study of 728 men and women between the ages of 50 and 70, scientists reported that folic acid supplements delayed age-related hearing loss in the low-frequency region.
Calorie restriction may also delay age-related hearing loss. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US have succeeded in delaying age-related hearing loss in mice by restricting their intake of calories. Experiments with mice have shown that a 25% reduction in calories activated a single enzyme, Sirt3, which helped preserve hearing. Although the diet delayed hearing loss at various frequencies in the normal mice, it did not work at all in the mice lacking Sirt3.
When you age, the outer part of the ear canal thins while earwax gets drier and stickier. This increases the risk of impacted wax. In addition, the eardrum may thicken, but the most significant changes take place in the cochlea, such as loss of sensory cells and degenerative changes in the nerve fibers that carry information from the sensory cells to the brain.These are the main types of hearing loss and their causes.
With this type of hearing loss, your hearing is muffled. It is typically caused by a build-up of ear wax, which blocks the ear canal and prevents sound from entering. Your primary healthcare provider can diagnose and remove the wax if there is an excessive build-up. It is normal for all ears to have some wax as this helps to protect the outer ear canal. Other causes of conductive hearing loss include infections in the skin lining the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, arthritis that affects the bones of the ear, or a hole in the eardrum. None of these causes are very common in older people. One condition that affects older individuals and causes conductive hearing loss is Paget’s disease of bone.
This is the most common type of hearing loss in older adults. It is typically caused by changes or damage to the hair cells and/or nerves in the cochlea. The main cause is age but excessive noise exposure and ototoxicity (damage to the inner ear caused by drugs or chemicals) can contribute as well. Other causes of sensorineural hearing loss include genetics or blood vessel problems (including those related to diabetes). More rarely, sensorineural hearing loss may be related to: occupational and environmental factors such as chemical exposurescertain autoimmune diseasesnerve tumorsinfections such as herpes and influenzacigarette smoking.
Older adults with the following conditions are more likely to experience hearing loss: dementiadiabetescerebrovascular disease (conditions that affect blood flow to the brain)
Dual sensory impairment (for example, vision and hearing loss at the same time) is a significant. problem for at least 30% of older adults. One type of sensorineural hearing loss, called “central hearing loss”, occurs when you lose the ability to understand speech in situations such as in the presence of competing noise, competing conversation, or in environments where sound can echo. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (loss that occurs over 72 hours) often has no identifiable cause. The primary symptom is the sensation of a full or blocked ear. If you have sudden ear blockage or fullness, contact your healthcare provider promptly to avoid any treatment delay. Treatment may include corticosteroids taken by mouth or by ear drops.A third type, mixed hearing loss, is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Signs and Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Typical signs of a hearing problem include:
Playing the radio or TV too loudly
Saying “what?” a lot during conversations
Having problems communicating during parties or in restaurants
Not hearing something if the person is out of your range of vision
Sometimes you are so unaware of your hearing loss that it is up to a family member to tell you and your healthcare provider that you’re having problems hearing.
A simple way to tell if you’re having problems is with the “whisper test”. Have someone stand about two feet away and whisper a letter and number combination like “4K2”. If you can’t hear the combination, it indicates that you have some hearing loss and should undergo formal testing. Another possible symptom of hearing loss is ringing in the ear (tinnitus). Tinnitus often accompanies age-related hearing loss, but it could also be a symptom of an unrelated condition requiring medical attention. Therefore, if you experience tinnitus, you should see your primary care provider or an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, throat doctor) for an evaluation.
There are more than 200 drugs that are known as ototoxic—meaning that they affect hearing. Often, simply stopping an ototoxic drug will restore hearing, but sometimes the damage is permanent. The first sign of hearing problems related to a medication is usually tinnitus (ringing in your ears). You may also experience some balance problems or dizziness. Some ototoxic medications include: Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is the loss of hearing that gradually occurs in most of us as we grow older. It is one of the most common conditions affecting older and elderly adults.Approximately one in three people in the United States between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing. Having trouble hearing can make it hard to understand and follow a doctor’s advice, respond to warnings, and hear phones, doorbells, and smoke alarms. Hearing loss can also make it hard to enjoy talking with family and friends, leading to feelings of isolation.
Age-related hearing loss most often occurs in both ears, affecting them equally. Because the loss is gradual, if you have age-related hearing loss you may not realize that you’ve lost some of your ability to hear. There are many causes of age-related hearing loss. Most commonly, it arises from changes in the inner ear as we age, but it can also result from changes in the middle ear, or from complex changes along the nerve pathways from the ear to the brain. Certain medical conditions and medications may also play a role.
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Get custom essayRadio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum longer than infrared light. Radio waves have frequencies as high as 300 GHz to as low as 3 kHz, though some definitions describe waves above 1 or 3 GHz as microwaves, or include waves of any lower frequency. At 300 GHz, the corresponding wavelength is 1 mm (0.039 in), and at 3 kHz is 100 km (62 mi). Like all other electromagnetic waves, they travel at the speed of light. Naturally occurring radio waves are generated by lightning, or by astronomical objects.
Although nothing can be capable of preventing a heart-attack imminent, a quick course of the action of a viewer can help prevent the death. Take immediate action if someone thinks that they are having a heart-attack or that are witnesses of a heart-attack occurs, is usually evident by the sudden collapse.
Get original essayPrevention is the best way to treat diseases of the heart. Diseases of the heart includes many conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels around it, including heart failure, angina prospector, myocardial infarction and cardiac arrhythmia. If diagnosed with these problems, there are steps to take to eliminate the diseases of the heart or reduce the risks involved with
Early treatment of a heart-attack can prevent or limit the damage to the heart muscle. Acting swiftly, the first symptoms of a heart-attack, you can save your life. Medical personnel can begin diagnosis and treatment, even before arriving at the hospital.
Certain treatments usually are started immediately if you suspect a heart-attack, even before confirming the conclusion.
The 911 operator can tell you to take aspirin or emergency medical personnel can give aspirin immediately. Aspirin reduces the clotting of the blood, which helps keep the blood flow through a narrowed artery.
These drugs, also called clotbusters, help dissolve a blood clot that blocks blood flow to the heart. The sooner you receive a thrombolytic drug after a heart-attack, the greater the possibility that you are going to survive and with less damage to the heart.
Doctors from the emergency room you may be given other medications to help prevent new clots and keep the existing clots becomes larger. These include medications, such as clopidogrel (Plavix) and others, called inhibitors of platelet aggregation. blood-thinning medications.
It is likely to receive other tablets, such as heparin, to make your blood less "sticky" and less likely to form clots. Heparin is administered intravenously or by injection under the skin.
You can receive a pain killer, such as morphine, to ease your discomfort.
This medication, which is used to treat chest pain (angina), can help improve blood flow to the heart by widening (dilation) of the blood vessels.
These medicines help to relax the muscle of the heart, reduces the rate of the heartbeat of the heart and decrease blood pressure, so that the work of her heart more easy. Beta blockers can limit the amount of damage to the heart muscle and to prevent future heart-attacks.
These drugs reduce blood pressure and reduce the stress on the heart.
In addition to medications, can be subjected to one of the following procedures to treat your heart-attack:
Doctors inserted a long, thin tube (catheter). If you have had a heart-attack, this procedure is often performed immediately after a cardiac catheterization, a procedure that is used to locate the locks. This catheter is equipped with a special balloon that, once in position, it is briefly inflated to open a blocked coronary artery. A stent metal mesh can be inserted into the artery to keep it open long-term, fixing blood flow to the heart. Upon your illness, your doctor may pick to place a stent coated with a slow-release medication to help keep the artery open.
In some cases, doctors can perform an emergency bypass surgery at the time of a heart-attack. If likely, your doctor may propose that there is a intervention of bypass after your heart has had time - around three to seven days - to recover from his heart-attack. Bypass surgery involves veins or arteries of sewing in its place beyond an occluded coronary artery or close, allowing the flow of blood to the heart to ignore the narrow section.
In Joseph Conrad's classic novella, Heart of Darkness, the identity of Kurtz is unknown for most of the story. For the majority of the story, Marlow's image of Kurtz is based solely on hearsay from other Europeans. He is a seemingly extraordinary man who wants to civilize the natives of the area. Once he is finally introduced to Kurtz, Marlow is surprised by his actions. Marlow finds him to be ill, perhaps insane, and not at all as he expected. The accounts given later by those who knew Kurtz all seem to paint a different picture of him, unknown to Marlow. This brings into question the actual identity of Kurtz. The accounts made by those who knew him could be correct or simply constructs of their own delusional minds. As an alternative, perhaps the "darkness" of the Congo changed the very essence of Kurtz while he was working there. There must be a reason for the discrepancies between the legend of Kurtz and the actual man himself.
Get original essayKurtz undoubtedly affected different people in different ways. The Russian trader that Marlow meets holds Kurtz in high regard. He says that Kurtz's grandiose ideas have "enlarged his mind" (Conrad p. 48). When Kurtz later confides in Marlow, his plans to become famous and wealthy seem immature and ludicrous. This could be due to differences in the perception of the trader and Marlow. What one man thinks is genius, another could think is ridiculous. Conrad may be commenting on human perceptions in this case. There are other accounts of Kurtz that also go radically against the image that is shown to the readers.
Conrad reveals little about Kurtz's character through the action in the book. Instead, his role is a series of images constructed by others. Kurtz's cousin tells Marlow that Kurtz was a great musician and humanitarian and concludes that he was just an all around genius. The Belgian journalist offers another image of Kurtz. To him, Kurtz was a brilliant politician and leader of men. Everyone seems to have taken something different from Kurtz and he has affected all of their lives differently. Kurtz's Intended saw him as a loving, devoted, humanitarian and all around guru. She obviously had no idea that he was having an affair with a native woman in Africa. The Intended's perception of Kurtz is flawed, but is this her fault or did Kurtz project onto her the image of himself he wanted her to see? Marlow even supports the Intended's fallacious memory of Kurtz by telling her that his dying words were her name. It is not clear why Marlow did this, but perhaps he did this in order to protect the reputation and memory of Kurtz. Whatever the case, it seems that all these people hold different memories of Kurtz. This is either due to differences in perception or else Kurtz was a master at giving people what they wanted or needed to see. It's interesting that each person thought they knew Kurtz so well. His Intended exclaimed, "I knew him the best" (Conrad p. 73). It appears that perhaps none of them actually knew him. He affected all different people because he represents to each individual what they would like to see in themselves. It is also possible that Kurtz changed while he was working in the Congo.
The nature of the jungle itself must have played a role in changing the mentality of Kurtz. Marlow seemed to lose his sensitivity while on the river. There is no indication that Marlow was an insensitive man, but rather curious and caring. The reason he wanted to go to the Congo is to explore the white areas of the map of Africa. It is surprising, therefore, that when his helmsman gets killed by some natives, he simply brushes him aside. He immediately changes his socks and shoes and instead of lamenting the death, he is upset that he lost a new pair of shoes. Perhaps the darkness of the jungle has a similar affect on all people. Kurtz's long stay in the jungle was more than enough time for him to lose the senses he may have once had.
Freud's analysis of the human psyche attempts to explain the mentality of Kurtz. Freud says that the 'id' is the part of the unconscious that humans are born with; it serves to control the desires we are born with. The 'ego' develops out of the 'id' to try to rationalize these innate desires. The 'superego,' Freud explains, controls the 'ego' and develops through external controls such as social conscience. Therefore, the 'superego' of people who grow up in different societies would not be the same because of different external forces that shaped their 'superego.' This should account for the vast differences among the natives of the Congo and the Europeans who are trying to "civilize" them. Freud tends to believe that the 'superego' is formed by adulthood and cannot be changed. Freud could be wrong. Kurtz has apparently gone crazy out in the "darkness" of Africa. He posts the heads of rebels on spikes outside his office and has somehow, it is not stated how, convinced the native tribes to worship him as if he is a god. This implies he is not living by European standards or abiding by his European bred 'superego.' Kurtz's European 'superego' would not have benefited him in the jungle, though. He possibly lost his former 'superego' and adapted himself to his new surroundings. Perhaps Kurtz has even completely overcome his 'superego.' Freud may or may not agree that this is possible. The darkness in Heart of Darkness could the 'id' without the 'superego' to control it, therefore letting all innate, animalistic desires surface. (Freud pp. 12-17)
It is difficult to distinguish how Kurtz, who seems so insular and isolated from the rest of society, was able to connect with so many people. Perhaps the reason is due to the fact that he did not really let anyone get to know him truly. He let people see what they wanted to. Those people therefore used what they knew about Kurtz for their own use and developed an image of him that may or may have not been accurate. For the Intended, Kurtz was an object of affection and someone to care for her. For the Russian trader, he was an inspiration. Marlow somewhat found his purpose through his short relationship with Kurtz. He was intrigued by what he heard about Kurtz and that was what helped him get through the oppression of the Congo. Kurtz was an alternative to the emptiness and laziness of the other Europeans that Marlow met. Kurtz got his job done. He found more ivory than every other manager combined. He was open about his methods also: he took ivory from others by force. He used suppression and extermination to get what he wanted and he had no qualms about admitting it. Kurtz was open about his tactics, but this is what he needed the natives in the area to see in order for them to fear him. Kurtz did not get ivory by being nice to people. This is just another example of Kurtz redefining himself to fit an image that is useful to him or to others.
Kurtz played a significant role in Marlow's life despite the fact that he barely knew him. Marlow ponders the idea that he has no role in the world. After Kurtz's death, he is trusted with the role of carrying on his ideas and legacy. However, Marlow realizes that if he died, he would have nothing to say. Kurtz, on the other hand, "had something to say. He said it" (Conrad p. 70). By continuing Kurtz's legacy, however, Marlow has found a purpose. His purpose is to tell the story about Kurtz to those who will appreciate it. Kurtz therefore gave Marlow's life purpose, and in doing so has affected yet another person.
The fact that Kurtz appears to have so many different traits throughout the story brings into question his true persona. Who was Kurtz? He could be one of a number of different characters and it is almost impossible to distinguish in which environments he was being true to his nature. Perhaps he went crazy while in the jungle and replaced his European designed 'superego' with one that would profit him better in the Congo. Kurtz may have had the power to exude different aspects of his personality to different people. In a sense, he was able to show people the part of his personality that they wanted to see. The story is unclear and reveals little about Kurtz other than through stories told by people who supposedly knew him. Conrad seems to be making a point about the nature of societies and human interactions: that we may never truly be able to know someone else.
This study was designed to find out heavy metals contents from water samples that taken from tube wells and from different areas of district pishin. The analysis of different water samples done to check out the parameters such as electric conductivity, PH, burden of population that uses fertilizers in chosen area. According to this analysis process it is determined that the age of tube wells never affect the quantity of heavy metal. Heavy metals such as Antimony and Aluminum are present in greater content then standardized values. The presence of arsenic in drinking water is due to anthropogenic activities that performed near the tube wells (chemical industries) Introduction:· Area description:District Pishin is an area of Baluchistan province, due to the climatic conditions the temperature in winter season reach below freezing point and in summer temperature reach at 40 degree calicoes. This area is located 5104 feet above sea level. Pishin is famous because of its agricultural products. In this area process of irrigation is done by using water from artificial channels (boring holes) the most common source of ground water in pishin district is tube well and karez system.·
Get original essayPure quality of drinking water is fundamental need for good health. Pure water gives us essential mineral but when the water is contaminated it cause diseases such as cancer, Reproductive disorders, cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Heavy metals contamination mostly affects infants and younger population because of their developmental stage. Due to higher sensitivity in children’s heavy metals cause various disorders in children’s such as uncontrolled temperament, sub consciousness and hyperactivity. They consume more metals from food products because of higher heavy metal contamination in food. Heavy metals such as Arsenic and its compounds that are released from different chemical industries are toxic to human health (Choudhury et al., 2009).Antimony exposure lead cardiovascular disorder. According to EPA lead is carcinogenic to human health. Lead Exposure leads respiratory disorder there is high .Tap water is more contaminated due to lead (ASTDR, 2000).Aluminum (Al) is third most abundant element of earth crust. Al accumulation in body cells lead neurological disorders (Richard,1993). According to EPA excess amount of essential metal in water leads different disorder while Cu,Zn,Cr are essentially required to human body(Goyer and Clarkson, 2001).·
The aim of this study is to assess cluster of metals such as (Pb, Sb, Al, As) to find out water sample Ph and Conductivity and also to evaluate the impacts of heavy metals on human health.· Sample collection: Fifty (50) water samples collected from twelve villages of district Pishin. Sample was collected in polythene bottles and labeled. Each sample assorted with 4m of nitric acid (Michael, 1982; APHA, et al., 1992).· Sample Analysis: PH meter used to determine the ph of each sample (JENWAY MODEL NO. 3520).conductivity meter use to determine electric conductivity (JENWAY MODEL No. 470). Heavy metal contaminants concentration determined with flame Atomic Absorption spectroscopy with Acetylene or nitrous oxides (Michael, 1982).·
The current for lamp is operating in mA. It is necessary that you have confirm the presence of lamp before completing this step, because 30 mA current can damage lamp. The amplifier will be set spontaneously when current detected by lamp. Replicates: Each quantification should be repeated thrice that can be change according to requirements. The replicates range from 1 to 99.· Standard Reagent Preparation: For analysis process three different standard reagents prepared, of concentrations that given below,· Arsenic· Lead· Antimony· Aluminum·
Water sample obtained from different locations of district pishin are analyzed to find out the heavy metals content. The present amount of metals compared with different parameters to get general information about water quality the average PH of whole samples is 3.38 respectively. All the samples have optimal PH except the sample collected from Nawabad with PH 8.69. Electric conductivity gives measures to determine electrolyte concentration and minerals that present in water. Electrical conductivity or all samples normally estimated from 50 to 500Us/cm. age of tube wells determined through concentrations of heavy metals that present in water. The calculated age of all tube well was 4 year. The depth of wells that calculated was 157 meters. Arsenic and lead presence determined in each sample but les then that amount (given by WHO).
The concentration of Aluminum from each sample found greater than standardized values in tube wells with lower depth and found lesser amount in tube wells with higher depth.· The concentration of antimony from each collected sample found greater than WHO standardized value. The mean concentration of antimony from each sample sweep from 0.277-1.021mg/l. Through analysis it was concluded that with the increase in depth antimony concentration decreases. The calculated concentration of Aluminum compared with tube well age of all samples equal to the tube well age. Tube wells with less age have less concentration of Aluminum. The concentration of lead calculated inversely proportional to tube well age, tube well with les age contains higher concentration of lead while with greater age contain less concentration of lead. The concentration of antimony obtained is equal in each sample and there is no significant changes observed. Aluminum concentration of samples that collected from different locations contain different concentrations. Aluminum concentrations depend on water turbidity and soil type present in those areas.
When it comes to the documentary following a heavy metal group called Acrassicauda, from Baghdad, it is evident that western influence in prevalent in the heavy metal scene and also the band member’s lives. In the beginning of the film, when beginning to discuss their interest in heavy metal, they cited watching videos by American artists such as Slayer and Metallica, which also were bands that helped them learn in English in their home, Iraq. However, the one discrepancy between American heavy metal and Middle East heavy metal, is the freedom which those involved are allowed to embody. The genre of heavy metal comes with a great sense of individuality, but in Iraq these heavy metal band members are not allowed to fully express themselves to the extent to which they would like.
Get original essayThere are many restrictions placed on the Iraqi people by the government, forcing them to limit their sense of individuality. The band members are faced with consequences by doing things such as wearing Metallica and Slayer shirts, growing out their hair and also having facial hair that is a goatee, rather than a full beard. These actions which they take based on their heavy metal lifestyles can have detrimental effects on their, leading to imprisonment or death. These strict regulations set by the Iraqi government reflect the current state of society and warfare when the documentary was filmed. Generally, when we think of heavy metal in western culture there is a great deal of individualism and expression that goes into the genre. Many times, these American heavy metal bands take very controversial, political standpoints; sometimes taking opposition against the government its leaders. With Iraq’s strict regulations, it would be extremely dangerous for a band or artist to have a political message behind their music without facing dire consequences just as jail time or death. In the documentary the band told stories where they would be forced to play songs that were a tribute to Saddam Hussein at their shows, and if they didn’t they could face being thrown into jail without a justifiable reason.
The band then went on to reflect on the hardships and conditions which they were forced to play under; usually the venue being an old hotel of some sort, surrounded by barbed wire and tanks, where they were forced to used old power generators in order to provide electricity to their instruments. They were forced to end their shows by 7:30pm so the patrons would be able to make it home before the 9:00pm curfew in Baghdad. For the band and the audience these shows offered an outlet to ‘let loose’ so to speak, and forget about the destruction and war going on around them. Many of the members of the audience would never have the opportunity to see their favorite bands such as Slayer or Metallica live, so seeing Acrassicauda cover songs by these bands was something they really enjoyed witnessing and being a part of. Through these shows, the members of the band and audience were provided and outlet to release their anger by headbanging and the general craziness of the shows.
In one portion of the documentary there are mortars and gunshots going off in the distance while the band members are carrying on with their daily activities and lives, speaking out on the fact that they had become desynthesized to the death and warfare which had been going on in their hometown. Additionally the band members mentioned that they had run into several issues with security solely due to their appearance with goatee facial hair and Iron Maiden band t-shirts. Eventually, the band members relocated to Damascus, Syria, as Iraqi refugees, where they discovered there wasn’t much of a heavy metal scene at all; but due to the circumstances surrounding their previous living conditions in Iraq they did not have much of a choice except living together in a flat that did not offer any form of central heating.
The ultimate goal of the band was to make it out of Baghdad, in order to guarantee the safety of themselves and their family, but also to pursue their dreams of becoming a successful heavy metal band. The city of Baghdad was overwhelmed with terrorists and military troops and the civilians were just getting caught in the crossfire of these acts. The shows themselves were very difficult to set up in these areas due to the fact that most people in this region did not understand the genre of heavy metal, much less what the band members were trying to accomplish. They would advertise their shows are ‘Rock n Roll’ rather than heavy metal due to the negative connotation which followed the genre of heavy metal where it eluded to the worship of Satan.
While the heavy metal genre is very present in western culture, it is not as looked down upon as it is for the Baghdad band Acrassicauda. Western culture is entirely more accepting to these genres of music, especially due to our lack of war torn cities and stable government. Additionally, there is a huge divide separating those who are wealthy and have an education in Iraq. One of the band members recalled working seven days a week, 12 hours a day in jobs such as retail or restaurants just to make 100$ a month for him and his family which all had been relocated as refugees to Damascus. The Western world’s flourishing economy and stable government feasibly allow for genres such as heavy metal to succeed and also give artists the option to carry a controversial political message behind their music without fear of imprisonment or death. While the migration these band members make to Damascus might not seemed forced, it still leaves the viewer feeling some sympathy for them uprooting their lives from chaotic Baghdad in order to attempt to lead a more successful, prosperous life.
Ever since it was first introduced to audiences in the 1970s, heavy metal music has been associated with immoral activity. These controversies are centered around people’s ethics, religion, political stance, and other social factors. Notoriously, in the winter of 1985 after consuming copious amounts of cannabis and alcohol, two clinically depressed teenagers attempted suicide while listening to the Judas Priest album Stained Class. One died instantly, the other, James Vance, spent two years in the hospital before dying of complications from his suicide attempt. Shortly before his death, Vance wrote to his friend’s parents, claiming that the music, “mesmerized them into believing that the answer to life was death. (VH1 2001)” Despite toxicology reports showing that the teenagers were heavily inebriated at the time of the suicide attempts, the band was still sued by Vance’s family for 6.2 million dollars over the death of the two boys, in 1989. However, since the families and lawyers were aware that free speech is protected under the first amendment, they dissected the music in search of subliminal messages, i.e. commands hidden in the music that would induce immoral behavior. The charges were eventually dropped, but one thing remains unsettled: are incidents like these heavy metal’s fault? The short answer is no. Despite its outward appearance as counterculture, people who perceive metal as negative (other musicians, politicians) should stop associating the music with puerility, ignorance, and violent behavior through editorials and public criticism of metal musicians. Heavy metal music should be appreciated for engaging and applying knowledge of other topics associated with higher learning, inspiring musicians to become virtuosos, and directly affecting the mental wellbeing of humans in a positive way.
Get original essayTo prove that heavy metal is beneficial, the term must be defined. Per Merriam-Webster, heavy metal music is defined as “energetic and highly amplified electronic rock music having a hard beat.” This definition is a general statement that does nothing but minimize the genre’s impact on society. Heavy metal cannot be defined in one sentence, because there are so many different genres that fall under this definition that would not be considered heavy metal; dubstep and rockabilly music would fall under this definition. To have a solid foundation of what heavy metal is, it must be explained, in depth, from its roots.
The creation of heavy metal begins with a genre dubbed “hard rock”, in the mid-1960s, towards the end of the “Flower Power” era. This brief period was an era of extreme social expression which coincided with the Vietnam War and the eventual demise of segregation. Many people, especially the youth of the era, supported the ideas of peace, love, equality, and an end to social injustice. Hard rock acts like The Who, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones created music that reflected the fight against inequities, which encouraged the youth and other progressive individuals to take a stand against the injustices in the environment they lived in. This was not the first-time people used music to reflect their feelings towards the lack of fairness occurring in the world around them. However, hard rock received much more attention because of “technological advances that enabled new heights in sonic disruption” (Pearlin 2014). The music was louder, bolder, and more forceful.
Armed with lyrics that reflected “brutally blunt social commentary” (Pearlin 2014) and the power of sonic disruption, hard rock musicians inspired and appealed to less-privileged people all around the world, especially to aspiring musicians. Some musicians chose to recreate the sound and become hard rock and psychedelic rock artists, themselves. Others chose to build upon what was given to them; most notably in 1968 in West Midlands, Birmingham, where pioneering heavy metal band, Black Sabbath created a name for themselves. By “recalling the clamor of the steel mills that dominated landscape of their hometown” (Pearlin 2014), Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler created a genre (appropriately dubbed heavy metal) that intensified the sound of bands before them. These sounds included heavily distorted guitar riffs, throbbing basslines, fast pounding drums, and lyrics that reflected morbid themes. The subject matter also took a detour from injustices that affect the world, to injustices that affect specific individuals. Topics included: death, drugs, the effects of war on a person, and alienation. These topics attracted the interest of those who could directly relate to the lyrical content. Whether they be drug addicts, socially out-casted adolescents, or those looking to deviate from the popular music on the radio, this audience allowed heavy metal to grow as a popular genre of music.
After Black Sabbath made their impact on the music world, several other inspired, English musicians decided to build upon their music to create a similar sound. Bands like Judas Priest, Diamondhead, Iron Maiden, Angel witch, and Motörhead took the drive that Black Sabbath created, but made guitar riffs and basslines faster, more melodic, and more complex. Drums were faster due to the growing popularity of having two bass drums (commonly known as double bass) and double bass pedal, enabling drummers to make the music more attention grabbing. Their lyrics, while still touching on the same subject matter, also included topics like fantasy, horror, and mythology. The result was an explosion of heavy metal music in Europe,
North America, and South America. This event, known as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), was the main catalyst for the number of heavy metal bands that formed in the United States in the 1970s and 80s. Bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, Annihilator, and Metal Church fused the original metal sound that Black Sabbath created with NWOBHM. The result was thrash metal, whose musicians lived by three principles: “harder, faster, louder” (Pearlin 2014). Whereas their predecessors focused on a melody, thrash musicians were more concerned with the rhythm. Guitar riffs were completely distorted, heavy (due to the usage of down picking), and were played at “break-neck” speed. Lyrics heavily criticized the masses and challenged their socially accepted values; waging war to create peace, the concept of uniformity, etc. This impressed musicians, listeners, and critics who were amazed at the capabilities of these musicians and the messages and stories their lyrics conveyed. However, this sensation was short-lived, as mainstream audiences found the music too extreme to listen to. Because of this, the genre of metal schismed, causing even notable thrash metal bands to “experiment with a streamlined and commercially palatable direction” (Pearlin 2014). Others embraced their newfound underground status and settled for a “cult following” of fans. Through the small groups of people who wanted to stay true to the fast, hard, and loud metal sound they were exposed to in the 1980s, extreme metal was born. Jeffrey Pearlin of MIT describes it as a genre which “represented the traditional conventions of metal taken to every conceivable extreme: severely detuned guitars, guttural vocals, unimaginably fast tempos, and radically taboo lyrical content.” Subject matter became explicitly about hard drugs, murder, rape, suicide, crime, and other subject matter deemed as deplorable by American society.
This is the music that most people in society think of when they hear the words “heavy metal.” They instantly think of death, lack of control, ignorance, and puerility to such a high degree that heavy metal has been deemed as having a set of attitudes which surpass the social norm; heavy metal has been marked as counterculture. Controversies over heavy metal are “social reactions to perceived deviance, usually triggered by boundary-challenging events” (Hjelm et al 2012). If a band is singing about something that directly contradicts their morals, they become concerned and do whatever is necessary to preserve their values, as if they are being directly affected by the counterculture. This is known as moral panic theory. Because of it, religious organizations have picketed heavy metal concerts, and groups of people united to destroy albums and paraphernalia of artists. An infamous example of this is the actions of former second lady and social issues advocate Tipper Gore. She founded an organization known as the Parents Music Resource Center in 1985. With the assistance of other PMRC members, she compiled a list of songs that conflicted with her moral beliefs (drugs and profanity are bad, violence is wrong, children need to be raised in environments free of any influence that may contradict these values, etc.) They saw to it that any songs on this list (called the Filthy Fifteen) were forever slandered for having lyrical subject matter pertaining to sex, violence, drug use, and sado-masochism. Nearly half of the songs on this list were by metal bands such as Black Sabbath, Venom, W.A.S.P, and Judas Priest. This moral panic does not imply that the youth of America will be corrupted. In fact, heavy metal music has done a lot more good than it is recognized for.
Heavy metal music is often a great source of inspiration for aspiring musicians. Because of the number of virtuoso musicians that have made a name for themselves through heavy metal, many musicians who used to sit alone in their bedrooms playing along with their favorite albums are now considered to be some of the greatest technical musicians of today’s generation. But how is virtuoso defined in this instance? Merriam-Webster defines the term as “a person who does something in a very skillful way.” While this definition does touch on the general basis of what it takes to become an exemplar performer, it is quite broad and could be more specific to this situation. To have one solid basis for what a virtuoso is, the following definition will be used when referring to a virtuoso: A musician whose playing style is unlike any other performer’s.
When looking for examples of virtuoso musicians, however, most lists are primarily composed of classical musicians. This may be an example of how metal musicians are dubbed as part of counterculture. They are not held in the same kind of regard for their contributions to the music world, due to certain lyrics, their sound, and the certain implications that their sound carries. However, this should not be a reason to overshadow the impact metal musicians have on the world of music. Yngwie Malmsteen is a great example of this. By fusing together neo classical and heavy metal music, Malmsteen managed to industrialize common but core standards of metal. His style of fast playing, sweep-picking (dragging the pick across the strings whilst playing) inspires many musicians to learn and practice guitar, in hopes of gaining enough technical ability to play fast. Another important part of his playing is his iconic tone. Like most metal musicians, Yngwie Malmsteen strives to produce a heavy, but clear sounding tone in order to play notes quickly and have the notes he plays to sound recognizable. This contrasts with beginner guitarists who have not yet established their sound. Thus, an amateur’s tone is often very “muddy.” Furthermore, Malmsteen inspires people to become the best they can be by teaching. He has become known to today’s generation of musicians because of his popular lesson videos that are free on YouTube. Often, viewers will attempt to mimic his virtuoso-like abilities. His contributions to making the genre of metal sound as distinct as it does have solidified Malmsteen’s virtuoso status in music history.
Another example of a musician becoming of virtuoso status is in the case of Metallica’s lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett. Any knowledgeable fan knows that Hammett’s ability to play guitar started by him trying to emulate Yngwie Malmsteen’s fast guitar playing on records. Unlike Malmsteen however, Hammett did not contribute in popularizing metal’s presently distinct sound, but popularized the genre instead with a new sound. Like Malmsteen, Hammett is known for his incredibly fast playing style, which entices people to listen to the music of Metallica. Because of their mainstream success, playing fast has become a notable and desired skill in learning how to play guitar. He further exemplifies virtuoso capabilities by using melodic layering with co-guitarist James Hetfield. Creating a melody from nothing takes great knowledge of how music notes and other melodies work. Creating an additional melody line to sound aurally pleasing is an entirely separate skill that requires knowledge of various scales (such as Ionian, Aeolian, and Phrygian), and being able to recall notes, or knowing what a note sounds like before it is played, to aid the visualization process of constructing harmonies. When musicians hear these compositions, they may try to create their own guitar harmonies, because they sound aurally pleasing to any general listener. Hammett also is known for his various effects. By using a combination of wah pedal (a device which changes the tone of the emulating signal from the amplifier) and tremolo arm (a lever located on the bridge of a guitar used to change the pitch of the strings), his solos are notable to the point where anyone listening to a Metallica song knows it is Hammett playing. Because of him, these tools can be seen in almost every guitarist’s setup. This work not only demonstrates Hammett’s technical capabilities, but also how he is capable of inspiring other musicians to reach their fullest potential.
Furthermore, heavy metal can benefit students who frequently listen to or play it because the music incorporates knowledge of other subjects they might learn in school. One example that heavy metal applies is basic physics concepts. The modulation of sounds that comes out of a guitarist’s amplifier or the way that vocals sound on a record or during a concert is no accident. The musicians and technicians alike work tirelessly to create a sound that truly defines the music and separates it from any other sound in the genre. In doing so, they must have some foundation of background information on what changes the sound of an instrument. Since most metal musicians could not afford sound technicians when they were first starting, they had to learn what knobs on their amplifier do what. Most guitar and bass amplifiers have five basic effects knobs. Gain which controls the distortion, an effect that adds inharmonic and harmonic overtones to the sound emitting from the amplifier, making it heavy and gritty. Sometimes, this effect is also known as “drive.” Bass which controls the amount of low frequencies (in the unit hertz) the amplifier emits. Middle which controls the amount of midrange frequencies (in hertz). Treble which controls the amount of high frequencies (in hertz). And reverb (diminutive of reverberation), which controls the persistence of a sound over a period of time, providing depth. By understanding these very concepts, metal musicians can work their way up to not only understanding basic physics, but also developing insight about first year engineering concepts. While most people who listen to metal may not go out and become engineers, those who are studying engineering can apply what they have learned in class to the heavy metal music they may listen to. University of Michigan professor in electrical engineering Gregory Wakefield states that the faculty “is able to teach the students how… resonance works, how if you push a shape in different ways, it is going to sound different… It makes a lot of sense to them because they can relate it to what they are hearing” (Daniel 2011). Because of heavy metal music and my involvement with it, I have heavily considered going to college to study audio engineering. In doing so, I could further my own music career or work live sound for events. I hold the potential to be learned in a trade, because of the music I am interested in.
Heavy metal not only incorporates science with the music, it also applies and adapts advanced music theory. Oxford Dictionary defines music theory as “(The study of) the theoretical aspects of music and its notation.” Learning music theory provides the musician with an understanding of how notes and rhythms are put together.” Most of the guidelines of music theory are constructed around the rules of the common practice period. Per Phillip Magnuson of University of Dayton, the common practice era is the period between 1600-1900 in which a foundation of rules had been established for music in Europe and North America, primarily. While heavy metal musicians may not have created the renowned phrasing and structure that their music has, they should be respected for taking these concepts used in classical music, making them fit their genre, and exposing these concepts to a new audience. With this knowledge, musicians can either follow and apply the rules of the common practice period, or deviate from it. Metal musicians are most often the musicians who tend to deviate from it. For example, in the common practice era, parallel fifth intervals, for example playing a G in the soprano voice and a C in the alto voice then raising or lowering both notes by the same interval, was completely frowned upon because of poor voice leading. Heavy metal completely disregards this rule because the basis for most of their music is based around the very concept of parallel fifths. Most metal music is based around power chords; a root note, its fifth interval, and sometimes the root’s octave. The simplicity of this chord is responsible for part of the drive and energy that gives metal its distinct sound.
Along with adapting certain techniques from previous eras, heavy metal musicians also apply the same techniques their baroque and classical era predecessors used. An important aspect of this is polyphony. In all music, there is a melody, a memorable series of pitches which adds character to the accompaniment. Although having a melody makes a composition more interesting to listen to, a second accompanying melody adds even more appeal to the music. This simultaneous but different pitched arrangement is known as a harmony, and when used correctly (not sounding out of place, having the correct notes in the phrase), it makes the melody sound more enriched, and even more likeable. Classical musicians are not the only ones capable of applying harmonies to their music. However, because polyphony is so rare in modern music, when one refers to it, the first thing that may come to mind is Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. However, one does not need to go back hundreds of years to find a concrete example .Take Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy for example; during the band’s existence, he and co-guitarist Brian Robertson used harmonies extensively in their music. A notable example of their work is the song “The Boys Are Back in Town” (Jailbreak 1976) in which there is a solo which ends the song. This section applies the usage of major third, perfect fourth, and perfect fifth intervals to make this solo more interesting. Another technique used is toccata, a piece which demonstrates a musician’s full capability. This is very common in the compositions of most musicians of the common practice era, most notably Johann Sebastian Bach. Heavy metal “uses this technique through guitar solos” (Snapplejack2005 2016). Some pieces can have a short solo in the middle of a long composition like in Megadeth’s Holy Wars… The Punishment Due, or the song can be completely based around a solo like in Van Halen’s Eruption. By utilizing and adapting techniques from people before them, heavy metal musicians continue to apply common practice era theory to their music. Not only does this create a more interesting sound, it also holds the potential to help music theory students who are looking for modern examples of classical applications. By listening for these techniques, they are furthering themselves in their development towards learning how to become a better musician. These important educational aspects that heavy metal incorporates is hard evidence proving that the music can benefit its listeners.
Heavy metal is not only an educational resource, it is also a tool that directly affects the wellbeing of its fans and listeners, performers, and participants by acting as an outlet for negative energy to escape. As people go about their day-to-day life, they may face experiences which may induce anger or any other kind of unpleasant emotion. This anger can be gotten rid of by
listening to music that matches one’s current state of being. Since heavy metal is known for its intensity, it can be used in this case. In an interview with Mr. Forrest A. Hainline, Stage Director of School of Rock in Silver Spring, MD, I found that most fans believe that listening to heavy metal makes the listeners “excited, full of energy, and releases stress.” This popular belief was recently confirmed in the summer of 2015. A study conducted by the University of Queensland has found that listening to heavy metal music can induce positive emotions. Author Leah Sharman conducted a study of 39 people from around the world, ages 18-34. She found that “the music regulated sadness and enhanced positive emotions. When experiencing anger, extreme music fans liked to listen to music that could match their anger… The music helped them explore the full gamut of emotion they felt… Results showed levels of hostility, irritability, and stress decreased after music was introduced.” In addition to this, heavy metal acts as a stress reducer by inducing moshing; a style of dance where metal fans run and push each other at a concert. When one participates in moshing, their adrenaline is rushing, they are getting rid of excess, pent-up energy and unwanted stress. The satisfaction gained from the act is equivalent to punching your worst enemy in the face. Mr. Hainline claims that people “need to scream their heads off, and we need to be physically engaging other people… when people are literally just throwing themselves against each other.”
In a less physical sense, heavy metal also benefits the wellbeing of its participants by creating a sense of unity amongst them. The people who listen to bands like Lamb of God, Cannibal Corpse, Whitechapel, and Slipknot do not make up a very large percentage of music fans. Because of these fans extreme devotion to their music preference, they often feel like outcasts. They feel alienated from the society around them, and no one wants to be alienated. Psychologist Roy Baumeister claims that “the need to belong is a fundamental human need to form and maintain at least a minimum amount of lasting, positive, and significant interpersonal relationships. Satisfying this need requires frequent, positive interactions with the same individuals, and engaging in these interactions within a framework of long-term, stable care and concern” (Ben-Zeév 2014). A well-known example of this is Billie Joe Armstrong’s experience with being introduced to a mosh pit. The Green Day frontman stated that he “…felt like I was invisible and I did not exist. Where there, I felt invisible and I did not exist, but I did it with a bunch of other people that felt the same way” (VH1 2010).
The important part of this is to understand that people who appreciate heavy metal music have a special bond with others who appreciate heavy metal music. These fans, dubbed metalheads, have effectively created a cross-continental family. Like a family, they stick together when events go awry. On 13 September, 2015, there were a series of terrorist attacks in Paris, France where 130 people died. Many the reported casualties were at the Bataclan where the band Eagles of Death Metal were playing. As soon as the event was reported, the metal community reached out to the band and provided its most sincere condolences to band members and concert goers. Artists from popular bands like Anthrax, Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, August Burns Red, Cradle of Filth, Pantera, Avenged Sevenfold, Drowning Pool, and Bullet for My Valentine, as well as an incalculable number of fans participated in this overwhelming storm of support for the band. Halestorm vocalist Lzzy Hale even went as far as to tweet “This is an attack on my world.” Another example is when Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister (whose work with
Motörhead helped established the foundation of heavy metal music, through NWOBHM) died in December of 2015. Metalheads everywhere were devastated. Musicians everywhere quickly began covering the band’s songs and performing libations with Jack Daniel’s whiskey and Coca-Cola (Lemmy’s beverage of choice). A bar in West Hollywood called Rainbow held a 10 hour long memorial in his memory. The day of this event, Loudwire news reported that “the Sunset Strip was closed down to accommodate the crowd…” of people trying to go remember their hero. Many of the metal fans that I know personally threw or attended parties honoring Kilmister’s life, legacy and impact on the genre. Musicians who he inspired showed their overwhelming gratitude in the form of letters which were posted on Facebook and Twitter. Some musicians even appeared at Lemmy’s family memorial service. Musicians from Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses Metallica, Anthrax, Judas Priest, Foo Fighters, and of course Motörhead talked about how they would not be who they are without Lemmy’s contributions to music. Metallica’s drummer, Lars Ulrich “cites Motörhead as the primary reason Metallica exists… thank you… for making me always feel a part of something that was so much bigger than myself.” Because of the shared love and the deep connection he and his future bandmates felt towards Motörhead, one of the most prominent bands in history now exists. Heavy metal creates a deep interpersonal connection between people. It unites them in a special way, allowing the social outcasts to feel like they belong.
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Get custom essayHeavy metal music may forever live in infamy. It may always be referred to as the music of the devil. Reporters may never stop trying to link it to causes of suicide or school shootings. But one thing is for sure, it is not as negative as American society has been made out to be. Even though it may imply negative themes and receives attention via shock value, heavy metal music is capable of benefitting people in several ways. By acting as a resource for applied subject matter, inspiring musicians to become the best that they can be, creating a sense of unity amongst listeners, and directly affecting the mental wellbeing of humans in a positive way, the music becomes much more than music. It becomes a utility that people can use to affect their lives for the better. In terms of the future, I do not foresee a world in which the reputation of heavy metal is positive. Some people will never stop thinking of metal as noise pollution that corrupts the youth of today. However, in addition to persuading, the arguments posed are meant to provoke thought, and to provide insight to the other side of the “heavy metal is bad” argument. What I hope to see is that this issue is discussed between those who listen to metal and those who do not because they believe it is all screaming, talentless, garbage. If this paper can cause people to think more and carefully consider this issue, it will have done its job.
In the play Hedda Gabler by Isben, Hedda works as a type of artist of life. In an attempt to create a sense of beauty which she obsessively strives for, she creates her art by manipulating the lives and wills of the other characters around her. Through the character of Hedda the play offers a unique perspective on the definition of art, as she works as both the artist and part of the art that we are reading. As a work of art, it both critiques the cultural framework of love, marriage, and femininity, and offers a clear-cut escape from these repressive cultural restraints.
Get original essayHedda creates beauty as an artist through the medium of manipulation of others. She seems to find joy and a sense of power in being able to control and manipulate those around her. Throughout the drama, she interferes in the lives of other characters, easily bending their wills to meet her own needs. Mrs. Elvsted states, "There' s something behind what you're doing Hedda." To which she answers, "Yes there is. For once in my life I want to have power over another human being" (288). She manipulates others as if they were just puppets in a play that she has created making her both the creator and participant in a work of art.
She is surrounded by puppet-like automatic characters who ventriloquize the patriarchal values of their society. Virtually all of these characters are easily manipulated and Hedda takes advantage of this, giving her a sense of control in her own life. Such characters are referred to as specialists. To Hedda, this is a description of these puppet-like characteristics, meaning they think only literally and mechanically without questioning the world around them. By manipulating them, Hedda creates a world outside of the ventriloquilism that they practice and she escapes the social norms and constructs that the other characters are so wrapped up in. This allows her to think independently without regard to the societal constructs that the drama critiques.
Hedda refuses to conform to the traditional role of a submissive, domestic female that the characters around her try to impose on her. The aunt, Miss Tesman, reinforces the importance of what Brack calls her, "most solemn responsibility" (256). She shows the cultural conviction that a woman's most important role in life is that of motherhood. The aunt reduces Hedda, as a woman, to a mode of producing children by focusing entirely on her stomach when addressing her. She constantly questions Hedda about her weight gain and stares at her stomach, hinting at the fact that she is possibly pregnant.
Hedda actually defies the definition of what a woman should be: she is far from submissive, she manipulates all the men in her play for her own power and refuses to take on any domestic or mothering role. When Brack questions her about motherhood she responds, "Be quiet! You'll never see me like that and I have no talent for such things, Judge. I won't have responsibilities!" (256). She defiantly refuses to ventriloquize the ideas that the other characters are forcing on her. To be free of responsibility is to be free of the role of motherhood and wife. By denying these she essentially no longer fits the definition of a woman and takes on the male role.
The varying roles of men are shown in the three male characters in the novel. As Hedda's husband , Tesman would seem like the representative of the patriarchal society that she is attempting to escape from. Although he diminishes, never seeming to take her too seriously, he is a weak example of the male patriarchal values. He is easily manipulated by his wife and relinquishes control to her in an effort to please her. Although he seems unaware of it, Tesman maintains little power in the relationship, allowing Hedda to seize this power and explore the role of the man in the relationship.
The actual personification of patriarchy and social domination of women by men is seen in Brack. His profession as a judge declares all the oppressions of a patriarchal society; he acts as the law, a ruling force of judgment and a figure in a position of power. Hedda describes him in the final scene as "the one cock of the walk" (303) meaning the strong dominant and oppressive male force that has power over women. Finally he gains power over her in the end when he finds out she is involved in Lovborg's suicide; as a woman she is ultimately unable to escape the societal oppression that Brack comes to represent.
Throughout the play Hedda attempts to rebel against representations of the feminine. The figure of Mrs. Elvsted seems to be a representation of the repressive femininity that Hedda attempts to escape from. She reacts to her violently at times, pulling her hair out as a child and deciding, "I think I'll burn your hair off after all" (272). She physically acts out against the role that others expect her to take by hurting someone who represents this feminine role.
The destruction of Lovborg's paper is also representative of Hedda's refusal to accept the cultural narrative of what femininity should be. While burning it she says, "Now I'm burning your child, Thea! You, with your curly hair! Your child and Eilert Lovborg's. Now I'm burning! I'm burning the child." The burning of the book as a representation of their child is Hedda's method of setting herself free from the role of motherhood. She wants to find a way out of her own pregnancy so that she will not have to face the results that motherhood would have on her as a powerful female. Her jealousy at the relationship between Lovborg and Mrs. Elvsted seems to have led her to the point of near insanity. It is something that she can not control and it is this loss of control that seems to push her over the edge.
The drama continually questions and critiques the idea of love and marriage and the position of male and female within this context. Despite this, there seems to be no actual love in the play. The relationship between Hedda and Tesman is one of convenience as they follow the normal narrative of a marriage, but there is clearly something lacking. Her disinterest in his beloved slippers in the first act shows that Hedda seems to care very little about Tesman. It seems as if she is with him for material gain and because he is easily manipulated by her. Tesman tries to keep her happy but treats her more like a possession that he has won than an individual.
The play questions if there is such a thing as love in marriage at all. It critiques the idea of true love and marriage as something that is unattainable due to power relationships that exist within a marriage. It seems to suggest that marriage itself is a primitive desire endorsed by the idea of love in which the social domination of women by men is justified.
Hedda seeks a marriage in which husband and wife would be equal but seems unable to find it. The social constructs of marriage work so that a male is in the position of power and a woman is submissive to him. Hedda seems to conclude that a true marriage would never exist because of the existence of this social narrative. She imagines a way around it but seems to conclude that it is something that could never exist in reality.
The play Hedda Gabler works as art by questioning the cultural framework of femininity, marriage and love. It looks at the primitive motives behind marriage as a construct of a patriachical society. Hedda concludes that a true marriage can never really exist but the character herself finds an escape by the end of the play. She escapes through her suicide, not only because of her death, but because she finally manages to break the cultural narrative through the act itself. In the final line she says, 'But good God! People don't do such things!" (304). She has finally managed to escape, to do what people just don't do.
According to the oxford dictionary, Hegemony is defined as "Leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others". In the terms of international relations Hegemony means the state with the most power.
Get original essayPower can be measured in many different ways, realist political theorists, such as Hans J. Morgenthau, think that to be power can be measured by goals. Economic growth, military growth, cultural spread etc. can all be considered as working towards the ultimate goal of international power, countries like America can be used as an example of this as they have a large military and their culture has spread across the world in the form of media and entertainment.
Some political scientists define ‘power’ as the ability to influence other actors or states. This influence can be coercive, cooperative, or competitive. They can do this by coercing other states using threats or force, cooperating by discussing with other states to come to agreements, or competing with states using trade deals with other countries.
States could simply consider being secure a sign of power, countries that have won military victories for their security as a state. For example countries that where once colonised becoming independent, this is a massive gain of power for these countries. Power can also be measures by the capability and resources of the state.
Charles W. Freeman, Jr. described power as "Power is the capacity to direct the decisions and actions of others. Power derives from strength and will. Strength comes from the transformation of resources into capabilities. Will infuses objectives with resolve. Strategy marshals capabilities and brings them to bear with precision. Statecraft seeks through strategy to magnify the mass, relevance, impact, and irresistibility of power. It guides the ways the state deploys and applies its power abroad. These ways embrace the arts of war, espionage, and diplomacy. The practitioners of these three arts are the paladins of statecraft" (From his book Arts of Power: Statecraft and Diplomacy, 1997, p3.)
The Superpower, also known as the hegemonic power. William T. R. Fox defined superpower as "great power plus great mobility of power" he identified three states, the British Empire, the Soviet Union and the United States. At the moment the only superpower considered is the United States. A great power, mostly used in historical mentions, it can be used to describe states and actors which have strong political, cultural and economical influence over nations around them and across the world.
Middle power, is a term used for states which have little power but not too little to be considered a small power. They are usually big enough to stand on their own with little to no help from other actors. They tend to be members of groups such as the United nations or WTO (World Trade Organisation). A Small power is a country with little to no power, they consider power to be security, they are used by larger powers and tend to be dominated.
Helen Keller is one of the most memorable women in history. She was truly an exceptional and courageous person with inner strength. She was certainly a hero. Helen Keller was blind and deaf, and although that left her and her family devastated, she did not let this major obstacle ruin her good spirits or her life.
Get original essayDespite being blind as well as deaf, she learned to communicate and lived a life devoted to helping others. Her faith, determination, and spirit helped her to accomplish far more than many people expected. In fact, she won the admiration of numerous famous figures such as Mark Twain, Alexander Graham Bell and William James.
In June of 1880, Helen Keller was born in the city of Tuscumbia, Alabama. She was born as a perfectly healthy baby. When Helen was nineteen months old, she developed an illness that resulted in both blindness and deafness. It has thought that the sickness was either meningitis or scarlet fever. She communicated with her family by making signs and body language. As Helen grew older, she became very stressful with herself for she was unable to communicate with other people. She had a very bad tantrum, which no one can help her. They consulted with Alexander Graham Bell, who worked with the deaf, and he suggested they hire Anne Sullivan as Helen’s teacher. This decision would change Helen’s life forever.
Anne Sullivan was a determined, young teacher who had lived with blindness herself until undergoing successful surgery. Anne would be teaching her student proper behavior in everyday situations along with academic lessons. After establishing what would become a lifelong relationship, Anne began to teach Helen the alphabet by finger spelling the sign language letters into the palm of Helen’s hand. Soon, Helen recognized the letter combinations that Anne finger spelled to her. Helen had an unrelenting desire to learn. Anne continued to work with her eager student on finger spelling. Helen soon learned how to read Braille, write, and even started trying to speak. Together with the help of her beloved teacher Anne Sullivan, who was also partially blind, Helen was able to achieve many goals in life.
Helen Keller had aspirations of going to college. She was a person who did not allow her physical challenges to deter her dreams. In 1904, Helen Keller was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from Radcliffe College.
After graduating, Helen Keller spent the rest of her life working on behalf of blind and deaf people all over the world. With Anne at her side, she went on speaking tours and wrote articles on the significant role these individuals have in our society. Her far-reaching work won her high honors such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among her other written works, The Story of My Life, serves as an inspirational book for individuals both blind and sighted.
Helen Keller is a figure of inspiration to many. Despite having disabilities, she overcame those and strived for knowledge. No obstacle in her life stopped her from achieving her dream. Her continuous struggle and optimistic attitude led her to the level she is and will be on forever. Helen Keller indeed dedicated her life to helping others. She was a writer, speaker, and advocate with a spirit of determination known throughout the world. Her incredible life of eighty-seven years will be celebrated for centuries to come.