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What comes to mind when you hear the word, ‘hero’? Now, when most people hear that word, a variety of different images and concepts come to mind. Superman, Optimus Prime, Wolverine; the list goes on. What if I told you there are a film and a story that perfectly represent how the perception of heroism has changed throughout the decades. The story of Beowulf has an excellent representation of hero’s with masculinity and pure strength. Beowulf is a well-written story about a mighty hero who faces many foes with his physical strength and physique. However, Beowulf, unfortunately, has an early death after killing Grendel and Grendel’s mother, having to mightily face the dragon which ultimately meant his doom. On the other hand, Interstellar, directed by Christopher Nolan is a tear-jerking movie with Cooper and Murph as the main heroes, after a sobbing goodbye when Coops leaves Murph on Earth, both heroes pursue their call to adventure, both fall into trouble and faces their foes and became victorious. Nevertheless, both succeed and work together to save Earth.

Recently a famous movie director decided to ask the community what they believe is the better type of heroism, 83% believe that Mental and Emotional strength is better and 17% believe its Strength and Brute Power. This represents the heroes from Interstellar as they do not really on brawns and might, instead, they truly embody the saying brains over brawn. Moreover, this proves that people in the 21st century are more drawn to mental and emotional strength rather than physical strength. But why is that?

Interstellar clearly shows how heroes are represented in today’s society, a hero who isn’t purely defined by their strength but also on their mentality and emotions. The heroes in Interstellar are Cooper and Murphy, they both show incredible strength emotionally and mentally. People today believe this the only form of heroism whilst fewer people are beginning to think that masculinity is a form of heroism. Beowulf and the heroes from Interstellar both follow “the hero’s journey” in their way. Examples of this can be seen when both Cooper and Murphy enter the threshold (the secret NASA base) and then eventually both face their Ordeal/Challenge. Cooper’s was a life-threatening slingshot around the black hole Gargantua, and Murphy’s Ordeal/Challenge was the challenging formula to rescue everyone from Earth. However, Beowulf’s ‘entering the threshold’ and Ordeal/Challenge was more intense and physical. The crossing threshold for Beowulf is sailing across the sea, fighting sea monsters and the Ordeal/Challenge is fighting Grendel, Grendel’s Mother and The Dragon. As it’s apparent that Beowulf’s journey was more physical and took more brute force instead of mental and emotional strength similar to the heroes from Interstellar. Moreover, with these two outstanding and engaging stories, views on heroism have changed due to today’s society, with many feminists believing it’s not fair that males aren’t being victimized due to male hero’s involvement with masculinity. Additionally, in recent news, a hardcore feminist abused a child for dressing up as Beowulf this Halloween, the feminist claims that it was not right for the child to dress up as a hero that promotes male masculinity. She believes males would be empowered by stories like Beowulf, but, due to the backlash on this feminist, male certainly disagrees. This is absurd, males shouldn’t be harassed due to this. Although, there are still people who believe that Beowulf and the image of heroism that the story of Beowulf presents is unfair on the female gender and other males who aren’t as masculine. I believe that they don’t like the ideation of masculine males abusing their power, as an example of a male abusing their masculinity, in the story of Beowulf, a male character attempts to sexually assault a female character, these people without a doubt see why the views on heroism must change. Thus, caused the evolution of heroism; now many heroes aren’t physically strong, although their strengths are unique.

In conclusion, heroes today have and continued to tremendously impact our society as a whole, as evident through the constant praise of the recent Marvel heroes we currently see on screen. The journey in which we see heroes go through in literary works, follow the same cemented route we seen in blockbusters today. Although presently, heroes consistently have the mental and emotional strength, although in Beowulf it is apparent that Beowulf does follow the same journey, however, his persona is primarily focused on his godly strength and bravery. This corroborates with the information above, how feminist and males who aren’t masculine believing it’s unfair to present heroes with more manly attributes and qualities. This shows that Beowulf takes on a more physical journey then the heroes from Interstellar. Hence, it is unmistakable that views on heroism have changed throughout the years, as more and more heroes follow an emotional and mental pathway to success.

Works Cited

1. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney
2. Heaney, S. (2000). Beowulf: A new verse translation. W. W. Norton & Company.
3. Interstellar (2014) directed by Christopher Nolan
4. Nolan, C. (Director). (2014). Interstellar [Film]. Paramount Pictures.
5. The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
6. Campbell, J. (2008). The hero with a thousand faces. New World Library.
7. Gender and Heroism in Early Medieval Literature by Carla María Thomas
8. Thomas, C. M. (2002). Gender and heroism in early medieval literature. Boydell & Brewer.
9. The New Heroines: Female Embodiment and Technology in 21st-Century Popular Culture by Katharina Freund
10. Freund, K. (2016). The new heroines: Female embodiment and technology in 21st-century popular culture. Springer.
11. The Masculine Identity Crisis and The Hero Archetype in Modern Literature by Paul A. Cantor
12. Cantor, P. A. (2013). The Masculine Identity Crisis and The Hero Archetype in Modern Literature. National Affairs, (17), 86-99.
13. How America's New Masculinity Is Changing Pop Culture by Sam Lansky
14. Lansky, S. (2019, January 31). How America's new masculinity is changing pop culture. Time Magazine.
15. Heroism in the Twenty-First Century: The Relationship Between Heroism and Gender by Kate A. Ratliff and Oliver P. John
16. Ratliff, K. A., & John, O. P. (2013). Heroism in the twenty-first century: The relationship between heroism and gender. Journal of Personality, 81(2), 180-193.
17. Heroism: A Conceptual Analysis and Differentiation Between Heroic Action and Altruism by Franco Zappala and Mariah K. Snyder
18. Zappala, F., & Snyder, M. K. (2011). Heroism: A conceptual analysis and differentiation between heroic action and altruism. Review of General Psychology, 15(2), 99-113.
19. Heroes: What They Do and Why We Need Them by Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals
20. Allison, S. T., & Goethals, G. R. (2016). Heroes: What they do and why we need them. Oxford University Press.

In his famous speech, "I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth[...]" (II.ii.280), Hamlet illustrates an Elizabethan fusion of medieval and humanist ideas, perhaps lost on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern but not on E.M.W. Tillyard. Tillyard, in The Elizabethan World Picture, says that "what is true of Hamlet on man is in the main true of Elizabethan modes of thought in general" (4). This assertion is unprovable, but to read Shakespeare's Hamlet in light of Tillyard provides at best an explication of Elizabethan thought and at worst an interesting point of view. Such a reading finds Hamlet not merely pontificating on the state of man and universe, but manipulating this orthodox view in order to decieve those who hold it.

Hamlet goes out of his way to demonstrate his depression to his two schoolfellows. "'I have[...]lost all my mirth, foregone all custom of exercises'" (Ii.ii.280-1) he tells them, a sure sign of melancholy's depressive side. It goes "heavily" (II.ii.281) with his disposition, another warning, for melancholy is associated with earth, the lowest and heaviest element (62, 69). "'[T]he earth seems to me a sterile promontory'" (II.ii.282-3), he adds, a practically subversive statement. "[T]he world and its contents had been made for man[...] [i]ts great variety and ingenuity were indeed testimonies of the creator's wonderful power" (Tillyard, 80), and the ingrate Hamlet is calling the planet "sterile". He is fully aware of the implications in his speech; he calls the world a "goodly frame" (II.ii.282), an incongruous description given his alleged state of mind. His next statement follows the same pattern: "this most excellent canopy the air[...]appeareth[...]a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours" (II.ii.283-6). Hamlet sees the normal air as being corrupted and swampy, but he also conflates it with the "o'erhanging firmament" (II.ii.284). The firmament is the sphere of fixed stars; hence Hamlet is speaking not only of sublunary air but of the ether, a better kind of air, clear and pure, and in so doing he is calling the substance of heaven itself "pestilent" (Tillyard, 39). Still, he describes the air as "brave", "most excellent", "majestical", and "fretted with golden fire" (II.ii.283-5).

Hamlet makes an abrupt transition from describing the cosmos to characterizing mankind, moving directly from the "foul and pestilent congregation of vapours" to "'What a piece of work is a man!'" (II.ii.286) This movement makes more sense if looked at as a correspondence from macrocosm to microcosm; Hamlet does not pick mankind as an arbitrary important object on which to shine his worldview (Tillyard, 91). Hamlet calls man "like an angel...the paragon of animals" (II.ii.288-9), prompting Tillyard to assert that this statement "is in the purest medieval tradition[...]what man was like in his prelapsarian state[...]between the angels and the beasts" (4-5). The Quarto punctuation, although Tillyard does not use it when he quotes the speech, assigns the quality of "apprehension" to angels, which fits Tillyard's characterization of angels as "linked to man by community of the understanding" (28); the Folio aligns angels with "action", thus referring to the Angel angels, the messengers and errand-boys of God (Tillyard, 41). At any rate, Hamlet is brimming with praise for man, calling him "noble in reason" (II.ii.286-7), which quality is indeed the most noble that man possesses (Tillyard, 28); "infinite in faculties" (II.ii.287), as both the medieval and modern minds would agree (Tillyard, 4); "in form and moving[...]admirable" (II.ii.287-8), which he is not, although as the "paragon of animals" he should logically be (Tillyard, 29). And yet for all this, Hamlet calls man a "quintessence of dust" (II.ii.290), harking back to the creation of Adam and the baseness from which even prelapsarian man comes, and claims that "man delights not me" (II.ii.290-1) ; Hamlet is making sure that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern get the idea, but not sounding terribly depressed.

Hamlet is like a patient explaining his symptoms, full worried that, as Prince, his own disorders bode ill to the state and cosmos; he seems to reflect his own ill state in his description of the world as contagious and dull. He is being partially truthful; Hamlet does see the world as "weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable" (I.ii.133) but the illness, in his opinion, is not in himself. The correspondence at work here is the influence of the body politic (Hamlet Senior's murder, Gertrude's marriage, and Claudius' semi-usurpation) on the macrocosm (the "sterile promontory"), at least according to the microcosm (Hamlet). Hamlet is the only member of court to notice this disruption; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern speak cluelessly about the great evils that would befall the state if Claudius were to die, distraught that "when [majesty] falls/Each small annexment, petty consequence/Attends the boisterous ruin" (III.iii.20-22). Knowing that these courtiers are Claudius' spies, Hamlet plays up his melancholy, exaggerating its signs in order to make it appear a textbook case of melancholy adust, the result of his own corrupted humors, and not the sign of a greater evil (Tillyard, 70).

In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne Prynne redefines herself despite being shunned by the Puritan community. Although she has sinned, she does not dwell in the past. She grows stronger as a person from the cruelty of the townspeople and the shame they place on Hester. Though everything seems to go wrong for Hester, the story ends in her favor. Hester grows stronger than both Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. She becomes the voice of those who have sinned, and shows her caring and resilient nature even under the spell of the letter.

Although Hester is shunned by her community, she upholds herself with strength and acceptance. In the beginning of the story, the reader first meets Hester as she exits the prison while the townspeople watch. Hester is holding her child, a symbol of her sin of adultery, and is marked with an embroidered letter “A” on her dress. The women of the town gossip about Hester, and remark that Hester’s beautiful embroidery skills of the letter that was meant to be her punishment have made it appear as if she is proud of her sins. However, Hester is only making the best out of her situation. Although the townspeople expect Hester to be ashamed and embarrassed, she turns the other cheek: “Those who had before known her, and had expected to behold her dimmed and obscured by a disastrous cloud, were astonished, and even startled, to perceive how her beauty shone out, and made a halo of the misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped” (37). Hester shows her strength by refusing to crumble under public humiliation and being branded as punishment for her sin. She accepts her wrongdoings with grace and stands her ground: “In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her arm, and, with a burning blush, and yet a haughty smile, and a glance that would not be abashed, looked around at the townspeople and her neighbors” (37). This event is an example of Hester’s strength shining through her dark circumstances, and it is the beginning of her journey towards accepting her sin and becoming a better person because of it.

While Hester is vulnerable early in the novel, she develops confidence and a new perspective as an outsider, and then shows her dominance of Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth. While Dimmesdale’s sanity is deteriorating, Hester is finding peace with her sin and the letter. “‘Hester,’ said he, ‘hast thou found peace?’ She smiled drearily, looking down upon her bosom. ‘Hast thou?’ She asked. ‘None!-nothing but despair!’ He answered” (131). During the conversation between Hester and Dimmesdale, Dimmesdale is depressed and distraught, while Hester is calm and comforting. This is ironic because it was Hester who was publicly punished for her sins, yet Dimmesdale is letting his secret sin ruin his life. The shame Hester is expected to experience is affecting Dimmesdale instead. Hester also becomes impatient with Chillingworth’s evil and decides to meet with him. She explains that he no longer intimidates her thanks to her new found strength, and that she has risen above him: “Strengthened by years of hard and solemn trial, she felt herself no longer so inadequate to cope with Roger Chillingworth… She had climbed her way, since then, to a higher point. The old man, on the other hand, had brought himself nearer to her level, or perhaps below it, by the revenge which he had stooped for.” (115). Hester’s newfound confidence allows her to find peace and prosper above Dimmesdale and Chillingworth.

Hester finding peace with herself and her scarlet letter is another example of her ability to overcome challenges and isolation. Overtime, she becomes more and more accepted by the townspeople as they recognize Hester as an important part of the community. Hester has been under the radar and has lived a pure life since the incident, which softens the attitude of the townspeople. Hester also offers guidance and comfort towards others who have sinned. “Her breast, with its badge of shame, was but the softer pillow for the head that needed one” (111). She becomes known as a “Sister of Mercy,” and the symbol of her letter actually shifts to mean “Able”. “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her,—so much power to do, and power to sympathize,—that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength.” (148) Hester generously uses her new perspective that she gained from her punishment to help others, and in return is well received by the townspeople as a strong woman.

Though Hester Prynne suffers through cruel punishment and isolation due to her sin, she does so without letting it destroy her character. She perseveres through her circumstances and gains strength and perspective. She also turns her pain into the ability to sympathize with others. While the men hold the power in the beginning of the story, she triumphs over both Dimmesdale and Chillingworth by the end because she accepts her sin as a part of her life and attempts to make the best of it. Hester Prynne ignores the shameful symbolism of the scarlet letter and makes it a symbol of her own strength.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us," stated Oliver Wendell Holmes. This eventually proves to be especially true for Hester Prynne, the main character in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne, a fair young maiden whose husband had disappeared two years prior to the opening of the novel, has an affair with the pastor of her Puritan church, resulting in the birth of her uncontrollable child Pearl. Because of this act of adultery, Hester Prynne is branded by the scarlet letter "A," which she is forced to forever wear upon her attire. The plot thickens as Hester's former husband returns to New England and becomes fixated upon the idea of revenge towards Hester's anonymous partner in sin. At the same time, the feeble pastor slowly begins to waste away towards the gloomy gates of death. However, as those around her grow ever weaker or morally decayed, Hester grows ever stronger. Hester grows so strong and morally righteous that it appears that she is actually favored by Hawthorne despite her ³sin.² The qualities which cause Hester to be favored are her traits of helpfulness towards others, her intense maternal love towards Pearl, and her defiance and pride demonstrated towards those who attempt to impose their values upon her.

Even as those she assisted were cruel towards her, Hester remained generous and helpful towards others. For example, after becoming recognized as a talented seamstress and gradually beginning to earn fairly large sums of money, ³Hester bestowed all her superfluous means in charity, on wretches less miserable than herself, and who not unfrequently insulted the hand that fed them.² This proves that although Hester was rejected by society, she continued to care for this same community. She had such a kind nature and willingness to assist others that the fact that those whom she fed often returned the generosity with nothing but insults did not cause her to cease in her endeavors. Then, towards the end of the novel, after returning from Europe to the New England town in which she had sinned and repented numerous years before, Hester began to counsel other unfaithful women. For example, ³Hester comforted and counseled them as best she might. She assured them, too, of her firm belief, that, at some brighter period, when the world should have grown ripe for it, in Heaven's own time, a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer ground of mutual happiness." This also demonstrates Hester's generosity and helpfulness. Although the New England town harbored such unpleasant memories for her, she was willing to return in order to assist others in need. She was willing to relive her own pain and absorb the pain of others in order to benefit future generations, and she was willing to give back to a society which had given nothing to her.

Hester harbored an intense love for her child Pearl although the child's mischievous and imp-like qualities brought nothing but pain to the child's mother. This is demonstrated as Hester, after having her talents as a seamstress publicized, began to change the attire of her family. For example, ³Her own dress was of the coarsest materials and the most somber hue; with only that one ornament,--the scarlet letter,--which it was her doom to wear. The child's attire, on the other hand, was distinguished by a fanciful, or, we may rather say, a fantastic ingenuity, which served, indeed, to heighten the airy charm that early began to develop itself in the little girl.² This demonstrates that although Hester herself would dress only plainly in order to redeem her lost purity, she wished to make her child stand out. She had such an intense love for the child that she wanted only the absolute best for Pearl. Also, Hester was simply astounded and horrified at the idea of Pearl being taken away from her when this question was brought to the governor. This is demonstrated in the line, "'Speak thou for me!' cried she. 'Thou wast my pastor, and hadst charge of my soul, and knowest me better than these men can. I will not lose the child! Speak for me! Thou knowest, - for thou hast sympathies which these men lack! - thou knowest what is in my heart, and what are a mother's rights, and how much the stronger they are, when that mother has but her child and the scarlet letter! Look thou to it! I will not lose the child! Look to it!'" Hester's speech demonstrated that her only true reason for life was the child, and that if that one richness of her life was devoured by Puritan thought and society, she would have lost all. Her child was her heart, love, and life. It was all that she had left to lose, and she would do anything to protect her Pearl.

Though Hester was accused of what Puritans considered to be an extraordinarily serious crime, she remained proud and defiant. While on the scaffold, Hester ³with a burning blush, and yet a haughty smile, and a glance that would not be abashed, looked around at her townspeople and neighbors.² Although the burning stares of the townspeople were upon her, Hester remained strong and managed a grin in order to anger the public and maintain her dignity. Also whilst upon the scaffold, Hester revealed upon her gown ³in fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of thread,...the letter ?A.' '' Although Hester was meant to be chastised by the letter ³A,² rather than submissively creating a dark and bitter badge of shame, she devised a lavish embroidery more suited for an affluent queen than an outcaste of society. This lawful and silent act of rebellion proved her defiance and pride, because rather than hiding from the cruel crowd, Hester proudly displayed herself before it.

Hence, due to her generous and compassionate nature, her extreme love for her daughter Pearl, and her defiance towards the narrow-minded townspeople of her community, Hester came across as a character loved and admired by the author. In the quote mentioned in the introduction to this essay, Oliver Wendall Holmes stated that what previously had occurred and what are yet to occur are not important when compared with a person's true nature. For Hester Prynne, though she had sinned in her past, she came across as strong and admirable because she was a benevolent person on the inside. She sought purity and truth to compensate for her unalterable past. Therefore, her wrongdoings were eventually overlooked in enlightenment of her better qualities. A coward can hind in the shadows of reputations and prejudgments, but only a hero can overcome these and manage to step into the daylight.

“Hey Jude” is a song by the band The Beatles and was written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It was first released in August 1968 under The Beatles label ‘Apple Records’. Hey Jude runs for 8 mins and 10 secs. The Beatles choose here instead for an unusual binary form that uses a fully developed, hymn-like song together with an extended, jam on a simple chord progression. It becomes clear from a detailed examination of "Hey Jude" just how neatly the two parts of the song go so well with each other, and from what simple musical materials that are constructed.“Hey Jude” is played in the key of F Major and in a time of 4/4.

The genre of the song is Rock, Pop played in ballad style. The song structure is not your usual pop structure such as Verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, chorus but instead is quite different in nature for its genre. The song relies more on the subtleness of texture then of the form as throughout the song the texture gets added too and builds up to the conclusion of the song.Verse one as with all the versus follows a simple chord progression using chords I, V, V7, V7sus4 and IV in the key of Fmajor which creates a very memorable verse setting the tone of the song and hinting at the pop and rock genre of the song. The vocal never really rests on too many unstable notes for too long during the versus, instead only passing on the unstable notes and then quickly going back to the diatonic key.

The first verse is very thin in its texture ,using only a piano with a single vocal melody line that sets the tone for the song playing on the ballad style where the song starts very thin with its texture then really opens up as the song progresses. This single vocal line follows a very macro style structure as it doesn't really change or differ throughout the song until the outro. In verse two we hear the addition of a tambourine being played on and also an acoustic rhythm guitar which also starts to hint at the more pop side of the song and starts to increase the texture and thickness of the song.

There is also backing vocals added in the second half of the verse in the form of simple “ahhhh’s” (TheBeatlesVEVO, 2015). It is the same as the first verse. The harmony is purely diatonic to F Major and the melody rises and falls in even measure leaving the listener feeling at ease. This is however broken at the end of this verse as there is one bar added. Harmonically to do this the final verse chord is turned into a V/IV allowing the chordal structure to smoothly transition from verse to bridge.As a result of the verse having a bar added to the end, the first phrase of both bridges have five bars thus almost copying the lead in from verse to bridge making the song stable again. Harmonically the start and the end of both bridges tonally are quite unstable.

The bridge sees the introduction of a walking Bass line and drums with more focus on tapping cymbals again creating a more rock feel which engages the listener. Melodically the main vocal tends to fall throughout the most part of the bridge, barely rising until the major melody swell that leads to the next verse.Verse three has the addition of backing vocals in thirds. There is also the introduction of a distant backing vocals as well. The distant vocal “so let it out and let it in” (TheBeatlesVEVO, 2015) leads into the lyrical ideas found in the next bridge.

The tambourine in this verse is more frequent and played now as semi-quavers which creates a feel of the song becoming thicker and having more texture and adds to the feeling of the pop genre.Bridge two mirrors bridge one harmonically and musically with only slight change in lyrics and slightly more elaborate lead vocals with more passing notes but still sticking to the diatonic Fmajor the majority of the time keeping with the repetition of the song which draws listeners back into the piece. In verse four there is a parts of embellishing new notes and rhythm of the initial "Hey Jude" phrase, and there is harmonizing backing vocals sung in parallel thirds all the way through this verse which creates a much thicker sounding chorus and gives the song much more definition.

There is also a spectacular vocal flourish ("better, better, ...") (TheBeatlesVEVO, 2015) which leads to the jam section and outro.In the outro, the use of the flat-VII chord gives the jam session a modal, Mixolydian feel that contrasts the first half of the song.The outro is a staggering seventy two bars long yet does not feel like it is, as the momentum and instrumentation through this section swells and leaves the listener engaged. Instruments are gradually added to this section creating a thickness to the sound. There is a doubling of the bass line which is layered progressively over the course of multiple repetitions of the vocal line “nah nah nah nah…”.

These backing vocals at times works alongside the E flat chord to create a dissonant 9th. This mantra like phrase continues repetitively throughout the seventy two bar outro. At repeat four you can hear the inclusion of mid range strings, a couple of octaves above the bass you can hear trumpets, the trumpets enable a sense of impressive style to the outro and helps this section keep its momentum and interest. In the 8th repeat the violins rise and swell four octaves above the Bass line and the vocal ad lib becomes more frantic in nature and supplies the listener with a sense of almost panic and urgency as the song fades out.

This song relies heavily on delicate contrasts throughout the beginning half and during the 2nd half, the song relies more on big tones, layering of instruments and stacked harmonies both on beat and off beat. The song, starting with the thin sounds of just a lone leading vocal, and simple piano chords, allows a gentle introduction to the ballad. Throughout the track slight variance in lyrical content and instrumentation gives the listener a sense of repetition and contrast at the same time and any melodic dissonance to be found there is consistently resolved. This allows the outro to have the full impact needed to leave the listener engaged as it swells to its fantastic conclusion.

References:

1. McCartney, P. (1968). Hey Jude - Song. [Online] Youtube. Available at: https://youtu.be/A_MjCqQoLLA

2. The Beatles. (2002). The Beatles. [Online] Available at: https://www.thebeatles.com / [Accessed 20 December 2017]

3. Unregistered Author. (2005). Ultimate Guitar Tabs. [Online] Available at: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/the_beatles/hey_jude_chords_17275 [Accessed 20 December 2017]

Terrorism and counterterrorism have long been a source from which Hollywood draw a inspiration to create movies. The Dark Knight is no exception. The Dark Knight (a piece of popular culture) sheds light on the justice system in our post-9/11 world. Popular culture does not only reflect social status, but it also influences the way in which people view the law. Speaking from personal experience, I believe this is due to people having little to no direct experience with the law and legal issues, meaning that much of our knowledge is second-hand and often leached from pop culture. On the other hand, popular culture is used as a tool by people in power as a result from it being easily accessible to the public. This gives pop culture the power to shape people’s views about the law, justice, terrorism and the legal issues that come as a result of it.

The Dark Knight is the second movie from Nolan’s Batman series. Nolan uses the classic story in which Bruce witnesses the murder of his two parents. This catastrophe causes a seed to grow within Bruce which eventually leads to him becoming Batman. Batman has no superhuman powers like Superman, however, Batman is at the peak of human strength & martial arts skills, which are nothing to be trifled with. Not to mention the cool technology he has access to, such as the batmobile, and the phone surveillance Sonar system that taps into people’s cell phones to create a live map of sorts. This all melds together in beautiful fashion when Batman kidnaps Gothams mob’s money-launderer, Lau, from Hong Kong. In gorgeous fashion, Bruce escapes by using a skyhook which is then swept by a jumbo plane while defending into the night sky. Once Lau is arrested, he testifies against the mob (his clients) in exchange for freedom and a private plane back to Hong Kong. As a result of Lau snitching on the mob bosses, they decide to take up the offer of the Joker (to kill Batman for half of mobs fortune).

Enter: The Joker. Joker starts his reign of terror in Gotham delivering his promise to kill innocent people until Batman reveals his identity. His killing spree begins with one of Batman’s impersonators followed by the Judge who sentenced the mobsters under Laus testimony. After having killed both the impersonator & theJudge, the Joker targets the Police Commissioner and District Attorney Harvey Dent. Although the joker succeeded in killing the previous targets; Bruce managed to preventive the Joker's goons from capturing Harvey.

Bruce, unable to bear the responsibility for the death of innocent civilians at the hands of the Joker, prepares to reveal his secret identity. Dent, who is against Batman revealing his identity, tries to ease the publics demand that Batman reveal his identity. This forces Dent’s hand: Dent claims that he is Batman and is taken into custody. As Dent is being transported to jail, the Joker attacks. However, the real Batman appears and manages to capture the Joker. Later, at the police station, Batman viciously attacks the Joker after the Joker reveals that his goons have taken both Dent and Assistant District Attorney Rachel hostage. The Joker reveals their locations knowing that Batman does not have time to save both. Batman chooses to save Rachael, However, the Joker lied and that lie ultimately lead Batman to Dent’s location instead of Rachels. Batman manages to save Dents life and Rachael is killed before Gordon can reach her. While this unfolds, it is revealed the Joker, who planned to be arrested all along, escapes.

At Gotham General Hospital, the Joker confronts an injured Dent. Dent has been scarred and half of his face is disfigured, and the emotional trauma he has suffered causes him to descend into the dark side. Both the Joker and Dent leave before the Joker triggers an explosion that destroys the entire hospital. From this point on, Dent is the villain Two-Face and gets vengeance to those who he holds responsible for Rachel’s death.

In the movies final scenes, the Joker declares that he controls Gotham and that anyone who wants to leave should abandon the city immediately. Now, you might ask yourself “how does this all relate to our post 9/11 world?”. Batman who is increasingly growing helpless has to resort to doing illegal acts so that he could put an end to the joker and the domestic terror he’s havoking. how does he do this? By developing technology that uses sonar images from civilians' cell phones to fight crime (wiretapping privileges granted via the Patriot Act). I believe the dark jj ugh was meant to show us that freedom and liberty come at a cost. A cost that many were not aware of, the cost of losing ones privacy. .      

Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. Hidden Intellectualism vs A Homemade Education
3. Conclusion

Introduction

Gerald Graff, an English and Education professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago, questions the effectiveness of the education system in his narrative essay “Hidden Intellectualism”. Graff’s purpose is to convey the idea that intellectualism cannot be strictly defined by an individual’s ability to interact with academic subjects and texts. In the text, he shares the relationship that he has with sports books and magazines and how it enabled him to learn the fundamentals of intellectualism. He utilizes both an assertive yet compassionate tone, where the assertive tone appeals to school boards and the compassionate tone appeals to students. On the other hand, Malcolm X, a civil rights activist, presents the power of will and education in the excerpt “A Homemade Education” from The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Hidden Intellectualism vs A Homemade Education

Malcolm’s purpose in the text was to show how self-education propelled him beyond his eighth-grade level of education and allowed him to be aware of the many issues within humanity. Malcolm adopts a formal tone in the text gain credibility and to gain the approval from his audience. “Hidden Intellectualism” aims to broaden the idea of intellectualism while “A Homemade Education” shares the power of self-education. In “Hidden Intellectualism”, Graff begins the narrative essay by drawing the audience in and making them feel a part his concern. He uses words and phrases such as “we” and “us” to increase audience relevance and make them feel inevitably invited to pay attention to what the text has to say. Graff first talks about how everyone knows someone who is considered street smart but is unable to apply the same kind of smartness in an academic environment. He then proposes that “schools and colleges might be at fault for missing the opportunity to tap into such street smarts and channel them into good academic work”. By doing so, Graff is able to effectively shift the audience’s focus towards the topic that he wants to educate the audience with. As stated by Graff, one of the main reasons why schools and colleges overlook the value of street smartness is because they exclusively associate intellectualism with how well a student is able to interpret subjects and texts that are “weighty and academic. He then backs up his claim and increases his own credibility by stating that “no necessary connection has ever been established between any text or subject and the educational depth and weight of the discussion it can generate”.

Followed by that, Graff suggests that in order to seek intellectualism in a broader variety of students, they should be more encouraged to dive into subjects that pique their interest. He then follows the text with his own personal experience with sports to provide an example and prove his point. He begins by telling the audience how he hated books up until he entered college; however, he tells how he cared for sports magazines. He lists magazines such as Sport, Sports Illustrated, as well as professional baseball, football, and basketball annual magazines guides, to really demonstrate that he was really passionate about sports and that he was knowledgeable in that aspect as well. Graff recalls how in the neighborhood he grew up in, he would pass by “hoods” who would bully him if he seemed too book-smart in their eyes. Due to his contextual circumstances at the time, being physically tough was far more important than showing any sense of intellect. This showed a setback in Graff’s intellectual journey as he was torn between fitting in and sounding smart. It wasn't until when Graff told how Marilyn Monroe divorced baseball star Joe Dimaggio and married playwright Arthur Miller that there was a shift in the Graff’s views towards intellects, it was a “symbolic triumph of geek over jock”.

To Graff, this served as a step of realization for him as he realized that what he has been doing all along. Graff realized that, through his love for sports, he’s already been learning “the rudiments of the intellectual life” where he has learned how to make arguments, use and weigh different pieces of evidence, maneuver around particulars and generalizations, summarize other’s views, and enter conversations. It was then, where he saw the intellectual potential in materials beyond what is assigned in the academic setting. It was then, where he realized the potential for being an intellectual in himself and others. Graff criticizes the school system in the sense that it was a very competitive environment, just like the sports world, but it is only a less attractive reproduction of it.

On the other hand, Malcom X began “A Homemade Education” by telling the audience his background and what inspired him to gain higher education. He tells how he “became increasingly frustrated at not being able to express what [he] wanted to convey in letters that [he] wrote, especially those to Elijah Muhammad”. He also tells how he was able to articulate what he wanted to convery and that made him unfunctional. Malcolm provides an example of a slang he would have had to use if he doesn't improve his vocabulary, “something such as “Look, daddy, let me pull your coat about a cat”. This insight acquires a sense of respect from the audience, and perhaps a sense of familiarity to some, and helps keep their attention for the story he will tell. His self-educational journey began in Charlestown Prison, where he was first motivated y his fellow inmate Bambi. He was awed by his initiation to take charge of any conversation and he was inspired by him in that sense. He tried to copy him, but it did not get too far. It wasn't until Malcolm X transferred to the Norfolk Prison Colony where he was able to grasp a hold of a dictionary. He would spend days on end copying and learning words from the dictionary, and this triggered the starts of his fascination towards words. With every page, he began learning more about people, places, and history. With his newfound knowledge, he began to dive into the history of black men. He read texts such as Will Durant’s Story of Civilization, W. E. B. Du Bois’s Negro History. By doing so, he elevates his credibility and knowledge on the topic as he demonstrates to the audience how the texts allowed him to learn about “black empires before the black slave was brought to the United States, and the early Negro struggles for freedom”.

These aforementioned texts, alongside many more, opened him a gateway of information even from when he was bounded prison walls. And it was these texts, that sent him a call to action to do something about the lack of black rights in the United States at the time. He goes on to tell how, when he got out of prison, he publically spoke in London about the human rights and oppressed minorities. This goes on to show and validate his credibility as he transformed into action.

Conclusion

In short, Gerald Graff’s “Hidden Intellectualism” uses methods such as diction, personal experience, and logical arguments to structure his text in a way that draws the audience in and convinces them to see from his point of view. Whereas Malcolm X’s “A Homemade Education” where he provides his own experiences from inside and outside of the prison walls to demonstrate the importance and value of an education. Similar to Graff, Malcolm uses methods such as diction and personal experience to draw the audience in. However, the two texts are drastically different in the sense that they are structured and the message they are trying to convey to their audience.

Equality for the LGBT community is the statement that will be discussed in the next paragraphs of this LGBT community essay. Throughout the history of America, discrimination against a certain group of people based on their race, gender, or sexual orientation has always been an issue, and still is. 

During the time of slavery, African Americans were not treated as the equals of white people, instead they were treated as objects that one possessed. During a period of time that called for the women’s rights movement, women could not vote, own property, and faced a wage gap when compared to the salary of men. In the instance of both these groups of people, they battled for their rights as human beings to be treated equally. Similarly, another group of people who is also being denied their rights as human beings is the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population. This is mostly due to the fact that society does not perceive lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders as a norm. Since the LGBT population is considered a minority group, if they are fully accepted, being a person of the LGBT group will normalize. Once this becomes the norm, it threatens the majority group, being the heterosexual population. This kind of fear is rooted from homophobia. The intolerance to homosexuality and transgender identity affects the LGBT community by “restricting their rights, denying them opportunities, creating intimidating or unwelcoming environments, and even inflicting verbal or behavioral violence...'. For going against the beliefs of homophobic people, LGBT people face prejudice, discrimination, and violence. They do not deserve this treatment; they deserve to be treated equally and have access to the same rights as everyone else.

Hostility and discrimination towards LGBT people are very common, and can be associated with opinions on societal norms. Society tends to have many opinions on what is normal and acceptable, and what is not. Being a homosexual, bisexual, or transgender goes against the norms of societal beliefs, therefore these people are treated unfairly. The backlash LGBT people receive “emerges from a society’s shared belief system in which homosexuality is denigrated and discredited as invalid relative to heterosexuality”. Being homosexual is viewed to be shameful and belittled upon, therefore individuals who refer to any other sexual orientation but straight face different forms of sexual stigma. These “shared belief system” that only condones heterosexuality as normal are the causes behind homophobia.

Homophobia is defined as the “irrational fear, hatred, and intolerance by heterosexual individuals of homosexual men and women”. There are many different reasons behind the cause of homophobic beliefs or attitudes. One reason being that homophobic people fear the full acceptance of the LGBT people. They believe that once the LGBT community achieves equal rights, it will only influence others to think that this minority group is being protected and that being one of them is perfectly normal. They see this as spreading the agenda of being a LGBT person, and giving people the okay to be or “try out” being part of the LGBT community. However, this is not the case. LGBT people do not just see others being someone of the LGBT group and think that they want to test the waters and see what it is like. Being a lesbian, gay, bi, or transgender person is not a trend; these people are making a change in their gender or sexual orientation to achieve happiness and be comfortable being their true self, despite constantly being rejected. They do not need to be scrutinized by homophobia for simply making a change in their lives for the better. The objections to their homosexuality and transgender identity causes LGBT people to suffer from mental health issues like depression, therefore when LGBT people are not discriminated against, they can have a healthier lifestyle. Regardless of the fears and beliefs of homophobic people, which do not justify, the LGBT community has the right to equality.

Another cause to homophobia according to Adams, et al. in their article Putting Freud to the Test, is the “anxiety about the possibility of being or becoming a homosexual.” For some people, the idea of homophobia can be used to help disguise their personal fear of being rejected by society, or their friends, family, or loved ones due to their sexuality. When someone realizes that their sexual preferences or gender identity is different from what is considered normal or accepted, they have a harder time admitting to it, therefore it is common for them to hide it and be in denial. Adams, et al. goes on to further explain in their article the “emotional malaise and irrational attitudes displayed by some individuals who feel guilty about their erotic interests and struggle to deny and repress homosexual impulses”. This goes on to show that one way of being in denial is rejecting homosexuals and treating them with anger or hate, especially when in a situation that confronts them about their true, but unwanted sexuality. A solution to this problem is treating LGBT people equally and accepting them as normal. Once society starts to accepts homosexuals and gender nonconforming individuals and not deny them their rights as human beings, people will no longer have to hide behind the idea of homophobia. People would not have to worry about rejection or discrimination, so they do not need to put up a front acting like they do not tolerate LGBT people.

Those that are opposed to the LGBT population also argue that they should not have equal rights as the rest of the population because their actions or desires goes against God. In the Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian religions, a strong hostility exists towards homosexual practices. As homosexuality goes against religions, parents will send their kids to gay conversion therapy or camps, in hopes of converting their sexuality back to straight, or “curing” them. Chitra Ramaswamy’s article in The Guardian, explains that conversion therapy is referred to as treatments “aiming to change a person’s sexual orientation or suppress their gender identity”. One’s sexual orientation is who they are as a person and cannot just be changed. Going to therapy will not change their sexual preferences, instead it will make them feel less of themselves. It will make them feel like they are committing a sin simply for being attracted to a person of the same sex. Conversion therapies or camps take a negative toll on patients, or homosexual victims as it greatly effects their mental health. In the case of 16-year-old Jewish boy, Mathew Shurka, who went to conversion therapy for five years, he says: “I knew that my feelings were not going away. I blamed myself; I wasn’t trying hard enough. My depression was serious. I gained 60lbs. I felt suicidal all the time”. People should have the right to love and be attracted to whoever they want without feeling bad or guilty about it. Denying individuals this right will only cause harm to their health, both mentally and physically.

Another argument in why homosexuality is wrong is that it is not seen as traditional or unnatural, especially when it comes to procreation. It is believed that God created man and women to procreate the “traditional” way. Now, the traditional way is for a man and women to fall in love and have sex to create a life, but that is not how it works, especially in today’s society. Having non-procreative sex or using birth control is not traditional, but people who do this are not discriminated against. Infertile people have sex knowing that they cannot reproduce, and they are not discriminated against. Adultery is also not traditional, but people who cheat are also not discriminated against. So why are just homosexuals being treated unequally. Some will also say that mankind will cease to exists since same sex couples will be unable to reproduce, but in with the advancement in sciences and technology, homosexuals are able to have children through sperm donors and/or surrogates. There are no legitimate reasons to why homosexual individuals should not be treated as the equals of everyone else.

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To end up, our Declaration of Independence states that all “all men are created equal,” yet the LGBT community still struggles for equality. They face discrimination in the workforce, in healthcare, at home, or in public, as they are victims of hate crimes. This inequality, hatred, and violence LGBT people encounter has a negative effect to their physical and mental health. The opposition this minority group faces is largely due to homophobia and the violation of religious beliefs that homosexuality goes against God, and that it effects the traditional and natural ways of procreation. People are entitled to their own opinions and beliefs, but these oppositions do not justify for the people of the LGBT community to be denied the same rights and opportunities that everyone else has access to. They should be able to choose their sexual orientation and gender identity without judgment and repercussion. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are not asking for much; they are not seeking special privileges, they are simply asking for equal rights.

Work Citied

• Adams, Henry E., et al. “The Roots of Homophobia - Putting Freud To The Test | Assault On Gay America | FRONTLINE.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/roots/freud.html.
• Blondeel, Karel, et al. “Violence Motivated by Perception of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: a Systematic Review.” World Health Organization. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, vol. 96, no. 1, World Health Organization, Jan. 2018, pp. 29–41E, doi:10.2471/BLT.17.197251.
• Herek, Gregory M. “The Roots of Homophobia - Hating Gays - An Overview Of Scientific Studies | Assault On Gay America | FRONTLINE.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/roots/overview.html.
• “Homophobia: SexInfo Online.” Homophobia | SexInfo Online, https://sexinfo.soc.ucsb.edu/article/homophobia.
• Ramaswamy, Chitra. “'I Still Have Flashbacks’: the 'Global Epidemic' of LGBT Conversion Therapy.” The Guardian, 8 Aug. 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/08/i-still-have-flashbacks-the-global-epidemic-of-lgbt-conversion-therapy.   

The intermittent fasting diet claims to help people lose weight and decreased inflammation within 8 weeks by cutting calories by 20% every other day. The cost of groceries could in fact go down because you are eating less food. Because the client has to skip meals a few days a week and rely on liquids to feel full, the level of effort for this diet is hard. You have to make sure your diet is completely balanced, however there are no dietary limitations, you can eat whatever you choose as long as it is within calorie limits. During intermediate fasting, if the client chooses to fast every other day, they must eat no more than 500 calories. They also have the option to do “the 5:2 fast diet which involves eating 5 days a week and fasting the other 2 days, when women can get no more than 500 calories and men no more than 600.

That’s a quarter of the amount you likely eat on the days when you don’t fast” (Leicht). There are many books and websites you can use to find plenty of information on intermittent fasting, however there is no specific destination for medical support. The amount of exercise the client does is up to the, however most people have more energy on the days that they are not fasting. Most people are still able to maintain muscle mass while intermittent fasting. There are no inclusions or exclusions of a behavioral modification program. The probability of being a “life-long” diet plan is high because of the amount of control the client has with the food that they are eating and amount of exercise they can do. There are no limitations so the client will be able to customize the plan to their specific needs. “Some research shows that this type of diet may curb symptoms of asthma and improve cholesterol levels, which could make heart disease likely. Also, some studies, but not all, show improvement in the body’s use of insulin” (Leicht).

The Mediterranean diet claims it is more of a lifestyle change where there is no single diet plan but in general you would be eating “lots of fruits and vegetables, beans and nuts, healthy grains, fish, olive oil, small amounts of meat and dairy, and red wine” (Robinson) The cost solely depends on how much food you eat, there are no prepackaged or required meals. The level of effort is low to medium for the Mediterranean diet. You can simplify this diet by planning out your meals in advanced and keeping staple food products on hand. This lifestyle is very easy to accommodate for people with dietary restrictions and preferences. It is vegan and vegetarian friendly, just omit the dairy and meat as needed. You can rely on herbs and spices if you are on a low sodium diet and the diet is also low in saturated fat. Medical supervision and support is not necessary, however there are many Facebook groups you can join to interact with people who have the same interest as you. Normal physical exercise daily is a part of this lifestyle. There is not inclusion or exclusion of a behavioral modification program. The probability of this being a “life-long” diet plan is very high. Research has found that the Mediterranean diet is the best prescription for a long term, healthy life. This diet scores big for heart health and longevity. Studies suggest it may make you less likely to get heart disease, lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, help you manage diabetes, and help you avoid certain cancers and chronic diseases”(Robinson).

The Martha’s Vineyard Diet Detox promises its clients that if they are on this diet they will lose 21 pounds in 21 days, or a pound a day, while also ridding their bodies of toxins. The diet was created by Roni DeLuz who is also a registered nurse and naturopathic doctor. She recommends that during this diet you perform a “21-day detox each year, a 7-day detox each season, and a weekend detox every week” (Redfearn). If you want to follow this diet precisely, including all of the recommended supplements, DeLuz sells a kit for $200. This price does not include the food that you must purchase. The level of effort to continue this diet is high. There are many limits on what you can and cannot eat. The client must juice or make soups which means they must always keep an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables on hand. While on this diet you are consuming liquids only. During a typical day, the client will consume nothing but water, herbal tea, vegetable soup, berry drinks and green vegetable drinks. DeLuz makes it clear that “anything that has to be chewed, processed food, meat, cow’s milk, alcohol, salt, or coffee” is not allowed (Redfearn). This diet is not recommended by doctors because there are no known health benefits to the techniques that DeLuz recommends in her book such as not chewing, laxatives, and coffee enemas.

It is recommended that while on this diet, you do specific exercise including using a Chi machine or trampoline to drain lymphatic fluids. In addition, light exercise such as yoga, walking, and stretching is recommended but not necessary. The probability of the Martha’s Vineyard being a “life-long” diet plan is very unlikely because it is not a realistic and enjoyable diet. The client has to consistently take supplements, do enemas, and rarely is eating food but rather drinking juices. It takes a lot of discipline which most people simply do not have. Lastly, once the goal of losing the 21 pounds is reached, many people will quit the diet and possibly even regain the weight back because they went back to their old diet. There is no scientific research that supports efficacy and safety of this diet plan. Because of the lack of foods the client is eating, there is a possibility of headaches and fatigue. The client will most likely lose weight on this diet, but it will mostly be water and muscle. If you want to lose fat, this diet will not be successful at all. Dr. Michael Smith says “your metabolism will also likely plummet, making it even harder for you to burn calories throughout the day. Any diet that promises you’ll lose a pound a day is not a healthy approach and not one you’re likely to stick with. You'll likely regain the weight after you go back to eating normally” (Redfearn).

The cookie diet, also known as the Hollywood cookie diet or the Smart for Life cookie diet, claims that you will lose a ton of weight by eating cookies instead of meals. The client should replace breakfast and lunch with cookies and then eat a sensible dinner. The cost of this diet is not very budget friendly. A two week supply of cookies for the Smart for Life plan is $75 while the two week supply of cookies for the Hollywood diet is $65. The level of effort for this diet is medium. Buying and preparing breakfast and lunch will be very easy because they are prepackaged cookies. The client may feel limited or dissatisfied after eating only a cookie. Basically all foods are omitted except for cookies. This diet does not advise any certain amount of exercise, and solely relies on the diet. The Hollywood cookie diet does have a free hotline that you can call for diet advice. Also, in certain states, the Smart for Life cookie diet has an advice hotline and an in person fat and weight assessment program. The probability of the cookie diet being a “life-long” diet plan is very unlikely. The client will most likely get very bored because of the lack of variety in the diet, which will make it hard to sustain. Also the lack of an exercise plan will also hinder this diet. You can lose weight on this diet because of the lack of calorie intake, however it will be short term. If you have diabetes, this diet would not the best option because of the increase in sugar.

Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. PICOT Question
3. Literature Search
4. Conclusion

Introduction

Hypertension has been one of the causes of deaths of many people all over the world, but still there hasn’t been any meaningful improvement in how the condition is management. The management of hypertension across the world still remains poor. There is need to come up with measures that can effectively control the condition and in this in a bigger extent could significantly help to reduce the immortality rate of hypertension related deaths worldwide. For effective control and management of hypertension, first, it would be veryvital to identify all the risk factors that arise as a result of lifestyle and those that are directly connected to the condition and device ways to manage these risk factors as this can be one way that may help to lower the blood pressure.

Moreover, as an evidence-based practice strategy, it is very important when the following practices are followed: performing regular screening, observing and maintaining effective communication with the patients, coming up with a regular program for monitoring patients, and last but not least is strict adherence to treatment. Above all, there is a very high likelihood of effective prevention and control of hypertension through implementation and observation of lifestyle change practiceslike eating a balanced and checked diet and engaging in physical exercise regularly as these are some of the strategies that can be uses help tocontrol blood pressure.

PICOT Question

Will the lifestyle change (eating balanced and healthier diets and engaging in regular physical exercise) by male patients with hypertension help in regulation of blood pressure and reducing the risk to development of cardiovascular related illnesses?

P – Population: Male adults between 40 to 70 years of age with a clinical diagnosis of hypertension, and with multiple co-morbidities.

I – Intervention: The subjects will be subjected to lifestyle change (eating balanced and healthier diets and engaging in regular physical exercise).

C – Comparison: The patients will be compared to the hypertension patients who manage and treat the condition by using medication.

O – Outcome: The expected changes are regulation of blood pressure and reducing the risk to development of cardiovascular related illnesses.

T – Time: The outcome would be assessed within the recovery phase of six months.

Literature Search

Rao, Kamath, Shetty, & Kamath, A. (2012) also contend that hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular illnesses but the condition can be sought and intervention measure employed for its effective treatment. This research paper gives a quantitative analysis of hypertension prevalence and how it relates with socio-demographics of the patients. The study was based on a survey conducted on cross-sectional community where 1,239 respondents all aged above 30 years participated in the survey by engaging in personal interviews and taking of their anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. The results indicate a prevalence of hypertension at 43.3% with males having a higher prevalence of hypertension (51.6%) as compared to females whose prevalence stand at 38.9%.

I chose this study because it gives statistical analysis, which is research-based, about the prevalence of hypertension among adults. This research agrees with several other research conducted on different people whose outcome found the hypertension prevalence being higher in males as compared to females. Prevalence also increases as people age. The study also noted family history of hypertension, obesity, and current diabetic status among others as some of the factors that correlate with hypertension. High blood pressure can be managed effectively if the magnitude of the condition and these correlates are identified and known.

This quantitative research paper had the aim of studying the blood pressure and body dimensions and to establish the rate of prevalence of hypertension and obesity among young adults. Dua, Bhuker, Sharma, Dhall, & Kapoor (2014) conducted the study on men and women of the Punjabi community living in Rohashana area and Jaina building. The participants were aged between 18 and 50 years of age. The variables that were measured include: weight, pulse rate, height, upper arm circumference, Body mass index (BMI), fat percentage, skinfold thicknesses, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

The findings of the research indicate that mean value of all the measured variables mentioned were found to be higher for men as compared to the measurements of their female counterpart but with exception of skinfold thicknesses. The Body mass index (BMI) and fat percentage of females was found to be higher when compared to that of males. The study suggests that there is a direct correlation between percentage fat, Body mass index and both the systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressures. Odds are high for subjects who are obese to develop hypertension as compared to subjects with normal Body mass index.

I chose this study because it quantitatively analyses the correlation between obesity and hypertension. Theprevalence of hypertension is higher in obese people as compared to those with normal weights. Also men are at risk of developing hypertension as compared to females. This is paper is also significant in answering our PICOT question because it suggests that modification of the patient’s lifestyle and adoption of practices that aim in weight management (these include proper and healthy dieting, regular physical exercises) can be help in intervention.

There are inconsistencies in the available data that relates the association between tea consumption and the changes in the blood pressure. Consequently, Tong et al. carried out this quantitative research to establish the relationship that exists between the consumption of tea and blood pressure changes. The study was conducted on 1109 participants from China 472 of them being men and 637 women.

The study period considered was over a five-year period. The BP of the participants was measured in 2002 and 2007. The results shows that there existed an inverse proportionality between tea consumption and 5-year diastolic blood pressure but the same did not reflect on systolic blood pressure. When compared with no tea consumption, a daily consumption of at least 10g of team raised the diastolic blood pressure from 2.41 mmHg to 3.68 mmHg.

I chose this study because it gives statistics on how diet can affect the blood pressure levels. Although this study has a limitation of holding constant other factors that may affect the blood pressure of the participant within the five-year study period, this type of research can be conducted by assessing the impacts of other types of meals on blood pressure and come up with best dieting approaches to prevent high blood pressure.

This study adopted a qualitative methodology approach to gather data. The main of the study was to investigate the experience hypertension patients had with the illness and also to explore the reasons as to why they chose not to adhere to hypertensive care recommendations issued inprimary health clinic settings. This data was acquired through interviews administered to 25 patients with hypertension who were in registered in follow-up attendance clinics in nine government primary health clinics in the two districts of Hulu Langat and Klang in Malaysia. The results of the study indicate there being evidence of lack of adequate self-empowerment and community support for patients in Malaysia. Most of the patients interviewed confessed to not taking their antihypertensive medication or adopting lifestyle change.

I chose this study because it focuses on disclosing the level of information and support that communities receive in a bid to sensitive them on hypertension, its management and control and how these practices affect adherence to intervention measures. The paper recommends a dialogue between patients and health care professionals that aims in listening to the concerns raised by the patients by giving them a chance to ask questions regarding their worries. Most patients refrain from taking medication for fear of side effects. Educating them on the importance of adherence and adopting a more self-management approach can be responsive to the needs of communities and individuals.

This qualitative study was conducted on a focus group with an aim of identifying barriers that hinder lifestyle management in general practice in Australia in cases involving hypertension. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death and disease problem worldwide, yet the management of the condition remains suboptimal. Howes et al. contend that Identification and control of lifestyle risk factors related to lifestyle should be a medical main concern in all patients because a checked lifestyle possessessignificant beneficial effects in intervention and regulation of blood pressure.

The research was based on purposeful sampling where six groups, each comprising thirty subjects, were selected and the participants were taken through an iterative thematic analysis which was audio recorded. The outcome of the data collected indicate that the participant, in general, had the feeling that they possessed the necessary knowledge to give broad advice on lifestyle. In general, the study identified major barriers as: reluctance by patients, time constraints, limited access to health information, and ambivalence among others.

I chose this study because it involves direct participation of patients of hypertension therefore airing there opinion on adopting to lifestyle changes and the challenges that come with it. There is need to conduct a lifestyle assessment and management of factors that affect the ability of the patient to cope with the changes in lifestyle. Also, the paper makes suggestions that can be necessary in achieving the intervention practices captured in the PICOT statement. The paper suggests that there is need to empower health practitioners in order for them to continue giving valuable lifestyle advice and counselling.

This paper is a qualitative study whose aim was to explore the patients’ awareness, theirbehavior, attitudes, andexperiences in seeking health care all of which are in relation to exposure, management and control of hypertension in Colombia.Legido-Quigley et al., in this paper, also asserts that hypertension is one of the leading causes of early deaths worldwide. The study was conducted on 26 subjects with hypertension and also included four family members all coming from two regions. The study identifies lack of sufficient knowledge about the condition by some of the participants and some of them were not even aware of ways to prevent high blood pressure.

I chose this study because it focuses on some of the challenges that affect effective intervention of hypertension. Some barriers include: financial constraints which hinder the patient from accessing quality Medicare, shortage of drugs and specialist care among others. These shortcomings can be addressed by ensuring that there is good communication between the healthcare service providers and the patients and emphasis made on the importance of adherence to medication. Also, there is need to reduce the cost of access to medication and specialized care to ensure all the patients are taken care of.

Effective prevention and control of hypertension can be achieved through implementation and observation of lifestyle change practices like eating a balanced and checked diet and engaging in physical exercise regularly as these are some of the strategies that can be uses help to control blood pressure. Also to control the condition, the patient needs to observe strict adherence to anti-hypertensive medication.

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Conclusion

The risk factors to hypertension range from obesity, lifestyle, diets, family history with the disease, and age among others. The prevalence of the disease is higher in obese people, aged patients and among males. To effectively manage the condition, simple practices like lifestyle change which involves regular physical exercises and a balanced diet can play a very big role.