Our Previous Samples

Frederick Douglass said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” If you know how to read and write, the sky is the limit from there. It can help expand your mind, your critical thinking, and make you see the world from a different perspective. A lot of people take literacy for granted, and they have no idea how many other worlds you can create in your mind by just reading a book or writing in a journal. I have a few literacy experiences that helped shape who I am today.

I think most people in our generation were read “The Giving Tree” by our parents when we were young. This book was a huge part of my childhood because it was one of the only times I bonded with my dad. My parents divorced when I was a baby and my mom got primary custody, so I would only see my dad every other weekend. He and I would watch the little Mermaid every morning during breakfast, and at night he would read The Giving Tree to me. It was a paperback with a plastic cover. On the front of the cover, there was a drawing of a tree giving one of its apples to a little boy. The story of the little boy and the giving tree is pretty heartbreaking.

The boy, even as an old man, comes back to the tree every single day to take from it. After it has no more apples, he takes the leaves, the branches, and eventually the entire stump. The end is just the old man sitting on the stump with nothing left to take from it. Even as a child, I understood the moral of the story. There is a whole controversy on whether the book is about selfless love or an abusive relationship. In a way, it is both. The tree is showing selfless love by letting him take everything it has to make the boy happy and fulfilled in life. The book also shows the effects of an abusive relationship by perceiving the little boy as the abuser. He keeps taking and taking things from the tree until it’s just a stump that has nothing left. The boy takes it all for granted, and doesn’t realize what he had until it was gone. This book would eventually change how I view relationships. While selfless love is a wonderful thing, you can’t have a healthy relationship with someone if you both aren’t putting in that extra effort. I am so thankful to have had that book read to me as a child. It created a lot of fond memories with my dad, and taught me a lot about life.

I never really read for fun until I got to high school. I read quite a few books in high school because I had a lot of free time, but one in particular stands out to me. My best friend, Mikara, recommended I read Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. She had a copy of her own that she let me borrow. It was a hardback and the cover was grey and black like something out of a horror movie; I couldn’t wait to read it. The book is about a boy who, after a horrific family tragedy, follows clues that would take him to an abandoned orphanage on a Welsh island. This book really opened my mind to a lot of creativity and imagination, because it caused me to think about imagery more deeply than I normally would. There are a lot of diverse characters in the book, like a girl who can float, a boy with two heads, and a girl who can spout fire from her hands. Every time I opened up the book to read, it was like I dove into another world I created and left any spec of reality behind. I just remember the book really inspiring me and making an impact on my mind. I used to believe reading was boring and thought of it as chore, but when I was reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. It was like every time I had a spare minute I would be reading, and that never happened to me. It usually took me about a month just to read a book, but I finished it within a week. This experience would later make me appreciate literature more, and I’m grateful for that.

I was never big on writing, and to this day I’m still not, but I do have one fond memory of writing in middle school. My English class started a pen pal type of thing with another one of the middle schools in our county (Roanoke). Everyone was assigned a person to send letters to, getting to know each other and just talking about school and our hobbies. My pen pal was named Jillian Morganelli. She was super nice and sweet, and always complimented my handwriting whenever we exchanged letters. We would talk about our days, our families, if we had pets, and what we liked to do outside of school. Eventually, after about 8 letters back and forth, my English class went on a field trip to their school and we all had breakfast together. It was weird not having a face to put to the name, but when I finally found her it was an instant friendship. We clicked really well in person, and it was overall a fun experience for me. Even though this didn’t teach me how to write an essay or how to write in MLA format, it taught me how to communicate better with people and that’s something I needed at the time. I was always a very shy person and I didn’t make friends very well, and this taught me vital social skills that would later on in my life be really helpful.

I feel as if these three reading and writing experiences helped shaped who I am today. I’ve grown as a person, I’ve expanded my imagination and critical thinking, and it’s taught me essential life lessons. As I go through life and as I carry on through college, I will keep these literacy experiences in the back of my mind, reminding me to push my limits and think outside of the box. “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”

Robert Frost - Relating To Life Experiences

Robert Frost - Relating to Life Experiences The Road Not Taken, Mending Wall, Birches, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Robert Frost is remembered as one of the most popular and honored poets of the twentieth century. (Mertins- Frost) His popularity is partly due to his experiences and the universal themes that he uses to create his poems about relationships, nature, and the world. (Mertins- Frost) Frost's experiences in life help him to create the vivid scenes he sets within his poetry. Among the poems that relate to his own life experiences are " The Road Not Taken, Mending Wall, Birches, and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." In "The Road Not Taken" Frost begins by describing the choice the narrator must make when the path he is traveling ends in a fork. The traveler decides to take the path that is less traveled, knowing that he may never return to see the other. "The Road Not Taken" is a metaphor for the narrator's travels through life. He comes to a point in his journey where he must make a decision about the direction his life will take. One Path looks like it would be easy for him and the other would be more difficult. It could, perhaps be compared to choosing a career that would be less work, or a career that would be challenging. The narrator, of course, chooses the challenging one, and is obviously quite satisfied with his choice, for he says that it has "made all the difference." (Frost) Frost is suggesting to his readers that when faced with decisions in their lives, the road that seems the most challenging may often be the most rewarding. It is a lesson that should be taken to heart, for Frost may have uncovered the secret to a satisfying life.

Robert Frost states himself that "The Road Not Taken" was written about a friend who had gone off to war, a person who knew that when looking back at the choice of which road to take, that taking the more challenging one, in this case going off to war, would be the most satisfying for him. (Mertins- Frost) He knows he gave up a good portion of his life and that his life might not be the same when he gets back from the war, but to him serving for his country would be more rewarding. This stuck in Frost's head and he couldn't bear not to write a poem about it. (Mertins- Frost) "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost was said to be one of his favorite poems. (Mertins- Frost) Mending Wall is about the building of a wall between two men and their houses, however, looking deeper into the meaning, the poem seems to suggest the establishing of boundaries between elements of the physical world as well as the inner world. This seems to be suggested not only by the poem but also by Frosts' upbringing as he always showed a great appreciation for nature and sharing the world in all of his poems. (Thompson) The two neighbors in this poem seem to be building the wall initially about territory, but if we look deeper into it, it seems to be more about marking boundaries to stop arguments. The neighbors do not share the same ideology about the building of the wall. It seems as though they must repeat this task every springtime, but whereas one neighbor does it through tradition and because he wants to, the other appears to be just going along with it; he does not seem to understand. The title itself "Mending Wall" seems to suggest something about the poem.

The adjective "Mending" takes the gerund, which means it, is talking about the present. Perhaps this suggests that the task is continuous and always there. Also the fact that it is not called "Mending The Wall" or "Mending A Wall" suggests that it is not just one wall, but it can be any wall anywhere. The title it is given makes the meaning of it very universal. The overall tone of "Mending Wall" being quite ironic at times, to quite uninterested at others, gives the poem quite a human feel. This adds to the spontaneous effect. Plus with the use of actual dialogue in the poem, it feels as though what is not the neighbor's speech in the poem is actually Frosts' speech, perhaps what he was thinking in his head at the time. (Thompson) In "Birches," Frost's words represent an easy version of the world, a spiritual place that may seem difficult but there is always something to help one through.

Earth is again the place for love and it provides a loose stability on that basis, while aspiration toward heaven offers a more spiritual kind of guidance, a contact with God, which provides a central orientation for the soul. "The conflict between the optimistic and the pessimistic conceptions of the world is the source of the basic ambiguity and the tension in Frost's work" (Thompson) This poem seems to be entirely about woods and trees. As the name implies, this is the main focus though the story. They are shown as an opponent for a boy that, once beaten, though very resilient, will never rise again. He describes them as being bent down with the results of an ice storm, but that he would like to think of them as being bent over by this boy. His use of the ice storm and the boy seems to represent his wistfulness at growing old and his desire to be young again. This poem written when frost was about 45, about the time that he would have a mid-life crisis. He can see that he is no longer the young man that once he was, not able to climb the trees like he did nor able to play like that. He talks of when he was a "swinger of birches" and how he dreams of being one again. He knows that this is not a reality for him. Frost also uses the trees in this poem to represent a way to get away from the cares and trials of life on Earth. He talks of getting away and coming back to start over. Climbing "toward heaven." He desires to be free from it all, but then he says that he is afraid that the fates might misunderstand and take him away to never return. This is like most of us today. We want to go to Heaven, but we don't want to die to get there. In "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" Frost does not tell us anything about the narrator. We never know anything about who "I" is. The only picture that we get of "I" is that he likes the woods, the snow and the peace that is found there. I get the idea that this is a man, out on an important mission. It would have to be important to ride out on a horse in a blizzard even though they used to ride horses everywhere. Also, "I" has miles to go and "promises to keep." This indicates a level of responsibility that would suggest the narrator is a man.

In the first stanza of Robert Frost's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening we find the speaker reflecting on the beauty of a wooded area with snow falling. "Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow." (Frost) You can feel the speakers awe and reflective peace when looking into the woods that night. He doesn't know the owner of the land but is still drawn to the beauty of the scene. Frost gives a scene that is taken into the reader and digested for a time in the speaker's mind. It shows us that it is all right to take a minute out of a hurried hour and reflect upon what is around you, whether it is a snowy wood or a quite room. "If a reader, even the most superficial takes anything at all from Frost's poems, it is likely to be a memorable impression created by the overwhelming presence of nature." (Brower) "Frost visualizes man always cradled within nature, totally immersed in environment." (Brower) "Frost's views of nature do possess a persistent ethical or metaphysical dimension of very substantial importance in any examination of his work or of the values expressed in that work." (Brower) This is saying that Frost basically tends to pull away from the statements of a theory of nature, or man's relationship.

"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening", is said by many people to be one of Frost's most famous poems. "He himself always offered it as the prime example of his commitment to convention." (Brower) As in all of his poems, Frost uses his love of the outdoors to pull the reader there as well. His style of writing tells us a lot about him as a poet. He is leery of growing old and he looks back on youth with wistfulness and longing for another, happy time. This is something that we all share with him and this shared experience helps us to enjoy his poetry all the more, as it seems to tell our own story too. His experiences in life have allowed him to become an inspired poet, whether the experiences were good or bad Frost let them out through the use of poetry.

Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Effects on Other Biological Processes
4. Illnesses that Originate from Nonregulated Circadian Rhythms
5. Conclusion

Introduction

The Circadian Rhythm is a biological tool that is a part of just about every living organism on Earth. While each being experiences it differently, humans are unique in the sense that we use ours for our day-night cycle. The Circadian Rhythm is responsible for our sleep cycle and how it is maintained. Using the suprachiasmatic nucleus, or SCN, the brain creates this sort of internal clock that helps an organism control its bodily functions. Current studies are underway in order to gain a better understanding at how this works as well as it’s connection to other bodily functions such as sleep and metabolism. Light is an important factor that takes a big role in the Circadian Rhythm in not just humans, but in all organisms. Melatonin is also a very important tool for this as it aids in the resetting of this internal clock. Without this internal clock there would be no way to maintain bodily stasis and would lead to serious health complications. Therefore, this is a crucial neurological body function that is absolutely necessary in order to properly sustain oneself.

Background

Light is a very powerful force that can affect various parts of life. One of its most important roles is when it controls our circadian rhythms. Humans are very unique as we are some of the most insensitive organisms when it comes to light. However, this insensitivity is not affected by the fact that it affects how humans sleep. As light is observed, this goes through the brain and causes a repression of the posterior hypothalamus. The posterior hypothalamus is what aids in the secretion of melatonin, which is the biological chemical that the brain creates in order to aid with our sleep cycles. When there is less light being observed, there is a lot more melatonin being created causing the organism to be more tired. In a more detailed explanation, light enters through the retinal glands and is dispersed through the form of ganglion cells. After this step, they are then sent to the SCN, which is linear with its connection to the posterior hypothalamus. This then explains the process in which light and SCN are connected. With this set, scientists are able to find treatments for those who are experiencing difficulties with their circadian rhythm.

It is imperative that the body regulates its circadian rhythm each time as it could begin to lead to other health issues such as insomnia, diabetes, obesity, and so forth. Jet lag is a very good example of what could happen whenever the body’s internal clock goes temporarily wrong. A person experiences the lethargic effects of jet lag when they have traveled across one or more time zones. Because a person’s body is used to their respective time zone, a period of adjustment is necessary to maintain a healthy sleeping stasis. Since the body is used to sleeping at a different time, when it experiences this lag, it has a detrimental side effect that takes several days to get used to. Not only is jet lag associated with travel, but also with people who work shifts that alter their sleeping patterns such as doctors and nurses. These people also experience their own form of jet leg without needing to travel through time zones and the same effects apply.

Effects on Other Biological Processes

This not only affects the way humans sleep, but the way the body metabolizes and processes food. Two genes (CLOCK and BMAL1) within the body’s metabolism work together in order to properly connected with the body’s circadian rhythms. BMAL1 is used in order to sort of kick start the metabolism in order to let the body be alert, hungry, and essentially on the go from the waking minute. In a study on mice, it was found that when these two genes or receptors were turned off, their biological systems went out of control. REV-ERB? and REV-ERB? were two cellular switches within these mice that were also correlated with their circadian rhythms. When these switches were turned off the scientists noticed that the mice were beginning to exercise when they were supposed to be resting. Also they noticed that fat and bile were beginning to build up. This experiment was done in order to find the correlation between metabolism related diseases with the circadian rhythm. Their results supported the argument that both were interrelated. As known, the body does the majority of its work while it is at rest. When the circadian clock is compromised or altered in a negative fashion this begins to affect the way the body works. If the body is not getting enough rest this could begin to lead to lethargy and obesity in a person. Therefore, it is important to lead a normal sleep schedule in order to maximize the usefulness of the metabolism.

Illnesses that Originate from Nonregulated Circadian Rhythms

The Circadian Rhythm is mainly determined by genetics; however, it is influenced highly by the organisms use of it. For example, it must be calibrated each cycle in order for it to work properly. Most clocks tend to run just about 24 hours each cycle, but not quite. The way the rhythms work is very easy to change and are adaptable to the person’s lifestyle. However, with this can be altered by certain factors such as work scheduling issues, school, or other social commitments. Diseases such as diabetes, insomnia, obesity can also lead to an imbalance in the circadian rhythm. An imbalance can also lead to these diseases as well. There are treatments to help prevent this from happening. It is important to adjust one’s schedule in whatever form that appears to be the best. Light treatment is also used to in order to shift the circadian rhythm to a more stable one. Light treatment is very effective, but it is mainly used for extreme disorders and should only be done after being evaluated and treated by a professional doctor. When a patient is undergoing light treatment they are simply shown bright lights at certain times of the day depending on the severity of their condition. For example, a person with an advanced sleep disorder would receive bright light treatment in the evening in order to push their circadian clock further. A person who is experiencing a delayed sleep disorder would then receive treatment in the morning in order to shift the clock backwards. Once again, these treatments are considered highly effective, but should only be done after consulting with a primary healthcare physician. For less severe cases, melatonin treatment is also an effective solution. Since the SCN produces melatonin, it is a harmless chemical that the body produces and taking melatonin only produces more of it. Melatonin is then spread throughout the body in order to reset the clock and cause the user to get tired faster. Another form of treatment would be to simply adjust one’s sleep schedule to a more appropriate time as this is often the main issue.

Conclusion

Overall, the Circadian Rhythm is an important part of our lives and controls some of our most important bodily functions: sleep and metabolism. Using light in order to produce melatonin through the posterior hypothalamus and the SCN, this regulates our clock in order to ensure that our bodies are maintaining stasis in the best way possible. Studies are even being conducted in order to show what kind of issues could arise if the circadian rhythm was disrupted as well as its connection to other bodily functions. These studies are producing results that are helping scientists making further hypotheses on how to understand it. Failure to get this clock in order could lead to detrimental health effects such as insomnia, diabetes, or obesity. Jet lag is also a temporary issue that may occur if one’s rhythms is imbalanced. Treatments are available in order to help regulate the rhythms however, none are as effective as simply getting the necessary rest and following one’s clock as closely as possible. Light therapy for different severity cases also produce results, but as aforementioned, resetting the clock will produce better results. With future developments scientists will soon be able to fully understand the circadian rhythms and its neurological connection to the body.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a movie infamous for its depiction of various types of drug use, particularly concerning Psychedelics. The plot is driven by journalist Raoul Duke and his lawyer Dr. Gonzo on their drug fueled trip to cover stories in Las Vegas. The film depicts various drugs such as Mescaline, LSD, Ether, Marijuana, and a myriad of other substances, but this paper will focus mostly on its depiction of LSD.

Early on in the film, Duke is shown taking several tabs of LSD in the form of blotter paper, and then proceeds to ask how long he has until it kicks in. Gonzo tells him he doesn’t have long and that he would have to speed in order for them to get to Vegas before the drugs kick in. Just over a half an hour later, the effects begin to take hold. The Valet’s face starts shifting and moving as he asks him questions and Duke can no longer keep his composure as well as he could before. When he enters the building, He appears to be a sweaty mess, blaming the heat of Las Vegas. Once he tries to speak to a woman behind the reception counter for a press pass and a room, he can hardly keep his composure at her questions, he has virtually no ability to say what he wants to say in a normal fashion, and, like the Valet’s face before, everything is shifting and “breathing”, particularly patterns on things like rugs and wallpaper, and people’s faces. Soon after, he can no longer control himself as everyone in the building appears to become lizard people, and he begins to panic and not be able to keep his voice down when speaking to Gonzo, drawing a lot of attention to himself, and afterwards he is brought to his hotel room and is hiding behind furniture and overall acting very paranoid.

Now, the time it takes for the subjective effects to happen are typically 20-60 minutes after oral consumption and spreading into the bloodstream and across the blood brain barrier, and lasting 8-12 hours (Maisto, Galizio, and Connors 297-8). This makes the time frame in which the LSD activates and lasts accurate, as it is implied to have started acting on Duke within an hour and lasted until the next morning, where he says he didn’t sleep, meaning from consumption (less than an hour before sundown) to the next morning (give or take 12 hours), matching the route of administration and length of effects. The physiological effects of LSD are generally similar to that of Stimulants such as Amphetamines and Cocaine (Maisto, Galizio, and Connors 299). This would make LSD sympathomimetic, and leads to effects such as increased heart rate, high blood pressure, dilated pupils, high body temperature, and sweating. This is shown when Duke is sweating heavily before he gets to the reception at the hotel, blaming the hot Vegas weather, when in reality it's the large amount of LSD he took making these effects happen.

As for the vivid changes in what he was seeing, such as the lights blaring, colors showing up, patterns and objects “breathing” and faces shifting, etc. The reasons for this are hard to pinpoint exactly, however, it is believed that since hallucinogens in the same class as LSD (Serotonergic Hallucinogens) all bind to the 5-HT2A Receptors that they have much to do with the effects drugs like LSD have on mood and perceptions, behaving similarly to Serotonin (Maisto, Galizio, and Connors 297). It is also a known agonist of these receptors. However, since other drugs that affect serotonin also don’t cause hallucinations (Such as MDMA, another type of Hallucinogen, or SSRIs), it is still up for debate what truly makes these hallucinations happen. However, Duke’s strange mood and visual hallucinations are relatively accurate, given the way the drugs are reported to work (Maisto, Galizio, and Connors 299).

Something Duke and Gonzo both experienced were some of the adverse effects of the drugs. Particularly panic in Duke’s case and Psychosis in Gonzo’s. This is seen when Duke can’t compose himself in any way socially, freaking out when people question him or look at him. His paranoia and panic attacks are a known issue regarding LSD, particularly in the 1960’s when there were walk in crisis centers dedicated to calming people with these effects down (Maisto, Galizio, and Connors 300). In Gonzo’s case, however, he becomes absolutely psychotic when on LSD and other Hallucinogens in the same class in the film. Every time he uses hallucinogens in the film he ends up threatening to kill people and himself. He becomes dangerous to himself and others, despite the fact that he seems relatively well adjusted when sober. This shows the idea that LSD brings out psychosis in some people. It is unknown whether LSD creates a state of psychosis in these people or if there were already latent problems in them and the LSD just magnifies it. The conclusion is hard to find here, since evidence is hard to find because psychotic users of LSD tend to use other, harder drugs as well, and because we don’t entirely understand LSDs effects, but it is generally agreed that it can bring psychosis out in disturbed or emotionally vulnerable individuals, and in Gonzo, this manifests itself in his threatening of various bystanders and acting like a lunatic (Maisto, Galizio, and Connors 302)

In conclusion, the effects of LSD in the movie are almost spot on to what studies have shown about LSD, from the physical effects to the psychological effects down to the adverse effects, almost everything that happens in the movie is accurate to what would happen according to the studies shown. The only problem here, however, is that LSD isn’t an incredibly well documented drug, with hallucinogens in general being a sort of enigmatic branch of substances. This, along with the fact that, as of now, it is generally accepted that LSD has widely ranging effects depending on the individual, means that virtually anything, particularly when it comes to visual hallucinations, can be a justified and “correct” depiction of LSD (for example we know the effects that it has on Serotonin and that this may be the reason for visual hallucination, but the exact reasons why and the extent of the hallucinations are unknown from a physiological standpoint). However, as of now, the representation of LSD is almost perfect in relation to how it is shown to act in studies.

There is a gap between learner and reality. Teaching material is a term used to describe the resources used by teachers to deliver instructions. Learner Teacher Support Material is the combination of all collected material prescribed by the Department of Education, District and a School for Teaching and Learning to be a success. According to Arthur Attwell, LTSM means a variety of learning and teaching materials used in a classroom. These range from teachers and learners created resources to commercially produced classroom resources such as wall charts, workbooks, textbooks, e-books, readers, stationery, science kits, dictionaries, encyclopedias etc. The learning support material is an important part of the curriculum development and it promotes good teaching and learning. Successful learning depends on the great ability of a teacher to identify relevant sources, then design and use them effectively during his or her lesson. The Content of the LTSM gives rise to new skills, goals, ambitions to the learners. The information acquired on the support material give learners simple and precise examples that link to the learner's daily lives and how to make informed decisions. The LTSM supports students learning, increases student's success, improves the learner’s vocabulary and improves their communication skills, including good reading and fluency. The aims of the South African curriculum are to develop learners that use the knowledge they get at school in their everyday lives and in their communities. The curriculum aims at providing direction and intention to the learner’s curiosity. The curriculum also aims at developing learners who can think critically, innovatively and creatively with the ability to connect ideas. The content introduces learners to new knowledge and improves their prior-knowledge and then understand and connect ideas of reality with those taught at school. The LTSM aims at producing learners that can think for themselves and not fully depend on the help of their teachers. This ensures that learners are able to use their context to explain and verify certain ideas. Learners are able to observe, evaluate, and come to a relevant conclusion without the direct consultation of the teacher. LTSM can be in a written format, printed or electronic format.

To produce learners that are responsible socially and strive to find strategies that may improve their lives and their communities at large. The Learners are the ones that are prepared to help in their communities and those who strive to fight for everyone’s right and take responsibility for their actions. The Social goals ensure that learners are those who care about their health and those of others around them, and carrying for their environment.

To produce learners that are well disciplined and behave appropriately around people. The aim is to produce learners that do not only talk about discipline, but to produce learners that are a clear reflection of discipline.

To produce learners that are well aware of errs happening in their communities and be able to give clear solutions that benefits the community at large. This means that learners should be able to identify the community’s needs and be able to identify and give appropriate solutions that do not affect the environment and others.

The Learner Teacher Support

Material uncovers further the content that learners already know. This gives learners a platform to observe the problems faced in their communities, then use critical thinking to generate solutions. The LTSM is influenced by the ideas of reality that are theoretic and gives more insight on the real life situations. The Material helps learners to make informed decisions that do not only benefit them alone, but also their communities at large. The more and more learners are exposed to the content, the less confusion remains on their minds, and the more solutions they bring to their communities. The curriculum focuses on the didactic situation, which means that there is an interaction between a Learner, Teacher, Context and the content. This means that when a teacher is setting or planning a lesson he or she needs to take the context of the learners into consideration. If the lesson is not based on the schools or learners context this makes teaching and learning to be ineffective. So before a teacher plans a lesson, he or she must first analyze and evaluate effectively the context of the school and his or her learners understanding. The instructions given should not be difficult to the learners instead they should be simple precise and straight to the main point, which is connecting the learners with reality. When setting or giving examples a teacher needs to give realistic examples that link to real life situations. The teacher needs to understand the learners thinking skills and their strengths so that whatever examples he or she gives are not alien or foreign examples to learners.

Another way of connecting learners with reality are the learner centered methods: Discussions, Brainstorming, Roleplaying, Group activities and Debate.

The discussions are the informal assessments that help learners to share with one another ideas that they feel are more suited to benefit them and their communities. When learners work with one another with the supervision from teacher trying to identify and find solutions of certain problems they work effectively.This approach encourages learners to use Critical Thinking (think out of the box). This means that learners will have to identify the problems or issues in their respective communities and then use what they have been taught to try and find solutions to those problems.

The textbooks have many group activities that learners need to do in order to acquire the team work skills. These could benefit learners in their communities as they would work together to make themselves and their communities better.

This is one of the daily tasks a teacher can set, the teacher can advise learners to identify each factors affecting their communities and debate about the possible solutions that can benefit the community and the community can easily adjust to them.

These are the resources a teacher creates in order to improve and develop his or her learners understanding of the content, they are simplified and broadly explained forms of teaching material with examples taken from real-life scenarios.

Workbooks are the activities provided by the district for the learners to do in class and the workbooks outline the objectives of the curriculum and they use the questioning techniques and strategies that requires creative, innovative and critical thinking.

Are the form of writing that is introduced to learners in the Foundation Phase (Grade R-3) These Forms Of Writing are intended to guide learners into reading and understanding. These books use topics and pictures that learners are experiencing daily, for example a book about different domestic and farm animals.Smartboards have recently introduced a form of technology that has been introduced in the classrooms to improve the Teaching and Learning phases. This improves learning because learners are able to watch educational videos that will improve their content understanding and knowledge. The smart boards also helps learners with broader topics that many schools don’t have enough study material to access them.

In conclusion Learner Teacher Support Material act as a scaffold to introduce learner’s to reality. As mentioned from above, improving the learners’ prior knowledge is the main goal of the CAPS LTSM. An Improvement results in Learner’s being innovative and critical thinkers, who have the ability to connect ideas. The Improvement ensures that learners become responsible citizens who care for their environment and care about the health of others. The skills acquired improves the learners academically and socially.

As above mentioned the learner centered methods play major roles in introducing learners to reality and introducing them to new ideas. Teaching materials can support students and increase the student’s success. The teaching material and examples set by teachers play major roles in helping learners understand and relate the content of the curriculum with reality. And the learners start being connected with the reality from the foundation phase moving to their tertiary education. Indeed there is a gap between learners and reality and LTSM is there to fill the gap, and improve learners understanding of their content and context.

Gender is something that is identified in an individual when they are born and brought into the world. However, according to society, there are many stereotypes that exist in regards to a person’s gender. These stereotypes have become so massive that they are used everywhere, including in advertisements and commercials. Steve Craig, author of the article “Men’s Men and Women’s Women,” explains his research on the trends advertisement companies use to sell their products. He explains how companies tend to exploit anxieties and fears according to the genders differently to market their items. Judith Lorber, author of “Night To His Day,” explains how gender plays an important role in everyone’s life. The way people are viewed is based on what their gender is and whether they live up to the corresponding stereotypes or not. However, ad companies have overused these assumptions and have taken advantage of society’s insecurities. The frequent usage of gender stereotypes causes damaging changes in the media, as done in Jimmy Choo Man’s perfume advertisement, by portraying woman in a negative way while asserting male dominance, degrading females as sexual objects, and perpetuating sexual fantasies. Thus, consequently leading to gender inequality, economic discrimination, and violence.

The posture and position of the models in the advertisement suggests that women fall prey to whatever men say, therefore indicating a case of male dominance which leads to gender inequality. In Jimmy Choo Man’s perfume advertisement, the models are places strategically. The man is sitting in a relaxed posture in the middle of the advertisement. He has a leg up while he is gripping the female model’s shin. The female is resting on his shoulder with her other hand on the other side of him. However, surprisingly, her face is cut off from the advertisement and she is only shown from neck down. Due to the tight grip the man has on the woman, their position can suggest male dominance. The notion of male dominance can eventually lead to gender inequality. Lorber, while talking about how different the two genders are, states, “Nonetheless, though individuals may be able to shift gender statuses, the gender boundaries have to hold, or the whole gendered social order will come crashing down.” Lorber explains how every gender has its own identities and statuses and if they are not followed, society will not know what to do. She claims that each gender has a certain boundary and limit that they cannot surpass or they would be considered out of the norm. These boundaries make women feel as though they are inferior to the men around them. Lorber also explains how, although men and women may be working the same job, they both have different titles. Usually, the men have a title that makes them sound as though they are more valued in the company. Many times, women are not viewed as tough as a man and aren’t even taken as seriously as men. This helps society construct the idea of male dominance. The posture of the models in the Jimmy Choo Man advertisement suggests that women only aim to please men, therefore instilling a case of male dominance which can lead to gender inequality

The outfits used in the ad portrays women to be nude for men, leading towards the assumption that females are sex slaves or objects thus creating economic discrimination. In the ad, the man is fully dressed with multiple layers (shirt and leather jacket). On the other hand, the female is shown to be wearing very revealing clothing. She has cleavage showing and her leg is fully bare. The clothes worn by the models can have people assume that females are just sex objects, and not humans, to men. However, the idea of females being sex objects can eventually lead to economic discrimination. Employers, after examining the basic gender stereotypes, may decide to not hire a female applicant over a male or, even if they do, may pay them less money. Steve Craig explains how the advertisement industry majorly uses these gender stereotypes to sell their products. He states how many advertisements focus on a woman pleasing the men by being sex slaves or objects to them. After presenting his research, Craig concludes, “A threat to patriarchy is an economic threat, not only to men who may fear they will have their jobs taken by women, but also in a more fundamental way.” He states that this economic threat is the reason these ad industries use gender stereotypes to appeal to both men and women. They intentionally make women feel like they are made to please a man by always being ready for them. This results in society viewing females as though they are worthless. The outfits used in the Jimmy Choo ad portray women to be partially nude around the men, leading to the people thinking that women are sex slaves, which could lead to economic discrimination.

The tone of colors used in the ad presents a very mysterious and sinful mood, thus perpetuating unreal sexual fantasies which then can lead to violence. Jimmy Choo Man’s perfume advertisement strategically uses a dark tone of colors to promote their product. Often, a dark room can suggest an environment for sex. The usage of colors in the advertisement is mainly dark shades of black and blue, except for the female model’s leg. This is significant because it is the only noticeable “white spot” where the attention would go. Due to the colors being used, the advertisement may perpetuate unreal sexual fantasies. These sexual fantasies, however, can eventually lead to violence. When talking about gender roles, Lorber states, “Sex doesn’t come into play again until puberty, but by that time, sexual feelings and desires and practices have been shaped by gendered norms and expectations.” By this, Lorber is trying to state that young teenagers’ view on sexual desires is based on norms and what they see while they are growing up. Due to the gender stereotypes, these teenagers grow up thinking that sex is supposed to be like porn, where a female falls into a man’s trap and gives in to him. However, this thinking can lead to rape, a form of violence. If a female does not consent, the males are grown up with a mentality that makes them think it is okay to take advantage of them, whether they are sober or not. Along with these sexual fantasies, the excuse that society has made up to validate these actions is “boys will be boys.” When teenager boys are raised with this mentality, there is no doubt that they will take advantage of the situations and use their gender as an excuse for validating their actions. The colors used in the ad suggest a sexual mood, thus perpetuating unreal sexual fantasies which can lead to violence

As done in Jimmy Choo Man’s perfume advertisement, gender stereotypes are frequently being used, causing negative changes in the media by portraying woman in negative ways while asserting male dominance, degrading females as sexual objects, and perpetuating sexual fantasies. Ultimately, this leads to gender inequality, economic discrimination, and violence. Gender stereotypes, just like any other stereotypes, are not always true. However, due to the often usage, people feel tempted to fall prey to them, whether they agree to them or not. Nowadays, society teaches the teenagers these stereotypes and implies that if they are not followed, they would be considered an outcast. Being an outcast would have people look down on the teenager, leading to bigger problems. However, once a stereotype is created, it becomes hard to kill it because of the rapid spreading. If we are trying to make a positive change, the media must conform and find better ways of advertising their products and companies. They can stop attempting to bring women down and making it appear that women are always open to please men. Only then can we progress in making positive changes.

Seeing the fact that much of the trans-Mississippi West laid outside U.S. boundaries, Americans of the mid 1800s were realizing that the future of the lands west resided with the United States. Manifest destiny served as a justification for expansion by conveying the popular belief that the Unites States had a divine task to extend its power and civilization across the width of North America.

A lot of people held this belief in the 19th century that is was their destiny by God which was justified and inevitable. However, a large number of the contentions against Manifest Destiny originated from either abolitionists or the individuals who went against the development for control in the western areas. Congressman Abraham Lincoln from Illinois considered Manifest to be as an excuse to expand slavery in the western regions. The genuine concern is that sometime these regions would progress toward becoming states with Senators or Representatives who might either cast a ballot to proceed with subjugation and expand slavery into the regions or someday end slavery permanently.

Expansionists wanted to see the U.S. extend westward and southward and although the U.S. failed in claiming Cuba and Nicaragua, overall, America succeeded in fulfilling its manifest destiny through the annexation of Texas and through the gain of lands in Oregon and California. U.S. interest in pushing its borders south into Texas and west into Oregon and California was largely influenced by the migration of American pioneers in the 1820s and 1830s.

After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1823, the new country looked to attract settlers to farm its thinly populated northern province of Texas. Settlers from America were welcome and in fact they greatly outnumbered Mexicans in Texas three to one. In 1829, Mexico outlawed slavery and required all immigrants to convert to Roman Catholicism but many settlers refused to obey these laws. Because of American refusal, Mexico closed its borders to any additional American immigrants but this proved unsuccessful as thousands of Americans continued to pour in. The friction intensified when in 1834, General Antonio López de Santa Anna made himself the dictator of Mexico and attempted to enforce Mexico’s laws in Texas. He brought an army to attack a band of American settlers led by Sam Houston. Eventually Sam Houston’s army captured Santa Anna, forcing him to sign a treaty that recognized Mexican independence. Houston then applied for Texas to be annexed in 1836 but this wasn’t accomplished until 1845 when President John Tyler pushed for a joint resolution on the topic. The annexation of Texas quickly led to trouble with Mexico, which then led to the Mexican War. Mexico severed its diplomatic ties with the U.S. but President James Polk wanted to take advantage of a weak Mexico by requesting the movement of the Texas boundary 150 miles south to Rio Grande, and he was also interested in buying California from Mexico. When Mexico refused his terms, Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor’s army to continue on to the Rio Grande. This led to a small skirmish between Mexican and American troops, which resulted in 16 American casualties. This incident served as a reason to justify a war message that Polk then sent to Congress declaring war on Mexico. U.S. entry into a war with Mexico provoked controversy from start to finish. In the first year of the war (1846) Congressman David Wilmot proposed a bill that forbade slavery in any of the new territories acquired from Mexico. The Wilmot Proviso passed the House twice but was defeated in the Senate. The war spanned from the spring of 1846 to the fall of 1847 when the Americans captured Mexico City, winning the war. Mexico agreed to the original U.S. terms in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848). The border of Texas was extended and California and New Mexico were both sold to the U.S. for a sum of $15 million.

In the west Britain and America disputed over Oregon, a vast territory on the Pacific Coast that originally stretched as far north as the Alaskan border. Britain based its claim for the land on the Hudson fur Company’s profitable fur trade with the American Indians of the Pacific Northwest. The United States based its claim on the grounds of how and American by the name of Captain Robert Gray discovered the Columbia River, the overland expedition to the Pacific Coast by Lewis and Clark, and the fur trading post and fort in Astoria, Oregon, established by an American named John Jacob Astor. In the end Britain and American split Oregon territory in 1846, American getting the half south of the 49th parallel. President Polk made the decision to compromise with Britain so the U.S. wouldn’t have to fight the British and Mexico at the same time.

Even though overall America successfully fulfilled its manifest destiny they did fail to acquire lands in Cuba and Nicaragua.

Many southerners were dissatisfied with the territorial gains for the Mexican War and they wished to acquire new territories in Latin America. President Polk offered to purchase Cuba from Spain for $100 million, but Spain refused and when southern adventures tried to take the island by force Spain easily immobilized and destroyed the expeditions. And then years later when he was elected president, Franklin Pierce, dispatched American diplomats to Spain to secretly negotiate buying Cuba from Spain. The Ostend Manifesto that was the diplomats drew up was leaked to the press in the U.S. and provoked an angry reaction from antislavery members of Congress, forcing Pierce to drop the negotiation. Even though he failed to acquire Cuba, Pierce succeeded in adding a strip of land to the American Southwest in 1853. Known as the Gadsden Purchase, the U.S. gained southern sections of present-day New Mexico and Arizona from Mexico for $10 million.

William Walker was an example of an expansionist who tried to conquer new lands with or without the support of the U.S. government. Leading a force of mostly southerners with the goal of developing a proslavery Central American empire, Walker and his band took over Nicaragua in 1855. His rein came to an abrupt end however, when a coalition of Central American invaded and defeated Walker in 1857.

In conclusion, even though America failed to gain the Central American territories of Cuba and Nicaragua, overall, the U.S. succeeded in fulfilling its manifest destiny through the annexation of Texas and through the gain of lands in Oregon and California. The territorial expansion of the United States borders increased tensions between the North and the South regarding whether or not it was expansionism or a ploy to spread slavery to the west. These tensions remain until the American Civil War that occurs in the 1860s.

Works Cited

1. Eisenhower, J. S. D. (1980). So Far from God: The US War with Mexico, 1846-1848. The Journal of American History, 67(2), 367-393. https://doi.org/10.2307/1889445
2. Etcheson, N. (2001). To the Halls of the Montezumas: The Mexican War in the American Imagination. University of Texas Press.
3. Greenberg, A. S. (2011). Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion: A Brief History with Documents. Bedford/St. Martin's.
4. Hietala, T. R. (1985). Manifest Design: American Exceptionalism and Empire. Cornell University Press.
5. Holt, M. F. (1995). The United States and the Disruption of the Spanish Empire, 1810-1822: Origins of American Interest in the Spanish World. University of Alabama Press.
6. Merk, F. (1978). Manifest Destiny and Mission in American History: A Reinterpretation. Harvard University Press.
7. Nichols, J. T. (1993). The contested West: A history of the trans-Mississippi West, vol. 3. University of Kansas Press.
8. Reilly, T. J. (1995). The Taos Trappers: The Fur Trade in the Far Southwest, 1540-1846. University of Oklahoma Press.
9. Sellers, C. G. (1963). James K. Polk, Continentalist, 1843-1846. Princeton University Press.
10. Smith, J. H. (2014). Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844-1944. University of Pennsylvania Press.

A community is a group of people living in the same area and having many things in common including traditions, cultures, and ethnicities. These values are truly important to their day to day lives and should be protected in the best way possible under any circumstances. These values are foundations of families and societies and it gives the people a sense of belonging in their own community. But today, communities in the world are changing due to various reasons. One of which plays a great role in these changes is mass tourism, where large quantities of people throng the same area at the same time. Today, communities all around the world are changing even though some may only be changing slowly. However, some areas of the world are immensely swarmed by people which trigger these changes to occur more rapidly.

Are people affected greatly by these changes and do the negative impacts outweigh the positive? Based on Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index, the most visited city of 2016 is Bangkok, Thailand where there were 21.47M overnight visitors. This will surely be a positive impact towards the country’s economy, but is this benefiting the people living in the area? How about areas where people are still living in tribes and are still not used to the outside world? Are the people going to be able to cope with all this?People visit different parts of the world due to various different reasons. One which might be the want of escape or the need of refreshment. Whatever it is, people choose their getaway locations based on many things they have considered precedently. But, what causes an area to become a popular tourist destination includes having various natural and built beauty that attracts tourists to come while also having great opportunities which allow visitors to have an enjoyable yet adventurous leisure experience. Like Bangkok for instance. It is the most visited city of 2016 because of its numerous unique and magnificent architectural designs on their temples, food, relaxation, way of life and also not forgetting the beauty of its nature which attracts heaps of tourists especially like the Bang Krachao Gardens where people would walk trails, cycle and enjoy its rich vegetation while being able to look at the Chao Phraya River where some houses built along the river’s edge can also be sighted.

After we look at this example, we could then realise that tourists are people who visit other countries with the aim of looking for gratification and satisfaction of their interests. Based on the global benchmarking survey TravelSat, it is reported that 38% of tourists choose their travel destinations due to recommendations from friends and relatives. This is another reason that shows why already crowded destinations can become more crowded because of those tourists sharing their experience with others that causes their interest over that area to also increase. Imagine how many people someone could talk and share their experiences to! Global PerspectiveIn the world today, tourism is impacting lives in a variety of many different reasons but the people, most especially the country would be rather glad to have tourism in their country. Tourism does not only create jobs for people, it gives them more facilities because when tourism, especially mass tourism is happening in a certain area, the government would try their best to give the visitors a pleasant and satisfying trip by trying to provide the area with better roads, clean areas, etc. They do this with the hope of these visitors promoting the area to friends and families allowing tourism in the area to grow. With an increase in tourism, companies and organisations around the area would also benefit.

Food companies would grow because of the increasing demand for food to give the people. Merchandising companies would also benefit because more people will buy their products for memories. Besides these benefits, people would also be able to develop new ideas or even start up new businesses that would not only be beneficial to the people, but also to the economy. But, tourism could also have a very bad impact on local communities. Culture and traditions might be damaged as well as the natural beauty of the area. If people do not take proper care of the area, it might cause damages that are not at all favorable to the area and the people. With new impacts from outsiders, the communities” way of life most probably would change. In Thailand, 9% of its population is working in tourism-related jobs even though they are poorly paid. But, when people start working for agriculture, they get paid quite a lot of money since the demand to accommodate all the tourists are large. From this example itself, we could see that tourism could impact the economy, industries which would then impact the communities. Therefore, if Thailand’s tourism sector is weakening, the tendency for the other industries and the country’s economy also losing is quite certain. The impact towards the people of Thailand would surely be felt. On the other hand, some Thai people and their characteristics have been recognised to have changed like their traditional“Wai” which is how they greet people seems to be changing to“Hi’s and Hello’s while waving their hands. It is also causing anti-social behaviours and increasing levels of crime, leading to the reduced safety of Thailand. By being exposed to many new matters, they are also experiencing long-term effects from the change in their behaviours until an extent of their cultures changing too.

National PerspectiveIn Indonesia, mass tourism is happening especially due to its natural beauty, culture, and history. In places such as Lombok Island, where the food is delicious accompanied by luxurious resorts and short distances to the beautiful islands of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and also Gili Meno, as well as Raja Ampat where the natural beauty is just truly magnificent,(6) tourism is increasing rapidly. In Indonesia, people in the local areas where tourism thrive are benefitted by these incoming tourists as employment opportunities and local business” income increases. Like in the Brayut Tourist Village, where the people previously depended on their rice fields and working themselves to survive. This place is now turned into a tourist attraction where visitors would come and help out in the fields. Not only would they be helpful, but the farmers would be able to obtain more income from the tourist who come and are willing to pay to learn how to plant rice. But, there is also a tendency that these one of a kind wonders might get harmed or even destroyed. The culture and ethnicities of the communities in the area might also be influenced by outsiders that might cause things to change in the vicinity which might not be a positive point for these people.

In Indonesia especially, where the spirit of working together and togetherness used to be very strong, the foreign influences have affected the locals where gradual changes of traditions, cultures and especially behaviour has occurred nationwide. The Dani Tribe of Irian Jaya has been changed by tourism which has weakened their culture, especially since they now mainly focus on the tourism industry to make their money, slowly leaving their heritage. Based on research made by a Master of Tourism Studies from the Gadjah Mada University, values of which Indonesians used to hold strongly is changing. People start to develop a more consumptive and materialistic point of view where people start having more wants such as handphones or cameras, the want of eating different foreign food, and also living a life of travel and shopping, only caring about money and items they own. A change of perceptions of relationships of men and women are seen primarily as a result of interaction between foreign tourists and local people. Many locals would now try to form relationships with foreigners and even end up in marriages where having these relationships with foreigners is something to be proud of. But this overall causes reduced tolerance and appreciation among the people. However, both tourists and local people benefit from the existence of cultural learning. Although both may not immediately apply new cultures in their activities over interactions take place, at least they would know how to avoid conflict between each other and allowing them to have more knowledge on different people’s way of life and perspectives.

Local Perspective Offering relaxation, delicious food, amazing natural beauty as well as the richness of culture, Bali, is only one of the many visited areas in Indonesia where people leave with a happy heart. The area has had a tourism boom since the 1970’s and since then, facilities in the region has grown quite rapidly. There had been improvements in health, telecommunication, roads and also education which has also benefitted the communities in the area. But, starting from the year 1990’s, Bali’s residents started to oppose some of the tourist developments. Now, people are still opposing many planned developments like the reclamation of the Benoa Bay. This holds true due to the fact that reclamation, especially in that area of Bali is harming the environment by destroying hectares of mangrove forests which are habitats for many different wildlife including birds, reptiles, and amphibians that live in the area.(9) Balinese are also quite worried about their long preserved, incomparable and one of a kind culture to be slowly degrading due to the influence of foreigners who are making habits and people’s way of life change. Also, the amount of land luxury residences and hotels take away together with their clean water supply which might cause a water crisis to emerge in Bali.“The Balinese are people who are still deeply attached to their religion and culture, they spend a lot of time in temples, they respect the rites. But mass tourism is disrupting their practices: the diversity of local cultures and the specificity of rituals is being unified, homogenized.” says Ketut Yuliarsa, a poet and stage director from Ubud, Bali.

Personal PerspectiveIn my opinion, tourism is helping people in many different ways. Their impacts on local communities are actually quite remarkable. Giving people more areas of work, which also encourages them to work hard and have their own incomes. But, on the other hand, especially being an Indonesian and living in the Island of Bali, I would also not be fond of too much that our local cultures and traditions get harmed, because these are the factors that make our country special. We are very diverse in language, cultures, traditions and even food but we are still one beautiful union, collected in the wonderful Republic of Indonesia. Even though so, I do think that tourism in the future would be much better since the quality of human lives is also increasing rapidly due to the presence of widely developing technologies worldwide. Therefore, I think that tourism, including mass tourism, could one day only be impacting communities positively.

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FutureAs tourism increases, people would look for ways to reduce the number of mass tourism and try to limit the damages it causes. But, future predictions state that the number of tourism in the world would increase globally, especially of the “silver-hair” tourists as the population gets older. Generation Y, the Millennials and Generation Z, Aged 6-20 years old are also going to be major causes of tourist growth with the increasing availability of technology which holds a huge impact on tourism and the community today. The growing middle class which will mainly come from Asia-Pacific region is another reason for the increase in tourism. More countries are also trying to improve their tourism sector which would cause more destinations to be available for tourism. However, due to the availability of technology and better education, the quality of the tourists will hopefully be improving which would decrease damages as well as all the other problems caused by mass tourism which would allow the word “mass tourism” to not become a source of dilemma any longer.

Works Cited

1. Buhalis, D. (2000). Marketing the competitive destination of the future. Tourism Management, 21(1), 97-116.
2. Buckley, R. (2012). Sustainable tourism: Research and reality. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(2), 528-546.
3. Gössling, S. (2002). Global environmental consequences of tourism. Global Environmental Change, 12(4), 283-302.
4. Hall, C. M., & Lew, A. A. (2018). Understanding and managing tourism impacts: An integrated approach. Routledge.
5. Jafari, J. (2003). Encyclopedia of tourism. Routledge.
6. Pizam, A. (2010). International encyclopedia of hospitality management. Butterworth-Heinemann.
7. Scott, N., Hall, C. M., & Gossling, S. (2012). Tourism and water: Interactions, impacts and challenges. Channel View Publications.
8. Sigala, M. (2016). Tourism and water: Interactions, impacts and challenges. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 5(1), 1-3.
9. Torres-Delgado, A., Ramírez-Gómez, E., & Jiménez-Castillo, D. (2020). The dark side of tourism development: A review of environmental problems and impacts. Sustainability, 12(13), 5214.
10. Weaver, D. B. (2006). Sustainable tourism: Theory and practice. Butterworth-Heinemann.

The characteristics of Homeric epic are many and varied, but the key elements of the Odyssey and the Iliad can be narrowed down to two main things: a focus on one hero (Achilles and Odysseus, respectively) and the need for that hero to attain kleos, and in the case of Odysseus, nostos. Virgil's epic draws on Homer's epics, but because Virgil's motives and aims are very different, the characteristics of his epic are naturally different, too. The hero of Virgil's epic, Aeneas, shares some characteristics with Homeric heroes but is notably different in that he does not want to achieve kleos. Many of the qualities that characterize Homeric heroes are presented as bad in the Aeneid. These differences can almost all be attributed to the fact that empire plays a large part in Virgil's epic. It does so because Virgil is writing a "history" of the Roman people from the time of Troy until the Pax Augustus in order to flatter the emperor Augustus. Also, because Aeneas's fate is to found the city of Rome and begin the Roman lineage, this directs everything that he does in a way that is not found in Homer's epics.

There is an element of fate in both Homer's and Virgil's epics, but it does not become overbearing in either the Iliad or the Odyssey because the heroes of these two epics are also concerned with other things. Aeneas is told by the gods to leave the ashes of Troy to found a new city. Juno says, "must the Trojans reign in Italy? So Fate will have it" (I.57) showing the inevitability of Aeneas's success. This is his fatum, and he could not escape it even if he wanted to. This is a heavy burden to carry, but Virgil makes it explicit from the start that he will succeed by linking Augustus's Rome with Troy and with Aeneas's followers. The whole poem is consequently extremely teleological. Virgil is writing from a point in Roman "history" that the reader knows will eventually end up in Virgil's Rome. Jupiter's speech in book I also gives another reason why Troy's fall was regrettable but necessary: "Troy shall overturn the Grecian state, and sweet revenge her conquering sons shall call" (I.386-7), but this can only happen once the Roman Empire is founded and established. Aeneas's progress is therefore also incredibly goal-oriented--so much so that he sacrifices personal happiness with Dido to obey the gods and continue on his journey to find a site for Rome. This is very different from the idea of destiny that Homer expresses; Achilles knows that he is fated to die young and he therefore seeks to win kleos in battle so that he will be remembered after his death. Odysseus's goal is to return home to Penelope in order to restore social order in Ithaca, but he is easily sidetracked; for example, he spends years on Calypso's island before the gods intervene to send him home.

The demands of empire are clearly seen in both the fact that Aeneas has to found Rome in order to begin the Roman Empire and the fact that Virgil himself is writing his epic as a way of glorifying emperor Augustus and the peace he created out of a potential civil war. The Optimistic school of criticism sees the whole poem as a celebration and glorification of Rome and its empire, showing the necessity for Aeneas to put aside personal wishes and found Rome. This is very persuasive because Virgil does glorify the Rome he knew by explicitly linking it to the great heroes of epic. O'Connell comments that the Aeneid can be read as "an uncomplicated apology for Augustus and Empire" (p.298). In Book V of the Aeneid, the players of the funeral games are given the names of great Roman families of Virgil's time in order to flatter them with the idea that their lineage stretched back to Trojan heroes. Some readers see Aeneas as a personification of Augustus; they are both great leaders who successfully face the challenge of bringing peace and restoring the social order after many years unrest.

Virgil's glorification of the Roman Empire by linking it with Troy has an immediate problem: according to Homer, the Trojans lost the war. This means that the Greeks, presented as heroes in Homer's epics, have to be made into the enemies of Rome. The fact that they unquestionably won the war and razed Troy to the ground could be glossed over by Virgil, but this would be unconvincing because Homer's epics were well known. Virgil attempts to show that the fall of Troy was an evil necessary in order that Rome could be founded--a second Troy from the ashes of the first. Aeneas could not fulfill his destiny if the Trojans had won the war. This is where Virgil has to depart from Homeric epic: the qualities that characterized the Homeric hero are shown by Virgil to be bad character traits. Achilles's bloodlust and degradation of Hector's body, which he dragged "thrice round the Trojan walls" (I.677), have no place in Aeneas's character because he has to personify the Roman virtues of moderation, self-sacrifice and level-headedness. Similarly, Odysseus is referred to with scorn for his deceitfulness; the cunning and intelligence heroized in the Odyssey also have no place in Virgil's Romanized epic because the Roman hero should be truthful and win battles by being reasonable and reasoned, not by trickery or rampaging. "A juster lord, or nobler warrior, never drew a sword: observant of the right, religious of his word" (I.768-9): this shows both the moderation that "impious Achilles" (II.118) lacked and the truthfulness that Odysseus lacked when he practiced "fallacious arts" (II.118).

All the things that the reader has come to associate with heroism from Homeric epic (bloodlust, power in battle, strength, intelligence, etc.) are attributed to furor by Virgil, which is detrimental to goal-fulfillment and something that only Aeneas's enemies are seen to possess. Aeneas briefly succumbs to "unmanly rage" (II.810) when he sees Helen in the ruins of Troy but is quickly set right again by his mother. The Aeneid can be read as a "correction of decadent Greek models in favor of Roman pietas and imperium." (O'Connell, p.298) Turnus is a very Homeric character, and is therefore an enemy of Aeneas and of Rome. He has an aristeia (rampage) and is full of bloodlust. He ignores the contract of combat and "spurn[s] the wretched corpse then snatch[es] the shining belt" (X.690) of the dead Pallas, which later leads to Aeneas's righteous anger and refusal to show mercy. Virgil makes it explicit that Aeneas's killing of Turnus is only brought about by Turnus's furor. Had he shown pietas and allowed Pallas's body to be returned un-plundered, then Aeneas would not have seen the golden belt and felt the need to kill him. Aeneas is the epitome of Romanness; he behaves moderately and with pietas at all times, except when temporarily seduced by Dido.

The need for Aeneas to leave Dido and continue on his quest to begin the Roman dynasty again illustrates the demands of empire; Aeneas puts the good of his followers and descendants before his personal desires by leaving Dido. It is very easy for us, as post-Romantic readers, to criticise Aeneas for his treatment of Dido, but this cannot be Virgil's intention: he never explicitly criticizes Aeneas's decision because what he did was right for Rome. Dido would have been seen as a Barbarian queen and an enemy of Rome, and her attempts to prevent Aeneas's fulfilling his fatum can only be seen as wrong; she is too passionate and possessed by furor. This is shown by the fact that she is an excellent queen who "dispenses laws...tasks in equal portions she divides" (I.713) until a "secret fire" (IV.4) burns within her and she falls in love with Aeneas, causing the building of Carthage to cease: "the walls neglected lie short of their promised height" (IV.127). This can be seen as Virgil's direct criticism of the leader who allows personal passion to defeat reason and doing good for the people.

Dido is also criticised for her other un-Roman qualities: she would have been expected by the Roman people to remain single after her husband's death and not to act on feelings for another man.

"Love is the antithesis of history, for it is timeless; it is the supreme anti-historical force, seeking to bring the forward progression of events to a halt or to initiate a different sequence of events altogether, dictated not by divine providence but by individual desire." (Gransden, p.45)

Love clearly shows the demands of empire on Aeneas, and, to some extent, Dido. The idea that Dido is controlled "not by divine providence but by individual desire" is what separates her from Aeneas. Aeneas does not allow himself to be ruled by his desires. Odysseus is lucky that his wishes coincide with his fate; the gods decide almost unanimously to help him home so that he can restore order. But Aeneas's wish to stay with Dido cannot be fulfilled because it halts the building of Carthage and delays his mission to found Rome. "City" (from the Latin "civitas") is symbolic of a whole civilization, of nationhood and a sense of Roman identity; therefore, it is imperative that Aeneas puts his own desires aside and leaves Dido to found Rome.

Not all of the characteristics of Homeric epic are modified by the demands of empire. Virgil wanted to surpass Homer but was indebted to him too much to move away from Homeric qualities totally. The first six books of the Aeneid can be read much like the Odyssey--a similar voyage, similar adventures and temptations along the way, and a final kind of nostos when Aeneas arrives in Italy. Books Seven to Twelve are very Iliadic in that the Trojans as an invading force parallel the Greeks in the Iliad, and the final duel between Aeneas and Turnus resembles that fought between Hector and Achilles. The Aeneid follows one hero in much the same way that the Odyssey and Iliad do: other characters are mentioned and occasionally praised, but the focus of the narrator and the gods is mostly on the eponymous hero. As a character, however, the demands of empire make Virgil's hero very different from Homer's heroes, as explained above.

In terms of literary characteristics, the very nature of epic demands that Virgil follows Homer's example to some extent because epic poems had not changed vastly between Homer's time and Virgil's. The use of epithets ("pious prince" 1.146), cataloguing, and similes (1.65) are common to all three epics, as is the use of classical language. It is difficult to comment on the language of any of these epics in detail because translations vary quite a lot. The main linguistic difference is that Virgil refers to all the gods by their Roman names rather than their Greek ones, perhaps showing his determination to build on and develop what Homer began.

The idea of the final duel between long-time enemies is very much present in the Aeneid, but its characteristics are modified a lot. Aeneas fights only when necessary, and he is diplomatic and far more merciful and calm than Homeric heroes. Turnus's degradation of Pallas's corpse is very similar to Achilles's treatment of Hector's body in the Iliad, and Virgil makes it explicit that Aeneas, in control of his feelings, is inclined to be merciful to Turnus until he is reminded of Turnus's inexcusable furor by Pallas's sword belt. This contrasts sharply with Odysseus's and Diomedes's treatment of the Trojan spy they capture and brutally kill. Aeneas has to remain in control of his feelings in order to come through all the ordeals he faces and found Rome, but the Homeric heroes have no such noble goal and therefore need not control their bloodlust.

In Homeric epic it can generally be said that the hero has one task to fulfill and can then relax and enjoy his nostos. Odysseus's great wanderings culminate in his return to Ithaca and his reuniting with Penelope, which builds on the notion in the Iliad that one can choose either kleos or nostos but not both because the two are incompatible; Achilles knows that, by returning to the battle and winning great honour, he will die an early death. Aeneas, however, cannot have the same kind of nostos that Odysseus eventually enjoys because he has to build a new home rather than return to an old one. Aeneas's task is to begin a nation that will eventually become the Roman empire, so, although his task ostensibly ends when he defeats Turnus and establishes a site for Rome, it is not the same kind of resolution that Homer offers his heroes. The whole point of Virgil's epic is to show that, because Rome came from such great origins, it will continue forever. Also, Virgil is very explicit that kleos is a Greek idea associated with furor and therefore undesirable, so his hero has no need to fight to win honour. His renown will come from his constructive actions rather than his destructive ones.

The Aeneid can be seen as a much more didactic epic than either the Odyssey or the Iliad, because Virgil's intention is to surpass Homer's epic and create a new breed of hero. As the author of a secondary epic, Virgil had the luxury of being able to plan and redraft, something that Homer could not do because his epics were spoken, not written. This means that Virgil was able to use his poem to show the qualities he believed a good Roman should embody and perhaps to try and teach the Roman people of his own time how the great lineage he describes should help them to live their lives. Homer tells a good story, but Virgil's work, as Yasmin Syed points out, is trying to "exert a formative influence on its readers, profoundly shaping their sense of self as Romans" (p.35). Virgil illustrates that Greek epic heroes should not be admired because of their inherent un-Romanness, instead creating a new Roman hero who is the kind of man that Virgil felt was needed to keep the Pax Augustus going and to extend the "long glories of majestic Rome" (I.10) even further. By feeling connected to the great heroic past, perhaps the Roman empire could become more extensive--but it had to be the right kind of Roman past with a Roman hero, not a furor-filled Greek hero.

The demands of empire direct everything that Aeneas does, and this in itself considerably modifies Homer's epics because his heroes are motivated by more selfish desires: Achilles craves honour and recognition, and Odysseus wishes to return home. The gods interfere with Aeneas in much the same way that they do with Achilles and Odysseus, so this idea of the gods' meddling in human affairs has not been modified a great deal by Virgil. The biggest step that Virgil takes away from Homer is in his characterization: Aeneas has to be a Roman hero, not a Greek one, in order to be a worthy founder of Rome. Epic battles, adventures, and trips to the underworld are all still present in Homer's and Virgil's epics because these things are necessary for all three heroes to fulfil their goals and fates. Virgil changes only what is necessary to make Aeneas different enough to be totally un-Greek but still a recognisable epic hero.

Works Cited

Gransden, K.: Virgil: The Aeneid, CUP, 1990

O'Connell, M.: The Specter of Dido: Spenser and Virgilian Epic, Renaissance Quarterly, 1998. (Viewed online).

Syed, Y: Vergil's (sic) Aeneid and the Roman Self: Subject and Nation in Literary Discourse, ed. A. Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 2005.

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Virgil: The Aeneid, trans. John Dryden, Wordsworth World Classics, 1997.

Society is constantly bombarded with media images daily. In the field of Critical Media and Cultural Studies, it is generally understood that these media images do not simply bounce off the individual without penetration their psyche. Thus, the media images that we see have the power to affect our modes of thinking, our view of society, and dictate our actions. Though critical media and cultural studies involves itself deeply with the discussion of advertising and consumerism, it is known that the media also educates.

Mass media and popular culture serve to educate us about societal norms. The role of media is important and grand as it also educates society about complex topics such as crime, forensics, and law. Many scholars within the Critical Media and Cultural Studies discipline have commented on the power of media to educate and influence society’s view and perception of these subjects. These scholars have failed to approach Critical Media and Cultural Studies in the prescribed way. Critical Media and Cultural Studies acknowledges that although various platforms of media transmission may be more frequented or more popular, all forms of media essentially reinforce one another and fit together into a cohesive paradigm.

This paper will pick up where these other scholars have left off, in an attempt to pinpoint the relationship between the crime, forensics, and the law and media portrayals, but across platforms. This paper will also hope to construct a theoretical framework for the implications of media portrayals of these subjects in crime novels, news outlets, and television shows. In order to complete such an analysis, multiple questions will have to be answered within the confines of this paper. Each of the three chosen platforms–crime novels, news outlets, and televisions shows–will be dissected to show what perceptions they are creating as it relates to crime, forensics, and the law. Secondly, this research will show how it affects societal behavior. Lastly, from the two previous questions, a framework will be constructed using both textual examples and critical media theories to construct a more thorough relationship between media and the complex systems of crime and law.

As aforementioned, the connection between crime and law and the portrayals of these subjects in the media cannot be overlooked. This paper will show that crime novels, news outlets, and televisions shows all play an integral part in the transmission of ideas about crime and the legal system. This fact is a given. This paper will also show that the media portrayals of crime and the legal system, through these three modes, serve three key functions: deterrent, authority, and catharsis.

Key theories within Critical Media and Cultural Studies, such as the theory of cultivation and the theory go hegemony, will show that media images are not as sporadic as they seem. They will show that media images have a purpose and an agenda apart from advertising. Other theories such as the conglomeration of media will show that an analysis of cultural representations cannot isolate one form of media as a representative sample and a comprehensive analysis must include multiple media platforms as this paper will attempt to do.

Through these analysis, textual examples, and theories it will be shown that media, regardless of its aims and intentions, creates cultural and society implications that should be addressed. Not only do media images affect our perceptions of crime, forensics, and law, but the resulting implications, when examined as a whole, create a cyclical framework for the strategic and successful containment of society.

Annotated Bibliography

Abramsky, Sasha. 2002. "Crime as America's Pop Culture." Chronicle Of Higher Education 49, no. 12: B11. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost. Accessed November 15, 2014. Abramsky uses the rise in crime rates and the high levels of incarceration, among not only minority race but society as a whole, as the backbone of her argument. She describes America as being fixated on all crimes from the heinous to the mundane. America’s high incarceration rates are thus a natural extension of our obsession with crime, in particular our obsession with the “non-stop coverage of crime.” Abramsky’s analysis of the ubiquitousness of crime in pop culture creates a societal fear of criminals and an overwhelming and disproportionate sense of crime in ones surrounding neighborhoods. Thus, the high incarceration rates of society are not perceived as an inherent flaw in the system but indeed the natural result of a world that is evil and riddled with criminals, a fact that keeps society contained and obedient to the legal code.

Collis, Christy, and Jason Bainbridge. 2005. "Introduction—Popular Cultures and the Law." Continuum: Journal Of Media & Cultural Studies 19, no. 2: 159-164. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost. Accessed November 16, 2014. doi: 10.1080/10304310500084335. The analysis of popular culture and the law as presented by Collis and Bainbridge offers both the foundational structure for this study and presents the importance of this study. Collins and Bainbridge state two key concepts found within the article: 1) that “law is cultural” and 2) that the complexities of the intersection of law go past mere representation. Thus, Collis and Bainbridge develop a methodology for analyzing law and legal frameworks through the lens of popular culture. This article also mentions the term “legal consciousness”, a term that connotes the memory of past legal proceedings, the conceptualization of current legal frameworks as influenced by media, and the future implications of this influence. This source states that law and popular culture are intertwined but does not go so far as to state how one affects the other, as this study will attempt to do.

Dowler, Kenneth. 2003. “Media Consumption and Public Attitudes Toward Crime and Justice: The Relationship Between Fear of Crime, Punitive Attitudes, and Perceived Police Effectiveness.” Journal Of Criminal Justice And Popular Culture 10 (2): 109-126. Accessed November 14, 2014. http://www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/vol10is2/dowler.pdf. Dowler’s examination of the relationship between media consumption and public attires towards crime and justice exemplify two key concepts with this paper. Kenneth describes how the prevalence of crime in news media leads to an increased fear of crime and criminals. The sensationalization of crime breeds fear and panic. This in turn causes people to become more vigilant in their daily attitudes and to adopt more abrasive attitudes to protect themselves from these crimes and the criminals that committee them. This article clearly shows the link between media consumption and the adoption of fearful attitudes. What this article fails to investigate the effects of other media platforms, such as television shows and crime novels, platforms that are inexplicably linked and woven together to create a national consciousness about crime, forensics, and the legal system.

Dowler, Kenneth, Thomas Fleming, and Stephen L. Muzzatti. 2006. "Constructing Crime: Media, Crime, and Popular Culture." Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice 48 (6): 837-865. Accessed November 14, 2014. http://ezproxy.rollins.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/216117268?accountid=13584. Dowler’s study of popular culture, in particular of the show CSI, delivers terminology that is crucial to this study of the effect of media on the conceptualization of crime, forensics, and the legal system. This source details the CSI Effect, the phenomena affecting “real life crime victims and jury members” into believing the innovative science of the crime shows and forensics can catch the assailants easily. This effect is so profound that it has affected conviction rates in crimes without forensic evidence. Hence, not only does media deliver misconceptions about the nature of forensics in relation to crime but also provides a deterrent to crime: the deterrent that forensics and scientific evidence gathering procedures prevent potential criminals from attempting to carry out the perfect crime.

Goodman, Douglas J. "Approaches to Law and Popular Culture." Law & Social Inquiry 31, no. 3 (Summer2006 2006): 757-784. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost. Accessed November 15, 2014. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-4469.2006.00029.x. Goodman’s analysis, like that of Collis and Bainbridge, provides more theoretical background for the construction of this essay. The main tenets of his argument rest in a key concept of critical media and cultural studies: the spectrum flowing from micro levels and macro levels of society. Goodman breaks the transmission of beliefs and attitudes about law through popular culture into three stages: “semiotic, transmission, and institutional.” Each stage displays how law and the legal system are displayed in popular culture mostly through the medium of popular culture. However, Goodman’s conclusion of this article is possibly the most integral portion of his analysis. He concludes that portrayal of law through media creates wavering support of the legal system, one facet of society that creates a contained and controlled populace by using media.

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Morgan, Michael, and James Shanahan. 2010. “The State of Cultivation.” Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 54 (2): 337-355. Accessed November 16, 2014. doi: 10.1080/08838151003735018. Morgan and Shanahan’s critical analysis of media presents “one of the three most cited theories in mass communication research published in key scholarly journals from 1956 to 2000.” This theory is the cultivation theory. Cultivation theory states that the media that you consume affects one’s worldview. In turn, the prevalent worldview is then co-opted by media producers and spouted back at the masses creating a cyclical model of media production and consumption. Cultivation theory, along with the theory of hegemony and the power of media conglomerates, displays how the over saturation of different media platforms–in this study crime novels, news outlets, and television shows and movies–are sources of societal control and containment. These media sources simultaneously deter individuals from crime, embed society with unwavering faith in the justice system, and give individuals an emotional outlet for gruesome crimes.