Illusions and Distortion of Reality

1: Discuss an example from the video of a sport/event where changing concepts of race and social access have influenced who participates in a sport. Discuss another example (from your own knowledge or news) where economics, social conditions, tradition, or stereotypes have led to disparities in participation in particular sports?

Have you ever thought you heard something, but there was nothing there? Have you ever thought you saw someone in the corner of your eye, and when you looked there was no person there? When we look down from a high building on people, do they appear small like ants? Aren't there thousands of occasions when we do misperceive? What is reality and perception? Mainstream science describes reality as "the state of things as they actually exist". So reality is simply: everything we observe. Perception is the process by which organisms interpret and organize sensation to produce a meaningful experience of the world (sapdesignguild.org np). I believe people should base some decisions

Advances in technology and the expansion of trade have, without a doubt, improved the standard of living dramatically for peoples around the world. Globalization brings respect for law and human rights and the democratization of politics, education, and finance to developing societies, but is usually slow in doing so. It is no easy transition or permanent solution to conflict, as some overly zealous proponents would argue. In The Great Illusion, Norman Angell sees globalization as a force which results from and feeds back into the progressive change of human behavior from using physical force toward using rational, peaceful methods in order to achieve economic security and prosperity. He believes that nations will no longer wage war

The opening statement of the article Looks can deceive: Why Perception and Reality Don't Always Match Up by Christof Koch reads as follows; “When you are facing a tricky task, your view of the world may not be as accurate as you think” (Koch, 2010) In this article Koch argues that a human’s conscious perception of the world is neither static or accurate. That people everywhere are incapable of being one hundred percent objective and therefore their awareness of objects surrounding them is dependent on factors such as personal strength, confidence, fears and desires. Koch states that being human is equal to “seeing the world through your own, constantly shifting, lens” (Koch, 2010)

2. George is a small and thin man with sharp features (Steinbeck 2). He has a quick temper and a wit to match. His temper is shown early in the book on page 4 when he gets mad at Lennie for always forgetting what he’s told him. George plays the role as the caregiver in his relationship with Lennie. A conflict

In an excerpt from Empire of Illusion, Christopher Hedges argues that “the most essential skill in political theater and a consumer culture is artifice...Those who are best at deception succeed. Those who have not mastered the art of entertainment, who fail to create a narrative or do not have one fashioned for them by their handlers, are ignored. They become “unreal”” (Empire of Illusion). Today, the ideology of “the most essential skill [being] artifice” to reveal the truth or reach the favored outcome is prevalent and portrayed across various media. For instance, in Hamlet written in the early 17th century, William Shakespeare portrays Polonius as a nobleman who advocates for techniques of deception to achieve his goal. In addition, detectives implement this method of misleading in interrogation rooms to evoke a true confession. Similarly, politicians, like Donald Trump, delude the public by creating distractions that sway their attention from the more pressing topic. Examples from literature to modern government demonstrate that many hold the belief that “the most essential skill...is artifice” to achieve the desired outcome (Empire of Illusion).

a novel about a naughty boy-child who killed his mother and father dead...And Daddy said... "Look here, I will not let you publish such a thing"(Albee,133,4). Another one of George's big insecurities was an incident from his childhood. For one of the most hurtful insults she reveals this secret to the guests. "And you want to know the clincher? You want to know what the big brave Georgie said to Daddy?....Georgie said ...But sir it isn't a novel at all... this is the truth...this really happened .... TO ME!"(136,7). But Martha also had some skeletons in her closet; and George knew which ones to bring out. One of Martha's biggest insecurities is her infertility. In the final act titled "Exorcism",George exposes her secret to equal the humiliation . The mentioning of their imaginary son leads George to triumph in the last battle and brings Martha to the most excruciating pain and torture. "An exorcism serves to remove all that is unreal from both George and Martha. An exorcism of final despair eliminates all fantasy and returns them to reality, or to the point where new rules and new games can be advised"(Lewis,89).

From the start of the play, the reader is lead to believe that Martha has the other hand and she is the most powerful in the relationship. Being mean, brutally honesty and cynical makes people to believe she is powerful. On a night similar to the night of this plays, George and Martha create a son. This is a figment of their imaginations, to hold together their failing marriage. The rules to keep the son alive with in them, is to never speak of this son to any one else. Well Martha told her guests about their son. George seeing an opportunity to get Martha back for exposing their lies decides that their son dies tonight. In a game George created to expose every ones lies, whether it be Nick marring Honey because she got pregnant and has money or Martha's fake son, No one will leave their house tonight not embarrassed and exposed. George is using his knowledge of the truth, as a power against people. He tells Martha in front of her guest

The art of deception is an essential skill, especially in moments such as political debates and commercial promotions. In today's society, artifice is a widely utilized skill to persuade the public. The commercial market connects producers to consumers through propaganda which appeals to consumers through elements such as pathos, ethos, and logos. Utilizing these elements, the audience is immediately drawn into the viewpoint of the deceiver. Politicians tried to appear as ordinary and modest as possible to seem more appealing to their audience. But, it can be a deception. As Chris Hedges said in his Empire of Illusion, a story is the best form of artifice because the “consistency and emotional appeal of the story are paramount.” Often politicians tell stories to create a persona making themselves look more trustworthy.

They are a couple that lives a charmed life on paper but are bored in reality. The abuse that they throw at each other is their way of bringing adventure into their lives. They make up a world that is full of the experiences that help them fulfill that dream. George and Martha will do whatever it takes to live said dream and don't care what lies need to be told to accomplish it.

In the novella Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck, the relationship between Lennie Small and George Milton is complex. Lennie and George are two companions who look for work and brave the hardships of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression together. Although Lennie and George are both grown men, their relationship resembles more of a child and a single parent, or a boy and his dog. Lennie is portrayed as animalistic and childish through his behavior and Steinbeck’s comparisons. This reveals the crucial power dynamic in George and Lennie’s relationship.

In the excerpt given, the audience will dramatically begin to feel more uncomfortable as George and Martha progresses the scene. The sense of uneasiness arises when George sits next to Honey and states “Hi, sexy.” This is extremely uneasy for the audience because George did this in front of both his Wife and Honey’s husband as if there was no problem with it. Furthermore, George again disrespects Nick by calling Honey angle tit. This yet again would cause the audience to become more uncomfortable because he keeps on acting as if Nick is not even there. Ultimately, George’s total disrespect towards Nick by making moves on his wife creates a great sense of uneasiness in the audience. Later in the excerpt, Martha decides to play George’s game

Freud gives his insights about what he defines as religion and how the societal neurosis called religion can be expunged from our lives. Freud, in his book The Future of an Illusion gives his psychoanalytical theory in trying to explain religion and postulates that the phenomenon called religion is an imagination, a mere illusion that goes beyond questioning. He suggests that science will provide us with knowledge and explanations to do away with the religious neurosis and live a life where science will be able to prove everything. The following reflects the testimony of Sigmund Freud, if he was to be called upon as a witness in the trial of Warner v. Boca Raton.

The line separating reality and the illusion of reality is a blur. The line separating the narrator’s self-aware expression and his story telling is a blur. The line separating Ambrose and the narrator is a blur. All of this may blur understanding. It is clear, however, that these blurs exist because of the “funhouse”. A funhouse, Lost in the funhouse, in which exist other funhouses. Various funhouses exist in the story and in the writing. For this reason, the title Lost in the funhouse is very significant.

The battle fought between George and Martha is played with the weapons that each sex has perfected. In American Plays and Playwrights of the Contemporary Theater, Lewis notes "Martha has instinct for the right wound; her tongue for the cutting word and her body for the most humiliating insult"(89). George has a greater vision of cruelty. When threatened by Martha, to cheat on him with one of the guests, George pretends not to care in order to upset his wife."I'm necking with one of the guests" "Good...good. You go right on" "Good?" "Yes, good... good for you, why don't you go back to your necking and stop bothering me? I want to read" (Albee,171,2). At the end of the play, George triumphs in the battle by using what he knows will hurt Martha the most; their son. Amacher states in Edward Albee, "All of the games, in terms of Albee's purpose, relate directly or indirectly to George and Martha's attempts to hurt each other"(93).