Traumatic Enlightenment

What if I told you truma could be inherited; meaning you were not the one who initially experienced the traumatic event, however, you still suffer great stress from it. Sarah Stillman in “Hiroshima and the Inheritance of Trauma” suggests that trauma may be a ‘contagious disease’ that can spread amongst both families as well as generations. She uses an example of a woman named Tomiko Shoji who was only nineteen when she survived the bombing of Hiroshima. Shoji suffered post traumatic stress disorder as well has radiation poisoning, which consisted of her losing her hearing, sight, and teeth in her forties. She also had psychological symptoms which consisted of losing control during thunder storms and collapsing with fear when she tried to speak of the event. Some of these were inherited by her granddaughter Keni Sabath who first became aware of her grandmother’s experience in a disturbing way at the young age of six. According to an article in Scientific American by Tori Rodriguez, there is a study being done that researches mass trauma survivors and their offspring. The study looks at holocaust survivors and their descendents as well as their levels of cortisol, a hormone that helps the body return to normal after trauma. Sabath was affected by the trauma because she has close contact with Shoji who experienced the trauma. This goes to show that trauma after all may be a ‘contagious disease’, one that haunts not only the traumatized individual but those they are close to.

Unfortunately, this utopian argument doesn’t account for the countless studies correlating film and television viewing to perpetuated hate and stereotyping, and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Declining SAT scores and library check-outs over the decades have lead critics to believe that film and television are aiding in the international "dumbification" effort, in which individuals are losing the ability to think without direction. This phenomenon is closely related to the more recent "couch potato syndrome", in which laziness, lack of physical fitness and a passive attitude combine, producing the ultimate unhealthy lifestyle that is currently sweeping the majority of modern America. More important, however, are the two great faults of film and television. First, film and television establish false

Furthermore, he critiques the nihilist mentality corrupting the field of history, a disposition he sees as standing as adversarial to his more varied form of historical analysis and recollection (pg. 15-16). Oddly, Eksteins’ work often makes a good case for this more traditional organization

Theistic existentialism begins with acceptance of all the propositions of theism. It’s main differences concern human nature and our relationship to God and the cosmos.

An example of these negative stereotypes exists within the media. For instance, less utilized older women and men within television and advertisements (Leon-Guerrero). When an older generation actor is utilized in a television commercial, it is generally a negative or their actions are characterized as frail or weak. The aging population often feels a loss of dependency, not because they feel themselves they are not capable but society is classifying them as incapable. Furthermore,

Media influences the minds of those who consume it. Portrayals in media quickly become the norm as the consumers believe the strangest of headlines. Representations in media, specifically television, are subconsciously analyzed and placed into the mindset of the viewer. Racial depictions in television and the lack thereof, for example, influence the perspective of the consumer and portray a false reality. Although the future for more racial diversity in the American television industry looked promising, this white-dominated industry has proven that not much has changed in regards to hiring, including, and depicting more ethnic groups and people of color in entertainment. People of color are given stereotypical roles that presents the race in a negative manner; its depiction on television gives additional credibility to the stereotypes. “””Tokenistic representation hinders the nation's ability to see the reality of diversity in the world by limiting the numbers and types of people that are seen through the

The author states, by using Miller’s work on The Anatomy of Disgust, that figures within a social class are given a stereotypical character, and become animated figures within the media - for example, Tyler states that figures within the media ‘the toff, the yuppie, the public school boy, the suburban wife, the flat-capped working man, the gypsy, the chav’ are portrayed in ‘emotive ways’ which are communicated stereotypically depending on background and

In Izzy, Willy-Nilly, Izzy, who is a teen is struck with a heart-breaking disability after an accident. Throughout the novel she fights through her injury, remaining strong and determined. Although, times got rough and sad, she stayed positive in several aspects. After losing her left leg, she was left with various difficult adjustments to make. However, Izzy was traumatized by the accident, leaving her with a life changing disability. Her family and friends’ reactions to her amputation of her leg were sometimes demeaning; furthermore, they rejected her disability in many aspects. Izzy’s father and brothers rejected her after the accident, they wouldn’t visit her or acknowledge during this hard time. Furthermore, when her father arrived to

When Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" was published at the end of the 19th Century, many reviewers took issue with what they perceived to be the author's defiance of Victorian proprieties, but it is this very defiance with which has been responsible for the revival in the interest of the novel today. This factor is borne out by Chopin's own words throughout her Preface -- where she indicates that women were not recipients of equal treatment. (Chopin, Preface ) Edna takes her own life at the book's end, not because of remorse over having committed adultery but because she can no longer struggle against the social conventions which deny her fulfillment as a person and as a woman. Like Kate Chopin herself, Edna is an artist and a woman of

Moreover, there are also television shows that display how the media affects the identity of people. A common television show is “The Simpsons” because each character has a personality that many humans follow without actually realizing it. It defines way of thinking and exploits the

Throughout history, revolutions have occurred for many different reasons all around the world, in many different ways. But, there is always a certain extent to which each revolution can be successful, and also enlightened. The word successful is defined by Oxford Dictionary as accomplishing an aim or purpose, and enlightened is defined as having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook. During the 18th century, a new intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems, called the Enlightenment was highly influential in

Nihilism asserts that life is meaningless, and discards all morality and religion. Nihilism, if widely held as a belief system, has the potential of propelling society into chaos (Nihilism - By Branch / Doctrine - The Basics of Philosophy). Constitutions around the world have been influenced by godly principles. Therefore, declaring that God is dead or does not exist would invalidate the foundations of many governments worldwide. If a moral code becomes non-existent, everyone is free to do as they please. Violence could then very easily become the order of the day, because there would be no moral absolutes to live by (Part of this was from my Quiz3).

Satire is presented through many topics, events that had and is happening. Nevertheless, satire can persuade humans to change their opinions on diverse topics, and their ideal image of something. For example, satire cartoons may be humorous, but it can be a real eye opener, a great awakening for humans. Within the cartoons, it gives a clear perspective and understanding of what they’re trying to convey to

Yet, because Nast’s cartoons reached the illiterate and literate, his cartoons defeated Boss Tweed and his “iron grip” on New York politics. This is Nast’s legacy, his ability to reach everyone, make them laugh, and then think about the world’s injustices. I admire Nast’s legacy (along with his excellent work and political activism) and hope to imbue my work with it. Some agents of change picket and others disobey but Nast caricatured through art, the form of expression that, as Pablo Picasso said, “is a lie that makes us realize the truth.” This is what I want to do: to make art that tells the truth and makes a difference. Political apathy abounds among my friends and classmates. I want to change that. Politics is not just something to which other people pay attention; it is important to understanding the world in which we live. Part of the American experience, after all, is political participation. If my peers do like using traditional political media, then perhaps they will gain awareness from political cartoons because these opinionated scribbles, according to author Roger Fischer, can captivate others and transform “transitory journalism into transcending

Nihilism is one of the most difficult philosophies to accurately define because of its ambiguous nature. In its simplest form, one might consider it an extremely pessimistic form of skepticism in which the individual discounts even the idea of existence. Therefore, to a nihilist, all values, relationships, authority, beliefs, and emotions are baseless and empty. First popularized in Ivan Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons in 1862, nihilism is associated with a revolutionary movement that occurred in Russia from 1814 to 1876. The principles of nihilism often can be linked with those of utilitarianism, existentialism, and anarchism. Dostoevsky demonstrates his aversion to this philosophy through