Is capital punishemtn a deterrent Essay Example for Free

Is capital punishemtn a deterrent Essay Running Head: Abstract Indeed statistics will show that capital punishment is not an effective deterrent to crime; effective comparisons show that there is no significant correlation between lowered crime rates and the deterrent effect in states which implement the death penalty even with the incorporation of socio-economic elements as evidenced in comparing Virginia against West Virginia. In fact, the opposite is true that the crime rate tends to be lower in states without the death penalty. The majority support capital punishment although the prevailing attitude which is shared by the government as well, is to implement it more cautiously with regards to certain issues and sectors as legal, ethical and moral challenges have been raised against it and the criminal justice system as a whole. Is capital punishment an effective deterrent as compared between states for and against with similar socio-economic backgrounds? Hypothesis: Capital punishment is not an effective deterrent to crime; this hypothesis will be proven through current studies on the issue as well as criminal justice statistics which will show that there is no significant correlation between lowered crime rates and the deterrent effect in states which implement the death penalty. In fact, the opposite is true that the crime rate tends to be lower in states without the death penalty. I. Brief history of death penalty in United States and Supreme Court decisions The death penalty traces its roots in ancient history, making its first appearance in the Codes of Hammurabi in ancient Babylon where 25 kinds of crime warranted the ultimate punishment of death. From the ancient Hittites to the Draconian Code of Athens, the punishment was more severe as all crimes merited the death penalty. During the time of Jesus Christ, the Roman law of the Law Tablets prevailed and routinely invoked such methods as crucifixion, impalement and even being burned to death as penalties (DPIC, 2008). America traces its use of the death penalty to the British settlers with the first known recorded execution in the colonies carried out for a man accused of being a spy for Spain. The death penalty reached a point where it was even meted out to certainly less serious offenses although each colony was left to its own discretion as to how to implement it. Eventually, the Age of Enlightenment created a movement which felt that the death penalty was totally wrong on a whole lot of levels. The abolitionist movement which arose from this period strongly voiced its opinion that there was no way to justify the taking of a person’s life regardless of what he may have done against society. But even as there were formal attempts towards the reformation of the penalty in terms of actually changing the specific death penalty mandates of some states, it wasn’t until the mid-19th century that more successful strides in this regard was made; the first calls were for the imposition of the death penalty on truly serious crimes; later, states in this context began to review the crimes which they felt really warranted the death penalty; changing the manner of executions from being very public to more private confines within newly built correctional penitentiaries (DPIC, 2008). Eventually, an American state finally mustered its constituency to abolish the death penalty with Michigan taking this distinct honor in 1846 followed later by several more states. But even as some states still held onto capital punishment, general reforms on the issue began to shape not only the concept of death penalty, but of the entire criminal justice system as well. There followed greater distinction and sensitivity as to what crimes necessitated the death penalty. The establishment of statutes for one made the justice system more objective and fair; instead of an automatic imposition of the death penalty on capital crimes regardless of the facts surrounding the case, discretionary statutes allowed for an examination of the facts before sentencing was made. But it was only in the latter part of the 20th century that much of the spirited discussion on the death penalty took a more significant turn when the United States Supreme Court took a major role in threshing out some of the thornier points of contention in the debate. Some of its major decisions include; 1. Ruling out the unconstitutionality of the death penalty specifically under the Eighth Amendment; in 1958 in the case of Trop v. Dulles (356 U. S. 86), it was argued that the death penalty at this point in time (1958) was indeed cruel and unusual punishment and as such, that it can no longer be considered as something in keeping with America’s â€Å"standards of decency† and should therefore be abolished (DPIC, 2008). 2. That the death penalty can be imposed only when a jury recommends it was rendered unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in two cases where the prosecutor and the jury had important roles to play in the meting out of the death penalty in capital crimes; in U. S. v. Jackson (390 U. S. 570), the Court upheld that the practice was unconstitutional because it encouraged defendants to waive their right to a jury trial to ensure they would not receive a death sentence (DPIC, 2008). In Witherspoon v. Illinois (391 U. S. 510) the Supreme Court held that a person’s mere hesitancy or reservation towards the death penalty is not enough reason to have him or her disqualified from being part of the jury in a death penalty case; disqualification could only be possible if it can be proven that more substantial display of attitudes can actually affect the outcome of the case. Later similar cases such as in Crampton v. Ohio and McGautha v. California tackled the issue of whether the jury as both the power to not only impose the death penalty as they see fit, but that they could also determine in a single deliberation, the verdict as well as the resulting sentence; in this regard, the Supreme Court in favor of the jury having the ultimate discretion (DPIC, 2008). But in the landmark case Furman v. Georgia (408 U. S. 238)), the Supreme Court again was compelled to decide on these same issues, the result of which was the voiding of 40 death penalty statutes (DPIC, 2008). This had a double edged outcome; even as the death penalty had been deemed unjust (and reinforcing statutes voided in this regard), it still allowed states who still wanted the death penalty to keep it reinstated by simply re-writing their death-penalty statutes. In later years, the debate has shifted equally on both sides. As the United States has opted to keep the death penalty in a global circle of adherents which keep on shrinking, it has however imposed limitations with regards to controversial areas. Special areas of concern with regards to the imposition of death penalty include issues in cases of mental illness and retardation; the factor of race with a disproportionate number of blacks on death row; the constitutionality of executing juvenile offenders. Another important issue is wrongful convictions. As addressed in the case Herrera v. Collins (506 U. S. 390 (1993)) the Supreme Court has mulled over the possibility that people on death row who profess their innocence could actually be innocent (DPIC, 2008). An important outcome of the case was that new evidence for possible innocence could be weighed and a new trial possibly considered. Numerous inmates on death row have been released because of this and their innocence subsequently affirmed through new scientific evidence and technology. II. Stating the problem Does capital punishment deter crime? The pivotal question would seem to be, does capital punishment really deter crime? If public opinion were to be taken as a simplistic barometer to answering this question, it would show that capital punishment as deterrence is perceptual, not factual. The Gallup Poll news service has recorded surveys beginning from 1936 up to the present day which show that public perception is reactionary- people tend to favor it more when confronted with violent and sensational crimes and then falling to record lows when there aren’t any (cited in Gallup Poll, 2004). The fact that the United States is showing declining numbers in death sentences being meted out, from 300 in 1998 down to roughly half of that (143) in 2003 (DPIC, 2008) doesn’t reveal anything except the fact that there are numerous challenges against the criminal justice system which makes for the handing out of death sentences far more difficult than it used to be. Pro-abolitionists are pointing out however that the single most convincing evidence against the death penalty may be the fact that crime statistics and trends show that of the dozen states that have chosen not to enact the death penalty have not had higher homicide rates than states that still impose the death penalty (Bonner, 2000). Highly revealing is the fact that the 10 of the 12 states without capital punishment have homicide rates far below the national average while contrastingly, more than half the states who still impose death have rates above the national average (Bonner, 2000). A state-by-state analysis found that during the last 20 years, the homicide rate in states with the death penalty has been 48 percent to 101 percent higher than in states without the death penalty (Bonner, 2000). Other interesting factual points include the fact that â€Å"homicide rates have risen and fallen along roughly symmetrical paths in the states with and without the death penalty† which means simply that the death penalty as a deterrent doesn’t really work (Bonner, 2000). Critics who are pro-death penalty point out however that there may be other factors which contribute to lower or higher crime rates which are not solely the effect of having or not having the death penalty. They point out other factors contributory to homicide rates such as the state’s demographics, unemployment and police or state defense and security profile. But the analysis found that the demographic profile of states with the death penalty is not far different from that of states without it. The poverty rate in states with the death penalty, as a whole, was 13. 4 percent in 1990, compared with 11. 4 percent in states without the death penalty (Bonner, 2000). III. Virginias death penalty vs. West Virginias life imprisonment A significant point of comparison to make would be between Virginia which still upholds the death penalty as against West Virginia which chooses to mete out life imprisonment. In Virginia, there have been so far 94 executions as of 2005 since the 1976 reinstatement of the death penalty; to be â€Å"eligible† for the death penalty in this state, one must have committed a capital crime under specific circumstances which can include among other things; robbery or attempted robbery; rape or attempted rape or sodomy, or attempted sodomy, the killing of a law enforcement officer; a multiple homicide; murder for hire; murder while incarcerated, etc (VADP, 2005). Virginia Crime Demographic Vs. West Virginia Crime Demographic In the year 2000 Virginia had an estimated population of 7,078,515 which ranked the state 12th in population; this is compared with West Virginia which had an estimated population of 1,808,344 putting it at a ranking of 37th over-all. In that same year, Virginia’s total crime index was 3,028. 1 reported incidents per 100,000 people, ranking it 41st overall. In comparison, West Virginia had a total Crime Index of 2,602. 8 reported incidents per 100,000 people ranking it at 47th highest over-all (DC, 2007). In terms of violent crime, Virginia had a reported incident rate of 281. 7 per 100,000 people ranking it 37th overall; in comparison, West Virginia had a reported incident rate of 316. 5 per 100,000 people ranking it 34th highest occurrence for Violent Crime among the states (DC, 2007). For crimes against Property, the state had a reported incident rate of 2,746. 4 per 100,000 people, which ranked as the state 41st highest. In comparison, West Virginia reported incident rate of 2,286. 3 per 100,000 people, which ranked it 47th highest (DC, 2007) Also in the year 2000 Virginia had 5. 7 Murders per 100,000 people, ranking the state as having the 20th highest rate for Murder; its 22. 8 reported Forced Rapes per 100,000 people, ranked it 45th highest; for Robbery, per 100,000 people, its rate at 88. 9 ranked the state as having the 28th highest for Robbery. In comparison West Virginia’s figures are the following; at 2. 5 Murders per 100,000 people, it ranks 38th highest rate for Murder; for 18. 3 reported Forced Rapes per 100,000 people, its ranking stands at 49th highest; for Robbery, per 100,000 people, its rate at 41. 4 ranks it as having the 41st highest for Robbery (DC, 2007) For about 164. 3 Aggravated Assaults for every 100,000 people, Virginia ranks at the 40th highest position for this crime among the states; every 100,000 people had about 429. 9 Burglaries, which ranks it at the 46th highest standing among the states. In comparison, West Virginia had 254. 2 Aggravated Assaults for every 100,000 people, which indexed the state as having the 24th highest position for this crime among the states; for every 100,000 people there were 546. 9 Burglaries, which ranks it as having the 36th highest standing among the states (DC, 2007). In larceny, Virginia had theft reported 2,064. 8 times per hundred thousand people which ranks it as the 38th highest among the states; broken down Vehicle Theft occurred 251. 6 times per 100,000 people, which makes it good for 38th highest for vehicle theft overall. For West Virginia, Larceny Theft were reported 1,556. 1 times per hundred thousand people which ranks it 50th highest among the states; broken down, Vehicle Theft occurred 183. 3 times per 100,000 people, which ranks the state as having the 43rd highest for vehicle theft overall (DC, 2007). In terms of economy and socio-economic indicators, it is significant to note that the expectation of poverty indicators as suggestive of influencing higher crime rates does not hold true in this comparative analysis of crime demographics between Virginia and West Virginia. Economically, Virginia dwarfs West Virginia in economic size and strength; According to the 2004 U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report, Virginia’s gross state product was $326. 6 billion. The per capita personal income was $35,477 in 2004. In 2006 and 2007, Forbes Magazine voted Virginia as having the [ best climate for business] in the United States citing economic growth, business costs/incentives and quality of life (Wikipedia, 2007) In comparison, West Virginia’s has been described as â€Å"very fragile and that according to the U. S. Census Bureau is the third lowest in per capita income ahead of only Arkansas and Mississippi and ranking last in median household income† (Wikipedia, 2007). While it is simplistic to assume that other factors don’t come into play such as the dynamics of crime with changing median incomes, it is hard to ignore the consistency by which the state of West Virginia has bested Virginia in the incidence of various crimes, both capital or lesse in nature across the same population samples. This gives some credence to the argument that even as it cannot be entirely proven that the death penalty does not outrightly deter crime, its use doesn’t give any clear or dramatic evidence that it as as effective as other means of deterents. The fact as proven by the comparison between two states with entirely different socio-economic profiles and crime demographics tends to affirm that those states who don’t use it, do have lower crime rates as a whole. IV. Ethical and moral issues race factor/exonerations/ juvenile/mental health issues The ethical and moral discussions over capital punishment have strong universal resonance; almost since its inception, the the United Nations General Assembly for its part has adopted a Universal Declaration of Human Rights which inevitably promoted a right of life. It was one of the first institutions to recognize and point out attention to the implications of applying the death penalty to juveniles, pregnant women, and the elderly. The international community followed in its footsteps with progressive endeavors in drafting treaties which included the issue of capital punishment and the right to life; it has to be noted though that these treaties to some extent allowed death as punishment, but only in certain extreme circumstances. Despite this exception, many nations throughout Western Europe stopped using capital punishment, even if they did not, technically, abolish it. As a result, this de facto abolition became the norm in Western Europe by the 1980s. (cited in Schabas, 1997). While still holding on to its belief in capital punishment, the United States however has moved towards limitations which it has effectively applied to the ethical and moral questions of the death penalty being applied to juveniles, women, blacks and even the mentally challenged. Some limitations though such as the one evidenced from the 1977 Coker v. Georgia case still stirs up debate as to how the court can stretch the boundaries of limitations. In this case, the U. S. Supreme Court established that the death penalty was an unconstitutional punishment for the rape of an adult woman simply because the victim wasn’t killed. In Ford v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled that extreme care should be taken in capital punishment cases where it can be established that the defendant might be certified to be either mentally ill or mentally retarded; as a result, the Supreme Court in this case, banned the execution of insane persons pending establishment of mental incompetence. Notable was Penry v. Lynaugh in 1989 where the Court upheld that executing persons with mental retardation was not a violation of the Eighth Amendment; but it later reversed itself when in Atkins v. Virginia in 2002, the Court pointed out that national and collective consensus against the meting out of the death penalty on the mentally challenged did indeed qualify it as being cruel and unusual punishment under the Eight Amendment (DPIC, 2008). Race has become a controversial issue due to the fact that as Amnesty International reports: Even though blacks and whites are murder victims in nearly equal numbers of crimes, 80% of people executed since the death penalty was reinstated have been executed for murders involving white victims. More than 20% of black defendants who have been executed were convicted by all-white juries (Cited in Amnesty Report). In Virginia, a study by Civil Liberties Union has branded the state’s administration of capital punishment as â€Å"unequal, unfair and irreversible† and citing that â€Å"race is a controlling factor in the way the death penalty is administered in Virginia† (cited in ACLU, 2003). It is in this context that the Supreme Court in Batson v. Kentucky (1986) provides for scrutiny against a prosecutor who might be biased through striking out jury members of a similar case in a disproportionate manner. In the 1987 case of McCleskey v. Kemp (481 U. S. 279), statistical analysis was used as evidence to point out racial discrimination in Georgia state’s administration of the death penalty. The Supreme Court however ruled it out saying; â€Å"that racial disparities would not be recognized as a constitutional violation of equal protection of the law unless intentional racial discrimination against the defendant could be shown (DPIC, 2008). With regards to the application of the death penalty on juveniles, three significant cases allowed the Supreme Court to rule that the execution of offenders aged fifteen and younger at the time of their crimes was unconstitutional. However, juvenile offenders under the age of 16 who have committed capital offenses can be executed if the state that has jurisdiction over their case does not have a minimum age in its death penalty statute; furthermore, the Supreme Court also held that under the Eighth Amendment, there was no effective prohibition for the imposition of capital punishment for offenders aged 16 or 17. V. Conclusion: Death penalty not a deterrent according to statistics, however majority support capital punishment. Indeed statistics will show that capital punishment is not an effective deterrent to crime; effective comparisons show that there is no significant correlation between lowered crime rates and the deterrent effect in states which implement the death penalty even with the incorporation of socio-economic elements as evidenced in comparing Virginia against West Virginia. In fact, the opposite is true that the crime rate tends to be lower in states without the death penalty. The majority support capital punishment although the prevailing attitude which is shared by the government as well, is to implement it more cautiously with regards to certain issues and sectors as legal, ethical and moral challenges have been raised against it and the criminal justice system as a whole. References ACLU (2003) New ACLU Report Finds Virginia Death Penalty System Riddled with Flaws, Recommends Sweeping Changes.Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/ Amnesty Report (2003) United States of America: Death by discrimination the continuing role of race in capital cases. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/ Bonner, R. (2000) States Without Death Penalty Have Lower Homicide Rates. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. sfgate. com/ DPIC (2008) Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/. Disaster Center (2007) Virginia Law Enforcement Agency Uniform Crime Reports 1980 to 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. disastercenter. com/crime/vacrime. htm Disaster Center (2007) West Virginia Law Enforcement Agency Uniform Crime Reports 1980 to 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. disastercenter. com/crime/wvcrime. htm Gallup Poll Service (2004) Public Support Figures for Capital Punishment. Retrieved January 9, 2008 from http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/. Schabas (1997) The Abolition of the Death Penalty in International Law, Cambridge University Press. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/ VADP(2005) Virginia Death Penalty Information. Retrieved January 9, 2008 from http://www. vadp. org/info. htm Virginia Economy (2008) Wikipedia. org. Retrieved January 9, 2008 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Economy_of_Virginia West Virginia Economy (2008) Wikipedia. org. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/West_virginia.

Role of Media and Its Effects on Youth Essay Example for Free

Role of Media and Its Effects on Youth Essay Our life will remain incomplete without the media. The radio, television, newspaper and internet are some forms through which we get information. Just like other fields, a vast development is seen in media fields also. The common people believe the news given by the media. So, the media should be very careful before giving any news to the public. They have to cover important happenings, in all the fields, around the world. There is no use in creating emotional feelings among public by exaggerating the happenings and giving sensational news. The media persons should be cautious in giving unbiased news to the common persons. AS EVERY COIN HAS TWO SIDE THATS WHY MEDIA HAS BOTH ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE.THE FAIR PART IS IT MAKES THE BIG UNKNOWN WORLD TOO SMALL AND THE BAD SIDE OF IT IS THAT TEENS ARE GETTING CRIMNAL DAY BY DAY BY SEEING THE NEWS OF CRIMES WHICH WE HEAR DAY TO DAY DISADVANTAGES OF MEDIA:  ·The media has a bad effect on everyone, not just teens, the media never represnets anything in truth, it represents events in way that will earn them money, whether or not you are influenced negatively is not important to them.  ·Children could think that they are super heroes and jump from high rise building thus creating a threat for their life.  · They may become more aggressive and rude in nature. There health may be spoiled due to watching excessive television. They may concentrate less in there studies.  · Its excessive use may decrease there memory retention power.  ·The media covers news of public interest such as political happenings, sports, city news, national news, international news, business, education, entertainment, literature and medical news.  · The news should satisfy all men, women and children of various age-group and status. To increase circulation of newspapers, the media people should not publish bogus news.  ·The fashion shows, dance and music programs attract youngsters very much. They like to spend money for make up, clothing and jewels on the influence of models and actors.  ·The youngsters wish to take part in these programs, which are unsuitable for many persons.  ·The middle aged persons are stuck up with TV serials and show much interest in raising social status, by wasting money. ADVANTAGES OF MEDIA: †¢ The common man gets the latest news within a fraction of seconds. The distance is not at all a barrier now. The news they get through media help them in their daily life a lot. †¢ The media helps common people to exchange information and it acts as a common platform. The public get knowledge and awake to raise questions, on seeing the news in newspaper and TV. †¢ The media helps to bring out the hidden talents of the people. The children learn many good things through media. †¢ By reading newspaper, the children learn many things, their reading habit increases and their vocabulary enhances by learning new words. Their knowledge increases by watching geographical channel, quiz programs and speeches by famous personalities of different fields. †¢ The cartoon channels make the children happy. †¢ The games increase their logical thinking power and grasping of things. The attitude, approach and behavior of the common people will also change, when exposed to media. †¢ The media conducts polls and let public to take part in social issues. Through blogging in the internet and writing letters to the editor in newspapers, many people give voice about their opinion in different political and social matters. CONCLUSION: The media has brought the people all over the world very closer. We have to take the positive aspects and use it for good purpose. The media and public should help to drive away the negative effects of the media.

Impact Of Cultural Revolution On Fashion Designers Cultural Studies Essay

Impact Of Cultural Revolution On Fashion Designers Cultural Studies Essay To what extent did the Cultural Revolution impact designers Vivienne Tam and Han Feng and how did it affect their work? Background In 1949, after several decades of foreign aggression and civil war, the Communists took control of China and Mao ZeDong assumed power in the country. At the ceremony in Tiananmen that proclaimed the founding of the Peoples Republic of China, he began his long term of office wearing what was to become know in the West as the Mao suit. This was symbolic in signaling the inauguration of not only a social but also sartorial revolution. The years following the establishment of the PRC were a time of consolidation, reconstruction and reform. The communists believed in the power of mass movements, seen as a necessity to maintain revolutionary spirit and these took place frequently, eventually culminating in the ferment of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. During the 10 years from 1966 to 1976, the Communist Party attempted to politicize every facet of life and anything that might be regarded as bourgeois or counter-revolutionary was severely repressed. The Red Guards, essentially the shock troops of the Cultural Revolution, were instructed to attack elements of old China; old customs, old habits, old culture and old thinking. Clothes were highly visible in all four categories and, inevitably, fashion was highly liable to attack. Contemporary fashion was attacked as foreign and traditional clothing as feudal and in general a concern with personal appearance was interpreted as an expression of bourgeois tendencies and extreme individualism. Indeed, one of many accounts describes the humiliation of a young woman seized by the Red Guards who forcibly removed her fashionable trousers and shoes in front of a jeering crowd and illustrates the sartorial terrorism which was common throughout China during the Cultural Revolution. It was therefore tacitly understood that dressing in a simple proletarian way was the appropriate order of the day. The government encouraged people to adopt the attire of the workers, peasants and soldiers who were regarded as the ultimate benefactors of the socialist state. The uniform of the Peoples Liberation Army was of green cotton cloth, civilian cadres wore a grey administrative uniform and workers and peasants were clad in dark blue tunics and trousers. What therefore resulted from the mass adoption of the new socially acceptable attire was a spectacle of blue, green and grey. A spectacle that both Vivienne Tam and Han Feng vividly remember. Introduction Both Vivienne Tam and Han Feng were born at the height of communist power in China and albeit in different ways, they both lived through and were influenced by the Cultural Revolution. Their individual experiences shaped their attitudes towards fashion and they are now prominent designers, recognized wordwide as well as in China. Description of Han Feng and Vivienne Tam How their lives are different: Vivienne does not live in China during the Revolution; Han Feng does Vivienne exploits Mao cult, imagery, symbolism; Han Feng opposes it completely Vivienne escapes to HongKong, remains in Chinese spectrum; Han Feng leaves to US (abandons home country completely paralleled in the abandonment of everything Communist China represented. In common: Theatrical and artistic approach, not only fashion approach Vivienne Tam Vivienne Tam was born in Guangzhou in 1957. Her father was a landlord and as the PRC was striving to eliminate private ownership, landlords were accused of exploiting people for their own profit and were thus targeted for being insufficiently devoted to state directed socialism. Tams family found themselves in a vulnerable position and as she recalls It was a really difficult time. They therefore fled to the Hong Kong, escaping the threatening Communist doctrine. Tam was left behind with her grandparents until she was three years old when she was finally able to join them helped by a couple who told authorities she was their daughter. While living in Hong Kong she was able to maintain a Chinese lifestyle while being open to the rest of the world. Hong Kong was a thriving British colony and trade center and while she continued to speak Chinese at home and followed Buddhist religious rituals she attended a Roman catholic school and began to learn English in earnest. It was this opportunity of having a bi-cultural upbringing and a hybrid way of life which not only fueled her fascination for the East meets West nuance but also taught her to be more open and accept other people and other cultures. Meanwhile, mainland China under the Cultural Revolution was not only shutting out Western culture but also Chinese culture itself, deeming it bourgeois and anti-communist. Much that was lost to the revolution in China continued to grow and develop in Hong Kong and this offered Tam a freedom of inspiration. As a fashion design student of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, she was able to absorb the Western influence present in Hong Kong and at the same time freely investigate her Chinese cultural and sartorial heritage, an exploration which meanwhile was strictly forbidden to students in mainland China. As students in China lived under extreme repression, Tam experienced the Cultural Revolution as an observer, acknowledging the hardships but not being directly affected by them. This freedom from repression shaped her approach to seeking inspiration from the Cultural Revolution. Indeed, when she returned to visit China in the late 70s to early 80s, she experienced China almost as a tourist would. She was fascinated rather than dismayed by the blur of green and blue that surrounded her and was intrigued with Mao fashion- or anti-fashion- of putting everyone in a uniform and trying to make them equal- an attempt to cover up very real differences. She even admired the loose but tailored cut of the Mao suit and its unisex appeal; it highlighted the communist principle that men and women were equal and offered women freedom in physical movement. She noticed that this element of practicality had replaced fashion; window displays were filled with practical things instead of fashion, and she therefore ventured into the arts and crafts and home and furnishing sections of stores where she found inspiration and sources for her materials in such textiles as bedroom linens, bedspreads and towels. However, what struck her most from her experience visiting China and ultimately inspired her to create her most controversial collection was the remarkable power of Maos image. During the Cultural Revolution, portraits of Mao were ubiquitous; they hung in every living room, class room and office and Chinese people all owned Mao badges, mirrors, weavings and needlepoint works and fostered what became a cult of personality that did not immediately end with his death. People valued these items as good luck charms and Mao was effectively venerated like a God, complete with a halo. Tam was absorbed by all these style elements left from the Mao cult and collected such vintage items as inspiration. In 1994, Tam was introduced to artist Zhang Hongtu, the first artist to use Maos image in his work. She was inspired by his background and the concepts behind his work and collaborated with him to create her Mao Collection for Spring 1995. It is interesting to note their individual approaches to the project. Zhang Hongtu was born in Gansu province, attended highschool in Beijing during the sixties and later trained at the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts. He left to New York in the early 80s and, having experienced the intensity of Communist indoctrination and the overwhelming power of Maos image, began painting Mao in only a lightly humourous way, separating the image from its political undertone. It was only after the 1989 Tiananmen events that, albeit having to overcome initial strong feelings of guilt, he decided to exploit Maos image as mental therapy and as a way of expressing his own political feelings. It was an ironic reversal of the way he, as an artist, had been exploited to create propaganda art for the government. Tam sensed this political resonance in his work but instead chose to focus on its humouros element, aiming to loosen it up by amalgamating it with fashion. While Zhang Hongtu was directly responding to a need to get away from the shadow of Maos repression, escaping the authority of his image and being able to express himself politically, Tam saw the power of image and exploited it humorously as a representation of the new openness of China, using humour and warmth as a way to express the growing freedom of the Chinese people from Maos image. This highlights her inherent detachment to the emotional hardship behind the Cultural Revolution that artists who grew up under its repression feel. Tam, perhaps as a result of this detachment and thus not quite grasping the extent of the power that still lay behind Maos image, was even surprised by the strong reaction that the collection provoked. The collection comprised of 8 images of Mao; 6 of which included Mao So Young- with pigtails, a peterpan collar and gingham dress, Ow Mao- cross eyed with a bee perched on his nose against a black and yellow striped background, Holy Mao- with a clerical collar, Psycho Mao- with dark hypnotic glasses, Miss Mao- with lipstick and Nice Day Mao- as a smiley face. She printed four coloured images in a checkboard pattern, reflecting Maos changeable character and, in another design, expressed his positive and negative effects, printing the images in black and white. She also printed the images on T-shirts, deepening the texture with patterns and sequins to make the designs alive with movement and light. The striking juxtaposition of colours and textures with Maos political imagery and the resulting strongly humorous element in the designs was highly controversial, some responding to it as almost blasphemous while others deemed it tasteless. The images were compared to Warhols depiction of Mao, but, while Warhol had used the image of Mao as merely another mass icon like Marilyn Monroe, Tam and Hongtu had exploited it as a political figure which thus prompted the reaction If Mao was a dictator like Hitler or Stalin, how can it be okay to use his image as pop art? Isnt it tasteless to make fun of the suffering they caused? Tam and Hongtu contended that it was a form of critisicm to the continuing use of Maos ideology, image and flag in China and a way to further undermine the authority of Maos image; any use of Maos image which makes him less godlike, is a form of criticism. And its necessary. Yet Tam admitted that she had no idea there would be a strong reaction to the designs and it was observing the attitude towards the collection that enabled her to gain a lot of insight into Mao and his power. Han Feng Han Feng was born in Nan Jing in 1962. I grew up during the Cultural Revolution and it was difficult she explains and when she was 1 year old, authorities sent her father to another city and her parents were forced to separate. Her father hung himself and later another man she was close to also commited suicide during the Cultural Revolution. She grew up in HangZhou, Chinas artistic center, and, pursuing her childhood flair for creativity, she attended the China Academy of Fine Arts, training in graphic design as there were no fashion design programs. I started out painting how my teachers wanted me to she recalls, but then I became this crazy person who wanted to be different. It was no doubt having to endure the imposed Maoist dress code and how it stifled non-conformity which fueled Hans determination to distinguish herself; I got a T-shirt and jeans and grew my hair long so I would stand out and she gained a reputation in the academy as being a bit of a blacksheep due to her desire for experimentation and refusal to merely copy what had been done before; I wanted to learn, not copy. My teachers didnt understand that. Communist indoctrination was such that expanding creative horizons was virtually impossible. She was one of many who wished to escape the stifling repression of the tight grip maintained by the Communist Party on creative expression; We all wanted to leave China in the 1980s because there was too much pain. She met her husband who was an English teacher of the art academy, and, seeking freedom and a larger stage for her interests, she moved to New York with him in 1985. Leaving China was symbolic in asserting the approach she would take towards designing abroad; I thought, God, the Chinese-who cares? I am from China. I want to forget where Im coming, forget my past. Its just too painful to remember. The pain and struggle that characterized Hans experience of the Cultural Revolution not only determined her to leave China, but also inspired her to create designs that (whether intentionally or subconsciously) completely opposed all the elements of Maoist style, perhaps as a personal provocation and rebellion against everything it had tried to impose. When I left China she explains, everyone was wearing exactly the same thing. And it was grey. It is no coincidence that her designs are now widely recognized for their rich and innovative use of colour and that she is credited one of the most brilliant colorists in the New York fashion world. After having been limited to blue, black and red dyes which were the only ones available in dyeing shops in China during the Cultural Revolution (Antonia Finanne, 237), Han now embraces the freedom of using vibrant colours; I love designing with pure, bright colors because I didnt experience them as a child she says. Red is particularly prominent in her pallet, varying in geranium to cerise shades, as are green and blue shades of chartreuse and lime to lapis and turquoise. Her collections combine colors in subtle ways highlighted in items mixing burgundy with fuschia or pairing the different shades of green or blue, often placing paler colours alongside more intense ones for artistic effect. In addition to her use of colours, Han Feng is also known for her creative treatment of fabrics and her designs are equally characterized by their materials. Escaping the drab conformity imposed by Communist Doctrine, Han Feng reversed the changes that the Cultural Revolution had forced upon the use of fabrics in China. Chinese people had been obliged to abandon traditional Chinese fabrics such as silk and satin which, according to the Doctrine, carried a strong feudalistic connotation, and were required to adopt revolutionary cotton or patriotic wool.(Hua Mei, 98) Instead, Han Feng abandoned the bland cotton and crude wool that characterized Maoist style and zealously explored the realm of fabrics and materials that was newly available to her. Perhaps as a result of growing up in Hang Zhou, a city which had been reputed for its silk trade, she developed a keen appreciation for silk, wistfully reviving it as the fabric of her heritage. This passionate exploration and revival of fabrics and materials is clearly expressed in her collections. She works with a diverse array of materials including silk (occasionally blended with wool), organza, velvet, satin, stretch chiffon and fine polyester. These light, pliant and diaphanous fabrics which characterize her collections certainly contrast with the coarse thickness of the cotton and crude wool which she had no choice but to wear when living in China. Yet her endeavor went further then just exploring fabrics. What sparked her interest were the ways in which she could treat and manipulate the fabrics creating different textures and styles, once again delving into a creative realm which had been restricted during the Cultural Revolution. The uniformity of the Mao suit was constrained to straight ironed cotton, occasionally padded or patched, and did not allow for ruffles or any such touches of originality. It was shapeless, defined only by the square, linear attribute of the typical uniform. The description of Hans collection of 1993 in the New York times, best signaled her approach to investigating materials; She pleats fabrics into gnat-sized accordions: the tiny folds in the fabrics give drama to even the plainest polyester georgette. Her chiffon A-line dresses were cut in spirals, like orange peels. Velvet was crinkled and pleated to make a simple tank dress fit for the wedding of a barefoot contessa. Indeed, the transformation she underwent as she explored and discovered new ways of using materials is clear in the development of her designs, in particular that of her signature scarves. While she had initially launched her career in selling pleated scarves, her collection of scarves are now paisley, plaid, fringed, crinkled, embroidered and featuring colorful woven ribbon inserts; techniques that she then applied to other clothing designs. Her Spring/Summer 2001 collection highlighted her accordion-pleated skirts and crinkled silk blouses printed with impressionistic floral patterns. Han also styles fabrics in a distinctly original way, rejecting conventional tailoring and, perhaps paralleling her appreciation of the enveloping quality of scarves, she focuses on creating clothes which wrap and veil, assembling the garment as a light sculpture on the body. This quality has been admired and her clothing has been described to wrap the body as the clouds enclose a mountain. Her collections have often been defined by the way she drapes soft jerseys and chiffons and folds back the fabric as well as by the untailored loose panels of fabric floating from the backs of dresses, uneven hems and asymmetric cuts. What emerges as a result of the blending of diaphanous fabrics, textures and colours, untailored and wrapped around the body is a light, weightless and dreamily feminine appeal. This quality is perhaps what most manifestly contradicts Maoist uniform and its fundamental principle of de-feminizing women. While the squarely tailored Mao suit was specifically designed and imposed on women to conceal their curves and natural movements, Han strives to create clothes which accommodate and embrace them. She maintains that women should enjoy their bodies more and not try to hide themà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the body is beautiful. She thus takes pleasure inplaying with shape and making women look more feminine in a subtle way. Her 1995 fall collection, for instance, was based on curves; curved seams that bring the jackets close to the body, curved collars that frame the neck, curved backs that give a cocoon-like shape to pleated silk evening jackets or velvet coats. Emphasizing the reassertion of feminity in her style, she complements her outfits with accessories including scarves, gloves and hair ornaments. While accessories during the Cultural Revolution were limited to Red Guard armbands, army caps, Mao badges and his little red book, Hans collections feature trimmed iridescent shawls with gilded tassels, black wool gloves weaved with rows of pink bows and polytail holders linked with velvet buttons. She even makes this twist literal in her 1999 collection; one item is a high-collared Chairman Mao jacket accented with a chinchilla scarf, a subtly controversial pairing of the strict suit with the elegant touch. With the revival of feminine allure comes the emotional feeling of her clothes. Although her designs remain simple and practical, their unparalled inventiveness and originality hold a hint of haiku-like poetry, highlighting her romantic vision. In fact her fall/winter 1998 collection was inspired by the story of a love affair between a fabric trader and a young woman along the silk road to China. No doubt she was enthused by the controversial appeal of the story, exploring its romanticism and creating a more emotional collection; emotion being an element which was wholly non-existent in the cold, military allure of the Mao suit. She later skillfully accentuated the emotional and dramatic aspect of her designs to the height of theatrical flair, leading to her debut as a costume designer and ultimately her success in designing costumes for director Anthony Minghellas English National Opera production of Madame Butterfly. 1980s onwards Mao Zedongs death in 1976 brought an end to the Cultural Revolution. Later that year, the downfall of the Gang of Four, including Maos widow Jiang Qing who had implemented the most extreme policies, led to a slow loosening of laws related to dress and social constraints. In 1984, under Deng Xiaopings leadership and the open door policy of reform, certain cities were designated open as part of a new strategy inviting foreign investment. In October 21, 1984, Hu Yaobang, the General Secretary of the Communist Party, appeared on television at a meeting of the Central Committee wearing a dark-blue western style suit. Although his move was possible because of the more relaxed atmosphere following the ascendancy to power of Deng Xiaoping, he was still making a bold sartorial statement. While both Vivienne Tam and Han Feng were able to escape the confines of Communist indoctrination and establish themselves as designers in New York, they left a China that was struggling to reassert itself within the international political stage and the global economy. This struggle was (and still is) reflected in the clumsy approach people began to take to new fashions and Western styles entering China; Tam herself commented that their style was borderline bad taste and hip because they were borderline Cultural Revolution and Western modernity. Unavoidably the new danger to Chinas sartorial identity is the influx of Western brands which are threatening to create yet another type conformity and as Tam rightly observes American influence is diluting the distinctive flavor of Chinas fashion industry. Both Tam and Han Feng are now challenging the dominance of mass produced Western brands in China. Having experienced the Cultural Revolution, they do not want to see the uniformity of the Mao era simply transgress into a new Western uniformity. What they therefore want to highlight is the importance of maintaining imagination and individuality;Everything we do should express feelings and experiences. We should create not just follow fashion. Each fashion designer should have his or her signature style. While acknowledging the need for recovering individuality in China, they are both optimistic in Chinas potential; it is growing, fashion here will soon have its own personality; We had great fashion for thousands of years, then no fashion at all. Now we are finding our contemporary design voice.

Howard Gardners MI Essay -- essays research papers

Multiple Intelligence As a teacher it will always be my responsibility to keep up to date on new research done on learning theories. That way I am able to provide a fun and exciting learning environment for my students. After learning about Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences I now realize how important it is to make sure I work hard to include every child into my curriculum. Gardner’s theory is that everyone is able to recognize a student that does scores great on an exam is smart, that does not mean that a student that falls short of doing good on the same test is not as brilliant as the other student. Howard Gardner’s, theory opposes traditional methods that view intelligences as unitary, and perceives intelligence to contain eight domains. Gardner believes there is several different intelligences that each person embodies in certain magnitudes. Having more of a particular intelligence than another will change has each person retain information. As a child growing up in public elementary schools, I was taught from a traditional methods. These methods focused mainly on verbal and mathematical skills. If a student is anyone of the other six proposed intelligences, he or she would most likely do unsatisfactorily in school. Howard Gardner’s eight intelligences are: body/ kinesthetic, naturalist, visual/ spatial, musical/ rhythmic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, verbal/ linguistic, and logical/ mathematical.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Body/ kinesthetic is one of the first intelligences we’ll explore. This kind of learner has the skill to manipulate body motion and manage things with skill. Also the body/ kinesthetic learner obtains great hand eye coordination and has an excellent sense of balance. Interacting with the space around them is the way in which this learner processes information. The body/ kinesthetic learner can be a handful in a classroom, and as a student it may be difficult for this type of person to sit still. A teacher needs to give this student breaks and let them move around. Also, as part of the curriculum a teacher could include activity centers and allow the students to act out stories. The second intelligence is the naturalist student. This student has an understanding of the natural world around them. The naturalist thrives when learning about plants, animals, science. They have an understanding for animals behaviors and needs. ... ...nguist enjoy writing poetry, stories and letters. The traditional curriculum appeals to this learner. They are very good at reading and writing which is already the main method of teaching in most classrooms. A teacher can use a story to introduce a math problem in order to tap into this style of learning. Finally, logical/ mathematical is the proposed eighth intelligence. This style is heavily implemented in the traditional curriculum. This student will be able to do very complex math problems. Children who use logic and math as a primary way of learning will be very obvious in the classroom. This student will ask many questions and loves doing experiments. The logical/ mathematical learner will excel if they are help to place information into categories.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If a teacher assesses their students at the beginning of the school year, he or she can create lessons to incorporate each student. This will allow children to have fun in school and they will be excited about learning. Recognizing your students learning method will allow the teacher to balance the weaknesses and benefit from strengths. Gardner, H. (1988). Frames of mind. New York: Basic Books.

Government Spending, Deficits, and Keynesian Economics Essay -- Econom

A growing government is opposite to America’s economic interests because the various methods of financing a government - taxes, borrowing, and printing money have harmful effects upon the economy. There are many reasons why there is a high deficit in the United States such as extensive spending. This is true because government spending is often economically destructive, regardless of how it is financed. There are many causes of the steady growth in U.S. trade deficits. There are many people are against the high deficits especially economists. â€Å"Economists define government intervention in the foreign exchange market as the buying or selling of foreign exchange for the purpose of manipulating the exchange rate. â€Å"(Case, pg. 398) Economists would agree that there are situations which lower levels of government spending would improve economic growth and other situations in which higher levels of government spending would be pleasing. Economists will generally agree that government spending becomes a burden. Economists feel as though by raising the deficit we are spending money the economy does not. If United States would raise taxes to help pay off the deficit that would not work since so many Americans are out of work. In addition, they believe that raising the GDP taken by the state sector has a negative effect on the growth of the private sector of the economy. Even though the economy could benefit from the budget deficit such as economic growth, the economists do not want to take a chance on that. Also, s ome economists are also concerned that higher borrowing by the government may also openly result in reduced utilization spending. They argue households recognize that higher current government borrowing results in highe... ...ful spending because it is taking a toll on our future, our children’s future, and our children’s children future. Works Cited 1. Case. Principles of Macroeconomics, 9th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions 2. United States Economy - Monetary and Fiscal Policy." Country Studies. U.S. Department of State. Web. 15 Aug. 2011. . 3. Mitchell, Dr. Daniel. "The Impact of Government Spending on Economic Growth." Conservative Policy Research and Analysis. 15 Mar. 2005. Web. 16 Aug. 2011. . 4. Pettinger, Tejvan. "Monetary Policy vs Fiscal Policy | Economics Blog." Economics Help - Helping to Simplify Economics. Web. 09 Aug. 2011. .

Pulp Fiction Essay -- essays papers

Pulp Fiction The puzzle pieces are carefully fitted together as director Quentin Tarantino intermingles three different story lines in his hit movie Pulp Fiction. The movie begins in a quiet little diner as two petty robbers discuss their next mission. The mission in question involves two lovebirds (Amanda Plummer and Tim Roth) holding up unsuspecting restaurants, instead of their usual liquor stores. As their plan falls into action, time alters and we find ourselves riding down the street with Vincent and Jules John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson), two hit men on their way to work. As the men travel to work they discuss such worldly things as gourmet food, like the "Royale with cheese", and the sexual innuendoes involved when one gives a foot massage. These two intellects do the dirty work for the infamous Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). Due to Wallace's lifestyle, the movie branches off into three separate stories. The first tale begins when Wallace has some overnight business he must attend to. While gone, he leaves Vincent in charge of entertaining his beautiful wife Mia (Uma Thurman). After a surprisingly pleasant evening of dinner and dancing, Vincent must revive Mia after her abusive episode with heroin. The second adventure involves Wallace and a washed-up boxer, Butch, portrayed by Bruce Willis. Wallace gives Butch a substantial amount of money to throw a fight. After receiving the cash Butch decides to double-cross a double-crosser. The final episode revolves around Vincent's accidental murder of a young black in the back seat of Jules' car. This hilarious scene develops when Jules is forced to ask the "Wolf" (Harvey Keitel) to act as a clean-up man. As the 2 ½-hour movie unfolds, one must keep very alert and place the pieces together just right to complete the final picture. Before Tarantino begins his clip, he attempts to focus the audience by quoting two dictionary definitions of pulp. "The first one is literal: the second is the figurative usage, derived from magazines of the past that were published on cheap pulp paper and specialized in lurid fiction of several genres" (Kauffmann 26). With the making of his Cannes Film Festival winner, Tarantino changes all the rules restricting genre. "Tarantino has lifted up the dark rock of crime cliche and found a brilliantly colorful world thriving undern... ...r night out on the town with Vincent. Vincent also feels a sense of responsibility for Mia because of his relationship with Wallace. Even Wallace's enemy, Butch, goes out of his way to save Wallace from being "man-handled". Since Wallace's faith is only in those he has control over, loyalty appears to have a price. Because Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction branches off into several separate stories, one must concentrate hard to get the full affect of his work. With great talent he blends three main scenarios and several sub-plots into one full-length movie. Once completed he tosses in chaos, and ready to serve is an award winning film. Bibliography: Ansen, David. â€Å"The Redemption of Pulp.† Newsweek 124. (October 10, 1994): 71. Ansen, David and Charles Fleming. â€Å"A Tough Guy Takes Cannes.† Newsweek 123. (June 6, 1994): 79. Corliss, Richard. â€Å"A Blast to the Heart.† Time 143. (June 6, 1994): 73. Johnson, Brian D. â€Å"Making Crime Play.† Maclean’s 107. (October 24, 1994): 57-8. Kauffmann, Stanley. â€Å"Shooting Up.† The New Republic 211. (November 14, 1994): 26-7. Travers, Peter. â€Å"Movies Tarantino’s Twist.† Rolling Stone. (October 6, 1994): 79-81.

Unattainable Perfection

The expression â€Å"I am only human† is a phrase coined by people in order to blame their faults on humanity. The question many philosophers have asked is if perfection is attainable. In his short stories, â€Å"The Birthmark,† â€Å"The Minister and the Black Veil,† and â€Å"The Gray Champion,† Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the human condition as one of human imperfection and sin that can be destructive if not controlled. Hawthorne effectively portrays what can happen if an individual is not monitored by society in his stories. He emphasizes the role of the individual in the society and the limitations that the society must place on that individual. Using symbolism, characterization, and paradoxes, Hawthorne emphasizes humankind’s faults and their imperative role in the character of all men. Most importantly, he emphasizes that perfection and the cleansing of all sin is not possible. Hawthorne uses symbols and extended allegories to elucidate the true nature of human attributes. â€Å"The Birthmark† is a story about an obsessive scientist name Aylmer who strives to prefect his wife. The predominate symbol in this story is the birthmark on his, other wise perfect, wife: a mark of â€Å"deeper crimson, which imperfectly defined its shape† (Hawthorne148). This mark is identified very closely with Georgiana, Aylmer’s wife, because it changes with her emotions and motions. This suggests that Georgiana does not merely have an imperfection embedded in her skin, but that she is imperfection embodied. Hawthorne specifically marked Georgiana as an imperfection because she is a woman, tainted with sin from the dawn of Adam and Eve (Fetterley 3). Because all of mankind is Eve’s children, this mark is â€Å"the fatal flaw of humanity which Nature†¦stamps ineffaceably on all her productions† (Hawthorne 149). Hawthorne thus emphasizes that men are supposed to be imperfect in comparison to pristine and refined nature. Therefore, humans should look upon nature as a role model so that they can be as close to perfect as possible. This is what Aylmer does as he attempts to perfect the flower he shows Georgiana. However, he does this is a frenetic, destructive way which is his flaw and proves that not only women are imperfect. His elusive goal is evident when, at first, the flower is perfect, but then the â€Å"whole plant suffer[s] a blight, its leaves turning coal-black as if by the agency of the fire† (Hawthorne 155). The moral is that humans should not meddle with nature because nature is already perfect: Hawthorne’s unique way of expressing a â€Å"universal sympathy with Nature† (Longfellow 1). The parallel result of Georgiana dying after achieving perfection represents that the perfection of man goes against nature. Mr. Hooper’s veil in the â€Å"Minister and the Black Veil† is also an example of human lubricity. This veil covers the majority of his face, and does not â€Å"intercept his sight, further than to give a darkened aspect to all living and unanimated things† (Hawthorne 10). The Black Veil represents the sin that he has committed and the facade that he chooses to hide it behind. However, it also shields him from the sin of his entire community (Emmett 1). His own sin has allowed his vision to see things in â€Å"a darkened aspect† so as to see that everyone has his own dark secrets (10). He realizes that although everyone professes to be pure, their entire life is a front to hide their true selves: their imperfect selves. If each individual and the society they make up is imperfect as stated in the â€Å"Minister and the Black Veil,† then so is a country made of humankind. As America was the first country formed from the true aspirations of mankind, it is destined for corruption. This is why Hawthorne has created the symbol of â€Å"The Gray Champion†. Representing a â€Å"type of New England’s hereditary spirit, and his shadowy march, on the Eve of danger,† this champion is the guardian angel of the country: the faith that has founded and developed the nation (Hawthorne 9). Although Hawthorne specifically speaks of protection from war and enemies, inner corruption also looms. The individual flaws of its citizens can eat at a country from within without religion and a faith in God to keep them on a righteous path. Hawthorne’s characterization allows the reader to understand the state of mind and decisions of his characters. This, in turn, helps establish the weaknesses that they have that make them human. Although the character with the apparent imperfection in the â€Å"Birthmark† is Georgiana, it is Aylmer that best depicts the human condition. He is said to represent â€Å"a type of spiritual element† and yet Georgiana observes that â€Å"he handles physical details as if there were nothing beyond them, yet spiritualized them all and redeemed himself from materialism† (Hawthorne 153). This suggests that while Aylmer considers him a man of science, it is the supernatural and abstract things that he is experimenting with. His â€Å"faith in man’s ultimate control over nature† is his tragic flaw (Hawthorne 148). Killing his wife in the pursuit of an impossible goal is an example of an individual not being checked by the natural flow of the society. By making this vice so evident, Hawthorne reveals that ultimately, everyone’s faults are obvious. With this blunt style, Hawthorne fights against the ambiguous nature of humans. Father Hooper is likewise flawed, but his uncleanliness is even more apparent. His obvious flaw is his secret sin that involves his association with a recently deceased young lady. The community respects him, but also fears him to the point that â€Å"their instinctive dread causes him to feel more strongly than aught else† (Hawthorne 19). Consequently, the respect and responsibility he bares from the society, the hatred of himself, and his understanding that everyone and â€Å"the Earth, too, [has] on her Black Veil,† forces the reader to sympathize with him (20). In Poe’s words, it â€Å"smothers the sin† (2). By creating sympathy for his character, Hawthorne clearly expresses that sins should be pardoned because they are human nature. He conveys that humans should accept their condition. Although the Gray Champion is an allegory, he too has characterization. He is a â€Å"shadowy march† and â€Å"follows darkness, and adversity, and peril† (Hawthorne 9). Although he is the hero and protector that the country needs, he must be darkness to face the malfeasance that is present in battle. Thus, human kind must be willing to accept their impurities in order to face the evil that is found in the world. The small amount of sin and evil they posses, can protect men from evil because those that are all good are innocent and naive. Because Hawthorne creates forgivable characters who are clearly â€Å"only human†, it is clear that he believes that people do have some good in them and should strive to express this instead of absolute perfection. The paradox is a statement that is both true and untrue. Hawthorne viewed human nature as a stream of paradoxes that seems incompatible, but is the base of humanity. Ergo, he uses contradictory words and characters throughout his stories. Perfection is an element that is judged differently by different individuals. One common perception is that, despite the phrase â€Å"practice makes perfect†, no one is perfect. This is a key theme in the story â€Å"The Birthmark† where Georgiana is described as â€Å"so nearly perfect from the hand of Nature that this slightest possible defect (the birthmark), which we hesitate whether to term a defect or a beauty [is] †¦ the visible mark of earthly imperfection† (Hawthorne 148). Illustrating that humanity craves for perfection; this quote exemplifies how imperfection highlights perfection. This is why one rejoices when others do poorly (so they can stand out as extraordinary). The birthmark can be both beautiful and imperfect because there is a small difference between perfection and imperfection. Humans are imperfect beings that can harm themselves when striving for perfection, an abstract and indefinable concept. The minister grows sad and frustrated in the â€Å"Minister and the Black Veil,† when â€Å"children flee from his approach† and he is deemed an â€Å"irreparable bugbear† (Hawthorne 19). This becomes paradoxical because, as the minister, he still retains the respect of the society. The community is to be criticized for being judgmental without true fact, but Hawthorne indubitably accepts this as an inescapable component of human nature. Humans easily judge their peers based on fickle allegation and slander. This is why the media in our time is so destructive. While this is most definitely one of our greatest flaws, it also helps us protect ourselves from dangerous individuals that, from Hawthorne’s point of view, need to be controlled by their society. In â€Å"The Gray Champion,† Hawthorne described the soldiers as â€Å"solemn, [but with a] warlike peale of †¦voice, fit either to rule a host in the battlefield or be raised to God in prayer,† a contradictory statement (Hawthorne. 5). This behavior can be compared to how people can be so full of faith yet so violent and how religions can preach peace and compassion, but declare war on each other. These are the many great paradoxes of human kind. The truth is that both faith and violence are instincts of human nature( the former to compensate for death and the latter to defend oneself or obtain what is wanted or needed) This is ironic because without violence, there would not be so much death. It is a good thing that these components are â€Å"deeply meshed in the texture of human experience† (Arvin xv). Without the paradox of human nature, the entire world would be off balanced with too much evil, or too much good. Without one, the other can not be distinguished. Humans have one thing in common with each other: our imperfect and sinful nature. Hawthorne’s purpose is to force readers to see this as he did in his â€Å"observation journals† (Hilton 2). He believed that once this is acknowledged, people can succeed without pretending to be pure or punishing themselves for their nature. Society should instead concentrate on restricting the dark part of humanity. In his stories, Hawthorne creates symbols, characters, and paradoxes that represent the complex state of the human condition. He clarifies that perfection is not attainable, but that perfection of human nature is not essential for mankind to thrive and be good.