Criticism of Industrial England Essay Example for Free

Criticism of Industrial England Essay In Hard Times Charles Dickens criticizes several aspects of life among the lower classes working in factories in England during the nineteenth century. This paper will examine three of the subject Dickens condemns in Hard Times: Grandgrindism, the divorce laws in England at the time and bad education for children. Hard Times is set in Coketown, England. It was a town of red brick, or of brick that would have been red if the smoke and ashes had allowed it . . . It was a town of machinery and tall chimneys, out of which interminable serpents* of smoke trailed themselves for ever and ever, . . . It had a black canal in it, and a river that ran purple with ill-smelling dye (Dickens, 28). Coketown is typical of the industrialized factory towns that grew under the concept of Grandridnism, a term Dickens coined from a composite of popular philosophies of the day: utilitarianism, cutthroat capitalism, and self-interest among members of the upper classes. Dickens uses his character Stephen Blackpool to censure both the unions and the laws in England. Blackpool refuses to join the union that has formed in Coketown, consequently he is blackballed by the union and unable to find work even though he is an excellent worker. Here Dickens seems to be replacing one taskmaster, the company owners with another, the union, both of whom are more interested in their own interests than that of the workers. Blackpools troubles are increased because of his marriage. His wife went bad and took to drinking, left off working, sold the furniture, pawned the clothes, and played old Gooseberry (Dickens, 95). Unfortunately Blackpool is unable to get a divorce. To do so he would have to go to Doctors Common with a suit, and youd have to go to a court of Common Law with a suit, and youd have to go to the House of Lords with a suit, and youd have to get an Act of Parliament to enable you to marry again, and it would cost you (if it was a case of very plain sailing), I suppose from a thousand to fifteen hundred pound (Dickens, 99). Each of these tasks was beyond the means of Blackpool the combination of them was staggering. Clearly only the rich can get a divorce. When Blackpool expresses dismay at the legal requirements, Tis just a muddle atoogether, an the sooner I am dead, the better (Dickens, 99), he is chastised. Pooh, pooh! Dont you talk nonsense, my good fellow, said Mr. Bounderby, about things you dont understand; and dont you call the institutions of your country a muddle, or youll get yourself into a real muddle one of these fine Here Dickens is criticizing not only the divorce laws, but any laws that unfairly discriminate against the lower classes so much that they would rather die soon than have to live under the laws. Dickens disapproves of the education of the day with its emphasis on utility and absence creativity and concern for the individual student. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them. This is the principle on which I bring up my own children, and this is the principle on which I bring up these children. Stick to Facts, Sir! (Dickens, 1). While Hard Times offers pertinent criticism of the living conditions of industrial workers in industrialized England, unfortunately Dickens fails to do is provide solutions for these problems. That is not to say his efforts were and are in vain. Change will only come after issues have been made known to the public at large and the ruling class in particular. Due to the increasing prosperity of people in the United States early in the twenty-first century it is difficult to identify with the characters in Hard Times. However its relevance is recently more significant as difficulties as an increasing amount of working conditions for factory workers in the third world reveals conditions similar to and even more harsh than those experienced by the people in Dickens novel. Hard Times is a valuable book for today just as it was when published. Works Cited Dickens, Charles. Hard Times. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.

Dangers of Darkness in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness :: essays research papers

Webster’s dictionary defines darkness as a space â€Å"devoid or partially devoid of light.† Throughout Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad uses darkness in many ways, as this book truly defines its title. This also develops Conrad’s theme, which is the presence of darkness in both ourselves, and in the world we live. Darkness symbolizes the unknown, the concealed, and the feared. Darkness can hide many hurtful, fearful, and savage things. Several times in the novel readers can see characters afraid of the darkness and the unknown behind it. One of these is when the men aboard the steamboat, which is heading into dense fog, hear a piercing scream. The men are especially frightened because the source of this scream is unknown because of the darkness. Darkness is also shown throughout the book as an abstract term referring to the absence of morals in a society. The â€Å"darkness† of the country conceals the brutal actions of the region. This is especially evident in Kurtz’s most barbaric act, the placement of human heads on poles that surround his house. Conrad tries to portray to readers that the fearful â€Å"darkness† can also be something that is not strictly literal, but instead something spiritual. Lastly, the tendency toward darkness in all humans is evident in this book. First the company of men is willing to go into the darkness of the jungle because of the potential of wealth. Secondly, this is portrayed when the men see the sunlight, and instead of heading towards it they decide to head back into the darkness. Conrad is showing readers that human’s natural tendency is to head towards the darkness instead of light. This is summed up beautifully at the end of the book when the narrator says the boat is headed â€Å"into the heart of an immense darkness.† This shows that from beginning to end humans have that natural tendency to head into the â€Å"darkness.

“La Grande Odalisque” and Manet’s “Olympia” Essay

This essay is comparing paintings of reclining female nudes thru the history of art. – Ingres’ â€Å"La Grande Odalisque† and Manet’s â€Å"Olympia† a Comparison The reclining female nude has been a recurring image in the history of European art. Each artist through time approaches the subject in a different, individualized way. An earlier example of the reclining nude is Giorgione’s â€Å"Sleeping Venus,† created around 1510(see fig. 1). His nude is painted using the clair obscur method with soft, blurred lines, making her fair skin fade slowly into the dark background. Her eyes are closed, giving an aura of innocence, because she is unaware of being observed. Also, Giorgione seems to be experimenting with background in the painting. When examining the painting as a whole, one does not simply see the reclining figure, but the diverse and unusual background also attracts the eye. The fact that the background is open is a certain indication of classical influence on this Renaissance artist. Later, in 1796, Goya began his version of the reclining nude, â€Å"The Nude Maja†(see fig. 2). This painting was ahead of its time, in the respect that the Spanish society was not ready to view this â€Å"obscene† image. She was considered obscene because of her provocative position of frontal nudity, and because this is the first time a nude has been painted in awareness of the painter; her gaze is focused outward. About thirty years later, in 1814, Ingres paints â€Å"La Grande Odalisque†(see fig. 3). She, like Goya’s â€Å"Maja† was rejected at first by society, but for different reasons. She was not rejected because she was â€Å"obscene,† but because her body was an unnatural shape; her long back does not seem proportional to her small head. One critic of Ingres said, â€Å"She has three vertebrae too many!† Ingres’ nude is also looking out from the painting with awareness, as Goya’s â€Å"Maja† did. However, there was not as much objection to the lack of innocence demonstrated here. Her awareness may have been less of an impact  on Ingres’ society because the body of â€Å"La Grande Odalisque† is painted more modestly; it is facing in, away from the viewer. It was also more accepted in Ingres’ society because it was painted after the shock of Goya’s work. The advancement of time has given Europe a chance to broaden its perspectives, and become more open-minded regarding the strict rules of painting nudes. If Ingres’ style in â€Å"La Grande Odalisque† is examined, one can definitely see classical influence playing a large part. The classical influence is most clear through the solid delineation of the figure. There are no blurred or choppy lines. Classical influence is also shown through the way Ingres paints his nude with very smooth, invisible brush strokes. The skin and textures of fabric seem so real, they are practically photographic. She is painted indoors, but the black background behind the blue curtain denotes openness, as seen in classical works. Even though these obvious classical influences exist, Ingres did not follow the classical masters exactly as other Neo-Classical artists did. The figures’ slight deformation does not coincide with the classical challenge to create the perfect body. Why did Ingres reject the classical style when he shaped the body of his nude? Some critics felt that because of her unusual shape, Ingres must have been following the Mannerists, who with their unnatural ways of painting rejected the normal classic figure. However, it is also believed that Ingres elongated the back and outstretched arm to create a more sensual and erotic shape. His painting may also be considered romantic in subject matter, even though his style is Neo-Classical. Almost fifty years after Ingres painted â€Å"La Grande Odalisque,† Manet created â€Å"Olympia†(see fig. 4). Olympia could be considered the most unconventional nude up to this point. She was painted in 1863, and again, society rejected the reclining figure. Olympia was the first of the nudes to give the viewer the sense of a real person, rather than an idealized figure. This realistic, unconventional portrayal caught the world by surpass. Olympia’s pale skin is totally unattractive when compared with the smooth, well-shadowed skin of  Ã¢â‚¬Å"La Grande Odalisque.† Manet’s figure seems two-dimensional, whereas Ingres’ nude is three-dimensional. This is attributed to the fact that Manet, being reluctant to follow the trends before him, â€Å"refused to create three-dimensionality through modeling forms with lines or gradations of color.† â€Å"Olympia† is proof of this refusal; her body almost seems like a cardboard cut-out. Another notable difference between â€Å"Olympia† and the other nudes is her gaze. She looks out at the viewer, just like â€Å"La Grande Odalisque† and â€Å"The Nude Maja,† but where these nudes had very seductive, enjoyable gazes, Olympia’s stare is very honest and frank. She looks out at the viewer with little interest, and she has no modesty whatsoever. This small change in gaze may seem insignificant, but upon examining the various nudes, one can see that it makes a dramatic difference. Manet’s nude, with her uncaring look, has a modernized feeling to it; it clearly demonstrates how Manet got the title, â€Å"The Father of Modern Art.† Throughout the time span of the four paintings mentioned here, it is obvious that the 19th century was indeed the one most revolutionary for new thought and innovation. Ingres’ work at the beginning of that century has not quite reached that point of change, but Manet’s work in the middle of the century reflects a totally new era of change. His art helped the Victorian society to realize that the roller coaster ride into the twentieth century was to be one of exciting, liberal thought. Even today, the reclining nude is being recreated in a very fascinating way(see fig. 5). By a simple comparison of these four works, it is easy to trace the history of art from its classical stage, to the modern art it is today.

Master Chef Australia ( 2016 ) - 1668 Words

Reality television plays a huge part in many of our lives, yet nobody really knows how â€Å"real† they actually are. All reality television shows and programs have a specific but different aim, purpose and target audience. They also all fall under different categories in the genre of reality television, this includes competitions, talk shows and â€Å"real life† situations. The program that is under specific investigation is Master Chef Australia (2016). Master Chef Australia is one of the largest cooking competitions shown on Australian television. This report will scrutinize how Master Chef Australia is constructed and will discuss how â€Å"real† it really is. 2.1 Summary Master Chef Australia is a cooking competition that is shown on Australian television and has many views. Master Chef begins with a large group of ambitious Australian chefs from all walks of life, needing to impress the three qualified critiques/judges, Matt Preston, Gary Mahigan and George Calombaris to receive one of twenty-four aprons, to proceed into the competition. The show consists of the twenty- four contestants competing against each other is many different challenges that push them to their limits, with two contestants going home each week, they all need to fight for their spot in the competition and prove that they will be the one going home with the prize of $250, 000 to start their own food dream, a regular column in a national food magazine, an Alfa Romeo and of course the Master Chef trophy.Show MoreRelatedMedia s Portrayal Of Women2007 Words   |  9 Pagesas â€Å"catwalk† and â€Å"stunning,† speak more to women, as well. While the text on the cover ’s left side features more feminine language written in pink and white, the text on the right side presents more masculine activities, such as â€Å"Big Projects for 2016,† which is written in black. While it is made to look as though the division of the two sides is merely for display purposes, it serves a greater purpose. It represents the separation of female and male interests, further defined by the use of differentRead MoreProj587 Course Project rough draft b Essay7672 Words   |  31 Pagescruise brands that cater to a variety of different lifestyles and budgets, all at an outstanding value-unrivalled on land or at sea.† What Strategies is Carnival pursuing? Strategies to develop other market areas like a planned expansion in Europe, Australia, and Asia Strategies for growth: plans for construction of 10 ships, goal of 1 ship per year started in 2010. Strategies for integrated cost: Strategies Integrated cost leadership and differentiation focus strategies: reducing energy use, and operatingRead MoreMarketing Project of Reckitt Benckiser19417 Words   |  78 Pagesinto other household products; becomes renowned for starch, washing blue and black lead for polishing. 1862 Death of Issac Reckitt aged 70. Business left to three sons. 1880 Mortein launches in Australia. 1886 Reckitt amp; Sons begins its expansion and opens businesses around the world - firstly Australia. 1888 Reckitt amp; Sons is launched on the London Stock Exchange. 1894 James Reckitt accept Baronetcy and becomes Sir James Reckitt. 1900 1912 Lehn amp; Fink Products begins US productionRead MoreMarketing Project of Reckitt Benckiser19403 Words   |  78 Pageshousehold products; becomes renowned for starch, washing blue and black lead for polishing. 1862 Death of Issac Reckitt aged 70. Business left to three sons. 1880 Mortein launches in Australia. 1886 Reckitt amp; Sons begins its expansion and opens businesses around the world - firstly Australia. 1888 Reckitt amp; Sons is launched on the London Stock Exchange. 1894 James Reckitt accept Baronetcy and becomes Sir James Reckitt. 1900 1912 Lehn amp; Fink Products begins USRead MoreDamodaran Book on Investment Valuation, 2nd Edition398423 Words   |  1594 Pages2017 Current Liabilities 8640 Current Assets 6380 Long term Borrowings 687 Long term investments 1863 Other long term Liabilities 1415 Depreciable Fixed Assets 5486 Non-current liabilities 2102 Non-depreciable Fixed Assets 199 Accumulated Depreciation 2016 Share Capital (Paid-in) 3060 Net Fixed Assets 3669 Retained Earnings 5343 Other Assets 7233 Shareholder Equity 8403 Total Assets 19145 Total Liabilities Equity 19145 1. Consider the assets on Coca Cola’s balance sheet and answer the following questions:Read MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesupdated: April 26, 2016 Logical Reasoning Bradley H. Dowden Philosophy Department California State University Sacramento Sacramento, CA 95819 USA ii iii Preface Copyright  © 2011-14 by Bradley H. Dowden This book Logical Reasoning by Bradley H. Dowden is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. That is, you are free to share, copy, distribute, store, and transmit all or any part of the work under the following conditions: