Monday, May 25, 2020

Television and Media Violence - Is Aggressive Behavior...

Is Aggressive Behavior Linked to Television Violence? According the Centerwall (1992), the average child aged 2-5 in 1990 watched 27 hours of television per day, or almost 4 hours per day. When much of what is on television, including cartoons and television shows targeted at children, contains violence, it becomes important to know whether watching televised violence can lead to or increase aggressive behavior. Social learning theory tells us that children model their behavior after those they see. It is reasonable, then, to infer that watching violence on television will lead to behaving violently, due to the modeling effect. The present study reviews some relevant prior research, and then investigates†¦show more content†¦Centerwall found that in between 1945 and 1975, the homicide rate in the US increased by 93%, while in Canada, the homicide rate increased by 92% after the introduction of television. In South Africa, however, the homicide rate decreased by 7%. In case we might think that South Africa is just a less violent country than the US or Canada, Centerwall included the homicide rates for the three countries in 1987. In the US and Canada, no significant changes were noted, Homicides per 100,000 1945 1974 % Change 1987 % Change United States 3 5.8 +93 5.4 n.s Canada 1.3 2.5 +92 2.2 n.s South Africa 2.7 2.5 -7 5.8 +130 Page 3 showing that the homicide rate had reached a plateau, at a rate that was nearly twice the pre- television rate. In the fifteen years after South Africa received television, between 1975 and 1987, the homicide rate increased by 130%. This is convincing evidence that television had an impact on the homicide rates in the US and Canada, doubling the rate in 30 years, and more than doubling the homicide rate in South Africa in only 15 years. Centerwall notes that there was a delay of about 10-15 years between the introduction of television in each country and the increase in homicide rates. He suggests thatShow MoreRelated Is Media Violence To Blame? Essay528 Words   |  3 Pages Is Media Violence To Blame? Today, there is more violence on TV, in video games and in music than ever before. Many times, media violence is linked with kids and teenagers committing violent acts. This is an attempt by parents and critics to eliminate violence in the media. Although, many think media violence is a cause of violence among children, they should be looking at what else causes violence. Many people believe media violence is not good and that it makes kids aggressive. Laboratory studiesRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System: Media Violence and Social Justice724 Words   |  3 Pagesadults who are exposed to the media are aggressive and violent. According to such articles, violent content provokes aggressive behavior and violence. Ferguson illustrates that watching satanic content, like in Harry Potter, or teaching of witchcraft can lead to Satanism or mental illness. According to Ferguson (2008), books, rock, jazz, television and watching movies in the media, leads to a wave of moral degradation, rebelliousness and violence. They also clam that new media like internet and video gamesRead MoreChildren Aggression From Violent Television Essay1692 Words   |  7 PagesAggression From Violent Television Page Break Over the years, researchers have studied the effects that television has had on children. When†¯children are taught†¯to†¯tie their shoes, it is because their parents taught them. When children are taught to ride their bikes, it is because someone showed them. In many instances, children learn†¯by watching and observing things they see others do.†¯This leads researchers to believe that violent television in terms, makes children more aggressive. According toRead MoreThe Effects Of Media Violence On People1388 Words   |  6 Pagesof Media Violence on People Media violence impacts the physical aggression of human beings. It is one of the many potential factors that influence the risk for violence and aggression. Research has proven that aggression in children will cause the likelihood of aggression in their adulthood. Theories have evolved that the violence present in the media most likely teaches the viewer to be more violent. It is a risky behavior that is established from the childhood. Furthermore, media violence is aRead MoreTelevised Violence causes Aggression in Young Boys1555 Words   |  7 PagesTelevised Violence causes Aggression in Young Boys Young boys are evidently influenced by things in their environment such as media, peers, and family. Elementary school aged boys are influenced easily because these are critical years in developing their sense of individuality and social skills with their peers. The vulnerably of young boys are a reason why they are a target of the popular culture of displaying television violence because they have rarely encountered it in previous years so theyRead MoreWhat Is the Effect of Media Violence on Children1314 Words   |  6 PagesAbdelaziz Ms. Williams English 1010-18 13, December 2010 The Effect of Media Violence on Children Although very little research was done on it in the past, media violence has sparked much controversy in recent history. As technology becomes more advanced, new methods of uncovering the media’s effects on children have emerged. Advances in Neuroscience, for example, can become tools to understanding the effects media violence has from a psychological standpoint. The brain in its underpinnings fromRead MoreThe Effects of Television Violence on Children Essay1338 Words   |  6 Pages Thesis Statement: Unsupervised children who watch violence on television exhibit violence in their everyday lives and develop into aggressive adults. â€Å"Research shows that television violence increases levels of aggression, fear, and desensitization among some who consume it† (Hamilton). This quotation by James Hamilton briefly summarizes the potentially negative effects of television on young minds. A child’s favorite television show can keep a child occupied while the mother preparesRead More The Effects Television Violence Has on Children Essay774 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effects Television Violence Has on Children Television has both positive and negative effects on children between the ages of two and five. Some research shows that violence in the media can be linked to aggressive behavior in children. Though, some researchers disagree with this statement and believe that there are other factors, besides television, which cause children to become violent. The following essay will reflect both sides of this argument. Violent television shows leadRead MoreVisual Media s Influence On Society1661 Words   |  7 PagesAmericans through the media. Americans can get this information from print, audio, visual, and online. For eight to eighteen year olds, media in some form or fashion normally takes up seven and a half hours of each day. Of those seven and a half hours, most is spent in front of the television. Along with watching TV, video games and use of computers consume an hour for each (Media, Body Image, and Eating Disorders). Even though there are many contributing factors, visual mass media has a negative influenceRead MoreEssay on Child Development1286 Words   |  6 Pagesand robin figures. Today’s culture views the media as a necessity. One class of media entertainment is television. Television is often exchanged for play among children. Marie Winn wrote â€Å"The End of Play† commenting on how children have replaced â€Å"fantasy and make-believe games† for television. (Winn 76) A research study in USA Today showed results of a survey indicating â€Å"14% of parents said TV is always on.†(Par 4) Their findings point out â€Å"TV decreased play’s intensity to given toy†. (Par

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Cosmos A Spacetime Odyssey Episode 1 Recap

In the first episode of the reboot/sequel to Carl Sagans classic science series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, which aired in 2014,  astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson takes viewers on a journey through the history of our scientific understanding of the universe. The series received mixed reviews, with some critics saying that the graphics were overly cartoonish and the concepts that it covered were extremely rudimentary. However, the main point of the show was to reach viewers who did not normally go out of their way to watch scientific programming, so you have to start with the basics.   The Solar System Explained After going through the rundown of the planets in the solar system, Tyson then discusses the outer limits of our solar system: the Oort Cloud, representing all of the comets that are gravitationally bound to the sun. He points out an astounding fact, which is part of the reason why we dont see this Oort Cloud easily: Each comet is as far away from the next comet as the Earth is from Saturn. After covering the planets and the solar system, Tyson moves on to discussing the ​Milky Way and other galaxies, and then the greater groupings of these galaxies into groups and superclusters. He uses the analogy of lines in a cosmic address, with the lines as follows: EarthSolar SystemMilky Way galaxyLocal GroupVirgo SuperclusterObservable universe This is the cosmos on the grandest scale we know, a network of a hundred billion galaxies, Tyson says at one point during the episode. Begin at the Beginning   From there, the episode moves back into history, discussing how Nicholas Copernicus presented the idea of the  heliocentric model  of the solar system. Copernicus gets kind of short shrift, largely because he didnt publish his heliocentric model until after his death, so theres not much drama in that tale. The narrative then goes on to relate the story and fate of another well-known historical figure:  Giordano Bruno. The story then moves along a decade to  Galileo Galilei and his revolution of pointing the telescope toward the heavens. Though Galileos story is dramatic enough in its own right, after the detailed rendition of Brunos clash with religious orthodoxy, going into much about Galileo would seem anticlimactic. With the earthly-historical segment of the episode seemingly over, Tyson moves on to discussing time on a grander scale, by compressing the entire history of the universe into a single calendar year, to provide some perspective on the time scale that cosmology presents over the 13.8 billion years since the Big Bang. He discusses the evidence in support of this theory, including the cosmic microwave background radiation and evidence of nucleosynthesis. History of the Universe in One Year Using his history of the universe compressed into a year model, Tyson does a great job of making it clear how much of cosmic history took place before humans ever came on the scene: Big Bang: Jan. 1First stars formed: Jan. 10First galaxies formed: Jan. 13Milky Way formed: March 15The sun forms: Aug. 31Life forms on Earth: Sept.21First land-based animals on Earth: Dec. 17First flower blooms: Dec. 28Dinosaurs go extinct: Dec. 30Humans evolved: 11 p.m., Dec. 31First cave paintings: 11:59 p.m., Dec. 31Invented writing (recorded history begins): 11:59 p.m. and 46 seconds, Dec. 31Today: Midnight, Dec. 31/Jan. 1 With this perspective in place, Tyson spends the last few minutes of the episode discussing Sagan. He even pulls out a copy of Sagans 1975 calendar, where there is a note indicating he had an appointment with a 17-year-old student named Neil Tyson. As Tyson recounts the event, he makes it clear that he was influenced by Sagan not merely as a scientist but as the sort of person he wanted to become. While the  first episode is solid, its also a little underwhelming at times. However, once it touches on the historical stuff about Bruno, the remainder of the episode has much better pacing. Overall, theres plenty to learn even for space history buffs, and its an enjoyable watch no matter your level of understanding.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Racial Profiling And The United States - 1348 Words

In today’s world we deal with multiple cases of racial profiling seemingly on a daily basis. Turn on the television, check the internet, or simply have a discussion with someone and you’ll hear about it. Racial Profiling describes discriminatory practices by law enforcement officials who target people for suspicion of crime based on their ethnicity, race, origin, or religion. The term first came about during the War on Drugs in the 1970’s and 1980’s when law enforcement were accused of pulling over motorists simply because of their race, then unlawfully searching their vehicles for illegal substances. There are varying opinions about this topic and as the year’s progress, it seems acts of racism, labeling, and profiling increase. Many of the instances of racial profiling that occur today involve criminal justice. Racial profiling in the U.S began when Native Americans were forced out of their homeland as part the mindset of Manifest Destiny. Ideas o f white supremacy and manifest destiny divided the people in the United States throughout the 1800s, and into the 20th century, shockingly even among those of the same race. Immigrants from Ireland and Eastern Europe, especially were seen as non-whites to the Anglo-Saxon community around the turn of the 20th century and were barred from jobs, housing areas, and were incarcerated at a higher rate than other Caucasians. The racial/ethnic group that has suffered arguably as much as the Native American have been African-Americans.Show MoreRelatedRacial Profiling : The United States Essay1326 Words   |  6 PagesRacial Profiling The United States of America, a country founded on diversity, remains ingrained with hypocritical ideas with respect to its very foundations of freedom and independence. America shows no mercy in the prejudice actions towards its minorities. The United States of America contributes greatly towards the injustice of minorities and giving privilege towards its â€Å"native† people yet not all â€Å"natives† are greatly loved in the country as Neil Foley, author of Becoming Hispanic: MexicanRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States1111 Words   |  5 Pagesbrutality on these individuals solely based on the ethnicity they possess. Racial profiling can be said to be synonymous with stereotypes. In fact, as Gross states, â€Å"In 1999, 81 percent of surveyors in a national poll agreed that racial profiling was an issue in the United States. â€Å"From Samuel R. Gross, â€Å"Racial Profiling Under Attack†, (June 2002): 1413. However, there is no end in sigh t, 16 years later, and the United States is still the same. On September 11, 2001 America was in shock because ofRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States1465 Words   |  6 PagesRacial Profiling Racial Profiling is just what it is. Targeting individuals for suspicion of a violation determined by the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion or national origin. Race and location are the supreme characteristics law enforcement visually examine when engaging in this type of profiling. African-American males are the primary victims of racial profiling in the United States. The phrase â€Å"driving while black† derive from African Americans protesting that they are pulled over by policeRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States1657 Words   |  7 PagesThe 11th of September, 2001 was a momentous day in American history. 19 members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 United Airlines Flight 175, and crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Hijackers crashed the third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth jet, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Penn sylvania. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives on 9/11 due to the terrorist attacks onRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States1160 Words   |  5 Pagesby police and many other people for committing crimes. This is called racial profiling, and it is an issue going on around us. Some considers racial profiling a new phenomenon, and it is important to examine it because it is a foundational aspect of law and law enforcement in the United States. Glover in the book Racial Profiling: Research, Racism, and Resistance defines racial profiling in contemporary times â€Å"as the use of racial and or ethnic status as the determinant factor in decision to stop motoristRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States2227 Words   |  9 Pagessociety. This is the mind frame of the average American in the United States. Every African American individual in this country who has traveled, walked to the store at night or simply going shopping, either knowingly or unknowingly has been a victim of some type of racial profiling. People need to realize that racial profiling happens very often to innocent people that are targeted based on race and sometimes religion. Racial profiling can be defined as when an individual is stopped or detained becauseRead MoreRacial Profiling A nd The United States1949 Words   |  8 Pages Racial Profiling Post 9/11 Rusat Ramgopal CRJBS 101 John Jay College Professor Gary Wright August 4, 2016 Racial Profiling Post 9/11 On September 11, 2001, nineteen hijackers associated with the terrorist group Al-Qaeda attacked the United States. They flew two planes into the World Trade Center and also attacked the Pentagon resulting inRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States2903 Words   |  12 PagesRacial profiling still exists in America. Racial profiling refers to law enforcement strategies and practices that single out individuals as objects of suspicion solely on the basis of mainly their race. Prejudice and racial profiling of law enforcement is responsible for many false arrests, convictions, and countless deaths of blacks in the United States. This is one of the main difficulties of life and obstacles minorities have to face in their life because for one they are a minority and twoRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States944 Words   |  4 Pages Ever Since being forced to the united states as slaves blacks have been exposed to racism and legal discrimination citizens of African descent in the United States living threw things like Jim crow laws which were laws set to legally separate blacks like they were lesser to white citizens, or dealing acts of terror by groups like the KKK or other racist whites. And most importantly going through slavery which heavily set blacks back. Black men as a whole in society are believed to have the toughestRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States1883 Words   |  8 PagesRacial profiling remains a dormant issue in the United States. It is the act of the authority, mostly, police officers linking minority status to criminal behaviour (Glover, 2007). Several police officers in the United States target specific groups because they don’t display characteristics of typical Caucasian individuals (Glover, 2007). To put history into context, before 9/11, not many police officers profil ed individuals based on their ethnic backgrounds but after the attack, there was an increase

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Paramore free essay sample

You turned up the volume when you heard theyre first single â€Å"Misery Business† on the radio then hurried home to add it to your over crowded iTunes. You played it so much, you sang it in your sleep. Unsatisfied with only one song. You decided to download the whole album and loved it too. Well, maybe you didnt do exactly that, but, I know I did. A tale of heartbreak told by singer song writer Hayley Williams and lead guitarist Josh Farro reaches the tops of the charts, and its no wonder why. The American Pop Rock band Paramore released theyre second album RIOT! June 12, 2007. Theyre success as a new band has surely shown. But seriously, what enticed you to search then on YouTube? What about them made them voted Artist of the year by Rolling Stone magizine. As a teen herself, Hayley wrote songs that we can all relate to. We will write a custom essay sample on Paramore or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Struggles with parents, friends, and relationships thrown together with catchy tunes that you just cant stop singing. Lets have a look at their first single Misery Business. Weve all delt with her. The mean girl; Barbie doll. One minunite shes your friend, the next, shes your worst nightmare. Hayley got tired of the same old sob stories about the boyfriend that was stolen, so her and Josh decided, why not write a song about the one who stole it. What really drew me to the Paramore fan club was theyre rebelling to the media. Theyre merchandise is hanging on the walls of Hottopic, but would fit perfectly on the walls or Amerbrombie Fitch. Paramore is different, Paramore is loud, and get ready cause Paramore is the next big thing. Paramore free essay sample For a band mostly consisting of young teenagers, this new Paramore CD blew me away. The new CD entitled Riot is an understatement. The first time I listened to all the songs once through, I really liked the diversity of the music. There are fast, chaotic songs, and also slow and melodic. A few of the songs, such as â€Å"Misery Business,† â€Å"Hallelujah,† and â€Å"For A Pessimist, Im Pretty Optimistic† made me want to jump out of my seat and dance. Then others, like â€Å"When It Rains† and â€Å"We Are Broken† were soft and peaceful, yet with a sad tinge that made me really feel the music. After the initial tunes and beats of the songs, I noticed the lyrics. All of the songs on this CD are meaningful, probably coming from past experiences. In the song â€Å"For A Pessimist Im Pretty Optimistic,† Hayley sings: â€Å"I never wanted to say this, you never wanted to stay, I put my faith in you, so much faith, and then you just threw it away. We will write a custom essay sample on Paramore or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † When I heard those lyrics for the first time, I made a connection between the words and any time that I have ever felt betrayed or let down, and I felt a personal connection to the music. This pop/rock CD is full of amazing vocals and music, meaningful lyrics, and catchy beats. Paramores first CD was good, but this one is better. The album is full of different feelings and situations that will make the listener really connect to how the band wants him to feel. By far, this is my favorite CD and I hope that Paramore continues to make such amazing music.

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Popular Culture of TV watching in USA and China

Table of Contents Introduction The reason why this study is important Conclusion Works Cited Introduction Popular culture has assumed numerous definitions from being regarded as common culture, folk culture, to popular culture; and all these definitions have varied across time in history (English Department, University of California p.1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Popular Culture of TV watching in USA and China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The post-War American society has experienced advent and growth of popular culture at almost every point in history of the country. In this post-war period, America’s popular culture became a reflection and representation of commercial culture characterized by all its elements such as movies, television, radio, cyberspace, advertising, toys, and almost every commodity that qualify for purchase. In addition, the popular culture was demonstrated in different forms of art, photography, games, and even collective groups such comet watching and rave dancing (English Department, University of California p.1). Advent of television stirred the American population as leisure time shifted to TV watching, consuming the largest part of people’s time. The reason why this study is important John Store in the book ‘Cultural studies and the study of popular culture’ notes that television is the popular cultural form that characterizes the 21st century (Storey p.9). The author further asserts that television has evolved as world’s most popular leisure activity where in USA, about 67 per cent of the population watch television daily while 98 per cent of the population own television sets (Storey p.9). On average, it has been estimated that Americas spend about seven years of their entire lives watching television (Storey p.9). Since the advent of mass consumption of television products in USA, many writers have postulated how TV watching has had the negative effects to young people, but this essay paper demonstrate that, even with advent of mass consumption of TV products, young people have acquired some valuable aspects in terms of values, norms, and product cultural aspects from watching television. The rise of television in America was accompanied by rise and change in consumer market as advertising became the center stage in promoting products. Television caused more leisure revolutions especially in homestead by even modifying the architecture of the homes as spatial arrangements of houses changed with need to shift and enlarge sitting rooms necessary for ample TV watching (Anon p.1). TV modified the eating habits of the Americans, as many people, while watching TV’s, requested for snacks, convenience and finger foods, together with other things like TV dinners and TV trays (Anon p.1). On overall, TV modified how Americans utilized their free time and a new age of information was born that f or long time has changed what information is available to people and how people can access it (Anon p.1).Advertising Looking for essay on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In contrast, TV watching in Asian countries has steadily evolved as a popular culture, which is being embraced by young populations in these countries. China is one country that TV watching has become a form culture to children, adolescents, and adults. However, as compared to USA culture, watching television programs in China is controlled and regulated by the state, a situation that has forced some young people to resort to internet television where they watch downloaded TV programs (Contact Music Ltd p.1). The effect of TV watching or TV culture in China has less impact as compared to that of USA – where there is less regulation of TV programming. However, in the two cultures, TV watching has increased consumerism, an issue that has raised concerns from stakeholders (Contact Music Ltd p.1). Television popularity among children resulted into many of them substituting it with other important things like physical exercises and extra-timer reading in order to watch television (Great Britain, House of Commons Committee p.163). Therefore, television became a dominant aspect in the lives of the children, while at the same time, it became a major influence on children’s values and behaviors, together with impacting on children health and education achievement (Great Britain, House of Commons Committee p.163). TV replaced parents and teachers as educators, role models, and primary source of information concerning the world as well as how to behave. Moreover, TV was preferred as it was the true avenue children and young people could find all the above. As reality encroached in young people and children could not differentiate between fantasy on television and reality, and consequently, they became victims of thou sands of advertisements that promoted alcohol, junk foods, fast foods, toys, and all forms of crime comedies (Great Britain, House of Commons Committee p.163). In essence, advertisement arouses curiosity of feelings of missing something, thus the need to be acquired. Hence, with TV commercial advertisements, there came more violence among young population, while sexuality issues, certain stereotypes, and drugs and alcohol abuse became dominant themes on television (Great Britain, House of Commons Committee p.163). On contrary, Carole L. Edelman and Carol L. Mandle in their book titled ‘Health Promotion through the life span’ note that television watching was and has not always exhibited and promoted negative aspects, but rather, some positive aspects exist (Edelman and Mandle p.14). For instance, the author points to children programs such as ‘Mr. Rogers’, Neighborhood’, and ‘Reading Rainbow’, together with other programs such as ‘ Call It Macaroni’, ‘Seventh Heaven’, and ‘Full House’ as some of the developmental programs that impact positive aspects among children (Edelman and Mandle p.14).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Popular Culture of TV watching in USA and China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion In conclusion, it can be said that, research on popular culture is diverse as more themes of popular culture exist, hence require in-depth investigations especially with regard to cross-cultural research of the impact of television watching. Nevertheless, television as popular culture is seen to be an important area of research, as more literature exists on the negative aspects of television on young children. What lacks is adequate and empirically supported research to show that, as much criticism about television impact on young children would want justification, in the same realm, there exists p ositive aspects that television transmit to young children. Works Cited Anon. â€Å"Popular Culture.† Popular Culture. Web. Contact Music Ltd. 300 Million Watching TV on Laptops in China. 2010. Web. Edelman, Carole L. and Mandle, Carol L. Health promotion throughout the life span. ML: Elsevier Health Sciences. 2005. Web. English Department, University of California. â€Å"Pop Culture.† English Department, University of California. Web. Great Britain, House of Commons Committee. The Government’s Public Health White Paper (Cm 6374): Written Evidence. London: The Stationery Office. 2005. Web.Advertising Looking for essay on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Storey, John. Cultural studies and the study of popular culture. Georgia: University of Georgia Press. 2003. Web. This essay on Popular Culture of TV watching in USA and China was written and submitted by user Jayleen Jacobson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, March 9, 2020

Seven Golden Secrets of Creative Writing

Seven Golden Secrets of Creative Writing In the following quote, master of horror Stephen King hits the raw nerve of creative writing, the single most important step you need to take in your journey towards literary expression – absolute commitment. Without it, you could get lost in the dark, doomed to wander through the long night of literary anonymity like a navigator without a compass or the will to go anywhere.You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair†¦ You can come to the act with your fists clenched and your eyes narrowed, ready to kick ass and take down names. You can come to it because you want a girl to marry you or because you want to change the world. Come to it any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page.Stephen KingThe blank page represents to great writers what Everest was to Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, what the Apollo 11 moon mission was to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. It offers an extraordinar y journey to the uncharted regions of the imagination, a formidable challenge to the literary spirit of adventure within us. The problem is that writing creatively needs hard work and great commitment, and the vision to see a conclusion. I have developed the acronym W R I T E R S, which I hope will help you along that creative and adventurous road. It embodies seven golden rules of creative writing.W – where, who, what, when, whyIf you intend writing a book, a short story or even an essay, know exactly Where you are going. If you dont, you could end up going nowhere. When you know your direction use the other four Ws (Who, What, When, Why) to get there. Sketch a rough plan, just as an artist produces rough brush strokes to begin a work of art, and write down the essential ingredients of your story: the characters (WHO), the plot (WHAT), the direction (WHERE), the period (WHEN), the reasons (WHY).R – ResearchAdventure novelist Wilbur Smith, author of dozens of internati onal bestsellers, spends six months a year researching his subject before putting pen to paper. He then spends the next six months writing the book. Because his novels are usually based on real-life sagas, he manages to blend fiction with reality, giving life, energy and plausibility to his characters. Research your storyline and characters exhaustively. Know far more about your subject than you intend to write.I – Images and imaginationOne of the greatest aids to creative writing is the ability to think in images. Before you write it, see it in pictures; and if you can use your senses to strengthen the image, all the better. African locals living near Zambias Victoria Falls call it Mosi oa Tunya – the smoke that thunders, a wonderful description evoked by the sight and sound of this wonder of the world. When youre writing about characters, visualize them, hear them, smell them – your senses will be great accessories for your descriptions.T – TenacityCrea tive writing is not easy; it requires discipline and tenacity. Tenacity means finishing the project at all costs. One quality that separates great authors and the legions of writers of unfinished manuscripts is tenacity – the ability to continue even if you think your work will not succeed. James Joyce, whose book the Dubliners was rejected by 22 publishers, went on to write the best-selling English novel of all-time (Ulysses). So even if you think youre failing, carry on. One author I know wrote several books in a cellar. He climbed down a ladder into the cellar every day, his wife pulled up the ladder, and he stayed there writing until his wife let the ladder down later that day. Ive written 11 books and millions of words and it doesnt get easier – putting the first word down is like scaling the North face of The Eiger.E – EmpathySuccessful writing is all about grabbing the readers attention. Which means your words, characters, dialogue and construction must h ave empathy. Tie them into your own experiences. This does not mean dull-and-boring, long-winded sentences about yourself. It means incisive originality, directness and raw energy your readers can identify with. Let your writing come from the heart and write it straight. If your words are going to drive you to literary success, make sure theyre firing on all cylinders – empathy. Richard Carlson wrote his best-seller Dont Sweat the Small Stuff on a 12-hour Transatlantic flight. The book sold millions of copies because it was empathetic – millions around the world identified with his message.R – RealityThe great masters of fiction, George Orwell, John Steinbeck, Lewis Carrol and, more recently, Roald Dahl and Harry Potters J. K. Rowling captured the worlds imagination with characters that will live forever. The magic of their writing lies in the reality of their characters. So try to construct your characters with care, affection and detail. Build them up by writi ng notes about them – their personal idiosyncracies, their habits, their loves. When you write, go for the jugular – give your readers characters they will love; better still, give them characters drawn from the well of common, everyday human experience.S – SimplicityGreat writers know that simplicity is the bedrock of their craft. Short, clear sentences, short paragraphs, uncomplicated, direct constructions, and prose written from the heart are all you need. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway was a simple story about a fisherman and a fish, but it hooked millions of readers. The secret was in the simplicity of the dialogue and narration. Dont use long words to impress, and never be pompous or egotistical. Write with passion, music and simplicity – thats the real art of creative writing.

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Muscle Dysmorphia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Muscle Dysmorphia - Essay Example Adolescent boys are more susceptible of acquiring the disorder since during the adolescent stage; they start developing physically and psychologically to adults (Baghurst & Kissinger, 2009). Therefore, special attention will be considered on them. One of the major manifestations of the condition is excessive amounts of exercise among the teens. This leads them to experiment with performance-enhancing substances i.e. steroids and working out hard in the Gym (Cafri, Olivardia, & Thompson, 2008). Thus, the location of the audience is very appropriate for the program as the program targets adolescent students in the school who exercise and work out hard in the school’s Gym facilities. Therefore, the primary audience and location for the program is very appropriate. According to studies, the condition has become more serious and prevalent in today’s youths especially among the male population than it has been commonly given credit for, thus recognizing the predisposing factors and manifestations is very important to help in reducing the instances of the disease in the general population (Grieve, Truba, & Bowersox, 2009). This is crucial as it will enable the students to grow healthy and achieve their goals. Cafri, G., Olivardia, R., & Thompson, J. K. (2008). Symptom characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity among males with muscle dysmorphia. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 49, 374–379. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.01.003 Pope, C. G., Pope, H. G., Menard, W., Fay, C., Olivardia, R., & Phillips, K. A. (2005). Clinical features of muscle dysmorphia among males with body dysmorphic disorder. Body Image.