The Pathological Protagonist of Dostoevsky’s Notes from...

The Pathological Protagonist of Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground Dostoevsky’s vision of the world is violent and his characters tortured; it is no wonder that many have viewed his work as prophetic of the 20th century. However, though Dostoevsky, in his unflinching portrayal of depravity, gives the Devil some of his best arguments, the Gospel often triumphs. Ivan Karamazov is at least offered the possibility of repentance when kissed by his saintly brother Alyosha. Raskolnikov, the nihilistic antihero of Crime and Punishment, is eventually redeemed through the love of the pure prostitute Sonja. Notes from the Underground, however, breaks this pattern. The protagonist of this novel, who, uncharacteristically for Dostoevsky,†¦show more content†¦Notes from the Underground, despite its unpolished narrative and paradoxical narrator, is a coherent whole, a subtle portrait of a man in conflict with himself. The first portion of the Notes is â€Å"a revelation of personality,† according to J. M. Coetzee, whereas the second is â€Å"a revelation of a shameful history† (219). The two cannot be separated from each other; both are necessary to complete the underground man’s portrait. Though he may put on a bold front in the ideological jabs of the first section, the second shows his ineffectual character, the seemingly irresolvable paradoxes of his personality. The underground man is paralyzed by indecision, governed by spite. His inability to â€Å"live life† is a malady that has grown prevalent in the â€Å"educated nineteenth century† (Dostoevsky 296, 191). As Dostoevsky writes in a footnote at the beginning of the work, â€Å"such persons as the writer of these notes not only may, but positively must, exist in our society, when we consider the circumstances under our society was formed† (179). The true philosophical lessons of the Notes are implicit, hidden within the narrative, and condemn the underground man as much as they do his rationalist opponents. Any satisfactory analysis of Notes from the Underground must keep in mind the singular consciousness and

The Introduction to the History of Sexuality by Foucault...

In The Introduction to the History of Sexuality, Foucault explains how during the 19th century with the raise of new societies, the discourse or knowledge about sex was not confronted with repulsion but it â€Å"put into operation an entire machinery for producing true discourses concerning sex† (Foucault 69). In fact, this spreading of discourse on sexuality itself gives a clear account of how sexuality has been controlled and confined because it was determined in a certain kind of knowledge that carries power within it. Foucault reflects on the general working hypothesis or â€Å"repressive hypothesis,† and how this has exercised power to suppress people’s sexuality. It has power on deciding what is normal or abnormal and ethical or unethical†¦show more content†¦Society might believe these discourses are true, but there are no such thing as true or false discourses; people just think and understand them as true or false as a means to control societies . With this method, people will be aware of what is normal and abnormal to do and it will prevent them from doing unacceptable acts. According to Foucault, modern societies begin to develop these discourses on sexuality and because they are so inscribed in us that is a way to control individuals’ sexuality by causing fear on us that keep us organized and shape societies. Many people will think there are ways in which people can reveal and Foucault leaves that as an option; nonetheless, those people resisting will just generate another discourse that entails some power. The uniform truth about sex is really a consistent and unique truth that is inscribed upon society as necessary to keep societies organized and controlled. These controlled systems acquire and control our sexual appetite too for effectiveness because our sexuality is the weakness point of our bodies through which multiple discourses or sources of knowledge can pervade our conduct and our existence (Foucault 69). The control of our sexual feelings is the best method to discipline our behaviors, and thru discourses of knowledge is how power is prompted. For instance, Foucault explains that through confessions power is applied. As humans, we tend to see such confessions as a wayShow MoreRelatedRelationship Between Sex And Power955 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Michel Foucault was a French philosopher, historian, social theorist, philologist and literary critic whose work had a tremendous impact on several disciplines. He was not a sociologist by training, but he worked diligently on sociological issues and otherwise had significant influence on the work of other sociologists. One of his most famous works is the The History of Sexuality, in which he examines the emergence of sexuality as a discursive object and separate sphere of lifeRead More Repression and Fear of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, and Transgender Americans1610 Words   |  7 PagesFrancisco boast attendance in the hundreds of thousands. The legislative act of prohibition has provided strength to the prohibited acts in the case of sexual behavior and identity. Michel Foucault best explains how homosexuality became an identity and a category. In The History of Sexuality, Foucault explores the validity of the repressive hypothesis which claims that sex has been repressed in Europe since the Renaissance. For three centuries, the bourgeoisie, characterized by modern prudishnessRead MoreDiscourse of Sex and the Creation of Docile Bodies Essay1129 Words   |  5 PagesSubjection is a process that operates in society, and according to sociologist Michel Foucault, can be applied to a multiplicity of discourses. Foucault explains that the beginning of the nineteenth century marked the age of sexual repression and censorship, which became a time of subjection through exerting disciplinary control over a docile population. In his The Introduction to the History of Sexuality, Foucault explains how the scientification of sex came about. Specifically, it was an attemptRead More Eve Kosofsky Sedgwicks Tendencies: Queerness and Oppression1208 Words   |   5 PagesTendencies: Queerness and Oppression Over the last two decades or so, the idea of queerness is one that has been utilized and considered by individuals and communities of marginalized sexualities and genders. The concept is one that has attempted to broaden and deconstruct traditional notions of gender and sexuality in order to include all of their incarnations as valid experiences and identities. Queerness endeavors to include all of those who feel they are a part of it yet, seemingly, not everyoneRead MoreBiographical Paper Of Michel Foucault1272 Words   |  6 PagesPaper of Michel Foucault. Michel Foucault Kenya Coleman Principles of Sociology Professor Preston September 12, 2016 French historian and philosopher Michel Foucault, was born in Poitiers, France October 15, 1926. He was the professor of the History of Systems of Thought and also was the founder of Groupe d’information sur les prisons He wrote â€Å" Introduction† to Dream andRead MoreThe Argument Of Women s Subjugation Within Society As A Body Essay1319 Words   |  6 Pagesimportant reading that is imperative to the project is Foucault’s work titled The History of Sexuality: Volume One, as his analytics are applied to the female body as the hysterical woman, an important distinction as Foucault covers this form of body, as well as many other types of bodies, such as the masturbating child, Malthusian couple, and perverse adult since these are regarded as prototypical unities. Sexuality as the intersection between power and knowledge plays a key role in determining howRead MoreThe Power of and the Powers Behind Mass Media901 Words   |  4 Pagesprevious eras of human hi story. It behooves producers, distributors, and consumers of mass media to understand and consider the interplay between power and discourse within the context of mass media. Where is the power of mass media and who wields it? What does the political economy of power in mass media reflect about the structures and mechanisms at work in society? How does mass media work within a context of power and discourse? Referencing such authors as Marx, Chomsky, Foucault, and Jhally, the paperRead Moreâ€Å"the Sodomite Had Been a Temporary Aberration; the Homosexual Was Now Species.† Explain What Foucault Means by This Remark with Reference to the Nineteenth Century Process He Calls â€Å"the Medicalisation of the Sexually Peculiar†.2171 Words   |  9 Pages4. â€Å"The sodomite had been a temporary aberration; the homosexual was now species.† Explain what Foucault means by this remark with reference to the nineteenth century process he calls â€Å"the medicalisation of the sexually peculiar†. At the heart of the statement and references contained in the title are illustrations of how power is expressed through normative discourse in Western capitalist society. The process of how an act once termed ‘sodomy’ became transformed into the term ‘homosexual’Read MoreSocial Order (Foucault and Goffman)1463 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Social order derives from an interpretation of a net of relations, symbols and social codes. It creates a sense of how individuals all fit together in shared spaces (Silva, 2009, p. 308), and thus relies on encoding of human behaviour in physical spaces as well as among various individuals. In any society, people must acquire knowledge of how to relate to one another and their environment. Order is then established by a normalisation and standardisation of this knowledge. This essayRead MoreThe Prominence of Sex in International Government Relations1662 Words   |  7 Pagesbackdrop of a leader’s sexuality in the situate of public scandal in order shed light on the manner by which this progression from the private sexual fantasy to the public eye is one of control and manipulation in efforts to paint people and situations they inhabit until scandal breaks out and the public transforms from the controlled into the judge, jury, and social executioner of that which has departed from the normality, based solely on the department from the normality. Foucault says that sex â€Å"is

Cheerleading Is a Sport free essay sample

Cheerleading started as a male endeavor in 1898, when a University of Minnesota football fan led the crowd in verse in support of their team. It was not until World War II, when men shipped out to war, that women took over. Then cheerleaders came to represent the American ideal of femininity: wholesome apple pie with washboard stomachs, perfect teeth, and flawless complexions. Stereotypes cast them as blond, petite, and impossibly perky. â€Å"From its humble beginning cheerleading has blossomed into a competitive athletic activity with a serious image problem† (Forman 52). But today’s post-feminist youth have put a new, diverse face on cheerleading. Cheerleading in America is no longer a matter of waving pom-poms, a cute smile and being overly perky. Calling themselves athletes, not eye candy, cheerleaders are pushing harder for recognition as participants in an official sport. Today, cheerleading involves skills which require the strength of football, the grace of dance, and the agility of gymnastics. Complex maneuvers are performed which challenge the limits of the body. Safety organizations such as the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators were formed to develop safety rules to guide programs in the safe performance of cheerleading gymnastics, which include jumps, partner stunts, pyramids and tumbling. With the risks involved today, cheerleading should receive statewide recognition as a sport. Opposition to making cheerleading a sport, continually say, cheerleaders are not athletes. Confirmation of this lies in the position paper of Women’s Sports Foundation, any physical activity in which relative performance can be judged or quantified can be developed into a competitive sport as long as (1) the physical activity includes the above defined elements and (2) the primary purpose is competition versus other teams or individuals within a competition structure comparable to other athletics activities†¦Cheerleading in its current format, does not meet the second criteria listed above. The primary purpose is not competition, but that of raising school unity through leading the crowd at athletic functions. † (Forman 51) Yet, as sports like football, basketball, and wrestling become more popular, so does the cheerleaders. Nay-Sayers of the movement are content to have cheerleaders just be the â€Å"back-up dancers†. Not understanding that cheerleaders are just as important as the sports teams they cheer for. Challengers say cheerleaders do not have the same time commitments as other sports teams. While they also do not recognize the physical strain put on cheerleaders bodies and the increased risk for injuries. The long-held view of cheerleading as merely another school activity is also a concern. If the athleticism of cheerleading is not recognized, the supervision will continue to fall to teachers that are not qualified to adequately supervise. Additionally, existing advisors will not receive the training necessary to provide adequate supervision of an increasingly athletic activity. Cheerleading has all the elements of a sport: competition, practice skills, teamwork, and training. It also has a year round commitment. â€Å"An important movement in the world of cheerleading is the struggle to legitimate the activity in the eyes of the public, said Laura Grindstaff, assistant professor of sociology and cultural studies at the University of California-Davis†(Coman â€Å"Cheerleading is now risker†). Cheerleaders are struggling to gain the recognition and respect they deserve for their sport. Although some colleges offer cheerleading scholarships, cheerleaders still face discrimination in high school and college athletics. It is alarming considering all the new risks involved that it has yet to be mandated in all states as a sport. Twenty six state athletic organizations have deemed cheerleading should be recognized as a sport, but what about the other twenty five? â€Å"Cheerleading was excluded as a sport when Title IX was passed, which forbids sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funding† (Rondon 98). Title IX was supposed to be legislation that mandated that boys and girls receive equal sporting opportunities. But even certification only requires that coaches pass an online test; there’s no requirement for training in gymnastics or spotting techniques. † (Ebersole â€Å"Thrills and Spills†). And only about a dozen states regulate cheer according to the rules set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). For high school football, on the other hand, all states follow the NFHS rulebook except Texas, which uses the NCAA college-level rules. â€Å"Soccer, hockey, basketball, and gymnastics cannot compete when it comes to serious back problems, fractures and, in grave cases paralysis†(Forman 51). Cheerleading is not considered a sport, so none of the safeguards that other sports have developed applies†(Forman 52). In the two states where cheerleading is classified as a sport, cheerleaders are subject to the same rules as athletes, regarding practice and travel restrictions, safety, camps, and coaching certification. Cheerleaders need th e guarantee of proper training room, proper medical care, and proper checks and screenings for participants. If properly recognized teams would be provided better training facilities, coaches would be properly trained, injuries would decrease and funding for the programs would increase. With every aspect of cheerleading becoming increasingly difficult cheerleading deserves the state-wide recognition as a sport just as any other physical sporting activity. In the words of Kane of the Tucker Center, â€Å"when the culture starts rewarding cheerleading in the same way in which it rewards women and men sports with economic parity and scholarships, not simply regulated to the sidelines, then I think we’re onto something† (Rondon 99). No longer content to just cheer on the sidelines, cheerleaders are now demanding the respect they so rightfully deserve.

Lab Results free essay sample

The environmental protection agency says that the maximum contaminant level for cadmium in drinking water is 0. 005 MGM/L. In soil it is said that the highest amount of cadmium that can be accepted in land is 85 MGM/keg. For Mercury the accepted toxic level in aquatic Systems in 1 BP b) Heavy metal pollution is a problem usually associated with areas of intensive industry. However, roadways and automobiles now are considered to be one of the largest sources of heavy metals.Zinc, copper, and lead are three of the most moon heavy metals released from road travel, accounting for at least 90 of the total metals in road runoff. Lead concentrations, however, consistently have been decreasing since leaded gasoline was discontinued. Smaller amounts of many other metals, such as nickel and cadmium, are also found in road runoff and exhaust. About half of the zinc and copper contribution to the environment from arbitration is from automobiles. We will write a custom essay sample on Lab Results or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Brakes release copper, while tire wear releases zinc. Motor oil also tends to accumulate teals as it comes into contact with surrounding parts as the engine runs, so oil leaks become another pathway by which metals enter the environment. C) Yes, these heavy metals can fasciculate in organisms in our food chain, especially fish. This is because heavy metals are part of Earths crust; they can be worn away by the action of weather. When they are worn off of rock, they can collect in surface or groundwater.Humans can sometimes eat these fish, which isnt good because heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, cobalt, nickel, ND mercury can affect blood cells. The build-up of heavy metals can cause harm to the liver, kidneys, the circulatory system and the movement of nerve signals. Some of these metals can also contribute to the development of different types of cancers. D) As stated above, these heavy metals can cause harm to the liver, kidneys, circulatory system, and nerve signals, as well as the formation of blood cells. Again, they can also contribute to the development of different types of cancers. ) A portion of harmful chemical pollutants can be removed by a process known as premeditation, a process involving microorganisms or plants that help clean up the pollutants. Reacting contaminants with certain chemicals can also make them less harmful. Conclusion: Heavy metals are clearly very harmful to the wellbeing of an ecosystem, assuming they affect most organisms the same way they affected the vinegar eels. And because there arent very many ways to clean up the metals, we need to change our actions.