Does the Cosby Show challenge conventional stereotypes Essay Example for Free

Does the Cosby Show challenge conventional stereotypes Essay From 1984 to 1992, The Cosby Show (starring comedian/actor/author Bill Cosby) aired on NBC television network. In the storyline , a black doctor and his family (his wife and five children) lived their everyday entertaining lives. Audiences worldwide watched daily to laugh and admire the African American family ; at the same time they began to ponder about the well-off family and what this said about the conventional black family to the world. Two models are most commonly usedâ€Å"the weak family model† and the â€Å"strong family model†, says Wynona Bryant -Williams Ph. D Director â€Å"with nothing in between. † However it was the weak family model that dominated the social sciences literature until the mid 1980s. (Williams) The Cosby’s set a high standard of the stability and lifestyle of the Black American family. A bold message to send, this also challenged the realism of American culture and how it depicted African Americans and their households. Small-time author Tiffany Frizzel had this to say: â€Å"To be perfectly honest, this show does not show typical life for the vast majority of this nations population. There are not many white children in this nation that have a doctor and a lawyer as parents so that criticism lacks substance and social research. Cosby always kept the show somewhat light-hearted and sometimes shied away from some key issues of the time period, but keep in mind that his name was on the program and everything was written as if the characters were sometimes walking on eggshells. † Apparently it was hard to accept that a black family did not have to struggle or stress. Why? Even though the family still had their household disputes and their lessons to learn , the idea that this particular family of color was doing so well was hard to take and swallow. For many observers, The Cosby Show was unique in other ways as well. For example, unlike many situation comedies, the program avoided one-liners, buffoonery and other standard tactics designed to win laughs. Instead, series writers remained true to Cosbys vision of finding humor in realistic family situations, in the minutiae of human behavior. Thus episodes generally shunned typical sitcom formulas by featuring, instead, a rather loose story structure and unpredictable pacing. Moreover, the soundtrack was sweetened with jazz, and the Huxtable home prominently featured contemporary African American art. Several observers described the result as classy. This project, of course, was not without its critics. Some observers described the show as a 1980s version of Father Knows Best, the Huxtables as a white family in blackface. The Huxtables affluence, they argued, worked to obscure persistent inequalities in Americaespecially those faced by blacks and other minority groupsand validate the myth of the American Dream. One audience study suggests that the show strikes a deal with white viewers, that it absolves them of responsibility for racial inequality in the United States in exchange for inviting the Huxtables into their living room. Meanwhile, the same study found that black viewers tend to embrace the show for its positive portrayals of blackness, but express misgivings about the Huxtables failure to regularly interact with less affluent blacks. For the black family sitting at home watching the show however; it was a revelation long anticipated. This motivated and challenged families to grow closer together. Single, married, and divorced individuals all could view their expectations for their family and their futures based on the uplifting obvious message being sent. For the African American culture , this was an epidemic that needed to expand in the mindsets of everyone else in the world. As far as â€Å"Black Americaâ€Å" was concerned; this was an illustrious thing. So what exactly is the difference between â€Å"Anticipated Black America† and â€Å"Conventional Black America†? E. Franklin Frazier’s â€Å"The Negro Family in the United† States supplied a model for the study of Blacks which emphasized family disorganization and dysfunction ,2 describing the black familys present condition of matriarchy, ineffective black males being marginal to the family, casual sex relations, and general dissolution of the black family to be caused by urbanization and the heritage of slavery. Fraziers work was used for the basis of Moynihans conclusions that identified Black matriarchal mothers as responsible for the breakdown and pathology of Black families (who, he claimed, were responsible for high rates of illegitimacy, delinquency, and unemployment)3. On national renown search engine â€Å"Yahoo. com†, when the words â€Å"negro† and â€Å"black† are entered into the search bar ; words such as unemployment, equality, broken homes, proportion, and black community are given as â€Å"helpful hints† to further specify your search criteria. This is not to say that yahoo alone is portraying this image. But it does conclude a point that this issue should very well be recognized. The mental attitude of the black family’s standards in present America are poor indeed when left up to some critics. Nonetheless, Black America is continuously upgrading and rebelling in all fields of education and occupation. Our greatest and highest recognized entertainers, scholars, preachers, political figures, and moguls are filled with African American people. Many inventions are in existence today because of African Americans. A Black figure is currently running for president of the country! The Cosby Show does not challenge Black America as much as it motivates and really disciplines the mentalities and ethics behind us. The show’s head writer ,John Marcus, had this to say regarding the co-writer and star of the show Bill Cosby: I think Bill knows that he has a power, and that he thinks of it very judiciously. He is conscientious and sensitive to the minds of people who watch the show. And he is very respectful of their intelligence, said Markus. He sees that a more powerful tool in education is to entertain and engage the audience in a delicate manner rather than to hammer home a message. We want to educate black America, but we never want to Sermonize. (1990) It was never the intention of the show nor the writers behind it to preach about high time living to the black families of America. Yet, it was extremely obvious that there was luxury behind the hard work, and it’d all came from the benefit of great education. In the series, Huxtable is a doctor married to an awfully attractive, independent minded, and intelligent woman who has become quite a successful and well established lawyer. His five children all attend school and his children eventually all attend college following after their parents, but with different career motives that they each discover throughout their development from children to young adults. The Cosby Show ’s family is fiction but based on a lifestyle that is meant to be lived and enjoyed by the Black families of America. With the right motivation and the desire to become educated and to fulfill their selves , anyone of any race could very well live a full life without much struggle. The Cosbys did not live without flaws and disappointments. But they dealt with it as a strong and confident family with the continuous support and love of each and every one of their family members. This is a message that needs to be spreaded more and more everyday. The Black family can better themselves if they can get together and make a change to better their mentalities and their environment as well. Following the Cosby’s example; the Black family can succeed. â€Å"If every parent in their community taught their children how to act and teach them the life lessons that they need to succeed. Wouldnt that as a whole help the black community, one family at a time? † This was the question asked in an online discussion about upraising of children in the black community. It begins at home. If we do not or refuse to maintain order at home, there will be none outside of our households. The Cosby Show displays for us that restrictions and rules set inside the house also better govern our black children as they are outside of the household or away from home. By laying down the law in the house, the children were not as in as much trouble as friends and classmates. This distinguished them from the other children in other families on the show as well. With rules came responsibility. According to Senior Magazine Online, as humans responsibility is given to us automatically â€Å"because we are a part of society. † It is also stated that â€Å" It is in this area that we seem to be losing our children. † The main focus within the Cosby family was, without any doubt, family. The family came first. Before work, before friends, and before the personal wants of any individual; the entire family came together and worked together to make their home the joyous place it was. It was stressed as an importance that everyone was responsible in remembering birthdays, talking to their parents about their issues, and continuously seeing that a personal (perhaps assigned) chore was completed everyday. In conclusion, the Cosby Show is due many thanks and many praises. It stands, even today, as a landmark of hope and inspiration for the Black family. Although there are many public voices that are motivating us to push forward and challenge ourselves to complete education and a fulfilling life; the Cosby Show had a powerful message that is not easily forgotten and forever appreciated. The family is the most important part of our foundation. When we look back at what helped us to grow, we should find our family. References 2008 Discussion on saving the Black Community. http://answers. yahoo. com/question/index? qid=20070209125845AAYhqrg. 4 May E. Franklin Frazier (American Sociologist). The Negro Family in the United States. 1939 Interview with Head-writer of The Cosby Show, John Marcus. http://www. medialit. org/reading_room/article344. html (1990) Jhally, Sut, and Justin Lewis. Enlightened Racism: The Cosby Show, Audiences, and the Myth of the American Dream. Boulder, Colorado: Westview, 1992. Senior Magazine Online. http://www. seniormag. com/caregiverresources/articles/caregiv Tiffany Frizzel quoted , The Internet Movie Database, http://us. imdb. com April Wynona Bryant- Williams Ph. D Director , ,http://www. blackperspective. com/pages/mag_articles/sum01_blackfamily. html erarticles/parenting/taking-reponsibility. htm

Reflective essay relating to a patient with COPD

Reflective essay relating to a patient with COPD INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this essay is to adopt Rolfe, Freshwater and Jasper (2001) model of reflection in reflecting upon my experience in practice placement while caring for a patient with a long term condition. This model will help to identify the learning needs and how it may be achieved. To maintain confidentiality in this essay with respect to the NMC code of conduct, I will be keeping the patient’s information anonymous, thus will be referred to as Elizabeth. Reflection is an important element of learning (Arbel, 2009). John and Freshwater (2005) defined reflection as assessing previous experience to develop tacit and intuitive knowledge. Rolfe et al (2001) model of reflection propose a framework that uses Borton’s (1970) developmental model. Pryce (2002) explains that, this model is a simplistic cycle that is based upon three sample questions to reflect on a situation: What? So what? Now what? Hence, it is vital that student nurses reflect regularly so as to improve their practice, knowledge, skills and behaviour to care for their patients to the best of their ability. Ultimately, Botten (2012) stresses the importance of reflection for student nurses, as it enriches their clinical learning, enabling them to learn more about themselves and the way they practice. WHAT I met Elizabeth during my previous practice placement at the surgical ward, she is 70 years old and was diagnosed with severe chronic bronchitis approximately 8 years ago. She was admitted to the ward due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to Kauffman (2014), bronchitis is the Inflammation of the bronchi associated with partial obstruction of the bronchi by secretions or constriction. Chronic bronchitis is also included under the umbrella of COPD (Jindal Vijayan, 2011). In regards to NICE (2010), about 3 million people have COPD in the UK, 900,000 have diagnosed COPD and an estimated 2 million people have COPD which remains undiagnosed. Also, according to department of health (2010) COPD mainly affect people aged over 45 with a history of smoking. SO WHAT Elizabeth stated that she was experiencing progressive dyspnea and increased cough. McCann (2007) stated, with chronic bronchitis, increased accessory use of muscles may be chronic and is preceded by a productive cough, sputum production and shortness of breath. At the time of assessment during admission, Elizabeth reported that she has been unable to care for herself and has difficulty managing her daily activities as she lives alone. Elizabeth’s personal hygiene appeared to have deteriorated and she was only able to speak in short sentences. Elizabeth’s personal hygiene was deteriorating as a result of her inability to self-care. According to Field Smith (2008), hygiene is fundamental for all people. The nurses used Roper et al (2001) and Orem (1991) nursing models in meeting Elizabeth hygiene needs. In addition to Field Smith (2008), it is stated that, this nursing models helps patients to achieve the activities associated with their daily life independently. Following the care plan, the nurse assessed Elizabeth’s hygiene needs, taking into consideration any deficit that may affect her ability to care for herself. The nurse made sure that appropriate personal hygiene care including washing, oral care, hair care, mouth care and nail care was provided and this was discussed with Elizabeth in order to ensure her needs are fully met by protecting her right to privacy and personal choice. DOH (2003), states that personal hygiene is the physical act of cleansing the body to ensure that the skin, hair and nails are maintained in optimum condition. Dingwall (2010) also suggested that assisting patient in meeting their hygiene needs as well as helping them can develop a nurse-patient relationship and allow a skilled practitioner to assess how the patient is improving mentally and physically. Due to the exacerbations, she had problems eating and swallowing, hence, simple routine nutritional screening was performed using a validated nutritional screening tool such as Malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST). According to Rice (2006) nutritional support is a vital part of nursing care because many patients with COPD are malnourished. This nutrition screening was carried out so that changes in her weight can be identified immediately and dietary changes can be started to improve her nutritional status as soon as possible. Specific dietary advice and support as well as general advice for meal planning were reinforced. Nazarko (2002) emphasised that, nutritional status is crucial to patient’s state of health. Referral to dietician and speech and language therapists was made to optimise her nutritional status, and assess and treat her swallowing difficulties. According Evans (2012), swallowing difficulties can make patient’s eating and drinking difficult and c an often result in patients losing weight if no adequate support is given. Hence, Adjustment of food flavour, texture, density and temperature was made to help minimize dysphasia. Any liquid given such as water or ensure was thickened as they are difficult for the tongue to control and can easily splash into the trachea (Weetch, 2001). Due to concerns regarding Elizabeth inability to carry out daily activities safely without risk of falls or accidents, which may result detrimental effect upon her health and quality of life, referral to the following members of multi-disciplinary team was made for further assessment to assist with her daily activities of living that may enable her to continue to live within her home safely. These members of multi-disciplinary team included; social services, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, social workers and age concern. According to Karen Aidin (2011), Dyspnea causes many patients with COPD to withdraw from day-to-day activities and hobbies. Referral to rehabilitation services was considered to improve her breathing, oxygenation and endurance (NICE, 2006). Home care aide services were considered to assist Elizabeth with her activities of daily living care. Rice (2006) suggested, in planning care, it will be crucial to determine what activities of daily living the patient c an perform. NOW WHAT In becoming an efficient nurse, there are some areas of improvement that needs to be considered for future practice such as; understanding more about activities of daily living for COPD patients, having more knowledge on assessment discharge, how they are done, package of care for COPD patients. These learning needs will be achieved through working closely within the multi-disciplinary team. According to Nehring Lashley (2010), working within multi-disciplinary will give the student opportunity to enhance their professional skills and knowledge of patient’s care. Also, reading more about COPD exacerbation will enable the student to recognise a patient having exacerbation if it re-occurs in future practice, knowing how to manage their condition effectively, hence, providing high quality care. CONCLUSION COPD is a debilitating illness which causes patient’s emotional, social, psychological and physical distress due to the impact on daily living. This reflective essay has helped the student acknowledge the importance of reflection within practice as it allows professionals to convey thoughts of how they can improve on their practice to enhance effective delivery of care.

Youth Justice And The Medias Society Criminology Essay

Youth Justice And The Medias Society Criminology Essay This essay will start by highlighting how the media may shape societys response to young people who break the law through the moral panic model. The medias role will be outlined and youth crime data summarised. The urban disturbances of the early 1990s and the death of James Bulger will both be discussed in turn. In both cases a description of the event will be followed by an outline of the media response, identifying elements typical within the moral panic model. An attempt will be made to understand the reaction of society to media representations associated with young law breakers. Finally, in each case the action undertaken by the agents of control will be examined. This essay will attempt to construct arguments challenging this model throughout, and suggest that moral panics may also have sources within societys elite through hegemony. It is acknowledged that arguments surrounding hegemony may link in to the groundbreaking youth justice legislation of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, introduced after the period discussed in this essay. The impact of this legislation is acknowledged, however for the purposes of the media and societys response to young people who break the law it will not be discussed. The Moral Panic A moral panic may be outlined as the identification of a threat, for example to social values. This threat is simplified by the media with distorted representation resulting in raised social anxiety. Agents of control respond, resulting in either the panic diminishing or social changes taking place (Thompson cited in Newburn 2007 p95). The deviancy amplification cycle describes how heightened deviance may be attributed to stigma arising from media exaggeration or the treatment from agents of control (Brown 2005, Cohen 2002). Young highlights how this may quickly create problems through exaggerating an outsider lifestyle (Young cited in Kidd-Hewitt 2002 p119). Although studied by Jock Young in 1971 (Kidd-Hewitt 2002), Stanley Cohens Folk Devils and Moral Panics (1972) was described as the first systematic empirical study of a moral panic in Britain (Muncie 2004 p119). Cohens study of Mods and Rockers in Clacton during the Easter bank holiday in 1964 argued a clear relationship between young law breakers, the media, the general public and the police. Cohens work may be associated with Tannenbaums labelling and Lemerts primary and secondary deviance, all with origins in Mead and Cooleys symbolic interactionism (Newburn 2007). The media have constructed and processed information and ideas regarding deviancy since the industrial age, meaning society usually experience this commercially and politically constrained representation of deviance second hand (Cohen 2003). Hall et al (1978) explain how the media may have an assumed objectivity and frequently communicate an assumed social consensus, but they often have structured access to elite interests or primary definers, and reproduce their biased message. Cohen outlines elements which may appear in the media as stereotyping and stigmatising, a moral emphasis, and the requirement for further action. Information may be exaggerated and the use of symbols may be apparent with deviance represented through identifiable items such as clothing (Cohen 2002). Attitudes that may arise in a moral panic include the perception a disaster has occurred, the prophecy of doom (Cohen 2002 p38) where it is perceived events will happen again, and how at the height of a moral panic other unrelated events may be presented as connected. Perceived origins of a panic may include behaviour being likened to a disease, spreading and infecting. Nostalgia may appear along with disillusionment at the way things have become, impulsive activities may be described as premeditated, and behaviours may be perceived as newly developed (Cohen 2002). Youth Crime The ability of the media to influence public views of youth crime (Allen 2004 cited in Smith 2007) is evident through a rise in crime perceived by the majority of individuals who cited the media as a key information source (Hough and Roberts 2004). This is illustrated by 89 per cent of offenders known to the police being over the age of 18 yet nearly a third of survey respondent attributed most crime to children (Smith 2007). It is also suggested respondents perceived an exaggerated risk of being a crime victim (Goldson 2002 p391). It is advised that crime data should be treated with caution because an exact figure of occurrences does not exist (Tierney 2006). 20 per cent of the 5.4 million recorded crimes in 2006/07 were attributed to 10 to 17 year olds (Newburn 2007, Nicholas et al 2007) and approximately 80,000 crimes per annum are accountable to other agencies. These figures are not included in official crime data, along with 40 per cent of police reported crimes (Maguire 2002). Youth crime declined overall between 1985 and 1993 (Newburn 2002 cited in France) with relative consistency between 1993 and 2000 (Flood-Page et al 2000 cited in France). Offender and victim surveys highlight crimes not included in official data the dark figure (Newburn 2007) with estimated rates varying from eleven times more crime occurrences (Sparks et al 1977 cited in Tierney 2006) to a figure 39 times greater (Farrington et al 2006). Some crimes frequently undertaken by children have a smaller dark figure meaning proportionately more youth crime may be included in crime data. Crimes associated with younger people have estimated occurrences per actual conviction of six times for burglary, 77 for shoplifting and 132 for assault. Crimes associated with older offenders have rates of 809 occurrences per conviction for fraud, and 1463 for thefts from work (Farrington et al 2006). Early 1990s Urban Disturbances During the 1970s ideas surrounding the majority of crime being committed by a minority of individuals emerged from the Magistrates Association (Muncie 2004) and strategies during the 1980s were partly responsible for a reduction in youth crime (Pitts 2001). This increased sharply in the early 1990s by 111 per cent (Pitts 2001) and the Criminal Justice Act 1991 introduced an increasingly desert based sentencing policy, limiting the ability to consider previous crimes (Thomas 2003). From mid 1991 urban youth disturbances emerged from Cardiff, Oxford and in Newcastle notably on the Meadowell Estate where two young car thieves died in a police chase (Newburn 2007). These disturbances involved car related crime and resulted in conflict primarily between male youth and the police, and resulting in many arrests (Brown 2005). Individual younger children, identified by pseudonyms also appeared to be participating in unrelated activities such as domestic burglary Wykes (2001) argues that the poverty, substance misuse and lack of opportunity particularly experienced by the socially excluded Meadowell youth was largely ignored by the media. This supports Jewkes argument that the juvenile cultural resistance suggested by Cohens model may be exaggerated as a primary source of continued deviance (cited in Newburn 2007). The Media Exaggerated and distorted communication may have shaped societys perception of the level and type of offending being based on emotive, ambiguous and inaccurate information from the police and media (Garland cited in Goldson 2002). Labelling and stereotyping claimed hardcore child super crooks were responsible for 90 per cent of offences and were the number one crime problem (Daily Star, 30 November 1992 cited in Muncie 2004 p28). Reporting restrictions led to the identification of younger deviants through pseudonyms such as Ratboy, Homing Pigeon Boy, Spider Boy and The Terror Triplets (Muncie 2004). Deviant activities were distorted describing joyriding, ram raiding, and hotting (Muncie 2004) with frequent use of the term riot argued by Brown (2005) to be indicative of a moral panic. The graphic representation of deviance and the macho urban male youth stunt driving (Brown 2005 p59) supports McRobbie and Thorntons (2002) argument that moral panics may be entertaining. Moralising was also apparent with depictions of defiant youth as a ten year old in an SAS mask swaggered free from court resulting in calls for further action (Brown 2005 p60), although it is argued that a moral factor may not always be evident in a moral panic (Jewkes 2004 cited in Newburn 2007). The Terror Triplets illustrate the nature of the press coverage. The triplets were not persistent offenders with one previous conviction between them, and they all experienced health issues ranging from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to epilepsy and a speech impediment with their education described in court as inadequate (guardian.co.uk 2002). Societys Reaction One panic surrounded the serious persistent young offender, frequently termed bail bandits (Brown 2005 p61) which failed to recognise that persistent offenders usually engage in petty crime, many are vulnerable children who are neglected or abused, with mental health and education issues (Muncie 2004). Vague and imprecise descriptions of youth deviance were highlighted by the police and media on an increasing basis with this lack of distinction fuelling social anxiety regarding the level and type of juvenile offending taking place (Garland cited in Goldson 2002). The inability of the criminal justice system to deal with youth crime was also a source of concern with Ratboy, who had accrued 55 offences between the ages of ten and 14, symbolising the inability for law and order to be maintained (Muncie 2004 p28). Despite decarceration and diversion reducing known juvenile offending in the 1980s, it was increasingly believed penal liberalism had gone too far (Goldson 2002 p390). Fiction increasingly replaced factual and rational information to conjure up monsters that seem to lurk behind the gloss and glitter of everyday life (Pratt 2000 cited in Goldson 2002 p390). Brown (2005) argues the moral panic had mutated into a total panic about the majority of young peoples lives, making the suggestion that Cohens model may provide an insufficient explanation. Childhood was considered to be in crisis, and as with Cohens prophecy of doom (2002 p38) idea, further deviance was expected (Pratt 2000 cited in Goldson 2002). Jewkes (cited in Newburn 2007) argues that the cohesiveness of societys reaction may be overstated in Cohens moral panic model. McRobbie and Thornton (2002) agree, noting how audiences may be sophisticated, understanding varying styles of interpretation which may fragment messages further, such as the ironic in-house publishing style in the Sun newspaper. Increased sources of information since the early 1990s such as the internet may cause further fragmentation. Agents of Control The extensive coverage escalated concerns prompting a Home Affairs Committee in July 1992 to consider youth crime, persistent young offenders and the youth justice system (HAC 1993 cited in Muncie 2004). It was concluded that an increasing minority of young offenders were committing a high volume of offences, despite a lack of evidence (Farrington 2002) and the idea of a persistent group being arbitrary (Hagell Newburn in Muncie 2004). Smith argues that the government responded through introducing the Aggravated Vehicle-Taking Act 1992, which was imprisonable for five years (Home Affairs Committee 1993; Childrens Society 1993 cited in Smith 2007, Brown 2005), later increased to 14 years in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (statutelaw.gov.uk 2008). Hegemony Brown agrees with Cohens suggestion that the agents of control have no choice but to respond in their socially sanctioned manner suggesting that high media coverage prompted the police action towards joyriding which had been occurring for some time (Brown 2005). The elite-engineered moral panic model provides an alternative explanation, describing how societys powerful elite may be the source (Goode and Ben-Yehuda cited in Newburn 2007). Marxist philosopher Gramsci explains such activity through hegemony, something Hall et all include in their model of the moral panic (Hall et al 1978) and something Smith (2007) cites as significant. Hegemony describes the persuasive communication of a societal consensus of belief systems through the media, gaining legitimacy for elite actions (Althusser 1977 and Cohen 1985 cited in Smith 2007, Smith 2007, Brown 2005). Prior to the Aggravated Vehicle-Taking Act 1992 The Lord Chief Justice and the Magistrates Association were overtly discontent with political interference and the limited capacity to increase sentences the Criminal Justice Act 1991. A sophisticated campaign (Smith 2007 p25) during 1991 by powerful members of the police also emerged relating to persistent young offenders, argued to have resulted in a media moral panic (Brown 2005, Downes and Morgan 2002). The Death of James Bulger In February 1993 the well documented abduction of two year James Bulger by ten year olds Robert Thompson and John Venables occurred. Taken from a shopping centre, the boys walked for two miles to a railway track where James was attacked and murdered (Muncie 2004, Brown 2005, Smith 2007). Following nine months custody and a month long trial the boys were found guilty of the murder (Morrison 1997). The boys are now living under assumed identities, understood to be outside of the UK. 27 murders of children by children have occurred in the last 250 years (Muncie 2004) with four 10-13 year olds convicted of murder between 1979 and 1992 (Cavadino 1996). Children are considered to be at greater risk from people who know to them (Morrison 1997) highlighted by sexual abuse and torture of James Bulger which it was argued suggested indicated the sexual abuse and torture experienced by at least one of attackers (Sereny 1996). The Media The hostile and sensationalist approach to this case contrasted sharply with a similar Norwegian case which was treated as a tragic accident (Muncie 2004 p6) and a similar case from Stockport in 1861 where rehabilitation was the ultimate public response. Exaggerated and irrational labelling stigmatised the boys as spawn of satan, freaks of nature, and monsters (Muncie 2004 p4). Sereny (1996) argues that the response to the boys as innately evil highlights how insufficiently it was attempted to understand issues in their lives, with which Morrison agrees (1997). A consensus regarding a new type of deviance was evident as we will never be able to look at our children in the same way again. Concerns of reoccurrence were evident with parents everywhere are asking themselves and their friends if the Mark of the Beast might not also be imprinted on their offspring (Sunday Times cited in Muncie 2004 p4) advising For Goodness Sake Hold Tight To Your Kids (Sun 16 February 1993 cited in Mason 2003 p197). Blurring of the boundary between the media and the audience (McRobbie Thornton 2002) may be seen with the widely broadcast CCTV footage of James Bulger in a shopping centre with his assailants. The Bulger family created a petition in conjunction with the Sun newspaper and a television phone in of nearly 300,000 names demanding Thompson and Venables never to be released (Morrison 1997). Retributive comments broadcast on television included James father Ralph stating one day theyll be out of jail and Ill be waiting for them and Jamess uncle Jim threatening when we get hold of them, we will fucking kill them (Morrison p234). McRobbie and Thornton (2002) also explore the idea of pressure groups or the folk devils themselves blurring this boundary further and widening the debate by either appearing in or producing their own media, although this is not evident in this case. By 1995 young people were being represented as the savage generation (The Sunday Times 5 February 1995 cited in Kidd-Hewitt 2002 p117). Cohens its not only this (Cohen 2002 p39) idea was evident through frequent and omnipresent panics which blamed the breakdown of the family, the availability of drugs and the crimogenic media (Kidd-Hewitt 2002, Thornton cited in Newburn 2007). McRobbie and Thornton (2002) argue unlike the novelty described in Cohens model, this has become a basic media response. Society Despite this crimes unusualness, societal anxiety increased surrounding both the governments capacity to control the crimogenic capacity of younger children, and the protection of younger children (Pitt 2001, Muncie 2004, Brown 2005). Crime data suggests a trend of younger childrens involvement in crime through a fall in the peak age of offending, but this is also accompanied by earlier desistance (Criminal Statistics 1995 cited in Coleman 1997, Criminal Statistics 2005 cited in Coleman Schofield 2007). Adult perceptions regarding age-appropriate behaviour were challenged (Brown 2005) and with childhood on trial (James Jenks cited in Muncie 2004 p4) innocence shifted to potential evil and hate (Muncie Hughes 2002). It is also argued that resulting public and legal attitudes towards children have become more punitive as a result of this case (Hendrick 2002 p39) with misrepresentations fuelling harsher measures (Smith 2007). The well established panic surrounding crimogenic media also emerged (Brown 2005), a youth culture anxiety as seen as early as 1917 when the deteriorating influence of cinema was highlighted (Russell cited in Pearson 1983). In the Bulger case the film Childs Play 3 was the subject of this panic despite evidence in court suggesting this film had not been viewed by the boys (Morrison 1997). Brown (2005) argues that the films character Chucky who physically represented a child but behaviourally represented an adult was used as a symbol of the challenge to age-appropriate behaviour. More tenuous associations include the use of batteries in James Bulgers attack (Morrison 1997). Agents of Control It is argued that doli incapax (incapable of crime) where it must be proven that a child understands right and wrong was reviewed for ten to thirteen year olds in response to this case. Although the principle was initially retained it was later revoked in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (Bandalli 2000 cited in Gelsthorpe Morris 2002). Despite protection under the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC) mental health provision was limited during the boys nine months in custody and minimal allowance was made for their age with the trial in an adult court and their identities exposed to the international media, argued to have heightened the campaign of hate (Scraton Haydon 2002 p313). Upon release Dame Butler-Sloss favoured the 1998 Human Rights Act over freedom of expression, granting anonymity to Thompson and Venables for the risk of retributive injury or death (cited in Scraton Haydon 2002). The UK government breached articles relating to a fair trial, fixing sentence and periodic review of sentence in the European Convention of Human Rights (Muncie 2004, Scraton Haydon 2002). The sentence had already been increased from eight years to ten by the Lord Chief Justice. Final sentencing authority rested with Michael Howard (Sereny 1996) who increased it for a second time to 15 years, citing public concern and the Bulger petition (Morrison 1997). This illustrates Cohens argument that sometimes agents of control have to act. Once overturned, the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 removed the capacity for the Home Secretary to intervene in sentencing decisions (Muncie 2004). With crime becoming second only to unemployment on the agenda (Pitts 2001), the intention to incarcerate 12 to 14 year olds through secure training units and secure training orders was announced, ten days after James Bulgers death and only months after ending custody for 14 year olds in the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (Smith 2007). More punitive measures were introduced in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 where the maximum sentence for fifteen to seventeen year olds doubled to two years (Newburn 2002). Hegemony The end of the bi-partisan consensus on crime was apparent in the 1970 Conservative Party manifesto (Pitts 2001) with punitive rhetoric becoming associated with political success (Smith 2007). By the 1992 general election a return to bi-partisanship was argued in the form of being tough on crime as a means to political victory (Downes Morgan 2002). Following Labours 1992 defeat policies were transferred from the reinvented and electorally successful Democrats (Pitts 2001) argued to have rescued the Labour Party from perpetual opposition (Pitts 2001 p18, Hudson Lowe 2004) which included a punitive approach towards crime. This was evident the month before James Bulgers death when the Shadow Home Secretary, Tony Blair declared how New Labour were tough on crime, tough on causes of crime (cited in Pitts 2001 p19). Political posturing is argued to have become part of youth justice continuing throughout the 1990s with Labours new approach suggested to have heightened Conservative government punitiveness. It is argued that rather than being a catalyst for policy change, the murder of James Bulger may have accelerated the punitive turn. The abolition of doli incapax may be associated with this event but it is argued that events prior to James Bulgers death were already influencing youth justice policy (Smith 2007). The tone of political communication highlights the argued political exploitation of youth fear with labels like vermin (Goldson 2002 p392). John Major illustrated an assumed punitive consensus (Hall et al 1978), saying how society needs to condemn a little more and understand a little less and Kenneth Clarke called for increased court powers, emphasising hostility towards really persistent, nasty little juveniles (Smith 2007 p25). McRobbie and Thornton argue hegemony is overstated due to the potential plurality of reactions (2004 p72), something Jewkes also points out, describing how public and media cohesion is overstated (cited in Newburn 2007 p100), although it is noted that fragmented hegemonic activity may be seen, for example with Thatcherism and the Daily Mail (McRobbie Thornton 2004). Following on from the deviance amplification model, it may be argued that in some cases governments may increase deviancy through the interventions they initiate (Brown 2005). Conclusion It has been suggested that the media is powerful in shaping societys response to young people who break the law, being a primary information source. One of the ways in which the media shapes societys response is by creating the impression that youth crime is more widespread that really is the case. The problems that some deviant youth experience are grossly under represented such as the health issues of The Terror Triplets and the potential that at least one of James Bulgers attackers may have also been a ten year old victim of sexual abuse. Problems also include the failure to circulate general information such as the dark figure of crime for fraud, the adult age of most known offenders or a fall in the peak offending age. The simplified and exaggerated way in which youth are represented is argued to cause widespread societal panic and irrational fears, for example the anticipation of similar repeat activity in the case of rare crimes such as the murder of James Bulger. Explanations for the activity such as its not only this may feed the panic, resulting in greater fears about unrelated factors and in the case of the early 1990s lead to a total panic about youth. Authority action may be influenced by the public interest generated by a moral panic, and in the case of hegemony societys response to the media may be the provision of consent for authority action. It was argued that moral panics also have the potential to be entertaining and do not always include moralising. The cohesiveness of response to a moral panic may be overstated with the plurality of media highlighted. The idea of a total panic about youth was considered and the blurring of boundaries illustrated as having the potential to diffuse anxieties through debate widening, or heighten concerns and inform state action, as with the petition in the Bulger case. In conclusion, evidence may support the model described by Cohen, it is suggested however that other perspectives highlight that the way in which the media and society interact with respect to young people who break the law is more complex.

LATIN AMERICA :: essays research papers

LATIN AMERICA When someone talks about Latin America the first thing that usually comes to head is a beautiful place that is mostly occupied by poor peasant farmers who don’t know much about anything. Maybe the only thing that comes to mind is that its just a nice place to go for vacation, but that is because Latin America is probably unfamiliar to us Americans or we just think we’re to good for them. Whatever the reason being for not knowing much about Latin America is just about to change as well as the way you view Latin America. Latin America is rather large and kind of difficult to pin point since it starts from Mexico’s border with the United States of America all the way to a small island called Tierra del Fuego, but I can tell you that it’s south of the United States. Latin America also includes all of the Caribbean islands where almost all the countries are suffering of hunger and bad leadership. Brazil and Argentina are two of Latin America’s strongest countries because they make up most of the common market where other nations come to trade, buy goods and buy cash crops. There is a lot of fertile land and plantations in Latin America that produce goods such as sugarcanes and tropical fruits. There are places like mountain ranges where people do live, but eventually have to leave because of the conditions so most of those people end up living in the cities and have to find work which is very hard and leads to poverty in the cities. The cities are one of the weirdest places in Latin America simply because of the people and way of life. In the city you can see Lexus parked right next to a donkey and see a millionaire right next to a woman walking barefoot carrying her child and a bucket on her head. These are everyday life occurrences that give you a clue on how things are in Latin America. Human Life is actually put second in Latin America to working and because of this there is lack of educational and future opportunities. That is a reason for so many emigrants in the U.S; people see that there is no hope for their children so they save up money and come on boats that will free them from their depression. Latin America is a dominant Roman Catholic region though Protestants are on the rise.

The Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage Essay -- Papers

The Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage Consider how your placement setting was effective in meeting the learning needs of all the children, with specific reference to: 1. Communication, Language and Literacy 2. Mathematical Development 3. Knowledge and Understanding of the World In this assignment I will explain what I understand the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage to be about. I will also describe the nursery setting in which I was placed and discuss if it was effective in promoting a positive learning environment. My 3-5 placement was based at Gorse Hall Nursery in Stalybridge. And finally I intend to discuss how the nursery setting encouraged the children to develop their learning in Communication: Language and Literacy, Mathematical Development and Knowledge and Understanding of the World. I will draw upon my observations, experiences and study tasks to discuss my understanding of the Foundation Stage. According to Keating, I, (2002), â€Å"†¦the Foundation Stage is crucial in helping every child to develop skills, knowledge and understanding, attitudes and concepts which will prepare them not only for entry into full-time school but for the rest of their lives.† Children are already bringing with them a range of experiences and personal interests from home and it essential that the teacher discover these and implement them into their planning. Gorse Hall Nursery follow a school policy which suggests that teachers develop a partnership with parents. Parents are encouraged to come in to nursery and talk to staff if they have any concerns. They are also involved in their child’s learni... ...ctive to teach something that the children have no experience of. Then ensuring they are planned within a context e.g. Autumn, fruit and veg. Making them enjoyable. Compare and contrast children’s behaviour/ responses/attitudes in the morning and in the afternoon. What do you notice? The children are different in the afternoon so it is difficult to compare behaviour. The afternoon children have more problems with concentration, especially at story time when they fidget a lot more. The afternoon children need more supervision than the morning children. Does the planning reflect children’s responses in the morning and afternoon? Task five continue†¦ The planning is the same in the afternoon as the morning but is executed a little differently according to the temperament of the children.

Hhielmsn

In this, and subsequent descriptions of the trenches, I may lay myself open to the charge of exaggeration. But it must be remembered that I am describing trench life in the early days of 1914, and I feel sure that those who had experience of them will acquit me of any such charge. To give a recipe for getting a rough idea, in case you want to, I recommend the following procedure. Select a flat ten-acre ploughed field, so sited that all the surface water of the surrounding country drains into it.Now cut a zig-zag slot about four feet deep and three feet wide diagonally across, dam off as much water as you can so as o leave about one hundred yards of squelchy mud; delve out a hole at one side of the slot, then endeavour to live there for a month on bully beef and damp biscuits, whilst a friend has instructions to fire at you with his Winchester every time you put your head above the surface. Well, here I was anyway, and the next thing was to make the bets of it.As I have before said, t hese were the days of the earliest trenches in this war; days when we had none of those â€Å"props† such as corrugated iron, floorboards, and sand bags. When you made a dug-out in those days you made it out of anything you could find, and generally had to make it yourself. Some British soldiers found that captured German trenches were better built than British ones – as H S Clapham wrote after a successful attack

Orbach

Sample descriptive outline and summary Fat is a Feminist Issue by Susie Arroba Descriptive Outline Paragraphs 1 & 2 Paragraphs 3 & 4 Paragraphs 5 -8 Paragraph 9 Us Mary Arroba details the epidemic of obesity in American women, the emotional effects of overeating on women, and lists commonly held views about the causes of obesity. Arroba suggests that women's obesity is in fact a challenge to gender stereotypes and should be viewed as a societal illness, not a personal failing.In this section of the text, Arroba argues that women's inferior societal position is the result of a centuries-long belief that women's biology makes them fit for the limited roles of wife and mother. In order to achieve this status, however, Arroba states that a woman must â€Å"have† a man, which makes her seclusion's and keenly aware of herself as an object for the pleasure of men. A woman therefore is highly susceptible to the vagaries of fashion, media, and make-up in an effort to make her more ascr ibable to men.Arroba concludes by stating that, despite the many changes in fashion trends, being thin is consistently viewed as positive, and necessary, for women, and that, as a result, obesity may express rebellion against the strictures of cue Trial conformity women face. Arroba uses her introductory paragraphs to establish the context of her discussion about women's obesity in the United States. Arroba begins to make her argument, offering a feminist explanation of women's obesity, alleging that â€Å"fat is† n expression of independence.Her parallel structure Caftan is†) suggests ownership of an otherwise unattractive quality – fat itself. Arroba logically and methodically builds her argument in this section of the text, moving from biology to culture, in order to persuade the reader that the epidemic of female obesity may, in fact, be a feminist choice -? rather than the availability of unhealthy food, lack of exercise,