ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The Dada movement and Dadaism was a cultural movement. Dada is considered as the nihilistic movement born of the First World War and had sprung up in several places at once: Berlin, Zurich, New York. When Dada ran down, around 1920, to be recharged by the more positive surrealist current, it is hardly surprising that its new energy took it from its Paris depot out across frontiers again. Dada and Surrealism have both left their mark on the artists of the younger generation, some of whom have even chosen to call themselves Neo-Dadaists. Dada was a clamorous, deliberately irrational protest against reason and the thinking mind, which, it claimed, were responsible for the outbreak of war in 1914. It was not only an art (or anti-art) movement but a political movement. It pinned its faith on the laws of chance and left it to them to recreate a spontaneous, unprejudiced order, which set art free and gave to man the image of a world waking up in a hand of crystal. Surrealism too sought to go beyond appearances, to capture and express the sensations of the unconscious, to create a new beauty by associations of incongruous objects — such beauty as might result, in the words of Lautréamont, “from the chance meeting of a sewing machine and an umbrella on an operating table” (Ades 32). The really lasting successes of Surrealism were scored in those cases where it contrived to create original forms (not entirely dependent on appearances) vividly expressive of a dramatic picture content and to restore its poetic significance to the painter’s medium, at the same time redeeming the literary nature of its inspiration by the purity of the pictorial means employed. To these a few more names should be added, for the moral lesson imparted by the geometric idiom has been momentous and long-lasting. In America geometric painting was the first to achieve a real originality, in the works — which proved to be influential — of painters like Josef Albers and Fritz Glarner, both Europeans transplanted to the United States, and also in the sublime example of Mondrian, who finished his career in New York. Geometric painting still seems today, at the time of writing, the only valid painting in South America, in Argentina in particular. In Italy the work of such abstractionists as Reggiani, Soldati, Radice and the early Licini formed one of the few vital trends that in the years after 1930 was able to pit its strength against the conformism of Fascist art and to express itself in a broadly European idiom (Ades 65). In
In November of 2014, Sony Pictures Entertainment reported the hackers’ attack and leaking the private information regarding studio stars, private conversation, and unreleased films. In spite of the fact that the whole film The Interview produced by Sony Pictures was not released by hackers, the incident was characterized as a cyber crime. It was associated with the planned release of The Interview scheduled on December 24, 2014 (Donnelly par. 2). The problem is in the film’s content because the film presents a story of the hypothetical killing of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The reaction of the North Korean authorities to the film production was negative. Therefore, the further hackers’ threats to organize terrorist attacks in cinemas where The Interview would be released were associated with the activities of the North Korean authorities (“The Interview” par. 3). From this point, it is important to discuss the cases of The Interview and Sony Pictures hackers’ attacks in the context of the U.S. media law and compare the main aspects of the U.S. laws with the media law in the UAE to explain the U.S. authorities and public’s reactions to these incidents. Sony Pictures’ Response to Hackers’ Attacks and The Interview Case The hackers’ attacks on Sony Pictures led to significant financial losses for the company because of disrupting the plans regarding the release of several films. Focusing on the threats of terrorist attacks associated with releasing The Interview, Sony Pictures faced additional financial problems because the leading cinema chains in the USA rejected releasing the film. However, in spite of changing the initial plans regarding the film release, Sony Pictures chose to sell the film online and demonstrate it in small cinemas. As a result, the strategy of the company resulted in the fact that The Interview became the leading Sony Pictures film sold online. The Internet promotion of the film and high sales became possible only with the focus on Barack Obama’s support in discussing the case of The Interview (Ruche par. 2). Although there was no full financial recovery for the studio, the politicians and the public demonstrated the focus on the U.S. laws guaranteeing the freedom of expression in the media, protection from cyber invasions, and violation of copyright laws. In this context, President Obama proposed to revise the existing laws in the area of media to prevent further possible cyber attacks. The other important issue to discuss is the invasion of privacy. As a result of the situation that Sony Pictures’ private documentation was leaked, many studio employees and actors became the victims of the invasio
Introduction Frank Zappa was a musician and composer and he was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Frank Zappa was mostly a self-trained musician who was able to delve into various genres of music including symphonies, jazz, and rock. Zappa is mostly known for his blatant attempts to flout the traditional conventions of music and for encompassing math and chemistry influences in his compositions (Ashby 1999). Other than music, Zappa also served as a film director, an album cover designer, and a social activist. As a musician, Zappa tended to focus too much on the controversy, an aspect that often overshadowed his artistic genius. By the time of his death, Frank Zappa had made immense contributions to the field of music in a career that spanned over a period of thirty years. Frank Zappa’s Biography Frank Zappa “was born in Baltimore, Maryland on 21 st of December 1940 to Rosie Marie and Francis Vincent Zappa as the firstborn of four children” (Miles 2014, p. 6). Frank’s father was a chemist and a mathematician and he was regularly contacted to carry out defense projects on behalf of the United States government. Consequently, the Zappa family was constantly moving across the country. It is often assumed that because the young Zappa came into contact with various chemicals, his health might have been affected greatly. At an early age, Zappa showed immense interest in scientific innovations, an element that he transferred to his music later on in life. Zappa’s initial music influences were in the form of Avant-guard composers such as Edgard Varese and Igor Stravinsky. Zappa was also initially interested in modern jazz and doo-wop genres of music. The Zappa family finally settled in Los Angeles when the composer was in his late teenage years, and he began learning how to play both the guitar and the drum. Zappa’s quick mastery of music is noted through the fact that he was able to write original compositions for the school orchestra in his final year of high school. Zappa formally ventured into the music business after clearing high school. Zappa’s original band “The Blackouts” featured a racially diverse band that was not able to withstand the racial intolerance of the 1950s. Zappa joined “The Soul Giants” a band that mostly did covers but the outfit soon started to perform some of his original compositions (Clement 2009). The band later changed its name to “The Mothers” in 1965. The band started releasing albums under the name “The Mothers of Invention” and it was able to attain considerable international success. Other than composing and performing music, Zappa worked as a director for music videos and films. Z
Introduction Plastic transformed the world and proved to be beneficial in many ways. At the same time, its excessive use poses an environmental threat that requires an immediate response. Since this synthetic polymer is easy to produce, pliable, and versatile, over the last decades, industries invented a vast number of plastic products that found their customer. As of now, companies are both pursuing their revenue objectives and endeavoring to meet the ever-growing needs of the population. Unfortunately, both viable and cost-effective methods of production and recycling are yet to be found. This essay provides a brief historical oversight and key facts and statistics on plastic use and describes the stages of its life-cycle. With the widespread use of plastic in everyday life, it is now hard to believe that this polymer has not been around for centuries. The revolutionary discovery was made no earlier than in the 1860s when American scientists and researchers set out on a search for substitutes for natural resources. Before this, the popularity of billiards had grown rapidly; however, there was no workable solution as to how to provide a stable supply of ivory for making balls. A sizeable award was offered to anyone who could find a way to go about that problem, and in 1869, John Wesley Hyatt invented plastic. Throughout the next six decades, significant investments in research took place, but what speeded up the developmental pace was World War II. Military needs necessitated industries to expand production and seek new methods of processing plastic. Historical Background To get a gist of how pressing the issue of plastic use is, one should take a look at key facts and statistics. First, plastic production requires vast energy consumption: it is true that plastic is an artificial substitute but a prime source of raw material for its production is crude oil which is a natural resource. Since its first major introduction for general use in the 1950s, over 9 billion metric tons of plastic were produced (Geyer et al. 4). What is deeply unsettling about plastic production is that every piece that has ever been made never left the face of the Earth and will exist for years to come. Moreover, not much is being done to put plastic products that have already been in exploitation to further use, for according to the statistics, 91% of plastic is not recycled (Geyer
Abstract Sports play an important part in people’s lives, whether they take active part in it or merely enjoy watching it on TV. Tracing the events in the life of famous sportsmen, the audience cannot help noticing certain peculiar issues. Considering them the specifics of the profession, people seldom ask themselves a question, what the reason for such differences between athletes and other people are. As an example, the tendency for the sportsmen’s salaries to increase despite the crisis and the economic complicacies has been spotted. Causing people to demand the explanation, such issues are the result of multiple factors which require thorough research. Among other issues which many people cannot find the reasonable explanation for is the interconnection between the media coverage and the sports. On the one hand, it is obvious that sports do not need any advertising companies; yet on the other hand there must be certain reasons for sportsmen to take part in commercials. Taking a closer look at the sports statistics, it would be possible to provide some explanations for these phenomena. Sports and Business: The Complicacies and the Benefits Sports and Money: Despite the Crisis It is a well-known fact that professional athletes are paid sufficient amounts of money; the phenomenon, probably, roots in the popularity which sportsmen get as mass media boosts their images. However, what is most surprising is the fact that the wages of sportsmen, namely athletes, did not drop, but even rose as the global crisis hit the world. Already discussed in a number of articles, the issue seems increasingly controversal as the research digs deeper into its roots. If tracing the history of the pro athletes’ salaries, it becomes absolutely obvious that the salary rates are growing with each year passing, completely independent from the outer factors, such as inflation, financial and economic crises, etc. Not to make unsubstantiated statements, it would be a good idea to drive several examples of the way the wages of professional sportsmen have been boosted. Thus, according to the records made by Quirk (1992), it can be considered that the tendency for increase of sportsmen’s salaries could be traced even ten years ago. Taking into account that the wages of the world famous athletes changed in the period from 1983 top 1991 (which made $1,035 000 to 3,167 000), and comparing it to the present rates of sportsmen’s salary, ($20 000 000 scored by Manchester United in 2006, according to Stewart (2007, p. 10)) it can be considered that the tendency for sportsmen wages to increase despite the economical environment has been preserved. Such tendency can be explained by a variety of factors. One if the most plausible ideas is the growing popularity of sports in the world. Watching the sports competitions either on TV, or in the stadium, people refund the money invested in the game and thus increase the sports rates, which inevitably leads to the increase in salaries. Since people watch sports even in crisis times, the situation becomes completely clear. The Price of Being Popular: Sports and Sponsorship It go
When authorities in companies step over the line and turn to unethical or illegal practices, the employees are faced with a choice. Doing the right thing is often difficult and might be even dangerous, but refusal to react to a problem will allow it to grow and become more serious. The responsible reaction of employees in case of a violation can prevent or at least minimize its potential damage, and if the right actions are taken in time, the problems might be solved. The practice of disposing medical waste from a hospital in a municipal landfill is both illegal and potentially dangerous. Chantale did the right thing when she did not ignore the situation and decided to talk about it with her supervisor and tried to understand the problem and fix it. Having discussed the issue with the management, she can now fully realize that the illegal disposal of the chemical is not a result of a mistake or an accident, but a deliberate action aimed to save money on utilization (MacDonald 1). She needs to make sure that she has the facts and evidence; it might include making copies of emails and documenting her actions. As a witness of an illegal and dangerous act, Chantale should report these facts to the authority. The thorough investigation of the violation needs to be carried out, with which she might need to collaborate and provide evidence. She also might be required to testify in a law court later on. Loyalty to the company is important, but there are reasonable limits to it. If the employer commits acts that are illegal or unethical, the employees should take responsible actions. Participation in illegal or questionable practices or a refusal to rea
In “U.S. Companies Brought Back Foreign Profits as Coronavirus Struck,” the author discusses the motivations and reasons behind unusually high repatriation of foreign profit by American companies. More than 120 billion dollars have been brought back since the beginning of 2020. The tax reform which took place in 2017 allows American corporations to bring back foreign earnings without paying domestic taxes. Prior to the act, multinational corporations residing in the United States would defer from paying taxes by reinvesting the profits into international markets. While cash flow abroad increased, the company’s cash flow in the domestic market depended solely on the profits from the American market. Not only does it decrease capital spending in the United States, but it also limited the growth of the operating cash flow. The 2017 tax reform was timely because under current circumstances, which can be described as economic stagnation, money brought back from foreign markets can surge the American economy. Lack of positive cash flow may lead to a situation when a company requires external financing. Currently, the government is limited in its ability to support all businesses because of the magnitude of the coronavirus problem. Therefore, companies need to be able to rely on their own capital, and foreign earnings will definitely assist in this situation. Bank of America, for instance, is already planning how it will spend the international profit on the workforce and branches. Other companies may use this money to pay back their liabilities, further stimulating the economy and aiding the solvency of companies. During these trying times, investing in the domestic market should be a priority, and increasing the cash flow at home is one of the primary mechanisms for reaching this objective.
Sylvia Federici explores the building blocks of capitalism in her renowned book Caliban and the Witch . The main thesis of the book is multilayered and addresses the development of capitalism and the role women, as well as violence, played in the process. Federici also questions Marx’s concept of primitive accumulation, or rather, reveals the points that remained untouched by the famous theorist. This paper includes a brief analysis of the major points of the book and the way they relate to Marx’s ideas concerning primitive accumulation. The central idea of the book is concerned with violence that is regarded as the most potent instrument to deprive people of their resources. This idea is consistent with Marx’s perspective since the theorist believed that elites used power to bereave land and other resources of people. This was done to leave once free peasants without any means except for their labor or bodies as the production tools of this waged labor. Federici continuously stresses that the deprivation of the communal land was accompanied by peasants’ riots and rebels. These actions led to favorable outcomes in the 15 th century since peasants received high wages and women had equal opportunities. However, the government and ruling elites used violence to take these resources away. A new insight provided by Federici that widens the scope of Marx’s perspective is related to violence against women. Marx pays little attention to the matter. Federici makes it clear that violent acts against women were central to the development of capitalism because the feudal order was associated with strong matriarchal values. For instance, women were often leaders of peasants’ rebels, so the ruling groups made sure that females’ lives became confined
Background My fellow citizens! Our local government has recently announced that they plan to impose a new tax on sweetened beverages, following the example of Berkeley. As you know, they already tried to introduce a similar tax in the fall of 2014, but it failed because we rejected it. Despite our previous refusal to accept this tax, the governors continue their efforts, using the universal concern about sugar and its negative impact on the human body, pretending to care about our health. They also ignore the social context: they know that this tax will be a severe burden to the poor and do-little harm to the wealthy. Considering these facts, I strongly recommend that you vote it down. Popular Feedback As you obviously know, it is the people who must be the true governor of the United States. We delegate our rights to the government, including the local government of San Francisco, so that they can perform the measures that are beneficial to us. To know whether the measures that they have enacted are beneficial or not, they ask (or we expect them to ask) our feedback. Only having taken our feedback into consideration, the statesmen should proceed or stop working in a particular direction. In November 2014, the government proposed us to present our opinion regarding the so-called soda tax via voting. We did present our opinion, and it was negative. The measure needed two-thirds of voters to say “yes” since it had to assign money for a specific purpose. It got slightly more than a half. It is quite obvious that the people of San Francisco did not want this tax. Now, in less than two years, they ask us to vote on the same tax again. Nothing could actually change in such a short period. It is clear that the local government is ignoring the popular feedback that it received that fall. Instead, they hope that if they formulate their proposition in a different way, we will be so blind as to accept it. Using the Agenda Not only do the public officials of San Francisco ignore our feedback, but they also use the current health agenda so artfully that some San Franciscans already begin to believe that the tax is beneficial for our health. As all of us know, in our times, a healthy lifestyle is a top priority. Many people are trying to form healthy food habits. Online journals, TV shows, newspapers speak of the severe danger that sugar poses to our health. Many Americans are doing their best to exclude sugar from their diet. This hysteria creates the political stream, i.e. the public concern that presents an opportunity to enact a particular policy. Next goes the policy stream, which is the measures that statesmen propose to deal with the issue. Dear citizens, our task is to create the problem stream. It is a serious obstacle that the policy meets. The simple reason why we should do this is that the politicians are hardly worried about our health. If they were concerned about the sugar in our diet, they would enact an educating campaign, ban the beverages that contain sugar or encourage the production of sugar-free beverages. Instead, they are proposing a s
Introduction Gertrude, better known as Hamlet’s mother, and the adulterous queen who married too quickly after her husband’s death, is one of the minor characters in Shakespeare’s Hamlet . Gertrude is often been suspected of perjury towards the dead king and her quick remarriage is often seen as a sign of her unfaithfulness towards her dead husband. However, in the second part of the play, when Gertrude faces the truth of her first husband’s dead, she immediately stands a reformed character, sympathetic to Hamlet’s cause. She promises to keep up her connubial subterfuge in order to deceive Claudius. This in one hand shows Gertrude’s ignorance of the truth of her first husband’s death and on the other hand proves her to be a woman with divided loyalties. This essay studies the character of Gertrude as Hamlet’s mother and a widow to the dead queen. Character of Gertrude Gertrude is often described in the play by Hamlet as frail, which he had addressed to her whole personality. He has shown this “frailty” as weakness and lack of depth in entire character. Reading the play makes it clear that Gertrude was not an accomplice in the plot of murder of the late king. Further, whether she was an adulteress is debatable, for Shakespeare does not suggest of any relation between Gertrude and Claudius before her late husband’s death. Gertrude is often misinterpreted as a shallow and self-centered character. However, a closer look defines her otherwise. Gertrude was one who had overpowering animal instincts, in love with the baser needs of human flesh. She is one who can forget the grief of past quickly as she has a happy disposition even under adversity, and feels all around her should remain happy. This is the reason Gertrude is found, at the beginning of the play, pleading Hamlet to loose his sorrow and stop grieving his father’s death. Instead, she pleads with him to marry Ophelia and make things comfortable for everyone. Thus, she was one of those people who reject unhappiness, and seek only the fun and frolic in life. One can even see in Gertrude a woman who refuses to embrace old age. She clings to her youth. One almost feels that the charm of Gertrude’s youth will not diminish away, instead wither when she meets her end. She mostly plays a passive part in the play’s action packed scenes. Throughout the play, she appears to be Claudius’s shadow, following him everywhere. Even Claudius believes that Gertrude does nothing but follow his wishes. However, one must not forget that whe