ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Danish Girl is a film released in 2015, based on a novel that features the life story of the Danish painter, Lili Elbe. The story is notable because the Elbe is one of the first publicly known transsexual women and one of the first participants in the history of surgical transition. The film starts Eddie Redmayne as Lili Elbe (born Einar Wagner) and Alicia Vikander as his wife Gerda Wegener. Both actors received wide recognition for their performance, which brought the film several critical awards, despite controversial interpretations of historical events in the film. The film supports ideological views of bio-essentialism in gender identity through the film’s plot, which focuses on the main character’s lifelong emotional journey of self-awareness. Specifically, the Danish girl movie was selected for examination is explained by the impact the film caused on the population in the discussion of transgender visibility and acceptance in society. Although the film was not the first mainstream media project focused on transgender identity, it raised awareness on the topic of transgender visibility among the straight audience that the film targeted. The main characters and events of the film are based on real-life persons, and a majority of the film reflects the life of Elbe. However, due to several inconsistencies with reals life, the film could not be acknowledged as autobiographical. In the 1920s, the main character, a Danish illustrator, starts posing as a female model for his painter’s wife. The posing process unleashes his inner female identity, and both decide to move to Paris, where Lili can live freely as a woman ( Danish Girl ). Later in the film, Lili decides to undergo a transitional to-part surgery and dies from the second one. The movie received appraisal from movie critics; however, the reception by the public was marked with mixed opinions. The film’s production was long in talks before the final release, and many other actors were initially cast for the leading role. Despite the long preparations, the film was released only when transgender visibility was already an actual topic in society. 2015 marked a significant year in the history of transgender visibility with a trans-focused drama, Transparent , winning two Golden Globe awards and a highly publicized coming-out act of Caitlyn Jenner. Although the film sparked many discussions for being a revolutionary project focused on the transgender theme, the film was massively criticized for ignoring current issues experienced by the trans community. The film caused some controversies in the film industry and the trans community. Casting Eddie Redmayne, a cis-gendered straight actor for the leading role, identified the lac
Introduction The debate of globalization still rages with critics and proponents alike failing to reach a consensus on its benefits and detriments. This follows the prevailing differences pictured by people in their attempt to provide the real meaning of globalization. Is it the coming together of political, economical, or cultural organization around the world, or is it the power behind the ontogeny of economy, success, or democratic liberation? It is worth noting that these, among other questions relating to globalization, will attract conflicting responses, majority of which will depend on people as well as place. For instance, the answer from a person in Cairo will differ from one in Washington, which will also differ from the one in Johannesburg. In fact, the response will also differ with people from the same place. Therefore, to come up with a standard definition of globalization may prove hard and hence the debate. Of paramount importance is the fact that, the answers will as well vary based on how various people in various places perceive globalization. There are those who will base their answers on culture, politics, while others will base them on economy. Nevertheless, the pertinent question remains, what is globalization. Values come in handy when specifying the implication of globalization. For instance, when one pictures globalization as ‘McDonaldization’ or simply ‘Americanization’ of the world, it stands out as a process, steered by the American culture whereby, all other cultures follow suit. In addition and based on culture, globalization can stand as the intermingling of variety cultures in their pursuit of, not only learning, but also sharing with each other. According to Rothenberg, “Globalization is the acceleration and intensification of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations” (2) This definition stands out as the most unbiased because it takes into account all the areas, which initially were separately used to define globalization. It considers the human welfare like security and health. It also carries with it the issue of environment, not sparing culture, which is a combination of religions, ideas, and politics. Economy and the success of different societies around the globe stand out within this definition. However, this is not the final definition. As time goes on, different values will arise as expected, a situation that will alter the meaning. As a result, it leaves a room for such a circumstance and hence the most favored definition. However, it is important to consider some issues that surround globalization instead of majoring on its definition. The origin of Globalization The precise emergence globalization is not well known. While some learners claim that it came in the course of the current epoch, others say that it bears a deep-rooted origin. Among the people who regard globalization as having a deep-root
Many people rely on media to provide reliable information and frame their opinions about events of life. However, the challenge is to ascertain the accurate representation of races in television shows. This essay explores how race is portrayed in the Devious Maids with a focus on Latinos. In particular, it aims to explain how the show stereotypes characters by their race and limits or expands viewers’ understanding of the racial identity. Devious Maids focuses on four Latino maids, who work for “the wealthiest and influential families in the Beverly Hills” (Thompson 1). The maids team up with a newcomer to uncover the truth behind the murder of a maid, and they eventually become allies in their lives. Although Devious Maids has gained recognition as a show with all Latino casts, its critics have ignored the cast and insisted that the show’s depiction of Latino women promotes stereotyping and unacceptable. However, many critics claim that Latinos should be proud because their “numbers and depiction on television shows have increased in the past few years” (Thompson 1). Thus, Latinos can find characters they relate closely in almost every network. However, stereotypical roles continue to define Latinos on television shows. According to Thompson, Latinos still play the role of “a ditsy but forgivable housewife, a confident but compassionate prison inmate, cold-blooded and calculating drug dealers, and devious and seductive housemaids” (Thompson 1). On the same note, Rodriguez noted that there were four Hs associated with Latinos in Hollywood. The four Hs stereotype Latinos as “either the overly hormonal (“Oh Mamacita, I have to have you”), overly hysterical (“Lucy!”), overly hostile (“I’ll cut you sucka!”), or overly humble (“We are poor people”)” (Rodriguez 1). These Hs have become the Hollywood formula for depicting Latinos, and they provide accounts of why Latinos do not play significant roles, leaders, or heroes in shows (Rodriguez 1). Not all television shows portray Latinos negatively. There are series, which depict Latinos as doctors, nurses, police officers, judges, lawyers, and teachers. However, in most cases, Latinos are associated with negative roles in television shows. They could be “criminals, gardeners, maids, and dropouts” (Thompson 1). These negative depictions of Latinos do not represent the whole Latino community. However, the first impression from people who do not
Introduction Can such a conventional and cheap material as paper tubes have value? This question should be asked prior to a discussion of Shigeru Ban’s designs because the approach this architect takes is far from conventional. In the wake of discussions about environmentalism, as researchers have started paying closer attention to significant shifts in the use of resources for sustaining human activity, Ban chose to combine simplicity and utilitarianism in architecture while resisting the appeal of using expensive materials. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the significance of Ban’s designs with the help of Paper Church as an example. The building was chosen for examination due to its unique combination of contemporary design, the use of low-cost materials, and the humanitarian intentions of rebuilding a vital community building that suffered damage from a natural disaster. Who is Shigeru Ban? Shigeru Ban is a renowned Japanese architect who gained worldwide recognition for his innovative work with unique materials, in particular with recycled paper such as cardboard. The approach that Ban takes in his work leads to the creation of outstanding objects of architecture in the category of sustainability. Ban’s quote “I don’t like waste” summarises his approach toward design – while the architect’s work follows the principle of sustainability, the artistic concepts are never compromised 1 . Because the preservation of nature and the reuse of materials have been Shigeru Ban’s focus, a large part of his work has been dedicated to humanitarian efforts such as restoring shelters, offering protection and comfort for communities in need, and providing support for people around the world who have suffered from the devastating effects of both man-made and natural disasters 2 . Shigeru Ban was born in 1957 in Tokyo at the time when Alvar Aalto, the father of International Modernism, was at the peak of his career 3 . Thus throughout his education and career, Ban was heavily influenced by the monumentalism of the modernist style. In 1985, one year after Ban returned to Japan upon his graduation from Cooper Union in New York, the architect undertook his first serious project, designing and building screens for Emilio Ambasz’s exhibit. The most important point to mention regarding the screens is that they were so spectacular that they outshow the actual exhibition, which subsequently led Ban to choose paper architecture as the primary means of his artistic expression 4 . He started using cardboard tubes for display stands, which became so popular that they were included in the exhibition of Alvar Aalto’s work 5 . The use of unconventional materials was especially justified by the lack of a budget for architectural work as well as the recyclability of cardboar
The key elements of music are melody, rhythm, dynamics, timbre, and harmony. Each of them has an important function and, in many respects, determines a composition character. The melody conveys a general mood and, as Kamien (2007) notes, is the main means of expression. The rhythm defines the ratio of the duration of sounds to one another in a single composition. Dynamic shades serve as a tool for the sound coloring of a particular piece. The timbre is a color characteristic of each musical instrument. Finally, the harmony enhances expressiveness, making any melody brighter and richer. In addition to these elements, music also has a structure, a key, a texture, and a form. The first component is important from the standpoint of the formation of a particular component into a single work. The key is the driving force, shaping a certain melody’s overall character. The texture allows an understanding of how all the elements are connected within a single melodic unit. Finally, the form is the final version of a composition, which forms its perception. According to the method of extracting the sound, it is customary to distinguish brass, percussion, strings, and keyboards. The first type is often used in academic orchestras and jazz bands. Percussion samples allow tapping out the rhythm and are a constant attribute of almost any ensemble. String instruments make it possible to extract melodies through vibrating, and their use is typical for different groups, including both modern bands and classical orchestras. Finally, keyboard samples are called due to the method of extracting sound through keys, and they are popular in all ensemble types. Reference Kamien, R. (2007). Music: An appreciation (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
People of various cultures and countries of origin are increasingly conducting business with each other due to globalization. Technology has made it easier for businesses to reach out to new markets and to expand their consumer base. This has also stiffened the competition for market and has threatened the very existence of many businesses. Family owned companies have not been spared in this attempt to expand market. Therefore, the choice of going global is not open for debate and as panelist Alden G. Lank offers for family business owners, “go international, or die”. The first suggestion made by the three panelists is that family owned businesses should seek “strategic alliances” with businesses in other countries. Such collaboration can be established between two or more interested companies which should not necessarily be other family owned businesses in other countries. The suggestion to form a collaboration or cooperation that involves technology transfer, economic specialization and shared risks and costs is brilliant. It is absolutely correct especially when working in the global commercial environment where there is ever increasing, cut-throat market competition. As panelist Francois M. de Visscher himself points out, more and more large multinational companies are taking over markets which were once considered family business territories. The suggestion to form a global strategic alliance is therefore agreeable because of two main reasons: One, it is a much easier way for family businesses that lack adequate or extensive distribution to get into and to reach overseas markets. In Understanding Family Business , Alderson Keanon argues that “it makes it easier for a family business to get instant entry into a new market as well as strengthen their position in markets where they have a foothold” 1 . It also makes it possible to enlarge distribution channels and to increase sales. This is because Strategic alliances are typically formed between two or more companies, each based in their own home country, thus allowing each partner to concentrate in activities which best fit their capabilities. As a result, companies are able to maximize their competitive advantages in their combined market territories. Two, the costs accrued in running such a global alliance are shared equitably among the companies involved making it arguably the least expensive and most flexible way to form family businesses partnership. It is flexible in the sense that it can be structured as an equity alliance or as a non-equity alliance (in which the host country partner has a greater stake). Again, a global strategic alliance comes along with several benefits. In Managing Globalization in the Age of Interdependence, George Lodge describes it as “a way of broadening business and political contact base” 2 . Access to the latest technology as well as exchange of competitive skills and expertise is also made possible through strateg
Introduction Crossing the Quality Chasm is a comprehensive report dwelling upon the quality of health care in the US, which calls for bridging the quality gap through a drastic redesign of the American health care system. The report provides principles for action that policymakers, health care managers, regulators, doctors, nurses, and other people responsible for patients’ well-being must follow in order to achieve the ultimate goal indicated in the document (Likosky, 2014). Moreover, the report not only criticizes the existing system and sets performance expectations for the century ahead but also suggests particular improvements in six dimensions: patient safety (reducing the possibility of harm), care effectiveness (preventing misuse or underuse of resources), patient-centeredness (improvement of customer service and taking into account patients’ preferences in care decisions), timeliness (reducing wait time), care efficiency (minimizing waste), and equity (eliminating racial and social inequality of health care) (Brilli, Allen, & Davis, 2014). Crossing the Quality Chasm analyzes the causes of the quality gap as well as limitations of the present-day system of health care to come out with a totally different framework for care. It claims that services should be performed at four levels: patient experience, care-giving microsystems, organizations that house and support them, and legal, financial, and educational environment – this would promote evidence-based practice and improve quality that is currently impeded by a lot of adverse factors (Inoue, 2016). Analysis The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s 2015 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report is an official document recording the country’s progress in eliminating various disparities that currently exist in health care. The major assumptions include the following ones (Radwin, Castonguay, Keenan, & Hermann, 2016):   * there has been a considerable improvement in providing access to health care services to people who did not have any kind of health insurance before;   * the quality of health care continues to become better;   * the overall treatment has been improved with the gradual removal of disparities;   * patient safety has been increased, although gaps remain;   * care coordination is not given priority;   * care affordability is still low;   * racial and social care discrepancies persist. This important information will render assistance in advocating for a disadvantaged patients population as it clearly shows the areas of health care that do not seem to improve in terms of bridging gaps. Thus, it shows the directions of further development. Besides, the report will guide me in the provision of culturally competent care and help initiate programs and campaigns aimed at increasing affordability of health care service to people of low economic status (Austin, McGlynn, &
Introduction Torture during war can be defined as a forceful acquisition of information from a prisoner of war who could either be a solider, a spy or an ally to the enemy. Vital information is often retrieved through the use of threat of physical harm, psychological harm or use of drugs. Physical harm includes beating, shock treatment, starvation, breaking of extremities, piercing, among others (Levinson, 2004). Psychological torture on the other hand uses annoying sounds like music, crying babies or dripping water, threats to either the prisoner or their family, showing them grotesque images, imprisonment in a dark room, embarrassment of the prisoner like stripping them, humiliation etc. Drugs used in torture are of various kinds, some of which are supposed to exert extreme pain to a prisoner by stimulation of the nervous system. Other drugs like hallucinogens are meant to make a prisoner semi-lucid and mellow, giving them a sense of ease and a false impression of security hence facilitating an atmosphere for them to surrender the information they possess (McCoy, 2006). This research paper will generally focus on the application of waterboarding as a form of torture, the implications of war relative to the executives in Governments and the soldiers in the field and eventually provide a solution which would justify the use of waterboarding based on ethical business and policy principles. To better understand this, it is imperative to arrive at the essence of waterboarding and its application. Waterboarding is the intentional submersion of a prisoner in water or the dousing of water over the covered face of a prisoner to give them the sensation of drowning. Technical arguments have over the years been raised as to whether waterboarding should be categorized as torture. Those against the categorization of waterboarding argue that it is not physically painful, it does not result to any injury nor does it stimulate the pain receptors in the nervous system (Greenberg, 2006). They argue that for conditions of torture to be satisfied, pain and injury have to be involved. Therefore, if there is no bodily harm whatsoever, how can waterboarding be torture? It is irrefutably true that waterboarding does not lead to physical injury but the human body through basic instincts rejects the engulfment of water. Therefore, waterboarding acts against the fundamental human impulse of survival leading to the intens
My Fair Lady is such a classic musical that it is difficult to escape its influence when reading George Bernard Shaw’s play, Pygmalion today. Eliza Doolittle keeps turning into Audrey Hepburn, Henry Higgins into Rex Harrison, and Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loew’s score plays in the background. Much of the film’s screenplay stays close to the original, and the characterizations are so similar that the film may at first seem a faithful adaptation of the play. There are, however, major differences between Shaw’s play and George Cukor’s musical which become more evident when the play and film are compared. Nigel Alexander goes so far as to say that “neither the directors of the film nor the author of the musical version understood Shaw’s Pygmalion ” (Shaw, p. 21). It will be argued here that the film makers fundamentally misunderstood Eliza’s development after Higgins taught her to be a lady; or, to put it another way, the kind of woman Pygmalion’s Galatea, when given life, actually becomes. The myth of Pygmalion and Galatea tells the story of a Cypriot sculptor who loses interest in women when he witnesses the behavior of local prostitutes, but then falls in love with the statue he carves out of ivory. With the intercession of Venus the statue comes alive, after which the sculptor and his creation marry and have a son, Paphos. Higgins is also a confirmed bachelor who has a low opinion of women but that is mostly because he admires his mother so much. In the film and in the play, at least in the beginning, his interest in Eliza is scientific in nature, not romantic. He explains himself in the play by telling Colonel Pickering, also a bachelor and a scientist, that “women upset everything. When you let them into your life, you find that the woman is driving at one thing and you’re driving at another.” Shaw’s Higgins supposes that “the woman wants to live her own life; and the man wants to live his; and each tries to drag the other on to the wrong track. One wants to go north and the other south; and the result is that both have to go east, though they both hate the east wind” (Shaw, p. 23). In the film Lerner’s lyrics, even though they are witty and highly polished, justify the professor’s celibacy by drawing on the kind of sexual stereotypes that would have revolted Shaw. In the song “I’m Just an Ordinary Man,” marriage is likened to the Spanish Inquisition and a noose around a man’s neck, women are accused of jabbering and chattering too much, of invading a man’s privacy and taking over his home, and Higgins claims that when a man wants to talk of Keats and Milton “she only wants to talk about love” (metrolyrics). Shaw’s acknowledgement of the equality of men and women is manifested in Eliza’s development into Higgins’s equal; as he says, “you and I and Pickering will be three old bachelors together instead of only two men and a silly girl” (Shaw, p. 71). Lerner’s idea