ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Unlike the relationship between the European nations, which has led to the creation of institutions with clearly stated priorities and goals, the Unites States-Canada integration is less direct and formal. Trade between the nations is managed FTA while defense relationship is controlled and managed by NATO. This is a clear indication that the integration between the nations is not as beneficial it should (Dyck 15). With the current economic sphere, integration has become something obvious. The benefits of integration occur when trade is the factor leading to the integration. However, the relationship between the United States and Canada has not anticipated any economic linkages. The last two decades have seen a situation whereby there is decreased trade between the two nations. This indicates that issues such labor mobility have remained limited. The two nations do not have a common international tariff thereby affecting the business in the region. These tariffs have made it impossible for the nations to conduct successful trade thus making the integration less beneficial to the nations. “The European integration is currently beneficial to the economy of the region because of unregulated trade and labor movements (Dyck 72)”. The presence of a common currency has also increased the benefits of the European Union. The United States and Canada do not have a common currency. This has resulted in a situation whereby there is no maximum benefit from the integration between the two nations. It is also important to observe that each government makes its own foreign policies and economic procedures. This means that the trade between the two countries is strictly formal and does not promote the success of the two economies. Dyck (34) believes that the “t
Media Sociology: An Introduction The module looks at the media content and factors that shape it in our society. It looks at the internal and external factors that may influence media content and why this may be necessary. Media content is not a true reflection of issues within society. The content is shaped by various factors in society which results in the emergence of different versions of the truth. Sometimes the truth may be given a version that makes it cease to be the truth. The ideologies that we have in society, the interaction with other members of the society, the cultural values that we hold, and our behavioral patterns are some of the major factors that have an influence on the content of media. The module looks at how the world we live in influences media content. Questions to consider One of the questions that have remained in the public domain for a long time is whether film and television violence makes children violent when interacting with their peers. Everyone appreciates the fact that we need a society that is free from any form of violence. There is also an agreement that the media plays a critical role in defining our perceptions towards various issues in society. It would, therefore, be important to know why filmmakers produce violent programs. In most cases, violence is presented as being cool. The violent individuals have their way, while the weak are destroyed. Personal attitude and media workers’ orientations play an important role when it comes to defining the type of content to produce. Sometimes corporate policies and professionalism may affect the nature of information from the media. Issues such as ideological differences and corporate ownership of the media stations sometimes dictate the media content. The syllabus The syllabus will focus on the basic functions of media in our modern society, and the role it plays in democracies and non-democracies around the world. The structure of the global media and its effect on the media content will also be given serious consideration in the module. The changing pattern that the functions and structure of media have taken over the years and how this has affected society is covered. It will also be necessary to look at the relationship that exists between power and the media. Such relationships always define the manner in which realities are manipulated in the media content. The syllabus will also look at the relevance of advertising in our modern society and how it has shaped the versions of realities. The module also defines how each student will be graded in the assignments and academic tasks that they will be tasked to address. Class participation, mid-term exams, class presentations, course concepts, and final exams are the main grading areas for the
Introduction The 2012 presidential elections of the United States marked the presidential election of the 57 th quadrennial. It occurred on the Tuesday of November 6, 2012. This is with President Barrack Obama the Democratic contender, together with Joe Biden his running mate being reelected for another term in office. Tuesday’s ballot vote represented record voter attendance in numerous regions. This is with Obama capturing 364 electoral ballots against McCain’s 162. Besides, Obama got a victory popular vote of 53 percent against his opponent’s 46 percent. Predictions for the next four years presidential leadership Most Americans show optimism about the next four years of the Obama regime. Nevertheless, this is with the 2008 figure dropping. Polls indicate that 54% of Americans show more optimism concerning the coming four years under the leadership of Barrack Obama. This is with 41% of them articulating that they think the performance of the nation will be worse off. In comparison to the optimism level of the historic election of 2008, 65% of the population was in support of his leadership. Others indicate that after other ballot votes that took place sometime back there is a resemblance or exceeding the level of the state’s optimism. This is specifically in 2004 following the re-election of George W. Bush, whereby the optimism gauge ranged at 53%. Additionally, 94% of the democrats articulate that the country’s well-being will be better off indicating a majority of them being so positive about the next four years regime. However, 4% of them seem pessimistic about the subsequent four years. On the other hand, the republicans seem to take a different viewpoint altogether. This is with 86% of them indicating that they expect everything to worsen, and 11% indicating that they have high expectations of the country performing better. Optimism by the Independents with a figure of 51% against 40% is evident. Why the winner won the elections, and the looser lost Superior campaign administration made Obama win the 2012 elections. This campaign can be referred to as, ‘the community organizers revenge’. This is since the majority of the tactics they used were the same that most national community organizers employed in building their ranks and spreading their message. Besides, by using the internet, Obama was able to engage with the youth who mark a majority of votes thus, could able to answer all the questions that they had, all through the campaign. This is as opposed to his opponent, McCain who in most of the messages seemed not to be sure. Moreover, by forming black, Hispanic, and white voters’ supporters, Obama was able to win. This is as opposed to his opponent who had white voters as his only supporters. On the other hand, one reason why McCain lost is that in the Wall Street meltdown no leadership was shown. Also, he indicated that he could not multitask as a president by r
The issue of mass incarceration has been topical in the United States for a considerable period. However, within this context, another social problem is observed, which consists of the increased prevalence of people of color in American prisons. This phenomenon of minority overrepresentation in the current system has become an area of intense interest for researchers across the country. Evidently, the issue exists in strong relation to the heated debates surrounding race and discrimination in contemporary society. From a constructionist point of view, the related problems stem from social constructs deeply engraved in the mindsets of the people. In other words, these detrimental tendencies have no objective grounds enabled by nature. Instead, certain social groups are stigmatized and ascribed exaggerated traits that are not related to the actual truth. On an institutional level, the prevalence of subjective judgments entails a serious case of prejudices that increase the likelihood of incarceration for the discriminated groups while asserting the privileges of others. This paper discusses the overrepresentation of minorities in the United States prison system through the prism of the constructionist theory and the principle of labeling. By the 21st century, the level of public awareness in regard to pressing social issues has been on a stable increase. As a result, such matters as social justice and equality have formed an area of intense interest for researchers. More specifically, various models have been designed in an attempt to explain the profound processes that entail social disparities. According to Hochman (2017), the constructionist approach focuses on the issues of race and related problems. This theory suggests that the very concept of race is non-existent in nature, making it a purely social construct. Furthermore, Hochman (2017) argues that “there are no races, only racialized groups” (p. 61). From a constructionist perspective, racialization becomes a manifestation of subjectivism in social relations. In other words, it does not have any objective dimension, remaining a product of extreme bias. In fact, the idea behind the social constructionism theory suggests that the public’s perception of race is shaped by various aspects of culture and history. Accordingly, biases are created not by reality but rather through the subjective perception of it. This detrimental tendency reveals itself across various levels and contexts. For example, this subjectivism permeates social relations on an individual level, poisoning even mundane interactions. However, the adverse impact of subjective bias extends further, encompassing institutional and systemic levels, as well. McCarter (2018) observes considerable racial disparities within the criminal justice of the United States. According to various stati
The life of any individual consists of a lot of significant stories and details which shape the personality because these stories provide the discussion of the real experiences or real scenarios which are possible to be used or followed by the other people. In her graphic novel Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi presents the autobiographical story, which is based on the combination of the other persons’ life experiences, which became influential for Marjane’s life. Creating her own story, Marjane was affected by many different and rather vivid stories heard and observed during her life. It is possible to refer to the relatives’ experiences, to the family’s story, or stories of the most influential and respected people as they were discussed by Marjane. Furthermore, it is also necessary to refer to the historic events as the important background for forming the personal vision of the reality. Thus, all the stories which were heard or discussed by Marjane affected her life and personal experience significantly because the young woman not only acted in relation to her considerations influenced by the conclusions made from stories but also assessed the life situations with references to these events and the other persons’ experience. The story of Marjane’s life is presented in the book from her childhood, when the first visions of the world are formed, to the adulthood, when the previous experience is rethought from the point of more deep analysis, and this experience acquires the new meaning for the person’s development. That is why, Satrapi not only tells the specific autobiographical story but also comments on the importance of different stories in the personal life as the significant and influential background of the personal growth. The book is the collection of a lot of stories, and each of them symbolizes the important stage in Marji’s development. The author effectively uses a number of situations to create the complex picture with the help of their chronological presentation. Marji’s first desire to reject the social repression is observed when she does not understand the necessity to wear the veil and to be separated from the boys at school. Thus, Marji can examine the role of the religious fundamentalists in the society. It is the beginning of the girl’s personal story, which
Peter Elbow presented to the world one of the most controversial books called Believing game . One of the discussions included information about the legality of guns. The book shows that a high percentage of people believe that the storage of weapons positively affects society, and individuals can feel more secure. However, I can argue with this opinion as the number of negative cases connected to personal guns are still high and allowance of weapons rarely brings positive outcomes. According to Elbow (2009), government rules in the United States are not strong enough to control weapons purchases, and unverified arms sales can increase adverse outcomes. I believe that with permission to store weapons at home, the number of criminal cases did not go down. Moreover, more deep observations of people who keep guns will not solve these problems. Nevertheless, there are always two sides to the problem, and many citizens suggest that gun storage makes people more secure and might save lives in case of an attack. Both sides of the issue provide readers with strong evidence, and two opinions can always exist. One of the solutions to the problem of high violence is to abolish the sale of weapons to ordinary citizens. I believe that the percentage of murders and their negative outcomes will lower if the government decreases the sales of such dangerous equipment like guns. Elbow states in his book that the attitude to the legality of weapons and their purchase varies in different cultures. Moreover, the government always makes the final decision, and people usually cannot make a huge impact to change approved rules. My personal position is aimed to decrease the number of guns sold as it might help to reduce terrorist attacks in the United States. Reference Elbow, P. (2009). Believing Game . Bepress.
The book by James Watts reveals an in-depth analysis of one of the six biblical books, Leviticus. Watts tries to find rhetorical meaning of the rituals depicted in this biblical book. The major concern of the present study is to answer the following question: “Who was trying to persuade whom of what by writing these texts?” (Watts xv). It is possible to divide the book into three parts. The first part is Chapter 1 which is Introduction where Watts outlines the scope of his research and provides his major claim. The next part consists of chapters 2-6 where thorough analysis is revealed. Here Watts provides explanation and justification of his theory. The third part includes chapters 7-9 where the author focuses on the rhetorical meaning of the text and its impact on sacrificial rituals and priesthood. In the first Chapter of his book Watts introduces the major of the research. He defines the importance of rituals which are depicted in Leviticus. Watts provides analysis of the literature on Leviticus concentrating on the works by Mary Douglas and Jacob Milgrom. For instance, Watts points out that Milgrom has demonstrated that “biblical ritual can be interpreted rationally and realistically” (Watts 10). Watts provides major theories as for the role of rituals and their meaning. However, the author also states that there is still no substantial and precise analysis of the symbolic value of the rituals. He stresses that when analyzing these texts it is essential to pay much attention or rather focus on their rhetoric. Besides, in this chapter Watts answers the question he pt earlier and notes that rituals are usually described to persuade people to perform them, or to perform them in this particular way, or to accept the text and/or its author’s authority to mandate the rituals and, perhaps, to officiate over it. (34) In the following chapters 2-6 Watts provides definite explanations and evidence for his claim about the importance of rhetoric analysis of the text and its major ides. Thus, Watts provides in-depth analysis of the text. It is important to note that the author stresses that Leviticus was “shaped not only to instruct” people how to carry out rituals, but to “persuade them to do exactly as these texts stipulate” and “to accept these texts as the ultimate authority for such ritual performances” (Watts 38). To illustrate and prove the text major of persuasion Watts analyzes genre, content, style. For instance, the use of second person in the text emphasizes the idea of instruction. The texts are addressed to people reading it (or listening to it). The specific style of the text transforms mere instruction into a persuasive writing which motivates people to carry out rituals in the appropriate way and to accept the authority of those who conduct the rituals. In Chapter 2 Watts points out that the recurrence of such words as “as YH
Introduction The 20 th century was marked by the changes in the musical language that were aimed to challenge and reinterpret older categories of music. At the beginning of the century, modernism and the avant-garde were the most revolutionary musical movements, while later, with the development of punk and other popular music styles, the boundaries of art expanded to include the sociological dimension. Modernism, the avant-garde, and punk use similar techniques to appeal to the audience, but their target audience, aims, technological means, and social appeal are different. In contrast to serious music, popular music aims for a greater audience and touches the topics that concern the general public, using the widely available ways of music production and distribution. Modernism, the avant-garde, and punk Modernism emerged around the turn of the 20 th century and aimed to strip away traditional aesthetics and create a new musical language that expressed the mood and artistic tendencies of the age. It developed new ways of approaching and organizing melodic, harmonic, sonic, and rhythmic aspects of music. Arnold Schoenberg, one of the most prominent modernist composers, created musical pieces that rejected the tonality and were described as “a methodical negation of all heretofore accepted musical rules […] and tonal systems” (cited in Auner 36). Anton Webern, following Schoenberg’s footsteps, wrote freely atonal pieces, containing almost no themes or motives in the traditional sense. His Op. 7 No. 1 (1910) presents four contrasting phrases related only by subtle association, breaking with the old tonal connections (Auner 51). Closely related to the larger artistic developments of that time, musical modernism strived to develop new ways of expression that revolutionized the existing musical language. The avant-garde went further in the modernist critique of the traditional musical canon. It aimed to radically reinvent the musical language, criticizing existing artistic conventions and rejecting the status quo in favor of original elements. According to Weiss and Taruskin, in the avant-garde, “the content of art was mood and emotion pushed to irrationally wild and violent extremes” (426). One of the most prominent examples of the avant-garde was the Dada music that was based on the ideas of the Dadaists from right after World War II and included forms that poked fun at the whole musical establishment (Brill 59). They created experimental music, in which shocking the recipient was the dominant principle of artistic intent. As new means of sound production and music, distribution was developed, popular music emerged that aimed to appeal to the public through both the content and new means of expression. The punk scene that first crystallized in England in the late 1970s started to produce music that connected the New York avant-garde art scene with the musical language of mainstream rock (Henry 30). The Sex Pistols, the first and most notorious punk band, established the underground rock aesthetics that used overt social and political i
As people grow old by age, so do their bodily organs which the heart is part of. Cardiomyopathy is one condition that results from the degeneration of the heart tissue. Cardiomyopathy is divided into primary and secondary cardiomyopathy. Primary cardiomyopathies are limited to the heart muscle, and can be genetic, acquired, or both, while secondary cardiomyopathies are linked to other underlying medical conditions. While some literature denotes that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the prevalent one among the elderly, others suggest that dilated is the most prevalent one among the elderly, yet others indicate restrictive cardiomyopathy. This paper discusses all those cardiomyopathies linked to old age. Cardiomyopathy refers to the diseases of the heart muscle. The latest definition in 2006, denotes that cardiomyopathy is “a heterogeneous group of diseases of the myocardium associated with mechanical and/or electrical dysfunction that usually, but not invariably exhibit inappropriate ventricular hypertrophy or dilation” (Aminoff, 2008, p. 82). This muscle either becomes thick, enlarged, or rigid and in rare instances, there is a replacement of the tissue with scar tissue. The aggravation of cardiomyopathy leads to a weaker heart; thus, the heart experiences a lot of strain while pumping blood throughout the body. In addition, the heart is unable to keep up a normal electrical rhythm. The result is heart failure, and other times arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) occur. Also, heart valve problems can result. Considering the variation in literature, this paper will aim at discussing cardiomyopathies associated with the elderly. There are different types of cardiomyopathy diseases, but the one that prevails among the elderly is restrictive cardiomyopathy, according to the National Institutes of Health (2011). Unfortunately, other authors indicate varying thoughts. Restrictive cardiomyopathy results when the heart muscle becomes rigid. This variation, which could be due to reporting issues, therefore, necessitates a need for research to verify these claims. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is attributed to a certain underlying condition. Hemochromatosis is one such precedent disease that is characterized by excessive iron buildup in the body. Iron is important for the normal functioning of the body, but excess iron causes damage to the organs including the heart due to toxicity effect. Sarcoidosis is another caus