ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Goldsworthy and Christo are two famous landscape artists who are well known for their works. The two artists use their creativity to come up with outdoor artistic impressions which are bold and provocative. As a result, each artist has his own style which he uses to convey different emotions to specific audiences. This paper will compare and contrast the works of the two artists to show their significance in landscape art. Comparisons Goldsworthy uses brightly colored materials to make his work stand out in different environments. He uses photographs and films to record his works to show how different objects are arranged in a landscape. In addition, nature has a big role to play in Goldsworthy’s work because it allows him to use natural materials that exist in an area to develop his installations. This allows him to show the atmosphere surrounding his objects and how they connect to each other to form an impressive visual pattern. Similarly, Christo’s work uses natural colorful elements that exist in different landscapes which are recorded through photographs and films. This enables him to create artworks that show the unity between natural and artificial forms in a landscape and how they relate to each other. Goldsworthy and Christo use color liberally in their artworks to show how their objects appear in different times of the day. Color and tonal variations bring out different meanings in their art works making them more appealing to diverse audiences. In addition, they use color to show different types of moods in their work to appeal to the inner instincts of their audiences. In addition, both artists use natural light in their works to make them more realistic. This enables them to capture the essence of the natural landscapes they are portraying accurately. Contrast Goldsworthy is usually inspired by seas, rivers and other water forms in his work. These water forms allow him to think creatively about what he wants to achieve and how he is going to achieve it. Additionally, he only uses natural materials found in a particular environment to make his installations. This allows him to show the energy within and outside various objects he uses in his artworks to portray how they fit in a particular environment. Some of the key elements that stand out in his works include light, growth, motion and transformation. He uses these elements to display the fluidity with which different forms in the natural environment interact to create an unexpected visual impression. Christo’s work mainly uses fabrics, ropes and cables together with other elements in different landscapes to come up with appealing visual impressions. He wraps his fabrics around different objects making sure they portray different tonal variations to show radical changes they bring to the natural environment. Afterwards he photographs or films the artistic forms created out of his process to illustrate how they fit in a particular natural landscape. He uses external
The problem of online communication has become a popular topic in Pacific and Asian studies and other research avenues. Modern researchers utilize a range of approaches to studying the applications of social media in Asian countries. This paper is aimed at comparing and contrasting two studies about social media communication in China that are similar in terms of topics but rely on different methods, approaches to argumentation, and types of data. The first article chosen is devoted to the past and the present of social media applications in China. More precisely, the work by Harwit published in the Chinese Journal of Communication emphasizes the development of WeChat, a popular messaging application, and analyzes its current role in online communications in China (312). Therefore, the topic chosen by the researcher relates both to opportunities for Chinese social media users and the app’s ability to transform and facilitate the process of group formation. Similar to the previous work, the second article delves into online communications in China and their meaning for the country’s development. In their study published in the Journal of China Tourism Research , Yang and Wang focus on the most popular social media websites among Chinese users and apply their findings to different aspects of everyday life (166). Even though the perspectives of these two studies are quite similar in terms of setting, these sources emphasize different target customers such as common users who need communication channels and prospective consumers in the tourism industry. The first difference between the articles that illustrates the variety of strategies used for studying social media relates to the chosen methods and arguments. As for the paper by Harwit, it approaches the topic using the method of literature review and summarizes the findings of previous researchers devoted to WeChat, Chinese politics, and communication theories (313). The arguments are based on the premise that the role of social media apps in modern communication is partially defined by Chinese governmental agencies. Also, the researcher recognizes the trends of digital inclusion and social atomization even though the latter seems to contradict the core purpose of social media – strengthening inter-and intra-group links. As it has been stated, the research methods and offered arguments greatly vary if the two studies are compared. Unlike the previous work, the study conducted by Yang and Wang is not fully based on the findings of other researchers – instead, it analyzes the uses of social media in tourism marketing using the method of content analysis (171). Thus, in order to define the key trends related to
Since time immemorial, the human race has been on its toes trying to validate the existence of superior beings. Religion exists to teach and house virtues of the beliefs of the existence of a God. In this document, the concept of Anslem will be outlined and discussed in depth. In the end, a conclusion will be drawn regarding the same concept. Anslem plays a key role in outlining the concept behind the existence of God. He points out that God exists since human understanding acknowledges this. He views the human mind as a place in which things exist. He considers the understanding of God’s existence as some of the things that exist in the stated place. Those that comprehend the claims behind the existence of God but refuse to accept that he exists are fools. “Hence even the fool is convinced that something exists in the understanding, at least, than which nothing greater can be conceived. For when he hears of this, he understands it. And whatever is understood, exists in the understanding” (Mackie 2). His proof is strange in that he argues that the fool has invalid concepts. The claims that it is one thing for something to exist in the human understanding and another for the thing to be understood to exist get a place in this debate. He argues that God exists beyond human understanding. His argument is strange since it focuses on the fool’s perspective and the contradiction of this perspective. Anselm emphasizes that our love of God involves memory and understanding as well as love. He claims that all existing human souls possess an immortal nature. He views the souls of all those who love God to be destined for eternal blessings. On the other hand, the souls of those who do not love God will experience nothing short of eternal misery. He states that the love for God is the main aspect of the just among the human race (Mackie 47). Anslem’s work can be explained and evidenced by the use of the object theory. This theory helps to explain the brainchild of the concepts presented by Anslem. The Object theory focuses on validating the existence of objects based on the theories and ideas surrounding the existence of the object. In conclusion, Anslem in his attempt to explain the existence of God and the related proofs develops a unique strange approach. Anslem just like his fellow human race members is interested in explaining the origin and nature in which God exists. His concept includes perceiving the human mind as a place. The place has things that exist. The human mind has the concept of God’s existence this is considered a thing in the place. The existence of the belief is therefore the cause of the belief of God’s existence. It is, therefore, valid to claim that the existence of God is valid. He looks down
John Dewey is considered as one of the most prominent philosophers in American history. Born in 1859 and raised in Vermont, Dewey obtained his tertiary education from the University of Vermont (Dewey, 1997). Thereafter, he pursued his doctoral degree at The University of Johns Hopkins. His professional life was majorly teaching at different universities, including the University of Chicago and Columbia (Dewey, 1997). Until the moment he died in 1952, Dewy had gained a global reputation for pragmatism, as an approach to philosophy, psychology, as well as liberal politics. Remarkably, Dewey’s philosophical theory on education left a great impact on academics and this can be appreciated through analysis of his works and also when he is compared with other educational theorists such as Montessori. Experience is a key element that defines Dewey’s ideas and arguments. He knits experience and education together in a way that creates interdependence between the
Introduction It has been boldly predicted that the rise of income inequality in the United States of America will become one of the most complicated issues to resolve over the next ten to twenty years. According to the article by Sean McElwee, “the income share accruing to the top one percent increased from 9 percent in 1976 to 20 percent in 2011” (par. 2). While in 1979 the top richest 0.1 of US citizens controlled seven percent of the wealth in the country; in 2012 the same percentage of wealthy citizens controlled 22 percent of the wealth. These figures speak for themselves when it comes to answering the question of whether income inequality is increasing in the United States. Wealth and income inequality are directly connected, which means that as the highest incomes are preserved in their positions, pushing up the concentration of wealth without accounting for the lowest income, the gap between the two extremes increases. Analysis While many may argue that the increase in inequality was caused by the skill-biased change in the global economy as well as the ‘winner takes all’ mentality, this opinion is far from being true. The real answer was associated with the public policies that encouraged the rise of finance, the decline of unions, and most importantly, favored the richest layers of the population (Gross). This means that the decline in income inequality can be achieved through imposing taxes on wealth and high income. Despite the fact that the conservatives claimed that imposing taxes on wealth would negatively affect the country’s economic growth, the research conducted by Piketty, Saez, and Stantcheva contradicted this opinion by stating that there was no connection between tax cuts and the economic growth. This means that the highest tax rates can be increased up to eighty percent of income, although the wealthy will never allow for this to occur. When discussing wages in the US (taking into account inflation), it is important to mention that they have remained stagnant since the 1980s. Workers that are paid the lowest wage in the country did not experience any significant growth in their income, as shown in the diagram below (Figure 1): Figure 1. U.S. Real Annual Wages (“U.S. Annual Wages, 1979-2014”). Conclusion While the annual minimum wage remained the same, the worker’s productivity was consistently increasing since the 1590s. Therefore, there has been no balance between the performance of the workers and the compensation for their work. This answers the question of whether income inequality is an issue. Income, as well as wealth inequality, will continue to grow if the public and economic policies remain the same as they have been previously. While the solutions to the problem are varied, the key advice given by many specialists is reducing the turnout gap that exist
The current essay deals with analysis of Benjamin’s insightful observation about Western civilization which says, There is no document of civilization, which is not at the same time a document of barbarism” (Benjamin, 1969). First of all, it is necessary to consider the general context of his Theses on the Philosophy of History where this phrase occurs (Benjamin, 1969, 33). Benjamin follows Marxist tradition of criticizing Western culture and civilization; however, he combines it with Judaic Messianic thrill. According to Benjamin, the present generation of oppressed maintains the memory and cherished liberating dreams of past generations, and this stimulates their social activism. The civilization and society, within which these activities are realized can be characterized both by economic and cultural dominance over Other, but this dominance is repressive on people as it imposes egoist bourgeois values, morality, the cult of money and success (Benjamin, 1969, 135). All saint and divine is neglected and civilization ruins its own foundations. Hence, crisis of Western culture and society, which are conceptualized by Walter Benjamin, may be described as the main sources of his paradoxical claim. However, taken in a general context of political and artistic thought of early 20 th century epoch, this claim resonates with those of other talented writers, scholars and scientists such as S. Freud, F. Kafka, J. Conrad, T.W. Adorno, M. Horkheimer and more others. Among first S. Freud postulates increasing ‘discontents with culture’, which becomes dominated by the market stereotypes, demands and imperatives. It ruins human subjectivity and throws it into the hands of ‘unconscious’ forces which manipulate it (Freud, 2002). By the same token, T.W. Adorno, impressed by the ugly pictures of Holocaust and WW2, comes forth with paradoxical claim that rationality, characteristic of Western civilization is similar to barbarism – “Myth is already Enlightenment and Enlightenment is continuation of myth” (Adorno and Horkheimer, 1994, 35). According to Adorno and Horkheimer, the rationalistic Reason peculiar to the Western civilization seeks to control nature, society and people living in it and is repressive force, which dehumanizes relations between people and transforms them into mere artifacts. In this view, German fascism, reincarnated in concentration camps with planned massacre of the millions of ordinary people, is at the same time a reflection of Western civilization’s rationality and barbarism, understood as irrational impulse towards destruction. Rationality in this case means using the advantages and know-how of scientific civilization in immoral ends. Therefore, there is no denying the importance of the fact that the repercussions of Benjamin’s claim may be found in the
Groupthink is a system of thought whereby the members of a given group are blinded by their cohesion and the need to agree on all or most matters leading to the absence to consider alternative lines of thought and courses of action that may have the potential to give better results (Janis 1972, pp.9).In most cases, the choices made by people who engage in groupthink end up leading the group into trouble, and a careful analysis of other available choices that they dismissed as inadequate without deep examination turn out to be the better options. In life, groupthink exists in so many areas of life and across all age groups (Janowitz 1966, pp.11-13). But it is more prevalent amongst young people especially teenagers. In this research paper, the causes of groupthink will be looked into. Also, the characteristics and symptoms of groupthink will be examined as well as the possible applications. Other vital areas of groupthink that this paper will take into consideration are the advantages and disadvantages of groupthink and the ways to prevent or minimize this way of thinking in society. Causes of Groupthink The causes of groupthink are many and varied. The first cause of groupthink is lack of exposure for the concerned group. What this means is that the group is restricted by circumstances to a single space leading to the inability of the group to access more information and therefore more alternatives to think about in their decision-making process. An example of this is a school in which the teacher has prohibited the students in a class from reading any other book apart from the book that he has recommended. If these students are asked a question or given a task, it is unlikely that they will give a point of view that is different from the one that is covered in the book that their teacher has recommended. This groupthink is a product of lack of exposure to different points of view. Apart from the above, groupthink is also caused by traditions of partisanship in decision making. If a group of people is used to doing things in a way that favors their side only, it becomes difficult for successive generations to move out of this mentality of remaining blind to alternatives. Therefore any time this group is confronted by a situation, in which they are supposed to make choices, they will end up making a similar choice as a group because there is a long-running tradition of not listening to something other than their own. This is especially common in politics where political parties that are narrow in perspective try to block their members from looking at more alternatives out of the fear of the fact that these members will find their party wanting and move to the more open and progressive alternative. Leaving the above aside, the presence of a unifying factor is another key cause of groupthink (Tuckman, 1965, pp.384-388). This unifying factor can be in form of a catastroph
Introduction Net neutrality has brought about the intense debate over the recent past. This has mainly been attributed to changes proposed by internet providers. Essentially, net neutrality means the provision of a level playing field for all websites. In essence, it ensures that different content applications are not discriminated against. All along, subscribers (internet users) have had the advantage of accessing almost everything they want freely. Moreover, they have been able to utilize different kinds of features on the internet without any problem. However, it is quite necessary to note that this freedom has mainly been attributed to net neutrality. This is mainly because it governs the principles that regulate an open and free internet. Over, the years, these regulations have enabled internet subscribers to access content freely on a level playing field for all websites. However, this is about to change or at least, may not last long due to the proposals intended by internet service providers. These proposals, if implemented would bring about discrimination of websites and content applications. Also, it would restrict open and free access to these contents, a virtue that was the main driver for its introduction in the first place. In this regard, several authors and stakeholders have had varying views on the same. This paper will explore these views, their similarities and differences as well as take a position after a thorough analysis of the same (Geist, 2011, p. 1). Problem Statement Net neutrality has played a big role in human capacity development. Moreover, it has enabled open and free access to different features of the internet. However, this is under scrutiny as internet service providers plan to introduce discriminating measures on internet access. Net neutrality has improved features like outsourcing, service provision through eGovernment, electronic voting systems, open systems, and terrorist database. Moreover, it has globalized the world and improved the flow of information from one part of the world to another. These are great opportunities that have led to an innovative world as well as eCommerce, which has revolutionized the internet. All these developments, among others, stand to lose heavily in case these discriminative measures are implemented. It has
Written by Jhumpa Lahiri, the book, Namesake, captures how individuals struggle with identity. Throughout the book, Gogol is caught up in an identity crisis as he strives to understand conflicting cultures and identities. Jhumpa Lahiri portrays Gogol as a lost insecure boy, fighting against the norm in the country he lives in, and living with his parents’ customs. Gogol is lost early in life when his parents decide to give him a second name after he joins kindergarten. The parents want him to have two identities with one represented by the name ‘Nikhil’, which should be used at school to fit in the American culture and ‘Gogol’ to be used at home as a representative of the Indian culture. However, Gogol does not want a name change for “He is afraid to be Nikhil, someone he doesn’t know. Who doesn’t know him” (Lahiri 57). As a little boy learning new things every day, a name represents something, but this incident fades from Gogol’s mind and he maintains his original name. However, after he turns 11, the identity crisis arises again on a class trip to a cemetery as Gogol discovers the meaning of his name, which is not likeable as he discovers it has nothing to do with Bengali, his ancestral home, but it has everything to do with a Russian. By the time he turns 14, he already hates his hitherto cherished name and on one occasion, he drops his first name and introduces himself as ‘Nikhil’. However, this change of name does not solve Gogol’s crisis, as he has to contend with a cultural crisis as explored next. Nikhil alias Gogol is lost between the American and Indian cultures. His two names represent the two cultures and he has to live with it. Nikhil becomes the American twin brother to the Indian Gogol, but one individual carries the two personalities. At one point, Gogol feels as “If he’s cast himself in a play acting the part of twins, indistinguishable to the naked eye, yet fundamentally different” (105). The ‘Gogol’ side of this confused young man has to treasure and practice Indian customs and upholds their values. On the other side, the ‘Nikhil’ side has to live as a liberated American youth defined by modernity and consumerism. These differing demands leave Gogol confused. However, one wonders why not drop the Indian identity now that he is living in America and he rarely visits Bengali. Well, that is a possibility Gogol considers, but he is proved wrong after his father dies. After the death of his father, Gogol retracts from his earlier rebellion towards Indian values and he assumes the role of the ‘head of the family’ as the first son according to Indian customs. During the mourning period, “he and his mother and Sonia eat a mourner’s diet, forgoing meat and fish” (180). Despite his earlier loathing of the Indian practices that he has to uphold, Gogol embraces the practices, which then leaves him lost even more. He has to remain an Indian, but live in America and this conflict and confusion is unending. In conclusion, Gogol is a lost person throughout the chronicles of Namesake. He has to deal with his two names and live according to their meanings. He also has to blend