The Audit Report and Internal Control Evaluation Essay Example for Free

The Audit Report and Internal Control Evaluation Essay Team D Auditing has been evaluating the evidence presented by Apollo Shoes. The audit team has developed an audit report in response to the audit and has also provided a description of the evidence, a description of the account sampling and testing procedures used, and has also given a brief description of the value of an audit report. This report is only to reflect Team D’s opinion regarding Apollo’s internal controls, financial statements, and management’s assessment. Management Responsibilities We have audited the financial statements of Apollo Shoes Inc. , including the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. The company’s management is responsible for preparing these financial statements; in addition, the management is responsible for implementing adequate internal controls to ensure the accuracy and completeness of these statements (Arens, Elder, Beasley, 2012). Our responsibility as an auditor is to conduct an audit in accordance with the Generally Accepted Auditing Standards and express an opinion on these statements based on the audit. Audit Scope The audit conducted by Team D Auditing was executed in accordance with standards set by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) (Arens et al., 2012). The standards set by these two bodies require the team to arrange and complete an inspection of the evidence to obtain reasonable assurance of whether the company’s financial statements are without material misstatements. Also, the team is to evaluate the internal controls and determine if they provide adequate control over the financial reporting for the material components. The audit includes the examination of the following: Financial Statement Disclosures Evidence that supports reported amounts Internal Controls: Implementation and Current Use Financial Statement Presentation Management-made Estimates Accounting Principle Assessments Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Apollo Shoes, Inc. Apollo Shoes Audit was conducted under the Public Accounting Oversight Board Standards. Under these standards is required to provide assurance about the financial reporting and the internal control place in operation. In order to achieve assurance the financial statements are evaluated based on an examination of evidence providing basis for our opinion. Our examination included: Significant estimates made by management – evaluate the reasonable of the significant assumptions (Becker CPA Review, 2014). Financial statement presentation evaluate the presentation and format of financial information (Arens et al., 2012). Accounting principle evaluation, corrections of errors involving principle or changing principal not acceptable to an acceptable one† (Arens et al., 2012). Adequate disclosures of significant accounting policies, accounting changes or loss contingency (Becker CPA Review, 2014). Since Apollo Shoes was a public traded company is imperative to test the effectiveness of the internal control, which is based on: Preventive controls that are placed in operation indicating that transactions were valid, recognized, and submitted for processing following the internal control objectives (Becker CPA Review, 2014). Detective controls provide assurance that the errors and regularities are discovered and corrected in the normal course of business (Becker CPA Review, 2014). Our evidence examination should provide assurance that the financial statements are correct in order for us to sustain our opinion. However, it is impossible due to inherent limitations that the internal controls may not prevent or detect material misstatements. As discussed in note 5, based on our finding the sales and account receivables were overstated by $5,765,081.82 and the related cost of goods sold by $3,165, 145.10 (Louwers, 2007). We determined that this sale is not in accordance with general accepted accounting procedures. Based on the evidence and procedures performed as mentioned in the previous paragraph, Team D opinion on Apollo Shoes financial statement for the period ending on December 31, 2007 do not present fairly on all material respect the financial position of the company. However, we are confirming the efficiency and effectiveness of the internal control, based on COSO framework. It is important to mention that Apollo Shoes has a litigation suit in the preliminary stage for $12,000,000, which intend to defend them self. It is reasonable that the loss could reach $10,000,000 after legal fees (Louwers, 2007). No adjustments have been made to the financial statements. Since Apollo has lost his major customer, this has raised a substantial doubt about the ability that Apollo Shoes Inc. can continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustment that contemplates this uncertainty. Description of Evidence The evidence used for the audit included several items presented by Apollo Shoes. The team was presented with the SEC 10-K filing from 2006, as well as the minutes from the audit committee meeting. The team also reviewed the company Letter to the Shareholders. The SEC filing provided us with historical financial statements and a wealth of other information about the company, including quarterly unaudited operation results. The team also reviewed the company accounting and control procedures manual to evaluate the controls over the accounting functions of the company, such as accounts receivables and cash management. Team D Auditing also performed an inventory observation, reviewed the sales forecast for the upcoming year, and reviewed the Board Meeting minutes from the meeting June 30, 2007. The team was also able to examine the 2006 audited and the 2007 unaudited trial balances, the work papers for the new computer system and the work papers for the internal control systems. The team was able to perform a thorough audit for Apollo Shoes based upon the evidence presented. Account Sampling The goal of an audit is to ensure the financial statements are fairly presented in accordance to the Generally Accepted Auditing Standards, and to obtain reasonable assurance that the statements are free from material errors. It is impossible and costly to test every transaction; therefore, we will be selecting samples for testing and make inference about the overall effectiveness of these statements. We will use the simple random sampling method to select these samples because this method ensures every item has an equal chance of being included (Arens et al., 2012). In addition, depend on the account we are testing different number of items may be included in each sample. Testing Procedures The auditor used industry data and compared it to Apollo Shoes financial information to comprehend the business and its results to determine if the company financial well-being. The auditor also compared the â€Å"client data with similar prior period data† (Arens et al., 2012, p. 227). This included the following: Comparing the current year with the previous year’s audited balance Examine current and previous year’s trial balance to decipher changes. Compared detail of total balances with previous year’s total balance â€Å"Compare details such as monthly totals of current year and preceding year for sales, repairs, loans payable, and other accounts† noticing significant changes (Arens et al., 2012, p. 227). Compared current ratios and percentages of current and previous years Compare current and previous common-size financial statements with vertical and horizontal analysis; Compare ratios analysis â€Å"solvency, efficiency, and profitability ratios† (Boynton, 2006, p. 325). Compared client prepared information with auditor’s expectations Auditor develops an estimation or expectation of results and account balances and compares it to client’s expectations, results, and account balances examining difference. Examine lead schedules prepared by the client. Audit Report Value The value of an audit report is quite simple. It is the written representation of the auditor’s opinion and acts of an almost guarantee for company investors, creditors, and clients. The audit report lists the auditor and director responsibility, gives the scope of the audit, and reports the auditor’s opinion. It lets the users of the financial statements know that they can be reasonably assured statements are without material misstatement and can use the contained information to make their decisions. Of course, the opinion given is not completely guaranteed. Conclusion Team D Auditing carefully considered the given evidence and performed tests of the internal controls and has come to the conclusion that we are unable to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements are without material misstatement. We are also concerned with the future of Apollo Shoes with the loss of its biggest client and the pending lawsuit. The audit report, including some additional information regarding the evidence, sampling, and testing procedures have been submitted for review. References Arens, A. A., Elder, R. J., Beasley, M. S. (2012). Auditing and assurance services: An integrated approach (14th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson/Prentice Hall Becker Professional Education/CPA Review (2014) Audit Reports; Devry/Becker Educational Development Corp Boynton, W. C. (2006). Modern Auditing (8th ed.). Danvers, MA: John Wiley Sons, Inc. Louwers, T. R. (2007). Apollo Shoes, InC. Auditing and Assurance Services. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

The strengths and weaknesses of the EU

The strengths and weaknesses of the EU In 2005 Turkish Foreign minister stated I believe that Turkey will become a full member of the EU in the end. Then those who have some hesitations about Turkey will have totally different views. In fact, Turkeys orientation towards the institutions of the West dates from the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Since then, commitments to Westernization and modernization have been central themes of Turkeys state ideology.Indeed, Turkish political elite considers that accession to the EU is a symbol for the successful completion of the longà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ term Ataturk revolution On the other hand, from the European perspective and according to the last European progress report; Turkey has significant deficiencies from a political, economic and even institutional perspective. And so, Turkeys membership might not be very well perceived from the European angle. In fact, even thought significant political and economic changes were made, Turkish accession to the EU is still at a slow pace. Some consider that this is due to the fact that turkeys membership will push the European borders to some troubled region, and as a consequence the EU will acquire direct contact with region of instability. And so, if for some, Turkey will weaken the EU because not only it does not belong to the EU geographically and identically but also because it has many structural and institutional weaknesses for others a literate and qualified Turkish population will make a positive impact on the EU . Therefore, the question here will be whether the Turkish membership will strengthen or weaken the European Union. And my thesis is that Turkeys membership could affect not only the nature but also the functioning of the EU. In order to answer this question, focuses will be made on the liberal intergovernmentalism theory. In fact this theory considers that members will calculate the advantages of enlargement in terms of the cost and benefits of socioeconomics interdependence of various types. And so, liberal intergovernmentalism seeks to analyze how can we rescue and adapt the nation states mainly by analyzing state preferences not only in economical but also in geopolitical and ideological field. Hence to achieve this Chapter I will approach how Turkeys membership will strengthen the European Union Chapter II will analyze how Turkey can weaken the EU and finally Chapter III will be a synthesis. Main part: The European Union has never been an exclusive club. From the beginning of the integration process, fellow European countries were welcome to apply for membership. However, as the Union was deepening its integration and growing in size, the question of where and when to stop the enlargement became controversial. In fact, with Turkeys possibility to join the EU many debates seems to be emerging. Therefore, it seems necessary to the EU to a democratic governance system to ensure that a Union of 28 or 30 or more countries can function effectively not become a recipe for stagnation or even implosion. For the accession to be possible Turkey has also to maintain its progress in both economic and political because regression would be fatal to its goal of EU membership. 2.1- Turkey Weakening the EU: Many European leaders have argued that the European identity will be lost if Turkey joined the European Union. For instance, former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl once said that a Muslim country like Turkey does not belong in Europe. In addition, the former President of France, Valà ©ry Giscard dEstaing stated in an interview in Le Monde in 2002 that a future inclusion of Turkey in the Union would be the end of Europe since Turkey is not a European country. In fact, from the unions perspective the accession of a country is rational if it provides security to the union and raises the economical benefit. However since Turkey has a small economy and has limited trade volume, many assume that it will have marginal effect on growth in the current EU. As the numbers that were published concerning this subject shows Turkey is considered to have the poorest income in the region. And so, Turkish accession (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) would increase regional economic disparities in the enlarged EU by an estimated 9%, representing a major challenge for cohesion policy. In addition to that, Turkeys demography is also considered as a burden to the EU. In fact, Turkeys population estimated at 73 million is considered one of the largest populations in Europe. And so, with the accession of Turkey there is a risk that migration from Turkey to other European countries raises. Moreover, Turkeys demography might also affect negatively the decision making in the European Union. As Laffan and Stubb note there are fears that Turkey as one of the largest states in the EU could deteriorate not only the voting relations between the members states but also the whole political and institutional European architecture. And so, with a population predicted to increase to 83 million by 2014, Turkey will be the most powerful country in the voting system. In fact, if Turkey joined the EU, Turkey will have right to 96 members in the European parliament and by this she will be joining the club of the big countries such as France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. So with this sharing system Turkey will have a proportion of 12, 8% of votes. This is why smaller countries such as Holland are opposed to this enlargement. Actually, they refuse the idea that Turkey, a new coming country will play such an important role in the decision making of the union whereas their role is being reduced with every enlargement. In fact, with Turkeys adhesion, and a European union with 28 countries, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Turkey will be deciding the future of the 24 others. Turkish demography is also considered a problem because the Turkish population in mainly Muslim. In fact, some government insisted to mention the Christian nature of the EU in the draft of the European constitution in 2003 and this shows to what extent some might refuse the idea that countries without Christian tradition become members of the EU. Moreover, recent polls show that the majority of Europeans now oppose further enlargement of the European Union, and that Turkey receives particularly low levels of support in France, and across Europe more broadly, mainly because it is perceived as religiously different . Furthermore, Turkish accession means that the EU in reality swaps the instability problems of a stable neighbor with severe instability problems of Iran Iraq and Syria. In fact, Turkeys difficulties in gaining EU membership might be better understood as practical geopolitical problems associated with enlargement. And so, being caught between the Middle East and the Caucasus would make the enlarged EU more exposed and vulnerable. Finally, Turkeys relation with its neighboring European countries does not bring any help and so Turkey faces two local rivals (Greece and Cyprus) in the EU who hold veto power over Turkish accession. 2.2- Turkey Strengthening the EU: In opposition, Turkey might positively influence the European Union. First of all, and from an economical perspective, Turkey is considered as one of the largest market in the world. It is the seventh major import partner with the EU and the fifth major export partner. As Avery notes its growing economy and young labor force would bring benefits for the single market. And so, since EU will need in the future young and cheap labor, Turkeys accession might then be helpful for the future development and the economic growth of the European Union. Besides, Turkey is a large country with a large demography, and so its potential as a market of good is important. In fact, as the statistics shows turkey is the seventh major important partner of the EU and the fifth major import partner. In addition, and since the construction of the oil pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Turkeys role as a key transit country for energy supplies is also imperative to the EU. And so, It can be argued that in economic terms Turkey not only is important to the EU both for its impact on internal and external economic relations but also that it will strengthen the EUs economic capabilities. Secondly, Admission of Turkey to the European Union would provide undeniable proof that Europe is not a closed Christian Club . In fact, with Turkeys accession the union will appear as a more tolerant society. And so, with this integration Europe could play an inestimable role in future relations between the West and the Islamic world. This can also help promoting the soft power of the European Union and reinforcing it. Moreover, due to her geo- strategic position Turkey would add new dimensions to the Unions foreign policy efforts in such vitally important regions as the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Central Asia and South Caucasus.And so; this will help the union gain an important role in those regions. For instance, concerning the Middle East region, Turkeys membership would be very helpful to the EU. In fact, the good relations that Turkey entertains with both Israeli and Palestinians will help increasing the unions weight and this could be put to good use in common efforts towards peacemaking and stabilization in this strategically critical region. Furthermore, concerning the European Security and defense policy Turkeys considerable military capabilities and the countrys potential as a forward base would be important and much-needed assets. In fact, Turkey has participated in the work of the convention to the future of Europe and brought her own vision to improve the European security and defense policy so that she can be able to face todays challenges. In addition, As one of the strongest NATO partners, with a clear orientation toward ESDP, Turkey would be of great value for the European defense system. Finally, refusing the integration of Turkey, might affect the credibility of the EU. In fact, as Smith notes The sense of responsibility toward the candidate countries, the sense of shared European identity, the strategic imperatives favouring big bang enlargement and the fact that the EU could not have backed down from its promises without a serious loss of credibility and legitimacy all helped to sustain the momentum. Synthesis: Turkey has two souls: one secular and European, the other Asian and Muslim. And this is where the whole problem stands. On one hand, Turkey tend to join the EU and resemble to the European countries and on the other questions about whether Turkey is European or whether Turkey should join the EU are still subject of debates. In fact, another problem needs to be raised here: The Turkish public opinion. Actually, The Turkish public is becoming increasingly resentful towards the EU because of a perception that, while the country is negotiating membership, the EU itself is still debating whether or not it should be allowed in. Even thought Turkey has made many reforms in order to attain the European standard, some changes still needs to be done. First of all and from a political perspective, Turkey has ratified two UN treaties the first concerning civil and political rights and the second social and economic rights but this is still not sufficient. The European Commission still argues that political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights are not fully guaranteed and that more efforts are needed to enhance the coherence of legal provisions and practice. From an economic point of view Turkeys recent economic reforms have shown it capable of lowering inflation and promoting enterprise growth while weathering two recent, regional economic shocks. And so, if liberal intergovernamentalists, such as Moravcsik, perceives economic groups as the key driving force for integration then with the changes that were made Turkey can be perceived as capable of being member of the EU since both Turkey and the EU will benefit from this integration. In fact and as we said before, Turkey is an important market of good for the EU and can provide the young labor force that the union needs which makes it eligible to be a member. From a religious point of view, its true that Turkey is a big country with a population mainly Muslim, but lets not forget that 12 million Muslims live already in Europe and many more are likely to make their way to Europe. In addition, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina are also Muslim countries and potential candidate to the EU and no one is objecting their potential candidature. Finally, a NO to Turkey-now or in the very near future-would have extremely grave and negative consequences not only for the nearby region but also for European security interests. And so, the thesis that Turkeys membership could affect not only the nature but also the functioning of the EU is proven. In fact, even if the arguments that proves that Turkey will strengthen the EU seems to be more convincing from my perspective, the idea that Turkey will bring changes to the nature of the EU seems to be a fact whatever ones conviction is. However, the changes can be seen differently according to ones perspective. And so, being convinced that Turkey will weaken the EU, then the changes will be seen negatively and vice versa. 3. Conclusion: In his recent book, The Limits of Europe, EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein warns against European overstretch. Turkish accession, he argues, would reduce Europe to a glorified customs union, and create risks for the European project. What Bolkestein meant, as he made clear in September 2004, was that Turkeys large population might well create a more Muslim Europe, either by intra-European migration or by EU voting mechanisms weighted by population size (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦)The advantages for an enlarged Europe, he argues, lie in exporting stability but at the risk of importing instability. However, And based on the arguments showed below, we can say that the conditions that are presented as weakening the EU are not very convincing anymore. In fact, since the enlargement in 2004, things have changed. And so, if the European Union would like to prove today, that shes a united international actor, and if the European Union would like to prove that having one purpose might bring together actors no matter how different they are, but willing to work for that purpose, then the EU should accept Turkish membership. But what about the alternative presented by the French president Nicolas Sarkozy? Will turkey become a privileged partner instead of a full member? And what about the possibility to make some changes for reducing Turkeys influence before Turkeys entry to the EU, as it was the case with the Nice Treaty before the eastern enlargement?

Seraglio: An analysis

Seraglio: An analysis ‘Seraglio centers on a fundamental mystery: the complexities of a husband and wifes relationship. The barrier that they experience between them is further emphasized through being from two different cultures, which is portrayed as almost being from two different worlds, ‘close but not touching, like two continents, each with its own customs and history, between which there is no bridge. It is evident that Swift sets this barrier from the start as his interesting choice of title refers to a room where the women are kept secluded from the men. The narration is in first person singular and is enhanced by the main protagonist the husband. The exotic setting which the characters are indulged in, contrasts deeply with the dark events that have the taken place in their lives; the husbands affair, his wifes miscarriage, the misfortune of not being able to have children in the future and the ways in which they try to mentally escape from these woes. Cosmic irony is common in Swifts work as his characters are hardly ever happy, and when they are, the feeling is almost alien to them. ‘Seraglio seems to defy the common story structure as there is no solution to the predicaments the characters face. The husband as a flat character means he has no function other than to provide us with the narrative, which is useful to us as readers when interpreting the essentials of the story. Swifts preservation of names and detail of the characters lives evokes further curiosity in the reader, proposing a desire for us to learn more about the characters. In comparison, if we look at swift himself, the Telegraph states ‘No contemporary author is such a closed book, indicating that his characters may be mirroring himself. In contrast to the lack in detail of the characters, Swift is quite descriptive when illustrating the city, possibly to indulge the readers attention further into the story. When it comes to the husbands personal life such as his current marriage, he makes more use of narrative passages, leaving the reader to dig in further for clues about the couple. It is as if Swift uses these narrative passages as a device for the author to piece certain things together, including the sensitivity of the couples relationship and the feelings associated. In ‘A Family Man, Pritchett narrates in third person whilst introducing to us the main protagonist Berenice, a woman who is involved in a ‘piquant affair with William Cork. We sense that it is on the verge of being discovered when Florence (Mrs. Cork) enters the story, ‘a large ponderous woman who immediately grips the readers attention due to this presentation of her. Initially, the reader is drawn to her size, but later it is who she really is that keeps us drawn to her further. Pritchett also injects curiosity into the story when describing how one character is towards the other, in this case, Berenice with Florence as the reader is stepping into her shoes and experiencing what she feels and how she reacts. The author uses her as a tool to aid us in interpreting this, as we are placed only in her shoes. Pritchett makes this easier for us as we read of Berenices character from a third person limited point of view. The tension is soon created when Florence reveals herself to be Mrs. Cork, the wife of William Cork, and continues to mount throughout the story as we observe how the two characters react with each other. Pritchett presents to us the two women meeting for the first time, at first humble towards each other but eventually confrontational, ‘Is that what he has been stuffing you up with? I know what you and he are up to. Florence is indefinite about the affair, however the reader knows completely well that it occurred, indicating elements of dramatic irony within the story. However, we are also left in the dark as much as Florence is when it comes to knowing the precise details of the affair (for example when it started), creating further suspense and mystery. Berenice is a dynamic character, in that she lies to Florence and changes her story to get around the difficult situation she finds herself in. We see another side to her, especially as Pritchett states in the beginning, ‘She had been brought up by Quakers and thought it wrong to tell or act a lie. This affirmation completely contradicts what she does later, creating a complex in her character. She encounters conflict and transforms as a result of it. On the other hand, Florence serves as a flat character as there are no multidimensional traits in her personality. Also, she is readily recognized as the adulterers wife, making her a stock character. Evidently, Prichett may have placed her there to bring out the multidimensional traits in Benerice. The other flat character in the story is Mrs. Brewster, whos involvement in the novel is minimal, but her importance is great. It is through her words that we view (for the first time) another outlook on Benerice. After thinking Benerice would have learnt her lesson in regard to nearly getting caught by Mrs. Cork, Benerice visits another couple and we see elements of a flirty nature through Mrs. Brewsters view of her, ‘She ought to get married†¦I wish she wouldnt swoosh her hair around like that. Through this ironic ending, Pritchett is almost alluding to a possible recurrence of another affair with a married man (Mrs. Brewsters husband?), which presents the reader with a whole new series of events to look forward to. ‘The Prophets Hair portrays a family from the valley of Kashmir who are broken by a strand of the Muslim prophet Mohammeds hair. This story is full of overtones, regarding the effects of religion on others, and the way in which corruption is associated with money. Ultimately, Rushdie highlights two strong forces within our society: money and religion, and how they conflict with each other. In the end, the hair itself raises this point through the way it affects each character; the materialistic Hashim family and Sheikh Sin the thief who craves jewels, who all perish eventually. The opening of the story is filled with overtones of religion and money, which are emphasized from the start as we learn that Hashim is a ‘money-lender and ‘not a godly man. From the beginning we are informed that Hashim sees value in nothing else but money. Also, on discovering the religious trinket, Hashim immediately thinks of ‘American millionaires who buy stolen paintings and hide them away, which may suggest one of his thought processes of wanting to sell the phial in future. Hashim is a dynamic character and Rushdie demonstrates extreme contrasts and complexities in his character: the protagonist starts off as an atheist then transforms into (what he thinks) a deeply religious individual (even though he continues to beat others and has sinned to his wife), imposing strict religious acts onto his family. His character also becomes dislikeable to the audience after the effects of the Prophets hair. On discovering the find, he does not do the honorable thing of returning it to the shine. The reader expects this as we learnt in the beginning that ‘he set great store by ‘living honorably in the world, however, his actions were not honorable and resemble that of a thief. In contrast to Hashim, Atta is a flat character in that he does not undergo any change throughout the course of the story. Rushdie may have used him as a device to enhance the plot as he is at one point involved in removing the religious trinket from the home, and also represents the familys wealth in the opening scene. He also wakes up Hashim in the end, causing a series of unfortunate events to unfold.Huma is one of the main protagonists alongside her father, who also enhances the plot (perhaps more than Atta) as she introduces Sheikh Sin to the situation. She evokes pathos in the reader, and we can empathize with her more than Atta, as she is victimized by her father for no reason, whereas in the beginning Atta lands himself in trouble when looking for a thief, which the reader may interpret as foolish behavior. Other round characters include Sheikh Sin and his wife. She is a round character as she evokes interest in the reader in regards to how she got her vision back when her husband was killed.Rushdies use of symbolism is extensive throughout the story. I believe the religious trinket may symbolize the two elements of corruption involved in our society, folded into one. The phial has a monetary value whilst the hair contains great spiritual value. To attain the prophets hair is selfish and wrong, but the monetary value of the phial is greatly desired by all, possibly symbolizing that these two elements are not compatible with each other. Fiona Richards from the University of Leeds also states, ‘It illustrates the extent to which the icons meaning is determined by the context in which it is placed, and its ability to subvert and destabilize the limits placed upon its meaning by such a framing. Rushdie also prepares the reader with the series of events that are to occur, ‘the glassy contentment of that house hold, of that life of porcelain delicacy and alabaster sensibilities, was to be shattered beyond all hope of repair, indulging the readers interest further. Rushdie also induces cultural references through his use of words from the Kashmiri language, such as ‘kukri knives and ‘shikara. This gives the reader an insight into the culture by revealing to us different Kashmiri words. He is slightly expanding our knowledge of the Kashmiri culture here. ‘The Prophets Hair ends ironically, as the religious trinket aids poor Sheikh Sins wife and disabled children but destroys the wealthy Hashim and his family. In the end, it only worked for those who truly needed it. Weldons Weekend presents the habitual and normality of a standard middle class family, and the pressures that the main protagonist Martha faces. Weldon, who is a feminist also challenges conventional feminism here. The story is illustrated from an omniscient point of view, as Martha and at times Martins thoughts are revealed to the reader. The author portrays Martha as a perfect, loyal and hard-working wife, but her efforts are unappreciated by her dominating husband Martin, who she tries hard to please but (sometimes) gets stern looks from him. As the story follows, it is evident that Marthas daily struggle of being the perfect mother to her kids, keeping life organized and maintaining Martins satisfaction has had an effect on her mind state, to an extent that her thoughts have been tormented by fear and paranoia, ‘You dont want his secretary providing a passion you neglected to develop. Do you? The presence of Katie (Collins new wife after Janet) may also trigger Marthas paranoia as she represents what Martin could have after Martha. In her desperation to please Martin, Martha also changes her thoughts and ways to match that of Martins, ‘No such thing as an accident. Accidents are Freudian slips: they are wilful, bad tempered things. Although it appears as Martha is speaking, this is actually something Martin may have conditioned her to think. Her own thoughts have transformed to reflect Martins. The story contains heavy themes of gender stereotype and gender inequality. Weldon alludes to this when talking about the cars; Martin has a posh ‘sports car whilst Martha drives ‘an old estate car. Also, the reader can notice that Martin tends to do the ‘manly jobs such as driving and lighting the fire, whereas Martha cooks and cleans. Predominately, Martin is the dominant force in the story and Martha is the secondary force, who is threatened. Martha is also associated with further negative connotations, such as complaining too much, being paranoid and dull, and at times slow. This could represent the modern attitudes of housewives as they dont work but stay at home all day. This idea is further emphasized when we see elements of quoted dialogue from Martin. He mainly speaks in imperatives to her, ‘You shouldnt have bought it so ripe, Martha ‘Be honest now!This creates tension in the reader as one may get tired of hearing demand after demand. This also enables us to experience the restlessness Martha may feel. Martha contrasts to Katie, who is childlike in stature and also in manner, as Martha cannot trust her in the kitchen. She can also be viewed as being more independent than Katie, as Katie is ‘in [her] mid thirties with nothing at all to her name, neither husband, nor children, nor property. However, in the story it is almost as if Martha feels threatened by Katie because Martin states that she is ‘exciting and ‘wonderful and has restored Collins youth. Weldon cleverly reveals to the reader Collin and Janets past relationship to symbolize what could occur if Martin was not satisfied with Martha; he could find someone like Katie who is more extrovert and relaxed, and who could ‘bring out the youth in him. We learn that Janet was also ‘dull and quieter than her husband just as Martha is.The ending can be viewed as either being pessimistic or optimistic. Is it that Jenny has motherhood, marriage and friendship to look forward to? Or are these the things that she will find hard to embrace? In the end, Weldon leaves the reader to assume their own opinions. The story of Philomela is told in first person narrative, and it is Philomelas sister Procne who narrates the story. This contradicts the readers expectations as the title is ‘Philomela, so initially, we expect the story to be from from her point of view. Procne narrates in a cold and firm tone throughout the story, which creates more pathos without any extra detail being needed to create this mood.The reader cannot help but notice comparisons with Ovids tale of Philomela as it is a much more detailed version, providing an elaborate account of Philomelas suffering. On the other hand Tennant has cleverly condensed her version of the story, leaving the reader to conjure up thoughts about what might have happened themselves. On killing her son, the reader can still empathise with Procne when she states, ‘Years and years will pass, and these minutes will still be longer than them all. Every hour will be made up out of them. Although she keeps an unemotional tone during this scene, Tennant still informs the reader that this tragedy will never escape her mind, engaging our sympathies with her. Tennants use of symbolism is reflected through the birds in the story, ‘I moped, like the birds my children bring back when they go out for a walk. Procne associates herself with these birds, and this association may allude to the women of that era who werent allowed to speak out, who didnt have a voice. The absence of Philomela has led the grief-stricken Procne to isolate herself, and it is the sound of birds that is the only thing which keeps her content, ‘It was summer, and birds were singing in the thicket of olives. This could perhaps forshadow the events that are to occur, as the birds are the only thing which give her hope and also represent the voiceless women, particularly Philomela who will give her the power to avenge later. Procne turns from a grief-stricken sister to a murderer and an avenger. These complexities in her character cause her to be a dynamic one. Philomela is also a dynamic character as she encounters conflict and is changed by it. She also introduces and enhances the plot. She evokes the anger and hostility needed towards her husband in order to carry out the revenge, ‘She reached my side and took my hand so I could rise with new strength. On the other hand, Tereus is a flat character because he has no other function other than to serve as a villain in the story, who offers to take Philomela to Thrace but then rapes her.Isyth is a flat character as he has no major involvement in the story apart from being served on a plate to his father and used as part of revenge. Procne constantly describes Philomelas physical features, ‘I watched her all the time- for signs of happiness, or discontent, or simply to see what her eyes would say to me. Her eyes which speak their own language provide the reader with an insight into how she feels, as this is the only way we can understand her. References Books Bradbury, Malcom (1988), The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories, Penguin Books Internet Sources Malcom, David (2003), Understanding Graham Swift [Online] University of South Carolina http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EttQoAGfCcsCpg=RA1-PA72lpg=RA1-PA72dq=criticism+on+seraglio+by+graham+swiftsource=blots=s3rfxl9fbvsig=3LdeVZlPHVfNg2 02fSIWzw2dHchl=enei=lWWJS4P2H4n60wSF0p3UCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=4ved=0CA4Q6AEwAw#v=onepageq=f=false[Accessed: 25/02/10] KCS,(2007) Analysis: Rushdies The Prophets Hair [Online] http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/226858/analysis_rushdies_the_prophets_hair.html[Accessed: 10/01/10] Richards, Fiona The Desecrated Shrine: Movable Icons and Literary Irreverence in Salman Rushdies ‘The Prophets Hair [Online] University of Leeds http://www.soas.ac.uk/soaslit/issue2/RICHARDS.PDF[Accessed: 25/02/10] Marks, Tracey (2000), Philomela in Ovids Metamorphoses [Online] Ancient Sites Communityonline discussions on Greek and Roman mythologyhttp://www.webwinds.com/thalassa/philomela.htm[Accessed: 25/02/10] Gradua Networks (1995-2009) A Family Man by V.S. Pritchett: How the writer makes the story interesting and entertaining [Online]http://www.cheathouse.com/essay/essay_view.php?p_essay_id=103107#ixzz0gmm2K9D7http://www.cheathouse.com/essay/essay_view.php?p_essay_id=103107[Accessed: 18/12/09]

Education In Check :: essays research papers

Education In-Check   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In John Holts essay, “Freedom for Children'; he discusses how children should have their own right to decide how much, when, and what to learn. Holt states that by taking children’s right to learn, we are taking a fundamental right away from them. He also states that, to adults, the right to decide what does and does not interest us is taken for granted and that we are unknowingly taking this right away from children. Holt also states that by sending children to school six hours a day, 180 days a year, for about 10 years we are limiting them. Holt concludes that children are no longer learning, but rather are taught what adults think they should know. I personally disagree with Holts on this matter. If children had the right to control their education, what would stop them from even going or learning things that could be damaging to society? I feel the have plenty of rights as it is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Children today have many rights already in the field of education. In elementary school, no one forces them to stop learning. They can always choose to further their education, by reading perhaps. In high school, there are a variety of classes a student can choose from. All these classes can be selected to fit an individual student. Classes ranging from art and drama all the way up to advanced placement physics are at the disposal of those who want to learn. No one forces children to take these classes. Students take these classes of their own free will. Once in college, a student has the right to choose whatever major they feel fit to be in. If they don’t like that major, they can always change it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What would happen if students were allowed to come and go as they please? All too often, students would never go to class. They would abuse their right and spend their days having fun. I have personally seen friends leave school because they don’t want to be there. If they didn’t have to be there they would not have come in the first place. There are certain things that students should know. Basic math and English skills are required jus to get by in today’s society. If these basic skills are never learned, we risk having an underdeveloped society full of uneducated people. Our world would literally crumble because we run the chance of people not knowing anything. Education In Check :: essays research papers Education In-Check   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In John Holts essay, “Freedom for Children'; he discusses how children should have their own right to decide how much, when, and what to learn. Holt states that by taking children’s right to learn, we are taking a fundamental right away from them. He also states that, to adults, the right to decide what does and does not interest us is taken for granted and that we are unknowingly taking this right away from children. Holt also states that by sending children to school six hours a day, 180 days a year, for about 10 years we are limiting them. Holt concludes that children are no longer learning, but rather are taught what adults think they should know. I personally disagree with Holts on this matter. If children had the right to control their education, what would stop them from even going or learning things that could be damaging to society? I feel the have plenty of rights as it is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Children today have many rights already in the field of education. In elementary school, no one forces them to stop learning. They can always choose to further their education, by reading perhaps. In high school, there are a variety of classes a student can choose from. All these classes can be selected to fit an individual student. Classes ranging from art and drama all the way up to advanced placement physics are at the disposal of those who want to learn. No one forces children to take these classes. Students take these classes of their own free will. Once in college, a student has the right to choose whatever major they feel fit to be in. If they don’t like that major, they can always change it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What would happen if students were allowed to come and go as they please? All too often, students would never go to class. They would abuse their right and spend their days having fun. I have personally seen friends leave school because they don’t want to be there. If they didn’t have to be there they would not have come in the first place. There are certain things that students should know. Basic math and English skills are required jus to get by in today’s society. If these basic skills are never learned, we risk having an underdeveloped society full of uneducated people. Our world would literally crumble because we run the chance of people not knowing anything.

Poetry Styles of the Victorian Period Essay -- Realism, Naturalism

The Victorian Period (1833-1901) brought about the expansion of Britain’s booming economy. In Britain, around the beginning of the Victorian Period, the consequence of industrialism brought much unrest across the land. The factories were notorious for their horrible working conditions, and the common workers’ housing was atrocious. Victorians were struggling with religious, philosophical, and social ramifications (854-856). The complex background to what was happening in Britain at the time led to a new and interesting literature period. There happened to be three influential types of literature during the Victorian Period. The first of these types was Realism. â€Å"When Victorian writers confronted the rapid technological and social changes amidst which they lived . . .† (857) realism evolved. Realism centered on â€Å"ordinary people facing the day-to-day problems of life, and an emphasis that reflected the trend toward democracy and the growing middle-class audience for literature† (857). The second type of literature that began to show up in the Victorian Period was Naturalism. Naturalism â€Å"sought to put the spirit of scientific observation to literary use† (857) by including lots of details into literary works. This literature type appeared to contradict Romanticism and painted â€Å"nature as harsh and indifferent to the human suffering it caused† (857). Thirdly, the Victorian Period brought about the Pre-Raphaelites literature. Pre-Raphaelites didn’t accept â₠¬Å"real† life and instead found spiritual inspiration in â€Å"medieval Italian art, . . . before the time of the painter Raphael (1483-1520)† (858). The Victorian Period of literature brought about many poets and poems. The poetry of the Victorian Period mostly dealt with... ...assing on my daily trot. I am sorry, but I quite forgot It was your resting-place† (974). This poem dealt with the Realism of the Victorian Period because this was an ordinary person after death wondering what ordinary person was digging on her grave. There was nothing special about the people in this poem and this was sort of a figurative â€Å"day-to day† problem because people do wonder about who would think about them after they die. â€Å"Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave† also had Naturalism aspects in it. Nature is portrayed as harsh and indifferent about human suffering in this poem because the dog gave no care about its owner and only cared about its bone. Overall the Victorian Period was an interesting literary portion of time. It brought about many works of poetry that deal with characteristics of Realism and Naturalism in the authors’ own respective ways. Poetry Styles of the Victorian Period Essay -- Realism, Naturalism The Victorian Period (1833-1901) brought about the expansion of Britain’s booming economy. In Britain, around the beginning of the Victorian Period, the consequence of industrialism brought much unrest across the land. The factories were notorious for their horrible working conditions, and the common workers’ housing was atrocious. Victorians were struggling with religious, philosophical, and social ramifications (854-856). The complex background to what was happening in Britain at the time led to a new and interesting literature period. There happened to be three influential types of literature during the Victorian Period. The first of these types was Realism. â€Å"When Victorian writers confronted the rapid technological and social changes amidst which they lived . . .† (857) realism evolved. Realism centered on â€Å"ordinary people facing the day-to-day problems of life, and an emphasis that reflected the trend toward democracy and the growing middle-class audience for literature† (857). The second type of literature that began to show up in the Victorian Period was Naturalism. Naturalism â€Å"sought to put the spirit of scientific observation to literary use† (857) by including lots of details into literary works. This literature type appeared to contradict Romanticism and painted â€Å"nature as harsh and indifferent to the human suffering it caused† (857). Thirdly, the Victorian Period brought about the Pre-Raphaelites literature. Pre-Raphaelites didn’t accept â₠¬Å"real† life and instead found spiritual inspiration in â€Å"medieval Italian art, . . . before the time of the painter Raphael (1483-1520)† (858). The Victorian Period of literature brought about many poets and poems. The poetry of the Victorian Period mostly dealt with... ...assing on my daily trot. I am sorry, but I quite forgot It was your resting-place† (974). This poem dealt with the Realism of the Victorian Period because this was an ordinary person after death wondering what ordinary person was digging on her grave. There was nothing special about the people in this poem and this was sort of a figurative â€Å"day-to day† problem because people do wonder about who would think about them after they die. â€Å"Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave† also had Naturalism aspects in it. Nature is portrayed as harsh and indifferent about human suffering in this poem because the dog gave no care about its owner and only cared about its bone. Overall the Victorian Period was an interesting literary portion of time. It brought about many works of poetry that deal with characteristics of Realism and Naturalism in the authors’ own respective ways.

Disparities in Healthcare

Discrimination is a very large factor of there being a gap between the two groups and his study is important because practitioners need to recognize the problems that it creates. Ethnic minorities are discriminated against for many reasons such as poor socioeconomics status, poor neighborhood environments, and Just poor health choices. These can lead to practitioners' discrimination of ethnic minorities. â€Å"Overall, racial/ethnic minorities receive poorer quality health care than do Whites in the United Fiske, 2012).My hypothesis Is that ethnic minorities are discriminated in a way that they receive worse healthcare than Caucasians. The sign of this study is a sample design and not an experimental design because I pulled Information that Involved the entire United States. An experimental design Is the design of any information gathering where variation is present. Variance Is a measure of how far the set of numbers in a study is spread out. For this purpose, and the overall lower cost and efficiency, this study would overall incur a lower cost and data can be collected much faster than an experimental design.To prove that ethnic minorities are discriminated against more than Caucasians, I will pull much of y data from different studies that all come to the same conclusion. This study will Include a large sample size, the united States, so there Is a lot of equipment that needs to be provided for the research to be conducted. This Is a sampling design study that will use a lot of different equipment. Equipment such as computers, pads, calculators, notebooks, and software for computers are essential because they will aid the researchers immensely.If researchers are to stay in one place over a long period of time, storage may also be needed to store Items in. Besides equipment, money will also be needed for the purpose of travel. Locations where researchers can gather will be needed, along with transportation needs. Transportation needs can include plane trave l, vehicle rental, and reimbursement of gas. Living expenses such as food and hotel or motel would also be covered. Because this study looks at other resources of information to come to a final conclusion, medical examination of patients is not needed and therefore medical equipment Is exempt.This study Is considered a retrospective, or case controlled, study because It gathered through examination of records, interviews, and so on. A case controlled duty is defined as a type of retrospective, epidemiological, clinical study design. It involves two or more different groups with different outcomes. These groups are observed in the medical field usually to determine the outcome of a specific condition or disease. The two groups that are being looked at in this study are Caucasians and ethnic minorities. There are many techniques and procedures that come into play for this study.I used the process of data mining. Data mining is the process of analyzing data from different perspectives and summarizing it into useful information. Data mining is the most useful technique in acquiring the data we need for this certain study and will overall increase the efficiency of gathering data. Pulling from credible sources in research papers and gathering from many different polls will overall be very helpful for the study. Gathering The ethnic minority population is slowly gaining on the Caucasian population.These populations are more spread out in the United States. According to the 2011 U. S. Census, the ethnic populations are as such: Hispanics, 52 million; African Americans, 43. 9 million; Asian Americans, 10 million; American Indians, 2. Million. These numbers increase every year and the percent of Caucasians living in the United States starts to even out compared with minorities. In 2000, the white population made up approximately 70 percent of the total population(CDC, 2000), but now only make up 63. 4 percent.The gap that divides the unique group of ethnic minorities a nd Caucasians has many factors There are many factors to consider when looking at the gap between Caucasian and minorities. There is a â€Å"disproportionate prevalence on less health lifestyles, low socioeconomic status, resource-poor neighborhood environments, and poorer access o care†(Shavers, et al. , 2012) for ethnic minorities. These factors lead to far more cases of cancer, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic diseases in general. Minorities are discriminated because of these factors and it can impact their healthcare.Racial discrimination is defined as discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race. Healthcare practitioners who discriminate create unneeded stress among patients and create unhealthy environments. This awful treatment of patients can spill into other aspects of the patient's life, and can lead to ore individuals smoking due to the psychological distress associated with such treatment(Purcell, et al. , 2012). To put discrimin ation in perspective, nearly two- thirds of one study â€Å"perceived discrimination in their interactions with health care providers based on race†¦ ND 58. 9% based on their socioeconomic status†(N. A. , 2001). Minorities who are discriminated against may not obtain the proper healthcare that they deserve and according to Dovish and Fiske, bias among healthcare providers exerts independent influence(2012). My hypothesis was that ethnic minorities are discriminated in a way that they chive worse healthcare than Caucasians. After pulling from many studies, the hypothesis seems to be validated, and that ethnic minorities are affected through discrimination in many different ways.Socioeconomic, health choices, and poor living conditions are only a few of the factors that make healthcare professionals discriminate against minorities. There is a certain design that was needed to guide information that involved the entire United States. This study would incur a lower cost and data can be collected much faster than an experimental design. Many efferent tools and equipment would be needed, such as computers, software, and pads, to name a few. After concluding on the hypothesis, there needs to be a call for something to be done.With 52 million Hispanics, 44 million African Americans, 10 million Asian Americans, and 3 million American Indians, discrimination can lead to many problems. Stress occurs in many individuals as a result from healthcare professionals discriminating against their patients. This unneeded stress puts the body through more harm and can cause a patient to experience more problems. With healthcare being a hot topic for discussion in today's society, it's difficult to see the affects that discrimination has on the healthcare industry.

Violent and Vulgar Rap Lyrics

VIOLENT AND VULGAR RAP LYRICS What happened to censorship? â€Å"Then shall we allow our children to listen to any story anyone happens to make up, and so receive into their minds ideas that often the very opposite of those we shall thing they ought to have when they are grown up? † Plato, The Republic While Plato may not have had rap music to contend with, he posed a question that could be a leading concept for a society concerned with the impact of today’s music on its kids.In truth, Plato would note a archetype shift from a culture that put their family’s social, emotional, and spiritual well being as primary; to a society that is enslaved to whoever or whatever nets the mighty dollar gets to make decisions regarding what is right for our youth. Let us begin with censorship. Most freedoms are taken for granted, because they always seem to be in effect. Censorship keeps freedoms in check, or so it should. There are some things that are not suitable for the whol e population. Children should not be exposed to vulgar or violent media.The young impressionable minds of our youth should not be exposed to media that promotes relaxed morals, risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, and the glorification of being a violent criminal. There are a lot of arguments regarding censorship, pro and con. I am willing to bet that those opposed to censorship of vulgar music do not have small children, specifically daughters. There are a lot of reasons to support censorship to protect our youth and our future. But those in control, those making major profits from the offensive media, only have their fat bank accounts to protect-not our precious children.On the following pages, I am going to submit some evidence that shows what effects rap music has had on our youth. I am also going to show you some examples of how this insult to our children’s minds, growth and healthy development has been allowed to continue. And finally, since the power’s that be are so hard to stop-I am going to propose a solution that we, as citizens, parents, and teachers can do to help gain some of our power back in educating our youth. The federal government and the states have long been permitted to limit obscenity or pornography. (Deflem) ] While the Supreme Court has generally refused to give obscenity any protection under the First Ammendment, pornography is subject to little regulation. However, the exact definition of obscenity and pornography has changed over time. In fact, federal obscenity law in the U. S. is highly unusual in that not only is there no uniform national standard, but there is an explicit legal precedent (the â€Å"Miller test†) that all but guarantees that something that is legally obscene in one jurisdiction may not be in another. In effect, the First Amendment protections of free speech vary by location within the U. S. , and over time.The â€Å"Miller Test† has 3 basic guidelines for the trier of fact: (a). W hether ‘the average person, applying contemporary community standards would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the *prurient interest, (b). Whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law. (c). Whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. (The First Amendment, Miller vs Californie,1973) An great example of the ambiguity of the Miller Test was during the 2Live Crew obscenity trial in 1991.Legal scholars have argued against each and every decision the Judge Gonzales made when he used to Miller Test during the first trial when he ruled in favor of the plaintiff and found 2Live Crew guilty of violating obscenity laws. First, it was argued that the Judge’s determination of the relevant community and its standards was overtly subjective. The Judge decided upon a geographical concept of community, but this was inappropriate because the fact that people live in close physical proximity does not automatically suggest that they share common values.Judge Gonzalez was also inconsistent in determining, on the one hand, that the considered community is generally more tolerant than others, and, on the other hand, that he could rely on his personal knowledge of the community standards which he never defined, of which he did not say whether they could change over time, and of which he did not determine the defining criteria. Second, the three standards of the Miller test (prurient interest, patently offensive, lacking serious value) were not met.With regard to determination of the album’s prurient interest, it was argued that there was no clear intention on the part of 2 Live Crew to lure hearers into sexual activity, and, referring to the profit-making motive of the rap band, Judge Gonzalez ignored that motive was irrelevant in aesthetic maters. Next, the patently offensive character of the â€Å"Nastyà ¢â‚¬  album was decided upon as the result of a misinterpretation of the lyrics, based upon Gonzalez’ arbitrary determination of â€Å"the† community standards. Actually, the lyrics of 2 Live Crew’s music should not be taken literally as they are comedic parodies in a culturally specific language.Also, music does not appeal to the intellect but to human emotions and imagination. Finally, the Judge’s ruling that â€Å"Nasty† did not have any serious artistic value was by definition mistaken since the â€Å"as a whole† test fails automatically in the case of a recording which after all always has some serious elements (the Judge never heard all the songs). Judge Gonzalez particularly failed to take into account Professor Henrey Louis Gates’s testimony which indicated the specific artistic style of the â€Å"Nasty† recording.Long pointed to the call and response style, the tradition of â€Å"doing the dozens† (a word game with insults), and the meaning of â€Å"boasting† as part of this type of rap music. Judge Gonzalez thus completely ignored the specific African American cultural values that are manifested by the album. Gates testified on behalf of Navarro, arguing that the material that the county alleged was profane actually had important roots in African-American vernacular, games, and literary traditions and should be protected. [ (Deflem) ] What a slipper slope.Not to mention â€Å"the prosecution suffered a setback when Judge June L. Johnson of Broward County Court agreed with the defense that a transcript of the tape contained comments that might distract the jurors and said that it could not be admitted as evidence†. [ (RIMER) ] When Joanne Cantor was asked to comment on Freedom of Speech issues at a Madison Civics Club dinner on October 12, 2002 this is what she had to share, â€Å"Many people have noted that corporate interests control what gets discussed in the media, and one place where this is obvious is the controversy over the media's effects on children.Research shows that violent television, movies, videogames, and even commercials can produce serious harmful effects on children, such as promoting violent behaviors and inducing intense anxieties. Parents need this information so they can make informed choices about their children's viewing, but the media use their corporate power to censor information that might damage their profits. At the same time, these corporations raise First Amendment concerns when solutions that might help parents are proposed. † Here are the examples of what she was referring to: 1.In 1997, I participated in a taping of The Leeza Show. On that show, parents were highly critical of the TV industry's new age-based rating system that was supposed to help them block harmful content using a device called the V-chip. NBC, which opposed making changes in the rating system, refused to let that program air. And five years later, they still have not gone along with the compromise that the other stations adopted. 2. After the National Institute on Media and the Family released a list of the 10 most violent video games, they were sued by the manufacturer of one of the games on the list.Although the lawsuit was eventually dropped, the costly process caused the organization's liability insurance to double, and they were subsequently lucky to get any insurance at all. 3. The Center for Successful Parenting produced a documentary on the effects of media violence for Court TV, a cable channel that is owned by Time-Warner. Before the program could air, the producers were told to remove the mention of Time-Warner's products. They were also required to include remarks by lobbyist Jack Valenti, who claimed that the research showing harmful effects was inconclusive. (Joanne Cantor) ] These are just a few of many examples of corporate interests using their muscle to restrict the free flow of information to parent s. They say that it's up to parents, not the media, to raise their children. But they make harmful products, which come into our homes automatically through television and radio and the internet. They market them to children too young to use them safely, and they try to keep parents in the dark about their effects. There are many studies that show the effects of violent and vulgar lyrics on our youth.The studies are too numerous to dispute and the results are pretty much the same. Teen pregnancy, STD’s are on the rise and although some studies indicate a drop in crime- they don’t’ show you the rise in crime in offenders under the age of 19, which is significant. I don’t want to go into all the statistics and the sources. I want to focus, instead, on the plan to use knowledge to empower ourselves and our youth-It’s called Media Literacy. The impact of media is critical, especially when it comes to the socialization of our children. Dr.Renee Hobbs wr ites that, â€Å"Media messages are representations of social reality, defined as perceptions about the contemporary world, which are shared among individuals. Messages also represent the social realities of times and places far removed, and help us make sense of the past, present and future. People need the ability to judge the accuracy of particular messages, which may or may not reflect social reality† (Handbook of Research on Teaching Literacy Through the Communicative and Visual Arts, 1998). few understand that media literacy consists of teaching about media as well.So the problem is clear: our students are growing up with media messages, messages that fill the bulk of their leisure time and provide them with information about who to vote for and what consumer decisions to make. Yet students receive little to no training in the skills of analyzing or evaluating these messages, many of which make use of language, moving images, music, sound effects, special visual effects and other techniques that powerfully affect our emotional responses. Educator’s are still focusing on historical context of the past, when cultural survival depended upon the mastery of the printed word.While these skills are even more important today, language is only one of a number of symbol systems which humans use to express and share meaning. Changes in communication technologies over the past 100 years have created a cultural environment that has extended and reshaped the role of language and the written word. Over the past decade, there's been a lot of discussion about how to best help teachers, parents and students be more critical consumers of the media. Quite logically, this response has been called â€Å"media literacy. Media scholar David Considine describes media literacy: â€Å"In an age when most Americans get most of their information from television, not textbooks, pictures not print, we need a wider definition of what it means to be literate. [Media lite racy], then, is an expanded information and communications skill that is responsive to the changing nature of information in our society. It moves from merely recognizing and comprehending information to the higher order critical thinking skill implicit in questioning, analyzing and evaluating that information† (Telemedium, Fall 95).Because the presence of media has become so accepted, we mistakenly presume that consumers of media are able to decode, deconstruct and digest media messages. Most of us received considerable teaching on how to interpret the written word, but we've had zero preparation for â€Å"reading† media messages. In an age when most Americans get most of their information from television not textbooks, pictures not print, we need a wider definition of what it means to be literate. Many of us grew up hearing the proverbs and adages like these: You Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.These words are even truer today in a n age not only of computers and telecommunications but of virtual reality and imageneering. Today's technologies represent a startling fusion of sight and sound that frequently make it difficult for us to discern illusion from reality, fact from fiction. Special effects like those seen in movies like â€Å"JFK† and â€Å"Forrest Gump† merge the past with the present, color with black and white, the dead with the living, fact with fiction in such a way that the real truth can often be confused with the reel truth.Censorship and the welfare of our youth can not compete with big business, all we can do is try to arm ourselves and our children with the knowledge and understanding to correctly comprehend the messages that are being spewed from the media. With that power we may not be able to control what our children hear and see, but we can protect them with the knowledge of the motives of the messages. BIBLIOGRAPHY Deflem, Mathieu. Rap, Rock, and Censorship: Popular Cultu re and the Technologies of Justice. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Law and Society Association, Chicago, May 27-30.Chicago, 1993. Joanne Cantor, Pd. D. â€Å"Who's Freedom of Speech is it Anyway? † Madison Civic's Club. Madison: Joanne Cantor, Ph. D, 2002. Kirchheimer, Sid. WebMD Health News. 3 March 2003. 1 April 2011. Piotrowski, by Tom. â€Å"Media messages†¦ more than meets the eye? † The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (2003). RIMER, SARA. â€Å"New Yorimesk T. † 17 october 1990. New York Times Archives. 22 April 2011 .