Thursday, January 30, 2020

Neoliberal Globalization Essay Example for Free

Neoliberal Globalization Essay In the article â€Å"Neoliberal Globalization† by Dan Clawson, the author contended that the advocates of neoliberalism tried to integrate this into globalization. He said that they are continuously attempting to make policies favorable to companies’ profits. Unfortunately, these do not make corresponding benefits and compensations to its workers that trigger labor crisis in the United States. Clawson further argued that neoliberalism should not be misunderstood as an inevitable phenomenon to accompanied globalization. Take for example the internet. Since the internet is a â€Å"powerful force† that connects people in one region to the world, it is also considered as the best contributor in globalization. In order to take that advantage, companies today tried to adapt a neoliberal perspective on the use of the internet to make more profit for themselves. Even so, the internet is for everyone in the world whether a person has wealth and power or not. In addition to this, the concept of globalization of the internet is very different from the perspective of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on globalization. Their belief is to generate most profits for business, much to their interest. The neoliberals believe that the their version of globalization has generated many profits and has made individuals wealthy. Yes, businesses nowadays are indeed making more profit than before because of neoliberal strategies. However, the wealth has been distributed unequally; in other words, wealth has been concentrated in certain business people. Clawson demonstrates this wrong argument of neoliberals by providing two different economy periods namely, the welfare state and the neoliberal state. Clawsons argument questioned why the average family income during the welfare state period was doubled compared to the slow increase during the neoliberalism period, given that the neoliberal oriented economy brought prosperity to the state. There was a noticable increase in income during the later period, but these increases were made by women workers and mostly distributed to the top people in the business. The Neoliberal version of globalization has then resulted in the continuous gap widening between the average workers and the top executives. With this, how does neoliberal globalization damage our economy? The damages are serious and concentrated in the working class population. The more international trade grows, the higher income inequality becomes. This causes more people to lose their jobs because of the companies’ decision to relocate to other countries to cut costs. Many of them relocate their manufacturing jobs to China and the service sector jobs to India. This is the main reason why most of the products we avail are from China, and the servicing jobs are in India. All of these are causes of the companies’ downsizing and the increased unemployment. Clawson proposed some solutions to the neoliberal form of globalization. He said that if the workers formed a union, the capital would be controlled, and there would be a decrease in the relocation. I agree with this thinking of Clawson. Abolishing the boundless rights corporations have in relocation is an effective way to maintain the workers’ rights. Unfortunately, the process was more complicated than what Clawson suggested. Another alternative was the regulation of labor conditions through organizations, such as the United Nations or the WTO. Clawson proposed that WTO should focus more on the workers rights and environment, and not only the company profits. WTO was established to protect organizational profits. If the right to regulate labor condition is granted to the WTO, there is a possibility that the WTO operate favorably to generate corporations’ profits. Clawson’s neoliberal version of globalization brought labor’s crisis in the United States. He demonstrated these by providing many case examples. However, his proposals did not address possible obstacles, which may follow as a result of those solutions or in the process of formulating those solutions.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Measurement, Irony and the Grotesque in Gullivers Travels :: Gullivers Travels Essays

Measurement, Irony and the Grotesque in Gulliver's Travels  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Postmodernity is obsessed with the Eighteenth Century. As an example of how our nostalgia for that period manifests itself, Hans Kellner has pointed out that a genre of novels and films set in Eighteenth century has exploded in popularity: Lempriere's Dictionary, Perfume, "The Madness of King George III." We could also point to the ongoing revision of scholarship on the period, of which GEMCS itself is an example. In considering what generates this contemporary fascination I have given some thought to the aesthetic and political issues surrounding the beginnings, and perhaps also the end, of the bourgeois social sphere. A conviction, argued most aggressively by Jean Baudrillard, is beginning to take hold, in and out of the academy, that this sphere, after an almost totalizing expansion, is now in decline. The panic over the loss of the social, whether supportable or not, offers a possible explanation for the contemporary nostalgia for the period in which Swift wrote Gulliver's Travels. In this age of dissolution, what do we see when we look back at the age of our creation? One thing we observe is the development of a peculiar kind of irony which we can't help but distinguish from our experience of this trope in the age of its dominance. The satirical effect of the irony in Gulliver's Travels read by the Postmodern will be precisely what it was not at the time of its production. The historical distance between Eighteenth Century and Contemporary readers can be understood by way of Hayden White's use of the master tropes in "Foucault Decoded." White assigns one of the master tropes to each of the four archeological periods described by Foucault in The Order of Things. In White's system, Foucault's Renaissance was metaphorical, locating truth in similarity. Swift wrote in what Foucault considered the Classical Period, which, for White, had metonymy as its overriding mode of reason, because a new transparency of representation made it possible to organize knowledge by a standard and represent it symbolically on a table. The Modern period was characterized by synecdoche, in that the subject of knowledge, Man, was now included in the study of the world, in a part-whole relationship. Finally, the Contemporary or Postmodern mode is ironic, characterized by a questioning of the foundations of knowledge and a Dionysian disappearance of the subject of that knowledge.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Benjamin Franklin Compared to Jonathan Edwards

Kendra Hughes Professor Machann English 2327 March 24, 2010 Errata in the Hands of an Un-Angry God: A Comparison of Edwards and Franklin Oberg and Stout put it best in the introduction of their book Benjamin Franklin, Jonathan Edwards, and the Representation of American Culture, â€Å"It is difficult, if not impossible to, think of two more widely studied colonial figures than Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edwards. As Franklin and Edwards have been studied individually over generations, so also have they been looked at together† (Oberg and Stout 3). Through their influential writing and critical evaluations of how to improve oneself, Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin both encompass American themes that ultimately define them as part of American literature. While living in different times and writing for different reasons they share the common themes of self-improvement, the setting and accomplishment of goals, and the importance of cohesion of society. By studying Edwards’ â€Å"Personal Narrative†, â€Å"Resolutions†, â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God†, and excerpts from Benjamin Franklin’s â€Å"Autobiography†, found in Norton’s Anthology of American Literature, edited by Nina Baym, their distinct individual ideas, and these shared fundamental themes of American literature can be seen. Their personal narratives show how their environment impacted them to better themselves. Jonathan Edwards’ â€Å"Personal Narrative† portrays his progress towards a more close relationship with God. His family was followers of the Congregationalist Church, and from early childhood, he followed a Christian life† (Edwards 385). Edwards’ autobiography, â€Å"Personal Narrative†, begins with him saying, â€Å"I had a variety of concerns and exercise about my soul from my childhood; but had two more remarkable seasons of awakening, before I met with that change, by which I was brought to those new dispositions, and that new sense of things, that I have had† (Edwards 386). Edward completes a sojourn that brings him closer to God. This discovery helped him in his evaluation of what it took to become a better Christian in God’s eyes. On the other hand however, Benjamin Franklin less closely adhered to his family’s Christian beliefs. As a Deist, Franklin believed that there was a â€Å"Supreme Being† and that it is ones own chore to discover reality through reason. In his autobiography, he reveals a few instances that altered his way of life. Case in point, he had qualms about not further pursing his relationship with Miss Read when he left for England. Franklin calls these wrong doings or regrets â€Å"Errata† (Franklin 473). The spirituality of Edwards and Franklin, although different, and very distinctive, their works resonate their exposure and the impact it had on their personal improvement and growth. Also, as a Deist, Franklin believed he determined his inevitability by his own accord. This encouraged him to set and accomplish goals to achieve what he desired in life. His autobiography portrays his faults and his accomplishments. This lack of modesty in revealing his errata is targeted towards his assembly, the American man, with hopes of prompting them to augment themselves and progress upon their deficiencies. Franklin rallied for the reformation of the American man through self-evaluation and correction. On the contrary, Edwards believed that it was God’s divine will of which men were the selected few who could entered into heaven after life. Edwards focused his writings towards Christians more so than just purely Americans. His goal was to prepare Christians to become these select individuals that gained entrance into heaven. Christians under Edwards felt responsible to live better lives and to set examples for the congregation and the community. As Christian individuals, just as Franklin’s Americans, they continually believed that one must examine and self-asses their place in life, the church, and the community. In the book Early American Literature: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Michael T. Gilmore, Gilmore writes in the introduction, â€Å"The Puritans in their minds the Bible was the book of history, and typology revealed the developmental pattern of everyday events by finding correspondences between the Old and New Testaments† (Gilmore 2). Edwards consistently leads his life adhering to the bible. He believed like Winthrop, that his community needed to prepare and become ‘a city upon a hill’ † (Gilmore 2). In â€Å"Resolutions† Edwards’ self-reflection and goals can be seen. He constantly tries to improve himself and his congregation so that they can achieve God’s envisage of a new homeland in New England. Edwards’ primary commitment was to underst and the Bible and to abide by it to live life to the fullest. Edwards aspired to better himself and set a precedent for his congregation and his Christian community. Franklin, like Edwards, also seeks these goals and achievements as and individual and for the American man. In Soundings: Some Early American Writers, Lewis Leary writes, â€Å"Franklin was the true American †¦he constantly redefines himself†¦none better represented the simple, noble men†¦who lived close to nature faithful to her laws uncontaminated by artificialities of court or town† (Leary 9,11). Franklin provides his audience with virtues to adhere to when trying to set goals to improve themselves. Franklin explains, â€Å"no one can change overnight and one must work on one vice until successively conquered, such as chastity, everyman can find self-improvement and further contribute to their community† (Franklin 487). Franklin’s determination to overcome vices enabled him to become closer to virtuosity, and hopefully in the end encourage his community to do the same. Similarly, Edward’s efforts to overcome his sins enabled him to become closer to God and to set an example for his congregation. Both men documented the progress of their goals to follow their self-defined resolutions and both men hoped their comrades would adhere to the same principles. They desired to be influential and catch attention and esteem from their community by showcasing their sacrifices. Along with self-improvement and setting of goals Edwards’ and Franklin’s writings reflect the importance of cohesion as a society. While Edwards urges his congregation of the need to seek salvation and bind together during a time when America was redefining religion, Franklin, through his writing encourages society to move closer together after the Revolutionary War. In, â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,† Edwards reciprocates with ferocity and anger to his congregation when faced with â€Å"The Great Awakening. † In the sermon to his congregation Edwards’ objective is to rationalize with the countless that are doomed to damnation and not saved. He preaches, â€Å"Now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open† (Edwards 435). Edwards begs for the cohesion of his congregational community in effort to defeat the influences of uncertified preachers and the impendence of damnation. Ursula Brumm explains in her essay â€Å"Jonathan Edwards and Typology,† In Early American Literature: A Collection of Critical Essays, â€Å" Edwards took part heart and soul in the events of the Great Awakening He regarded this movement with overwhelming expectations in the belief that it marked the beginning of a new millennium† (Brumm 71). Edwards felt â€Å"The Great Awakening† was a test from God, that Satan was causing these events, and that by force through his sermons he could hold his congregation together and pass this test from God to see who was faithful. Being much less forceful in his path, Franklin simply attempted to coax others to follow his path to become more patriotic. Franklin delves into the concept of how man can be made into a good citizen by following his list of virtues. He says, â€Å"It’s every one’s interest to be virtuous, who wish’d to be happy even in this world† (Franklin 495). Franklin’s goal is, â€Å"to show men that his autobiography and literature alike can help oneself to analyze and correct their own errors† (Leary 15). Franklin’s autobiography is defined by the case of â€Å"rags to riches† and has become a commonly used theme by many American writers. In the book Making the American Self: Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln by Daniel Walker Howe, Howe further explains the evolution of the self made man, â€Å"Edwards and Franklin agreed in their assessment of human nature and the difficulties put in the way of a virtuous life. The origins of the model of human nature that Edwards and Franklin shared with so many others, led to the cult of the self made man† (Howe 2). During the period after the recently acquired American independence, the nation attempted to define the representative citizen. Climbing from the lower class â€Å"rags† to the upper class â€Å"riches† Franklin achieved true success, set an example of the model citizen and influenced many fellow Americans during this time of need. Edwards and Franklin were both avant-gardes to their societies when people most yearned for an exemplary to live their lives by. Although so different Edwards and Franklin both were able to adhere to the American themes of self-improvement, setting and achieving goals, and coming together as a community. Through their erpetual self-appraisal, self-advancement, disclosure of their personal narratives, and their acknowledgment of a need to unite the community as one, they were able to produce the model of the American, Christian man, and epitomize American Literature through their works. Works Cited Brumm, Ursula. â€Å"Jonathan Edwards and Typology. † Early American Literature: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Michael T. Gilmore. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, I nc. , 1980. Pg 71. Edwards, Jonathan. â€Å"Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions and Advice to Young Converts. † Ed. Stephen J. Nichols. New York: P&R Publishing, 2001. Edwards, Jonathan. â€Å"Personal Narrative. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 7th Ed. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2007. Pg 385-396. Edwards, Jonathan. â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 7th Ed. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2007. Pg 425-436 Franklin, Benjamin. â€Å"The Autobiography. † The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 7th Ed. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2007. Pg 472-517. Works Cited Continued Howe, Daniel Walker, ed. Making the American Self: Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Pg 2. Gilmore, Michael T. , ed. Early American Literature: A Collection of Critical Essays. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc. , 1980. Pg 2. Leary, Lewis. Soundings: Some Early American Writers. Athens: University Of Georgia Press, 1975. Pg 9-15. Oberg, Barbara B. , and Stout, Harry S. , eds. Benjamin Franklin, Jonathan Edwards, and the Representation of American Culture. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. Pg 3.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

The Development of Heathcliff’s Character in Wuthering...

The Development of Heathcliff’s Character in Wuthering Heights Heathcliff is a character who is ever present in â€Å"Wuthering Heights† and throughout the novel his character changes. At first he is a poor, homeless child, then he becomes a loved and neglected victim, then he is a degraded lover, and finally he transforms into a vicious, lonely master. Heathcliff is introduced into the novel as a homeless child. He is a ‘â€Å"dirty, ragged, black-haired child†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ who Mr. Earnshaw brings to Wuthering Heights from Liverpool. He is constantly referred to as ‘it’ and a ‘gypsy’. His wife, Mrs. Earnshaw, is furious that Heathcliff has been brought into the house and the Earnshaws’ son, Hindley, is jealous of the apparent love his father†¦show more content†¦However, it is not Heathcliff who transforms his character throughout the novel; it is the characters around him. Mr.Earnshaw brings Heathcliff into the story: ‘â€Å"†¦but you must take it as a gift of God†. This shows that Mr. Earnshaw transforms Heathcliff into a loved person. Hindley and Mrs.Earnshaw transform him into a neglected victim: â€Å"Mrs.Earnshaw was ready to fling it out of doors†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Hindley hated him†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. This shows that Mrs. Earnshaw neglects Heathcliff, not loving him as much as her other children. Hindley hates Heathcliff and therefore abuses him, making him a victim. However, Mr. Earnshaw loves Heathcliff, and along with Hindley and Mrs. Earnshaw, makes him into a loved and neglected victim. Hindley and Cathy change him into a degraded lover: ‘He drove him from their company to the servants†¦ â€Å"I love him†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. This shows that Hindley degrades Heathcliff by making him a servant, after Mr. Earnshaw’s death. Cathy turns Heathcliff into a lover by loving him. Cathy and Hindley alter him into a vicious, lonely master: ‘â€Å"The tyrant grinds down his slaves and they don’t turn against him, they crush those beneath them†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. 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