Success Of Tobacco And Slavery In The 1600s History Essay

Success Of Tobacco And Slavery In The 1600s History Essay Back in the 1600s, there was a town called Jamestown in what is now the State of Virginia. It had many hardships. At first, no women came over, only the men and their sons. As time progressed, the people who knew how to build homes and shelter fared much better than the ones whom did not. At one point, winter had come and most of the population of Jamestown was not prepared for the cold and they had inadequate food supplies. There were many shocking stories arising out the genuine shortage of food and the resulting starvation, with reports of people killing others to eat them. It was not until the local growing of tobacco did the town turnaround from its downward spiral, but this discovery also marked the beginning of slavery. According to Captain John Smith, none of the native crops were planted at first, not even tobacco.  [1]  The reason for this was that the settlers attention was on anything they could grow for food. The two highest priorities for the settlers were food, as well shelters to live in to protect themselves from the elements. Shelters proved to be extremely important and essential for survival, especially during the cold months. As time moved on, the settlers did interact with the Native Indians and found them using tobacco, but under the name of uppowoc or apooke.  [2]  Most likely, the settlers bought or traded for some tobacco during that time. It was not until 1612 did tobacco cultivation began among the English settlers, even in small patches.  [3]  However, two years before, John Rolfe found that tobacco could be obtained only by buying it from the Indians, or by cultivating it.  [4]   From this mindset, it could be guessed that Rolfe tried to grow a small patch for himself and cut his reliance from the Indians. Rolfe was also trying to find a way to make some money, and find a local product that could be sold overseas in England that would be profitable. Nevertheless, adding one and one together, John Rolfe became one of the first colonists to grow tobacco. Rolfe had become accustomed to the fragrant aroma and taste of the imported Spanish tobacco,  [5]  and so had the people in England. Spanish tobacco became the standard or the bar to which other tobacco was compared. A native tobacco plant of North America was the nicotiana rustica. It was found to be substandard when compared to the tobacco grown in the Spanish Colonies. In 1611, Rolfe decided to experiment with seed of the mild Spanish variety.  [6]  This batch, as they called it, was Rolfes first experimental crop. When it arrived in England, it was stated that its quality was great, but the Spanish grown tobacco was still better. Rolfe came out and said, no doubt but after a little more triall and expense in the curing thereof, it will compare with the best in the West Indies.  [7]  Ã‚  Rolfe was trying very hard to get the tobacco grown in the west to be a desired product in England and Europe. By 1617, Rolfes experiment turned out to be a success, as his business was thriving. He had shipped 20,000 pounds of tobacco was exported from Virginia.  [8]  Tobacco in England was nothing new, the people had e already grown accustomed to it and it was something that only the rich or people who had some extra money could afford. Tobacco grew extremely well in Virginia, as the climate was perfect for cultivation. Virginian Tobacco also had a greater advantage Over All Other Staples in That It Could Be Produced in Larger Quantities Per Acre.  [9]  Since in virginia there was plenty of land, they were able to export a gargantuan amount. The Virginia-grown tobacco had brought down the price of tobacco generally to a much more affordable price, that even more people in England started purchasing tobacco. Spanish tobacco was very expensive in England which almost made it extinct, but the rich still purchased it for special occasions. Since the Virginia-grown tobacco could be produced in such large quantities, there was plenty of supply for the demand. In 1616, Jamestown had been impacted by a fever and the following description indicates the impact of the fever: there were but five or six houses, the church downe, the palizados broken, the bridge in pieces, the well of fresh water spoiled; the storehouse used for the church, [and] the colony dispersed all about, planting tobacco.  [10]  The town was falling apart, they had only a few buildings left, the water supply was spoiled and the town in shambles. The settlers had nothing left, hardly a population, but when the colony dispersed to plant tobacco, it became the only activity to engage in. The settlers started growing in the streets and in the market place.  [11]  Whatever space they had to grow tobacco, they used it. By 1622, plantations extended at intervals from Point Comfort as far as 140 miles up the James River.  [12]  The colony was feverishly spreading out and planting they even stopped caring about hunting, as they gave the Indians firearms and employed them to do their hunting  [13]  This shows how focused the colonists were on tobacco. However, later in 1622, all the space they had for planting and cultivation was greatly reduced due to the Indian Massacre of 1622.  [14]  This event was when the Indians suddenly attacked the colonists and killed many of them. But still, the planters were able to produce 60,000 pounds of tobacco,  [15]  which had tripled from the amount produced back in 1617. So even with the massacre, the colonists were still able to produce a large amount of tobacco. Sometime after the massacre, the settlers started extending their territory to cultivate tobacco. The settlers took over the fields previously cleared by the Indians, which were among the best in the colony. This made it easy for planters, as they did not have to clear the ground beforehand. They did not have to spend time clearing the trees and waiting for the stumps to rot out, so this greatly accelerated the planting process. With the expansion of the settlers into more land, a head-right system was developed which gave fifty acres of land to any person who brought a settler to the colony.  [16]  This meant that people who were already in the colony were strongly encouraged to bring over more people from England to be settlers in the area. The people brought over were known as indentured servants. In 1619, A Dutch slave trader exchanged his cargo of Africans for food in 1619. The Africans became indentured servants  [17]  as well, whose status and work were very similar to the indentured servants whom were brought over from England. People in England were offered a paid voyage to the colony, but they had to work on the land for a certain period until they had paid their dues. This was the start of slavery, as time progressed. The colony started importing more Blacks. In 1624, The Dutch, who had entered the slave trade in 1621 with the formation of the Dutch West Indies Co., imported Blacks to ser ve on Hudson Valley farms.  [18]   At first, there was no slavery at all, The first general planting in the colony began at West and Shirley Hundreds where twenty-five men, commanded by a Captain Madison, were employed solely in planting and curing tobacco.  [19]  The first planting in the colony was done for pay, as they were employed. The head-right system was in place so that people would come over from England. It mostly lured poor or landless people. Shortly after the indentured servants came from England, they complained that their work was endless and very hard. Many of them did not feel comfortable and loathed about the lower average death rate. They were also not treated properly by the landowners who had brought them over. Since none of the settlers wanted to do any hard work, the slave trade thrived to be working in full force, as one could buy a slave or trade food for one, for a relatively cheap price. Slave work was so badly needed for tobacco cultivation that African Slavery was legalized in Virginia and Maryland, becoming the foundation of the Southern agrarian economy.  [20]  It was now legal and normal for settlers to buy a slave, which made slavery and the demand of slaves even higher. African American slaves grew slowly at first, by the 1680s they had become essential to the economy of Virginia.  [21]  The economy relied heavily upon slave labor for its financial success. Planting tobacco was not a hard task, but it was a very time-consuming task and with the many and many acres of land that the landowners had owned, they needed a workforce to take care of all the land. For to sow it, you must make a hole in the earth with your finger and that as deep as your finger is long, then you must cast into the same hole ten or twelve seeds.  [22]  You also had to keep it watered if it had been a dry season. You also had to manage and keep working with the tobacco as it was hoed for the first time about eight to ten days after planting.  [23]  This is exactly what slaves did. The slave industry was big, as between 13,000 and 20,000 slaves were brought into Virginia and Maryland between 1619 and 1697  [24]  The slaves were African people, which had been picked up by British merchants with large vessels, who had either brought slaves from Africa or were reshipped from the West Indies.  [25]  The slave industry has become the trading commodity. West Indian and Portuguese companies also shipped slaves. The Portuguese were primarily sending slaves to the Spanish Colonies. Almost all of the companies or merchants were receiving the majority of their slaves from the People from the Bight of Biafra (present day eastern Nigeria or adjacent Cameroon).  [26]   When ships came to Jamestown or Chesapeake, slaves were put on display and slave buyers came and bought them. Slave buyers were forced to buy them, as it was cheaper to boost their African labor force rather than hiring people who already were in the colony. African people of many countries were mixed with other African people from different parts of the African continent due to the slave merchants going to different parts of Africa to bring back Black Africans as slaves. This caused isolation between the slaves, as they could not understand one another. It was dubbed the Babel of Languages.  [27]   There were also many indentured servants from the head right system who were mixed in with the African slaves. They lived, worked, socialized and ran away together. In 1663, settlers passed a law saying, that all imported blacks are to be given the statues of slaves.  [28]  If a white person marries a black slave, they are to be slaves during the time they live together. A law in 1681 made it so that children born from a white servant women and blacks are regarded as free. By the 1700s, there were many reports of slave revolts. In 1712, New York slaves revolted and killed nine white people. The consequences of this were that twenty one slaves were executed. Then, twenty three slaves rose up in revolt about mistreatment and killed nine whites before they were defeated. The captured slaves were all hanged or burnt. Since the Blacks were starting to rise up and revolting and talking about treatment, the State of Virginia assembly declared that no Negro, mulatto, or Indian shall presume to take upon him, act in or exercise any office, ecclesiastic, civil or military.  [29]  Blacks were also not allowed to serve as a witness in court and they were condemned to a lifelong servitude. In 1772, George Washington was a member of the House of Burgesses and he drafted a petition on the importation of slaves into the colonies from the coast of Africa. He labeled it a trade of great inhumanity. In 1773, some Massachusetts slaves petitioned for freedom, and by 1778, a law was passed in Virginia that no slave should be imported into that commonwealth by sea or by land.  [30]  Around this time, Blacks started to receive certain rights. There were some reports of Blacks suing for their freedom and winning. Slaves later on were commanded to do other work other than farming since the civilizations had advanced. In 1785, a letter written to George Washington and Thomas Johnsons stated that slaves would be used to build canals. Slaves were still being imported at this time. A British bill designed to restrict the number of slaves went into effect. It restricted the number of slaves based on the ships tonnage. By 1815, slave trading was declared a felony by Britain, punishab le by exile to a penal colony, also known as a jail. Portugal accepted a large sum of money to restrict slave trade to Brazil and Spain also received money to abandon trade to Caribbean. This was the end of slave trading, as we knew it back in 1619 with the early years of Jamestown. The settlers who had come to Jamestown were primarily from cities. They were not prepared for the primitive and harsh conditions in the Jamestown area. The population of Jamestown almost was wiped out one winter as food supplies ran out. It was not until the home growing of tobacco did Jamestown begin to thrive. It also led to the beginning of the use of slave labor and the slave trade. One of the first persons to successfully grow tobacco was John Rolfe. While in Jamestown, he perfected growing tobacco and sold it to England. His streamlined process resulted in much lower prices for the people in England, where tobacco became more affordable and more people began buying it. Many people in Jamestown started planting tobacco of their own and converting many acres of vacant land. This created a new problem. The larger the area of the tobacco farms, the more people it required to properly grow it.. Slavery started because of this. Land owners needed more workers to maintain their crops, so ship owners started the slave trade. The Dutch ship that came to Jamestown in 1619 traded food for some African people, which turned into the latter into indentured servants to the landowners. This was the start of the major slave trade, as the Dutch found it to be profitable. Other countries started slave trading as well. Shipping of Black Africans was treated as a commodity. Therefore, in the end tobacco was an extreme success which brought money and people to Jamestown, but it also was the start of slavery, one of the worst practices in the history of mankind.

The Effect of Gangs in There Are No Children Here Essay -- There are N

The Effect of Gangs in There Are No Children Here  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   Throughout There Are No Children Here, a continuous, powerful tension always lurks in the background. The gangs that are rampant in the housing projects of Chicago cause this tension. In the Henry Horner Homes, according to Kotlowitz, one person is beaten, shot, or stabbed due to gangs every three days. In one week during the author's study of the projects, police confiscated 22 guns and 330 grams of cocaine in Horner alone (Kotlowitz 32).    For the children of the projects, the pressure to join a gang never waivers. Quick cash and protection are hard forces to resist in a world of poverty and violence. However, the children's role in these gangs is inferior to that of the leaders. At first, the concept of joining is quite attractive. According to Lafeyette, one of the two brothers profiled in the book, " 'When you first join you think it's good. They'll buy you what you want' " (31). However, " 'You have to do anything they tell you to do. If they tell you to kill somebody, you have to do that' " (31).    What Lafeyette refers to is frighteningly true. In the inner city, gangs often recruit young children to do their dirty work. Shortly after joining, a fourteen-year-old friend of Lafayette's allegedly shoots and kills an older man in an alley half a block north of Lafayette's building (31). Acording to Kotlowitz, life in the Henry Horner Homes is controlled to a great extent by gangs, particularly the Conservative Vice Lords. Residents so fear and respect the Vice Lords' control that they refuse to call 911 (34). Snitching can get a resident killed. Even though the Chicago Police Department installed a hot-line number and promise confidentia... ...rime, Social Forces, Vol. 75 No. 2 December 1996, pg. 619-645. Lo, Chun-Nui, A Social Model of Gang Related Violence, Free Inquiry In Creative Sociology, Vol 19 no. 1, May 1991, pg. 36-43. Osgood, Wayne et al., Routine Activities and Deviant Behavior, American Sociological Review, Vol. 61 no. 4, August 1996, pg 635-655. Brantley, Gangs, Vol.63, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, May 1,1994, pp1-8 (Article) Kennedy, Leslie and Stephen Baron, Routine Activities And A Subculture Of Violence: A Study Of Violence On The Street, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Vol. 30 No. 1, Febuary 1993, pp. 88-112 (Journal) Lo, Chun-Nui (Celia), A Social Model Of Gang-Related Violence, Free Inquiry In Creative Sociology, Vol 19 No 1, May1991, pp. 36-43 (Journal) Shakur, Sanyika, Monster: The Autobiography Of An L.A. Gang Member,Penguin Book Ltd., 1993

Twelve Angry Men and the Jurors of The Kevorkian Trials Essay -- compli

â€Å"I can’t Function as a human being†¦ I want the right to die,† pleaded Sherry Miller, patient of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the famous â€Å"Death Doctor† (Chermak 107). The entitlement to commit suicide was never a problem, that is until it was challenged by Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Kevorkian was born in Pontiac, Michigan in 1928 (Chermak 101). His infatuation with death started when his mother died from cancer. Kevorkian wanted to find an easier way to help people carry out their death wishes; therefore, his solution was a suicide machine (Chermak 103). In this way, more than 130 were helped by Dr. Kevorkian and his suicide machine (Chua-Eoan). Although Kevorkian was tried five times, he was found innocent four times (Chermak 108-115). His jury had an onerous time coming to their conclusion. Throughout Twelve Angry Men, written by Reginald Rose, Twelve jurors had to decide the fate of one boy convicted of stabbing his father in the chest. In the beginning, eleven of the twelve were positive that the boy was guilty and nothing could change their minds, but Juror Eight disagreed. He showed them the holes in each of the testimonies. After hours of debating, Juror Eight was able to convince most the jury into seeing reasonable doubt in the boys guilt. When the last vote was taken, the tally was eleven to one in favor of innocent. In the end, there are many similarities between the jurors from Twelve Angry Men and the jurors of the Kevorkian trials because they all had a complicated trial, and their rulings were influenced by their personal thoughts and pasts. Throughout Dr. Kevorkian’s career, he challenged the law unlike many. Kevorkian was tried five times, but four out of the five he was found innocent due to the complications with his offences o... ...od, 2007. Print. Chua-Eoan, Howard. â€Å"Jack Kevorkian.† Time 20 June 2011: 16. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. Cohen, Adam Grace, Julie Tynan, William. "Showdown For Doctor Death." Time 152.23 (1998): 46. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. Hosenball, Mark. â€Å"The Real Jack KEvorkian.† Newsweek 122.23 (1993): 28. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. Lessenberry, Jack. "Jury Acquits Kevorkian in Common-Law Case." The New York Times. 14 May 1996. The New York Times. 24 Apr. 2014. Morgenthau, Tom Barrett, Todd. â€Å"Dr. Kevorkian’s Death Wish.† Newsweek 121.0 (1993): 46. MAS Ultra-School Edition. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. Rose, Reginald. Twelve Angry Men. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print. Shapiro, Joseph P.Bowermaster, David. â€Å"Death On Trial. (Cover Story).† U.S. News & World Report 116.16 (1994): 31. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. 

Injustices during the progressive Essay

During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, there were a lot of injustices in the United States. The Progressive Movement, which began in the late 1800’s attempted to bring about government reforms and correct injustices in America. One example of the problem in the U.S. was over population of the American cities. More and more people began to move cities from rural areas for jobs. As you can see in Document I, the cities were overcrowded and the infrastructure could not hold up with the influx of people moving to urban areas. The people lived in overcrowded housing developments that were dirty and poor. There was also abuse in industries. This was exposed by Upton Sinclair (Document 2). One of his most well known novels was The Jungle, which showed the abuse in the meat packing industry. He uncovered how the people would take extremely spoiled meat and use it as sausage or put it in to a can. They also used all parts of the meat and even rats were found to be in the meat. By writing this book, Sinclair was able to expose the corruption in the industry of meat packing, and Congress passed the Meat Inspection Act. A position change brought about the declining numbers of children between the ages of ten and fifteen who worked. In Document 3, you can see by the chart that the number of children working decreased by 6.8% from 1890 to 1920. Children were often used as cheap labor and were abused greatly. The government was able to reduce the number of working children under sixteen during this period of time because many states passed children labor laws. Around this time, big businesses came to power. As shown in Document 4, there were many abuses in businesses. The people who ran and formed these industries/trusts/businesses, such as Andrew Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Henry Ford. They acted like the big bosses and held control of much of the U.S. industry. In Document 5, Teddy Roosevelt explained how he felt about how these big businesses (oil, steel, copper, etc.) should be regulated if they are only in it for the money and power. Teddy Roosevelt became known as  a â€Å"trust-buster† because he enforced the Sherman Antitrust Act. During the late 1800’s the Progressive Party was formed. They wanted to bring about change in the U.S. One of their main goals included the reforming of industries. In Document 6, their platform is partly shown. Under their platform, they wanted to prevent accidents, diseases acquired on the job, and unemployment. They further wanted to have better health and safety centers, and minimum wage. In 1913, the 17th Amendment was added to the Constitution (Document 7). When the Constitution was first written in 1787, the senators were elected by legislators. In order to make the selection of senators more democratic, the 17th amendment was added. It said that senators would be elected by people from each state, not by the legislature. This is why we now have candidates that campaign for seats in the senates to the people. By adding this amendment to the Constitution, it made the U.S. more democratic. Women suffrage also took place during this time. People like Susan B. Anthony (Document 8) and Elizabeth Cady Stanton worked and campaigned for women to be allowed to vote. Susan B. Anthony used the preamble of the Constitution to argue her case. She stated that the Constitution said â€Å"We the people†¦Ã¢â‚¬  not ‘We the men†¦'† She said the Constitution was written for all people, not just men. Her efforts eventually paid off, and the 19th amendment was passed in 1922 allowing women to work. In conclusion there were many injustices in the U.S. from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. The Progressive Movement help to bring about more change as did the government. Teddy Roosevelt tried the limit the abuses of big businesses, and women suffrage was granted, and the meat packing industry was exposed. With each time comes problems but with activists some are changed and reformed. During this time period, there were a lot of injustices and issues, many of which were discovered, addressed, and reformed.

Clothing and Fashion

Every person nurtures an innate desire of looking good and feel ‘accepted’ in the socio-economic circle. The word fashion instantaneously brings to mind a flash of colour with a dash of glamour. Women are taking to fashion in a big way, and are experimenting with different looks, styles, and textures. Fashion plays an increasingly important role in an indivi ­dual’s life because it is considered as a means of self-expression. The garments and accessories that man or women wear, help them to identify with a group of others-whether it is a lifestyle, profession, a religion, or an attitude.Thus, the term ‘fashion’ has become synonymous with the overall growth of the country as well. Several factors contribute to the evolution of fashion as a whole. It is a widely accepted fact that the rich and the famous, and the political figures and royalty have always moved the seasonal trends of fashion. The advertising media also contributes equally to update us about the daily style checks. Fashion in India, a land rich in culture and tradition, has evolved through the centuries. This country, rich in culture represents a kaleidoscope of changing trends and traditions.Here, clothes perform different functions depending on the occasion. Be it festivals, parties, profession, or just a matter of reflecting attitude †¦ fashion is simply ‘in’. Right from women who sport a dash of vermilion in the parting of their hair, to professionals on the go who wield the ladle and the laptop with equal ease, fashion forms an integral 92 Top School Essays part of their lives. Today, fashion does not necessarily mean glamour, or the urge to follow the current trends. It is more a way of life, a reflection of inner beauty, where the intellect shines through, complete with comfort quotient.Fashion not only highlights the social history and the needs of person but also the overall cultural aesthetic of the various periods. The evolution of fas hion dates back to several hundred years and as our attitude and culture change, fashion comes along with it. In India, the fashion scenario was different in different political periods. During the British rule in India, the fashion trend within high society was strongly influenced by the British fashion style and western clothes became a status symbol in India.Again during 1930s, emergence of different ideologies like communism, socialism and fascism imparted a more feminine and conservative touch to the women’s fashion. However, the period also witnessed the predominance of body hugging dresses with dark shades. The foundation of the Indian cinema also proved to be the strongest influence on revolutionising the fashion scene in those days. 1940s was a decade marked by the second World War and the ensuing independence of India. Hence, the period portrayed relatively simple yet functional women’s clothing.During 1950s, the advent of art colleges and schools led to popu larity of narrow waist and balloon skirts with bouncing patterns. Also, the adoption of khadi by Mahatma Gandhi made khadi garments a rage among women. In the 1960s, the sweeping changes in fashion and lifestyle resulted in highly versatile fashion trends. In 1970s, the traditional materials were exported in bulk to other nations. Thus, excess of export materials were sold within the country itself, which resulted in popularity of international fashion in India. During 1980s and 90s, the advent of television and other advertising means gave a new edge to the Indian fashion scene.Influenced by ideas of several foreign designers, new design and pattern were introduced into garments. During these periods, power dressing and corporate look were the style statement. The revival of ethnicity was also witnessed in these decades. Fashion trends keep changing and most fashion divas and models are the one to make them. The youth is a major follower of fashion trends. Fashion trends also get i nfluenced from Bollywood as well as Hollywood. Metros like Mumbai and Delhi witness the quick changes in fashion especially in college going crowds.India has a rich and varied textile heritage, where each region of India has its own unique native costume and traditional attire. While traditional clothes are still worn in most of rural India, urban India is changing rapidly, with international fashion trends reflected by the young and glamorous, in the cosmopolitan metros of India. Fashion in India is a vibrant scene, a nascent industry and a colourful and glamorous world where designers and models start new trends every day. While previously a master weaver was recognised for his skill, today a fashion designer is celebrated for his or her creativity.Young urban Indians can choose from the best of East and West as Indian fashion designers are inspired by both Indian and western styles. This fusion of fashion can be seen Fashion in India is also beginning to make its mark on the inte rnational scene, as accessories such as bindis (red dots worn on the forehead), mehendi (designs made by applying henna to the palms of the hands and other parts of the body) and bangles, have gained international popularity, after being worn by fashion icons, like the pop singers Madonna and Gwen Stefani.In India, fashion has become a growing industry with international events such as the India Fashion Week and annual shows by fashion designers in the major cities of India. The victories of a number of Indian beauty queens in International events such as the Miss World and Miss Universe contests have also made Indian models recognised worldwide. Fashion designers such as Ritu Kumar, Ritu Beri, Rohit Bal, Rina Dhaka, Muzaffar Ah, Satya Paul, Abraham and Thakore, Tarun Tahiliani, JJ Valaya and Manish Malhotra are some of the well- known fashion designers in India.In India, fashion covers a whole range of clothing from ornate clothes designed for wedding ceremonies to pret lines, spor ts wear and casual wear. Traditional Indian techniques of embroidery such as chikhan, crewel and zardosi, and traditional weaves and fabrics have been used by Indian designers to create Indo-western clothing in a fusion of the best of East and West. Traditional costumes in India vary widely depending on the climate and natural fibres grown in a region.In the cold northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, people wear a thick loose shirt called a phiran to keep them warm. In the tropical warmth of south India, men wear a sarong like garment called the mundu, while women drape 5 metres of cloth around their bodies in the graceful folds of the saree. Sarees are woven in silk, cotton and artificial fibres. Kanjivaram, Mysore, Paithani, Pochampalli, Jamdani, Balucheri, Benarasi, Sambalpuri, Bandhini are some varieties of beautiful sarees from different regions of India.In the dry regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat men wrap and twist a length of cloth in the form of a dhoti around their lower lim bs and a shirt-like kurta above. Colourful turbans complete the picture. In the northeastern regions the tribal communities such as Khasis, Nagas, Mizos, Manipuris and Arunachalis wear colourful woven sarong-like clothing and woven shawls that represent the identity of each tribal group. In urban India the salwar kameez and the churidar kameez, are commonly work by women and the saree is worn on formal occasions.Men wear kurtas and pajamas, or a sherwani for formal wear. Men commonly wear western wear such as shirts and trousers across India. The young and the young at heart wear Jeans, T-shirts, capris, Bermudas and various kinds of casual clothing, which are the trendsetters of fashion in India. Comparing the past and the present, fashion for people in India has changed over the decades. Not only India, but also the whole world has witnessed changes in fashion statements for both men and women

What representation of American Social Class is there in the first four scenes of Falling Down?

The opening scene of Falling Down immediately establishes the location of the film, America; this is obvious to the audience with the American cars and yellow school bus with the stars and stripes hanging on the side. The lead character played by Michael Douglas is established as a white, Anglo-Saxon, protestant (WASP) who is supposedly the most privileged class in American society. He is meant to represent the typical American white-collar worker. The audience gets this impression of D-Fens (Michael Douglas) because he is smartly dressed with a white shirt and tie, he wears glasses, he's cleanly shaven and is driving a typical American family sedan. This first impression of D-Fens is subsequently taken apart throughout the film and the audience later finds out that he is unemployed and discontent with American society. D-Fens' car and the way he acts give the audience a early clue that he is not all that he seems. D-Fens is stuck in a traffic jam and getting more and more frustrated by the things around him, he reacts very violently to the fly in his car and thrashes around trying to kill it, this gives the audience an indication that he is quite a violent person when he gets annoyed. Another indication is when D-Fens tries to cool himself down and his air conditioning system doesn't work, so he tries to open the window but the handle is broken, the car is like a metaphor for D-Fens' life shabby, worn out and not like it used to be. There is quite a range of different social classes represented in the opening scene all seen from D-Fens' point of view. In the back seat of the car in front of D-Fens is a young Hispanic girl who is staring impassively at him watching his frustration and breakdown unfold. D-Fens seems uneasy about this maybe because it reminds him of his own daughter and he feels ashamed that he can't drive her to school anymore. This girl is shown in contrast to the children on the bus who are noisy and happy whereas she is silent. She is sad looking and the car she's in is also old these things make the audience think she also doesn't have the happy life that the American dream is supposed to offer. This immediately brings up the question of race in the film and whether people from minority ethnic groups have the same opportunities as WASP's. The camera then pans across to show another white-collar worker, a middle-aged woman putting on bright lipstick and trying to make herself look younger, this gives the impression that she feels threatened perhaps by younger women in her work place. The next vehicle that comes into shot is the typical American school bus the children are very noisy and annoying, there is also a mixture of races represented and they appear to be getting along with each other. There is a black boy that is staring at D-Fens in much the same way as the Hispanic girl and it appears that non-WASPs are more of a threat to D-Fens and this perhaps suggests he is racist. Next to the school bus is a new sporty, convertible with two yuppies in the front seats. They can be categorized like this because they have mobile phones, a nice car, and smart suits. They are represented as aggressive and impatient as the driver is honking his horn for no apparent reason. They are rude and loud on the phone and they appear arrogant because they don't feel that they should be stuck in the traffic jam with everyone else. They seem to epitomise capitalism in America and the type of people that become rich and successful in a capitalist society. There are also representations of American society shown on the three bumper stickers that D-Fens looks at. The first one says â€Å"Financial Freedom phone †¦ † this also shows capitalism in America and that fact that many people live in debt and see themselves as being trapped with only money being the way out. The next sticker says â€Å"He died for our sins† and this shows how religious orientated American society is. The last one says â€Å"How's my driving? Phone 1-800 EAT SHIT! † this just shows how uncaring American society has become with many people being stuck in poverty, whilst many others are living in luxury. The flashing ‘Delay' lights, the heat, noise and smoke all come together and the quick straight edits from each of these elements build up the sense of desperation and threat until D-Fens finally has enough and gets out of his car and tells the man behind him that he's â€Å"going home†. This phrase is repeated throughout the film and it becomes D-Fens' quest. ‘Home' is not literally his house but back to a time when D-Fens felt less threatened from foreign immigrants or non-WASPs, a time when his role in society was more defined and he was a family man and a breadwinner, a time when he felt proud of America and its people. In the next scene the second main character, Prendergast, is introduced. He also appears to be a white-collar worker and a WASP but he is slightly older than D-Fens, his reaction to the traffic jam is in contrast to D-Fens' because he is more relaxed and doesn't let it frustrate him. He is represented as a wise old cop who is from the old school of policing and he is contrasted with the young arrogant policeman on the motorbike who enjoys his power but turns out to be a less competent cop than Prendergast. There is also a smarmy salesman on the scene trying to offer the young cop help, which he rejects. He talks about his trade and how he gives discounts for officers of the law, this suggests that money can influence police and that they are corrupt. The third scene represents a single mother who turns out to be D-Fens' ex-wife, she is shown as stressed and overworked having to get the groceries, walk the dog and look after the child all at once. The house appears to be nice, quite large with a garden and white picket fence and it seems to represent the ideal American family home, although there are signs of it starting to fall into disrepair with the paint on the house peeling off and the front garden being untidy. This shows how D-Fens used to have a nice traditional family life and the suburban idyllic house that went with it, that's when it used to be ‘home'. There is also a sign of how gun culture is very much part of American society with D-Fens' young daughter playing with a realistic looking toy gun and learning from a young age the power that you can have by possessing a gun. The fourth scene represents an immigrant shopkeepers in particular a Korean man. It opens with the well dressed, white D-Fens walking into a poor area of the city, this is shown by the graffiti on the walls, the rubbish on the streets and the fact that there are metal bars over the windows to keep the small shop secure. The Korean shopkeeper is dressed in old, unfashionable clothes and he appears quite impoverished because his till is very old fashioned and he is wary of a WASP coming into his shop in this area. This shows the separation of communities in America and the lack of trust between them. D-Fens is very racist towards the shopkeeper in this scene and he shows no respect for him when he marches in and asks for change without even having eye contact with the shopkeeper. D-Fens sees himself as being dominant over the Korean man and he sets the price of 50cents for the can of Coke and he takes control. He sees the immigrant as inferior to him because he is a WASP and he still has the ideals of the time before. D-Fens is racist because he mocks the Korean mans accent and the fact that he can't pronounce the ‘V' in five, then because the man is Asian he immediately assumes that he's Chinese and this is a typical ignorant view of an American who are traditionally insular in their views. This is shown again later on in the film when Prendergast immediately assumes that his fellow Japanese cop can understand the Korean man. When D-Fens finds out the man is Korean he says about the foreign aid that his country has given to Korea and he therefore feels that this man owes him and in saying ‘my country' he implies that the Korean man doesn't belong there. The image of the American flag is used once again in this scene when the container full of flags is smashed on the floor in a struggle between the two characters. This shows how immigrants feel that they have to be visibly patriotic towards America to fit in with society. The broken glass container could also be a symbol for how communities are now broken in America. Or it could symbolise how the American dream is broken for this shopkeeper and also significantly for D-Fens. D-Fens then says that he is â€Å"going to take prices back to 1965† before violently smashing up the shop. This period of time is what D-Fens associates with â€Å"home† because at this time WASPs were the dominating group in society and there was prejudice against other ethnic groups, this was a time when he felt accepted and valued in society and he was a happy family man living the American dream and this is a time he wants to return to. The Korean shopkeeper is obviously used to violence and robberies living in the area that he does because he gets on the floor and shouts â€Å"Take the money! this is seen as a major insult to D-Fens because he sees himself as middle-class and in his opinion robbery is a thing that poor working class people do. He also feels that he is justified in terrorising this shop because all he wanted was some change for the phone. This scene has been interpreted by many people as being racist and this is an understandable view because the Korean man is represented in a negative way. He is rude and scruffy whereas D-Fens is represented almost like a hero figure with traditional Hollywood hero lines and he appears to be fighting for consumer rights.

Consider how Shakespeare presents madness Essay

Consider how Shakespeare presents madness in the play and explain whether you think it does illustrate how, â€Å"something is rotten in the state of Denmark. † One of the main themes in Hamlet is that of madness. Shakespeare conveys madness through not only Hamlet but through other characters as well, such as Ophelia, to covey that that the state of Denmark is rotten. At the beginning of the play, the first thing introduced are the night watchmen seeing the ghost. This is at the beginning because it is the first event in the chain that eventually leads to Hamlet seeking revenge for his father’s death. Although he was upset by his father’s death and his mother’s ‘o’erhasty marriage’, it was the revelation that his father was murdered that he thinks that he must take revenge. When Horatio first speaks to the ghost he recognises that it is unnatural for it to be there; â€Å"What art thou that unsurp’st this time of night†, illustrating that he feels that the ghost has ‘wrongfully seized’ the night. The atmosphere is unsettling and the ghost’s unnatural appearance is a sign of the bad things going on in Denmark, especially the court; â€Å"This bodes some strange eruption to our state. † During the times that the play was written, unusual things that happened were seen as a sign that something was not right in the courts; â€Å"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark†. This could be referring either to the whole of Denmark, or just the courts. It is after Hamlet sees the ghost that he decides that he will pretend to be mad; â€Å"put an antic disposition on†, but he does not want his friends to tell anyone what they have seen or that he is feigning madness; â€Å"Never make known what you have seen tonight†, as he believes that this way he can find means to exact his revenge on Claudius for killing his father; â€Å"And thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain†, meaning that all he shall have in his thoughts is how the ghost of his father told him to exact revenge on Claudius. This is the first step in the theme of madness for the play. Although Hamlet clearly says that he will be putting on his madness, it is uncertain whether actually he does go mad during the play, as illustrated in his outbursts towards his mother and Ophelia, and the murder of Polonius. There is much deception during the play, such as Claudius trying to gloss over the fact that he knows that his marriage to Gertrude could be seen as incest by the Church and that Hamlet should have been the rightful heir to the throne; â€Å"Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature that we with wisest sorrow think on him together with remembrance of ourselves. † He says that he is mourning and feels that mourning is appropriate for the old king, but he must think of himself, perhaps hinting at the fact that the death was convenient for him and he has had enough of mourning. This is characteristic of him throughout the play as all he has done and will do is for his own self interest, as when Hamlet asks if he can leave the castle, Claudius refuses, saying; â€Å"And we beseech you, bend you to remain here in the cheer and comfort of our eye†. He appears to be asking him to stay for his comfort, but he actually wants to keep an eye on him because he knows that he is still a threat to him and the throne. He at first seemed to want Hamlet to become like a son to him, but that changes as soon as he realises he could be a threat to him. He also continually uses the words ‘we’, ‘our’ and ‘us’ to establish himself as the husband of Gertrude and the King of Denmark. Polonius comments; â€Å"with pious action we do sugar o’er the devil himself†. To which Claudius replies as an aside; â€Å"The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plastering art, is not more ugly to the thing that helps it than is my deed to my most painted word. † Claudius admits that he is covering up the truth, continuing the theme of deception, adding to the audience’s awareness of the rottenness of Denmark. As there becomes more deception and secrecy throughout the play, it seems that the imagery in the language reflects the deception, and images of disease are used; â€Å"For the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion†. This could be language to refer to how that state of Denmark is rotting, but also Hamlet’s language seems to reflect his turmoil as he tried to decide what to do about Claudius, and as he gets more frustrated with himself he becomes more abusive towards his mother and Ophelia; â€Å"You are keen my lord, you are keen. † â€Å"It would cost you a groaning to take off mine edge. † He is taunting Ophelia using double meaning. Hamlet is very good at creating double meanings, like when he says to Claudius; â€Å"I am to much i’th’sun†, which he says as if he is in too much sunshine but also he is saying that he feels too much like Claudius’s son. Later in the play the text says; â€Å"It will but skin and film the ulcerous place, whiles rank corruption, mining all within, infects unseen. † He is saying that corruption, like infection starts within, and the corruption of Denmark will begin with the court. This also links in with madness because madness also starts from within – within the mind, and perhaps it is saying that just one unstable mind could bring down all the state. Another way that Shakespeare presents madness in the play is through Ophelia. She goes mad after Hamlet kills her father, but also because of the way Hamlet treated her – cruelly. He said to her that he loved her, and there were some hints that he had been intimate with her, but he treats her badly and even tells her that he does not love her. She has been a victim of a corrupt society – from Hamlet leaving her and from her father, such as using her as a pawn to spy on Hamlet. After she has become mad, she sings many songs. The first one that she sings is, ‘How should I you true love know’. This song could be her recalling the death of her father; â€Å"He is dead and gone lady, he is dead and gone. † This is the first thing that comes into her mind to sing about, so it must be the thing that is foremost in her mind. It could also be that she is recalling how Hamlet is now lost to her, and she is still looking for her true love, because it seems obvious that she has not found him yet. However, the rest of the songs seem to be about Hamlet, as they are about lost love and some of them imply that Ophelia had been sexually intimate with Hamlet; â€Å"Quoth she, before you tumbled me you promised me to wed†. It seems that both her father and Hamlet are responsible for Ophelia’s madness, and this is reiterated by what Ophelia sings about. Ophelia was controlled all the men in her life, and this was customary for the time, but it seems that they took too much of a hold on her, with none of them considering her feelings, for her father told her to no longer speak to Hamlet as it could affect his career, Laertes also told her to stay away from Hamlet and Hamlet was cruel to her. She also says, after her first song; â€Å"They say the owl was a baker’s daughter. † This could just be nonsense, but it could also be referring to her father, saying that once she was the daughter of a man in the court, but now she is just the daughter of a dead old man. Polonius did help the corruption in Denmark, such as spying and trying to make sure his own career was safe, and because of him Ophelia is mad. Hamlet also said that he loved Ophelia, and whereas before he was tender, due to the corruption around him and his succumbing to it, he was a factor in Ophelia’s madness, which eventually led to her suicide. By the actions of people around her, Ophelia is tainted by the corruptness around, as Hamlet says in the beginning of the play says that she is pure, but later on says she is wanton like all women, and tells her; â€Å"to a nunnery go. † This could be to send her to be protected, or it could be a sarcastic remark telling her to go to a brothel.