The Reasons Behind Declining Reading Habits Essay Example for Free

The Reasons Behind Declining Reading Habits Essay To acquire the habitof reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost allmiseriesof life. † Reading habithas been a great help in developing knowledge. But today, in an age when browsing thenet, playing with funky handsets and passing non-stop SMS seem to be the order of the day. The internet boom, interactive medium of images, TV and thesilver screen fillingthe minds of the modern youth, taking majority of their free time we have to think seriously how the growing generationswill find time to read. While technology is taking control steadily over individuallives, the reading habitis fast vanishing into thin air. I used to sigh at the city librariespresenting a gloomy picture of gradual decline in voracious readers who used to flock in the evenings. Twenty reasons for decline in readinghabit 1) People think that readingbooks consumes more timethan referringin the computers. Computers seem to be more attractive tothem than books. 2) The question of spending money on books is over-ruled by the thought that everythingis available in acomputer. People prefer to spend money on something else than spending on books. The programs in internet and TV aremore attractive than sitting in acorner and readinga book. 4) With the modern life style visiting placesand other recreationsor hobbies occupy most of our time. 5) There are a thousand reasons today for avoiding readingbooks or literatures. Some even say that her new nail extensionshave made it too difficult to turn pages! 6) There are risks of losing books while carrying them. Moreover, why to carry a burden unnecessarily when there is a laptop available? 7) Now people are more worriedabout earning money and spending every second in finding ways to find sources of income.

The Road to Coorain :: Road to Coorain Essays

The Road to Coorain    Have you ever wondered how much your up bringing and early family life affected the person you are? Jill Ker Conway, in her autobiography The Road to Coorain, both literally and figuratively maps out her early life, placing specific emphasis on geographic location and the importance it made to her as an adult. Her life as a young girl in the western outback shaped her view toward the world, just as our backgrounds have shaped who we are.    After Conway's trip to England she states that,    It took a visit to England for me to understand how the Australian landscape actually formed the ground of my own consciousness, shaped what I saw, and influenced the way a scene was organized in my mental imagery.    By reflection on my past, I can support, just as Conway has, that a person's up bringing directly affects their perspective on life. During the earlier part of her life Conway lived in the hostile western region of Australia that produced men and women that never complained about hard work. Reversly, I have been raised in a green, forgivable climate, where my family urged me to express my feelings and I have become sensitive to not only my own feelings, but also to those others.    After Conway's father died, she and her mother moved to Sydney. During Conway's schooling she attended the local public school for only one day. Had Conway stayed there she said she would have discovered the true nature of the Australian class system. As it was, it took, "another fifteen years to see the world from my own Australian perspective, rather than from the British definition taught to my kind of colonial." Unlike Conway, I have always attended the local public school; forcing me to mix with people with incomes slightly above, below, and equal to my family. Additionally, this summer I interacted with a new dimension of my city's residents while working at the Cabbage Patch Settlement House -- an organization that works to break the chain of poverty through inner city children. This eye opening experience provided me with a broad base from which to perceive other members of society.

Influence of Pastoral Romance

How far is it possible to recognize the influence of Pastoral Romance and Classical Comedy in the opening scene of ‘As You Like It'? One way it is possible to recognize the Influence of classical comedy in the opening scene is through the dialectic structure, which is a key theme of old comedy, shown by the conflict between the brothers Orlando and Oliver. The conflict between them Is created by the fact that, despite his father's dying wishes, Oliver hasn't educated Orlando; given him his Inheritance he was promised or acknowledged him as his brother.Evidence of this Is hat Orlando says ‘my father charged you†¦ To give me good education†¦ You have trained me Like a peasant, obscuring and holding from me all gentleman-Like qualities The use of the word ‘charged' suggests their father soul has power even In death out of respect for the dead and out of respect for him as a father, which In turn leads to the assumption power is a hereditary thing that you are born into or with. This links to the argument whether you can, in fact, work your way up to a position of power rather than just being born into it.However there is also evidence of a pastoral influence when Charles says they live like the old Robin Hood of England'. This suggests the country side (The Forest of Arden) is beyond the cares and laws of the court. And also shows the forest through a sophisticated townsman's idealized image of rural life. Whereas in real life- as much as a life in the forest is much more carefree and relaxed- it also holds its own problems and harsh rules of living with nature. Also, the use of the words ‘old Robin Hood' suggests the forest is a place of fairy tales and tradition.Another influence of classical comedy is that it challenges he political, social and moral traditions established within the court which is a main component of old comedy. The way traditions are challenged is through Orlando standing up to his older brother for his right to his inheritance and respect. Quotes showing this are ‘l will no longer endure it' and ‘or give me the poor allotter my father left me by testament. ‘ This shows he is challenging the established authority in his life, which makes it a political issue.Also because it is his own brother he Is challenging makes it a social and moral issue because it is emotional. In conclusion, Shakespearean ‘As You Like It' is more strongly influenced by classical comedy than pastoral romance, despite the fact that It does contain some elements of pastoral literature such as the idea of the court being a place of rules and harsh regulations and lifestyles, and the country being an Idyllic, unrealistic place where there are rules, but these rules are much less harsh and they are run on the basis of natural order of the forest.Examples of classical comedy Influencing the play are through the use of challenging established Ideas and authorities, and through the use of conflict which appears between both the two Dukes and the two De Bolls brothers (doubles). Influence of Pastoral Romance and/or Classical Comedy in As You Like It By oligarchic the influence of classical comedy in the opening scene is through the dialectic brothers Orlando and Oliver.The conflict between them is created by the fact that, inheritance he was promised or acknowledged him as his brother. Evidence of this is trained me like a peasant, obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities ‘. The use of the word ‘charged' suggests their father still has power even in death out of respect for the dead and out of respect for him as a father, which in turn leads to rather than Just being born into it.However there is also evidence off pastoral his life, which makes it a political issue. Also because it is his own brother he is pastoral romance, despite the fact that it does contain some elements of pastoral of rules and harsh regulations and lifestyles, and the countr y being an idyllic, influencing the play are through the use of challenging established ideas and Dukes and the two De Bois brothers (doubles).

Essay on Yoruba Art and Culture - 702 Words

?Any work of art owes its existence to the people and culture from which it has emerged. It has a functional and historical relationship with that culture.? Michael W. Conner, PhD# Staffs are carried and danced with by priestesses and priest in the Sango cult, dedicated to Sango, the Yoruba deity of thunder and lighting. The female figure represents a worshiper of Shango. The majority of the Yoruba people live on the west coast of Africa in Nigeria, but can also be found in many other places, as they are one of the largest cultural classifications in Africa. There are approximately 40 million Yoruba world-wide. As a matter of fact, most of the slaves brought to America were Yoruban, and descendants of their tribes can be found†¦show more content†¦Divination trays, staffs, stools, dance wands, and many other sacred objects are carved out of wood. The men in particular are responsible for woodcarving, utilizing the axe, the adze, the chisel, and the knife. The inspiration, impetus and objective for each piece is what will determine the style and form of art that is being created by each individual. Although the art forms created by the Yoruba are use d to decorate and to affirm their social standing,, Their art is also deeply rooted with their spiritual commitment, especially where the art is used as part of a ritual or as a means of communicating with their Gods. There are over 400 deities that are worshipped by the Yoruba, which are called Orisas. Certain Gods are worshiped by every Yoruban, but there are specific Gods that are worshiped individually by certain families or even towns. Every Yoruban makes regular offerings to the gods that they do worship. One particular God, Sango, resides in the sky. He is the God of Thunder and he is responsible for producing the lightening bolts and thunder that comes to the earth. It is the belief of the Yoruba that If he is offended or angered, he sends bolts of lightening to the ground to ignite the offender?s house, or even to strike and kill them dead. Although every worshipper of the God Sango, the thunder god, owns a carved wand as a personal shrine, it mayShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Cultural Art of Body Art1084 Words   |  5 PagesFor a long time now body art and decoration has been a custom in many cultural groups. Through research we have learned about the different types of body art and ornamentation such as permanent and nonpermanent tattooing, scarification, and piercings. 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