Tracing the Stars Essay Example for Free

Tracing the Stars Essay I. Introduction One of the biggest global brands in history is Converse, which stands for a casual and sports-oriented lifestyle popular among the young, and often with specific subcultures. Of its several lines, arguably the most recognized is the Chuck Taylor All-Stars or Chucks, which are combination canvas and rubber sneakers. First produced in 1917, these were originally known simply as the â€Å"All Star† until they were modified and endorsed by Chuck Taylor—one of the biggest basketball players of the time. To this day, the shoes carry Taylor’s signature and go by his name. Currently, the brand is no longer an entity on its own as Converse had been bought by Nike in 2003—thereby resulting in several physical and noticeable changes in the original design and make—yet is still a symbol of youth, vibrancy, and active lifestyle. II. From Basketball to Popular Culture The 1950s marked a landmark episode in the Chucks’ history as it made the successful shift from being exclusive to basketball to becoming part of American consciousness. The appeal of the shoes’ casual and affordable nature made it a status symbol for American teenagers, particularly when Hollywood actor James Dean made the white version part of his t-shirt-and-jeans image. Musicians ranging from rockers in the 1960s to 1980s punk rock artists emulated Dean’s choice, and started wearing Chucks as their uniform—particularly those in black canvas. Because of this growing popularity, Converse decided to add more colors and styles to the Chucks line. Currently, Chucks are still the shoes of choice of many young artists and celebrities; pop musician Avril Lavigne and actress Reese Witherspoon are just some of the personalities who prefer wearing the sneakers—with a particular preference of Lavigne for black ones—which echo the choices of legendary 1970s punk rocker Joey Ramone, who was never seen without a pair of well-worn black Chucks. Fashion designers and models have also been noted as being fans of the sneakers, owing to the rock-and-roll persona alluded to by a classic or trendy pair. III. Chucks in Sports In the midst of the shoes’ popularity among the younger set, Converse stayed true to its original intent for Chucks; during the decades of the 1960s and 70s, its move to add more colors to its classic line was also evident in the basketball industry. While this was not always met with complete approval by the athletes who wore them, the new hues definitely created yet another trend among the sport’s fans. However, the 1980s came and with it arrived the obsession for technology and new materials. The brands of Adidas, Reebok, and Pony arrived to take much of Converse’s basketball shoe business, and the inimitable Nike sealed the deal by having its basketball shoes endorsed by then-rookie Michael Jordan. This caused the decline of the Chucks brand in the sport, and by 1988 they were no longer the staple basketball shoes of serious athletes. Most of them now opted for the leather make and quality offered by other brands, which gave better support compared to the canvas body of the All-Stars. IV. Nike and Controversies Nike bought the brand in 2003, and immediately modified some of the signature details of Chucks—form material to design. The company enjoys a wildly popular following to this day, and is apparent in the use of high-profile athletes as endorsers in its multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns. But the reputation of Nike as a supporter of sweatshops set up in developing countries goes against the established image of Chucks associated with punk and left-wing ideologies—thereby forcing former Chucks patrons to shift to any of several Chucks imitations that are not produced through this kind of arrangement. V. Stepping Forward In a Pair of Chucks The enduring fame and existence of Chuck Taylor All-Stars is as permanent and unchanging as its classic design; materials may be altered, a few details may be added—but the concept remains the same. The future of Chucks may still be seen in the realm of the youth culture, through a role of greater relevance to the rest of the world. Using recyclable materials to produce a pair of Chucks may be one of the directions best for the brand, considering its tried-and-tested design principles. Environmental awareness should now be the focal point of the young and vibrant lifestyle it represents, which will also negate any bad impressions regarding its association with controversial Nike work processes. The time is right for Chucks to assume an image both traditional and innovative, without resorting to technology-related improvements. Ecology, rather than technology, is most apt for Chucks as it celebrates its hundredth anniversary this year, and as it represents the kind of mindset that has made it the shoe of choice of millions worldwide.

Antigone †The First Feminist Essay -- Antigone Essays

Antigone – The First Feminist How old is feminism, and who was the first feminist? Although no one can say for sure the exact date on which the feminist movement started, most of it is attributed to the past two centuries. However, women who are feminists have been around much longer. In Sophocles’s Antigone, the main character (Antigone) acts as a protofeminist by defying the authority of a patriarchal society and taking action according to what she believes is right in her heart. She even shows some characteristics of a modern feminist. Feminists today are viewed as raging, man-hating bitches, but feminism in its true sense simply advocates women’s rights. While there are extremes on either side of the scale, most feminists fight for equality among the sexes rather than dominance of one over the other. Antigone can be considered a feminist because she challenges the â€Å"men-make-the-rules-and-women-follow-them-unquestioningly† mentality of the society she lives in. Antigone’s character is indeed among the first to stand up for women in a society that has remained patriarcha...

Close reading for George Elliott Clarke’s Negation Essay

The poem’s heading ‘Negation’ is rounded about the fact that the author is taking new path in the poetry description by trying to etch out a new identity for oneself but this is continuously difficult for time and again there is a distinction between white and blackness; commonly referred to as racial gratification. The definition of the word negation also speaks volume about the difficulty being experienced by the author as the inability to accept something that already exists. Ideally, form is one of the most fundamental aspects that are easily notable about poems. It is evident that the poem is presented as a lyric with fourteen lines but goes against the norm of rhyme schemes and adopts the iambic pentameter blank sonnet style where each line of the poem is divided into ten syllablesCITATION Mab00 p 52 l 1033 (Mabillard 52). The syllables in each line are divided into iambic feet which are attuned to the idea that a stressed syllable is followed by an unstressed syllable for instance; Na and Sty to form nasty as expressed in the poem. The initial twelve lines of Negation bring to line the issue of racial identity and prejudice as the dominating factor that George Elliott seeks to attend to. He reflects on Shakespeare’s character Caliban in The Tempest who he describes in rather harsh words as being, â€Å"(Slick black bastard – cannibal-sucking back Licorice-lusty, fifty-proof whisky),† this is just representational of the authors di sgustCITATION Lan01 p 13 l 1033 (Lancashire 13). However, in the final two lines of ‘Negation’ i.e. the couplet, the author comes out in support of black revolution by resolving his previous stand; a classical representation of couplets where an author resonates on his sentiments in the first three quatrains of the poem. With specific interest is Frantz Fanon’s work the Black skin, White masks illustrates George Elliott’s sentiments in negation as being a global problem with whites continuously despising blacks in their speech and literacy writings; reference can be made to line nine of the negation poem that points out blacks as, â€Å"Nasty, Nofaskoshan negro, I mean..† and goes on to the next two linesCITATION Cla08 p 33 l 1033 (Clarke 33). The writing Nofaskoshan is in black dialect which generalizes the people of Neva Scotia a province in Canada with inhabitants of African descent. In Black Skin, White Masks, Fanon also mirrors the same but in defense of the black race. He refutes with the lin es, â€Å"Dirty nigger!’ Or simply, ‘Look, a Negro!’ // I came into the world imbued with the will to find a meaning in things, my spirit filled with the desire to attain to the source of the world, and then I found that I was an object in the midst of other objects. // sealed into that crushing object hoodCITATION Fan52 p 109 l 1033 (Fanon 109).† Looking at Fanon’s sentiments, we see the depiction of blacks as subjects of the whites, most interesting is the inability of blacks to identify themselves as subjects and merely objects of service to the white, they are constantly in push to break away from the old york. Notice in the last two line stanza (couplet), the author is still in struggle with where his real stand is, this two-line stanza of a blank sonnet is usually meant to resolve the recurring theme in the previous stanzas but in this case author make a reference to the second person ‘you’ depicting the debate that even though he agrees to the fact that change in black perception is evident he still has not fully accepted this fact. References Clarke, George Elliott. Blues and Bliss . New York : Waterloo: , 2008. Fanon, Frantz. Black Skin, White Masks . Atlanta : Grove Press , 1952. Lancashire, Ian. Blue . Vancouver : Polestar Books , 2001. Mabillard, Amanda. Shakespearean Sonnet Basics . New York : Barnes & Noble , 2000. Source document

Why Things Catch On by Berger Jonah Free Essay Example, 500 words

In the current world, advertising proves to be insufficient if over-relied upon. This is because there is no guarantee that by advertising, people can get it into their minds and talk or imitate it. This means social influence has a high reliance on word of mouth and imitation. Berger (2013) views social influence as a deciding factor especially when products, ideas, and behaviors have to be adopted by the public. Social currency entails the information, intermediaries and the receivers and how its sharing shapes them. Generally, people since they are social beings, their thinking are highly influenced by what people talk about. From this illustration, it is to understand why people prefer conversing about things that are entertaining, clever and attractive. To make this principle valid, three things have to be taken into consideration. One, there must be an inner remarkability; something that differentiates a company s product from the already existing. Two, leverage on game mechan ics; establishing visible metrics that makes it easy for people to know where they stand in the crowded market (Berger, 2013). Three, make people feel like owners; this makes products desirable and worth itTriggers play a critical role in reminding people so that they keep talking about and imitating a product. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Things Catch On by Berger Jonah or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Hiv The Search For A Vaccine Essay - 1307 Words

In 1985, over 10,000 cases of AIDS were reported worldwide (White and Fenner 1986). Just over a decade later, in 1998, the Global AIDS Policy Coalition estimated that 30.6 million people were infected with HIV worldwide. It has also been projected that by the year 2000, between 40 and 70 million adults will be infected with HIV (New Generation Vaccines 1997). Over 90% of all HIV-1 infected individuals live in developing nations: 50% in Southeast Asia and 40% in sub-Saharan Africa. However, even with all of these alarming statistics and projections, there is hope for the future of humanity. This hope is a potential anti-AIDS vaccine. An anti-AIDS vaccine is the best bet. Among other factors, the large costs associated with therapeutic†¦show more content†¦The second obstacle is the lack of an inexpensive, suitable animal for testing the efficiency of an HIV-1 vaccine. Chimps, baboons, and gibbons can be infected with HIV, however they are endangered and cost between $60,000 a nd $100,000 each. These animals are also unable of assessing a vaccines ability to prevent disease, since infected chimps do not develop AIDS (New Generation Vaccines 1997). SCID mice have given optimism to the search for a practical animal model. SCID mice are mice that have been populated with human T cells. When these mice are presented with HIV, the human T cells in the mice become infected. These mice have already helped researchers find therapeutic levels of AZT and ddI for humans (Kuby 1997). There are several characteristics for an ideal HIV vaccine. First, the vaccine should be inexpensive. This would enable developing nations to have access to it. Secondly, the vaccine should be able to evoke a strong response from both the humoral and the cell-mediated immune branches. Finally, the vaccine should be effective against multiple strains of HIV (Vaccine Strategies 1997). There are five potential vaccine candidates that will be discussed: whole inactivated vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, live recombinant vector vaccines, subunit vaccines, and naked DNA vaccines. Initially, whole inactivated vaccines looked as if they protected macaques from SIV infection. However, it was later discovered that theShow MoreRelatedMedical Advances Throughout History And History1164 Words   |  5 Pagesdiseases. Maintenance medications provide a way for older adults to manage their chronic medical conditions. But there are some medical conditions that are also chronic, but with no cure available. One such condition is HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus. According to Tortora, HIV is â€Å"the pathogen causing the loss of immune function that selectively infects helper T cells† (545). My goal in this paper is to show the advances modern medicine has achieved in discovering the different ways to combatRead MoreThe Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Or Hiv, The Root Cause Of Aids Or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome?1532 Words   |  7 Pagescommunity has put up with the struggle of finding a vaccine for the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, the root cause of AIDS or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Although numerous advancements in combating the virus have helped to reverse the epidemic, there is still no known cure. However, recent studies have shown some results that may possibly be the precursors to eradicate the disease. One example would be the trials of a possible vaccine conducted on primates at both Paris-Descartes UniversityRead MoreHiv-1 Essay1024 Words   |  5 PagesHIV-1’s ability to mutate rapidly has hindered researchers to finding an effective vaccine. The characteristics of bNAbs show that it can target the surface of the virus to reduce the chance of an infection. A recent findi ng of calves being able to produce antibodies similar to bNAbs when exposed to the virus has provided a glimpse of hope, however further trials will still need to be carried out to initiate the same response in humans. Nonetheless, government funding has helped researchers to findRead MoreAIDS Prevention in Africa Essay1628 Words   |  7 PagesIs there enough being done to eradicate this disease in Africa, and will the cost of these treatments limit those who do not have the available income to afford these drugs? Scientist and researchers have worked over the years to find a cure or vaccine for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, but it remains the most incurable infection in the world. â€Å"There are several promising drug therapies now becoming available which are far too expensive for poor countriesRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Acute Rheumatic Fever2131 Words   |  9 Pagessource=search_resultsearch=rheumatic%20feverselectedTitl e=1~119#H3 B: Glomerulonephritis C: Scarlet fever D: Septic arthritis †¢ Septic arthritis is also known as infectious arthritis and is normally caused by a bacteria or fungus that is caught in a larger joint, such as a knee. However, this is not the correct answer because this disease is not considered a post strep complication. †¢ https://www.uptodate.com/contents/septic-arthritis-in-adults?source=search_resultsearch=septic%20arthritisselectedTitle=1~150#H8Read MoreDoes Hpv Vaccination Within Msm Significantly Prevent Anogenital Infection Occurrence And Recurrence Syndrome?1420 Words   |  6 Pagesvaccination in the men who have sex with men (MSM) population up to age 26 if they had not received it when they were younger.2 There are no current recommendations for this population who are greater than age 26 who have not previously received the vaccine. As age of an individual and number of lifetime sexual partners increases, the risk of developing anal cancer also increases. Men who have had 15 sexual partners during their lifetime show an increase in risk of developing anal cancer (OR=5.3; 95%Read MoreHow Can We Protect Ourselves Against Infectious Disease?1404 Words   |  6 Pagesvirus, filoviridae family, is filamentous, enveloped and non-segmented negative RNA. Pathogen is responsible for viral haemorrhagic fever, vomiting and diarrhea, this is associated with high levels of lethality. It takes a long time to develop a vaccine for Ebola because Ebola virus mutates rapidly as it spreads, mutation occurs within the genes that code for antibody-binding sites so the original antibody can no longer bind to the site. This is called antigenic drift and it forms a new virus strainRead MoreHepatitis B Virus ( Hbv )3508 Words   |  15 Pageslaunched in 1982, and the vaccines work 95% of the time in preventing infection among non-immunodeficiency people (1). However, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients are usually more prone to HBV, as these two viruses share the common modes of spread, such as sexual transmission (2). To prevent co-infection, HIV patients are recommended to have HBV vaccine injections administered. Several studies have indicated that the standard-dose HBV vaccine is insufficient for HIV-infected patients toRead MoreTuberculosis As A Prime Leading Health Problem1563 Words   |  7 Pagestuberculosis transmission, few of them are mentioned briefly in this paper are; TB is increasing among a younger population more commonly due to HIV infection, overcrowding and ill-nourished people who live in large cities than those live in rural areas. Additionally, prisoners are at a greater risk of such incidence and are more likely to have both tuberculosis and HIV infection because of socioeconomic status and overcrowding than the general population. According to William et al, it has been observedRead MoreEssay on Viruses835 Words   |  4 Pagescycle. Vaccines make infection impossible or less likely by sensitizing your own antibodies to attack and destroy the virus when it gets into the body. Hunting down and eliminating the virus already inside the host cells is more difficult. Treatments that are able to reach and destroy the virus often take out the native cell as collateral damage. What can be done about these invaders? Common household soaps and sanitizers will destroy most viruses on surfaces and body tissue. Vaccines provide

Karl Marx s Class Conflict Theory - 1710 Words

Karl Marx’s Class Conflict Theory Introduction Karl Marx believed that struggle or conflict among classes was an inevitable feature of capitalism based on the argument that various groups in a society or social classes perpetually fight and compete for resources and power, hence the groups remains polarized against each other. The Karl Marx’s conflict theory views behavior from the perspective of conflict or tension among two or more groups. The conflict does not necessarily translate to violence but rather takes the form of struggle within political negotiations, business, philosophical ideologies or personal attitudes. A critical analysis of Karl Marx conflict theory’s point of view reveals that the conflict of social classes is the major aspect of societal conflict, and is mostly propagated by the differences in economic statuses and inequalities in distribution. Human societies have been class based in some way and the class factor has been the most basic dividing or differentiating factor between broad social groups. In the economic sphere that Marx’s theory focuses on, there is a class that own and control means of economic production which could be referred to as the upper class, and there is the class that maybe own nothing, but their ability to sell their labor power in return for wages which could be referred to as the middle or low class. From that understanding, and based on the conflict theory, one might argue that unequal distribution of resources and accessShow MoreRelatedWhy Marx s Social Theory Place So Much Emphasis On Class Conflict And The Economic Aspects Of Society? Essay1524 Words   |  7 Pagesdoes Marx s social theory place so much emphasis on class conflict and the economic aspects of society? Karl Marx is one of the most influential and revolutionary philosopher, economist and sociologist of the 19th century. His thoughts not only shaped our understandings of the capitalistic world but also created a new system of social organization, communism. His ideology also defined the key political figures of the cold war period such as Stalin, Mao and Castro. Without Marx, theRead MoreThe Communist Manifesto And Das Kapital1507 Words   |  7 PagesKarl Marx A German philosopher, economist, journalist and revolutionary scientist, Marx was best known for his work in economics. He laid the foundations for today s theories of labor and capital. The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital were among the most famous of his published works. Born to a middle-class family in Trier, Prussia in 1818, his parents were Jewish, but converted to Christianity in 1816 due to strict anti- Jewish laws. He was baptized as a Christian at the age of six but laterRead MoreSocial Conflict Theory1130 Words   |  5 Pageswould contend, predominantly the crimes of the poor) can be questioned. Critical criminology is a theoretical perspective in criminology which takes a conflict perspective, such as marxism, feminism, political economy theory or critical theory. The focus of critical criminology is the genesis of crime and nature of ‘justice’ within a structure of class and status inequalities. Law and punishment of crime are viewed as connected to a system of social inequality and as the means of producing and perpetuatingRead MoreHow Does Class Conflict Affect Society and What Are Its Consequences?1338 Words   |  6 PagesHow does class conflict affect society and what are its consequences? As Karl Marx once said: ‘In class society, everyone lives as a member of a particular class, and every kind of thinking, without exception, is stamped with the brand of a class.’ In this essay we will be discussing the affect class conflict has on society from the 1600’s up until the modern world today. We will be discussing how Karl Marx developed his theory of class conflict and look at the different areas of society and howRead MoreHow Does Class Conflict Affect Society and What Are Its Consequences?1324 Words   |  6 PagesHow does class conflict affect society and what are its consequences? As Karl Marx once said: ‘In class society, everyone lives as a member of a particular class, and every kind of thinking, without exception, is stamped with the brand of a class.’ In this essay we will be discussing the affect class conflict has on society from the 1600’s up until the modern world today. We will be discussing how Karl Marx developed his theory of class conflict and look at the different areas of society andRead MoreKarl Marx s Theories Of History And The Theory Of Human Nature Essay1714 Words   |  7 PagesKarl Marx was a nineteenth century philosopher, born in Trier, Prussia (Germany) in 1818 to a middle class family and later died in 1883. Karl Marx’s philosophies on society, politics and economics is collectively understood as Marxism. He was a materialist and an atheist who had a profound impact on the world of intellectual thought. This paper will aim to discuss and determine with reference to Marx’s deterministic theory of history and the theory of human nature, if human beings are essentiallyRead MoreConflict Theories Focus On The Political Nature Of Crime1439 Words   |  6 PagesConflict theories focus on the p olitical nature of crime and examine the creation and application of the law. Conflict theory fundamental assumption is that society is characterized more by conflict than by collective consensus. This characterization allows conflict theory to be viewed at on a continuous spectrum from different vantage points. On one end of the spectrum is the pluralistic view that infers that society is composed of different groups which are in a struggle for maintain their interestRead MoreKarl Marx And The Great Philosopher Essay988 Words   |  4 PagesKarl Marx was born in Trier, Prussia in 1818 to a Jewish family, but despite his baptism at age 6, he later became an atheist. Marx attended University of Bonn, but due to his imprisonment for drunkenness and variances with another student, he was enrolled in the University of Berlin by his parents. Marx earned his degree in philosophy and began writing for Rheinische Zeitung, a liberal democratic newspaper. He later became their editor. Marx w as a member of Young Hegelian movement which was groupRead MoreKarl Marx s Class Theory1687 Words   |  7 PagesKarl Marx’s class theory rests on the presumptions that each society in existence emanates from the history of class struggles. In line with this perception, from the time human society came forth from its primitive as well as relatively indistinctive state it has stayed categorized between classes which conflict in the pursuit of class interests. In the capitalist world, for instance, the factor which is the just but the nuclear cell as regards the capitalist system, becomes the key antagonism locusRead MoreKarl Marx And Functionalist Theory1329 Words   |  6 PagesKarl Marx and functionalist theory There is something to agree with in each one of the three sociological perspectives. There is accuracy in conflict theory perspective in that those in power determine social order and structure. Symbolic interactionism concentrates on social interactions. Since society consists of different social structures, social interaction having an effect on society certainly makes sense. Functionalist theory takes a large-scaled or macro view of social structures or institutions

The Importance of Art Education free essay sample

The article also addresses the importance of art education being integrated into the general curriculum, thereby developing students who will be future advocates and role models, with positive attitudes toward the arts. This article is considered scholarly because it is peer-reviewed. The source of academic authority is the peer-review process. We will write a custom essay sample on The Importance of Art Education or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Abandon, R. , McDowell, C. (2010). Art, Music, and Movement Connections for Elementary Education Teacher Candidates. General Music Today, 24(1 ), 27-31. The article discusses a lesson plan using the connection between the visual arts, movement, and music, and introducing the concept of line and contour. Through the use of art, the teacher was able to incorporate the concept of line and contours in match, science, reading, and social studies. The article details how teachers expose their students to art, and then help them make the connection to other subjects. The article is considered scholarly because it is peer reviewed. The source of academic authority is the peer-review process. Dike, R. M. (2003).The Arts Contribution to Adolescent Learning. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 39(4), 173-177. The Arts provide a unique core of understanding, and enhancements for learning through other school subjects (Dike, 174). The article details the importance of art, and its incorporation into other subject matters. The article discusses the impact of the No Child Legislature, and the importance of teachers recognizing the value of art in their lesson plans.