Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Fame in Cinema and Television Essay Example for Free
Fame in Cinema and Television Essay The ââ¬Å"star phenomenonâ⬠began in theatrical advertising of certain actorsââ¬â¢ names in the 1820s. It was not immediately transferred to Hollywood, nor to the many other film industries developing in parallel across the glove. Hollywood studios at first, from about 1909 to 1914, ignored ââ¬Å"starsâ⬠ââ¬â actors in whose offscreen lifestyle and personalities audiences demonstrated a particular interest. This was partly because of the costs involved in ââ¬Å"manufacturing stardomâ⬠on a scale which the studies could translate into measureable box-office revenue, and for fear of the power which stars might then wield. Stars need all kinds of resources lavished on their construction such as privileged access to screen and narrative space, to lighting, to the care of costumers, make-up workers, voice coaches, personal trainers, etc. , as well as to audience interest through previews, supply of publicity materials, etc. Skillful casting is also important, though rarely discussed in work on stars, perhaps because it is seen to detract from the starââ¬â¢s own intentions in a performance. Key career decisions involve a starââ¬â¢s choice of casting agency or the choices made by a particular filmââ¬â¢s casting director. Once established, the star system worked lucratively for the studios. Stars were used as part of the studioââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"brandingâ⬠or promise of certain kinds of narrative and production values. They were useful in ââ¬Å"differentiatingâ⬠studiosââ¬â¢ films. Stars were literally part of the studioââ¬â¢s capital, like plant and equipment, and could be traded as such. James Stewart, making an interesting comparison with sports celebrities, said once ââ¬Å"Your studio could trade you around like ball player like when I was traded once to Universal for the use of their back lot for three weeks. â⬠Starsââ¬â¢ large salaries, said to be due to nebulous qualities such as ââ¬Å"talentâ⬠or ââ¬Å"charismaâ⬠, worked to negate the powers of acting unions, who might otherwise have been able to calculate acting labor and ask for more equal distribution of profits (Branston and Stafford 2003). And stars have always functioned as a key part of Hollywoodââ¬â¢s relationship to broader capitalist structures. In the 1930s, for example, over-production of manufactured goods had reached crisis point in North America, and the large banks funding Hollywood sought its help in shifting goods from warehouses to consumers. In addition to this, the celebrity is part of the public sphere, essentially an actor or, to use Robert Altmanââ¬â¢s 1992 film characterization of Hollywood denizens, a ââ¬Å"player. â⬠In the contemporary public sphere, divisions exist between different types of players: politicians are made to seem distinctly different from entertainment figures; businesspeople are distinguished from sports stars. And yet in the mediated representation of this panoply of players, they begin to blend together. Film stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger share the stage with politicians like George Bush; Gorbachev appears in a film by Wenders; Michael Jackson hangs out on the White House lawn with Ronald Reagan; Nelson Mandela fills an entire issue of Vogue. The celebrity is a category that identifies these slippages in identification and differentiation. Leadership, a concept that is often used to provide a definitional distance from vulgarity of celebrity status, provides the last discursive location for understanding the public individual. The argument I want to advance here is that in contemporary culture, there is a convergence in the source of power between the political leader and other forms of celebrity. Both are forms of subjectivity that are sanctioned by the culture and enter the symbolic realm of providing meaning and significance for the culture. The categorical distinction of forms of power is dissolving in favor of a unified system of celebrity status, in which the sanctioning of power is based on similar emotive and irrational, yet culturally deeply embedded, sentiments (Marshall 1997). Of course, depending on the type of media where actors and actresses appear, their power and charisma varies. In addition to this, depending on the type of media used, individualââ¬â¢s star quality or qualities of being a celebrity varies. On television, an individual can become a star without ceasing to be his or her anonymous self, because the medium celebrates innocuous, domestic normality. Once on the ââ¬Å"The Tonight Showâ⬠Jack Paar maddened the studio audience by attentively quizzing one of its number and ignoring Cary Grant, whoââ¬â¢d been planted in the adjoining seats. As well as a practical joke, this was a boast of televisionââ¬â¢s license to bestow celebrity on those it promiscuously or fortuitously favors. But the medium can just as easily rescind that celebrity. Obsolescence is built into the television star, as it is into the sets themselves: hence those mournful commercials for American Express in which the celebrities of yesteryear- the man who lent his croaky voice to Bugs Bunny or a candidate for the Vice-Presidency in 1964- laud the companyââ¬â¢s card, which restores to them an identity and a televisibility theyââ¬â¢d forfeited. The game show contestants experience this brief tenure of television celebrity- Warholââ¬â¢s fifteen minutes- at its most accelerated. But in order to quality for it, they have to surrender themselves to the medium. Their only way of winning games is to abase themselves, feigning hysteria on ââ¬Å"The Price is Right,â⬠exchanging sordid confidences on ââ¬Å"The Newlywed Game,â⬠incompetently acting out inane charades on Bruce Forsythââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Generation Game. â⬠The cruelest of the games is ââ¬Å"The Gong Show,â⬠where oneââ¬â¢s span of celebrity may not even extend to fifteen seconds. More or less, untalented contestants sing, dance, juggle or fiddle until the inevitable gong sends them back to nonentity. For some, the gong supervenes immediately. Theyââ¬â¢ve been warned this will happen, and coached to disappear with dignity, but are expected to go through with their act all the same and suffer their condemnation. Even a few seconds of television fame is worth the price of oneââ¬â¢s self-esteem. The show pretends to be a talent quest, but is a smirking parody of that. The hosts on the game shows are, for similar reasons, parodies of geniality. A host soothes his guests and smoothes obstacles out of their way. But in homage to Groucho, the comperes subject their victims to a ritual humiliation, and their patter keeps the game-players throughout flinching and ill-at-ease (Conrad 1982). Television is good but may not be ideal for preserving important works. On the other hand, a good film can be shown anywhere in the world where there is an audience. Furthermore, the cinema will turn actors and actresses into stars. There are many well-known television actors and actresses, but they have no international fame like their big-screen counterparts. Films together with film magazines contribute directly to the formation of a star system and its attendant mythology. The stars perceived themselves to be, and were in turn also used as, icons for a modern lifestyle, especially fashion (Zhang 2005). They are given greater chances to achieve or receive international awards and become known not only in a particular state but to the whole world, unlike in the case of television stars. Those famous actors who appeared on television ten years ago have now vanished due either to lot or disintegrated videotape or a lack of interest by the contemporary audience. In Africa, there was a necessity to build more cinema theaters, instead of enforcing further use of television, because it was helping them to maintain a viable film industry. In Iran, they have more than 150 cinema houses. Their industry if progressing because they have a loyal audience who make it possible to recuperate money invested in production, which in turn is invested in the making of new films (Ukadike 2002). As a whole, it can be said that fame in cinema is more lasting than fame in television. In addition to this, the stars or celebrities appearing on cinemas rather than on televisions are the ones who are more favored by producers and stockholders. Moreover, they are preferred than the television stars to be used in magazines, especially if it is an international magazine. As such, the lifestyle of actors and actresses in cinemas are greater than those who only appear in television shows. The cinema industry as well as its actors and actresses are greatly favored and nowadays, more specifically preferred by a good number of the countries. Bibliography BRANSTON, GILL and STAFFORD, ROY, The Media Students Book (USA: Routledge, 2003). CONRAD, PETER, Television (USA: Routledge, 1983). MARSHALL, P. DAVID, Celebrity and Power: Fame in Contemporary Culture (Minneapolis: Regents of the University of Minnesota, 1997). UKADIKE, NWACHUKWU FRANK, Questioning African Cinema (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2002). ZHANG, ZHEN, An Amorous History of the Silver Screen (London: University of Chicago Press, 2005).
Monday, August 5, 2019
Salt Concentrations on Germination of Seeds
Salt Concentrations on Germination of Seeds Through my research, I decided to use rye, oats and barley seeds because due to the increasing salinity problems, there would be future food shortages due to global warming damaging crops and the increasing human population. The seeds were treated with different salt concentration solutions of sodium chloride, magnesium sulphate, calcium sulphates and bicarbonates. A Chi Squared test was done to find the relationship between each of the different salts concentrations and the germination rate. Experimental Hypothesis: Increasing the concentration of NaCl (sodium chloride) will have the biggest decrease in the number of germinations compared to increasing the other salt concentrations. Null Hypothesis: Increasing the salt concentration will have no effect on the germination of seeds. Dependent Variable: Seed germination rate Independent Variable: The salt solutions and salt concentration Through my intensive research I discovered there were currently major environmental factors regarding to the lack of plant productivity for crop production regions, but through this research I discovered one of the main factors was salinity in soil. Salinity in soil is a major issue for growing crops for most regions of the planet, especially the dry regions where the seed would lack water to grow. The farmers wont be able to cultivate their own crops due to seeds not being able to germinate as crop yield is decreased. However in some cases, if the seed does manage to germinate, the plant would often grow with many ion deficiencies. During my research I discovered a theory, which involved germinating a seed in seawater and it was told it had a huge effect on the seed. So I did research on seawater and compared and I discovered it had variety of different ions dissolved within the water. Furthermore, I also discovered that NaCl (sodium Chloride) was the most abundant ion dissolved in the seawater [6]. To test my hypothesis I will be using 3 types of cereal seeds, which are barley, oats, and rye seeds. Barley crops are very adaptable and can germinate very quickly between 1 to 3 days. Barley is normally grown in the temperate areas as a summer crop, but in the tropical regions its sown as a winter crop. However, Barley is more tolerant than other cereal seeds to soil salinity and also more susceptible to plant diseases [9]. Oats has may uses in food, so its vital to continue the supply for oats in the future, as global warming could affect the yield of oats produced, as oat seeds have greater tolerance of rain than any other cereal [8]. Furthermore, it has a lower summer heat requirement, which is why its more grown throughout the temperate zones, for example Northwest Europe and Iceland. Rye grows really well in much poorer soils than most necessary cereal grains, as its the most valuable crop in some regions. Rye withstands cold better than most grains, so farmers normally grow r ye in the winter, as in spring the crop finally develops [7]. During the 1800s, researchers discovered that plants absorb essential minerals as inorganic ions in water. So basically soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir, but the soil isnt essential for plant growth. The plant roots only absorb nutrients and minerals when the nutrient mineral in the soil has been dissolved in water, so its the same as a plant absorbing the mineral nutrients as inorganic ions. If the required mineral nutrients have been introduced artificially into the plants water supply, the soil isnt required any longer, this is called a Hydroponic. Most terrestrial plants (plants grown on land) can survive or grow using a hydroponic. [3] The advantages of using Hydroponics for food production are: no soil is required water stays within the system and can then be reused which will therefore lowering water costs Can be able to lower to control nutrition levels, which can also reduce nutrition costs Because of the controlled system, no nutrition pollution is released into the atmosphere Stable and high yields Pests and diseases are easier to get rid of because of the containers mobility Can be used in possible places where in-ground agriculture or gardening isnt possible [3] However there are disadvantages of using Hydroponics for food production such as: Since hydroponics conditions consists the presence of fertilisers and high humidity, it creates an environment that stimulates salmonella growth Pathogens attacks including damp-off due to Verticillium wilt caused by high moisture levels associated with hydroponics and overwatering of terrestrial plants. Many hydroponic plants requires different fertilisers and containment systems, which can be very time-consuming and expensive for someone thats setting the whole hydroponic [3] From my knowledge, I know that plant roots up take mineral nutrients by active transport. Active Transport is the movement of a substance against the concentration gradient using energy as ATP. Examples of substance which can also be taken up by active transport are ions, glucose and amino acids. Nonetheless, in my investigation I will also be looking at Osmosis and seeing so its affected throughout my investigation. Osmosis is the diffusion of water (movement of water) across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of a less negative water potential to an even more negative water potential area and this process a non-passive process (doesnt require energy in the form of ATP). The reason Im going to look at the effect of Osmosis throughout my investigation is because according to Muhammad Jamils journal Effect of salt stress on germination and early seedling growth of four vegetables species. It was stated in the journal that salt concentrations is a major contributor to the osmotic e ffect of ions on growth. Furthermore, it was also stated that high salt in the environment could lead to loss of water from cells which the cell undergoes plasmolysis, which even could lead to the death of the cell [5]. Seed Germination is the process in which the plant emerges from a seed or spore and begins growth. Seed germination depends on both internal and external conditions. The most important external factors include water (required for vigorous metabolism), temperature, oxygen and light or even darkness. The structure of the seed consists of a seed coat, which is the covering of the seed, which protects it from any kind of injury, and also the entry of parasites and prevents it from drying. Within the seed theres an endosperm, which is a temporary food supply thats packed around the embryo in the form of cotyledons or even seed leaves. Plants are classed as monocots or dicots depending on the number of cotyledons. The seeds which Im going to use (rye, oats and barley seeds) are monocotyledons. [2] Several factors which prevent the germination of seed include: Over watering can prevent the plant to get enough oxygen Dry conditions can prevent germination, as the seed wont get enough moisture If the seed has very hard coat not enough oxygen and water will be able to get through it Soil temperature can also effect the germination process, regardless of whether its too high or too low [2] Monocotyledon is one of the two major groups of the flowering plants, well other being dicotyledons. Heres a table comparing the two major groups of the flowering plants: Feature Monocotyledon Dicotyledons Number of parts of each flower In threes In four or fives Number of pores in pollen One Two Number of Cotyledons (leaves in the seed) One Two Arrangement of Vascular Bundles In The Stem Scattered Concentric Circles Roots Adventitious Develop from Radical Arrangement of major leaf veins Parrell Reticulate [10] [1] The steps of seed germination: Seed absorbs water and the seed coat bursts. Theres an activation of enzymes, increase in respiration and plant cells get duplicated. A chain of chemical changes starts, which leads to the development of the plant embryo. Chemical energy stored in the form of starch is converted to sugar, which is used during the later stages of the germination process. Soon the plant embryo gets enlarged and the seed coat bursts open. Growing plant emerges out. Tip of root first emerges and helps to anchor the seed in place. Also allows the plant embryo to absorb minerals and water from the soil. If a monocotyledon plant, the primary root emerges from the seed and fruit and grows down. The primary plants primary leaf grows up. Its protected by a cylindrical, hollow structure called coleoptiles. Once the seedlings have grown above the soil surface, the growth of coleoptiles is stopped and its pierced by a primary leaf. [2]
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Joseph Stalin Essay -- Russian History, Politics
Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1954. He is widely recognized as a dictator, an oppressor, and a ruthless ruler who took the Soviet Union from economic shambles to a superpower, but with the high cost of human sacrifice and his paranoia of opposition. Stalin saw himself as the natural successor of Leninism-Marxism, but in actuality he created a system of his own which did not go according to the philosophy of Karl Marx and Engels. Stalinââ¬â¢s early political career began just like everyone else who gained prominence in the Bolshevik takeover of the Russian Empire. Lenin had successfully launched his revolution in October, 1917 and became the leader of the Russian Communist Party until his death in January 1924. Stalin played only a minor role in the October Revolution and a relatively inconspicuous part in the Civil War (Lee 1). Stalin was sent to exile in Siberia for committing crimes in Russia, and after his return he became a member of the Cen tral Committee of the Bolshevik Party in 1912. Stalin worked to gain support in the Communist party during its early stages. He created close contacts that he would later betray, and others which he would use to help him become the next leader of the Soviet Union. He accumulated the posts of Peopleââ¬â¢s Commissar for Nationalities in 1917, liaison official between the Politburo and the Orgburo in 1919, and General Secretary of the Party in 1922 (Lee 1). Soviet books and propaganda always portrayed Stalin having a close relationship with Lenin, as seen in textbooks, propaganda posters, and Stalin himself who always spoke highly of his friendship with Lenin. However, Lenin and the Bolsheviks thought differently of Stalin. The 1920s and early 1930s saw the rise a... ...ââ¬â¢s unorthodox rise to power, to his brutal economic policy, it was a form of true dictatorship and turned the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state. Karl Marx wrote that the techniques of exploitation by the bourgeoisie would lead to a violent revolution by the proletariat, and it would change the economic and social order of the state. In this case, Stalin exploited his proletariat and acted as a bourgeoisie, using the labor force for his personal gain and what he thought would be the best way the Soviet Union would ever become a superpower. Joseph Stalin took the idea of Marxism and added his own theory to it, distorting it and creating a new system of politics that is coined ââ¬Å"Stalinism.â⬠It has its similarities, but largely it is a split in ideology that would cause the deaths of 20 million people during his rule, something Karl Marx, or Lenin never intended.
Free Essays - Evil and Good in Othello :: Othello essays
Evil and Good in Othello Life in general is often used as a system of ways to define what kind of person you are by its end. Shakespeare takes that theory into test upon his characters in his work of the famous play Othello. Through the verbal twists and turns along with the addition of color symbolisms, the personalities of Othello, Iago, Desdemona are revealed to their fullest extents, along with their own balance of good and evil within. When this is realized by this famous Shakespearian work, the judgment of good and evil is carried out, and as a result of mass purging of emotions, neither prevails in the resolution. Othello, due to his Moorish nature but at the same time morally white and untainted, can be considered grey with the opening of the play, but possesses the potential to become either the most brilliant white or the darkest black. From the way that he is described by Iago and sometimes Brabantio, he is a dark beast lurking in the shadows, but he is as white as he can be by the Duke. Grey is a color not quite white nor black, hesitation and confusion wavering behind his eyes. This confusion is caused by his naiveté at trusting people too easily, and Iago eagerly takes this weakness to his advantage. So that when Iago manipulates Othello, Othello unknowingly gives in to the temptation, even going as far as telling Iago "I am bound to thee for ever" (III. iii. 242). Othello at this point is completely taken in with Iago's mind poisoning and willingly submits to him, yielding to his trickeries. Inevitably with a little push from Iago, Othello slowly goes down the path o f dark and pure blackness, with murder evident in mind. With Iago's tampering of his inner moralities, Othello turns black like a speeding snowball, once Iago set him on the right path. Everything else Othello had done the damage himself; Iago only suggested the notion in the most subtle of ways. Thus he sometimes "breaks out to savage madness" as Iago put it, when being put under such pressure (IV. i. 65). He is so far gone that he even has epileptic fits hearing of Desdemona's infidelity.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
College Admissions Essay: A Pivotal Time in My Life :: College Admissions Essay
Aà Pivotal Time in My Life à My mother read The Yearling aloud to me when I was eight. I have always thought of that time - those nights when she read, seated in the hall outside the bedrooms, my sister listening from her room and me from mine - our rooms were dark, and the light was on Mother, and her voice was clear and expressive; she was a good reader - I have thought of that as a pivotal time in my literature life. Reading for me, until then, had been The Bobbsey Twins, Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, and Nancy Drew: a combination of classics and schlock, and I loved it all. But it was separate from me. It was not real. They were stories, and they held my interest and made me laugh now and then - but they were never real. But now, with my own father far away on business, my mother sat quietly in that hallway and read of the boy named Jody whose father, bitten by a rattlesnake, is struggling to live. "He pressed his face into hanging covers and cried bitterly," my mother read of Jody (and I, listening, pressed my own face into my pillow in anguish for Jody). "He was torn with hate for all death and pity for all aloneness," she read. It was the book, The Yearling, and its effect on me, that directed my reading from then on. After I had met Jody Baxter, I didn't want to hang out with Nan and Bert Bobbsey ever again.
Friday, August 2, 2019
Information Speech Outline
Brooke Miller Information Speech Outline Specific Purpose: I want my audience to learn about child abuse and how it is different from corporal punishment. Thesis Statement: Physical child abuse and corporal punishment are two different things. It is important to know the difference between the two because all children deserve to be safe. Introduction I. In 2005, 3. 6 million children were investigated by Child Protective Services as victims of maltreatment, 899,000 children were found to be abused or neglected, and 1,460 children died from abuse. 76. 6% of those children who died were 4 years old or younger.II. These are some pictures of child abuse victims. These are some of the things that each of us should be aware of in order to protect our children, or the children in our families. III. I have done research through books, as well as online articles. I will be able to inform you what child abuse actually is, and be able to answer any questions that you might have about this topic as well. IV. Physical child abuse is an issue that deserves everyoneââ¬â¢s attention. Everyone who has a child in their family needs to know the difference between abuse and punishment, because all children deserve to be safe.Transition: First, I will start by informing you of the definition of physical child abuse. Body I. Physical abuse is defined as acts of commission that result in physical harm, including death of a child. A. Examples of physical abuse and injuries B. Examples of sexual abuse C. Examples of neglect II. The definition of corporal punishment is inflicting bodily pain on a child as a response to misbehaving and preventing a repetition of the behavior in the future. A. Examples of corporal punishment B. Hawaii Case C. North Dakota Case III.There are signs that each of us need to be aware of in order to protect our children, and/or the children in our families A. Signs of physical abuse B. Signs of sexual abuse C. Signs of neglect IV. It is important to be able to get the abused child to talk to you about the abuse; hopefully you are able to save the child before the abuse leads to death. A. How to get the child to talk to you B. Ways the abuse can lead to death Transition: Now that you know abuse is definitely different from corporal punishment, Iââ¬â¢m just going to review the information I have given you today.Conclusion I. You all now know what physical abuse is, and what corporal punishment is. You know the signs to look so you know whether or not the child is actually being abused. You know some ways to help you get the abused child to talk to you so you are able to help them before the abuse continues, or possibly leads to death. II. So, remember there are nearly one million children abused every year, and there is something that each one of us can do to save a child from being continually abused.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Nada
17 ââ¬â¢Childhood is certainly not the happiest time of your lifeââ¬â¢ Itââ¬â¢s about time somebody exploded that hoary old myth about childhood being the happiest period of your life. Childhood may certainly be fairly happy, but itââ¬â¢s greatest moments canââ¬â¢t compare with the sheer joy of being an adult. Who ever asked a six-year-old for an opinion? Children donââ¬â¢t have opinions, or if they do, nobody notices. Adults choose the clothes their children will wear, the books they will read and the friends they will play with. Mother and father are kindly but absolute dictators.This is an adult world and though children may be deeply loved, they have to be manipulated so as not to interfere too seriously with the lives of their elders and betters. The essential difference between manhood and childhood is the same as the difference between independence and subjection. For all the nostalgic remarks you hear, which adult would honestly change places with a child? T hink of the years at school: the years spent living in constant fear of examinations and school reports. Every movement you make, every thought you think is observed by some critical adult who may draw unflattering conclusions about your character.Think of the curfews, the marital law, the times you had to go to bed early, do as you were told, eat disgusting stuff that was supposed to be good for you. Remember how ââ¬Ëgentleââ¬â¢ pressure was applied with remarks like ââ¬Ëif you donââ¬â¢t do as I say, Iââ¬â¢ll â⬠¦ ââ¬â¢ and a dire warning would follow. Even so, these are only part of a childââ¬â¢s troubles. No matter how kind and loving adults may be, children often suffer from terrible, illogical fears which are the result of ignorance and an inability to understand the world around them. Nothing can equal the abject fear a child may feel in the dark, the absolute horror of childish nightmares.Adults can share their fears with other adults; children invaria bly face their fears alone. But the most painful part of childhood is the period when you begin to emerge from it: adolescence. Teenagers may rebel violently against parental authority, but this causes them great unhappiness. There is a complete lack of self-confidence during this time. Adolescents are over-conscious of their appearance and the impression they make on others. They feel shy, awkward and clumsy. Feelings are intense and hearts easily broken. Teenagers experience moments of tremendous elation or black despair.And through this turmoil, adults seem to be more hostile than ever. What a relief it is to grow up. Suddenly you regain your balance; the world opens up before you. You are free to choose; you have your own place to live in and your own money to spend. You do not have to seek constant approval for everything you do. You are no longer teased, punished or ridiculed by heartless adults because you failed to come up to some theoretical standard. And if on occasion you are teased, you know how to deal with it. You can simply tell other adults to go to hell: you are one yourself. Nada 17 ââ¬â¢Childhood is certainly not the happiest time of your lifeââ¬â¢ Itââ¬â¢s about time somebody exploded that hoary old myth about childhood being the happiest period of your life. Childhood may certainly be fairly happy, but itââ¬â¢s greatest moments canââ¬â¢t compare with the sheer joy of being an adult. Who ever asked a six-year-old for an opinion? Children donââ¬â¢t have opinions, or if they do, nobody notices. Adults choose the clothes their children will wear, the books they will read and the friends they will play with. Mother and father are kindly but absolute dictators.This is an adult world and though children may be deeply loved, they have to be manipulated so as not to interfere too seriously with the lives of their elders and betters. The essential difference between manhood and childhood is the same as the difference between independence and subjection. For all the nostalgic remarks you hear, which adult would honestly change places with a child? T hink of the years at school: the years spent living in constant fear of examinations and school reports. Every movement you make, every thought you think is observed by some critical adult who may draw unflattering conclusions about your character.Think of the curfews, the marital law, the times you had to go to bed early, do as you were told, eat disgusting stuff that was supposed to be good for you. Remember how ââ¬Ëgentleââ¬â¢ pressure was applied with remarks like ââ¬Ëif you donââ¬â¢t do as I say, Iââ¬â¢ll â⬠¦ ââ¬â¢ and a dire warning would follow. Even so, these are only part of a childââ¬â¢s troubles. No matter how kind and loving adults may be, children often suffer from terrible, illogical fears which are the result of ignorance and an inability to understand the world around them. Nothing can equal the abject fear a child may feel in the dark, the absolute horror of childish nightmares.Adults can share their fears with other adults; children invaria bly face their fears alone. But the most painful part of childhood is the period when you begin to emerge from it: adolescence. Teenagers may rebel violently against parental authority, but this causes them great unhappiness. There is a complete lack of self-confidence during this time. Adolescents are over-conscious of their appearance and the impression they make on others. They feel shy, awkward and clumsy. Feelings are intense and hearts easily broken. Teenagers experience moments of tremendous elation or black despair.And through this turmoil, adults seem to be more hostile than ever. What a relief it is to grow up. Suddenly you regain your balance; the world opens up before you. You are free to choose; you have your own place to live in and your own money to spend. You do not have to seek constant approval for everything you do. You are no longer teased, punished or ridiculed by heartless adults because you failed to come up to some theoretical standard. And if on occasion you are teased, you know how to deal with it. You can simply tell other adults to go to hell: you are one yourself.
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