Social Experience and the Constructed Self Essay - 816 Words

Social Experience and the Constructed Self In the last few decades, our culture has adopted postmodernism as the predominant model of thought, as opposed to the modernist philosophy previously held. It is important that we understand both of these theories in order to fully understand the way that technology is shaping our thinking and our identities as individuals. Stephen Frosh, in his article â€Å"Social Experience and the Constructed Self,† explains each of these philosophies in terms of their definitions of individualism in â€Å"a world like this† (273). First Frosh uses Berman’s All that is Solid Melts into Air to explain modernist thinking. Essentially, according to Berman, modernism, which was born in the European Enlightenment,†¦show more content†¦If one intends to succeed, he can do so because his actions express that intention. However, the self is also an object of modernization, Berman asserts, in that it â€Å"develops in response to the economic and political contexts that surround it through a process of internalizing or appropriating the materials of culture and social relations in which the individual is embedded† (275). Nonetheless, modernism holds that an individual is by no means necessarily the same as the culture, that â€Å"in each person there is something that can resist, something that can create, something that can appropriate the public sphere and make it home† (276). Under the model of modernism, individuals are ultimately responsible for their successes and also their failu res because everyone has the power to resist their social and cultural influences and make their own way. Postmodernism has emerged recently as a critique of the modernist thinking. At its center, postmodernism calls into question the central tenet of modernist theory and asks: â€Å"what if there is no reason for endurance, no real meaning underlying the modern kaleidoscope to be recovered and preserved? What if the spectacular but empty surface is all that ‘really’ exists?† (277). Postmodernism holds that the surface is all that really exists, that there are no â€Å"differentiations between the self and its expression† (280). Frosh describes postmodernism using the metaphor of an image: â€Å"it is the image which isShow MoreRelatedThe Multiplicity Of The Postmodern Era1543 Words   |  7 Pagespaints, a person would paint the self in society as his/hers life’s work using language and words. Having more linguistic skills would resemble having more colors to paint the self with; hence the self would become more colorful and diverse in some way. I n the diversity of the postmodern era, the self is no longer looked at as something that was constituted solely and formed innately by each individual, but rather as something that is shaped by communities, social reality that people live in, andRead MoreRace As A Social Construct1566 Words   |  7 PagesRachel Marx PHL-137-01 Dr. Wolf March 17, 2017 Race as a Social Construct Charles W. Mills argues that even if there is no biological notion of race that can underwrite our social one, our social one still has some objectivity to it. He provides details for many hypothetical and real life instances in order to back up his argument. My view, along with Mills’, is that race is socially constructed, and has been socially constructed long before I even had an opinion on the topic. I will explore everyRead MoreColonialism : Meaning And Scope1460 Words   |  6 Pagespractice perpetuated in the beginning by European nations and contemporarily developed in neo-colonialism, perpetuated by neo-liberal hegemonies (Ashcroft, et.al 2000). It characterizes for being a form of exploitation, not only economic but also in social and cultural realms in which a metropolitan territory invaded and afterward settled in a different (and usually remote) territory (Said, 1993). Colonial discourse legitimizes the oppression that the settlers exercise against the natives; and thisRead MoreThe Human Mind And Behavior As Individuals And Small Groups984 Words   |  4 Pagesthe human mind and behavior as individuals and small groups, sociology is the course to study human social relations and the society itself. Sociology focuses on explaining societal behavior by studying how gender, race, social classes, religion, socioeconomic status, and sexuality can associate with the overall culture. Example of sociology, social stratification, sociology will lean about how social stratification is formed and how it divides the people, and how people in the different class identifyRead MoreIdentity and Gender1627 Words   |  7 Pagesto be a word that stands for who we are. Therefore, because of who we are, identity has come to be a word that we use to claim and understand people’s actions in our society. So in this paper I will be analysing how social practices surrounding identity relates to gender in social, personal levels, through the work of three authors; by Ian Hacking on â€Å"kind making†, Margaret Somers on â€Å"Narrative construction of identity† and finally, Frederick Cooper and Rogers Brubaker on â€Å"beyond identity† . HoweverRead MoreIdentity : Socially Constructed Or Innate?1348 Words   |  6 PagesSurname 1 Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Date Identity: Socially Constructed or Innate? The issue of whether identity is socially constructed or an innate characteristic remains a contested one. For some, identity is a product of the society, interactions, influence, and practices while for others, it is biological or rather primordial. At the very basic, identity is an essential personal characteristics as it encompasses the membership to different groups, including religion, genderRead MoreProblems Of Traditional American Education943 Words   |  4 Pagesbicultural critical pedagogical approach, which links education to impactful politics. In Culture and Power in the Classroom, Antonia Darder makes is clear that education matters, but yet more importantly that all students matter in their educational experience. As educators there needs to be awareness and consciousness of the hegemonic forces of race, class, culture, ethnicity, gender, and/or ability shape that inferiority within students. Cultural hegemony is so natural, that even in the classroom studentsRead Mor eHuman And Social Interaction And Development Of Self1703 Words   |  7 Pagesabout status, class, abilities sociologists study how self-identity develops especially in relation to social factors as majority of them belive â€Å"One way in which a person s sense of self is constructed is by other people is by how others seem to regard and respond to us† (uts, p.22). Goffman uses the imagery of the theatre in order to portray the importance of human and social interaction and the development of self whilst Mead believes that self is developed through a constant internal conversionRead MoreSocial Constructionism, Identity and the Concept of Deviance Essay1409 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Constructionism, Identity and the Concept of Deviance Social constructionist use the term social construction to imply that our understanding of the world in which we live is constructed from the social interactions we have on a daily basis. In reference to identity, social constructionist theory (SCT) proposes that we as social beings actively construct our identities using social tools as the means in which to construct our identities, the foremost one being language. This particularRead MoreSexual orientation is the preferred term used when referring to an individuals physical and or1100 Words   |  5 Pagesexpression is distinct from their sexual orientation. Throughout life as the individual explores the world around them, they are shaped by the unique experiences and influences that are imparted upon them. All people experience life subjectively therefore there is no monolithic way of viewing or defining one’s sexual identity, however, there are particular experiences that may shape and develop specific characteristics or tendencies that a group of people may share. Andrew Sullivan addresses this very issue

Hamlet, By William Shakespeare - 1542 Words

Hamlet was the character who was the protagonist. He was the son of Queen Gertrude and, at the start of the play, he was around thirty years old. King Claudius was his uncle. He was referred to as the Prince of Denmark (Faulkner 69). Hamlet was very fascinating and was a complex character that people have discussed for years (Williamson 03). Hamlet was an enigma and intriguing which made him a very captivating character. Because of this, many readers found it difficult to describe him (Price 54). He even suggested to his mother, Guildenstern, Rosencrantz, and children of friends that he was more complex than they knew (Williamson 11). Hamlet was very philosophical in nature, which was backed by his contemplative manner after the death of his father (Madariaga 72). His father s death shocked and devastated him which impeded his studies at the university. Hamlet had many questions about this, which were answered after the visit by The Ghost, his father s spirit. He learned from this visit that his uncle, Claudius, was the murderer. The Ghost encouraged him to seek revenge which he felt he must do for the love he felt for his father (Williamson 56). However, he was still unsure with the evidence he had and felt he needed to be certain before he acted. Hamlet was very much inquisitive. He portrayed this when he contemplated the idea of life after death. He thought about suicide and what happened after death. He wanted to know what happened to dead bodies. SuicideShow MoreRelatedHamlet, By William Shakespeare880 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is praised as the pioneering English poet and playwright whose collection of theatrical works is regarded as the greatest artistic value throughout the history of English literature. Shakespeare delved into the spiritual and mental component of humanity and the consequences that arise from this human spirit when it is disputed. The most famous revenge tragedy play, Hamlet, is an excellent illustration of Shakespeare’s philosophical study of human nature. In Hamlet, the arguableRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare899 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare, author of Hamlet, was a well-known author in the 1500s and is still popular today. He was born on April 24, 1564 in London, England. Although there were no birth records at that time, it shows he was baptized one year prior to that, which leads us to believe his birthday was in 1564 because children were normally baptized a year after their birth. Shakespeare’s writing style was very different than others at that time. He used many metaphors and rhetorical phrases, and most ofRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare996 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet, written by William Shakespeare, with out a doubt holds the most famous soliloquy in English history spoken by Hamlet in Act III, scene i, lines 57-90. This soliloquy holds much importance to the play as a whole because it ties together the reoccurring themes of suicide and Hamlet’s inaction portrayed by Shakespeare. Hamlet poses a problem, which is the driving force of the play: â€Å"To be or not to be?†(III.i.57). Shakespeare uses this logical question asked by Hamlet to drive out his underlyingRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakesp eare1178 Words   |  5 Pages In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the protagonist suffers from struggles with major characters, especially with the women in his life. While reading the play Hamlet, Hamlet appears to be a disillusioned man. Throughout the play, Shakespeare has only casted two females: Gertrude and Ophelia. Gertrude is defined to be incestuous, naà ¯ve and cold-hearted. On the other side, Ophelia is characterized to be ignorant, innocent and fearful. After the quick marriage of his mother and evil uncle, Hamlet’sRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1308 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet is arguably one of the greatest tragedies in all of literature and when most people think of tragic plays, they think of none other than the one who wrote it, William Shakespeare. This classic story of revenge excites it’s readers with its main character, Prince Hamlet, who goes through the unique human-like process of revenge that is often overlooked. Many other stories rely heavily on the logi c of good people doing good things and bad people doing bad things just for the sake of their natureRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare Essay1453 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet by William Shakespeare explores many aspects of mankind--death, betrayal, love, and mourning. Out of these, the most prominent theme in this play is death in the form of suicide. The main character, Hamlet, finds himself questioning the quality of life and the uncertainty of the afterlife once he discovers news of his father s death and the corruption in the kingdom that follows. Ophelia, Hamlet’s lover, is found dead later in the plot and is presumed to have committed suicide. In Hamlet’sRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1146 Words   |  5 PagesA character so complex, enticing and fascinating, his name is Hamlet. We are all Hamlet, and that, is the argument. Hamlet is an enigmatic character with many flaws. These flaws are the ones that prove similarities between us and him. A play so popular and significant is due to its huge relevance to us as a society. In the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses Hamlet’s character and metaphor to demonstrate that when one is left alone to their thoughts, these thoughts overtake reason. ConsequentlyRead MoreHamlet by William Shakespeare1456 Words   |  6 PagesThe play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, takes place in a time where the impossible was a part of the lives of everyday people. Occurrences that people in the modern time would believe unbelievable. Yet, with just a quill and parchment Shakespeare’s is able to connect the past and present by weaving a plot with skill that is still unparalleled to this day. The play Hamlet this exceeds this expectation by revealing depth of Hamlets, the protagonists, character personality through the useRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1920 Words   |  8 PagesIn the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the character Hamlet must deal with both external and internal conflict. Hamlet encounters many struggles and has trouble finding a way to deal with them. With so many corrupt people in his life, Hamlet feels as if there is no one that he can trust and begins to isolate himself from others. A result from this isolation leads Hamlet to become melancholy. Hamlet struggles with suicidal thoughts, wants to kill King Claudius, and is distraught over his mother’sRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare846 Words   |  4 Pagesalways been a contemplative topic. In Hamlet, the main character Hamlet thinks to himself about suicide. Hamlet was written by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote Hamlet between 1599 and 1602. William Shakespeare is one of the greatest playwrights in history. Hamlet is about Prince Hamlet of Denmark who is trying to find out about the death of his father after his father s ‘ghost’ comes to him telling him it was his uncle who had killed him. While Hamlet contemplates suicide he gives his famous

Dance Sport free essay sample

Dance sport is set to become an Olympic event. Personally I am not in favor of this. Not for a moment would I dispute the fact that dancers have considerable athletic prowess. Nonetheless, I feel that all Olympic events should be decided on technical and verifiable rules and regulations. In my personal opinion no Olympic event should have an aesthetic and therefore subjective element. That said, I love dance sport. Like millions of other people I avidly watch the TV shows, such as Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance in which it features. Dance sport views dance as a sporting activity. A man and a woman participate as a couple. There are also team events. Judging is based on technique, use of floor space and artistic interpretation of the music. Originally this dance form developed from competitive International Style. The remit has been widened to include any internationally recognized dance style which is sport orientated. International Style Dance sport comprises:a Standard Section, a Latin American section,a Ten Dance section consisting of 5 standard and 5 Latin dances, and a Rock n Roll Section. Dance sport is performed at both professional and amateur levels. Amateur competition levels are designated by the letters ABCDE, E being the lowest with A the highest. Some countries have an international class S. Class C dancers are only allowed to perform dance steps from the syllabus. Dancers are liable to problems such as stress fractures for example. Ballroom dancers cannot avoid putting great strain on the second metatarsal bone. This is the bone in the middle of the foot next to the big toe. The rise and fall of slower dances such as the foxtrot and waltz puts great strain on this bone. Putting thins right may involve a cast and rest will almost certainly be necessary. It may be three months or so before competition and flat out dancing is possible. Training is intense. Often dancers will practice five times a week for hours on end. The emphasis on appearance by some teachers has had dire effects on certain sensitive dancers. There are accounts of girls being told that they are overweight and then losing as much as 42 lbs in weight, developing anorexia with its attendant hair loss, depression, cessation of periods and sleep disruption. But some of these girls have nonetheless been able to continue dancing and have used this activity as a means of self-expression and escape from depression. Dance as a means of overcoming physical and mental health problems is well documented. I have heard the story of a man with Scoliosis. This is a condition where the spine is curved and twisted. It leads to the rib cage affecting the heart and lungs. Some of the symptoms of the condition are backache, shortness of breath, digestive and mobility problems. In spite of the pain this man loved dance sport. His wife was also his dancing partner. Many other dancers did not understand this mans physical problems and were annoyed when he got in their way, bumped into them or when he and his partner tripped and fell. Teachers were also not necessarily understanding and sympathetic. It was very difficult for the man to assume certain positions. Both he and his wife often ended up with sprained ankles and grazed knees. Despite all of these difficulties he found that dancing helped to maintain his posture and reduce his symptoms. After twenty years this enormously courageous man went to the United States to undergo a treatment new at that time. As a resullt of not being able to take part in dance sport both the man and his wife became extremely depressed. He was made even unhappier by the knowledge that dancing was not only his wifes form of exercise but was also her principal hobby. Two years after the treatment they were able to start dancing again. Gradually they improved with practice. They even found that some things, such as the promenade steps had become easier due to improved posture and the rotational correction of his spine brought about by the treatment. After four months of lessons this man and his wife entered their very first Senior Competition and gained 7th place: a tremendous achievement. They now intend to go on dancing as long as they can. There is also a report written by a woman injured in the Bosnian War. She was wounded in the upper left leg and some nerves were irreparably damaged. She is now unable to tense her left foot, in fact she has no feeling at all in the foot. But she is working very hard and is determined to be a great dancer and find a way around her difficulties. Those people who are relying on exercise as a protection against heart attack should think again. People have been known to have heart attacks while dancing. Good health and lessening the risk of heart attack and stroke has a second factor: diet. The diet must be balanced not too much of any one food group. We have all heard this a thousand times. We may understand on one level the essential value of exercise, and diet to good health. Nevertheless, food habits are amongst the most difficult to alter. Perseverance really does bring rewards. There is no doubt that dance sport is a healthy means of exercise, self-expression and the competitive spirit. Like any form of sport or exercise it is important not to over stress the body. Over stressing the body leads to the exact opposite of what one if trying to achieve. Dance in Our Footsteps [http://www. dance-in-our-footsteps. com] is dedicated to Instructional Dance dvds, cds, videos, books, gifts, costumes and everything connected to Dance and Health.. Article Source: http://EzineArticles. com/? expert=Dzagbe_Cudjoe