Pornography Causes Desensitization, Aggression, and Alienation Essay

Pornography Causes Desensitization, Aggression, and Alienation A pair of long luscious, shapely legs extend upward until they join in perfect harmony. Colorful panties cover what seem to be the smallest area possible as a slim torso with shapely breasts and a slender neck lead to a perfect face. There she is, the perfect woman, the perfect picture of lust. Yet, she is only a picture, but what unbelievable power she possesses. Any man who looks her way will question his desires and himself. Who will resist her temptation and who will give in is the only question left without an answer. Pornography. Everyone seems to know what the word means, but does anyone know its etymology? The graphic images associated with pornography distract from any exploration of the term, but just like anything else pornography does have a history. The word "pornography" is derived from the Greek word pornographos, meaning "writing of harlots". Despite its Greek origins, the word pornography did not show up in the English language until somewhere between 1755 and 1857. Even then its meaning referred to prostitutes and prostitution. So, when did pornography switch from prostitution to materials that depict erotic behavior? Around the year 1975, pornography took on the meaning we accept today. Therefore, it is a fairly young phenomena, but it has spread like wildfire through its secrecy and silence (Kendrick 1). Many find pornography harmless, a step toward a greater sexual liberation, a way to set free the secret parts of the soul (Griffin 1). If only they knew the secret they would discover would be an addiction that has the power to last forever! Pornography grows into people's lives leading to destruction of their marriages, families, and se... ... may be sexual freedom, but they will never truly be free. They will be a slave to their desires, their own self-satisfaction, and the tragedy of it all is that they will never be satisfied. Works Cited Bush, Rosaline. "Pornography Harms Society." Pornography: Opposing View Points. Ed. Carol Wekesser. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 1997. 17-27. Donnerstein, Edward, Linz, Daniel, and Penrod, Steven. The Question of Pornography. New York: The Free Press, 1987. 40-50. ""Expression." Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. 1974. Griffin, Susan. Pornography and Silence: Culture's Revenge Against Nature. New York: Harper & Row, 1981. 1-20. Kendrick, Walter. The Secret Museum: Pornography in Modern Culture. New York: Viking, 1987. 1-10. Reisman, Judith A. "Soft Porn" Plays Hard Ball.: Its Tragic Effects of Women, Children, & The Family. Louisiana

“Fifth Business” by Robertson Davis Essay

Paul Dempster was born on December 28, 1908 to Amasa and Mary Dempster. He was suspected to be premature by about 80 days, but that was an estimate made by Dr. McCausland. Paul was described as â€Å"Red, of course, as all babies are red. But he was wrinkled like a tiny old man, and his head and back and much of his face was covered with weedy long black hair†(page 13), and â€Å"his cry was like the mew of a kitten†(page13). Dunny’s mother was pleased with the progress he was making, â€Å"I think little Paul is going to pull through. He’ll be slow, the doctor says, but he’ll be alright†(page 17), but Dr. McCausland was very wrong. Though Paul could neither read or write when he got older, he was very interested in the tricks that Dunny would show him â€Å"taking the coin from me and preforming the pass perfectly†(page 33). Paul’s home life was not one of the best. His mother was, what the town referred to as, simple and his father blamed her condition on his birth. He was also tormented by the other children in the town because of an incident in the gravel pit involving his mother and a tramp. This took a mental tole on him and shortly after the death of his father Paul ran away and joined the circus. Though his experience in the circus made him into Magnus Eisengrim, â€Å"The Great Magician†, he was still unable to free himself from his past. Paul also had much hostility towards Percy, the boy who was also a contributing factor in his premature birth. Paul was blamed by his father for the mental state of his mother but Paul found out as a child from Dunny that it was not his fault, but the fault of himself and his friend Percy. This hostility resulted in the mysterious murder of Percy and though it was never said that Magnus actually committed this act of violence it was pretty clear to the reader that the coincidence was to staggering to be anyone else. Though Paul does not play the role of that main character in The Fifth Business he does play an important role in the life of the character in which the novel revolves around. His is life alone gives meaning to the whole novel and defines Dunny. His birth and his legend are far from what would be expected of a Parsons son, but he lived his life the way he wanted and made the most of a talent with magic and congering.

An analysis of communism and religion in Gabriel Garcia...

Saqr ï ¿ ½ PAGE ï ¿ ½1ï ¿ ½ Eyad Saqr Ms. Schwettmann IB English 11-1,474 February 4, 2008 A Capitalist Congregation: Marxist Commentary on Hegemonic Powers in _Chronicle of a Death Foretold_ In the twentieth century, South Americans faced a dilemma: to succumb to the capitalist ideals of the western world or to surrender to the communist beliefs of Marx and Engels. Through symbol-laden texts, writers communicated their beliefs concerning the two economic ideologies. In his acclaimed novel _Chronicle of a Death Foretold_, Gabriel Garcà ­a Marquez vindicates Marxist ideals through his portrayal of the Catholic Church as a manipulative hegemon that cripples its people. These townsfolk become drones because of the local bishops stranglehold on his†¦show more content†¦They devote a great deal of their time and resources to receive him welcomingly. Instead of splitting the accrued firewood and food among themselves as a commune, the town must devote all of their time and effort to a foreigner who represents a capitalist ideology, supporting the economic domination of a select few over an unprivileged majority. The author then juxtaposes this dedication with the bish ops unappreciative, pretentious attitude and exceptionally affluent appearance. The bishop wears a white cassock surrounds himself with a retinue of Spaniards as his boat soak[s] those who were closest to the edge of the shore (Marquez 17). The author portrays the bishop as a wealthy ruler with the townspeople as his slaves. Marquez also places him on a higher plateau physically, looking down upon the town, even soaking them with his colossal boat. Instead of surrounding himself with those who truly follow Catholicism and its teachings, the bishop is accompanied by light-skinned aristocrats who abuse their lofty positions in societys racial and economic hierarchies. Marquezs depicts the bishop as unappreciative, distant from his people, and dominant over his followers. Through this representation, Marquez effectually characterizes the Church as a controlling, deceiving hegemon-ironically omnipotent and omnipresent. Although Marquez adamantly