Dressed to Kill Stereotypes Essay Example for Free

Dressed to Kill Stereotypes Essay Dressed to Kill Stereotypes: Eddie Izzard’s Role as Parasocial Contact Icon You never get a second chance to make a first impression; a concept crucial to the importance of the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis. Eddie Izzard as a representative of a male transvestite minority group, plays a critical role in diminishing minority stereotypes in his HBO comedy special Dressed to Kill. Eddie Izzard does this in 3 important ways: by identifying with the majority (his audience) on a familiar and common level, by embracing minority characteristics in order to humanize differences, and by approaching the subject (mostly non-verbally) in a lighthearted and non-threatening manner. The Parasocial Contact Hypothesis is the suggestion that parasocial interactions through media can act in a similar way to Intergroup Contact Theory when correlated to minority prejudice. In studies on intergroup contact, it has been shown that direct exposure to a minority group changes the opinion and lessens the prejudice by that participant. Schiappa, Greg and Hewes wrote, â€Å"a person’s beliefs can be modified by that person coming into contact with a category member and subsequently modifying or elaborating the beliefs about the category as a whole† (93). In their parasocial contact hypothesis studies Schiappa, Greg and Hewes concluded, Cumulatively, the studies reported here provide support for the PCH for two minority groups and across three television genres. The PCH has significant theoretical and social implications. For decades, mass communication researchers have insisted that mass media and television, in particular, can influence viewers’ beliefs about the world. Research on parasocial contact and the relationships that such contact produces is significant because it suggests that one form of learning is about individuals and categories of people (111). This finding is most important because it means that individuals representing minority groups in media now become more than an individual, but an icon for the minority and as such they carry on a new importance and responsibility. In Dressed to Kill, Eddie Izzards approach to his special gains greater value because he now represents a larger group and his communication choices take on new significance. Eddie Izzard first identifies with the majority on a common level, but opening the show on the streets of San Francisco while not in drag. His audience is from or at least in San Francisco and through his opening video and dialogue he connects to the crowd on a level outside of gender issues as a fellow San Franciscan or at least lover there of. His second technique is to embrace minority characteristics all the while humanizing them. He does this by coming out on stage in drag and performing the whole special in ‘costume’. He defines transvestites and even categorizes them by type at points throughout the special to bring the audience back and to demonstrate similarities with which they can identify. His third technique is to approach the subject in a lighthearted and non-threatening manner; this is achieved simply by using a comedic format style. People laugh when they are uncomfortable and laugh when they are comfortable. Those that are uncomfortable are given the freedom to express themselves without standing out because everyone else is laughing. Those unfamiliar with transvestites now presented with a closer view of the minority in a comedic way, walk away with a positive feeling of the minority representative which influences their opinion and reduces prejudice. The studies and conclusions on Parasocial Contact Hypothesis research are significant because it means the media can be used to reinforce positive images of minority groups to reduce prejudice. However the opposite is likely also true, so it is important that media be used for productive and not destructive purposes in this regard. Works Cited Schiappa, Edward Gregg, Peter Hewes, Dean. The Parasocial Contact Hypothesis. Communication Monographs Mar. 2005: 92-115. Jordan, Lawrence dir. Izzard, Eddie wri. Dressed to Kill. 1999. HBO, 1999.

Inquisition :: essays research papers

The procedure, on the other hand, was substantially the same as that already described. Here, too, a "term of grace" of thirty to forty days was invariably granted, and was often prolonged. Imprisonment resulted only when unanimity had been arrived at, or the offence had been proved. Examination of the accused could take place only in the presence of two disinterested priests, whose obligation it was to restrain any arbitrary act in their presence the protocol had to be read out twice to the accused. The defence lay always in the hands of a lawyer. The witnesses although unknown to the accused, were sworn, and very severe punishment, even death, awaited false witnesses, (cf. Brief of Leo X of 14 December, 1518). Torture was applied only too frequently and to cruelly, but certainly not more cruelly than under Charles V's system of judicial torture in Germany. (4) Historical Analysis The Spanish Inquisition deserves neither the exaggerated praise nor the equally exaggerated vilification often bestowed on it. The number of victims cannot be calculated with even approximate accuracy; the much maligned autos-da-fà © were in reality but a religious ceremony (actus fidei); the San Benito has its counterpart in similar garbs elsewhere; the cruelty of St. Peter Arbues, to whom not a single sentence of death can be traced with certainty, belongs to the realms of fable. However, the predominant ecclesiastical nature of the institution can hardly be doubted. The Holy See sanctioned the institution, accorded to the grand inquisitor canonical installation and therewith judicial authority concerning matters of faith, while from the grand inquisitor jurisdiction passed down to the subsidiary tribunals under his control. Joseph de Maistre introduced the thesis that the Spanish Inquisition was mostly a civil tribunal; formerly, however, theologians never questioned its ecclesia stical nature. Only thus, indeed, can one explain how the Popes always admitted appeals from it to the Holy See, called to themselves entire trials and that at any stage of the proceedings, exempted whole classes of believers from its jurisdiction, intervened in the legislation, deposed grand inquisitors, and so on. (See TOMà S DE TORQUEMADA.) C. The Holy Office at Rome The great apostasy of the sixteenth century, the filtration of heresy into Catholic lands, and the progress of heterodox teachings everywhere, prompted Paul III to establish the "Sacra Congregatio Romanae et universalis Inquisitionis seu sancti officii" by the Constitution "Licet ab initio" of 21 July, 1542.

Louise Bourgeois Essay

Much can be learned from the environment within which we live. What we see tells a lot about the society in which we live: belief system; politics; economic undertakings; kinship and material culture among others. Through material culture, we can get insight into the world that existed long before us. Culture can be defined as the way of life of people depicting their shared experiences, political and religious beliefs, technology, insights, attitudes, and material objects. (Li & Karakowsky) The sublime can be defined as the priced greatness or vast intensity in terms of biological, moral, mental, metaphysical, beauty, art or religion. Sublime is experienced over and over. It is embedded in our history, being, values, thoughts, concepts, world views, beliefs, and is responsible for our personalities (Bernadac 2007 p20) Main Body One of America’s renowned artist and sculptor, Louise Bourgeois, managed to capture the American Sublime through her artistic undertaking. She was born in Paris, France in December 25, 1911 but traveled to America in 1938 to perfect her artistic endeavor. She studied mathematics at the Sorbonne, and painting and sculpture in Ecole du Louvre, Ecole des Beaux-Arts, and Art Students League of New York. She worked as an assistant to Fernand Henri Leger- a French sculptor, painter, and film maker. She is popular for her work that depicts spiders, sculptures, drawings and literary work (National Gallery of Canada 2005 p16). As a way of depicting the society in which she was living, Bourgeois’ work is full of inanimate images of horrifying fear, ghosts, darkness, tortured people, and disabling mental illness to attempt to get at the source of these emotions and to uphold normality even in times of chaos. Her works helped depict the intellectual climate, social and historical conditions that existed then. (Gorovoy et al 2006 pp 27 -28) She captured the effects of the First World War through carving limbless sculptures and detached limbs and had most of his paintings and sculptures painted black to depict death and mourning, (Gorovoy et al 2006 p 24) e. g. the two headless fabric bodies attempting to make love shown below. She depicts the revolution of the western politics, largely constructivism, through posters that expressed sympathy towards the Russian regime which she displayed in Moscow. The Tate Modern exhibition catalogue indicates her inclination towards Communism. Bourgeois made abstract art pieces that reflected on her childhood experiences showing how relationships within the family were entwined together thus bringing in the aspect of kinship, socialization and acculturation. This depicts how her art gives us insight to how children were brought up back then. (Lippard 2003 pp 9-10) Her Femme Maison and Fallen woman series introduced the aspect of liberation of women. They depicted a female struggling to outgrow some house like structures within which she is trapped – that is attempting to outgrow the masculinity into which the women were entrapped. She depicts a rebellion against the negative masculinity through her work, The Destruction of a Father, in which rock figures surround a sacrificial slab full of butchered body parts. Thus: It has been suggested that her sculpture, The Blind Leading the Blind, has a religious connotation. According to Desmond Michael and Lloyd Michael (1870-1970) Bourgeois, inspired by the Cold War, made this sculpture and that the title was picked from the New Testament verse (Matthew 15:14) that describes how a blind man leading another blind man would end up in a ditch. The structure is shown below (Bernadac 2007) Bourgeois’ contribution to the American Sublime is best captured in New York’s Guggenheim Museum, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and London’s Tate Modern with their massive collection of her art work. In conclusion, the American Sublime has been captured through art in poetry, carvings, paintings, songs, books, and which take us back to the origins of the cultures of past American societies. Just like the origins of the American sublime can be traced through studying works of art, similarly, so can we understand much about its revolution from the contemporary art works. Louise Bourgeois has managed to get this through her sculptures, drawings and works of art – reflecting abstract as well as tangible aspects of living that relate to feelings, political standing, material culture, religious inclination, beliefs and kinship. References Bernadac, M (2007) â€Å"Louise Bourgeois† Rizzoli International North America pp 18 – 24 Gorovoy, J. , Carver R. & Read C. (2006) â€Å"Louise Bourgeois† Bellport Press University of Michigan pp 21-35 Lippard R (2003) â€Å"Overlay: contemporary art and the art of prehistory† Pantheon Books NY pp 7-16 National Gallery of Canada (2005) â€Å"Louise Bourgeois Maman† National Gallery Canada press pp 14-17

Religion And Its Impact On College Students - 1444 Words

Introduction Spirituality is often a major aspect of the identity of an individual. Results from multiple studies show that college students place significant value on matters related to spirituality (Lindholm, 2007). It is defined as an acceptance and acknowledgement of God in every living and nonliving thing (Brown, 2012). Although this is often used interchangeably with religion, they are different concepts. Religion refers to the embrace of a set beliefs and ritual practices related to God. These practices and beliefs are ways to achieve spirituality. Another important term is faith, which can range in meaning from a general religious belief to a private acceptance of a set of beliefs (Newman, 2004). Belief in a higher power is used as†¦show more content†¦Literature Review Although spirituality is often a major aspect of the identity of an individual, it is not a subject that is as widely discussed in higher education as other aspects of identity. I will review literature on college students and their spirituality, focusing on how it may be associated with their persistence throughout college. More specifically, my study will focus on religious college students who identify as Christian. The literature provides examples, such as prayer and spiritual strength, to offer insight into how students of the Christian faith use it to progress through their higher education experience. These studies build support of the idea that college student persistence can be related to the spiritual beliefs of a Christian student. Spirituality Spirituality holds significant importance. As individuals, we are comprised of multiple identities compounded to make us whole. Spiritual identity provides a way to integrate an individual’s other identities, both within themselves and with society (Pecchenino, 2009). It makes sense of and unifies the different aspects of life. At its core, spirituality helps to give our lives context (Mayo Clinic, 2006). It gives us a sense of purpose and allows us to connect with the world so that we are never really alone, even when we feel like it. Direction in life is also guided by spiritual beliefs (Baker, 2003). Some rely on a higher power to provide guidance in situations that they feelShow MoreRelatedSacred Ground By Eboo Patel916 Words   |  4 Pagesthe knowledge of the younger generation with the hope of eliminating bigotry amongst various religions. Patel’s crucial message is that many people often misjudge or jump to conclusions, in this case about religions, which they don’t know much about. College is a place to break these barriers because it is a time for self-exploration and new ideas to be formed. The notion of having a nation where any religion can practice freely was one of the many reasons that which America was founded on. This beliefRead MoreThe Civil Rights Activist Malcolm X1631 Words   |  7 Pagesin the workplace. 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From my personal experience and knowledge of other religions I was not expecting to see some that I have never even heard of before, or how much a person’s sexual orientation can have impacts on their lives. As for disabilities, I have a brother who has a disability but it was a great learning experience, even with aRead MoreSchool District V. Schempp : Establishment Clause1 178 Words   |  5 Pagesbeen given. As the Americans we are, we have rights that pertain to freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition. These fundamental freedoms have allowed us as American citizens to be able to live our lives without the fear of being arrested or even killed because we speak out. In the 1st Amendment to the Constitution it says that ?Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;Read MoreEvery Child Across America Encounters Some Form Of Education1402 Words   |  6 Pagesmoving onto college or entering the workforce, and the ability for a student to obtain useful skills and values, which are three things that correlates with students that graduate from private high schools. Religious stances and ideas maybe an effect from attending private schools over public schooling. Religion is everywhere and affects everyone, whether if you believe in a higher power or not, and religion has the ability protect those children who want it and prepare those students who will oneRead MoreThe Problems of Teaching Creationism in Schools1465 Words   |  6 Pagestrue that everybody is entitled to their beliefs, this does not mean that those beliefs should extend into public school curriculum. Creationism should not be taught in public school classrooms for several reasons – it results in students not being prepared for college science, it leads to a general population lacking in scientific knowledge, and it is a violation of religious liberty. Often when creationism is taught in classrooms, it is to the exclusion of other theories, such as Darwinian evolutionRead More Educational Goals and Philosophy Essay921 Words   |  4 Pagesfuture. 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