Frederick Douglass Essay - 841 Words

Frederick Douglass once said, â€Å"If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning† (Think Exist). Frederick Douglass, a man born into slavery overcame numerous obstacles to eventually become a chief abolitionist as well as a diplomat. Frederick Douglass got his hands on a book entitled â€Å"The Columbian Orator† and introduced himself to the word abolitionist. This sparked his interest and set off a fiery passion for freedom. Douglass realized that slaveholders used ignorance as a tool to enslave their subjects; slaveholders did not want slaves to have the capacities of reading and writing.†¦show more content†¦People saw slaves as incompetent and only having the ability to work for the white man. In the years following his freedom Douglass began speaking around the country about to perils and crueltie s of slavery. Douglass’ speaking and writing, helped lead to the ratification of the thirteen fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. He also went around the country telling his story and had a very successful career as an abolitionist. Most persons did not believe Mr. Douglass had been a slave since he spoke so well. Back in his time, people regarded Frederick as the voice of the slaves. A chess piece in the civil rights movement Frederick Douglass, set of a chain reaction that changed the world. Frederick Douglass used education to prosper. Without education, African American people would not have the positions and statuses they have today. Had it not been for Frederick Douglass who overcame slavery and made a way out of no way. Frederick Douglass used his knowledge of reading, writing and his speaking skills to become the first African American person in a long line of people to try and break the wall of racism, and have equality forShow MoreRelatedFrederick Douglass Essay817 Words   |  4 PagesAfrican-American man Frederick Douglass wrote his famous speech, â€Å"The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro†, America was in a time of great distress. It was the year 1852, and the view of abolitionists was quickly spreading. It was the time of both provocative literatures such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin, as well as important resolutions, such as the Dredd Scott decision, showing the contrast between views at the time, both positive and negative towards slavery. Frederick Douglass was a freed African-AmericanRead MoreFrederick Douglass Essay691 Words   |  3 PagesFrederick Douglass Frederick Douglass was one of the most important black leaders of the Antislavery movement. He was born in 1817 in Talbot County, MD. He was the son of Harriet Bailey and an unknown white man. His mother was a slave so therefore he was born a slave. He lived with his grandparents until the age of eight, so he never knew his mother well. When he turned eight, he was sent to Aunt Kathy, a woman who took care of slave children on the plantation of Colonel Edward Lloyd. WhenRead More Frederick Douglass Essays505 Words   |  3 Pages The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave is an account of Frederick Douglass’ life written in a very detached and objective tone. You might find this tone normal for a historical account of the events of someone’s life if not for the fact that the narrative was written by Frederick Douglass himself. In light of the fact that Douglass wrote his autobiography as a treatise in support of the abolishment of slavery, the r emoved tone was an effective tone. It gave force to hisRead MoreEssay on Frederick Douglass658 Words   |  3 Pages Frederick Douglass nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Frederick Douglass was a man who was active until the day he died. Frederick Attended Anti-Slavery meetings and also attended meetings for Women?s rights. He believed everyone was equal it didnt matter if one was white, black, or green it also didnt matter what sex you were he believed everybody was equal. He achieved many things during his hard but great life. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Born on a plantation in Tuckahoe, near Easton, in TalbotRead MoreNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Essay1306 Words   |  6 PagesFrederick Augustus Washington Bailey (later known as Frederick Douglass) was born a slave in Talbot County, Maryland around the year 1818. He was an African American reformer, writer, and orator. Douglass was one of the few noteworthy heroes who arose from the evils of slavery and impacted the United States and the world in significant ways. After escaping from slavery, he became known for his astounding oratory skills and remarkable antislavery writing. He became an important leader of the abolitionistRead MoreFrederick Douglass Essay559 Words   |  3 PagesFrederick Douglass Born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey on Marylands Eastern Shore in 1818, he was the son of a slave woman and, her white master. Upon his escape from slavery at age 20, he adopted the name of the hero of Sir Walter Scotts The Lady of the Lake. Douglass immortalized his years as a slave in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (1845). This and two other autobiographies, My Bondage and My Freedom (1855) and The Life and Times of Frederick DouglassRead More Frederick Douglass Essay1311 Words   |  6 PagesIn Frederick Douglass autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, he writes about the inhumanity and brutality of slavery, with the intention of informing white, American colonists. Douglass is thought to be one of the greatest leaders of the abolition, which radically and dramatically changed the American way of life, thus revolutionizing America. Douglass changed America, and accomplished this through writing simply an d to the point about the reality of slaveryRead MoreNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Essay1182 Words   |  5 PagesNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass After escaping from slavery, Frederick Bailey changed his name to Frederick Douglass and became a prominent speaker in the abolitionist movement. He was so eloquent that proslavery opponents charged him with being a fraud who had never been a slave and challenged him to reveal the true facts of his life. Such an account was dangerous for Douglass, who could have been captured and returned to slavery for life, but he proceededRead MoreEssay Frederick Douglass and Slavery1448 Words   |  6 PagesFrederick Douglass and Slavery Frederick Douglass the most successful abolitionist who changed America’s views of slavery through his writings and actions. Frederick Douglass had many achievements throughout his life. His Life as a slave had a great impact on his writings. His great oratory skills left the largest impact on Civil War time period literature. All in all he was the best black speaker and writer ever. Douglass was born a slave in 1817, in Maryland. He educatedRead MoreEssay on the Life of Frederick Douglass1702 Words   |  7 PagesIn Frederick Douglass#8217; Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Mr. Douglass gives many examples of cruelty towards slaves as he shows many reasons that could have been used to abolish slavery. Throughout the well-written narrative, Douglass uses examples from the severe whippings that took place constantly to a form of brainwashing by the slaveholders over the slaves describing the terrible conditions that the slaves were faced with in the south in the first half of the 1800#8217;s.

Trinity Bible College Admissions ACT Scores, Costs...

Essay on The Supernatural in Hamlet - 3078 Words

The Supernatural in Hamlet Though Shakespeare cannot claim the invention of the ghosts in tragedies, still he can claim to have clothed his ghost in Hamlet with convincingness. This essay concerns his one supernatural character in the tragedy. Regarding the supernatural in Hamlet, Cumberland Clark says in â€Å"The Supernatural in Hamlet†: At least six or seven years pass after the writing of Midsummer Night’s Dream before we find Shakespeare engaged on Hamlet, the second of the great plays with an important Supernatural element, and, in the opinion of many, the greatest tragedy ever penned. What a profound change has come over his attitude towards the Unseen! No longer does he handle it in . . . [a] cheerful,†¦show more content†¦W.H. Clemen in â€Å"Imagery in Hamlet Reveals Character and Theme† describes the pervasive influence which the Ghost’s words have on the entire play: Perusing the description which the ghost of Hamlet’s father gives of his poisoning by Claudius, one cannot help being struck by the vividness with which the process of poisoning, the malicious spreading of the disease, is portrayed: Sleeping within my orchard, My custom always of the afternoon, Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial, And in the porches of my ears did pour The leperous distilment; whose effect Holds such an enmity with blood of man That swift as quicksilver it courses through The natural gates and alleys of the body, And with a sudden vigour doth posset And curd, like eager droppings into milk, The thin and wholesome blood: so did it mine; And a most instant tetter barkd about, Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust, All my smooth body. (1.5) A real event described at the beginning of the drama has exercised a profound influence upon the whole imagery of the play. What is later metaphor is here still reality. The picture of the leprous skin disease, which is here – in the first act –Show MoreRelatedSupernatural in Hamlet754 Words   |  4 Pagesstrong belief in the existence of the supernatural. Thus, the supernatural is a recurring aspect in many of Shakespeares plays. In two such plays, Hamlet and Macbeth, the supernatural is an integral part of the structure of the plot. It provides a catalyst for action, an insight into character, and augments the impact of many key scenes. The supernatural appears to the audience in many varied forms. In Hamlet, the most notable form of the supernatural that appears is the ghost. However, inRead More The Supernatural in Hamlet and Macbeth Essays1047 Words   |  5 PagesThe Supernatural in Hamlet and Macbeth  Ã‚        Ã‚   In both Hamlet and Macbeth, the supernatural plays a very important role. Supernatural elements are crucial to the plot and they also have a more thematic part as well. Shakespeare presents the ghost in Hamlet, and the witches and ghost in Macbeth, as disrupting elements that not only enhance drama, but also tear apart the existing order of things. They force the title character of each play to undergo their own internal struggle that grows fromRead MoreThe Supernatural Element in Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay1130 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare’s many plays is the supernatural element, to which Hamlet , with the presence of a ghost, is no exception. The story of Hamlet, the young prince of Denmark, is one of tragedy, revenge, deception, and ghosts. Shakespeare’s use of the supernatural element helps give a definition to the play by being the catalyst of the tragedy that brings upon Hamlet’s untimely demise. The ghost that appears at the beginning of the play could possibly be a satanic figure that causes Hamlet to engage in the terribleRead More Comparing the Supernatural in William Shakespeares Hamlet and Macbeth 921 Words   |  4 PagesComparing the Supernatural in William Shakespeares Hamlet and Macbeth  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   In the time of William Shakespeare there was a strong belief in the existence of the supernatural. Therefore, the supernatural is a recurring theme in many of Shakespeares plays. In two such plays, Hamlet and Macbeth, the supernatural is an integral part of the structure of the plot. It provides a catalyst for action, an insight into character, and an augmentation of the impact of many key scenes. TheRead MoreThe Use of Supernatural Elements in Shakespeares Hamlet and Kyds the Spanish Tragedy1181 Words   |  5 PagesDiscuss the usage and effects that the supernatural elements have in both Kyds `The Spanish Tragedy and Shakespeares Hamlet. Ghosts or supernatural beings feature both in The Spanish Tragedy, written by Thomas Kyd, in 1587, and in Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, in 1601. Ghosts and the supernatural `remind the characters and the audience of the constraints the past places on the present, and also the obligations the living bear to the departed . There were many superstitions surroundingRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet And Macbeth1015 Words   |  5 PagesThe use of supernatural has always been a popular yet successful choice of film makers and writers. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Macbeth, the ghost imitates the feelings of the protagonists for the audience as well. Shakespeare’s tragedies include supernatural in order to catch inter est of a reader which consists heroes with desires of the supernatural ending up in a tragedy. Through their use of ghost and the supernatural, we can see the similarities and differences of the plays that will help effectivelyRead MoreShakespeare’s the Tempest, Hamlet, and Macbeth Essay1607 Words   |  7 Pagesof Magic in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Hamlet, and Macbeth   Ã‚  Ã‚   Like many other themes, magic and supernatural elements play a large role in many of Shakespeare’s works.   The use of magic interests the audience, plays to the imagination, and adds dramatic intrigue to the story, even when the rest of the plot is comprised of believable events.   These themes are most prominent in The Tempest, Hamlet, and Macbeth.   In each of these plays, magic and supernatural occurrences not only play a large roleRead MoreMacbeth, By William Shakespeare1725 Words   |  7 PagesIn Shakespeare s time, supernatural entities, such as witches or ghosts, were to be feared. It was a point in history of extremely superstitious people, where women were burned at the stake for being accused of using magic. At odds with the beliefs of his time, Shakespeare uses the supernatural in a very logical way, providing a glimpse into his characters unique dispositions through the use of witches, ghosts, or magic to represent their internal thoughts and struggles. Each play deals with corruptionRead MoreHamlet, A Tragic Hero1003 Words   |  5 PagesHero’s are defined by the actions they take, but they either live to see there fall or die heroically. One of shakespheres most memorable tragic hero’s Hamlet is the definition of a tragic hero. In the book, Hamlet, Shakespeare’s character hamlet is determined on killing his uncle the king. This goal proves to be challenging to him due to his morals. He often struggles with this throughout the book. This proves to be his downfall for not deciding to kill the king until the very end. A tragic heroRead MoreInsanity In Hamlet Essay975 Words   |  4 PagesQuestioning the Sanity of Hamlet In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet’s sanity is questionable throughout the play. Insanity is defined as the â€Å"unsoundness of mind or lack of the ability to understand† (Merriam-Webster). In the play, Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, is murdered by Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, in secrecy. To make matter’s worse, Claudius then continues on to get married in an inscetuous relationship with Hamlet’s mother, the queen. Emotions are heightened when Hamlet then see’s a ghost that

Essay On Song Of Solomon - 1213 Words

Topic 1 SONG OF SOLOMON PERIOD 1 |Ap Literature Nancy Guevara Growing up is a journey, to be specific it s a journey in a maze. We go around in different directions in hopes to find out who we indeed are. Left to right in every direction we run into things that change our mindset and by the end of the maze, we are entirely different people. Most mazes have doors; open one door new beginning, shut another end of that chapter. Specific events in life alter our young minds, and we tend to grow from these experiences. Personal and social encounters come our way and turn us into adults. Milkman in the novel Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison goes through various incitements and awakenings that force him to change his ways and enhance his†¦show more content†¦From the start narrow-minded. Even before his life journey also started Milkman those who were supposed to love him unconditionally tried to end him. Milkman s father was that person; Macon dead was jealous of both his wife s father and his unborn son. I know he never told you that he killed my father and that he tried to kill you. (Morrison 124). Milkman s mother Ruth told him the truth about his father, the man he was supposed to look up to and cherish. When his mother told him that his father tried to make her abort him, he was told that his aunt Pilate was the reason why he was alive. Pilate was the one who brought you here in the first place ... Pilate? ... Milkman was coming awake (Morrison 124). The moment in which he found out that his aunt was the reason for his existence was an end to what he felt against his aunt and a beginning. Milkman was starting to become less narrow-minded, he was beginning to leave his child like ways of thinking and started to noticed things and acted in them. Finding out that his aunt saved him made him realize that Pilate was the catalyst in his life. That his aunt someone who his father despised so very much was someone who helps give Milkman a chance in life. As the door that leads to his existing relationship with his father closed another opened; the one that further enhanced theShow MoreRelatedEssay On Song Of Solomon1421 Words   |  6 Pagesit is not always a good thing. As an adolescent, that bliss works to your advantage, but as a person gets older it only hinders your growth. Most times one does not know that they have remained stagnant until it has become known. In the novel Song of Solomon, by Tori Morrison, Milkman was unaware of his current state until it was made known to him.As a result, he unconsciously came of age through inner and external revelations. Milkman grew up in a somewhat sheltered or controlled environment whereRead More Essay on Flight in Song of Solomon1579 Words   |  7 PagesTheme of Flight in Song of Solomon    Clearly, the significant silences and the stunning absences throughout Morrisons texts become profoundly political as well as stylistically crucial. Morrison describes her own work as containing holes and spaces so the reader can come into it (Tate 125), testament to her rejection of theories that privilege j the author over the reader. Morrison disdains such hierarchies in which the reader as participant in the text is ignored: My writing expects, demandsRead More Essay on Flight in Song of Solomon1001 Words   |  5 PagesThe Importance of Flight in Song of Solomon   Ã‚  Ã‚   Flight is a major theme in Toni Morrisons Song of Solomon. â€Å"Flight echoes throughout the story as a reward, as a hoped-for skill, as an escape, and as proof of intrinsic worth; however, by the end this is not so clear a proposition†(Lubiano 96). Song of Solomon ends with ‘flight’ but in such a way that the act allows for multiple interpretations: suicide; real flight and then a wheeling attack on his brother; or real flight and then someRead MoreSong of Solomon Essay1068 Words   |  5 PagesToni Morrison’s novel, Song of Solomon, encompasses many themes that were prevalent in the other novels written in the same time period. Morrison produced this novel in 1977 just as racial issues and discrimination were at its peaks. â€Å"She [Morrison] was the first African American to receive the Noble Prize in Literature.† (Milliman 5) However, the setting of the story is in the 1930s when World War II was taking place. The novel is based o n an African-American family residing in Michigan who areRead More Song Of Solomon Essay856 Words   |  4 Pages The novel Song of Solomon has several recurring themes, including that of sexuality. Morrison effectively demonstrates these sexual themes relating to both sexes. Unlike in her other novels, both the men and women are â€Å"searching for love, for valid sexual encounters, and above all, for a sense that they are worthy.†(Bakerman 318) While Song of Solomon gives men a more prominent place, Morrison also shows the desires of women to break away from established society and to create an individualisticRead MoreEssay On Song Of Solomon1576 Words   |  7 Pages LAP TOPIC 2 Song of Solomon By Toni Morrison AP Literature/ Period 3 Mr.Amoroso Emily Padilla Padilla 1 In a stressful or unfamiliar atmosphere the human responds with a fight or flight tactic. When people refer to a black man the stereotype regarding fight or flight is that they lean towards to flight. Conceptually, flight is if one is trying to escape complication, but it may not be that way in some cases. When facing dogged people the best you can do sometimes is just vacateRead MoreEssay on The Song of Solomon2983 Words   |  12 Pages Book Title Song of Solomon Author Toni Morrison Summary The first black boy ever born in Mercy Hospital in a town in Michigan comes into the world the day after an insurance agent named Robert Smith kills himself by trying to â€Å"fly† from the roof of the hospital across Lake Superior. The boys mother, Ruth, nurses him until he is eight or nine years old, thus earning him the ridiculous nickname Milkman. Milkman befriends an older boy named Guitar, visits his Aunt Pilate, and falls in love withRead MoreEssay On Song Of Solomon966 Words   |  4 Pagesthe beautiful bird drew the attention of everyone nearby. The strut of the bird added to its aura, making it seem like it was talking in slow motion. There was a pause and the bird tried to flap its wings and fly, but was rooted to the ground. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, is a coming of age story following the life of Milkman Dead, who grows up in a wealthy household in a poor black community. Milkman lives in a bubble of isolation, which ultimately causes him to venture off and leave his homeRead MoreSong Of Solomon Essay1834 Words   |  8 Pages Song Of Solomon Author: Toni Morrison LAP Topic #3 Written by: Jason Gutierrez Humanities greatest unsolvable conflict, where man is subjected to the blindfold of ignorance. Where a black man isn’t perceived, but only an object is seen. Racism is the pinnacle of self hatred. Having to put down another man due to his own skin color because you are afraid. Afraid that you are not above someone else, afraid of revolution, afraid of having a black man standing beside you. Man goes through life havingRead More Essay on Spirituality in Song of Solomon894 Words   |  4 PagesInclusive Spirituality in Song of Solomon    When slaves were brought to America they were taken from all they had known and forced to live in a land of dark irony that, while promising life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, provided them with only misery. In a situation such as the one in which the slaves found themselves, many people would rely on their religion to help them survive. But would slaves be able to find spiritual comfort within the parameters of a religion that had been passed

Social Media and Social Change Free Essays

string(88) " by themselves and have passed this on by word of mouth† \(Cohen Stone 2\)\." Social Media and Social Change: A Closer Look at the Revolutionary Qualities of Social Media In Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, Marshall McLuhan coined the phrase, â€Å"the medium is the message† (McLuhan). McLuhan suggests that messages are greatly affected by the medium in which they are delivered. Messages must be received in the proper channel to create social change. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Media and Social Change or any similar topic only for you Order Now On July 21, 1969, the American astronaut Neil Armstrong created history when he sent his message to 3. 31 billion people via radio and television, â€Å"That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind†. Forty years later another astronaut created history by sending the first tweet from outer space, â€Å"Launch was awesome!!! I am feeling great, working hard, and enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun! â€Å"(AP). While many people see online activity on social media sites as a past-time, a growing trend and even a fad, it is actually the biggest key player in creating social change. This is why NASA has more Twitter accounts than any federal agency. The biggest reason NASA has been extremely keen about adopting social media is because of the collapse of interest in space programs, said the NASA chief of public affairs Bob Jacobs. NASA also has plans to incorporate YouTube on their next shuttle flight to field questions from space (AP). The message is clear, NASA looks to generate more interest in space programs or to create social change and they look to social media tools to help them. We are in the midst of a communicative revolution fuelled by social media and driven by the masses. Social media possesses the intrinsic power to change the world even in the most marginal of ways. A closer look at the ability social media has to generate dialogue, its ability to change perception and persuade, and its ability to connect and unite the masses democratically, will demonstrate the power that social media possesses to enable a revolution. It will demonstrate a profound shift in the way that we communicate and denounce social media as a current fad or passing trend. Many people credit the television for its ability to deliver a high quality message. In fact it would be extremely hard to misunderstand a message delivered through such a high sensory communicative channel. Social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter have been criticized for its â€Å"dumbing down† qualities. In Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes our Future, Mark Bauerlein suggests that Generation Y, that is – a generation of youth born in the late 1970’s to the late 1990’s – spend wasteful hours on social networking sites posting useless updates and sending mundane messages (Bauerlein 12). But the Harvard Law professor Jonathan Zittrain reminds us that â€Å"the qualities that make Twitter seem inane and half-baked are what makes it so powerful† (qtd in Cohen). It is the same qualities that give social media a high quality communication channel for inspiring social movements amongst participants. Participants of social media are often required to create accounts or profiles and as a result participants are left with a sense of community. Because all content on social media sites are user-generated, any information or message posted on a given site is automatically received as word of mouth dialogue and this is the powerful nature of social media. It is important to note that dialogue is unrestricted to mediums. It can occur via face to face interaction, by telephone, by email or even a social media site such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or MySpace. Danah Boyd suggests that comments in a world of social media act as conversation in the real world (Boyd 124). Her compelling article, Why Youth Love Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life argues that profiles, friends and comments â€Å"differentiate social network sites differentiate from other types of computermediated communication† (124). Boyd explains that comments are what engage and encourage users to participate and when they do they become participants (127). In Sociability and social interaction on social networking websites, Andrew Keenan and Ali Shiri identify the emphasis social media outlets place on transferring your existing â€Å"real world† experiences, connections, networks and information to the web and making them accessible (Keenan Shiri 443). Naturally users are inclined to do the opposite. Any dialogue generated online is not limited to or even discouraged from entering the real world. What Boyd, Keenan and Shiri remind us is that social media sites are not only encouraging us to socialize on their sites, they are encouraging us to participate and to socialize in the real world. In The Power of Dialogue, Patrick Jenlink highlights the contributions dialogue makes in creating social change: The primary challenge to global society, as we pass the threshold of a new millennium, is to transform existing social systems, and therefore American society, in such ways as to embody a more inclusive, democratic, and open-ended communicative spirit. Necessary to this transformation is a social discourse that enables the power and potential of global citizens to be realized. Dialogue is such a discourse that enables citizens in unconcealing societal patterns and structures, which guide and direct individual and collective interactions within and across events and activities. Engaging in dialogue, as a social discourse of creative possibility, with others in our daily lives can contribute to change in our selves and society (Jenlink 1). One example of social media’s ability to use dialogue to create social change is the recent use of Twitter to coordinate protests. The Iranian government’s attempts to restrict and censor media outlets was challenged by citizens that used Twitter to spread the word about the Iranian Election (Cohen Stone 2). When the Chinese government censored citizens from accessing the internet the Global Internet Freedom Consortium provided Chinese movements with software that helped evade censorship. When asked about the increase of traffic from Iran, the founder of the organization suggested that â€Å"the Iranian people actually found out by themselves and have passed this on by word of mouth† (Cohen Stone 2). You read "Social Media and Social Change" in category "Papers" Furthermore, Zittrain suggests that â€Å"Twitter was particularly resilient to censorship because it had so many ways for its posts to originate – from a phone, a web browser or specialized applications – and so many outlets for those posts to appear† (qtd in Cohen Stone). Similarly, word of mouth messages are difficult to avoid because they can be delivered from so many places – a neighbour, a teacher, a coworker, a classmate or even an astronaut. In short, the intrinsic nature of social media sites to turn user generated content into word of mouth information, that is – unrestrictive dialogue – allows for users to spread messages quickly and effectively. Social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace have not only given us a way in which we can converse, they have given us a space in which conversation and dialogue can start and continue to grow. When John E. Kennedy first tried to define advertising in 1904 he did so with three simple words, â€Å"salesmanship on paper† (O’Reilly). While he might rework this phrase, first to include all forms of advertising media and then to comment on some form of social change; he would certainly be forced to include social media tools such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter as they have changed the way in which we choose to communicate. When considering social change it is imperative to consider advertising. The first step to creating social change on any level is to change public perception and there is no other industry known more for changing perception than the advertising industry. It is best explained by notorious ad man who persuaded millions to watch MTV and wear Tommy Hilfiger, George Lois who said, â€Å"Great advertising can make food taste better, can make your car run smoother. It can change your perception of something. Is it wrong to change your perception about something? Of course not. I’m not lying; I’m just saying, ‘This one’s more fun, this one’s more exciting. ‘† The advertising industry is typically always the first one to recognize the capability of digital technologies to create social change. This is why Katalyst Media, a media agency dedicated to producing content on social media has more campaigns than they can handle. The founder and CEO of Katalyst Media, Ashton Kutcher uses social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to send his message and to persuade others to join his causes. It started with a message to promote World Malaria Day that read â€Å"Every 30 seconds, a kid dies of malaria. Nets save lives. $10 buys a net† and was followed by a link to Malaria No More’s web site where people could donate (Macsai Wilson 80). The celebrity’s tweet persuaded millions to join and the donation website had more traffic in one month than it did the previous twelve (80). Kutcher was able to tally nearly 90,000 nets in a very short time. What Kutcher did was raise awareness to a cause and by taking advantage of the most popular space in modern times to have a conversation he created action. Another celebrity to cash in on free advertising, that is – the process of attracting public attention to a product, business or cause through multiple forms of media with the ultimate goal of delivering a message to create action – is Bill Cosby. Cosby recently held a virtual town hall to discuss issues that face the African-American Community and to promote this town hall he advertised his message on social media sites, Facebook and Twitter (Hein). Cosby launched his ad campaign in a few simple words, â€Å"Our children are trying to tell us something, but we are not listening† followed by a link to Ustream – a website that streams footage live alongside a comments box where the streamer can read at the same time. Cosby was capable of generating 1. 3 million views which set a record behind President Obama’s inaugural address (Hein). Similarly, companies are taking advantage of social media sites by gathering positive word of mouth dialogue to create a social change, that is – a higher demand and positive brand relationship with consumers (Schmitt). Companies like Nike, Red Bull and Samsun all have their own Twitter and Facebook pages where consumers post reviews and experiences with relative products. In The Last Campaign: How Experiences Are Becoming the New Advertising, Garrick Schmitt highlights the increasing awareness that companies have for social media (Schmitt). He also argues that companies unwilling to adapt are unlikely to survive (Schmitt). The ability that social media has to change perception is largely fuelled by its ability to generate dialogue in a public space. In creating a public space social media sites provide a space where the masses can rule, even if the masses are as marginal as a group of chess players. In Explaining Why Young Adults Use MySpace and Facebook Through Uses and Gratifications Theory, Mark Urista, Qingwen Dong and Ken Day assert that â€Å"the uniqueness of social networking sites is not in their ability to allow individuals to meet strangers but rather their ability to enable users to shape and make their social networks visible to others (Urista et al. 17). Because social networks are visible to the public it is easy to find the best or most popular product. Persuasion and the changing of perceptions becomes easy when 500,000 people think the same way you do. This is why Bill Cosby was capable of generating 1. 3 million hits when he only had 650,000 Twitter followers and 26,000 fans on Face book. In short, social media sites present users and companies with a platform for persuasion through a visibly public space. Effective companies and social change movements relish critical feedback via social media and used correctly can persuade the masses to take part of revolutionary change. Perhaps the most powerful quality that social media possesses is the ability to connect, unite and democratize traditional forms of communication. All of which help to generate social change albeit unintentionally. The most recognizable form of social media’s ability to democratize and unite can be found in its language. Twitter for example opened up its ever evolving language to its users. Tweets is a term that refers to a Twitter post. the letters RT is a negotiated term amongst all users that stands for Retweet which means to forward, like an email or repost. As more and more uses are found for social media sites such as Twitter, the language evolves. For example, Tweet-Up is a recently added term that refers to a real-world meeting of people who connected via Twitter (Wired). Another way in which social media acts as a democratic force is its ability to give power to the masses. User-generated content certainly adds to the democratic nature of social media sites because the content on them can become important or redundant but it is up to participants and users to decide. When something becomes popular often times groups will be started and streams of meta data are collected and grouped to provide easy access. In Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business , Erik Qualman suggests that â€Å"human beings have the dichotomous physiological need to be our own individual, yet we also want to feel like we belong to and are accepted by a much larger social set. People are willing to have an ‘open diary’ as a means to stay connected – as their ultimate desire is to feel connected† (Qualman 43). This idea suggests that we are rewarded for participating so a simple call to action is in fact rewarding: Part of this lies in a yearning to have a clear understanding of what the majority is ding. It was much easier to know what the majority was doing when all on had to do was tune into Casey Kasem’s â€Å"American Top 40† to find out the latest and greatest in music or to flip through â€Å"Vogue† magazine to quickly grasp ever fashion trend. â€Å"Social media help us make sense of information overload by quickly seeing what our friends find important, helpful or interesting. It also helps eliminate people performing he same tasks – if three of your friends have already performed the task (finding a good hotel in Bermuda), why should you be redundant? (Qualman). Danah Boyd also highlights social media outlets call to participate as a reward (Boyd 126). Social Media makes participation in social movements rewarding and democratic. Participation in soci al media allows users to connect and unite as the public platform used by social media sites makes it easy for users to connect and to participate with others. These qualities are the underlying reasons surrounding the profound shift in the way that we choose to communicate. Social media has become the biggest change to our society since the industrial revolution (Qualman). Qualman states the following statistics while arguing his case for social media revolution: 96% of Generation Y have joined a social media network, is the number one activity on the internet today, 1 out of 8 couples married in the US last year met via social media, it took the radio 38 years to reach 50 million users, the television took 13 years, the internet took 4 years, the iPod took 3 years, Facebook added 100 million users in less than 9 months (Qualman 2). Along with it are the intrinsic qualities social media carries with it, that is ability to generate dialogue, to change perception and persuade, and its ability to connect and unite the masses democratically. The social media revolution is incipient and inchoate. The creation of every new medium brings with it a learning curve and as its strengths are developed and its language invented, social change will be one of its many uses. How to cite Social Media and Social Change, Papers

Sound Progressexxon valdez 5 pgs Essay Example For Students

Sound Progressexxon valdez 5 pgs Essay The Exxon Valdez oil spill in the Prince William Sound of Alaska proved to be a disaster on many levels. The coastline, wildlife, and people of the all area were all devastated by the spill. Ten years later, the area is showing remarkable progress. Because of the cleanup efforts and new regulations, the Sound is getting ever closer to recovery. A few minutes after midnight on March 24, 1989, the T/V Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound. A few minutes later the coast guard received a radio message from the ships captain, Joseph Hazelwood: Weve fetched up ah hard aground north of Goose Island off Bligh Reef, and ah evidently leaking some oil. Were going to be here for a while.(Knickerbocker, Big Spill 12) That radio call was the beginning of the worst oil spill in United States history. The some oil that Hazelwood was referring to ended up being an estimated 11 million gallons of crude oil. The oil covered nearly 1,300 miles of shoreline and eventually reached beaches 470 miles away. (McAllister C14).At the time of the spill, officials had no immediate plan for cleaning up the oil. The spill struck in a remote part of a state where the population of caribou easily outnumbers people. Spokesman for the Govoners office David Ramseur agreed. You need a lot of people and a lot of equipment, and we dont ha ve enough.(McAllister C14) At the time, that statement was sadly true. The area just wasnt prepared to handle a spill of that magnitude. Other than the coastline, the spill also effected the local residents of the area, primarily the regions wildlife. The spill ultimately killed more than 250,000 seabirds, at least 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 150 bald eagles, and 14 to 22 killer whales, along with billions of herring eggs. (number6) This proved to be equally detrimental to the 7,200 human residents of Southern Alaska. The fishing port at Cordova was the nations seventh most lucrative fishing harbor the year before the spill. It averaged $44 million in revenue each year. Four years after the spill in 1993, it slipped to number 51 with earnings down $19 million from 1988. The city also faced other severe losses. A former mayor committed suicide, and the city has gone through six mental health directors. (Murphy E1) Clean up efforts were almost as massive as the spill itself. D uring most of 1989, the focus of the project was containing and cleaning up the spill and rescuing oiled wildlife. Specially rigged boats called Skimmers were used to remove the oil from the water. Containment buoys called boons were set up to prevent the oil from reaching the salmon hatcheries that were an essential part of the areas economy. (Opdyke B1) Efforts including thousands of workers and a fleet of private fishing vessels worked admittedly to clean up the spill. After the initial clean up in 1989, there was still a lot of work to be done. In 1990, the shoreline was once again evaluated and a special technique called bioremediation (applying fertilizers to oiled shoreline to speed up oil-metabolizing microbes) was used on the sections of the sound where oil still remained. (Opdyke B1)All told, the spill proved to be the most costly in history. In addition to the 2.2 billion dollars it had to spend on the cleanup, Exxon was now faced with thousands upon thousands of civil la w suits. A settlement reached between Exxon and federal and state governments cost the corporation nearly a billion dollars. In September of 1994, a jury found in favor of 40,000 people, including commercial fishermen, and other Alaskan residents, and awarded them 5.3 billion dollars in damages. (Rueters F8) According to Exxon lawyer John Daum, The award is 200 times the largest award ever affirmed by any federal court anywhere. .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a , .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a .postImageUrl , .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a , .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a:hover , .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a:visited , .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a:active { border:0!important; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a:active , .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5ecb79ea8ad7cfbbeed5f3e0d228505a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: danimals Essay All of this money presented a new question, how to spend it? Legal mandates made sure that the billion-dollar settlement would be spent on projects related to the recovery of the region. The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council (EVOSTC) had the job of doing just that. The EVOSTC decided to spend the money on the acquisition of threatened habitat along the Prince William Sound to protect it from logging and other developments. Other EVOSTC projects include scientific studies, continued shoreline cleanup and educational projects. (Reuters F8)Today the sound has made drastic improvements from its devastated state in 1989.Almost of the wildlife species effected by the spill have completely recovered, and another is nearing complete recovery. (Murphy E1) Hatchery fish have recovered to about 87% of their numbers before the spill.Frank Sparow, Exxons vice president for environment and safety feels confident in the recovery, not only by the wildlife but also by the inhabitants of the regi on. . . . We did make every effort to compensate those people that were damaged . . . One of the very first things we did was to ask fishermen in Cordova Whats your annual fishing revenue? Theyd say X. And wed say, For a start, heres X. (Murphy E1) Along with the monetary compensation for fishermen, Exxon also set up job placement and training centers in Cordova. This was an extremely helpful tool, considering that the major industry in the city had been debilitated by the spill. Probably the most important thing to come out of the Exxon Valdez Spill, were the significant improvements that have been made in oil spill prevention and response planning. These programs include: satellite tracking of tankers in the area, escort vessels to aid in navigating the channel, legislation that requires a double-hull structures for all tankers that enter the sound; a step that would have likely reduced the amount of water that spilled from the Valdez by . (Richards B1) The one thing that official s in Prince William Sound will never be criticized for will be their lack of preparation. Today, there are contingency plans for oil spills in the sound that include a scenario for a spill of 12.6 million gallons. The combined ability of skimming systems to remove oil from the water is now 10 times greater than it was in 1989. Supplies and vessels for cleaning up oil are now stockpiled and drills are held in the sound each year. (Richards B1) We have an extremely safe system here feels Vince Mitchell, vessel operations team leader for the Ship Escort/Response Vessel System. Its been a continuos improvement process. . . Were really focusing on prevention. Thats where the real benefit is. (Knickerbocker, Preventing 12)Prince William Sound will never be returned to the way it was before the spill. But things are moving in the right direction. With the money received from settlements, the wildlife, inhabitants, and environment are on a steadfast track toward recovery. With money receive d through court settlements the EVOSTC has been able to protect 650,000 acres for wildlife habitat. (Knickerbocker, Preventing 12) Most importantly, the area has become aware of the fact that preparation is paramount in the protection of the sound. Through proper training and adequate response techniques, industry officials are now able to feel confident in their oil spill prevention measures. While it hasnt recovered yet, the sound is constantly improving and will some day soon regain its former grander.Bibliography:Works CitedKnickerbocker, Brad. Preventing Another Monster Oil Slick. ChristianScience Monitor: 23 March 1999: 12 Knickerbocker, Brad. The Big Spill. Christian Science Monitor: 22 March 1999: 12McAllister, Bill. Killer Spill. Washington Post: 25 March 1999: C14Murphy, Kim. Alaska Struggles to Recover, 10 Years After Exxon Valdez. LasAngeles Times: 20 March 1999: E1+Opdyke, Jeff. In The Wake Of Valdez. Wall Street Journal: 26 August 1999: B1Reuters, J. Exxon Spill Funds Spent Properly. Washington Post: 13 September1998: F8Richards, Bill. Exxon Is Battling a Ban on an Infamous Tanker. Wall StreetJournal: 29 July 1998: B1