Imigration Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Imigration Policy - Essay Example Yet, their policies towards immigration are surprisingly similar. Both candidates have shifted their policies from the polarizing liberal and conservative stance to a middle of the road approach in hopes of gaining a national consensus. One of the initial problems that needs to be addressed in the immigration issue is how to secure the border. There are additional questions of costs and departmental responsibilities for stopping the flow of illegal entry. Both candidates voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which calls for the construction of 700 miles of fence along the Mexican border (Carter et al.). While both candidates profess securing the border as a priority, McCain is more detailed in his planning. McCain has said that securing the border is the "first and foremost priority" (qtd. in Carter et al.). He has called for the Governors of border states to be the responsible party for certifying that the border is secure (McCain). However, the republican candidate makes no mention of how this would be enforced or what federal legislation would enact this requirement. Both candidates call for increasing the viability of the existing infrastructure as a means to enforce border security. McCain states that he will divert funding to US Attorney's offices, implement Homeland Security software and infrastructure, and deploy unmanned aerial drones to patrol the border (McCain). Obama's policy would "support additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at our ports of entry" (Obama and Biden 2). Obama and Biden additionally believe that we require "additional Customs and Border Protection agents equipped with better technology and real-time intelligence" (Obama and Biden 2). Neither candidate tells the public the cost of their programs nor how they would be funded. Public policy debates often become polarized on either right wing or left wing interests. In fact, conservatives have been critical of the traditional liberal policy positions on immigration. Newt Gingrich has stated, "The elites on the left oppose border control, oppose English as the official government language, want to find a way to allow everyone here illegally to stay, all while prohibiting illegal immigration in the future". Yet, these remarks made in January 2008 may only be indicative of how far the right has moved towards the center on immigration during this election year. The very positions that Gingrich criticizes are very similar to both the Obama and the McCain stances on these issues. McCain "Supports a path to legalization for illegal immigrants that includes learning English and paying fines" (qtd. in Carter et al.). Obama's policy states that he will "support a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens" (Obama). Both candidates "Co-Sponsored the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2007, which would allow states to give illegal immigrants in-state tuition for higher education and let the homeland security secretary confer legal resident status on some illegal immigrant students" (Carter et al.).Both policies are nearly identical and are in some agreement and some opposition to what Gingrich criti

Project Web Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Project Web - Essay Example Social networking indeed has changed our lives and we cannot deny this fact. People of all ages worldwide use Facebook to share with their friends of what’s going on in their lives; business people consider it as an official tool for business communication; politics use it as a public relations resource; and students forget doing their homework but they never forget to refresh their Facebook pages. Social networking has definitely changed people’s understanding of communicational standards. Event though communication has become much easier with appearance of social networks, still they also have caused a lot of social and personal problems for people. The very first thing that has a big influence on people’s lives with appearance of social networking is availability of other people for purposes of communication and quick access to their lives’ current events. From one side the opportunity to get to know either your acquaintances or unknown people better satisfies human curiosity about other people’s being. Still in some way social networks have encouraged people to strive to make their private lives as more public as it is possible. However, it seems like the tendency to disclose personal life is supposed to help people with low self-esteem to become more comfortable with socialization. Still psychological researches on people with low self-esteem showed that usage of Facebook makes them feel even more uncomfortable and miserable for many reasons such as seeing somebody else’s success or receiving unpleasant feedbacks from other users of social network services (Forest & Wood 595). First of all, the co nsequence of revelation of private life makes people unconsciously compete with each other on a matter whose life is better, so they often tend to show not exactly what is really going on in their lives but what they want others to know about their lives. This frequently multiplies fake personalities and dishonesty in human communication. Another

Art Deco and fashion

Art Deco and fashion ‘Fashion Signifies a change of time, a cultural turn, and (wo)men’s roles in a society.’ [Choose a period of time in history and use examples to discuss this statement. You can focus on a specific society in your discussion.] The Art Deco Movement and the influence of France on how it effected womens fashion during the early 20th century. Introduction Throughout history the field of fashion has gone through many changes which has been shown in society. This essay will explore the above statement and will be done by focussing in at a particular period of time which is the beginning of the twentieth century, just after the first World War. For this discussion the role of the Art Deco movement and the influence of France will be addressed to see whether fashion does in fact reflect changes in a society. This essay will begin by a brief overview of the Art Deco movement, exploring the influence of the Jazz Age, the impact of France and haute couture as well as World War Ones effect on the employment of women and see whether fashion reflected this new era. But first one needs to start by defining Art Deco. The Art Deco Movement Art Deco can be simply defined as a style ‘characterised by precise and boldly delineated geometric shapes and strong colours†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ OxfordDictionaries.com The Art Deco movement 1909-1939 was a period of time which pushed through new developments in architecture, film, photography as well as fashion and textiles. Its influence permeated throughout society promoting a new aspirational lifestyle. In addition to this, the Art Deco movement coincided with World War One which took place 1914-1918. The combination of the war and the rise of the Art Deco movement continued to prove favourable to the fashion industry as peoples attitudes were more open to change. The Influence of Haute Couture On Women One of the examples of the Art Deco movement effecting attire of women was via fashion illustration and as a result the clothing magazines were gaining in popularity as beautiful publications to look at. Furthermore, entering the twentieth century meant that women felt more empowered to embrace new styles, important in pushing the boundaries further in clothing design. Haute Couture was a style which reflected this — led by France. Haute Couture is an expensive, made to measure, hand made way of making garments. It gained attraction and popularity of upper class women due to the new appeal of the Parisian fashion houses. The Parisian designers transformed the fashion scene away from the nineteenth century by designing easy to move tailored garments. The Art Deco scene and Haute couture inadvertently caused women’s dress to undergo a further radical change. Women were finally able to leave behind the restricting corsets and petticoats, this meant they were able to dress in less time and not need a help of a maid thus becoming more independent. This was because the designers were making garments which where slimmer with narrower silhouettes as well as flatter busts. Fashion designer Paul Poiret is one prominent example of the first Parisian fashion designer who excelled in haute couture by creating slimmer dresses therefore leaving behind the corset. Lussier, author of the book, Art Deco Fashion, talks about a collection Paul Poiret created in the early 1900’s when art deco interior was in demand, Lussier described the collection as a ‘harmonious passage towards the straighter silhouettes’ and then goes on to say it was a ‘revolution to fashion’. At the beginning of the century, as women were becoming more confident and empowered, they began to participate more in sporting activities. This created an additional demand for practical easy to move garments. Parisian designers experimented with functional designs and cuts. In France, as in Europe, horse riding became popular and the races became social events which meant that the upper class customers took this opportunity wear these styles. Furthermore, french haute couture houses sent models to races showcasing their clothes. The combination of the Art Deco movement and haute couture both originating in France influenced the rest of Europe and parts of the world to cement its reputation as the style capital which meant all women felt compelled to copy. World War One As World War one began in 1914 it interrupted fashion and stopped it from being the main focus for women. Although, it is said that the economy at the time effects fashion perhaps the economic hardships of the war helped keep the androgynous style in. The iconic french fashion designer Coco Chanel began designing during the war creating tailored outfits and comfortable styles which linked with the simpler looks of practical work wear making it more acceptable. Her designs were a sign of the times as more women began working, taking over the jobs of men who went to fight. Before the war in France at the start of the 20th century women where already joining the work force however when the war took place ‘female employment grew by 20%’[Online] Available at: http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/womeninworldwar1/a/womenworkww1.htm [Accessed: 26 November 2014] As the Art Deco movement was a period of time which saw the great war, the war was a factor that brought significant changes to fashion when it ended. Women became competitive for jobs when men returned. They wanted to be noticed, therefore, they experimented with their appearance with the use of make up and hair styles. After the war, haute couture continued to rise due to the influence of French Vogue within it the promotion of the Parisian designers such as Coco Chanel, Jean Patou and Elsa Shiaparelli. These Parisian designers showcased casual easy movement sport clothing and ‘Chanel and Patou consistently championed the shorter length’ (Valerie , 19 pg, ). During the 1920’s, cosmetics and their new role in defining beauty, which Vogue encouraged, became all the rage amongst young women. The moon manicure was featured as something really daring and was quickly copied bringing nails to the focus like never before. Nail lacquer, mascara, and lipstick became popular ‘rouged lips, pencilled eyebrows and dangling ear-rings’ (Lanver, 1964, p12) To add to this they cut their hair which was also a dramatic change to women’s appearance, ‘The other thing that shocked elderly people was the zeal of the modern girl for cutting of her hair.’ This description was what consisted of the heavily made up look which was apart of the ‘flapper’ style which is going to be explored further below within the jazz age. The Jazz Age A new exciting music style of jazz which originated from America after the war which was quickly embraced by France and its Art Deco credentials in the twenties up to The Great Depression. This ‘Jazz Age’ added ‘a unique combination of exoticism and modernity, which was at the core of the art deco movement’ (Lussier, 2003, p1). At this time it was uncommon for women to wear short garments however the Jazz Age sparked a new age of young women where they adapted shorter lengths as well the heavily made up look. It marked a time for change for a new way of lifestyle which consisted of nightclubs, dance mania and general promiscuity. Although the Jazz Age stemmed from America it became popular within Europe due to it offering a new exciting way of life especially after the gloom of being in a war. The Jazz Age can be marked as the starting point for women socialising freely, a new trend for women emerged and they became known as the ‘Flappers’. The combination of the Jazz Age and the new styles of clothing coming from Haute Couture linked together to change women’s role in society. The unstructured shorter styles of dresses were perfect to the dancing styles they adopted such as the energetic ‘Charleston’ and the increased time required for socialising. Overall, there was a gene ral female emancipation. They ditched the elaborate up-do hairstyles and cut their hair short in blunt hair cuts. The notoriety of the flappers and their lifestyle transformed the idea of women into something modern that allowed them to be independent and have freedom. It was a dream that eventually trickled down to all woman at the time. Conclusion To conclude, the above statement is correct. It has been shown how fashion goes hand in hand with changes to circumstances in the society it is in. By focussing on one period of time and place — one can see how women’s fashion in the 20th century was affected by the Art Deco movement in the influence of forward thinking designers who took on the long thinner silhouettes reflecting the new interior and exterior trends emerging in France. It also addressed the need for women to move more freely particularly starting with the upper classes and the need for more women wanting to participate sporting activities. It in turn influenced corsetry doing away with the restrictive corsets. The unexpected turn of events of World War One allowed women to break away from the traditional role of a women by having to adopt the simpler and practical lines of the Haute Couture designs of dress which now became more mainstream to them. The Jazz Scene coming over from New York was embraced by France and resulted in the iconic Flappers who wore strong make up colours echoed in palates of Art Deco. Their shorter hairstyles and endorsement of the loose unstructured clothing had a knock one affect and was easily copied by the masses. By considering the above time period and looking over at the fashion at that time one can say that fashion does signify a change in time, women’s role and its culture. Bibliography http://www.slideshare.net/KateSimon/women-in-the-1920s-10247493 http://www.tfo.upm.es/docencia/ArtDeco/ArtDecoGen1.htm http://www.speak-fashion.de/fashion_history/1900to1920/fashion-history-haute-couture-era http://www.fashion-era.com/flapper_fashion_1920s.htm#1914 -18 Changes For Women https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Art_Deco.html http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/f/fashion-drawing-in-the-20th-century/ intro fashion illustration http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/003clothing.html http://www.haute-world.com/2009/10/vogue-covers-1920-2009-paris-france.html

WEARABLE COMPUTING :: Essays Papers

WEARABLE COMPUTING Wearable computing is the next step to the computer revolutionary world. At MIThril lab, they are working on a wearable computer. Like a sleeveless winter coat or a sweater, they are working toward they goal. With the complicated project, they don’t know the finishing line yet. But with every step the MIThril team takes, they freely document and post on the web for worldwide access. The name MIThril derives from the fictional classic The Hobbit and Lord of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien. As comfortable and unnoticeable as the Dwarves’ ring-mail tunic, MIThril’s team promises our gifted society the future clothes of electronic. The world exists where people no longer wear just clothes, but a person wears a watch or a shirt that is always functioning and require a minimum of the wearer’s attention. Laptops are no longer need because with wearable computer on him why needs of a lab top. MIThril’s vision of this project is to provide our gifted society with a better way to computing. Laptops are the thing of the past; wearable computer is the step to the future. Their main goal toward this futuristic project is to create a power computer, running Linux operating system, that is lightweight, unobtrusive, reliable, and always doing its job. The MIThril design is based on the use of one or more low power computing cores, each of which is capable or running a full-blown operating system. It is going to be there whenever a user needs. There is no need to carry a compatible, but a simple display vision on the user class. The military is looking forward to have a full combat package for their trained soldiers. The soldiers will have advantage with high tech in the field. MIThril task is to make a wearable computer as unnoticeable and light as possible. There are not kits for marketing, but an easy and clear document available to anyone who is willing to attempt of making one himself. This is a task that gets people to get involved and make a wearable computer to be worldwide.

Genetically Food Essay

An arguable statement about genetically engineered food being the means to end hunger around the world is gaining momentum as the population continues to increase and people continue to die of starvation. In the biotech world, what is known as agricultural biotechnology, supporters believe that this could guarantee and maintain food security for the hungry. On the other hand many people have concerns over consuming genetically engineered food. Many foods on the market today contain some part of GM (genetically modified) food. Approximately 85% of corn, 91% of soybeans, and 88% of cottonseed are genetically engineered which are used on food for human consumption. (http://truefoodnow. org/campaigns/genetically-engineered-foods/) The question remains on whether genetically engineered food safe? Various groups do not deem biotechnology as the answer to ending world hunger but they consider poverty to be the reason for the shortage of food worldwide. In order to discuss the possible advantages or disadvantages of genetically engineered food, it must be defined. Genetic Engineering as defined by Merriam-Webster is a group of applied techniques of genetics and biotechnology used to cut up and join together genetic material and especially DNA from one or more species of organism and to introduce the result into an organism in order to change one or more of its characteristics. The term Genetically Modified is commonly used term to describe food that has been modified in a laboratory to produce preferred traits such as resistance to pest and diseases, increased nutritional value, and much more. Farmers have been crossbreeding animals and plants for years to produce desired traits but this traditional form can be a lengthy process and not very accurate at times. Using a laboratory for genetic engineering not only can they yield the traits being sought after but can do it in a much faster rate and with more accuracy. In 2008, GM crops were planted on an estimated 308. 8 million acres worldwide, a year-over-year increase of 26. 4 million acres. (Turk & Bensel, 2011) There are currently 25 countries growing genetically engineered crops. (Turk & Bensel, 2011) In 1994 the first genetically engineered whole product, a tomato, went on the market. (Whitman) This not a new technology but people are becoming more aware of what they are in taking with their food. Supporters of GM food say that these foods pose no risk and are not different from conventional foods. As Tietel and Wilson stated in their book, Genetically Engineered Foods: Changing the Nature of Nature: What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Planet, would you want to be on a jetliner and open your morning paper as the plane is taking off see that they are just now doing test to determine whether or not the new model plane you are in is safe? Of course not, one would hope that all testing has been done prior to the plane being put into use. Our government, scientists, and researchers who support the concept are willing to allow genetically engineered food into our diets without sufficient testing being done to understand any long term effects. Numerous environmental groups feel that genetic engineering must be discarded due to the unknown effects they may have on humans. Some of the main arguments against GM foods are what environment hazards they may cause, the health risk to humans, and economic concerns. Genetically modified food is already present in some many food sources that we ingest; one would have to ask if there disadvantages to producing and utilizing genetically engineered food? Like anything else that is done there are hazards associated with the process and they must be addressed. The FDA set forth guidelines for testing to ensure the safety of bioengineered food. In 1994 they also established a consultation process to assist developers in meeting the safety standards set forth in their guidelines. (Bren, 2003) The problem many protestors of GM food see is that the consultation is not mandatory and is only on a volunteer basis. Nothing guarantees that all companies are using the volunteer process although the FDA believes they all are. A main safety concern involving genetically modified crops is the danger of introducing allergens and toxins into these foods. The news will report on huge jumps in childhood food allergies, but the reports fail to consider the link between the changes in America’s diet. (Smith, 2007) In the 1990s a study was done showing that people who were allergic to nuts had an allergic reaction to soybeans that had been altered using a protein found in Brazil Nuts. Some people have severe food allergies to nuts and reactions can be life threatening. The only way to conclusively test for allergies is by human consumption. Opponents of GM food state the people are being used as guinea pigs. (Smith, 2007) Incidents such as the allergic reactions to GM soybeans shows how vitally important it is to label products that have been engineered. Governments and factions that back genetically engineered foods don’t feel labeling are necessary because they say there is no significant difference between GM food and unmodified food. â€Å"If genetically modified food is going to be a success, we have to market it, not hide it,† said Elbert van Donkersgoed, executive director of the Christian Farmers’ Federation of Ontario. (Strathdee, 1999) Consumers have the right to be informed. Organic foods are labeled; beef that has been grass fed only and contains no hormones are labeled, as well as eggs that were produced by cage free chickens. Everything has a label saying what it is made of except when it comes to GM food. By not labeling GM products it makes it seem as if there is something to hide about them. Fears over what genetically modified crops may do to the environment have activist condemning corporations for putting profit over possible hazards. Herbicide-tolerant crops are designed to tolerate herbicides that are used to kill unwanted plants such as weeds but can also kill the crop. These types of are commonly known as Roundup ready because they are designed to resist Monsanto’s glyphosate herbicide, known as Roundup. (Turk & Bensel, 2011) The worries is that weeds will cross-breed with the Roundup ready crops and create a super weed that will be hard to kill. Now the weeds that died when treated with Roundup are now resistant just like the crops. Having super weeds would force companies to come up with different chemical compounds to combat the issue possibly causing new toxins to be released into the environment. Roundup ready seeds become useless and now farmers lose money because they can’t keep the weeds out of their crops. Not only do you worry about cross-breeding the possibility of cross-pollination can happen from one farmer’s field of GM crops to another farmer’s field of non GM crops. Farmers have been sued because companies feel slighted saying that GM seeds were used and they received no money from it. Moral questions are raised whether it is truly about the money are helping to produce better food sources? Along with herbicide-tolerant crops, you also have insect-resistant crops that have pesticides inserted to help with pest control. Just like with herbicide-tolerant crops, you run the risk of insects mutating and no longer being affected by the pesticide. DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) which was developed in the 1940s was used to fight insect-borne diseases such as malaria, typhus, and others that effected crops and animals as well. For awhile it was affective on mosquitoes but some species became immune to and rendering it ineffective. It was eventually banned due to be harmful to humans and the environment in the United States. Using crops that have pesticides in them we run the risk of pesticides becoming useless. Besides the health and environmental hazards, there are also economic concerns as well. Making genetically modified food is costly and lengthy process and agricultural companies are looking to make a profit. They patent their products and technologies so that no one can violate their rights and use them. Consumers worry about prices been driven up by the patents and farmers and poorer countries not being able to pay for them. With all these negative aspects that I have mentioned it no wonder that so many are against the use and genetically modified crops. Consumer advocates see that most companies seem to be in it for the financial gain and not to end world hunger. Not every aspect involving genetically modified crops is bad. They contain some very good attributes that may be able fix the supply and demand for food for the world’s growing population. Food would no longer be a scarce commodity and the supply could be increased to meet the demands of a growing population. The main advantages of bioengineered crops are the ability to incorporate pesticides and herbicides into the seed, being able to increase the nutritional value to better meets the needs of the impoverished, pharmaceutical purposes, cold and drought tolerance, and phytoremediation. Crop losses for farmers from insects can ravage them financially cause famine for third world countries. Due to the threat of insects farmers use a lot of chemicals to protect their crops. Chemicals have proven to be harmful to the environment, animals, and humans. Agricultural waste has polluted water ways and damaged some ecosystems beyond repair. Genetically modified crops with pesticides added into them reduces the need to spray large amounts of chemicals that pollute the air and water. Similar to crops altered with pesticides, herbicide-tolerant plants reduce the amount of herbicides used keep crops from being killed by them lessens the destructive outcome on the environment. Spraying herbicides is very time consuming and often will take multiple sprayings to be affective. Expenses associated with treating crops are reduced and agricultural waste is nearly eliminated. This transforms to savings for consumers and makes food more affordable for those living in poverty. Certain areas of the world are prone to drought while others may have unexpected frost. Scientist and developers have created an anti-freeze gene that will keep crops from dying off in during a cold snap. With climate change and weather becoming unpredictable this technology will benefit so many. In countries like Africa that dessert conditions farmers will be able to grow crops that are able to survive long periods without rain. States that receive snow and freezing temperatures as earlier as October will be able to yield crops after the first frost. Everyone has seen the commercials on of the starving children asking to you to give just thirty cents a day to help feed them. Children featured are malnourished and living off nothing more than rice and water. Where poverty is so far spread in underdeveloped countries and people’s diet only consist of a few items, they still lack the necessary nutrients that are needed for survival. Consequences of not getting a balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals will cause many to die or suffer other ailments that are preventable with vitamins and minerals such as blindness. What if the rice may possibly be altered to add in the vital missing vitamins and minerals? The nutritional value of the food could be enhanced to include beta-carotene which is vitamin A, that would fix the deficiency and keep people from going blind due to the lack there of this vitamin. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Institute for Plant Sciences have created a strain of â€Å"golden† rice containing an unusually high content of beta-carotene. (Whitman, 2000) There millions of people around the world in undeveloped countries and are impoverished and unable to afford life saving vaccines and medicines. Vaccines and medicine are costly to produce and sometimes require certain storage conditions which a lot of countries don’t have where the poor live. Scientists are growing plants that will produce anti-bodies to fight heart disease, cancer, and tooth decay. (Bren, 2003) Not only that, they are also experimenting with fruits and vegetables that contain vaccines. This would make them so much easier to ship, store, and administer compared to traditional ways. Countless lives may possibly be saved. Survival of the human race and the ending of pointless suffering is great advantage to biotechnology. Humans have caused so much pollution to the planet. Numerous ecosystems have been destroyed and thousands of species are now extinct. Phytoremediation is the altering of plants such as trees to help clean up heavy metal contamination from the soil. The roots would soak up contaminates and clean the soil so that it becomes viable once again. Pollution plagues society in almost everything we do. Biotechnology is the wave of the future. Advocates of GM food truly feel that the technological advances ought to be seen as beneficial and way to end global hunger and help the environment. Famine and malnourishment could be things of the past. Picture a world where everyone has enough food to eat, afforded medicines, and vaccines, and the environment is cleaner due to less chemicals being used. Scientist and researchers are always looking for ways to better the planet for the survival of mankind for generations to come. The issue arises is that there are still so many unknowns with genetically modified food. Further test need to be conducted to fully conclude that no long term effects exist and that is safe for humans and animals. The answer to world hunger is staring us in the face and through proper education we should not be afraid to use it. References http://www. epa. gov/pesticides http://www. merriam-webster. com http://truefoodnow. org/campaigns/genetically-engineered-foods/ Bren, L.(2003). Genetic Engineering: the Future of Foods? FDA Consumer; Nov/Dec 2003; 37, 6; Research Library Core pg. 28 Marshall, M. (2012). GM food: The Case For The defense. New Scientist, 216(2886), 8-9. Smith, J. (2007). Genetically Engineered Foods May Cause Rising Food Allergies—Genetically Engineered Soybeans Retrieved from http://www. responsibletechnology. org/gmo-dangers/health-risks Strathdee, M. (1999). Group demands mandatory labeling of genetically altered food. Canadian Press News Wire. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/359528626? accountid=32521 Thomas, L. Of, T. P. (2002). Genetically altered food creates labeling dilemma for the industry. St. Louis Post – Dispatch. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/402087128? accountid=32521 Teitel, M. , & Wilson, K. (1999). Genetically Engineered Foods : Changing the Nature of Nature: What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Planet. Park Street Press. Turk, J. , & Bensel, T. (2011). Contemporary environmental issues. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc Whitman, D. (2000). Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? Retrieved from http://www. csa. com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview. php.

After the Dance

Writing Topic: What point does Leo Tolstoy’s story â€Å"After the Dance† (pgs. 71-75) make about Russian society? What moments or details in the story help to convey this point? Explain in a carefully written essay, supporting your argument with evidence from the text. Tolstoy’s â€Å"After the Dance† is essentially a representation of Russian history and the exposition of a dark side to the seemingly regal atmosphere of the Russian aristocracy first introduced at the ball.Using literary elements such as symbolism and foreshadowing to reveal a hidden meaning, Tolstoy tells the story of Ivan Vasilievich’s first impression of the beautiful Varinka and how this impression changes after watching her father cruelly beat a Tartar for attempting to desert. Varinka is the first character we meet in Ivan’s flashback. Described as â€Å"stately† and an object of much admiration, she entrances Ivan, who dances with her for majority of the ball. After being promised a quadrille dance after supper, Ivan watches her dance with her father, the Colonel.Varinka is almost always associated with her father after being introduced, providing an unquestionable link between the two. Ivan’s first observation of the Colonel was that he was â€Å"that ultra-military type produced by the discipline of Emperor Nicolas I. † The Colonel’s first words, â€Å"Everything must be done according to rule,† also provides valuable insight as to what kind of person he is. He is introduced to the reader as an affable, aging man enjoying the ball with his daughter, Varinka.Upon watching him dance with her, Ivan feels â€Å"a sort of tenderness for him that was almost rapture,† which is a misled impression. Later on, he sees the procession in which a Tartar is being punished for attempting to desert. Not only does the Colonel walk beside the Tartar as he is receiving his punishment, but he also demands that the soldier strike him harder with the whip. In seeing this, Ivan’s whole view of him is changed from the friendly old man that offered to let him dance with his daughter into a cruel and unforgiving man that called for harsher punishment even when the Tartar was obviously already suffering.Varinka represents the envisioned goodness the Russian government uses to appeal to and garner support from the people. The object that initially seems to show the benefits of following the regime is really a cover for the militaristic way the government runs Russia. The same suede-gloved hand that held Varinka’s hand dancing the mazurka was the hand that struck the soldier for not whipping the Tartar to his satisfaction. They belonged to the Colonel, whose character is ultimately revealed to be militaristic and uncaring. With this event, Ivan also ties the Colonel and Varinka together.However, instead of being united through dancing, they are linked through the paternalism, power, and brutali ty of the Colonel. Ivan’s love for Varinka then began to wane and whenever he saw her, he would feel â€Å"awkward and uncomfortable†, leading him to see her less frequently, and eventually not at all. After beholding this public whipping, Ivan’s repulsion for the aristocratic attitude awakens and he rejects both the woman he loves, Varinka, and military service in Russia. In a similar manner, the harshness of the Russian government is shown to its citizens after the initial appeal.