Are Maya archaeologists justified in their condemnation of Gibsons Essay

Are Maya archaeologists justified in their condemnation of Gibsons movie Apocalypto - Essay Example However with the release of the film, there was created a huge controversy; with the native Americans, social activists, and various archaeologists working on Mayan civilization, protesting the representation of the Mayan people in this movie â€Å"as violent and depraved† (ibid). In his defense Mel Gibson had commented that this movie is not really historical, and uses the Mayan civilization as â€Å"merely the backdrop [that was required for representing] civilizations and what undermines them† (Johnson, 2005). In my article I will explore the controversy that started at the time of the release of the movie, and review the various commentaries and statements made by the archaeologists at this time about the inaccuracies that were evident in the movie. My article will also do a brief review of the movie, and study the Mayan civilization, to understand the misrepresentations that were supposedly made in this film. After exploring and analyzing the various facts and info rmation surrounding this controversy, I will finally come to a conclusion as to whether the Maya archaeologists are really justified in their condemnation of the movie Apocalypto. A brief review of the movie: The movie starts with the above given quote by Durant, allegorically referring to the fall of the Mayan empire at the hands of the Spaniards. Directed by Mel Gibson, this movie stars Rudy Youngblood as the male protagonist (whose screen name is Jaguar Paw), and it purportedly depicts the last phase of the Mayan civilization. The movie is set in the 16th century pre Columbian era; before the Spanish invasion had conquered and destroyed evidences of this ancient Native American civilization. At the start of the movie we find Jaguar Paw hunting in the forests along with his father Flint Sky (village head) and other members of his tribe. Here they meet a group of fleeing refugees, whose lands had been ravaged by their enemies, and their state of distress and fear leave a strong

Allegorical on the Bell Jar Essay Example for Free

Allegorical on the Bell Jar Essay Just as all roads lead back to home, the protagonist exhibits that everyone will eventually become manifestations of the society it is born within. In this excerpt, the author uses the strong allegory of the protagonist plummeting down the slopes and skiing towards the inevitable end of conforming towards mankind and society. Although the protagonist’s gender isn’t explicit, we can assume that it’s a girl due to its unambiguous sub theme of feminine repression. The author presents the protagonists struggle in two distinct parts: the struggle to conform and the inevitable realization and acceptance of her fate. The author is able to do skilfully do so with a myriad of literary devices and extremely significant allegories. In the beginning, the protagonist is still struggling against the implications of society and is unwilling to accept her fate. The monotony of her â€Å"pale† life is emphasized by the repetition alliteration of â€Å"hill after†¦hill† and â€Å"great grey eye†. This shows the boring reoccurrence in the protagonist’s life and is constantly being overshadowed and judged by the watchful eye of society. Additionally, the protagonist is having an internal battle with doing what she innately feels is right against becoming what she knows everyone else wants her to transform into. Therefore, she has an â€Å"interior voice† that is persistently â€Å"nagging† her â€Å"not to be a fool† and conform and lose herself and â€Å"save [her] skin†. Obviously, she has fought hard to persist as her authentic self and is bitter about giving up who she really is. She feels like she has lost her sense of self and is no longer an individual, but merely â€Å"camouflaged† amongst everyone else as a product of society. The long sentence structure in the second paragraph of the excerpt displays that there was a very long and meticulous thought process about her present situation. She is â€Å"bordering† on the edge of a life changing decision. She has to decide – should she â€Å"kill [her true] self†, or should she resist the temptations of society? She is representing man’s struggle against oneself – the hardest battle to. However, she finally overcomes her inner battles and comes to realize that it is in her best interest to abide to society’s expectations. Henceforth, she tries to â€Å"measure the distance† and calculate how much of herself she will have to lose in the process. Buddy is a representation of society and the word is also slang for friend. â€Å"His†¦folded† â€Å"arms† signifying his lack of approval and his natural masculine instinct to repress femininity. As a result, we can understand the extent upon which female repression has been engrained into society and social stigma. Such is the product of a society filled with conformists and a lack of individuality – â€Å"numb, brown†¦ inconsequential† and boring beings. The next paragraph accentuates her defeatist attitude as the excerpt inches to the climax of the plot and has resolved to finally conform to the ‘American dream’ and fit into the mould society cast for her. Inevitably, she â€Å"aim[s] straight down† as she realizes that despite her best efforts at resistance, it is all to no avail. Once again, the short sentence structure is the implicit sign of the distinct change of internal character into one that has finally decided to join and become a part of society. Subsequent to the protagonist’s â€Å"descen[t]† into society, she â€Å"plummet[s]† herself straight into the heart of the situation. Nevertheless, even though she has physically committed herself he is still mentally â€Å"suspended† and trapped between what she wants and who she is. As a result, she represses those thoughts from â€Å"r[ising] higher†. This is the pivotal point upon which she consigns herself to follow society’s expectations because she understands that without social rules and stigma, â€Å"the world would not exist† and be able to function properly. Her â€Å"answering point in†¦[her] body† instinctually gravitates â€Å"towards† following social norms because despite the struggle against it, everyone will eventually cave to the expectations of others. She has become â€Å"inflate[d]† by the â€Å"inrush† of the external pressures of being part of a society . She realizes that she is finally experiencing the typical emotions, even though she feels removed from the â€Å"smiles† and â€Å"what it is [supposed to feel like] to be happy†. In spite of that, she feels â€Å"doubleness† as if it is not really herself going through the motions – she doesn’t feel true to herself and who she really is but simply sees a reflection of her figure that she can no longer recognise. On her way â€Å"hurtling† down, she has flashes of her â€Å"own past† that â€Å"recede[s]† and she has to make a decision between the light of the â€Å"white sun† and the darkness of an endless â€Å"dark tunnel†. Ultimately, she focuses on the â€Å"bright point at the end† of the tunnel and becomes a small â€Å"pebble† in the â€Å"bottom of [a big] well†, which is an analogy to her small and insignificant self in a world filled with billions of people. Her metamorphosis is paralleled to that of a rebirth into her new life. She has chosen the light and she is being christened into her new life as an innocent â€Å"sweet baby† that is being reborn again from â€Å"it’s mother’s belly†. All throughout this process â€Å"Buddy† and the â€Å"other faces† of society watchfully gaze and â€Å"h[a]ng over† her to ensure complete control. Gradually, she is transformed by the â€Å"strokes of [a] grandmother’s wand† creating a fairytale element to her change. The â€Å"familiar voice† of her conscience reminds her that she was doing â€Å"fine† by herself until â€Å"man[kind] stepped into her path† and created the platonic change within her. Society has already taken it upon themselves to â€Å"unfasten [her] bindings† of her previous ‘life’ and releasing her of her previous sins of not conforming. The â€Å"lodge fence† that blocks her way is a symbol of the white picket fence, which is a representation of the American Dream. She is finally being trapped into society’s expectations of what she should become. Yet she is still treated as an outsider and isn’t trusted and treated like an enemy with a â€Å"concealed weapon†. In the end, the light triumphs the dark and society overcomes her. The rising of the white sun shining in the sky displays her birth and final decision to conform to society. Even though she tries to challenge and return to her old self, she is unable to escape. Not only is she restricted by society itself but herself as well. She is â€Å"stuck† as society now has full reign over her. Thus, society and lack of freedom prevail and it’s triumph is evident in the â€Å"final smile†. In conclusion, the excerpt uses skiing as an allegory for mankind’s eventual and inevitable decline into conformity towards the American dream. There is no place in society for people who do not follow social rules and expectations. The protagonist is assumed to be a woman due to the stigma of females repressed role in society. She begins with the struggle between light and dark and the battle between being true to oneself and taking the easier path and following the well-worn road that society has taken. Later on, she understands and realizes that it is inevitable and ultimately conforms. Not matter how hard we may try to contend society, it will always prevail and have the power to manipulate us.

Graduation 2001 :: essays research papers

First of all I would like to thank everyone for coming out tonight for the 2001 Palo Verde graduation. I am honored to be speaking in front of the class of 2001. I congratulate all the graduates on a job well done. Sitting here shows a great deal of work and dedication. Graduation is a time to remember the last four years at Palo Verde. Some of us have great memories that we will hold close to us and others may think about the struggles and hardships that we went through. But the point is that it’s over now right. Not really cause now we are going on our own. Their is not going to be that teacher that reminds that the paper is do tomorrow and that grades are coming out pretty soon so we need to get our grades up. We now need to look at what the future has in store for us. Its a serious time, a time to look at what path our lives are going to take once the caps and gowns are taken off. High school was an important step in our lives but it was only a step. So we must strive to educate ourselves and work to our best abilities to become strong individuals. But these struggles that we wen through will help us to be able to handle things in the real world. We all went through struggles and hardships but we all got to remember that someone went thro ugh more struggles than we did. I remember this friend that walked to school at 6:45 in the morning so that he could make it to Yearbook O period; while it was still dark outside. Then his junior year he got a job and to be able to make to work on time he would have to run from school to the mile away bus stop so that he would be able to get a car. And after saving his paychecks for four months he was able to get a car. I was proud of him for going through hardships and his family was proud too. On graduation night we all must remember the friendships that we had through the times. Even if they were bad or good we all can learn something from them. We can remember those friends that we’ve had since freshmen year and those friends that we just met but have become our best of friends. Graduation 2001 :: essays research papers First of all I would like to thank everyone for coming out tonight for the 2001 Palo Verde graduation. I am honored to be speaking in front of the class of 2001. I congratulate all the graduates on a job well done. Sitting here shows a great deal of work and dedication. Graduation is a time to remember the last four years at Palo Verde. Some of us have great memories that we will hold close to us and others may think about the struggles and hardships that we went through. But the point is that it’s over now right. Not really cause now we are going on our own. Their is not going to be that teacher that reminds that the paper is do tomorrow and that grades are coming out pretty soon so we need to get our grades up. We now need to look at what the future has in store for us. Its a serious time, a time to look at what path our lives are going to take once the caps and gowns are taken off. High school was an important step in our lives but it was only a step. So we must strive to educate ourselves and work to our best abilities to become strong individuals. But these struggles that we wen through will help us to be able to handle things in the real world. We all went through struggles and hardships but we all got to remember that someone went thro ugh more struggles than we did. I remember this friend that walked to school at 6:45 in the morning so that he could make it to Yearbook O period; while it was still dark outside. Then his junior year he got a job and to be able to make to work on time he would have to run from school to the mile away bus stop so that he would be able to get a car. And after saving his paychecks for four months he was able to get a car. I was proud of him for going through hardships and his family was proud too. On graduation night we all must remember the friendships that we had through the times. Even if they were bad or good we all can learn something from them. We can remember those friends that we’ve had since freshmen year and those friends that we just met but have become our best of friends.

Certainty and Doubt Essay Essay

William Lyon Phelps and Bertrant Russel have conflicting views regarding the importance of certainty and doubt. Phelps position is that having certainty in oneself allows you to accomplish impossible tasks. While Russel believes it is healthy to have a certain amount of doubt in oneself and that people should not only believe in any one philosophy. Both Russel and Phelps make good points on the relationship between doubt and certainty but a combination of the two would be the most helpful. You should always have certainty when it comes to your own capabilities, but doubt is useful when forming your own beliefs and when it comes to others beliefs. Having certainty in yourself is the only way to have the confidence and drive to reach your goals. You cannot be confident if you are not certain in what you believe in or what you are capable of achieving. This is true for most athletes or dancers. My dance coach always says that you have to go out on the floor with confidence, when you are confident you seem certain in what you are doing even if you do it wrong. This certainty and confidence can lead to personal success or a team’s success. It shows that the most powerful way to have confidence is to trust your capabilities and that you know what you are doing. Russell’s views on doubt will create a well-rounded view when added to this. Especially in science when doubt must be included at all times. Scientist and doctors have a hard time proving there theories or ideas true, they have to rewrite and improve these theories many times over even if they are right or leaning in the right direction. Doubt also allows someone to view issues or ideas through the eyes of others. When you think differently than someone it opens up a discussion that could lead to doubt on one side of the argument. Doubt allows you to think critically about situations and see all perspectives of a discussion or theory. When it comes to the relationship between certainty and doubt they are both equally important.

Emily Martin: The Egg and the Sperm Essay

It is human nature to place confidence into science because it is heavily researched and perceived as the truth. However, Emily Martin shows that the female role in the reproductive process is not thoroughly depicted. Martin said, â€Å"part of my goal in writing this article is to shine a bright light on the gender stereotypes hidden within the scientific language of biology. † This article demonstrates how the female role in the reproductive cycle is just as insistent, if not more, as the male’s role. Emily Martin proposes that science defines women as having a non-active and less significant role in the reproductive process. The role in which women play in the cycle of life is depicted through science as far more passive function than that of the male. The egg is seen as passive. It does not move and is transported along the fallopian tube. In contrast, sperm are seen as active. They deliver their genes to the egg and development starts. Martin quotes Gerald Schatten and Helen Schatten in that the egg acts as a Sleeping Beauty, â€Å"a dormant bride awaiting her mate’s magic kiss, which instills spirit that brings her to life†, while the sperm is on a â€Å"mission† to â€Å"move through the female genital tract in quest of the ovum. However, through recent research, scientist concluded that the egg performs several functions and is quite active itself in the reproductive process. Before this research it was thought that sperm were powerful penetrators capable of thrusting itself through the inner vestments of the egg. After much research, scientists in biophysics labs at Johns Hopkins University determined that the propelling force of the sperm is very weak, and that only through the adhesive molecules on the egg and sperm do the two stick. The zona acts as a â€Å"sperm catcher† and has to â€Å"capture and tether† the sperm before it can penetrate. But the most active and interesting roll the egg plays is that it â€Å"serves as a sophisticated biological security system that screens incoming sperm, selects only those compatible with fertilization and development, prepares sperm for fusion with the egg and later protects the resulting embryo from polyspermy. † Here the egg plays three vital roles in the developmental process of the embryo. It chooses which sperm is well-suited, sets up the fertilization process, and protects the sperm through the whole process. The author was effective in providing textual examples of the scientific language that wrongly represents the female role in the reproductive cycle. She quotes medical textbooks as referring to the menstrual cycle as â€Å"†debris† of the uterine lining, the result of necrosis, or death of tissue. † Martin goes on to counter this quote with an example of the positive language used to describe the sperm in saying, â€Å"Whereas the female sheds only a single gamete each month, the seminiferous tubules produce hundreds of millions of sperm each day. Both quotes provide strong examples of the scientific language used. Quoting such language not only provides the audience with examples to better prove her point, but that because this information is coming from a medical textbook provides the reader with confidence in the cited source. One way in which this scientific discrepancy can be improved is by teaching it at a young age. This could be done by implementing a new curriculum in sexual educational classes in public schools. It is important that the new curriculum use different language and metaphors to deter from the stereotypical view of the reproduction process. This may at least curb the sexual bias of this subject to future generations. This article reveals how scientific language can create misconceptions about the truth about the sperm and the egg. Martin cautions us about metaphors in science. While many of us believe science to be undoubtedly true, bias can be lurking.