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Saturday, April 30, 2011
Manga and Japanese Socioeconomic Development
The art of manga, Japanese anime, is unique for its style of drawing and its themes which reflect Japanese socioeconomic development. After studying Japanese contemporary culture, I noticed that manga is perhaps the best known Japanese pop culture worldwide. Today it is common to find whole sections of manga in bookstores in the United States. Considering my analysis of Inside the World of Japanese Popular Culture, manga are successful worldwide because they are considered not just superficial entertainment, but also reflect Japan's socioeconomic development. I decided to select some manga representing different phases in Japanese society. Starting from after World War II until the 1990s, the manga I have chosen to analyze are Astro Boy, Speed Racer, My Neighbor Totoro, and Sailor Moon. I also connect them to David J.Lu's book Japan: A Documentary History, a comparison that illustrates how manga and the Japanese socioeconomic development are connected, I noticed that manga themes are inspired by trends in Japan's socioeconomic development.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Satellite Internet Broadband: Yesterday’S Science Fiction Is Today’S Reality
Who would have thought that one day, the common man would have satellite Internet readily available at his fingertips? It sounds like something out a science fiction movie or some phenomenal technology that only a spaceship would have to stay in contact with central command while it explored a far away galaxy in search of new life forms. But not only is satellite Internet real, it is actually economically feasible as well. It is really quite amazing.
Just think that only around twenty years ago, the Internet as we know it today did not even exist. And today that any American can connect himself to the World Wide Web instantly by having a satellite dish installed on his roof is a complement to all of the scientists and researchers who have been involved in the process.
The Internet is a great place to search for information of many kinds for any type of person, including couples, parents, children, business owners, and employees among many others. Families can look for fun vacation spots to visit on their time off and stay updated on local issues in their community. Couples can read restaurant reviews so they know where to go for their hot date on Saturday night, or look for their first home together.
For parents, if used right, it can be a very useful tool in raising a child. A new mother can look up food recommendations for her baby, research ways to child-proof her home to prepare for the stage when her child becomes more independent, or search for remedies to get tough stains out of clothing when her child gets a bit out of control with his or her food.
Satellite broadband can be used by a new father to look for activities to do with his kid to form a strong bond, or look for instructions on how to change a diaper to prove to his wife that he will help with those hard tasks and play a strong role in the development of their child. He can even seek information on how to approach that uncomfortable talk about the “birds and the bees” when they reach that stage.
Children can go on the internet to look for movie times to go hang out with their friends, do some research for a difficult homework assignment, chat with friends through instant messaging programs, watch his or her favorite television show, or find out where they can buy the new video game that they want. Employers can look for techniques that help to unite employees, facilitate the purchase of necessary office supplies, and stay updated on issues regarding workmen’s compensation.
When it comes to using the Internet, the possibilities are truly endless. Especially with satellite Internet, which is available anywhere in the United States, in both rural and urban environments. Yesterday’s science fiction has become the reality of today for all Americans.
Just think that only around twenty years ago, the Internet as we know it today did not even exist. And today that any American can connect himself to the World Wide Web instantly by having a satellite dish installed on his roof is a complement to all of the scientists and researchers who have been involved in the process.
The Internet is a great place to search for information of many kinds for any type of person, including couples, parents, children, business owners, and employees among many others. Families can look for fun vacation spots to visit on their time off and stay updated on local issues in their community. Couples can read restaurant reviews so they know where to go for their hot date on Saturday night, or look for their first home together.
For parents, if used right, it can be a very useful tool in raising a child. A new mother can look up food recommendations for her baby, research ways to child-proof her home to prepare for the stage when her child becomes more independent, or search for remedies to get tough stains out of clothing when her child gets a bit out of control with his or her food.
Satellite broadband can be used by a new father to look for activities to do with his kid to form a strong bond, or look for instructions on how to change a diaper to prove to his wife that he will help with those hard tasks and play a strong role in the development of their child. He can even seek information on how to approach that uncomfortable talk about the “birds and the bees” when they reach that stage.
Children can go on the internet to look for movie times to go hang out with their friends, do some research for a difficult homework assignment, chat with friends through instant messaging programs, watch his or her favorite television show, or find out where they can buy the new video game that they want. Employers can look for techniques that help to unite employees, facilitate the purchase of necessary office supplies, and stay updated on issues regarding workmen’s compensation.
When it comes to using the Internet, the possibilities are truly endless. Especially with satellite Internet, which is available anywhere in the United States, in both rural and urban environments. Yesterday’s science fiction has become the reality of today for all Americans.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Book Review Digest Issue 011011 by Todd Rutherford
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com:80/art-and-entertainment-articles/book-review-digest-issue-011011-by-todd-rutherford-4010719.html
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Qualities of Classic Books
Mark Twain defined a classic as, “Something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read”. What characterizes a classic work of fiction? Is a book a classic when it has a great number of printings? Or is it the number of languages into which it has been translated? Is it called a classic because some distinguished soul said it is a classic? While these are interesting, even significant, they do not determine that a fiction book is a classic. First a classic is timely. It either expresses or influences the times in which it was written. Uncle Tom’s Cabin opened the eyes of America to the dark side of slavery. Oliver Twist revealed the difficult lives of the homeless children in England. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, though not fiction, revealed the realities of the Holocaust and what it was like to hide from the Nazis during their occupation of Netherlands. A classic is not only timely but also timeless. Classics deal with themes that touch all periods of history, all societies, and all cultures. Some such themes include good versus evil and the consequences of both, love and forgiveness, success against all odds, personal values (for example, Beauty and the Beast proclaims that the exterior is not what really counts), et. al. Many classics show the value of resisting temptation to compromise in order to reach the goal. In most if not all classics the hero overcomes one or more major obstacles at the climax of the story so that his ultimate goal is reached and success achieved. Real classics present truth. Any author can develop a story so that evil appears inevitable, lying pays off, hate and revenge are good. Though this may indeed seem to depict real life, it is really just pseudo-reality. Classic literature presents Judeo-Christian morality as good, and those who follow it, even when it costs them, as true heroes. A classic will still be around years after it first appeared. It may or may not get good reviews at first, but a classic work still be recognized for its literary value long after it is first published. "Some books are undeservedly forgotten; none are undeservedly remembered”. W.H. Auden said this. Shakespeare’s writing is certainly classic in this sense. In this sense, then, a true classic must have been around for a while. A classic is readable in its style. Mark Twain said, "Great books are weighed and measured by their style and manner and not by the trimmings and shadings of their grammar”. However, that does not mean they are poorly written so that they are difficult to read. Variety is possible, from the ornate language of The Yearling to the plane language of The Good Earth. The story in a classic almost tells itself though not without surprises. The characters are believable even in their depth. This is exemplified in Hamlet. The author does not tell you how to feel or what conclusions to draw. Instead, he or she makes you feel or conclude what they want. The story does not preach a moral, but illustrates a moral so that the message is clear, though hidden. A classic connects authors and times. You can study a classic and discover influences from other writers and other great works of literature. At once a classic both expresses the period and style and struggles of the time, and uniquely stands on its own. In conclusion we ask, what are your favorite fiction books? Do your favorites measure up to being real classics? Do you think other things besides these mark a book as a classic? Are going to add or remove a book from a list of classics based on this article? If you own a true classic book, how are you preserving it so that others in the future can also enjoy it?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
World Book Day
World Book Day is one of the most popular events in the schooling calendar. First celebrated in 1995, the event is becoming increasingly popular with both teachers and their pupils. It is a fun filled day full of initiatives to get children excited about reading, gives children the opportunity to dress as their favourite literary characters and is packed with fun activities.
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