Thursday, May 14, 2020
Essay on Consumption in American Culture at the End of...
Consumption in American Culture at the End of History In the novel Brave New World , the denizens of Aldous Huxleyââ¬â¢s dystopia live in a rigidly structured consumer culture. From young ages, they are conditioned to hate the outdoors so that as adults they will prefer activities that require large amounts of manufactured products and long trips that utilize the maximum amount of infrastructure. That is what keeps the world humming, and there are important similarities between Huxleyââ¬â¢s vision of social control through pleasure and the rigid policing of tastes, activities, and consumption in our own 21st century culture. The new trend and buzzword now is globalization, and the contemporary reaction to the expansion of globalâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Before looking at the similarities between the two, it is important to understand the basis of political and economic liberalism. The Western concept of individual autonomy stresses the collective sum of choices as the good of the community. Following the writings of Jea n Jacques Rousseau, individual autonomy became enshrined in political and economic liberalism. Civil rights and liberties had been the environment wherein concepts like private property and democracy find their purchase in the west. Liberal economists like Adam Smith stressed the of importance of keeping private enterprise free of the encumbrance of government intrusion which, it is argued, allows for the best outcome for society even though no one actually planned it. The hidden hand of Laissez-Faire capitalism would ostensibly result in the best outcome. The struggle is interminable, but society continually evolves according to the free play of individual choices. Immanuel Kant, who took Rousseauââ¬â¢s autonomous individual and built an ethical theory, posited history itself as the process of development resulting from these choices. Kant argued that the great engine of history (and one could add the hidden hand as well) was the ââ¬Å"unsocial sociabilityâ⬠of the p eople competingShow MoreRelatedFranklin Delano s Inaugural Address1441 Words à |à 6 Pagesinevitable demise, Franklin D. Roosevelt comes to the stand and speaks words that would ring on in American history for decades to come. He first reassures the American people that he will be spear heading the problems that have besieged the nation and then exclaims the timeless phrase ââ¬Å" There is nothing to fear but fear itself.â⬠These words couldnââ¬â¢t come at a more pressing time in American history. The very essence of what America stood for was at risk and the only person that could truly stop thisRead MoreConsumerism Warping Human Values : We Are Consumers1696 Words à |à 7 Pagesconsumerism. Therapeutic ethos has created a consumption-oriented ideology that ultimately transformed American culture and life, as we know it. This multi-dimensional approach shifted nineteenth-century American values of frugality, moderation, and self-denial to periodic leisure, compulsive spending, and individual self-fulfillment. There are three main factors that contributed to this transformation: radio and billboards, credit, and mind-cure religion. Consumer culture developed out of the rise of modernityRead MoreAmerica And The American Dream983 Words à |à 4 Pages Through the media, America and the American Dream is depicted as the salvation for poverty, sorrow, and hardship. The Founding Fathers invented the American Dream, offering life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, an abundance of immigrants were falling short of possessing the American Dream and slowly began to realize that these alluring portrayals were merely a facade. Wealthy and influential corporations needed to revitalize the American Dream before it would dissolve amongstRead MoreThe Illegal Drug Business1361 Words à |à 5 Pagesof money. The history of the illegal drug business in the United States The illegal trade of drugs across borders has primarily grown because of the increased prohibitions of drug trading in many countries by their governments and the mass amount of money that is involved to be profited from in its trade. The government of the United States of America has taken several steps in its history in order to restrict or end drug trafficking in the country. Socially, the American culture has been vastlyRead MoreAlcohol Consumption And Underage Drinking1561 Words à |à 7 PagesAlcohol consumption and underage drinking has been a major social problem and public health concern for centuries. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), ââ¬Å"Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs, and is responsible for more than 4,300 annual deaths among underage youth (Fact Sheets - Underage Drinking). Alcohol has always been part of our culture as well as a debatable topic in our society a nd the controversyRead MoreJohn Soluri s Banana Cultures : Agriculture, Consumption And Environmental Change870 Words à |à 4 PagesBanana Cultures: Agriculture, Consumption and Environmental Change in Honduras and the United States, (Which for spatial and repetitive purposes, I will refer to as Banana Cultures for the remainder of the paper), introduces the reader to a world of corporate greed, consumption, and environmental change using the history of the common, everyday fruit, the banana. He explores the various political occurrences, health problems, and changes in mass media through the rise of the consumption of the bananaRead MoreThe Great Depression Essay858 Words à |à 4 Pagespolitics of consumption. The collapse of the U.S. economy following the Wall Street Crash in October 1929 was sudden and shocking. By mid-1930, the economy was at a virtual standstill. As David Kennedy explains, when Franklin D. Roosevelt entered the White House in March 1933, the gross national product had dropped to half its 1929 level (Anthony, pp, 73). A quarter of the workforce, meanwhile, was unemployed. And yet, paradoxically, during the Great Depression, the idea that consumptionââ¬âand consumersââ¬âheldRead MoreThe Culture Of The Italian Cuisine1551 Words à |à 7 Pagesthe early history of many countries, food always plays an important part in the development of the country and the economy as well. From starting out simple, the recipes evolve and spread after being handed down and spoken to others. Food is what defines many cultures, and is able to bring many people together in many cases. For example, food is what stands a major tradition in many families, recipes being a secret between t he members. This is one way that it plays in importance in cultures. ItalianRead More Global Markets vs. Local Realities Essay1599 Words à |à 7 Pagescommodities when they cross cultural borders? Howes recent edited volume, Cross-Cultural Consumption, sets out explicitly to answer this very question. Through a diverse and highly accessible set of collected papers, inspired and adapted from a special issue of Anthropogie et Sociitis on Culture and Consumption, the reader finds an excellent introduction to the major themes in the anthropological approach to consumption. Situated squarely within the booming literature on the globalization of consumerRead MoreEssay on Prohibition in 20th Century America1137 Words à |à 5 Pages white Anglo-Saxon Protestant establishment, aware that its privileges and natural right to rule were being increasingly threatened by the massive arrival of largely despised (and feared) beer-swilling, wine-drinking new American immigrants (Behr, 1996). Ma ny of the Americans had descended from Protestant, British roots and felt they had they right and obligation to uphold the moral piety of those around them to ensure the survival of their Religion centered society. There are other takes
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
An Effective Team And Is Communication Effective - 1757 Words
Working in Teams The video presented for this assignment showed us a group with definite issues. The group is attempting to work on an analysis project to implement something new. We witness the initial meeting and the ââ¬Å"group leadersâ⬠reaction afterwards. There is not much to go on beyond this information. It is clear though, that the group will fail unless actions are taken to create more effective communication, proper motivation, and constructive conflict management. Is This an Effective Team and is Communication Effective? This team consists of, what appears to be, people of similar status within the company. No one is a subordinate to the other. In order for us to determine whether or not this is an effective team, we must evaluate three factors. In the case of team performance, it may be too early to tell based on the video, my initial thoughts are that the team does not appear engaged in the project and therefore, may not put in a full effort to achieve the goals of the team. With regards to membership satisfaction, again, they do not appear to even want to have the meeting, much less participate in a project together. Based on the little information we see from one meeting; I believe satisfaction to be low. This brings us the last determination of an effective team, viability. This group has a member moving to another area of the company, and another distracted by the fact that her mother-in-law is moving in. Based on the small subset we see of thisShow MoreRelatedEssay on Effective Team Co mmunication1783 Words à |à 8 PagesEffective Team Communication In the environment today, it is not unusual to see people working in teams to accomplish certain goals and tasks. During our youth, parents and teachers encourage us through various methods to work as part of a team. Whether a sports team, classroom team, or after school activities, parents and teachers and other authority figures start the introduction of working in teams and teaching the value of being able to work together to accomplish a common goal. As peopleRead MoreEffective Communication And Health Care Teams1308 Words à |à 6 PagesEffective communication dramatically enhances the success of health care teams. Effective communication presents many positive implications for health care teams, including enhanced patient and team morale (Oââ¬â¢Daniel Rosenstein, 2008, p. 273). Despite the positives of effective communication many health care teams are still presented with constant communication breakdown which can lead to detrimental outcomes for the patient and the team (Costa Lusk, 2017, p. 129). Communication breakdown willRead MoreEffective Communication in Team Dynamics Essay1096 Words à |à 5 Pageseventually work in a team setting. A team usually consists of three or more people who have a common goal or purpose. When working in a team, members have to decide what roles they will fill, plan their schedules for projects, and deal with upcoming team conflicts. Stewart, Sims Manz (1999) stated, ââ¬Å"For a team to succeed, team members need to effectively communicate with one anotherâ⬠(p. 79). While each element of teamwork is important, effective communication is the cornerstone to team dynamics. Read MoreEffective Communication and Collaboration in Team Settings1303 Words à |à 6 PagesEffective Communication and Collaboration in Team Settings Working in an unfamiliar environment can be tough for one to fathom. Add individuals with different backgrounds, personalities, ethics and views to the recipe and the result can be either cataclysmal or a successful learning experience. A key resource to success in work and team relationships is the knowledge to recognize certain personality traits and learning specifics of other individuals. Only then can one acclimate to communicateRead MoreThe Importance of Effective Team Communication and How It Is Achieved1313 Words à |à 6 Pageshead: THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAM COMMUNICATION The Importance Of Effective Team Communication and How It Is Achieved Janette L. North-Kabore University of Phoenix References Internal Communication - Getting Your Companys Brand Across to Your Employees. (2009, February 17). Retrieved from http://www.teambuildingtips.com/team-building-articles/team-communication/internal-communication---getting-your-companys-brand-across-to-your-employees.html Introduction To Teams. (n.d.). Retrieved FebruaryRead MoreEffective Communication Among Group And Team Functioning2370 Words à |à 10 PagesCommunication is the sharing of ideas, thoughts and information between or among individuals. The way we communicate varies greatly among cultures throughout the world and has an extremely powerful impact within group and team environments. Effective communication enables us to engage in enriching social interaction with others, and allows for the creation of environments where group and team functioning can flourish. As simple as communication may seem, much of what we express to others has theRead MoreEssay about Effective Communication and Team Building Efforts1144 Words à |à 5 PagesMaking a Change The leader has to learn and develop a sound knowledge in communication skill which will enable him or her to build an excellent team in his organization because without effective communication, they will be description in organizational goal, stress, confusion and frustration between the leader and the members of the team and can lead to reduction in organizational success. The leader has to have open communication skill to facilitate and support the change process because every staffRead MoreThe Importance Of Effective Communication Within A Team And How This Was Accomplished1302 Words à |à 6 Pagesimportance of effective communication within a team and how this was accomplished. Gibbs reflective cycle (1988) will be used to evaluate practice and the outcomes, whilst adhering to Local trust policies (2015) and NICE guidelines (2012). Confidentiality will be maintained in accordance with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC, 2012). This case study will follow a gentleman on the dental list for the extraction of his lower left wisdom tooth. Before the operating session began the whole team participatedRead MoreTeamwork Promotes And Establishes Effective Communications Channels Within The Members Of The Team2077 Words à |à 9 Pagesindividual. To this end, teams appear to have a synergy effect, which implies that the total outcome that is produced by the team is by far more than the equivalent result which the sum of the teamââ¬â¢s part would have had. By and large, the formation of groups is very useful for the organization and its members, because they perform important tasks. Johnson, Kantner and Kikora (1990) support the rationale of forming groups through the following arguments: 1. Individuals within the team know each other wellRead MoreRelevance of Communication and Teamwork in Midwifery903 Words à |à 4 Pagesskills, the relevance of communication and teamwork cannot be overstated. This is more so the case given the critical role midwives play as far as the provision of care to women, babies as well as families is concerned. This text concerns itself with communication and teamwork as two graduate attributes necessary for success in the midwifery profession. The Relevance of Communication and Teamwork in Midwifery To begin with, it is important to note that excellent communication skills are considered
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
The Groundhog by Richard Eberhart Analysis free essay sample
The Groundhog by Richard Eberhart In Richard Eberharts poem The Groundhog, the author uses his expertise in language to contrast life and death in nature. With diction and contrasting imagery the author discloses his idea that the world is in constant change. Changes in which things eventually decompose, or disappear, but also, at the same time saying that nature will renew itself. The groundhogs senseless change shows the irrational but ordered controlling force of nature as it decays and changes. The authors returning visits embody the change in the groundhog. In Eberharts four visits the groundhog changes. From a seething cauldron, becoming a bony sodden hulk, to only become bones bleaching, and only a little hair. The last visit there is no sign of the groundhog. The author feels so emotional over the continuing changes of the groundhog because he resents change. It makes him feel that he is not in control over himself and what is going on. We will write a custom essay sample on The Groundhog by Richard Eberhart: Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Eberhart treats it as if he is losing a tradition in his life, not feeling comfortable about life. The author capped a withered heart because that is his way of taking control of his life. Eberhart uses wonderful, artistic diction to illustrate contrasting imagery. He contrasts golden fields with the groundhog lying dead, and vigorous summer and dead lay he. The result of these comparisons creates the picture of a hot and calm summer day in a peaceful field with a dead groundhog. The mental picture created can be one of sadness and dismay that on such a wonderful day, such a horrible thing could happen. The frightening picture is amplified by inspecting close his maggots might. The author goes on further to contrast in the imagery by showing how he appreciates the groundhog and its slow decay. He inspects the body up close, but half with loathing of the dead creature, its smell, and disgusting appearance, and yet with a strange love, he shows how he strangely likes the animal and starts to care about the changes that it is going through, to renew nature. A change has happened to the author, the original concern for keeping reverence for knowledge has conflicted with an attempt for control, to be still, to quell the passion of the blood.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Feminism Essays (855 words) - Feminist Theory,
Feminism Feminism can be roughly defined as a movement that seeks to enhance the quality of women's lives by impacting the norms and moves of a society based on male dominance and subsequent female subordination. The means of change in the work place, politically, and domestically. Women have come a long way since the 19th century. Women have been trying to prove to the male dominant world that they are equal. They can perform and complete any tasks equal, or in some cases better than man. Feminism has changed the definition of men in many ways. Women in the work place have transposed dramatically since the 19th and mid 20th century. Even if women had any education in the 19th century they were not allow to manifest any of it. It just was not proper for women to give any signs of intelligence and a brain of their own. They were to prepare themselves to become wives and mothers, which were the extent of their entire lives. In the early and mid 20th century some women were starting to be brave and take a stand for themselves. The beginnings of feminism were starting to take its massive role in society. More and more women were getting educated and looking for employment opportunities that had power. Men no longer can be in control of everything. Men in the work place started to feel impotent. But women fed off each other and gave each other strength. They were not looking for just the secretarial jobs; they were taking some men's jobs and being good at it. They were becoming police officers, fireman, managers and business owners. Taking and sharing jobs with men, and performing just as well. For example, in the film Mr. Mom when the husband gets laid off work and the wife goes to work to support their family. It is very easy for a woman to do a man's job but very difficult for a man to take over a woman's duty at home. Another way women have changed the definition of men is politically. Many years ago women were not allowed to vote. But women changed that in the early 1900's. With the woman suffrage movement, it was a courageous and persistent political campaign, which lasted over 72 years, yet because of this women are allowed to vote today. This might have affected men greater than anything else, giving women power to vote and to actually give them a voice was ludicrous for men to allow. Ever since women have taken greater and greater roles in the political world. It was another sense of power or control men lost out in. In the reading Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, gives the voice of the many women who felt the same way she did. There was a need of change in society. But men too helped with the decision making of the 1900's. The suffrage movement both included men as supporters and depended on men for their votes. The suffrage question often received tens of thousands of male votes of approval, and ultimately, a virtual all-male Senate and House had to approve the amendment, along with 36 virtually all-male state legislatures. Courageous men risked ridicule and worse to actively support women's rights, and they offer far better role models today than many better-known political and military figures. Domestically, women and men have changed their roles dramatically. There were no questions before who would do the household duties. Now men and women share them equally. Women do not accept the stereotyping of "you're the wife you cook and clean." Men share with the cleaning and the cooking, even with the diaper changing. There are still many men who will not perform any of these duties. They still believe it is a woman's job. For instance, in the film Mr. Mom, Michael Keaton takes the role of the mother, but does a lousy job. The simplicity of changing a diaper is very difficult for him to do. But the fact that woman do not accept the husbands to sit around and do nothing anymore have changed men. Men know they can't get away with it anymore. Oppose to back to just the 1950's women would do it all when it came to the house. It was a way society viewed women, because of the television shows like, Leave it to Beaver, and the Brady Bunch. And the wives did all of the domestic duties there was to be done. Husbands would come home and
Monday, March 9, 2020
Portray Cleopatra Essay Example
Portray Cleopatra Essay Example Portray Cleopatra Paper Portray Cleopatra Paper In Act 2 Scene 2, Enobarbus describes the first meeting between Antony and Cleopatra on the Nile, in all its glory. Enobarbus, a typically blunt solider uses poetic language in describing Cleopatraââ¬â¢s appearance, showing the effect that the Egypt Queen has on men, making her seem all the more powerful. ââ¬ËThe barge she sat in, like a burnished throne Burned in the waterââ¬â¢ conveys a sensual impression of Cleopatra, showing her coming down the Nile in the most luxurious fashion making her seem like a desirable object for the Roman men. The description of silver and gold on the barge Cleopatra travelled on shows the elegance the Egyptian Queen carries with her and the impression she leaves on men. Enobarbus recalls the scene using both visual and olfactory imagery ââ¬â ââ¬ËPurple the sails, and so perfumed that The winds were lovesickââ¬â¢, even personifying the wind, to give us the impression that Cleopatra is intoxicating to those who see her; that they can recall their time near her in great detail. It is said that Cleopatraââ¬â¢s appearance ââ¬Ëbeggared all descriptionââ¬â¢ and that she is, ââ¬ËOââ¬â¢erpicturing the Venus where we see The fancy outwork natureââ¬â¢ ââ¬â We get the impression through Enobarbusââ¬â¢ description that Cleopatra is a great beauty, as he cannot find words to describe her appearance; that not even the portrait of Venus herself is a match nor a strong enough portrayal of her. Caesural pauses are used throughout Enobarbusââ¬â¢ description, and these pauses help emphasise how breath taking Cleopatra seems to be. When the Egyptian Queen is on the barge, it is said ââ¬ËOn each side her Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupidsââ¬â¢ ââ¬â the simile used, shows the queen in almost awe, as cupids are associated with love which most people crave and when used with Cleopatra, it would portray her as wanton to be desired and craved. Nearly every detail of Cleopatraââ¬â¢s appearance is described by the solider, as he even notes that the winds ââ¬Ëdid seem To glow the delicate cheeks which they did coolââ¬â¢. This language would not have been expected from the almost cynical soldier, and gives us the impression that Cleopatra has a bewitching effect on those she meets, showing her to be even more desirable. Enobarbus later refers to Cleopatraââ¬â¢s gentlewomen who tend to her as mermaids and sea-nymphs, the daughters of Nereus the sea god ââ¬â this makes Cleopatra seem almost other-worldly and gives us the impression that she is a beauty that no one has ever seen before; that she cannot simply be described in earthly terms. It is said that her gentlewomen ââ¬Ëmade their bends adorningââ¬â¢, their bowing movements help show the powerful position Cleoptra is in which gives us the impression she should not be overlooked but attention should be given to her. Cleopatraââ¬â¢s entrance on the barge seems almost mystical as Enobarbus says ââ¬Ëthe silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft handsââ¬â¢ adding to the sensual appearance of the Queens entry making her seems all the more desirable. Cleopatra seems to be intoxicating when approaching as it is said ââ¬Ëa strange invisible perfume hits the senseââ¬â¢ making it seem as though the Egyptian has an effusive beauty about her which fills your every sense, leaving room for no other thoughts than of her. In Enobarbusââ¬â¢ description of Cleopatraââ¬â¢ entrance, he makes great use of polysyllabic language that would not be expected from a Roman Soldier, never mind used by him in describing an Egyptian beauty. This helps show the effect that Cleopatra has on nearly all men, giving the impression that she is that enchanting, men will fall and become besotted by her. Enobarbus mentions Antony first, in his political authoritarian manner through ââ¬ËEnthroned iââ¬â¢thââ¬â¢market-place, did sit aloneââ¬â¢ but shows that he too was drawn to Cleopatra. We get the impression through this, that Cleopatra is that intriguing and electrifying that even the strongest soldiers fall for her. Enobarbus finally says ââ¬ËAnd made a gap in natureââ¬â¢ when describing Antony going to Cleopatra, to make it seem unnatural that a man of Antonyââ¬â¢s position would seek her out, however this shows us that Cleopatra could captivate any man, despite their restraint.
Friday, February 21, 2020
Interpersonal Communication Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Interpersonal Communication - Term Paper Example Schuler in 1979 ââ¬Å"took a major step forward in the area of research on organizational communication with his role-perception transaction-process model of organization communication, which describes the relationship among communication, role perceptions, and two outcome variables-satisfaction and performanceâ⬠(Penley 309). It is evident that effective interpersonal communication enhances the satisfaction of employees and this would in turn result in better performance and subsequent easy accomplishment of the organizational goals. Todayââ¬â¢s employees need to interact with consumers, coworkers and the management constantly and no employee would like to engage in work in isolation. These factors have increased the role of effective interpersonal communication skills in the business scenario. The positive outcomes of maintaining effective interpersonal communication skills within the organizational setting are many and varied. These may vary from increased productivity, g reater commitment to a very conducive work environment where each one can strive towards achieving the organizational goals. Researchers have emphasized that interpersonal skills help enhancing organizational commitment within the organizational culture. ... The researches resorted to a descriptive survey for the purpose of the study. The survey was administered on two public organizations in Qom city and the participants of the study were consisted of 106 individuals who were randomly selected from these two public organizations. It has been identified that ââ¬Å"poor communication skills can cause irrevocable damage to relationships; affecting productivity, satisfaction, performance, morale, trust, respect, self confidence, and even physical healthâ⬠(Matin Jandaghi and Karimi 387). It is, therefore, imperative that effective interpersonal skills are maintained and fostered in the workplace so as to endure healthy, positive and result oriented organizational behavior. There are many definitions of interpersonal communication. However, in the management and business scenario Avkiranââ¬â¢s definition is of great significance. For the author, ââ¬Å"interpersonal communication skills are ability to respond to staff's needs positi vely, fostering a non-discriminatory work environment where staff can develop to their full personal potentials, and delegating authorityâ⬠(Matin Jandaghi and Karimi 388). Managers and leaders needs to be advocates of interpersonal communication skills. Effective leaders can make use of their interpersonal communication skills to inspire and motivate their employees and in handling conflicts, developing team building and in promoting desirable organizational change as and when necessary. As efficient leader, through his/her interpersonal skills, can very easily motivate, persuade and empower his/her followers or employees. It is also worthwhile to unearth the relationship between organizational behavior and interpersonal communication in an organizational setting. One should always
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Rio Carnival Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Rio Carnival - Essay Example The social background to the Carnival is that it was once considered to be a riotous, disorganized and essentially anti-authoritarian expression by the people that the government was forced to accept because of its popularity but which it did not positively condone. The Rio Carnival found its roots in the 1830's when the city's rich imported the practice of holding balls and masquerade parties from Paris. Gradually, over the next century, the festival took on the shape that it now holds, acquiring elements derived from African and South American Indian cultures. It is this mixture of cultures into a remarkably diverse and yet recognizably unified "Rio Carnival" that is the prime social characteristic of the celebration. The Carnival is the reason that Rio de Janeiro is famous throughout the world. Indeed, it may be the only thing that most people know about the city. This influences both the social and economic identity of the city, for better or worse. Thus while the original idea came from France, the cordoes were introduced by the Portuguese in the late 1800s. The cordoes were groups of people who danced through the streets playing music and generally celebrating. They are known today as blocos, and consist of people who dress in theme costumes and celebrate Carnival in a specific way. Certain neighborhoods are associated with certain blocos. In a social aspect that stems from a number of different traditions, a "fat man" is elected to act out the role of the Rei Morno, or the "King of Carnival" (Cowley, 2002). In recent years, cultural changes within the world as a whole, and within the developed world in particular, have been reflected within the social makeup of the Rio Carnival. For example, many different travel companies advertise the "Gay Rio Carnival" in which "the beaches are loaded with eye candy as far as the eye can see . . . people joke that everyone seems a little gay during carnival" (zoom, 2007). Small gay festivals have become a part of Carnival, and may be regarded as part of a sub-culture of hedonism in which this city, known for its surprisingly permissive attitudes vis--vis social mores, becomes even more accepting during this celebration of freedom. There is a great mixture of factors going into the social impact of Carnival upon the city in particular, and the country in general. As Teissl puts it: Carnival is all the little festivals and parades in the streets and favelas, Rio de Janeiro's poor quarters. Carnival is also masked balls, elegant and often uninhibited - even debauched, where one sees fewer masks but plenty of skin, And Carnival is a time for competition in which countless participants pay thousands of dollars for luxurious and fantastic costumes. But Carnival is also a time of fraternization, tolerance, and genuine human friendship. (Teissl, 2000) So variety and indeed a degree of contradiction exists within Carnival. Thousands of dollars may be spent on a single costume for a rich masked ball while in some neighborhoods that still attempt to celebrate Carnival the average yearly wage may not reach that amount. This contrast can be seen in two main ways. One, more positive manner is to regard it as showing just how universal the feelings and atmosphere surrounding Carnival is. Thus, within this interpretation, "Carnival" is a transcendent social structure which
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