Essays on Stupidity

Reflective essay (My experience as literally student and a writer)

As a student and especially English major, I have had to learn how to be appreciative of some of the most peaceful exhilarating moments when my mind has to engage with the thoughts of an author. As Toni Morrison notes in The Dancing Mind, the art of reading is an experience of one’s mind dancing with others minds. During my first days as a college student, I always probed to find out the “true" meaning of an author’s literally work, however in this quest, I have come to a realization that literature is not made great by ...

When many people think of satire, they understand that it is a subversive approach to a certain social or political issue through the use of irony. Works like the Earl of Rochester’s “A Satire Against Reason and Mankind,” Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal or John Dryden’s MacFlecknoe all make fun of some perceived failing of its audience, whether it be the “Satire’s poking fun at rationalism and reason, Swift’s pointing out of the problems facing Ireland as a result of English ignorance, or Dryden’s ridiculing of his contemporaries’ inadequate literary criticism. However, to what end do ...

Abstract

The investigator examines ESPN first take and their coverage of black athletes. The intent is to compare the representation of black athletes opposed to their white counterparts. Research on this issue and aspire to extend and expand my findings by focusing primarily on the coverage that is done specifically by ESPN first take and how they use social media as the court of public opinion. Some of the issues that I will share will be similar, and others will be dissimilar, as the goal is to make a correlation in the treatment. Research material will be varied. (Key terms: ...

Interpersonal Critique of Dumb and Dumber

Introduction The purpose of a comedy film is obviously to make you laugh. However, there are comedies that really make you laugh out loud, put you through suspense, action, and the ultimate result would be a funny thrilling experience; Dumb and Dumber is one of such films. In this 1994 blockbuster, two dim-witted friends accidentally steal a suitcase full of money; it becomes very comical when they try to return the money to the rightful owner. This paper will review the movie Dumb and Dumber and expound on how it is packed with interpersonal communication. In this comic movie, renowned ...

Orwell’s essay ‘England Your England’ written in 1941 is typical of the confusion that is felt by individuals and the whole of the country in uncertain political times. George Orwell attempts to set some kind of direction for the country amongst all the confusion of war. England was being bombed by the Germans in WWII at the time. This paper will argue that the central thesis of the essay was that English patriotism and loyalty exists in different forms depending on class in normal circumstances. As a collective idea, it is far more complex and is undergoing transition. For ...

The National Basketball Association provides opportunities for players from different backgrounds who have exceptional talents in basketball. Even though the National Basketball Association is open to people from all races and ethnicities, racial disparities are evident in the players and the award of honors in the association. For instance, in 2011, the percentage of black Americans in the National Basketball Association was close to 80% Williams, W. (2012). This has fueled the thought that black American players are better at basketball compared to players from other races. This is vindicated by luminaries in the game such as Michael ...

This paper evaluates arguments put forward by various authors Ron Kaufman and Laknath and Ritson with respect to the effect of television on our lives. This analysis will be based on two concepts: technological determinism theory and social shaping perspective. First, it is essential to understand these two concepts. Technological determinism theory holds that society’s technology influences the society’s cultural values and social structure. In other words, this theory proposes that technological advancements, as well as productive technology, shape social relations. Besides, society’s economic and technological base shape the cultural practices and social relations of ...

First Impressions was the first original version of Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen in 1797. Jane’s father, Rector George Austen liked the novel and even offered to pay for its publication; however, the publisher rejected the novel out of hand. In 1813, the same book appeared to the public, although considerably revised, as Pride and Prejudice. This was her second book. The first, Sense and Sensibility, had appeared two years earlier. Both novels were published anonymously, although some people knew who the author was, it was not until her death that the secret became publicly known. ...

I am patiently waiting at the mall and expecting my girlfriend to show up any second. The time that we decided to meet was 6:00pm, and right now it is 6:05pm. Since I am aware of how she and most girls customarily take it longer to prepare for this “momentous” occasion and stereotypically tend to arrive later, I am using this as my opportunity to construct my paper. Although, I am not aware of the outcome yet, I can predict that the coming 30-40 minutes will be a catalyst in my judgment of a typical American society, both as in reality ...

The article, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?", by Nicholas Carr, argues that although the Internet has become an avenue for dissemination of information as well as source of myriads of data, it has slowly affected how man processes information. Especially when it comes to reading, the Internet has slowly rewired man's brain to enjoy surfing and scanning online sources such as books, newspapers, and magazines, among others, instead of savoring each word or sentence and focus on the message at hand. Carr cites examples such as Scott Karp who claims he refrained from reading books even though he was a ...

Aristotle admitted that his argument that some human beings were ‘natural’ slaves was a weak one because he was aware that slaves often did not show the characteristics of meekness, servility and stupidity that was expected, and often rebelled against their masters. This was true in the slave society of Sparta, just as it was in the Roman Republic and the plantation colonies of the America. Much as their masters wished them to be like dumb brutes and animals, and even where slaves put on a pretense of matching this stereotype, the reality was often different. Slavery’s real basis was ...

Allusion is a literary style that is categorized as a figure of speech. It is used to refer to or represent or refer to particular, person, place, other literary works, and works of art or even myths. This could occur in a piece of literature either directly or indirectly. When used in literary works, the comparison is usually slightly hidden and the reader is expected to make the connection by themselves. At times the author may use personal language making the allusion quite difficult to make out or even not noticeable to the reader. Allusion can therefore be concretely said to be a ...

The middle-English fabliau, Dame Sirith, tells the tale of Wilekin, a rich, young clerk who is desperate to procure the love of Margery who is married to a merchant. He attempts to seduce her but she refutes his actions in loyalty to her husband. Keen to alleviate this, Wilekin goes to Dame Sirith – a match maker – who makes her dog’s eyes water by feeding it spices and takes it to Margery where she tells her that the dog is actually Margery’s daughter transformed by Wilekin and that the only way to remedy it is to succumb to his desires whilst ...

Dreaming of America: the Destruction of the American Dream

The sub-title of Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is “A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream” – and the word “savage” suggests Thompson’s overall feelings about the American Dream: he disapproves of it. The epigraph to the book is important too. It is a quotation from the English man of letters Samuel Johnson: “He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.” In the context of the book, this implies that Duke and Dr. Gonzo turn themselves into beasts in order to cope with the sordid materialistic ...