Paul Simon?s The Sound of Silence :: essays research papers

Paul Simon’s The Sound of Silence A poem, like all other works of art, may appear as an inter-subjective truth, an intricate thread of images, a surreal yet realistic expression, and as a â€Å"creative fact† according to Virginia Woolf. In canon literature, a good poem is usually that which has fine structure, imagery, meaning and relevance; an art, which has sprung out not only of personal necessities but out of socio-cultural quagmires. Paul Simon’s The Sound of Silence transcends the mediocre. It creates a bombarding mood that runs through the whole text, thus, transforming the readers to a reality it is presenting. The poem starts with the use of a device called apostrophe (a figure of speech where one talks to or addresses an inanimate object). Here the â€Å"I† persona talks to his â€Å"old friend.† Hello darkness my old friend I’ve come to talk with you again Because a vision softly creeping Left its seeds while I was sleeping And the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains Within the Sound of Silence Apparently, this is not the first time that the speaker talks with his â€Å"old friend,† darkness. He had had â€Å"talks† with it since a time unspecified, suggesting a perpetual moments of seclusion by the speaker. Talking with silence would mean solitude, loneliness if not ennui. The reason for this resort to solitude was a vision that keeps on bothering him. He was looking for solace which he found being alone; no one seems to understand Him. Here we can see him regressing—a defensive reaction of the human psyche to flounce away, by retreating to earlier stages of life, a threatening stimuli, which in this case is the vision. The â€Å"seeds† that was bequeathed to him while unaware symbolize a burgeoning message that will soon sprout in the â€Å"fullness of time† (Gal. 4:4). Nevertheless, it was still imprisoned â€Å"within the sound of silence.† In restless dreams I walked alone Narrow streets of cobblestones Beneath a halo of a street lamp I turned my collar to the cold and damp When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light, That split the night And touched the Sound of Silence. The speaker dreams of escape from this listless weariness brought about by the creeping vision. He walked the â€Å"narrow streets of cobblestones,† symbolizing oppression as was suggested by the narrowness of a street made up of cobblestones, indicative of it’s ancientness, or the â€Å"old ways.

Robert Gray

Composers often manipulate their chosen form of text to explore their concerns within the world. Throughout the poem The Late Ferry by Robert Gray the type of journey is seen to be long-term, emotional, confronting and challenging for individuals. Shaun Tan’s The Red Tree uses journey as being long-term, personal, confronting, emotional and mental. These are recognized by the usage of symbolism and metaphors. Robert Grays The Late Ferry contains a large amount of symbolism through the duration of the poem. The symbolism is what gives the audience an idea of what the journey itself is and what type of journey it may be.In the 1st stanza we see this symbolism as a mother watching her child leave her and enter the real world on their own â€Å"The late ferry is leaving now; I stay to watch from the balcony as it goes up onto the huge dark harbor†. This is exploring journey through the child leaving their mother and getting about on their own now, therefore for the child it is a journey of coming of age. Robert Gray can uncover journey to the audience by using light and darkness to juxtapose each other and showing what are the positive and negative times for the individual in this journey.The colour orange in stanza 4 is a symbolism for an element of hope. Hope that this individual will get used to be on their own and finding their way around through life â€Å"And out beyond the tomato stake patch of the yachts, with their orange lights† juxtaposed to the darkness symbolised in stanza 6 â€Å"the longer white feel nervously about in the blackness† this is also symbolic of a negative time as the person is nervous in a dark world trying to find the light to turn their world positive again.The technique shown in these quotes can be symbolism, juxtaposition and the re-occurring motif of the colour. This shows the audience when the journey can be great or when the journey can be tough. This is a way of Robert Gray showing his notion of journ ey in The Late Ferry. Shaun Tan and The Red Tree uses also uses symbolism and metaphors to create knowledge to the reader by clearly showing what journey they are on and what sort of journey it could be for the individual in the text.On the page where the girl is bottled up on a beach we can see what is happening in her life and why she is feeling this way. The writing on the page says, â€Å"no one understands† by it stating this and the picture of her to go with it we can see that the technique being used by Shaun Tan is social distance; she is distancing herself away from everyone, as no one understands her feelings she is going through. We feel as if she has been dehumanized and left to suffer, we show sympathy towards her.The notion of journey is being explored by Shaun Tan in this as we get so many emotions and right away we realise it is a personal, emotional journey. In The Red Tree we also explore journey through the image in frame 4, we are exposed to the idea that journeys can offer a change in perspective, ideals and behaviors. She is experiencing an inner emotional journey that is displayed through her being in a bottle and the message is on the shore instead of being in the bottle. This is represented through the dull colours- dark blue and black.These are symbolic of the type of journey she is on. We give empathy to this girl as we get the feeling that no one wants to talk to her and no one likes to her their emotions all bottled up. Through both the texts The Late Ferry and The Red Tree journey is explored and depicted by the usage of symbolism and colours. Although both composers are using the same techniques the type of journey is completely different to one another. Ultimately both composers clearly display in their text what is happening throughout the whole time of this experience for the individual.

The Scientific Method Of Social Science Essay - 1504 Words

The Sociologic Scientific Method The scientific method is used to research a concept through all sciences. Social science uses the scientific method to systematically approach a research question or problems through objective and accurate observations, collection and analysis of data, and experimentation. Sociological research is the scientific means of acquiring information about various aspects of society and social behavior. Sociologist uses the scientific method to answer important questions just like any other scientist but instead they answer questions about society, deviance, and other cultures. Throughout this paper the scientific method will be used to analysis a research question. While following all of the strategic steps of the scientific method I will research the following question, â€Å"is violent behavior created in the environment a child lives in or the environment of their society?† The first step of the scientific method is defining the problem and produci ng a research question, in this case I am the researcher and the question I propose is â€Å"is violent behavior created in the environment a child lives in or the environment of their society?† The research question should be as clear and explanatory as possible so that readers get a clear understanding of what you are asking. Also when producing a research question the researcher must note all of the limitations, objectives, and purposes of the research. After choosing your topic or question the researcherShow MoreRelatedThe Effect of the Social Context of Scientific Work on the Methods and Findings of Science637 Words   |  3 PagesEffect of the Social Context of Scientific Work on the Methods and Findings of Science The world society is in a constant state of fluidity regarding everything from social customs and slang to technology and inventions. With even more abundance, scientific understanding and questioning evolve as time progresses. As the human race changes and grows, scientific knowledge of the world and universe must expand to accommodate the growth. To a large extent, the social situations Read MoreScience Throughout the Ages912 Words   |  4 PagesThe term Science comes from the Latin word scientia, meaning knowledge. The definition of science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. An older term of science refers to a body of knowledge itself, of anything that can be successfully applied to a situation. Someone who practices science is known as a scientist. Modern science has been traced back to the early modern period and in particular to theRead MoreWith Respect To The Concerning Question, There Has Been1473 Words   |  6 PagesPolitics is a science. Aristotle described politics as the â€Å"master science†; Hobbs, Pollock, Bryce and many others have long considered Politics to be a scientific study. Inversely, Mosca, Comte and Maitland, among others, question its eligibility. †¨Accordin g to the Oxford Dictionaries, Science can be described as, â€Å"A systematically organised body of knowledge on a particular subject† where Science is split into two key types: natural and social. It can be claimed that Politics is a social science. BeforeRead MoreSociology as a Science Essay1149 Words   |  5 Pagesintense cultural, social and economic changes. As people began to try to understand these changes, there came a period called the Enlightenment. This is also considered by Hamilton (1992) to be a â€Å"time characterised by the development of distinctively modern forms of thought about society and the realm of the social.† The Enlightenment encouraged a new way of thinking marked by application of reason, experience and experiment to the natural and social world. SociologistsRead MoreIs Politics A Science?1058 Words   |  5 PagesIs politics a science in the first place? Numerous scholars believe politics is too normative to be considered a â€Å"Science† and that the generalizations made in science cannot be implemented in politics, furthermore, some say it is more of an art than science. Aristotle described politics as the â€Å"Master Science† as it relates to all other disciplines such as economy and philosophy. 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Of particular importance to scientific methods of inquiry is the brawl between the development of theory and the criteria for science. In Popper’s own words, it is in this brawl that Popper decided to â€Å"grapple with the problem: When should a theory be ranked as scientific? or Is there a criterion for the scientific character or status of a theory?† (PopperRead MoreThe Effect of Climate on Suicide Rates Essay examples1502 Words   |  7 Pagesbe related to suicide rates could meaningfully shape interventions as climate changes become more widespread, persistent, irreversible, an d significant. The dominant scientific way of thinking about the effect of climate on suicide rates primarily includes the idea that climate factors probably mediate psychological and social variables that themselves influence suicidal tendency. While few thinkers contend that climate is a major or primary proximal cause in suicides, the degree and nature ofRead MoreEssay Positivists 1421 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Positivists believe that we can gain true and objective knowledge of reality by applying methods of natural sciences in sociology . For them, reality exists independently of the human mind and nature is made up of objective, observable, physical facts that are external to our minds. They believe that like matter, humans are directed by an external stimuli-the society-and they act accordingly (example: functionalism, Marxism). By analyzing quantitative data, positivists simply seek to discover lawsRead MoreCompare and Contrast the Natural and Social Sciences in Their Philosophy and Appro ach to Research983 Words   |  4 PagesThe natural sciences aim has been to establish universal laws , of cause and effect , in order to replicate and generalise scientific arguments. Laws of physics , mathematics and chemistry look for logical, verifiable knowledge of the natural and physical world , in an attempt to translate it into applicable models and systems of valid and recognised stock of facts and data. It has been the purpose of the natural sciences to produce scientific statements, following an objective , value-free observation

Signature Assignment Portrait Of An Early Learner Essay

Portrait of an Early Childhood Learner Trissy Coppens Arizona State University Foundations of Diversity, Human Development, and the Young Child ECD 549 Larry Sidlik, Dr. Michael Roberts, Monique Davis December 4, 2014 Portrait of an Early Childhood Learner (MHC Early Childhood Solutions, n.d.) Did you survive the â€Å"terrible two’s?† Well congratulations and welcome to the what lies ahead for you and your three year old child. The next few years are called the â€Å"magic years† because it seems like magic that your child is finally listening to you and for your child it is an opportunity for their imagination to run wild. As parents we have watched our children grow and develop in the areas of height and weight, remembered when they first†¦show more content†¦In this domain Piaget stated that the child who is still in the preoperational stage can’t conceptualize abstractly and needs concrete physical situations. They can’t mentally manipulate information. The child is able to form stable concepts as well as magical beliefs and their thinking is still egocentric, which means that the child has difficulty seeing the viewpoint of others. Piaget split this stage into the symbolic and intuitive thought substage. In the symbolic fun ction stage children are able to understand, represent, remember, and picture objects in their mind without having the object in front of them. Vygotsky stated that children learn cognitive tasks through their interactions with older peers and adults. Not only do younger children watch and imitate older people or peers as they complete tasks, but these older guides also help younger children accomplish tasks they couldn’t accomplish on their own. He calls this the zone of proximal development which he describes what children can do alone and what they can do with assistance. Another theorist named Bandura coined the term observational learning which means people learn appropriate social behaviors by observing and modeling others. This type of learning is most effective during childhood. Vygotsky believed that the important part of the cognitive development is language. He observed that very youngShow MoreRelatedHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 PagesTo ease employee and managerial anxieties about the changes, GE Fanuc promised that no employees would lose their jobs. Managers and supervisors affected by the elimination of levels were offered promotions, transfers to other jobs in GE Fanuc, or early retirement buyouts. Additionally, employees were promised profit sharing, which has resulted in up to three weeks additional pay in profit sharing bonuses in some years. The test of the change is in the results. 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P1 Explain the Personal Attributes Valued by Employers

P1 EXPLAIN THE PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES VALUED BY EMPLOYERS In this report I will be explaining personal attributes that are valued by employers. An example of personal attributes is, self-motivation. I will also discuss three acts; Data Protection Act, Computer Misuse Act and Copyright Act. Self-motivation is ability to do what needs to be done, without influence from other people or situations. People with self-motivation can find a reason and strength to complete a task, even when challenging, without giving up or needing another to encourage them. Self-motivation is really valued by employers because so you do your work and not hand in work in late. Leadership is the individuals who are the leaders in an organization. Employers value†¦show more content†¦Respect is needed because you need to respect your colleagues at work because if do not have respect for your colleagues, you will get sacked from your job. Respect is feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. Planning skills is essential because this skill will allow you to look ahead and accomplish goals or avoid emotional, financial, physical or social hardship. It also lets you set out what you are doing before you do it. Therefore by planning your workout there is more chance of you doing it right and not mess it up. Written numerical is brilliant because by having it, you can work with any kind of numbers therefore you will not be stuck when you have to work with numbers. Most businesses will need employees with a sound understanding of mathematics. 3 job roles where attributes above are demonstrated: Doctors use respect at their work because you have to respect your patient whilst helping them. Also doctors need to respect the patient’s body and the state they are in. 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Circuit Training Essay Example For Students

Circuit Training Essay From reducing risk of heart attack to simplyproviding more energy, weight training plays animportant role in ones life. One very popular methodof weight training is to increase mobility and buildstrength and stamina. This method is known as circuittraining. Circuit training has been around for decades andoffers a wide variety of applications and benefits. This workout is performed both mentally andphysically. The weight training participant performsone set of an exercise then immediately performs aset of another exercise in succession without rest;one right after another. Exercise can be sequenced ina variety of combinations, which isolate singlemuscles, a group of muscles, or total body training. Since muscles can only contract for long periods oftime when sufficient amounts of oxygen are available,mental focus during circuit training is directedtowards the heart and lungs, as opposed just themuscles during conventional training. Thecardiovascular and respiratory systems feed ourworking muscles with oxygen filled blood that iseventually fueled by body fat. During conventional training the focus isnt on theheart and lungs because the cardio/respiratorysystem rests between exercises, allowing the ATP toLA cycle to be the energy supplier. (This cycle mustbe depleted in order for the body to burn fat). Byperforming circuit training, you dont give your heartor lungs a chance to relax, which keeps the ATP toLA cycle depleted. In addition to increasing heart andlung conditioning, enhancing your ability to useoxygen, ad burning fat, impressive muscular shapeand strength gains will result from doing anycircuit-training workout. Research studies consistently show that leans bodymass increases with a course of circuit training. A1-3.2 kg gain in lean body mass can be expected witha consequent decrease in relative fat mass of 1-3%,total weight remaining unchanged. This is a majorbenefit of circuit training, especially for those whowant to get in shape and tone up their muscles. Withtraditional aerobic training, a decrease in relative fatmass has led to a decrease in total weight with littlechange in lean body mass. The resistance workinvolved in the circuits encourages muscle-massdevelopment, and thus any fat loss is replaced equallyby muscle gain. This makes it easier to maintain thelower body fat or reduce body fat even furtherbecause the increase in lean body mass pushes upbasal metabolic rate and overall calorie expenditure. These body-composition changes would support theuse of circuit weight training in a health and fitnesssetting where toning up, but not losing weight, werethe major goals. Circuit training is a great form of exercise, will helpalmost anyone improve their health and offers lots ofbenefits.

Pricing Strategy free essay sample

Pricing is one of the four elements of the marketing mix, along with product, place and promotion. Pricing strategy is important for companies who wish to achieve success by finding the price point where they can maximize sales and profits. Companies may use a variety of pricing strategies, depending on their own unique marketing goals and objectives. Premium Pricing Premium pricing strategy establishes a price higher than the competitors. Its a strategy that can be effectively used when there is something unique about the product or when the product is first to market and the business has a distinct competitive advantage. Premium pricing can be a good strategy for companies entering the market with a new market and hoping to maximize revenue during the early stages of the product life cycle. Penetration Pricing A penetration pricing strategy is designed to capture market share by entering the market with a low price relative to the competition to attract buyers. We will write a custom essay sample on Pricing Strategy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The idea is that the business will be able to raise awareness and get people to try the product. Even though penetration pricing may initially create a loss for the company, the hope is that it will help to generate word-of-mouth and create awareness amid a crowded market category. Economy Pricing Economy pricing is a familiar pricing strategy for organizations that include Wal-Mart, whose brand is based on this strategy. Aldi, a food store, is another example of economy pricing strategy. Companies take a very basic, low-cost approach to marketingnothing fancy, just the bare minimum to keep prices low and attract a specific segment of the market that is very price sensitive. Price Skimming Businesses that have a significant competitive advantage can enter the market with a price skimming strategy designed to gain maximum revenue advantage before other competitors begin offering similar products or product alternatives. Psychological Pricing Psychological pricing strategy is commonly used by marketers in the prices they establish for their products. For instance, $99 is psychologically less in the minds of consumers than $100. Its a minor distinction that can make a big difference. Business-plan marketing strategy includes the sales and promotional methods you will use for procuring customers. Significance Business-plan marketing strategy should include at least a three-year sales forecast for your company. Project monthly sales for your business during the first year, the Small Business Administration advises. Make quarterly projections for your second and third years. Besides revenue projections, factor all business expenses such as labor and production costs. Subtract expenses from your anticipated revenue to derive annual profit estimates. Calculating your profit will better help you determine when your company will break even. Identification Include a detailed competitive analysis as part of your business-plan marketing strategy. Order secondary research information on your competition and industry. Secondary research information will help you determine the market share and business strategies of key competitors. Market share is the percentage of total sales a competitor earns in an industry. You can obtain secondary research information from market research firms such as the NPD Group and Forrester Research. Conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis for your company. Write down strengths and weaknesses of various competitors and compare them to your own companys strengths and weaknesses. Look for opportunities where you can take advantage of your strengths. For example, you may have a high quality rating versus other competitors, which you can use as a major selling point. Minimize any potential threats. For example, differentiate your product line in additional markets if your industry is at its saturation point. Features Another important aspect of your business-plan marketing strategy is personnel. Determine in advance what type of marketing employees you will need to hire. For example, you may have a marketing vice president and director but need to hire an advertising copywriter and product manager. Determine how many copywriters and product managers you will need initially. Decide when you will need to hire additional marketing personnel, based on your sales forecast. Function The crux of your business-plan marketing strategy should be focused on sales and advertising. Determine where and how to disperse your sales team. For example, decide in which regions you need sales managers. Consider employing inside sales reps to handle small town or rural markets. Additionally, establish an advertising budget for your company. Decide which types of advertising media you will use to market your products, such as direct mail or radio advertising. Allocate a certain percentage of your budget to each specific advertising media. Considerations Factor the product life cycle of your products into your business-plan marketing strategy. All products go through various stages: Introduction, growth, maturity and decline. Products can become outmoded because of new technology.