Famine, Affluence, and Morality Essay Example for Free

Famine, Affluence, and Morality Essay In Singer’s article Famine, Affluence, and Morality, his main goal is to get the point across that there are people in the developing world that are starving and have a lack of healthcare and the lack of shelters. He argues about how affluent countries react to the issues like Bengal and the way they look at the moral issue surrounding it. He also argues that the way of life is taken for granted by affluence people. The first counter- argument in the article is â€Å"the view that numbers do make a difference† (Singer, 1971). It refers to if every affluent person would give 5 dollars to the Bengal Relief Fund that money would add up. Therefore, there is no reason to have to give more money than anyone else in the same position. Singer argues that this is based off a hypothetical situation. He, however, says in the article that there is no way for that work since no one would give more than 5 dollars then there would not be enough money to provide food, shelter, and medical care. He says by giving more than 5 dollars he will be able to end more suffering. The second counter argument people do not judge the way Singer suggested they should. Many people tend to keep their judgments to themselves unless they go overboard, step out bounds, and break some type of moral code. The example that Singer uses is taking someone else’s property. Most people tend not to look bad on owning expensive items instead of giving to people less fortunate. Singer’s response to this argument is, â€Å"unless that principle is rejected, or the arguments are shown to be unsound, I think the conclusion must stand however strange it appears. It might, nevertheless, be interesting to consider why our society, and most other societies, do judge differently from the way I have suggested they should. † (Singer, 1972) At what point do people draw the line at what should be done and what is good but not mandatory. Singer brings up a point that, â€Å"In a society which held that no man should have more than enough while others have less than they need. † (Utilitarian Philosophers, NDG) Many people are influenced by the people around them. If people are giving less than people around them are likely to give less, but if people give more than people around him are likely to give more. The third counter argument is the difference between duty and charity. The argument is that in some utilitarian theory that everyone should work full time to increase happiness over misery. Meaning that, if people work more, are paid more money than people would not be as miserable, many people say money cannot buy happiness. Singer’s reaction to this counter- argument is that, â€Å"we ought to be preventing as much suffering as we can without sacrificing something else of comparable moral importance. † (Utilitarian Philosophers, NDG) Singer defines marginal utility as the level at which giving more would result in suffering in his dependents or himself. The meaning of this is that one would limit their material possessions to less than nothing. He further explains that he proposed a more moderate version of marginal utility, â€Å"that we should prevent bad occurrences unless, to do so, we had to sacrifice something morally significant, for one might hold that to reduce oneself and ones family to this level is to cause something significantly bad to happen. (Singer, 1972) It relates to his arguments because he insists that we need to limit our material possessions to that of the Bengal refugees. Singer compares the distinction between duty and charity as not an easy line to draw. However Singer gives an example as this, â€Å"The charitable man may be praised, but the man who is not charitable is not condemned. When we buy new clothes not to keep ourselves, warm but to look well-dressed we are not providing for any important need. We would not be sacrificing anything significant if we were to continue to wear our old clothes, and give the money to famine relief. By doing so, we would be preventing another person from starving. † (Singer, 1972) In other words, instead of buying expensive worthless stuff for yourself giving the extra money would benefit more people and make it more charitable; however, you do not give the extra money to charity you are not looked at any differently. I do agree with some parts of his article, however, I disagree with most of it. First, I think that his article come off with a major attitude in my mind. He does however make some good points like the way he talks about how some people are influenced by the people around them. Another good point that he made is it should not matter how far the distance is wither they are in the same area as you are thousands of miles away. I do not agree with how he insinuates that the richer you are the more you should give. I believe that a person should give as much as he or she wants. I also believe that a person giving charity should not be held at a higher pedestal then someone that is not able to give to charity.

The Theme of Girl Power in Joy Luck Club and Taste of Honey :: Joy Luck Club Taste of Honey Amy Tan Essays

The Theme of Girl Power in Joy Luck Club and Taste of Honey Joy Luck Club and Taste of Honey Women’s rights is an issue of serious interest in much of today’s literature. As more women take the pen in hand more and more female characters take center stage in the stories they write. The newest term for this focus on the powerful heroine is called â€Å"Girl Power† and this strength of persona can be seen in two pieces of literature in particular. The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, and A Taste of Honey, by Shelagh Delaney. In the Joy Luck Club Amy Tan write about the lives of four mother’s from China who pass their lives’ wisdom down to their daughters who are growing up on the foreign shores of California, USA. Each of these women have a story to tell about growing up in the patriarchal society of china, how they overcame the stifling environment they grew up in and how they survived and escaped to the â€Å"new world† as it were. The story of An Mei, Waverly Jong’s mother, is an excellent example of how women can take control of the situations that are forced upon them and make their lives better. In the novel An Mei is sold into a marriage at the age of four. At fifteen, on her wedding day she discovers she has been married to 13 year old boy, who no more wants to be a husband than he does a father. An Mei is forced to sleep on the floor and treated to the derisive comments and punishments of her mother in law when she fails to produce a child. However, over hearing a house servant who found herself pregnant, she devises a plan to escape her ill-fated life and out-trick her lying child-groom. She uses the superstitions of the traditional Chinese and her clever wit to win a ticket out of the loveless marriage and back to Shanghai with her family. This tale, re-told by An Mei, shows how woman, even in dire situations, can take charge of their lives and make the most of what they have. Rose Hsu Jordan is another one of Tan’s Characters that really takes charge of her life just when it seems she would be swallowed whole by a man’s world. In this present day tale, a young woman find herself married to man whose opinions she has grown to value above her own. She has forgotten how to value herself and fallen prey to the pitfall of pleasing her husband before taking care of her own needs.

Corona Beer Ad Analyze

More than a Corona What do you imagine when you hear Corona beer? Usually it’s that same image of the commercial taking place on a perfect beach. What would a beer have to with a beach, that’s isolated and pretty much perfect? Corona is selling it’s beer by selling a dream with it; and it’s working. The typical Corona commercial we see on television has basic elements that are present in all of them. These basic elements are a beach, with crystal clear water, flawless sand, isolation, and of course a cold Corona beer. In a particular Corona commercial that I had analyzed goes like this, it starts with the signature beach, that’s completely isolated, with calm crystal clear water, and sand that is so clean you can eat off of it. Next it starts to zoom out and the Corona beer comes into the picture between a young woman bathing in the sun and a man skipping rocks along the water, while the man is skipping the rocks his phone begins to ring. He is about to go for another rock but grabs his phone and then there is a slight pause, he then skips the phone along the water like the rocks. The woman then brushes her hair back with her hand and continues to just relax and be attractive. Then the commercial ends with its signature slogan, â€Å" Relax Responsibly†, on the bottom. What the ordinary person doesn’t know is that all of these components are used to hook the customer and it works almost every time. Through Jib Fowles, â€Å"Advertising’s Fifteen Basic Appeals†, we learn of the aspects that attract the average consumer to buy products, which are the Fifteen basic appeals. Fowles suggests that advertisers incorporate desires and needs of the consumers into the advertisements; these desires and needs that captivate the viewer or the consumer are part of Fowles Fifteen basic appeals (73-74). The most obvious appeals in the Corona commercial that I analyzed are the needs for autonomy, to escape, and for aesthetic sensations; there is also a small hint of the need for sex. Starting with the more apparent ones we will look at autonomy first. According to Fowles the need for autonomy is projected by â€Å"the need to endorse the self. The focus here is upon the independence and integrity of the individual†(82). What Fowles is getting at here is that the consumers like the idea of independence and keeping themselves up on there own two feet. This is connected with the Corona commercial by the actions of the man. The man is on the beach he gets a phone call an average person would pick up the phone. But in fact this man goes against social standards and rebelling against what should be done. He’s deviating from the world and standing alone by doing what he wants to do. What he wants to do is drop all responsibility and not conform to societies beliefs of all work and no play. Next we look at the need for escape. We can all imagine that place of escape and the Corona commercial exemplifies this paradise that is isolated and away from other people. It’s just you, the beautiful beach, and your Corona beer. What more could you ask for when your away from the world? From the commercial there is a sense of escape from responsibility when the man tosses the phone away. You also see the man’s need to escape by the fact that he’s on the beach by himself with just his lady. The final dominant appeal is the need for aesthetic sensations. Watching the commercial with the image of paradise, a beautiful woman, and a cold Corona there’s a feeling of perfection. It gives the viewer this extreme satisfaction that through a Corona this is all possible. This picture perfect view captures the consumers and leaves an imprint of perfection in their minds. Humans like things that are nice to view. If it’s nice to view they want to encounter it more and have it. Finally in this commercial there is a slight hint of the need for sex. The woman on the side is a symbol of sex in the commercial. Her very slight movement and presence gives a feeling and need for sex because a man and a woman isolated alone on a flawless beach gives that sexual sense. Even though sex is not so evident it is still signaled. So why all these appeals and mind games in order to sell a beer? Well the average consumer thinks when they buy a product they are buying just the tangible product that they picked up in the store. But the truth is they’re being sold something much more. Along with that pair of shoes you’re buying the advertisement’s life. What I mean by the advertisement’s life is the qualities and desires portrayed in the advertisement. In fact, when you buy a Corona you’re also buying a lifestyle in paradise. Advertisers tap into our deepest desires in order to take us away from practicality and to make their sell. Along with that Corona beer we’re being sold independence, escape, imprinted image of paradise in our minds, and a little bit of sex. Chuck Blore, a partner in the advertising firm Chuck Blore & Don Ruchman, Inc. had said â€Å"Advertising is the art of arresting the human intelligence just long enough to get money from it. † Advertisements have the ability to make you stop thinking with your brain but more with your desires. With this ability to put our desires on a poster or television screen we are led to believe that with that product we can achieve our dreams and desires. It’s more than just a beer that Corona advertisements are selling. They are selling a lifestyle where there are no responsibilities except to relax. Corona makes us believe that with just a six- pack of cold Corona we are transported in to a lifestyle where you have a private beach, a babe right next to you, no hint of the modern world, and no worries. This is exactly what advertisers want their consumers to think. If an advertiser is able to tap into the desires of consumers through advertisements, they have pretty much caught the consumer in a never-ending cycle. Like in Corona’s case, every time I see a Corona I think of that perfect beach and a captivating woman next to me. Corona was successful in tapping into my desires and now I feel that with a Corona I can be in paradise. Advertisers are very tapped into our desires and can influence what we buy and what we like. Like with the Corona commercial, if we buy Corona we can live a life free from social binds and have a perfect life. This desire, the perfect life, can be simply achieved by buying that six- pack of Corona beer. Corona isn’t just selling their beer but a dream that is highly unlikely with the idea â€Å"Relax Responsibly†. Works Cited â€Å"Corona Beer – Dumping Your Cellphone – 2009 Commercial. † Youtube. 28 Sept. 2009. Web. 14 Feb. 2010. Fowles, Jib. â€Å"Advertising’s Fifteen Basic Appeals. † Common Culture. 6th ed. Ed. Michael Petracca and Madeleine Sorapure. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. , 2009. 71-88. Print. Shah, Anup. â€Å"Media and Advertising. † Global Issues. 26 Jan. 2008. Web. 20

The UF Symphony Orchestra Performance I Saw Essay - 604 Words

I attended the UF Symphony Orchestra performance where the theme was of 1809. The works of Haydn, Beethoven and Mendelssohn were performed. In my opinion the best piece was Symphony No. 101 in D Major â€Å"The Clock† by Joseph Haydn. The opening movement itself was Adagio-Presto. The slow introduction draws you into the music, making you listen for the different instruments and tones that come and go. It helps to create a base from which the music will take off. It allowed me to paint a picture and change it accordingly with the music. When the music goes from slow and solemn to joyful and playful-like it you can fell, see and hear the difference in the tone color and dynamics. In this movement we experience the rocket theme and the†¦show more content†¦The third movement is the Minuet Trio: Allegretto. This movement is the typical dance-like theme, with its playful melodies and flowing chords. The fourth and final movement is the Finale: Vivace. In this movement th ere are lots of runs, crescendos and decrescendos throughout. It may go from a few musicians playing to the whole orchestra joining in. The flute is dominant in some parts of the sections. The tempo is once again quick and lively, but still contains its balance and restraint. The concert environment is different from those of musical performances such as jazz or hip-hop. When entering the auditorium the musicians are onstage warming up and preparing themselves for the performance. The audience members find seats suitable for their listening needs. The lights begin to dim signaling that the concert is about to begin. When the house lights are officially off the audience becomes silent and so does the performers onstage. Specific instruments play a single not at a time to make sure they are in tune with their fellow members. Once finished the conductor appears and the audience applauds. Many people did not know concert etiquette. Majority were dressed in street clothes, some were text ing and others were talking. A few times during the performance people sitting in the front rows would leave there seats only to return a few minutes later. People also