Project 1: Summary-Response Essay

Keep Pornography a Private Affair and Out of the Public’s View

            Pornography has been at the center of many debates for some time. Many law makers have a hard time defining exactly what pornography is. All the while, pornography producers use the First Amendment to their advantage, hiding behind it so they can continue to create pornography. The Susan Brownmiller’s essay “Let’s Put Pornography Back in the Closet” is the debate between the First Amendment and pornography. Her essay also brings up points regarding pornography that is degrading to women and how some consider educational material to be pornographic. I agree, at least, to keep pornography in the privacy of a person’s own bedroom.

            There are also debates between what is obscene and what is used for educational purposes. Brownmiller believes that “…explicit sexual material has its place in literature, art, science and education” (59). Where literature broadens the mind with its descriptions and illustrations that words paint of the human body, art exposes children to what the human body looks like and satisfies their curiosity. Art also gives children a sense of appreciation for the human body and helps them become comfortable in their own skin. However, science educates us on how the human body works. Science shows us the actions and reactions of the body and how it relates to other bodies. If not for education of the human body, how it works and what it looks like would still be a mystery to most. We would be in a sorry state of confusion without the answers to those questions.

            The effects on children exposed to pornography are also a concern. Obscenity laws should be put in place to protect the innocent from being exposed to pornography. When small children are exposed to pornography, often parents end up having to answer questions that they would have preferred to answer at a later date when that child is more mature and able to understand, not only the act of sex itself, but also the consequences of the act. Children who witness pornography’s “hatred of women” (59) and its determination to “humiliate, degrade and dehumanize the female body for the purpose of erotic stimulation and pleasure,” (59) according to Brownmiller, view this as normal and acceptable behavior. Early viewing of pornography can lead to experimenting prematurely, as well as teenage pregnancies. Sex crimes and their victims become more common as a result of this mistaken sense of acceptable behavior. Victims of sex crimes may also be unprotected from pornographic material that was similar in nature to their own traumatic experience, therefore, causing a relapse in their own recovery.

            Brownmiller insists that “[t]o buy a paper at the corner newsstand is to subject oneself to a forcible immersion in pornography, to be demeaned by an array of dehumanized, chopped-up parts of the female anatomy, packaged like cuts of meat at the supermarket” (59). Skin graces our magazines, book covers and TV more than ever, and mostly its women showing the skin. Society has no choice but to look; it is practically thrown in our faces. As long as society views women simply as skin and a sexual object then that’s how our children are preserving women. Simply “Eye Candy” to be ogled and stripped bare before “hello” can exit her mouth. Women, as a whole, are becoming more educated and less respected because of all the dehumanizing that is geared towards them.

            The First Amendment will continue to protect the pornography industry until obscenity laws are passed. Brownmiller does remind us that “[t]here are restraints against false and misleading advertising or statements… that do not threaten, but strengthen our societal values” (60). One day, hopefully, there will be a law that restricts pornography and defines obscenity. Sex is an adult activity and should be kept as such. Keep pornography in the bedroom and out of daily entertainment, advertisements, off the coffee tables and out of the DVD players.

Works Cited

Brownmiller, Susan. “Let’s Put Pornography Back in the Closet.” Current Issues and Enduring Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking and Argument, with Readings. 9^th ed. Eds. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2011. 57-60. Print.

Project 2: A day without....

A Day without Banks

            A bank is an institution which provides financial services. They collect, loan, exchange and provide a safe place to keep money. Banks date back to Ancient Egypt where livestock and grain were bartered for other goods that the Egyptians needed. According to Murdoch, the Knights Templar “…pretty much invented international banking.” He also refers to them as “…the original ATMs,” subsequently people could take their money, deposit it with the Knights Templar and then withdraw it somewhere else within the civilized world. They also made loans to countries and funded wars, thus, leading to their downfall by Philip IV of France who was in debt to the Knights Templar. Banks have been around for centuries. They can make or break a country and their economy, and individuals can go about business with minimal use of a bank.

            Banks are irreplaceable. They have evolved with technology and it is easier than ever to have one’s pay check go directly into one’s own account and to have bills instantly paid. Banks are the safest place for everyone’s money and valuables that are stored in safe deposit boxes. Internet banking and ATMs have made it easier to access accounts, make purchases, and make transfers. Fraud is easier to detect with all these new features that technology has presented to us in the past decade. People no longer have to hide money under mattresses or to worry about whether it was stolen or turned to ashes in a fire. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the FDIC, insures depositors “…up to $250,000 from bank mismanagement or other banking problems” as stated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

            From an individual stand point, people can live without having a personal bank. As per Choi who stated that “a federal study last year found that about one in four U.S. households skirts banks and relies on services such as check-cashing and payday loans.” A history of bad credit, language barriers, and horrible experiences with previous banks and their fees has had an effect on this trend. Check cashing fees and money orders can add up though out the month when using them. Finding places that will cash a check and issue money orders is also an issue, and if a money order is lost, they are difficult to track and even more so to replace.

Banks are also at the heart of every countries economy. At the moment, the United States economy is hurting because of bank failures that are the result of bad bank loans. The closure of all banks would cause utter chaos. Our economy would cease to exist. We would be right back where we started “where savings are stashed in risky hiding places, credit is only available through expensive pawnshops or loan sharks, and where purchasing a home requires a suitcase full of cash” as stated by International Herald Tribune. Therefore, with all banks closed and non-operational, money would not be accessible. Credit and debit cards would be useless. The economy would come to a screeching halt with no loans being lent, money being spent, or money being made. Supply and demand are what our economy is all about, but when there are no means to support the demand, there is no supply.

             A bank failure is defined by the FDIC as “…the closing of a bank by a federal or state banking regulatory agency... when it is unable to meet its obligations to depositors and others.” If this were to happen across the country, essentially our country would be bankrupt. The paper and ink the dollar bill is printed on would be worth more than the actual currency amount. Loans would not be able to be given out to customers.

The government puts regulations on banks not only to prevent the institute and its employees from committing fraud, but also to prevent bank failures and acts of terrorists. These regulations are in place to protect the consumer. They also use the regulations to track money, which if suspicious, can lead authorities to terrorist or ordinary criminals, such as drug dealers, tax evaders, or murderers for hire. Especially after the terror attacks of September 11^th, the government insists that the bank verify the identity of each and every customer. The U.S. Treasury is responsible for  currency and coinage; managing federal finances; supervising national banks and thrift institutions; investigating and prosecuting tax evaders, counterfeiters, and forgers; and advising on domestic and international financial, monetary, economic, trade and tax policy. There are several offices under the U.S. Treasury that banks must comply with avoid fines. The Secret Service, not only protects the president, but also plays a role in banking. The United States Secret Service “…is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the nation's financial infrastructure and payment systems.” This includes counterfeit currency and financial crimes, example: identity theft, forgery, and money laundering.  The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, is “…a partner in the U.S. National Money Laundering Strategy.” The IRS try to identify and thwart money laundering that may benefit criminals who are attempting to evade taxes, finance terrorism, or any other illegal activity. The Federal Reserve “…makes the key decisions affecting the cost and availability of money and credit in the economy.” The Federal Reserve Board members are the people who determine the interest rates on borrowed money. The members lower the interest rate to encourage spending and raise it to slow spending down. They also regulate banks on the amount of assets they must keep on hand and how much money in loans a bank can give out.

In 2002, the country of Argentina went bankrupt. Thomas Catan reported that “…bank depositors are facing the prospect of having their life savings transformed into bonds for the second time in 12 years.” With their economy in shambles, Argentina’s spending was out of control. The Reality of Country Bankruptcy website stated “…that the government has frozen bank accounts and have limited the maximum amount that an account holder can withdraw in a day or week.” The Argentinian’s had ran to their financial institutions and withdrew all the funds they could before the declared bankruptcy, this in turn made the economy suffer all the more. Reducing the money that a bank holds this reduces the amount of money to make loans and the potential money from the loans are not being spent in the economy to keep it moving. Therefore, there is an economy where the majority of the population is holding on to what money they have and this eliminates demand which stifles supply. When there is an abundant of supply, there is no need to produce any more since demand is down and that is when jobs are cut.

            Throughout history, civilization has depended on banks to survive. Without them, people would still be depending on the bartering system to meet their needs and support their families. Technology as we know it would not have been able to make the advances they have made. Loans would not be given; credit would be totally an unknown. Supply and demand are very sensitive things and if they are not being kept at a steady rate everything just falls apart. Without banks to keep the money moving easily so supply and demand can be stable, this country does not have a leg to stand on.

Works Cited

“A Guide to Your First Bank Account.” Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Web. 18 Mar. 2011.

"Bank Secrecy Act." Internal Revenue Service. 3 Jan. 2011. Web. 22 Mar. 2011.

Catan, Thomas. "Argentine strikes raise fears of renewed rioting DUHALDE GOVERNMENT BANK DEPOSITORS FACE SAVINGS BEING CHANGED INTO BONDS. " The Financial Times.  (April 22, 2002): 10. General OneFile. Gale. Motlow State Community College. 21 Mar. 2011 

Choi, Candice. "Life without a Bank: Fees and Confusion Galore - Business - Your Retirement - Personal Finance - Msnbc.com." Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News - Msnbc.com. 4 Oct. 2010. Web. 18 Mar. 2011.

 “Criminal Investigations." United States Secret Service. 2010. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.

“Duties & Functions of the U.S. Department of the Treasury." U.S. Department of the Treasury. 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.

“FROM MATTRESSES TO MORTGAGES.” International Herald Tribune. 27 Feb. 2006. Web. 16 Mar. 2011.

“MONKS ON A MISSION; Never mind the Da Vinci Code - we should be grateful to the Knights Templar for inventing international banking, writes Adrian Murdoch. " The Herald (Glasgow, Scotland).  (Feb 18, 2005): 6. Custom Newspapers. Gale. Motlow State Community College. 16 Mar. 2011.

“The Reality of Country Bankruptcy | THE BANKRUPTCY SITE." The Bankruptcy Site. Web. 21 Mar. 2011.

"The Structure of the Federal Reserve System." Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 8 July 2003. Web. 22 Mar. 2011.

“When a Bank Fails - Facts for Depositors, Creditors, and Borrowers." FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Web. 19 Mar. 2011.

Project 3: Ad. Analysis

                                                                                                                          

Hello, my name is Violet Brown. I know… what a unique name. Anyway, I started this blog to reach out to people who are obese, like I used to be, and to help them loose weight, like I did. First, let me tell you a little about myself. I am a 19 year old college student and I’ve been obese for most of my life. And like any girl, I like to do girl stuff, like wear make-up, take bubble baths, keep up with the latest fashion trends, and get my nails done. Sometimes, I would get really depressed looking at all the skinny girls in the magazine clothing advertisements. And going shopping didn’t help either cuz none of the clothes ever fit right or I couldn’t find my size.

            The first ad I came across was by DKNY. The skinny, blue eyed girl in a pink jacket and a short skirt had the self-confidence that I craved. She impressed upon me that she had the determination to take on the world all by herself. I just knew that if I could look like that and wear those same clothes that I could have her self-confidence to hold my head high and show a little skin and take over the world with her (metaphorically speaking, of course). The determination I saw in her eyes fueled mine to lose weight and be a healthier person. Outside I went to get some exercise; I thought it would be nice to get in a few laps around the house. The outside experience didn’t turn out so well, not only did I get attacked by a swarm of sand gnats; I also was having trouble breathing by the time I got back to the front door after my first lap. That night I decided that instead of having my regular two Arby’s Beef-n-Cheddar with extra Arby’s sauce, a large Potato Bites, a large Jalapeño Bites, a large Sweet Tea and a Cherry Turn-Over, I’d have only one Beef-n-Cheddar sandwich and the Potato bites with a Diet Coke. I continued this routine, minus the outside exercise, for about a week. I saw very little results so I went back to looking at magazines’ and eating the same meals as before.

            That’s when I came across Leon Max’s designer clothes ad. The girl’s long flowing hair and being on the beach without looking like a beached whale is what caught my attention. The girls far-away look on her face also made me wonder is she was looking or waiting for that “special someone.” The whole advertisement just spoke to me; the girl looked so relax, so peaceful, just waiting. OH! How I longed to not look like a beached whale on the beach that summer and to feel at peace with myself while waiting for my “special someone.” And to just walk down the beach without people shouting at you that you’re blocking their view. I was off to start a new diet, no more Arby’s for me! Wendy’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich, hold the lettuce and tomato, add bacon and cheese, with a small fries and a side of chili and a Diet Coke. HEY, a girl has got to eat! After lunch I thought I’d try exercising again, so I went to Wal-Mart… might as well walk around in the A/C with no bugs to attack you! I was determined to have that beach body by summer and in the middle of doing my exercise at Wal-Mart I thought it might be helpful to pick up some workout DVD’s. I went home and watched the DVD’s. I broke out into a sweat just watching them!

            Another two weeks passed by, summer was getting closer and closer, and I had only lost 4lbs with the change in the diet, the exercising at Wal-Mart, and watching the DVD’s. The pounds were coming off but not as fast as I wanted them too. That’s when I saw the advertisement for Joe’s Jeans and the girls were so skinny. I swear I could make out their bones though their skin, since one of them was topless sitting in a sink. And to sit in a sink like that... I don’t think I could get my foot up that high, much less fit into it, but there’s no denying how sexy they looked and how I wanted to look just like that. I jumped on the internet to figure out how they stay so skinny. 

            I found an article in Marie Claire, “‘My 11-Grape Diet’: A Model Confesses.” Cleo Glyde had confessed to eating “…a green-grape diet (three for breakfast, two for snacks, six for binges).” I couldn’t ever imagine eating only eleven grapes a day. Glyde also pointed out that, while these models are incredibly beautiful; they are also undernourished and extremely unhealthy, probably just as unhealthy as I am in my obese state. She also described how one model “…died of anorexia-related heart failure between costume changes…” This led me to look up what anorexia was. From the National Eating Disorders Association “anorexia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.” The National Eating Disorders Association says that the “…average American woman is 5’4” tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5’11” tall and weighs 117 pounds” and that “most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women.” I was really shocked by all of this and although they were my inspiration for losing weight I didn’t want to go from one extreme unhealthy state to another. My determination stepped up a notch to not only lose weight but to do so in a healthy way.

            The question “You are woman?” jumped out at me from another magazine ad for the French Connection. And I thought about that question as I looked at the skinny girl in the white strapless dress (how wonderful it would be to be able to wear a strapless dress and not have to depend on a bra all the time!) as she held her Eiffel Tower made of yarn. Yes! I am woman! But I didn’t feel feminine enough and I knew I didn’t look feminine like the girl who looked up at me from the pages of my magazine.

            The last straw had been drawn! And I was now more determined than ever to lose weight and still be healthy while doing so. I was off to Subway and not to get my normal Footlong Meatball Marinara sandwich with its 1,160 calories, oh no, I was going for the 6” Turkey Breast on Wheat Bread with all the veggies I could possibly get and excluding all the condiments, some apples slices and bottled water. I soon got tired of eating only turkey and I started alternating between turkey, black forest ham and oven roasted chicken. I continued going to Wal-Mart (and sometimes Target) every night to get some walking done. The DVD’s were helpful as well, once I started using them the way they were intended to be used. The pounds started melting off and I felt more energized than I had at any point in my life prior to that moment.

            I was finally starting to feel as beautiful as the girls in the advertisements. I was finally able to fit into a dress that I had seen in one of those ads. The dress was only $19.95 and from H&M, with its wonderful color palate of baby blues, pinks and browns. Its light fabric floated around me and fit me just like it did the girl in the picture. I now shared the air of confidence that all those other girls in all those other ads did. I finally found a confortable weight. I am happy with my weight now and my Dr. is happy with it too. I know that I will probably never be the size Zero that the models are but I am happier in my skin being a size 8 from a size 18.

            I hope that whoever reads this blog finds it to be helpful. I hope this encourages other women out there to lose weight in a healthy way and understand that just because those girls in those ads are skinny doesn’t mean that they are still healthy. And that on either side of the scale, underweight or overweight both are very harmful extremes and have some very dangerous consequences.

Works Cited

“Anorexia Nervosa." National Eating Disorders Association. 2005. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.

DKNY. Advertisement. Vogue. April 2011: 79. Print.

French Connection. Advertisement. Elle. April 2011: 199. Print.

Glyde, Cleo. "Fashion Model Eating Disorder - Marie Claire - Marie Claire." Hairstyles for Women, Fashion, Beauty Products, and Relationship Advice - Marie Claire. 30 Apr. 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.

H & M. Advertisement. Elle. April 2011: 46-47. Print.

Joe’s Jeans. Advertisement. Elle. April 2011: 289. Print.

Leon Max. Advertisement. Vogue. April 2011: 90-91. Print.

“Statistics: Eating Disorders and Their Precursors.” National Eating Disorders Association. 2005. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.

Project 4: Lit. Analysis

          A dramatic monologue is a story where the main character shares their inner most thoughts and exposes the reader to the speaker’s true personality thru little or no interaction with other characters. Curry observes that “[a] glance over English literature shows us the fact that the monologue was no sudden invention of Browning’s, but that it has been gradually developed, and is a natural form, as natural as the play.” Curry also states that the dramatic monologue “…was simply carried to perfection by Browning.” Browning’s My Last Duchess has a speaker with base emotions of controlling possessiveness, jealously and selfish pride, with a need to preserve what he feels rightfully belongs to him alone.         

            The Duke of Ferrara, in My Last Duchess, is controlling and extremely possessive of the duchess even in death. He insists on hiding the duchess’ portrait behind a curtain and he is the only one that reveals and conceals the portrait. He “…gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together,” (lines 45-46) and is now the only one who decides who is fortunate enough to gaze upon her smiles. The duke shows his controlling nature to the counts messenger as he “…monopolizes the conversation,” observed by Curry, by opening the curtain and discussing his last duchess instead of business about his future duchess.

            The duke is jealous of his wife’s kind smiles and thankfulness that she bestows on everyone from the “officious fool” (27) that brought her a “bough of cherries” (27) to the Duke himself and his “nine-hundred-years-old name” (33). This does not sit well with the duke; he sees his name as being something to be proud of and a gift to be coveted above any other. That is why he is trying to impress this fact upon the counts messenger, so that his future duchess knows her place and what is expected of her. Jerman agrees and points out that the duke “…would tolerate no rivals for his next wife's smiles.”

            The duke is selfish and prideful in that he refuses to “stoop,” (34) even “…to correct his first wife…” states Perrine. He is selfish in that he conceals her portrait for only his eyes and whomever he deems worthy to have a glance at her. He is proud of his nine hundred year old name and seemingly disgusted that his last duchess does not take any pride in it. The duke takes pride in his art collection pointing out “Neptune,” (54) and “Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, / Which Claus of Innisbruk cast in bronze for me!” (55-56) which also shows off his wealth.

            The Duke of Ferrara’s interview with the counts messenger seems to be a warning for the future duchess. The duke, in his arrogance, shows how ruthless he can be if he deems it necessary to preserve his status in society. Browning left it to the reader’s imagination as to what really happened to the duke’s last duchess, but it is clear that the duke’s selfish pride, possessiveness and jealously led to the duchess early and mysterious demise.

Works Cited

Browning, Robert. "My Last Duchess." The Portable Poetry Home Page - Customised, Portable Collections of Poetry. 2001. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.

Curry, S. S. Browning and the Dramatic Monologue. Boston: Expression, 1908. Print/e-book.

Jerman, B. R. "Browning's Witless Duke." PMLA 72.3 (Jun. 1957): 488-93. JSTOR. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.

Perrine, Laurence. "Browning's Shrewd Duke." PMLA 74.1 (Mar. 1959): 157-59. JSTOR. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.

Sessions, Ina Beth. "The Dramatic Monologue." PMLA 62.2 (Jun. 1947): 503-16. JSTOR. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.