Satoshi Kon’s Critique on Society’s free essay sample

Desire for Escapism in Paranoia Agent Candidate No: Word Count: 3964 Abstract Satoshi Kon is an important figure in Japanese cinema. In many of his works, he analyzes the concept of society’s desire for escapism due to stress and anxiety which addresses the question of this essay—what is Kon’s perspective upon the nature of escapism and its impact upon society? This essay will examine a television series he directed called Paranoia Agent in order to explore Kon’s theme of escapism and its impact on society. Mainly episodes 1-5 and 9-13 will be covered in the essay. Sources ranging from interviews with Kon, reviews and news articles were researched to better understand Kon’s style of animation, thus understand Kon’s messages in Paranoia Agent. Through consulting these sources, we fully appreciate Kon’s techniques of framed narrative structuring, detailed and realistic art styles, diverse animation styles, sound effects and so forth which emphasize Kon’s critical portrayal of society’s escapism. We will write a custom essay sample on Satoshi Kon’s Critique on Society’s or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Through examining characters and their interactions with one another, we understand the fearsome influence of escapism on society. Characters succumb to the temporary relief of escapism, represented by the character Shonen Bat. As we examine character motivations and actions, the absurdity of escapism is established. Kon depicts society as vulnerable, desperate to avoid reality, thus suffers the consequences which include lost of identity, hallucinations or even death. Through escapism, the fragility of human nature is revealed. However, through development of certain characters, society redeems itself in the show. In the end, we realize that we can relate to these characters and the desire for escapism is inevitable as Kon admits. We conclude that escapism is necessary in order to preserve our sanity in this stress-driven society; however we must ensure that we still hold the courage to face reality to avoid slipping too deeply into the world of escapism and consequently, lose our sanity. Word Count: 299 Table of Contents Title Page1 Abstract2 Introduction4 An Overview of Kon’s Art Style4-5 Plot Summary of Paranoia Agent5-6 The Beginning of Escapism—Stress from Society6-7 The Growing Influence of Escapism7-10 The Indirect Influence of Escapism10 A Symbolic Representation on the Theme of Escapism 11 Truth of Escapism Revealed11-12 Escapism at Its Utmost Absurdity12-13 Solution to Escapism13 Conclusion13-14 Biblography15 Introduction Satoshi Kon is a director of Japanese animated films and TV series. In many of his works, he provides commentary on society, seen in television series Paranoia Agent. Paranoia Agent is a story of a hit-and-run assailant whose attacks strangely seem to bring relief to his victims rather than suffering. He places emphasis upon the portrayal of the human psyche as a fragile target of an assortment of societal flaws. Humans develop a natural instinct to avoid confronting reality to conjure a proper resolution to their problems whether it is pressure from work, bullying or family; instead they refuge in their own internal world. The act of retreating to an illusionary world comes in the form of escapism, becoming unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy due to their intensive anxiety and stress. This idea is developed through the characters of Paranoia Agent whom which the audience is able to empathize with. The internal world of characters appears to materialize into the real world as a result of their delusions. Kon expands upon the fearsomeness of the internal world by proposing that these illusions can â€Å"possess† others or provide a catalyst to the delusions of others. Through Paranoia Agent, we ask: â€Å"What is the nature of escapism and its impact upon society? Therefore, through this theme of escapism from society’s demons, Kon explores humanity’s weak nature with great realism and fictional elements as powerful metaphors. An Overview of Kon’s Art Style Kon uses a realistic animation style to engage his audience. He rejects the conventional doe-eyed, abnormally haired character designs of anime. Many characters appear unattractive: â€Å"Unlike with most anime titles, the artists arent shy about using unattractive and unappealing designs even for protagonist roles† (Theron) and â€Å"drawn with such attention to detail †¦ its a rejection of animes traditional subject matter and a celebration of everything that people watch anime to escape†¦ humdrum reality. (Hendrix) This serves to both reflect society’s own cast of characters (being not all beautiful) and reflect the ugliness of human nature. He also includes realistic background scenery depicting common everyday occurrences which he emphasizes in his interviews: â€Å"Even in different worlds, solid everyday lives must exist. †(Hendrix). Kon describes how he makes careful observations of everyday scenes and cond enses them so that they are precise in conveying certain elements in his animation: â€Å"Observing what is around us in real life and animating them as you say makes me observe them in even more depth. Recreating them as drawings/anime is totally different from cutting out the scene as a photograph†¦You reduce the amount of unnecessary information and gather what is necessary on one screen. †(Hendrix) Kon’s portrayal of society is articulate so that it effectively represents reality yet is concise enough that viewers do not become distracted by other unrelated factors occurring in the scene. This animation style allows the audience to become engulfed in the plotline, creating the effect of magic realism—supernatural events occurring in reality. Realism draws in his audience and subtly weaves the fantasy world with the â€Å"reality† of the characters and in turn the viewer. Richard Pena, the Film Society program director of the Film Society of Lincoln Centre, commented that Kon’s films â€Å"develop a contextual fluidity that allows people†¦to inhabit several different planes of meaning at the same time. The visual style is deceptively simple; its only over the course of a film that its depths, layers and traps are revealed. † (Pena). Kon’s animation style creates seamless transitions from reality to fantasy, thus allowing the audience to interpret his scenes as a multifaceted representation of society. A plot overview: The main plot of Paranoia Agent involves characters seeking escapism from the accumulated stress from society. The story begins with mascot designer, Tsukiko Sagi, who is responsible for creating the popular dog character ‘Maromi’ in Japan. Consequently, her fans eagerly expect her to create another equally likeable character despite her struggles to do so. However, conveniently, just as the deadline of her new creation approaches; she is attacked by a mysterious boy with a bent bat. This assault results in a chain of mysteries detectives Maniwa and Ikari are called to investigate. The mysterious assailant, known as ‘Shonen Bat’ according to the media, begins a string of seemingly random attacks. Nevertheless, as the story unravels, there is an evident connection between the victims of his attacks. They all share a common trait—the desire to escape from reality due to hardships in life. As the story progresses, there is a growing absurdity in characters’ motivations to find escapism in Shonen Bat. The growing desire to escape from reality fuels Shonen Bats’ power so greatly that he transforms into a colossal black entity which consumes all of Tokyo. Fortunately, as characters learn to accept reality, Shonen Bat disappears and order returns to society. The Beginning of Escapism—Stress from Society The theme of escapism begins with a person experiencing the hardships of society, bringing anxiety and stress. This is the source of permeability between the internal and external world of a person thus showing our weak human nature. Paranoia Agent begins with streets of Tokyo where only complaints and excuses are filtered through crowds pessimistically portraying a stress driven society. We hear complaining: â€Å"I feel really tired and all, so†¦I’ll have to pass this time. Sorry. †, a truck driver relaxing in a near-empty street telling his employer â€Å"†¦it’s a terrible gridlelock I’m sorry but I think I’ll be a bit late today. †, a businessman claiming â€Å"It wasn’t my fault†¦management told me to do that†. These excuses soon overlap one another and this sound effect creates an overwhelming sense of anxiety: â€Å"I have a really bad stomache, so I won’t be able to come in today†, â€Å"There wasn’t really anything I could do†, â€Å"It wasn’t my fault! It was his fault! †(Minakami) and so forth. Episode 1 focuses on Tsukiko, designer of the dog character â€Å"Maromi†. Her psyche weakens from expectations from her fans and superiors. It is established in the beginning that Tsukiko seeks refuge in escapism through her personification of Maromi. Her hallucinations of Maromi can be interpreted as schizophrenic episodes. When she becomes dejected by slanders on her website, her doll of Maromi comes to life and stops her from reading anymore of the cruel comments. Sound effects are used to emphasize her delusions as Maromi is even given a voice, coaxing Tsukiko â€Å"Everyone is just jealous†¦[You are] not the bad one. † (Minakami) However, Maromi’s eyes are animated pitch-black creating a sense of emptiness, reminding us of its true lifelessness. Furthermore, her withdrawal from society is shown through her preference to converse with lifeless objects rather than real people. Tsukiko decides to inflict injury upon herself in a desperate attempt to delay the deadline for her new creation. Her resulting internal conflict of guilt accrues to the creation of the illusionary character â€Å"Shonen Bat†. In her intense anxiety, she becomes so absorbed in her lie that she truly believes a boy with a bat had attacked her. Shonen Bat becomes the primary figure and catalyst in the theme of escapism from society’s oppression. His existence depicts of the weak side of humanity through his role as an anthropomorphic representation of stress. His interactions with other characters invoke the fragile part of human nature. Shonen Bat becomes a destructive force that affects others despite being born from the internal world of Tsukiko, thus emphasizing Kon’s depiction of stress from society as a force to be feared. Growing influence of Ecapism: Episode 2, 3 5 Although Shonen Bat was formed from Tsukiko’s own wish to escape from reality, Shonen Bat can affect the lives of others. A review at Anime News Network mentioned â€Å"[Paranoia Agent] manages to focus on someone new each time, but weaves such an intricate net of character relationships and psychological bridges that it never feels episodic. † (Theron). Kon uses a disjointed narrative for the story. Rather than confusing the audience, this narrative style is used to illustrate the overall sheer power of anxiety and the fragility of society. He includes many episodes featuring side characters that are indirectly related to Tsukiko—they find themselves cornered by the pressure of society and find escapism in an illusionary character. Through the media, the word of Shonen Bat’s existence spread, illustrating society’s tendency to spread chaos. Episode 2 involves a popular boy named Taira. His popularity becomes short-lived with the new student Ushiyama. His situation becomes worse as rumors spread claiming that he is in fact Shonen Bat. He becomes critical of everyone around him, especially Ushiyama despite his genuine desire to be friends. In order to reflect characters’ lost of identity and place in society due to their refusal to face reality, Kon sometimes animates the story with a minimalistic art style. One reviewer commented on this change of art style: â€Å"The overriding artistic style of the series, a sort of minimalist realism†¦frequently gives way to more distorted visuals presenting the world from [characters’] emotional viewpoint†. (Slavek) This distortion of visuals is seen in episode 2 where the frustrated Taira Yuichi descends into insanity as he blames others for his problems, he along with other characters is drawn in an amorphous state, constantly warping into deformed shapes. Voices are altered to unnatural low-pitch tones to illustrate his deteriorating mind due to escapism. This builds the idea of humans becoming so weak at the thought of facing reality; they succumb to delusions and struggle to break free from these hallucinatory worlds. In episode 3, Chouno suffers from a mental illness which is denoted through her name. ‘Chouno’, meaning butterfly (Campbell), signifies transformation—parallel to her dissociative identity disorder. As she loses significant control over her identity as well as the pressure of hiding this secret from her fiance, she calls out for Shonen Bat to â€Å"relieve† her of her problems (she desired to be attacked to delay the marriage) to which he complies. Society’s fervent embracement of Shonen Bat’s existence highlights the fragility of human nature. This collective desire to accept escapism earns disapproval from the audience. The use of music enhances the dangers of escapism which depicts the weakness of humans to face reality. As a review mentioned: â€Å"Musical scoring and sound effects are very well-done, with the director knowing exactly when to let a scene pass without accompaniment or spruce it up with appropriate – or in some cases diametrically inappropriate ditties. (Theron) When Chouno discovers that her alter-ego returns to sabotage her life, haunting calls from crows flood the audio to emphasize the sense of horror and desperation. Kon uses music to sometimes emphasize the horrifying fate that awaits those who seek escapism, but also uses â€Å"diametrically inappropriate ditties† of music in order to emphasize the underlying meaning of the scene. In the ending song where they show the cha racters sleeping, in the background there is a nursery-like tune consisting of minor chords. These conflicting elements suggest the sinister effects of escapism despite its pretty facade. We appreciate the ominous mood created through the music as commented by a reviewer: â€Å"itll be the stream of dark instrumental†¦that will sink into your subconscious. † (ANN) Lighting is another cinematic technique used to show characters being blinded by their weakness, consequently desiring escapism. Kon uses darkness as a method of blinding the perception of characters. When Chouno Harumi is attacked by Shonen Bat upon her request, he is represented as a dark shadow. Therefore, darkness blinds her from perceiving escapism’s obscure nature—self-destruction Escapism’s absurd distortion of reality is emphasized in episode 5 where detectives interrogate the fake Shonen Bat, Makoto. It is revealed that his attacks were part of his delusional role-play-gaming world. He juxtaposes his persona as the hero of his games in real life, thus attacking others in the name of ‘defeating the monsters’. The animation style changes to reflect that of a role-play-gaming world. This change in visuals creates confusion between reality and illusions to emphasize the distorted emotional perspective of the boy. Game-like music is used in the background, called â€Å"Dream Island Daytime. † (ANN) Evidently, Makoto finds escapism in his games. The idea of living in a hallucinatory world of false heroism is absurd. Makoto meets unsought ends due to his escapism—he is punished with confinement and he is later murdered by Shonen Bat. His demise illustrates potential fatality of escapism. As one review had described: â€Å"Kon wouldnt be his genres supreme self-reflexivist if he didnt insist on revealing frames within the frame† (Nelson). Kon’s noteworthy technique is imposing a narrative within a narrative. This framed structuring of plot produces confusion to reflect the character’s plummet into escapism. This technique is seen where Makoto is retells the episode in his perspective; the whole episode takes place in an RPG setting—the detectives and Makoto are transported to a fantasy world. This narrative blurs the borderline between reality and fantasy. Kon states: â€Å"My aim was to have the audience experience the protagonists internal confusion instead of the thrill or suspense on the exterior. We who were involved in the creation of this film called this feeling a sense of intoxication†¦ (Hendrix) in regards to his movie Perfect Blue. We can see Kon replicating this style in Paranoia Agent, too. The audience also experiences â€Å"intoxication† through escapism of characters. Their blurred vision of reality is Kon’s method of fully depicting the struggles of humanity as they battle their anxieties, thus illustrating the fragile and dark aspect of society. The Indirect Influence of Escapism—episode 9 Kon uses his narrative style to introduce other side-stories which in turn contribute to the general idea of society’s desperate struggle against pressure. Continuing with the idea of other characters developing Shonen Bat, the cartoon shows that while he can affect others directly (assaulting victims), Shonen Bat still influences others indirectly. Kon demonstrates it ironically in episode 9 where Shonen Bat affects others indirectly through causing hysteria in the public. Irony is created through the setting of gossiping housewives. We first obtain the illusion that they are spectators of the phenomenon. However, the episode reveals that they too are consumed by the existence of Shonen Bat through their desire to spread news of his existence to others. The ending of the episode provides a disturbing explanation of their role when the neglected housewife returns home to find her dying husband, attacked by Shonen Bat. She becomes so ensnarled by her desire to become a part of the Shonen Bat phenomenon, she loses her sanity seen by how her husband desperately cries â€Å"Call an ambulance! † admist her strangled demands of â€Å"Tell me how you were attacked! Tell me! † (Minakami) Instead of compelling her to face her inner psychic struggle, the attack fuels her delusional mind as she becomes ecstatic at the thought of being involved in the phenomenon. The episode ends with her demented gleeful expression and sounds of her strained voice to create a haunting atmosphere, especially as the screen fades to black. The wide of influence of these illusionary characters on others directly and indirectly further illustrate Kon’s emphasis on the power of anxiety caused by society invokes its pitiful weak nature. A Symbolic Representation on the Theme of Escapism—episode 10 The character Maromi develops the idea of humanity’s vulnerability to escapism. In episode 10, Kon features a symbolic representation of escapism. Maromi is referred to as an icon of peace. Nevertheless, she is another false bringer of relief like Shonen Bat. Due to the popularity of Maromi, a TV show was created featuring her adventures with a young baseball player. We are subjected to another framed narrative as the story is told in the narrative of Maromi’s show through the conversation between Maromi and the boy. His baseball bat, unlike Shonen Bat’s, is not warped, signifying reality. The baseball player explains his frustration with the sport. Maromi coaxes him to put down the bat and â€Å"take a break†(Yoshino). Letting go of the bat would represent letting go of reality and â€Å"taking a break† simply means avoiding one’s problem. This idea is emphasized with the setting of the ending theme. Everyone is sprawled on the peaceful field of grass and sleeping with Maromi sitting in the centre. The characters appear to be peaceful without worry which illustrates ignorance of their problems. They are laid on the ground to form a question mark. This poses the inquiry if seeking fantasy by the means of â€Å"sleeping† is truly the best solution. The Truth of Escapism Revealed—episode 11 In episode 11, the truth of Shonen Bat’s existence is voiced by the character Misae, Ikari’s wife—he is an ad-hoc relief. Contrastingly, Shonen Bat cannot hurt Misae although she is faced with a hopeless future—she suffers from a terminal disease and her husband struggles to pay for her operations—because of her strength to face reality. Consequently, she understands that Shonen Bat’s existence is an illusion given that he can only feel euphoria over simple things like hitting people and how this offers only false salvation. She declares: â€Å"No matter how harsh reality is, [humans] can confront it. (Minakami)Misae demonstrates the true strong and noble mind a human potentially holds. She becomes the embodiment of courage to face reality. This episode foreshadows the character development in others, particularly Ikari and Tsukiko. As Misae had predicted, Shonen Bat being an ad-hoc relief, invokes a temporary solution to one’s proble ms. Revisiting episode 1, before Tsukiko is attacked, there is a soft sound of chimes as though signaling danger. This is to suggest that despite characters’ belief that Shonen Bat is a form of relief; he is a dangerous solution to one’s problems. This music reappears as a leimotif whenever other character desires to escape reality. Past problems of characters resurface after Shonen Bat’s attack in episode 12. Through Shonen Bat’s attack, Tsukiko managed to be excused from designing her new character. However, as the commotion of the assault had settled, the demands of her new creation returned. She finds herself in the same position beforehand and even more stressed as her assistant is frustrated with her lack of results and even inflicts harm upon her: â€Å"How long are you going to be on your high horse? what do you think you are? The sun? How long has it been since you said you’d draw a new design? † (Minakami). Furthermore, Chouno’s alter-ego returns after the attack. Kon outlines the futility of escapism, only a temporary relief from stress. The absurdity of society, desperately relying on Shonen Bat in order to find a solution to their problems, voices the weak side of humanity Kon critiques. Escapism at its Utmost Absurdity—Episode 13 The climatic point is reached at episode 13 where Ikari and Tsukiko delve into escapism to its utmost absurdity. They are transported to a surreal world. The irrationality of escapism and humanity’s weakness are emphasized through changes in animation style. In this escapist world, the animation contains a flat, two-dimensional art style, suggesting characters live in a world where they do not experience the full range of human emotions. The 2-D townspeople have simple, superficial reactions to situations. They lack in emotional complexity in comparison to Ikari and Tsukiko who are animated in a 3-D style. The animation style changes to the traditional, comic drawing style of Japan post WWII, providing a nostalgic atmosphere which reflects Ikari’s desire to escape to the past. The choice to escape to a 2-D world emphasizes weakness of human nature in all its absurdity. Meanwhile, with the growing population of people influenced by Shonen Bat directly and indirectly, he transforms into an enormous monster. Maromi attempts to â€Å"shield† Tsukiko from reality had led to Shonen Bat transforming into an amorphous entity that consumes all of Tokyo, illustrating how accumulating, unresolved stress culminated into a self-destructive force. Solution to Escapism—episode 13 However, Misae appears briefly in the hallucinatory world of Ikari. Being the embodiment of courage, she inspires him to face reality during her last moments alive (in reality she is undergoing surgery and at the verge of death). He recalls his vow: â€Å"No matter how difficult life becomes, let’s not turn away from it, and overcome difficulties together. † (Minakami), thus Ikari frees himself from the 2-D world. He breaks the walls of his hallucinatory world with a straight bat which shatter into dolls of Maromi—a reference to episode 10. When Maromi pleads him to stop: â€Å"This is your world! † he states: â€Å"I lost my place in the world a long time ago. And that reality that I don’t have anywhere I belong†¦is where I truly belong! † (Minakami) demonstrating his desire to face reality. Tsukiko also breaks free and revisits her past memory of the death of her dog where she blames Shonen Bat despite it being her fault. As her younger-self blames Shonen Bat, special effects are used to illustrate her shadow transforming into the silhouette of Shonen Bat. However, her present-self intervenes and acknowledges the truth through apologizing to her dog. This acceptance of reality destroys Shonen Bat, signified by his phrase of â€Å"Goodbye†. Therefore, the black being disappears and Tokyo is able to recover from the attack and Tsukiko appears to obtain the peaceful life she desired for. Despite the depiction of human nature being weak in the face of adversity and pressure, Kon also provides an optimistic outlook. Society is redeemed with the characters’ acceptance of reality. Conclusion—The Nature of Escapism and its Consequences Kon critiques society for its weak nature, willing to devise various forms of escapism to protect itself from the harshness of reality. The pressure of modern life causes self-victimization which only contributes to growing problems in society. Kon stresses the importance of realizing the need to identify the truth of one’s problems and solve it directly rather than seek false salvation such as in Paranoia Agent. However, the ending suggests a rather cynical view of this process of losing reality and regaining reality. In Paranoia Agent, Maniwa takes the role of the prophet and performs a tedious calculation only to come to a shocking answer—the desire for escapism will never cease to end and the whole event with Shonen Bat will only repeat in time. This is confirmed by Kon who states that Shonen Bat’s â€Å"Goodbye† was a sarcastic remark and he’d soon return (Kon). Relating the Theme of Escapism with Our respective Lives The audience becomes disturbed by the desire of characters to resort to escapism. However, they realize that they are just like the characters. We seek entertainment in the media to escape our own realities. People watch shows like â€Å"CSI†, â€Å"So you think you can dance† or â€Å"Law and Order† to fantasize about being detectives or idols, thus we identify with characters in the Paranoia Agent. Kon conveys the enticement to escape to media: â€Å"On television and through the Internet people are being seduced by the sweetness of illusion and †. In fact, the audience even finds escapism by watching Paranoia Agent. We are lured by the temptations of deceptive relief from reality. This desire for escapism is understandable nevertheless. It becomes the solace of our tired minds from pressure from society: â€Å"It is necessary to have that relief, because without it life is too difficult†(Kehr) as Kon admits. However, Kon illustrates â€Å"the amount of fantasy that people are being fed through the media has become disproportionate† through the hysteria shown in Paranoia Agent.

How does current vary with voltage in a light bulb Essay Example

How does current vary with voltage in a light bulb Essay In the metal inside of a wire the molecules are compact. Then when the current passes through it, it heats up the wire due to the electrons rubbing against the molecules in the wire when they either collide or skim past the molecules that are in the wire the higher the voltage is the more energy that is given to each electron so the faster it goes and the more friction it creates. So the electrons that are trying to pass through the wire at tremendous speed hit the vibrating molecules and slow the electrons down. Therefore the greater the vibration is greater the chance there is of the electrons getting slowed down. This is called resistance.Some metals are more resistant to others simply because some wires are more compact than others therefore dont vibrate as much therefore it doesnt slow the electrons down as much.The thickness and the length of a wire causes more resistance this is because if a wire is bigger there will be more metal inside of it therefore there will be more mole cules vibrating and then the electrons may hit more molecules vibrating and slows it down much much more.The resistance can be calculated by dividing the voltage by the current. It is this relationship I am trying to prove. This is ohms law. I have carried out a preliminary experiment on the resistance through a piece of wire that was 20cm long.IVVoltageThe power of an electrical current is measured in volts. The higher the voltage the more energy each electron is given so the more energy it has to use to as it is flowing around the circuit. The more batteries that are connected in a circuit the higher the voltage is. Also if there is a greater voltage across a bulb, the higher the current is flowing through it.CurrentCurrent is measured in amps; it is a measure of the flow of electrons that are presently going round a circuit. The higher the current is the greater the flow of electrons is. The current is measured with an ammeter an ammeter is connected in a circuit like so;The amme ter can be connected anywhere in a circuit because the current is the same all the way round. Putting the ammeter in the flow doesnt affect the flow. In amps a value that is smaller than an amp is called a Milliamp (MA) 1000 MA = 1ampHistory on Goerge OhmGoerge Ohm devised the relation ship between voltage and current. This was; Resistance = Voltage (V)/Current (A)There is also a way to work out the voltage and current by using the resistance and either the voltage or current and these are;Voltage (V) = Current (A) * ResistanceCurrent (A) = Voltage (V) / Resistance =The circuit below can be used to find how the current through a conductor depends on the voltage across it. The conductor in this case is a coil of nichrome wire measured at a length of 20cm kept at a steady temp.If you double the voltage by doubling the batteries the current doubles and so on. The voltage divided by current will always have the same value. This is Ohms law. All alloys obey ohms law as long as the temper ature is constant.Ohmic and non Ohmic conductorsHere are some Ohmic and none Ohmic conductors;A resistor is a none Ohmic conductor because it has a resistance which increases slightly when the temperature rises.A thermistor a none Ohmic conductor because has a high resistance when cold but low resistance when hot.A light dependent resistor is a non Ohmic conductor because has a high resistance in the dark but a low resistance in the light.A diode is a none Ohmic conductor because it has an extremely high resistance in one direction but low in the other.A wire is an Ohmic conductor but a bulb is not.Preliminary InvestigationThe purpose of the investigation is to prove Ohms law. This states that the current is directly proportional to the voltage as long as the temperature is constant. For instance if I doubled my 2nd result in the following table I should get the same outcome as I did for the fourth result.Method1. To set up a circuit like the one below. (The thicker part of the wire indicates the 20cm of nichrome wire.)2. Measure out an exact length of nichrome wire that is 20cm long 20swg and connect it to the circuit on the part on the diagram where the red line is.3. Set up a power pack and set it to 2 volts to start with4. Take accurate readings of 1 volt and higher5. Switch off the power pack after each reading so it can cool down6. Repeat 3 times at voltages 3, 4, 5 and 6.Results tableVOLTAGEVolts 1Volts 2Volts 3Average (Volts)2V0.960.960.960.963V1.811.811.821.814V3.003.003.003.005V3.883.903.913.906V5.145.185.185.17CURRENTCurrent 1Current 2Current 3Average (Current)2V0.620.620.620.623V1.161.161.171.164V1.891.891.881.895V2.402.412.402.406V3.113.123.123.12Average CurrentAverage VoltageEquationAnswer(2dp)Test 10.620.96R=V/I1.54Test 21.161.81R=V/I1.56Test 31.893.00R=V/I1.59Test 42.403.90R=V/I1.63Test 53.125.17R=V/I1.66GraphThe graph is on the next page.AnalysisFrom these results we can see that the resistance is constant. The voltage at test are i.e. 0.96V, when doubled gives a doubling in the current. This can be seen on the graph.On the graph for this experiment I have circled two points that are not on the line these would be points in the graph where the wire got too hot and therefore gave me a miscalculation this might be because the meters are not accurate.My preliminary work has proved that the wire obeys Ohms law, as long as the temperature is constant. You can see from the calculations of resistance that is relatively constant throughout the experiment only vary by 1/10 of an ohm at the higher voltages.From my results I can see that this is an Ohmic conductor because it follows ohms law.In the main investigation we will examine what happens in a light bulb and compare the two.PredictionFor the main experiment where you do the same experiment as the one we did in the preliminary experiment apart from we will be using a bulb instead of a wire.I predict that the bulb will not obey Ohms law because in order for a bulb to work ele ctricity is passed through a thin piece of wire (the filament) and the gases inside of a light bulb force the filament to burn brightly in order for it to light up a room so the temperature is never constant it is always rising. But as it happened twice in the previous experiment the wire got hot because I did not leave it long enough to cool down and therefore it gave me an inaccurate result therefore the temp wasnt constant. But with a bulb there is not a chance that it will be able to cool down unless you turn it off for a period of time but that would not be done in a house for it is not practical. So the filament will just keep getting hotter and hotter therefore giving you a result which will be correct to begin with where current is proportional to the voltage and then it will start flattening out because of the heat therefore I will have proved Ohms law, where the temperature must be constant so it does not increase resistance.MethodWhen I carry out this experiment I shall f ollow this procedure;1. I will set up a circuit so it looks like the diagram below.2. Set up a power pack and set it on 1 volt.3. Take a reading and write it on my results table then turn off the power pack for 10 seconds then turn it on and take another reading.4. I will repeat this until I have 3 results then repeat this on voltages 2-10 voltsI am using a power pack instead of batteries and a voltmeter so my readings will be more accurate.ResultsVoltageVolts 1Volts 2Volts 3Average (Volts)1V0.010.010.010.012V0.991.000.990.993V2.092.092.092.094V3.593.593.603.595V4.744.744.744.746V6.216.246.286.247V7.477.457.447.458V9.009.019.029.019V10.1010.1710.2110.1610V11.3311.3811.4111.37CurrentCurrent 1Current 2Current 3Average (Current)1V0.010.010.010.012V0.660.660.660.663V0.900.900.900.904V1.161.161.161.165V1.341.341.341.346V1.551.551.551.557V1.691.711.701.708V1.891.881.891.899V2.012.002.022.0110V2.142.132.152.14AveragesAverage VoltageAverage CurrentEquationResistance = Volts / CurrentResista nce (Ohms)1V0.010.010.01 / 0.011.002V0.990.660.99 / 0.661.503V2.090.902.09 / 0.902.324V3.591.163.59 / 1.163.095V4.741.344.74 / 1.343.536V6.241.556.24 / 1.554.027V7.451.707.45 / 1.704.388V9.011.899.01 / 1.894.769V10.162.0110.16 / 2.015.0510V11.372.1411.37 / 2.145.31AnalysisOn the graph I have drawn some lines on top of the curve and labeled them A and B, if the bulb was an Ohmic conductor there would be a straight line in stead of a curve because you should be able to double A (voltage 4, 1.2 amps) and by doubling it you get voltage 8, 2.4 amps and that would be on the straight line if it was an Ohmic conductor and obeying Ohms law but this is not an Ohmic conductor because if I doubled the voltage from 4 to 8 it gives you a current of 1.725.On my preliminary experiment I used a 20cm long piece of nichrome wire. The nichrome wire didnt heat up as quickly as a filament and it cooled down quicker than the filament so my results did not get affected as much from the heat this is why I g ot a fairly straight line with only a couple of points at most 1/10 off the line.My prediction was correct because the light bulb is not an Ohmic conductor because the heat is increasing the resistance more and more as the experiment goes on and when I pass 10 volts through it the temperature rose therefore the resistance rose. As I explained in my preliminary work where the heat increases the molecules vibration and therefore increasing the chances that the electrons will collide with them.A light lights up because you are passing a current through a thin piece of wire (the filament) and the gases in side of the bulb forces it to glow brightly. There is no way of controlling the temperature in side of a light bulb so the heat increase resistance by forcing the molecules inside of the wire to vibrate therefore slowing the electrons down and increasing resistance and proving Ohms law only works when the temperature is constant. That heat increase resistance therefore current is not p roportional to the voltage.On my results table where I worked out there resistance the does not seem to be any pattern in my results only that they rise every time. The results show that the increase of resistance is very erratic where it can rise about 0.70 ohms at on result to another and about 0.30 at another result. This does not prove anything.Therefore I conclude that when you pass a current through a wire of some sort and it heats up and it will increase resistance. But if the wire cools down the molecules do not have the energy to vibrate therefore there is a minimal chance that the electrons will collide into them and it lowers resistance therefore when Ohms law is present current is proportional to voltage just as it was in my preliminary experiment.EvaluationThe experiment that I have carried out is good enough to produce reliable results but I think that it would be more accurate by repeating it a few more times and instead of repeating 1 volt three times then moving on to the next one that I should of done 1 volt once then 2 volts and when I got to 10 volts started it again and done it that way three times and also the results at the end began to go further and further away on the same voltage.All of the results that I did fit the pattern none where really off but I could of got them better if I had left the bulb to cool down a little longer and for a set time. I think that my results on both experiments the preliminary one and the main one are good enough and reliable enough to support my conclusion.The only improvements that I can think of for further work is to take three or fourth decimal places instead of just 2, to have a set time to leave my bulb to cool down for say 30second, to repeat the experiment up to 15volts to give you a bit more of a bigger picture, by repeating 1 volt three times then moving on to the next one that I should of done 1 volt once then 2 volts and when I got to 10 volts started it again and done it that way three time s, also to use more scientific meters to record my results with and also by repeating the experiment with different light bulbs to see if you would get different results. The only reason that I did not make these changes is because I did not have enough time in the lesson to do so or the extra equipment if I did have these I think my results would be much more accurate.

Summary of the Mansabdari System †History Essay

Summary of the Mansabdari System – History Essay Free Online Research Papers Summary of the Mansabdari System History Essay The Mansabdari system was common throughout the rest of Asia, but was introduced to India by Akbar. Nobles of the Mughal Empire were awarded ranks or mansabs. The way someone would attain ranks or mansabs by the Akbar would be by supplying cavalry to the Mughal Empire. Ranks were directed related to how many horses were offered, from 10-10,000. The higher the rank received the better. There were also two parallel hierarchies, one with civil responsibilities and one with military. Each having checks on one another. Nobles were also given the right to collect taxes of the region they were put in charge of by the Mughal Empire. Research Papers on Summary of the Mansabdari System - History EssayBringing Democracy to AfricaComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductResearch Process Part OneAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeOpen Architechture a white paperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfQuebec and CanadaWhere Wild and West Meet

Internet Censorship Laws Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internet Censorship Laws - Research Paper Example However, as this essay will prove, such reservations on the intention of internet censorship laws should not derail people from the political, social and security importance of such laws. Therefore, internet censorship laws should be applied in the necessary areas to ensure people feel safer when online. Introduction of internet censorship laws is important in the preservation of the country’s social norms. The internet has come with other social vices whose propagation should not continue unchecked. One good example of such vices is pornographic contents available on different websites. The explicit sexual content in these websites introduces children to immoral behavior, which they copy, and practice. Such content makes children feel that sex at a young age or outside marriage is okay. In such cases, censorship of such content is important as an effort to protect children from early exposure to sexually explicit content. Some of the internet sites use children as characters in their picture whether moving or static. Such internet websites have been used by pedophiles to advance their social vices. The websites provide an avenue for child molesters to get their victims and clients for their illegal business (Weinstein and MacEwan 347). It is not clear whether the presence of the internet has increased child pornography or has only acted as an avenue for its transmission. However, Weinstein and MacEwan (347) assert that the internet has clearly increased the accessibility, volume, and range of sexually abusive images, which also includes child pornography. Censorship becomes the best options in curbing the spread of such vices therefore; there should not be opposition from anyone who stands for moral responsibility. The importance of internet censorship laws does not end with stopping the propagation of pornographic content. The censorship will also help in covering areas where hate speech propagation targeting some groups of people in society through th e internet has been reported. The internet has provided many people with an avenue for making anonymous statements and valuable space for virtual communities. However, not every internet user engages in constructive dialogues, given that there are those who promote racist diatribes and other discriminatory views (Bidgol 351). Therefore, internet censorship laws help society get rid of those whose aim is to create social disharmony. There have been cases of violence against some groups in society that have originated from the internet. A good example of such internet websites is Stormfront formed by white supremacists and provides an avenue for white nationalists and other racial extremists to make their views public. Such websites play a key role in the condoning and incitements of acts of discrimination and violence against a section of the population (Weinstein and MacEwan 355).  Ã‚  

The Failing Popularity of Jimmy Carter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Failing Popularity of Jimmy Carter - Essay Example Divisions in the Democratic Party arose over the direction of domestic policy and split party unity. A divisive Democratic primary between Carter and challenger Ted Kennedy (Dem, MA.) left the campaign in disarray. According to Hamilton Jordan, Carter's chief political advisor, the Democratic outlook was "...not enhanced or strengthened by the contest, but damaged severely" (qtd. in Biven). Yet, against this backdrop of failure and frustration, even darker clouds had gathered. By July 1980, Carter's approval rating had dropped to 21%, lower than Richard Nixon's at the time of his resignation. This dramatic drop was precipitated by two key events. America's runaway inflation and the Iran hostage ordeal had taken a heavy toll on America's confidence in the Carter presidency. There is an old political saying that says Americans vote with their pocketbooks. This was certainly true in the 1980 reelection bid of Jimmy Carter. Rampant inflation had severely reduced wage earners purchasing power throughout the Carter years. Carter opposed Gerald Ford in the presidential race of 1976 during one of our history's greatest economic slumps. During the campaign Carter had criticized Ford for his inability to deal with inflation and unemployment. When Carter was inaugurated in 1977, the country was beginning to show some signs of improvement. However, after four years of Carter's administration inflation had risen from 4.8% in 1976 to 12% at the time of the 1980 election (Huckshorn). Inflation, the public's measure of the economy, was rooted in Carter's inability to deal with major economic issues. Carter, had a long-term vision for energy policy, but was ineffective at dealing with America's immediate need for oil during his short term as President. OPEC's tight control of the oil market had boosted prices and in the period from 1978 to1979 oil prices nearly doubled (Williams). Not coincidentally the national deficit was also rising at record rates. America's debt resulted in further erosion of the dollar on the international market. These economic forces conspired to send inflation to a lofty 20% in January and February of 1980 (Biven). Though consumers probably suffered less than was conventionally believed, the overriding shadow of the double-digit inflation rate in the daily papers dashed any hope Carter had for reelection. While faced with growing domestic discontent, Carter was presented with what became the most overpowering and difficult problem of his presidency, the Iranian hostage crises. In November 1979, militant Iranian students took control of the American Embassy in Tehran and took American diplomats and others hostage while demanding the return of the previously overthrown Shah .The hostages were released in January 1981, after being held for 444 days, but the damage to Carter had already been done. The fate of the hostages and the ever-present news broadcasts magnified the inability of the Carter administration's incompetence in handling the crisis. A failed rescue attempt and general frustration added to the public's eroding approval of the President's performance. Carter's popularity continued downward as the election was held and Carter was handed defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan. Carter's administration was working behind the scenes to free the hostages,

Artificial Birth Control Essay Example for Free

Artificial Birth Control Essay Artificial birth control methods have been used for thousands of years. The hieroglyphics of ancient Egyptians show a figure of an Egyptian male wearing a device around the penis to help prevent pregnancy during intercourse. And there are other cultures which use condoms made of linen or animal intestines. Until now, historians and researchers are still debating on whether the condoms are for ritual purposes or not. Artificial Birth Control is most commonly heard in relation to religious teachings on family planning. Many sectors especially religion encourage the use of natural family planning as opposed to artificial birth control because they believe that using artificial contraception is opposite to Gods will. But there are also non-religious people who preferred not to use artificial birth control for personal, ethical or medical reasons. Artificial birth control can be defined as any product, procedure or practice that uses artificial or unnatural means to prevent pregnancy. Barrier methods such as condoms, Intra uterine Devices (copper), diaphragms, cervical cap, and sponge, hormonal methods such as the pill, IUDs (hormonal), and emergency contraception. There are also injections, spermicides, and surgical sterilization procedures such as tubal ligation and vasectomy which are all considered to be artificial birth control methods. This paper includes the different types and examples of artificial birth control and their advantages and disadvantages. Condoms A condom is a device made of fine rubber (latex). It avoids unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including AIDS and HIV. The use of condoms is one of the easiest, most reliable and effective methods. But one should take few precautionary measures before using it; they must ensure that it is not torn or ruptured and that they are using it before the expiry date. For a male condom, the man covers his penis with a condom during sexual intercourse in order to prevent the sperm from entering the vagina. A female condom is also made if fine rubber (latex) that when used it must be entirely aligned to vagina. The two types of female condom are the FC or FC2 female condom and the VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine. The FC female condom is a 17 cm (6.5 inches) in length. There is a flexible ring at each end. At the closed end of the sheath, the flexible ring is inserted into the vagina to anchor the condom in place. While at the open end, the ring stays outside the vulva at the entrance to the vagina. The VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine when not stretched is around 9 cm (3.5 inches) – though it is very elastic. It has a rounded triangular frame at the open end and a sponge inside the closed end, which helps to hold the condom inside the vagina. Condoms are easily obtained, cheap, very effective, it protects against sexually transmitted disease, and it possibly reduces risk of cervical cancer. But it interrupts the foreplay, it reduces sensitivity for both or either partner, it requires great care, and it sometimes causes allergy. Intra uterine Devices (IUD) – Copper IUD is a birth control device made of soft plastic and has the shape of the English letter T and is placed in the uterus. It is a long-term method that prevents pregnancy for 3-5 years. Copper is wound on the lower part and on the tip of the T are the two threads. With the help of the threads, women can check if it is inserted properly. Copper T does not create any problems during copulation and it can be used immediately after childbirth. But unlike condoms, it does not protect the user from AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Diaphragm Diaphragm is a thin rubber dome with an elastic and flexible rim. It is inserted into the vagina and fits over the cervix that is hold in place by vaginal muscles. The diaphragm holds spermicide in place over the cervix; spermicide kills sperm and prevents fertilization. Diaphragms are 86-94% effective as birth control. It is cheap, the female partner is the one that takes the responsibility, there is no interruption during intercourse, there is no loss of sensation for either partner, it reduces of bacteria related STDs, couples may feel less inhibited when the woman is menstruating, and pre – malignancy and cervical malignancy are reduced. But it is uncomfortable to insert and remove from vagina, it requires a doctor to fit and check it, it requires preparation, some male partners are aware of the cap and may not like it, there is no protection against viral conditions such as herpes simplex or HIV, it sometimes cause allergy, and it cannot be fitted before first intercourse, if there is a vaginal septum or utero-vaginal prolapsed. Cervical Cap Cervical cap is a device inserted into the vagina that fits over the cervix to blocked the sperm from entering the uterus and prevents fertilization. After intercourse, it should be left in place for 8 hours. Cervical covers are 84-91% effective at preventing pregnancy for women who have never given birth and 68-74% effective for women who have given birth. Cervical cap can be inserted many hours before sexual intercourse, it is easy to carry around, it is comfortable to use, it does not alter menstrual cycle and affect future fertility, and it may help the user to better know her body. But cervical cap does not protect against HIV or AIDS, it requires a fitting in a clinic, it is difficult to insert or remove, it can be dislodged during sexual intercourse, and there can be possible allergic reactions. Birth Control Sponge The birth control sponge is made of plastic foam that contains spermicide. It is soft, round, and about two (2) inches in diameter. It has a nylon loop attached to the bottom for removal and it is inserted deep into the vagina before sexual intercourse. The sponge avoids pregnancy by keeping sperm from joining with an egg. The sponge may cover the cervix and blocks the sperm from entering the uterus or it can continuously release a spermicide that keeps the sperm from moving. The birth control sponge can be carried in pocket or purse, it can’t be felt by either partner, it has no effect on a womans natural hormones, it does not interrupt sex play, and it can be used during breastfeeding. But it may be difficult for some women to insert or remove the sponge, it may cause vaginal irritation, and it may make sex too messy or too dry because sponge requires too much liquid. Contraceptive Pills Most hormonal birth control methods contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, although some contain progestin only. Hormonal contraceptive pills work by preventing females from ovulating or releasing eggs from their ovaries each month, and by thinning the lining of the uterus to keep a pregnancy from implanting. Without an egg to be fertilized by sperm, pregnancy cannot occur. Contraceptive pill is a very effective birth control but there are also side effects like significant mood swings and decreased libido. Intra uterine Devices (IUD) – Hormonal Hormonal uterine devices sometimes called Intra Uterine Systems were first introduced in 1990. It releases levonorgestrel, a progestogen, and may be used for five years. Hormonal Intra Uterine Devices do not increase bleeding as inert and copper-containing IUDs do. Rather, they reduce menstrual bleeding or prevent menstruation altogether, and can be used as a treatment for menorrhagia (heavy periods). The use of Intra Uterine Systems results in much lower systemic progestogen levels than other very-low-dose progestogen-only hormonal contraceptives; they might possibly have some of the same side effects like loss of libido, possible cervical cancer, vaginal infection, anxiety and nervousness, and pain in lower abdominals. Emergency Contraception The emergency contraception is also known as the morning-after pill. It is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. It can be started up to five days or 120 hours after unprotected intercourse. The hormone in the morning-after pill prevents pregnancy by thickening a womans cervical mucus and by thinning the lining of the uterus. The mucus blocks sperm and keeps it from joining with an egg which could prevent pregnancy by keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. Injections Injections are 99% effective that is scheduled every 3 months. Depo-Provera ®, one of the two types that are now available, contains progesterone that is similar to what the body produces. It prevents release of the egg from the ovary and causes changes in cervical mucus and the lining of the uterus. The second one is the Lunelle ® which contains two hormones like the pill, so it has the same side effects as the pill. Spermicides Spermicides can come in different form like cream, gel, foam, film, and suppositories. Most spermicides contain nonoxynol-9 which is a chemical that kills sperm. Spermicides immobilize and kill the sperm before they are able to swim into the uterus. To be effective, the spermicide must be placed deep in the vagina, close to the cervix. Creams, gels, and foams are squirted into the vagina using an applicator. But spermicides are more effective when used with another method of birth control, such as a condom or diaphragm. Spermicides are only effective for an hour, not all women can use it and some have an allergic reaction to the substances. Sterilization Sterilization is a form of birth control and all the procedures are meant to be permanent. For females (Tubal Ligation), a minor operation that blocks a womans fallopian tubes, the tubes that carry the egg to the uterus; female sterilization works by blocking the egg from reaching sperm. For males (Vasectomy), requires minor surgery on the scrotum to cut the vasa deferentia, the tubes that carry sperm. This operation keeps sperm from mixing into the semen when men ejaculate. Without sperm, fertilization of an egg cannot occur and pregnancy is prevented. Sterilization provides permanent birth control, allows sexual spontaneity, requires no daily attention, does not affect pleasure, and it is also not messy. But it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, it is not immediately effective, it requires minor surgery in a clinic and a possible regret if the couple wish to have one or more child. References: http://www.avert.org/female-condom.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrauterine_device http://www.tarahaat.com/health_ABC.aspx http://www.livestrong.com/article/201512-types-of-artificial-methods-for-family-planning/ http://www.modernmom.com/article/what-is-the-meaning-of-artificial-birth-control http://www.ehow.com/facts_5004780_what-meaning-artificial-birth-control.html http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/diaphram.htm

Columbine -Type Students In American Public Schools :: science

Columbine -Type Students In American Public Schools Don’t â€Å"kid† yourself. There’s trouble in paradise that escapes the vision of folks wearing rose-colored glasses. I’m not a contemporary Chicken Little running around screaming â€Å"The sky is falling!† And I’m not a little boy crying out â€Å"Wolf!† I am a former English teacher with thirty-four years classroom experience. I’ve taught through wars, recessions, political assassinations and public anti-war protests. I’ve seen and broken-up hundreds of bloody â€Å"student† fights. I’ve been threatened by enraged â€Å"students† and by their irate â€Å"parents.† Been there; done that! Columbine-type â€Å"students† attend most high and middle schools across the country. They attend Hammonton High, Hammonton Middle, Edgewood, Oakcrest and even Beverly Hills High. They might not always wear trench coats and carry concealed guns and grenades. But the Columbine â€Å"student† mindset is definitely present. These troubled Columbine-type youths are scarier than the obnoxious wise guys that daily defy teacher authority and they are more frightening than the â€Å"student† bullies that terrorize weaker peers and start brawls in the school cafeteria or hallways. The tacit behavior of Columbine-like students makes them a formidable challenge to school authority. Sure, high schools have â€Å"peer mediation.† The basic problem is that these â€Å"Columbine-like† students don’t want to communicate with representatives of standard academic school society. The sinister-minded teens often don’t even communicate with each other. That’s what makes them walking and sitting time-bombs ready to detonate. They prefer having an insular existence that does not want to be disturbed. They don’t express themselves until it’s too late. The â€Å"Columbine student mentality† has a certain behavioral â€Å"profile.† That’s right all you politically correct critics out there, I emphatically stated the improper word â€Å"profile.† The kids say little or nothing at all. They keep their feelings and thoughts mainly to themselves while sitting in their desks, often seething beneath cool external faà §ades. Columbine-type kids seldom participate in classroom discussions or volunteer to do constructive things in school. To them athletics, school clubs and awards are not worth pursuing. Their rebellion is silent, stealthy, cold, cunning and calculated. Their ongoing rage is adroitly camouflaged; they could erupt and explode at any minute. These kids, probably around five percent of any middle or high school’s student body, are individual sticks of dynamite ready to be lit. Not even the â€Å"students’† guidance counselors have any psychological handle on what these wily youths are thinking, feeling or plotting. The Columbine-type kid often feels picked-on, frustrated, alienated and persecuted.