What Ive Learned

On July 21, I went to a family barbeque in Rochester, NY. After leaving the barbeque, I was on my way to meet my brothers John and Nick at the local bar to talk and have fun. After we saw our oldest brother John off, Nick and I decided to race down the main street in town. I learned on this day to never race a vehicle around a dangerous curve. While my brother and I exited the parking lot of the bar, he went around me to lead. I followed him until we reached the main street, Peach St.As we approached the street, Nick lined up on the right side of my vehicle and within three seconds we stepped on the gas pedal. While speeding down Peach St. around 80-90mph, I noticed that after we passed the community center. Also, I was now in the lead. Since I had the lead, I attempted to apply my brakes but because I was going too fast they wouldn’t work. Noticing that my brakes weren’t working, I thought about what was going to stop my car in this residential area. At this point, all I could do was keep my foot on the brakes and scream.As I began to scream, I watched as my car went through someone’s living room window and my body hit the steering wheel. After the car went through the living room window, I then got out making sure everyone was alright. Now that everyone was fine, I called the police, and my family. While standing outside my car, I look around and all I see is my car on the porch of the house with glass all over it and the front wheel turned the opposite way. From my speeding, I totaled my car and destroyed someone’s house.Realizing what just happened, I now felt like I was hit back to back by three tractor trailers. This was one of the worst feelings to experience. Because of my dumb decision to speed, I ended up with no car; the family who was enjoying their night was out of a house for a few nights. I was now stuck dealing with a new type of depression. At the end of the day I honestly promised my daughter and myself as well as m y family that I was done with racing unless it was on a real track.

Microeconomics Coursework †Minimum wage Essay

Negative externalities are the undesirable effects of the consumption or production of a good on ‘outsiders’ (individuals or firms) that are not accounted for in the private market (market for private firms and individuals) and are therefore called ‘spillover’ effects. For example in the case of tobacco, the negative externalities are health and are risks to the users and the people around them, pollution of the surrounding areas, addiction etc. It is a type of market failure. Market failure is when a market works badly or is absent completely. In this case, the market is overproducing tobacco therefore it is a market failure. This indicates that the social benefit is less than private benefit i.e. benefit to individuals. This can be shown in the market diagram for tobacco. Market for tobacco showing negative externalities Quantity of tobacco (hundreds of tonnes) MSB is the marginal social benefit (social demand). It is the demand curve showing social demand for tobacco. MPB is the marginal private benefit (individual demand). The vertical distance between the two demand curves is the negative externality, i.e. P3-P2. When MSB = MPB, there is no market failure as the good is not being overproduced anymore. Therefore to decrease the negative externality, it must be incorporated into the price, thus decreasing the quantity demanded to equal the MSB equilibrium quantity (Q1). Tobacco is thus a demerit good1. It is not only supplied in the form of cigarettes but also in the form of tobacco pouches that can be used in roll-up cigarettes. Consumers are switching from cigarettes to roll-ups because the tax on tobacco pouches is less than that on cigarettes. The UK government has levied an average tax of 75 – 90% on a packet of cigarettes whereas the tax on roll-up tobacco is ‘just below 70 percent’. One solution to reduce the consumption of tobacco is to increase the tax on tobacco as a whole instead of on cigarettes or tobacco pouches. The supply will therefore shift to the left. This is shown in the diagram below.

Health Care Provider: Awareness and Diversity of Faiths Essay

Abstract Within the health care system of today, many health care providers are introduced to various religious beliefs and practices through caring for those patients and families from different cultures. In order for competent medical treatment to be performed, the health care providers must take into account the religious beliefs of those in our care to deliver good and effective quality of care. This paper will examine this student’s point of view on Christianity and compare it with Native American Spirituality, Hinduism, and Buddhistic religious views and faiths regarding healing in today’s health care society. Patient’s cultural and spirituality must be incorporated, and considerations addressed as essential key elements to the overall health of the patient. This will provide the best possible outcomes for the patient. An analysis and comparison of Native American Spirituality, Hinduism and Buddhistic religious views on healing and mortality and will be paralleled, explored and discussed against the Christian faith view of the aforementioned within this paper. Introduction Providing health care to those of different spiritual backgrounds, it is essential to recognize the religious practices and beliefs of the patient and their families. It is of utmost importance to determine the specific needs that correspond with their practices and beliefs. Comprehending these beliefs will permit health care providers to set forth a plan that promotes the best possible outcomes for the patient in the end. The United States of America welcomes people of different nationalities and faiths. With such a  diversity of cultures and religions, health care providers are tasked with educating themselves concerning a multitude of faiths and corroborating the information learned with those particular religious beliefs. This allows the patient and families to receive spiritual care as well as the physical care they need. Hospitals nationwide have now recognized the cultural diversity of those that are living in the United States and have implemented a program to the training of its employees in cultural diversity. Christian perspective on restorative health Christian perspective on restorative health is based on the teachings from the Bible. Those who practice this faith believe that no matter the circumstances, God can restore health. While Jesus was alive and walked upon earth, it was proved that He was indeed the Son of God by the ability He had to heal those around Him. He restored health in many different ways. Matthew 14:14 (King James Version), the writer of this first Gospel tells its audience Jesus saw a abundant crowd and He had commiseration the crowd and restored health to the infirmed and debilitated. His touch restored health to the people and healed them (Matthew 9:29-30, King James Version). Through spoken words they were restored to health (Matthew 8:8, King James Version), and He made sound and whole multiple infirmities and afflictions amongst the population (Matthew 9:35, King James Version). People of Christian faiths believe that God can work through gifted individuals for assistance in healing. As declared in the King James Version Bible â€Å"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a particular people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light† (1 Peter 2:9, King James Version). Prayer is powerful and Christians are taught that healing can occur, but do not know exactly when this may occur. Christians do have strong faith in His power which comforts us in knowing that He has ultimate control. Christian families and the Church prayer and support, the process of healing begins and ends in this context (James 5:16, King James Version). Christians believe in following Gods word by faith and goodwill and generosity will be granted throughout their lives (Psalms 23:1-6, King James Version). Impression on restoration of health This student’s impression on restorative health from illness is one of the foundations of faith about the God of the Bible. Many stories declared in different parts of the Bible narrative restored health required nothing but faith. This student believes in the authority of supplication, individualized, and collectively within the congregate (a collective consciousness) and with supplication, healing has happened. Christianity and Native American Spirituality Compared The majority of Native American’s do believe that the Great Spirit (some Native American’s call this Great Spirit â€Å"Grandfather† and â€Å"Old Man†), which is part of all creation, from the heavens to the ground with all beings put here on earth. Conception is believed to be a blessing from God by Christians. Native American Spirituality believes that a person’s health is brought about through actions and interactions they have with the spirit world and wholeness is derived from the balance between the universe and the spirit world. Sickness derives from the imbalance with the spirit world and is causation of disharmony within the individual (â€Å"Guidelines for Native American Indians,† 2004). Christians have faith that God watches over the individual and prevents sickness from occurring. Native American Spiritual care is important through healing rituals which are performed at ceremonies and attended by family, tribe, along with a medical healer, either man or woman (Robinson, 2008). Christians have faith and pray to God that He heals those affected with sickness and diseases. If hospitalized, those of Native American Spirituality rely upon items which are considered sacred and powered by the Great Spirit which are in possession of the patient around the clock for healing (â€Å"Guidelines for Native American Indians,† 2004). As stated above, a Christians’ faith and belief that prayer is sacred and He answers prayers for good health and healing. When death happens, those of Native American Spirituality have a firm conviction in reincarnation and return in a multitude of forms other than human (â€Å"Guidelines for Native American Indians,† 2004). Whereas, those of Christian faith believes that once a person expires, the soul rises to heaven, but the persons’ body stays on earth. Christianity and Hinduism Compared Oldest of the world known religions is Hinduism. Hinduism is a way of life.  Hindu’s worship multiple deities, but Christians’ only believe in a single God, who created the ethereal and temporal worlds. Hindu’s adorn themselves ornamental clothing that have a specific religious meaning and some Christians wear special trinkets of faith, according to different denominations. Hindu’s are noted to pray three times a day and depending on the denomination, Christians will attend church several times a week to only once a week. Hindu’s believe in reincarnation once death has transpired (Sharma, 2002), while Christians believe upon death, the soul ascends to heaven and the body stays on earth. Christianity and Buddhism Compared There was a man named Buddha, who after many years of witnessing anguish which was related to old age, sickness, and death, fore sake his family. Setting out alone, his intent was to find life’s meaning. Buddhism (Hinduism also shares this belief), believes in karma. Karma is the belief that the force produced from the actions of a person is held to perpetuate transmigration and its ethical consequences determine the nature of the person’s next existence, a continuum of rebirth life cycles. A strong belief in karma exist, where every action has a reaction and that everything happens for a reason (â€Å"Guidelines for Buddhism†, 2003) and a Christians’ faith is that God heals all those who are ill. Christians believe that everyone has one life, one soul, while reincarnation is the belief among the Buddhist. The emphasis of the spiritual well-being of the Buddhist spiritual well-being is the translucence of the mind by prayer along with meditation during sickness. Christians’ depend up His mercy to restore their health after sickness. But if they are not healed, then they are to accept His will. The Buddhist and the Christian believe health restoration is foundationally grounded in spirituality. Supplication and mediation is practiced by both faiths, but those who are of the Buddhist faith perform chanting (Numrich, 2001). As death nears, both have varying kinfolk, pastoral, ministerial and clergyperson’s will be summoned to the bedside. Post obitum, posthumous care is critical to the practicing Buddhist. Practitioners of Buddhism believe the incorporeal part of the individual can take up to three days, per say, to evacuate the body (Numrich, 2001). The Christian believes the nonphysical, incorporeal soul ascends to heaven while the physical, corporal body remains. Summation The similarities between the Native American Spirituality, Hindu, and Buddhist devotions include prayer, family, and clergyman or women utilized during sickness and healing. The major difference between the Christian faith and the latter three is that once life ends the belief in reincarnated is paramount and the individual returns to the known world. Christians believe after death has occurred, the soul, the most sacred part, ascends into heaven where God acts as arbiter and judges the individuals faith and deeds while on physically in the world, but the physical vessel, the body will remain behind in the physical world. The utmost importance for the spiritual health of the patient is to combine their beliefs into the plan of care. This can be accomplished with health care providers allowing the individual and kinfolk to partake in specific rituals, which will support the spiritual well-being of the individual. References Guidelines for health care providers interacting with American Indian patients and their families. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.advocatehealth.com/documents/faith/CG-Native_American.pdf Guidelines for health care providers interacting with patients of the Buddhist religion and their families. (2003). Retrieved from http://www.advocatehealth.com/documents/faith/CGBuddhist.pdf Numrich, P. D. (2001). The buddhist tradition: religious beliefs and healthcare decisions. Retrieved from http://www.advocatehealth.com/documents/faith/Buddhist-Tradition.pdf Robinson, B. A. (2008). Native American Spirituality: beliefs of Native Americans, from the Arctic to the Southwest. Retrieved from http://www.religioustolerance.org/nataspir3.htm Sharma, A. (2002). The Hindu Tradition: religious beliefs and healthcare decisions. Retrieved from http://www.advocatehealth.com/documents/faith/Hindufinal.pdf

Foundations of Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Foundations of Accounting - Essay Example and not as cash or its equivalent is received or paid) and they are recorded in the accounting records and reported in the financial statements of the periods to which they relate†. It’s important that the there should not be any misleading through the concealment of accrued expenses or through overstated income by false profits. Contingencies and commitments should be disclosed in the form of note, if any. The current ratio, the liquid or acid test ratio and the stock turnover basically considered as the short term liquidity ratios as they are used to calculate the ability of a company to meet its current liabilities with its current assets. Enough cash must be available to payoff the short term liability like trade creditors usually within 12 months including those who required immediate payments like of 2to 3 months. A ratio of between 1.5:2 and 2:1 are considered reasonable (Randall).while a current ratio in excess of 2:1, shows that the resources are not efficiently used and the investment is tied up in huge stocks , debtors or unnecessary accumulation of cash in banks. As evident from the figures, the current ratio incase of poodle ltd of 1.5:1 is acceptable while incase of Collie limited it should be decreased by 0.5, i.e. it has to be around 2:1, so as to be acceptable. Liquid ratios are generally calculated to check the ability of the company to meet its current debt through the current assets other than stock. The purpose is to assess that whether is an unnecessary accumulation of stock or not. It may be either of raw material or WIP or even of finished goods. A liquid ratio of 1:1 is usually considered satisfactory but it can decrease till 0.9:1 (Randall), provided that there the provision for doubtful debts is not very high, i.e. the prompt payment from the customers is expected. It indicates the average no days the inventory is tied up in the Store room. Usually the higher the inventory level the better it will be but in some cases

Foundation degree in public service Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Foundation degree in public service - Essay Example Social organizations are so set up that crime is not required to obtain the essential necessities of life-food, sex satisfaction, the gratification of primary emotional urges. This is the theoretical assumption of our social philosophy, our constitutions, and criminal codes. But social reality often falls short of these ideal expectations. The most popular theories used to explain crime are Strain Theory and Social Learning Theory. The strain theory was developed by Robert Merton in the 1940s. this theory states that social stress has a dominant impact on behavior of individuals. The loss of social cohesion leads to criminal behavior and isolation form society by an individual. Five reactions to social stress are conformity, ritualism, innovation, ret realism and rebellion. People who experience social stress of this sort must be expected to commit crimes when confronted by an average or even subnormal degree of environmental pressure (Spalek 2005). As long as this disposition has not undergone a change, a sequence of criminal acts must be anticipated. Many of our criminals, endowed by nature with a loosely suspended reactivity, become genuine criminals by recurrence. They acquire abnormal touchiness by the grinding effects of repeated crime and repeated punishment. This theory is important for police and fire service s, emergency etc, to understand human behavior and possible consequences of social stress factors (Hellman and Alper 1997). Social learning theory was developed by Bandura in 1970. This theory is based on psychological concepts and explanations which determine behavior of a person as socially learned. Paramour is learned while overriding actions and communication of other people, their relations and interaction patterns,. According to this theory, criminal behavior is also learned by individuals surrounded by other criminals. Social life

Marketing communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing communications - Essay Example Advertising using these mediums has changed perspectives of brands in our minds. Furthermore, marketing tools such as aiming below-the-line marketing, direct marketing, personal selling, door-to-door selling are now being used to sell customized products to the customers just like the way they want it. Now customers can also enjoy the luxuries just by a click of a mouse or a remote on a TV to shop online, order through the phone or book products through telemarketing. A company can use many different mediums of communicating their intended message to the customers as mentioned in the preceding section. However, due to resource shortage, companies do efficient resource allocation which in the marketing world is known as adopting the right Marketing (Promotion) Mix. The Promotions Mix is the specific mix of advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, public relations, and direct marketing that an organization uses to pursue its marketing objectives. The promotional mix itself is part of the wider marketing mix; it is one of the four P's of marketing, product, price, and place and of course promotion itself. First and foremost it is important to consider the relative strengths and weaknesses of each component/tool of the promotional mix in deciding... Typical advertising media include Yellow Pages, local newspapers, radio, television advertisements, trade journals, exhibitions and websites. The advantage of advertising is that it can reach a large and geographically dispersed audience It has a low cost per exposure, though the overall costs of making advertisements and producing and airing them might be high. Advertising also tends to create brand recognition Reinforces product existence (by consistently repeating key messages) Dramatizes company/brand Builds brand image The disadvantages can be its impersonal outlook lack of direct feedback (one-way communication) As mentioned earlier it is expensive Personal selling Personal selling is a very effective form of promotion since it allows customization according to the needs of the customers. For example it can be a presentation by a company's sales force for the purpose of making sales and building customer relationships Personal selling is very effective marketing tool for building customer relationships as personal interaction allows for feedback and adjustments; Buyers are more attentive; Sales force represents a long-term commitment; Allows for direct and immediate response to customer feedback; Disadvantages are that it is one of the most expensive of the promotional tools both in terms of time and money. But it must be borne in mind that active networking with existing customers, business associations and even suppliers can play an important role in promoting the business to a wider target audience. Sales promotion Sales promotion usually constitutes short-term, specific incentives to encourage the purchase or sale of a product or service. A large variety of sales promotion tools can be used such

An essay on Andrew Jackson and the negative aspects of his presidency

An on Andrew Jackson and the negative aspects of his presidency - Essay Example Body During the period of Andrew Jackson’s presidency, a huge amount of population that belonged to the group of Native Americans resided in the regions located east of the Mississippi River as well as West of the Appalachian Mountains (Tucker 667). Although the natives claimed that the land belonged to them, Jackson was against their view and took strong measures against them. He evacuated these Native Americans from their homeland by bribing the leaders of their tribes and even coerced them at the tip of the gun. Due to measures taken by Jackson, these individuals had to travel to look for a new place to settle and due to the difficulty in finding a new location, several of them experienced death and a huge population of those who died included women and children. This event clearly shows that Jackson used his powers in an unethical way and worked against the rights of humans. Human rights are the basis of the foundation of the American society; still Jackson used his power to violate human rights. Due to this move made by Jackson, Native Americans were forced to blend into other cultures and this move is in violation of an individuals’ right of choosing what is right and what is wrong for them. His mal treatment with the Natives did not come to an end even after he kicked them out of their own homeland. The Cherokee, an Indian tribe tried to settle in the region that is referred to as the American Deep South and tried to blend through the act of cultural transformation. While this transformation was taking place, Andrew Jackson again dislocated the Native Americans through the enactment of Indian Removal Act that was enacted during the period of 1830 (Schultz 637). By the period of 1838, the Cherokee community was the last Native American community that was evacuated from their land. Due to this evacuation and relocation a total of 4,000 members of the community of Cherokees experienced death and this incident was regarded as Cherokee Trail of Fears (Seale 259). This movement took place because gold was found in the region where the community settled and Jackson tried to add the region to the state of Georgia, while the Cherokee community protested and took the matters to the court. The court announced the decision in the favor of the community, but Jackson operated against the rulings of the court and took measures to move the community from the region. Again, the rights of the Native Americans were violated by the president. This event even shows that Jackson was misusing his powers as a president and believed that he was above the court of law. When President Jackson came into action, the government system was quite fair in nature, but He reversed fair practices and started operating a corrupt government. He introduced the spoils system; according to this system the president and or the winning political party has the power of electing anybody to any position in the government (Massey 126). He manipulated the governmen t with his powers and replaced the experienced holders of government positions with inexperienced ones. The individuals who were selected to take over government positions were mostly close associated of the president and did not know how to run the affairs. This event even confirms that the president used his powers to manipulate and to obtain personal benefits while disregarding the benefit

Business Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Business Report - Essay Example Your mandate is to lead the hospital to achieve level 7 of the HIMSS EMR Adoption Model by 2025. As a Health Informatics Professional, you took the job for this reason as you have always wanted to work in a fully electronic environment. You are certainly driven to achieve it. Using the below points, outline how you intend on achieving this. Outline what you would do in your analysis and planning when you first start; Articulate your strategy and timeframes to reach ‘fully digital’ status; What technical factors would you need to consider when building your Electronic Health Record and why are these important? HINT: standards, terminologies? What systems would you use to support your strategy? What types of resources would you employ? How would you govern and manage the project? What risks do you see? How does your strategy align with that of Queensland and that of Australia? Format 4,000 words in length in. Use a business report format with each topic presented as a sect ion in your report. You need include only one reference list for the entire report. Proper and consistent academic referencing convention both within the text of the assignment and a compiled list of references at the end of the paper must be provided. References Style: APA Abbreviations & Acronyms Abbreviation/ Acronym Expansion Explanation EMR Electronic Medical Record Contains current and historical patient information eMAR Electronic Medication Administration Record CDS Clinical Decision Support Provides reminders and best-practice guidance for treatment CDR Central Data Repository Repository of information. Includes computerised physician order entry (COPE) COPE Computerised physician order entry (HIE) Health Information Exchange HIT Health information technology Used interchangeably with EMR systems HIMSS Healthcare information management systems society EMRAM Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model HITECH Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health OACIS O pen Architecture Clinical Information System Roadmap to achieving a HIMSS level 7 EMR for the Metro Hospital by 2025 Section 1: Background This report delineates a road map to achieving a HIMSS level 7 EMR for Metro Hospital, Brisbane by 2005. Healthcare information management systems society (HIMSS) level 7 identifies the ultimate level of electronic medical record capabilities â€Å"full digital status† depicting a paperless electronic medical record (EMR) environment (himssanalytics.org, 2011). The process of achieving the Stage 7 being long, which have to pass through eight stages, and a higher stage can be awarded only after a lower stage is achieved successfully; even if the Stage 7 is achieved by 2025 would provide a significant edge to Metro Hospital. The accomplishment would indicate that Metro Hospital is providing high quality patient care with interoperable electronic medical record in place (HIMSS Analytics, 2011). This status will offer the Metro Hospital the re cognition that the hospital has been working in a collaborative work environment wherein the entire organisation has invested its effort towards achieving a more integrated, safer and more efficient way of delivering care to its patients, using information technology (HIMSS Analytics, 2011). The report will demonstrate analysis and planning for achieving full digital status, by clearly articulating the strategies to be adopted and

HR manager of a large cinema chain based in London Coursework

HR manager of a large cinema chain based in London - Coursework Example The recruitment manager requires few qualities in order to select the right person at the ‘right place and time’. There are several policies for the process of recruitment. In accordance with the provided scenario stetting, the HR manager desires to recruit a cinema manager for a large cinema chain business in London so that the individual can perform according to the policies and principles of the business. The recruitment along with the selection process forms a part of the HR strategy. The main objective of the HR manager for the purpose of recruitment is to employ an individual who can work hard to achieve the desired goals of the business. The analysis of the skills required, judging the ability of the individual along with making an evolution of the performance capability of the individual are the key determinants for the HR manager (Sims, 2005). The process of recruitment is one of the critical tasks of the HR manger as it is the method of attracting new individua ls in the organisation to achieve its set out goals. HR planning (HRP) is important for an organisation to achieve its strategic goals. HR planning is done with the concept that people are amid the most important resources for any organisation. They are the core component of the business as they work in accordance with the requirement of the business development. It is the decision making procedure which helps in identifying the right person for the job. Motivating the employed person facilitates to attain greater performance and create a bridge between the management along with the people planning activities. HRP is of two forms i.e. the â€Å"Hard† and â€Å"Soft† HRP. Hard HRP focuses on the allocation of the right person with the quality needed for the business to flourish. On the other hand, soft HRP endeavours to build the culture of the organisation by achieving the

Management of Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Management of Technology - Essay Example Retail industry, because of its optimum development has been incorporating technologies in various facets of its functioning. One of the key technologies that is being sizably used is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID for short), which tracks and locates products through organisation’s supply chain using some hardware. Organisations are ‘structures’ with number of individuals doing their allocated work to accomplish set goals. Thus, the implementation of RFID in an organisation will mostly not be an individual’s decision and inputs, instead various parts of the organisation has to work in cohesion, with organisations and its management taking decisions to make the RFID function effectively. On these lines, many retail companies are implementing RFID in their operations. So, this paper will first focus on Rogers’ and other experts’ perspectives or ideas of technology diffusion. Then will discuss the origins and functioning of the RFID Techno logy and how diffusion process is applicable to this technology. Finally, the paper focusing on the retail sector and retail companies will critically evaluate RFID’s diffusion process using the literature review, and concluding with recommendations for further improvement to the literature and the development of future technologies. The technological and the innovation perspectives of diffusion got established in 1960’s, in the aftermath of Everett Rogers’ book, Diffusion of Innovations. Rogers focused on how innovation or technology got diffused or infiltrated into the society through various channels. Rogers defined diffusion as â€Å"the process in which an innovation is communicated thorough certain channels over time among the members of a social system† (Rogers 1983, p.5). It was Everett Rogers and its diffusion model which was widely accepted in various fields. The process of

Buddhism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Buddhism - Research Paper Example In a culture where the idea of diety is so thoroughly solidified, Buddhism focuses on humanitarian deeds rather than worship of a higher being. Buddhism ultimately chooses to find the good in humanity in society where religious warfare continues to plague society. The foundation of Buddhist tradition and practice focus around ethical perceptions. All Abrahamic religions along with Hinduism such as Christianity and Islam all have a divine God. Moreover, Buddhism tends to focus around life and suffering. This is perfectly displayed through John La Plante as he states, â€Å"Buddhism tends to adhere to the teachings of Buddha which calls for a very peaceful and humble approach† (Plante, 34). Moreover, Buddhism allows individuals to practice other religions along with Buddhism. The whole essence of Buddhism is to preach peacefulness and embrace nature. It was clear that people were attracted to the idea in which humanity is the focal point rather than worship and control that othe r religions enforce. Another key element that proves why Buddhism is embraced by the Asian culture is due to the fact that it promotes peace. Since Buddhism embraces the fact that peace and harmony are vital towards reaching salvation, it completely diminishes the difference of opinion in the religion itself. Buddhism is one of the fewest religions in which sects are not a huge issue. Moreover, Buddhism tends to bridge the differences. Hinduism for instance continues to impose the cast system which clashes against equality. It leads to differences between society and further leads to more division and clashes amongst people. On the other hand, Buddhism does not indulge on submission but suffering through an internal journey. Buddhism is pinnacle of peace here as it is stated in the Bhagavad Gita, â€Å"The Buddha taught one thing alone: that is, how to end suffering in ones life† (Gita, 20).

The Upcountry Look Essay Example for Free

The Upcountry Look Essay â€Å"Lose it girl, block shoes are long gone,† came a sneer.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"And the voluminous, billowing gown with metallic threads should be spared for the evenings.† Those made me look up. A girl in jeans had thrown that one at me. I felt a hot flash of shame sweep throughout my body.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Use a deodorant,† a handsome young man who stood next to me hauled that one as a fresh waft of perfume filled my nose.   I felt angry, ostracized and humiliated but I managed a chuckle, after all what you think is an embarrassment does pale into insignificance once you laugh it off.   Everyone looked so smart and jolly, uttering just the right words without mincing them. I knew I would flop but I had to give it a go. The premonition to be, I lost it. It was a job interview for news anchors in a highly rated local Television station. I lacked presence and charisma, they had told me with a dismissal. I swore to myself that I had to loose that look; dress right and pursue whatever counted in order to fit and belong. Meanwhile I had a bus to catch back to the village.   Two hours later the bus ground to a halt. I set off on the winding dusty road that led home. I felt low, especially when a flash of the incident at the audition room came to my mind, but I was looking forward to the look my sister would wear on her face as she drunk to every word I would use to describe the big city.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The buildings tower high on the sky and stand erect without a sway even if a Manhattan wind came.†Ã‚   She would leave her mouth agape.    â€Å"The people move hurriedly without acknowledging each other.† I expected a squirm, it’s a taboo not salute anyone you cross roads with according to our culture.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"How are you, Mariamu?† I knew that voice. It was Mzee Bura an elderly man from our village. His back was stooped and walked with a hobble supported by his walking stick.   Never mind he mispronounced my name which is Miriam because every person I knew did that. My sister’s name is Grace but they called her Grathi. Mzee Bura’s right shoulder was stooping under the weight of a parcel. I offered to help as out traditions dictated.   Ã‚   My nose twisted involuntarily as a strong unpleasant smell of smell of smoke, dirt and sweat hit me with a revolting effect, but what to do. I went ahead with my pleasantries as we filed along the path exchanging a polite conversation although he did most of the talking. I felt tortured by the swift evening breeze which brought the murky odour to my direction. I wondered what the city people would have made of us then.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Lose him girl, he is ancient.† That sounded like the most probable reaction from them. We walked on and calling the journey a long distance is an understatement. Our village is literally at the other side of the globe. The learned would call it a sleepy village because of its lack of civilization but it was home. I loved it.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Mariamu, you did me proud. Mzee Bura told me about your help yesterday.† I imagined my mother’s proud voice complementing me.   Darkness had fallen by then and there a comfortable silence between us as we trotted on.   A flickering light from a distance confirmed that we had indeed arrived in our home turf. A drunken man was shouting but although it happened all the time his words were cutting my conscience.   Ã¢â‚¬Å" I sent my Mariamu to the city . . . aah . . . you’ve always taken me for a fool . . . the next time she comes to this village she will be driving a car.† That was my father’s slurred talk.   Apparently my mother’s token of gratitude ( to her husband for sending their eldest daughter – me to the city)   in the name of a drink was not a viable idea because my father was making a spectre of me in the village.   Ã‚  It made me fiery at the thought of facing questioning stares from the people the following day. He was yelling everything about his household to all and sundry and never mind he had counted his chicks too early when it came to me. I glared and hissed in the darkness to let go the turmoil inside me.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Did you say something?† the old man’s hoarse voice enquired with concern. I held my breath. It was a spontaneous unpremeditated sound of annoyance. How could my father do that?   When I woke up the following morning I spotted my father immediately. He was lounging in our smoky kitchen holding a bowl of porridge. He was sober and it was hard to even think he had taken a drink of muratina, the local traditional beer, and last night. He looked a man so easy to be with, a man one can like or even admire as he spoke so eloquently on the normal issues which had nothing to do with the previous night. He appeared affectionate as he politely listened to my mother explaining what had become of my visit to the city.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Mariamu, you should go to the river then come fetch me some firewood.† My mother instructed me.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"You should lose this river and firewood crap. It’s time to go tap and at least a charcoal stove . . .† I felt like telling my mother. I was bare footed. This look! I did not like it at all. I smiled at my mother and took a metallic jerican that has been with us for as long as I can recall. My older brother is basking in the morning sun waiting for his peers to call him for a hunting game. Domestic chores are for women or so I was made to believe as I was growing up. It made me wonder why the masculine young man had no chore to attend to, yet house hold work is the hardest work in the word, but all the same that occurred to me was the reason they never help.   The morning air was fresh. I rubbed my calloused feet on the soft grass that still had the morning dew to give them a clean look, avoiding the foot path. The women were already in the fields singing their hearts out and swinging their hips with moves that increased the pace at which they worked. As they stood to salute me, I could see their faces were glistening with sweat.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Do they use a deodorant?† I wondered.   The water was sparkling clean and I could tell that it had not been disturbed that morning. I decided to sit by the river bank and let my legs dangle in the water to rid off some dry grass that had stuck between my toes. The water felt warm on my skin and I decided to take my time. The sun started beating on me and the black nylon skirt started feeling like a furnace on my thighs. It was time to move on to the next chore.   The bushes scraped and scratched my skin as I weaved my way underneath the thickets searching for some dead branches which we used as firewood. The smell of green vegetation was overwhelming and it made me feel nauseated. I had to lose this upcountry way of life, sorry, look.   That twenty something years ago and today from the high storey building where my office located, I glance through the window at the ever busy city and everything seem so normal but my first encounter with the city is unforgettable, and more so the ideas it gave me.

Rape Date Rape And Rape Trauma Syndrome

Rape Date Rape And Rape Trauma Syndrome Rape is a huge issue that plagues the world today. It is a worldwide issue, and is not specific to any one country. Rape also can impact anyone at any time. It is not specific to any one neighborhood, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or financial status. Rapes continue to happen frequently, and yet many are not reported to the police. Rape is widely thought to be the most underreported crime. There are many stigmas that go along with rape, so it makes it difficult to come forward. Also, it is sometimes difficult to prove rape when there are no physical signs. The victim may also fear being further victimized through the investigative process, so the crime is not reported. Furthermore, with the easy availability of illegal drugs, date rape has become more commonplace. Although date rape can occur without drugs, many times people use illegal substances to render their victims powerless against their advances. This is one form of date rape. In these cases, the victims do not even know what happened to them, and if they were even raped. Some of the drugs can create loss of memory, so it makes it impossible for the victim to express what happened. There are many different drugs used for date rape. Some, like alcohol, are not illegal substances. However, many of the drugs used in date rape are illegal substances. Rape can leave the victim feeling powerless. Many victims experience rape trauma syndrome, which can severely impact their lives. With the prevalence of rape in all communities, it is crucial for people to stay vigilant and aware of their surroundings. Although it is impossible to ensure complete security, there are ways to maintain safety. It is important for everyone to make their own drinks so that no one can slip any drugs into them. Also, a buddy system can be very beneficial to help everyone stay safe, and not end up a bad situation. Reasons Why Rape is Underreported Rape is one of the most underreported crimes. The Uniform Crime Report is an annual report that includes offenses reported to law enforcement agencies at the city, county, and state levels (Meadows, 2010, p. 5). This report details the offenses that are reported to the authorities. The National Crime Victimization Survey is a source of data that recognized incidents not reported to the police and includes a detailed report of crime incidents, victims involved, and trends affecting victims (Meadows, 2010, p. 9). Both the Uniform Crime Report and the National Crime Victimization Survey include information about rape, yet they each report drastically different numbers. There are significantly more rapes reported in the National Crime Victimization Survey than in the Uniform Crime Report. It has been reported by the U.S. Department of Justice that only 31% of all rapes are reported to the authorities (Arrigo, 2006, p. 108). This creates a problem in the criminal justice field because it is difficult to put a stop to rape when most people do not report their victimization. There are many reasons why rape is underreported. The National Crime Victimization Survey found that the most common reason given by victims of violent crime (including rape) for not reporting a crime was that it was a private or personal matter (Meadows, 2010, ps. 9-10). Other reasons why victims may not report rape include fear of reprisal, embarrassment, or the belief that the victim may not be believed (Meadows, 2010, p. 10). These issues all contribute to the underreporting of rape. Rape is a profoundly different type of crime as the attacker is using their body as a weapon. Instead of merely stealing some personal item that can be replaced, the attacker takes something from the victims body and mind, which can never be replaced. This ordeal may only last a few minutes, but feels like hours to the victim as they wonder what will happen next. Also, it can last longer in cases of gang rapes. Once the event is finally over and the victim realizes they have survived, they may not want to talk about it with anyone, and especially not law enforcement officers and prosecutors. Rape truly is the most personal of all crimes. Many people do not talk about sexual matters at all, so they are even less likely to discuss rape. If someone was raised in an environment where they did not talk about sexual things, they will be less likely to report a rape as an adult. It is difficult enough for the victim to get through the actual experience, and victims do not want to have to relive it several times with many different people. Unfortunately, that is the only way to bring justice to the attacker. If the victim comes forward about the attack, they will have to talk to the police at least once, talk to the prosecutor, and talk to the judge or jury depending on the type of case. It would not be as difficult if the victim only had to discuss the issue once, but they continually have to discuss it with different people, all of whom are strangers to them. Rape can occur between a stranger and a victim, but many sexual assaults, however, occur between victims and offenders who know each other (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). This leads the victim to fear retaliation if they do report the attack. Many rapists may even threaten the victim to prevent them from going to the police. Victims take these threats seriously because the attacker has already shown their violent nature, so they may be capable of much worse. In the case of date rape, the attacker may know where the victim lives and works, and this makes their threats more dangerous because they know how to find the victim. A survey of college women showed that 38% reported sexual victimization that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape, yet only 1 in 25, or 4% reported the incident to the police (Arrigo, 2006, p. 109). This is just a small illustration of how many rapes go unreported, and how many rapists are free to rape again. Rape victims also have to fear the embarrassment that a rape case can bring. When someone does report a rape and it goes to court, the defense may try to prove it was consensual, or that the victim wanted it. Also, the police officers may ask questions that appear to blame the victim. Although there are laws protecting rape victims to a certain extent, there is still embarrassment that goes along with reporting a rape. Many date rape victims are reluctant to report the act for fear that their own behavior will be scrutinized by others (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). This may be because many of the victims of date rape had been drinking or otherwise involved in some type of festivity when the rape occurred (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Because of their partying, victims may not want to come forward. This also brings embarrassment into their family. It the rape is reported to the police, the family will find out eventually, and the victim may not want them to know. They may want to protect their fam ily, or are simply too embarrassed about the attack. They may not want their parents to know the terrible thing that was done to them. They also may feel partially responsible because they had too much to drink. Ultimately, they do not want to have to talk to complete strangers about what someone did to their own body. Rape is also underreported because victims fear they will not be believed. Many rape cases end up being he said, she said because there is no physical evidence. If there are no bruises or cuts on the victim, it is difficult to prove rape. The emergency room doctor can do a rape kit shortly after the attack to see if there is any evidence. However, even if bodily fluids are found on the victim, that only proves that there was a sexual encounter, it does not prove whether or not it was a consensual act. Many rapists may use verbal threats to get the victim to comply, so there may be no physical marks or bruising. Some women fight back, but others do not because of fear. Rapists may have a weapon they threaten the victims with, so it may be smarter not to fight back in that case. However, this makes it difficult to prosecute. If victims know that there are no bruises or cuts on their body, and it will be difficult to win a case, they many not even report it. Some victims may not report rapes because they do not trust the police. This is especially seen in certain cultures that exhibit a distrust of law enforcement. This may be for many reasons. They may have grown up in a low-income environment where many people participated in illegal activities. They also may have had negative personal experiences with police officers. Also, if they are in the country illegally, they are less likely to report a crime. They may also have a friend or family member who was arrested, and that makes them dislike the police as well. It can also be difficult for victims to come forward regarding sexual assault due to the large percentage of male law enforcement officers. When someone reports a rape, they are asked extremely precise and intimate questions about what exactly the attacker did to them. They have to give details about the encounter that may be difficult to talk about, and it is even worse when the victim is female, and has to discuss it with a male. Although males can be victims of sexual assault, many victims are females, and they have to talk to male officers about their sexual assault. It is uncomfortable for many people to talk to a stranger about anything sexual, so to discuss a sexual assault is even worse. This is made even more challenging as officers can sometimes seem to be uncaring. The officers job is to collect the information about the crime. They are not responsible for consoling the victim, so they may come across as being abrupt or unsympathetic. This only causes the victim more pain as they have to discuss the assault and feel like they are not getting any sympathy. These are only a few of the reasons why rape is underreported. Victims have their own reasons for not reporting rapes, including fear of embarrassment, fear of retaliation, and the fear that they will not be believed. They also may not want to discuss this due to the personal nature of the crime. Victims may just want to move on with their lives and act like the assault never happened. What is date rape? There are many different types of rape. One type is called stranger rape. This is when a complete stranger rapes someone. These rapists often use weapons and threats of violence to gain the victims submission (Arrigo, 2006). However, the most common type of rape is called date rape. This occurs when someone is raped by a person they know. They may be on a date with this person, or be socializing with them at a party. This is extremely common, and often happens on college campuses. Date rape can also include when the assailant uses some type of drugs to make the victim powerless against the attack. Most rapes occur between victims and attackers who are known to each other. In fact, among victims 18-29 years old, two-thirds had a prior relationship with the rapist (Meadows, 2010, p. 97). Many rapists attack ex-girlfriends, casual acquaintances, or people they are currently dating. These rapes are especially difficult as the attacker is someone the victim knows and trusts. The victim may even have to see the rapist around town if they decide not to report the rape. In addition, studies on college campuses have indicated that date rape is increasing (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). An alarming survey shows that more than half of a representative sample of more than 1,000 female students at a large urban university had experienced some form of unwanted sex (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Of these reported acts, twelve percent were done by casual dates, while 43 percent were done by steady dating partners (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). One study found that many women raped by men they know do not think of themselves as rape victims (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Perhaps they think the rape was simply a misunderstanding. Still another study shows that date rape primarily occurs when the date was unplanned or the woman had been picked up in a social setting (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). Further studies have shown that 1 in 4 college women . . . [have] been raped or [have] suffered an attempted rape (Arrigo, 2006, p.109). These studies show the frequency of date rape occurring on colleg e campuses. Many researchers have attempted to determine why date rape is so prevalent on college campuses. Mary P. Koss is considered to be one of the most prolific researchers on rape (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). Koss conducted much research on college campuses, and found that 73% of the rape victims reported that the offender was drinking (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). Some researchers point to the college lifestyle as the reason why date rape is so common. Fraternities can contribute to the formation of attitudes that and behaviors that objectify women and normalize sexual coercion (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). Fraternity parties have a long history of underage drinking and random sexual acts. This is a problem when the sexual acts are not consensual. Furthermore, fraternities are about brotherhood, and this creates a preoccupation with loyalty, group protection and security, use of alcohol as a weapon, involvement in violence and physical force, and an emphasis on competitiveness and superiori ty (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 403). This brotherhood mentality makes it difficult for anyone to come forward if they witness anything inappropriate. Even if a victim comes forward, the attackers entire fraternity house may come to his defense, making it difficult to win a criminal case. Date rape is far too common amongst young people today. Victims do not typically come forward to report what happened, which leaves the rapist able to do the same thing to yet another victim. The partying lifestyle found at some colleges contributes to the rape problem. Parties can end up being a place where drunken men force themselves upon others, who are unable to resist. The victim is left feeling helpless and afraid, and in some cases may not even know what happened. Drugs Used in Date Rape Sometimes rapists use drugs to make their victim drowsy or unable to fight back. There are many different types of drugs used in this way. Rohypnol, gamma hydroxybutyric acid (more commonly known as GHB), and ketamine are just a few date rape drugs that may be slipped into an unwilling participants drink. These drugs are used for date rape because they produce prolonged sedation, a feeling of well-being, and short-term memory loss (Meadows, 2010, p. 98). In addition, many drugs on the market have no particular color, smell, or taste, which makes it easy to add to a victims drink without anyone knowing (Meadows, 2010, p. 99). Because these drugs can create short-term memory loss, the victim may not even know if they were raped or not. Rohypnol is a drug prescribed for insomnia, and is also used as preoperative anesthetic (Meadows, 2010). It also has medical uses as a muscle relaxant, hypnotic, anti-convulsant, sedative, and anti-anxiety medication (Schmalleger, 2009). Rohypnol is the trade name for flunitrazepam. It is a benzodiazepine, and is a central nervous system depressant. Rohypnol can incapacitate victims and prevent them from resisting sexual assault (Meadows, 2010, p. 99). It also can create anterograde amnesia, which makes the victim not remember anything that happened while under the influence of the drug. The effects of Rohypnol can be felt within about thirty minutes of ingesting the drug (Weiss, 2008). The effects of Rohypnol can last from one to eight hours (Schmalleger, 2009). This can make the entire night a blur, and the victim may not remember anything about the night. A further danger of Rohypnol is that it can be lethal when it is mixed with alcoholic beverages or other depressants. This coul d cause a date rape to turn into a murder. This drug is not approved for use in the United States. However, the drug became more commonplace in the 1990s for date rape purposes, and became known as a roofie (Meadows, 2010). Gamma hydroxybutyric acid is another central nervous system depressant. GHB, also called Liquid X, has been used since the 1990s in the United States for its euphoric, sedative, and anabolic (body-building) effects (Meadows, 2010, p. 100). This drug was actually sold in health food stores in the 1980s and the early 1990s (Meadows, 2010). Like Rohypnol, GHB can have negative effects if taken with alcoholic beverages. It can cause breathing problems and nausea (Meadows, 2010). GHB can take effect within fifteen minutes of being drugged (Weiss, 2008). The effects of GHB can last between three and six hours (Meadows 2010). Some of the effects of GHB use are slurred speech, disorientation, drunken behavior without odor of alcohol, [and] impaired memory of events (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 540). Also, a study was conducted with 17 GHB users being interviewed about their drug use. This study found that while on the drug, 65% of users had an increased sexual desire, and 47% had decreased sexual inhibitions (Lee Levounis, 2008). Some of the subjects even mentioned that GHB could cause poor decision making in sexual situations (Lee Levounis, 2008, p. 245). This further illustrates why assailants would use this drug. If the victim is given too much GHB, the effects of overdose include shallow respiration, clammy skin, dilated pupils, weak and rapid pulse, coma, and possible death (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 540). This drug can be very dangerous. Ketamine, also known as Special K, is another date rape drug. Ketamine is used in the United States as an anesthetic, and is predominantly used on animals in veterinary offices (Justice.com, 2011). According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, recent press reports indicate that a significant number of veterinary clinics are being robbed specifically for their ketamine stock (Justice.com, 2011). Thieves are stealing the ketamine and selling it as a drug to party-goers. It can come in a clear liquid form, so it is very easy to slip into drinks undetected. This drug is often used as a club drug, so it is easily accessible to students who may be planning a date rape. Some of the effects of ketamine are delirium, amnesia, depression, and long-term memory and cognitive difficulties (Justice.com, 2011). This drug, like GHB and Rohypnol, leaves the victim unsure of what has taken place. The effects of ketamine can be felt almost immediately (Weiss, 2008). Also, the victim m ay be aware of what is taking place, but unable to stop it (Weiss, 2008). One date rape drug that is commonly used at parties is alcohol. According to the National Womens Health Information Center, any drug that can affect judgment and behavior can put a person at risk for unwanted or risky sexual activity (Weiss, 2008). This definition includes alcohol. Even though the victim may be willingly ingesting the alcohol, someone may take advantage of them once they are drunk. Alcohol can make it difficult to think clearly, harder to tell if a situation is dangerous, and harder to fight back if attacked (Weiss, 2008). Also, like the other date rape drugs, alcohol can cause memory loss, or a black out (Weiss, 2008). The victim may black out and be raped, and not remember what happened the next day. One common effect of date rape drugs is their ability to inhibit the victims memory. These drugs cause short-term memory loss so the victim is unsure if they were raped. This makes it less likely that the victim will report the incident to the police. In fact, the victim may not even realize they were drugged at all. If the victim was drinking the night before, it is possible they will think they simply had too much to drink. This further illustrates why date rape is drastically underreported. What Happens in the Emergency Room? After someone is raped, they may need medical attention. Most often they visit their local emergency room for treatment. It is estimated that 75% of female rape victims require medical attention after their attack (Arrigo, 2006, p. 109). Although different areas and hospitals may have different procedures for handling a rape victim, typically the process is similar. The medical staff will call law enforcement to make a police report, will call the local rape crisis group, will call the Division of Family and Children Services if a minor is involved, and will perform a full examination of the victim. When the police officer arrives to take a report of the alleged rape, they must speak to the victim. They will ask the victim to recall everything that happened in the attack. If the area has a local rape crisis advocacy group, there may be a victims advocate there to help the victim with this process. In an ideal situation, the victim can explain to the officer, victims advocate, and medical staff what took place at the same time so they do not have to repeat themselves. However, many times all parties are not present at the same time, and the victim is forced to relive the event multiple times. The victim must give details about the location of the attack, and what the attacker did specifically. They must tell exactly where the attacker touched them, and where the attacker kissed them. All of this information is crucial for the evidence collection process. Once the police officer has made the report, they will leave. The victim will undergo a thorough medical examination to ensure there are no health concerns. Depending on the nature of the attack, the victim may have a pregnancy test done. Charlotte Murton, a rape crisis specialist, noted that it is also common for the medical staff to check for gonorrhea and Chlamydia (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). The victims must follow up with their personal doctor or local health department to have a more complete sexually transmitted disease screen at a later time. Most victims are also given antibiotics to ward off possible infection. The medical staff will also check for any tearing or irritation in the areas of the attack. When the victim goes to the emergency room, they may have the option to do a rape kit or evidence kit. If the assault happened within 120 hours of the emergency room visit, the medical staff can do the evidence kit (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). This will help collect evidence for a possible trial if the victim decides to press charges. This process is extremely invasive and can even be painful, but it is the only way to collect certain evidence. Typically a rape crisis advocate will stay with the victim throughout the entire process. The process for collecting evidence in Augusta, Georgia is very specific, although the order may be changed. First, the victim must stand on a large piece of paper and undress. The paper is there to collect any loose fibers as the victim undresses. The victims clothes will then be bagged up separately in case there is evidence on the clothes (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). All of t he clothes, including underwear, will be kept as evidence. Once the victim is undressed, the medical staff will do a visual inspection to see if there are any obvious injuries. If so, these injuries will be documented and photographed. Then the victim will have to give 25 hairs from their head (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). This serves to show the DNA of the victim. Any areas the victim was licked or kissed will be swabbed for possible DNA. There also may be a swab of the victims mouth if there was any type of oral contact. The victim will then lie down with a large piece of paper below them to catch any loose hairs or fibers. The nurse will use a comb on the victims pubic hair to gather any loose hairs that may be from the attacker (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). The nurse must then use a special comb that rips out hair to gather 25 of the victims pubic hairs from the root (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). This process is especially painful. The nurse will also use a black light to see if there are any fluids that fluoresce. If something does show up, that area will be swabbed (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, September 17, 2010). If the victim fought against the attacker, the nurse will clean under the victims nails to get possible debris. The nurse will also swab the victims vagina, anus, or penis depending on the nature of the attack (Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services Volunteer Training, 2010). If the victim was drugged and is unsure what happened, all areas will be swabbed. There will be several swabs of each area. The victim will then be given clothes or scrubs to wear home. In areas that have a rape crisis center, volunteer advocates are on call at all times to help a victim in need. They are called in to be with the victim throughout the entire emergency room visit, and will follow up with the victim at a later date. These advocates act as liaisons between the victim, medical staff, and police officers. They can let the victim know what to expect in the examinations, and what to expect if they press charges. They also have information about places to obtain counseling and support. This is particularly important for victims who do not have family or friends with them in the emergency room. The process that victims undergo at the emergency room can be very painful and draining. They have to relive the experience to many different people and discuss extremely private matters. Many times, law enforcement officers are male, and the victim must discuss sexual things with this male. This proves to be a difficult experience as sometimes victims are not even able to articulate what happened. They may want to forget about it or not talk about it. Then they have to go through a medical examination to make sure they are healthy. If they decide not to do an evidence kit, it is still recommended that a doctor do a pelvic exam and take swabs for possible sexually transmitted diseases. If the victim does decide to go through with an evidence kit, it is a painful and invasive process. There may even be pictures taken of the victims body if there are bruises or cuts. In addition, in some areas the rape kits may not even be tested. The Texas Tribune reports that the state is so behind i n testing rape kits that it is impossible to catch up (Grissom, 2011). Some unprocessed rape kits in Texas date back to the 1980s (Grissom, 2011). Even if the kits are processed, it can take a year before the results are known (Grissom, 2011). This gives insight into why so many rapes go unreported, and why so many people choose not to have an evidence kit. Consequences of Rape Rape is a horrifying and invasive crime. It has the potential to completely change the victims life. With some crimes, once the actual crime is over, the victim can move on with their life. This is not the case with rape victims. Once the attack is over, there are many other issues the victim will encounter. Many victims of rape experience long-term consequences of their attack. There may be physical consequences deriving from the attack. There also may be emotional consequences. Many rape victims have difficulties returning to their normal lives after the attack. They may exhibit symptoms of rape trauma syndrome, a type of post-traumatic stress disorder. There are many physical consequences that can arise from rape. The victim may become pregnant from the attack. This leads to a difficult decision for the victim, made even more difficult if they do not believe abortion is an appropriate option. Some women may have religious or personal views that prevent them from getting an abortion, and thus are forced to go through a pregnancy resulting from a rape. In addition, the adult rape pregnancy rate is actually increasing based on United States Census Reports (Meadows 2010). It is estimated that there may be 32,100 rape-related pregnancies annually among America women over the age of 18 years (Meadows, 2010, p. 102). This statistic does not even include all the minors who become pregnant due to a sexual assault. Rape victims can also contract sexually transmitted diseases from the attack. Depending on the disease, there may be an easy cure, or they may have to live with the disease for the rest of their lives. If they contract acquired immune deficiency syndrome, more commonly known as AIDS, their life may actually be shortened. This is why many emergency rooms administer antibiotics when someone claims they have been raped. This is an attempt to cure a disease before it is even diagnosed. Also, some emergency rooms may have prophylactic treatment for those who may have been exposed to AIDS. Rape victims may also have acute injuries resulting from the rape (Meadows 2010). Depending on the level of violence in the rape, these injuries can be minimal to severe. Typically the most violent rapes are stranger rapes. This is because stranger rapists are more likely to involve the use of a weapon (Arrigo, 2006, p. 109). This weapon is most frequently a knife (Arrigo, 2006). If the attacker used the knife to stab the victim, there may be internal injuries or bleeding. Attackers also may beat their victims. This can lead to simple cuts and bruises or more complex injuries like broken ribs. In addition, the victim may experience vaginal or rectal tears from the rape. There are both emotional and psychological issues resulting from rape that are included in rape trauma syndrome. There are two phases of rape trauma syndrome. The first phase is the acute phase. In the acute phase, the victim experiences a complete disruption of her life, resulting from the violence she experienced (Meadows, 2010, p. 38). The victim may have a range of emotions during the acute phase, including crying, shouting, swearing, or laughing inappropriately (Meadows, 2010, p. 38). The victim may experience severe mood swings, and change emotions very quickly. They may be fearful to even leave their home. If the attack happened in their home, they may not feel safe living there anymore. The second phase of rape trauma syndrome is the reorganization phase. In the reorganization phase, victims must reorganize their lives (Meadows, 2010). This is accomplished with help from friends and family members (Meadows, 2010). During this phase, the victims have to learn ways to cope with their daily lives, and the disturbing thoughts that may enter their minds at any time. They may return to work and attempt to move on, but the pain and fear is still present in their minds. There are many different symptoms of rape trauma syndrome. Some of the symptoms include fear, helplessness, shock, disbelief, guilt, humiliation, embarrassment, anger, self-blame, flashbacks of the rape, avoidance of previously pleasurable activities, avoidance of the place or circumstances in which the rape occurred, depression, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and impaired memory (Meadows, 2010, p. 102). These symptoms greatly inhibit the victims ability to heal and move on with their life. They may be happy one moment, and then suddenly be overcome with sadness and not able to understand where the sadness originated. While in the acute phase they may experience a wide range of emotions. When they enter the reorganization phase, they may not have quite as many mood swings, but may experience flashbacks of the attack. This contributes to their insomnia. Victims are afraid to go to sleep because they may have nightmares of the attack. They also lost their sense of control when they were attacked, and going to sleep leaves them vulnerable yet again.

Homosexuality In Dead Dreams Of Monochrome Men

Homosexuality In Dead Dreams Of Monochrome Men In this essay I am going to look at the work Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men (Dead Dreams) by Lloyd Newson, performed by the Physical Theatre Company DV8. I will focus on the way homosexuality is represented within the piece. I will then look at the work of the playwright Oscar Wilde (1854 -1900) and the painter Francis Bacon (1909 -1992) in order to examine how homosexuality was represented within their art and make comparisons with Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men. I will try to show how the representation of homosexuality within art at different times reflects the prevailing attitudes towards homosexuality of the time. I will examine how each artist used their creativity to put forward ideas and messages about their personal experience of homosexuality, and the extent to which this was influenced by the society in which they lived. Although these artists lived in different eras I believe they shared a similar attitude to the pain, suffering and frustration that homosexuals were forced to feel when existing within a society which regarded their natural sexual orientation with prejudice and lack of understanding. Homosexuality was a criminal offence in the UK until 1967. Before this date homosexuals could be imprisoned gay males had to risk various punishments from society for their behaviour which was not condoned by the establishment. Because of this many homosexuals experienced conflict: either to not follow their natural sexual desires and live a lie, of follow them and risk exposure as a criminal and perhaps even prison. This forced homosexuals into a world of guilt and secrecy which is still resounding within homosexual culture today. Even though attitudes towards homosexuality can be said to me more liberal today, for many people homosexuals are still strongly associated with unnatural acts and perversion not just on an individual basis but also be institutions such as the Catholic Church. 2 Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men In 1986, Lloyd Newson formed the Physical Theatre Company DV8 and he is the main choreographer of DV8s work. Newson is renowned for exploring and attacking the forbidden in an attempt to challenge societys views of various issues and, in particular, homosexuality. Newson addresses the distance created by mainstream or straight society which pushes homosexuals to the fringes. (Hutera, 83, 2008) Newson has placed his sexualized politics into the body of his works. (Reynolds, 2009, online) Interestingly, before Newson made his way into the art world with DV8, he trained as a therapist. Perhaps in his therapeutic work he was able to identify with the struggles of the other minorities who experienced prejudice that he would have encountered: people who experienced great personal problems or behavioural addiction problems which may have made them feel like outsiders. Newson is obviously a highly political person who does not shy away from pushing the boundaries to achieve his artistic and political objectives. DV8 Physical Theatres work is about taking risks, aesthetically and physically, about breaking down the barriers between dance, theatre and personal politics and, above all, communicating ideas and feelings clearly and unpretentiously. It is determined to be radical yet accessible, and to take its work to as wide an audience as possible. (DV8, 2010, online) Originally premiered as a stage piece on 5th October 1988, Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men was the first stage piece by DV8 to be reworked and transformed for film (in 1990). My impressions of the piece are based on this film, directed by David Hinton, rather than the stage performance. Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men is divided into ten different pieces, involving a cast of four male dancers, (including Lloyd Newson himself), conveying the alienation of homosexual males and the deionisation of homosexual thirsts. (Hutera, 83, 2008) The work is said to be inspired by the serial killer Dennis Nielsen, a man sentenced to life imprisonment in 1983 after murdering fifteen male homosexuals. Newsons decision to use Dennis Nielsen within this piece could be regarded as surprising as Nielsen could be seen to represent the seediest, most violent and sadistic aspects of homosexuality rather than its more acceptable face. For me this shows Newsons honesty in not backing away from difficult issues. However while violence is always imminent in this work, the choreographer and director also focus on the unexpected tenderness of four men who are too desperate to control their needs to suppress their fear, (Ney, 2001, online) Through the choices made in terms of movement, camera, music and set in Dead Dreams, the fear suggested is of the sexual desire between the four dancers, who are battling with themselves and those around them. Newson is suggesting that homosexuals feel a need to try and suppress their desire, because of the harsh world they live in. Although homosexuality is treated far more openly within U.K. society than ever before, it is still tinged with danger and fear, perhaps echoing its past and the impact that prohibition and prejudice still have on homosexual culture. Newson made known that the production loved to assault middle England prejudices and use shock as a major tactic. (Brown, 2003, online) Newson was one of the first artists, not just in dance but across all art, to not feel the need to try and hide or tone down the homosexuality in his work. Newson was not afraid to use real male bodies, show you the real skin on skin contact and let you know that homosexuality is what you were being witness to. The use of camera in Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men brings the audience face to face with the gay relationships between dancers. Throughout the piece the camera zooms in on close-ups of skin to skin contact. For example a duet in the second piece blind shows us a moment where two dancers are stood one in front of the other. The dancer behind reaches around the dancers body in front and lifts his t-shirt (a popular item of clothing among gays) to cover his head. Using his hands he then slowly and lightly explores the surface of his skin around his abdominal and pectoral area. At the culmination of this, the camera slowly zooms onto the dancers stomach and all we can see is this hand to stomach contact. The use of close up by the camera gives us no choice but to be confronted with this idea of intimacy between the dancers, emphasising the importance of this imagery to the piece, and the overall work. Suddenly the hand slaps the stomach and the piece finishes. The slap communicates to me a feeling of forbidden, that the touching between the two is wrong. Whilst we are shown the close up camera shot of the hand to stomach contact, there are short snaps of another dancer who is positioned to the side of the duet. This dancer is crouched tensely over with this body, with his mouth pushed wide open, every limb, and finger to neck is stiff and contracted. The dancer appears anguished and frustrated. The fact that we are unable to hear any scream which you feel he is desperately trying to project, communicates that he may be a symbolic reference to the silent frustration felt by many homosexuals who feel they need to live in denial of their sexuality. There are many moments in Dead Dreams that contrast what we see on the outside of the dancers with what they are feeling on the inside. Newson has created moments which make us think there is more to the dancers than what is being portrayed on the surface, that an act is being put on. For example, in piece four I just want to be with you we have the only moment in the whole work where a dancer speaks. A man (perhaps representing Nielsen) is sat smoking, looking at us through the camera and speaking as though he were trying to chat us up in a bar. The smoke illusion and the steadiness of his voice communicate an impression of calmness. However, about five metres in the distance behind this man we see another male figure, squashed between two walls. As the dancer speaks the male behind moves in a fidgety manor within his small space, as if trying to find a position that is comfortable. As the conversation builds and the sentences become longer and more personal, the dancers movements becomes bigger and more frantic, suggesting that perhaps the dancers are actually different sides of the same person. This scene appears to be metaphoric. Newson may be trying to say that however comfortable gay men appear to be on the outside, there is still a lack of confidence inside. DV8 aims to connect the world outside with the world inside or, if you like, the personal with the political. Even though their focus is on the body in action, they use whatever means they need to achieve that connection dance, acting, circus, film, whatever. The message matters more than the medium. (2008, Roy, online) Silence is used very effectively throughout Dead Dreams. The use of silence at moments enables the audience to hear the breathing of the dancers. In Piece Four the dancers breathing speeds up as another dancer walks towards him, getting closer and closer. The breathing increases even more as that dancer then makes body contact with him, hand to his neck. By the intensity of the breathing we can sense a strong feeling of the nervousness and perhaps lack of trust he feels about the situation. This idea of trust between two dancers is bought up again later in the work, in a more symbolic and obvious way. Piece six called Falling Down involves a moment when one dancer is dropping himself from a ladder onto another dancer who is supposed to catch and break his fall. The dancer falls testing their trust, three times. First from a height of about two metres, the next as high as four metres, but then on the third drop, he is willing to fall from a height of about ten feet. The dancer beneath walks away, but the dancer drops himself anyway, perhaps suggesting that even those who you have grown used to trusting always have the capacity to let you down again echoing the Nielsen story as he first befriended his victims before killing them. Filmed in starkly lit, anguish- and muscle-enhancing black and white, Dead Dreams looks like a living George Platt Lynes photograph set in a fevered, prison like bar world, pulsating with wordless sexual narratives, twitchy erotic appetites and well-shorn, hunky men. (From Video Cover). Is this prison supposed to represent another world, homosexuality from which there is no escape? In Piece Five, Drum and Dance for the first time we see the outside of the prison. A protected barred window, through which a bright light shines through (as if suggesting a happier place) into the dark and eerie box in which the four males seem trapped. A desire to reach for this light is suggested as the three dancers each try individually to get out of the window, a teasing four metres above their heads. They soon think of using each other to help reach up to the window, and start co-operating to the point of climbing up one anothers backs to standing on shoulders. (An example of the physical skill demand in DV8s movement material). Perhaps Newson is suggesting that only if homosexuals work together can they fight prejudice and negativity? How there needs to be a strong sense of unity amongst homosexuals, based on their shared experiences of alienation and rejection. In the third piece The Pedestal Newson again seems to address the issue of denial. A male dancer is sitting on the shoulder of another male dancer. The dancer carrying the other walks non stop in a circle for about three minutes. Obviously the weight of carrying a whole males body, particularly on just one shoulder is very demanding, and so he struggles to walk around upright and soon becomes pushed to a crouch. The way the dancer fights for as long as he possibly can, could be taken to suggest the idea of a homosexual in denial. How the weight of going against what is such a natural part of you can been very hard, and will eventually crush (kill?) you. In an interview with the telegraph, Newson speaks about his beliefs and his position as a homosexual artist. He explains, I am a politician already. Battling with the politics of dance, and the politics of life. If I can carry on those battles with a loudspeaker- which you can do when you have company that gives public performances then I will. DV8 is my loudspeakerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The direct line between what we felt and what we showed we felt angry, we showed anger immediately. And it got to a point when we burned ourselves out. (Brown, 2003, online) Dead Dreams is a powerful work that draws you into the world of the homosexual and confronts you with your own prejudices. It has an integrity based on what one feels to be the gritty truth about the negative attitudes and insecurities regarding homosexuality which Newson obviously still feel permeate U.K. society today and the dangers that many homosexuals still face because of this. 3 Oscar Wilde Oscar Wilde was a successful poet and playwright who produced most of his work in the late 19th century. The Victorian society in which Wilde lived stressed the need for family values and a faithful religious way of life. Although everyone knew that homosexuality existed most pretended to not know anything about it and homosexuals were forced to live secret lives. Homosexuals came mainly from the upper and middle classes and had both the financial and social life to enable them to engage in homosexual activities. (Hilliard, 1982, online) Many were married and lived double lives and were flamboyantly dressed. During the 1880s and 90s societies attitudes towards homosexuality changed significantly. What before was thought of as sinful behaviour, views of homosexuality altered into believing it was nothing but a sickness. (Hilliard, 1982, online) However the Labouchà ¨re Amendment of the Criminal Law Act of 1885 criminalised all homosexual acts by males in private and public, and this legislation eventually led to Oscar Wilde being prosecuted. (Hilliard, 1982, online) Oscar Wilde was one of the many homosexuals who lived a double life. Wilde appeared to adhere to Victorian values by marrying and having two sons, prior to acknowledging that he was in fact a homosexual. However the pressures of living a lie eventually caught up with Wilde and when he left his wife he returned to Oxford and the company of his friends from the upper classes and began drinking heavily and living a more openly homosexual lifestyle, including a very public affair with a member of the British aristocracy (Lord Alfred Douglas). Shortly after he was arrested, tried and sentenced to two years had labour for his homosexuality. (Moonstruck, online) Through his work Wilde was able to secretly convey his views, by creating a somewhat coded language which laid as a discreet undertone to his work. When you were aware of the secret messages Wilde had put into his work (which had reference to homosexuality), messages that lay deeper beneath the rich colour and beauty, the public would be witness to a whole different play. (Coren, 94, 1997) Homosexual undertones in Wildes writings, particularly in his novel, were used against him and helped send him to jail. His play The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde directly addresses the theme of dual identities. The plays two main characters are seen to be engaged in bunburying, which in the play is seen to refer to having one identity in London and another in the country. This was shown in the play as allowing them to escape Victorian social mores. This was taken by many to be a metaphor for the double life many homosexuals were living at the time. (SOURCE: MENDELSHON, DANIEL; THE TWO OSCAR WILDES, NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS, VOLUME 49, NUMBER 15  · 10 OCTOBER 2002). Some commentators have suggested that bunburying was a slang terms for homosexual sex and that earnest was often used as a code word for homosexual as in is he earnest? During his trials, Wildes own homosexual undertones in his writings, particularly in his I Wilde was also explicit in his only novel, Dorian Gray where the male writer says of his first meeting with the lead character: for the first time. I knew that I had come face to face with someone whose mere personality was so fascinating that, if I allowed it to do so, it would absorb my whole nature, my whole soul, my very art itself. This description of one man falling in love with another was felt to be shocking at the time of the books publication. Oscar Wilde was forced to hide his homosexuality behind layers of inference and disguise. He was terrified of revealing his homosexuality because he knew that he would be alienated and ostracised from the society. (Rader, online) Oscar Wilde was a prime example of how the negative attitudes towards homosexuality lead to secrecy and denial and that this can ultimately prove to be personally disastrous for the individual concerned. 4 Francis Bacon Born in Ireland in 1910, living until 1992, Francis Bacon was voted the most important living artist in the world. His influence and popularity amongst society cannot be denied as during the early twentieth century he existed as the highest selling living painter. Bacon was a painter of figures, (mainly portraits studies), often using an easel and canvas to create a roughly textured surface of oil paints. Working only from photographs, Bacon would transfer the figure he sees in this stimulus, to a figure painted on canvas. Francis Bacon was an artist who never tried to flatter the sitters he painted, but rather reflected his take on human existence. (Peppiatt 233, 2009), (Fifield, online) There is a clear theme that runs through all of Bacons works, the theme of distortion, the breaking up of the human body. For example in Bacons Portrait of Michel Leiris (1976) and Francis Bacon Self Portrait (1978). Francis Bacons homosexuality was no secret in his career. The death of Bacon at the age of 82 in 1992 stands as a significant moment, a turning point, in our understanding not only of the concept of queer, but of how artists felt able to operate if they were to be both true to themselves yet find a measure of acceptance in a society by and large hostile to homosexual expression. (1996, Cooper, online) Francis Bacon considered himself to be a queer homosexual and did not want to be known as a gay, as he did not like the word. In the old fashioned sense when queer was a term of abuse, a recognition and disapproval by society of divergent sexual tastes. There is that suggests Bacon was moved by the ideas and theories of gay liberation, but rather that the movement brought an unwelcome intrusion in what he regarded as his private life. At the time of the Stonewall riots in 1969, he was nearly 60 and his lifestyle was resolutely pre-liberationist in style and attitude. To change this would have involved great effort on his part. Going public, would not have seemed the thing to do at a time when his international reputation was well established. (1996, Cooper, online) It is obvious that Francis Bacon addresses homosexuality in his work, with paintings such as Study for Nude (1951) which involves male naked bodies intimately entwined, but he never spoke directly about it, and in particular would never speak of his personal relations that he wanted to remain completely private in attempt to not influence or detract from him being seen as an artist. The label gay was seen by many like Bacon, as a term just as abusive as Nigger. There were many liberations around during the later part of his life and represented a shift in homosexual lifestyle and its public persona. Bacon did not want to change his image and face the consequences of this from the public towards his work. Bacon produced most of his best work in the period after the Second World War, with his breakthrough piece Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion being painted in 1944. The immediate post war period was when society was very much about returning to family life and this can be seen through British and American films of the time. At this time it was very risky to divulge your homosexuality to others not only because it was illegal but also because it was not accepted. This would have led to feelings of isolation for many homosexuals. Even though society was becoming more tolerant of homosexuality, there was still great reluctance by homosexuals to trust others and discuss their sexuality, even with their families. At that time, men in this situation often referred to their doctors for help, and this occasionally led to medication or even psychiatric referrals to change their behaviour. Bacons subject matter was often autobiographical, reflecting the intimate and often anguished relationships he experienced. Despite Bacons use of distortion in his works, it is clear to see that the great predominant sex of his figures were male, and naked. When these naked figures in his works are involved in very close bodily contact, with entwined limbs where they are almost painted as one body, it is hard to not see Bacons work as greatly personal and specifically relatable to his sexuality. Yet by the late sixties Bacon had completed some of his queerest paintings. The relatively straightforward image Study from the Human Body (1949), of a naked man behind a transparent curtain is sensuous and enticing, offering a glimpse of some quiet, personal moment. An interesting choice that Bacon makes when displaying his final art pieces, is he demands that a glass cover be placed on top of his work, and with all aspects of art, everything is done for a reason. Is Bacons aim to create a reflection of the onlooker into the paintings too? Are we meant to look at ourselves and think of how we see ourselves in the painting? Bacon was probably the greatest British painter of the 20th century, and although he did not like to talk about his homosexuality directly, there is no doubt that his work brought homosexuality into the daylight and it was because of artists such as Bacon and others that the Sexual Offences Act 1967 Act which decriminalised homosexuality was passed. 5 Comparisons and Contrasts Dead Dreams of Monochrome men is shot in black and white, with dim lighting, creating a set of eeriness and little distraction. Francis Bacons works have the same effect, from his use of mainly black and white and other deep shades in his work, for example Three Studies for Figures at the base of a Crucifixion (1944). Bacons figurative and portrait paintings lack strong backgrounds, and thereby bring the main focus of his works, the figures, through as the strongest and most powerful detail. For instance in Bacons famous Self-Portrait (1971) he uses just a plain black painted background. In effect the mixture of blue, red and white tones that he has used to create the face, really emphasise and draw you in to these unusual skin colours. Similarly to pieces in Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men, as an audience we cannot help but be put in the position of being face to face with the shockingly suggestive gay relations. These artists are not afraid to use the naked body in their work, and feel no need to try to cover up or tone down the intensity of their work in doing so, just because of the shocked, some maybe disgusted, reaction we may have. Although Bacon uses the naked body, through vague outlines of the figures, the use of distance and blending, the naked figures in his works are created in a way that they do not hit you as much as Newsons figures. For example in Two figures (1953), which involves two male figures lying on a bed embraced, Bacon has used vertical brushstrokes that blend the black background in with the figures heads and body. You can be pretty sure that these two figures are male, however by Bacons technique here there is a possibility that he could argue that they are not, and that it is just your interpretation. I wonder does Bacon want the society to see homosexuals firstly as human being and their sexuality second. Whereas Newson aims for society to understand that human beings cannot be separated by their sexuality? In Dead Dreams, Newsons choice of props have been used effectively in terms of representing or having symbolic meaning by being put into a very plain and simple background. The same effect exists in some of Bacons pieces. Because of his plain backgrounds which exist as a running style through his paintings, when he involves an object it stands out as significant, and it can only be being used for a good reason. In Bacons Study for Crouching Nude, an outline of what appears to be a glass-like box which stands around the figure is painted. Is this glass meant to create an enclosed space the figure is stuck in? Meant to separate us from the figure? Matched by how the figure is hunched over in front of us and positioned in a crouch, the figure almost become animalistic, monkey-like. DV8 use the same idea of an enclosed setting around their male dancers a prison which they try to escape from. It could be said that the DV8 figures push the boundaries of humanity by such challenging and original movement. Are Newson and Bacon suggesting that sex is, at its most basic level, an animal act? Maybe they believe gays that suppress their feelings about their sexuality can turn into animals? Newsom could also be suggesting a link to the reaction of society towards the Dennis Nielsen case, as many people described him as an animal. Bacon often aimed to portray the human body as meat. An example of this is in his painting George Dyer in a mirror created in 1963, where the reflection in a mirror which is painted next to Dyers face reflects a further distortion which looks like slabs of meat. Perhaps Bacon was suggesting that if you see the human body as a slab of meat you do not see it as having any feelings and this is further suggested by the violence that runs through the image, which is enhanced by Bacons use of harsh brushstrokes. I do not believe that Bacon was as interested in challenging or expressing his views on homosexuality as much as Newson, as he was never an activist. And perhaps because of his associations with queer or camp effeminate homosexuals, he did not feel the need to strive for an acknowledgement that would eventually lead to move fundamental changes in society, (such as the civil ceremonies and legal right). His association with the art establishment would also have provided him with many influential friends and he may not have felt he was in a minority or an outsider. However I do believe that they both were interested in making reference to the suffering and effects homosexuals experienced by the discrimination they receive, and strove to communicate their experiences honestly in their art. 6 Conclusions It is no surprise that both Lloyd Newsons, Francis Bacons and to some extent Oscar Wildes homosexual referenced work received objections from many members in society. For example, Margaret Thatcher, Tory Prime Minister, described Francis Bacon as that artist who paints those horrible pictures. A well known philistine Thatchers artistic interests seem to be limited to collecting pretty ceramic figurines the remark could be read as referring to both Bacons often violent style of painting and to his usual subject of the interaction between two men, which in Bacons view was neither affectionate nor relaxed but turbulent and traumatic. (1996, Cooper, online) Protests of the openness and public support of acknowledging homosexuality inside and outside of the arts have always occurred. DV8 are one of many to be the creators of art which has provoked these objectors. The Sunday Mirror gave DV8 a massive leg-up. Gay sex orgy on TV shrieked the headline for their story on the screening of Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men, prompting a flood of complaints to the TV network, angry questions in parliament by Tory MPs and a huge surge in DV8s viewing figures. (2008, Roy, online) This still exists today, only last year ago one of the dance works shown at the production of In the Spirit of Diagalev at Sadlers Wells, bought protestors both inside and outside the dance theatre, over its explicitness about sex, homosexuality and the involvement further with the Catholic Church. Conservative elements within society seemed to worry that if sexuality could be questioned then what else could? What could homosexuality lead to? Would control even break down? Although Newson has been more willing to discuss how life and work than Bacon or Wilde, they all shared a need to express their ideas without being restrained by societys reactions to their work. This took considerable bravery the bravery to create art which was so out there for its day meant risk. And without artists taking risks everything will stagnate. I SUGGEST FINISHING HERE NEW I believe that the fact all three of these artist were homosexual are of great importance to their work. I believe if they were not, these works would most likely never of been made, as I am sure it was their experiences as homosexuals, and the hitting of nerves by a harsh society, that encouraged their art. Art always has and I believe will always be a substance of the artists feelings, as what is so beautiful about art, is its ability to be an expressional form.