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Hindu Marriage, 2006.
An examination of the Hindu view of marriage as demonstrated through marriage customs and rituals.
1,155 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 39.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the Hindu outlook on marriage as reflected in the elaborate traditions and rituals surrounding the marriage ceremony. Hindu marriage is further described as both an important means to foster love for the entire extended family, and as a means of spiritual growth for the couple. The three main parts of the marriage ceremony are described, including the pre-ceremony, the ceremony proper, and the conclusion of the ceremony. The author contends that the elaborateness of the rituals serve as a reminder of the importance of the marriage both to their families and the couples' own spiritual lives for the remainder of their union.
From the Paper
"A Hindu marriage ceremony can be divided into three main parts: the pre-ceremony, the ceremony proper, and the conclusion of the ceremony. The pre-ceremony includes a reception that is held by the bride's parents for the groom and his parents at the entrance of the marriage hall. After this first reception, the bride's father meets the groom on the stage, and gives several presents to the couple. The daughter is then given away by the bride's parents (Hinduism.co.za). Pre-marriage ceremonies can also include Pair Pana (where sweets and gold coins are exchanged), and Milni (where sweets, ornaments and token money are exchanged) (Mypurohith). The bride's feet and palms are decorated with Mahendi before the ceremony (Vivaaha.org)."
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Hesiod's "Theogony", 2006.
A paper on "Theogony" by Hesiod and its historical context.
1,161 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 40.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses Hesiod's "Theogony," and its place as a Greek myth. The paper discusses how "Theogony" is a more than a simple collection of divine mythology. The paper refers to the works of scholars such as N. O. Brown and P. Walcot and explains their varying views on the role of "Theogony." The author concludes by explaining how Hesiod's "Theogony" is a move towards monotheism within the ancient Greek traditions.
From the Paper
"Hesiod's Theogony functions as the large-scale poetic synthesis of the plethora of Greek traditions into a singular creation myth depicting the origins of the gods. The 5th Century BCE rhapsode honed what he believed to be a gift from the gods while napping on the mythological home of the Muses on Mount Helicon, where he tended sheep near his Boeotian home. Just as he accomplished more than agrarian how-to in his first lyrical production, Works and Days, Theogony surmounts the divine myth. Herodotus called it little more than an authoritative list of divine names, attributes and functions, but the continuing debate in its translation, interpretation and Typhoeus episodic interpolation reveals a great story that not only grounds the scholar in Hesiodic debate but the individual in a great historical context."
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Cultural Diversity and Team Performance, 2006.
Examines the effects of demographic characteristics and cultural diversity on group and team performance.
953 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 5 sources, APA, $ 33.95
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Abstract
In today's sports, business, academic and other professional environments, conventional wisdom suggests that demographic and cultural diversity contribute positively to enhanced performance by groups or teams. Recent research suggests, however, that while diverse skills and abilities may in fact enhance group or team performance, demographic diversity (e.g. differences among team or group members in language, cultural, referential, or social background) may detract from it. This paper explores factors that make a group into a winning team, as well as analyzes both positive and negative effects of demographic characteristics and cultural diversity, on group and team behavior and performance.
From the Paper
"As demonstrated, then, within research; current events, and popular culture alike, demographic and/or cultural diversity either may or may not enhance a team's or a group's performance, depending on the group or team itself; its members; its management and/or other influences; and its shared values, goals, and philosophies. Diversity of skill and ability, research shows, is in general more likely to enhance group or team performance than is cultural diversity."
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The Drawbacks of Multiculturalism, 2006.
Examines some of the disadvantages of multiculturalism.
934 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 33.95
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Abstract
This paper argues that multiculturalism is, in itself, dangerous. Critics of the concept are increasingly in agreement that multiculturalism in the end does more harm than good. The paper argues that the fields of language, art, culture and everyday human relations suffer under the bureaucratic guise of "equality".
From the Paper
"In this way, under the guise of honoring the struggle of cultures to make themselves heard, this very struggle continues by not being allowed to fade into the past where it belongs. Once again, intercultural resentment begins to manifest as a result of apparent favoritism for the "struggle" and those who were part of it during the 1960's and 1970's. This has become so evident that many prominent colored artists' work has come to be referred to as "victim" art. This of course does nothing to alleviate already pronounced racial tensions because of multiculturalism."
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Prehistoric African Development, 2006.
This in-depth paper analyzes the prehistoric development of the African continent while focusing primarily on the development and evolution of man in this particular region.
2,925 words (approx. 11.7 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 86.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the published archaeological evidence and research that proves humans lived in Africa more than 3 million years ago. The writer of this paper traces the origins of the first humans in prehistoric Africa to the grassland regions in the east. The writer delves into the prehistoric cultures of Africa while also discussing the cultural and linguistic evidence that shows that certain societies such as the Bantus and Zulus came from the north and migrated southwestward to set up their own communities. This paper explores the development that occurred during the late Stone Age era which brought about additional settled societies throughout the continent. This paper analyzes the manner in which prehistoric cultures and societies functioned in Africa. The writer stresses that during the evolution of man evidence of specialized tools were found to have been created to cope with a new range of environments and circumstances which are clearly detailed in this paper. The writer also examines how the issue of gender was viewed during the prehistoric era. The writer contends it was likely that the traditional division of labor was evident during this particular era in which men hunted while women defended the camp and cared for the family.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Analysis
Conclusion
References
From the Paper
"Part of the reasons, for some of the methods adopted, were geographic in origin. At the same time, the country is now broken up in 50 different countries and there is a wide difference in sizes among them, both in terms of area as also in terms of population. At the same time, the continent is huge enough to contain United States, China, India and Argentina together. The diversity and difference from other continents is sustained by the fact that it is bisected by the equator. There are many different types of lands, but the greatest portion of it is either desert or open plains. The continent also has snow capped mountains in Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro. The continent also has four different river systems of the Nile, Niger, Congo or Zaire and Zambezi. As was the situation in other world regions, human development in Africa also first took place in areas where there was good availability of natural resources in the form of soils and required water supply."
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The Mass-Media Pygmalion, 2006.
This paper studies the complex relationship between consumers and the mass media. Do we create the media, or does the media create us?
1,208 words (approx. 4.8 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 41.95
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Abstract
The author studies the give and take relationship between the media and our society to determine which is the cause and which is the effect. The author continues by showing a connection between the main icons of Western culture and the effects of the media. The fast food industry is highlighted and the author shows the great effects it has had on our trends and ideals, with conformity a notable outcome. After studying the diverse effects of our fast food culture today, the author concludes that only a corrupt society can allow the mass media such power.
From the Paper
"In the Classical Greco-Roman era, it was believed that Pygmalion, a sculptor, brought Galatea to life. However, today it seems to be a more common belief that Galatea creates Pygmalion. The question of whether members of our society create the media, or if the media influences members of the society to such a degree that it essentially creates the society, is a prominent one in the study of modern anthropology. Pop culture artifacts reveal a great deal about the modern society, including social trends, values, ideals, and more. The relationship between consumers and the mass media is a complex one that may not be simple enough to evaluate as a directional give-and-take diagram. There are many issues relating to social responsibility and the often clashing pursuits of individual wealth and greater good that come to play when discussing popular media, culture, and society."
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Traditional Cultures, 2006.
An examination of traditional cultures before widespread westernization, including a review of the anthropological literature.
1,642 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 7 sources, APA, $ 53.95
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Abstract
This paper looks at how the early cultures that populated the nascent Western World were all unique. It looks at how proximity, difficulty and a mastery of seafaring technology allowed for a transfusion of cultures over the years, most predominantly through Christianization. It attempts to show how long before the age of Westernization, traditional western cultures blossomed, spreading as far away as Africa and the middle west and providing the basis for culture that would one day spread far and wide with traditions like Halloween and the "middle earth" that captivated Tolkien, Hollywood and eventually the world.
From the Paper
"Unlike their northern neighbors, the Scandinavians were not aquatic warriors; they were village-oriented farmers, fishermen, and hunters. They operated on a very local level, but were forced to establish lines of communication with other villages to establish lines of defense against the attacking Vikings. Together, the "northmen" established a large defense fleet called the ledung to protect themselves from the invaders, preserving not only their little villages, but also their families, fish, lands, and game. The Norse mythology pervaded the Scandinavian culture, an orally purported religion that claimed no divine text, but instead was a collection of tales that asserted the earth was a flat disc in which the gods lived in the center, separated from the humans by a rainbow, the Bifrost bridge."
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America -A Land of Many Kims!, 2006.
Examines the popularity of the 'Kim' surname in the American-Korean community.
915 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 32.95
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Abstract
Kim is one of the most common Korean surnames in both Korea and in America today. Wherever there is a Korean community, it is easy to find someone named Kim. This paper takes a look at some of the more famous Kim's who made a name for themselves in the United States.
From the Paper
"However, not only New York hosts a vibrant community of people named Kim. For example, Dr. Benjamin Kim is a prominent physician in Salt Lake City Utah, a practicing Mormon as well as a surgeon with strong ties to the community, brought to Utah by his love of the intense fellowship and religious feeling evident amongst the Mormon community. He converted to Mormonism, and became part of the Utah Mormon American lifestyle and schema of beliefs."
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Orientalism, 2006.
A critical analysis of the term, "Orientalism" and the debate surrounding it.
2,058 words (approx. 8.2 pages), 7 sources, APA, $ 64.95
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Abstract
"Orientalism" centers on the study of Near and Far Eastern society and culture, including most of Asia and the Middle East, typically through the expression of art, by the Western world. The term "Orientalism" is becoming outmoded due to the debate of whether or not Orientalist artists' works were simply a portrayal of the Near and Far Eastern society at the time, or a prejudiced stereotypical portrayal that had a negative impact on both societies. This latter belief was most famously articulated by Edward Said, in his various works, but most notably his book "Orientalism". It is these two divergent critical analyses that this paper focuses upon.
Paper Outline:
Introduction
Edward Said's Analysis of Orientalism
Proponents of Orientalism
Conclusion
References
From the Paper
"In fact, Said (1979) believed that the crucial turning point in history was Napolean's conquest of Egypt. Warraq (2002), on the other hand, notes that Egypt was not simply a passive victim of Western rapacity. The French were forced out of the country in less than four years. During their occupation, the French were highly sensitive to Muslim opinion, as opposed to being oppressive, or viewing them as "other". In fact, General J.F. Baron de Menou had converted to Islam and had enacted a variety of measures to conciliate the Muslims."
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Human Communication Analysis, 2006.
This paper analyzes the field of cybernetics and human communications while focusing on the views and opinions of linguistics expert Gregory Bateson.
1,817 words (approx. 7.3 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 58.95
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Abstract
This paper details the published research relating to human communication analysis, based on intra-personal, interpersonal and group interaction. This paper details Gregory Bateson's perception and definition of second-order cybernetics which illustrates an interactive system wherein the individual is constantly in relation with his or her own social environment. This paper analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative realities objectified in the field of cybernetics. The writer of this paper contends and explains the manner in which cybernetics objectively looks into the social phenomenon of being studied, noting its nature and dynamics through subjective measures. This paper examines and explains the reasoning behind Bateson's cybernetics learning process, as detailed in his book "Steps to an Ecology of Mind." This paper also delves into Bateson's discovery which clearly identifies the processes involved while interacting with the self, another communicator and other people from varying cultures and with different values.
From the Paper
"While in Learning I the individual is just learning and developing communication skills, in Learning II, s/he must now be able to identify acts and meanings that belong or do not belong to his/her culture. As exemplified earlier, distinguishing between the different actions in which agreement or disagreement are expressed is a manifestation of learning at the second level, where the communicator now commits action based on the context or situation s/he is in. Thus, when the individual is in a Middle Eastern society, it is essential to adopt the culture's communication action of agreement and disagreement, which is opposite to the individual's American culture and upbringing. These adjustments made by the communicator is an illustration of contextualization, the commitment of proper actions and meanings in an altogether different culture and society."
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The Mayan Civilization, 2005.
This paper discusses the history and culture of the Mayan civilization and its influence on today's Guatemalan life.
2,590 words (approx. 10.4 pages), 9 sources, MLA, $ 78.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the Mayans, primarily from the lowlands in the central regions of southern Guatemala, built incredibly sophisticated urban centers, created an astronomical science and mathematics among the most sophisticated in the pre-modern world and established the most developed and complex system of writing in the Americas. The author points out that, because the Mayan cities were used as religious centers for the surrounding rural population and not as a true urban culture, the decline of the cities after 900 A.D. did not involve a colossal social change. The paper relates that customs and traditions of the ancient Maya are still very much a part of the fabric of Guatemalan life, sharing a common ancestral heritage that is expressed in religion, music, dance, foods and social organization.
From the Paper
"Today, the Maya can be found in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and the five Mexican states of Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo. There are approximately thirty different indigenous Mayan languages, however, the majority of the Maya also speak Spanish. The present day Guatemalan Mayas have preserved much of their culture and religion. However, there can be found a mixture of Mayan and Western European traditions, an aspect most obvious in religious practices, in which the modern Maya have created their own brand of Christianity, a blend of Catholic tradition and ancient ritual."
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Taiwan, 2006.
Provides political, geographical, economic and cultural information about the island of Taiwan.
1,457 words (approx. 5.8 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 48.95
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Abstract
This essay provides information about Taiwan's geography, politics, religion, industry, languages, and family life. The paper compares that information with corresponding information about the U.S. and looks at how the two countries differ as well as how they are similar. The paper explains that the one area that the U.S. and Taiwan are virtually identical is that of recreation where both countries enjoy theater, cinema, picnics, listening to music and a number of different sports activities.
From the Paper
"In the United States, English is the unofficial language, however, roughly ten percent of the population speak Spanish (United pp). While the majority of the population are of European descent, Hispanics comprise 13.4 percent, 12.9 percent are African Americans, 4.2 percent are Asian American, and the aboriginal population of Native Americans make up about 1.5 percent of the population (United pp). According to the 2000 census, there are thirty-one ethnic groups with at least one million people living in the United States (United pp).
While in Taiwan, Han Chinese makes up roughly ninety-eight percent of the population, while most of the rest are Aborigines of Malay origins (People pp). The population density is 1,528 persons per square mile, making Taiwan one of the ten most densely populated countries in the world (People pp). The official language is Mandarin Chinese, however, the majority of the people also speak Taiwanese, the language of the first Chinese immigrants (People pp). Another Chinese dialect is Hakka, and some older people speak Japanese, and the Aborigines speak their own languages (People pp). English is generally a popular second or third language for students and is widely understood in urban areas (People pp)."
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