Are we in a post-traumatic age?
International Politics of Trauma Will Cattell Vanessa Pupavac Are we in a post-traumatic age? "...I wake up every day...with this overwhelming sense of gratitude, because maybe if I hadn't been knocked down in the way I was and forced to come to grips with what I'd done and the consequences of it, in such an awful way, I might not never have had to really deal with it 100%...I feel much more at peace than I used to. And I think that, as awful as what I went through was, and humiliating as it was, more often to others than to me, even, sometimes when you think you've got something behind you and then it's not behind you, this sort of purging process, if it doesn't destroy you it can bring you to a different place..." (Bill Clinton, http://www.leaderu.com/critical/therapeutic.html) In recent decades we have seen what Phillip Reiff called the "triumph of the therapeutic." Well-being as an end, rather than a by-product of working for a superior communal end (P261, Rieff, 1966) has become what matters. Above, the President of the United States describes the Lewinsky affair and aftermath in words steeped in therapeutic language. It seems that the whole chain of events was ultimately a good thing, because he emerged stronger for having gone through it. Here is a world leader speaking
In editing a collection of essays on corporate culture, Frost et al have introduced three distinct perspectives on culture: Integration, differentiation and fragmentation.
In editing a collection of essays on corporate culture, Frost et al have introduced three distinct perspectives on culture: Integration, differentiation and fragmentation. Critically consider these distinctive approaches to culture considering the claim that 'all forms of workplace behaviour, including management action, is complex, ambiguous and material, in other words it is cultural and impossible to completely know.' . Organisational culture is the values and beliefs of the people within an organisation; it is the 'personality' of the organisation. It includes the assumptions, values and normalities of behaviour within the cultures (McNamara, 1999). "Just as tribal cultures have totems and taboos that dictate how each member will act towards fellow members and outside, so does the corporation's culture influence employee's actions towards customers, competitors, suppliers and one another." (Parker, 2002) Therefore human behaviour is the focal point of culture. Culture is mainly studied through anthropology, researchers providing empirical evidence to view culture, some describe it and some try to come up with solutions. This assignment sets out to critically look at culture and the framework put forward by Frost et al, with an understanding of organisational behaviour. Use of empirical examples from Frost et al's 'Reframing Organisational Culture' will be used to
Minority languages - The situation of Romansh in 2002 Switzerland.
Cardiff University Lecture on Sociolinguistics Minority languages The situation of Romansh in 2002 Switzerland Prof. N. Coupland Cyrille Roger Berger 46 Arran Street Roath Cardiff CF24 3HS Mobile: 07986480130 . INTRODUCTION 2 2. MINORITY LANGUAGES 2 3. THE PRESENT SITUATION OF ROMANSH 3 4. THE DECAY OF ROMANSH TO ITS PRESENT STATUS 5 5. THE BATTLE AGAINST THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ROMANSH 6 6. CONCLUSION 8 7. BIBLIOGRAPHY 9 . Introduction According to Baker and Prys Jones (1998:346), there are between 5900 and 6703 living languages known worldwide. This numbers are based on calculations by different researchers made in the years from 1991 to 1994. The numbers vary due to different methods and criteria of counting. Baker and Prys Jones go on by explaining that out of these languages, which are found in fewer than 200 sovereign states, almost 98.5 percent have no formal recognition. In other words, only 1.5 percent of these languages have an official or an international status. Furthermore, there are some languages which have a semi-official status only, as for example Romansh in my native country Switzerland. This means that this language is not treated as a fully official language on a federal level. On the level of the state in which it is spoken, on the other hand, it is fully recognised as an official language. The aim of this assignment is
Why do many British families of South Asian background prefer arranged marriages?
5) Why do many British families of South Asian background prefer arranged marriages? The tradition of Arranged Marriages was practiced by kinship groups in the South Asian sub-continent centuries before migration to Britain took place during the 1950's. Initially, migrants came to Britain to earn wages (Shaw; 2000;13), However, the tradition of arranged marriages has remained popular amongst South Asian settlers. Anthropologists have argued arranged marriages in Britain are an economic arrangement between two families whilst others have stressed it is a custom that preserves family honor. Ballard (1972) has gone as far as advocating that the ritual demonstrates a families resistance to assimilating Anglican values and thus reinforces cultural identity. Alison Shaw's (2000;3) ethnography on Pakistani Kinship in Oxford tries to illustrate that at present, South Asian families adjust to the structural and cultural resources of the host country at their disposal towards building and re-shaping their lives in Britain on their own terms. In reference to this, the text will examine the underlying factors that determine South Asian families' preferences for arranged marriages. We shall now turn to analyzing the socio-economic structure of South Asian families in the migrant country and Britain in order to understand its' relation to the ritual. Whilst observing Sikh families
What do certain stories tell us about American culture? Stories: Jeremy Rodock, My father, The secret life of Walter Mitty & A couple of Hamburgers
What do certain stories tell us about American culture? Stories: Jeremy Rodock, My father, The secret life of Walter Mitty & A couple of Hamburgers. These four short stories are all set in America and show the diversity of Culture in the United States compared to the UK and other countries. I will illustrate the main cultural features shown in these four stories. 'Jeremy Rodock', by Jack Shaefer This story is about a pioneer who owns a ranch in the uncharted Wild West of the United States in the mid nineteenth century. He is extremely fond of his horses, which are the main feature in his life. One day, he goes to see his mares and foals in his pasture, but discovers they have been stolen. He and the author of the story track the horses and locate them in a valley, but 'they had been roped and thrown and their front hooves rasped almost to the quick, so that they could barely put their weight on them.' Rodock leaves the horses in the valley, planning to return to try and capture the thieves and make them pay. He does this and manages to capture the thieves, but instead of hanging them, which is his usual practice, he makes them walk fifty miles over rocky land without shoes, but then he decided to let them go. This story features a pioneer, a man who explored and settled in unknown territory in the Wild West of America in the mid nineteenth century. Pioneers are a
Talk in Context: Applying Theoretical Understanding
Language and Organisation January 2003 Word Count - 2920 Talk in Context: Applying Theoretical Understanding Introduction In an increasingly diverse and multi-cultural world with greater accessibility to foreign countries, the issue of language and culture and understanding the differences inherent amongst ourselves is becoming much more important especially in a business context. More and more Western businesses are seeking to take advantage of the relatively untapped Eastern markets as a more global perspective is beginning to emerge (Levitt, 1983). However, failure to understand the culture of the new market is a key hurdle that has to be overcome to stand any chance of success (McGoldrick, 1995). Therefore, the following paper attempts to highlight the key differences in culture between these two opposing sides, analysing semiologically why differences in meaning making exist, and through discourse analysis examines how language and culture influences, and is manifested, in the way people act. The impacts of these differences in meaning making will be evaluated to highlight the importance of language and culture when attempting to build relationships with culturally different companies. The meaning of Culture The concept of culture developed from anthropology and is difficult to define or explain precisely (Mullins, 1999). Atkinson (1990) explains
Sufism in Islam is a widespread popular form of mystic or esoteric Islam.
Sufism in Islam is a widespread popular form of mystic or esoteric Islam, in which adherents hope to gain a "realization of the Oneness of God."1 Throughout the history of Islam, Sufism, in its many forms, has played an important role in the spread of the religion to both Arab and non-Arab lands. One of the great branches of Sufism is the Khalwatiyya, which gained prominence in Anatolia, Egypt, Syria, and Azerbaijan. This tariqah, or path, is one rich in history, having many influential sheikhs and intricate practices. In order to best understand the Khalwatiyya, it is necessary to investigate early Sufism and the rise of tariqahs. A Sufi is "anyone who believes that it is possible to have direct experience of God and who is prepared to go out of his way to put himself in a state whereby he may be enabled to do this."2 Sufism derives its doctrines and methods for the Quran and revelation of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). It is a spiritual experience that often comes into conflict with mainstream Islamic consciousness because it infers that Knowledge cannot be gained only through the traditional means. It is, however, ultimately in coherence with orthodoxy because it depends on the framework of traditional Islam.3 The fourth caliph, Ali, is widely regarded to be the original pioneer of Sufi Knowledge. Another widely regarded teacher of Sufism is Hassan of
'Literature is a part of cultural history - The study of it may well include relations between men and women as well as issues of class and race' Do you agree?
'Literature is a part of cultural history. The study of it may well include relations between men and women as well as issues of class and race.' Do you agree? Literature can be both an intentional product of an individual or a consciousness of society and it's ideology. According to Leavis, good literature is timeless, transcending the age and the place in which it was written. Human nature is unchanging, emotions, passions and worries are universal and continuous and these norms are reflected in literature. The writer surely cannot escape society and the effects of the cultural beliefs of the period when writing. Literature is shaped because authors are writing about what they see and experience in their era and environment, some looking ahead and prophesising. Raymond Williams (Macey p.398, 2000) states, 'it is not ideas that have a history; it is society.' A number of things inform reading, the way we are trained, gender, race, and class all aid the construction of the way we read a text and influence our responses. An early example of the effect of culture upon literature can be seen in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Chaucer's many activities in the fourteenth century as auditor, justice of the peace and knight of the shire brought him into association with the ruling classes. A member of King Edward's personal household, Chaucer would have been influenced on
Georg Simmel spoke about the metropolitan mind
Georg Simmel spoke about the metropolitan mind. Does this theory of psychology say anything about contemporary existence? Georg Simmel became one of the first sociologists to attempt to analyse 'street life' during the late part of the nineteenth century and early part of the twentieth century. Amongst his papers, he wrote 'The Metropolis and Mental Life' in which he outlined and tries to explain how a cities environment skews its inhabitant's mental state. Living in Berlin for most of his life, he had a first class case study on his doorstep with it being a leading city in the western world. Although this paper may have been written over a hundred years ago, it remains relevant to today's society with the same problems of stress and anxiety still present. However, the ways in which these nuisances manifest themselves has changed considerably alongside people's attitudes and surroundings. To answer the question above, I found it necessary to pinpoint a certain area of 'contemporary existence' to prevent this thesis becoming vague. An interesting area that seemed to have limited association with Simmel's work was unnecessary violence. At several points during 'The Metropolis and Mental Life', he touches upon the subject of the "blasé attitude" of the public that can cause a "mutual strangeness and repulsion which will break into hatred and fight at the moment of closer
CBNRM - reflecting on the past to create potential for the future
CBNRM: reflecting on the past to create potential for the future. Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) aims to conserve natural resources by allowing the communities depending on them to manage them. It was devised after National Parks and Reserves failed to achieve a satisfactory balance between development and conservation. In contrast to these strategies, CBNRM endeavours to allow communities and other groups access to and a say in the management of local resources, hoping to provide an incentive to conserve the wildlife in the area through the generation of revenue from them. CBNRM initiatives have proved a strong alternative to enforced parks, due to the community-centric viewpoint which retains produce and profits locally, as well as promoting efficient resource use. Theoretically it incorporates indigenous technical knowledge and encourages local participation, working as an antidote to previous state run attempts at conservation. However, in practice the implementation of these schemes has not been as smooth as originally hoped. Identifying weak areas highlights where improvements could increase the success of CBNRM. Although it is impossible to attend to one factor without affecting another, as they are all so inter-linked, I believe there are three main areas of weakness: a) the colonial legacy of the ignorance of local traditions and customs leading