How Culture Affects Identity

How Culture Affects Identity Culture can be defined as the increasing deposit of knowledge, material objects, values, religion, notions of time, attitudes, hierarchies, concepts of the universe, spatial relations, roles, and beliefs and possessions gained by a group of people in the path of generations through individual and group striving (Poyatos, 2002). Culture can also be termed as communication and the vise versa. This is because culture is a symbol of communication. Some of these symbols include knowledge, a groups skills, attitudes, motives and values. Culture can also be defined as the sum total of all the learned behaviors of a group that are commonly considered to be the tradition of a particular group of people and are conveyed from generation to generation. Identity can be defined as a set of personal or behavioral characteristics by which an individual can be associated with a certain group. Identity also refers to the state of an individual having some specific qualities which identify him with a p articular group of people or things. The combination of these two nouns (culture and identity) gives rise to cultural identity which refers to the sense of belongingness to a particular group or culture. From a personal view, culture refers to the way (aspects) of a persons life. These aspects of life include language which is one of the oldest medium of expression in the human institution, arts and sciences which are the forms of human expression most refined and advanced and thought which can be defined as the methodologies in which an individual perceives, interprets, and understands the world around him. There is also spirituality which is a value system passed through generations for the purpose of well being in human beings. It is expressed through actions, language and social activities which are perceived to be the shared pursuit within any particular cultural community. All cultures or social organizations have severe dimensions just like physical dimensions of length, height, width, time and height. The cultural dimensions may vary according to size, permeate the whole or by definition one cannot see a dimension of culture or society just the way we see an individual person however each person manifests each of the five dimensions of culture. Hofstede came up with five dimensions which are rated in 53 countries basing on indices of each dimension. These dimensions are namely power distance (hierarchy), femininity versus masculinity, collectivism versus individualism, uncertainty avoidance, and long term versus short term orientation (Hofstede, Pedersen Hofstede, 2002). (PD) Power distance refers to the extent to which less powerful members expects respects and accepts unequal power distribution within a particular culture. According to Hofstede, high PD countries tend to maintain centralized political power and display tall hierarchies in organizat ions with massive differences in salary and social status. Subordinates always perceive the manager as a benevolent dictator and they are therefore expected to follow the rules just as they are stipulated. The low PD countries perceive subordinates and supervisors as closer to being equal and easily interchangeable (Marcus Gould, 2000). They also have more flattened hierarchies in organizations and with less difference in salaries and social status. In these low PD countries, equality is generally desired and expected. As a citizen of United States my country has a current PDI of 40 in comparison to the worlds range of 55 (Marcus Gould, 2000). I support this low PDI because in my American culture there is better equality between the societal levels, government institutions, organizations and within families. My American cultural environment is stable and there is cooperative interaction in all power levels. I practice American culture and identity and its because of this that I can say my culture has sense of equality. For example teachers, students (children) and parents perceive each other as equals but not necessarily identical. The students and teachers relate well. Personally, I relate well with my lecturers and none of us feels like he/she has power over me as his student. In work places, people hold different position but regardless of this many perceive each other as brothers and it is therefore difficult to find some work related humanitarian crises. Individualism in culture refers to loo se ties. This mans that one is expected to look after himself, his immediate family and no one else. Collectivism on the other hand means that people are incorporated together by birth into cohesive, strong groups that act as protection in exchange for unquestionable loyalty. According to Hofspede, individualistic cultures value freedom, personal time and extrinsic motivators like material rewards at work (Marcus Gould, 2000). In these individualistic cultures, individual socio-economic interests are highly valued and strong rights of privacy are maintained. In general it advocates for the ideologies based on self-actualization, self government, self realization and freedom. On the other hand collectivist value skills, training, physical conditions and the intrinsic rewards based on mastery. In relations to family they value harmony, silence, use of shame in the achievement of behavioral goals and the strife to maintain face. The socio- economic interests are highly valued rather than individuals. According to the American culture which is also my cultural identity, we prefer situations whereby there is self sustenance. For example personally I like attending to my issues in my own way since thats what my parents have taught me. If I am in need, I believe I should consult my parents, brothers and sisters before going to the external world. I also try to realize my goals using my own version without interference. This tendency is very common in the American culture. This is well supported by the studies of Hofstede which show that in the year 2009 the United States had an IDV of 91 the highest dimension compared to the other countries (Marcus Gould, 2000). This means that the society has high individualistic attitude and relative loose bond with others. Therefore, the society is more self dependent and is concerned only for themselves and their close family members. Masculinity and femininity refers to the gender roles in a particular culture. Traditionally the masculine roles were based on assertiveness, toughness and competition while the feminine roles were based on tenderness, orientation to people, home and children. These traditional gender distinctions are almost breaking due to the collapse of feminine roles. The traditional masculine work goals included recognition, earnings, challenge and advancement. The traditional feminine work goals included good relations, employment security and good living and working conditions. As an American upholding the American culture, I have realized many women trends are changing since they are pursuing degrees and diplomas to get into white-color jobs unlike in the early days when females used to stay at home taking care of children. Many females have taken jobs such as engineering, medical and teaching jobs which used to belong to men. According to Hofstede, in the year 2009 the MAS for America was 68 meaning the country experiences a higher degree of gender differentiation roles (Marcus Gould, 2000). This means that the female population is more assertive and competitive just like men. Uncertainty avoidance dimension deals with the societys tolerance as it pertains to ambiguity and uncertainty. It depicts how members in a society have attempted to cope with the anxiety through the minimization of uncertainties. In the cultures of high uncertainty avoidance people always prefer formally designed activities and explicit rules. You will also find that most of the em ployees tend to retain their employers (Amanda.com 1). In low uncertainty avoidance cultures, people always prefer implicit rules and more informal activities. Again, employees cannot retain their employers. In my American culture rules are very flexible and it accommodates diverse ideologies. For example there are many religions unlike in other countries like Islamic where only one religion is tolerated. My American culture has few rules and it doesnt do much to control all outcomes and results. It also tolerates a variety of ideas believes and thoughts. The long term versus short term orientation refers to the societys time horizon. It also examines the importance of the future compared to the present and past. In my American culture I believe that I believe that I will meet my obligations and I also believe the American society will always meet its obligation no matter the hardships and inconveniences we will experience. Also, I appreciate my American tradition which is characterized by a lot of hard work in order to achieve something meaningful in life. Culture and identity positively influences the relationship between me and my parents because we rarely have any conflicts. This is because I know what my parents advocated for since my childhood (family traditions) and this makes it easier for us to interact without much issues arising. Culture and identity has had a negative impact between my family members and me because some cultural aspects are continually changing but they are not adapting to these changes. For example the American culture has shunned the traditional segregation that existed between the black and the white Americans but my parents do not always welcome the idea of the association between these too American ethnic groups. This means that I am not always allowed to bring visitors from a different ethnicity. Again my culture doesnt allow people to attend church without formal dressings. This has caused a negative impact on the relationship between me my parents and the church. Due to changing modes of dressing I find the cultural church dressing code not entertaining while at the other hand the church leaders are opposed to the new ways of dressing in the church. Our culture advocates for good mannerisms at school failure to which one is subjected to parental punishment. This has fostered a positi ve interpersonal relationship between my peer group, teachers and me. This is because I am aware of the rights and the wrong and therefore I try to avoid conflicts resulting from disobedience or arrogance towards my peers. My American cultural identity has also helped me in forming positive personal relations with the surrounding people and communities. This is because it advocates for brotherhood and I therefore try to be careful when socializing with people so as to avoid conflicts. Consequently, many people in the community find me as their friend who they can count on and therefore good interpersonal relations. Due to my cultural identity I have individually and collectively experienced many challenges in the American society. One challenge is that of persistent identities in form of biracial perceptions. This is because many people keep on asking me about my race because my bodily appearance doesnt suggest it. Ethnocentrism is the other challenge. This is because some of my college friends like the children from the very rich families in the community feel that they have superior ways of life (culture) than us from middle class families. They tend to perceive us as inferior, wrong in all aspects and strange. Another challenge I have faced due to my cultural identity is prejudice. This has been caused by the attitude of ethnocentrism. My fellow college mates from wealthy backgrounds tend to show intolerant and unfairly biased attitude towards me and other people of my status (middle class). The next challenge is cultural stereotyping. This is because of the exaggerated generalizations about a particular group (females). For example in the American culture the females have been stereotyped in terms of their emotions. It is believed that females experience and also express sadness, fear and sympathy. On the other hand men experience and express anger and pride. Another challenge is cultural proximity whereby many cultures are assumed to be similar. For example due to modernization, the subcultures (white and black) in my country have now been integrated almost into one though people come from different places of origin. The other challenge I have faced due to my cultural identity is that of misinterpretation of codes. For example due to my dress code most of my colleagues mistake me for a Muslim lady because I always have veil on my neck and put on a long skirt. There are several occasions whereby my verbal behaviors or cues have been misunderstood like when I use inflections (variation of speech). When I lower the pitch of voice too or make it deeper on certain words. This low pitch implies confidence, certainty, and authority. However my college mates view this as a sign of ignorance or lack of cooperation in speech. Other times I use upward inflection (raised pitch) in speech to communicate uncertainty, surprise and doubt. This however bring about miscommunication when am talking to my college friends who come from other cultures like Muslims who perceive my tone as a sign of coercion and harassment. Some times I repeat my statements as a sign of emphasis but some of my friends perceive that as a speech problem. Often, I get frustrated or angered when my friends mistake these verbal behaviors to be signs of weakness. There are several occasions when my non-verbal behaviors have been misunderstood. For example when I use a frequency of glances to indicate attention, interest and involvement most people think that am being timid and am using it to protect myself from them or as a sign of fatigue. Some of my friends have also misunderstood me through tactile communication (touch). For example I give a warm hug to all my friends as a sign or greetings when we meet but some friends mistake me for a multiple lover. Others mistrust their companions due to these kinds of greetings. This mistrust is caused by the fact that they interpret it emotionally. Some of my friends misinterpret my use of fig which in my culture means you cant have it. They say that it is immoral or obscene. I feel sad when people misinterpret these non-verbal cues.

Ethical Analysis of the Shawshank Redemption Essay

It has been suggested that a person can learn a great deal about a society; its customs, values, ethical beliefs, etc†¦, through its cultural works (art, film, literature, etc†¦). In the case of the 1994 film, The Shawshank Redemption, a story of one man’s wrongful imprisonment and subsequent freedom, the viewer can gain a great insight into two ethical principles that help to govern society. The Shawshank Redemption provides the viewer with a backdrop against which to consider the ethical principles of justice and power and the implications that the way in which those principles are dealt with in the film can have for society. Ethical Principles Ethics can be defined as, â€Å"a social, religious, or civil code of behavior considered correct, especially that of a particular group, profession, or individual† (Ethics). While the individual principles that make-up such â€Å"correct behavior† can be debated from group to group and society to society, there are certain ones that seem to transcend culture and societal boundaries. One of these is â€Å"justice.† Justice can be defined as â€Å"the quality of being fair and reasonable/conformity to moral rightness and attitude† (Justice). It is a sense that a person is being treated in a manner that is in accordance with a reasonable and fair application of both written and unwritten â€Å"laws† that are considered to be righteous and is an almost universal ethical principle. One can see the ethical principle of justice in The Shawshank Redemption from the very beginning of the film. The foundation of the movie is the unjust imprisonment of the ma in character, Andy Dufresne, and the subsequent injustices that are done to him while there. These injustices take the form of sexual assault by other prisoners, a refusal on the part of the warden to acknowledge evidence of his innocence, and a resulting two-month assignment to solitary confinement when he tries to argue the point. The other characters are not free from the effects of injustice either. From the new prisoner who is beaten to death for crying to Red, who his continually rejected for parole despite obviously being â€Å"rehabilitated,† the characters continually face situations in which they are treated in a manner that both they and the audience would view as unjust. The second main ethical principle in the film is that of power. Power exists any time one person exerts some advantage over another. It can take the form of intellect, money, strength, etc†¦ and with it comes an inevitable ethical dilemma of how to use the power. As was discussed with justice, there appears to be a universal belief that power should be used in a judicious manner, but that does not always happen. Johnson (2012) suggests that, â€Å"†¦we recognize that power has a corrosive effect on those who possess it,† (p. 9) and that kind of behavior is evident in the film. Warden Samuel Norton abuses his legitimate power, or power of his position, along with both reward (delivering something of value) and coercive (penalties or punishments) power to use and abuse prisoners for his own personal gain, even going so far as to have one shot in order to protect his financial and personal interest (Johnson, 2012, pp. 7-8). Head guard Byron Hadley abuses his power through coercive measures, beating and killing prisoners and running the prison through fear and intimidation. Even the other guards, though they do not abuse the prisoners physically, take advantage of their position to get free financial work from Dufresn. The use and abuse of power extends to the prisoners, as well. Red uses his influence with the guards to get all of his friends on the same work detail. At the same time, Boggs and The Sisters use their physical power to force Andy into unwanted sexual acts. Even Andy uses his power, exercising the expert power of his financial abilities in illegal ways and, in doing so, gaining privileges for both the other prisoners and himself (Johnson, 2012, p. 8). While the audience may ultimately view these actions more favorably in light of the injustices faced by the prisoners, they nonetheless represent actions that, in and of themselves, would be examples of abuse of power. Character Reactions The ethical principles of justice and power play-out in the film through the reactions of the different characters to the environment of injustice and abused power that is present in the prison. It is the prison establishment, represented by the Warden, Hadley and the other guards, that provides the catalyst that drives the character interplay. The Warden and Hadley are the main abusers, but even the other guards, who show fairness and justice to the prisoners when left on their own, fall victim to the pressures of the Warden and Hadley’s evil â€Å"shadow† (Johnson, 2012) and join-in to some degree. It is this situation that causes the prisoners to have to choose how they will react. In the face of the unfair treatment and abuse of power, the prisoners choose to react in different ways. Boggs and /The Sisters become part of the abuse through the use of physical strength, beating and sexually assaulting Dufresn and others at will. Red and the rest of Dufresn’s group are able to maintain a semblance of ethical normalcy but become numb to the things going on around them and begin to take them as a matter of course. It is Dufresn who refuses to give-in to the injustice and abuse. He fights the Sisters, even though he does not always win, plots behind the scenes to escape, makes use of his position as â€Å"financial advisor† to help the other prisoners and, through it all, he maintains his inner strength, hope, and ethical outlook. This interplay between the prison establishment and the prisoner, as well as the differing ways that the prisoners choose to react to the situation helps to bring to light some ethical implications suggested by the film. Ethical Implications While there are several suppositions and implications that can be made from the movie about society and its beliefs, two seem to stand-out. The first ethical implication of the movie is the idea that society takes a utilitarian view of ethics. Under a utilitarian approach, decisions are based on their consequences (Johnson, 2012, p. 154) and the â€Å"ends justify the means.† There is a sense that while certain actions, in and of themselves, can be considered unethical, society is willing to view them more favorably within a certain context. For example, there seems to be an inate need for people to feel that justice has been done, and certain unethical behaviors may be acceptable in achieving that end. This can be seen throughout the movie. Boggs, the leader of the Sisters, is beaten until he is paralyzed for hurting Dufresn. Dufresn escapes from prison and takes $370,000 of ill-gotten, laundered money in the process. Either of these might be considered unethical in and of th emselves, but the audience is willing to applaud both in the interest of justice being served. We see this same utilitarian view in the use of power in the movie. The Warden and the guards abuse their power to differing degrees and the audience is meant to frown and look askance. However, when Dufresn exploits his financial capabilities in an illegal activity and escape or Red engages in smuggling items into the prison, the audience applauds. In a vacuum, all of the acts are unethical. However, the actions of Dufresn and Red seem to serve, in the eyes if the audience, to balance-out some of the abuses of power and advance the cause of justice. As a result, they are looked at as being ethical in as much as they helped meet the ethical principle of justice despite being unethical themselves. The second implication is the power of ethical leadership. This can be seen in the reaction of the two main groups, the governing power of the Warden and the guards and Dufresn’s group, to their respective leaders. In the case of the guards, we see the influence that the leadership of the Warden and Hadley has over them. As was mentioned earlier, the guards are motivated to act in harsh ways towards the prisoners when around the Warden and Hadley, but we see more ethical and humane interactions when the guards are alone with the prisoners. Even Hadley changes once the â€Å"spell† of the Warden’s leadership is broken, crying like a baby when he is arrested. Thus, one sees the length and power of the shadow that the Warden casts. In contrast to the guards, one sees the positive influence that Dufresn has on Red and the other prisoners in their group. When he arrives, they are practical and pragmatic, resigned to the way things are. However, Dufresn shows them that ethical behavior and rightness can still exist. This begins with their first meeting, when he asks for the name of a prisoner who was beaten to death. This seems inconsequential to the others but serves as a symbol of Dufresn bringing the ethics of the outside world with him into the prison. Despite all that occurs during his stay, he never loses those ethics. He never loses hope. And, in the process, he raises the ethical level and level of hope for all members of the group. Both men lead their respective groups through their actions and decision-making. One’s actions lead in an unethical manner and the other in a more ethical one. Through this, it is evident just how influential the ethical decisions of a leader and the â€Å"shadow or light† they cast can be (Johnson, 2012). Thus, against the backdrop of the microcosmic subculture of Shawshank Prison, one sees the importance of justice and fair use of power to American society. The adage that, â€Å"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,† (Johnson, 2012, p. 11) becomes a reality within the prison walls and the characters are left to make sense of it. Ultimately and ironically, it is the seemingly unethical deeds of Dufresn and Red (who breaks his parole to go to Mexico) that restore the balance of justice and power that the audience is seeking and, in doing so, reveal the important role that these ethical principles play in society. References Ethics. In The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ethics Glotzer, L., Lester, D.. & Marvin, N. (Producers) and Darabont, F. (Director). (1994). The Shawshank Redemption [Motion Picture]. United States: Castle Rock Entertainment. Johnson, C.E. (2012). Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow, fourth edition. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications Ltd. Justice. In The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ethics

Ethical Analysis of the Shawshank Redemption Essay

It has been suggested that a person can learn a great deal about a society; its customs, values, ethical beliefs, etc†¦, through its cultural works (art, film, literature, etc†¦). In the case of the 1994 film, The Shawshank Redemption, a story of one man’s wrongful imprisonment and subsequent freedom, the viewer can gain a great insight into two ethical principles that help to govern society. The Shawshank Redemption provides the viewer with a backdrop against which to consider the ethical principles of justice and power and the implications that the way in which those principles are dealt with in the film can have for society. Ethical Principles Ethics can be defined as, â€Å"a social, religious, or civil code of behavior considered correct, especially that of a particular group, profession, or individual† (Ethics). While the individual principles that make-up such â€Å"correct behavior† can be debated from group to group and society to society, there are certain ones that seem to transcend culture and societal boundaries. One of these is â€Å"justice.† Justice can be defined as â€Å"the quality of being fair and reasonable/conformity to moral rightness and attitude† (Justice). It is a sense that a person is being treated in a manner that is in accordance with a reasonable and fair application of both written and unwritten â€Å"laws† that are considered to be righteous and is an almost universal ethical principle. One can see the ethical principle of justice in The Shawshank Redemption from the very beginning of the film. The foundation of the movie is the unjust imprisonment of the ma in character, Andy Dufresne, and the subsequent injustices that are done to him while there. These injustices take the form of sexual assault by other prisoners, a refusal on the part of the warden to acknowledge evidence of his innocence, and a resulting two-month assignment to solitary confinement when he tries to argue the point. The other characters are not free from the effects of injustice either. From the new prisoner who is beaten to death for crying to Red, who his continually rejected for parole despite obviously being â€Å"rehabilitated,† the characters continually face situations in which they are treated in a manner that both they and the audience would view as unjust. The second main ethical principle in the film is that of power. Power exists any time one person exerts some advantage over another. It can take the form of intellect, money, strength, etc†¦ and with it comes an inevitable ethical dilemma of how to use the power. As was discussed with justice, there appears to be a universal belief that power should be used in a judicious manner, but that does not always happen. Johnson (2012) suggests that, â€Å"†¦we recognize that power has a corrosive effect on those who possess it,† (p. 9) and that kind of behavior is evident in the film. Warden Samuel Norton abuses his legitimate power, or power of his position, along with both reward (delivering something of value) and coercive (penalties or punishments) power to use and abuse prisoners for his own personal gain, even going so far as to have one shot in order to protect his financial and personal interest (Johnson, 2012, pp. 7-8). Head guard Byron Hadley abuses his power through coercive measures, beating and killing prisoners and running the prison through fear and intimidation. Even the other guards, though they do not abuse the prisoners physically, take advantage of their position to get free financial work from Dufresn. The use and abuse of power extends to the prisoners, as well. Red uses his influence with the guards to get all of his friends on the same work detail. At the same time, Boggs and The Sisters use their physical power to force Andy into unwanted sexual acts. Even Andy uses his power, exercising the expert power of his financial abilities in illegal ways and, in doing so, gaining privileges for both the other prisoners and himself (Johnson, 2012, p. 8). While the audience may ultimately view these actions more favorably in light of the injustices faced by the prisoners, they nonetheless represent actions that, in and of themselves, would be examples of abuse of power. Character Reactions The ethical principles of justice and power play-out in the film through the reactions of the different characters to the environment of injustice and abused power that is present in the prison. It is the prison establishment, represented by the Warden, Hadley and the other guards, that provides the catalyst that drives the character interplay. The Warden and Hadley are the main abusers, but even the other guards, who show fairness and justice to the prisoners when left on their own, fall victim to the pressures of the Warden and Hadley’s evil â€Å"shadow† (Johnson, 2012) and join-in to some degree. It is this situation that causes the prisoners to have to choose how they will react. In the face of the unfair treatment and abuse of power, the prisoners choose to react in different ways. Boggs and /The Sisters become part of the abuse through the use of physical strength, beating and sexually assaulting Dufresn and others at will. Red and the rest of Dufresn’s group are able to maintain a semblance of ethical normalcy but become numb to the things going on around them and begin to take them as a matter of course. It is Dufresn who refuses to give-in to the injustice and abuse. He fights the Sisters, even though he does not always win, plots behind the scenes to escape, makes use of his position as â€Å"financial advisor† to help the other prisoners and, through it all, he maintains his inner strength, hope, and ethical outlook. This interplay between the prison establishment and the prisoner, as well as the differing ways that the prisoners choose to react to the situation helps to bring to light some ethical implications suggested by the film. Ethical Implications While there are several suppositions and implications that can be made from the movie about society and its beliefs, two seem to stand-out. The first ethical implication of the movie is the idea that society takes a utilitarian view of ethics. Under a utilitarian approach, decisions are based on their consequences (Johnson, 2012, p. 154) and the â€Å"ends justify the means.† There is a sense that while certain actions, in and of themselves, can be considered unethical, society is willing to view them more favorably within a certain context. For example, there seems to be an inate need for people to feel that justice has been done, and certain unethical behaviors may be acceptable in achieving that end. This can be seen throughout the movie. Boggs, the leader of the Sisters, is beaten until he is paralyzed for hurting Dufresn. Dufresn escapes from prison and takes $370,000 of ill-gotten, laundered money in the process. Either of these might be considered unethical in and of th emselves, but the audience is willing to applaud both in the interest of justice being served. We see this same utilitarian view in the use of power in the movie. The Warden and the guards abuse their power to differing degrees and the audience is meant to frown and look askance. However, when Dufresn exploits his financial capabilities in an illegal activity and escape or Red engages in smuggling items into the prison, the audience applauds. In a vacuum, all of the acts are unethical. However, the actions of Dufresn and Red seem to serve, in the eyes if the audience, to balance-out some of the abuses of power and advance the cause of justice. As a result, they are looked at as being ethical in as much as they helped meet the ethical principle of justice despite being unethical themselves. The second implication is the power of ethical leadership. This can be seen in the reaction of the two main groups, the governing power of the Warden and the guards and Dufresn’s group, to their respective leaders. In the case of the guards, we see the influence that the leadership of the Warden and Hadley has over them. As was mentioned earlier, the guards are motivated to act in harsh ways towards the prisoners when around the Warden and Hadley, but we see more ethical and humane interactions when the guards are alone with the prisoners. Even Hadley changes once the â€Å"spell† of the Warden’s leadership is broken, crying like a baby when he is arrested. Thus, one sees the length and power of the shadow that the Warden casts. In contrast to the guards, one sees the positive influence that Dufresn has on Red and the other prisoners in their group. When he arrives, they are practical and pragmatic, resigned to the way things are. However, Dufresn shows them that ethical behavior and rightness can still exist. This begins with their first meeting, when he asks for the name of a prisoner who was beaten to death. This seems inconsequential to the others but serves as a symbol of Dufresn bringing the ethics of the outside world with him into the prison. Despite all that occurs during his stay, he never loses those ethics. He never loses hope. And, in the process, he raises the ethical level and level of hope for all members of the group. Both men lead their respective groups through their actions and decision-making. One’s actions lead in an unethical manner and the other in a more ethical one. Through this, it is evident just how influential the ethical decisions of a leader and the â€Å"shadow or light† they cast can be (Johnson, 2012). Thus, against the backdrop of the microcosmic subculture of Shawshank Prison, one sees the importance of justice and fair use of power to American society. The adage that, â€Å"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,† (Johnson, 2012, p. 11) becomes a reality within the prison walls and the characters are left to make sense of it. Ultimately and ironically, it is the seemingly unethical deeds of Dufresn and Red (who breaks his parole to go to Mexico) that restore the balance of justice and power that the audience is seeking and, in doing so, reveal the important role that these ethical principles play in society. References Ethics. In The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ethics Glotzer, L., Lester, D.. & Marvin, N. (Producers) and Darabont, F. (Director). (1994). The Shawshank Redemption [Motion Picture]. United States: Castle Rock Entertainment. Johnson, C.E. (2012). Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow, fourth edition. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications Ltd. Justice. In The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ethics

Ethical Analysis of the Shawshank Redemption Essay

It has been suggested that a person can learn a great deal about a society; its customs, values, ethical beliefs, etc†¦, through its cultural works (art, film, literature, etc†¦). In the case of the 1994 film, The Shawshank Redemption, a story of one man’s wrongful imprisonment and subsequent freedom, the viewer can gain a great insight into two ethical principles that help to govern society. The Shawshank Redemption provides the viewer with a backdrop against which to consider the ethical principles of justice and power and the implications that the way in which those principles are dealt with in the film can have for society. Ethical Principles Ethics can be defined as, â€Å"a social, religious, or civil code of behavior considered correct, especially that of a particular group, profession, or individual† (Ethics). While the individual principles that make-up such â€Å"correct behavior† can be debated from group to group and society to society, there are certain ones that seem to transcend culture and societal boundaries. One of these is â€Å"justice.† Justice can be defined as â€Å"the quality of being fair and reasonable/conformity to moral rightness and attitude† (Justice). It is a sense that a person is being treated in a manner that is in accordance with a reasonable and fair application of both written and unwritten â€Å"laws† that are considered to be righteous and is an almost universal ethical principle. One can see the ethical principle of justice in The Shawshank Redemption from the very beginning of the film. The foundation of the movie is the unjust imprisonment of the ma in character, Andy Dufresne, and the subsequent injustices that are done to him while there. These injustices take the form of sexual assault by other prisoners, a refusal on the part of the warden to acknowledge evidence of his innocence, and a resulting two-month assignment to solitary confinement when he tries to argue the point. The other characters are not free from the effects of injustice either. From the new prisoner who is beaten to death for crying to Red, who his continually rejected for parole despite obviously being â€Å"rehabilitated,† the characters continually face situations in which they are treated in a manner that both they and the audience would view as unjust. The second main ethical principle in the film is that of power. Power exists any time one person exerts some advantage over another. It can take the form of intellect, money, strength, etc†¦ and with it comes an inevitable ethical dilemma of how to use the power. As was discussed with justice, there appears to be a universal belief that power should be used in a judicious manner, but that does not always happen. Johnson (2012) suggests that, â€Å"†¦we recognize that power has a corrosive effect on those who possess it,† (p. 9) and that kind of behavior is evident in the film. Warden Samuel Norton abuses his legitimate power, or power of his position, along with both reward (delivering something of value) and coercive (penalties or punishments) power to use and abuse prisoners for his own personal gain, even going so far as to have one shot in order to protect his financial and personal interest (Johnson, 2012, pp. 7-8). Head guard Byron Hadley abuses his power through coercive measures, beating and killing prisoners and running the prison through fear and intimidation. Even the other guards, though they do not abuse the prisoners physically, take advantage of their position to get free financial work from Dufresn. The use and abuse of power extends to the prisoners, as well. Red uses his influence with the guards to get all of his friends on the same work detail. At the same time, Boggs and The Sisters use their physical power to force Andy into unwanted sexual acts. Even Andy uses his power, exercising the expert power of his financial abilities in illegal ways and, in doing so, gaining privileges for both the other prisoners and himself (Johnson, 2012, p. 8). While the audience may ultimately view these actions more favorably in light of the injustices faced by the prisoners, they nonetheless represent actions that, in and of themselves, would be examples of abuse of power. Character Reactions The ethical principles of justice and power play-out in the film through the reactions of the different characters to the environment of injustice and abused power that is present in the prison. It is the prison establishment, represented by the Warden, Hadley and the other guards, that provides the catalyst that drives the character interplay. The Warden and Hadley are the main abusers, but even the other guards, who show fairness and justice to the prisoners when left on their own, fall victim to the pressures of the Warden and Hadley’s evil â€Å"shadow† (Johnson, 2012) and join-in to some degree. It is this situation that causes the prisoners to have to choose how they will react. In the face of the unfair treatment and abuse of power, the prisoners choose to react in different ways. Boggs and /The Sisters become part of the abuse through the use of physical strength, beating and sexually assaulting Dufresn and others at will. Red and the rest of Dufresn’s group are able to maintain a semblance of ethical normalcy but become numb to the things going on around them and begin to take them as a matter of course. It is Dufresn who refuses to give-in to the injustice and abuse. He fights the Sisters, even though he does not always win, plots behind the scenes to escape, makes use of his position as â€Å"financial advisor† to help the other prisoners and, through it all, he maintains his inner strength, hope, and ethical outlook. This interplay between the prison establishment and the prisoner, as well as the differing ways that the prisoners choose to react to the situation helps to bring to light some ethical implications suggested by the film. Ethical Implications While there are several suppositions and implications that can be made from the movie about society and its beliefs, two seem to stand-out. The first ethical implication of the movie is the idea that society takes a utilitarian view of ethics. Under a utilitarian approach, decisions are based on their consequences (Johnson, 2012, p. 154) and the â€Å"ends justify the means.† There is a sense that while certain actions, in and of themselves, can be considered unethical, society is willing to view them more favorably within a certain context. For example, there seems to be an inate need for people to feel that justice has been done, and certain unethical behaviors may be acceptable in achieving that end. This can be seen throughout the movie. Boggs, the leader of the Sisters, is beaten until he is paralyzed for hurting Dufresn. Dufresn escapes from prison and takes $370,000 of ill-gotten, laundered money in the process. Either of these might be considered unethical in and of th emselves, but the audience is willing to applaud both in the interest of justice being served. We see this same utilitarian view in the use of power in the movie. The Warden and the guards abuse their power to differing degrees and the audience is meant to frown and look askance. However, when Dufresn exploits his financial capabilities in an illegal activity and escape or Red engages in smuggling items into the prison, the audience applauds. In a vacuum, all of the acts are unethical. However, the actions of Dufresn and Red seem to serve, in the eyes if the audience, to balance-out some of the abuses of power and advance the cause of justice. As a result, they are looked at as being ethical in as much as they helped meet the ethical principle of justice despite being unethical themselves. The second implication is the power of ethical leadership. This can be seen in the reaction of the two main groups, the governing power of the Warden and the guards and Dufresn’s group, to their respective leaders. In the case of the guards, we see the influence that the leadership of the Warden and Hadley has over them. As was mentioned earlier, the guards are motivated to act in harsh ways towards the prisoners when around the Warden and Hadley, but we see more ethical and humane interactions when the guards are alone with the prisoners. Even Hadley changes once the â€Å"spell† of the Warden’s leadership is broken, crying like a baby when he is arrested. Thus, one sees the length and power of the shadow that the Warden casts. In contrast to the guards, one sees the positive influence that Dufresn has on Red and the other prisoners in their group. When he arrives, they are practical and pragmatic, resigned to the way things are. However, Dufresn shows them that ethical behavior and rightness can still exist. This begins with their first meeting, when he asks for the name of a prisoner who was beaten to death. This seems inconsequential to the others but serves as a symbol of Dufresn bringing the ethics of the outside world with him into the prison. Despite all that occurs during his stay, he never loses those ethics. He never loses hope. And, in the process, he raises the ethical level and level of hope for all members of the group. Both men lead their respective groups through their actions and decision-making. One’s actions lead in an unethical manner and the other in a more ethical one. Through this, it is evident just how influential the ethical decisions of a leader and the â€Å"shadow or light† they cast can be (Johnson, 2012). Thus, against the backdrop of the microcosmic subculture of Shawshank Prison, one sees the importance of justice and fair use of power to American society. The adage that, â€Å"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,† (Johnson, 2012, p. 11) becomes a reality within the prison walls and the characters are left to make sense of it. Ultimately and ironically, it is the seemingly unethical deeds of Dufresn and Red (who breaks his parole to go to Mexico) that restore the balance of justice and power that the audience is seeking and, in doing so, reveal the important role that these ethical principles play in society. References Ethics. In The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ethics Glotzer, L., Lester, D.. & Marvin, N. (Producers) and Darabont, F. (Director). (1994). The Shawshank Redemption [Motion Picture]. United States: Castle Rock Entertainment. Johnson, C.E. (2012). Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow, fourth edition. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications Ltd. Justice. In The Free Dictionary by Farlex. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ethics

Emergence of Romanticism

The Industrial Revolution and the Emergence of Romanticism The Industrial Revolution was a period of time during the 18th century originating in Europe that resulted in major socio-economic and cultural changes around the world. These changes in part gave rise to the English Romantic spirit, especially in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom's economic system of manual labor shifted toward a system of machine manufacturing, resulting in the formation of factories and, therefore, modern cities.It also gave rise to the middle and working classes, aerating more employment opportunities but severely reducing the quality of living for those working, especially those in factories. This wrongful oppression brought on by the manipulation of the impoverished resulted in an intellectual and somewhat political movement known as Romanticism. Romantic artists and authors used their work to communicate the suffering of the people living in the newly industrialized world, and described imagined w orlds of beauty and perfection as a form of escape from the harshness that surrounded them.One such artist was William Wordsmith. In his poem â€Å"l Wandered Lonely as a Cloud† Wordsmith uses nature as a form of escapism from the Industrial Revolution. He describes the beauty of a multitude of daffodils and the happiness it brought him. â€Å"And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. † The mere thought of the perfect and serene environment continues to make him happy and makes him forget of the horrible surroundings he lives in.This type of escapism was well-received, allowing a similar feeling to emanate in others who suffered the worst of the Industrial Revolution. The Chimney Sweeper† by William Blake is a two part poem that analyzes the innocence of child laborers during the Industrial Revolution and exposes the manipulation of authoritarian powers. Blake also used escapism to contrast the bleak reality of industrialized Europe to the beautiful world that was promised to those who put up with working in fatal conditions. And the Angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy, He'd have God for his father & never want Joy. † This excerpt from â€Å"Songs of Innocence† shows the lies that the children were fed in order to keep them obedient ND trusting. Blake more directly accuses the authorities in â€Å"Songs of Experience,† the second part of the poem. â€Å"And because I am happy and dance and sing, They think they have done me no injury, And are gone to praise God and His Priest and King, Who make up a Heaven of our misery. Despite the worker's mask of happiness and content, he is truly miserable, unbeknownst to his peers and family, who praise those who are slowly killing him. The government uses the trusted concept of God to force those under them to work and produce goods for them that will make them richer. This poem raised many questions about the effects and ethical state of child labor and lead to the eventual imposition of child labor laws. Another author, Thomas Hardy, exemplifies the effects of the formation of the working classes on the average person in his poem â€Å"The Ruined Maid. In the poem, a prostitute and her former acquaintance, a lowly farmer, discuss their ruined states, despite the former looking and acting more sophisticated and well-endowed compared to her previous appearance and attitude as a farmer. Mirror hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak, But now I'm bewitched by your delicate week†¦ † The harlot's friend compares her new appearance to what she used to be, assuming she's become more successful, but she believes that she's been ruined, a belief that she repeatedly expresses throughout the poem.This showcases her distorted perception of reality, believing she has it worse than her hard-working friend, when, in fact, the two live in about the same conditions and are both â€Å"ruined. † In many ways, the em ergence of Romanticism was a reaction to the effects of the Industrial Revolution. The writings and artwork of many 19th century intellectuals ND artists were created as a revolt against the inhumane treatment of low class citizens and the unnatural transformation of the environment.They used escapism and imagery to provide a beautiful environment that was uncommon in the reality of the industrialized world and to expose the unjust effects that this new mechanized way of life had on not only the environment, but the people. These artists used the Romantic Spirit to instill a sense of hope within the oppressed and proved that the thoughts of individuals can inspire and fight against the majority, eventually coming out on top.

Descriptive Essay The Swings - 1005 Words

The Swings I was in third grade that day, when it all happened. I was just eating my lunch in the lunchroom. I had a chicken patty and it tasted delicious! I walked over to a table and chatted with my friends. We talked about class, and whatever thing was on our minds. I finished my lunch and threw away my trash. I walked to my locker and shoved my lunch in it. I then walked from the lunchroom out to the playground. I met up with my friend, who had been waiting for me, and we ran over to the swings. We were doing our own made-up routine and for it we had this special move. You have to know though, that there we two swings next to each other, a little bit apart, and on the side facing away from the other swing, there were metal bars†¦show more content†¦The people in the office called my mom, saying that I broke my head. I just sat there for ten minutes straight, trying to keep as much skin off the bed as possible and feeling the blood crust up on my eye. After what felt like forever, my mom finally came. We got in the van and drove off to DeVos, a hospital in Grand Rapids. I thought we were just going to the normal part of the hospital, but we actually went to the ER part. We checked in telling the people at the front desk about my head. Then, we waited. Five minutes later, we got out of our seats and walked inside one of the hospital rooms. I sat on the hospital bed and waited for the doctor to come into the room. The doctor came in a while later, and got the equipment set up. They looked at my head and said, â€Å"I think she will need stitches on her forehead.† â€Å"Noooooo!!!!!!!!† I thought in my head. â€Å"I really don’t want stitches!† The doctor tilted his head like he was thinking. I could tell that he could see the worry in my eyes. â€Å"There is another option that we could possibly do.† he explained â€Å"We just got this new product. It is a type of medical glue. Would you rather have that instead?† †Å"Yes please!† I exclaimed. The doctor left to get the medical glue and left my mom and I in silence. My mom and I chatted while he was gone. Soon enough, he came back into the room. He pulled out a bottle of medical glue that looked like Krazy Glue. He instructed me to lay down on theShow MoreRelated ?An Interpretation of Paul Laurence Dunbar?s Poem Sympathy and We Wear the Mask?1194 Words   |  5 Pagescondition of African Americans in America was Paul Laurence Dunbar. Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the most prolific poets of his time. Paul Laurence Dunbar used vivid, descriptive and symbolic language to portray images in his poetry of the senseless prejudices and racism that African Americans faced in America. Throughout this essay I will discuss, describe and interpret Sympathy and We Wear the Mask. 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