Blankets and Security and Spirituality Essay

There are many themes explored in Craig Thompson’s award-winning graphic novel Blankets, but perhaps its chief theme is that of spirituality. Particularly, the text explores how spirituality can be distinct from religion: religion is illustrated as a blunt instrument with which individuals divide themselves, whereas the positive spirituality advocated by Thompson grows out of human experiences, such as his first love. In this sense, the modified view of spirituality overlays traditional religious thought: the titular quilt blanket takes on a totemic significance, like that of a saint’s body part. This is fitting enough, as Thompson presents the relationship with Raina as something sanctified and, not coincidentally, outside the realm of religion. Fittingly enough for a meta-narrative such as this, art forms the basis for Thompson to impose his own distinct narratives over the unfavorable narratives around him. This belief in transformative power becomes important when he discovers his blossoming sexuality: he must realize it is not embodied by the abusive babysitter of his past, but in the relationship he possesses in the here and now. Raina represents the clearest presentation of actual spirituality in the text: she presents the stability that Thompson craves so much, which is the only thing that really allows him to take solace. It is not coincidental that the two begin their relationship at Bible Camp: in a camp that is ostensibly devoted to finding spiritual fellowship, both Thompson and Raina feel like they do not fit in. Accordingly, they must develop their own fellowship with each other, substituting their unique friendship (and eventually erotic love) in place of the relationship with God that the camp is supposed to offer. This is one of the spiritual notions that Thompson hammers home quite effectively: the heart of a true spiritual relationship is one of interaction. Traditional spiritual models rely on following God’s will without having a real relationship with anything other than a personal interpretation of God as a social construct. Romantic love fills that need when spirituality falters. Raina’s place as a saint-like person seems quite intentional in the text. The work culminates, after all, with Thompson finally willing to forge his own path in life†¦but by naming the work after the blankets on which he laid beside Raina, he situates the work as a kind of return to the grace and serenity he discovered in his relationship with her. In this sense, the ending of the work represents a kind of spiritual pilgrimage that Thompson is undergoing, with a remnant of Raina to guide him. In the spiritual spectrum, she seems like a successor to the understanding of Mary offered by Thompson’s religious upbringing. In that conservative religious view, Mary represents the glory of women, but also their aloof subservience to the greater glory of men: Mary is great because she delivered Jesus, but because of that sanctified relationship, a relationship with her is denied to mortal men. Raina, then, represents the spirituality that Thompson is able to interact with. She also represents an opportunity to restore sexual equality to spirituality, as she is not aloof, nor is she playing second fiddle to men. This continues the theme of spirituality as a matter of unity, rather than divisiveness. The final confrontation with his parents represents the final necessary aspect of spirituality: a willingness to seek commonality in all living creatures. This is the nature of their dispute, after all: a difference in beliefs. However, by bringing this conflict out into the open, Thompson is asserting the sovereignty of his own beliefs. They do not fully define him, as religious beliefs define their followers, because the innate aspect of Thompson’s spirituality is that it is constantly evolving. Raina helped him discover it, but she does not represent the be-all, end-all of it. Similarly, Thompson’s pilgrimage at the end is not to literally find Raina, but to use his memento of the time they shared as a way of finding a new relationship that will further help challenge and evolve his notion of spirituality. Interestingly, Thompson does not decry all religion as the enemy of spirituality. However, he does emphasize that religious dogma is often used as an excuse to shut one’s self off from the world. In confronting his parents, Thompson is quite clear: his spiritual beliefs will not be quieted, nor will they be closeted, any longer. Blankets is a work that is certain to endure for many years to come. The reason for that is not lofty ambition to tell an epic story, but rather, a commitment to following the fault lines of human intimacy and romantic relationships all the way to their inevitable quakes. Unwilling to move the camera away (so to speak), Thompson does the audience one better by showing the slow process of picking up the pieces and trying to rearrange a Picasso-esque jumble into a self-constructed identity that he can actually recognize in the mirror. Raina helped him discover what spirituality really represented: not the missing piece, but the knowledge that pieces are missing. And all that is required of true spirituality is an ongoing commitment to never stop seeking completion.

African-American Studies Essay

During the period between 1865 and 1900, the lives of many African Americans had changed in both political and social ways. They had a lifestyle transformation. Politically, African Americans were able to vote. As for socially, African Americans were beginning to be viewed as equals. African Americans were given the opportunity to vote. There opinion began to matter. As Alfred H. Ward expresses in his art black men waiting in a line, it means much more than a single file. Displaying the men dressed in different outfits and uniforms waiting to put in their opinion, their vote (Document A). Negroes were now being viewed as another person and another opinion needed. It was even expressed that one shall not be denied a vote for their race (Document C). This is yet again another prime example of the African Americans new progress in a political aspect. Though it may seem a simple and smooth change it wasn’t a golden path through the transformation, some still could not accept the fact that black deserve to have the right to vote. Dramatic words and publication were existent during the late 19-century, even a cartoon was published of an African American man dying, and reason of death being he used his right to vote (document F). Soon the African Americans had their heads soaring high, some people were finally giving them some social respect. Along with the 14th amendment supporting their new freedom things seemed to be changing. Simply re stated â€Å" no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States† just with the first statement, African Americans are entitled to even more rights (Document B). Again, the civil rights act of 1875, this enacted that all persons of the U. S. shall be entitled to full enjoyment of accommodations, advantages, and privileges of inns, public water and entertainment. Also stating that this is applicable to every citizen of every race (Document D). Though yet again things were not always so positive and equal. â€Å"Jim crow laws of the deep south† created many restrictions and much un fair treatment. To the extent of marriages between white and blacks were prohibited in Florida (Document H). In Georgia one could not burry an African American where whites were buried (Document H). Also, in Mississippi, discussion of or defending for social equality would immediately be guilty of a misdemeanor (Document H). Some cases so harsh that blacks who would assert their rights would face unemployment, eviction, and sometimes physical harm. From evidence shown the African Americans had dramatic reconstruction stages in both political views along with social views. They received some respect and rights of being created equal. They also received their right to vote. Though, it didn’t all become easy and perfect they had much progress of reconstruction. Many changes were made. As many lives were transformed.

Organic Foods Essay

When we see the word ? organic’ on a carton of an organic whole milk or on a plastic bottle of Stonyfield Farm’s organic low fat yogurt, the words and phrases such as ? pure’, ? chemical-free’, ? natural’ and ? healthy’ naturally comes to mind, and there is little doubt in these assumptions. Organic foods are dairy, produce and poultry products that were treated with no pesticides, growth hormones, or antibiotics. Organic foods have been generating a lot of hype because of the food safety that it offers an individual. Another reason is the documented claims proving organic foods having a generally fresher taste than their conventional counterparts. And lastly, organic foods offer much more healthy benefits, meaning it has a higher nutritional amount than a non? organic food. The question that potential organic consumers seem to ask pertaining to this issue is that is it worth paying for. Even with its higher cost, organic foods are a worthwhile choice for a better health and nutrition. Various tests by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization demonstrated that some apples, such as the Golden Delicious, scored higher taste scores when grown organically. Also, because organic farms tend to be smaller, they often sell their products closer to the point of harvest. Thus, organic fruits and vegetables taste more farm fresh than comparable conventional produce. However, organic foods might also have more flavor because organic farmers often breed with taste instead of marketability as the primary factor. Conventional tomatoes, for example, are often bred to be perfectly red and round, to match the ideal appearance of a tomato, meaning that taste is an attribute that has a lower priority in these products. In addition to crop diversity and selection practices, organic farming emphasizes soil nutrition, which can positively influence the taste of the food. The main criticism surrounding organic food is that its costs are expensive and is elitist, because of how only rich people can afford it. The magazine Consumer Reports stated in its article â€Å"When It Pays to Buy Organic† that typical organic foods costs from 50% to 100% the price of conventional items, but according to a Primary Health Care article, published studies concluded that an organic produce is packing with a significant increase in nutrients and dry matter. Organic produce has 27% more Vitamin C, 29. 3% more magnesium, and 21% more iron compared to the non-organic; also contain 26% more dry matter, which means that it does not shrink as quickly when cooked as there is less water that will evaporate. Organic food may seem to be expensive at first glance, but when you look at all the factors that come with the product, it is a better buy in the end. Knowing what organic products to buy, and what not to buy will also help out cut the unnecessary purchases of everything organic. The United States of Department of Agriculture listed apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries as the â€Å"dirty dozen† that should be consumed as often as organic. The USDA’s own testing reports that their conventional counterparts accumulate a good number of pesticide residues, which has numerous negative effects. The USDA continues by suggesting to consume organic meat and poultry to help avoid the effects of the mad-cow disease, and buying organic baby food in order to prevent the baby from having exposure to toxins. Organic seafood, on the other hand, were not suggested to be purchased, for there is not enough documentation that it has significant differences with its conventional counterpart. The health benefits that organic products offer just outweigh the costs so far. In 2002, Danny Asami et al.of the Department of Food Science and Technology did a research on the amount of phenolic content (which provides protection against cancer) and Vitamin C content of conventional and organic produces, and concluded that the fruits that were grown organically possessed significantly higher concentrations of both phenolic and Vitamin C. Organic tomatoes have much more lycopene in them, and organic fruits and vegetables contain more flavonoids. Organic milk has its perks too, for Danish Institute of Agricultural Research proclaimed that it has higher amounts of Vitamin E, beta-carotene and several antioxidants than regular whole milk. The food safety that organic products offer can’t be denied either. Pesticides that are often found on non-organic foods have its obvious negative effects, and also some subtle ones. Such effects like immune suppression, hormone disruption, neurological damages are the risks that pesticide residues are leaving in a non-organic food. New studies also show that pesticides are capable of being passed from the woman’s womb to its offspring, which may cause numerous implications to the fetuses’ brain. Unfortunately, organic products do contain pesticide remains at all, however for the people who seek to reduce the risks of a pesticide residue, organic products are a much better option. Organic foods can not only give us peace of mind, but it provides us with such substance that non-organic food is lacking. It gives us the freshness that nature has intended for us all along, and in a society where health gives us power, we cannot go wrong on eating healthy and enjoying it at the same time. Our health is worth everything, so while the cost may be too steep, the profits that it brings back to us are far more redeeming.

The life and times of rosie the riveter Movie Review

The life and times of rosie the riveter - Movie Review Example The documentary The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter is 60-minutes long and it mixes black and white newsreel footage. The director also incorporates color-filmed interviews of five women working in the defense plants during World War II including Wanita Allen, Gladys Belcher, Lyn Childs, Lola Weixel and Margaret Wright. Most importantly, the documentary offers these women’s views about the wartime propaganda relating to female defense workers of the period. The wartime experiences offered by these ‘Rosies’ clearly reflect the general mood of the women working in defense plants of the U.S. during World War II, because they belonged to different backgrounds such as Illinois, Arkansas farms, Brooklyn, and Detroit and they include three black women and two white. Therefore, The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter has been highly regarded for its life-like presentation as well as views of the condition of the women working in defense plants and this documentary fil m has been an important topic of discussion since its original release in 1980. Through the interviews with these ‘Rosies’, the audience become conscious about the unusual working conditions created by the high-pressured war production drive. The views of the women working in defense plants also help the viewers in recognizing various threats to women’s liberation during the period. â€Å"The film suggests that in the manipulation of public images of wartime women, the government, employers and media were pushing hard the traditional view of Woman as Housewife to suppress the runaway implications of women doing mens work so successfully, with the pride and camaraderie that wartime working conditions engendered.† (Davenport) As the documentary projects the women being interviewed in their present environment, the viewers get a convincing illustration of their condition during the World War II. In a