Tuesday, November 26, 2019

100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons

100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons An oxymoron  is a figure of speech, usually one or two words in which  seemingly  contradictory terms appear side by side. This contradiction is also known as a  paradox. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe lifes inherent conflicts and incongruities. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. Using Oxymorons The word oxymoron is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. The word is derived from two ancient Greek words oxys, which means sharp, and moronos, which means dull or stupid. Take this sentence, for example: This was a minor crisis and the only choice was to drop the product line. There are two oxymorons in this sentence: minor crisis and only choice. If youre learning English as a second language, you might be confused by these figures of speech. Read literally, they contradict themselves.  A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. Similarly, choice implies more than one option, which is contradicted by only, which implies the opposite. But once you become fluent in English, its easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. As the textbook author Richard Watson Todd said, The true beauty of oxymorons is that, unless we sit back and really think, we happily accept them as normal  English. Oxymorons have been used since the days of the ancient Greek poets, and William Shakespeare sprinkled them throughout his plays, poems, and sonnets. Oxymorons also feature in modern comedy and politics. The conservative political writer William Buckley, for instance, became famous for quotes like an intelligent liberal is an oxymoron. 100 Examples of Oxymorons Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. Youll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. absent presence (from Astrophil and Stella by Sir Philip Sidney)alone togetherawful goodbeggarly riches (from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions by John Donne)bittersweetbrisk vacancy (from Self Portrait in a Convex Mirror by John Ashbery)cheerful pessimistcivil warclearly misunderstoodcomfortable misery (from One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz)conspicuous absencecool passioncrash landingcruel kindnessdarkness visible (from Paradise Lost by John Milton)deafening silencedeceptively honestdefinite maybedeliberate speeddevout atheistdull roareloquent silenceeven oddsexact estimateextinct lifefalsely true (from Lancelot and Elaine by Lord Tennyson)festive tranquilityfound missingfreezer burnfriendly takeovergenuine imitationgood griefgrowing smallerguest hosthistorical presenthumane slaughtericy hotidiot savantill healthimpossible solutionintense apathyjoyful sadnessjumbo shrimplarger halflascivious grace (from Sonnet 40 by William Shakespeare)lead balloonliquid marble (from Poetast er by Ben Jonson) living deadliving endliving sacrificesloosely sealedloud whisperloyal oppositionmagic realismmelancholy merriment (from Don Juan by Lord Byron)militant pacifistminor miraclenegative growthnegative incomeold newsone-man bandonly choiceopenly deceptiveopen secretoriginal copyoverbearingly modestpaper tableclothpaper towelpeaceful conquestplastic glassesplastic silverwarepoor healthpretty uglyproperly ridiculousrandom orderrecorded liveresident aliensad smilesame differencescalding coolness (from For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway)seriously funnyshrewd dumbnesssilent screamsmall crowdsoft rockThe Sound of Silence (song by Paul Simon)static flowsteel woolstudent teachersweet sorrow (from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)terribly goodtheoretical experiencetransparent night (from When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d by Walt Whitman)true fictionTrue Lies (movie directed by James Cameron)unbiased opinionunconscious awarenessupward fallwise foolworking vacation 1:15 5 Common Figures of Speech Explained

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Using the Spanish Verb Decir

Using the Spanish Verb Decir Decir is the is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish; it typically is the equivalent of to say or to tell in English. Examples of Using Decir Usage of decir is straightforward for English speakers. Context will tell you whether say or tell is the better translation.  ¿Quà © dices? (What do you say?)Ella me dijo que iba a volver. (She told me she was going to return.)El presidente dice que su misià ³n central es relanzar la economà ­a. (The president says his prime mission is to relaunch the economy.)Yo digo que nuestro sistema de justicia es un cachondeo. (I say that our justice system is a joke.)A decir verdad no me gusta. (To tell the truth, I dont like it.)Nos decimos que nos amamos. (Were telling ourselves we love each other.) ¿Cà ³mo se dice airport en espaà ±ol? (How do you say airport in Spanish?) ¿Por quà © decimos sà ­ cuando queremos decir no? (Why do we say yes when we want to say no?) Grammar Involving Decir When someone is told something, the person to whom something is told is represented by an indirect-object pronoun. The logic behind this is that the thing being said is the direct object, while an indirect object represents the person affected by what is said. Le dije adià ³s. (I told him goodbye.) ¿Quà © le vamos a decir a la gente? (What are we going to tell the people?)Les decimos que no estn solos. (Were telling them that they are not alone.) In general, decir que (to say that) is followed by a verb in the indicative mood, but no decir que is followed by a verb in the subjunctive. Dije que somos amigos. (I said that we are friends.)No dije que seamos amigos. (I did not say that we are friends.)Decimos que nuestro paà ­s tiene futuro. (We are saying that our country has a future.)No decimos que nuestro paà ­s tenga futuro. (We arent saying that our country has a future.) Common Expressions Using Decir Se dice que or dicen que can be used for the equivalent of it is said that or they say that: Dicen que nadie es perfecto. (They say nobodys perfect.) ¿Por quà © se dice que el mezcal es una bebida mgica? (Why do they say that mezcal is a magic drink?)Se dice que hay hadas en este bosque. (It is said that there are fairies in this forest.) Es decir can translate phrases such as in other words, that is to say, and meaning. Los espacios blancos dan la perspectiva de mas espacio es decir dan la sensacià ³n de ampliacion de los espacios. (The white spaces give the perspective of more space. In other words, they give the feeling of the spaces being expanded.)Hay muchos usuarios de Linux, es decir Ubuntu, Fedora, etc. (There are many users of Linux, that is to say Ubuntu, Fedora, and so on.)Machu Picchu recibià ³ a 1419,507 visitantes en 2016, es decir 3889 por dà ­a. (Machu Picchu hosted 1,419,507 visitors in 2016, meaning 3,878 daily.) Conjugation of Decir The conjugation of decir is highly irregular; it is irregular in every tense except for the imperfect. Changes are made to both the stem and the ending. Also, the present participle and past participles are diciendo and dicho, respectively. Here are the conjugations in the present, preterite, and future indicative tenses: Present: Yo digo, tà º dices, usted/à ©l/ella dice, nosotros/nosotras decimos, vosotros decà ­s, ustedes/ellos/ellas dicen (I say, you say, you/he/she says, etc.) Preterite: Yo dije, tà º dijiste, usted/à ©l/ella dijo, nosotros/nosotras dijimos, vosotros dijisteis, ustedes/ellos/ellas dijeron (I said, you said, you/he/she said, etc.) Future: Yo dirà ©, tà º dirs, usted/à ©l/ella dir, nosotros/nosotras diremos, vosotros dirà ©is, ustedes/ellos/ellas dirn (I will say, you will say, you/he/she will say, etc.) Spanish has several verbs based on decir that are conjugated in the same way. Among the most common are contradecir (to contract) and bendecir (to bless). Key Takeaways Decir is a common verb that means to do or to say.Decir is conjugated irregularly in most of its forms.Se dice que is a popular say of saying they say that.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Chinese media boundaries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chinese media boundaries - Essay Example In light of the above findings, it is evident that there trends necessitating disconnection when it come to this vital field. The media undoubtedly plays an important role in the lives of people. People relies on this institution for news and other information. As a result, it is vital to ensure that whatever is reported is free from manipulation or bias. It is for this reason that a research is conducted to identify the issues that influence reporting. This paper proposes the following as the research questions for the research: Does variance in political and governmental structures influence how media report government-related cases? Can the media be entirely free from manipulation? Should patriotism be a defining factor when reporting or should the truth be reported irrespective of the impact? Does the West’s level of civilization in comparison to China’s contribute to the way reporting is done? As noted above, reporting normally varies with different media houses le t alone nations meaning it can never be uniform. That is to say, there is a probability of America’s NBC to report the same news with CNN but from a very different context. According to Groseclose (2011), Ruschmann (2006), Davenport (2010) and Sloan & Mackay (2007) this discrepancy is fuelled by a number of issues including the motive of reporting, the interpretation and the validity of the source. In this case involving the Chinese, the problem is important because the cities in which the protests are taking place are vital to business world.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Grand Canyon University's History and Christian Heritage Essay

Grand Canyon University's History and Christian Heritage - Essay Example With regard to GCU's mission, the method of its enforcement is compatible with the university's Christian heritage. As claimed by Dr. Ray, Christian education is an "education with a spirit and soul". He further said that the foundation of Christian training were moral, mental, physical, social and spiritual - all of which are based upon the holy scripture, the bible. To become global citizens, effective communicators, critical thinkers and responsible leaders are consistent with Christian education. The university's four pillars, namely, academic advancement, Christian camaraderie, extracurricular excellence and wellness and well-being are all consistent with its history and Christian heritage. To note, academic excellence is one of the reasons why the Grand Canyon College was given accreditation in 1968. Athletic competition was the other reason. The school had long been active in sports and other extracurricular activities. These inclinations are all in line with Christian educati on as envisioned by Dr. Ray. ... 28). He further said that the foundation of Christian training were moral, mental, physical, social and spiritual -- all of which are based upon the holy scripture, the bible (Ray, as cited in Helfers, p. 28). To become global citizens, effective communicators, critical thinkers and responsible leaders are consistent with Christian education. The university's four pillars, namely, academic advancement, Christian camaraderie, extracurricular excellence and wellness and well-being are all consistent with its history and Christian heritage (â€Å"Four,† n.d.). To note, academic excellence is one of the reasons why the Grand Canyon College was given accreditation in 1968. Athletic competition was the other reason. The school had long been active in sports and other extracurricular activities. These inclinations are all in line with Christian education as envisioned by Dr. Ray. Diversity is one aspect that the university is trying to nourish. The founders of the university wanted t he school's name to be inclusive and all-encompassing (Helfers, 2000). Thus, the term Baptist was not included. According to Helfers (2000, p. 27), they aimed to welcome "students of all faiths or no faith." Presently, it has been accepting students of different religious backgrounds. Also, it has been employing faculties coming from over twenty denominations (â€Å"GCU,† n.d.). All these facts reflect the university's history and Christian faith. Personally, the university's statements correspond to my own set of values and traditions. I have been a believer of Christian faith since I was a child. The Baptist and Catholic Church both believe in Jesus Christ. Thus, I found it easy to understand the school's history and Christian heritage. Basically, what differs

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Reasons Why Mayella Ewell is a Dichotomous Character Essay Example for Free

Reasons Why Mayella Ewell is a Dichotomous Character Essay Mayella Ewell is a dichotomous person because she is like any other girl that wants to fit in. The one that wants to be something she’s not. She wants to be beautiful, accepted, have friends. She is tired of people thinking she’s dirty or feeling unwanted, like an outsider. She’s alone in a big room of people and cannot take it anymore. The first reason why she is a dichotomous character is she wanted to be accepted, but she can’t because she is unwanted by many people in Maycomb because of her last name, Ewell. The last name, Ewell is known by the people of Maycomb because the Ewell’s are sloppy and dirty and do not care about anything. So just because she’s a Ewell people judge her as dirty and poor, when really she tries to fit in with everyone by cleaning up her appearance and growing flowers. Then, here she goes not know what the word, â€Å"friend† even means. She only had one friend which was Tom Robinson, but she betrays him by lying to everyone in Maycomb saying he beat her up, when really it was her dad. She does this because she would rather save her abusive father than saving an innocent black man’s life, even if he was nicer than her father. Just these two comparisons do not tell you why she is a dichotomous character, the last one is very important because she pretty much shows you the main reason why she brayed Tom Robinson. She has this big, careless family that everyone in Maycomb doesn’t care for and her she is alone in her own family of nine people. They do not care for her, but she cares for her dad and younger siblings by giving them money for ice cream. No one feels her pain except her, and with that pain what makes you think she wouldn’t have two different personalities.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

An Analysis of the Sources of Disagreements between David Cole & Attorn

These two articles, one, an address by Attorney General John Ashcroft to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and the other, an article written by David Cole that appeared on the Amnesty International web site, deal with the ethics and Constitutionality of the United Stated Patriot Act. David Cole, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, argues that the Patriot Act violates citizen’s civil rights and unfairly imprisons innocent individuals. Attorney General John Ashcroft counters that the Patriot Act is justified as a preventive measure to aid in the war on terrorism. Differences in Facts/Interpretation of Facts Both authors try to put an exact number on the number of individuals that have been detained sine the inception of the Patriot Act to suit their respective arguments. David Cole states that the Justice Department had the number at 1,147 less than two months into the Justice Department’s investigation. The Justice Department, according to Cole, reportedly â€Å"responded by simply stopping its practice of announcing the running tally† (p3) due to â€Å"mounting criticism over the scope of the roundup†. (p3) Attorney General John Ashcroft gives a substantially lower number of individuals. In three month’s time, he states that 60 individuals had been placed into federal custody, and that 563 have been detained due to immigration violations. (p17) Attorney General John Ashcroft states that the Patriot Act is Constitutionally sound, and that he and the Justice Departmen...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Death in the stranger and night Essay

Before Meursault dies, he talks about his philosophy, and how he thinks the universe works. In this philosophical rant that he trails on, he says that nothing really matters in his life, or in anyone’s life. He begins to understand the actions of his mother towards the end of her life, and says that he understands the actions of the universe, and actually says the universe is like a brother. â€Å"As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself-so like a brother, really-I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. † (122-123). Meursault’s indifference to his own death once again represents Camus’ philosophy that death is simply an action that needs to be carried out at the end of life. This especially represents Camus’ philosophy since Meursault had been representing the philosophy of Camus in the pages beforehand, which means that Camus most likely holds this attitude towards death, which is what is being broadcast through this book. In Night, the most important death that occurs in the book, among the many that are referenced, is the death of Elie’s father. Both before and after his father’s death, Elie is extremely attached to his father, emotionally. He takes his relationship with his father so seriously that he says â€Å"I had to stay at Buchenwald until April eleventh. I have nothing to say of my life during this period. It no longer mattered. After my father’s death, nothing could touch me any more. † (107) This shows that Elie is extremely attached to his father, since his father’s death drives him to apathy towards his life. He takes the death of his father extremely seriously. The importance of his father’s life to him is shown through his continued attempts to keep him alive. In example, the head of Elie’s block tells him â€Å"Here, there are no fathers, no brothers, no friends. Everyone lives and dies for himself alone. † Instead of heeding the man’s advice, Elie decides he will keep on trying to save his father by feeding him his rations of soup and bread. This shows that Elie’s view on death is a personal one. He views death as a loss to the living. He very much cares about the fate of the dead, and would very much have them stay alive than die. The representation of death in the two novels represents the attitude towards death held by the two cultures that the books represent. The Stranger, or L’etranger, in the original French, represents French culture, since Albert Camus, who is really an Algerian, was greatly influenced by the French. Since Algeria was a French colony at the time that The Stranger written, French and Algerian culture in the sense of their philosophy on death is really the same. Night represents Eastern-European Jewish culture, seeing as Elie Wiesel, a Jew born and raised in Eastern Europe, wrote the novel and portrayed other Eastern-European Jews in it. Albert Camus’ novel The Stranger, and Elie Wiesel’s memoir Night both represented death in two very different ways. Albert Camus, through The Stranger portrayed death as a natural action that had to happen to every person at some time in his or her life, and should not be taken as seriously as it is. Elie Wiesel, through Night, argued that death should be taken seriously, as should the dying.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Summary of Journal “International Marketing Tool: the Internet”

Article Title: â€Å"International Marketing Tooll: The Internet† Journal Title: Industrial Management And Data Systems Date/Issue: 1998, Vol. 98 Issue 6, 253 – 261. Authors: Fred Palumbo, Paul Herbig Summarized by: Emre Avsar Major goal of this article is to provide to understanding what marketers consider when adopting marketing decisions to the Internet. The Internet provides to organizations least expensive and original tools for advertising, taking and placing orders and communicating with their customers worldwide.Even if, the Internet can make marketers dreams come true, it can cause harmful consequences for firms which are not aware of the challenges that the Internet creates. Marketers should make decisions having regard to, international price, increase of competition, cultural differences, telecommunication infrastructure, credit cards use worldwide, etc. The Internet is composed of millions of networks connected on a global scale.Those networks provide servi ces which are communicating with one another or to find any information all over the world. The services which provided by the Internet are e-mail, mailing list, newsgroup, cybermall, etc. Companies should decide to how they use the Internet as a marketing tool. When companies deciding that, they should pay attention to international price, global branding, territory, channel conflict, international distribution, organizational structure, increase of competition, means of payment.The Internet gives a more global view, this global availability generate several new challenges such as: Cultural aspects ( language, images, colors) , privacy, concorship, security, international law, intellectual property, global branding, international distribution, intellectual property, etc. The Internet provides many resources for all firms, particularly for small and medium sized organizations, searching for a market for their products and services globally.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The American Liberty Elm - Overview

The American Liberty Elm - Overview American Liberty Elm : The state tree of both Massachusetts and North Dakota, American elm is a beautiful tree but subject to getting a serious disease called Dutch elm disease or DED. The good news is that resistant tree strains are starting to improve the American elms situation. Elm Research Institute (ERI) has developed on of the best, called the American Liberty Elm, and offers matching grants to groups who want to plant the tree. Habit and Range: American elm is one of the most popular of urban shade trees. This tree was planted along downtown city streets for decades. The tree has had major problems with Dutch elm disease and has until now been out of favor when considered for urban tree planting. In North America, American elm attains medium to large tree status and grows 60 to 80 tall. American elm occupies one of the largest north-south ranges in North America - from Canada to Florida. Enter Elm Research Institute (ERI): A new matching tree grant program has been announced by Elm Research Institute (ERI), a nonprofit organization based in Keene, NH. This unique, community-oriented promotion features disease-resistant American Liberty Elms which are the only street proven, purebred, native American elms with a lifetime warranty against Dutch elm disease. This warrenty is backed by ERI. About ERIs American Liberty Elm Grant: How the Matching Tree Grant Program works:For every inch of caliper purchased in trees 3 inch caliper and larger, ERI will donate one 1 inch or 2 inch caliper tree for planting on public property.Your Options:(A) For every inch of caliper purchased in trees Size No. 3 or larger ERI will donate an equal total in Sizes No. 1 or No. 2 trees to be presented as a gift to your municipality for planting on public property.(B) You purchase (4)trees of any size and get {1) tree free. Says the Founder of ERI: “Liberty elms have become extremely popular with new home owners, builders, landscape architects, developers and contractors” says John P. Hansel, Founder of ERI. “We will extend the Matching Tree Grant Program to those who are specifying and planting American Liberty Elms.” Why Plant American Liberty Elms?: The American Liberty Elm has shown superior resistance to disease fungus inoculations over successive years, says ERI. The elm has had more than 20 years of street testing, growing in communities where Dutch elm disease is present. In an ultimate field test, losses among the over 300,000 trees planted have been less than 1 per cent. With more elms now on the market claiming resistance, you need to inquire about the origin and track record of any elm you are considering says Hansel. Why Plant an American Elm?: The American Elm displays a classic elm form, and is perfect for many landscape designs, including elm-lined drives, elm groves and specimen elms. As an elms matures, it displays wide canopies to heights that afford clear views of the architectural details of buildings and deep shade for people to enjoy.A favorite of Fredrick Law Olmsted, the American elm was included in his plans for the U.S. Capitol grounds, New York Citys Central Park and other projects. More on the Matching Tree Grant Program: For more information about the Matching Tree Grant Program, phone Elm Research Institute at 1-800-367-3567 (FOR-ELMS), online at www.landscapeelms.com or write Elm Research Institute, 11 Kit St, Keene, NH 03431. Individuals may also get a free 2-3 ft. tree with a $45 membership. Expert Comments on Elms: It is massive, long lived, tough, easy to grow, adaptable and blessed with an arching, wine-glass-like silhouette, making it the perfect street tree. - Guy Sternberg, Native Trees for North American LandscapesMost trees find life an ongoing struggle, but elms have been through a singular hell.- Arthur Plotnik, The Urban Tree BookFrom a pragmatic viewpoint, it is difficult to recommend this species because of the disease problem. If the newer, resistant selections prove successful, then I would consider planting...- Michael Dirr, Dirrs Hardy Trees and Shrubs

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Facts and Characteristics of Rodents

Facts and Characteristics of Rodents Rodents (Rodentia) are a group of mammals that includes squirrels, dormice, mice, rats, gerbils, beavers, gophers, kangaroo rats, porcupines, pocket mice, springhares, and many others. There are  more than 2000 species of rodents alive today, making them the most diverse of all mammal groups.  Rodents are a widespread group of mammals, they occur in most terrestrial habitats and are only absent from Antarctica,  New Zealand, and a handful of  oceanic islands. Rodents have teeth that are specialized for chewing and gnawing. They have  one pair of incisors in each jaw (upper and lower)  and a large gap (called a diastema) located between their incisors and molars. The incisors of rodents grow continuously  and are maintained through constant use- grinding and gnawing wears away the tooth so that is always sharp and remains  the correct length. Rodents also have one or multiple pairs of premolars or molars (these teeth, also called cheek teeth, are  located towards the back of the animals upper and lower jaws). What They Eat Rodents eat a variety of different foods including leaves, fruit, seeds, and small invertebrates. The cellulose rodents eat is processed in a structure called the  caecum. The caecum is a pouch in the digestive tract that houses bacteria that are capable of breaking down tough plant material into digestible form. Key Role Rodents often play a key role in the communities in which they live because they serve as prey for other mammals and birds. In this way, they are similar to hares, rabbits, and pikas, a group of mammals whose members also serve as prey for carnivorous birds and mammals.  To counterbalance the intense predation pressures they suffer and to maintain healthy population levels, rodents  must produce large litters of young every year. Key Characteristics The  key characteristics of rodents include: one pair of incisors in each jaw (upper and lower)incisors grow continuouslyincisors lack enamel on the back of the tooth (and are worn down with use)a large gap (diastema) behind incisorsno canine teethcomplex jaw musculaturebaculum (penis bone) Classification Rodents are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Vertebrates Tetrapods Amniotes Mammals Rodents Rodents are divided into the following taxonomic groups: Hystricognath rodents (Hystricomorpha): There are about 300 species of hystricognath rodents alive today. Members of this group include gundis, Old World porcupines, dassie rats, cane rats, New World porcupines, agoutis, acouchis, pacas, tuco-tucos, spiny rats, chinchilla rats, nutrias, cavies, capybaras, guinea pigs, and many others.  Hystricognath rodents have a unique arrangement of their jaw muscles that differs from all other rodents.Mouse-like rodents (Myomorpha) - There are about 1,400 species of mouse-like rodents alive today. Members of this group include mice, rats, hamsters, voles, lemmings, dormice, harvest mice, muskrats, and gerbils. Most species of mouse-like rodents are nocturnal and feed on seeds and grains.Scaly-tailed squirrels and springhares (Anomaluromorpha): There are nine species of scaly-tailed squirrels and springhares alive today. Members of this group include the Pels flying squirrel, long-eared flying mouse, Cameroon scaly-tail, East African springhare, and the South African springhare. Some members of this group (notably the scaly-tailed squirrels) have membranes that stretch between their front and hind legs that enable them to glide. Squirrels-like rodents (Sciuromorpha): There are about 273 species of squirrel-like rodents  alive today. Members of this group include beavers, mountain beavers, squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and flying squirrels. Squirrels-like rodents have a unique arrangement of their jaw muscles that differs from all other rodents. Source: Hickman C, Roberts L, Keen S, Larson A, lAnson H, Eisenhour D.  Integrated Principles of Zoology  14th ed. Boston MA: McGraw-Hill; 2006. 910 p.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

How have archaeologists' attempts to interpret sex and gender Essay

How have archaeologists' attempts to interpret sex and gender relations in the past changed over the last thirty years - Essay Example vii). However, this is the core problem with the way in which cultures have been framed through Western belief systems, thus making assumptions about the way that sex and gender are considered within those societies subject to modern standards of understanding. It is important to re-examine the nature of social structures that have been determined through biased assumptions in order to better construct a picture of an ancient societies. Studying Gender through Archaeological Inquiry In studying gender, Gilchrist states (1999, p. x), â€Å"gender is revealed as a metaphor for relations between men and women: gender is an expression of social practice and beliefs about sexual difference†. The nature of defining social structures through gender relations provides for a depth of context that is not often discovered in archaeological pursuit. The nature of interrelationships between men and women is such that it defines family, political structures, social class structures, and all aspects of society that must be framed to understand how a culture lived. Gosden (1999, p. 135) points out that in the continual creation of gender as it exists within society, the nature of people can be seen for their ’composite’ as it is a creation of sets of relationships that define social roles and identities. In studying gender, a central part of that concept can become understood. Joyce (2000, p. 177) states that â€Å"Gender and power are completely intertwined because the social control of individual experience of the body is the most intimate level of discipline practiced by authorities†. In defining the roles that exist within the genders, it is clear that these roles are defined differently depending on location. Settings define the nature of a gender role, whether it be within a public sphere or in a private sphere (Joyce 2000, p. 182). In creating a discussion of gender, the relationships as they are defined by location creates a textually deeper understanding of how a culture interacted. In putting the domestic roles in context with the public roles, a defined space begins to emerge in which male and female participation in cultural life is spatially recognizable. The nature of social order and discipline becomes defined for the way in which it is practiced within relationships of importance, many of which are specified as roles of gender. Studying gender through feminist referencing in archaeology did not being until the 1980s, and more specifically with the first published paper was in 1984 through Conkey and Spector, with the first real collection of essays published in 1991 in reference to a conference that took place in 1988. This collection was published by Conkey and Gero and is titled Engendering archaeology: Women and prehistory. In the process of trying to spark interest in the topic, Conkey and Gero set up a series of projects associated with gender to create paths of inquiry and to frame feminism within the arc haeological discipline (Wylie 1992, p. 15). There are two primary trends in the study of gender through archaeological approach. The first is to use written records as a comparison against archaeological finds. The primary problem with this, of course, is that not all civilizations have