Empowered by Manolos, Bound by Cosmos Femininity and Gender Roles in Darren Star’s Sex and the City

Entertainment has long been one of the most accessible forms of communication because it appeals to the sense of pleasure than any other avenue in the information process. Today, in most parts of the world, entertainment has conquered a host of media that may be appropriated by both producers and consumers, with each medium translating specifically to the audience it aims to reach. From print to broadcast, from film to the internet, mass communication has provided ways and means for audiences of any age to claim the kind of entertainment they prefer—thereby creating its niche in the prevailing popular culture in any country or community. Among the forms mentioned, the stellar history of film and the allure of convenient glamour and lifestyle associated with it have catapulted it to the top of the most influential of all media. Considering most people have access to cinema, it is correct to assume that this medium has had its share of voice in achieving social change, advocacy, politics, and empowerment. And, apart from being instrumental in relaying news and other traditional informative content, cinema and its success in entertainment has also become a veritable avenue to communicate these integral issues through visuals, acting, and choice of format. One of the most celebrated productions in recent time is the iconic Sex and the City film, released in 2008 and based on the cult television show of the same title. By showcasing the formerly undesirable concepts of singlehood among females over thirty, professional success, and the unabashed references to sexuality and independence, its creator Darren Starr had stumbled upon a void clearly anticipated by women in these situations—and launched a culture that debunked most traditionalist ideologies and heralded new mindsets of feminism and empowerment. II. Power and the Feminine Approach Feminist inquiry was established to â€Å"offer theories that center women’s experiences and to articulate the relations between the categories of gender and other social categories, including race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality† (Littlejohn 2008, p. 49), and this claim is evident in the purposive nature of SATC. Individually, the characters of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte possess their unique strengths and focus: writer Carrie is the intellectual and introspective; Samantha’s focus is on her sexual nature; lawyer Miranda conveys independence; and Charlotte is depicted as the arguably traditional of the group yet is never relegated to being permanently at the mercy of her goal to find a husband. In other words, these women are all portrayed to be whole and complete on their own, and have already made their decisions on their particular brands of femininity. Once a woman has defined her sense of self, it is easy to understand how power can come logically. Most audiences of SATC find pleasure in the witty musings of Carrie, the stern yet human concerns of Miranda, the extent to which Charlotte would go to get married, and the sexual adventures of Samantha. In the film, though, each has had her own story finally played out, not necessarily in the ways they planned: Miranda is a mother, Samantha is in a committed relationship, and Charlotte is married and has adopted a child. Only Carrie appears to have taken the more expected route of continuing her relationship with Mr. Big, a man who had long been the cause of many of her mishaps. But while each of them has realized their traditional roles as females, their background activities still remain indicative of their career successes. Like in the TV show, the women of the SATC film still engage in their females-only conversations and gatherings, during which they discuss men, relationships, an d sexuality. According to Littlejohn (2008, p. 244), â€Å"women’s groups often are less interested outcomes and traditional group tasks—less interested in doing and more interested in being†, which then justifies the nature of their bond. Among friends, the four women can merely be and not be concerned with what should be; among their colleagues, they are more goal-driven and objective. The conversations the SATC females have within their group are, in reality, material that audiences can live by, and are almost always philosophical or pragmatic enough to communicate new thinking. When Miranda discovered that Steve had a sexual affair with another woman, she immediately reported the incident to her girlfriends—who, in turn, expressed approval at Miranda’s decision to leave Steve. When Carrie announced that she and Mr. Big were getting married, the group actually came up with two opinions—validation from Charlotte, and ambivalence from Samantha. These two examples at once present rational ways to address these common life circumstances, without resorting to the stereotypical reaction of women approving of marriage or staying in one despite significant problems. Apart from that, their nonchalant manner in discussing sexuality signals an unconventional pattern not often shown among women in films and other media, but occurs in women’s discussions in real life. The vulnerability exhibited by at least two of the four characters while engaging with men is more about being human than succumbing to societal pressure; it has more to do with their personalities than a non-negotiable objective to feel adequate with men in their lives. Again, this goes back to the development of each character in the film, being completely defined and expected for women their age. Of course, it would be harder to prove had they been in their twenties, still searching for themselves in New York, like Carrie’s assistant Louise. Modern femininity is definitely confirmed in the events, reactions, and portrayals of the SATC girls: strong and individual, yet completely aware of their identities and priorities. Compared to younger women, the four characters are each shown carrying the same sense of self one her own, or with her friends. Therefore, the issue of power in the film is attached to the evolved characters of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte—they know who they are, including their strengths and weaknesses, and are capable of appropriating such when it comes to men, or any other concern. III. Representing the Thirty-Something Female With the exception of Samantha, who celebrated her fiftieth birthday in the SATC film, the main characters are in their late thirties. In fact, Carrie had probably just turned forty as this was one of the highlights in the film—the suitability of a 40-year-old woman to be photographed in a wedding dress. However, this may be less of an issue compared to the question of the accurate representation of women in this age range. Israel (2002) stated the still-existing stereotype of single women, that they are â€Å"social outcasts†¦ odd women who require constant translation† (p. 46). If this is the present concept of the public regarding single women, then the issue is not in the misrepresentation but in society’s unchanged opinion of female expectations. While the show’s creator had indeed chosen to center on the lives of New York women, possibly to highlight the urban culture and wealth of material related to the area, the demographic shown is not far from the truth. It may not be correct to assume that all thirty-something females live the kind of lives seen in SATC, but he combined factors of location, career opportunities, and culture all figure in the equation. Much of the TV show and the movie itself is focused on the New York life—fashion, music, night life—and the defining characteristics of the location that has made it legendary. Opportunities for career and wealth are often associated with gumption and chutzpah, which are part of the psyche of a typical New Yorker. This is most evident in Miranda’s and Samantha’s stories, whose careers as a lawyer and a public relations expert, respectively, are born out of their being in New York. Even Carrie and her sex column’s credibility have more to do with being in New York, the bastion of all things forward and modern, than by merely being a smart single woman with enough authority about sex. The aberration, more than being the appropriate representation of single women, is Charlotte; her perceived values and preference for tradition appear to be more suited to a less worldly area than Manhattan. Like in the TV series, consumerism and brands form a significant function in the film; Carrie’s display of wedding dresses identified by designer shows the amount of importance given to labels. But the New York premise once again provides the perfect excuse, being the center of fashion and home to most luxury brands. Had Carrie been in a small and not-so-cosmopolitan area would have made this appear pretentious and unreal, but the established facts of New York, her career as a magazine columnist, and her affinity for fashion make the association with designer labels quite expected and normal. Without the penchant for brands and the access afforded by being in New York, the SATC women’s representations of the thirty-something female are not far from accurate. At this age, most women have, or are in the process of establishing their careers, or are obsessing over finding a husband and starting a family—as seen, respectively, in Miranda and Charlotte. Yet they had not neglected the other aspects of themselves that would make them achieve their life goals, such as motherhood, responsibility, and friendship; these are clearly established in the film, but due to the necessity to adhere to a cohesive storyline, these have been placed conveniently as background material. Still, some traditionalists may dismiss the film as a celebration of consumerism, anti-feminism, and overt sexuality—concepts that contradict each other when taken as a whole—but it is only because SATC managed to introduce a new breed of independent females who recognize both their strengths and limitations. The characters are complete and wholly developed, creating personalities so real and defined that the more conservative viewer may find them at once curious and controversial. The female audience comprising the age range portrayed by the SATC women will always find the film liberating, for two possible reasons: because they can identify with the trials and tribulations of the four characters; or because they can only hope to reach the level of individuality and liberation available to these New York women. Of course, the common pleasure derived by women in either situation may be found within the more superficial elements of meeting men per se and fashion—it is still entertainment, after all. But the deeper issues of love, relationship, marriage, friendship, career, life, loss, sadness, joy, and other concepts present in the film are universal constructs that affect women, and men as well. However, if one were to stop at the shallow enjoyment of the aesthetic elements provided by the film—such as designer fashions, swanky homes, and gorgeous men—then the experience would not be maximized, and would most likely box in the film in the category of triviality and shallowness. Also, manipulation would only be the case if the film depicts a world far from real, with unbelievable characters, and an obvious objective to sell its audience to a life impossible to reach. Carrie and her friends represent every single woman, perhaps not in all aspects, but in the mindset and priorities; the issue of singleness at thirty being the key qualifier in the equation. Naturally, their concerns would not be identical to those of a younger or married woman, who would have different realities altogether. An example would be the wildly popular TV show Gossip Girl (2007), which is undoubtedly limited to the lives of the affluent youth and uses a questionable method of communicating reality through visual pleasure and aspiration. IV. The Politics of Gender Roles in SATC The topics chosen for discussion in the regular lunch, coffee, and shopping dates of the four characters vary at all times, with gender-related issues taking a significant portion. The nature of entertainment provides an effective avenue for these concerns, specially with a smartly-written script and a sense of responsibility to communicate the issues properly. In the movie, the women discuss sex in the presence of Charlotte’s daughter Lily, and they use the word â€Å"color† to substitute for â€Å"sex†Ã¢â‚¬â€producing a witty exchange that came off as both enjoyable and informative yet socially acceptable. Marriage, in Carrie’s case, was construed on the outset as a matter of convenience, in order to share an apartment with Mr. Big, but was really a serious issue that had her debating on her reasons for getting married—whether it was out of love or mere practicality. But despite all the carefully-crafted dialogue, the scenes referring to life-changing issues such as Miranda’s separation from Steve and Charlotte’s discovering she is pregnant were treated with utmost subtlety and thought, and would not be out of place in any other traditional text discussing the very same points. What may be left out to some extent is the politics among the characters themselves; since female competition is a powerful theme in most women’s lives (Barash 2006), it is questionable how the four women have almost no semblance of rivalry or contest, at least in the film. This phenomenon is largely common among groups of women, in particular, and SATC had shown almost nothing about competition even if it could have been appropriated in several points in the story. The only allusion to it would be Miranda’s declaration that marriage is not the right choice to make, yet without any reference to her envy of Carrie and Mr. Big. V. Conclusion The entertainment culture introduced by the pioneering SATC text redefined the landscape of feminism, empowerment, and the resulting popular culture that has been embraced by audiences the world over. Through the use of female characters who were instruments to convey individuality and power, the celebration of women as symbols of strength is done with much success. The fact that they discuss issues once considered taboo for media portrayal is already a feat in the world of feminism and empowerment, albeit relatively against the norms of tradition or the approved style of standard feminists. But the goal of entertainment in SATC does not stop with entertainment itself—the reality of the thirty-something single woman is enough reason to make it a pronounced voice in educating society about the capabilities of females beyond the label of marital status.

Middle Eastern Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Middle Eastern Politics - Essay Example This is a time for Presidential election-2008. Democratic candidates like Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican candidates like Rudy Giuliani and other prominent leaders are in the fray. The general public and political fury against the Republicans concerning United States' military involvement has digressed to a great extent towards the Democrats especially after publication of Carter's book Palestine: Peace not Apartheid. In this sense, his workmanship as an author is benefiting opponents of Democrats!!! How it is happening It is anybody's guess. This is a catch 22 situation. Carter is becoming the cause of "making a mountain of a mole". Democrats are being sandwiched real hard from top to bottom and vice versa like butter and ham between two slices of bread. Why Carter's book sees the light of day at this juncture Maybe just to go for a digression and attract voters attention towards Democrats because otherwise Republicans were being seen falling pray to wider criticism from masses and media about their Iraq policy. One wonders whether this trick can really serve its purpose in the ultimate analysis - giving a boost to the popularity of the Democrats in President ial elections. This is a very high risk proposition. Indeed, stakes are also very high and heavy. Carter has made his Damocles' sword hang on Israelis and Jews inasmuch as he has branded them agents of direct policy of Apartheid against Palestine people and land. The powerful Jew community of United States (US) from within and without has started aiming at the Democrats in the form of a planned campaign. It is because Carter's book points nearly throughout its chapters that Israelis are violators of human rights and world peace: Gaza has maintained a population growth rate of 4.7 percent annually, one of the highest in the world, so more than half its people are less than fifteen years old. They are being strangled since the Israeli "withdrawal," surrounded by a separation barrier that is penetrated only by Israeli-controlled checkpoints, with just a single opening (for personnel only) into Egypt's Sinai as their access to the outside world. There have been no moves by Israel to permit transportation by sea or by air. Fishermen are not permitted to leave the harbor, workers are prevented from going to outside jobs, the import or export of food and other goods is severely restricted and often cut off completely, and the police, teachers, nurses, and social workers are deprived of salaries. Per capita income has decreased 40 percent during the last three years, and the poverty rate has reached 70 percent. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has stated that acute malnutrition in Gaza is already on the same scale as that seen in the poorer countries of the Southern Sahara, with more than half of Palestinian families eating only one meal a day. (Carter 176). Ali Abunimah, a Palestinian author supports Carter while reviewing his latest book. He writes: The 39th president of the United States, the most successful Arab-Israeli peace negotiator to date, has braved a storm of criticism, including the insinuation from the pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League that his arguments are anti-Semitic. Mr. Carter has tried to mollify critics by suggesting

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Analysis and explanation - Essay Example The events and situations taking place in the book are also important and they include: meeting Sharraf, killing of the wild animals, and the railway incident among other minor ones like the journey itself, the terrains and the insecurity. Lawrence the townsman (who is the main story teller and the one being taken on this tedious journey through harsh, unfriendly and uninhabitable land to go meet Sharraf) is relentless despite the rough terrain of this dessert to go find Sharraf and discuss undisclosed business. Since this land is very harsh not only from the unbearable weather which is marked by scotching sun, terrible winds and extreme heat, but also in terms of insecurity. There seems to be an ongoing war between the Arabs and the Turks. It is as a result of this insecurity that Lawrence hires several men to accompany him in his entourage for the sake of protection because a large number of these Arabs could easily defeat the Turks if they met them (and they did meet a group on their journey back from visiting Sharraf but they were few men and when they opened fire at Lawrence’s entourage, they got a dose of their own medicine and they saw that they were quickly outnumbered and they fled). Auda is the guide of the entourage as he is very familiar with that terrain despite it being a dessert. He is an interesting individual and very friendly towards Lawrence even trying to teach him their language which Lawrence is not very fluent in and hence cannot effectively communicate. The Arab scout’s familiarity with the area is also portrayed when he recalls the name of almost each and every place they pass during their journey which is quite interesting and amazing (Lawrence 164). The roughness of the dessert terrain with deep feet-sinking sand and rocks is an indication of how terrible that place is and it is no wonder the means or travel is through camels (in spite of the insecurity). In some locations, they have to go

Comparing people income with college degrees and people without Research Paper

Comparing people income with college degrees and people without college degrees - Research Paper Example Carmel, Stanley, Nolan, and Young support this observation and identify a positive correlation between education level and income among individuals (67-77). While Sedat acknowledges a similar relationship between the variables, his study did not identify a significant relationship (62-72), a position that Lin, Gao, Zhuang, and Chen reiterate (n.p.). Wells however identifies a significant relationship between education level and income with economic independence (13-21) and the study seeks to ascertain validity of the proposed relationship. Academic qualification is one of the determinants in employment and dictates people’s positions. This suggests a relationship with income that also varies with type of job and an individual’s position in an organization. The study proposes to ascertain significance of proposed relationship between education level, whether a person has a degree or not, and level of income. The study will use data from Infoplease to obtain average income for a person with a degree across years and average income for a person without a degree across respective years. Test of hypothesis for difference between means will then be used to determine existence difference between the two secondary means and a significant difference would mean that education level affect income. Lin, Jing, et al. â€Å"Exploring correlation between education level, income level, and job satisfaction in Gippsland.† Agribusiness Gippsland. N.d. Web. August 21, 2013. . Sedat, Gumus. â€Å"Investigating the relationship between the quality of education and level of educational attainment in Turkish provinces.† International Journal of Education Reform 21.1 (2012): 62-72. Wells, Ryan. â€Å"Education’s effect on income inequality: A further look.† California Centre for Population Research. N.d. Web. August 21, 2013.

Problems Faced by a Fictional Organization in which the Solutions are Term Paper

Problems Faced by a Fictional Organization in which the Solutions are Presented by Knowledge of the Core Learning Outcomes - Term Paper Example Efficiency means to achieve the best results using the minimum amount of resources. Effectiveness implies being able to perform a work task good and in a timely manner. Recycling is a practice that increases the efficiency of the company by processing the recycled material and subsequently using it as raw material for production. Recycling is one if the hottest green practices throughout the world because it is safeguarding our natural resources by reducing the consumption in the limited reserves of certain important commodities such as petroleum. A second example of efficiency is after a downsizing strategy being able to produce the same output with a lower amount of workers. A third example of efficiency could be changing the inventory acquisition strategy of the company to a just-in-time mechanism. Another example of efficiency is performing inventory audits to determine the presence of expired or obsolete merchandise would should disposed off and written off the accounting books. A person is effective when they select to purchase at the same store instead of shopping at three or more places because the customer achieves time and gasoline. Effectiveness can be achieved in the workplace by sharing the work tasks in an equal manner without forcing one employee of doing too much. â€Å"The four functions of management are plan, organize, direct, and control† (Rue & Byars, 2011). Planning involves creating objectives, goals, and action plans for the future. In finance the use of pro-forma financial statements is an example of planning because it provides forecasts of financial statements for future period of time. Pro forma financial statements are typically prepared up to three years in the future. Planning can also be used to estimate the resource the company is going to need in the future. When an organization visits college campus to recruit students they are planning for their future human resource needs. Budgets are prepared to determine what purcha ses a company must perform during a fiscal year. The second function of management is organizing. The resources of the company must be well organized in order to optimize its use (Buzzle, 2011). An example of an organization practice dealing with human resources is separating employees in work groups. Managers that are organized a better able to deal with the pressures and stress the profession causes. The third managerial function is directing. Managers direct their employees through motivation. Direction also means overseen the work performed by the workers in the company. Direction works best when the employees are able to provide feedback and can contradict the manager without any repercussion for expressing their opinion. The fourth managerial function is control. Control can be achieved by providing specific guideless and processes to perform at work. Control involves evaluating the employees work and taking corrective actions to fix the problems. Controls mechanism can be use d to safe guard the assets of the company to put cameras at point of sale terminals and in the warehouse where the inventory is located. Leadership and management are two completely different concepts, but they are often interconnected. â€Å"Leadership can define as a special case of interpersonal influence that gets an individual or group to do what the dealer wants

Ethics Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethics Question - Essay Example On one hand violation of the environmental laws by the company should be punished and this is within the enforcement powers of the agency. The EPA should follow required procedures and cannot go beyond the authority granted by Congress. Provided the estimated risk concerning the health, safety or environmental protection is greater than the economic impact from the plant closure, then the agency should enforce its decision. On the other hand, shutting down the plant will cause significant social damage, as the plant is the major source of employment for the town. If breach of environmental laws does not represent a major threat to the health and safety of people and has not significantly impaired local environment, then the agency can take restrictive action other than closing the plant, probably by imposing penalties or fines and undertaking future stricter control over the company's operations. The Environmental Protection Agency requires your company to self-report pollution discharges daily. It is your job to make those reports. The reports could be easily fudged if the company exceeded its designated limits. Excessive discharges would cost the company $25,000 for each day its limit is exceeded.

Poster proposal presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Poster proposal presentation - Essay Example Application programs also fall in this category and a good example is the payroll check processor. An ecommerce database is a method of storage and presentation of large amounts of information which is then used by an ecommerce or by an online payment system. Ecommerce makes it possible for consumers to remotely from the internet make purchases or process relevant financial transactions. A secure database is needed by the company hosting the ecommerce process to store such valuable and sensitive information such as credit card information and product inventory. When making a decision on the best choice for an ecommerce solution, it is important to take careful consideration to ensure it is helpful in its untended purpose. It is important to consider if the database provides a secure environment when deciding on which ecommerce database to use so as to protect sensitive information such as personal, financial, and project information. It is very important to make the database application user friendly and easy to use as well as being flexible and adaptable to change. This is so that where need be, modifications or improvements can be made in the future. Customer information in a data base is stored in one file and the sales information is then stored in another separate file. each customers information is entered only once and then each customer is assigned a number unique to them. This makes it possible for the sales records to be entered using only the customer number to refer back to their specific customer file. This mode of database use helps to saves data entry time and also storage space. It also helps by making it easier and faster to retrieve information. Another advantage is that it makes it possible to get quick answers to important queries concerning your sales. For instance you can then be able to find out which product you sold the most in a very fast manner since all the system has to do is read the sales information. Most