The Nature and Function of Dreams
There is a state of consciousness in which one could be or experience anything imaginable. This state encompasses the ability to dream (1). The dream state is quite remarkable and incorporates infinite possibilities for the dreamer within each of us. Nietzsche (1844-1900), a German philosopher, points out that dreams were a puzzle since “the ages of rude beginning of culture” when “man believed that he was discovering a second real world in a dream... (2).” The question that human beings were wrestling with since then is: why do we have dreams and what, if anything, do they mean. On the one hand, there are a number of prominent scientists, such as Drs. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley of Harvard University, who argue that we dream for physiological reasons only and that dreams are nothing more than “meaningless biology” lacking any psychological content. The opposing view comes from a large number of psychoanalysts that follow Freudian thought. They believe that we dream for psychological reasons and that any dream can and should be interpreted because it is a road to our unconsciousness. Following Sir Richard Burton’s observation that “truth is the shattered mirror strown in myriad bits; while each believes his little bit the whole to own,” I will take a middle ground position in regards to current dream theories. This position recognizes that dreams might have physiological determinants, as well as psychological ones (3). Such an approach lets one explore the problem from more that one angle, thereby allowing a more “truthful” synthesis of the various pieces of our current knowledge of dreams. Before examining any dream theories, we must have some knowledge of the nature of dreams and of t...
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7)Conscious and pre-conscious processes
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=7501136&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b
8)Function of REM and NREM
http://ipp01.sawka.com/spiritwatch/function.htm
9)REM sleep
http://www.medfak.uu.se/fysiologi/Lectures/REMSleep.html
10)Freud: “Introductory lectures on psycho-analysis” , Reference #2 within Dreaming: Function and Meaning
http://www.lucidity.com/LD8DFM.html
11)Dream Dialogue , Reference #7 within Dreaming: Function and Meaning
http://www.lucidity.com/LD8DFM.html
12)Why is Dream Forgetting Common?
http://ipp01.sawka.com/spiritwatch/whyis.htm
13)From Genomes to Dreams
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/gen_beh/Dreams.html
14)What is a Lucid Dream?
http://www.metro.net/anvil/lwhatis.html
15)Lucid Dreaming Proof
http://ipp01.sawka.com/spiritwatch/lucidpf.htm
Dio, Cassius. "Roman History published in Vol. II of the Loeb Classical Library edition, 1914 ." 10 2006. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/13*.html (accessed 3 1, 2010).
Many mothers who allow their children to participate in beauty pageants would argue that performing in the pageants isn’t as stressful and serious as the television shows portray them. In fact, “the pageant industry promotes this idea by advertising pageants as family affairs that are great for a child’s self-esteem and poise” (Wolfe 445). Also, in an article written by Lise Hilbodt-Stolley, a mother of a pageant princess stated “that while pageants may be ‘politically incorrect’ they are drug, alcohol and gang free” (3). However, many parents push their children to win because they are either greedy for the money and fame that accompanies a win, or are living through their young children because of their own feelings of inadequacy. These same parents who are blinded by the possibility of their baby...
She grabs the foundation and smothers her face with it; she creates a mask. She sprays the hairspray till the fumes clog the air. She squeezes into her bejeweled dress and puts on her heels. She transforms into someone who is unrecognizable, and fake. This is a little girl. The process of preparing for a beauty pageant is very demanding and stressful while little girls spend hours training and getting ready for their appearance on stage. Weeks are spent choreographing their dance routines and thousands of dollars are spent on, “glitzy” dresses, fake teeth, and spray tans. As long as beauty pageants for girls under the age of 16 continue, there will be an increase in mental and physical issues, an increase in the objectification of women, and there will be negative impacts for little girls.
Child beauty pageants are competitions in which contestants-primarily female in gender- under sixteen years of age are judged based on their superficial attractiveness. Beauty pageant concept began in the 1850’s, it was used as a way of entertainment, and only people of knowledge, such as doctors and writers, were allowed to attend. After a period of time, beauty pageants became part of American society in the 1920's, whereas "Child" beauty pageants began in the 1960's (Lieberman, 2010, p.742). Children entering such contests are supposed to present themselves on stage
Romans have fought many battles, another one of them is The Battle of Capua. This war was having place in 212 B.C. Capua wasn’t a very great military region. Capua was a place where it is now Southern Italy. This place is not that far from one of Italy’s great cities, Naples. The battle was between Hannibal and two great generals. These generals were Quintus Fulvius Flaccus and Appius Claudius Pulcher. The people of Carthage were up agains...
When one looks back at their childhood, what pops into their head? For most people their response would be playing with dolls, going outside, or having sleepovers, but for others that isn’t reality. Britney, an eight-year old girl from California, spent her childhood getting Botox and competing in child beauty pageants. According to her mother, Britney had been complaining about wrinkles and agreed to trying Botox. This sounds absolutely crazy, but it is not uncommon. Over 250,000 kids participate in beauty pageants each year (Lindsey). These children, who start competing as early as age 2, are being judged on their looks, capability, perfection, and confidence. The controversies over these pageants have erupted in the past few years because of TLC’s reality show, Toddlers and Tiaras (Nussbaum). Many believe it is not right for young children to parade around on stage wearing make-up and inappropriate clothing, while others believe it builds confidence in children. Despite what people who are pro child beauty pageants say, these pageants can have major effects on the kids participating in them. One may argue that these girls gain much more than they lose, but in the end the negative affects far outweigh the positives.
The opponents may say that child beauty pageants make children look beautiful and that it increases their self-confidence but actually it's quite the opposite. Young ladies who enter those contests look "beautiful" and "sexy” by wearing layers of makeup, hair extensions, false teeth to hide their baby ones, high heels, reveling outfits and by learning provocative moves and poses. So, how does this make the child beautiful when everything she is wearing and doing is fake?
During Freud’s time, society typically viewed dreams as an intervention of a higher being or entity (Freud, 1900, p.4). However, Freud made the claim that dreams are the product of the dreamer and also that it serves two purposes. First, dreams form to keep a person asleep at night by blocking out external stimuli, much in the same way a person consciously does when turning off the light and minimizing noise before going to bed (“Freud’s Approach,” 2000). Next, Freud (1900) viewed humans as having grotesque sexual urges that “are suppressed before they are perceived” (p.37) in order to protect the person and allow him or her to get along in society; however, dreams serve the purpose of releasing these repressed desires as wishes which are disguised in the dream. Because a person cannot readily be aware of the unconscious wish, the dream is divided into two ...
“Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” is a perfect example of Adrienne’s use of writing to confront matters of women’s oppression and the need for women’s liberation from a world dominated by males. “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” by Adrienne Rich is about a woman, Aunt Jennifer, struggling to accept the indignities of her daily life. In the poem when Aunt Jennifer got married it can be inferred that she became unhappy and had to become submissive to her husband. The second stanza, “The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band/ Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand,” suggest the negative emotional effect Uncle, Jennifer’s husband, is having on Jennifer. Symbolically, the “massive
Over that last 3 years, four-year-old Eden Wood has competed in child beauty pageants. Her parents have used more than 70,000 dollars for Eden to compete in these competitions; because of her winnings she has produced between 25,000- 30,000 dollars in prize money. She has yet to receive any of her prize money because her parents use it to invest in the pageant circuit. Eden loves pageants and competing in them, but her story leaves me speculating if she is too consumed in beauty pageants, and the negative effects they are having on her (Lieberman). Even though beauty pageants help promote personal development, confidence, and communication skills; pageants have negative social and psychological effects on children and teens. It causes early childhood stress and anxiety and parents are putting their kids through the pageants to make a profit off of them.
In the 1951 Disney movie, Alice in Wonderland, Alice falls down a rabbit-hole while chasing a White Rabbit with a waistcoat and ends up in Wonderland. It is a place where animals talk and logic no longer exits. In the original work by Lewis Carroll, Alice grows internally and has control over her surroundings in Wonderland. She learns how to wear the crown of adulthood by finally knowing her identity in the end. Although Disney’s version imitates the same adventure as the original, Alice’s character’s identity does not develop.
Child beauty pageants have changed so much since the 1960’s. Children beauty pageants used to be about the children and having fun. Now, it seems like most children are being forced in these pageants by their parents, looking unnoticeable from all the heavy makeup they wear, fake hair, teeth and nails they use. Children being abuse, sexualize, having self-esteem problems etc in these pageants. Many people have questioned this sport and wonder if it should be ban? In this paper, I have augured and provided facts and information on why children beauty pageants should be ban.
Child beauty pageants are a quite controversial topic, not only in the United States but all around the world. Beauty pageants teach young girls bad lessons and causes them to grow up too fast. The people who are strongly opposed to child beauty pageants view the children involved as being objectified and treated more like eye candy than little girls. Many people have had enough of the exploitation and are starting movements for change. Some countries such as France, have even gone so far as to ban children under the age of sixteen to compete in pageants. Anyone who violates this law faces heavy fines and possible jail time (Could Child Beauty Pageants Be Banned in the USA?). The United States should also look into the possibility of a law prohibiting the participation of children in beauty pageants. Beauty pageants exploit children and applauded them for their looks. Many people believe that “it’s human nature to be drawn to beauty”, but have they taken it too far (Holland, Kristen)?
In 2004–2005, the Penn Humanities Forum will focus on the topic of “Sleep and Dreams.” Proposals are invited from researchers in all humanistic fields concerned with representations of sleep, metaphors used to describe sleep, and sleep as a metaphor in itself. In addition, we solicit applications from those who study dreams, visions, and nightmares in art or in life, and the approaches taken to their interpretation. We also welcome proposals about the effects of dreaming on the dreamer, and the resulting emotions, behaviors, and actions taken or foregone in response to dreams. In this Forum on Sleep and Dreams, we will see how the diversity of academic disciplines can help answer important questions about sleep and dreaming—questions that may touch the basis of human intellect.
Decker, Jonathan P. "Beauty Pageants Advance Careers." Christian Science Monitor 04 Aug. 1995: n. pag. Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.