Examining God Of War Game Video Games Essay

Examining God Of War Game Video Games Essay God of War is literally based on Greek mythology and focused on protagonist Kratos. It forms part of a saga which is the series of God of War with the vengeance as a central theme. In this game, Kratos should restrict the God of War from destroying the Athens by finding the fabled Pandoras Box. In March 2005, God of War is released for the PlayStation 2 console by Sony Computer Entertainments. God of War is a Third-Person Camera game. In that the player controls the character Kratos in combat combination, puzzle game elements and plat forming. The player needs to navigate Kratos through a long series of tests, mazes and trials to reach goals. Kratos he travels across Greece in an attempt to kill the Ares. In PC and Video games, Third Person is a graphical perspective view from a fixed distance which is slightly above and behind the player character. Through this viewpoint players are allowed to see more strongly characterized avatar. It is most commonly found in action adventure and action games. General Discussion: God of War is again one of such games which made its entry. It is definitely more than just an excellent plat former. It is one of the most violent, disturbing and darkest games. The content and meaning of the game significantly exceeds the immaculately crafted gameplay. History of Greece: Basically, the Greece history is divided into six periods. 1. Accession of Peisistratus at Athens and Croesus in Lydia was from 776 BC to 660 BC 2. Peifflstratus Accession and Croesus to the repulse of Xerxes from Greece 3. Repulse of Xerxes to the close of the Peloponnesian war and overthrow of Athens 4. Close of the Peloponnesian war to the battle of Leuctra 5. Battle of Leuctra to that of Chaeroneia 6. Battle of Chaeroneia to the end of Alexander generation From Peisistratus to the death of Alexander and his generation, the five periods presents the historical drama which was capable of perspicuous succession. Adventures of Sicilian and Italian Greeks were interwoven. Occasionally, Introduced notices of Grecian political constitutions, poetry, oratory and philosophy. The Greece political actions had become degraded, after the generation of Alexander. Mainly the revolutions of Agis and Eleomenes at Sparta are instructive and affecting. Since then the value of Greeks belonged to them as individual preceptors, philosophers, astronomers, mathematicians, literary men and critics, medical practioners, etc. In ancient times of Greece, wars were very common. Greeks used to live in a small cities which has around100, 000 people in each city. Athens, Corinth, Sparta, Thebes used to fight with each other at their borders. Greece used to defend its cities from the invaders. Sometimes the cities within Greece used to fight together and sometimes they fight alone. Even Greece invaded other countries and took over them. The four main wars that occurred in ancient times were Trojan War (about 1250 BC), the Persian Wars (490-480 BC), the Peloponnesian War (441-404 BC) and the campaigns of Alexander the Great (331-323 BC). Later, according to Polybius, Romans took over Greece. Story of God of War Game: Kratos who is known for his brutality was once Spartan armies general. Only the mighty Barbarians finally defeated the Spartans. After a long fight Kratos was entirely defeated and his soldiers were brutally killed and were around his prone body in front of the Barbarian King. Kratos shouted to the heavens, when the Barbarian swung his hammer and pledged his life to Ares. In return he got power to defeat his enemies. At that time Kratos became Ares servant and with the power of Blades of Chaos he defeated the Barbarian King using these new weapons. However, these powers came at a price for Kratos. Being Ares servant he led his army to various victories. By following the Ares blindly he burned and pillaged a village. He murdered everyone within the local temple of Athena. In his rampage, he killed his wife and daughter unknowingly. When the Kratos realized his mistakes, he vowed vengeance on Ares. Ares explained Kratos how he arranged this happen to him, so that he will end up serving him. During the bodies of his wife and daughter were burned, Kratos was cursed by the villages. Later the burned ashes of his wife attached to his skin and made him pale. Since then he was named as Ghost of Spartans . Kratos helped Athena to defeat Ares in the God of War. Finally gods removed his pain and nightmares. Kratos was told about Pandoras Box by Athena which is an ancient artifact that will help Kratos to defeat a God. After entering into the Temple of Pandora, he had come across many challenges. He was killed by Ares after escaping from Hades. Finally, Kratos found the Pandoras Box and acquired its power which allowed him to kill his former master. Later even the gods of Olympus were helpless to erase Kratos memories from his mind as his crimes were so terrible. Despite the Ares death, he continued to get nightmares. He even tried to kill himself but Athena saved and offered him a position in Olympus. Later he armed with Athena s Blades in replacement of Blades of Chaos, which was lost when Ares had died. Later he ruled as a new God of War. Later, he descended to help his army to attack city of Rhodes. An enchanted eagle breathed life into the Colossus of Rhodes, and tried to steal Kratos power. It was Athena according to Kratos belief as he was early instructed not to go along with Sparta. After numerous attempts he drained his powers into sword and defeated Colossus as advised by Zeus. Zeus is the main culprit who was disguised as eagle in order to kill and send him to Hades. Gaia of Titan raised him again and suggested him to rebuild the sword to kill the gods. Later, he traveled to the Island of Fates where he comes across many challenges. Finally, he killed the Sisters of Fate which allowed him to go back in time when he was murdered by Zeus. Later Kratos will come to know that Zeus is his father. They managed to get once Athena died, but Kratos returned to Olympus with Titans by his side to kill the Gods. Game play: Kratos main weapons are Blades of Chaos and secondary weapon is Blade of Artemis. Four different attacks like Zeus Fury, Medusas Gaze, Army of Hades and Poseidons Rage are available. Also, the relic Poseidons is obtained. This allows the Kratos to respire even when submerged. During the final fight with Ares, Kratos uses the Blade of Gods temporarily. Rage of the Gods is a special ability which increases attack damage and temporarily provides invulnerability. When the enemies are killed, it will be recharged. In the game, Gorgon Eyes and Phoenix Feathers are Health and Magic upgrades respectively. Orbs are the other type of chests found in the game which are marked with a corresponding color (green, blue, and red). Green represents health, blue represents magic and red represents experience in tackling. By killing foes and destroying few inanimate objects, red orbs can be collected. It also has a quick-time feature that initiates when the player has become weak. Accordingly the player presses the relative commands that appear on screen. On minor foes, grab man over is available which yields red orbs. The presentation of Greece, depth of the challenges, simple fighting style, and the horrific finishing attacks will give you the best view of the action. The controls allow players to feel powerful, blocks, performing dazzling strikes, grapples and jumps. The sound and environments create the perfect setting for this game. On top of the fun factor, God of War is also a wonderful treat for the senses with its artistic version of ancient Greece. Once in a while every one game comes along that pushes the restrictions, that takes risks and innovates without losing the qualities that make so enjoyable God of War is one of those games. Kratos: In Greek mythology Kratos appears briefly to make impression towards them. He is not a nice guy. He is brother of Nike (Greek goddess of victory), Zeus (Greek god of rivalry) and Bia (Greek goddess of force). Four of them were first amongst Zeus. Though Kratos was god of strength, in modern times his name is probably most familiar as the main character in video game series God of War. Apparently the title God of War refers not to the character Kratos but to the Greek god of war Ares, who plays a role in the plot. Ares: Ares is God of War, son of Hera and Zeus and also the most powerful amongst Olympus gods. He was also an enemy of Athena. His Roman counterpart was Mars. Ares lay siege to her city Athens, out of his utter hatred and jealousy for her. Thousands of Athenians were slaughtered by the monsters that he awoke from Underworld. Zeus: ZEUS was the king of the gods, the god of sky and weather, law, order and fate. People thought of him as living on top of a mountain (Mount Olympus), and when he is angry he throws lightning bolts out of the sky at people. Zeus probably was not worshipped in Greece before the Indo-European Greeks arrived there in the Middle Bronze Age. He is an Indo-European god, and he is basically the same as other Indo-European sky gods like Jupiter (this is really even the same word: Ju= Zeus and piter means father) or Odin. Hes related to Indra, a Hindu sky god, the son of Dyeus Pita. ZEUS (Zeus), the greatest of the Olympian gods, and the father of gods and men, was a son of Cronos and Rhea, a brother of Poseidon, Hades (Pluto), Hestia, Demeter, Hera, and at the same time married to his sister Hera. Weapons: Kratos Weapon: Kratos main weapons in God of War are Blades of Athena. They are the same like Blades of Chaos which Kratos first received. They have the same abilities like Blades of Chaos at the end of God of War. However, in God of War: Betrayal and God of War II their powers of attacking are changed. Athenas Blades give off a yellow aura with Blue-colored Glyphs and are gold in color due to the godly magic emitting from them. Also the colors of weapons changes in different levels. Gods Weapons: The Blade of Gods was a stone and bridge built of metal in a sword shape. Kratos used the bridge as weapon when he becomes gigantic. At the last moment he killed Ares by using the Blades of Chaos forcefully removed from his body during his final battle. God of War Part 1: It was released for PS 2 by Sony Computer Entertainments. It is Third Person Camera game. Created by Ready at Dawn Studios, Santa Monica Studios. In this part, Kratos needs to stop the Ares from destroying the Athens city by finding Pandoras Box. Unlike other games, God of War focused on afterthought simultaneously maintained the action and adventure genre. Definitely, this is one of the best action and adventure games on the PS 2. God of War Part 2: In this part, Kratos, now the God of War, attempts to overcome the betrayal of the gods by seeking out The Sisters of Fate and changing his destiny. Mainly we can see lots of Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Themes etc which makes the game far more interesting. Also, a strong language has been used in the game. It was released for PS 2 and PS 3 console by Sony Computer Entertainments. God of War was admirable in most of the aspects. There was always a distance between the the games story and the player. There is no much improvements in this part compared to part I. God of War II has all most everything that gamers would expect in sequel. It is definitely one of the exciting and interesting PS2 games in the history. It has amazing graphics, interactive sound effects, intense fights and music. God of War Part 3: In this part, Kratos with his Titans force attack the Olympus to kill Zeus and Olympian Gods. Pandoras Box will be reintroduced in this part. It was released for PS 3 consoles by Sony Computer Entertainments. As in earlier sequels, even this part is full of graphic violence, hideous monsters and blood, similar to God of War: Ghost of Sparta. It has excellent action-packed set pieces, sublime combat, and epic spectacle. The God of War Collection produces a range of visual and performance benefits. According to NPD data collected in Nov 2010, more than 180,000 copies was sold in USA in less than two weeks. PS2 hardware emulation shots on top, God of War Collection and PCSX2 shots on the bottom. Three types of Third person camera systems: 1. One is the Fixed Camera Systems where the positions of camera are set while the game is created. 2. The Tracking Camera Systems in which the camera is continuously follows the players position. 3. The Interactive Camera Systems are the advanced and are well controlled by the player s. Some Examples of camera types: Fixed camera: Selection of shots in Resident Evil 2 that aim at creating tension. In the Fixed Camera System, the properties of the camera are set by the game developers, such as its position, field of view or orientation, during the game creation. The view of camera will not change dynamically. Therefore, the same position will always be shown under the same set of views. Example for this type of camera can be found in Alone in the Dark and early Resident Evil. The background on which they evolve has been pre-rendered, while the characters are in 3D. One of the advantages of this Fixed Camera System is that it allows the designers to use the film language. Infact, the filmmakers, can create a mood through camera work by careful selection of shots. Their cinematic qualities are often praised in such games. In Resident Evil 2 this techniques are used by Capcom in which the encounter between monster and Leon was introduced by careful selection of views that aim at creating tension. Tracking camera: The tracking camera follows the characters from behind. There is no need for the player to control the camera. For example move it to a different position or rotate it. In early 3D games such as Crash Bandicoot or Tomb Raider, this type of camera system is very common as it is simple to implement. But there are few problems with this type of camera system. As the player does not control the camera may jerk or end up in awkward positions when a character turns or stands face out against a wall. This type of system is not suitable when occluded by an object. Interactive camera: In Super Mario 64, the camera intelligently rotates to show the path, instead of staying behind Mario. This is an improvement over the tracking camera system. Some of its parameters like camera s orientation or distance to the character will be changed even while the camera is still tracking the character. The camera is often controlled by an analog stick to provide a good accuracy on videogame consoles. However, in PC games it is normally controlled by mouse. Best examples are Tomb Rider, Matrix, Super Mario Sunshine or The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. It is often very difficult to implement the fully interactive camera systems. Super Mario Sunshine faced many difficulties in controlling the camera and thus been argued by Gamespot. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was more successful and rarely needs manual correction. Super Mario 64 was one of the first games to offer an interactive camera system. It has two types of camera systems by which the player can switch accordingly. Except that it was partly driven by artificial intelligence, the first one was a standard tracking camera system. The system was responsive to the structure of the game level and thus can anticipate the change when required. For example, in the first phase, when the path to the hill is going to take left turn, the camera automatically starts looking towards the left by anticipating the players action. The second type allows the player to control the camera relatively to player position. By pressing up or down arrow keys camera moves closer or away from Mario, and by pressing on the left or right buttons, the camera rotates around Mario. Sound: Both sound and music are very well composed. This makes the game much more interesting and lively to play. In order to get a truly Greek feel, the score is provided. The graphics in the game are amazing on any TV. However, they are even better on progressive scan mode. Everything from semi-interactive surroundings to background details feels like a truly interactive world. Releases Awards History of God of War: God of War was released on June 21, 2005 in Europe and March 22, 2005 in North America and is also available in the PlayStation 2. God of War II was released on November 17, 2009 in North America. Both games are launched with up-scaled graphics and support for PlayStations. It was released in on UK 30 April 2010 Japan on March 18, Australia on 29 April 2010. God of War received the Game of the Year award from the Academy of Interactive Arts Sciences. God of War is ranked amongst the top 25 PS2 games list. It won twelve Game of the Year Awards. In 2007, it was named as the seventh best PS2 game of all time in IGNs feature reflecting on the history of the PlayStation. God of War (series): God of War is a video game for the PlayStation 2 and the first in the series God of War II, video game for the PlayStation 2 God of War Betrayal, video game for mobile phones God of War Chains of Olympus, game for the PlayStation Portable God of War Collection reissue of God of War and God of War II, premastered and compiled on a single disc for the PlayStation 3 God of War III, game for the PlayStation 3 God of War: Ghost of Sparta, a 2010 video game for the PlayStation Portable About PlayStation: PS 2 is a very popular console. It has thousands of games which are liked by everyone. We can opt to play LEGO Batman with family or sit for hours on hunting mythical deities in God of War. With DUALSHOCK 2 analog controller they all come alive. It delivers a sensitive gaming experience. Every action button has pressure sensitivity (up to 255 levels of sensitivity) and analog thumbsticks has enhanced mobility. Every PS 2 system has a controller and even we can use another DUALSHOCK 2 controller in order to play with friends. PS3 has in-built Wi-Fi and also can store huge amounts of data like game files, music, videos, photos and add-ons. HD movies at 1080p will be shown by Blu ray player to get pristine picture quality. Streaming movies can be downloaded by using Netflix. Conclusion: God of War is a revolutionary game created in the gaming world. The audio and graphics used in this game were extraordinary and eye-catching. The player feels as if he is the main character. No wonder it is ranked in the top 20 list. Even the storyline of the game is scripted very well. God of Wars greatest strength is fun. God of War is a perfect game, and also a great one. The game contains so much energy and confidence, so much skill and spirit. Anyone can addicted because of the action and detailed storyline. God of War is superbly designed and executed action adventure game that is the finest ever made.

Power of the Oppressed in George Orwells Shooting an Elephant Essay

Power of the Oppressed Exposed in Shooting an Elephant  Ã‚      In Burma, the Indian Imperial Police consisted of British officers who, in theory, supported the extension of power and dominion of a nation, which is the basis of imperialism. George Orwell decided to follow family tradition when he went to Burma to work for the Indian Imperial Police, yet "when he realized how much against their will the Burmese were ruled by the British, he felt increasingly ashamed of his role as an alien police officer" (Britannica). In his narrative, "Shooting An Elephant", George Orwell realizes that throughout his entire rule in Burma he is actually the victim of the Burmese, and it is their expectations of what he should do with his power that force him to do what they want. Looking back upon his experience as an officer of the imperialistic regime, Orwell recalls a crucial morning when he is asked to deal with an elephant that has escaped from its "mahout" or caretaker, and "has gone must" (310). On this day Orwell realizes that he is unable to make choices according to his own beliefs but must act according to the demands of the "natives" who have been deprived of their own country. Orwell acknowledges that "imperialism [is] an evil thing and the sooner [he] chucked up [his] job and got out of it the better" (310). He is constantly reminded of the abuse inflicted upon the native people as he observes at first hand the "wretched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages of the lock-ups, the gray, cowed faces of the long-term convicts, and the scarred buttocks of the men who had been flogged with bamboos" (310). Very prevalent is the anti-European sentiment among the "natives" of Burma; this prejudice nearly makes his job impossible. T... ..."natives" feel obliged to test the imperialists’ authority (or lack thereof) as a means of keeping some control over their country. The imperialists believe that they are keeping control by acting resolutely, but as Orwell shows in "Shooting An Elephant", they put on this act to satisfy and appease the wishes of the "natives." In imperialism, the oppressed indirectly hold the actual power and control over those that falsely believe to be the oppressors. Works Cited Orwell, George. Shooting an Elephant and Other Essays. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1946. Rpt. The McGraw-Hill Reader: Issues across the Disciplines. 7th ed. Ed. Gilbert H. Muller. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000. Smyer, Richard I. Primal Dream and Primal Crime : Orwell's Development as a Psychological Novelist, University of MissouriPress, Colombia 1979. http://www.britannica.com/

Marlows Assessment of Africa in Conrads Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays

Marlow's Assessment of Africa in Heart of Darkness   Ã‚   Marlow's assessment of the African wilderness in the beginning of the story is like that of something that tempts him and his fellow explorers to Africa. When Marlow says, "And as I looked at the map of it in a shop-window, it fascinated me as a snake would a bird - silly little bird" (Conrad, Longman 2196). If we take note of the phrase "silly little bird" it may be noted that the Marlow is comparing Britain to that silly little bird. It could be that he felt Britain's occupancy of Africa was nothing more than his own country falling into a trap. It was not a designed trap but one of destiny. It was his countries destiny to fall prey to the allures of that Dark Continent. Millions would die in the attempt to make monetary gains while occupying Africa.    When Marlow mentions "the whited sepulcher" he could be referring again to his homeland, and when he makes this statement he may be referring to the fact that Britain has sent many of its people to be buried in that deep and mysterious place referred to as the Congo. According to YourDictionary .com, the word sepulcher means, "to bury" (YourDicitonary.com). In combination with the word white, referring to his Caucasian race, could Marlow be referring to the death of his fellow countrymen, or could he be referring to the death of a continent, Africa, at the hands of the white race invading her? These thoughts may both have validity when deciphering this text. When Marlow describes the, "Two women, one fat and the other slim, sat on straw-bottomed chairs, knitting black wool" he may be describing the future of two races combined in utter disarray in Africa. He may be using the "black wool" as something akin to insight into what future had in store for millions of people both black and white in the Congo (Longman 2197). The "black wool" may be referring to black shards for covering the dead. It may also be an idea of not human death but the death of an area such as the Congo. He may have been sensing that the influx of his own countrymen may be taking away the spirit of that wild and forbidden Congo. Marlow's utterance of, "guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pall, one introducing, introducing continuously to the unknown, the other scrutinizing the cherry foolish faces with unconcerned old eyes" could give more clues to Marlow's characterization of the African wilderness (Longman 2198).

IBM Essay

IBM is a multinational corporation that deals with communication technology, designing and selling of networking services. The company employees over sixty six thousand employees, its annual revenue as per 2008 was over thirty nine billion US dollars. It has its headquarters in New Orchard Road Armonk, New York. IBM is one of the top ten companies in the world that has been the most successful in acquiring other companies. Some of the best companies it has acquired have made it expand its operations as it integrates new skills and technology. IBM stands for International Business Machines. The company has won a good number of awards as it continues to receive recognition as the best in computer networking services. A part from networking business, the company is also involved in training programs to ensure empowerment of employees in the area of modern technology, Pugh (pp 20-26, 1995). It is also involved in environmental sustainability to maximize energy use. Despite the company being founded many years ago when technology was not at its peak, it has continued to make adjustments that has made its products to stand the taste of time. The company is sensitive to technological innovations and is therefore quick to make the necessary adjustments to its product. Being a networking industry, it believes in working with other companies to enhance sharing of ideas. Its consumer oriented focus has made it to diversify its productions. The company has always responded to the needs of consumers by reaching them despite their geographical locations. The company has several branches in other nations making their products even more accessible. IBM has had visionary leaders who have always strived to produce quality services. The current CEO, Samuel J. Palmisano is credited for his quality leadership that has made him work with reputable organisations. He is a focused leader who clearly understands his role as a CEO of IBM system. The company continues to grow strategically as its employees enjoy a good remuneration. Background of the company Harlow Bundy who was a manufacturer of time records founded IBM which was previously referred to as ITR in 1906. He moved his time recording company from Binghamton to Endicott in 1911. ITR merged with two other companies to form IBM. In the early years of its inception, the company employed three hundred workers bit by 1924 the employees had tripled to over nine hundred. The company had five buildings but by the end of ten years, the buildings had increased to twenty-five. Currently the company has numerous branches with thousands of employees. Currently IBM deals in products such as, IBM 650 RAMAC, the IBM 709 electronic data processing machine, the IBM 1401 data processing system and some of the System/370. The company was listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. To enhance its operations, IBM liaised with other companies that would merge their products and talents. The biggest deal of the company was with star wind software. The company acquired Bundy manufacturing corp. , computing Scale Company, dey patent company, productivity solutions, green pasture software, trigo technologies and many more Thompson (pp 15-21, 1999). IBM has made several acquisitions, even though some have not been successful; it remains to be a leader in comparison to other companies in similar operations. During the dot com boom of 2000, IBM was the best in the world with a capitalization of over five hundred billion US dollars. By April 2009, the company had a capitalization of one hundred and four US dollars and still being ranked among the top companies. It was voted stock of the decade on NASDAQ. In 1990-2000, its7500 serious router was ranked third as the product of the decade. Apart from routing systems, IBM also deals in branch office routers, Ethernet switching, ATM networking, IP telephony, remote access and security. In 2002-2003, the company has received several awards namely; disaster relief and social responsibility in 2008, accessibility and kid smart in 2007, web adaptation in 2006 and reinvention education in 2005. The vision of the company is ‘we strive to lead in the invention, development and manufacture of the industry’s most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, storage systems and microelectronics. The revenue of the company is one hundred and three billion US dollars, net income is twelve billion US dollars, and total assets are one hundred and nine billion US dollars. The company has three hundred and ninety eight thousand, four hundred and fifty five worldwide. The records of stockholders are five hundred and sixty four thousand, two hundred and forty four.

Commodity Fetishism

Karl Marx introduces the concept of commodity fetishism which is our society’s obsession with the consumption of goods and services. It is in Marx’s opinion that this is used to mask the exploitation of the working class as they become obsessed with consuming. We use capitalism as a system of exchange value, for example we exchange our labor in order to afford food to survive instead of producing our own food. The prices we see when we walk into a store represent the human labor required to produce the product and the approximate use value one would achieve using it.The use value is simply the amount of utility we gain from consuming or using a good or service. Now, I travel very often on business trips with my father’s investment company; recently we went on a trip to Boston with Mackenzie Investments. We stayed in a world class hotel and were treated to box seats at a NFL game, this was paid for; Marx would refer to Mackenzie’s business functions as havi ng an exchange value.The company will subsidize our travel costs as well as provide goods and services to satisfy our wants in order to build a relationship and in turn receive our business. The use value we receive from the consumption of these commodities will also impact how we view Mackenzie. Perhaps a person in attendance at the football game detests the sport while another adores it; each person will value the experience differently as it provides different utility to each person.Our relationship between ourselves and Mackenzie is not based on an intrinsic level but rather on the giving of commodities, we will only briefly talk to the fund managers of the company so it’s hard to build a relationship on anything but what they provide us with. This relationship has the ability to be built on the giving of goods and services due to the capitalist society’s commodity fetishism. We will observe the working class where more and more people are working in factories and large corporations to produce more commodities for people to buy or services to use.While the lower class is trapped in a cyclical labor to consume cycle (in other words living pay check to pay check like 47% of the Canadian economy (globeandmail)) the rich are reaping the benefits. The workers must consume because this is what society tells them to do, they must labor in order to consume so the workers labor, be it mental or physical they are becoming a commodity themselves because they are for hire. They sell themselves and their labor to their boss who sells what they produce and in turn makes the profit.This relates directly to the alienation earlier discussed by Marx. The workers become alienated from the product they are producing for they will not use it, they become alienated from self because they are not in control of their actions, often they will also be alienated from people in their be it in their own office or at their station in a factory. The drive behind our societ y seems corrupt and vague; we observe the prices of goods and services but do not account for the hardships of the workers producing them.We often see ads about children overseas in sweatshops being exploited but what about our own people who slave away 9-5 at a job they hate producing goods they do not consume for the sheer benefit of the monetary gains of their boss Question: Now that we have uncovered the true nature of capitalism how can we change it? Is there any way to help abolish the fetishism which takes advantage of the working class and benefits the rich?

Significance of Social Status in the Great Gatsby

Significance of Social Status in The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby may appear to be a simple tragic romance; however, within the text, Fitzgerald identifies and defines social gaps and importance of wealth. He also presents women within a very separate space as the men. The Great Gatsby allows the reader to enter into the world of wealth and experience the joys and tragedies of being within this certain class.In the novel, Fitzgerald criticizes American society in the 1920's for its emphasis on money, superficial relationships, and obsession over class; as well as allowing the reader to interpret the position of gender inside the class. Society has, indeed, a great part to play in shaping the identities of individuals. â€Å"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,' he [my father] told me, â€Å"just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had† (1).This quote was probably the backbone of the narrator's a ctions and character. Throughout the novel, the characters that he came into contact with were immediately associated with their money and their association with their given level of wealth. Jay Gatsby is the center character in Fitzgerald's novel. Gatsby tells Nick that from his childhood in the Midwest and his youth, he got to know Cody from whom he learned how to struggle through life and get money.He is totally self-taught and tells Nick that he had been in the drug business and later in the oil business. Throughout the novel there is an overall absence of the lower class; however, ironically, the only character that lower wealth was associated with was Gatsby. He was the most prestigious when compared to all of the other characters, yet was the only to have the absence of money in his past. With this, Fitzgerald proves that the current existence of money justifies the acceptance of character, reiterating the idea of social levels of money.

Disaster Capitalism

In the early 20th century, the United States came to the realization that many other nations has come to in the latter part of the Middle Ages: it is not impossible for a domestic economy to grow beyond its own borders. That is, you can only sell so many widgets domestically; you need to start selling them elsewhere. If there is a situation where a foreign nation does not have an open market then there may be a decision made to open the market through various means. Sometimes, however, the means that are employed may not be considered all that friendly.This is the notion that Klein's concept of â€Å"disaster capitalism† centers on. In a way, Klein's module of disaster capitalism is a new version of stealth imperialism. That is, it creates inroads into foreign territory whether it is wanted or not. As mentioned in the article, this sounds a bit conspiratorial. Of course, the â€Å"sound of a conspiracy† is based on perception and that perception may be based on how much alarmism one sees in the work. Seeing alarmism, however, will be based on whether or not one agrees with the themes.Those who agree with the assessment will see less conspiratorial alarmism and more of a warning in the form of a call to action. Those who disagree may dismiss it all as rantings. A major problem with this disaster capitalism module is the notion that there is such a colossal conspiracy to commit all kinds of chaos in order to sell items. This is not entirely true because it is not always very difficult to sell people anything. Even some of the most obtuse items can be sold in an open market with very little prodding.Opening a market, however, is a lot easier than most would assume. Provided there is a need most nations will be open to accepting products provided that the acceptance of such products will not upset domestic agendas. The notion of disaster capitalism assumes that force or coercion is used to promote free market capitalism. Part of the problem here is th at it labels much of capitalism as evil when much of it can also be labeled silly. For example, one of the most idiotic products ever sold on the market was the nonsensical and completely unworkable Pocket Fisherman.This bizarre item seeming shrunk fishing rods down to 18 inches and was promoted by a silly television commercial in 1976. The commercial (kept alive on YouTube) allowed the item to sell one million units. In fact, it is STILL selling to this very day and can be purchased in a number of retail stores. The strength of the Pocket Fisherman, like a number of other strange novelty items, was based on the inherent laziness of the couch potato consumer. In other words, it was a fishing rod that you didn't have to â€Å"lug around† and it centered on an ad campaign was based on being too good to be true.There was no need to â€Å"shock audiences† or to force them to purchase. So, to label all free market processes as being a sphere of militant capitalism simply is not 100% accurate. The book THE SHOCK DOCTRINE does try to craft a logical picture of the environment in which disaster capitalism thrives. It invests a number of pages of its contents to cover a multitude of historical occurrences to craft a portrait of an unending stream of dangerous globalism. The article that reviews the work paints a clear picture of the subject matter of the book but does not go so far as to recommend it.Perhaps, this is because the author of the book doesn't so much buy into the presentation in the book. That is, the author may see some points present in the book but doesn't wish to endorse it due to certain misgivings about its content. In fact, the article does take a few digs at the author. (â€Å"She's not a journalist†) Regardless of where one stands on the issue, the work does come off as entertaining as the article does make it sound like a worthwhile read.