Thursday, January 2, 2020
Themes And Themes Of The Film Zootopia - 2140 Words
Traditionally, animated films have been made for and consumed by children, with the plotlines and themes being relatively basic and forthright. However, recent years have seen the release of animated films that explore significantly more adult themes and thought provoking ideas. Perhaps the most confronting example of adult themes in an animated film is in 2016ââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËZootopiaââ¬â¢. The film forces viewers to think about concepts such as racial segregation, nature vs. nurture and the debilitating effect of stereotyping. Although Zootopia features anthropomorphic animals, it is easy to draw a connection between the filmââ¬â¢s prey vs. predator narrative and racial divide in our own society. In essence, this paper will outline two significant themes related to crime and the effect of media explored in the film. Most notably, the nature of crime and criminality is explored thoroughly. Specifically, the effect limited opportunities and racial stereotyping can have on promoting an individual down a path of crime. Particular attention will be given to a scene in which a youthful fox wishes to join a prey-dominant Boy Scout troop, only to be rejected and humiliated because he is a predator. Furthermore, the concept of a moral panic caused by media news reporting is displayed excellently in a montage scene in which prey are scared of predators as the media reports that aggression and criminality is in their nature. Finally, I will critique how these issues are communicated in a neo-noirShow MoreRelatedMovie Analysis : Zootopia Essay1342 Words à |à 6 PagesThe film ââ¬Å"Zootopiaâ⬠is a film about not giving up and demonstrations several significant sociological conc epts. The main character of the film is a tiny bunny called Judy Hopps. Judy has huge dreams of becoming the first bunny police officer and working in the great city of Zootopia. Although Judy fails multiple times and also comes to be discouraged by many people, she doesnââ¬â¢t let them get her down. Throughout the film, Judy takes on an important mystery case and encounters characters such asRead MorePersuasive Essay On Zootopia1738 Words à |à 7 PagesDuring the year 2016 Zootopia was developed excellently by Disney with colourful characters, brilliant animation and lots of ingratiating details. Theres plenty of action, colour, fun and charm for the kids. It also contained interesting themes, emotional depth and many fabulous Easter eggs scattered throughout the movie. From the largest elephant to the smallest shrew, the city of Zootopia is a mammal metropolis where various animals live to thrive. When Judy Hopps the protagonist becomes the firstRead MoreMovie Analysis : Zootopia 809 Words à |à 4 PagesAlexandria Lara Theater 7B Professor Foster 6 December 2016 Zootopia à à à The animated movie, Zootopia, is about an unlikely partnership between Judy Hopps who is rabbit police officer and Nick Wilde who is a red fox as well as a con artist. In the beginning of the film, it shows Judy as a young bunny and then progresses to when sheââ¬â¢s older and has fulfilled her dream of becoming the first rabbit police officer in Zootopia. On her first day of the job, she was assigned to parking duty despite beingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Try Everything 1240 Words à |à 5 PagesSia s song Try Everything performed by Shakira in the movie Zootopia is very effective in inspiring to always reach for your goals, to never let failure bring you down, and to always keep trying. It also is successful in entertaining both its targeted audience along with other viewers. All the artists that came together to produce this song and film created a relatable, light hearted song that corresponds perfectly with the movie. The context and genre both help in reach ing and entertaining theirRead MoreAnalysis Of Disney Company And Its Impact On The World Of The Pockets Of Our Jeans And Hoodies1686 Words à |à 7 Pagespremise of normalization. One of the top contributors of media is The Walt Disney Company and its affiliated companies such as ABC, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Lucasfilm, and Marvel Entertainment, and from a young age many children grow up on the films, characters, books, and television series that are produced by the Walt Disney Company. In the long history of media produced by The Walt Disney Company, beginning with its early groundbreaking animated shorts all the way to the recent Moana, DisneyRead MoreCasey Blackwell. Spc 1608. Professor Workman. 7 February1234 Words à |à 5 Pagesindustry with his cartoons, movies, and theme parks. III. Connect With Audience A. Walt Disney created an empire that has played a role in each of our lives. Whether it impacted our childhood or still impacts our lives today. IV. Preview/Transition A. Now how did Walt Disney create Mickey? In order to answer these questions, we must first look into how his creation of cartoons soon lead to the Disney movies and theme parks we know today. 1. Cartoons 2. Movies 3. Theme Parks Body I. Cartoons A. Walt DisneyRead MoreDisney Company : A Family Friendly Company985 Words à |à 4 PagesOverview: Walt Disney Company is a family-friendly company headquartered out of Burbank, California. Disneyââ¬â¢s target market is mainly children, but it also extends out to families and adults. Disney has specially made films and areas in the parks made exclusively for adults. The total number of employees currently contracted by Disney is around 185,000. Walt Disney was French, and changed his name from Dââ¬â¢Isigny to Disney. Walt Disney also dropped out of high-school to pursue serving in the militaryRead MoreStrategic Planning : Walt Disney1592 Words à |à 7 PagesMulan that drove the feature film industry to new heights creating a brand and image the world over. The company didnââ¬â¢t stop with animation it created the worldââ¬â¢s first theme park Disney Land in California, later adding Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida, and Tokyo Disney, Disney Land Pars, Hong Kong Disn ey, and Recently Disney Shanghai. What started as an animation company expanded its reach across the globe with its ground breaking film and animation to its various theme parks merchandise, VacationRead MoreThe Colonialism Of The Walt Disney Company1571 Words à |à 7 Pagesis the most recent Disney animated film about an indigenous culture. Moana is centered in an unknown Polynesian land before Western colonization and focuses on the chiefââ¬â¢s daughter, Moana on the island of Motuni. The plot is a typical heroââ¬â¢s journey where Moana is called by the ocean to return the heart of Te Fiti to restore the land and vegetation of her peopleââ¬â¢s island and the rest of the South Pacific. I am analyzing the contribution of the animated Disney film, Moana to Disneyââ¬â¢s developing appreciationRead MoreThe Disney Company : A Giant Of The World Of Media And Entertainment Essay1792 Words à |à 8 PagesThe Walt Disney Company, a giant in the world of media and entertainment, has a long history of successful ventures, theme parks, consumer products, films, television shows and continued innovation in every segment of the organization. At the center of the company is a strong creative workforce, strategic leadership, and successful contingency plans to meet challenges that arise as markets, business environments, and customers change. The overall strategy incorporates high diversification, continued
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Understanding Nice Topics for Essay
Understanding Nice Topics for Essay Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Nice Topics for Essay Inspiration to make your own advertising or media argumentative essay topics isn't really hard to discover. Quite frequently, the very best topic is one which you truly care about, but you also will need to get ready to research it. It is impossible to generate a true friend online. You may use many examples which can be found on the net at no cost. When you are finished with your essay, you must not simply check it for spelling and grammatical errors, but nevertheless, it also has to be checked for logical fallacies. Textbooks ought to be free. Schools should not have anything to do with ads. So, both students of medical care programs in addition to students of any other specialty may have a task to compose an essay on health topic. Students ought to be permitted to pray in school. A lot of students put on a uniform. Occasionally it only looks simple, but plenty of students forget about the sort of academic writing they need to stick with. Some students utilize the very first idea which arrives in their head and work on it, but the outcome isn't successful. Facts, finally, will always win out against how folks are feeling at a specific moment. Select a distinctive topic that others may not think of, and whatever you select, make sure that you know a lot about it! Some people today think that they are for kids. The Key to Successful Nice Topics for Essay Maybe you presently have a generalized idea of what things to write in your mind, and the following will enable you to concentrate on some specific thought or perhaps change your choice. Following are different kinds of essay topics for students that are categorized in many sections so you can easily chose the topic depending on your need and requirement. There's no need in making a determination, which health problem or phenomena is more urgent at this time or what's left in the shadows and should be enlightened at least in your essay. On the flip side, in the event you made a fantastic choice, focus on what influenced you to make that decision and the way it has changed you. Examine various sources and points of view to be sure that you're getting the complete picture, and should you know any experts on the subject, make sure you ask their opinion too. The issue is that everybody's interpretation of what makes a great society differs. Researching the topic will enable you to find out more about what fascinates you, and should you pick something you really like, writing the essay will be more enjoyable. In this kind of situation, it's more convenient to discover ready-made essays and use them as an example. If you're thinking about how to compose a persuasive essay, you should know that writing an essay is a complicated practice. An argumentative essay requires you to choose a topic and have a position on it. You also receive a great opportunity to dig more into research! It is often as large or as small as it is possible to consider! When you compose a social issue essay, it is crucial to demonstrate your private view of the issue. Still, it's far better to get a freedom of choice as far as you are able to select the issue which interests you. Possessing a treasure map means you get a step-by-step guide to assist you get to your final goalthe buried treasure. Write about a problem which you have or wish to address.
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
The Debate Over The Legalization Of Prostitution - 1551 Words
Recently, a controversial American website, Backpage.com, which is the second largest classified advertising listing service on the Internet in the United States, comes to public attention because of a lawsuit that is filed on several brave girls. The girls allege that they were pimped on Backpage.com to involuntary prostitute. Being known as the ââ¬Å"oldest profession in the world,â⬠prostitution is defined as a criminal act in most of the U.S., except in some rural counties of the state of Nevada. The debates on prostitution are always come with many legal problems, for instance, human trafficking, violence, sexual slavery and the use of children, as well as public health and moral issues. Different from the U.S., prostitution practices a legitimate business in some countries in the world, such as Brazil, Germany and Canada. Thus, the heated debate over the legalization of prostitution goes on in the U.S. There are proponents, who opposed to the legalized prostitution, belie ving that prostitution is simply immoral and should be considered a crime. But legalization would financial benefit local government, would promote public health and protect sex workers. Although the sex trade is illegal in most of the U.S, it is alive and runs well. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there were about 78,000 arrests for prostitution and commercialized vice in 2007, while many sex workers and consumers were not caught (FBI 2007). Also, the sex trade is extremely lucrative. ItShow MoreRelatedShould Prostitution Be A Victimless Crime?1506 Words à |à 7 PagesThe act of prostitution has been a leading topic of moral and legislative debate for centuries. Sometimes referred to as the ââ¬Ëworldââ¬â¢s oldest professionââ¬â¢ because it dates back to around 2400 B.C., prostitution is the practice of exchanging, selling or trading of sexual acts for payment. Although this service is forbidden amongst the world more often than it is not, the debate of its legalization has remained a heated issue (ProQuest Staff).The legalization of prostitution and whether or not prostitutionRead MoreProstitution Essay1724 Words à |à 7 Pages Prostit ution has been a part of our worlds culture since the beginning of time, and is the worlds oldest profession. Ever since the beginning of time man has felt the need to pay for services of a sexual nature, whether are legal or not. In our culture; however, prostitution has become a topic of debate concerning the merits of this professions legality. In viewing the legalization of prostitution one must take into account all the pros and cons of the situation, but more importantly what isRead MoreThe Legal And Social Implications Of Prostitution1039 Words à |à 5 PagesThe legal and social implications of prostitution have been a topic of much concern over the past few decades. Although the issue has been heavily debated, a proper answer to its legalization or criminalization has not yet been defined in many countries throughout the world. While some view that ââ¬Å"sex workâ⬠is a justifiable occupation that should be protected under human rights, others argue that itââ¬â¢s legalization would do more harm than good. According to the Health and Human Rights Journal (2014)Read MoreThe Social Stance Of Prostitution1323 Words à |à 6 PagesProstitution is the selling of oneââ¬â¢s body in exchange for money, and it is the oldest occupation in the world, beginning in the early society of Mesopotamia (Fanni, 2014). Prostitutes were seen as inhumane and disease ridden since in the early 1980ââ¬â¢s, when prostitution was most prevalent, there was an increase of HIV/AIDS because of the transferring of disease from prostitutes to their clients (Carrasquillo, 2014). Although there is such a negative perception of prostitution, it is a source of continuousRead MoreLegalized Prostitution : Taking Back Control1470 Words à |à 6 PagesLegalized Prostitution: Taking back Control ââ¬Å"I originally intended to write in defense of legalizing prostitution, but hindsight has made me realize that I cannot defend a profession that dehumanizes its workers.â⬠Tlatenchi, Fredy. Prostitution Should Not Be Legalized. The Sundial. N.p., 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 07 Sept. 2015. The statement above would lead the authorââ¬â¢s readers to believe that prostitution if legal would be no different than it is now, shameful, dangerous, disease ridden and exploitationRead MoreThe introduction of new technological advanced innovations and methods during the Market Revolution1700 Words à |à 7 PagesThe introduction of new technological advanced innovations and methods during the Market Revolution changed the means of production and transportation for the future, creating an easily accessible, interconnected world. As people rejoice over the positive outcomes due to the spread of ideas, goods, and services, many neglect the detrimental results. Due to modern mechanism of trans portation and production, ideas, goods and services arent the only things transported across national borders. HumanRead MoreProstitution : Taking Back Control1475 Words à |à 6 Pages Legalized Prostitution: Taking back Control ââ¬Å"I originally intended to write in defense of legalizing prostitution, but hindsight has made me realize that I cannot defend a profession that dehumanizes its workers.â⬠Tlatenchi, Fredy. Prostitution Should Not Be Legalized. The Sundial. N.p., 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 07 Sept. 2015. The statement above would lead the authorââ¬â¢s readers to believe that prostitution if legal would be no different than it is now, shameful, dangerous, disease ridden and exploitationRead MoreUs Social Issues Prostitution1361 Words à |à 6 PagesSocial Issues of Prostitution Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world, It is defined is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is most often called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including john. Prostitution is a growing social problem around the world, and continues to grow here in the United States. The existenceRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legalized?1298 Words à |à 6 PagesProstitution is considered to be the oldest profession in the world. Many people support the idea of legalizing prostitution, while others do not. This controversial debate has been ongoing since the beginning of time. Paul Armentano states many points that push towards why prostitution should be legalized, but the truth is that prostitution is just the sexual objectification of women. It is viewing them solely as de-personalized objects of desire instead of as individuals of complex personalitiesRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Prostitution1481 Words à |à 6 PagesProstitution has always been a controversial topic not only in our country but all around the world. Although its been said to be the oldest profession, the social stigma that comes with it makes it taboo. Despite these disapprov ing views, the majority of individuals in prostitution turn to it in desperate need of money. This negative connotation that comes with prostitution is most likely derived from the thought that sex is an immoral act. Society in this country is slowly becoming more accepting
Monday, December 9, 2019
Mid Summer Nights Dream Essay Example For Students
Mid Summer Nights Dream Essay In Shakespeares, MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, he wrote about a tragedy that he turned into a comedy. He did this to show his audience how stupid humans can act upon their emotions. There are three plots that tie together with one main situation. There is Hermia and Lysander, two star crossed lovers that cant be together. Hermias father wants her to marry Demetrius who Hermias bestfriend Helena loves. Demetrius loves Hermia and trys to pursue her. Then there is Oberon and Titania the King and Queen of the fairies. Oberon is jealous of Titania because she has an Indian boy that shes spending all her time with. He wants the baby and they have a quarrel about it. So as revenge he gets his servant Puck, a fairy, to put a potion in her eyes to distract her when Oberon steals her baby. But this potion made her fall inlove with the first living thing she saw which cooincidently was a jack ass. At first Oberon was amused but then he realized he didnt like how her attention was on the jack ass and not him. Last but not least is a group of dorky guys who are making a play for the first time. Their play is about a tragic love story that ends up in the death of both the lovers because they couldnt be together. The fairies and these clowns that are making the play are very essential for the main plot of Hermia and Lysander and their problems, because it shows how people really act and how their effects are showed in the play. The fairies are essential to the main plot because without Puck there wouldnt have been a comedy at all. Even though he brought confusion to Hermia and Helena about how Lysander and Demetrius both all of the sudden fall inlove with Hermia, at the end Oberon fixed the situation so everyone would be happy. The clowns are also needed because the play they are acting out shows if two lovers cant have each other the way they do, they act on emotions instead of logic and reality, they would take dramatic actions. This play within the play was suppose to show how if you try to keep people away from each other when they dont want to be separated they will do something to act upon your rule. Just like Lysander and Hermia running away to be together against her fathers wishes. Without this play, Theseus would have never seen it and talked to Hermias father to change his mind and allowing his daughter to marry Lysander. What Shakespeare is trying to tell his audience is that if you try to stop lovers from being with one another, theyll find another way or do something terrible. Without these subplots in the play there would be no happy ending for everyone. Category: English
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Lockes Second Treatise of Civil Government Essay Example
Lockes Second Treatise of Civil Government Paper For example, Lockers Second Treatise of Call Government contains his analysis of human nature. While keeping individuals in mind, Locke proposes certain regulations necessary for a functioning government. Lockers treatise is primarily a reflection of the Protestant Ethic and its correlation to administration. The Second Treatise of Civil Government discusses a nation of peace and safety, a society based on equality, and a country that with all of Its individuals still maintains a sense of unity. The Protestant Ethic states that persons must be rational. Consequently, Locke believes that a functioning moonwalks requires thinking reasonably and following the rules set forth by common authority. The legal systems that were put in place had to be done so carefully and skillfully. Citizens feared being taken advantage of and controlled by authority, so any changes that would take place had to keep in mind the effects the Old Regime had on its community. The Protestant Ethic evolved during a period when a growing number of people were growing skeptical to those In control. Locke clearly Illustrates that to ensure the authorities dont abuse their power the need for a man to give consent before each of the laws or punishments are carried out. The Second Treatise of Civil Government is a reflection of the peoples fear of injustices imposed by those in power. In Lockers viewpoint, authorities as well as citizens must agree to follow all laws regardless of social rank. In direct correlation to the growing skepticism of authority, Locke discusses the necessity of a man being guaranteed liberty. Man being born, as has been proved, with a title to perfect freedom, and an uncontrolled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of nature, equally with any other man Liberty means that man has free range to be an individual. The citizens demand the freedom of individuality because they feel as though they deserve to be able to do whatever they want when they want to do it (as long as they didnt inhibit another man). In order for this idea to work, Locke assumes that people have the capacity to behave sensibly and think logically. We will write a custom essay sample on Lockes Second Treatise of Civil Government specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Lockes Second Treatise of Civil Government specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Lockes Second Treatise of Civil Government specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Perhaps the key component to both Lockers Second Treatise of Call Government and the Protestant Ethic described by Weber is the necessity of rationality. Weber states rationality is the key element of a functioning nation, powerful incentive to achieve worldly success by carrying out their calling or duty to promote the social welfare. If people were behaving rationally, they would realize that they had to do whatever it meant as an individual to benefit the group as a whole. In order for social welfare to succeed people need to think logically. Rationality Is key to the functioning and creation of a tangling commonwealth wader Turner explains Tanat In order Tort a person to live, en or she must be a part of a community. Locke also argues the necessity of people feeling that he or she belongs to a group. As quoted in The Second Treatise, such a fife as our nature doth desire, a life fit for the dignity of man; therefore to supply those defects and imperfections which are in us, as living single and solely by ourselves, we are naturally induced to seek communion and fellowship with others. Humans cannot survive alone. The only way for a person to stay alive is to give consent that they belong to a group. Living as a part of a group requires there be guidelines. These guidelines are imposed as laws to ensure the safety of its citizens. In the preface of his Treatise Locke states, l suppose no body hereafter will have either the confidence to appear against our common safety. It is this preface that lays the foundation for the remainder of his document, this idea of a society based on the word common. Previously in early Europe a commoner was to be regarded as a place in society one desired. This common place one held was always at the very bottom of the social order. As the nation progressed this group, which made up the majority of the population, took bold steps to legitimate their place in the social order. The word common is repeated countless times throughout Lockers treatise and correlates directly with the Protestant Ethic. Max Weber characterizes the Protestant Ethic by stating, this new ethos was an essential component of a long term cultural transformation that dramatically changed the way individuals defined themselves in relation to their society. It is not so much coincidence as it is the new mindset of people that evokes modification within a given community. Locke claims that once mindsets change, everyone must re-evaluate their place on the social ladder. Many changes were taking place at the time the Protestant Ethic spread throughout Europe. It is obvious that Locke would be aware of the Calvinist ideas and how they affected European society. There are many connections between Lockers Second Treatise and the foundational characteristics of the Protestant Ethic.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Constitutional checks and balances
Constitutional checks and balances The government system comprises of the Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Executive. These are referred to as the arms/branches of the government. The constitution gives powers to these government arms in a complementary way. The government arms are supposed to support each other and check on each otherââ¬â¢s excesses. The Legislature is composed of an elected Congress that is given the responsibility of passing laws.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Constitutional checks and balances specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Executive enforces these laws and jails convicted people. The Judiciary tries people. The grand jury listens to the facts of every case and issues an indictment, while the trial jury convicts people accused of offenses. Therefore, there are limits to the actions of each government branch. Checks and balances ensure that no government branch misuses its power. This paper is an analysis of the check s and balances set up by the Constitution to protect the citizenry from excesses by the arms of government. As mentioned above, the Legislature plays the role of making laws in the government. It has also been given certain powers by the constitution in order to check the excesses of the Executive. Such powers include the ability to override vetoes by the President if two-thirds of its members accept the override. The Legislature can also influence the amount of funds given to the Executive for delivering services to the citizenry. It can also impeach the President. The Senate checks Executive powers by approving treaties and appointments by the President. Legislature can also impeach judges, create low categories of courts, and approve judicial appointments. The Executivesââ¬â¢ checks over Legislature include its power to recommend legislation, the Presidentââ¬â¢s veto power, power to ask for special Congressional sessions, and power to seek peopleââ¬â¢s opinions on certai n legislations. It also has checks over the Judiciary. This is because the President, who also appoints federal judges, is responsible for appointing the Supreme Court. The Judiciary checks the excesses of the Executive because of its independence from the Executive. Courts can declare the unconstitutionality of Executive actions. The Judiciary also checks Legislative excesses by declaring the acts of the Legislature as unconstitutional. The government can properly address the current issue of lack of proper regulation in the banking industry if it implements proper checks and balances. The Executive can propose legislation for regulation. If this legislation contains excesses by the Executive that are unlikely to solve the problem, the Legislature (Congress) can reject it. Otherwise, if the bill originates from Congress, the President can use his veto power to reject the bill if it is passed by the Legislature with some shortcomings. If the President misuses his veto power, Congres s can override the power by a two-thirds vote. If a defective bill becomes law having been passed by the Legislature without checks by the Executive, regardless of the origin of the bill, the Judiciary can declare the bill as unconstitutional during judicial review. This process is meant to ensure that those with power effectively solve problems without misusing such power.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Checks and balances play an invaluable role in governance. They are necessitated by the likelihood of misuse of power vested upon individuals and institutions. If all the governance power and legislative power was bestowed upon a single entity, the citizenry will lose faith in the individuals and institutions. Actually, division of power and establishment of checks and balances was the reason behind having a government made up of several branches/arms.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Anthropomorphism and Animal Rights
Anthropomorphism and Animal Rights So youââ¬â¢ve just arrived home to find your couch shredded, the cupboard ransacked and your catââ¬â¢s dinner dish lying empty in your bedroom. Your dog, you note with certainty, has a ââ¬Å"guilty look on his face because he knows hes done something wrong. This is a perfect example of anthropomorphism. Dictionary.Com defines anthropomorphism as ââ¬Å"ascribing human form or attributes to a being â⬠¦.not human.â⬠Most people who live with dogs know their dogs so well that any nuance of a change in the dogs facade is quickly recognized and labeled. But really, if we dont use the word guilty, how else would we describe that look? Some dog trainers dismiss these claims of guilty looks on a dog as nothing more than conditioned behavior.The dog only looks that way because he remembers the way you reacted the last time you came home to a similar scene. Hes not looking guilty, but rather he knows youà will react badly and its this expectation of punishment that causes the look on his face. Animal rights activists are dismissed as being anthropomorphic when we claim that animals feel emotions much like humans do. Itââ¬â¢s an easy way for people who want to profit off the suffering of animals to dismiss their own evil behavior. Itââ¬â¢s OK to say an animal is breathing, no one will charge us with anthropomorphism because no one doubts that animals breathe. But if we say the animal is happy, sad, depressed, grieving, in mourning or afraid, weââ¬â¢re dismissed as being anthropomorphic. In dismissing claims that animals emote, those who want to exploit them rationalize their actions. Anthropomorphism v. Personification Personification is the giving of human-like qualities to an inanimate object, while anthropomorphism usually applies to animals and deities. More importantly, personification is considered aà valuable literary device, with positive connotations. Anthropomorphism has negative connotations and is usually used to describe an inaccurate view of the world, prompting PsychCentral.com to ask, Why Do We Anthropomorphize? In other words, its OK for Sylvia Plath to give voice to a mirror and a lake, giving inanimate objects human-like qualities in order to entertain and move her audience, but its not OK for animal rights activists to say that a dog in a laboratory is suffering for the purpose of changing the way the dog is treated. Do Animal Rights Activists Anthropomorphize? When an animal rights activist says that an elephant suffers and feels pain when hit with a bullhook; or a mouse suffers from being blinded with hairspray, and chickens feelà pain when their feet develop sores from standing on the wire floor of a battery cage; that is not anthropomorphism. Since these animals have a central nervous system much like ours, itââ¬â¢s not much of a leap to deduce that their pain receptors work much like ours. Non-human animals may not have the exact same experience as humans, but identical thoughts or feelings are not required for moral consideration. Furthermore, not all humans have emotions in the same way - some are sensitive, insensitive, or overly sensitive - yet all are entitled to the same basic human rights. Accusations of Anthropomorphism Animal rightsà activists are accused of anthropomorphism when we talk about animals suffering or having emotions, even though, through studies and observation, biologists agree that animals can feel emotions. In July, 2016, National Geographic published an article entitled ââ¬Å"Look Into This Dolphinââ¬â¢s Eyes and Tell Me Thatââ¬â¢s Not Grief! by Maddalena Bearzi for the Ocean Conservation Societyââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Ocean News.â⬠Bearzi writes of her experience on June 9, 2016 while she was working on a research boat with a team of Marine Biology students from Texas AM University. Leading the team was Dr. Bernd Wursig, a well-respected cetologist and head of the Texas AM Marine Biology Group. The team came upon a dolphin who was keeping vigil with a dead dolphin, presumably a pod-mate. The dolphin was circling the corpse, moving it up and down and from side to side,à clearly grieving. Dr. Wursig noted ââ¬Å"For a pelagic creature like this is so highly unusual (to be alone with a dead one, and away from its group)â⬠¦because they are scared to be aloneâ⬠¦ they are just not lone creatures and the animal was obviously suffering.â⬠The team described the scene with much sadness as it was obvious the dolphin knew his friend was dead but refused to accept that fact. Dr. Wursig cannot be easily dismissed as a sentimental animal rights activistà who anthropomorphizes animals carelessly. His report clearly described the dolphin as being in mourningâ⬠¦..a very human condition. Though this particular dolphin was holding vigil over a dead animal, many non-human animals have been observed helpingà others of their species in need, a behavior scientists call epimeletic. If they cant care, why do they do it? Animal activists are calling people out who hurt animals, and their use of anthropomorphism is justified whenà seeking justice and social change. Change can be scary and difficult, so people consciously or subconsciously seek ways to resist change. Rejecting the fact that animals suffer and have emotions can make it easier for people to continue exploiting animals without worrying about the ethical implications. One way of rejecting that fact is to call it anthropomorphism even though it is the result of direct scientific evidence. There may be some who truly do not believe that animals are capable of suffering or emotions, as French philosopher/mathematicianà Rene Descartesà claimed he did, but Descartesà was himself a vivisectorà and had reason to deny the obvious. Current scientific information contradicts Descartes 17th century view. Biology and research into the sentience of non-human animals has come a long way since Descartes time, and will continue to evolve as we learn more about the non-human animals with whom we share this planet.à Edited byà Michelle A. Rivera.
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