Lesbianism in Buffy the Vampire Slayer :: TV Television Show Essays

Given that lesbian desire has often been associated with the monstrous in horror and vampire genres, and that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is seen as having reworked the conventions of these genres, it is worth considering how the narrative of lesbianism is dealt with in this series to contemplate if and how this desire has been resignified. This paper is concerned with critically analysing the overt representations of lesbian desire and identity as they are manifested through the Willow (played by Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (Amber Benson) characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the coming out narratives as they unfold in Season Four. It attempts to address several questions: How has Buffy the Vampire Slayer reworked the representation of lesbians in the vampire genre? How are the themes of lesbian desire and coming out as lesbian dealt with in the series? Finally, has the show challenged stereotypical representations of lesbianism, or merely perpetuated them? I start this paper with a sense of ambivalence about how the lesbian characters and lesbian desire are constructed in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, because on the one hand I gain pleasure from watching these representations, but on the other hand I suspect that the series perpetuates some homophobic concepts about lesbianism. I am mindful that representations in horror and fantasy television programs and films are creative images and manifestations of ideas, mythologies and narratives. They are not perfect reflections of society, although the writers may attempt to deal with some social issues and identity politics within generic frameworks. However, fictional representations are still important sites where viewers negotiate personal and cultural concepts of sexuality and subjectivity. This queer reading of Buffy the Vampire Slayer investigates the disguised homo-erotic tensions between the out lesbian characters in the series. It avoids an elaborate search for homoerotic and non-normative sexual couplings between other characters in the series. If I were to do such a queer reading, I would probably concentrate on the Willow and Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), or Faith (Eliza Dushku) and Buffy relationships as Farah Medlesohn has done in her essay, "Surpassing the Love of Vampires"(2002: 45-60). Alternatively, I might focus on the sadomasochistic relationship between Spike (James Marsters) and Buffy, or the bizarre love triangle between Andrew, Warren and Jonathan in Season Six. Instead, this paper is more concerned with analysing the blatant representations of lesbian desire and sexuality as they are constructed through characterisation, metaphors, narrative and stylistic devices in particular episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to consider how these themes have b een integrated into a youth-orientated, television program.

A World of Poor Choices

The exciting novel The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger expresses the free will of choice. Salinger cleverly conveys how decisions can alter a person’s perspective of their peer. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist, is a young teenager who has emotional instability and behavioral concerns. Holden acts immaturely extensively throughout the book. Holden invents a world where adulthood is the emblem of superficiality and â€Å"phoniness†, while he chooses to convey childhood as a world of innocence. Holden’s observation of himself being the catcher in the rye is highly symbolic. When Holden states he wants to walk off beyond the cliff and catch the children playing in the rye, it can be seen as him exceeding the line of puberty and becoming a young adult. There are a multitude of instances that portray Holden’s childhood as an unvarying plateau. Holden’s interrogation Carl Luce as if they were back in Whooton School, the symbolism of the ducks in the lagoon and the Museum of Natural History, and the contradicting message in the carousel scene, paradigms of his constant immaturity are shrewdly portrayed by Salinger. Holden conveys his immaturity primarily with his appointment with his old school companion, Carl Luce. Holden and Carl had gone to high school together and Holden remembers Carl as the guy who knew everything and anything there was to life. Holden insisted on asking Carl questions as if they relived high school. Carl becomes very disappointed in Holden on account of his lack of maturity. J. D. Salinger displays Holden’s immaturity when he portrays him asking Carl â€Å"How’s your sex life† (144). Carl’s response to Holden was â€Å"†¦ just sit back and relax, for Chrissake† (Salinger 144). Holden’s persistence exacerbates his circumstances with Carl. Carl blatantly asks Holden â€Å"when are you ever going to grow up? † (Salinger 144). Holden didn’t have an acceptable answer for any of Carl’s questions. Shortly after a brief discussion Carl told Holden that â€Å"naturally, your mind is immature† (Salinger 147) and decides to leave him. This scene inevitably illustrates Holden’s immaturity on an escalating level. In an excerpt â€Å"The Catcher in the Rye Should Not Be Censored† by Edward P. J. Corbett he states â€Å"the language is crude and profane in the Catcher in the Rye. It would be difficult to argue, however, that such a language is unfamiliar to our young people or that it is rougher then the language they are accustomed to hear in the streets among their acquaintances, but there is no question a vulgar message in print is much more shocking than if it was spoken† (Corbett 102). Donald P. Costello also agrees that Holden’s language embodies the typical teenage speech. But, the â€Å"overpowering degree of his language helps characterize him† for whom he truthfully is (Donald P. Costello 83). Holden’s vulgar language â€Å"reveals his age, even when he is thinking he is older† (Costello 84). Holden feels he obliged to use â€Å"Chrissake† and â€Å"goddam† to illustrate a strong expression. In the sense of Holden’s language a clear display of his adolescence is portrayed. Holden’s refusal to believe in change and disappearance renders his immaturity immensely. There are several symbolic encounters that demonstrate Holden’s rebuttal of change. One encounter is when Holden visits the Museum of Natural History he is engrossed in the Eskimo figures. The Eskimo figures are appealing to Holden because they are molded into their places and therefore unchanging. The museum is Holden’s fantasy world because it is a world where everything is simple, and fixed. Another symbolic occurrence is the death of his brother Allie. The death staggers Holden because it required change and disappearance. Another powerful illustration of Holden’s immaturity is the symbolization of the ducks in the central lagoon. The ducks in the lagoon vanish every winter and return every summer. This cycle shows that change does not last forever. Out of curiosity Holden asks his cab driver â€Å"do you know where the ducks go when it gets all frozen over? (Salinger 60). The pond resembles the midpoint between two states in reference to Holden’s position between childhood and adulthood. In these scenes, Holden’s attitude aids the reader to discover that his childhood is his predominant state, and it prevails over his chances at becoming an adult. In the passage â€Å"Symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye† Clinton W. Trowbridge believes â €Å"Holden has tested several ideal images of himself only to find each of them phony† (Clinton W. Trowbridge 43). When Holden proclaims that he wants to be the catcher in the rye, it sounds outlandish. The suggestion of Holden becoming the catcher in the rye has remarkable significance and conveys two images. The first image conveys as Holden â€Å"being a savior and his religious idealism† (Trowbridge 45). Secondly, it analyzes Holden’s perspective of good and evil. Childhood represents the only good characteristic, surrounded by perils. The evil cliff signifies the transition over from childhood to adulthood. Holden fears â€Å"the children will plunge into the evil adulthood unless stopped† (Trowbridge 45). Holden’s immaturity is most evident though his fear of falling off the cliff. At the books climax, Holden allows Phoebe, his ten year old sister, to ride the carousel. While riding the carousel the objective is to reach off your horse and grab the gold ring. Phoebe rides the carousel and begins trying to retrieve the gold ring. Typically most parents would not let their child strive for the gold ring because they have a high risk of falling off. Holden notices Phoebe going for the ring and doesn’t care to reprimand her. Holden thought to himself â€Å"I was sort of afraid she’d fall off the goddam horse, but I didn’t say or do anything† (Salinger 211). Holden’s attitude misguides readers into believing that Holden has matured. However, one must consider that he has been immature most of his life, and will always struggle with acquiring a sense of adulthood. At the end of the story Holden says â€Å"that’s all I’m going to tell about. I could probably tell you what I did after I went home, and how I got sick and all, and what school I’m supposed to go to next fall, after I get out of here, but I don’t feel like it. I really don’t. That stuff doesn’t interest me right now† (Salinger 213). Holden blatantly admits, within this quote, that he is still the same Holden Caulfield, the one that was always uninterested in school and academics. Clearly the carousel scene manifests in the revelation of the fact that he will always be a child at heart. In the excerpt â€Å"Robert Burn’s Poem Comin’ Thro’ the Rye and Catcher† Luther S. Luedtke believes that Holden has learned â€Å"innocence and goodness, epitomized in the condition of the child, are not static conditions; just as the child must grow up through adolescence into adulthood, so must innocence and goodness risk this passage through experience and evil† (Luedtke 49). Luedtke is telling the readers of his excerpt that Holden has matured greatly by allowing Phoebe to grab the golden ring. Holden’s ironic confession in the final chapter tells otherwise. Holden states that he is not interested in achieving academic goals anymore. In J. D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye, Holden’s heartless approach toward the world around him blockades his path to maturing. Through Holden’s talk with Carl Luce, the symbolization of the lagoon and the Museum of Natural History, and the contradicting message in the carousel scene all prove Holden’s immaturity throughout the novel. Although Phoebe’s conscientious struggle to aid Holden in maturing did not succeed, Phoebe shouldn’t be held responsible for his immaturity. Holden’s immaturity comes with his free will of choice and his plateau of juvenile behavior that he cannot surpass. Holden’s judgmental personality toward adults authenticates his immaturity to a towering extent. Holden’s failure to emotionally evolve throughout the entirety of the novel ultimately barricades Holden’s depression within himself and results in his unhappiness.

Gustav Flaubert and Ivan Turgenev

The Romantics is a culturally inclined book written by Pankaj Mishra. The publication deals with life's differences and how people came to know more about their own respective cultures. It brings out every reader into a journey of culture. life and the true meaning of existence. The main character Samar, made his move while he is in a juxtaposition of cultures. One may find himself in the shoes of Samar who wanted to engage in more discoveries. Samar, is a fresh graduate who arrived in Benares, also known as the holy city in 1989.He wanted to continue with his solitary life with his book as he chose to stay in a room there. Samar loves to deal with his friends namely Edmund Wilson, Gustav Flaubert and Ivan Turgenev. But on the place where he stays, he lives adjacent to a woman from the west, Catherine. She is a French young woman who had a great impact on Samar's life. She made a vast change on his outlook in life and dealing with what the good world awaits for him. He was able to re cover from the past that he wanted to escape but then the conflicting part is that he falls for the wrong woman.Catherine is already committed which made the story interesting. It was really a big frustration for him to know the truth since he fall in love for the first time since he never believe in the set up of love before. In Benares he discovered many things that changed his life. Starting from the ancestors Brahmin down to practices and political issues. He was able to contemplate on the commonality of people who are there. They all wanted to escape their past. Going back to Samar and Catherine, the two had a chance to become lovers but then Catherine decided to cut their relationship off.Good thing Samar was able to recover and took a teaching job for young Tibetan children. When he was reunited with an old friend from Benares after seven years, he told himself that he is apart from those people who lives there. He is now far from the old tradition and on his way to recuperat ing for a better future. The Romantics tells about the clashing of culture in contemporary India. The author attempted to explore how people during the time differ from their backgrounds, culture and how it is romanticized to unveil the mysteries of India.

Biotechnology Essays - Dairy Products, Lactobacillaceae, Free Essays

Biotechnology Essays - Dairy Products, Lactobacillaceae, Free Essays Biotechnology: The way we use living organisms to producer useful substances. Many traditional foods, like bread and cheese, are products of biotechnology. Microbes can reproduce and convert raw materials into products very quickly. Many foods, like yoghurt and soy sauce, are products of fermentation technology. Fermentation is the key reaction in many biotechnological processes. Plants continue to act as a source of drugs of important medicinal value. Mr. Salman Al-Kofahi Biotechnology: The way we use living organisms to producer useful substances. Many traditional foods, like .. and .., are products of biotechnology. Microbes can reproduce and convert raw materials into products very quickly. Many foods, like .. and .., are products of fermentation technology. .is the key reaction in many biotechnological processes. .. continue to act as a source of drugs of important medicinal value. Mr. Salman Al-Kofahi Vitamin C: made by fermenting sugars by the bacterium Acetobacter. Carrageen: a red seaweed; used to make a gelling agent that holds foods together. Invertase: used in the sweet industry, made by the yeast Saccharomyces. Citric acid: made by a genetically engineered variety of the fungus Aspergillus niger; used to give flavour and fizz to fruity drinks. Microbial products Mr. Salman Al-Kofahi Vitamin C: made by fermenting sugars by the bacterium . Carrageen: a red seaweed; used to make a ..agent that holds foods together. : used in the sweet industry, made by the yeast Saccharomyces. ...: made by a genetically engineered variety of the fungus Aspergillus niger; used to give flavour and fizz to fruity drinks. Microbial products Mr. Salman Al-Kofahi Pasteurised milk is used because most bacteria are ... The yoghurt is kept at 40C to: reduce the . level give the best . for the Lactobacillus bacterium. Lactobacillus works best in .. conditions. The yoghurt become ready after Yoghurt Mr. Salman Al-Kofahi Pasteurised milk is used because most bacteria are Killed The yoghurt is kept at 40C to: reduce the Oxygen level give the best temperature for the Lactobacillus bacterium. Lactobacillus works best in anaerobic conditions. The yoghurt become ready after hours. Yoghurt Mr. Salman Al-Kofahi Pasteurised milk is used because most bacteria are killed. Lactobacillus bacteria are used to convert milk sugar (lactose) into lactic acid. The low pH and the enzyme chymosin causes the milk protein to thicken into a curd. The cheese is preserved by adding salt. The cheese ripe and bacteria start to break down the proteins and fats in the cheese to give the characteristic texture and flavour. Cheese Mr. Salman Al-Kofahi milk is used because most bacteria are killed. .. bacteria are used to convert milk sugar (lactose) into lactic acid. The low pH and the enzyme .. causes the milk protein to thicken into a curd. The cheese is preserved by adding . The cheese ripe and bacteria start to break down the proteins and fats in the cheese to give the characteristic ..and .. Cheese Mr. Salman Al-Kofahi

Sacred Heart University Admissions and Acceptance Rate

Sacred Heart University Admissions and Acceptance Rate Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut admits over half of the  applicants each year. Those interested in applying to the school will need to submit an application, letters of recommendation, and official high school transcripts. While SAT or ACT scores are not required, prospective students can submit them if they would like. Calculate your chances of getting in with this free tool from Cappex. Admissions Data (2016) Sacred Heart University Acceptance Rate: 57  percentGPA, SAT and ACT Graph for Sacred Heart Admissions: Sacred Heart University does not require applicants to submit standardized test scores with their application. You are welcome to do so if you want them to be considered.Northeast Conference SAT score comparisonNortheast Conference ACT score comparisonCompare SAT scores for Connecticut collegesCompare ACT scores for Connecticut colleges Sacred Heart University Description Founded in 1963, Sacred Heart is a relatively young Catholic university. The 69-acre campus is located in Fairfield, Connecticut, 90 minutes from Manhattan. The university has a 13 to 1  student/faculty  ratio  and an average class size of about 22. Sacred Heart has  45 degree  programs. Among undergraduates, business and psychology are the most popular. The school frequently ranks well among northeastern colleges. On the athletic front, the Sacred Heart University Pioneers compete in the NCAA Division I  Northeast Conference. The school fields 31 Division I teams, and students can also participate in 28 club sports. Enrollment (2015) Total Enrollment: 8,532  (5,428 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 36 percent male / 64 percent female88  percent full-time Costs (2016 -17) Tuition and Fees: $38,300Books: $1,200 (why so much?)Room and Board: $14,450Other Expenses: $2,650Total Cost: $56,600 Sacred Heart University Financial Aid (2015 -16) Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 100 percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 99 percentLoans: 68  percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $15,033Loans: $11,047 Academic Programs Most Popular Majors:  Accounting, Athletic Training, Biology, Business Administration, Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, English, Finance, Nursing, Political Science, Psychology What major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Graduation and Retention Rates First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 83 percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 58 percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 64 percent Intercollegiate Athletic Programs Mens Sports:  Fencing, Football, Wrestling, Volleyball, Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, BaseballWomens Sports:  Rowing, Rugby, Fencing, Golf, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Bowling, Basketball, Cross Country If You Like Sacred Heart, You May Also Like These Schools Boston University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphSouthern Connecticut State University: Profile  Yale University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphNew York University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphQuinnipiac University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphAlbertus Magnus College: Profile  Hofstra University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBrown University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphWesleyan University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphProvidence College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Connecticut: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of New Haven: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Sacred Heart University Mission Statement Read the complete mission statement at sacredheart.edu/pages/115_mission_statement.cfm Sacred Heart University is a coeducational, independent, comprehensive institution of higher learning in the Catholic intellectual tradition whose primary objective is to prepare men and women to live in and make their contributions to the human community. Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

Quorum sensing in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium Essay

Quorum sensing in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium - Essay Example The influence of environmental factors on quorum sensing as seen by the influence of glucose metabolism on the production and degradation of the signal shows that through quorum sensing the cells communicate their growth phase as well as the metabolic potential of their environment. Strain AB 1157 of E. coli and strain LT2 of S. typhimurium grown in 0.5% glucose containing LB broth for the assay was removed from the medium and checked for activity that resulted in expression of luminescence in V. harveyi. 10% cell-free culture fluids from the two strains demonstrated maximal induction of luminescence in the V. Harveyi reporter strain BB170 which has the phenotype for quorum sensing, sensor 1-, sensor 2+ which induces luminescence exclusively through the signaling system 2 detector. The response was similar to that from V. harveyi BB152 culture fluid with E. Coli showing 106% and S. typhimurium showing 237% activity of the control activity. The signaling factor was not produced and the luminescence expression not induced when the bacterial strains were cultured in LB broth without added glucose and substitution of 10% LB medium containing glucose respectively. Candidates for signal including glucose, cAMP, amino acids, acetate, ÃŽ ±-ketogluterate, homoserine lac tone and other keto acids also produced no activity suggesting V. Harveyi BB170 respond to some signaling substance secreted by E. coli AB1157 and S. typhimurium LT2 grown on glucose containing LB medium. An analogous experiment performed with V. Harveyi reporter strain BB886 (sensor 1+ , sensor 2-) which is a wild type strain that do not act in response to signaling molecules that function through the signaling system 2 detector. Addition of E. coli AB1157 and S. typhimurium LT2 cell-free culture fluids showed only a respective 1% and 5% increase above control level (control used V. harveyi BB120 spent cultures which produces system 1 autoinducer).These results shows that E. coli AB1157 and

Literature for Research - Impact of diabetes among the lebanese Essay

Literature for Research - Impact of diabetes among the lebanese community in sydney - Essay Example In 2004-05, 3.6% of the Australian population, approximately 700,000 persons, reported that they had diabetes. This figure has gone up. The estimated number of Australians with diabetes will be 1.23 million by the year 2010. Statistics show that the prevalence of diabetes is higher among people born overseas compared with people born in Australia (AIHW 2003). ABS data shows that in 2004-05, among persons born overseas, rates of diabetes were highest for persons born in Southern and Central Asia (8.7%), North Africa and the Middle East (6.6%), South East Asia (5.7%) and Southern and Eastern Europe (4.9%) (after adjusting for age differences). By comparison, the rate of diabetes for persons born in Australia was 3.3% (ABS 2006). The increasing cases of diabetes amongst Lebanese people are also a cause of worry. Sydney is host to a large number of Lebanese people, migrated to the country, hence the city, in search of better job opportunities living standards. There are many studies indicating increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus in these families. These have been ascribed to hereditary factors, food habits, prevalence of metabolic syndrome, and increased consanguinity over many generations (Abou-Daoud, 1969). Acculturation is a social phenomenon where family values tend to play important roles, and social and cultural factors related to the immigrant race determine the patterns of acceptance or resistance of newer cultural norms (Bhugra, 2004). This means community, family and social life will have an important impact of the disease on the family and quality of life of the individual (Dept Human Services (Vic), 2004). Diabetes in any population is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, economic , cultural, and social impacts on the person, family, relations, and the community (Zalloua, 2003). Therefore exploration into these factors can discover the qualitative indicators that are