Sexism and Racism in “The Color Purple” Essays - 870 Words

I feel every person should care about sexism and racism, because these two issues affect everyone. â€Å"The Color Purple† is a great film that focuses on the problems African American women faced during the early 1900s. The Color Purple provides a disturbing and realistic account into the life of Celie, a poor southern black woman with a sad and abusive past and Sophia, another poor southern black woman with a sad and abusive past. Sexism is a form of discrimination based on a persons sex, with such attitudes being based on beliefs in traditional stereotypes of different roles of the sexes. Sexism is not just a matter of individual attitudes; it is built into the institutions of society. In the film, Walker†¦show more content†¦Men need firm boundaries that define their sex role in order to keep them within the well respected category of masculinity. Women in the South knew their place in life were to cook and clean and to mind the men. They were denied masculin e power in being forced into the domestic service, serving others. Black women were also forced to mind white women. After the Civil War, slavery might have been done with, but racism was not. Racism is the belief that some races are essentially, superior to others and therefore have a right to dominate them. In the United States, racism, particularly by whites against blacks, has created profound racial tension and conflict in virtually all aspects of American society. Until the breakthroughs achieved by the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, white domination over blacks was institutionalized and supported in all branches and levels of government, by denying blacks their civil rights and opportunities to participate in political, economic, and social communities. So, blacks had a general sense of fear when it came to whites in the South. In the film, Walker displays the racism that black women in the south endured, such as when Harpo’s wife, Sofia, gets asked t o clean a house by the white mayor’s wife. Sofia replies, â€Å"Hell no† (Spielberg, 1985). The mayor then slaps Sofia for her comment, and she punches him. She is beaten by white people to where they cracked her skull,Show MoreRelatedRacism And Sexism In The Color Purple By Alice Walker788 Words   |  4 PagesRacism and Sexism are something that children observe and grow up learning, kids weren’t born racist or sexist. In the book The Color Purple by Alice Walker, there is a lot of racism throughout the story. There is a lot of discrimination towards black people and the sexism in the novel is overwhelming. Women were beat up constantly and had no rights given to them. In this book, you learn what lives were like back when women had no rights, and their skin color determined how their life was goingRead MoreCriticism and Reflection of the Color Purple by Alice Walker1151 Words   |  5 PagesCriticism and Reflection of the Color Purple by Alice Walker Criticized as a novel containing graphic violence, sexuality, sexism, and racism, The Color Purple was banned in several schools across the United States. Crude language and explicit detail chronicle the life of Celie, a young black woman subjected to society’s cruelties. Although immoral, the events and issues discussed in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple are prominent in today’s society, and must be public and conversed ratherRead MoreFeminine Narrative in Alice Walkers The Color Purple Essay1472 Words   |  6 PagesWalker’s The Color Purple, has been considered by critics as effectively using â€Å"narrative techniques† to make readers cry (Warhol 183). Emphasizing on these matters, Robyn R. Warhol, the author of â€Å"Narration Produces Gender: Femininity as Affect and Effect in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple†, analyzes the usefulness of the novel’s narration approaches, focusing on the meaning of Nettie’s letters to Celie and especially the fairy-tale unity in Celie’s last letter. Using The Color Purple as illustratedRead MoreOvercoming Prejudices and Self Acceptance-the Color Purple1401 Words   |  6 Pagesnovel, The Color Purple, the main character, Celie, reveals all of the hardships she has endured during her life. Celie confides in her younger sister, Nettie, and God to express the way she feels in certain situations. As the story progresses, Celie eventually finds her voice and breaks away from all the men who oppressed her during her life. For the duration of the novel, prejudice becomes a reoccurring theme. Not only does Celie struggle with the external prejudices of sexism and racism, but sheRead MoreEssay on Dramatic Impact of The Color Purple by Alice Walker839 Words   |  4 PagesDramatic Impact of The Color Purple by Alice Walker The film, ‘The Color Purple’, was released in 1985 and it is based on the novel published in 1983 by Alice Walker. ‘The Color Purple’ won nine Oscar nominations and was directed by Steven Spielberg. The film, ‘The Color Purple’, tells the story of Celie from the age of 13 through to womanhood. The man she thinks is her father rapes her. She has two children who are both taken away from her. She is forced to marryRead MoreThe Wallpaper Of Purple By Steven Spielberg1426 Words   |  6 PagesThe Sexist Shade of Purple If Jaws was the movie that jumpstarted Steven Spielberg’s career in the film industry, then The Color Purple was the movie that was able to distinguish Steven from any other movie director during the time. All of Spielberg’s movies prior to 1985 were generally movies of either action packed adventure or unnerving horror, but once Steven Spielberg announced that he would be doing a movie based on Alice Walker’s book, The Color of Purple, no one knew what to expect. JumpRead MoreThe Color Purple by Alice Walker1192 Words   |  5 PagesCriticized as a novel containing graphic violence, sexuality, chauvinism, and racism, The Color Purple was banned in numerous schools across the United States. Crude language, brutality, and explicit detail chronicle the life of Celie, a young black woman exposed to southern society’s harshness. While immoral, the events and issues discussed in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple remain pervasive in today’s society. The Color Purple epitomizes the hardships that African Americans faced at the turn of theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Color Purple 1393 Words   |  6 PagesLearning the past injustice that has happened can help structure the way todays world is but history can repeat itself. Rape, racism and many more acts of hate are still not dealt with just like back in the 1930 s where both of these novels took place. Both of these novels conversant one of the most egregious injustices; rape. Rape has always been erroneous. In The Color Purple the novel begins with Celie describing being raped by her father and no one knowing about it. She elucidate s what was saidRead MoreAnalysis Of The Color Purple By Alice Walker776 Words   |  4 Pagesintroduced her passion for writing. Alice Walkers history of depression may pinpoint the reason she started writing but moreover, what she started writing. Alice Walker writes about sensitive topics including racism, sexism religious views, and homosexualit y. Many of her books including, The Color Purple displays countless examples of these themes. Because these themes can be so sensitive and traumatizing in life, they should not be produced in books therefore exhibiting why the book should be banned.Read MoreSocial Influences On Social And Cultural Context968 Words   |  4 Pageswould approach this? What would you do to get your point across to the audience?† this example from the book really hit me. Once I started thinking about the statement and the questions that followed, I couldn t help but think strictly of racism and sexism out of all the isms. I thought of this video I saw on Facebook. The video started off with two babies, one black one white. They were happy and playing. They didn t see the other as white or black, they just saw a little human like them. The

The Results of Student Censorship - 700 Words

The students of this country are expected to follow the rules and regulations that their schools impose, and whether or not they are fair is constantly challenged. In a perfect world, everyone would be content under the same guidelines, regardless of how restrictive they may be. However, this is not a perfect world and finding a universal agreement among everyone is virtually impossible. Throughout history, those who have disagreed with actions made by authoritative figures have found a way to protest said actions. From the Cambodian protests in Kent State to the Tiananmen Square protests, students have been very vocal about what they are against and refuse to be censored by their schools or their government. Attempting to do so, however, could lead to retribution from authorities. Censoring students and their voices affects the students by almost trying to instill fear and demoting contest from them can result in various scenarios, both good and bad. Violence is never the answer, b ut there have been more than a few occasions where violence was the chosen path from a group trying to suppress students. One of the most infamous cases of violence against protesting students is the Kent State Massacre. On May 4, 1970 students of Ohio’s Kent State University had a demonstration against then-President Ronald Reagan’s decision to invade Cambodia during the Vietnam War. In an attempt to shut this demonstration down, The Ohio National Guard was called in. What followed isShow MoreRelatedCensorship For Middle School Students Essay1111 Words   |  5 PagesCensorship by definition is the suppression of speech or removal of communicative material which may be considered objectionable or repulsive. Censorship is nothing new and its effects are constantly felt throughout society. Many societies use censorship to protect the established moral and social order. Book censorship in western cultures can be traced to the earliest years of Christianity, when the chu rch began to suppress opposing views as unorthodox. In ancient times, before the printing pressRead MoreCensorship And Its Effect On Society Essay1343 Words   |  6 Pagescensoring texts, the focus should shift to students’ ability to read beyond â€Å"inappropriate.† (Denzin, 1). Censorship has become a big problem in society today especially in schools using trigger warnings because it is limiting students of their overall learning. Society is banning â€Å"questionable† content because it may offend a student s morals or beliefs, but in the real world it is something that students need to learn and understand. As time goes on censorship is damaging the younger generations byRead MoreCensorship In William Bradburys Fahrenheit 4511112 Words   |  5 PagesCensorship is not easy to define. According to Webster’s Dictionary, to censor means to examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable. Its central characteristic is the sup pression of an idea or image because it offends or disturbs someone, or because they disagree with it. In many countries, censorship is most often directed at political ideas or criticism of the government. In the United States, censorship more often involves social issues, and in school is commonlyRead MoreNegative Effects Of Internet Censorship791 Words   |  4 PagesInternet censorship is controlling the content that can be viewed on the internet. It is all around us and you may not even realize that you have encountered it, whether it has been at school or work. In school, you are not allowed to access certain websites and search results may be filtered. Schools do this to keep harmful content from the students, but it also limits research. When you are at work, your employer does not want you looking at inappropriate websites or things that may distract youRead MoreFreedom For Students And Parents Should Limit Academic Freedom820 Words   |  4 Pagesdecades now, censorship has been a prominent issue in American education. Though what’s best for students is at the forefront of that conversation, many continue to disagree about the amount of academic freedom that K-12 public school teachers should have in their classrooms. The idea of censoring teachers’ messages to students and even school activities is grounded in protecting the morality of American children. Proponents of academic freedom for K-12 teachers believe that censorship has instilledRead MoreInternet Censorship and Government Regulation Essay1058 Words   |  5 Pagesthe citizen’s rights of privacy. With the government censoring and regulating the internet, the citizens of this country would have no privacy to do what they needed to do. As a result of robbing the rights of the citizens, the people have started different projects and petitions in order to stop this internet censorship. In 2011, several people started a â€Å"Don’t Filter Me project.† They wanted to remove the web filters on the school computers that blocked several educational sites. They filed lawsuitsRead MoreCensorship Essay1325 Words   |  6 PagesCensorship â€Å"Congress shall make no law†¦prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right to petition the government for a redress of government.†(Ravitch, 118) As stated in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, the people of this nation have the right to exercise their beliefs out loud, or in writing. With this in mind, does the government have the right to undermine the foundation of our nation, and censor what we readRead More Censorship in Public Schools Essay1625 Words   |  7 PagesStephen Kings Carrie and Patrick Manns Dog Day Afternoon (Jones 33). -An Indiana school board takes action that leads to the burning of many copies of a textbook that deals with drugs and the sexual behavior of teenagers (Berger 61). These cases of censorship in public schools are not unusual and there is evidence that such challenges are increasing (Woods 2). These challenges are actually typical of the ones being leveled against school libraries today. These challenges can come from one person or aRead MoreTeen Music And The Music1130 Words   |  5 Pagesfact, it can be used resourcefully instead, unless censorship removes that resource. Teen music, specifically hip-hop and rap, should not be censored because the lyrics can be a useful teaching tool; society suffers from all forms of censorship; and no clearly proven link exists between violent teen behavior and urban music. Most teenagers are interested in some form of explicit music, because they feel like it speaks directly to them. As a result, educators have begun taking note of this and haveRead MoreEssay on Theme of Censorship in Bradburys Fahrenheit 4511669 Words   |  7 Pages Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press (U.S. Constitution). Throughout the ages, censorship has shown up in various forms ranging from printed works to television and the Internet. It can have the positive effect of protecting children from things they are too immature to view, but it can also have negative effects. Censorship may even suppress new and different ideas, keeping them from being made public. It may also set limitations, which stifle the creativity

Genre of Clowning (Theatre, Drama, Arts) Essay Example For Students

Genre of Clowning (Theatre, Drama, Arts) Essay The genre of clowning actually originates from Greece, where satires had begun originating slowly as time went by. The art of satire was challenged throughout the years to form the various forms Of clowning we have today. A clown must have certain abilities or skills to master its comedy upon the audience. It is a profession that requires delicate detail, precise movements, and Of course a reaction. The costume for every type of comedy is extremely different. Comedic Delegate for example required masks for each of the characters, the masks obviated the SE of face expression and communication, therefore making the characters more puppet like; relying more upon the use voice and gesture. Masks were not only used in Comedic Delegate but also in other forms of Greek and Roman dramas. Other forms of comedy usually consist of costumes focusing on the clowns main faults and/or pertaining the clowns own personality. Not only is costume used to make an impression on the audience when first sighting the clown: but also the make-up must be done right to enhance whether the clown is happy, sad, evil, or falls into another category of personality, The cake-up also provides great detail, and in a way is a more modern format of the masks used in Greece and Rome during the 15th Century. When one thinks of clowning, the instant image in mind is the thought of clowns in a circus; performing acrobatic acts and leaving the crowd in awe. This is usually most typical for more Waybills clowns, such as The Three Stooges. Though they do not look like the everyday circus clowns, they perform back flips, somersaults, and portray it all as clumsiness. A clown does not always need to impress an audience by acrobatics, but just by wit; though some audiences are more captivated by the appearance Of a physical act. A physical act adds more stamina and energy to a scene. And can leave an audience laughing for hours. To make an audience laugh a voice is needed to speak and attract attention. Such attention can be provoked by the forms of an accent, exaggeration of the voice, or even silent mime, Though with a mime, more physical action is needed to involve the audience. Modern day clowns tend to stray more so towards no noise and a variety of sounds, exhorted from time to time. I. E; Mr Bean A voice shows us all a clowns own personal traits. The walk of a clown is usually conducted in such a way that the audience can relate to, or in such a hilarious manner that laughter sounds throughout the theatre. A walk is part of a clowns personality, and as you may have noted, every clown walks their own walk, stating their individuality and independence.

Why Study History Essays - Philosophy, Literature, George Santayana

History: Discipline, Foundation, Mold, and Comfort The Primary Reason for Studying History: It Civilizes Us. Inherent in the definition of history as a discipline is the thought that history is a disciplining agent on human behavior. The purpose of discipline is organization, particularly self-organization, and it is only through the lens of history that we can see clearly how to organize ourselves as civilized beings. This organization is reflected by national and sub national groupings, religious, legal, and business codes, and our relations with others (both interpersonal and international), among others. Where history has recorded the associations and dissolutions among the peoples of the earth, in addition to their discoveries, from fire to the internet, from the wheel to the rocket, these recordings have helped organize and guide humans through the incredible past several thousand years of our development. Additional Reasons to Study History: Understanding and Improving Ourselves and Our World There are of course other compelling reasons to study history, as enumerated by Peter Stearns. The first, and arguably most important, according to Stearns is that history provides a basis for understanding, and ideally, living peacefully, among different peoples, although it is true that this knowledge is also used to wage wars. Through his argument on the historical study of alcoholism, Stearns also implies that it helps increase our understanding of social phenomena within our own society. The joy of studying history for its own sake is another reason Stearns touches on, which is arguably true of all disciplines. History is a tool, as well, for developing ourselves, as citizens, workers, critical thinkers, and moral beings according to Stearns. And while Stearns does not state it explicitly, the sum of his reasoning suggests the conclusion that George Santayana reached over a century ago, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." A Final Reason to Study History: Comfort Finally, in addition to the use of history as a discipline, and for the many purposes Stearns suggests, there is another essential quality of history which serves a less practical but elemental purpose. History is comforting. History grounds us in uncertain times, times of rapid change and upheaval. The worried take comfort in the warm cloak of the past; the disparaged call on history to avenge them. Regardless of how much or little an individual knows of this discipline, each morsel of knowledge sustains us with the realization that as bad as things are, they have likely been as bad or worse in the past. History, really, has endless purposes, some concrete and foundational, some less so, but regardless of our purpose for studying history, it is always rewarding. References Stearns, Peter. (1998). Why study history? American Historical Association. Retrieved January 14, 2009 from http://www.historians.org/pubs/free/WhyStudyHistory.htm Santayana, George. (1905). The critical edition of the works of George Santayana. Retrieved January 14, 2009 from http://www.iupui.edu/~santedit/ gsantayanaquotes.html