10 Critical Texts About Romance Novels

10 Critical Texts About Romance Novels Sometimes when you really really love something, you get the urge to learn everything you possible can about itâ€"usually by picking it apart and examining all its little pieces. Which is why, as a voraciously curious little English major, I fell in love with literary criticism in college. Literary criticism is (to me, anyway) the art of taking apart a text and figuring out what makes it tick, and some of my favorite reads are critical texts about romance novels. Okay, so maybe this post is a little niche, but hear me out! Did you know that along with scads of romance novels, The Ripped Bodice also has a section on their website for theory on the romance genre? They do! Because romance readers are hands down one of the most well-informed readerships I’ve ever encountered. They don’t just read in their genre, they also want to read about their genre, past and present. It’s really awesome. So for all of you fact hungry romance readers, I’ve pulled together a list of my top 10 favorite critical texts about romance novels: Critical Texts About Romance Novels by GENRE INSIDERS This first group of texts are all by bloggers or romance authors. Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan So. Freaking. Funny. When it comes to romance genre introductions, this book is the holy grail. Written by Smart Bitches, Trashy Books creators Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan, Beyond Heaving Bosoms is a hilarious, at times bitingly sarcastic, look at the romance genre. From atrocious covers to beloved tropes, Wendell and Tan cover a number of topics about romance novels, their readers, and their many critics. Dangerous Books For Girls by Maya Rodale Like Beyond Heaving Bosoms,  Dangerous Books for Girls is an insightful, at times scathing, look at both the romance genre and its propensity to attract criticism. With all the passion of someone who was first a devoted romance reader, and is now a writer of romance as well, Rodale turns her renowned wit towards an examination of the romance novel. In particular, shes interested in romances as they exist within a long history of societys attempts to control what women read. Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women edited by Jayne Ann Krentz Published in 1992, some of these essays are more than a bit dated now, but they’re still just so much fun to read. I definitely recommend this one. Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women  was one of my first romance studies texts and, really, who knows a genre better than its authors? Each chapter is written by a romance author, or a pair of authors, on topics ranging from moody heroes to critics and correctness. North American Romance Writers edited by Kay Mussell and Johanna Tuñón Another collection of author essays,  North American Romance Writers  is edited by scholars Johanna Tuñón   and Kay Mussell. It features, specifically, those authors who became popular as a result of the development of the romance genre in the early 1980s. Like  Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women,  each chapter is written by a different romance author, covering a variety of topics about the changing standards of the romance novel. Happily Ever After: The Romance Story in Popular Culture by Catherine Roach Catherine Roach is both an amazing romance scholar, and a romance author as well. Her academic work on the genre is some of my favorite, and  Happily Ever After is a captivating journey, guiding the reader deep into Romancelandia where the smart and the witty combine with the sexy and the seductive to explore why this genre has such a grip on readers and what we can learn from the romance novel about the nature of happiness, love, sex, and desire in American popular culture (Synopsis). I really cannot recommend this book enough. Critical Texts About Romance Novels by Scholars Technically  Happily Ever After  could fit into this category as well, but I like a nice 5/5 split. A Natural History of the Romance Novel by Pamela Regis Regiss book (pub. 2003) is a classic in the romance studies field, and a go-to for both scholars and readers. In  A Natural History of the Romance Novel, Regis examines the literary history of the genre, with particular attention to countering years of dismissive scholarship, and working to create a framework for future critique. The eight narrative elements she identifies as being essential to the romance novel are particularly interesting for both scholars and would-be romance writers, and are still frequently cited in works on the genre. Publishing Romance  by John Markert This is one of my favorites. I destroyed my copy of this while I was reading it. I don’t think there is a single page I didn’t write on, and a couple of times I was so into it I didn’t even notice I’d rolled the front cover completely around. Oops! Unlike Regiss literary history of the genre, Markerts focus is on the publishing history of the romance from the very beginning right through the modern day. You might not think hundreds of pages of meticulous details, facts, and figures about the publishing industry could captivate but I promise you I could not put this book down. I learned so many things I never knew! Ask me what Playboy has to do with the creation of the clinch cover. Go on! Pursuing Happiness: Reading American Romance as Political Fiction by Laura Vivanco This one is soooooooo good. I read it on interlibrary loan when I was still in school and definitely need to buy my own copy. The romance novel is not a uniquely American phenomenonâ€"in fact it didnt even get its start here. But ever since the romance boom post-1972 (the release year of  The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss)  the romance genre, for better or worse, has been very America-centric. Vivanco examines the politics of the American romance novel, as well as the sources of its political identity. I took an American Realism and Naturalism class during grad school that  Pursuing Happiness  tied in with beautifully, so if either of those literary ares are in your wheelhouse you should read Vivancos book. Black Women’s Activism: Reading African American Womens Historical Romances by Rita B. Dandridge This was another ILL book that I read during grad school and, again, just so well written and interesting. Starting with the late 80s,  Black Womens Activism (2004) focuses on romances written by a number of black authors (including the much beloved, and always awesome Beverly Jenkins). Dandridge is particularly interested in the presentation of the black female character, focusing not just on their portrayed resistance to the historical events featured in the novels, but also on the gender issues present in black fiction. Desert Passions: Orientalism and Romance Novels by Hsu-Ming Teo Teo’s book is fantastic. I wrote a paper about Johanna Lindseys harem romance  Silver Angel for one of my classes and I could not have done it without Teos book.  Desert Passions examines a very long literary history of desert romances, and the gendered cultural and political purposes that they have served at various historical moments (Synopsis). Teo doesnt just look at romance fiction, either. She also pulls in sources from literature, erotica, filmsâ€"its so comprehensive. Much of her focus is on Orientalist tropesâ€"sexual slavery, harems, sultans, sheiks, concubines, etc.â€"which are of course eroticized by, exoticized by, and perpetuated within Western culture. Definitely worth the read for romance fans who are looking for an in depth examination of some of the genres most controversial moments. These are just some of the amazing critical texts about romance novels that are out there. And I’m always happy to chat about romance studies! So feel free to hit me up on twitter (@JtheBookworm) any time! To learn more about current romance scholarship, consider checking out the Journal of Popular Romance Studies! A number of the authors in this list have contributed to the journal, along with many other scholars. To learn more about the Ripped Bodice, visit their website! Making cooing noises at their adorable dog on their twitter account (@TheRippedBodice)â€"what? Its not weird. I do it all the time. You can also read about their most recent Diversity in Romance report here on Book Riot, or read the actual report on the stores site. Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles. Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.

Impacts On Environmental Sustainability Tactics Essay

SimCity: Impacts on Environmental Sustainability Tactics In evaluating sustainability strategies for the future, it can be difficult to assess which are feasible and easy to accomplish; people can thus use this as an excuse to not engage in environmentally friendly tactics or ignore our deteriorating planet. As it becomes increasingly necessary to find ways of encouraging people to help our world, we must look at unconventional ways of urging the global population to think critically about how we treat the planet; this includes creative works, ranging from pieces of art to video games, such as SimCity. SimCity is a simulation game that allows users to found and develop a city, while simultaneously maintaining the happiness of citizens and a stable budget. Given the ability to act as leaders in an emerging city, regardless of our actual roles in society, we can learn exactly how management works in attempting to develop lasting contributions in the world. Although it seems like just a game, SimCity teaches us that different kinds of leadership can produce a way of thinking that allows us to evaluate the long term impacts of our current behavior. The point of SimCity is to develop a flourishing city for its citizens while staying within a budget; with that in mind, players have the freedom to expand their city however they want to. When looking from a sustainability viewpoint, the challenge is to build an environmentally friendly city in spite of certain constraints;Show MoreRelatedBX2091 Field Trip Report Example Essay1620 Words   |  7 Pagestourism and leisure activities 2.1. Commercial (Private) sector 2.2. Government (Public) sector 3. Sustainability management issues – Pollution (Environmental) 3.1. Water pollution- Oil leakage 3.2. Improper disposal of waste 3.3. Carbon emission 4. Sustainability management issues – Displacement (Socio-cultural) 5. Recommendations for Sustainable Management (Tactics) 5.1. Pollution (Environmental) 5.1.1. Water pollution – Oil leakage 5.1.2. Improper disposal of waste 5.1.3. Carbon emission 5.2Read MoreAnalysis Of Ray Anderson Inc., With The Help Of Carpets International Plc1030 Words   |  5 Pagesfocus on sustainability while continuing to be a profitable business. This initiative was started with â€Å"Mission Zero.† â€Å"Mission Zero† was a challenge as well as a goal set forth by founder Ray Anderson to have Interface, Inc. be at net-zero environmental impact by 2020. Since then this mission has been modified to â€Å"becoming restorative through the power of influence.† With this mission in mind, they created a seven point plan, which they call the seven fronts on Mount Sustainability, to fulfillRead MoreWalmart s Environmental Impact On Sustainability1701 Words   |  7 Pagesterms of environmental impacts? The first project concerning Walmart’s commitment to working with suppliers to evaluate their products relates directly to Walmart’s environmental impacts. Just looking at this aspect of this business, Walmart can be classified as a supplier. The goods they buy are then sold to the consumer through Walmart. Walmart is pursuing this project by asking their suppliers to fill out information for their Sustainability Index. Their GRI states, â€Å"The Sustainability Index gathersRead MoreCase Study : Current Profit System1220 Words   |  5 Pagesoverproduction. This would decrease consumption and reduce overall waste which is vital for the future of sustainability. This solution would require immense changes to our economy, but we will not have an economy for long if we do not alter it to align with a sustainable future. The average consumer is unaware of how the clothing industry operates and lacks knowledge about the impacts of the sector on the natural world. The clothing market operates on the sole motivation of pleasing its consumersRead MoreAnalysis : Perspectives On Sustainability1492 Words   |  6 Pagesfor higher and denser populations. Additionally, the impact on the environment has increased simultaneously with the growth of our wants and needs. This reflective essay will cover themes introduced and focused on throughout the course â€Å"Perspectives on Sustainability†, which addresses multiple aspects of how to live sustainably, how to reduce the negative impact on the environment and to create a shift in people s outlook regarding sustainability. The overall idea promoted in the course was the needRead MoreSustainability Research Paper1682 Words   |  7 PagesResearch Paper â€Å"Communicating Sustainability† Strategic marketing views sustainability through a market focused approach and considers it as a strategic resource that leads to competitive advantage for the organization and to superior performance (Hult 2011). Market-focused sustainability integrates the customer (and other important stakeholders) into marketing strategy making and implementation. This has the opportunity to create a marketing strategy that is valuable, rare, inimitable, and difficultRead MoreThe Corporate Greening And Corporate Sustainability1571 Words   |  7 Pagesunderstand the role of leadership in the corporate greening and corporate sustainability. Essay also elaborates the how the leader can help the environment from the current corporate issues like climate change, global warming etc. Also the leaders play an important role in the corporate governance. Although we need to understand what is corporate greening and corporate sustainability. The issue of the greening and the sustainability is the signif icant and most complicated. Over the past few decadesRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility : Accountability Or Liability?1039 Words   |  5 Pagestopics in the business world affecting us dramatically. That is because CSR went through different ranges of acceptability from denial to conformity in its significant goals. Hundreds of texts were published to draw attention to the major beneficial impacts of CSR to society. The text I chose addresses that businesses need to understand that they advance by lifting others. Businesses are not participating enough to give a helping hand to society. There should be an emphasis on how CSR is grounded inRead MoreThe Conservation Of The Environmental Movement882 Words   |  4 PagesI decided to take action for the environmental movement because it is a big issue that impacts everyone. At first, my intent was to volunteer for an organization called â€Å"Fresh Roots†, but due to a scheduling conflict, I chose UBC Farm, which is no less essential in its impact i n Vancouver’s sustainability. In theory, the environmental movement has succeeded in many of its basic goals, such as bringing attention to local and global problems, educating the public on simple sustainable actions, andRead MorePatagonias Sustainability Strategy : DonT Buy Our Products Case Study1160 Words   |  5 Pagesas the meaning of life dominates attracting consumers to acquire things and thereby grant themselves a certain status. The case study ‘Patagonia’s Sustainability Strategy: Don’t Buy Our Products’ prepared by Zahir Dossa discusses consumerism and the way Patagonia has decided to challenge this phenomenon. The case study emphasizes on negative waste impacts of consumerism on the environment providing justification why people should purchase only necessary things and protect the environment. The discussion

The Importance Of The No Child Left Behind Act - 1062 Words

During the 2011-2012 school year, United States public high schools hit an all-time high by having an average four-year graduation rate of 80 percent (â€Å"State High School Graduation Rates by Race, Ethnicity†). These rates vary by state and Nebraska ranks in at about 88 percent, which is above national average. According to the No Child Left Behind Act, issued by President George W. Bush and signed into law in 2002, by the year 2014 all students who had completed their eighth grade year should have been proficient in academic skills. For many years, schools were just shuffling kids through the system without giving them the proper education they need to succeed later in life. Unfortunately, this act has not been effective and did not give†¦show more content†¦The main result of this method is that student learning and teacher creativity are stifled. According to Parents Across America, â€Å"This expansion is occurring even though high stakes standardized testing has never been shown to improve student achievement or teacher performance, and even though the testing mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind legislation is widely considered to have undercut, rather than raised, national achievement levels.† Although these tests are put in place to follow student and teaching progress, the data presented on these standardized exams is usually information that students are not taught, which leads to narrowing the curriculum, teaching to the test, and loss of teaching time. Along with the emphasis on standardized testing, the education funding from school to school is not equal. Throughout the United States, the percentage of poverty is unbalanced; therefore, some kids are not given the proper education needed to succeed. University of Washington Professor and Gates Foundation advisor, Marguerite Roza, did research on where the money for public schools is going. â€Å"The main finding of Roza’s explorations is that education dollars are allocated in ways that are sharply at odds with the stated priorities of public school systems† (Roza). According to Roza, the majority of people are unaware of where the money is going within districts and she mentions, â€Å"The most importantShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of The No Child Left Behind Act1461 Words   |  6 PagesOriginally known as Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the No Child Left Behind Act is a policy believed to improve achievement from K-12 students with aid from government funding within high poverty schools. The NCLB has been a great initiative to promote performance for all students, especially those from minorities, special education and English Language Learners (Chen, G.) 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Primarily this act was in accordance to those within the lower income neighborhoods, because the main purpose of enacting the NCLB was to correlate with Title I Funding, which gave funding to those schools with a higher percentage of lower income students. The main target that this act was destined for was childrenRead MoreThe Importance of Improving Public Education Essay examples1453 Words   |  6 Pagesspecifically the â€Å"No Child Left Behind Act.† The No Child Left Behind Act was not the first law passed to affect the nation’s educational systems, nor will it be the last. There have been several problems laid out with the various educational systems put into place, and there are many things we could do today to better our educational systems in the fu ture. Before President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act went into place there was the â€Å"Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.† However,Read MoreNo Child Left Behind Act1621 Words   |  7 Pages The support for the No Child Left Behind Act plummeted down shortly after the act passed. Many people supported the act at first simply because they supported the goals of the act, once they saw the results, their opinions changed. One of the biggest arguments towards No Child Left Behind is that it is unfair. People believed the resources of difference schools were unequal, and thought the Title 1 funding that the schools received should go to ensuring all schools had equal resources. Many peopleRead MoreEssay on No Child Left Behind Program1154 Words   |  5 Pagesto improved curriculums and extraordinary dropout rates. 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The Who Free Essays

The Who is considered one of the most powerful rock bands of the 21st century. They started their band in London, England. The Who formed in 1964. We will write a custom essay sample on The Who or any similar topic only for you Order Now They sold over 100 million records worldwide. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. The Who can also be known as The Detours or The High Numbers. Band Members The Who developed from an earlier group called The Detours. From there they established their band as a part of the pop art and mod movements. The founding members of The Who were Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon. Daltrey was the lead singer, Townshend was a guitarist and singer, Entwistle was a bass guitarist, and Moon was a drummer. All of the band members grew up around London. Daltrey had a hard time fitting in at school and discovered rock and roll. He founded the Detours in 1959. Townshend’s parents were very supportive of him since his dad played the saxophone and his mother had sung the entertainment division during World War II. Just like Townshend, Entwistle also liked rock and roll. He started to play the guitar but since he had large fingers, it was hard for him to play it.Early careerAfter the Detours became the Who, many things changed. Sandom left the band since he wasn’t getting along with Townshend. After that, they didn’t talk for many years. During a gig at Oldfield, the Who met Keith Moon. Townshend accidentally broke his guitar on stage and he was angered by the audiences laugh. This made him crush the guitar on stage but he picked up another one and continued to play. The next week when the band played again, the audience wanted to see a repeat of what Townshend did. This is how auto-destructive art became part of the Who’s live shows. Successes The Who had many successes. Their first single, â€Å"I Can’t Explain† reached the UK top ten. Their next single called â€Å"My Generation† was released in October. Although it was originally supposed to be written as a slow blues Entwistle played a bass solo in it. In the end, it turned out to be a very powerful song. The Who’s most successful solo release was a Daltrey solo album. Daltrey was a very good singer, but he also found success in acting. The Who also became the first rock and roll act to play Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Their fourth album, 1969’s rock opera Tommy, was a commercial success.Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and AchievementsThe Who was inducted into the hall of fame in 1990. They even have a featured collection in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum which includes a drumhead from 1968. The Who also made it into the UK Music Hall of Fame. They had seven of their albums appear on Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums which were in 2003. That made the Who have more than any other rock and roll band except four. The Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen. The Who even held a world record for being the world’s loudest rock and roll bands!End of Career and DeathOut of the four founding members of the Who, Moon and Entwistle both died. Moon died in 1978 because of a drug overdose. Townshend, Daltrey, and Entwistle released â€Å"Who Are You† shortly after his death. The song was based on Moon’s death. Sadly, Entwistle died 24 years later in 2002. He had a heart attack at Hard Rock Hotel due to cocaine. This made plans for a new album delayed.ConclusionThe Who has changed many lives with their energetic performances. They have influenced many people. They have even influenced the pop-punk band Panic! At the Disco. The Who have continued to play as a band even after 54 years of being together. They have won many awards for their great recordings. The Who are a very talented band that won many awards. How to cite The Who, Papers

Music Lyrics Do Not Promote Violence free essay sample

I believe in my own mind, that there is a reason for these types of lyrics that rap artists use and will imply explain those reasons in this essay. Rap has been called one of the most important music forces to emerge in two decades. Its pounding beats and Staccato rhymes exploded on the streets Of the urban America in the early sass and since have become the theme music and lyrical heart of the vibrant youth culture called hip-hop ( SIRS 1993). There are many different types of rap artist. There are some that talk about money, some talk about righteousness, and the list goes on and on.Every rap artist had their own way of expressing themselves. There are those that talk about sex, drugs, and lenience who receive the negative attention( SIRS 1993). People, think this so- called gangster rap is a bad influence on children in the world and that it promotes violence and that it also is abusive to women. Dolores Tucker, head of national congress of black women has been among those pressuring different record companies to stop distributing gangster rap music. There were other significant names that participated in this action.Names like Senate Majority leader Bob dole, and former education Secretary William l. Bennett(Surveys, peg. 1). There are some rap artists that have been openly redirected for their lyrics. Rappers like IL Kim, Too Short, Snoop Doggy Dog and a member from Too Live Crew, named Luke Jaywalker. These rap artists in the past have been appointed for the things they say in their music. IL Kim talks about sex in her music, Too Short talks about drugs, sex, and how much of a pimp he is, and Luke Jaywalker talks about girls and sex.The lyrics that these rap artist use in their music might not be suitable for everybody to listen to but I dont think their music should be banned or criticized because you dont have to listen to it if you dont choose to. Rap USIA, how much influence does it really have on its youthful listeners? Many, from record company executives to high school students agree that it plays a critical role in the lives of many tans, affecting the way they dance, dress and speak(Slurs 1993). Personally, I feel that rap music is a form of art.I think it takes a great deal of talent to write lyrics that rap artists write, because you have to use metaphors and similes, and at the same time category point across so the listeners can understand. Give rappers a great deal Of credit because I know it took them a long time to get where their at today, and I now it takes a tremendous amount of time to write a song. Its also true and strongly agree with that rap artists use lyrics that reflect on their childhood and the way they grew up.That could be the reason why gangster rappers and rappers talk about sex, drugs, and violence in their music because that was what they were exposed to through out their life. Rap artists gene rally write about what they know because it is easier to write about things and situations that you know, and if sex, drugs and violence is what you know about, then you are going to write about situations that involve those objects. Not just write about them in hopes to cause more violence in our world.Young rap fans caution it is wrong and simplistic to believe music can dictate their actions. Upbringing and circumstance steer a childs behavior, they say, not a record on a turntable or a performer posturing on stage(Newsweek, 1998). There are other reasons why gangster rappers should not be criticized for their lyrics. One reason is that I would rather hear gangster rappers talk about violence on the streets than them actually going out on the streets and participate in the violence.Another reason why rappers shouldnt be criticized is because the world was violent long before rap was invented, and it is not rap music that is making the world more violent then it is already. I strongly believe that people have the freedom of choice to listen to rap music and if you dont like what rap artists talk about, then you do not have to listen to the music. If people didnt have a choice that would be one thing, but as long as people have a choice to do or not to do something then they shouldnt try to criticize it. To me, rap music is more than a strain.It is the reflection of horrible suffering, struggle and pain of the ghetto life. I feel that art reflects life, so ask myself why arent the National Black leaders like Dolores Tucker, more concerned about where the source of rap music exists than the work denuding these types of harsh conditions(SIRS 1993). I think that kids know the difference between right and wrong, music and reality. They know its not right to go kill somebody and if there driven to that, thats not the fault of the music, says Jon Shatter, editor of The Source, a rap magazine(Slurs 1993).If the people throughout the world that criticize gangster rap music would begin to really care then they would try to find and fix the conditions that this art of music comes from and stop criticizing the artist. In other words, the abusive language and rise of violence found in most gangster rap songs are the reality of our present day society. Americans should be mature enough to realize that not talking about something wont cause it to go away. People talk about the violence of gangster rap music, but look at the violence we see on television everyday, on almost every channel o turn to.Violence is everywhere, you might see or hear something violent every day of your life, whether it is on television, radio or in real life. Violence has been existing for hundreds and hundreds of years, gangster rap music hasnt remotely made violence more intense or worse than it already Surveys, peg. 1). So is it then fair to pin point rap music and blame its lyrics on the violence happening around the world? Teen-eager, both black and Latino, say it is the driving beat that attracts them and many other young people to rap. That, and the musics honesty(SIRS 1993). Its not the guns and drugs that make them like the music. The rappers arent saying to solve a problem you must kill, they are just stating what they know. In which, ever since they were young, that violence around them always ends in a shooting or stabbing, so is it right to blame them for singing about it when really they learned it from television? Sex in rap music shouldnt be criticized either because look at all the pornography that is in the world today. There are magazines that are being sold nearly everywhere.They have triple X rated movies that could be arches and you could rent these kind of movies at your nearest video store(Showbiz, peg. 1). So, lyrics that talk about sex cant hardly be no worse than the movies and magazines being sold all over the world today. When rappers talk about drugs in their songs, they could be talking about how drugs were used in their neighborhoods growing up, and maybe they had to sell drugs for a while to put food on their table( Newsweek 1998). I feel, people get confused about what the rap artist is trying to say to people. They are missing the whole point.Just because rap artists talk about drugs in their songs doesnt mean they are actually selling the drugs or using the drugs. These rap artists are making thousands of dollars just by making records, why would they go out and sell drugs? That doesnt make any sense. There are plenty of artists that are positive, and speak positive aspects in their music about life, like A Tribe Called Quest, the Roots, De La Soul, and many others. So for those that think that rap music has a negative effect on children, and people in the world, there are a lot of rappers that speak unity, and things hat are positive about life(Showbiz, peg).If a person could listen to some of these positive rap artists, they could learn about life. There have been plenty of times where was in a terrible mood or I was upset about something, and I popped in a CD of a rapper, and after I was finished listening to the CD I felt much better. The words and phrases used, are words of actual life events and the positive things or outcomes of them. In conclusion, speak in favor of gangster rap, and dont think people should criticize these rap artists because they are speaking the truth.Situations theft been in are shown through their lyrics and we need to try to find the source of the problem instead of criticizing the person speaking about the problem. Drugs, Sex, and Violence are what gangster rappers are considered to be glorifying, but drugs, sex, and violence was in effect long before rap music was even thought of and so we shouldnt use the type of music against the type of behavior caused by teens around the world. Word Count: 1667 rap. That, and the musics honesty(Slurs 1993). Its not the guns and drugs that television?

Balanced Scorecard (non financial performance measure)

Balkanize

Balkanize Balkanize Balkanize By Maeve Maddox A word one hears and sees a lot these days is the verb to balkanize. Especially common are impassioned warnings about something described as â€Å"the balkanization of America.† Note: the Merriam-Webster entry for balkanize is lowercase, with the notation, â€Å"often capitalized.† Balkanize was coined about 1918 as a geopolitical term to describe the political fragmentation of a specific area of the world: the Balkan Peninsula. Located in Southeast Europe between the Adriatic Sea on the northwest and the Black Sea on the east, the Balkan Peninsula is also called â€Å"the Balkans.† The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains. It’s a very large area257,400 square miles (about the size of Texas)occupied by numerous ethnic and religious groups. Following World War I the old powers that once ruled the peninsula were replaced by numerous new states. Because of ethnic and religious differences among their populations, these new â€Å"Balkanized† states were often hostile to one another. The verb coined to described the situation in the Balkans is still used to describe actual political conditions in other regions of the world: Experts Warn of Balkanization of Libya ArabSaga: Iran-Iraq pushing for Syrias balkanization Hydropolitics Propel Balkanization in Africa A Balkanized Middle East Set To Blow In addition to political connotations, balkanize and its noun balkanization have acquired an extended meaning of fragmentation that can apply to just about anything: Balkanization Of America Accelerating We Can’t Let the Internet Become Balkanized The Balkanization of English Language and Literature Signs of Balkanization in L.A. Unified [schools] Pat Buchanan Warns against â€Å"Balkanization and Disintegration† A Warning Against Rights Balkanization Ex-KGB Analyst Predicts Balkanization of US The idea of hostility implied in the term makes balkanize a popular rhetorical choice to express negativity. The allusions to the balkanization of America focus on what seems to be a growing reluctance among legislators and various segments of the population to compromise on issues that affect the country as a whole. Note: the Balkan States are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, and three states that have emerged from what used to be known as Yugoslavia: Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. A small part of Turkey also lies on the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan States in Southeast Europe are not to be confused with the Baltic States in Northern Europe. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are the countries usually meant by â€Å"the Baltic States,† but Finland and Poland also lie along the Baltic Sea. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Wether, Weather, WhetherWriting the CenturyHonorary vs. Honourary