Laura Melveys Male Gaze

Laura Melveys Male Gaze The development of the film industry took an interesting turn after the 1950 especially regarding the development of the female character due to the changes in life style and the way women viewed themselves. The empowered feminine character started appearing in film noir, genre of crime thriller films heavily laden with seduction and erotic undertones (Muller 2006).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Laura Melvey’s Male Gaze specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More She played an active role in both the development of the genre and the development of the storylines and the plot. As such many movies producers started focusing on the female character and developed her to fit as one of, if not the key character in film noir. Thus, femme fatale (the fatal woman) was born and would dominate films and stage plays for decades. Femme fatale has been an interesting study by film and literature critics who have come up with interes ting views regarding this phenomenal character. Doane (1991) in her criticism of this character explains that even though femme fatale is seen as a literary image in films, she is an important figure of the representation of truth. She is a symbol of the real woman and their place in the society, whose real self is revealed through the sexual image, which portrays the differences between men and women. Doane further explains that she is the â€Å"representation of the antithesis of the maternal† (1991 p 2). This means that she symbolizes a woman who cannot reproduce either biologically or socially. Film site (2011) adds that this character was a manipulative figure capable of making vulnerable male character compromise greats of odds. She was a vengeful and sadistic anti heroine whose life always ended up in tragedy. One of the greatest criticism of femme fatalism Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema by Mulvey Laura has come under intense criticism from the film critics and t he author herself. Mulvey (1976) uses Freud’s psychoanalytical approach in describing the role of femme fatale charades in film noir. The society is such that it is structured in a patriarchal manner: the male is all powerful while the female is an image of male sexual fantasies. The fatal woman is thus an object that for both the satisfaction of the male character in he film as well as the male audience. The films â€Å"Out of the Past† and â€Å"Gilda† give the reader an opportunity to weight myulveys assumptions about femme fatale. Mulveys argument hold a lot of truth about the nature of the femme fatale and her roles in the development of the film industry, while the criticism by the author herself and other film critics has added useful insights into the subject. Slide share (2011) explains that Mulvey is the originator of the idea of the male gaze developed the idea of the male gaze in her work Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. The concept of the male gaze explains the idea of gazing in three ways: the way men look at women, the way women see themselves and the way the women sees and relates to other women. This concept of the male gaze is feministic and borrows heavily from Freud’s psychoanalytical approach.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sexual fulfillment and desire is the object of motivation and controls the images of the characters in a play to fulfill the desires of the male character. The female character only sees herself as a castrated woman (without a penis) and thus can only be useful in fulfilling a mans sexual desires. As such, she is the symbol of phallocentrism, powerless in a society that is overtly male dominated (Mulvey 1975). Such phallus nature portrays the woman as an object of domination and oppression not only by the male in the film and audience but also a representation of the powerl ess woman in a patriarchal society. She is aware of her lack of a penis and can only â€Å"exist in relation to her castration and cannot transcend it† (1975, 343). Thus, a woman cannot find real meaning other than in the enjoyment of the fact that she is castrated. However, Mulvey (1975) explains that it is within the paradox of the phallic nature that a woman finds her true meaning : the lack of penis is the cause of the phallus status while the desire to make the best out of the situation is what makes a woman derive meaning of life. Such phallocentrism is the signification of a woman’s suffering. The femme fatale in the film Gilda is not without suffering. When Gilda’s husband Mundson â€Å"dies† Johnny, her ex lover and protector, marries her not out of love but for his faith in Mundson. Johnny subjects Gilda to psychological as wells as physical suffering (Dirks 2011; Spiderbaby 2010). Gilda thus portrays the suffering that women have to go through in an overtly and an unapologetically patriarchal society. Such patriarchal tendencies fulfills the desires of the man at the expense of the woman are also exhibit in the film â€Å"Out of the Past.† Kathie is not a woman in freedom. She is constantly running away from her past (a man). In her earlier life she had shot and seriously injured Whit her lover and stole quite a hefty amount of money. Whit wants her back plus the money, a portrayal of how subordinated women are to men (Ebert 2010). Spiderbabay (2010) also explains that Kathie suffers betrayal from a man, her lover Jeff, when he leads her to the police so as to buy his freedom, as such using a woman to achieve his personal wishes to freedom. The biggest crime in the film is â€Å"not murder or stealing the money but betrayal† (Morris 2011) As Mulvey (1975) notes, the phallocentric approach (where women are aware of the weaknesses they are exposed to as a result of their penile deficiency) only reduces the wom an to an object of desire for men. The fatal woman in a film or stage play is thus propped in such a way that the male can have a proper gaze at her and fulfill his sexual desire. She is crafted in way that only portrays her sexual prowess and her power to seduce men, both the film characters and the audience.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Laura Melvey’s Male Gaze specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This desire is usually fulfilled by gazing at women characters. The male gaze is enhanced by several camera techniques, which focus on certain parts of the woman body. The focus is intended to drive the attention of the male towards that particular part of the body. Not any part of the female body is subject to focus. The camera only focuses on the various body part and behavioral traits that arouse and fulfill sexual desire in the male characters and the male audience. As such, the objectification of the woman is further achieved through compartmentalization of her body into sexual and non sexual parts (Barnes n.d.). Such trait is seen through the main character Gilda in the movie going by the same title. Gilda is a flirt who plays mid games with both the male characters and the male audience in an erotic and seductive way. The male gaze is directed at her provocative flirtation and seduction techniques. Gilda intentionally flirts with other men to make Johnny jealous (Dirks 2011). At one time in the film, Gilda does a striptease in on stage, in full view of the patrons at the club. This is a sexually provocative action that the cameras focus on to enhance the male gaze and fulfill the sexual desire of the male. Such acts have an effect both to the male audience as well as to the male characters in the film such as Johnny who in rage slaps Gilda for performing indecent acts in public. Later and out of the effect of that act Johnny confesses his love to Gilda (Spiderbaby 2010). Thus the two f ilms have exemplifies Mulveys theory that a woman is an objects subject to a males gaze for his sexual fulfillment. In further defining the male gaze mulvey explains that the man is the one who bears the ‘look’ while the woman only bears the image. As such ‘the pleasure of looking is divided into two: the active male gaze, and the passive female gaze (1975, p. 346). The active male gaze is the dominant gaze while the female has to be figured and structured appropriately to enhance her to-be-looked-at-ness. To-be-looked-at-ness is a very strong visual sexual symbol and is displayed through a series of erotic acts such as striptease [as exemplified by Gilda (Spiderbaby 2010)]. This kind of erotism makes a woman an indispensable character and spectacle in film noir. As such, femme fatale becomes an alien intrusion into the plot and thus a deviation from the normal script and storyline. Morris (2011) explains that Kathie is part of the lethal triangle that also includ es Jeff and her former lover Whit.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The story line is initially focused on recovering Whit’s $ 40000 stolen by his ex lover Kathie. However, Whit hire Jeff, an ex sleuth and the two, jefff and Kathie, fall in love and start an affair. Kathie and her new lover have to live on the run, running away from Whit who still wants to recover his money. This love affair thus becomes a considerable deviation from the sleuth work that the film was initially built on. It this becomes a story of Whits fatal obsession with Kathie, which finally makes the film, looses the initial theme (Mills 2007). The film Gilda also exemplifies Mulveys assertion that femme fatales are an erotic diversion from the films main story line. The film has a Mafioso inclination and the main character Mundson, is the owner of a casino and has connection to the underground mafia world. Mudson introduces Gilda as his wife and because of his lack of trust for her, asks Johnny, her former romantic partner, the roles of keeping an eye on her. Thus is the beginning of a love triangle as Johnny and Gilda rekindle their romantic flame. This is the point that love, romance and seduction take over and the film looses connection with the mafia world. Even though Mundson fakes his death to dissociate himself with the mafia his faked death is literary more significant to the love triangle. Mulvey (1975) adds that such diversion by the femme fatale from the main course off the story line does not make her significantly important as a person, rather t is what she provokes in the male character and audience that matters (347). Therefore, it is the sexual objectification of the woman and the gratification of the male character and the male audience by gazing at the sex object signified in a woman on stage that matters. The fatal woman has no importance in herself either to the film or to the audience. It is what she represents that counts. The male character is not subject to sexual objectification and as such is the important figure that cont rols desires and erotic nature of the woman. The male characters in the film are able to identify with what the audience is feels about the and thus part of its search and realization of sexual fulfillment. As such the male ceases to be an object of sexual desire but the power that controls the desire. Femme fatales sexually explicit behavior is thus as a result of such power by the man to control the way she behaves. The audience thus sees this power to control sexual desire through the woman (Mulvey 1975). However, the film Gilda put this notion under the perils of validity test. Gilda the main character is a dangerous and seductive woman who performs seductive acts such as flirting with other men and strip teasing so as to make Johnny her secret lover jealous. This evokes a very strong sense of attraction in Johnny towards Gilda (Spiderbabay 2010). Therefore instead of Johnny controlling the sexual desired as Mulvey suggests, he becomes the victim of such desire in which its powe r lies with femme fatale, rather than him. Film noir focuses on sexualisation of the female character, the symbolization of femme fatale as the object of sexual fulfillment to the male character and audience, thus masculining the audience (Mulvey 1975). This means that the film is only useful to men and this article does not tale care of the spectator who has tendencies towards both male and female sexuality. However in â€Å"Afterthought to Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema† Mulvey (1983) argues that the original intention was to celebrate the masculine culture of the spectator but this kind of spectator includes both men and women. It is possible to have women who are not particularly keen on having a sexual identify on the screen. This change of stance in the masculinisation of the female character is as a result of the fact that things have moved on and the way a woman carries herself has drastically changed (Mulvey 1985). Skjerdal,(1997) agrees with this new line of t hought and further adds that the masculinisation of the audience and the objectification of the female character in film noir is leaves the woman without any identify as it only describes her in relations to a mans desire. This also means that the woman is just a â€Å"bearer of meaning but not its maker† (Despotopoulou, 2004). However, the film Gilda gives the viewer an opportunity to contend this view. Gilda the main character posses an overwhelming power of seduction over the male character in the film. So powerful is her power of seduction that she chooses and owns the men who seduces her. Thus Gilda is a woman â€Å"knows her power over men and that she is the real definition of intoxicating sassiness† (Stevens 2009). Such power over men thus proves that the fatal woman is not just an embodiment of the male’s sexual desire but has made deliberate effort to develop her sexual identity, a tool she uses to her own advantage. Thus this film put Mulvey’s idea of lack of identity of femme fatale at great peril. Laura Mulvey’s Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema† offers some insight into the mysterious and almost mystical character of femme fatale. It supposes that this mysterious character is the creation of men for their own benefit. She is an object of sexual fulfillment. The male gazes at her and thus gains much sexual gratification. Such approach ha borrowed heavily from Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytical approach. It denies the woman the power to make her own identity. A political tool portrays the manner in which the way the society is structured to be dominated by men. However it does not answer to all questions as it does not take care of the part of the audience that has homosexual orientation (Rucas 2003). The idea does not also address the place of the female character and audience who is not a forced object of sexual symbolism but who likes and enjoys to be looked at. As such, weaknesses are ignored and need attention. Reference List Barnes, E., n.d. Laura Mulveys male gaze: Looking at film through the eyes of a man [Online] Available at freewebs.com/elizabethbarnes/index.htm   Despotopoulou, A., 2004. Fanny’s gaze and the construction of feminine space in  mansfield park† Modern Language Review ed. 99: 569-583. Dirks, T., 2011. Gilda (1946) [Online] Available at. filmsite.org/gild.html Doane, M., 1991. Femmes fatales: feminism, film theory psychoanalysis. New York: Routledge Ebert, R., 2004. Out of the Past (1947) [Online] Available at http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040718/REVIEWS08/407180301/1023 Mills, M., 2007. Out of the past. Online] Available at moderntimes.com/past/. Morris, G., 2011. High Gallows Jacques Tourneurs Out of the Past. [Online] Available at brightlightsfilm.com/29/outofthepast.html Mulvey, L., 1985. Changes, Discourse. pp 11 30. Muller, E., 2006. Film Noir. Green Cine podcast. [Online] Available at greencine.c om/static/primers/noir.jsp Mulvey, L., 1985. Afterthoughts on ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema,’† Feminist Film Theory. Sue Thoruham (ed.), NY: New York University Press, pp.31-40 [Online] Available at scribd.com/doc/17220483/Afterthoughts-on- Visual-Pleasure-and-Narrative-Cinema Mulvey, L., 1975. Visual pleasure and narrative cinema. Durham and Kellner Media and cultural studies ed., Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Rucas, P., 2003. The male gaze, homosexualization, and James Bond Films [Online] Available at angelfire.com/film/articles/bond.htm. Skjerdal, T., 1997. Laura Mulvey against the grain: a critical assessment of the  psychoanalytic feminist approach to film. Centre for Cultural and Media Studies, University of Natal ed. [Online] Available at. oocities.org/capitolhill/2152/mulvey.htm Slide share, 2011. The male gaze Laura Mulvey Presentation Transcript [Online] Available at slideshare.net/fleckneymike/the-male-gaze-laura-mulvey   Spiderbaby, L., 2010. Evil as admirable: the femme fatale in the eyes of the  contemporary female spectator. [Online] Available at   http://sbhonesty.blogspot.com/2010/11/evil-as-admirable-femme-fatale-in-eyes.html Stevens , S., 2009. Embrace your inner Goddess [Online] Available at http://goddesspower978.wordpress.com/tag/seductress/

Nobody Makes Bad Progress

Nobody Makes Bad Progress Nobody Makes â€Å"Bad Progress† Nobody Makes â€Å"Bad Progress† By Maeve Maddox Three times during a radio interview, a White House spokesman stated that something was â€Å"making good progress.† It occurred to me how often I hear the expression â€Å"good progress† uttered by politicians and administrators of various stripes. We are making good progress towards introducing a bill that will advance that goal.- A US senator. U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan acknowledged that [our state] is making good progress on our Race to the Top plans.- A state governor. We have been making good progress in three important areas.- A school principal. FTA is making good progress on developing more detailed guidance on which we will seek comment in the near future.- An FTA spokesman. The word progress, both noun and verb, derives from the Latin verb progredi: â€Å"to go forward, proceed, advance.† The English noun progress is defined as â€Å"the process of a series of actions through time.† As a verb, progress means, â€Å"to proceed, advance,† â€Å"to follow an expected course or pattern.† â€Å"Good progress† is bureaucratic-speak. It sounds good without meaning anything. It’s enough to say, â€Å"The FTA is making progress on developing more detailed guidance.† Progress may be rapid, slow, encouraging, delayed, or uncertain, but to say it is good is to pad language. â€Å"Good progress† is often accompanied by other meaningless phrases like â€Å"in the near future,† and â€Å"grounds for optimism.† Ordinary speakers may be forgiven for using the occasional clichà ©, but politicians and others who wish to advance themselves by swaying public opinion should be aware that coming from them, â€Å"good progress† signals a desire to avoid specifics. Note: The pronunciation of progress differs, according to whether it is used as a noun or as a verb. progress (noun): PRAH-gres (American); PRO-gres (British) progress (verb): pruh-GRES 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 Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Synonyms for â€Å"Angry†Homogeneous vs. HeterogeneousPersonification vs. Anthropomorphism

3 year personal development plan in nursing Outline

3 year personal development plan in nursing - Outline Example Within one year, the outcome should be evident in my communication and patient-care skills. The confidence gained will pave way for me to expand my professional network in the second year. This will be achieved through participating in at least one professional development program in a quarter, thus improving on my organisational commitment and job-satisfaction as noted by Turner (2007). This would also provide knowledge on the practice in other different nursing fields, including mental health nursing. Still in my second year, I will seek to develop academically. Thus, I will enrol for part-time postgraduate diploma course specialising in adult nursing which will take me two years, up to the third year of my development plan. I will apply for a scholarship from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) so as to subsidise on the cost implication. Accomplishing this course will expand my knowledge on patient care and further on ethical issues around nursing in general. Therefore, my three year development plan would basically entail professional development and network building and academic

Keystone Pipeline Issue on U.S. Economic and Environmental Annotated Bibliography

Keystone Pipeline Issue on U.S. Economic and Environmental perspectives - Annotated Bibliography Example According to Blakey, the Keystone XL pipeline polarizes parties from either side of the construction conflict. The article states that, in a typical enmity between liberals and traditionalists, both parties face a deeper disadvantage in their argument. If ecologists believe oil is not worth the jobs creation, then liberals will consider profit to be the prime key to the United States’ energy security (Blakey 335). Blanchard and Jacobson provide an ecological perception reflecting the provided carbon-concentration of tar-sands creation. Even though conservatives believe that that operation of the Alberta tar sands would merely come to a stop, demand for hydrocarbon-based energy is extremely high. In addition, the journal says that the Ogallala aquifer is acutely sensitive, but its vulnerability is more valuable than the likely damage to British Columbia’s rain forest. The last leading problem discussed in the journal is the likelihood of the construction of the Northern Gateway. The Northern Gateway may be a fallback approach for the ecologists (Blanchard and Jacobson 2011). Daugherty states that the president destroyed tens of thousands of employment opportunities when he denied Keystone the opportunity to build the Keystone XL pipeline. Many of the jobs would have been provided in Houston, Texas. Further than that, the government’s decision to halt the pipeline is considered complete irrational. The article says that the Obama administration is illogic from an economic perspective. This is because of an overpowering goal of national security supposed to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign energy sources (Daugherty 2012). Hargreaves says that the Obama administration refused an offer to develop the contentious Keystone oil sands pipeline. The article says that the government defended its choice by saying that the deadline enforced by the congress did not leave adequate time to carry out the essential review. The pipeline might not be

Dead Poets Society And Dangerous Minds Comparison Film Studies Essay

Dead Poets Society And Dangerous Minds Comparison Film Studies Essay The soundtrack of Dead Poets Society is a synchronous one of bagpipes being played during the procession, synchronous is a term used to describe a sound caused by some event on screen and which matches the action. This particular soundtrack relates particularly well to the visual track mainly because of it being synchronous, but also because bagpipes represent tradition a big theme throughout the film. I agree with this choice made by the director for using bagpipes as the soundtrack as it fits in nicely with the conformity being placed on the students by the school. On the other hand, the soundtrack used in Dangerous Minds is non synchronous, (sound which is recorded separately from the visuals then added later). The soundtrack is also a sound bridge the music continues through shots adding to the continuity. The use of the song: Gangsters Paradise, relates to the theme of gangs within the area and life on the streets. I also agree with the choice made by the director the song reflects themes which appear later in the film. A matched cut type of editing is used in the opening sequences of Dead Poets Society; this is where a familiar relationship between the shots may make the changes seem smooth. This type of editing is used to show continuity and no change in time between shots giving the viewer all the small details. This editing is effective and continues as the characters enter a new scene, the chapel. Again, Dangerous Minds adopts a different approach by using a jump cut editing technique this is an abrupt switch from one scene to another indicating discontinuity. I believe this is used to show the extent of disrespect for public property as seen by destruction and vandalism. This editing also shows sections of interactions between characters which gives the viewer an idea of who they really are. Now, on to the choices relating to colour and lighting starting with Dead Poets Society. A lot of light is used in its opening sequences, all the characters faces are sufficiently lit up. Light is also a form of iconography with the Light of Knowledge in the form of a candle which also provides light to the large chapel. Lighting can manipulate a viewers attitude towards a character, this happened to me when light was shining up from beneath Mr Nolans face, giving the impression of a stern character and a severe enforcer of rules. The colours are also light; oranges, yellows and red which represent a warm environment (for the time being). Dangerous Minds shows a different aspect of how colour can be used effectively in an opening sequence. The first thing the viewer notices is that the visuals are in black and white only this creates an interest in the viewer as it is unexpected and they therefore pay more attention. The misà ¨-en-scà ¨ne is dark regardless of the black and white colour and there are shadows moving through some of the shots hinting at mysterious lifestyles. The colour changes from black and white to colour as the characters move into the higher class areas on their way to school, this shows the significance school has and still will have on them. The establishing shot in Dead Poets Society is of a wall painted with old pupils, the American flag and the English flag, another example of an old school remembering its roots and traditions a prominent theme throughout the rest of the film. There is a close up two-shot capturing the emotions of the two boys having their photo taken. A close up shot of bagpipes being set up reinforces the theme of tradition and tracking as the procession enters the chapel draws the viewer into the film. The establishing shot of Dangerous Minds is of a neglected building with graffiti on it saying, We love you baby! the camera then pans across the room showing even more graffiti. The camera angles focus more on the surrounding of the characters rather than the characters themselves, emphasising the huge impact of where people come from has on their lives. The first theme introduced in Dead Poets Society is that of tradition. This is seen from the establishing shot of the wall showing the history of the school; it is achieved through the misà ¨-en-scà ¨ne and iconography by showing the bagpipes and them being played by a student. The Light of Knowledge is also a form of iconography and it represents the theme of the high-class school, where students are expected to achieve good results. The other form of iconography is the banners the four boys hold during the procession, the themes are printed on them: discipline, excellence, honour and tradition. The obvious theme in Dangerous Minds is one of disrespect as seen by the high concentration of graffiti on the buildings; this is seen through the misà ¨-en-scà ¨ne. A form of iconography which introduces a theme is the broken stop sign, this shows a complete disregard for rules as initially seen by the extremely raucous class Ms Johnson is appointed to teach. To conclude, both films use different techniques to try and convey their particular messages in the opening sequences. However, I believe that through intricate misà ¨-en-scà ¨ne, good use of iconography, camera angles, soundtrack, lighting and editing; Dead Poets Society stands out as the more convincing of the two films in conveying their message. (979 words)

Analysis Of Health And Social Care In The Uk

ABSTRACT This analysis provides a review on the health and social care services in the UK. This will include an exploration of inequalities with the care sectors from the focus of the policy and individual and a discussion on promotion of equality and individual rights within the care sector. A brief history of social care in the UK will also be given. A clear understanding of inequalities in health is of critical importance so as to develop policies and interventions that support all sections of the society and direct care, treatment and services in proportion to need. Social workers can play an important role in these inequalities by working with service users in increasing their social and material resources and providing them access to information and support systems as well as maximizing their capacity to managing their health. INTRODUCTION At a time when there is a growing population in need of care, yet inequalities in health and social care challenge effective provision of services, the UK government face the central question: how should inequalities in health care be tackled and how can government ensure the promotion of individual rights within the care sector (Alcock, et.al., 2006)In order to explore on this subject, we must first define what we mean by social care. Social care encompasses a range of services that help people maintain independence, help them manage complex relationships, protect them in vulnerable situations and enable them to play a fuller part in the society (DOH 2006). It includes the provision of personal care, social work, protection and social support services to children and vulnerable adults. The provision of social care is often deemed necessary at old age or when an individual is suffering from long-term illness, learning and physical/sensory disability or mental illness. RATIONALE The current system in the UK is perceived unfair in the provision services in health care. There are huge disparities in the provision of health care services in parts of the UK with the spearheaded areas experiencing worst health care and deprivation (Ellison & Pierson 2003). The central focus of health inequalities policies have primarily been on health care and NHS funding. While significant progress has been made over the past decade by the National Health Service, inequalities still remain prevalent in the health care (Adams 2007). BACKGROUND OF SOCIAL CARE IN THE UK Social care has long been in existence as an informal concept through family support, community support and charitable works (Manson, et.al., 2004). The earliest Parliamentary Act that offered formal support to social care was the Poor Law of 1601 (Manson, et.al., 2004). This Act of parliament referred those in need of domestic care, health care, employment and housing to the care of their Parish. The advent of social work in the 19th century offered more formal support to social care. From medieval times, care was provided mostly by faith organizations or voluntary associations (Manson, et.al., 2004). The coming into power by the liberal government in 1906 was accompanied with the provision of formal health and social care that led to the establishment of the National Health Services (NHS) and the Welfare state in England during the 1940s (Manson, et.al., 2004). This herald a new dawn for social work by making access to formal health and social care services free at the point of need. The care standards Act of 2000 further increased the recognition of social work with the introduction of a degree in social work and the social workers’ register (Porter & Teisberg 2006). It is a requirement for social workers to hold an Honours degree or postgraduate MA in social work and to register with the General Social Care Council prior to commencing work. With this background knowledge in mind, it is worth examining the types of services provided by agencies in social care. SERVICES PROVIDED BY STATUTORY AND VOLUNTARY CARE AGENCIES Care services include services provided at care homes, domiciliary care, foster care, respite care and care provided at community venues (Jordan 2008).DOMICILIARY CARE/HOME CAREThis is the care that is provided at home and is suited for persons that have less acute need (Francis 2012). Limited nursing care may be provided by a District Nurse when needed. Nursing care is usually provided in care homes especially for the more infirm elderly as such individuals are often in need of medical attention and a greater level of care (Lovell & Cordeaux 1999). Domiciliary care aims at providing help with a specific task such as bathing or waking up in the morning. Traditionally, family members, friends and partners have provided domiciliary care. There is however a growing number of voluntary and statutory agencies providing domiciliary care services in the UK. Care UK is one such provider which has been approved to provide domiciliary care services to 55 local authorities in the UK (Francis 2012). Care UK provides domiciliary care to many service users including older people with dementia, children, individuals who are physically disabled and those with sensory impairments as well as serving adults with specialist needs such as mental illness, learning difficulties, HIV and acquired brain injury (Francis 2012).RESPITE CAREThis can be defined as a temporary relief provided for an elderly or the carer and may take the following forms (Lovell & Cordeaux 1999): Taking a break away from the daily routine by the elderly such as a going on a holiday. A short stay in a care home so that the carer can go on a holiday Increased support at home to enable the carer to pursue his/her interests Respite care may be as little as a day, a week or even an hour per week depending on the circumstances of the individual. Under the Carers Recognition and Services Act 1995, a carer who provides substantial care to his/her relative, friend, neighbour or partner is entitled to his/her own separate assessment by social services (Lovell & Cordeaux 1999). If assessed as in need of respite care, then this can be arranged by them.FOSTER CAREThis refers to the care provided to a minor who has been made a â€Å"ward† (Curry & Ham 2010). The minor is placed in the hands of a licensed or state certified caregiver who is often referred to as the foster parent. Foster care placement may be voluntary or involuntary. Where the biological parent is not able to provide the needed care to the minor, then voluntary placement may occur. However, where the minor is at risk of physical or psychological harm, then involuntary placement occurs (Curry & Ham 2010). There are many agencies providing fostering services in the UK. FosterCare UK is one independent non-profit organization established in 2007 to provide foster care services to minors in London and South East (Porter & Teisberg 2006). FosterCare UK recruits, trains, approves and supports foster carers to work with young people with complex and challenging needs (Porter & Teisberg 2006).COMMUNITY CARECare may as well be provided at community venues such as drop-in and day care centres. A good example is the Community Integrated Care (CIC) group, one of the leading nonprofit social and health care providers in the UK (Porter & Teisberg 2006). CIC is a national and registered charity that works in the community by providing support to people with a diverse range of needs across England and Scotland (Porter & Teisberg 2006). The group provides support to people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities and mental health conditions. It also provides a range of support services to o lder people with dementia. Further, CIC provides homelessness services such as housing, personal development and training and education to homeless people (Porter & Teisberg 2006). While there are a number of agencies, both statutory and voluntary, offering social care services to vulnerable individuals, challenges still remain in the provision of such services. Health inequality is one major challenge which has continued to undermine the effective provision of services in the health care. INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH In the UK, the black and minority ethnic (BME) groups have in general reported ill-health and their dissatisfaction with the care services. A large proportion of the UK population constitutes the white. According to the 2001 census, the white accounted for 92% of the total population while the Black British and Asians accounted for 2% and 4% respectively (DOH 2006). Ethnic differences in the delivery and uptake of health care services have been reported. For example, access to care for coronary heart disease has been found to be lower among the South Asians (DOH 2006). With reference to prevention, the rates of smoking cessation have been found to be lower in these minority groups compared to the whites (DOH 2006). Additionally, most of these minority groups have indicated higher rates of dissatisfaction with the services provided by the NHS. For example, according to the Healthcare Commission patient surveys, most of the South Asians reported poorer experiences in hospitals as inpatients (DOH 2006). Many of these minority groups experience higher rates of poverty than the whites, in terms of area deprivation, worklessness, income, and the lack of basic necessities. This perhaps explains the variation in self-reported health. However, other than their socio-economic status, there is a complex interplay of factors that may be responsible for causing such inequalities including discrimination, racism, poor delivery of health care services, biological susceptibility and the differences in culture and lifestyles (DOH 2006). PROGRESS AND INITIATIVES TOWARDS REDUCING INEQUALITY IN HEALTH CARE Policy developments have tried to tackle inequalities in health. Acheson’s Independent Inquiry of 1998 was a key initiative that put health inequalities on the policy agenda (Stuart 2003). It emphasized on how poverty, the wider inequalities and exclusion were impacting on the provision of health care services. Subsequent policies have also recognized inequalities in health as multi-faceted and focused on reducing these inequalities. The central focus of health inequalities policies have primarily been on health care and NHS funding (Baldock, et.al., 2007). Besides the socioeconomic inequalities, policies have also focused explicitly on equity between the various ethnic groups. Identifying good practice in racial equality and mainstreaming strategies in health services has been the main approach to tackling inequalities (Baldock, et.al., 2007). A number initiatives have been commissioned by the Department of Health to collate good practice in equality in health such as Race for Health, Pacesetters and handling problems like language barriers and barrier to access of health care resources (Stuart 2003). More recently, major reforms have been made to the NHS. The role that Primary Care Trust plays in health care has expanded and changes have been made to practice based commissioning, competition, and involvement of patient as well as plurality of providers (Lewis, et.al 2010). These reforms are seen as making it easier tailor health care services to local populations thus meeting the needs of everyone, including the minority groups. The Department of Health has also initiated the Mosaic programme, which aims at developing and maintaining good practice in procurement, based on the Commission for Racial Equality guidelines (DOH 2006). Concerns have however been raised by critics that the initiative may not be of benefit to the minority and deprived groups and they have called for an examination of the impact that these reforms may have on equalities. While there has been a remarkable progress towards reducing inequalities in the health care sector in UK, there is still the need to develop more policies and interventions that support all sections of the society and direct care, treatment and services in proportion to need. This includes advocating for the promotion of individual rights within the care sector. PROMOTION OF EQUALITY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS In this regard, individual rights include, but are not limited to (Adams 2007): The right to respect Not to be discriminated against Right to practice their cultural and religious beliefs Making their own choices Right to equality or to be treated in a similar manner as the rest of the population Treated as an individual Right to be treated in a dignified way Right to privacy or confidentiality Protection from harm and danger Right to have access to information, especially where that information concerns them Communication using their preferred methods. There is thus the need for recognition of the immense diversity amongst individuals in the British society and how care agencies, both voluntary and statutory, can accommodate this diversity. This promotion of equality and individual rights is crucial for effective provision of care services. That is, social workers need to treat everyone as an individual, have respect for individual’s diversity and cultural values, promote equal treatment and opportunities for individuals, empower individuals, support them express their needs and experiences, ensure their well-being, work in ways consistent with the individual’s preferences and beliefs, avoid their discrimination and put the individual’s preference at the heart of service provisions through person centred planning approach (Adams 2007). CONCLUSION Social care services are provided to vulnerable individuals to protect them from harm, promote their independence and social inclusion, preserve or advance their physical and mental health, improve their opportunities and life chances, strengthen their families and protect and promote their individual human rights. In spite of the importance of provision of social care services, it is apparent that the current system in the UK is perceived unfair in the provision of health care services. There seems to be huge disparities in health care service provisions in parts of the UK with the spearheaded areas experiencing worst health care and deprivation. A remarkable progress has however been made towards reducing inequalities in the health A number initiatives have been commissioned by the Department of Health to collate good practice in equality in health such as Race for Health, Pacesetters and major reforms made to the NHS. These are seen as making it easier to tailor health care services to local populations thus meeting the needs of everyone, including the minority groups. While there has been a remarkable progress made, there is still the need to develop more policies and interventions that support all sections of the society and direct care, treatment and services in proportion to need. Social workers can play an important role in reducing health inequalities by working with service users in increasing their social and material resources and providing them access to information and support systems as well as maximizing their capacity to managing their health. REFERENCE Adams, R., 2007. Foundations of health and social care. Palgrave publishers Alcock, P., et.al., 2006. Students companion to social policy. Blackwell publishers Baldock et al (eds), 2007. Social Policy, Oxford University Press. Bradshaw, et.al., 1978. Issues in social policy. Routledge. Curry N. and C. Ham, 2010. Clinical and Service Integration: The route to improved outcomes. London: The King’s Fund. Available at: www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/clinical_and_service.html (accessed on 16 February 2012). Department of Health (DOH), 2006. Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction for Community Services. London: DOH Department of Health, 1998. Modernising social services. Crown publishers. Hill, M., 2006. Social policy in the modern world. Blackwell publishers Ellison, N. and C. Pierson, 2003. Developments in British Social Policy. Palgrave publishers Francis, J., 2012. An overview of the UK domiciliary care sector. Sutton. United Kingdom Home Care Association Ltd. Jordan, B., 2008. Social policy for the 21st century (New Perspective). Polity Press. Lewis R, et.al., 2010. Where Next for Integrated Care Organisations in the NHSLondon: Nuffield Trust. Lovell, T and C. Cordeaux, 1999. Social Policy for Health and Social Care. Hodder and Stoughton. Mason, et.al, 2004. BTEC Introduction Health and Social Care. Heinemann. Platt, L, 2002. Parallel livesPoverty among ethnic minority groups in Britain, London. Porter, M. and E. Teisberg, 2006. Redefining Health Care: Creating Value- Based Competition On Results. Harvard Business School Press. Stuart, et.al, 2003. Tackling Health Inequalities since the Acheson Inquiry, Bristol

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Essay example

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, written by Robert Louis Stevenson, is a story rife with the imagery of a troubled psyche. Admittedly taken largely from Stevenson’s dreams, it undoubtably sheds light on the author’s own hidden fears and desires. Written at the turn of the 19th Century, it also reflects the psychology of society in general at the same time when Sigmund Freud was setting about to do the same thing. While Freud is often criticized for his seemingly excessive emphasis on sexual suppression as the leading cause of psychological disturbances, the time period in which he lived was exceedingly strict on what constituted appropriate and inappropriate behavior.†¦show more content†¦The most convincing evidence of this is seen when the character of Hyde, who is representative of all that Jekyll has suppressed, startled him by â€Å"destroying the portrait of my father† (61). Jekyll’s outward actions may disguise his internal disarray, but it is clearly depicted in his environment. The habitations of Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde parallel the arrangement of his mind state. While Jekyll’s home is open for all to view and enter, every abode highly associated with Hyde is kept locked and off-limits. Hyde’s residence, or the nether-side of Jekyll’s, is an impenetrable fortress with no windows and which showed every sign of â€Å"prolonged and sordid negligence† (8). Jekyll’s private cabinet, which contained the chemical components for bringing about his transformation into Hyde, had a door that was â€Å"very strong, the lock excellent,† and which required â€Å"two hour’s work† by a locksmith to allow admittance (43). The most obvious representative residence is that of Jekyll’s last refuge in the inner sanctum of his scientific research building. The door had to be repeatedly axed to al low forced entry as â€Å"the wood was tough and the fittings were of excellent workmanship† (38). This area proved to be the most revelatory of Jekyll’s unconscious, containing many â€Å"closets† thatShow MoreRelatedThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1675 Words   |  7 PagesThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Essay Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella, â€Å"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,† is a type of Gothic literature. In the beginning of the story when Stevenson is describing the lawyer, one â€Å"Mr. Utterson,† the mood is a bit dull. At first glance the reader may think that this story would be a bit boring and drab. Stevenson’s story is far from being another dull piece of British English literature. The setting and mood of this novella are more complexRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde Essay975 Words   |  4 PagesStevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novella that follows the basic outline established by Mary Shelley in Frankenstein. However, Stevenson’s monster is not created from body parts but comes from the dark side of the human personality. In both novels, a man conducts a secret experiment that gets out of control. The result of these experiments is the release of a double, or doppelgan ger, which causes damage to their creator. While most people think that The Strange Case of Dr. JekyllRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1440 Words   |  6 Pagescomplexity of human nature in his books, especially in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Kidnapped. The former is about a lawyer named Mr. Utterson seeking out the truth of Dr. Jekyll’s very strange will. He finds out that Jekyll was transforming himself into Mr. Hyde so that he could have the freedom to do whatever he wanted no matter how evil. By the time Utterson finds all this out and findsJekyll, he is too late and Jekyll has already killed himself. The latter is about David BalfourRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1196 Words   |  5 Pageswhich do let control you? The good or evil? This was a question that Dr. Jekyll from the book, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, could not answer. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a book about a man who cannot control the two sides of himself, causing him to do terrible things and not even be aware of it. The theme of this book is good versus evil. Dr. Jekyll is fighting his evil side, known as Mr. Hyde, throughout the book. Some people believe that the book’s theme hasRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde938 Words   |  4 PagesVictorian Hopes and Fears Involving Science as Found in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde During the Victorian Era there was a great race to use science to alleviate the suffering of the ill, specifically for those patients who were suffering from ailments of the mind. While some of the methods used to diagnose and treat such afflictions would be considered barbaric in nature by today’s standards, they were considered cutting edge medical science during the time of the Victorian Era. It was also consideredRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde964 Words   |  4 PagesThe Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, written by Robert Louis Stevenson was published in 1886. The story is published during the Victorian era, the Victorian era was an age of repression, there was no violence, no sexual appetite, and there was no great expression or emotion. In the story, Dr. Jekyll creates a potion that turns him into Mr. Hyde, Mr. Hyde is the complete opposite of what people are in the Victorian era. At first, Dr. Jekyll is in control of Mr. Hyde, but towards t he end MrRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1505 Words   |  7 PagesDuring the latter portion of the nineteenth century, Robert Louis Stevenson published his novella, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The fin de sià ¨cle saw the rise of different thoughts and ideas surrounding science and society. These concepts and interpretations sparked the discourse surrounding the theory of degeneration; which was the concern that civilization would fall to a lower state of being. This chapter will be reading multiplex personality as a manifestation of this broader culturalRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1739 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel â€Å"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde† by Robert Louis Stevenson, the novel â€Å"Frankenstein† by Mary Shelley, the short story â€Å"The Monkey’s Paw† by W.W Jacobs and the short story â€Å"Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. These four texts convey this theme through the use of gothic conventions such as death, madness and darkness. In the novels The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll are wronglyRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1351 Words   |  6 PagesThe Personas of Henry Jekyll Every person is born with bright and dark personas that people moderate due to the standards of society. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Jekyll and Hyde battle for the power to stay alive in the story. As Jekyll continues to try and take over his evil persona, Hyde tries to stay alive and cause evil in the world. In our society, many people will struggle with self control and Dr. Jekyll has trouble controlling his alter ego by performing his evil pleasuresRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1326 Words   |  6 Pages The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was published during the late Victorian era, but he clearly brings into question the acceptance of Victorian philosophies, especially the belief that one truth exists and that we can identify good and evil as separate entities. The names Jekyll and Hyde have become synonymous with multiple personality disorder. This novel can be examined from the natural dualism and Freud’s structural th eory of the mind. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr