The Modern City in the Latin-American Context - Literature Essay Samples

Throughout Guillermo del Toro’s Cronos and Luis Buà ±uel Los olvidados, it is apparent that the overall sense of unease, horror and despair are ingrained within the ambiences of each of these films, with the backdrop of the city playing a vital role in the development of this idea. However, the extent to which the idea of the city itself acts as a character on its own within these films is a question that requires a consideration of the contextual and formal differences between them, allowing one to think about whether it is Mexico City, an undefined city, or something else entirely that shapes the narratives of these stories. Beginning with Cronos, and the role of Mexico City in particular as a vehicle for the themes the film deals with, the contextual aspects behind del Toro’s work is paramount to an understanding of the vampirism and the general sense of a moral decay throughout it. With regard to a â€Å"contaminating† conception of the modern city, the changes occurring during 1990s Mexico are felt in a striking and unsettling way, with the vampirism serving as a cover for examining the economic or cultural relations between Latin America and its powerful northern neighbor the United States. The link between the alchemy of the colonial period and the creation of the cronos device juxtaposed with the present day interference of the de la Guardias in Jesà ºs Gris’ life paints a picture of a troubled Mexico, a Mexico that has been continually contaminated by foreigners, or cultural predators. However, Ann Davies suggests a reading of the film in an apolitical way, saying that whilst a message of the film is that the death, disease and bodily dissolution suffered by Gris must be policed and guarded against, the embodiment of such an infiltration is what proves to be terrifying. Whilst the physical decay of Gris is a terrifying spectacle from a cinematic perspective, Davies’ argument is a particularly weak one, for the reasons why del Toro has chosen the genre of the vampire film are what gives the film its allegorical significance. Furthermore, whilst Davies’ explanation of the heterotopic elements of the vampire is indeed an important one, it overlooks the fact that the name of the device and the films title, Cronos, translates into English as â€Å"stopwatch†, an element which allows for an interesting consideration for how the film’s relationship with time fits into a critique of urban modernity, something we can later link to Los olvidados. Continuing with Davies’ ideas, she criticizes John Kraniauskas’ consideration of the vampire as a symbol of neo colonial economic relations in Latin America, favouring Ann Marie Stock’s argument against trying to perceive the film as a vehicle of Mexicanness. However, considering that the film was released on the eve of Mexico’s absorption into the North American Free Trade Agreement, and that the cities in Latin America were beset by fevers of demolition and reconstruction, with new investment money tries to liquidate old assets and speculators awash with capital from US and European markets, this argument appears to be a weak one, for the allegory of the industrial Americans versus the humble Mexican shopkeeper is clear throughout the film. Coming back to del Toro’s work as a stage for the portrayal of an economically anxious Mexico, a fear of globalisation is present in the featuring of street signs in Arabic and Chinese, and the multilingualism of the dialogue, switching between Spanish and English. Here, del Toro presents us with a Mexico City that is changing, an important point when taking into account that for the director, the setting of the film in Mexico City was of high importance, With Kantaris going on to highlight the significance of the city’s presence in the film’s credit sequence, with its fast traffic, multilingual signposts and litter of Christmas shopping strewn across the streets, and Gris’ small house dwarfed by modern buildings. This house, then, represents a piece of the past (as it were frozen in time, in a crono/stopwatch) that this new Mexico City is trying to hold on to in the dawn of this new economic era. Thus, Mexico City itself becomes a character of this film, with the context surrounding Cronos allowing it to become a manifestation of socio-economic concerns in 1990s Mexico. Moving on to Los Olvidados, it is undoubtedly clear during the opening credit sequence of the film that Buà ±uel had set out for this film to be a critique of this new, urban environment that his protagonists find themselves trapped in, an extremely hostile environment which offers no escape from the horrors of the city. Interestingly, the use of footage from a variety of cities, New York, Paris and London, along with the voiceover explaining how these â€Å"grandes ciudades modernas esconden tras sus magnà ­ficos edificios lugares de miseria†, leaving no doubt that this film is going to show urban life as it really is, with no illusions of optimism. Buà ±uel’s fierce cynicism may stem from the fact that he was living in a Spanish exile in Mexico during the time of the film’s production, hence, unlike del Toro, his Mexico has a more bitter connotation. Furthermore, the importance of Mexico City specifically is not as clear as is it for del Toro, for the Spanis h director seems to be painting a narrative of an impoverished city life that is universal. This is supported by J. Rubia Barcia, who says that Jaibo could be a hoodlum boy of the streets of Rome, Paris, Madrid, or London, and that, more noticeable than anything else, is the absolute absence from the film of reason, of moral feeling, of true religion, as if the two thousand years of Christianity had not existed at all, even in its formal aspects, for there is not a single religious image nor a prayer in the whole film. As a result, Buà ±uel’s film appears to be the opposite of del Toro’s allegorical tale, with the way in which the film is directed taking it more into the realm of the neorealism that was occurring in Italy at the time. However, if we look at these two films side by side, although the were filmed over 40 years apart, anxieties stemming from a fear of the contaminating, predatory, and anarchic conceptions of the Latin American city can be seen in both, with Los olvidados concerned with the development and increasing populations of the urban world (especially important when considering that Mexico City was one of the fastest-growing cities in Latin America at the time), whilst Cronos deals with the later fears produced by a globalizing world. Both films, then, deal with the problems with urban life and the effect of this on inhabitants, however, del Toro does this in a way that is specific to Mexico City, whilst Buà ±uel’s city is almost an anonymous one, with his film becoming a piece of art that shows these urban horrors in an unashamed way, similar to Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. Going back to the way that word â€Å"crono† these films’ relationship with time fits into a c ritique of urban modernity, for Los olvidados, the time within which the narrative takes place, just like the city it is set in, can be said to be meaningless, merely a repeat of scenes across cities around the world, with the stopwatch repeating on an endless cycle, with the modern city contaminating the innocence of the film’s characters, with the predatory nature of the urban turning these children into perpetrators of the horrors of city life. To conclude, then, the allegory of the US invaders into Mexican culture and life is clear from Guillermo del Toro’s narrative in Cronos, with the vampire metaphor representing the moral decay produced by this capitalist interference in the city. Mexico City plays a specific role within this film, with the Mexican director taking this sprawling metropolis and using it to portray the economic and social anxieties produced by the increasing globalisation and American power at the time. In contrast, Luis Buà ±uel’s Los olvidados appears to be a criticism of all cities, not just the Mexican capital, but his message is still very similar to del Toro’s, acting as a warning of the degradation produced by life in this urban environments. As a result, the modern city is indeed conceived as predatory, contaminating and anarchic, however, for Buà ±uel, this is not strictly in a Latin American context.

Essay on The Myths of the African American Woman - 2628 Words

Defying the Myths of the African American Woman - Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Song of Solomon, and Push Throughout slavery, myths were created about African American women. These myths of yesterday have tainted the image of the African American woman today. These myths include two major ideas, the first being that all African American women are perceived as more promiscuous than the average white woman. The second myth is that black women are virtually useless, containing only the capabilities of working in white homes and raising white children. These myths caused these women to be degraded in the eyes of others as well as themselves. Harriet Jacobs, Toni Morrison, and Sapphire are three African American†¦show more content†¦Meantime, her mother is no help; beating her at will, and satisfying her own bizarre sexual needs from her daughter. Schools have also all failed her; teachers find her ``uncooperative, and she considers her last a ``retarded hoe. Finally, Precious enrolls in a Harlem alternative school where she begins the tough climb out of illiteracy. No longer dreaming impossible ideas about rappers and movie star fame, she joins six others in a basic-skills class run by Blue Rain, a self-proclaimed lesbian who isnt afraid to editorialize in class. In short order, Precious discovers the joys of the alphabet and journal-writing, the pleasures of owning books and composing poetry. Although she raises herself to a seventh-grade level by narratives end, she also finds out shes HIV positive. Ms. Blue Rain, pushes Precious to change with encouragement and inspiration. Ms. Rain challenges Precious to learn to read and write and improve her way of life. She proves to be the bedrock teacher Precious has desperately needed. The name Blue Rain paints an image of a tranquil and pure person. Blue is a color which often symbolizes tranquility as Rain symbolizes freshness, thus purity. Ms. Rains soul is indeed as pure and tranquil as an afternoon rain shower. She is cleansing to Preciouss spirit when she encourages her to take on a new world; literacy. Preciouss pursuit of literacy and then college defies theShow MoreRelatedAn Inside Look at Melissa Harris-Perry Essay1597 Words   |  7 PagesMelissa Harris-Perry analyzes the myths surrounding black women and the implication that correlate with these myths. Perry focuses on three main stereotypes of black women that began with slavery and are still prevalent in society today. Perry not only examines the depth and causes of these stereotypes, but she also scrutinizes their role in African Americans lives as citizens today. Black women today are not only separated from society outside of the African American community, but there are also existingRead MoreMardi Gras Essay788 Words   |  4 Pagesand white individuals in the community, the forced segregation between the two Mardi Gras groups, and the restrictions put on people of African descent from being a part of the MCA parade unless they were a worker or dancer as revealed by the documentary â€Å"Order of Myths.† Today, the separate Mardi Gras groups between the African-American (MAMGA) and White-American (MCA) individuals is one of the most obvious issues of racism of Mardi Gras within Mobile, Alabama as it creates a divide between two racialRead MoreAfrican American Women : An Examination Of Female Slavery1204 Words   |  5 Pages African-American women have been neglected historical recognition during the primitive and the final stages of North American slavery. 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Among them, the history book Ar’n’t I a Woman is a highly readable work, and the author Debra Gray White focuses her attention exclusively on the place where these two subjects intersect (sex and gender). The source material that is in the book is very interesting, andRead MoreAmerican Institutional And Intellectual Life Essay1455 Words   |  6 Pagesinstitution of slavery destroyed African culture in America, and whether it reduced slaves to a child-like state of dependency and incompetence. Anthropologist Melville Herskovits, and historian Stanley Elkins both weigh in on this debate: Herskovits with, The Myth of the Negro Past, and Elkins with, Slavery: A Problem in American Institutional and Intellectual Life. In, Slavery: A Problem in American Institutional and Intel lectual Life, Elkins asserts that African culture was all but destroyed byRead MoreThe Fruits Of Her Labor1445 Words   |  6 PagesThe Fruits of Her Labor: Female African Slavery From the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the Civil War and the addition of the Thirteenth Amendment (December 1865), there existed a legal or economic system under which people were treated as property in the United States. This system is universally known as slavery and it victims, Western African and their decedents. From July 1776 to December 1865, it was legal and morally accepted by some to own another human being. This system becomeRead MoreKingfisher Essay1281 Words   |  6 Pageswere frequently overshadowed and ultimately faded until all that remained was the collection of negative presumptions associated with the Sapphire and the myth of the â€Å"angry black woman.† The generally agreed upon stereotypes of the Sapphire are never positive. The Sapphire has been described as â€Å"the wise-cracking, balls-crushing, emasculating woman, [who] is usually shown with her hands on her hips and her head thrown back as she lets everyone know whos boss.† Similarly, Sapphire has been characterizedRead MoreIn The United States, Not Only Are Latin Women Being Misunderstood,1508 Words   |  7 Pagesmisunderstood, but African American women are also stereotyped by other people. Latin women are discriminated in their dressing and service occupations, while African American Americans are stereotyped in sexually promiscuous, caregiving role, and â€Å"welfare queens.† Both of them are victims of racial stereotypes, which affect them negatively on their identities and characteristics. However, the differentiation of their cultures makes them being stereotyped in distinct aspects. Some of African American women’s

Abnormal Psych and Disorders - 1460 Words

It is hard to say if the human mind is a fragile or resilient thing. On the one hand, humans are able to grow and adapt and take on struggles, while on the other, their minds can crumble beneath pressure from the stressors of life on earth, resulting in a variety of psychological disorders. One such disorder is post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the Encyclopedia of Psychology, post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, occurs after an individual experiences a particularly traumatic event, usually one where there is physical harm or an extreme threat of physical harm (Kazdin, 2000). The disorder was formally recognized for the first time in 1980 when the American Psychology Association added it to its new edition of the Diagnostic†¦show more content†¦It was found during experimentation that mice that did not produce stathmin were less likely than other mice to freeze up when confronted with a frightening event, as were mice that produced more GRP (NIMH, n.d.). Scient ists have also noted that different parts of the brain are involved in the formation and extinction fear memories and that size and structure influence how well these parts of the brain do their jobs. Since all of the above are dictated by a person’s genes, scientists theorize that there exist genetic quirks that make a person more or less susceptible to PTSD (NIMH, n.d.). Though there are external factors that could be at play as well — head trauma, a good childhood versus a troubled one, the presence of a support system or the lack thereof, etc. — there is evidence supporting a genetic proclivity toward PTSD in the fact that identical twins are more likely to both suffer from PTSD than fraternal twins (Oltmanns Emery, 2012). This means there is a hope that examination of genetic and other factors may one day lead to the ability to predict who will suffer from PTSD and who will not. 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Homeless Research Essay Example For Students

Homeless Research Essay The American dream is hard to find. In most cases, the dream includes a home. For many Americans who financially struggling to feed themselves, having a roof over their head is nearly an impossible task. As our government has progressed in the twentieth century, aid has been given to homeless families in the form of basic housing. Low income or subsidized housing has grown immensely I the past few years. The debate is whether subsidized housing is a free home or a free ride. The subsidized housing program should be used as assistance and not a crutch. Many say that you make out of life what you put into it. Homelessness to certain individuals is brought on by the homeless individuals actions so they feel that they shouldnt receive any help from the government. Many believe that subsidized housing is positive ground for families to get into a home and stabilize their financial situation (Gramer). The worry on a lot of minds is the amount of money being handed out to the subsidized housing programs (Husock). The money could be used for other programs such as Medicare or social security (Shinn). The housing programs might be costly but can help families from living on the streets. 1.3 million tenants are currently living in subsidized housing while 2.7 million are living in public housing where the landlord receives incentives from the government (Husock). These millions of tenants are costing working taxpayers because the money running the government assisted programs comes out of tax dollars. Alternatives and remedies need to be thought out. Often, families are moving into subsidized housing to better the home they were living in (Husock). Section 8 vouchers allow individuals to choose the area they want to live in. The great idea about Section 8 vouchers is the tenant pays thirty percent of the rent. In MaryBeth Shinns article, she quotes a researcher that says, That as long as the number of families living in intolerable conditions exceeds the capacity of the shelter system, increases in shelter capacity will lead to increases in the size of the shelter (Shinn). Shinns article goes on further by saying that families often have to choose between housing that is structurally adequate and housing that is affordable. Howard Husock came up with a great idea for solving the problem with subsidized housing and tenants that use the program too long. His idea is to have time limits on the amount of time that tenants can stay in public housing or use public housing vouchers. Husock states, It (Time limits) would allow housing subsidies to be directed to those in most immediate need rather than simply going to persons already in the system. In his article, startling facts and figures are given about the length of time tenants stay in assisted living. More than twenty-five percent of families have lived in their subsidized apartment for more than ten years. Forty-seven percent have lived in their apartment for more than five years (Weitzman). Imposing time limits would not allow the extended lengths of time that are currently given. Congressman Rick Lazio is proposing that tenants sign a form in which a date would be given as to their leaving of public housing. This signature would be an initiative for tenants to move fast on leaving subsidized housing and starting to save for a new place to live (Husock). Possibly, maybe the government removal of programs would be better for subsidized housing. If the government gave better tax breaks to landlords who provided lower cost housing then the need for shelters and projects should be decreased by a large percentage (Shinn State or Trait). Within the last fifteen years, Home and Urban Development (HUD) has finally allowed tax shelters to landlords (The New Look). .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 , .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 .postImageUrl , .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 , .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450:hover , .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450:visited , .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450:active { border:0!important; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450:active , .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450 .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6e68fe1f7610887b64911b0afb718450:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Hollywood On Trial Essay The tax breaks come to investors who have low-income apartments or homes for a minimum of twenty years. After the twenty years, the owner of the property can sell the units at a higher market price (The New Look). Housing for Americans need to become more affordable. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development believes that families should spend no more than thirty percent on housing (Weitzman). Studies have shown that there .

My Sexuality free essay sample

In our lives there are many people and events that influence your beliefs or things that you do as time goes on. Our sex lives are sometimes hard for us to talk about. We struggle to tell our children the facts of life, and we struggle to tell our partners what pleases us. Sex is personal, and, at its best, is an intimate treasure savored privately. We each want to please and be pleased, to feel warm, safe, and desired. Our sexuality is also sometimes hard to talk about. Events that happen in our lives and the people we bring into our lives change us as a person making it harder for some people to talk about their sexuality then it may be for others. I for one have had many contributions in my life that has caused my sexuality to be the way it is. Family happens to be one of the biggest contributions when it comes to my sexuality. We will write a custom essay sample on My Sexuality or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Parents are different when it comes to sexual intercourse at a young age. Fathers are always more open with their sons about it and less open with it to their daughters. When it came to my father it was exactly that. It was against everything in him to have sex before marriage. His parents were brought up in the 1920’s in Italy where it was against all morals to get pregnant or even have sex before marriage. My older sister got pregnant before she was done with high school and dropped out. When my grandpa on my father’s side had found out about her pregnancy he got extremely mad at my father because in his eyes it was my father’s fault she got pregnant before marriage. So I promised my father I wouldn’t shadow what she did and finish school. I felt like I could never come to my father for help when it came to guys because I felt that he would be disappointed in me for anything I did sexually. When it came to puberty, I couldn’t even ask him to be put on birth control because to him birth control gives girls a reason to have sex. â€Å"They feel â€Å"protected† when they are on the pill it, it will give them a reason to keep having sex. †, is what he always used to say. Though one thing he didn’t realize is that birth control not only helps you from getting pregnant, but it also helps with girls cramps during their menstrual cycle. Now, my mother was a bit different. She had told me that I don’t have to be scared to come to her, talk, and go to the doctor’s to be put on birth control if I thought I was going to get sexual in any of my relationships. Even if had to happen behind my father’s back. She made me feel more comfortable about any sexual encounters that I may have been involved in because I knew I could trust her about anything I had to talk to her about or anything I felt nervous about in my relationships. Religion is a big part of my life and also helped sculpt my sexuality. I had planned on being a virgin until marriage because in church I was taught that premarital sex is a sin. Though another concept that I learned in church is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins so they can be forgiven. Although, I had sex before marriage I do believe my religion does keep me from trying things like masturbation, kinky sex and pornography. Abortion is one thing that I am STRONGLY AGAINST. I believe that if you â€Å"think† you are ready and responsible enough to have sex that you should â€Å"think† you are ready and responsible enough for any of the consequences that come with your so called â€Å"readiness†. I don’t like when friends or acquaintances talk about getting abortions when they think they are pregnant. School has been another big impact on my sexuality. Classes and teachers always really pushed about waiting to have sex. When students were caught having any kind of sexual relationship in school they were suspended and if numerous offenses happened they were sometimes expelled. So basically they put in your head that sex was wrong. In health class you are taught about STD’S and how you should wait to have sex when older and when you feel you are 100% ready to take care of any consequences that may come. Also they try to talk to you and tell you not to be ashamed of your sexuality whether you are straight, bi or homosexual. Peer-pressure is a HUGE thing in school. Drugs, sex, and partying are three of the main things that are peer-pressured in high school. My friends and other peers were having sex at younger ages. They tried to persuade me to start having sex with boyfriends and/or start/try masturbation because they thought it was fun and/or thought it felt good. It wasn’t because they were in love. Being raped at a young age caused me to be more cautious on who I talk to, trust, and hang out with. I have more of an attitude to certain people I don’t trust or like. I hold a lot of grudges when someone does something to lose my trust. It takes a lot of time to build the to forgive them and for them to earn their trust back then before. The rape has also caused me to push people away that I believe come too close. One last thing it caused me to lose was a lot of self respect and self worth. I don’t feel comfortable being naked with significant others or even being naked around myself. It made me feel disgusted of myself. I also became pregnant by the rape which made me feel even worse and not only that I have been raising my son since age 14. Though it did help me to be more aware and cautious of who I hang around and who I bring around my son. It also has shown me that a lot of men are still to immature to be in a serious relationship and caused me to lose a lot of relationships because of their immaturity. I am getting better as years goes on to get over the rape and move on with my life but again there is some things in your life that you can never forget. Since we grow up with so many different influences and events that happen in our lives, it could be difficult for some to realize where our beliefs come from. Though the events in my life caused me to be more cautious and grow up faster then others have some of them would have been better off undone. To recognize or at least be aware of what caused my beliefs, attitudes and values has helped me in a variety of ways whether it helped me be more careful of the things I do or the people I keep my loved ones and myself around or even made me a stronger person. Factors in my life had even caused me to be sure of my sexuality and made me who I am today as a more mature and stronger women then I would have been if some of my life events haven’t happened.

Choosing the Best Economics Graduate Program For You

Choosing the Best Economics Graduate Program For You As the About.com economics expert, I get quite a few inquiries from readers about the best graduate schools for those pursuing an advanced degree in economics. There are certainly quite a few resources out there today that claim to give the definitive ranking of graduate programs in economics around the world. While those lists might prove helpful to some, as a former economics student turned university professor, I can say with great certainty that choosing a graduate program requires so much more than arbitrary rankings. So when Im asked questions like, Can you recommend a good economics graduate program? or What is the best economics graduate school?, my answer is usually no and it depends. But I can help you find that best economics graduate program for you. Resources for Finding the Best Economics Graduate School Before moving forward, there are a couple of articles you should read. First is an article written by  a professor at Stanford, titled Advice for Applying to Grad School in Economics. While the disclaimer at the start of the article reminds us that these tips are a series of opinions, but that is generally the case when it comes to advice and given the reputation and experience of the person giving the advice, I would have to say, have no dear.  There are plenty of great tips in here. The next recommended piece of reading is a  resource from Georgetown with the title Applying to Grad School in Economics. Not only is this article thorough, but I dont think there is a single point I disagree with. Now that you have these two resources at your disposal, Ill share my  tips for finding and applying to the best economics graduate school for you.  From my own experience and the experience of friends and colleagues who also have studied economics at the graduate level in the United States, I can give the following advice: Take Advantage of Your Undergraduate Resources: Ask the professors who are writing you recommendation letters where theyd apply if they were in your position. They usually have a good idea of the schools at which youll do well and which ones may not be suited to your strengths and interests. Of course, it never hurts when the selection committee at a school knows and respects the person writing your letter of recommendation. Even better if your reference writer has friends or former colleagues on the selection committee at that school. I do have one disclaimer on this subject: Dont choose an undergraduate reference solely based on their reputation or their network. An honest and personalized letter from someone who can specifically speak to your strengths as a candidate is always better than an impersonal one with a famous signature.Rankings Arent the Most Important Decision-Maker:  That is to say that I dont suggest that you apply to just the highest ranked schools. In fact, many would agree when I say that this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in the application process. If youre interested in studying time-series econometrics, apply to schools that have active researchers in that area. Whats the point of going to a great theory school if youre not a theorist? Dont Put All Your Eggs in One Basket: Apply to as many graduate schools as reasonable. Id recommend applying to about ten schools. Ive seen a lot of terrific students only apply to top-ranked schools or their first choice and not get accepted  to any of them. Find your dream school(s) and your more reachable schools and build your list from there. And while you certainly dont want to focus on possible failure, make sure you have some backup plans. Have an idea of what you might do should you not be accepted into a graduate this year. If pursuing an advanced degree in economics is your dream, make sure that your plan B is something that only strengthens your candidacy for the next application cycle.Do Your Research:  As an economics student, you should be no stranger to research. But your economics graduate school search should not be limited to the internet or your undergraduate college counseling office. Talk to current graduate students at the school youre thinking about attend ing. Theyll usually tell you how things really work in their department. While talking to professors can also be enlightening, make a mental note that they have a vested interest in you applying to their school, which can greatly influence their opinions and advice. If you do choose to talk to a member of the faculty, try to get some sort of introduction. Contacting a professor unsolicited can a great source of annoyance, and why take a chance when this person might wield the power to say yes or no? Consider Size:  In my opinion, the size of the school can be just as important as its reputation. When approached for advice, I generally encourage prospective students to consider applying to larger schools. This is not to say that smaller schools are not worth your consideration, but you must always weigh the risks and rewards. Smaller departments are more likely to be negatively impacted with the departure of one or two key faculty members. So go ahead and apply to the program that boasts your dream professor among its ranks, but also look for schools that have three or more active researchers in the area you are interested in. That way, if one or two leave, youll still have an advisor you can work with. More Things to Read Before Applying to Graduate School So youve read the articles from Stanford and Georgetown, and youve made notes of my top bullet points. But before you jump into the application process, you may want to invest in some advanced economics texts. For some great recommendations, be sure to check out my article Books to Study Before Going to Graduate School in Economics.  These should give you a good idea of what you need to know to do well in an economics graduate school program. It goes without saying, best of luck!

Pressure groups in U.K. and U.S. politics Essay

Pressure groups in U.K. and U.S. politics - Essay Example Pressure groups are essential part of democratic process - they provide a real possibility to influence governmental decisions and transform public views into actions which often assert government to change its policy, but there are also essential lacks: the groups often defend their interests ignoring other sections of population and making misbalance in governmental policy. Pressure groups activity is widely developed in such democratic states as the United States and the United Kingdom. There are differences and similarities of pressure groups activity features in these countries, and the aim of this paper is to analyze and compare the roles played by pressure groups in U.K. and U.S. politics. The paper will be referred to common trends of U.K. and U.S. pressure groups development, as well as specific organizations and their activities in the both countries. 2. The main difference between U.K. and U.S. pressure groups activities is that there are more such groups in the United States than in the United Kingdom. ... So, pressure groups features in Great Britain are determined by its political system. One more feature of U.K. pressure groups activity is that groups and parties in Great Britain cannot influence governmental policy so much as in the United States because of partial secretiveness of the British political system, and the range of pressure groups is not so widely presented as in the USA with their constitutional and more democratic traditions. Some of the most powerful British sectional pressure groups (groups which present interests of some sections of the population) are the National Union of Teachers, Trades Union Congress, the Confederation of British Industry, the Nation Farmer's Union and some others. There are also promotional pressure groups in U.K. politics. These groups are fighting for real aims, and they can consist as well of small amount of members as great amount. The examples of such groups are Liberty and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), but their influence on British political parties and governmental decisions is limited unlike such groups in U.S. political life. One of the reasons of this situation is that the British government is not so fragmented and decentralized as that of the United States where the policy of federalism is prevailed. So, "in the early 1980s over 250,000 supporters of CND marched in London on several occasions. Despite this show of popular support, CND failed to influence the government's defense policy" (What are promotional pressure groups). As was mentioned before, pressure groups in the political process of the United Kingdom provide wide developing of democratic processes and allow public opinion to be heard. Political parties in Great Britain cannot represent the