The Social and Cultural importance of the University - 1650 Words

The Social and Cultural importance of the University (Research Paper Sample) Content: The Social and Cultural Importance of the University NameInstitutionAnnotated BibliographyAsquith Joann, Bristow Dennis, Schneider Kenneth, Aesanehna Havandi, and Amyx Douglas. (Spring 2011). Cultural Diversity As An Element Of The University Campus Environment: Does It Matter To Today's Students? Marketing Management Journal, 21(1): 214-221.In this paper, the authors discuss the different elements of the cultural diversity in the university environment. They pinpoint how the different values of culture affects the relationship and integration of students and tutors, and the general views of student pertaining to such en environment. This paper presents a good source material for my research as it helps in the discussion of the American culture is distinct from others in the world. Morrow Ann Jennifer and Ackermann E . Margot. (2011). Intention To Persist And Retention Of First-Year Students: The Importance Of Motivation And Sense Of Belonging. College Student Journa l, 483-491.The authors have focused on a study in which they wanted to determine the factors that are necessary for student retention in institution of higher learning. Their results found out that the feeling of belonging plays a major role in retaining students in schools. Students like to associate with the culture of the institutions in which they study.Mukminin Amirul, and McMahon J. Brenda. (2013). International Graduate Students Cross-Cultural Academic Engagement: Stories of Indonesian Doctoral Students on an American Campus. The Qualitative Report 2013, 18(69): 1-19.The authors stress that international students in the U.S University find it difficult to interact and integrate with citizen students due to cultural differences. They go further to assert that through cultural integration, foreign students get to identify with other students of different cultural backgrounds, fostering cohesion, and relationship development.Oosterveld, V., Merali, I., Project Muse. (2001). Giv ing meaning to economic, social, and cultural rights. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.In this book, the authors have elaborated what culture means to a society and its contribution to the social and economic development. The author affirms that education play a vital role in spearheading cultural changes in the society, through the integration and interaction of students. This book acts a source of good information necessary for the development of my research on how culture changes in transforming societal changes.Ravlin C. Elizabeth, Ward Anna-Katherine and Thomas C. David. (2014). Exchanging Social Information Across Cultural Boundaries. Journal of Management, 40(5), 14371465.The authors discuss how cultural distance is a major barrier to social interaction. They claim that when international students are in a foreign country for studies, they seek ways to learn the regions cultures in order to feel accustomed to the place. This way, they become easy in relating and interacting with other people from different cultures thus fostering harmony in the society.Razek...

Beowulf Is An Anglo-Saxon Poem - Free Essay Example

Throughout time man has been considered the stronger sex; the hunter, the provider, the protector. But, history shows evidence of the fragility of the male ego, and its weaker foundations when in comparison to the feminine. Gender roles have been established on the underpinnings of natural law, decreed by God or nature, and are believed to be beyond the reach of change. Though we see the social roles and status of the sexes changing in recent times, the gender system remains almost impervious to change. Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon poem about a warrior-hero, kings, and beasts. It is essentially about men within a masculine world indicated by the obscure roles given to women within the poem; from Hrothgars unnamed sister to Grendels mother, identified only through her son. Beowulf performs great feats using his incredible strength. He puts himself at risk for others to prove his worth among men. To understand its construction, masculinity must first be broken down to its foundation. So, what is masculinity? The closest answer would be the set of behaviors, language, and practices that are typically associated with males. Male behaviors have been proven not to be genetically inherited, that is, there is no biological predisposition. Behavioral studies have proven that masculinity is a learned social construct. The concept is also inherently relational. Masculinity does not exist except in contrast with femininity. A culture which does not treat women and men as bearers of polarized character types, at least in principle, does not have a concept of masculinity in the sense of modern European/American culture (Connell, 2001). Gender norms are dictated by the culture in which they exist, so different cultures have different expectations regarding gender and the different ways in which gender has coercive force. In our modern culture, it is a recognized and sanctioned position, a dominant ideological position, for the masculine to be associated with the terse. Hyper masculine heroes tend to be very quiet in our dominant culture. Think of the heroes like Clint Eastwood, Robocop, or Rambo. For Anglo-Saxon culture, on the other hand, the ability to wield words was a measure of masculine virtue. So, think about for instance when Hrothgar is an early leader of the Danes and he builds that great Hall of Herot. The poet says of Hrothgar: Who wide-reaching word-sway wielded mong earlmen. (Beowulf, 26). Hrothgars words have power in three ways. They for 1. Give commands, for example to build Herot. 2. They vow to give treasure to those underneath him, a torque and ring-giver. And 3. They name, as they named Herot itself. Masculinity, in this text, is about power over others. Its about power over self. Its about power over the world, as dictated through language. That means that linguistic capacity, which modern dominant cultures suggests is gendered feminine today, was gendered masculine for the Anglo Saxons. For example, when Beowulf is being interrogated at Herot to see if hes good enough he must tell stories to prove his prowess with his words. The man started to recite with skill, rehearsing Beowulfs Triumphs and feats in well-fashioned lines, Entwining his words (Beowulf, 870). Culture is based upon this idea of men being terse in fact there are some aspects of our present culture where linguistic capacity and masculinity are alive Im thinking in particular of for instance rap and hip hop performance poetry there you have the alignment of the wisdom capacity with masculinity.