Hinduism And Its Impact On Society - 1478 Words

Imagine a religion so old that it is said to be timeless and has always been there, even before humans set foot on the Earth. It’s mindboggling to think that the knowledge of everything is floating in the space of the universe and the mind is just a way of reaching it. Hinduism is a very complex religion, yet it still sets one ultimate goal for the soul. To deeper understand Hinduism we must reveal its origin, doctrines, customs, and culture. Although we do not know the exact time that Hinduism began, it is believed to be over 4,000 years old. There have been overlapping civilizations in India that may have molded the religion into what it is now (Kinnard 1). Around 2,000 B.C.E., located near the great Indus River, the Indus Valley Civilization, who worshipped many goddesses, may have been the very beginning of the shaping of Hinduism. Near the end of the Indus Valley Civilization around 1,500 B.C.E., a new society surfaced in India. Believed to be brought by the central Asian Aryans, the Vedic religion began (Kinnard). The Aryans’ practices included the sacrifice of animals and other offerings to their gods into a sacred fire. The gods they worshipped were mainly gods of nature such as the fire god and the plant god (flood). This era was the time of the Vedas, which are scriptures describing rituals to please the gods (Kinnard). Later, around 1,000 B.C.E., priests called Brahmins began to reject the materialistic ways of the Vedic tradition and began to adopt practicesShow MoreRelatedHinduism Impact On Indian Society1029 Words   |  5 PagesIn Indian society Hinduism plays a vital role in shaping Indian society. Hinduism plays a vital role in Indian society whether it be through Dharma, the caste system or Hindu rituals. To further explain how Hinduism plays a role in Indian society we need to explain what is Hinduism. One could not give a definite definition to Hinduism. Hinduism is not an organized religion but a set of belief systems and traditions that is in turn a way of life in Indian Society. Hinduism contains several sects,Read MoreThe Modern Perception Of Hinduism1146 Words   |  5 Pages Even though the modern perception of Hinduism as a whole was popularized by the West and the Indian elite, the commencement of ideas and practices of the ancient religion can be dated back as early as 2500 BCE ( Mittal and Thursby, 2006, 22), long before the colonial impact of the West on the Orient. We cannot deny that the expansion of Hinduism had great help from the West. The colonizers, with the help of the high status Indian castes had a hand in popularising, translating, and distributingRead MoreEssay on Impacts Of Family Traditions And Religion In India668 Words   |  3 Pages Impacts of Family Traditions and Religion in India Family traditions and religion greatly impact the lives of many people in India. These elements of culture are reasons that form the way that Indians lead their lives. Both factors make up what type of person that individual will become. That is the reason why religion and family traditions are so valued in Indian society. Religion is probably the most definitive factor in the way that an Indian will lead his life, particularly if they practiceRead MoreAnalysis Of. Smith s The Illustrated World s Religions1412 Words   |  6 Pageseven established societal norms in the societies they were created in. Starting out with Hinduism, this is a religion that focuses on the journey of the soul and its’ eventual final release or moksha into an ideal state that is perfect. As part of this maturity journey, it is assumed that the soul goes through a process called reincarnation multiple times (Smith, 1994). Now moving into how this religion has helped shaped social matters, in India this Hinduism has gotten tied up with one particularRead MoreMatriarchy and Patriarchy in Todays World1585 Words   |  7 Pagesleaders of the nations throughout the world the number of men leaders greatly overshadows the number of female leaders. By all means, not every society holds the same point of view. On one hand, Hindu and Islamic cultures and religions maintain a patriarchal way of life. While on the other hand, the Mosuo people of China are one of the few remaining societies that don’t consider a gender superior over the other but their women are seen as being more prestigious than thei r men and that may make the MosuoRead MoreHinduism Is A Belief System1053 Words   |  5 PagesHinduism is a traditional belief that has no founder. Compared to the other religions like Christianity, Catholicism, and Buddhism who all have a set foundation in where they have a central authority. Hinduism was formed in the year 2000 B.C. in India. This belief system is considered to be polytheistic meaning, it believes in more than one god. The Hinduism belief has four Vedic Texts: The Rigveda, The Yajurveda, The Samaveda, and The Athvaveda. The word â€Å"Hinduism† is a Persian word which refersRead More Cultural Impact of Hinduism in India Essay1259 Words   |  6 PagesCultural Impact of Hinduism in India Huge population, pollution, peace, snakes, saris, dance, curry, and religion are probably the most popular words that come up when we think about India. India is a well-known country. Although it is a relatively poor country, it has a rich and diverse culture. India is populated by approximately 953 million people. It has been a home for many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity. The first four mentioned aboveRead MoreThe Self Impact Self Esteem And Self Image1148 Words   |  5 Pagesviewpoint, the concept of the self impacts self-esteem and self-image. But happens to that definition when we look at it from a religious aspect? In Buddhism and Hinduism, although there are many similarities, there are also key differences in the fundamentals of their teachings and texts, such as the Bhagavad-Gita and the Vimalakirti, regarding the concept of the self in the cosmological, social, and theological aspects of each religion. The self in Hinduism is referred to as atman. In the Bhagavad-GitaRead MoreHinduism And Taoism802 Words   |  4 PagesCompare and Contrast: Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism. Both Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism in religious context compare through origin, philosophy, and their social structures including their outlook on women. These three religious show south east Asian roots, cultural beliefs, and social conflicts and solutions. The origin and expansion of Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism are similar in that all of them were created in south east region of Asia and that they each expanded through the silk road inRead MoreThe Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas And The Lottery Analysis1112 Words   |  5 Pagesfor every action and a creed for existence. In addition, we remind ourselves of the flaws that we must abstain from. Such reminders are often found in religions such as Christianity and Hinduism and dystopian literature. Ursula Le Guin’s â€Å"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas† explores destruction resulting from chaos and religion in which one entity suffers for the prosperity of mankind

Cell Phones And Its Effects On Society - 958 Words

The amount of time we spend staring at screens has increased dramatically in the last few years. Prior to having these technologies at the ease of hand people spend more time outdoors and being expose to healthy elements. The time we spent staring at screens the impacted the not just our vision, but also other parts of our body. As digital use increases, so do potential vision problems, including eye strain, cancer, bacterial infection and many other that has yet to be discovered. A bacterial infection such as MRSA and E. coli bacteria that could lead to vomiting and diarrhea. When it comes down to the health issue for the use of cell phones is it really worth making ourselves prone to some potential health issues that could be avoided. The International Telecommunication Union reported nearly 6 billion mobile phone subscriptions at the end of 2011. That’s 86 out of every 100 people worldwide, those including millennial and generation Z. It a pity that we are so uneducated on how the device we use for mass communication and ease of life can actually turn around and hunt us. Man’s most brilliant and successful invention, a device that can hold more data than our brain can hold in a lifetime made our life easier than ever. We can see places that we might not be able to travel to and meet people from all over the country. Billions of available knowledge and information that we can access to keep us on our feet. This ease of information and communication had allowed our visionShow MoreRelatedCell Phones And Its Effects On Society Essay1277 Words   |  6 Pagesthe world resemble in the event that we didn t have any cell phones? Why is it that we get out of our comfort zone when we do not have access to our phones? Nowadays, cell phones have such a noteworthy effect on our day to day lives, and we owe it to the advancement of technology. In this research paper, we will take a closer look at this phenomenon by examining the evolution of cell phone devices, and it’s effects on society. Cell phones, as we know them haven’t been around for that long. The quickRead MoreCell Phone Effect on Society1526 Words   |  7 PagesClass Date Title How often do we see some people in society now a days on their phones? Whether this be to someone checking their Facebook or just messaging their friends to let them know where they are. How often could you witness to how they could cause accidents such as not paying attention when crossing the road, crime such as the increase in phones being stolen, or car accidents in the split second in which one is looking down at their phone rather than paying attention to what is on the roadRead MoreCell Phones And Its Effect On Society1400 Words   |  6 Pagespossible to carry a phone and still use it, since then there have been millions upon millions released through these forty three years of its existence, every year with a different model, system, camera, you name it, the possibilities are endless! The advantages cellular devices hold over us are massive, from calling a friend situated halfway across the world to ordering food for Memorial High School’s 5th period lunch. Another m ajor factor of our 24/7 nonstop use of the cell phone is texting. TextRead MoreCell Phones And Its Effects On Society940 Words   |  4 Pages Cell phones have been around for hundreds of years. 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According to Russell Ware, a cell phone is â€Å"any portable telephoneRead MoreCell Phones And Its Effects On Society3111 Words   |  13 Pagesback to the office on the cell phone†, said Seven Spielberg. Everywhere you are no matter what, you will see someone in contact with his or her cell phone. The effects of them cause negative and positive outcomes within our society. Cell phones have influenced society both positive and negative ways regarding teenagers life, social interactions, emergencies crimes, and health. Cell phones have negatively affected teenager’s life in more than one way. First cell phones are a distraction to the wayRead MoreCell Phones And Its Effects On Society1698 Words   |  7 PagesTechnology and technological advances in communication, such as smartphones, were initially introduced in society to connect individuals together. However, because of the growing obsession of smartphones and technology, it becomes evident that technology is causing an opposite effect. The addiction of smart phones and technology has pushed individuals even farther apart. Further, in cell phones, an individual has a different life unknown to the people around him or her. In other words, individualsRead MoreCell Phones And Its Effects On Society2122 Words   |  9 PagesCell phones have become a necessary evil in today s society according to some people. While cell phones can have positive effects, easy access to friends and family also with the police force, paramedics, and firefighter s. The negative effects of cellphones outweigh the positives. Cellphones are dangerous and their use in today s society should be limited. From when the first cell phone was invented to the new apple IPhone 6 since coming out people have been addicted to them. People have gottenRead MoreCell Phones And Its Effects On Society Essay1839 Words   |  8 Pagesaffected by cell phones and mobile phones’ temptations have reduced face-to-face communication among people, attracted people from their study and work, and even harmed their health and life, it is urgent now to find detailed origins behind such phenomenon of cell phone addiction and then find solutions to this serious problem. Until now, on this topic many researchers have investigated people’s average using times of cell phones per day, people’s average amount of time of using cell phones per day,Read MoreCell Phones And Its Effects On Society1991 Words   |  8 Pagesadvantage of it, but is this a good thing? Cell phones are taking over people’s lives and the pattern is going to continue if people keep using cell phones the way they are, and allowing their children to use them equally as much. 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The Notting Hill Carnival free essay sample

The events industry has become an essential part of our culture today as Bowdin et al (2006, p. 4) noted when he sated, ‘since the dawn of times, human beings have found ways to mark important events in their lives. Today, events are central to our culture as perhaps never before’. As a consequence countries are increasingly looking for ways to highlight their advantages in order to produce a variety of social, economic, environmental and cultural benefits that, in turn, reflect the area. Heritage and cultural tourism is a fast growing sector within the tourism industry with a rise in the number of tourists who look for culture, history and interaction with local people (Hollinshead, 1993). The multifaceted nature of urban tourism and the use of heritage and cultural events as a vehicle for its production, are both difficult when describing and interpreting them (Laws, 1998). Therefore the aim of this report is to address the implications and changes to the heritage and culture tourist industry and how this has impacted upon the execution of cultural events, especially the Notting Hill Carnival in London. Heritage and Cultural Events Major events can be an advantageous way with which to position a destination and all that it represents, promoting it to the world stage. It has been suggested that destinations have become a place product, with Selby (2004) indicating that cultural events are able to improve and create unique place products, a concept that is both attractive to the consumer and the producers. Major events around the world have been used as a means to raise destination image, boost their cultural offerings and benefitting the economy. The Liverpool European Capital of Culture attracted 9. 7 million additional visits to the area, generating ? 753. 8 million to the economy. It is estimated 2. 6 million European and global visits were motivated by the Liverpool Capital of Culture in 2009, with 97% of these being first time visits to the city (Garcia et al, 2008). However with economic benefits of these kinds, it has resulted in cultural and heritage tourism becoming more competitive and the events industry has witnessed destinations developing a more strategic approach when delivery these kind of events. The Notting Hill Carnival Within various countries the cultural strategy for urban tourism is the same, in that it is a growth factor in boosting the culture of the area and spreading tourist activity within the region (Richards, 1996). A city which has utilised this approach is London by using events as a catalyst for bringing the diverse cultures of the area together and enhancing the tourists experience within the city. Established events, such as the Notting Hill Carnival have acted as channels to reach London’s ever diverse communities, improving social capital and engagement, also benefiting the economy with the carnival bringing ? 93 million to the area over its 3 day weekend (Festival and Events International, 2012). Benji B of Radio 1 comments on what the carnival means by stating that the ‘Notting Hill Carnival offers a reflection of what it is to be a Londoner (Benji B, 2011). From these comments it suggests that the public identify with the ethos of the carnival and its place within mainstream culture. A theory which Bowdin et al (2011, p. 153) seemed to agree upon when noting, ‘the carnival has become more than just an event, it has become a way of life’. The origins of the carnival can be seen as being purely cultural with the carnival stemming from freed slaves in the Caribbean, make musical instruments out of materials they have around them, as any other instruments were banned by the British and the French. Originating in 1964, the carnival is regarded the largest festival in Europe and is only 2nd in the world to the Rio de Janeiro Festival (The Notting Hill Carnival, 2012). The objectives of the event were to portray Caribbean people in a positive light, ‘uplifting the Caribbean community, build upon the new found sense of unity and begin the process of healing’ (Greater London Authority, 2004). However it was suggested by Alleyne- Dettmeers (1996, p. 1) that this has been forgotten as she stated, ‘It is often forgotten that carnival at Notting Hill and those mirrored in other parts of Britain, is based on a historically and culturally-specific model, borne out of an unfortunate, yet relevant historical context: i. e. European expansion, colonization and slavery in the Caribbean islands, especially Trinidad and Tobago’. The use of cultural tourism as a mechanism for promoting areas, has come under scrutiny in recent times due to the loss of authenticity, commoditisation and romanticization, factors which will be discussed theoretically and in the context of the Notting Hill Carnival further. The Commodified Event Increased competition, within the industry, has resulted in cities adopting brand strategies and participating in destination marketing (Evans, 2003) however it has been suggested that by branding events, events have become a reproduction of others and have actually lost the competitive advantage they possessed before (Harvey, 1989). It has been discussed that places are becoming areas of consumption rather than production, a theory which was furthered by Richards (1995) who suggested that processes of serial reproduction may impact upon the city in the long term as events lose their competitive advantage, which they intended to enhance in the first place. It has been suggested that the Notting Hill Carnival has become a brand. The carnival organisers looked to rebuild its reputation in 2004 after a murder and violence during the carnival, with the objectives being, ‘to reposition the carnival as a cultural outdoor festival that is open to all, rather than a street party. To build the carnival as a viable brand and support the search for credible sponsors’ (Hill, 2004). However in turning the carnival into a brand, it has become susceptible to commercialization, losing the cultural identity it possessed previously. It has been discussed that the carnival is losing its identity and ‘Caribbean flavour’ in becoming more contemporary with the presence of British black culture (Jasper, 2001). The emphasis has been on the culture of places being the reflection of its uniqueness and distinctiveness. There has become more attempts to identify an areas cultural or heritage properties, which will set it aside from other places. Richards (1996) proposed that culture had become a product and not that of a process. A theory which Urry (1995) agreed with when he noticed the impact of commodification of a place, where the area becomes the product, that can be packaged, presented and sold, something which is at threat of happening at the Notting Hill Carnival. The tensions between the commercialisation and the authenticity of the carnival have been questioned due to funding issues within the management. Unlike the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, which is thought to be the only carnival in the world to have official sponsors such as, You tube who broadcasted the event to the wider audience who could not attend (Woodroofe, 2012). Steve Pasca (2011), current carnival chair, noted that the carnival was ‘forced into a position to exploit commercialisation’. However Michael La Rosa (2011), a media expert, stated ‘there’s nothing wrong with entering the main stream, its what you enter the main stream with, is it authentic or is it something that is diluted’. It has been implied that the marketing of the Notting Hill Carnival is a romanticised view, an event that is uplifting and joyful as not to remind people of its true past. A former chair of the carnival committee, Ansel Wang (2011) implied that the masquerade tradition had in fact just become an event to dress up in different clothing and enjoy a street party. The European Centre for Traditional and Regional Cultures considered events to be one of the highlights of cultural tourism (Richards, 1996) however such events are at risk of losing their authenticity due to commodification. Mordue (1999, p. 631) noted that places could become ‘centres of spectacle and tourist consumption rather than places of material production’. While Wang (2000) proposed that commodified cultural events lack authentic experiences and that globalization has contributed to the modified production of cultural tourism for the purpose of the visitors. An early definition of commodified events was given by Greenwood (1989, p. 178) when he noted they were, â€Å"a public show to be performed for outsiders who, because of their economic importance in the town, had the right to see it† (p. 78). Bruner (2005, p. 5) expanded upon this when he suggested â€Å"what is presented in tourism is new culture constructed specifically for a tourists audience†. Cultural identities are something that are developed over sustained periods of time. The development of media and the effect of globalisation are given as the reason why communities are losing their cultural identities. Clair Holder (2011), former carnival chair, believed that the carnival was a,’ part of national culture, national identity’. Place Image The use of place image, whether organic or induced, is an essential part of a successful destination image being portrayed to the tourist. Place image can reflect the shared meanings and values of the area as its ‘currency of cultures’ as Morgan and Pritchard (1998 cited in Burns, 2010, p. 99) labelled it. Hall (1992, p. 14) further added to this when stating, ‘it is apparent that major events can have the effect of shaping an image of the host community or country, leading to its favourable perception as a potential travel destination’. The Notting Hill Carnival aims to enhance the image of the city, especially in recent times as London witnessed violence and rioting, which was seen across the world due to extensive media exposure. Clary Salandry interviewed for the Guardian, post London riots, commented that the ‘carnival will show what our good kids do’ (Muir, 2011). Events can act as a catalyst in aiding a perception that a city is a nice place to visit and they intend to fulfil visitor experiences, making them stay longer in a specific destination (Getz, 1991). By identifying the value of events in adding to the image of places and attracting tourists, it has indicated why cities compete for tourism in order to develop communities (Haider et al, 1993). The problem occurs when the event becomes detached from the original objectives, with these being fewer links to the locals ideas and identity, which may develop because of an increased image which is not similar to the objectives of the event (Pollard, 2004). Within the context of heritage and cultural tourism, place promotion produces issues and complications within communities. The first issue is what is usable to the area to promote and the second is more political, in what message is going to be selected and conveyed. The decisions on what elements of the area are to be promoted can cause tensions within areas as some events are selected while others are not and questions begin to mount about why these events or locations were not promoted (Wright, 1985, Lowenthal, 1998). Ancil Barclay (2011), one of the co-directors of the carnival who quit in 2011, suggested that the carnival did not receive the same support as similar London events. He stated, ‘it is still seen as just a Caribbean event and just not taken seriously’. However according to a strategic report delivered for the Mayor of London at the time in 2004 gave a strong suggestion about the future of the carnival, ‘It is a major world-class event that should be supported both politically and financially’ (Greater London Authority, 2004). The lack of economic support has resulted in smaller commercial sponsors taking up floats for advertising during the parade a clear sign of how the event has been modified from its origins(Jasper, 2001). In the past it has been lead to believe that a places heritage and culture is the driving force for the economy however this has been exaggerated according to Graham, Ashworth and Tunbridge (2000). Such has resulted in investors from outside of the community, coming into the area looking to develop it. A term which has been used to describe these types of investors is cultrepreneurs, with a definition of their purpose being, ‘culturepreneurs promote highly professionalized events, in order to strength cultural and creative sectors within the urban sectors’ (Hagoort et al, 2012, p. 17). It is clear that the Notting Hill Carnival is a huge cultural event, in both its size and its contribution to the economy. However it has managed to continue as an independent event and even though the future of funding towards to event seems unclear it should be agreed that such issues have not diluted the carnival completely in its traditions in representing the black community. It would seem that as the event is not official funding and has not obtained an official sponsor, the carnival board have control over its output. The event has clearly had to develop as the scale of the carnival has increased and over the years such has been witnessed, however it can be credited with the success in addressing racism and integrating the diverse cultures within London. Now a large tourist event, the event would be seen to be retaining its cultural creditability and authenticity however the future of the event could be likely to become more commodified with the sale of intellectual media exposure. It would seem from this report that it is difficult for major events like the Notting Hill Carnival to maintain there cultural and heritage traditions when events of there kind are looked upon as having a vast economic input to the area. However it would seem that the local authorities do not support the event by not offering funding that will maintain its origins and cultural background. This could have manifested from the violence that has been publicised at the event, which has meant the authorities do not want to be directly backing the event and promoting the place image in this way. The event has changed over its history and although it has clearly been commodified, it has been unnoticeable unlike if there was major financial support that would develop the event a huge amount in commercial terms.