The Quicksilver :: essays research papers

The Quicksilver One day an ancient alchemist was sitting at his and noticed a strange silvery liquid-like metal. He called several of his colleagues over to admire it. It was passed down through the years, this chemical reaction, that formed this "Quicksilver" as the alchemists called it. One day a French chemist Antoine Laurent Lavoisier tested and proclaimed it a metal. And he named it Mercury (Hg). With strong controversy from scientists around the world, Lavoisier was never given credit until after his death.. During the late nineteenth century and early twentieth is when a significant amount of work went into developing a good use to mercury- thermometers. Before people had been developing thermometers but they were not as accurate as the ones produced around 1900. In the later twentieth century people developed a increasing "need" for pure gold and silver. European and American scientists developed a new advanced way for this- amalgams. Amalgams are alloys of mercury usually used to extract elements from there various ores. Then, once the common metal is extracted mercury is then separated through distillation. Without mercury our world would be much different. We would have different, if any, ways of determining temperature. Mercury is also used in cleaning modern day swimming pools as "Mercury Vapor lamps" for sterilization. Mercury can be used in both reconstructing and destroying life in water ways depending upon the attention people give it. We would have no fast, economical ways of cleaning large pools; no fast, economical way of controlling river clean-ups. Life in our modern day households would be much, much colder because

Batman: The Dark Knight Trilogy

The function of a hero is inspiration which encourages people to be better and work harder. As described by Abrams, since the beginning of storytelling tales of gods and heroes described mankind’s desires, fears and ideas of an ideal future. Every culture has a different symbol and representation that tries to construct the perfect specimen of human power. In America this desire is described in comic books, the construction of Batman is a prime example.Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s Batman Year One and Batman: Court of the Owl by Scott Snyder discuss the altering battles faced by Batman and illustrate an almost flawless transition of how the characters progress throughout the years. The evolution of modern vigilantism from when comics were first introduced during the Great Depression to current times define their ability to adapt to the ever changing periods faced by society that allows for superheroes to remain relevant. The rise of modern superheroes was when A merica was facing the threat of a war in Europe and dealing with corruption within its own communities.The heroes depicted in comics allowed for people to escape reality during the Great Depression, states Hyde. It gave a sense of false perception to readers that allowed them to hope and ignited a desire to form a superhero as a reaction to the economical hardships as well as domestic crimes. Commissioner James Gordon plays an important role in Batman: Year One, an old version in the Batman series, because he is suspicious of Batman’s vigilante tactics but realizes that he is necessary and a strong ally in order to serve justice.Gordon is first introduced as Police Lieutenant James Gordon who begins working for the Gotham City Police Department after being transferred from Chicago under Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb and Detective Arnold John Flass. Upon arrival Gordon struggles to deal with corrupt officers, who beat up whomever they please. Feeling Gordon’s hesitancy a nd unease, Flass and several other officers decide to give him a beating. Gordon confronts Flass and gives him a baseball bat to defend himself then begins to pummel him as revenge.This describes the deviant behaviors of authoritative figures that choose to abuse their powers, leading the population to believe that the police force isn’t reliable. Thus proving the assumption that superheroes, Batman in this case, were made to understand the chaos people face in reality of modern day times. The physiological mindset of both heroes and villains takes a more realistic turn that separates itself from mythological and fairytale references. Modern comic book superheroes tend to follow the same general pattern in which the hero is estranged or secluded from society.Batman, for example, is a damaged character who witnesses his parents being gunned down which results in him swearing that he would rid Gotham City of evil. Although mythology provides an example of a true hero their vill ains change over time. Myths no longer deal with legends from the bible about the devil or beast and serpents described by the Greeks, the new complexity of the villains is by far more intriguing. Abrams explains how Americans have become fascinated with gangsters and the criminal cultural that surrounds their nature, representing realistic and current dangers of this new era.In Batman: Court of the Owl, which is a new version in the Batman series, the villain is William Cobb who is a Talon, meaning a skilled assassin for the Court of Owls. He boasts having killed several members of the Wayne family. He later attacks his great-grandson, Dick Grayson, because he feels betrayed by him choosing to become a vigilante instead of a Talon like himself. These serial killer tendencies and disgust expressed towards his own blood describe the unstable mental state of murderers throughout time.The creation of a hero without power or superhuman characteristics like Batman made him more relatable during a time period in which the crime rate was high. The popularity of Batman is attributed to people wanting a hero that represents their incapability or lack of being able to confront a problem in society. Batman: Year One establishes the legend of Batman, it is the origin story of a hero and how he learns to strike fear into the hearts of villains. When Batman manages to remove Loeb from office his mission in that comic is complete.The ending shows Gordon standing on a rooftop next to a bat signal waiting for him because of a new threat calling himself the â€Å"Joker. † This means that he has gathered the trust of the people of Gotham, namely Gordon who plays an important role as Commissioner. Batman: Court of the Owls is a continuation of Batman’s legacy but because it is a new version, Synder made it more appealing by adding another urban legend amongst several surrounding Gotham City. The Court of the Owls is a secret organization with tremendous power embark ed in the history of Gotham City.The myth that surrounds their existence is described in a chilling nursery rhyme: â€Å"Beware the Court of Owls that watches all the time, ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind granite and lime. They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed, speak not a whispered word of them, or they’ll send the talon for your head (Synder, pg 36)! † By combining an old urban legend with a more sophisticated version of Batman, the writers tie together the past and the present deeming it more appropriate for this century.The relevance of people’s beliefs in the impossible actions of heroes is due it the recognition and understanding of needing to escape from reality during a time of crisis. Batman is placed in several locations which seem almost impossible for him to escape from but at the last second he manages to reach safety. Batman: Year One shows one incident in which Batman is trapped in an abandoned building and Loeb ord ers bombs, SWAT teams and the Gotham City Police Department to attack. However Batman manages to avoid destruction and fools the police by directing a swarm of bats to head in the opposite direction he was going.Modern comic books have dramatic scenes as well but make sense in the fictional world. In Batman: Court of the Owls Bruce Wayne is attacked by the Talon during a meeting with Lincoln March, a politician with hopes of becoming mayor. They fall out of a window at the old Wayne Tower and Bruce survives by landing on a guardian that was installed by his great-grandfather. Even though it is unlikely for Bruce to survive a fall out of a window, the existence of guardians makes it seem possible. The chances of him living after being having bombs thrown and blasted near him repeatedly are slim to none.These drastic events allow people to continue to have faith in the indestructibility of a superhero. The role of women has progressed in comic books expressing the evolution of how the public regards them over time. Superheroes functionality is bound in imaginary lines that represent the way of dealing with the practicality of how life is perceived during the time period it was written in, such as gender roles and sexuality promiscuity. In Batman: Year One readers are presented with a female named Selina Kyle who is a young prostitute, taking her chances on the streets amongst the poor district of East End in Gotham City.Ottermann states how during 1980’s, when this comic was published, was a time when prostitution was considered part of the norm in most poverty-stricken regions. Inspired by the Caped Crisader himself Selina forms her own costume and becomes Catwoman, but her clothes do not classify as being strong or a leader like Batman’s. Her exterior exudes erotic and sexual appeal as well as her persona by not only describing her as a prostitute but also indicating how her role as a vixen in disguise leads her into choosing the demoralized path of robbery instead of being a heroin.This suggests that female superheroes were practically nonexistent and wouldn’t be able to take on the role or performance level of a male because of their gender inferiority at that age. Batman: Court of the Owls was written in 2011 and women of this generation would be insulted and rally against such publication of oppression. Therefore Synder didn’t mention a female character having no morals because then the appeal and interest of the comic would not apply to females. There was a decline in comic book readers because of what was being published was considered irrelevant by people during this age.The comic book sales dropped increasingly, â€Å"†¦ [as] the market was glutted with titles based solely on the war effort; these titles no longer had an audience and eventually faded away into obscurity (Kelley, pg 11). † The general population wanted to move on from the constant reminders of the struggles faced by American s. They wanted to look forward to a better and stronger future. This lead to the difference in demand from when comic books were first introduced and the few comics that did remain popular were highly competitive. While the approval of comic books was decreasing another problem was brewing in the pop culture society.Publishers, writers and artists received a public denouncement, claiming that comic books were ruining children’s minds regarding their values, morals and education. Dr. Fredric Wertham released a book called Seduction of the Innocent in 1954 which analyzed the deeper meaning behind some of the most popular superheroes. Wertham argued that the details and underlying messages found in the comics encouraged the use of narcotics, gang violence and characterized women as shameless and lewd. As a result, publishers formed the Comics Code in order to prevent further embarrassment and persecution from the government.The comic book industry suffered a major loss of reader s and thus began their gradual climb to regain their popularity. The target audience was older than the previous generations and more educated. Younger writers and artists began publishing comic books that expressed current concerns and social restraints instead of focusing solely on the past war effort. Eventually after â€Å"†¦ decades in America’s cultural gutter, comic books had finally emerged as a respectable and fantastically profitable entertainment industry worthy of a listing on the New York Stock Exchange (Wright pg 280). After revamping the comic book corporation, the business began focusing on producing films based on superheroes in order to make sure that they remained important in American culture. There are no new stories or characters, comic books are not different from any other type of media, they are repetitive. The superhero films retell the same stories with slight modifications and minor differences in art. The first popular Batman movie was made in 1989 and directed by Tim Burton. A few years later in 2005, director Christopher Nolan took a shot at rebooting the characters and placed new ideas with his Batman Begins.Both of the films focused on a particular emotion faced by Batman that was barely addressed in the comics, romance. The portrayal of love in Burton’s film revolved around the relationship of Bruce and Vicki Vale who was in the process of investigating rumors of a figure dressed as a bat fighting crime. After attending a benefit at Wayne Manor, Vicki is charmed into Bruce’s bed and remained with him after learning his second role as Batman. Nolan took on a different approach to the intimacy surrounding Bruce and his childhood best friend Rachel Dawes, who is an assistant district attorney.After revealing his true identity to her, Rachel realizes she cannot love someone who is both Bruce and Batman. The evident loss of this relationship in Nolan’s film is a direct form of connection with the a udience members that states that even superheroes sometimes don’t get the girl. The shared heartbreak of Bruce and the moviegoers demonstrate why Batman has thrived and remains appreciated because of his ability to bond with the public. Although many details and fine points have been tweaked in the comic books and films, Batman’s still a billionaire vigilante out to rid evil in Gotham City.He fights desperately to defend those who are in danger or are in need of assistance and it is the code that stops him from crossing over the line and into the dark side. Batman’s constant struggle to remain in control of his mentality shows how relatable he is, reminding everyone that he is just in fact a human. The comics describe and play his morality throughout. Batman’s one rule is that he is not to kill anyone by his hands, by not stooping to a villain’s level separates him from them.Batman Begins shows a scene in which Bruce is training with the League of Shadows and Henri Ducard says, â€Å"Your compassion is a weakness your enemies will not share,† to which Bruce replies â€Å"That's why it's so important. It separates us from them. † This type of ethics and philosophy has been inbreeded in the Batman series for decades. Publications have stayed true to this principle of righteousness no matter what age, and therefore remaining valid to the most essential law that defines Batman as a crime fighting vigilante.The comic book industry has matured into an American form of art that discusses the implications of morality, self expression and ideals. Superheroes are symbolic and remain popular no matter the time period in which they are reintroduced, not because of their powers but of their representation of something greater. The ability of the Batman series to express the apprehension and tension faced by society shows an understanding and flares a beacon of hope that not all humanity is lost. As times have changed and civ ilization has advanced, superheroes have changed with the growing demands of the population.Sharp explains how comic books have continued to revitalize the one significant detail that allows the Batman series to prevail, the different forms of the Caped Crusader. ‘†Batman is flexible enough to do what different people of different generations want of him (Sharp, pg 2). â€Å"’ Batman’s fundamental beliefs in comic books continue to remain the same even as the world changes. However in the movies, directors take the liberty of altering his rigid judgment in order to appeal to a broader audience. Either way, these changes do not affect the overall respect and approval given by Americans towards these figures of everlasting hope.Work Cited: †¢Abrams, Joshua, â€Å"Vigilante Patriotism: An Exploration of the Modern American Comic Book† (2012). Senior Projects Spring 2012. Paper 10. Web. . †¢Batman. Dir. Tim Burton. By Prince. Perf. Michael Kea ton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Billy Dee Williams, and Jack Palance. Warner Bros. , 1989. DVD. †¢Batman Begins. Dir. Christopher Nolan. By Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Prod. Larry J. Franco. Perf. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, and Katie Holmes. Warner Bros. , 2005. DVD. †¢Hyde, Douglas. Superheroes rise in tough tiems.CNN Entertainment. 2009 March 20. Web. . †¢Kelley, Mark. The Golden Age of Comic Books: Representations of American Culture from the Great Depression to the Cold War. E-Publications. 2009 April 4. Web. †¢Miller, Frank, and Mazzucchelli, David. Batman: Year One. New York: DC Comics, 1987. Print. †¢Ottermann, Ralf. Review Essay: Qualitative Research on Prostitution in the Early '80s' Red-light Districts of Vienna. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung. Vol 6. 2005 Nov 2. Web. < http://www. qualitative-research. net/index. php/fqs/article/view/488>. Sharp, Tyler. Batman redefined: Comics expert says success of Dark Knight tr ilogy tied to character examinations, loyalty to storyline. News and Editorial Services. Kansa State University. 2012 July 16. Web. . †¢Snyder, Scott, Capullo, Greg and Glapion, Jonathan. Batman Volume I: The Court of Owls (The New 52). DC Comics, 2011. Print. †¢Wertham, Fredric. Seduction of the Innocent. New York: Rinehart, 1954. Print. †¢Wright, Bradford. Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America. Baltimore: John Hopkins UP, 2001. Print.

Why A Good Divorce Is Better Than A Bad Marriage For Kids

Brette Sember, in her article â€Å"Why a Good Divorce Is Better Than a Bad Marriage for Kids†concurs when she notes ,†If you stay married for the sake of your children, you expose them to daily arguments, negative undercurrents, shouting, possible violence, and an atmosphere that is in no way calm and peaceful. This has a huge impact on your child† (Sember). In other words, she asserts that the children are exposed to negative conflict from their parent’s. The children will be affected if they stay together. Even though divorce provides relief for the family, divorce should always be considered for the benefit of the family because it allows children not to be affected by the negativity from their parents and the parents fighting causes a bad†¦show more content†¦Even though divorce provides relief for the family, divorce should always be considered for the benefit of the family because it allows children not to be affected by the negativity from t heir parents. In Hal Arkowitz article,â€Å"Is Divorce Bad for Children†, he states, â€Å"Divorce affects most children in the short run, but research suggests that kids recover rapidly after the initial blow† (Arkowitz). What he is insisting is that staying in a failing marriage with children will cause them to suffer emotionally. They will suffer from depression, anxiety, and anger. These effects will then go from minor to major problems, they will act out such as getting into trouble at school and also even doing poorly in school.Not only are the children suffering, but the parents suffer just as much. The parents are also at risk of depression, anxiety, or even substance abuse in one or both parents because of the stress from fighting which is proven to permit more trauma to the family. When children become emotional during the divorce process they tend to take it out on their parents. The parents are always busy fighting with each other, they lose attention on th eir child. Susan Stiffelman states in â€Å"Divorce and Kids: Dealing With Serious Anger Issues†, â€Å"This may manifest as slamming doors when he doesn’t get his way, defying you when you make a request or turning his aggression on himself with comments like, â€Å"I hate my life† (Stiffelman). Stiffelman isShow MoreRelatedTaking a Look at Divorce1420 Words   |  6 PagesDivorce is viewed differently by many people. Sometimes this is due to experiences, what others have said, or looking at studies that are not always accurate. However, not everyone can have the same views about marriage ending in divorce. In the article, â€Å"No Easy Answers: Why the Popular View of Divorce Is Wrong† by Constance Ahrons she shows her view on divorce. Ahrons believes that divorce does not have long-lasting damaging effects on children (65). Divorce can affect children in the family butRead MoreHow Divorce Is Affected By The Separation940 Words   |  4 PagesDivorce is never an easy subject, and is hurtful despite the specific conditions. When going through a divorce it is very important to know the effects that it can have on children. Divorce, in most cases, depending on the circumstance, will have a negative effect on children. Some of the results after a divorce can leave a child in short or long term situations. Adults tend to recover and move on to a new relationship, but the effects on children can be more long term (â€Å"Are†). More and more parentsRead MoreEssay Life After Divorce1088 Words   |  5 Pagesyes, well if you do it wouldn’t hurt you to know that the divorce rate is over 50 %! Marriage, sacred by religion and respected by older generations, doesn’t always last forever, within the last fifty years the divorce rate has increased by more than half of all marriages ending in divorce. There is many factors as to why two people divorce and its effects on the adults and children in the family. In my opinio n the top three effects of divorce are former lovers losing feelings, economic troubles, andRead MoreDivorce Where Children Are Involved Essay1561 Words   |  7 PagesDivorce has become a major part of our society and affects many people every year. In some instances of divorce, families have been torn apart leaving children stuck in the middle of conflict. This is where children start lashing out at their parents and everyone around them and it is because they are hurt and out of their comfort zone. One cannot forget about the children that divorce affects in a negative way. However, this is not always the case. There are children of divorce that get throughRead MoreFactors Promoting Higher Divorce Rates Essay1062 Words   |  5 Pagesthe ratio divorce to marriage was one divorce for every 18 marriages. 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Divorcing is probably the toughest decision for any marriage. The parents haveRead MoreHow Does Divorce Affect Children?1693 Words   |  7 PagesHow does divorce affect children? Married couples represent fifty one percent of Americans, many of which end in divorce spawning over eleven million single parent families. According to the American Psychological Association forty to fifty percent of marriages in the United States will end in divorce. This marriage dissolution rate results in fifty percent of our children witnessing the divorce of their parents, forty percent of which are being raised without fathers in the home. Divorce and singleRead MoreThe Impact Of Family Formation Change On The Cognitive, Social, And Emotional Well Being Of The Next Generation1572 Words   |  7 Pagesthe social and emotional well-being of the child, which can lead to bad disciple. Children’s well-being is the issue addressed in â€Å"The Impact of Family Formation Change on the Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Well-Being of the Next Generation† by Paul R. Amato. The thesis of this essay is how being a single parent can differ from duel parenting. The author’s main claim is how children growing up with both parents are less likely than other children to have any kind of problems such as social or emotionalRead MoreDivorce is not an exception anymore. In fact, with the rate of marriage decreasing over the past1200 Words   |  5 PagesDivorce is not an exception anymore. In fact, with the rate of marriage decreasing over the past decade, and the divorce rate remaining steady, we are likely to know more people who are divorced than those who are legally bound. During this semester we read four novels. Divorce was a common theme in all of them. Only a few generations ago, American culture rejected divorce as scandalous. Today, law, behavior, and culture embrace and even celebrate it. It got me to wondering about the children ofRead More Ending Marriages and the Effects Essay631 Words   |  3 PagesEnding Marriages and the Effects â€Å"Till death do us part†? Marriages are known to be a lifetime commitment towards love caring among people. However most marriages these days seem to be failing due to the increasing number of problems with the modern world. When these marriages end, the effects can be devastating. Why do people get married? Well it is a known tradition in humanity that a woman and man will come together and live their lives as one. The most important element that seems