Rupert Read Writing

In the 1993 sci-fi film Demolition Man, viewers were presented with a sanitised future where violence and confrontation had been largely eliminated from society. The movie portrayed this as a dystopian outcome, suggesting that humanity's primal nature had been suppressed to our detriment. However, as we look at current trends and social progress, it's becoming increasingly plausible that our species is naturally moving towards a future where gratuitous violence in entertainment may indeed become unacceptable. Over the past few decades, we've witnessed a gradual but noticeable shift in what society deems acceptable in mainstream media. Content that was once commonplace – such as casual sexism, racist stereotypes, and glorified violence – is now often met with criticism and backlash. This evolution reflects our growing awareness of the impact media can have on societal norms and individual behaviour. Neuroscience and psychology research have shown that exposure to violent med...

Schlozman's evocative metaphor of 'the voices in the heavenly chorus continue to sing with an upper-class accent' encapsulates a fundamental and persistent imbalance in the landscape of Washington lobbying and interest group politics. This imagery powerfully conveys the idea that the organised interest system in the nation's capital overwhelmingly amplifies the voices of business and upper-class interests, while the concerns of ordinary citizens, workers, and disadvantaged groups are comparatively muted or even silent. The author presents a comprehensive and data-driven analysis to support this claim, revealing a stark disparity in representation across various sectors of society. The numerical dominance of economic interests is particularly striking. Schlozman writes that "Of all the organizations active in Washington, 51 percent represent business in one way or another" (2018, p. 157) with corporations alone accounting for more than a third of all organisati...

Max Weber's explanation for the rise of capitalism in Western countries stands in stark contrast to Karl Marx's materialistic view of history. While Marx attributes the emergence of capitalism primarily to changes in the means of production and the economic base of society, Weber emphasises the pivotal role of ideas, values, and beliefs as driving forces behind economic and social transformation. This divergence in their analytical frameworks – Weber's focus on the role of cultural and religious factors versus Marx's emphasis on the primacy of economic forces – underscores the fundamental differences in their explanations for the rise of capitalism in Western societies. While Marx highlights the significance of the inherent contradictions within the feudal system and exploitation of the working class, Weber attributes the emergence of capitalism to the Protestant work ethic in shaping economic behaviour and facilitating the transition. Max Weber According to Weber, the ...

Economics is about much more than how to earn money. It is a comprehensive discipline that studies how individuals, firms, governments, and societies make choices about allocating scarce resources to satisfy their unlimited wants and needs. The statement "economics is all about how to earn money" oversimplifies the scope and depth of the field of economics. According to Krugman et al., economics is defined as "the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services" (2014, p. 2). It examines how individuals, businesses, and governments allocate their limited resources, such as land, labour, capital, and natural resources, to meet their various needs and desires. The primary focus of economics is not merely on earning money but rather on understanding the decision-making processes, incentives, and trade-offs involved in the allocation of scarce resources. Economics is also defined by well-known nineteenth-century economist ...

The United States and Canada, two neighbouring countries with a shared border, have experienced significant immigration over the years, leading to diverse societies. Despite this similarity, their policies and approaches to managing diversity have differed in notable ways, reflecting distinct historical contexts, philosophical underpinnings, and evolving integration strategies. This essay explores the contexts, integration strategies, and policy changes related to immigration and diversity management in both the United States and Canada, highlighting the distinct philosophical underpinnings that have shaped their respective approaches. By examining the similarities and differences between these two nations, we can gain valuable insights into the complexities of managing diversity in modern societies and the ongoing challenges they face in fostering inclusive and equitable environments for all. Comparisons The United States and Canada share many similarities in their approach to managin...

Music has long served as a lens reflecting the complex social realities of North America. Tracing musical narratives across time reveals striking historical continuities - societal fissures and cyclical dynamics permeating the American experience despite superficial transformations. From 19th century expansionist anthems to more recent calls for racial justice, songs expose conflicts between ideals and reality that recur throughout modern upheavals. Studying such recursive societal threads provides invaluable perspective complementing conventional analysis. Assumptions questioned through art can reframe existing knowledge structures. Moreover, music's accessibility in encoding and transmitting dissent has enabled indirect social dialogue on issues from inequality to imperialism that avoid reactionary barriers hampering progress. Songs thus elucidate both enduring patterns and clarion calls for change in North America. Their narratives bear urgent lessons for redeeming the unfulfill...