Artistic Representations of the New World: A Comparative Analysis of Paolo De Matteis, Philip Barlow, and Michael Bohme

by Herman Bailey | Jan 23, 2023 | Essays | 0 comments

The painting is a masterpiece by Philip Barlow referred to as the sky includes is a collection of four different paintings. The painting caputres the New World themes of fantasy and landscape. The paintings are present realistic picture and can currently be found in the Philip Barlows’ art gallery website ( “Barlow” , Art 21)

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Figure 5 A depiction of a large station ship in the far future by Micheal Bohme.

The Ark Space is a master piece science fiction artwork by Micheal Bohme, created in 1997. The image is a representation of a large space station in the far future. The piece was published in the exhibition catalogue of the Chicago Art Institute, in the Buildings for space travel (“Mohme”, Art21).

The painting by Paolo De Matteis is referred to as The Triumph of the Immaculate from the Baroque art movement. The masterpiece was painted in Italy around 1710 and can be found in Gemaldegalerie-Berlin ( “Matteis” , Art21).

INTRODUCTION.

There exist various concepts of the new world. They include, science fiction, fantasy, landscape, discovery voyages, the spirits just to mention a few. Works of art play a significant role, for entertainment, educational, a reflection of the society’s moral values, political significance, religious significance, and problems to the society is faced with. Both current and previous artworks carry significant themes of the New World. All these paintings represent a particular social context dispensing on the understanding of its audience. There exists a number of good painters since time memorial. Paolo De Mattei is an Italian painter famous for his painting, The Triumph of the Immaculate. The piece is a fantasy narrative detail, it is a full story presented as a painting. The painting is of the baroque era, with their visceral images and easy to understand. The painting is a dramatic fantasy in that it captures the events and narrative of the ascent to the highest order of existence of well put together beings in drab colors. Ark in Space, a painting by Micheal Mohme is the latest of the three paintings this paper shall discuss. The painting is a depiction of a large space station in the far future. This painting is a reflection of new technological inventions and innovative ideas of the world. The painting is a 19 by 23 in size and it is painted on painted on acylic canvas.

The sky by Philip Barlow, is a collection of four paintings. All the paintings are painted from a horizontal angle and capture the the hilly part of the landscape. The afternoon painting show the sky covered in dark clouds and the landscape all cloudy as if to indicate presence of rain. The second afternoon picture has sparse clouds with a clear sky. In addition, there is an orange light as if to indicate the presence of the sun on that day. The third picture in the collection, is all bright will a very blue sky. There are few clouds and the sun seem to cast a shadow on the landscape. In this painting the time of the day is probably late in the evening when the sun is setting. The last picture is all bright. The landscape is all brown and looks dusty. The sky is partly cloudy and the sun seem to be rising. All the pictures in the sky collection show the sky and the landscape and the different times of the day displaying different weather conditions. These artworks not only show the landcape but also includes some aspects of fantasy of the sky and the landscape of the earth.

The Triumph of the Immaculate is an artistic work created by Paolo De Matteis. The style period of this painting is Baroque. The triumph of the Immaculate is in oil and canvas that is in medium size painting. The images are covered in shadows cast by the brilliant white light from the clouds. The piece was painted in Italy around 1710 and is available in the Gemaldegalerie, Berlin. The painting carrys with it the New World theme of spirits. The images in the painting are glowing a relection of more an unnatural beings. The painting carries the spirituality and fantasy themes. Baroque makes the main character the most dominant in its art and architecture. Other symbolic paintings include God, who is shown in the lighter glow and the Pope, who is portrayed as small and insignificant.

The Ark Space carries the science fiction and space fantasy themes. Tthe painting adopts a 3-D format and reflects moving pictures. The face of the painting is covered in glowing silver like material. In the painting, Micheal, show the future space and scenes of current world explorations. The images in the painting reflect alien life. Looking at the images one would notice other round objects that look like planets, the whole painting is a reflection of how the view of life from another planet looks like. The painting is an imagination and an exploration of the solar system. In the social context the painting is a symbol of the human events and experinces of the mind and soul. The painter has incorporated environmental aspects such as trees and vegetative plantation to symbolize life and human dealings with nature. The painting also captures different times of the day and year.

The three paintings show different style movements and come from different time periods a reflection of the different New World themes. Consequently, the styles employed in the paintings are influenced by the periods they were painted in historical events and cultural aspects and relied on the exact events captured in the paintings. Paolo de Matteis work was purely a fantasy of a religious war motivated by the desire to contribute to the historical religious fight while Barlow’s captures a real events of the landscape. Mohme’s work on the other hand, is a prediction of the future, a representation of both fantasy and science fiction. Therefore, the three paintings serve as a reminder of events that occurred during those periods and expected events of the future.

CONCLUSION

The Triumph of the Immaculate, The Ark Space, and The Sky are significant pieces of art in religious, political, cultural and landscape. The Triumph of Imaculate for instance, captures the spirituality and fantasy themes. Barlow’s piece on the other hand, displays the landscape and atmosphere. The different paintings all relate to the landscape. Through the paintings one can tell the time of the day they each represent.

Works Cited.

De, Matteis. Paolo De Matteis: Artist File.1920. Frick Art Reference Library

Barlow, Philip. Philip Barlow:Artist File.1998. Philip Barlow Art Gallery.

Mohme, Micheal. Mohme Micheal: Artist File. 1997. The Metropolitan Musuem of Art. New York City.

Herman Bailey

With a student-centered approach, I create engaging and informative blog posts that tackle relevant topics for students. My content aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed academically and beyond.

EBP Proposal Project for Acupuncture: An Evidence-Based Practice Proposal

by Herman Bailey | Jan 23, 2023 | Essays | 0 comments

Abstract

The EBP Proposal project proposed acupuncture as an alternative to adjunct standard medication therapy in pain management of osteoarthritis (OA) amongst women aged 55 years and above. The clinical question is, “In women above 55 year old suffering from osteoarthritis of the lower back, how does acupuncture compared to the adjunct standard medication therapy decrease pain within 6 months?” the aims of the study are; Suggestion for acupuncture therapy for Osteoarthritis patients, Symptom management of OA, Pain alleviation for the OA patients, Improving functional status especially on the joint performance as well as enabling easy and painless movement by the patient, and Controlling disease progress. The paper reviewed, synthesized and summarized different studies from various databases with a span of less than five years. The project will apply quasi-experimental study design by use of a randomized controlled trial of the acupuncture therapies on the sample population of women beyond 55 years with osteoarthritis. Some of the instruments that will be used in the study include chart audit to track changes from the onset of the study to the end, and 100mmVisual Analog Scale (VAS) for measuring pain.

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Acronyms

Part1- Introduction

The identified practical issue the paper will address is the osteoarthritis in women above the age of 55 years. The Evidence-based practice (EBP) project will be present acupuncture as a pain management method on a patient whom has problems with osteoarthritic pain. Many people suffer from osteopathic pain which involves the joint. The cartilage or cushion between joints becomes swollen and stiff due to the break down causing pain. The major factor causing OA consist of excess weight, injury or overuse and genes, and other developmental issues. At least 80 percent of the people over 55 will show x-ray symptoms of Osteoarthritis in at least one joint (Cherniack & Cherniack, 2013). Before 55, Osteoarthritis is common in men. However, after 55 it becomes more common in women (Pelletier, 2010). Pain management is the challenge to these patients. Treatment options include medication, surgery, and therapy. The frequency of the disease calls for the adoption of alternative therapeutic approach in management. Given that it is a chronic illness, development of customized solutions for patients has enabled substantial benefits in the control of the disease. The EBP will majorly focus on acupuncture as a pain management method to osteoarthritis of the lower back for women aged 55 years and above.

People suffering from OA and seek pain relief outside the mainstream medicine have the option of acupuncture. According to Bahrami-Taghamaki et al (2014), acupuncture for thousands of years have been practiced and plays a significant role in pain relief. Using this treatment method, acupuncturists relieve pain by inserting slender metallic needles at specific points on the body. In their study, Manyanga et al (2014) elaborated that well inserted needle produce a signal that travels to the brain along the spinal cord. This triggers a release of enkephalins and endorphins which are transmitters that reduce pain sensation. Similarly, other studies suggest that inserting the acupuncture needle triggers cortisol production. Cortisol is a hormone that assists in controlling inflammation. Relief of pain is a matter of great concern to patients that suffer from OA and therefore detection of difference in results on the 100mmVisual Analog Scale (VAS) line is regarded as a change that is important clinically to patients having chronic pain.

Aim of project:

This project seeks to introduce acupuncture as the efficient, affordable and sustainable pain management solution for osteoarthritis in women over 55 years old. The paper hope to achieve the following improved outcomes:

1. Suggestion for acupuncture therapy for Osteoarthritis patients.
2. Symptom management of OA
3. Pain alleviation for the OA patients
4. Improving functional status especially on the joint performance as well as enabling easy and painless movement by the patient
5. Controlling disease progress

PICOT Question

In women above 55 year old suffering from osteoarthritis of the lower back (P), how does acupuncture (I) compared to the adjunct standard medication therapy (C) decrease pain (O) within 6 months? (T).

(P)- Population: The population will comprise of women aged 55 years and above who are ailing from OA of lower back.

(I)-intervention: Acupuncture treatment method will be given to the subjects.

(C)- Comparison: In the study, adjunct standard medication therapy will be used. The control group would be given adjunct standard medication therapy as a comparative treatment.

(O)- Outcome: Pain alleviation and increased joint functionality from the subjects under acupuncture treatment. This will be measured using 100mmVisual Analog Scale (VAS) that will be administered before treatment and after 6 month acupuncture treatment.

(T)-Time: The outcome will be measured after 6 months.

Significance

Adoption of acupuncture treatment method is of importance to manage the effects and suffering of OA patients. There have been several identified harmful effects of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). There are over 12,000 hospitalizations and 2,000 deaths related to NSAIDs complications in the country annually (Pelletier, 2010). Acupuncture is therefore the best alternative to adjunct standard medication therapy. In females above the age of 55 years and above, the body is on a declining scale for most of its biological functions. With respect to the toxicity and unsafe side effects of adjunct standard medication therapy, it is recommendable that this age group of women turns to proven alternative methods such as acupuncture (Cherniack & Cherniack, 2013). The cost of acupuncture is significantly lower than the standard options. Most of the procedures are simple and do not require sophisticated medical equipment for activities such as surgery (Pelletier, 2010).

Part 2- Evidence Review and Synthesis

Search of information is one of the most essential parts of carrying out an effective research on any topic. In order to get the most relevant literature for Evidence Based Practiced, it is quite paramount to have access to some of the most reputable search sites such as ProQuest (South’s Online Library), PubMed, Medline, among others. In order to have access to the most recent publications, I filtered my search to ensure that I only accessed peer-reviewed academic journal articles.

In carrying out appraisal using the Rapid Clinical Appraisal Tools, it mainly aimed at identifying some of the most evident methodological flaws found in the literature as well as providing consumers of specific research evidence with the opportunity to ensure they make highly informed decisions on the quality of the given research evidence. The Rapid Appraisal tool that was used in the appraisal included mixed research methods that were aimed at helping understand the entire article from different perspectives. The article that was used in the appraisal was White, A., Richardson, M., Richmond, P., Freedman, J., & Bevis, M. (2012). Group acupuncture for knee pain: evaluation of a cost-saving initiative in the health service, Acupuncture Medicine, 30, 170-175 from NCBI and in addition to other articles. In order to fully understand the concepts that were appraised in the article, it is quite essential to note the evaluation table and the search tracker template provided in Appendix 1 and 2

Summary of “Keeper” studies

There is a wealth of clinical literature supporting the usefulness of the acupuncture in the treatment of elderly patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Although most of the study shows that more research is needed to ascertain the efficiency of these drugs, they have also found that these traditional techniques have the same effectiveness in terms of reducing pain, but more efficient in terms of their tolerance towards adverse effect. These studies reveal the effectiveness of the acupuncture in treating chronic pain.

For example, Bahrami-Taghamaki et al (2014) argued that with the recent increased awareness of the acupuncture’s benefits for the management of chronic back pain by both the patients and professionals, the technique can be adjusted to become more beneficial than before. As a result, the authors compared the effectiveness of the regular acupuncture with a modified one which has been added confluent acupoints, which is a modification linked to the day time period in time technique acupuncture by conducting a randomized controlled trial using sixty patients from Beijing China. The authors randomly grouped the patients into two individuals to take acupuncture. The control group received the regular acupuncture (RA) while the test group (TA) received regular acupuncture together with acupuncture in confluent points related to time. To determine the changes between the two groups, the authors measured pain score using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The results revealed that the pain in the test group decreased from 69.6 ± 7.9 to 11.8 ± 4.9, and for the control group it reduced from 69.2 ± 8.0 to 15.7 ± 10.0 at a probability 0.001. The authors concluded that routine acupuncture with time method acupuncture was more effective and more beneficial to individual with chronic low back pain than the regular acupuncture.

Another study supporting the use of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic pain is a study by Iloth et al (2014). The authors argue that although there is evidence showing that acupuncture is an effective method in the management of chronic pain, it is not clear which method is the most effective. With this claim, the author evaluated the efficacy of trigger point acupuncture and associated it with sham acupuncture in the treatment shoulder pain and function using patients with chronic shoulder pain using randomized 18 patients (15 women and three men aged between 42 and 65 years) into two groups. The patients were neurological healthy and also had non-radiating shoulder pain. The first group received trigger points for muscle while the second group received the sham acupuncture for the same muscle each group received five sessions and outcomes were measured using the VAS and Shoulder function used Constant-Murley Score (CMS). After five weeks of treatment, the pain decreased, and shoulder functionality increased significantly at TrP (P=0.001). Furthermore, the comparison of the two areas using the outcome curve showed a significant difference between the two group (P=0.024). The results affirmed that TrP therapy is more effective for chronic shoulder pain than sham acupuncture treatment.

Manheimer et al (2015) also conducted a systematic review to show the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of low back pain. The data extracted were those related to pain, functionality, overall improvements, return to work, as well as analgesic consumption. The meta-analysis analyzing the effectiveness of acupuncture in treatment of short-term chronic pain revealed that acupuncture is more effective than sham treatment. However, the analysis did not show any conclusive analysis for acute low back pain. Additionally, there was also no conclusive of the efficacy of acupuncture compared with other therapies.

Further, a study by Manyanga et al (2014) evaluated the utility of acupuncture in the management of osteoarthritis. The study argues that previous trials have shown conflicting results, and some systematic reviews may have overstated the benefits of acupuncture. However, to provide credible evidences of the benefits of acupuncture, the authors examined two separate controlled trials of up to 2014 from different databases and pooled data expressed as mean differences with a confidence interval of 95%. The analysis of pain intensity by duration showed that there was greater pain reduction for a time greater than four weeks. The results led to the conclusion that acupuncture resulted in significant reduction of pain, improved functionality, as well as the quality of life.

Finally, the study by White et al (2012) provides a trial showing the effectiveness of acupuncture using patients with knee osteoarthritis which would otherwise be referred to an orthopedic surgeon. The authors evaluated the outcomes of the service’s year operations and the patients’ outcome at the end of 2010. Using patients’ data from the referral centers, as well as acupuncture clinics, and also attendance data and MYMOP symptoms and well-being of the patients, the author evaluated the effectiveness of the service and compared with possible outcomes from surgical intervention. The authors concluded that acupuncture was a practical alternative low-cost service for knee surgery services when treating knee osteoarthritis. The cost consequences showed an estimated saving of per year £100 000.

As a result, it is clear that there enough evidence showing that acupuncture is an effective method in the treatment of pain management. The research demonstrates that acupuncture is effective in reducing pain, improving functionality, as well as enhancing the quality of life for patient suffering due to different conditions.

Part 3- Purpose of the project

Clinical questions

The first clinical question is “In women above 55 suffering from osteoarthritis, can acupuncture compared to the adjunct standard medication therapy decrease pain over a 6 month period?”

The second clinical question is “After the implementation of the intervention will there be any improvement in the outcomes among the patients, and what some of the outcomes expected are and how will they be determined or measured?”

The purpose of this project is to bring forward an efficient, affordable and sustainable pain management solution for osteoarthritis in women over 55. The detailed purposes for the study include:

1. Suggestion alternative medication that is accupunure. This purpose is to identify the available acupuncture solutions for Osteoarthritis patients.
2. Symptom management- This project seeks to suggest methods that can be used in identification and control of OA symptoms for new patients. This helps the patients to seek help at the earliest possible opportunity and control the disease as it progresses in its stages.
3. Pain alleviation- This aim is to completely manage the pain suffered by the patient or to significantly reduce the pain to within manageable levels. Pain is a major challenge to Osteoarthritis patients that results in the reduced functioning of the patient’s joints. Management of pain would thus play a significant role in keeping the life of the patient comfortable.
4. Improving functional status- Improving this aims at increasing the joint performance as well as enabling easy and painless movement by the patient. Through this, the disease will have a minimal effect on the life and daily activities of the patient
5. Controlling disease progress- It is important to manage the progress of the disease and spread to other body joints. Managing the development of the disease ensures optimal functionality for the patients over a longer time.

Part 4: Methods

Study design

The clinical question of the study hints to the quasi-experimental study by use of a randomized controlled trial of the acupuncture therapies on the sample population of women beyond 55 years with osteoarthritis. It is quasi-experimental study design because it introduces evidence-based change of practice into a practical setting.

Procedure/intervention

For patients with knee osteoarthritis, they will lay first supine with a pillow under their knees for the treatment of the posterior aspect. The needles for treatment will be 3cm, 30 gauge strong dispensable filiform stainless steel needles. The deepness of the needle insertion will depend on the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous fatty tissues at the acupuncture points. In addition, the patients will be involved in exercises in the form of stretching or regular walking around the health center or at their homes for those receiving home-based care (Frontera, Slovik & Dawson, 2006). In addition, there will be an initial physiological examination to ascertain the state of patients health-wise before, during and after the six months. After the treatment session (6 months), a survey will be conducted to obtain information relevant to help in the intervention or not to their state or illness.

One group of participants will get administered with acupuncture intervention by qualified acupuncturists, while the other group will be administered using for the standard adjuvant treatment by qualified health professionals. Then, a comparison of the result from each of the two groups of providers will enable the researcher assess the accuracy and practicality of the evidence gathered from the literature review that acupuncture offers a better solution to pain problem in women over 55 years with osteoarthritis.

Setting

The study will be set at the health facilities serving the patients who meet the topic criteria according to verified medical records by the sample population, the health providers.

Instruments/scales and measurement of outcomes

The researcher will use a chart audit to track changes from the onset of the study to the end. The chart audit will enable the researcher and the sample population to identify differences in the levels of achievements between the onset of the study and the end thereby giving the kind of accuracy and practicality of using the acupuncture intervention for pain relief among women over 55 years old with osteoarthritis. VAS will also be used to measure pain levels among the women over 55 years suffering from arthritis

Confidentiality

The free will of patients will be sought by use of consent forms after thorough explanation of the study contents as required by the Institutional Research Board (IRB). Also, the free will of the health care providers to introduce the new intervention into their practice will be affected from free will evidenced by given consents and guided by use of theoretical models of behavior change and evidence-based nursing practice implementation. Besides, other ethical consideration like integrity and confidentiality of the patients will be observed by use of pseudonyms and coded data (Manyanga et al, 2014)..

Data collection

Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model (JHNEBP) will be used as the vehicle to guide the nursing change and process in the study in addition to current applications of Prochaska’s trans-theoretical model of behavior change as a means of effecting behavior change among the health provides to be used as the sample population. Nursing skills will be improved as measured by the patient outcomes using the JHNEBP model enabling cost-effectiveness and improved patient satisfaction. Prochaska’s trans-theoretical model of behavior change, on its part, will ensure that the sample population of heath care providers caring for women over 55 years old with osteoarthritis implement a change in practice as part of their behavior change.

Aligning stakeholders

A stakeholder is a person who has interest in a particular project and benefits from it. The stakeholders whom will be involved in this project include clinician, staff nurses, consultant, nurse coordinator and nurse director. They will all played different and important roles in the process of implementing the project. When new evidence is implemented into practise, women above 55 suffering from osteoarthritis would be a part of the stakeholders.

The Gathering Point Community Acupuncture, being the project owner, would have the privilege of benefiting from the success of implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) project within its premises. The nurse director is the chief decision maker and supervised all the aspects of the project. He will be responsible for ensuring that the team adhered to established project standards, methodologies, processes, tools, policies and procedures (Grisham, 2010). He will be in charge of administering the program, training and coaching the employees on acupuncture therapy. Finally, he will also ensure that quality is maintained throughout the project so that efforts to improve quality would meet or surpass the needs or expectations of customers respectively.

The nurse coordinator is important in the project for collection, analyzing, organizing and distributing information about the EBP project and include but not limited to ISO 9001. Moreover, he is the reporting generator. Through his computer literacy, he generated reports about the project and to other stakeholders of the projects. The consultant on other hand offered assistance in training, providing advice on quality improvement aspects and ensured the new ideas were introduced to enable the project to be a part of the changes in the field (Binder, 2011).

The main purpose of staff nurses is to assist in the care of the women whom are suffering from osteoarthritis. On the other hand, the clinician will be providing the healthcare recommendations on osteoarthritis. Finally, the nursing director will ensure the smooth running of the project by providing a conducive legal environment and supplying necessary resources to run the project.

Part 5- Data Analysis

Expected Outcomes to be analyzed and how they will be analyzed

The intervention seeks to improve the current conditions of the patients, and hence the outcomes expected will assist in determining the effectiveness of the treatment. The various patients will show different changes after implementation of the study in other words; there will be variations in the pain levels. In the process, data on the various patients in regard to the intervention will be obtained. Most of the changes after implementation of the intervention will be physical, thus, data may be collected through observation. For instance, patients will be in a position to walk with minimal assistance or support, while others will not require any assistance in order to walk due to significant levels of pain. As such, information can be obtained through observation hence it will be integral in collecting such information. In addition, a t-test will be done to compare the effectiveness of the intervention among the patients affected in various parts of the body. The t-test will be used to measure dependent variables like natural therapies, physical activity, weight management or surgery. The analysis of variance, on the other hand, will be used to measure the independent variables which include level of pain and muscle strength.

Statistical analysis relating the data collection tools to be used

Some of the data collection tools will be through interviews, questionnaires, or observation of the patient before and after the intervention. The expected outcomes from the intervention will provide data/information which will be analyzed and later on interpreted. The information obtained from the various categories of patients, depending on the affected body parts will be analyzed statistically. The analysis will incorporate utilization of the paired t-test which will assist in determining the effectiveness of the intervention (Hill, 2012). There will also be an analysis of variance to examine the categories of patients. Additionally, the collected data will not only be analyzed using descriptive measures but also run through other tests to ascertain the correlation of the variables from the patients against the expectation of the adopted expectation of the adopted intervention.

The types of demographic data you plan to report on your participants

The participants have different attributes or features which can be used to differentiate them. Demographic data to be reported will be composed of age, income level, education level, geographical location, sex, race, gender, and religion. The demographic data regarding the participants will assist in knowing how they will affect or are affected by both the dependent and independent variables. Hence, they are integral in the analyzing of data and also for interpretation purposes. The demographic variables will be analyzed by conducting a t-test for comparative purposes and how they affect the study.

Conclusion

When it comes to health making choices physiotherapists and patients bring a range of values, preferences, experiences and skills. The practice of EBP is based on patients’ preferences and knowledge, and physiotherapists’ clinical skills.

Regarding systematic reviews, it is evident that exercise tends to lower pain and enhance function in patients. Nonetheless, there is no enough proof that acupuncture ultimately diminishes pain and that psycho-educational interventions improve psychological results.

Among physiotherapists, the most significant aim for the treatment of osteoarthritis is to lower pain and increase muscular strength. Physiotherapists are responsible for providing exercise, massage and stretching treatments for patients. Characteristics of patients cannot define the differences in clinical practice and acupuncture was linked with having searched medical databases to assist in answering the clinical question.

References

Bahrami-Taghamaki, H., Liu, Y., Azizi, H., Khorsand, A., Esmaily, H., Bahrami, A., & Zhao, B.X. (2014). A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for Chronic Low-Back Pain. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 20(3).

Binder, J. (2011). Global project management: Communication, collaboration and management across borders. Aldershot, Eng: Gower.

Cherniack, P., & Cherniack, N. S. (2013). Alternative medicine for the elderly. Berlin: Springer.

Grisham, T. W. (2010). International project management: Leadership in complex environments. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.

Iloth, K., Saito, S., Sahara, S., Nartoh, Y., Imai, K., & Kitakoji, H. (2014). Randomized Trial of Trigger Point Acupuncture Treatment for Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Preliminary Study. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 7(2), 59-64.

Manheimer, E., White, A., Berman, B., Forys, K., & Ernst, E. (2015). Meta-Analysis: Acupuncture for Low Back Pain. Annals of Internal Medicine, 142 (8).

Manyanga, T., Froese, M., Zarychanski, R., Abou-Setta, A., Friesen, C., Tennenhouse, M., & Hay, B. (2014). Pain management with acupuncture in osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14: 312. Retrieved from http://www.biomedcentralcom/1472-6882/14/1312

Odom, S. L., Brantlinger, E., Gersten, R., Horner, R. H., Thompson, B., & Harris, K. R. (2013). Research in special education: Scientific methods and evidence-based practices. Exceptional children, 71(2), 137-148.

Pelletier, K. R. (2010). The Best Alternative Medicine. New York: Simon & Schuster,

Roberts, P. (2011). Effective project management. London, UK: Kogan Page.

White, A., Richardson, M., Richmond, P., Freedman, J., & Bevis, M. (2012). Group acupuncture for knee pain: evaluation of a cost-saving initiative in the health service. Acupuncture Medicine, 30, 170-175. Doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2012-010151

Appendices

Appendix 1

Search Tracker

Appendix 2

Evaluation Table

Evaluation Table

Synthesis Table

Herman Bailey

With a student-centered approach, I create engaging and informative blog posts that tackle relevant topics for students. My content aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed academically and beyond.

The Genre of “No Country for Old Men”: A Mixture of Many Genres

by Herman Bailey | Jan 23, 2023 | Essays | 0 comments

Introduction

“No Country for Old Men” Is a western film of 2007 that was written, edited and directed by Ethan Coen and Joel based on the novel of “No Country for Old Men” by Cormac McCarthy. The book tells of a story of a man who gets an opportunity of delivering a fortune that does not belong to him. The study entails cat and mouse kind of drama as the path of the three main characters in the desert intertwine in west Texas. This paper will propose and discuss its own argument as to which genre (s) it believe s “No Country for Old Men” should be placed based upon the rhetorical choices of the author. The paper believes that the book of “No Country for Old Men” does not belong to one particular genre and is made up of a mixture of many genres.

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From many reviewers of “No Country for Old Men, “it is evident that the novel is characterized by mixture of genres. The sharpest critics of “No Country for Old Men” authored by Cormac McCarthy are carol Oates, James Wood and William Deresiewicz. In his criticism, Deresiewicz contends that the cinematic and streamlined plot of the novel seems as a modelled and a calculated readers assault (Deresiewicz 38-40). Similarly, Wood criticizes the novel sharply as metaphysically cheap and a “genre guff” (93). On the other hand, Oates dismissed the novel by describing it as a “meretricious thriller” (Oates 44). However, the author is also supported by other reviewers on his work. According to Hodge, the novel of “No Country for Old Men” Is not a crude genre fiction (66). In his essay in 2006 responding to the sharpest critics to McCarthy, Hodge argues that it is possible that the author could be possibly be having something in his mind that is larger rather than the deceiving entertainment (66). The argument and the assumptions of Hodge disapproves the idea that the novel was another stripped, unimportant down thriller as argued by Wood (88).

However, from the arguments brought forward by Hodge, it is evident that he exceeds his scope of argument. Despite the fact that he brings out the extreme comments made by Deresiewicz, Wood and Oates as well as identify significant thematic links between “No Country for Old Men” and other earlier works done by McCarthy. Moreover, instead of Hodge arguing that the novel of “No Country for Old Men” is not a genre fiction, he argues that the novel is not a meretricious or extreme genre fiction. In brief, Hodge is in agreement that the novel is mimicking the genre fiction conventions. However, he adds that “No Country for Old Men” transcends the trappings of the seedy genre. Additionally, he acknowledges that the novel has also exploited the thriller convention, but opposes that the novel withholds the ultimate genres pure satisfactions (66). From his argument, it is evident that Hodge believes that he can prove that “No Country for Old Men” gives relevance to the genre conventions and protects McCarthy on that charge.

Whether the McCarthy scholars were influenced by the essay written by Hodge or they are simply sharing similar desire of protecting the literary reputation of McCarthy, they have embraced the genre plus argument proposed by Hodge. Moreover, they contend that the novel “No Country for Old Men” is more than a standard fiction genre but something more less that a masterwork. The genre-plus argument proposed by Hodge compared to the positions presented by Deresiewicz, Wood and Oates looks like a pragmatic compromise. The genre-plus argument acknowledges the strong resemblance of the novel to genre fiction, but does not also vilify its author for experimenting on such course materials.

There are some considerable similarity, in fact, between the attitude of Hodge toward “No Country for Old Men” and the positions embraced by Deresiewicz, Wood and Oates. Their similarity is evident when Hodge makes a clearly sharp distinction between “Border Trilogy,” a more celebrated McCarthy’s fiction and the “No Country for Old Men. “Moreover, the trio’s bias is also shared by Hodge from his argument against genre fiction, because of a simple assumption behind the argument of genre-plus that “No Country for Old Men” is a reflective work of genre work. It is of great significance to note that both positions championed by the trio on one hand and Hodge on the other hand fail to address the crucial question put forward by Hodge in his essay. The main question by Hodge was that given the literary positon of McCarthy, his prejudice towards genre works, and his contempt for commercial fashions, why would he write a novel that resembles a standard pulp fiction alarmingly. On one hand, Hodge and his supporters cannot address fully this question since they are focusing on how “No Country for Old Men” transcends genre fiction instead of addressing why it has resemblance to genre fiction from the first instance. On the other hand, the trio are unable to address the question since they are focusing their arguments on excoriating the author for mimicking cheap fictions.

The best approach for analyzing the genre of the novel is by confronting the resemblance of the novel to genre fiction. The legitimate concern from the reactions to the novel, from both hostile and sympathetic readers, suggests an interesting answer to the question posed by Hodge. The function of the resemblance of “No Country for Old Men” to gene fiction is to manipulate and provoke the reader’s moral and aesthetic anxieties about fictions. The paper can sharpen this argument or thesis by making four claims that are interrelated

1. By embracing agreements of several genres, “No Country for Old Men “prompts its readers and audience to treat it as a genre work and not just as a single literary genre. That is also the position of the paper that the novel incorporates a mixture of several genres
2. As a result of the characteristic way in which the novel mimics genre fiction, “No Country for Old Men” brings out a strong cultural bias surprisingly against the genre fiction
3. By the novel eliciting this bias, it pushes the readers to of the novel to articulate particular grounds for their hostile attitude towards the general genre fiction and not “No Country for Old Men” in particular
4. Lastly, by pushing the readers to explicitly make their tacit bias, “No Country for Old Men” Invites the readers to reconsider their intuitions about the novel and the genre fiction in general.

If in the novel of “No Country for Old Men” call to mind of the readers an assortment of popular genres, and if indeed it is causing a deep cultural bias against genre fiction, then it should be very much evident not only through the negative and extreme reviews by Deresiewicz, Wood and Oates, but also to the reviews that are positive. Fr instance, the positive reviews by Ira Boudway, Patrick Ness and Adam Begley. Each of these authors expressed their admiration for the novel while regarding it as a genre work that is violent, and more specifically as a thriller. For example, Begley is his description termed it as a “bloody, taut thriller,” while Nes referred to it as a “ruthless and sinewy thriller.” On the other hand associates the novel to another violent genre by characterizing it as “a movie ready narrative, a crime novel and that is hard boiled unremittingly and is threatening to burst into steam.” Concurring with Kirn is randy Boyagoda who stated that the “the stoic dialogue, chase, shootouts gives the novel a pulpy texture sometimes and sometimes the prose of the novel can be so heavy with action and intensely visual that it read cinematically” (44).

The cinematic qualities and novels violence is also recognized by Michiko Kakutani but she does not think the novel as a crime novel but as a “hard boiled, new wave western.” Also in agreement is Yvonne Zipp who states that “No Country for Old Men” is a brutal western. However, whereas Kakutani regard the novel as an affair that is lowbrow, she puts the novel in a place of its won by noting that the plot of the novel sounded like an old episode of A-Team. This further complicate the efforts of the paper to pin point the genre of “No Country for Old Men.” Other reviewers such as Adan Jones content that it could be a gangster film playing out in the western locations. Similarly, Sarah Emily Miano and Henry Kisor described the novel as a western thriller with Sarah further stating that “No Country for Old Men “is now a familiar complain that the novel has “all Tarantino flick pulp”

The paper made some observations from the provided sample of moderately reviews that are sympathetic. First, initially it is practically impossible to think the novel as falling under any genre except genre fiction. Particularly the novel strikes its audience and readers that it is a generic novel, that is, a novel that easily fits into several different genres. Moreover, the status of “No Country for Old Men “as a genre fiction attracts sharp criticism the sympathetic reviewers. The reviewers use several words to express their disdain when referring to the unremitting violence of the violence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the paper analysed the novel of “No Country for Old Men” by McCarthy. From the discussion of the paper, the essay believed that the book does not belong to particular genre and is made up of a mixture of many genres based on the rhetorical choices of the author. Referring do different arguments by authors who were both sympathetic and hostile to the novel, it is evident that “No Country for Old Men” incorporates all forms of genres and it can be described as a generic genre. Other notable genres as portrayed by reviewers include thriller, genre-plus, meretricious thriller among others.

Work cited

Begley, Adam. Rev. of No Country for Old Men. New York Observer. New York Observer, 24 July 2005. Web. 07 August 2015.

Boudway, Ira. Rev. of No Country for Old Men. Salon. Salon, 24 Aug. 2005. Web. 07 August 2015

Boyagoda, Randy. “Tale of the New West: Kicking the Corpses of Postmodern America.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. Weekly Standard 29 Aug. 2005: 44-45.

Deresiewicz, William. “It’s a Man’s Man’s World.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. Nation 12 Sept. 2005: 38-41

Hodge, Roger D. “”Blood and Time.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. Harper’s Yeb. 2006: 65-72.

Kakutani, Michiko. “On the Loose in Badlands: Killer With a Cattle Gun.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. New York Times. New York Times, 18 July 2005. Web. 07 August 2015

Kirn, Walter. “No Country for Old Men: Texas Noir.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. New York Times. New York Times, 24 July 2005. Web. 07 August 2015.

Kisor, Henry. “Night of the Hunter: Cormac McCarthy Rides in With a Dark New Desert Western.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. Chicago Sun Times. Chicago Sun Times, 24 July 2005. Web. 07 August 2015.

Mars-Jones, Adam. “Psycho Dramas.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. The Observer. Guardian, 6 Nov. 2005. Web. 07 August 2015.

McCarthy, Cormac. No Country for Old Men. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.

Miano, Sara Emily. “Take the Money and Run.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. Times (UK). Times, 5 Nov. 2005. Web. 07 August 2015.

Ness, Patrick. “A Mistaken Act of Kindness.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. Telegraph (UK). Daily Telegraph, 20 Nov. 2005. Web. 07 August 2015.

Oates, Joyce Carol. “The Treasure of Comanche County.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. New York Review of Books 20 Oct. 2005: 41-44.

Wood, James. “Red Planet.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. New Yorker 18 July 2005: 88-93.

Zipp, Yvonne. “A Modern, More Brutal Western.” Rev. of No Country for Old Men. Christian Science Monitor. Christian Science Monitor, 12 July 2005. Web. 07 August 2015.

Herman Bailey

With a student-centered approach, I create engaging and informative blog posts that tackle relevant topics for students. My content aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed academically and beyond.

An Analysis of Dave Eggers’ Memoir in “A Heart-Breaking Work of Staggering Genius

by Herman Bailey | Jan 22, 2023 | Essays | 0 comments

“A Heart-breaking Work of Staggering Genius” is a memoir written by Dave Eggers. The books chronicle the stewardship of Dave Eggers of Christopher “Toph” Eggers, his younger brother after the death of their parents from cancer related diseases (Eggers 21). The primary story of the book revolves around Dave Eggers as he tries to learn to play the role of both a parent and a brother to Toph. This essay is a literary response to the memoir, and it will discuss what the essay thinks about the main character, Dave Eggers. It will discuss both positive and negative thoughts and perceptions about the author.

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The author is caring, admirable and responsible. At the age of 22 years, the author was orphaned after his parents both died from cancer related illnesses within five months. He became a “single mother” to his younger brother Toph (Eggers 33). The book elaborates that after being left an orphan, Dave Eggers is appointed the guardian of Christopher who was eight years old. They live together, and sports equipment and decaying food are scattered about, while he worries about the authorities of the child welfare, his own health and the molesting babysitters (Para 3). Their parents left a will that their bodies to be used for medical laboratory science. “When my parents passed on, and we read their wills, we discovered something we didn’t at all expect, especially from our devoutly Catholic mother: they had both left instructions that their bodies be donated to science. We were bewildered, and we were pissed. They wanted their cadavers to be used by medical students, they wanted their flesh to be cut into, and their cancerous organs examined. We were breathless. They wanted no elaborate funerals, no expense incurred for such stuff” (Eggers 27). According to Eggers, his strategy of child rearing swings between performing development experiments that are bizarre on him and making the upbringing of his brother. Moreover, he being responsible and admirable is portrayed when in California where he has moved he was able to work at different jobs, care for Toph, found “Might” and later on take turn to be a star on The Real Word of MTV (65).

Dave Eggers is emotionally honest and tells about the real world from his experiences. The title’s arc tone and the wit used in the preface may blind a reader of this memoir of Dave Eggers’ books real wonder. The author tries very hard to narrate a difficult story to his audience. In writing about the death of his parents from cancer related diseases, he uses unflattering terms without belaboured sentiment, and soft focus that the normal societal culture has led the reader to expect (Eggers 74). In real life situations, the slow death of a person you dearly love is horrible sometimes, and Dave Eggers’ story does to denies that either, or the way the mind escapes from the sorrow and horror and shifts focus on trivia.

The author has an experimental attitude, and this is shown when the author makes the decision to take care of his younger sibling at his younger age. Moreover, he makes an attempt to create to himself a fascinating life. Similarly, Dave Eggers shifts from Berkeley in Chicago where his sister lives and moves to California (Eggers 56). This all shows his experimental attitude the author possess. One of the strengths of this book that many critics point out is that the memoir loses focus immediately after he first section. This essay believes that it is a strength because, in any fiction, the protagonist does not pointlessly wander around, and especially mostly after a major event such as death has occurred (Para 2).

The author is emotional and thought provocative. When reader goes through the memoir of Dave Eggers, it makes the ear think about their own views of life and the texts itself. The authors say “Pain comes at me, and I take it, chew it for a few minutes, and spit it back out. It’s just not my thing anymore” (Eggers 87). Despite the fact that the book was centred on himself and also specific to him, he has tried to pull the reader to himself and made them rethink about their own lives in an emotional manner. The author has used a lot of descriptions in his literary work to the point that if reader reads it avidly, they are easily drawn close to the book’s characters and evoke deep emotions and thoughts from them.

The authors are a genius. This is because Dave Eggers has written his memoir purely to please himself and vent out his emotions and troubles, and that is the way autobiographies should be written. The author has used captivating words, wit and humour some parts of the book to engage the reader. Moreover, the books create an impression of the author’s voice which the reader never loses sight of. Throughout the whole book, there is consistent and constant author’s voice. Sometimes the voice changes and becomes sarcastically hilarious, cynical and mania but it is ever-present, which makes the author a genius (Eggers 102). In telling the stories about the incidents at home or at his pace of work, Dave Eggers tells the story just like more of a stream of consciousness reliable to anybody. Overall the story is endearing as the author who is a young man strives to maintain a normal life, which makes it genius.

Dave Eggers engages is inspiring and is personal in his book with the reader. According to Eggers, the three elements that determine a successful memoir is the ability to relate, sense of trust and unique style (117). Dave Eggers has just encompassed the three elements in his book perfectly. The author engages the reader to dive into his own psyche as if he understood the insecurities of people of losing everything that is important to them one day. As the author progresses in his narration, he becomes skittish, self-centred and irrational, but very much aware of it, moreover, the author does try to make himself appear better before the eyes of his audience. In fact, he is willing to admit that that to everything that is narrating are entirely accurate. This engages and makes the reader trusts him more. Furthermore, Dave Eggers hands his tragedies that befell him at the age of 21 years with levity and sense of humour which is inspiring (Para 5). His memoir and style of writing is so personal just like reading the diary of a friend. As the reader goes through the book, they feel sadness, happiness and eventually becomes stronger and tougher than ever before.

The author seems heartbroken from his narration. The first chapter of the book is ripe with high emotions, and the Dave Eggers writes about his loss and his experiences. This makes the reader feel connected and relate to him. The author is portrayed in the eyes of the reader as a heartbroken because the anger, emotion, almost psychotic rhetoric and frustration are believable and moving because they took place. Heartbroken Dave Eggers is also seen when a reader relates the story of losing the loved ones to the cancer disease. However, the hopeless optimism shining through the character in the memoir is uplifting somehow (Eggers 126).

The author is self-serving, self-absorbed, and self-centred and publicly seeks sympathy from his readers. From the memoir of Dave Eggers, the reader is guided through the tragedies that befell Dave Eggers and his family because it is where the book focusses more. “We feel that to reveal embarrassing or private things, we have given someone something, that, like a primitive person fearing that a photographer will steal his soul, we identify our secrets, our past and their blotches, with our identity, that revealing our habits or losses or deeds somehow makes one less of oneself ” (Eggers 132). The author writes his work in a manner that draws sympathy from the reader. However, when the sympathy from the readers starts drying up, he gets into other people’s tragedies however remote he relationship between them. This essay believes that the author tries to play the martyr and is expecting praise from his audience for doing some things that several people consider normal. For insane, at his age by law he is considered an adult and therefore caring for his younger brother is normal to any people, hence does not warrant any praise (Eggers 142).

Conclusion

The essay has discussed that it thinks about the main character, Dace Eggers. It has discussed both positive and negative things it thinks about the author. From the discussion, the essay found out that Dave Eggers is caring, admirable and responsible. Dave Eggers is also emotionally honest and tells about the real world from his experiences. Moreover, he has experimental attitude, is emotional, though provocative and genius. Furthermore, Dave Eggers engages, is inspiring and is personal in his book with the reader, seems heartbroken. Lastly, the negative part of the author the essay found that he is self-serving, self-absorbed, and self-centred and publicly seeks sympathy from his readers.

Reference

Eggers, Dave. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. , 2000. Print.

Herman Bailey

With a student-centered approach, I create engaging and informative blog posts that tackle relevant topics for students. My content aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed academically and beyond.

How to Make a Lasting Impression on Your First Date

by Herman Bailey | Jan 21, 2023 | Essays | 0 comments

So you have met this cool lady or guy who you have planned a date with. First date can be a little or totally nerve wracking to ladies and challenging to the guys on how to make the first impression. So how should the lady behave n the first date to avoid being nervous? And how should a man behave to impress the lay? This directory essay will elaborate on how to behave on the first date.

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The first thing that you must ensure is that both of you agree on a date. This means that you are in agreement on where the date would be, whether in a restaurant, coffee store, a park or in any cool place. Similarly, based on the agreement on a date, both of you need to agree also on time. It can be disastrous if you turn out for your fist date late because it gives a bad impression. And your partner can make a wrong conclusion about you. Similarly, a person needs to inform his partner whether they are gong alone or with another person. To ease communication, it is imperative that you exchange personal contacts for communication.

Secondly, a person for the first date should be prepared. Preparation means that you should be at the venue early enough, probably like ten minutes early depending on the distance to where the meeting point is supposed to be. Moreover, for the men preparedness means that you can with some extra cash because in most cases it is a man who pays the bill on the first date. On the part f the lady, preparedness means that you are prepared with personal stuffs. For instance, if you do smoke, come along with lip gloss.

It also good to make a good impression on your firs date. Making good impression implies that you dress smartly and well, smell nice. Do not wear things that you cannot talk in, breathe comfortable, eat or even walk properly. You should ensure that you smell good, and your teeth are brushed. Moreover, you should talk nicely and smile and avoid using curse words or may be vulgar language since they make a bad impression. In general, you should think about how you want a partner to think and feel about, and then behave like the person.

Talking is also another behavior that is important on the first date. You should make eye contact when talking and not just eerily staring. Engage in a conversation with your partner by looking at them without being shy and letting him or her know that you are listening. Moreover, you should be a good listener, but not just keeping quite. When talking, you can talk about your job, family life and any other topic that interests you, but should also not be boring to your partner.

Lastly, be spontaneous on your first date. Avoid just watching and not eating anything or may be being quite for a long time. Be happy, bubbly, smiley and energetic on your first date. Ask questions and listen to your partner. Nobody likes people who need to be pushed to do something or to talk. Also on spontaneous, try to avoid being obsessed with your phones like checking our phone all the time. It makes a good impression if you give your partner maximum attention, talking and conversing like old friend and is free. It looks rude when conversing with someone and is staring on the screen constantly.

In summary, first date to most people is always a something hard to approach most people. However, by agreeing with your partner, being prepared, making good impression, talking to your partner and being spontaneous. The first date can be fun and memorable.

Herman Bailey

With a student-centered approach, I create engaging and informative blog posts that tackle relevant topics for students. My content aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed academically and beyond.