Bronfenbrenners Ecological Theory of Development free essay sample

Graduate School and the influences that shaped the decision HS5002 Survey of Research in Human Development and Behavior Bronfrenbenner’s Ecological Theory Urie Bronfrenbenner (1971-2005) created the ecological theory based on different levels to indicate how a child’s environment affects his/her development as well as minor and major life decisions. Bronfenbrenner categorized his theory into four levels: the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, and the macrosystem. Each level of the theory plays a role in the decision making process and situations throughout a child’s development, which ultimately shape that child into a content, happy, bitter or sad adult. The microsystem â€Å"is the small, immediate environment the child lives in†. (Oswalt, 2008, para. 1). This may include immediate family and non-familial relationships that interact with the child during childhood. When the different parts of the child’s microsystem start working in conjunction for the betterment of the child, this generates the mesosystem. We will write a custom essay sample on Bronfenbrenners Ecological Theory of Development or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The exosystem level influences the child indirectly, as it is comprised of places or people that don’t have personal dealings with the child however still affect the child’s way of life. The last level, the macrosystem, carries the largest weight on a child’s development in that it possesses â€Å"things such as the relative freedoms permitted by the national government, cultural values, the economy, wars, etc† (Oswalt, 2008, para. 4). When coupled together, all levels ultimately will some bearing on a child’s development. The Microsystem and Mesosystem Levels Because the microsystem and mesosystem deals with the immediate family and outside family influences, it’s safe to say that for most children, this includes the home, family, toys, peers, classrooms, and teachers. The home environment will be persuaded by the makeup of the neighborhood. The family will be subjective by such factors as whether a parent is able to take a job that permits frequent contact with the child and the degree to which the parent feels oppressed or happy at work. The people that I encountered when I was younger pre-exposed me to the idea of furthering my education at all costs. I was raised in a single parent home due to the separation of my abusive father from my mother. When I was in the fifth grade, my mother initiated a relationship with another man, who stepped in and replaced my absentee father’s position. Because my step-father was still involved in a loveless marriage, he did not spend as much time in the home as a father should therefore leaving my mother to be a single parent throughout my entire childhood and adolescent years. Education has always been instilled in our family, dating back to my great-grandmother. Unfortunately, not all of my family members advanced their education so the burden was placed on my generation. Since my tender childhood years (between ages 5 and 13), education was very important to me. Bronfenbrenner (1986) has pointed out that the family is of crucial importance in the development of childrens abilities. (p. 723–742). My mother was an integral part of my education when I was in elementary school but by the time I was promoted to sixth grade, her interest in my grades and school performance slowly decreased. My middle school teachers saw the potential in me to accomplish great things in life so where there was a lack of parental support, I received support from my middle school teachers, administration and peers. The lack of relationship between my biological father and mother caused early disruption in my life however it posed no threat to my education. I believe their previous abusive marriage and unwillingness to get along post-separation hindered my growth in a few areas of my childhood. By the time I was advanced to high school, my mother’s full support no longer existed. Because of her decision, I turned to other means for emotional and mental support. My high school GPA was not the best due to the constant behavioral problems showcased throughout my entire high school career. I was involved in several physical altercations and numerous minor and major behavioral issues including walking out of class, using profanity towards the teachers, etc. My mother’s authoritarian parenting style emphasized obedience, even at the expense of my autonomy. Despite several interferences within my early development, I finally began transitioning into college-girl mindset. The decision to apply to undergraduate college commenced from a dream that my twin sister and I came up with. Our preliminary plans were to attend college together, obtain our Bachelor’s in Accounting, and open a firm to work with big corporations as top accountants. While the dream to attend college remained stagnant, the degree choice changed after our first semester in school. Right at four years on the head, I graduated with my first Bachelor’s of Social Work, and re-enrolled in school to pursue Criminal Justice. During my junior and senior year in college, my passion for learning about and working with juvenile offenders intensified, which eventually led to my second Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. After receiving two undergraduate degrees, I was under the impression that furthering my education was a colossal waste of time. I entered the work force with the education I obtained from in-classroom learning and my social work field placement. The Exosystem Level â€Å"The exosystem level includes the other people and places that the child herself may not interact with often herself but that still have a large affect on her, such as parents workplaces, extended family members, the neighborhood, etc. † (Oswalt, 2008, para. 3). My mother failed to maintain employment throughout my childhood. The reluctance of my mother to maintain employment kind of rubbed off on me because I have been unsuccessful with preserving employment for longer than one year. The lax relationship between our immediate family and extended family posed a negative threat on my development as well. Even at 28 years old, I still do not wish to seek a relationship with my extended family members. That refusal stemmed from a long time hurt that I felt on behalf of my mother during his most critical times of need. My immediate family received much support from the neighborhood, which helped my development wonders. Up until third grade, we resided in a neighborhood where every parent knew of each other, and all children were raised by the same guidelines, subject to the same reprimands. Our neighborhood stuck with one another and taught me the importance of the old saying â€Å"it takes a village to raise a kid†. Again, children within my generation were bussed to school together, hung out at school together, and raised around the value of an education. Once my mother uprooted our family from the neighborhood, I noticed that strong â€Å"village† support no longer existed and was not replaced. Still I remained in school and utilized the ideas and shortcomings from my childhood to aide in the decision to enroll in graduate school. The Macrosystem Level The macrosystem can influence a child’s development in a positive or negative way. Because society and culture impact this level, some children may experience conditions such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, etc more often than their peers that are raised in development-friendly homes. The negative culture that I was brought up in still impinges on my choices today. My mother was addicted to cocaine and my biological father was addicted to crack-cocaine and heroin. The constant in and out interaction with their dealers was the reason for my choice in men. The harmful selection in men, however, did not change my willingness to excel in education, thus deciding to enroll in graduate school. A year ago, my choice of men did cause me to prolong applying for graduate school, in attempt to keep up with their opulent lifestyle and criminal consequences. Conclusion â€Å"The most useful aspect of this model is that we as a society can together raise children, if we worked in harmony together, provided our children with a community that supported each other, the outcome on our children will be profound. If our next generation fails, if our future citizens are weak, if mental disorders and illness are on the rise, then it is because we all failed. † (Ahuja, n. d. , p. 8) As Ahuja emphasized the collaboration of society to raise all children, I can honestly say my surroundings and environment shaped my decision to enter graduate school to obtain my Master’s degree in Human Services. References Ahuja, Y. (n. d). Bronfenbrenner Ecological Theory. [Electronic version]. Retrieved from http://www. mymontessoriacademy. com/newsletters/websitebronfenbrennerecologicaltheory. pdf Bronfenbrenner, U. 1986. Ecology of the family as a context for

Hamlet Mother and Son Relationship

Hamlet Mother and Son Relationship Introduction William Shakespeare, the famous playwright has addressed the issue of relationships in most of his plays especially as pertaining to family ties. He has in most of his books and in particular, The Tragedies exposed the good and the bad side of family ties especially between parents and their kids.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Hamlet: Mother and Son Relationship specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In Hamlet, the must-read chef-d’oeuvre, Shakespeare brings to light the connections between members of a family namely Hamlet who is a prince, his late father, his mother Gertrude and his stepfather Claudius. This paper seeks to address the mother-son relationship as brought out in the play and in particular by Hamlet and his mother Gertrude. Mother-son relationship In this play, Shakespeare uses a woman called Gertrude who is among the few women featured in the masterwork. Through her relationsh ip with her son Hamlet, Shakespeare paints a picture of betrayal. Gertrude marries the brother of Hamlets father and this to hamlet is a very big act of betrayal. In the whole book, Hamlet dedicates most of his time and energy trying to take revenge of the death of the king, his father whom he believes was cruelly treated by those he cared for. Therefore, he suffered during his whole lifetime. Hamlet feels that Gertrude hurts the king more by not mourning during the king’s burial. She instead delights in her new marriage depicting some kind of freedom from oppression that she went through in her former marriage, as the reader can insinuate. As a result, Hamlet develops great irritation towards her mother, which he manifests through his monologue and dialogue with other people as depicted in the play. Hamlet is made to change his perception of love after his mother marries his late father’s brother, two months after the death of his father (Shakespeare I.ii.138). As a r esult, Hamlet concludes that his father truly loved his mother yet his mother never loved him. He fails to understand how his mother could so much dangle on his father (Shakespeare I. ii. 140, 143) then marry so soon after his father’s death. He therefore resolves that woman’s adoration is so frail and can be changed so easily depending on the situation that the woman finds herself. Faulkner calls women â€Å"frail beings not because of their physical abilities but because of their weak emotions† (146).Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Hamlet, his mother betrayed not only his father but also the love and the marriage they shared. Gertrude’s unrefined actions changes Hamlet’s perception of love towards others. He reaches the level of hating Ophelia, the girl who truly loves him fearing that she might be in possessio n of his mother’s betrayal character. Because of Gertrude’s evil plans of betraying her once beloved husband, Hamlet’s love for Ophelia, the woman who he loved and one who gave back an equal share of the love changes, and is significantly affected. When with her and watching a play, Ophelia comments that the prologue is very brief and Hamlet likens the briefness to a woman’s love (Shakespeare III. ii. 137-138). As time goes by, the gap between Hamlet and Ophelia widens to the level of Hamlet declaring that he does not love Ophelia at all and is not ready to love her anymore (Shakespeare III.i.119-120). However, after Ophelia’s death, the reader realizes that Hamlet was not sincere with his initial words concerning his faded love to Ophelia since he later on confirms to Laertes that he loved her so much and no amount of love could match his love for her (Shakespeare V.i.254-256). The reader realizes the reason behind Hamlet’s words that thoug h he knows very well that Ophelia loves him, he fears that it might take after that between his mother and his late father, which was in no doubt fake. Gertrude’s actions instill a lot of anger to Hamlet who in turn reaches the level of killing any man who seems to take up the position of his late father. Hamlet ends up believing his mother conspired with his uncle into killing his beloved father. He is filled up with so much rage and hatred until he kills Polonius in his mother’s bedroom after seeing him and thinking that he is Claudius. His temper is fueled by the conviction that his mother, by conspiring to kill the king and then marrying the killer, is an offence too great to be forgiven. After mistaking Polonius for Claudius and killing him, his mother calls the action â€Å"a bloody deed to which Hamlet replies that a bloody deed is killing a king and marrying the brother† (Shakespeare III. iv. 26-28).Advertising We will write a custom research pap er sample on Hamlet: Mother and Son Relationship specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Gertrude is shocked at this accusation and the shock is so much until Hamlet begins to doubt if she really killed his father. From this point, though still convinced that she betrayed his father, he changes and starts warning her of her evil actions instead of accusing her. He comes to the full conclusion that her mother never killed her father. The unacceptable marriage of his mother to his uncle continues to antagonize him. He therefore decides to only â€Å"speak daggers to her but use none†(Caxton 366). With this, he speaks to her harshly addressing her as the queen, wife to the king’s brother. He asks her where her shame is and proceeds to compare his father, who he refers to as a combination and a form indeed and his uncle who he calls a ‘mildewed ear’. Of course, Gertrude becomes defensive, orders him not to speak to him in tha t manner but he continuous, and warns her to repent her actions and prevent that which is to come (Shakespeare III. iv. 141). He even cautions her against going into her uncle’s bed. He tries to make her mother realize she is not doing the right thing and should feel sorry and stop her unrefined actions. The conversation` between Hamlet and his mother brings back Gertrude to her senses where she feels the guilt and shame of her actions (Caxton 80). It is at this point that she realizes that all along, she had been doing what was not right and it was a great act of betrayal to her late husband. She admits that though she had never consciously been aware that Claudius had killed his brother, she had never fully approved of her actions. She admits that when she looked into her soul, she was shocked by what she saw. Meanwhile, Hamlet has been acting very madly, where he discloses to his mother that it is just but a feigned state but he will not reveal it to anyone. From this poin t henceforth, As Horatio points out, their relationship is restored (14). Together now, they begin to seek for the revenge of the king’s death.Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hamlet continues with his feigned state of madness while Gertrude continues to make Claudius trust that the condition is real (Shakespeare IV. i. 6-7). Claudius hence comes to believe the prince’s simulated state and he starts fearing what he may do to him. During the fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes, Gertrude shows that her allegiance is with the prince and not with the king for she gives her son her napkin and tells her that she rejoices in his fortunes. She goes on to drink from the poisoned cup that was meant for Hamlet and though her new husband warns and orders her to stop drinking it, she continuous and finishes it. This shows where her full allegiance is and despite there still being intense feelings between them, they find their relationship becoming better before she finally dies. Conclusion It is noted throughout the play that even though Hamlet is hurt by her mother’s act of betrayal of marrying her husband’s brother a short time after her hu sband’s death, he never wishes to hurt her. His main aim all along is to avenge his father’s death. His quest for vengeance does not compromise his love for his mother and all through the play, his love for him is evidently displayed. He tries and succeeds at convincing her to realize that her actions were wrong and together they undertake to avenge the king’s death. So despite the tense relationship between them at the beginning marked with feelings of anger and rage (Friedlander 3), their relationship is restored at the end and Hamlet finally achieves his objective of avenging his father’s death. It is all a message of hope. Caxton, Charles. Commentary on Hamlet. New York: W.W. Norton Company Inc., 2006. Faulkner, William. The Hamlet Commentary. New York: Thumshire publishers, 2008. Friedlander, Gibson. Enjoying Hamlet by William Shakespeare. London: P. Press, 2010. Horatio, Joseph. Enjoying Hamlet. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet: The Norton Shakespeare. New York: W.W. Norton Company Inc., 1997.

Current Purchasing and Supply Chain Practices in E-procurement Essay

Current Purchasing and Supply Chain Practices in E-procurement - Essay Example Indeed as e-commerce continues to gain root courtesy of the developments realized in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) it seems every single sector is being transformed. E-procurement therefore involves the use of Electronic Data Interchange and Enterprise Resource Planning. It is basically facilitated through the use of various software applications which enhance the process of supplier management and complex auctions. The value chain process of e-procurement consists of e-tendering, indent management, e-auctioning, catalogue management, order notice, e-invoicing, e-payment and contract management. It basically involves the conventional supply chain processes which are enhanced through the use of information systems. In public sector organizations, e-procurement is becoming a common affair given its increased benefits. Some of the benefits realized through e-procurement include increased efficiency and cost savings. Indeed, these have always been major concern in govern ment contracting. Similarly, e-procurement improves the transparency of the procurement process. Conventional procurement is normally characterized by rampant corruption especially in the public sector. A supply chain network enables the distribution options for the procurement of both raw material and finished products. In this regard, the major aim of a supply chain network is to satisfy the needs of the consumer as soon as they appear. This is certainly an important component of e-procurement (Ageshin, 2001). It should be realized that e-procurement is not simply a process of making online purchases. It must provide an open and effective communication line with all the potential suppliers throughout the business process (Waters, 2007). Research and New trends Businesses are today compelled to adapt and reconfigure their IT systems, assets and business operations in order to meet the increasingly changing demands of the customers. There is a growing need to compress the long busin ess cycles and to differentiate from the increased competition (2007). In this respect, new trends in e-procurement are constantly adopted with the major aim of enhancing operations through efficiency, costs reduction and output maximization. The systems are facilitated through the adoption of new architectural styles. The e-procurement and purchasing process involves the following steps (Dolgui, Soa, & Zaikin, 2005). Purchase approval and supplier evaluation The e-procurement supply chain process normally begins by the demand or need of the material by a user. In this respect, a number of electronic documents are normally used. They include forecasts and customer orders, purchase requisitions, stock checks and material requirements. The process of purchase approval involves a number of steps and will normally depend on the size of the purchase and whether the client is making first time purchases. Depending on the size of the purchase, there can be a need for supplier evaluation wh ich begins with from the determination of the purchase need (Forrest, 2006). Bidding and supplier selection The selection of suppliers is actually one of the most important activities in this respect. In any case, any mistakes or errors at this time can be very damaging and long-lasting. Once all the bids are received and the negotiation process has occurred, the sourcing team will then select an appropriate supplier and the approval is then authorized through the purchase approval step (Foust, 2013). Purchase approval Once the supplier has been selected, purchasing grants an authority or approval to purchase the product or service. This is facilitated through the use of an electronic drafting of a purchase order (PO). This is also

Economic Relations between Korea and China Essay

Economic Relations between Korea and China - Essay Example For centuries, China stood as a leading country, easily outpacing other countries in the arts and sciences. In the 19th century and early 20th centuries, however, China was overwhelmed by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. It seemed like China would never catch up with the Western developed countries economically, but after the 1978 reform period, Deng Xiaoping, a hero of China, focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled.There is no doubt that China has had tremendous effect on Korea economically, politically and culturally since early days of Korea due to proximity and Korean speaking ethic minorities living in China. We must not fail to indicate here that Korea here refers to both North and South Korea. Both of these republics have trade relations with China. South Korea and China normalized diplomatic and economic relations in 1992 and North Korea did so round about the same time.Although the relationship b etween Korea and China had ceased during the Cold War, the reestablishment of diplomatic relations had led to a surprisingly rapid growth of bilateral exchanges. Statistics show that Korean Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to China has increased at very fast rate and continuous to increase as China has become the second most viable destination for investment after the United States. The development of economic relations between South Korea and China over the past decade has been dramatic... numbers, direct bilateral trade between Korea and the PRC has gone from $4.4 billion in 1991, the year before the normalization of relations, to $41.1 billion in 2002 and has already reached $39.8 billion in just the first three quarters of 2003."2China's entry into the WTO had caused them to grow quite rapidly. The recent brisk exports from Korea to China have also been a key factor in the economic growth of China. This growth had caused demand for electrical equipment, semi-conductors and communication equipments which are the main exports of Korea. For an example, North Korea's trade volume hit a new record in 2004, approaching $1.38 billion. North Korea's exports to China topped $582 million, up 47.2 percent compared with 2003. Imports totaled $795 million, up 26.5 percent from the preceding year. North Korea's total trade volume for 2005 reached nearly $2.9 billion. 3 This increase in North Korea's exports to China can be attributed to the increase in exports of crabs, fish, and shellfish; metal products; and textile goods. It is also interesting to note that the North's increase in imports from China is mainly attributed to the increase in the import of energy elements such as crude oil and foods such as frozen pork. Imports of different types of grains like rice and wheat are also noticeable.According to L. Gordon Flake, Executive Director, Mike and Maureen Mansfield foundation, "Korea's imports from China are currently undergoing a structural transformation. China has begun to manufacture electronic components because China is undergoing rapid industrialization. It means that both Korea and China are entering into a highly a competitive market with regard to electrical equipments. This bilateral economic exchange between China and Korea can create

Targeted Organization Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Targeted Organization Summary - Essay Example The company is also dynamic and is expanding scope. It has for example been planning to expand its ventures into the Arctic waters from primary dependence on the Mexican gulf. The company has also been active in ensuring safety in its ventures, a move that contributed to its temporary clearance for the Arctic exploration. Though a number of regulatory measures still face the company over the exploration, there are high chances that a license will be granted. This will even expand the company’s scope for a more explorative work environment (Broder and Krauss, 2012). As a public health expert, I have the potential to design and implement the organization’s strategies towards safety of employees. My potential will therefore help the company in realizing its commitment and policy statements towards employee and environmental safety (Static, 2009). Broder, J. and Krauss, C. (2012). Shell clears major hurdle in its bid for new Arctic drilling. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/18/science/earth/us-tentatively-approves-shell-spill-plan-for-new-arctic-drilling.html?_r=1 Static. (2009). Shell commitment and policy on health, security, safety, the environment and social performance. Retrieved from:

Women And The Criminal Justice System

Women And The Criminal Justice System The aim of this work is to define the role factors such as gender, class, familial structure and prior victimization have in the awarding of justice to the female offender. It was found that the criminal justice system has traditionally been more lenient to the female offender based on two factors: gender and class and family structure. However, the criminal justice system finds itself in a legal and moral bind when it comes to prior victimization of the offender, and in differentiating between true victimization leading to a violent crime and the misrepresentation of such a previous state by the defending attorney. These findings should give an overall understanding of the criminal justice system with regards to female offenders and should form a framework within which such inequalities and discrepancies can be discussed. Introduction To better understand the criminal offender, it is necessary to understand the role the backgrounds of the offenders play in their path towards crime. The percentage of female offenders has increased in the recent past, and sociologists, criminal experts and the judiciary have grappled with the damning statistics. Various theories have been put forth to better understand the role race, class, family structure and victimization of the female offender have to play in the rise in crimes by the female gender. While a lot of work had gone into research into these themes individually, a deeper understanding of all these factors and the role they play in the treatment of women by the criminal justice system remains to be analyzed. This essay aims to explain these factors and the role the criminal justice system has to play in offering justice, and support to the female offender. The criminal justice system and the female offender According to sentencing statistics, nearly a third of women sentenced for indictable offences in 2000 received a community sentence compared with just under a quarter of men . It can be seen that the criminal justice system has traditionally been lenient on the female offender. In delivering justice, the background of the defendant, the role factors outside the purview of the crime that have contributed to the psycho-social development of the defendant are considered. However, various social and developmental factors also contribute to the low rates of serious crimes by women . While men are not socially connected and do not traditionally worry about children, women are bound to their home and hearth and thus desist from violent crimes. This difference is important to the jury, who consider previous crimes and delinquent history when considering their judicial stance on the offender. Thus, women tend to have less severe judicial outcomes in the criminal justice system. The role of race and the female offender According to Koons-Witt and Schram: Two findings are notable in terms of offending differences among females: (a) race conditioned the relationship between offending group and victim(s) sex for robbery incidents and (b) race conditioned the relationship between offending group and the social distance between victim(s) and perpetrator(s) for aggravated assaults. The race of a person has a major role to play in the psycho-social development of the female offender. Racial characteristics such as social conditioning, parenting style, opportunities for education and social development and interaction with other races have always played a major role in the development of the offender. The criminal justice system has also traditionally, not only discriminated on the basis of gender, but also on the basis of race when awarding punishment for crimes, both non-lethal, and lethal. However, in the context of the female offender, unlike gender, race has not played a role in the severity of senten ce for a crime, which remains a factor only for the male offender. The effect of race is conditioned by gender while the effect of gender is not conditioned by race. However, the harsher treatment of racial minorities by the criminal justice system is confined more to men, and the lenient treatment of women is found for minorities and whites alike . Class and family structure and the female offender Women from the lower and working class have been a priori been excluded from the middle class in their expectations and prior social programming. While the women from the socially backward classes have never been placed in the good girl category, dissimilar to their middle class counterparts, the criminal justice system considers the class of the women while deciding punishment for a crime. Like race, social conditioning of women offenders depends largely on their social class and existing family structure. Social scientists have long associated class and life-expectations of women in work, at home and in the social context. Delinquency and crime are also associated closely with the class of the offender. The criminal justice system has always considered the class of the female defendant to award punishment. Victimization and the female offender Vieraitis, Kovandzic and Britto state: ..womens absolute status is significantly correlated with female homicide victimization rates by intimate partners.. . The role of victimization leading to crime by the female offender cannot be overemphasized. In many cases, the victim turns criminal and the psychological effects of the crime of the woman are an important parameter in understanding the development of the criminal mindset. In many violent crimes committed by women, the victim is mostly the intimate partner who has, in the past, been violent towards their partner. This progression of crime has a major role to play in the psychological and criminal development of the offender and makes it a tough case for the defending attorney and the criminal justice system. The fine delineation between preexisting conditions that lead to the crime and the absence thereof makes the awarding of justice difficult and at time, morally challenging. Conclusion The female offender is shaped by her gender, class, familial background and prior victimization. These factors have a major role to play in the psycho-social development of the offender. While the criminal justice system has traditionally been lenient to the female offender, the rise in crime by women has brought to light these differences and how justice is served to these offenders. A larger meta-analysis of the problem would yield sociological and psychological constructs that may help streamline the justice system to recognize and eliminate errors in jurisprudence.

Black Boy :: essays research papers

The Crying of Lot 49 In a story as confusing and ambiguous as Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49, it is difficult to connect any aspect of the book to a piece of modern culture. However, Oedipa’s quest, her search for the truth, and the paranoia therein, are inherent in the plots of today’s most-watched television and movies. Though many themes from the story can be tied to modern culture, perhaps the most prominent is the theme of a quest for truth. Oedipa’s quest is best represented via a popular FOX television show called The X-Files.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At first sight, the comparison is almost too obvious. Agent Fox Mulder, played by David Duchovny, seeks the truth behind the apparent mystery of alien abduction and the supernatural, a quest that he dubs â€Å"the X-Files†. Oedipa, too, is looking for the truth underneath her mystery: WASTE. Both characters yearn for the truth behind events, a truth that may or may not exist, in mysteries that fold plots upon themselves endlessly. Beyond the obvious similarities, however, lie more, almost uncanny, parallels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Though both Mulder and Oedipa claim to seek the truth, what they both seek is resolution to the questions within themselves. For example, it is understood by fans of The X-Files that Mulder began his search for extraterrestrial life with the supposed alien abduction of his sister. The quest for the truth, then, is personalized for Agent Mulder, as he himself claims that he would not work as an FBI agent if his sister had not been [supposedly] abducted. Oedipa is on a personal quest as well. No other character in the story seeks the â€Å"truth† behind WASTE, the muted courier’s horn, the play The Courier’s Tragedy, Pierce Inverarity’s stamps, and a secret postal service. In fact, no one else has ever before made such a [possibly ridiculous] connection! So, as both characters seek their personal truths, they slowly begin to fear that no answer exists.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The motives of these two seekers are important, and indeed similar. There seems to be an obsession to find a truth in symbols (be they horns or crop circles), a truth that both characters come to realize may not even exist. By definition, obsession is â€Å"a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling†. Therefore, the moment that their questions are absolved, the moment that their hypotheses are proved, the quest and its subsequent paranoia, frustration, and pain are removed.