The Significance of Masks in Art Speiglemans Maus

Masks have held countless uses and meanings throughout history. Masks have been used in plays, like those of Shakespeare, traditional dances, social gatherings, even as a form of casual or corporal punishment. Although masks have several different uses in different cultural situations, the meaning of the masks is generally the same. Masks are used to conceal an appearance and assume the identity of another. Metaphorically, masks can be used to hide feelings, to protect oneself, and to block out the outside world. Many of these examples are shown in Art Speigelman s Maus. During Maus, the illustration of masks is made very obvious. The features are pronounced and it is very clear that the characters are wearing masks. The illustration of†¦show more content†¦The media is portrayed as a money-hungry, pillaging, and unruly group of people. The members of the media put on masks to pretend they re interested, and pretend they care. Unlike Art for the most part, the masks are something they have no choice in wearing; they need them to do their jobs properly. Art feels as though he is trapped behind a mask involuntarily at times although too. The mask he wears during the second version of Maus is representational to the feelings he has of being trapped beneath the success of the first volume, the death of his father, his self-consciousness, and the Holocaust as a whole(Speigelman 41-46). He is being held prisoner to these thoughts, and the mask is a constant symbolic reminder of them to him. The mouse mask is a way to show that after the effects of all these elements, he does not truly feel like himself. The mask is also a reminder to his character in the book, which is provokes the guilt of his success, the guilt he feels of the Holocaust, and the guilt he feels of ridiculing his father s story. Art s psychiatrist, Pavel, is somewhat a prisoner of a mask of his own. Pavel s mask represents of his feelings of being embedded in his own past. Pavel does anything in his power to try to forget, and some could say pardon, the occurrence of the Holocaust in his life. He became a psychiatrist, to try and help people better understand and cope with problems of their own. He also fosters

Challenging Obstacles for Immigrants Essay - 657 Words

Challenging Obstacles for Immigrants Many people migrate to the USA for several reasons, to get better life. As we all know the USA is highly developed economically and technologically, and it can become a different world to most immigrants. Thus, immigrants face various challenges during the first and second year of their entrance in to the USA. Among the challenges, language, getting a job and culture are common for most of immigrants. The first challenge for immigrants is the language barrier. Since English is the second or third language for most immigrants, they face a lot of problems to communicate. Although, immigrants have some knowledge of English, the pronunciation of most words is different. So they can’t understand and†¦show more content†¦Therefore, immigrants will be forced to find another tiresome job to cover their living expenses. But getting another job is another worry for immigrants. Here I am going to give my husband’s experiences. As soon as we reached America and got our so cial security numbers, my husband tried to search and apply for jobs. After several months and trial, he got a part time job with minimum wage. His salary is not enough to cover our expenses, and now he is searching another job, but none has been found. Thus, following the language barrier, getting a job is a big challenging to immigrants. Culture is the third challenge that immigrants face here. Immigrants have their own cultures and living styles in their home country. The culture of dressing, talking, eating, social life etc†¦ is different here from immigrants’ home country. For example, here man and woman can kiss on the lips anywhere, but this is taboo in my country, Ethiopia. Another example is the way girls’ dress, here girls can wear whatever they like such as shorts and mini dresses. However, in my country, this is not accepted and girls should wear clothes that don’t expose their body. Thus, they should wear shorts and dresses which are below to t heir knees. The other thing here people eat their food anywhere; they can even eat walking on the street. However, in my country people, especially girls, cannot walk on the street while eating or drinking. There are several customs here that are counted as taboo inShow MoreRelatedNew Hispanic American Honors Track Essay898 Words   |  4 Pagesalmost 3 million of South American immigrants moved to the United States in 2014, where 77% of the total population were from Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil. In addition, they stated that New York state was one of the areas that accounts for the greatest population of these Latin American immigrants who come to this country to pursue better educational opportunities, especially in the math and science fields; however, the English barrier becomes an obstacle for those who want to achieve it. 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Effect of Chemical Fertilizer on Plants & Soil

Question: Write a report on effect of chemical fertilizer on plants soil? Answer: Introduction: The report aims at providing essential information about fertilizers that form an essential tool in increasing plant growth and production. The report focuses on issues such as the concept of fertilizer, its composition, and types of chemical fertilizers. It also highlights the advantages of fertilizers along with the overall effects of fertilizers on soil and plants. Concept Definition: Fertilizers are considered to be one of the most essential tools for gardeners or farmers. Any soil is rich in some of the nutrients while deprived of others. Use of fertilizers significantly supplements the nutrients that the soil lacks and also increases the chances of successful growth of various plants and enable good yield of crops. Modern synthetic fertilizers comprise of mainly phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium compounds with added nutrients. This use has improved the quality as well as the quantity of the available food. Fertilizers usually replace the chemical elements that are absorbed from the soil by plants. These are even aimed at enhancing the growing potential of soil with enhancement of environment than that of the natural soil. Fertilizers are basically used to replenish the soil. With the gradual growth and maturation of the plants they consume the nutrients of the soil with water (Tang, n.d. 140-145). With time these nutrients get depleted. On account of this, plants become sick and incapable to produce further foliage. These nutrients include nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron. Fertilizers are immensely helpful in promoting the soil fertility as well as enhancing plane growth. Health of the soil is based on the balance of macronutrients as well as micronutrients, including that of microbial health. Composed Elements in chemical fertilizers: The basic elements in fertilizers include nutrients that are essential for plant growth. Normally, plants utilize nitrogen within the synthesis of nucleic acids, proteins and hormones. When there is lack of nitrogen in plants, reduced growth as well as yellowing of leaves occur. Plants need phosphorus which is a component of nucleic acids, proteins and phospholipids. It is important to generate energy for driving metabolic chemical reactions. In the absence of adequate phosphorus, growth of plants may get reduced (Sinha, Gupta and Rana, 1986, 411-418). Potassium is used within protein synthesis as well as other processes. In the absence of adequate potassium, yellowing or spots of dead tissue may arise. Magnesium, sulfur and calcium are essential for plant growth. These are included in small amounts only in fertilizers since these exist naturally in soil. Some other micronutrients required by plants are copper, iron, chlorine, zinc, manganese, boron and molybdenum that function as co factors in reactions. Several substances are applied to provide required nutrients for effective fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers are usually made from various ingredients which are organic in nature (Olayinka and Adebayo, 1985, 47-56). They are made by chemical process which varies among various types of fertilizers. Most of the chemical fertilizers involve proportion of three basic nutrients required for plant growth, namely nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Different types of chemical fertilizers exist, all made to be applied in various soil conditions of different crops or plants. Major chemical fertilizers contains adequate amount of three basic nutrients known as macronutrients. If soil lacks any of these nutrients in adequate amount, successful plant growth as well as production may suffer. Most of the brands are labeled as 10-20-30. These indicate the content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer. In the present day productivity has been enhanced majorly and this is due to the use of fertilizers. Fertilizers are advanced means of promoting as well as enhancing productivity (Marschner and Waldemar Wilczynski, 1991, 229-236). Fertilizers are grouped into different types based on their comprising elements, strength and other attributes. Each fertilizer bears sufficient level of required chemicals, elements and minerals for ensuring healthy plant growth. These are basically blended combination of one or more organic or inorganic compounds as well as chemicals required by plants to grow successfully and get adequate nourishments. These are basically blended combination of one or more organic or inorganic chemicals or compounds that cause enhanced growth of plants, Type of chemical fertilizers: Chemical fertilizers are usually made from various ingredients which are organic in nature. They are made by chemical process which varies among various types of fertilizers. Most of the chemical fertilizers involve proportion of three basic nutrients required for plant growth, namely nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Different types of chemical fertilizers exist, all made to be applied in various soil conditions of different crops or plants. Major chemical fertilizers contains adequate amount of three basic nutrients known as macronutrients. If soil lacks any of these nutrients in adequate amount, successful plant growth as well as production may suffer. Most of the brands are labeled as 10-20-30. These indicate the content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers contain other nutrients such as urea and ammonia. There may be necessity for fertilizers with sufficient iron, copper, zinc, manganese and sulfur to the soil. These exist in small percentage and are known as micronutrients (Mahrous, Mikkelsen and Hafez, 1983, 455-472). These are also required for healthy growth of plants. Nitrogenous fertilizers are named so chemicals are combined with nitrogen element. Some common combinations are urea, ammonia and sodium. Also, phosphorus fertilizers have chemicals combined with phosphorus element. All the chemical fertilizers that have chloride or salts combined with increased percentage of potassium are called potash. Chemical fertilizers occur in three forms. Based on the constituents, fertilizers may be categorized as organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers. Organic Fertilizers These fertilizers comprise of completely or partially decayed organic materials that are bio-degradable to a great extent. This involves animal waste, rotten green manure or other natural elements that gets added to humus content within the soil and gets nourished (Mahmoud and Ibrahim, 2012, 88-126). Plants use these with the aid of microorganisms within the soil that decompose the total matter thereby releasing nutrients and making the whole thing soluble in nature so that plants may absorb them easily. Some organic fertilizers are manure, compost, fish and bone meal, etc. Inorganic fertilizers Any chemical fertilizer is known as inorganic fertilizer when the constituent elements originate from synthetic means. This leads them to be non-degradable. To bring about sustainability and increased growth in plants and crops, fertilizers are added to soil in the right amount. These fertilizers are prepared by the right amount of natural elements required by plants to bring about healthy as well as easy growth. They bear one or more essential nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and various other nutrients. When added to the soil, the nutrients fulfill the required demands of plants, thereby enabling them to make up for the lacked nutrients (Lian and Juang, 1993, 245-266). With the gradual growth and maturation of the plants they consume the nutrients of the soil with water. With time these nutrients get depleted. On account of this, plants become sick and incapable to produce further foliage. These nutrients include nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron. Chemical fertilizers contain other nutrients such as urea and ammonia (Tth, 2010, 2568-2576). There may be necessity for fertilizers with sufficient iron, copper, zinc, manganese and sulfur to the soil. These exist in small percentage and are known as micronutrients. These are also required for healthy growth of plants. Nitrogenous fertilizers are named so chemicals are combined with nitrogen element. Advantages of fertilizers: Fertilizers, be natural or chemical are just like food to plants. The most significant advantage of chemical fertilizers is that these cost much less than that of organic fertilizers. The increased price of organic fertilizers is only because of the need to harvest the organic material for using in fertilizers and also due to increased costs of being certified organic by government regulatory agencies. Fertilizers when used upon plants provide greater nutritional contents to plants and these are essential for their growth and increased crop yields. Fertilizers usually replace the chemical elements that are absorbed from the soil by plants (Lian and Juang, 1993, 245-266). These are even aimed at enhancing the growing potential of soil with enhancement of environment than that of the natural soil. Fertilizers are basically used to replenish the soil. With the gradual growth and maturation of the plants they consume the nutrients of the soil with water. With time these nutrients get dep leted. On account of this, plants become sick and incapable to produce further foliage. These nutrients include nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron. Chemical fertilizers contain other nutrients such as urea and ammonia. There may be necessity for fertilizers with sufficient iron, copper, zinc, manganese and sulfur to the soil. These exist in small percentage and are known as micronutrients (Knutson, 1990, 118-135). These are also required for healthy growth of plants. Nitrogenous fertilizers are named so chemicals are combined with nitrogen element. Some common combinations are urea, ammonia and sodium. Also, phosphorus fertilizers have chemicals combined with phosphorus element. Effects of fertilizers on soil plant: Chemical fertilizers are known to not only provide nourishments to plants and microbes, but also affect adversely to the soil life, particularly in the concentrated state or that if water soluble. Neutralization as well as acidification of the soil is harmful to microbes that basically depend upon enzyme. Enzymes are active only in particular pH. Else it slows down the enzyme reaction. Micronutrients act as activators of enzymes (Iwashima et al., 2012, 783-792). In this respect, ammonium sulphate is quite strong as biocide that hinders nitrogen fixation process and thereby kills earthworms as well as nematode. Superphosphate imposes negative effect upon free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria. Soil animals as well as soil microbes require mineral nutrients just like plants. Chemical fertilizers are beneficial for soil life, and this in turn helps availability of fertilizers for plants (Kitou and Yoshida, 1994, 211-220). Hence, bacteria that decompose cellulose require calcium as well as phosphorus, but availability of phosphorus or zinc is based on soil life. However, efficiency of chemical fertilizers lessens soil life. The most crucial issue that is being faced by the use of chemical fertilizers is that of contamination of groundwater. Fertilizers containing nitrogen gets broken down into nitrates and thus travel through the soil (Gong, Yan and Wang, 2011, 85-94). As it is water-soluble and may be contained in groundwater for years and years, the inclusion of increased nitrogen for several years may impart an accumulative effect. Research shows that urea which is a popular fertilizer produces emanation of ammonia and also contributes in acid rain, ozone depletion and contamination of groundwater on account of nitrous oxide by the process of de-nitrification. Along with enhanced use presently and in future, this issue may enhance several fold in the years to come (Clements, 1963, 276-294). Contamination of groundwater may be related to goiter, gastric cancer, hypertension, stomach cancer, testicular cancer and malformations. Nitrogen in excess amount from air or water-borne fertilizers often causes respiratory problems, different cancers, cardiac diseases, enhances allergenic pollen production, and severely affect various vector-borne diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus and cholera. One of the most crucial impacts of chemical fertilizers is that of methamoglobinemia. It is known as Blue Baby Syndrome in infants. Such contamination of nitrogen in groundwater results in marine dead zones (Beal, 1912, 130-131). The increased level of nitrates causes an influx of plant life that consumes all oxygen and this is chocking for all aquatic ecosystem. There is also use of raw sludge as a fertilizer and this enhances the risk of disease. Some recent concerns regarding environmental impacts of using synthetic fertilizers have caused us to consider synthetic fertilizers as the most appreciable alternative to organic fertilizers. These synthetic fertilizers need more fossil fuels for production as well as creation of more greenhouse gases than that of organic fertilizers (Ville and Fesquet, 1872, 212-225). Major chemical fertilizers contains adequate amount of three basic nutrients known as macronutrients. If soil lacks any of these nutrients in adequate amount, successful plant growth as well as production may suffer. Most of the brands are labeled as 10-20-30. These indicate the content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers contain other nutrients such as urea and ammonia. There may be necessity for fertilizers with sufficient iron, copper, zinc, manganese and sulfur to the soil. These exist in small percentage and are known as micronutrients. These are also required for healthy growth of plants. Nitrogenous fertilizers are named so chemicals are combined with nitrogen element. Some common combinations are urea, ammonia and sodium. Conclusion: Thus from the above study, we may conclude that fertilizers are basically used to replenish the soil. With the gradual growth and maturation of the plants they consume the nutrients of the soil with water. With time these nutrients get depleted. On account of this, plants become sick and incapable to produce further foliage. These nutrients include nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron. Fertilizers are immensely helpful in promoting the soil fertility as well as enhancing plane growth. Health of the soil is based on the balance of macronutrients as well as micronutrients, including that of microbial health (Wiley, 1894, 448-466). Various research are being conducted that focus on lessening the harmful impacts on environment by that of fertilizer usage and also less expensive fertilizer sources. These would make it more environment-friendly with improved process of application. References Beal, W. (1912). How the Scientific Farmer Fertilizes his Soil.Sci Am, 106(6), pp.130-131. Clements, R. (1963).Modern chemical discoveries. London: Routledge Paul. Gong, W., Yan, X. and Wang, J. (2011). The effect of chemical fertilizer on soil organic carbon renewal and CO2 emissiona pot experiment with maize.Plant Soil, 353(1-2), pp.85-94. Iwashima, N., Masunaga, T., Fujimaki, R., Toyota, A., Tayasu, I., Hiura, T. and Kaneko, N. (2012). Effect of vegetation switch on soil chemical properties.Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 58(6), pp.783-792. Kitou, M. and Yoshida, S. (1994). Mulching effect of plant residues on soybean growth and soil chemical properties.Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 40(2), pp.211-220. Knutson, R. (1990).Economic impacts of reduced chemical use. College Station, Tex.: Knutson Associates. Lian, S. and Juang, T. (1993).Combined use of organic and chemical fertilizers. Taipei City, Taiwan: ASPAC Food Fertilizer Technology Center. Lian, S. and Juang, T. (1993).Combined use of organic and chemical fertilizers. Taipei City, Taiwan: ASPAC Food Fertilizer Technology Center. Mahmoud, E. and Ibrahim, M. (2012). Effect of vermicompost and its mixtures with water treatment residuals on soil chemical properties and barley growth.J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., (ahead), pp.0-0. Mahrous, F., Mikkelsen, D. and Hafez, A. (1983). Effect of soil salinity on the electro-chemical and chemical kinetics of some plant nutrients in submerged soils.Plant Soil, 75(3), pp.455-472. Marschner, B. and Waldemar Wilczynski, A. (1991). The effect of liming on quantity and chemical composition of soil organic matter in a pine forest in Berlin, Germany.Plant Soil, 137(2), pp.229-236. Olayinka, A. and Adebayo, A. (1985). The effect of methods of application of sawdust on plant growth, plant nutrient uptake and soil chemical properties.Plant Soil, 86(1), pp.47-56. Sinha, A., Gupta, S. and Rana, R. (1986). Effect of soil salinity and soil water availability on growth and chemical composition ofSorghum halepense L.Plant Soil, 95(3), pp.411-418. Tang, Y. (n.d.).The use of chemical fertilizers in the milkfish ponds of Taiwan. Taipei: Chinese-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction. Tth, T. (2010). Effect of Zinc and Dolomite Treatments on the Chemical Composition of Acid Sandy Soil and Bean Crop.Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 41(21), pp.2568-2576. Ville, G. and Fesquet, A. (1872).The school of chemical manures. Philadelphia: H.C. Baird. Wiley, H. (1894).Principles and practice of agricultural analysis. Easton, Pa.: Chemical Pub. Co.