Cultural Perspectives in Tom Robbins Even Cowgirls Get the Blues :: Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Essays

Cultural Perspectives in Tom Robbins' Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Literary works are always affected by the times and places in which they are written. Those crafted in Western America often reflect conflicts that occurred between advancing civilization and the free spirited individual. The 1970’s was a particularly popular time for authors to introduce new ideas for living in the modern world. There are few authors who captured the essence and feeling of culture quite like Tom Robbins. Robbins comments on the differences and similarities between Western civilization and Eastern philosophies. His text offers philosophical and cultural meaning that is completely original. Certain beliefs are threaded through out the content of the story. He includes significant content reflecting the laws of physics; how motion and force affect the life process. Through the dialogue and action of his characters, Robbins illustrates how two very different ideals can coexist. Robbins intentions are to expand cultural perspectives and awareness through his novels. His use of metaphors and stylistic diction emphasizes further how thoughtful and awesome his work is. Tom Robbins writing offers an insightful perspective into cultural themes of our modern world. Robbins writing reflects different lifestyles, and philosophies. His characters are eccentric and complex; yet retain a familiar quality that allows them to be adored by the reader. His characters often possess personality traits like those he admires—women in particular. The characters, plot, and writing style all reflect Robbins thoughts about the world. In 1967, Robbins introduced Sissy Hankshaw to the world. In his novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Sissy dedicates her life to hitch-hiking across the globe. She is one of many characters whose attitude and actions conflict with stereotypical Western values. She is unbiased in nature and insightful about the world around her. The Cowgirls Quest Sissy takes on hitch-hiking as her life mission mostly because she was gifted in one area imperative to successful hitching: Sissy develops abnormally large thumbs. Robbins comments on how he pondered the opposable thumb: the one small physical difference that catapulted the homo sapiens ahead of other species. Hitch-hiking becomes Sissy’s passion--her purpose in life--at a very young age. The extraordinarily large thumbs not only gave her the will, but also isolate her from the other children. She accepts the fact that she is different from everyone else, but also acknowledges the negative view of her digits is not universal.

Has technology made children less creative? Essay

Society has been changing considerably since the advent of advanced development of technology that never grows as strong as it does nowadays. Thanks to a huge amount of knowledge, people invent lots of modern technology that come in handy in life. However, technology makes life faster and easier rather better, which is the most indispensable factor in development. Consequently, technology makes children less creative than they used to be in the past. Technology has brought several benefits for human beings in general and children in particular. For instance, the invention of computer and internet has breathed a new life into people’s lives and prospects. Computer helps to progress data much faster and more effectively. Since then, children can learn more interesting things they are not taught at school through some online courses such as academicaerth.org or ted.com. Generally speaking, internet has offered a good opportunity for everyone to study and be well-informed. However, what wonders me is how the seemingly perfect technology industry has a by-product. Since technology is the good result of other’s discoveries, only using their results without racking one’s brains derives one from creativity. Moreover, the children age is the ultimately vital growing phase for a person, for it is the time when one’s brain perceives new concepts from the world outside and create one’s bonding to life. It is the time when one’s creativity should be well-nurtured and enhanced This can be proven by a typical example of a survey conducted by a group of students from Stanford university in 2008. They did asked for nearly one thousand children whose age varies from eight to eighteen questions about their frequency of applying technology to daily life. Then, they tested them a quiz test about creation. According to the survey, the result indicates that those who use the technology usually are not able to answer the question ‘twenty functions of a pencil’ ; whereas others quickly respond to it with several answers such as tying one’s hair, killing, scratching when one is itchy. In addition, the availability of technology makes one too dependent on it. It is explained that the availability makes one become lazy and not actively think, provoke, learn so that they cannot explore themselves.

Pauls Theology in the Letter to the Romans - 2480 Words

Major Themes There are five major themes in the body of Paul’s letter to the Romans. 1: The pervasive need for justification/salvation (Rom. 1:18-3:20). 2: Justification/salvation through faith (Rom. 3:21-4:25). 3: The new life of grace in Christ (Rom. 5:1-8-39). 4: The role of Israel in God’s salvific plan (Rom. 9:1-11:36). 5: Ethical exhortation (Rom. 12:1-15:33). (130). Many scholars believe that Pauline theology is at the heart of the New Testament witness and Christian faith. It represents the oldest detailed statement of a coherent Christian theology available to us. (Ludwig et al. p.127). As â€Å"apostle of the nations† †¦he understood that all people are called by God to a very great glory† (The Pontifical Biblical†¦show more content†¦He contends that the person who truly believes responds to the grace of God which leads to righteousness and not to sin. Simply stated, it makes no sense if one who claims to be a Christian still continues to live in the old sinful ways believing that the grace of God will suffice for such sinful behavior. â€Å"The way grace works is that it takes away the sin of the believer and nullifies the power of sin in the believer so that sin no longer rules the mind and heart of the believer. The Christian is sure of salvation but he has to develop in moral stature.† (Laymon 779). We h ave not only been delivered from the power of death and sin we also have been enabled to live differently than we lived in the past. There will still be temptation and the pull to sin. Sin remains a potent enemy but through the Spirit we receive the power to triumph over our former nature. Though saved by Christ’s atoning sacrifice, we still struggle constantly with sin being sinful creatures. But the Holy Spirit is the one bearing witness that we are sons and daughters of God and leads us into righteousness. The Holy Spirit delivers us from the power and bondage of sin. Believers are to keep in mind always that in Christ they live a new life having died to their old ways. â€Å"†¦Dead to sin knowing this, that our old man isShow MoreRelatedRomans And The Christian Worldview1546 Words   |  7 Pages Romans and the Christian Worldview Todd M. Lynch L25710767 BIBL 425 D01 08/15/2015 â€Æ' Romans and the Christian Worldview Introduction Paul’s letter to the Roman’s was an occasional epistle as opposed to a systematic theology. However, Paul did present the Gospel in a systematic way. He was writing to an unknown audience of Christian’s, so he made sure to explain himself thoroughly in all areas, more so than if he was writing to those who knew him or had heard him speak before. 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