Saturday, April 30, 2011

33. Relevant


My topic seems very relevant to today’s society because I feel it is really important to show young women, men, and teens that they do not have to be “perfect.” You should grow up feeling like being yourself is good enough and not have to be self-conscious every time you walk out of your front door. The pressure to be a certain person and to look a specific way is too much for some teens to handle.  I think it is imperative that young adults know they are accepted for who they are and don’t need to change themselves to fit someone’s idea of perfect.  By writing a paper on the topic of body objectification I hope that because it is relevant many people will be able to relate to it. I also hope that the reader is persuaded by my ethos, logos, or pathos and ends up feeling more confident about themselves. There are numerous pressures in high school and college and some teens unfortunately turn to drugs, alcohol, violence, and even suicide. It’s pathetic that this is what our society has come to. Although it’s difficult not to be worried about your appearance, and I admit I am also guilty of this, we need to find a way to love our bodies as they are. Diet and exercise are important for a healthy lifestyle but obsessing over weight and appearance to impress others is extremely unhealthy. Young adults everywhere face problems with acceptance from family, friends, and society in general. 

32. TIMELY


Body objectification is a TIMELY and current topic. Girls and young adults everywhere walk past a shelf of magazines when they are waiting in line at the store. In most case the headings read, “Top diets for summer 2011.” or “New exclusive plastic surgery pictures!” It is difficult to ignore all of the skinny beautiful models on TV and soon you begin to aspire to be just like them Body image is also important in getting hired for a job these days. More specifically Hooters and clothing stores like Hollister take your looks into account when deciding whether or not to hire you. At Hollister, the girls and boys who work toward the front of the store have the job position of a “model” and they are supposed to look good in Hollister’s clothes so that when customers come in, they want to buy those outfits in order to look like the people at the store. 

Thursday, April 28, 2011

31. Commonplace Idea



In today’s society body image is made out to be extremely important in all aspects of life. Your looks are important for getting a job and selling yourself. Women are objectified by men, the media, and other women. Female bodies are used to sell products such as clothing, cosmetics, and even breakfast cereal. Their bodies are picked apart and scrutinized by the public putting too much pressure on young adults and teens that feel their bodies should mimic those on TV and in the magazines. Girls receive breast implants, go on extreme diets, tan their skin and cover themselves in make-up in order to be “perfect.” The worst part is that they do not do it for their own happiness. In most cases it is a way to please or impress men. Many women feel the need to be loved and wanted and by objectifying themselves they hope to achieve just that. They do not respect their bodies, so women flaunt them in short skirts and low cut shirts to receive attention from men. They don’t seem to realize that they are being viewed as objects and not human beings. Getting a job at your local Hooters may boost your ego and get you tip money, but you surely won’t gain any respect. In a Hooters controversy article written by Bay Area Women’s Fitness Examiner, Stephanie Atwood, she states, “if Hooters hires you, you are ‘selling’ more than food.” Young women should be conscious of how they are presenting themselves and how others are portraying their bodies.

Monday, April 25, 2011

30. Commonplace Article


In Commonplace I read the article,” Comfort Food,” written by Morgan Glaze. This article plain and simple explained that plastic surgery is the new ice cream. In the past when people got divorced or broke up, many women blamed it on themselves and their appearance. They felt horrible about themselves and would use sweets, chocolate, and ice cream as a temporary fix. This article focuses on the timely topic of plastic surgery. Now women and even men are turning to plastic surgery to attempt to improve their looks and how they ultimately feel about themselves. Also plastic surgery isn’t just something that people are getting when they are older and trying to preserve their youthful fresh appearances. Many teens these days are getting surgery during high school and college. Girls are getting everything from nose jobs to breast implants. People use plastic surgery to try to achieve an impossible form of perfection. Celebrities first began to get surgery to try to keep their careers as long as possible and not be replaced by a new hotter version of themselves. The craze has now taken over America. It is relevant because it is becoming it effects peoples self esteem and self-actualization. Teens see people in magazines and on TV and want to look just like them.  Plastic surgery is not a solution in life. People need to learn to love who they see when they look in the mirror and be proud of they you are because they are unique.

29. Commonplace Article


I read an article “Fat and Happy,” written on the Commonplace website by Jennifer Gallat. This article focused on the relevant issue of obesity. Obesity is a growing problem in the United States and the issue is starting with the current generation. Children these days are eating unhealthy foods and gaining weight at a very young age. The problem is partially the parent’s fault. Many parents will feed their kids fast food because of the obvious reason; it’s fast! Also most food in school cafeterias is horrible for children and has almost no nutritional value. We need to focus on teaching the new generation how to be healthy because they are the ones should be caring for their parents in the future. At this rate, children today are expected to live on average five years less than their parents. Children look up to their parents and other adults. If the older generation takes initiative and starts to make changes, they can teach the younger generation ways to be healthy. Obesity is costing the Unites States about 150 billion dollars every year. The cost of type 2 Diabetes that overweight children develop is a main contributor to that amount. Kids these days spend most of their time sitting at home on the couch watching TV or playing video games. Not many children are getting the recommended amount of activity daily. Obesity is the number one preventable cause of death so we need to be proactive and help our kids stay healthy!

28. Commonplace Article

I read and article on the Commonplace website called, “Taylor Swift: Combating Typical, Scandalous Celebrity Behavior,” by Katie Huston. In this article the author explains how media and more specifically music strongly influences the thoughts and actions of the youth today. The specific example that was used was Taylor Swift’s song Fifteen. The lyrics of this song tell the listener to wait and to not grow up to fast. The lyrics also persuade the listener to respect yourself and focus on your future goals rather than letting yourself get caught up in high school relationships. So many others songs on the radio have negative influences on teenagers. They focus on sex, boys, and appearance when they should be sending a positive message about friends, family, and values. Taylor Swift is seen as a role model to girls today and her songs make them feel better about themselves. It is important to have artists like her because in today’s society there are too many pressures for young women. Because teens view the actions of celebrities as something they want to mimic, it is important for celebrities to make conscious and appropriate decisions. They are looked up to by so many people from a younger, more fragile audience. This is relevant because it impacts the lives of our youth. It is timely because Taylor Swift is a current popular artist.  There are so many pressures that teens face today and with role models in the media; they turn to them when times get hard. We are lucky to have positive role models like Taylor Swift to hopefully help teens when struggling to find the right path in life.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

27. Intro


The government uses power in order to maintain a functioning and peaceful society. Having laws and rules is crucial when people make everyday decisions. In the United States, society has the freedom to make many personal choices, but their rights are limited when the outcome of their choices could cause harm to others. Authority figures enforce regulations so that people do not take advantage of their freedom. On the other hand it is important that power is not abused. Power and control can make it extremely simple for one to let matters get out of hand. Although parents let their teenagers go out on the weekends, they could instill a curfew to place boundaries on their privileges. Issues could arise if they begin to misuse their authority and as a consequence their children suffer. Parents exhibit control over their children just as the government has over its citizens. As a people we trust in the government to be fair and ethical when making decisions that impact us. Human beings share this similar power over their bodies. Sometimes we forget the sanctity of our bodies and take human life for granted. We have the right to choose whether or not to permanently mark ourselves with a tattoo, expose our skin in a tanning bed, and even whether or not to receive an abortion. However we are not legally aloud to decide to sell our bodies via prostitution, ingest alcohol below a certain age, or sell our organs to dying patients. There needs to be a balance between our own control and the governments power when it comes to decisions being made about the human body.  

26.What I Realized


In the episode I chose, “Epitaph One,” the main concept is how power was imperative to make the corporation work well. In the end the power was abused which led to ethical issues and people being taken advantage of. Originally when I viewed organ trafficking I looked at it as a way where everyone ends up happy and gets what they want. The donor, who is in most cases from a third world country, gets paid a large sum of money in return for their organ. This money could ultimately change their lives and allow for a better life for their families. The patient would also benefit because they would receive an organ and hopefully regain their health. After viewing my episode and analyzing my specific scene I came to realize that the process was unethical and not to mention illegal. In the scene Adelle realizes that her company was about to abuse their power over the doll’s bodies when they decided to perform complete anatomy transplants. The situation is similar to organ trafficking. The poor people who are donors are unaware of the risks, complications, and problems they will face for the rest of their lives. Because their main line of work is in the field of labor, having only one kidney makes it near impossible to do the physical demanding work. Wealthy patients take advantage of the vulnerable and desperate poor to get what they want. Money and authority assist in making it possible for the rich to abuse their power. 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

25. In Depth


Organ trafficking is much more prevalent in society than many people might think. According to the article, “ First Case of Organ Trafficking in the US,” written by David Porter of the New York Times, organ trafficking is happening worldwide. He states, “An estimated 10 percent of kidney transplants — 5,000 to 6,000 each year — are done illegally.” The number of people who are dying while waiting for an organ is certainly not decreasing and if anything it is going up. In 2008 in the United States 4,540 people died while waiting on the kidney transplant list (First Case of Organ Trafficking in the US?, n.p). As more people learn about the black market for organ transplantation, they begin to contemplate whether or not the value of their life is worth committing a crime. Organ trafficking has been illegal in the United States since 1984 and is also illegal in almost all parts of the world (n.p.). Kidneys, livers and lungs are most often transplanted because humans can live without one or some of the organ.  Besides being illegal, many view organ trafficking as unethical. In most cases some wealthy patient in need of an organ pays off a poor donor from a third world country. Although it may seem like a ‘win-win’ situation, the poor are desperate, vulnerable, and taken advantage of. Most Families in third world countries make about one dollar a day, but if they sell one of their organs they could gain about ten thousand dollars in just one day.  

Monday, April 18, 2011

24. Bridge


In “Epitaph One,” the concept of power and control comes across to the viewers. When Mr. Ambrose figures out that he can illicit full body transfers he does not even stop to think about the effect it will have on the dolls. The dolls in this show are real people who consensually give their bodies to the dollhouse for five years. This is relative to the family members of patients who give away a kidney, lung, or liver. It is also similar to people who sign up to be organ donors. In both instances people are giving their body part as a gift to help someone in need and to save a life. Adelle a high-ranking official truly believes she is helping people by being a part of the dollhouse. When she finds out what Mr. Ambrose has planned she is shocked and immediately disagrees. Mr. Ambrose lets her know that with the help of the government and authority figures, they will be able to get away with their illegal actions. In many cases today, government officials and people with control will abuse their power and go against the law. Adelle reminds Mr. Ambrose that his full body transfer is not humane and he does not seem to care. Organ trafficking takes advantage of poor vulnerable people and yet it still goes on all around the world. Kidney transfers are not as extreme as complete anatomy transfers but they are much more prevalent in today’s society than people might think. 

23. Analyze scene


During the season finale of the series Dollhouse, there is a situation that will help me in my argument. The episode called “ Epitaph One,” is a look into the future and views parts of the dollhouse’s past. My specific scene is about the highest ranking official at the Los Angeles dollhouse, Adelle Dewitt, finding out that the vice president of the company, Mr. Ambrose, is taking advantage of what concept their corporation was built around. Adelle feels strongly about the fact that the dollhouse was founded to help people and to give them what they need. The new plan would be taking advantage of their technology and causing harm. Mr. Ambrose explains that with all of the high status authority figures on their side it will be easy for them to transfer full bodies into the dolls. This relates well to my topic of organ trafficking because the complete anatomy transfer is similar to the buying and selling of kidneys. Mr. Ambrose charging a large amount of money to wealthy clients for full body transfers is similar to rich patients who illegally buy kidneys from donors. The comment that Mr. Ambrose made about any one who is of importance is on their side reminds me of the doctors, lawyers and government officials who aid in the illegal black market or organ transfer allowing it to happen. At the beginning the corporation set out to make a positive impact on people’s lives, like organ transplants, but power soon got the best of people and greed helped them decide to take advantage of this new found control over people’s lives and bodies.  

22. Scene


Adelle Dewitt enters the kitchen and is startled to see the doll Victor standing at the counter enjoying a gourmet crab leg dish. She turns to Topher to mention that Mr. Ambrose, Executive Vice Chairman of Rossum Corporation, should be notified, but then realizes that Mr. Ambrose has taken over the body of Victor. Now even more confused than before, Adelle asks, “What’s going on?” Mr. Ambrose explains that he was sent to the Dollhouse on a hard drive to showcase the new service that they will be providing. A full body or complete anatomy upgrade for some 9-digit sum of money will now be available to certain top priority clients.  Adelle who is shocked claims that he can’t do this and that is wrong. Mr. Ambrose says with a smirk on his face, “ I think you’ll find in the coming months that we can do whatever we want.” He takes another bite and Adelle turns to Topher as if he can somehow change the situation. She asks about the laws and he reminds her that their organization has always been above the laws. “Everybody who matters is either a client or one of ours,” he says. She explains that she was referring to the laws of humanity and angrily tells him, “I will not sell these people off at any price.” Adelle is left with the choice to be a part of the new complete body transfer or chose to fight for the doll’s bodies and do what she feels is humane. 

Sunday, April 17, 2011

21. Quote (5)


Organ trafficking does not just occur in third world countries, but also in the United States. Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, a 58-year-old member of the Orthodox Jewish community in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn, spent a decade mastering the buying and selling of organs. He was finally caught by the government, which is explained in the news article, “first case of organ trafficking in the U.S.”? Rosenbaum orchestrated his organ sales by finding donors in Israel and flying them to the United States. Then he would pay them ten thousand dollars for a kidney and sell the new organ to an American for 160,000 dollars. He claimed that he was helping people and making a positive influence. The author of the article, David Porter, wrote that, “Levy Izhak Rosenbaum called himself a "matchmaker," but his business wasn't romance.” In a way Rosenbaum is trying to play god while changing people’s lives. Even if his actions are saving lives and helping people, they are illegal. Since 1987 federal law has said that it is illegal to buy or sell organs for transplant. It is not just illegal in the United States but also almost everywhere else around the world. Rosenbaum has power in the community and with money and therefore was able to get away with this for almost ten years. He had strong acquaintances with lawyers and doctors who made it possible for him to complete the transactions. Power gives people control and allows them to find ways to go against the law and in many cases get away with it.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

20. Quote (4)

Autonomy in medical terms refers to the right of patients to make decisions about their medical care without their health care provider trying to influence the decision. This concept is related to control and power. The government makes rules to regulate what people can and cant do pertaining to their bodies. There is a law in the United States that makes the buying and selling of organs illegal. Human rights groups, including Organ Watch, oppose legalization of the transactions of organs. In the article, “Medical Ethics Needs a New View of Autonomy,” Rebecca Walker, and author from the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, she offers a more adequate framework for how to view and think about autonomy. We should all have a moral respect for our bodies and for autonomy. In Dollhouse, the dolls have no control over their bodies and therefore have no respect for them. Although in most aspects of life, individuals are subjected to the control of authority figures, we do have the right to control our bodies. Showing respect for one’s body should be based off of individual decisions. For example people can choose to tattoo their bodies, take care of themselves and their hygiene and even make the choice to use their bodies sexually. We do not always choose the correct, respectful, or moral way to treat our bodies and ourselves but the important part is that it is our choice and our decision to make. Individuals should have the power to control their bodies. 

19. Quote (3)

Organ trafficking is illegal in most countries around the world. There has been a recent increase in the buying and selling of organs worldwide. Why is this happening? The answer is simple; people everywhere are dying because they can’t get kidney transplants. The article, “Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism: A Commentary on the Global Realities,” was written on this topic by D. A. Budiani-Saberi who is the center of bioethics at the University is Pennsylvania. Throughout the article he explains that the black market of organ transplantation is becoming more and more evident. Budiani-Saberi states, “selling kidneys may be a consideration of ‘autonomy’ in academic debate but it is not the coercive reality of experience when a kidney sale is a desperate alternative available to the poor (1).” This illegal action is many patients’ last resort. The decision to buy a kidney off the black market is difficult and life changing. The new kidney could make the difference between life and death. As individuals we have the right to make decisions regarding our own bodies. The decision to give up one’s kidney to save a family member’s life is permissible, but we cannot choose to save a stranger’s life. In third world countries, selling a kidney could change their entire way of life. Families could transition from making one dollar per day to gaining ten thousand dollars in just a single day. There are pros and cons to making this life altering decision, but who is to say that the choice cannot be made individually. 

Friday, April 15, 2011

18. Quote (2)

The number of patients waiting for kidney transplants is increasing throughout the world. Because of the serious shortage of kidneys, people have resorted to organ trafficking, the illegal buying and selling of organs via the black market. Many critics express the concern that this process involves taking an unfair advantage of the poor. In the article, “Is it ethical for patients with renal disease to purchase kidneys from the world’s poor, “ Nancy Scheper-Huges, a professor of medical anthropology and director of Organs Watch explains the violence associated with kidney buying and selling. It is neither ethical nor humane to place a value on a person’s body. Nancy explains, “ putting a market price on body parts-even a fair one- exploits the desperation of the poor, turning their suffering into a medical opportunity” (n.p.). Although in many cases the operation may be viewed as a “win-win” situation, the poor ultimately suffer regardless of the transaction. The sellers are often unaware of the likely complications they will have to deal with post-surgery. As the article states, many sellers live in compromising conditions that threaten survival. With only one kidney the risk of damaging it through infectious disease, work related accidents and urban violence greatly increases. This puts organ donors from third world countries in an unfortunate predicament. If their last kidney fails, they do not have adequate healthcare or dialysis, and therefore it is highly unlikely that they will regain their health. There are also many physical and psychological effects that donors suffer from the actual surgery itself. 

Thursday, April 14, 2011

17. Quote

The number of patients waiting for kidney transplants is increasing throughout the world. Because of the serious shortage of kidneys, people have resorted to organ trafficking, the illegal buying and selling of organs via the black market. Many critics express the concern that this process involves taking an unfair advantage of the poor. In the article, “Is it ethical for patients with renal disease to purchase kidneys from the world’s poor, “ Nancy Scheper-Huges, a professor of medical anthropology and director of Organs Watch explains the violence associated with kidney buying and selling. It is neither ethical nor humane to place a value on a person’s body. Nancy explains, “ putting a market price on body parts-even a fair one- exploits the desperation of the poor, turning their suffering into a medical opportunity” (n.p.). Although in many cases the operation may be viewed as a “win-win” situation, the poor ultimately suffer regardless of the transaction. The sellers are often unaware of the likely complications they will have to deal with post-surgery. As the article states, many sellers live in compromising conditions that threaten survival. With only one kidney the risk of damaging it through infectious disease, work related accidents and urban violence greatly increases. This puts organ donors from third world countries in an unfortunate predicament. If their last kidney fails, they do not have adequate healthcare or dialysis, and therefore it is highly unlikely that they will regain their health. There are also many physical and psychological effects that donors suffer from the actual surgery itself. 

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

15. Source (5)

For my last source I decided to not use one that I had picked out. I found out today in class that it will be useful to have a specific case study to help prove my point in my argument. I found an article about a man who called himself “the matchmaker.” He was not referring to romantic matchmaking, but he was talking about how he makes organ matches. This article was called, “First case of organ trafficking in U.S.?” A man named Levy Izhak Rosenbaum has been buying organs from vulnerable people in Israel for 10,000 dollars and selling them in America for up to 160,000 dollars. Close to 5,000 people die each year while they are on a list waiting for a kidney. The demand for kidneys in increasing and so is the illegal market for them. Also this article is more recent than the other that I read earlier this week. The new statistic is that 10% which is about 5,000 to 6,000 are done each year illegally. Again many people agree that there should be some kind of regulation for this kidney black market in order to keep track and control of it. Many government officials and lawyers were found to take part in the process of organ trafficking. They use their power and authority to make an extra buck. People who maintain a high status have the power and resources to gain more money and more power. They continue to take advantage of the weak.

Monday, April 11, 2011

14. Source (4)


Today I read the article, "THE TRUTH ABOUT POWER," which was written by Steve Maich. It was not what I was looking for so I found a new article on power called, “ Taking the starch out of status.” Alan Wolfe wrote this article. The main focus of this article was to show how someone’s status, or the amount of power and wealth they maintain affects society. There are many people in this world that would do just about anything for increase their status. This is possible by seeking any advantage over other individuals. In Dollhouse the owners take advantage of less fortunate people by turning them into dolls. They do what they need to in order to prosper and make money from the organization. The article also emphasizes the fact that although the less fortunate people with lower statuses look up to the wealthy and rich, these people also rely on the lower classes as well. They are equally dependent on one another. The main topic of my paper is how control works into people’s lives. The underprivileged or desperate people have to resort to things like giving up an organ, being a prostitute, or in the series’ case, being a doll. The owners and founders of the dollhouse realize that it is important for there to be people in debt or in a bad place in life because without them no one would willingly sign up to be a doll. They rely on these people to maintain their company.



 Alan, Wolfe. "Taking the Starch Out of Status." New York Times Magazine (1998): 62. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 11 Apr. 2011.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

13. Source (3)


This morning I read the article, “Public Opinion About Prostitution and Measures to Prevent It.” My two prior articles were about organ trafficking, but I’m not positive if my real world example is going to be about that or prostitution. Prostitution is relevant to the Dollhouse because in the show the dolls in a way act like prostitutes. Men or women will pay money to have a sexual experience with one of the dolls. This article was not what I was looking for; therefore I changed my article to, “Understanding the Social and Economic Contexts Surrounding Women Engaged In Street-Level Prostitution.” This article stresses that not only is prostitution a health risk for women, but it is also a concern economically. The article explains a study that was constructed to better understand the reasons that a woman may get into prostitution. Women claimed that the economic stability and social support contribute to the reasons that they remain in this line of work. This relates to the Dollhouse because I am looking at the reasons someone would decide to become a doll in the first place. Like prostitution, money is an extremely high incentive. Also people could feel helpless or lonely and decide to become a prostitute to feel loved or wanted. Obviously being sexual promiscuous comes with the risk of STD’s. In Dollhouse they never mention how this comes into play. The author of this article does not feel that there is a plan that can be formulated to prevent prostitution, even if we can pinpoint the reasons for it.

Murphy, Lyn Stankiewicz. "Understanding the Social and Economic Contexts Surrounding Women Engaged In Street-Level Prostitution." Issues in Mental Health Nursing 31.12 (2010): 775-784. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 10 Apr. 2011.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

12. Source (2)


Today I read the article, “Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism: A Commentary on the Global Realities” written by Budiani-Saberi. This article is on a similar topic to the other article I used as my first source. This source had multiple statistics throughout the paper. One that I thought was very surprising was that, “in March 2007, it was estimated that organ trafficking accounts for 5–10% of the kidney transplants performed annually throughout the world.” I can’t even imagine what percentage it would be if this survey were redone today. Organ trafficking is becoming more and more relevant and timely. The facilities that assist in this process or transplantation encourage tourists or clients to get the procedure. This relates to the people who run the Dollhouse. This article is also very clear that is not acceptable to exploit the poor and vulnerable, however they do agree with my prior article on the fact that countries need to figure out a way to somehow regulate the trade. Another reason organ trafficking reminds me of the Dollhouse is because of how widespread the problem is. In one episode of Dollhouse they mention that there are multiple dollhouse organizations throughout the world working toward a common purpose. Another aspect that the article talked about was how the business or organ trade has little regard for the well being of the donor. The wealthy want an organ and they don’t care how they get it. Many donors have no one to care for him or her after they have surgery. The problem gets much worse if there are any complications after surgery because the donors have no form of health care. 

Friday, April 8, 2011

11. Source (1)


The article that I read has to do with organ trafficking. This is one choice I may use for my real world example. This article is specific to the donation of kidneys. In the article the author explains the purpose of the transaction of buying and selling human kidneys. The poor can find a scapegoat out of poverty and the rich, dying patient will get to live. In theory it sounds like a good plan. So then why is it illegal? It is an unsafe process and many of the donors end of getting sick and dying themselves. Because many donors are from third world countries, they do not have sufficient health care. Therefore, when they get sick it is harder to treat them and in addition to that they now only have one kidney. The risks after the surgery for the donor are not only physical but they can also be psychological. Some experts argue that they should legalize this process so they can safely regulate it considering organ trafficking is spreading worldwide. They also argue that society should respect people’s control over their own bodies. This relates to the Dollhouse because the dolls are for the most part signing up for this process by their own free will and choice. This is a current and growing issue because so many people who suffer from renal diseases are in need of a kidney transplant. People with money will go to extreme measure to get what they want , especially in life or death situations. 

Thursday, April 7, 2011

10. Works Cited

I have chosen to entertain two different real world example ideas for my paper. My original idea was to relate my concept, which is vaguely control, to organ trafficking. I wanted to show how rich and powerful people can easily take advantage of the poor and less fortunate people who are desperate with no other way to turn. Another idea that I had was to incorporate the aspect of prostitution into my paper. In most cases men pay money for services done by women who are most likely doing the job because of financial issues. This concept also has a lot in common with the Dollhouse because there were many sexual excursions that the dolls went on. In some sense people may view what they do as prostitution. My main concept may be too broad. I want to get my point across through my paper and I need to focus in on more specific topics. As for now I’m going to research all my considerations so that I can find the best possible path for my paper.




Bakdash, Tarif, and Nancy Scheper-Hughes. "Is It Ethical for Patients with Renal Disease to Purchase Kidneys from the World's Poor?" PLoS Medicine 3.10 (2006): E349. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 7 Apr. 2011.


Budiani-Saberi, D. A., and F. L. Delmonico. "Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism: A Commentary on the Global Realities." American Journal of Transplantation 8.5 (2008): 925-29. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 7 Apr. 2011.

Alikhadzhieva, I. S. "Public Opinion About Prostitution and Measures to Prevent It." Russian Social Science Review 51.3 (2010): 60-68. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 7 Apr. 2011.

Fayemi, Ademola Kazeem. "The Challenges of Prostitution and Female Trafficking in Africa: An African Ethico-Feminist Perspective." Journal of Pan African Studies 3.1 (2009): 200-213. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 7 Apr. 2011.

Maich, Steve. "THE TRUTH ABOUT POWER." Maclean's 118.22 (2005): 39. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 7 Apr. 2011.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

9. Prospectus



For my prospectus I have chosen to focus on the concept of control. “Ghost,” the first episode of the TV series Dollhouse, seems to explain my concept in the most detail. Joss Whedon does a great job of displaying the concept of control especially when vulnerability is present. People come to the Dollhouse who are either poor, in trouble, in a bad place, or lost in their purpose for life. Regardless of the reason they chose to seek the Dollhouse’s help, they share one common theme: they are broken. The rich and powerful, the elite, take advantage of them in their weakest moments and relieve them of their memories and of all control. The wealthy claim that everyone wins in this situation. The dolls eventually regain their memories and get reimbursed for their participation, while the more fortunate people including government officials, prosper from the time they pay to spend with the dolls.
I will argue that it is unjust and unethical for humanity to take advantage of people even if they think that everyone involved gets compensated. This can be shown by mentioning the specific scene in the episode that relates to the issue and by describing it in detail. This will allow the audience to see how much power the elite have over the less fortunate. In today’s society there are thousands of examples of power and control that are used unjustly, but I would like to focus on a topic that I feel is extremely similar to the issue in Dollhouse: International organ trafficking. Wealthy citizens in need of kidney transplants pay thousands of dollars to the people in poverty to save their own lives. They see it as though they are helping these people by allowing them to start a business and to make a profit, but they also don’t see how it can affect the donors in the long run. Simultaneously the programmers did not anticipate that complications many of the dolls were experiencing. In both cases, human bodies are taken for granted and treated immorally. I would like to find out if there is a better instance where the rich and privileged control the poor and underprivileged, turning them into "dolls." Why are all the desperate people in the world okay with their bodies getting turned into dolls, playthings, worker slaves, even prostitutes.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

8. High School is Hell


In the article, “High School is Hell,” the author Tracy Little’s main focus is to show how Buffy the Vampire Slayer the show makes use of metaphors. Growing up in the American society many teenagers feel fearful about high school and have heard many scary things about it. In the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, these rumors or metaphors are real. In normal society someone might make a statement such as, “I would kill to be on the cheerleading squad.” In the show however, these statements are made quite literal and the characters do actually kill one another to get onto the cheerleading squad. There is a greater meaning behind making these metaphors into reality. The show is used to make teenagers today less scared or nervous about entering into the terrifying high school scene. The author also adds others sources and examples to support her argument. Frankenstein, a book written by Mary Shelley in the nineteenth century does a very similar thing.  The author uses the monster that is created to mimic the fears that people had in that time period about the new developments in science. The book had some greater meaning or importance than just to entertain an audience. Each of the beginning episodes of Buffy has metaphors behind them; whether that be peer pressure, relationship issues, cliques, or bullying. High school is indeed a stressful time in any teenager’s life and by using monsters and metaphors together, this television show does a good job of  legitimizing the feelings of the viewer and helping them put their own fears into perspective. 

Monday, April 4, 2011

7. Dollhouse (6)


My final episode of Dollhouse that I watched was “Man on the Street.” This episode was much different from all of the other episodes I have watched this far. There was a news broadcast going on throughout the entire episode and also there was also a lot of focus based on the FBI agent. In this episode many things go wrong technologically. First the dolls have real feelings for each other. Victor and Sierra continue their relationship and everyone begins to notice. Next, the FBI agent notices Echo on TV and realizes that she is the girl on the photos that he has been searching for. This forces the corporation to place a doll as a neighbor to the agent. This doll is there to keep an eye on him. During an encounter, this new doll changes personas when she hears a certain message on the answering machine. I’m not sure how a doll can be programmed to change imprints by a phone recording when usually it takes electronic impulses. Lastly the owners of the dollhouse decide they need to try to control the dolls in a more efficient way. They realize that the dolls are getting out of control and that something must be done. All of these glitches in technology show that they are not actually possible. There would have to be some sort of impulse sent to the brain and I don’t thing that is possible by just saying certain words to a doll. I’m going to continue watching episodes to see if I can find answers to some of my questions.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

6. Dollhouse (5)


Tonight I watched the fifth episode from Dollhouse. The name of this episode was “True Believer” and I would say it is the best episode thus far. This episode brought about a new element. This new aspect was religion and had to do with a cult. A new technology was introduced in this episode also. The doctors did a new experimental procedure on Echo. They placed a camera behind her eyes so that the government could monitor what she saw as she entered the cult. This brain surgery caused her to be temporarily blind. The doctor in the episode talked about the procedure having some consequences in the past like brain aneurisms and seizures. I’m curious if the procedure is actually possible or even real. During the episode Echo gets slapped across the face and her vision is returned. This doesn’t seem very likely, but in the show the reason that this happened was because it was a miracle from God. Also in this episode the programmer noticed that while the dolls were showering they began to notice one another. The dolls are not supposed to be able to have such feelings for each other or at all. They are programmed so they cannot have sexual desires or tendencies while in their doll state. The two dolls Victor and Sierra seem to have some kind of romantic connection and the programmer and doctor do not see how that is possible. The dolls are meant to be blank and empty while in their doll states. 

Saturday, April 2, 2011

5. Dollhouse (4)


This morning I woke up and watched the fourth episode of the series Dollhouse. I find myself actually enjoying the show and watching these episodes is feeling less like homework. Yesterday I met with a few friends for dinner and ended up talking about the show the whole time. The fourth episode is called “Gray Hour”. At the beginning of the episode Echo is a midwife for a rich family in the mountains. I sometimes wonder why these wealthy families don’t hire normal people as in a doctor to do their tasks instead of hiring a doll. In this episode you learn more information about the character Alpha. Not only is he some murderous doll who can slice someone up skillfully in 8 seconds, he has more skills too. He is good with technology, computers and also about the whole memory game.  Another aspect of this episode that doesn’t quite make sense is how Echo’s memory is wiped clean during one of her tasks. In the show the explanation was that it happened due to a mysterious squealing noise. Apparently Alpha can clear her imprinted memory over a phone conversation? I did enjoy how Sierra used the same imprint that Echo used in order to help her escape during the robbery. When Echo is spending time at the Dollhouse, she begins to spend a lot of her time with Sierra and Victor. Topher begins to get nervous because they could possibly be retaining some of their memories and information from all of their tasks. 

Friday, April 1, 2011

4. Dollhouse (3)


            Today I watched the third episode of the Dollhouse series. The name of this episode is “Stage Fright.” I did not like the story behind this episode. Echo’s task was to protect a pop star from being killed by a crazy fan. The fan in the pop star end up having a twisted relationship and Echo is forced to improvise. It was in this episode that I realized how unrealistic the concept of the “Dollhouse” is.  I don’t understand how the dolls could remain functioning and communicating among themselves with their personalities and memories removed. If her memory was taken away, she shouldn’t be able to remember how to speak, walk, swim, or any other everyday function. Also it is natural for people to have feelings and the dolls don’t seem to have many. They are kind and always in a cheerful mood. They are never angry or they never question the people around them. They are constantly being told what to do and they do exactly what they are told. The science of the episode does not make sense. Also I was surprised to find out Victor is actually a doll. The whole time up until now I assumed that he was a buyer, but it was the other way around. Victor’s purpose is to keep the FBI agent distracted so that he does not locate the “Dollhouse.” Victor gives the agent a misguiding tip that results in him getting shot. This show has so many dimensions and angles; at times it is hard to keep track of all of them.