What Counts as Knowledge in the Arts Essay Example For Students

What Counts as Knowledge in the Arts? Essay OF knowledge. Art is a lie that brings us closer to the truth; these are the words of the renowned artist Pablo Picasso. It is common belief to think that there is very little or no knowledge in the arts. The arts are normally equated too creative way Of expressing your thoughts and emotions; knowledge is not normally in the forefront when speaking about the arts. In most areas of knowledge like the sciences, facts and evidences lead to conclusions based on Which knowledge is formed. In the arts there is often no definite conclusion, no definite answer, and to many it may seem vague, but the lack of a definite conclusion does not mean hat there is no knowledge to be extracted from it. Art is form of self-expression and it takes on many forms: paintings, movies, music and literature they are all examples of art, its is a very subjective area of knowledge, what is beautiful one may be horrendous to another, but it always expresses a grain of truth, through emotion, reaction or representation. But why did Picasso say art was a lie? We will write a custom essay on What Counts as Knowledge in the Arts? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now A lie is a sense or telling that something is not real, yet according to Picasso it brings us closer to what is real the truth through various ways of knowing like perception, emotion and by drawing conclusions. Art is in tact a beautiful lie: a lie where the issues, problems, emotions, truths and knowledge are hidden behind a flurry of beautiful colors and stark images, behind lyrical symphonies and eloquent vocabulary and even behind a simple turn of an actor, If there is indeed so much knowledge to extract from art why is it common belief that art has almost no knowledge? The belief that there is no knowledge in art tan simply be equated to the lack Of awareness and is an evidence of difference in perspective in the area of art. As I mentioned earlier art is subjective and the voice, mood and emotion Of the artist are very evident in the work. Art is based on the perspective of the artist and the viewer, the knowledge to be extracted it is heavily based on the interpretation of the viewer. A painting may convey anger to one and to another it may convey passion. I can take my own at work as an example. There were many perceptions to what I was trying to portray through the painting, some thought that was trying to express anger, others thought it was meaningless, some thought that it was a witch, my sister thought it was Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Greeter. I was actually trying to depict the calming and almost spiritual experience to experiencing rain in the woods. This example to show that different people experience art differently and thus come to different conclusions about what they see. So we can say that the reason it is common belief that there is no knowledge in art is because of the difference in perspective. When the viewer is unable to understand or imbibe the message the artist was trying to convey they come to the conclusion that there is no knowledge or message in it, simply because they are unaware or ignorant about the message of the artwork. But why is it that people are easily convinced when knowledge is imparted in the form of a science, math, history or geography codebook rather than a novel? It has long been argued that history is an art as well as a science but everyone believes that there is knowledge in history as it is recounting an event, but it can be argued that history is nothing more than a Story, especially when discussing ancient history. But if history can contain truth even though it is literature, why cant art also have knowledge in it? A streetcar named desire by is a very good example of knowledge in literature. .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc , .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc .postImageUrl , .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc , .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc:hover , .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc:visited , .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc:active { border:0!important; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc:active , .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3c2d1cfc9ba27d88251f68d470a51cfc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Interesting Personal Statement (563 words) EssayWe studied this play in English and was immediately drawn by the similarity in the characters in the roles they played ND the way they were portrayed to the playwright and the situation around him when he wrote the play. It conveys the truth about the way women and homosexuals were treated and the roles different people of different social classes played. It even gives a great insight into the changing America, to be very honest learnt more about the changing America after World War II from this play than from my history books. So why is it that we do not consider this work to be history, to be knowledge but instead sidetrack it as art, something that is nothing but a pastime and as something we dont gain much knowledge from? This is because people are more comfortable accepting that a historian would know more about the time than a playwright or an artist. This is because plays and novels are often sidetracked are fictional works, something which was never real and will never be real. Y labeling something as a work of fiction eve stop looking for any knowledge in it and stop trying to learn from it this creates a stereotype in the minds of people, which prevents further learning and gaining of knowledge. People are easily convinced when the same information is conveyed to them is the form of a textbook as it is not hidden in the storyline or hinted wrought the actions Off character, but instead is stated as plain fact. So how is it possible for one gain knowledge FM art? It is truly hardest gain knowledge from the art than from science, this is because knowledge in the art is hidden. It is almost like a cryptic message that needs to be deciphered, but unlike many cryptic clues there is no hidden decoder, which tells you where to start. The only way to gain knowledge in the arts is through opening your mind to new information, one must remove stereotypes and almost all information and knowledge we thought to be the truth. Knowledge and information gained from the art is to be taken with a pinch to salt as artists have tree reign over what they wish to portray and how they wish to portray it, they are free to have strong opinions, which are not necessarily true. Therefore as a conclusion we can say that there is a great deal of knowledge in the art but it is hidden and out of clear sight this is what makes art exciting and almost like a mystery. Gaining information from the arts might not be the easiest or most reliable but this article serves to disprove the common belief that there is no knowledge in the arts.

The most important pre-requisite for a civilization to reach its Golden Age Essay Example

The most important pre The most important pre-requisite for a civilization to reach its Golden Age Paper The most important pre-requisite for a civilization to reach its Golden Age Paper Essay Topic: History Tao Te Ching Every civilization will rise and fall at some point in time. That is what defines a civilization. The peak of a civilizations rise and fall would be called the civilizations Golden Age. Civilizations Golden Ages differ depending on how much they had advanced during their Golden Age. As the Golden Age is the peak of a civilization, naturally the civilization would fall afterwards, which is what makes it the Golden Age, where the citizens were all generally happy and content with their lives and with nothing to fear for. There are many factors that are vital for a civilization to reach its peak, such as strong military, a good and stable government and an open society along with economic prosperity. A government with good leadership is an essential pre-requisite for a civilization to reach its peak. Having a strong leader in the government will ensure the civilizations safety against threats. Thus, the citizens will feel safe and peaceful when there is no fear of any danger coming their way. Hence, the people of the civilization will have no unrest and can be at peace. When they are at peace, artists and scientists can then focus their time on the arts and sciences, developing it and thus helping the civilization progress into its golden age. A case in point would be the Gupta Dynasty, with good leaders such as Chandra Gupta I, Samudra Gupta and Chandra Gupta II, where Samudra was not only a good military leader, but he was also a patron of the arts, promoting it and helping the Gupta civilization thrive during its Golden Age. Examples of their advancement include epic poems composed by citizens such as Mahabharata and stories like Puranas. In addition, a basic medical textbook was also created, as well as Arabic numerals, something most of the world uses today. In doing so, this will give way to new ideas and ways of thinking for the people, thus driving the society forward into its Golden Age. In addition, a good government that allows for an open society is a vital factor in helping a civilization reach its Golden Age. By being open and flexible to new ideas, the society can then make progress. By enabling ideas from abroad to enter the society and to put them to use, cultural and intellectual exchange can take place between civilizations, benefiting both, as well as giving them new ideas such that these ideas can be used to develop the arts and science. Hence, they will flourish and bring the civilization higher and nearer to its peak. A good example would be the Tang Dynasty, where the Tang emperor encouraged the development of Buddhism, and commissioned monk Xuan Zong on a mission to India and Sri Lanka to study Buddhist scriptures. While they encourage Buddhism, they did not punish others from practicing other faiths, like Taoism or Confucianism. These religions thrived and benefited the civilization, and had made many achievements in scholarship, literature, technology and art. Hence, the society will be introduced to different ways of thinking and thus, allowing the civilization to enter its Golden Age. A strong and effective government is another essential pre-requisite for a civilization to reach its peak, as a strong and effective government can help maintain law and order by implementing policies to the benefit of the society. This brings about higher productivity in society by organizing and running the country effectively, which encourages and promotes culture, as it recognizes the potential of the culture being a unifying force of society. When law order is established, the government has more time and resources to focus on other aspects of growth and development such as in the promotion of arts and culture. This would effectively mean that given official or royal patronage of the arts, artists would be able to develop their craft and even explore different art forms and genres. People exposed to more modes of thinking and expression which may very well lead to other innovations. This would drive the art and culture of the civilization forward, allowing for the civilization to reach its golden age. A case in point would be the Tang dynasty, where many poems where written, with famous poets from then such as Libai and others. Thus, this introduces the society to different ways of expressing themselves and in so doing, propelling them into the Golden Age. Another important pre-requisite for a civilization to reach its climax is having strong military. Having strong military helps to keep enemies away from the civilization and neutralizes threats to the society. This will allow the kingdom to be powerful and strong, such that no one is troubled by external threats to the civilization. This in turn, will give the civilization more peace and time to concentrate on developing itself in many different ways. Hence, it can go on an extensive conquest to conquer the lands and gain power using their strong military forces. A case study would be the Tang Dynasty, where emperor Taizhong re-conquered land that was broken away as well as conquered land in the north and the west, while his military power grew stronger and stronger, giving the citizens nothing to worry about. By doing this, the society can continue to grow in military strength and reach its Golden Age. In conclusion, there are many factors that contribute to the reaching of a civilizations Golden Age, having a good and uncorrupted government will allow it to make good and well-though out decisions, and ensure the strength of its military. Also, by having a strong government, that means the it can be humble and be open to new ideas to the civilization and allow the citizens to be introduced to new forms of art, etc. thus, this will make sure of the civilizations economic prosperity. With a good government, its leader can then be well educated and skilled in leading, making sure that the civilization continues to thrive. Hence, a strong and effective government is the most important pre-requisite for a civilization to reach its Golden Age.

The Wind in Willows Book Review

'The Wind in Willows' Book Review The Wind in the Willows is a childrens story that lives in the hearts and minds of its readers well into adulthood. With its subtle blend of anthropomorphism and very-British humor, the book is a classic tale of river life and friendship. The Wind in the Willows is surprisingly dark and thrilling in placesparticularly in the later chapters and the battle of Toad Hall. The book provides something that few novels of its time can claim: all-round entertainment for all ages. The story confirms the power of close friends and courage to make a difference in the lives of others. Overview: The Wind in the Willows The novel begins with Mole, a peace-loving little animal, doing some spring cleaning. He soon meets another of the people who live by the river, Ratty, who enjoys nothing more than messing about in boats. After a number of pleasant afternoons having picnics and spending time on the river, Mole and Ratty decide to visit one of Rattys friends, Toad whowhen they arriveexplains to them his latest obsession, a horse, and cart. They go for a ride with Toad, but whilst on the road, they are tipped over by a speeding motorcar (which completely breaks Toads little cart). Far from being upset by the loss of his favorite toy, Toads first thought is that he, too, wants one of those incredible automobiles. This obsession leads him to trouble, however. Much to Mole, Ratty and their old and wise friend Badgers sadness, Toad is soon arrested and sent to prison for stealing a motor car. However, within the gaol, one of the guards daughters soon feels sorry for the poor Toad (who certainly wasnt made for prison life), and gives him some old washerwoman’s clothes and helps him to escape. Toad returns to the river and is welcomed by his friends, who tell him that his home, Toad Hallonce his pride and joyhas been overtaken by the cruel woodlanders: the stoats and the weasels. Some hope does seem to be in sight. Badger tells Toad that there is a secret tunnel leading back into the very heart of Toad Hall and the four friends follow it, leading them right into the lair of their enemies. An enormous battle ensues and Badger, Mole, Ratty and Toad manage to rid the hall of stoats and weasels, placing Toad back where he belongs. The rest of the book suggests that the four friends will continue in their easy-going lifestyle, occasionally taking trips on the river and eating picnics. Toad manages to curb his obsessive behavior, somewhat, but cannot completely cure himself. Englishness in The Wind in the Willows The true joy of The Wind in the Willows is the image of English life: a very Georgian, upper-middle-class take on the world in which the countryside is covered by an incessant summer time and which days can be spent idling by the riverside and watching the world go by. Because of the success of The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame was able to leave his unhappy job in a bank and live very much the life he represented in the pages of the booka life full of cake at tea time, and the soothing sound of the river running past. The novel is also very much loved for its characters: the slightly pompous and ridiculous toad (who is completely carried away by his latest obsession), and the wise old badger (who is crotchety, but who has very high regard for his friends). They are characters who embody the English values of fortitude and good humor. But, these creatures are also incredibly honorable and willing to fight (even to the death) for their little piece of England. There is something ineffably comforting about Grahames little storyfamiliar and also very powerful. The animal characters are completely humanized, but their personalities and characteristics are still linked to their animals characters. The Wind in the Willows is wryly humorous and tremendously fun. This book is one of the greatest childrens books of all time.

Low in business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Low in business - Essay Example In the UK, â€Å"Product liability law defines a defective product as existing when the safety of the product is below that which consumers are entitled to expect†¦The standard of proof required by the court is such that the person claiming compensation must be able to show†¦that the defect in the product caused the injury or damage† (â€Å"UK Product Liability Law,† 2009). In one case of product liability, â€Å"[an individual] helped his mother attach [a] product to his younger brothers pushchair. One of the elastic straps slipped and lashed back. The buckle attached to the elastic strap hit him in the eye causing serious, permanent damage. The claimant sued Mothercare, the supplier of the product, claiming damages in negligence and also under the Consumer Protection Act† (â€Å"Abouzaid v. Mothercare (UK) Ltd.,† 2009). Brian is a budding semi-professional roller skater, and ha been practising for a national roller skating competition in which he was the favourite to win a 5000-pound prize. Albert asked James (Phillip’s younger brother and sales associate at Cretins Ltd.) whether the store had any skates suitable for semi-professional skating. Not only did Brian fall, but he brought his father down with him. Brain sustained a broken ankle, which would prevent him from skating for a year—while Albert sustained a broken arm in the accident. This is an incidence of where product liability would come into play. â€Å"Products liability refers to the liability of any or all parties along the chain of manufacture of any product for damage caused by that product. This includes the manufacturer of component parts (at the top of the chain), an assembling manufacturer, the wholesaler, and the retail store owner† (â€Å"Product Liability—US,† 2009). There are multiple possibilities. â€Å"Products liability law consists of a mixture of tort law and contract law†¦Aspects that relate to

Cultural Differences in Uncertainty Reduction Essay

Cultural Differences in Uncertainty Reduction - Essay Example The basic difference between high context cultures and low context ones is that while high context cultures view communication as a means for social bonding, low context cultures see it as a means for information transmission. As a result people while people from these varied cultural backgrounds are faced with anxiety when dealing with strangers, the manner in which they tackle the issue is rather different. Charles Berger's Uncertainty Reduction Theory deals with this concept of 'uncertainty' and focuses on how different aspects of communication can increase or decrease our uncertainty level about others Uncertainty reduction is all about understanding a stranger and being able to predict and explain his/her behaviour in a given context. (Griffin, 2006)The first part of this paper focuses on Charles Berger's uncertainty reduction theory and how this theory is important to our understanding of communication between cultures. The second part of the paper discusses the issue of cultural differences between societies and individuals. This section will describe the various characteristics of high and low context cultures and how they try to reduce uncertainty while dealing with strangers. Expanding on Berger's theory,. ... Expanding on Berger's theory,. William Gudykunst and his colleagues found out that all cultures seek to reduce anxiety and uncertainty in the initial stages of the relationship, but they do so in different ways (Littlejohn & Foss, 2004). The difference can be explained by whether one is a member of a high-context culture or low-context culture. Central to the uncertainty reduction theory, which was originally formulated by Charles Berger, is the assumption that when strangers meet, their primary concern is one of uncertainty reduction or increasing predictability about the behavior of both themselves and others in the interaction (Wright, 2000). The original formulation of uncertainty reduction theory in initial interactions posited seven axioms and 21 theorems which specify the interrelations among uncertainty, amount of communication, nonverbal affirmative expressiveness, information seeking, intimacy level of communication content, reciprocity, similarity, and liking (Gudykunst, 1985). The seven axioms that Berger uses to reinforce his theory are; as verbal communication increases, the level of uncertainty decreases; uncertainty causes increased levels of information seeking; high levels of uncertainty result in low levels of self disclosure; uncertainty causes increased levels of reciprocity; similarities decreases unce rtainty whereas dissimilarities increase uncertainty; and high levels of uncertainty causes a decrease in liking whereas low levels of uncertainty increase liking (Wright, 2000). Charles Berger's Uncertainty reduction Theory focuses on how human communication can be used to gain knowledge and create understanding. (Griffin, 2006) . Uncertainty reduction follws a three step pattern of developmental stages namely, entry personal and exit. At

Great Gatsby :: essays research papers

The attempt to capture the American dream is central to many novels. This dream is different for different people, but in The Great Gatsby, for Jay, the dream is that through wealth and power, one can acquire happiness. This happiness is something for which he must reach into the past to have and for which he must revive an old dream. Jay Gatsby, the central figure of the story, is one character who longs for the past. Surprisingly he devotes most of his adult life trying to recapture and, finally, dies in its pursuit. In the past, Jay had a love affair with the affluent Daisy. Knowing he could not marry her because of the difference in their social status, he leaves her to amass wealth to reach her economic standards. Once he acquires this wealth, he moves near to Daisy and throws extravagant parties, hoping by chance she might show up at one of them. He, himself, does not attend his parties but watches them from a distance. When this dream doesn’t happen, he asks around casually if anyone knows her. Soon he meets Nick Carraway, a cousin of Daisy, who agrees to set up a meeting. Gatsby’s personal dream symbolizes the larger American dream where all have the opportunity to get what they want. Later, as we see in the Plaza Hotel, Jay still believes that Daisy loves him. He is convinced of this as is shown when he takes the blame for Myrtle’s death and then watches and protects Daisy as she returns home. Jay cannot accept that the past is gone and done with. Jay is sure that he can capture his dream with his wealth and influence. He believes that he acted for a good beyond his

‘Federal Government Increasingly Dominates State Governments in the Usa.’ Discuss.

A2 politicsJess Waldron ‘Federal government increasingly dominates state governments in the USA. ’ Discuss The United States of America have a federal constitution, where the President of the United States, Congress, and the judiciary share powers, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments. This is the stark opposite to the unitary system in the UK where sovereignty lies in parliament and some powers are given to local assemblies.There are many types of federalism; all have been a dominant influence in the American political system at some point due to the style of leadership brought in by each new presidential candidate. Throughout U. S. history, the division of power between the federal government and state governments has been the subject of continuous political interest. After suffering from the British government's tyrannical ideologies that led to the American Revolution (1775), many Americans were conditioned to distrust centralized governmental powers.As a result, when Congress drew up the Articles of Confederation in 1781, the new central government was assigned very few powers. The central government had little authority over taxation, court systems and commerce. The states were essentially politically independent governments, each free to regulate commerce in whatever ever way they wanted, make money, and have their state courts hold judgment over national laws mostly entrenched in the US constitution. In 1787 a Constitutional Convention was called to restructure the government and create a national economy.This convention was called as many Americans realized after the American Revolution, that such an unorganized governmental structure entirely based on state powers would hold back political and economic growth of America as a country. Debates were rife between federalists, those supporting a strong central government as proposed in a Virginia plan, and anti-federalists supporting continued strong state g overnments as proposed in a New Jersey plan. Finally, a compromise, known as the Great Compromise, was struck in Philadelphia deciding on federalism as the basis for the governmental structure.Federalism is a dual (split in two) system of sovereignty, splitting power between a central government and various state governments. Both the federal and state governments can directly govern citizens through their own officials and laws. The resulting Constitution allowed powers for both federal and state governments. Each had some separate powers and some shared powers. A federalist called John Marshall, as Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, made decisions favoring a strong federal government over state government power.In Marbury v. Madison (1803) Marshall used judicial review (where the Court is the government body to decide whether laws are constitutional), this was used in accordance with the principles and power established by the Constitution. By the late 1930s, the Great Depr ession resulted in a dramatic change. The idea of federalism and Marshall's earlier positions returned. In West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish (1937) the Court extended federal power to regulate some economic activities within states.Under a broadened Commerce Clause interpretation, federal powers expanded at the expense of state powers and emphasis on the Tenth Amendment declined. The Court in NLRB v. United States (1936) reaffirmed the Wagner Act which brought labor relations under federal oversight. In addition, the Social Security Act creating a national retirement fund, passed in 1935. Another important shift in power had occurred. Increased federal powers were further recognized in the 1950s and 1960s, primarily over the issue of racial discrimination. Through the 1940s the states had kept the responsibility for governing the rights of its citizens.Therefore, to protect individual rights from state abuses, the Supreme Court began â€Å"issuing decisions limiting state powers rela ted to freedoms of speech and religion, due process rights to fair trials, and equal protection of the law†. The Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954) barred racial segregation policies in public schools and brought local school districts under federal oversight. A 1965 ruling in South Carolina v. Katzenbach upheld the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that prohibited state-established voting requirements.Also in 1965, the protection of privacy from state powers was recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) setting the basis for abortion rights. On the other hand, New federalism came into effect in the latter half of the twentieth century due to the southern white resentment against the role of Washington in bringing an end to segregation in the 50’s and 60’s. Over taxation, voter apathy and over regulation from federal government also added to this umbrage from the citizens of America. New federalism was promoted by republican presiden ts, most notably RichardNixon (1969-1974) and Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) to address the growing disillusionment between citizens and federal government. It gave power back to the states and reversed federal dominance somewhat by promoting measure to give states greater leverage. An example of one of these measures is Clinton’s ‘unfunded mandates act’, which required that the congressional budgets office to provide estimates of the cost of bills with federal mandates once they were put forth to be discussed on the floor of the senate/house of representatives. Not only did federal government push for state rights, so did the Supreme Court.Examples of this are cases such as US v. Lopez (1995) where the interstate commerce clause of the constitution was interpreted in a more limited way. In 1791, an amendment was passed to allow the powers that weren’t granted to neither federal nor state government, be reserved to the states. President Clinton famously remarke d in 1966 that ‘the era of big government is over’ and he worked to redirect financial resources and responsibilities back to the states. Similarly to many other republican candidates such as President Reagan who promised to further the extent of new federalism through state grants and limited revenue-sharing.Not only did republican candidates for the Whitehouse make bold movements for the shuffling of power back towards the states, so did the states themselves. They introduced cuts in income tax rates and also became more involved in education within their states like in Vermont and the introduction of meal vouchers. Also, in tackling crime, like in New York city where the Mayor introduced his ‘Zero tolerance’ approach to petty crimes. There is a lot of evidence both for agreeing that federal government dominates state government and against. But, it can also be said to strike the right balance.Since 2009, federal-state relations have changed yet again wit h the introduction of Obama’s ‘Progressive’ federalism. Many expected Obama’s presidency to involve an expansion of federal authority based on his political record, but given the â€Å"kaleidoscopic† history of federalism, as described by Zimmerman, it was a shock to see how far he actually went. He moved away from the notion of pre-emption which showed that he may want to incorporate more elements of co-operative federalism as oppose to any one entity having more power than the other.A recent decision of Obama’s that demonstrates his ‘progressive’ federalism in action was to allow California and other states the freedom to set their own limits on greenhouse gases from. This represents a shift in the relationship of federal government and state by looking to states for new measures and guidance. But at the same time keep overall say within congress and the executive. In conclusion, after evaluating both sides of the argument that the essay question has posed, it is obvious that states do in fact have many powers, but overall power is still held in federal government.This is a beneficial thing as federal government are utilitarian and diverse enough to make decisions for the greater good as oppose to a small margin of opinions expressed by one section of the USA influencing another part that may have completely different ideologies. There is a definate shift in the Obama administration to a more ‘cooperative’ form of federalism, instead of the political systems in American having to be overly state rights or overly federal government.