The Medias Influence on Eating Disorders

The Media's Influence on Eating Disorders Eating Disorders Print The Medias Influence on Eating Disorders By Susan Cowden, MS facebook linkedin Susan Cowden is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders. Learn about our editorial policy Susan Cowden, MS Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on August 27, 2019 More in Eating Disorders Symptoms Treatment Diagnosis Awareness and Prevention If you pay attention to mainstream media, youll undoubtedly find that it often sends a strong message that thin, white, and able bodies are the most desirable and, by extension, that all other bodies have less value. Furthermore, beauty products and diets  are marketed, especially to women, as a way to achieve that so-called desired body. In fact, millions of dollars are spent each year marketing both the beauty and diet industries. This results in a constant barrage of images and messages discouraging men and women from being satisfied with their bodies and encouraging them to change their appearance. How does this messaging affect us? Does it cause or influence eating disorders or other similar dangerous behaviors? The answer is complicated. Research supports the idea that there is a familial, genetic component to eating disorders, but it also indicates that the current socio-cultural environment (which includes the media) plays a role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. It can certainly be harder to recover from an eating disorder when youre faced with constant media images of very thin people or television shows putting people with larger bodies through intense and sometimes torturous routines in order to lose weight. Study Shows TV Has an Influence on Eating Disorders In 2002, a landmark study was published that assessed the influence of television on eating attitudes and behaviors in Fijian girls. The Fiji islands didnt have access to mainstream television prior to 1995, which gave researchers the chance to truly see how attitudes and behaviors changed once TV arrived. Fijian culture traditionally values curvy bodies. Large appetites are encouraged, while dieting is discouraged. In 1995, adolescent girls were surveyed and it was found that virtually none of them reported dieting in order to lose weight. Additionally, none of the girls reported self-induced vomiting. In 1998, after three years of exposure to Western television, the survey was repeated with the following results: 11.3% indicated self-induced vomiting to control weight69% reported dieting74% reported feeling too big or fat at least some of the time Girls who lived in a house with a television set were three times more likely to experience disordered eating behaviors than those who didnt. Although it is difficult to generalize these results with regard to all other cultures, the study shows that the media (and television in particular) does have an impact on  body image  and eating behaviors. A follow-up study showed that just having friends who watched television could also increase the risk of eating disorder symptoms. Impact of the Internet and Social Media on Eating Disorders Recent years have seen a proliferation of online images known as thinspiration or thinspo. These are primarily found on  pro-eating disorder websites, although they have been popping up on more mainstream sites as well. Research has shown that viewing these images results in a lowered caloric intake and lower self-esteem. There have also been studies  that indicate that using social media sites, such as  Facebook, puts adolescent girls and women at greater risk for disordered eating. It also places everyone at risk of feeling poorly about themselves and dissatisfied with their bodies.? More research is needed in this area, but it is reasonable to believe that frequent use of social media does affect how a person views themselves. Fashion Magazines Impact on Eating Disorders The majority of research in print media and eating disorders has centered around fashion magazines, as they regularly feature photographs of unrealistically thin models that have often been extensively Photoshopped. Research has shown that adolescent girls who regularly read and look at fashion magazines are two to three times more likely to diet to lose weight because of an article. One study, which surveyed girls from grades 5â€"12, found that: 69% of girls report that magazine pictures influence their idea of the perfect body shape47% report wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures A Word From Verywell Research shows that high levels of concern about weight, dieting, and a desire to look like models or celebrities are all indicators for an increased risk for all eating disorders. While its nearly impossible to avoid media influence with todays technology, media literacy education can provide the tools needed to critically evaluate and question the messages we receive and mitigate their negative effects.

Brave New World By Aldous Huxley - 1399 Words

For many people, the term â€Å"designer babies† sounds like something that could only exist in the novel, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. But, science has now advanced to the point where faulty genes can now be singled out, discarded, and replaced with more favorable ones. Just like the 16,012 babies manufactured in the Hatchery and Conditioning Centre in Brave New World, human embryos can be selected for fertilization based on their genes. This is done through the processes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This involves removing mature egg cells from a woman and fertilizing it with male sperm outside of the body. The embryos are then analyzed for abnormalities and mutations in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The healthiest embryos are then implanted back into the woman’s uterus for regular gestation (Yount). The development of these techniques originated from the Human Genome Project initiated by the United States governm ent in 1988 (Siegel-Itzkovich). Although established initially with the purpose of selecting healthy embryos free of disease, the same techniques can be applied to select genes that code for traits such as intelligence, strength, and beauty. IVF and PGD are useful techniques but should only be used for medical purposes, not for selecting the embryos of perfect children. IVF and PGD can lower the pressure on a family when having a child by guaranteeing the birth of a healthy baby. This is because they are used toShow MoreRelatedA Brave New World by Aldous Huxley668 Words   |  3 PagesIn Brave New World, there are similarities that have a deeper meaning that we can understand. There are personal effects in Aldous Huxley life that contribute to what he has written in the book. Aldous Huxley throughout his life have seen, done, and events have happened to him, just like all of us, but he has expressed it in his book. So when Aldous wrote the he had so many ideas. I have read the book; it’s notRead MoreBrave New World by Aldous Huxley811 Words   |  3 Pages Brave New World is based around characters who gave up the right of freedom for happiness; characters who ignored the truth so that they could live in a utopian civilization. The deceiving happiness was a constant reminder throughout the book. Almost every character in Brave New World did whatever they could to avoid facing the truth about their own situations. In this society, happiness is not compatible with the truth because the World State believes that happiness was at the expense of theRead MoreBrave New World By Aldous Huxley1525 Words   |  7 PagesA Brave New Feminist The novel Brave New World written by Aldous Huxley in 1932 is known for its social satire, utopian values, and unusual standpoints on stereotypical gender roles. In this time where futuristic technology has completely taken over, and men and women are given the same opportunities for everything, â€Å"the genders appear equal within the social order; both men and women work at the same jobs, have equal choice in sexual partners, and participate in the same leisure pursuits† (MarchRead MoreA Brave New World by Aldous Huxley664 Words   |  3 Pagesfor the fact being in the future and in the past time has changed and many differences were made. In his Dystopian Society Huxley portrays masses of niches where the government produces clones for specific reasons. 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Nowadays, drugs are still being used and people are still engaging in sexual encounters withRead MoreBrave New World By Aldous Huxley968 Words   |  4 PagesAldous Huxley’s utopia in Brave New World foreshadowed and illuminated the complications within modern day society. Upon its release, the narrative became widely banned all over the United States due to the unorthodox thoughts and actions of multiple characters in it. Early readers, as well as modern day audiences, feared and rejected the ideals that Huxley incorporated into his perfect society; however, our society today is heading towards the dark paths the older generations desired to avoid. Read MoreA Brave New World by Aldous Huxley895 Words   |  4 Pagesthe novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley tells of a society where everyone is the same but, compared to t oday’s society, everything is different. Huxley tells of a world where everything that happens or takes place is because of one’s own desire and nothing more. The hero in the novel, a â€Å"savage† named John, is Huxley’s main focal point. It is through his eyes and mind that the reader sees what’s going on. Now when I read this novel, I began to think, â€Å"Could this perfect, conformed world actuallyRead MoreA Brave New World by Aldous Huxley1684 Words   |  7 Pagesimperfect world and is usually only a hopeful dream. These types of worlds can greatly be described in detail through the world of science fiction. Aldous Huxley was an English writer who lived during a time when war and chaos were engulfing the world. His works reflect his view and thoughts on a dystopia, which is a false utopia, and describes what could occur in possible governments of the world. The ability to understand and dive into the thoughts of the author is what make s world literatureRead MoreA Brave New World by Aldous Huxley614 Words   |  2 Pagesthem truly happy. What if someone were to tell you that what you thought was true happiness was all an illusion. In a Brave New World by Aldous Huxley people in the world state are conditioned and drugged up by soma to not experience true happiness. In a world that is perfect, human beings do not have to depend on drugs to keep our world in balance. In a Brave New World by Aldous Huxley there is always a perfect drug called soma that keeps everyone happy, which they have based their society on. ThisRead MoreA Brave New World by Aldous Huxley948 Words   |  4 PagesWelcome to a world were â€Å"Brave† is not just a word; It has a true meaning. This is a story were everything as you know it, doesn’t seem to be right and will completely change your way of thinking. When this story was written, life was very harsh for many people†¦.Mostly for the author who wrote â€Å"Brave New World† During this time (1930s) they didn’t have much sexual content Living The Future Of The Past In The Present†¦.. In the air; But Aldous made a future full of sex for them and we are the

The Federal Bureau Of Investigation - 1697 Words

Research Paper The real question here is, What kind of world do you want to live in? According to an article in Fortune Magazine one person said, â€Å"The Federal Bureau Of Investigation is creating a world where citizens rely on Apple to defend their rights, rather than the other way around.† A world where national security trumps personal privacy or would you rather live in a world where we have both national security and personal privacy. Amy Goodman from Democracy Now said in a segment, â€Å"In December, Farook and his wife killed 14 and injured 22 others in San Bernardino. The two were killed in a shootout with police.† The issue is that the agency has been unsuccessful in accessing the data in the phone, an iPhone 5C. We all remember when more than 100 A-listers were targeted in a colossal hack and Apple was under fire for â€Å"breaches† in the cloud. This was iOS 7 and the hackers targeted individual accounts. Since then Apple has released iOS 8 and iOS 9. Any device running iOS 8 or later has built-in security measures such as encrypted data tied to your passcode, push notifications when someone tries to restore your iCloud data on a different device, tries to change your iCloud password instead of an email as well as an auto-erase feature that erases all data on the photo when there 10 incorrect passcode tries and a delay between passcode tries. Therefore, the FBI cannot enter the iPhone’s data by brute force. The FBI believes that there might be some importantShow MoreRelatedThe Federal Bureau Of Investigation Essay885 Words   |  4 PagesThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) originated on July 26, 1908, as the Bureau of Investigation by U.S. Attorney General Charles Bonaparte. In 1935 the name was changed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Director Mueller reconstructed the FBI to support the changes the Bureau made â€Å"to meet newly articulated strategic priorities† from 2001 to 2013 (Brie f History).On September 4, 2013, James B. Comey was sworn in as the seventh Director of the FBI. The main focus of the Federal Bureau ofRead MoreThe Federal Bureau Of Investigation890 Words   |  4 PagesThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) originated on July 26, 1908, as the Bureau of Investigation by U.S. Attorney General Charles Bonaparte. In 1935 the name was changed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Director Mueller reconstructed the FBI to support the changes the Bureau made â€Å"to meet newly articulated strategic priorities† from 2001 to 2013 (Brief History, 2010). On September 4, 2013, James B. Comey was sworn in as the seventh Director of the FBI. The main focus of the Federal BureauRead MoreThe Federal Bureau Of Investigation921 Words   |  4 Pagesthe United States government, specifically the Federal Bureau of Investigation was in a dispute with the technology company Apple. The FBI seized the iPhone of Syed Farook who along with his wife Tasfeen Malik killed 14 people and injured 22. Farook and his wife were then killed in a shootout with the police. However, the FBI could not bypass the security code that Farook placed on his phone, and access information within the device. Therefore, the bureau requested that Apple create a backdoor whichRead MoreThe Federal Bureau Of Investigations1777 Words   |  8 PagesMatt Fox Mr. Huggins U.S. History 21 November, 2014 The FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigations was initially a group of secret agents created in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Bonaparte. Bonaparte created the FBI under direction of 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt. For the first couple of years, the amount of federal crimes was very low. The Bureau spent most of their time investigating things such as national banking, bankruptcy, naturalization, antitrust, peonage, and land fraud. In JuneRead MoreFederal Bureau Of Investigation Agent Essay922 Words   |  4 Pagesexciting career, because of the endless possibility of helping the world get better in any kind of way . The research will describe the career of Federal Bureau of Investigation , what is required to become a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent a successful career and the impact this career has on has on society. The Federal Bureau of Investigation hires an agent to act as the lead investigators in the United States. The duty of an FBI is to guard the United States from Terrorists and ForeignRead MoreFederal Bureau Of Investigation Agent Essay907 Words   |  4 PagesFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI Agent) Associate Dean once said â€Å"It just dispelled all of the bad things I’d ever heard about the FBI†¦ that the FBI was sneaky and out to get people.† The career of the FBI is a remarkable and exciting career, because of the endless possibility of helping the world get better in any kind of way . The research will describe the career of Federal Bureau of Investigation , what is required to become a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent a successful career andRead MoreEssay on The Federal Bureau of Investigation1992 Words   |  8 PagesThe Federal Bureau of Investigation The agency now known as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was founded in 1908 when Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte appointed an unnamed force of Special Agents to be the investigative force of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Prior to that time, DOJ borrowed Agents from the U.S. Secret Service to investigate violations of federal criminal laws within its jurisdiction. By order of Attorney General George W. Wickersham, the Special Agent forceRead MoreFederal Bureau Of Investigation ( Fbi ) Essay903 Words   |  4 PagesThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the local insight and security administration of the United States, which all the while serves as the country s prime government law implementation organization. Working under the ward of the U.S. Bureau of Justice, the FBI is simultaneously an individual from the U.S. Intelligence Community and reports to both the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence. A main U.S. counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and criminal investigativeRead MoreFederal Bureau Of Investigation : Special Agent1656 Words   |  7 PagesThe Federal Bureau of Investigation: Special Agent The Federal Bureau of Investigation is a federally-funded agency that was founded in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Bonaparte during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. The FBI, formerly know as the Bureau of Investigation (1909-1935) recruited men with previous law enforcement experience to become a part of this exclusive team that aimed to solve law violations such as bankruptcy, naturalization, antitrust, peonage, and land fraud. The MannRead MoreFederal Bureau Of Investigation And Its Legal Implications854 Words   |  4 PagesFederal Bureau of Investigation takes all cases of alleged terrorist activity seriously, and they thoroughly investigate each case. According to Roth (2014), instead of seeking solely to identify individuals who are actively engaged in criminal conduct, now agents also have deliberately sought to identify individuals who might be willing to aid acts of terrorism, even if they are not currently involved in such activities (p. 981). The vagueness of th e term willing and its legal implications can

Marketing of Financial Services †Georgia Supplemental Free Essays

According to the case Florida seems to be a flourishing prospective market for supplemental insurance. The demographics of the state already show large migration trends resulting in influx of young families coming into the state which is offering them comfort and security with better jobs. According to the 10 year projection of Georgia Supplemental, of the activity in the Florida market, the demand for supplemental insurance is bound to increase. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing of Financial Services – Georgia Supplemental or any similar topic only for you Order Now This is because of the increasing members in the household in the future years and the fact that most employers in Florida do not provide complete coverage of expenses through insurance. The case depicts the statistics that this particular segment of the market is to grow at 6-7 percent in the next 10 years. Another issue which makes Florida an attractive marked for supplemental insurance policies offered by Georgia is that sideline expenses are often not covered under medical insurance policies and Georgia supplemental has managed to tap onto this market by providing policies for large expenses which are not covered by traditional insurance selling companies. The research conducted n 2003 by Benefits Research Inc. stated that an average family spent just about $500 on dental expenses and only about 29 percent of these expenses was focused on preventive care. Similarly, it was found that only 17 percent of the employers’ n Florida were offering their employees with vision care which is a main product and service provided by the Georgia Supplement. This also shows room for a prospective market which can be captured by the company if it decides to expand into Florida. Conclusively, according to the information provided in the case it is a very prospective and fruitful venture for Georgia Supplemental to expand into Florida. The decision of the expansion may be somewhat biased as well as a costly one due to the CEO’s affiliations with the state but the statistics and records show that the market is ripe for the kind of products offered by Georgia and the company expansion would prove to be successful in the coming years. 1. What is your assessment of the proposed direct mail campaign and the promotional letter? Direct mail has already been a successful mode of promotion for financial services and products like credit cards. The assumption in this case is that by using direct mail technique to inform the employers in Florida about the products offered by Georgia the company would be able to promote its product to their future market. This is an appropriate strategy as it tends to drive traffic to the store, generate and increase sales for the company as well as help generate interest and promote the products by promoting brand recognition and cultivating long term relationships with the clients. However, more perseverance is required on the part of the company. It is mentioned in the case that the CEO has contacts in the Florida region. The company can use these contacts as well as the referrals of the satisfied customers in its other markets to build trust and awareness of the company and its products and services in the Florida market. This can be done by sending out promotional letters by direct mail as mentioned in the case. However another more personalized method would be to hold an event or a conference in Florida where the prospective employers and satisfied customers from other markets could be invited, a promotion pitch can be shown to them and the event would also enable the company to build long term business relationships with their prospective clients. This method of promotion would be more expensive than direct mail and likely to drive up the expenses for the company. This method can even support the direct mailing as it would help attract more customers while maintaining the current ones and helping retain them as well. Reference 1.Wolf, K., (1998), Planning a Successful Direct Marketing Campaign, WGSC Publications, available at: http://cpa.utk.edu/pdffiles/adc9.pdf       How to cite Marketing of Financial Services – Georgia Supplemental, Essay examples

Marlene Dietrich, Madonna And The Male Gaze Essays - Feminist Theory

Marlene Dietrich, Madonna And The Male Gaze Marlene Dietrich, Madonna, and the Male Gaze in Blonde Venus and Desperately Seeking for Susan As audiences, we subconsciously identify the male protagonists and take female as spectacle during the film watching, due to the social function of narrative films. (Turner 72)1 Thus feminists have been slashing the objection of female body in male gaze in the narrative films over the decades. Male gaze is in term of the fetishistic scopophilia and sadistic voyeurism. Fetishistic scopophilia deals with male visual control over females for the aesthetic presentation, which influence the presence of female body in films. And sadistic voyeurism is the erotic gaze in pains, which shapes the female characterization in films. Thus, the female characters in narrative films share the common pattern beautiful and fragile, in other words, not intellectual and dependent on men. Nevertheless, Marlene Dietrich in Blonde Venus and Madonna in Desperately Seeking for Susan smash this pattern. They breaks the rule first by being the leading characters in films and such concentration of the female protagonist also means the depiction of male as peripheral to the plot. ( Turner 171)2 Another breaking-rule is their characterization different from the conventional female role. Marlene in the Blonde Venus as Helen Jones is intellectual and capable of mens role of raising a family and Madonnas role, Susan, plays with men, mentioned by Jimmy, Susans boyfriend. But the most alienated from the conventional female role in films is in their way of performing. And even though they all pose some challenge to male gaze, their ways of role-playing are at opposite poles. Their role-playing can discuss from the three elements to shape their characters, camera movement, mise-en-scene and the performance of star. The camera always shoots Marlene from a relative low angle when shes with other male characters. The only two shots shooting her from high angle is when shes questioned by the judge in court and shes gazing her husband for rejoining the family again in the end. Plus those constantly close ups of her face with indifferent eyes all apparently indicates her aloofness and detachment except for her son, while in the Desperately Seeking for Susan most Madonnas shots are packed up with some quick cuts of focus on her spicy body with fire in her eyes for searching something dazzling, like glittering shoes, gold earrings, etc.. While they all appeal to audience in same visual and sensational pleasures, the camera movements create different perspectives for Marlene Dietrich and Madonna. Marlenes high angle shot indicates her relative superior position to male characters and Madonnas body sequences carries one contradictory message, female body freedom or female body spectacle. The crucial reas on is because that Marlene presents it by not looking sexy but being sexy and Madonna does it by looking sexy in dressing less and exposing herself. Though in the opening sequences of the Blonde Venus begins with the naked blondes swimming, what audiences enjoy watching is not the stripped body itself but the way it is presented. The art is in seeming. This pattern carries tremendous pleasures through the Blonde Venus, we appreciate Marlenes legs from the perspective of identifying with the sense of beauty rather than actual sexually desire. Marlene is positioned as a sexual subject rather than sex object in the Blonde Venus. Audiences expect to see whats she going to do or what happen to her next not which part of her body shes going to expose. Shes being viewed and identified as sexy figure not a spectacle of sex. Mise-en-scene is also important for Marlene Dietrichs role-playing, especially costumes. Marlenes cross-dressed figure is constantly showed in the films. Whether with top hats and tails moving her long cigarette holder, taking one dancing girl by the sleeve and pinching her on the cheek in a parody of phallic power (Kaplan126)3 and with fur-trimmed coat and stiletto heels in the conventional codes of female roles (Turner 81)4 work together for her cross-gender representation. And we never see Marlene shake her hips during the show time like what the other dancing girls do in film. When we see her performs on stage, she appears in gorilla suit singing Hot Voodoo or in males

Elvis Live essays

Elvis Live essays Before Elvis, there was nothing. John Lennon. This phenomenon, Elvis, changed the music, film, and television world forever. He had 149 different albums and singles that became certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). 18 of his songs went to number one on the charts totaling 80 weeks. He took many influences throughout his life, combined it, and ratified the way music will be used forever. To put a cherry on top of this sundae would be to also mention that 40%, almost  ½) of his record sales, was outside of the United States. No one saw it coming, not even Elvis. His success broke records around the world. On stage he was an animal, a sexual god, without even trying, it just flowed out of him, not like a river but as a waterfall. Elvis was impervious and defiant on stage and it was the mode for his success. Elvis was a scared little southern boy born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. Music was always a part of his life in some way, either from the Assembly of God Church he and his parents attended, or listening to the country music on his radio. His first appearance and exposure through radio came when he was only ten years old. Granted, back then he wasnt a Liberachi or early-twenties heartthrob, just a child singing in the local fair. He loved to sing, but wanted to play outdoors instead. As a kid, he wanted a bicycle to ride around in, but due to his familys lack of income, he received a guitar instead. He now had a new medium to explore his musical sound. In high school he was known for singing with his guitar, having long dyed-black hair, and those long sideburns. He again puts himself out for the audience so that they could see what he was made of. He sings and plays his guitar for his entire school during a student talent show and he explodes with joy. To his astonishment, they loved it. He received the most applause of ...

An Introduction to the Jack the Ripper Mystery

An Introduction to the Jack the Ripper Mystery Someone in London murdered and mutilated a number of prostitutes during the autumn of 1888; the press went into a frenzy, politicians pointed the finger at each other, hoaxers polluted the investigation, and one of several nicknames stuck: Jack the Ripper. Over a century later, Jacks identity has never been wholly proven (there isnt even a leading suspect), most aspects of the case are still debated, and the Ripper is an infamous cultural bogeyman. The Enduring Mystery The Rippers identity has never been established and people have never stopped looking: the publishing rates average is a new book a year since 1888 (although most of these have come in recent decades). Unfortunately, the wealth of Ripper source material - letters, reports, diaries,  and photographs - provides enough depth for detailed and fascinating research, but too few facts for any incontrovertible conclusions. Just about everything about Jack the Ripper is open to debate and the best you can get is a consensus. People are still finding new suspects  or new ways to reframe old suspects, and books are still flying off the shelves. There is no better mystery. The Crimes Traditionally, Jack the Ripper is considered to have killed five women, all London prostitutes, during 1888: Mary Ann Polly Nichols on August 31, Annie Chapman on September 8, Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes on September 30 and Mary Jane (Marie Jeanette) Kelly on November 9. In practice, there is no agreed list: the most popular change is to discount Stride and/or Kelly, sometimes adding Martha Tabram, killed August 7th. Authors naming more than eight have achieved very little consensus. At the time Polly Nichols was sometimes considered the second or third person to have been killed by the same person, and plenty of later investigators have searched the world in search of similar killings to see if the Ripper moved on. The Ripper generally killed by strangling his victims, then laying them down and cutting the arteries in their throats; this was followed by a varied process of mutilation, during which parts of the body were removed and kept. Because Jack did this quickly, often in the dark, and because he seemed to have great anatomical knowledge, people have assumed the Ripper had a doctors or surgeons training. As with much of the case, there is no consensus - a contemporary thought him simply a blunderer. There have been accusations that the missing organs werent stolen from the bodies by the Ripper, but by people dealing with them later. Evidence for this is scant. The Letters and Nicknames During the autumn and winter of 1888/89, a number of letters circulated among the police and newspapers, all claiming to be from the Whitechapel murderer; these include the From Hell letter and one accompanied by part of a kidney (which may have matched a kidney taken from one of the victims, but like everything Jack, were not a hundred percent sure). Ripperologists consider most, if not all, of the letters to be hoaxes, but their impact at the time was considerable, if only because one contained the first use of Jack the Ripper, a nickname the papers swiftly adopted and which is now synonymous. Horror, Media, and Culture The Ripper killings were neither obscure nor ignored at the time. There was gossip and fear in the streets, questions at high levels of government,  and offers of rewards and resignations when nobody was caught. Political reformers used the Ripper in arguments and policemen struggled with the limited techniques of the time. Indeed, the Ripper case remained high profile enough for many of the police involved to write private accounts years later. However, it was the media who made Jack the Ripper. By 1888, literacy was common amongst the crowded citizens of London and newspapers reacted to the Whitechapel Murderer, whom they initially christened Leather Apron, with the frenzy we expect from modern tabloids, stirring opinions, fact,  and theory – along with the probably hoaxed Ripper letters – together to create a legend which seeped into popular culture. From the very start, Jack doubled as a figure from the horror genre, a bogeyman to scare your kids. A century later, Jack the Ripper is still hugely famous world over, an unknown criminal at the center of a global manhunt. But he is more than that, hes the focus of novels, films, musicals,  and even a six-inch high model plastic figure. Jack the Ripper was the first serial killer adopted by the modern media age and hes been at the forefront ever since, mirroring the evolution of western culture. Will the Mystery Be Solved? Its extremely unlikely anyone will be able to use the existing evidence to prove, beyond all reasonable doubt, who Jack the Ripper was and, while people are still uncovering material, the discovery of something unarguable has to be regarded as a long-shot. Fortunately, the mystery is so fascinating because you can do your own reading, draw your own conclusions and, with some critical thinking, generally have as much chance of being right as everyone else! Suspects range from people the detectives at the time suspected (such as George Chapman / Klosowski), to a whole gallery of strange suggestions, which include no less than Lewis Carroll, a royal doctor, Inspector Abberline himself, and someone who even blamed their relative decades later after finding some tenuous items.