Dichotomised Juxtaposition Of Dream And Reality In Ivans...

Ivan’s Childhood is all about dichotomised juxtaposition of dream and reality as like the form of the film; black and white. The contrasts between dream and reality are explicitly presented by a series of mise-en-scà ¨ne and cinematography across the four dream sequences in the film. The opening sequence of Ivan’s Childhood is perhaps the one which establishes the most explicit contrasts and motifs that are applicable to the rest of the dream sequences, employing a series of juxtapositions of dream and reality scenes and conveying the overall meaning as it foreshadows the ending of the narrative. The most expected meaning of the film resulted from these screen effects, for spectator, is a tragedy conveyed by emphasising the contrast of the†¦show more content†¦The medium shot of the boy and a clear sky behind him in a sharp focus offers a sense of ultimate freedom, added with his costume, a bare top, makes him like little Adam in the Paradise. As he looks down , the hand-held camera comes down rather rapidly toward the ground as if he as a bird flies down. This vertical descending movement in his point-of-view generates a sense of easefulness and functions for spectator not only to identify his feeling with theirs but also to offer a symbolic meaning of his dream—the one what he desires but is unattainable. In the arial shot, there are an old well and a woman holding a pail walking on the path alongside of the seaside. Once Ivan lands on the ground, his mysterious adventure finally ends up with meeting his mother and the climax of the non-diegetic sound indicates that as if she is the end of his journey of dream. He says to her that â€Å"mama, there’s cuckoo,† and she smiles. In the subsequent shot, however, she is confined in a low, sudden canted angle and the sound of Ivan’s crying voice â€Å"mama!† and a sound effect reminiscent of a cannon ball. In this dream scene, the several motifs as the elements of mise-en-scà ¨ne are explicitly constructed: a utopian spatial setting; high-key lighting of the figures and deep focus of the scenery; a peaceful sound; water and the seaside; and his mother.

Critiques of the Puritan Norms by Nathaniel Hawthorne in...

Nathaniel Hawthorne was known, in his works, for providing stirring critiques of the Puritan norms that were so prominent during his time. As a writer, he was also willing to challenge the institutions that other people found sacred, and beyond that, he hoped to challenge perceptions of what it meant to live a normal life during that time. One of the primary themes of Puritanism is the concept of original sin, and Hawthorne seemed to have a preoccupation with this concept. In â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† and â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil,† Hawthorne uses different characters and different scenes to make important statements on the nature of Puritan life. Specifically, the two works are linked from a thematic perspective. They both focus on the ways in which the Puritan concept of sin can cause a soul-crushing brand of guilt that afflicts all parts of a person’s life. In â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† the title character is thrust into a dream-like scen ario where he and his wife Faith are drawn before a group of people who are aggressively hoping for them to convert in what could only be described as a scary forest rite. The story is set during the period of time when the Salem witch trials would have been taking place, so there is an added layer of tension implicit in the work. Goodman goes into the forest, and when he is brought in front of the town’s people to take the rite, he calls out to God and refuses to do so. The dream shakes him in a very literal way. He loses faith in almost

Strategic Plan Outline Free Essays

UNIVERSITY OF BELIZE MGMT 490 – BUSINESS STRATEGY AND POLICY How to Structure The Strategic Plan Guidelines Executive Summary This is written to the scope and level of content that an â€Å"outsider† can read the summary and grasp the vision, mission of the organization, its overall goals and objectives, major strategic issues and the key strategies implemented to attain the goals. Section 1 – Current situation 1. Brief Background and History of the Company and the Industry 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Plan Outline or any similar topic only for you Order Now Strategic Posture: Current Mission, Current Vision Current Values Current Objectives Current Strategies Current Policies 3. Past Strategic Performance Indicators (if available): Market share Sales Growth Net Profit Margin Return on Equity Investment Other? (Depending on the type of business/industry) Section 2 – External Environment, Opportunities and Threats (EFAS) 2. 1 General Environment (PEST, Gap Analysis, etc) 2. 2 Task Environment (Porters five forces, Strategic Map) 2. 3 External Factor Analysis Summary Section 3 – Internal Environment, Strengths and Weaknesses (IFAS) 3. 1Value Chain analysis . 2Corporate Structure 3. 3Corporate Resources: Marketing Finance Human Resource Operations and Logistics Information Systems 3. 4Internal Factor Analysis Summary Section 4 – Competitive Strength Assessment based on Key Success Factors Quality/product performanceCustomer Service Capability Reputation/imageOther? Manufacturing capability Technological skills and know-how Dealer/distribution capability New product innovation capabili ty Financial resources Relative cost position Section 5 – Analysis of Major Strategic Factors SFAS . 1 Key Internal and External Factors (SWOT) 5. 2 Competitive advantages/disadvantages, Competitive position improving/slipping 5. 2 Review of Mission and Objectives Section 6 – Alternatives and Recommendations 1. Strategic Alternatives 2. Recommended Strategies Section 7 – Implementation Plan for new strategies recommended Section 8 – Evaluation and Control Plan for new strategies implemented Section 9 – Financial data and Analysis – Includes information on resources to finance the implementation of the Strategic Plan APPENDICES BIBLIOGRAPHY THE PRESENTATION OF THE PLAN Time Allowed: 30 minutes Presentation should be as follows: a) Brief History of Company (Section 1) b) Current Situation (Section -1) c) External Environment Opportunities and Threats (Section 2) d) Internal Environment Strengths and Weaknesses (Section 3 e) Analysis of major strategic factors, strategic alternatives and recommended strategies (including financial analysis) (Sections 5, 6 9)- 15 minutes Question and Answer Session How to cite Strategic Plan Outline, Papers

Media Violences The Media and our Violent Essay Example For Students

Media Violences The Media and our Violent Essay Society Media Argumentative Persuasive Essays The Media and our Violent Society As you read a newspaper or watch the news on T.V., you probably have come to the conclusion that violence is becoming a real serious problem in the world were we live. The nation has witnessed many acts of violence through the past few years. Some prime examples would be: O. J. Simpson, who was accused of murdering Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson; Susan Smith, who was found guilty of killing her own children; Timothy McVeigh, guilty of the Oklahoma City bombing of a federal building; Jeffery Dahmer, who was killed in prison after he was sentenced for the murders of several men. Violence is a very broad topic, although it is categorized into many small groups. There is domestic violence, juvenile violence, hate violence, terrorist violence, and violence displaced through various forms of mass media. Domestic violence is a form of violence that usually occurs between individuals that reside in the same living arrangement. Domestic violence is one of the leading forms of violence. If you have ever seen one episode of the T.V. show Cops , you would have witnessed at least a couple of domestic disputes that the police were called to respond to. This domestic violence is usually a result of an argument about money, emotional problems, or drugs and alcohol abuse. Most of the domestic disputes that become violent are not reported because of the fear the victim has for the offender. A very publicized illustration of domestic violence is the double murder of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. The accused murder was Nicole Brown Simpsons husband, Orenthal James Simpson. I am from Towanda, which is a small rural town in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. The population of Towanda is roughly 2,200 people. Being raise in a small rural town, I havent been a victim of any crime, but I have witnessed an increase in violence, especially domestic violence. A prime example of this would be an incident in April 1995 that occurred in Windham Township. This violent act was a double homicide. The victims of the crime were Regina Ann Clark and her 9-year-old son, Ausin Wade Hopper. The suspects in the incident are John Joseph Koehler and William E. Curley. Our local newspaper reported that, Koehler was the teacher in a contract-killing lesson in Bradford County (Corie). The other disturbing fact was that Regina Clark, one of the victims, was the girlfriend of John Koehler. The trial for John Koehler is now in progress at the Bradford County Courthouse. John J. Koehler, 35, Blackwood, N.J. is charged with criminal homicide, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, kidnapping, burglary, endangering the welfare of a child and possessing instruments of a crime (Corie). William E. Curley, 19, Rome, also charged in these killings, waived his right to a jury trial earlier this month. At his trial before President Judge Jeffery Smith, Curley was found guilty of first and second degree murder and burglary (Corie). The body of Ms. Clark was found stuffed inside a refrigerator at a make-shift dump site along a rural road in Stevens Township. Two days later the small boys body was located in a sluice pipe under a road in Windham Township (Corie). Besides this disturbing act of violence, recently there has been an attempted kidnapping that occurred April 14 in Dushore, which is a small town 45 minutes away from Towanda. The victim was a 9-year-old girl, who was not harmed and returned home safely (Turissini). According to the police, the suspects are a white male, 25 to 35 years of age, bald or a skin head, with no facial hair or glasses, and a white female with brown hair, worn in a ponytail (Turissini). .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 , .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 .postImageUrl , .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 , .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646:hover , .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646:visited , .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646:active { border:0!important; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 { 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; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646:active , .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 .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; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646 .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5ec1ef53166784f4b53f61770726d646:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Huck finn Essay ThesisThe statics I received on domestic violence are almost unbearable. In a national survey of over 6,000 American families, 50% of the men frequently assaulted their wives also frequently abused their children (Straus). Men who have witnessed their parents domestic violence are three times more likely to abuse their own wives than children of non violent parents, with the sons of .

Meteorological Hazards in Aviation

Introduction Throughout its history, the aviation industry has had a close but unpleasant relationship with the vagrancies of weather (Vickers et al., 2001). Indeed, it has been proved that weather is the single largest contributor to delays and a foremost factor in aircraft disasters and incidents, implying that real-time weather information is substantially critical for hazardous weather avoidance in aviation operations (Witiw, Lanier Crooks, 2003).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Meteorological Hazards in Aviation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Weather continues to exact its toll on the aviation sector, particularly when this argument is viewed in the context of past accidents that have been reported in mainstream media as caused by either meteorological hazards or a combination of human factors and weather elements (Broc et al., 2005; World Meteorological Association, 2007). The present paper critically di scusses some of the well known meteorological hazards in the aviation industry. Concept Definition Meteorology has been described as â€Å"†¦the science of the atmosphere, a sea of air that is in a constant state of flux† (Vickers et al., 2001, p. ix). Within this science exists a wide allay of weather/climatic conditions arising from natural interactions with other factors, products and byproducts, but which triggers a set of hazards that may prove disastrous to the aviator who must operate within the precincts of the atmosphere (Simpson et al., 2002). It is reported in the literature that no one is immune to the everyday oscillations of these meteorological hazards as they sweep across huge sections of the globe before dissipating (Vickers et al., 2001). Meteorological Hazards in Aviation Available literature demonstrates that there exists a multiplicity of weather conditions that qualify as hazards in aviation due to the scope and context of the dangers they present t o the industry (Broc et al., 2005). Some of the most predominant ones include icing, volcanic ash, poor visibility, windshear, heavy rains, lee waves, fronts, thunderstorms, cold weather and deformation zone (World Meteorological Association, 2007). This section samples a few of these meteorological hazards in aviation. Windshear Witiw et al (2003) describe the windshear as â€Å"†¦a sudden shift in wind direction, velocity, or both† (p. 131). These authors also report that the most aggressive expression of the condition occurs in a microburst, which is an intense downburst of cool air generated by, or released from, a large convective cloud. The World Meteorological Organization (2007) defines windshear as â€Å"†¦layers or columns of air, flowing with different velocities (i.e. speed and/or direction) to adjacent layers or columns† (p. 1). Windshear is a foremost hazard for low, slow flying aircraft in either the approach or departure phases due to the comp licated wind patterns occasioned by the downdrafts. As the aircraft glides through the microburst it stumbles upon intense headwinds accompanied by a substantial increase in aerodynamic drift and successive severe downdrafts, ultimately causing it to experience a rapid loss of lift and crash into the ground (Witiw et al., 2003).Advertising Looking for essay on aviation? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Consequently, some of the detrimental hazards caused by windshear include: 1) loss of aerodynamic lift and airspeed, making the aircraft to plunge into the ground before corrective action is taken by the flight crew, 2) turbulence especially in light aircraft, and 3) structural damage to the aircraft (Witiw et al., 2003; World Meteorological Organization, 2007). In the United States, the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) database reveals that nearly 250 accidents involving U.S. aircrafts have been attributed to windshear, wi th 30 of them reported as major (Witiw et al., 2003). Thunderstorms Although one of the most beautiful atmospheric phenomenon (Harding, 2011), extant literature demonstrates that â€Å"†¦no other weather encountered by a pilot can be as violent or threatening as a thunderstorm† (Vickers et al., 2001, p.34). Indeed, thunderstorms generate more threats to the aviation industry and it is always important for the flight crew, air transport safety agencies, meteorologists and other interested stakeholders to not only understand their scope and context, but also how to deal with them effectively. Thunderstorms are generated by the coming together of several ingredients, including: 1) unbalanced air mass, 2) atmospheric moisture in the low levels, 3) some triggering mechanism, e.g. daytime heating or upper level cooling, and 4) other related meteorological vagrancies such as windshear (Vickers et al., 2001). These ingredients interact through a process called convection (transp ort of heat energy) to produce thunderstorms that basically attempt to correct the imbalance generated when the atmosphere becomes heated unevenly (Harding, 2011). It is important to note that there exist different types of thunderstorms that affect the aviation industry. Some of the most common types of include: 1) air mass thunderstorms – form within a worm, moist air mass and are non-frontal in character, 2) frontal thunderstorms – form either as a result of a frontal surface lifting an unbalanced air mass or a stable air mass becoming unbalanced due to the lifting, 3) squall line thunderstorms – aggressive combinations of strong winds, hail, rain and lighting, 4) orographic thunderstorms – occur when moist, unbalanced air is forced up a mountain slope at high pressure, and 5) nocturnal thunderstorms – develop during or persist all night (Vickers et al., 2001). Thunderstorms have the capability to generate hazards that can cause untold suffering in the aviation industry. For instance, â€Å"†¦all thunderstorms can produce severe turbulence, low level windshear, low ceilings and visibilities, hail and lighting† (Harding, 2011, p. 1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Meteorological Hazards in Aviation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is not uncommon to hear news of aircraft that get lost in severe thunderstorms or helicopters that get struck by lightning, implying that each of these conditions can be potentially catastrophic (Broc et al., 2005). Other hazards generated by thunderstorms include ruthless clear icing, extremely profound precipitation, and dangerous electrical releases within and near the thunderstorm cell (Vickers et al., 2001; World Meteorological Organization, 2007). Visibility It is reported in the literature that reduced visibility is the meteorological element which impacts aviation operations the most through cancelled f lights, accidents as well as incidents (Vickers et al., 2001). These authors posit that the aviation industry uses various types of visibility, which include: 1) horizontal visibility – the furthest visibility achieved horizontally in a particular direction by referencing objects or lights at known distances, 2) prevailing visibility – the ground level visibility which is common to one-half or more of the horizon loop, 3) vertical visibility – the maximum visibility achieved by looking vertically upwards into a surface-based impediment such as mist or snow, 4) slant visibility – visibility achieved by looking forward and downwards from the cockpit of the aircraft, and 5) flight visibility – the standard range of visibility at any given time forward form the cockpit of an aircraft in flight. Reduced visibility is caused by a multiplicity of factors, including lithometers (dry particles suspended in the atmosphere, such as haze, smoke, sand and dust) , precipitation, fog (radiation fog, frontal fog, steam fog, advection fog and ice fog), as well as snow squalls and streamers (Vickers et al., 2001). As already mentioned, low visibility leads to flight cancellations, fuel wastage as aircraft is unable to land in designated destination, aircraft damage in midair collisions, and deaths resulting from aircraft accidents (Watson, Ramirez Salud, 2009). Volcanic Ash The 2011 massive flight cancellations in Europe that were triggered by airborne volcanic ash from the Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland prove that volcanic ash is a major hazard to aviation safety at all levels. Indeed, â€Å"†¦like fine-grained mineral dust, volcanic ash affects radiative forcing and climate, public health, vegetation, and can cause property damage and disruption to community infrastructure† (Hadley, Hufford Simpson, 2004, p. 829). The major problem with volcanic ash emanates from the fact that onboard aircraft radars are unable to detect concentra ted ash within or near eruption plumes, leading to life-threatening encounters, huge losses in flight cancellations, and aircraft damage (Simpson et al., 2002).Advertising Looking for essay on aviation? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The damage caused by volcanic ash often calls for expensive repairs or total equipment replacement, thus it is of outmost importance for flight crew to ensure total avoidance of the ash for flight safety. What’s more, the pumice material contained in volcanic dust acts to abrade the aircraft’s leading edges (i.e. wings, struts, and turbine blades) to a point where the aircraft can cause a fatal accident if no replacement is done (Vickers et al., 2001). Icing or Icy Weather Schreiner (2007) acknowledges that â€Å"†¦icy weather, including ice pellets and cloud droplets that freeze on contact, affects air travel all over the world, especially during colder months† (p. 152). Aircraft icing takes place when supercooled water droplets from the atmosphere hit an aircraft whose body temperature is colder than 0oC, crystallizing into ice and occasioning serious detrimental effects that often expose an aviator to the real probability of causing an accident (World Me teorological Association, 2007). The two most important meteorological factors that affect icing include liquid water content of the cloud and temperature structure in the cloud. Some of the detrimental effects caused by icing include: 1) restriction of visibility as windshear glazes over, 2) disturbance of the smooth laminar air flow over the aircraft wings, occasioning a decrease in lift and an increase in the stall speed, 3) increase in aircraft weight and drug, hence decreasing fuel efficiency, and 4) incomplete or absolute blockage of pitot heads and static ports, thereby allowing erroneous instrument readings (Vickers et al., 2001). A study conducted by the NTSB demonstrates that approximately 819 people lost their lives in accidents linked to in-flight icing between 1982 and 2000 (Schreiner, 2007). Heavy Rain Although there is no agreed upon definition regarding rainfall intensity, heavy rainfall is defined in the literature as rates in excess of 4 mm per hours, while heavy s howers are perceived as rates in excess of 10 mm per hour (World Meteorological Association, 2007). Heavy showers, which are often associated with thunderstorms, qualify to be seen in the context of a meteorological hazard to aircraft due to their capacity to not only reduce physical and canopy/windscreen visibility, but also permit water ingestion into the cabin/cockpit/engine partitions of light, non pressurized aircraft, thereby endangering the effective and efficient operations of electronic equipment within the aircraft. There exists a possibility for aircraft turbine engines to ‘flame out’ and cause destructive effects under conditions of extreme rainfall and subsequent water ingestion (World Meteorological Association, 2007). Additionally, it has been reported that intense rainfall affects aircraft braking mechanism and may cause the aircraft to skid off the runway during takeoff and landing (Vickers et al., 2001). Duststorms/Sandstorms Duststorms and sandstorms, according to the World Meteorological Association (2007), are regions of raised dust and sand due to intense wind activity. The particles are propelled to different altitudes depending on the speed, instability and resolution of the wind flow, in line with the principle that smaller and lighter elements are lifted more readily and to much more elevated altitudes than weighty elements. Duststorms and sandstorms bring potentially destructive outcomes in aviation, such as reduced visibility, reduction of engine power in the event of dust and sand ingestion into aircraft engines, costly repairs, and aircraft crash in the event of a complete engine lockdown (Hadley et al., 2004; World Meteorological Association, 2007). Conclusion The paper set out to critically discuss some of the well known meteorological hazards in the aviation industry. It has been sufficiently demonstrated how normal meteorological processes, such as windshear, thunderstorms, visibility, volcanic ash, icing, heavy r ain, as well as duststorms and sandstorms, operate to become potential hazards in aviation. The potentially destructive outcomes arising from the different meteorological processes have been discussed at length, with the results demonstrating that many meteorological hazards lead to loss of life through aircraft accidents, loss of profits through frequent flight cancellations and rescheduling, loss of aircraft through structural damages, as well as costly repairs. It should therefore be the task of meteorology experts to conduct intense awareness campaigns in the aviation industry regarding the serious issues posed by meteorological vulnerabilities. Reference List Broc, A., Delannoy, A., Montreuil, E., Lalande, P., Laroche, P. (2005). Lighting strike to helicopters during winter thunderstorms over North Sea. Aerospace Science Technology, 9(8), 686-691. Hadley, D., Hufford, G.L., Simpson, J.J. (2004). Resuspension of relic volcanic ash and dust from Katmai: Still an aviation hazar d. Weather Forecasting, 19(5), 829-840. Harding, K. (2011). Thunderstorm formation and aviation hazards. National Weather Service. Retrieved from https://aviationweather.gov/general/pubs/front/docs/jul-11.pdf Schreiner, P. (2007). Enhanced icing product to guide aircraft around hazards. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 88(2), 152-154. Simpson, J.J., Hufford, G.L., Pieri, D., Servranckx, R., Berg, J.S., Baver, C. (2002). The February 2001 eruption of Mount Cleveland, Alaska: A case study of an aviation hazard. Weather Forecasting, 17(4) 691-704. Vickers, G., Buzza, S., Schimidt, A., Mullock, J. (2001). The weather of the Canadian Prairies. Ottawa, Ontario: NAV Canada. Watson, A., Ramirez, C.V., Salud, E. (2009). Predicting visibility of aircraft. PLoS ONE, 4(5), 1-16. Witiw, M.R., Lanier, R.C., Crooks, K.A. (2003). Integrating human factors into the human-computer interface: How best to display meteorological information for critical aviation decision-making and performance. Journal of Air Transportation, 8(2), 129-138. World Meteorological Organization. (2007). Aviation Hazards. WMO/TD-No. 1390. Web. This essay on Meteorological Hazards in Aviation was written and submitted by user M1cr0ch1p to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Java vs C++ essays

Java vs C++ essays Since their inception, computers have played an increasingly important role in todays society. Advancements in technology have enabled computers to become faster and cheaper. Today, the majority of families own a home computer that is vastly more powerful than giant mainframes of years gone by. Computer hardware has been evolving rapidly with no end in sight, and with all of the advancements in computer hardware come advancements in computer software; gone are the days when FORTRAN and COBOL were the languages of choice. Today,vvv two hot new object oriented programming languages have entered the computer programming arena, Java and C++, this paper will examine the similarities and differences between these new languages. Both Java and C++ are object oriented programming languages, but what does that mean? Object oriented programming (OOP) emphasizes data, instead of algorithms for solving problems. Instead of trying to fit a problem to the procedural approach of a language, OOP attempts to fit the language to the problem, in other words, OOP is structured to produce an answer without changing the question. Object oriented programming involves two separate parts, class and objects. Class is a specification that describes a new data form, it is a template that defines how an object will look and behave.(Kaj 1996, 8) An object is that particular data structure constructed using the parameters defined by class.(Prata 1995, 5) The object oriented programming approach to program design is to first design classes that accurately represent those things with which the program deals. A drawing program, for example, might define classes to represent rectangles, lines, circles, brushes, pens, and the like. The class definitions, recall, include a descriptions of permissible options for each class, such as moving a circle or rotating a line.(Prata 1995, 5) The main advantages of OOP, besides being able to create more compl...

Delta Force- Organizational behavior Movie Review

Delta Force- Organizational behavior - Movie Review Example Overall, however, Delta Force does not operate as a team; individual members or groups are often doing different, unrelated things from each other and not all pulling in the same direction the way a team would. When on missions, however, small components of Delta Force operate as a team ranging in size from two people to more than a dozen. In these circumstances, they function as a team, planning missions together, relying on each other to accomplished individual goals to support the overall mission and so on. Delta Force’s composition is the cornerstone for most of what the group accomplishes. It is formed of an elite cadre of experience, intelligent people recruited from all across the armed services (Arsdale). This composition leads to its other qualities: everyone selected for Delta Force has leadership qualities and can fill leadership roles, facilitating a bottom-up approach to leadership. Furthermore, everyone’s knowledge of the composition of Delta Force helps c reate trust; anyone going on a mission with another member of Delta Force knows they are elite simply because of their belonging to the group, making it easier to trust them in extreme situations. Furthermore, the groups small size allows personal relationships to flourish, increasing trust. Works Cited Arsdale, L. V. Delta Force [video file].

Information Technology Enhanced Management of Schools Dissertation

Information Technology Enhanced Management of Schools - Dissertation Example What is necessary to overcome the aforementioned obstacle may be roundtable discussions at many of the nation’s schools, where committee members meet to identify and discuss the issues at hand. Among things to consider is what is and what is not doable at the hands of a particular school, a definition of what it means to be productive in an academic sense, and a definition of how information technology may enhance that definition (Massy and Zemsky, 2008). â€Å"First, the demand for IT-based teaching and learning programs will grow substantially, probably exponentially, over the next decade. In an economy that is itself increasingly knowledge-based, the new information technologies offer an economical means of providing the continuous education the U.S. now requires as well as a more readily accessible form of post-secondary education and credentialing. Second, IT will change teaching and learning profoundly, no matter what the response of traditional higher education institutions. Just as the development of the printing press forever changed the teaching enterprise, IT represents a fundamental change in the basic technology of teaching and learning† (Massy and Zemsky, 2008, pg. 1). Information technology itself offers a large amount of potential, but it requires a fundamental shift in the way institutions operate. It is essential, then, that those who wish to implement information technology within an institution understand what changes must take place on levels that are practical to that institution. The first step is to take a look at the pros and cons of the integration of information technology into a school, including both administrative and teaching processes. Then, any barriers the school may face when integrating that technology must be considered on both an internal and external level (Massy and Zemsky, 2008; Armstrong, 2007; and Estabrooks, 1995). Schools across the nation are encountering many difficulties when they attempt to adopt a variety of new technologies. First of all, should information technology comprise the primary means of teaching students in today's elementary schools Second, should entire school systems be technologically enhanced Third, how is all of this going to be paid for (Kumpulainen and Wray, 2002 and Olson, Malone,

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 42

Personal Statement Example Through wide reading about issues pertaining to human relations across different parts of the globe, I have come to realise that law is an indispensable component of our lives. In fact, it is an integral part of our lives. I am strongly convinced that societies could not be governable the absence of law. To that effect, different laws are promulgated by different nations in order to govern the conduct of human behaviour so that they do not transgress against the standard expectations with regard to how they should behave. However, law is one subject area that is often misunderstood by many people. Basically, law is designed for people and by people but it seems that many individuals often fail to interpret law correctly. As a result, their rights may be violated through ignorance of the law. Against this background, I have developed a keen interest in understanding and mastering different aspects of law particularly the concept of corporate law. This is a new dispensation in law and I would like to gain more knowledge and insight about it. Currently, I am a final year law student and I have a keen interest in pursuing my studies in the same area. After completion of my first degree, I would like to proceed to Masters Degree in corporate law from a reputable institution. I have been greatly inspired by the education system in England and I can proudly say that I would like to pursue my Masters Degree in law in this great country. I have been attracted to this country through numerous visits that my family and I have had from my early childhood. Along the years, I became familiar with its streets, buildings shops and the ideology of its people and how to deal with them. Moreover, I love the language, especially after attending an English school in my country. The UK is also known for its prestigious academics, having numerous universities ranking top in the world. I am convinced that the British curriculum is

The Importance Of Street Lighting Construction Essay

The Importance Of Street Lighting Construction Essay Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction Street lighting ensures safety to literally every citizen in Sri Lanka by providing guidance and direction across the vast territories throughout the country. Citizens have grown accustomed to driving the streets, rural roads and busy urban thoroughfares, relying on improved visibility and safety afforded them by generous lighting conditions provided by several street light standards of the roadways. Similarly, the safety and ability to maneuver along walkways and sidewalks, in both congested and remote areas, is tremendously enhanced for pedestrians and cyclists. Street lights must be designed therefore to minimize glare and render enhanced colour recognition to meet peoples visual needs in observing objects. 1.2 Importance of Street Lighting Street lighting is an essential public service that provides a safer environment at nighttime to commuters as well as pedestrians. Proper use of street lighting can be considered as a protective method which provides economic and social benefits to the people including: Elimination in night time accidents and economic loss Aid to police protection and enhanced sense of personal security Facilitation of smooth traffic flow Promotion of business activities and the use of public interactions during the night hours. While this service is commonly available in developed countries, there is a shortage of proper street lighting facilities in many areas in developing countries due to lack of financial resources. The lack of adequate light at night has given rise to poor living conditions and as such, street crimes, and other mishaps are commonplace. Street lighting is perhaps more interesting topic for politicians to gain their supporters. It is the most conversable topic among people and essential activity of local authorities, Pradesheya Sabhas and municipalities where the electrical consumption can be considered as having a totally stable load pattern (kWh) during designated operating hours for each and every day. The number of lights and power requirements stay relatively steady over the nightly operating period. The only real variation is the quantity of operating hours each evening as determined by the time of the year. On the other hand, some degree of weather is varying where photo cell control systems exist during dark and misty time periods where areas like upcountry. As such, we have very predictable load patterns and energy values for street lighting that mostly operate including peak power extracting time periods considering the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) national grid. One opportunity to address the demand-side of this issue is to save electricity via technological upgrades of street lighting with the help of municipalities and local authorities. Electricity used for streetlights accounts for up to 1.1% of electricity used by national grid stated in Statistical digest in 2011, published by CEB. It is worth noting that large amount of non-metered street lighting profiles exhibit a steady state operation on a month by month basis despite the fact that the new street lamp installations have been grown by 30% annually as revealed by street lamp census in 2010. This strategy will be worst during the election periods. Thus, the virtual billing value which is submitted by local authorities to the power and energy ministry, do not truly represent the actual load profiles. In response to the plotting of the billing information, both municipalities and local authorities have to be taken action to ensure true representation of load profiles with representing of CEB personnel to witness the actual requirements of the street lighting equipments. The electrical energy consumption of street lighting constitutes an important part of total energy consumption. Saving energy in street lamps is therefore important for total energy savings. It is known that street lighting levels are excessive in many cases. For instance, in the case of low traffic volumes, the lighting levels are excessive and could be reduced so that energy savings can be achieved. On the other hand, in specific situations and for traffic safety reasons, light levels should be increased even in the case of low traffic volume. Reductions in energy consumption through the installation of modern lighting equipment, control and management practices have a direct impact on the level of greenhouse gas emissions from street lighting. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are directly related to reductions in energy consumption; hence the potential savings are of the same order and vice versa. 1.3 Motivation This research keeps the focus on energy efficiency measures in the street lighting sector. The street lighting situation in Sri Lanka is still largely dominated by inefficient technologies, most importantly standard incandescent, low efficiency fluorescent tube or mercury and sodium vapour lamps. Although cost-effective when regarded over the full lifespan of the lamp, more efficient options, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), induction lamps and solar powered systems struggle to penetrate the market. Several promotion programs for energy efficient lighting can be found by the government in recent past ( reference). This research is concerned with possibilities to promote the approach of energy efficient street lighting technologies for grid-connected or off grid usage in Sri Lanka. This approach is initiated to evaluate the economic, technical, and operational feasibility of replacing the existing street lamps with LED light sources. Specifically, the following areas were evaluated as part of this research: Energy and maintenance cost savings of LED lamps over the existing street lamps Energy and maintenance cost savings of solar powered LED lamps over the existing street lamps Optimum luminance that should be maintained on various roads and streets in compliance with British and IESNA standards and comparable those to the streets lighted by the existing High Pressure Sodium (HPS) vapour lamps which were installed in most of the town and highly congested areas where more luminance is needed. Cost-effectiveness of deploying a photocell or timer switching for street lamp operation. The energy and maintenance cost savings are key inputs to the cost-effectiveness analysis of LED. The performance metrics in the economic analysis includes simple payback as well as the net present value of cost savings over the lifetime of the LED fixtures. This research findings point out the key market barriers for technology uptake in the street lighting sector and discusses the current state of technology promotional programs. 1.4 Objectives of the research The first objective of the research is to get an inventory verification of various kinds of street lamps connected in all over the country and secondly, to analyze the performance of existing lamps and its control systems. Road surface luminance is one of the control parameters in intelligent road lighting control systems. The third objective is to identify the optimized luminance intensity on the roads as part of assessment for efficient street lighting systems. The final objective is to find a best option for energy efficient street lighting. At present, in urban roadway lighting applications, High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and mercury vapour lamps which are the most widely used light sources. In semi urban and rural area road lighting, fluorescent lamps and CFL is widely applied. LEDs are fast developing light sources and are considered as one promising light source for general lighting. However, LEDs are not used already for street lighting applications in Sri Lanka, since the initial cost of LED is very high as yet. Currently, HPS lamps are the dominant light source used in street lighting because of long lamp life time and high luminous efficacy. The research assessment is a comparative life cycle assessment including other economical analysis which was performed on Incandescent lamp, Fluorescent lamp, High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamp, Mercury Vapour lamp, Induction lamp and Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlight technologies. It also focused on the categories of energy efficiency, light quality, global warming affects ect. The majority of streetlights are individually controlled by manual operation and some are by photocell and timer switch. It is revealed that some local authorities such as Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), have installed and upgraded a system that allow light levels to be controlled in certain time periods in addition to the photocell operation. Maintenance of streetlights consists almost entirely of replacing burnt bulbs or other defective components. Lights controlled by photocell are not monitored remotely in Sri Lanka and are replaced when reported by complaints of people or noticed during regular inspections. Bulb replacement is performed by relevant local authorities or municipalities. 1.5 Outline of this Report This research conducted a detailed study of how to implement an energy efficient street lighting technologies in Sri Lanka. This study provides the data and analysis necessary to evaluate whether changing existing street lighting system is a worthwhile investment, not only economically but environmentally as well. The adoption of newer technologies could save the millions of rupees in each year by minimizing both energy and environmental costs while reserving them to invest in other infrastructure upgrades. This thesis consists of seven chapters including the literature review, methodology, case studies, economic analysis and results, and discussion. The literature review is the chapter 2 which explains the basics behind street lighting, the different types of lighting technologies, how they work, how they affect the environment, and how they meet current lighting requirements along with their advantages and disadvantages. The methodology chapter explains how the study was conducted with a detailed explanation of both methodologies and economic calculations. This chapter presented a series of calculations to verify the data which are relevant to this study. How the data was applied to these methodologies will also be explained in chapter 3. This research thesis consists of three case studies. First one is the basic structure of this thesis, so that, the street lamp survey conducted to find out the total no of lamps in the country. It gives a basic understanding of the main end-use applications and target sectors of the different lamp types, control systems and an idea of the energy efficiency potential available in the street lighting sector. The second is illumination evaluation for HPS lamps connected in Galle road section. The auto operated street lighting system implemented in Balangoda town area and street lighting control system conducting in Sri Lanka also discussed as the case study 3 in this chapter. All these case studies are presented in chapter 4. The chapter 5 consists of economic analysis for all case studies and sets the insights gained throughout the research is enlightened by economic analysis. The economic performance was calculated as simple-payback for substitution of LED and solar powered LED soluti ons to the existing lamps that includes in accounting for lamp life-span, maintenance costs, and electrical costs. Conclusion chapter covers the results from the study to include their sensitivity to changes in costs associated with power production, maintenance costs, fixture costs, and service life. Environmental costs with carbon emissions savings and impacts were also calculated and discussed with regards to the different lighting technologies including solar powered stand along LED system. Finally, discussion chapter reviews the findings of this study and recommends the course of action that should be taken for implementation of energy efficient street lighting along with areas for future research.

Eudora Weltys A Worn Path Essay -- Eudora Welty Worn Path Essays Pap

Eudora Welty's A Worn Path Eudora Welty's 'A Worn Path' is a story that emphasizes the natural symbolism of the surroundings. As the story begins, we are introduced to our main character, Phoenix Jackson; she is described as a small, old Negro woman. I believe that the name Eudora Welty gives our main character is very symbolic. The legend of the Phoenix is about a fabled sacred bird of ancient Egyptians. The bird is said to come out of Arabia every 500 years to Heliopolis, where it burned itself on the altar and rose again from its ashes, young and beautiful. Phoenix, the women in the story, represents the myth of the bird because she is described as being elderly and near the end of her life. Phoenix can hardly walk and uses a cane made of an old umbrella to aid her. Her skin is described as old and wrinkly, but yet with a golden color running beneath it 'Her skin had a pattern all its own of numberless branching wrinkles and as though a whole little tree stood in the middle of her forehead, but a golden col or ran underneath?(55). Her skin tone represents the golden feathers of the Phoenix and her grandson represents the next Phoenix that will be given life when she dies. The trip to the city to get the medicine represents the mythological trip that the Phoenix takes to the sun to die. Most likely this journey along a worn path through the woods, will be one of her last. We are told of Phoenix?s journey into the woods on a cold December morning. Although we are know that she is traveling through woodland, the author refrains from telling us the reason for this journey. In the midst of Phoenix?s travels, Eudora Welty describes the scene: ?Deep, deep the road went down between the high green-colored banks. Overhead the live-oaks met, and it was as dark as a cave? (Welty 55). The gloomy darkness that the author has created to surround Phoenix in this scene is quite a contrast to the small Negro woman?s positive outlook; Phoenix is a very determined person who is full of life. As Phoenix begins to walk down the dark path, a black dog approaches her from a patch of weeds near a ditch. As he comes toward her, Phoenix is startled and compelled to defend herself: ?she only hit him a little with her cane. Over she went in the ditch, like a little puff of milk-weed? (55). Here, the author contrasts the main character?s strong will with her small, frail phys... ...ppen to you? (57). I believe that this line represents a change that has occurred within the hunters mind. He no longer is trying to prevent her from her journey, while he still tells her to stay home, he know she is bound to go on. After there meeting he realizes how strong her will is and lets her go on her way. ?I bound to go on my way, mister? (57) Phoenix tells the man, and they go off in different directions. Strength is the only reason Phoenix accomplished her journey and Phoenix's love for her only living relative is her greatest strength of all. Although the old Negro woman suffers from many handicaps, she starts her journey mentally prepared for the obstacles awaiting her. Phoenix uses her inner strengths and prevails over every barrier. She relies on her trustworthy feet to make up for her impaired vision. Her wit makes up for her frail body. Her determination makes up for her aged memory. But most of all, her love for her grandson her keeps her going. Clearly, the frail, forgetful, and loving old woman can overcome anything. Works Cited: Welty, Eudora. "A Worn Path." The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980. 142-49.

Student Brawl

@rajab1377: Exactly your point! Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country in the world with more than 650,000 mosques (registered) and perhaps millions more of unregistered ones (including madrasah, pesantren etc). We even have Minister of Religious (Islamic) Affairs – whose salary is paid by hard-working tax payers from ALL RELIGIONS! If you still think the reason of these school brawls was because Indonesia is lacking religious knowledge or institutions etc, that's BS crap! How many more mosques do we need? 50 millions, one for each Indonesian? And if you think because Indonesia doesn't properly follow Islamic laws, go to Aceh and see it for yourself all the human rights violations by Syariah Police, aside of intense drugs and human traficking! In fact Aceh was recently surveyed as the no. 2 most corrupt province (behind Jakarta *gasp! ). Talking about hypocrisy! Seriously dude, wake up from your (edit) ignorance and work with us as part of solution, stop being part of the pro blem! rajab1377 :13pm Oct 3, 2012 Salaam Alaykum, It seems surprising to hear such terrible news of killing among school children, its very rare that school children can go upto killing, even in college it is very rare that there is killing & it is more surprising that Indonesia which has more than 90% Muslim population. The children who can kill at this young age can do more bigger crime when he/she will grow old. Its a shameful act & killer's parents must curse themselves for upbringing a killer. Shame on them.This happens due to lack of religious knowledge ; no proper following Islamic laws, the law of Allah mighty ; Glorious, Lord of the Worlds which leads you to live a beautiful life in Dunya ; will give you salvation in Akhirat. Also note that don't compare yourself with west in killing or any other crime, its a shameful act & everyone must be ashamed for this act, compare yourself with the good of other countries & learn from them good & not bad. Wassalaam. KampungHighlander 4:03am Sep 26, 2012 â€Å"The best solution I think is to merge them into one school. No, much better to just close both schools permanently. ProudAthe 8:13pm Sep 25, 2012 As an alumnus of one of the aforementioned high schools, I am very ashamed and aghast of what just happened. I think even now, the majority of the students still think that students brawl is a sacred tradition that needs to be preserved. Anyone who's against it is labelled coward. Hopefully noone sees this as an accomplishment DasMonk 4:43pm Sep 25, 2012 Username In fact Indonesian kids also fight with guns and knives and bamboo spears – using your own logic why bring the West up?It seems evey time something happens we enter the it happens elsewhere so why care route As for school kids joining the FPI in fact they are more liekly to join the violent gangs that operate throughout Jakarta than the FPI The FPI seems to draw its thugs from Islamic schools or no schools Important measures to prevent School Viol ence I am sure most of you would have heard of the  Columbine  High school  tragedy where two students went out on a shooting rampage and killed nearly 13 people in the year 1999.If you have not heard of that then you would have heard of the shootout in Virginia Tech in the year 2007 at least. These are some of the examples of instances of violence in school. Who knows? The same thing could happen to the school in which your child is studying as well. So it is very important that you need to know about the measures to be taken in order to prevent school violence. One of the most important causes for children to develop fight inside a school is because of their attitude.If the attitude of the children is quite rough or arrogant then he can pick up a fight quite easily and at his own will. So it is very important for a child to have a good and proper attitude in order to avoid school violence. But if this is to happen then it is the duty of the parents to take care of it. They s hould give their child proper love, care, affection and a quality home atmosphere in order to develop a proper attitude. In most cases the children become arrogant because of a stressed out home atmosphere.Just consider a case where you fight with your husband/wife in front of your child. Though you may feel that the child is too young to take it very seriously, it does have some sort of impact on the young minds. They too tend to take your path. They will become arrogant as well simply because of the reason that parents have an arrogant attitude. So parents should understand these little things and act in a wise manner to provide your child with a proper home atmosphere so that he grows out to be a good mannered child.Teachers have their roles in preventing school violence as well. They should be responsible enough to look after each and every child in the class and understand their needs as well. The teacher should be specific and fair in their dealings as well. They should not be biased in their actions because this is one of the prime reasons for a child to develop hatred and jealousy. Also a teacher should take necessary steps in order to ensure that there are rivalries among students which could possibly end up in a brawl. This is because brawls never end in a brawl at all.They will have a continual effect and these brawls can very well lead to the children ending up committing violence of one form or the other. The school authorities will have to make sure that the children does not possess any kind of weapons like knives or guns. They should keep a constant vigil on the students in order to avoid violent activities in schools. There is only final word that is sufficient to eradicate school violence and that is â€Å"responsibility†. If each and every individual understand their responsibility very clearly then there is no such problem of school violence

Free Essays on Workplace Production

No workplace is more productive than a company that is filled with motivated employees. What can an employer do to get and keep workers motivated? Here are a dozen tips: Hire people who have the skills and abilities for the job. Give employees the training they need to do the job right. Treat employees with respect and courtesy. Set and explain goals for each employee or team. The goals need to be meaningful to the employee. They need to be measurable. They need to be achievable. Show an interest in the work the employee is doing in achieving the goals from day to day on the job. Ask what you can do to help, and do it. Reward employees for achieving goals. Make the rewards something the employee values. Get employees involved in decision-making about things that matter. Provide positive feedback and say thank you. Remember that people are motivated by different things. Use what motivates the employee, not what motivates you. Keep the workplace interesting. Know when employees are ove rworked and do something about it. Resolve conflicts as they come up. Give employees authority and let them know you expect responsibility.... Free Essays on Workplace Production Free Essays on Workplace Production No workplace is more productive than a company that is filled with motivated employees. What can an employer do to get and keep workers motivated? Here are a dozen tips: Hire people who have the skills and abilities for the job. Give employees the training they need to do the job right. Treat employees with respect and courtesy. Set and explain goals for each employee or team. The goals need to be meaningful to the employee. They need to be measurable. They need to be achievable. Show an interest in the work the employee is doing in achieving the goals from day to day on the job. Ask what you can do to help, and do it. Reward employees for achieving goals. Make the rewards something the employee values. Get employees involved in decision-making about things that matter. Provide positive feedback and say thank you. Remember that people are motivated by different things. Use what motivates the employee, not what motivates you. Keep the workplace interesting. Know when employees are ove rworked and do something about it. Resolve conflicts as they come up. Give employees authority and let them know you expect responsibility....

Colonlies taking More steps to being independent essays

Colonlies taking More steps to being independent essays By 1763, the colonies had taken many steps into becoming a more independent New England, joining together to fight against England. Locke had introduced a new way of thinking, the Great Awakening happened, then the Enlightment and a lot of changes in the economy and politics. New England gradually became more liberated. John Locke was against Englands religious belief that babies were born with fate. He argued that humans had rights to life, liberty, and property. This kind of thinking wasnt really approved of, but Lockes thought spread through the colonies. It helped people realize what control England had over them. The Great Awakening had a huge impact on the colonies. It shattered churches which led to the bigger religious diversity of the colonies. In England, there wasnt religious diversity, but now, in New England it was spreading as well as education. The Ivy League schools were developing and any kind of men were able to attend them, unlike in England where you had to be a certain religion. British mercantilism was still in progress by the Navigation Acts, but smuggling occurred often. New England was getting tired of England getting all the profits from everything. Then, the Paxton Boys had a revolt because they believed that they were poorly represented in the provincial government. This revolt ended the political stability of the British colonies. It shows that the people of the British colonies were starting and already had been thinking for themselves and were starting to act on it more then they had been. The people of the colonies were starting to join together and rebel against England. They had their own governments, thoughts, and religions in the colonies that England didnt have as shown in this essay. The colonies had a gradual rise to being their own country more then being controlled by another power, such as the British. ...

A reflective portfolio where you identify your learning requirements Essay

A reflective portfolio where you identify your learning requirements and discuss how you addressed those needs - Essay Example curriculum: reflexive practice is critical to establishing a proper corporate strategy and aligning people, tools and measurement instruments to guarantee business success. I first learned that corporate strategy development must consider the external market, internal stakeholders and the conditions of the marketplace in order to be successful. Hence, there is a need to harmonize resources and people effectively in order to maintain a competent competitive position in the market and ensure operational efficiency. This means being able to develop a team environment in which workers are motivated, considering quality of outputs, determining an effective marketing strategy and further maximising efficiency of operations. I was highly intrigued to understand the inter-dependency of marketing to the achievement of strategic goals. According to theory, companies that are the first-to-market with a new innovation actually become the pioneers that define the product category and maintain strong advantages (Agarwal and Gort 2001). First-to-market innovators become a model through which consumers judge late entrants into a marketplace and are often viewed more favourably by the consumer market (Kalyanaram and Gurumurthy 2008). For a business that desires to be a first-to-market innovator as a competitive tool, it is critical that a company maintains a well-developed marketing strategy, part of brand management. According to marketing theory, building a strong brand provides economic and competitive benefits for a business, provides less vulnerability to the marketing activities of competition, and provides more extensive word-of-mouth from consumer markets (Gounaris and Stathakopoulos 2004). One example of how a first-to-market innovator managed to gain consumer preference is the Sony Corporation with the release of the pioneering Sony Walkman in the early 1980s which revolutionized mobile consumer recreation. By having an effective promotional strategy, this company

Hospitality Service Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hospitality Service Management - Assignment Example Innovation is the key focus to excel in this industry. Utilising service management for proper handling and delivery of services is the aspect which the services industry must set a priority in their areas of concern for promotion and company's growth - including industries in health care, caterers, manufacturers and suppliers, tourism and financial services. Organisations must set the difference between the idea of customer satisfaction and service of quality rendered to clients. Although sometimes considered ambiguous, a specific label is required that will detach these important entities with regards in providing services of which supposed as one. Both are correlated in terms of industrial needs but different. Customers may vary on every organisation to which they provide their products, be of services or goods, by some mechanism acceptable in the industry's marketplace. Of course, getting through the competition in the market is another endeavour which organisation needs focus. Customer satisfaction is a business term which is used to capture the idea of measuring how satisfied an enterprise's customers are with the organization's efforts in a marketplace (Wikipedia, 2006). Once customer's expectations are exceeded, the organisation will attain high levels of customer satisfaction and will create "customer delight." This implies that organisation must possess the ability to fulfil the consumers' needs through business, emotional and psychological aspects. The interaction between the service provider and the recipient, which are the customers, must not be in idle to properly measure the level of satisfaction. Proper attitude in dealing with varied customers should be considered; knowing their attitudes, feedbacks or commendations can contribute in determining the organisation's marketing strategies. Basically, organisations aim is to retain customers in patronising their services offered and the target of increasing the number of loyal customers and eventua lly increasing the organisation's revenues. Although customer satisfaction may vary from customer-to-customer, it is important to consider that physical and psychological characteristics which play a very important factor in measuring the degree where customers satisfy with the organisation's services. Comparatively speaking, the customer's expectation can be evaluated with the customer's experience prior relevant to the services the organisation delivers. Organisation must take into account that satisfaction is not quantitatively measured since it is more of a psychological aspect; it is more of the qualitative. And, service of quality will be now measured. Commonly, customers define 'quality' as they are met by their perception and experience. This is the degree or level of customer's satisfaction with the services or products an organisation offers dependently to the environment and the kind of service given. It is difficult to conform to the expectations of the customers needs with the level they require with regards to efficiency, quality, flexibility, and dependability to the services delivered. To achieve this, Total Quality Management (TQM) is applied. TQM is management philosophy committed to a focus on continuous improvements of product and services with the involvement of the entire workforce. This principle is a long-term process to sustain business excellence and the comprehensively and continuously involvement of all organisation functions. Through this method,

Arguments Participation Paper 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Arguments Participation Paper 1 - Assignment Example They mock at the racial inequality as dust gets settled on both the white and the black. The economic exploitation and indifferent treatment toward the tunnel workers are evident in the lines 9-12. Muriel has been a social activist taking her poetry to the level of political statements. She has worked for the cause of various political and social issues during her time. In her poem, â€Å"George Robinson: Blues†, she depicts the gruesome, inhuman life of the black tunnel workers in the town of Gauley Bridge. The town is characterized as the â€Å"Negro town† sarcastically, as it does not own them but disowns them by sending tunnel workers in bulk to the cemetery on top of the hill. George, the speaker presents an insider’s view of the life in the tunnel. White dust settling on the blacks deconstructs the racial coding and makes it difficult for the outsider to identify the ‘white’. The tunnel worker, masked in white dust, proceeds gradually toward the graveyard in the top of the hill left unattended by doctors. They are not provided with the basic medical facilities nor are cared for by the authorities. They are left to die so inhuman. He says how the workers die in huge numbers due to the unhealthy working conditions. â€Å"Did you ever bury thirty-five men in a place in back of your  house/thirty-five tunnel workers the doctors didnt attend/ died in the tunnel camps, under rocks, everywhere, world/ without end† (9) ironically portray how inhuman the tunnel workers are looked upon. It is very clear that the tunnel workers are commodities looked upon only for utility and when they turn sick and not fit to work and turn over profit, the authorities step in only to remove them from the job. George says, â€Å"when he couldnt keep going barely/the Cap and company come and run him off the job surely† (15). The poet has depicted the social picture of the tunnel workers in the voice of an

To Build a Fire Essay Example for Free

To Build a Fire Essay The Yukon setting in To Build a Fire is used by the author, Jack London, as a sort of shorthand whereby even the most casual of readers will be able to understand the potential lethality and bodily danger such a wilderness presents to the main character of the story,   an understanding which is essential to the storys overall theme, plot, and impact. The Yukon setting is also important because it provides and underlying motivation for the storys protagonist, a   newcomer in the land, a chechaquo to be in such a hostile environment in the first place: profit. The all-too-familiar lure of profit, for gold or for other salable resources forms an underlying motivation for the storys protagonist who is bound for the old claim on the left fork of Henderson Creek, where the boys were already and the protagonist himself is going the roundabout way to take a look at the possibilities of getting out logs in the spring from the islands in the Yukon all of which begs the question: why is a newcomer choosing to go it alone in the Yukon? (London, 1998, p. 342)      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This central question forms the fulcrum upon which the theme and plot of the story turn. Because the reader will immediately fear for the fate of the protagonist, from the opening paragraphs of the story, a sense of suspense and character-sympathy is generated. However, in order for reader identification with the protagonist to genuinely take hold, it is necessary for London to reveal just a bit more of the protagonists internal state, his personality, beliefs and flaws.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   The following information about the protagonist is revealed on the first page of the story:   But all this-the mysterious, far-reaching hair-line trail, the absence of sun from the sky, the cold, and the strangeness and weirdness of it allmade no impression on the man. It was not because he was long used to it   but because he was without imagination and therefore unable to extrapolate from the immediate moment to the probable future. in other words he was unable to understand or visualize the possible consequences of his actions or decisions.  Ã‚   (London 341,42)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Such a disadvantage is less of a liability when it pertains to certain logistical capacities, which the character, indeed, uses in a futile attempt to build a fire and escape his own death as the perils in the story increase. The protagonist is quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in the significances; so, to him, Fifty degrees below zero meant eighty-odd degrees of frost and nothing more. He may acknowledge that the conditions are cold and uncomfortable but these realizations fail to alert within him an sense of his frailty as a creature of temperature, and upon mans frailty in general, and this seems to indicate that London intends the protagonist of his story to stand, in some ways, for the entire human race: in ecological terms, out of balance with nature and oblivious to the consequences of ingenuity and technology (London,   342).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The revelation of the characters internal flaw increases reader-identification and sympathy, which is essential to the unfolding of the storys climax and thematic resolution. Because London intends the story to function in some ways as a cautionary tale about the perilous consequences of humanity exploiting nature and living out of harmony with nature,   the reader must be lured into identifying with the storys protagonist as deeply as is possible. london accomplishes this by allowing the protagonists ingenuity, intelligence, and determination to win several small victories along the way to the storys tragic resolution. Each time the protagonist is able to think his way to a temporary solution to his challenges and deathly obstacles, the reader is led to identify more intensely with him and root for his victory over indifferent nature.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In effect, London is leading the reader to root for humanity as represented by the storys protagonist: the reader is encouraged when the storys protagonist manages to build a fire against all the odds and begin the process of thawing out his clothes and body; the reader is deeply disappointed and fearful when a small shingle of snow falls on that fire, extinguishing it and with it, all realistic hope of the protagonists survival. Because the reader has been led to identify deeply wit the protagonist, and with his logistical abilities and even his hard headed realism, this even in the story, the extinguishing of the protagonists fire, lands a symbolically charged blow right on the readers sense of pride in humanity, revealing that the protagonists previously identified flaw: lack of imagination, is actually a variant of pride or self-absorption. In this way, London makes it clear that the human races reliance upon science, technology, capitalism, and pride are the very aspects which bring about a discord with nature. This discord is not portrayed as being merely unfortunate, but it is revealed as being the kiss of death, of extinction, for humanity and all of humanitys achievements. these vast aspects are personalized through the story and demonstrated in microcosm through the sue of symbolic imagery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Londons story is intended not only to engage each individual reader but also the collective of humanity as a whole. The themes of To Build a Fire are universal. I have personally been guilty of pride with disastrous consequence on many occasions; it remains to be seen whether or not the ecological aspects of this story will play a constructive or merely ironic role in determining my own future behavior or the behavior of the human race in general.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Works Cited London, Jack. The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and Other Stories. Ed. Earle Labor and Robert   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   C. Leitz. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Media Essays Magazines Men Women

Media Essays Magazines Men Women Magazines Men Women Literature Review Many scholars have argued the media play an increasingly central role within contemporary society, and the shaping of identities (Holmes, 2007; McRobbie, 2000). Kellner (1994, cited in Durham, 1995, p.2) argues the media provide individuals with the materials to forge their identity and sense of selfhood; including our notions of male and female and what it means to be good or bad. As a medium, magazines have not been studied in as much depth as newspapers, television and radio. However they are still an important cultural tool and a valuable medium to study, with a unique function ‘to bring high-value interpretative information to specifically defined, yet national audiences’ (Abrahamson, 1996, cited in Holmes, 2007, p.511). The analysis of images within magazines is a valid way of studying gender roles and relations according to Butler and Paisley (1980, p.49). They argue images formed from mediated precepts become part of a viewer’s conception of themselves. Vigorito and Curry (1998, p. 136) point out that popular culture is ‘increasingly visual’, and that magazine pictures ‘carry significant messages about cultural norms and values, including the norms of gender relations’. In a study of the pictorial images featured in Playboy and Cosmopolitan, Krassas et al (2001, p.752) argue that images within magazines ‘have a demonstrable effect on how we think about ourselves’, and that they ‘explicitly advise the reader about how to look and act’. The following study that is predominantly image-based analysis is therefore a legitimate and valid way of studying the sample material. Research into masculinity and male depiction within women’s magazines has been scarce according to many scholars (Holmes, 2007; Farvid and Braun, 2006; Vigorito and Curry, 1998), with most research focused on ‘the social construction of femininity’ (Vigorito and Curry, 1998, p.135). However, with an established theory that identifies gender as a social construct that defines masculinity as historically reactive to changing definitions of femininity (Kimmel, 1995, p.14), the study of the representation of men and their roles within women’s magazines has become increasingly significant. As Farvid and Braun (2006) explain: The focus on men is particularly relevant because, in a heteronormative world, male and female sexualities are constructed simultaneously. Therefore, although previous examination of femininity/female sexuality in magazines have been useful, they are only partially complete, as female (hetero)sexuality is also constructed through the magazines’ account of male (hetero)sexuality (p.298). The following study concerned with the sexual representation of men in contemporary women’s magazines is therefore pertinent to existing theory. As the majority of studies are also American and at least five years old, there is justification for a contemporary, English study on the sexual presentation of men in women’s magazines. In his observation of women’s magazines, Gauntlett (2002, p.51) notes that the changes in content coincide with societal changes in gender relations. The 1940s and 1950s saw the emphasis was centred on a domesticated ‘simpering housewife’, that saw education and careers as the masculinisation of women. The 1960s saw the sexual revolution that marked the seeds of change within society and women’s magazines. From this time the sexual longings of all women including the ‘respectable’ and the unmarried, could openly be acknowledged and discussed (Wouters 1998, p.188). In the 1970s and 1980s magazines continued to change, to account for women and their changing positions within society (Gauntlett 2002, p.52). Attwood (2004, p.15) argues since the 1990s popular media has depicted ‘new sexualities’, which break existing norms of feminine behaviour by addressing women as ‘knowing and lustful’. McNair (2002, p.88) has also noted that we increasingly live in a ‘striptease culture’ that is focused on ‘sexual confession and self-revelation’, that manifests itself within print media. On a broad level, the following study is concerned with how this emerging sexual discourse within the media and society is manifested within women’s magazines. Alongside changing societal values and morals, there are strong arguments suggesting the content of women’s magazines can be directly influenced by the interests of advertisers. In the relentless search for new markets by advertisers, erotic images of men are designed to appeal to both liberated women as well as the new male consumer (Rohlinger, 2002, p.61). In the 1990s, rumours circulated that women’s magazine Company, had found a sales formula relating to circulation figures with the number of times the word ‘sex’ appeared on the cover lines (Gough-Yates, 2003, p.139). Consumers that buy young women’s magazines also have the most desirable demographic to advertisers – young, single, employed, well educated and urban – and are the most likely to buy a magazine for it’s coverage of sex (Rohlinger, 2002, p.61). There is a general agreement that the content of women’s magazines has reached a sexual peak in today’s society. Sex ‘sets the tone, defines the pace, and shapes the whole environment’ of women’s magazines (McRobbie, 1996, p.177). There is currently a ‘lust revival, an acceleration in the emancipation of sexuality’ (Wouters, 1998, p.200). Winship (2000, p.43) argues sexual discourse, which was once a private dialogue, has been re-positioned in a public space, moving it from a private to a public discourse. Attwood (2004, p.15) supports this idea, arguing that ‘sexy images have become the currency of the day’. Not only has the sheer volume of sexual coverage increased dramatically, Scott (1985, p. 387) points out that there has also been a complete liberalisation of the treatment of sex within women’s magazines. Sexuality has replaced romance as the ideological focus – with a more pronounced emphasis on ‘strong, frank, and explicitly sexual representations’ (McRobbie, 1996, p.192). With sexuality replacing romance as the ideological focus of women’s magazines, Giddens (1992, p.1-2) argues sexuality has been released from the confines of a heterosexual, monogamous, procreative hegemony and has been replaced with ‘sexual pluralism’, a sexual identity defined and structured by individual choice. This individual choice and ‘sexual pluralism’ can be seen within the pages of women’s magazines as young women are actively encouraged to be ‘sexual actors, even predators’ in their search for sex (Gauntlett, 2002, p.206). Gauntlett (2002, p.97) supports Giddens arguments for a post-traditional society, referring to the increased levels of divorce and separation as individuals move from one relationship to another. Furthermore, Wouters (1998, p.208) argues there is now a ‘sexualisation of love and an eroticisation of sex’. With the liberalisation of women’s magazines in favour of a more sexually confident standpoint, debates surround the change in attitude and treatment towards men in favour of an objectified, sexist approach. Men, it has been argued, are no longer treated with respect ‘but could be seen as inadequate, or the butt of jokes’ (Gauntlett, 2002, p.53). As Wolf (1994) explains: Male sexuality, once cloaked in prohibitions that kept women from making comparisons, is under scrutiny, and the secrets of male virility are on display (p.24). After years of women complaining about the objectification of their bodies, the male body was ‘on display: cut up, close up and oh! so tastefully lit’ (Moore, 1988, p.45). As women’s magazines became more sexual, the availability of men’s bodies as sex objects became ‘central to this emergent discourse’ (Ticknell et al, 2003, p.54). Counter to the argument of women’s magazines as a stage for demeaning and objectifying men, is the admittance this it is something men’s magazines have been doing for decades, and since both sexes chooses to do so it probably doesn’t matter in sexism terms (Gauntlett, 2002, p.174). Women’s magazines also do not treat men as just bodies or ‘sex machines’ all the time; they are also presented as thoughtful, emotional beings (Gauntlett, 2002, p.188). Additionally, it could be argued that far from being an ‘emergent’ discourse, the male appearance has been available for the viewing pleasure of women for centuries. In the nineteenth century, a man’s physical appearance was taken as a sign of intelligence and morality, and women were invited to view men’s bodies as a sign of their superiority and harmony (Stern, 2003, p.220). Despite evidence to suggest it is not a valid criticism that women’s magazines objectify men; the viewing of men’s bodies in today’s society is done so in a mainstream context, using mechanisms historically associated purely with men and how they look at women, signalling that, for the first time, ‘erotic spectacles had crossed gender boundaries’ (Moore, 1988, p. 47). Laura Mulvey, in her essay ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’ (1975), first introduced the idea of the ‘male gaze’; Mulvey argued that mainstream Hollywood cinema primarily sets out to satisfy the unconscious desires of men. She argued that male characters do most of the looking within films, making them the (active) subjects, and female characters are looked at, making them the (passive) objects. Male spectators identify with the male protagonist, and female spectators, Mulvey says, are also compelled to take the viewpoint of the central male character, denying women of their own perspective. A temporary masculinisation is the only way Mulvey can offer pleasure for the women viewer. And while the male hero in the film cannot be viewed as a sexual object, ‘according to the principles of the ruling ideology’, he can be admired by men narcissistically as an ideal version of the self (1975, p.14). Perhaps the biggest problem with Mulvey’s argument is the denial of a female gaze (Gauntlett, 2002, p.39). As Moore points out, To suggest that women actually look at men’s bodies is apparently to stumble into a theoretical minefield which holds sacred the idea that in the dominant media the look is always already structured as male. (Moore, 1988, p.45). Support for Mulvey’s masculinised female viewing is found in Krassas et al’s (2001) comparative study of gender roles in Cosmopolitan and Playboy. The study concluded that both magazines reflected the male gaze, regardless of audience, because both portrayed women as sex objects and the main concept within both was the idea of women attracting and sexually satisfying men. Additionally, if gaze behaviour is characterised by the viewing of a passive object, Schauer (2005, p.57) argues men are often pictured in traditional roles with power tools, hammers, army uniforms and so on, to show a engagement in an activity as a ‘strategy to offset the passivity of being looked at’. If this is the case, Mulvey’s framework of the gaze cannot be applied to women. However, since their earliest days, movies have included and celebrated attractive men whose sexual magnetism has no doubt drawn women into cinemas (Gauntlett, 2002, p.39). Since Mulvey’s argument, various writers have argued for the inclusion of the female spectator within the framework of the gaze and Gauntlett describes Mulvey’s argument as ‘untenable’ (2002, p.39). Van Zoonen (1994, p.97) argues Mulvey’s analysis of patriarchal cinema is ‘dark and suffocating’, which has lost ground to an alternative ‘more confident and empowering’ approach to female spectatorship that allows a ‘subversive’ way of viewing the texts. Moore (1988, p.59) also makes the case for a female gaze, arguing that it does not simply replicate a ‘monolithic and masculinised stare, but instead involves a whole variety of looks and glances – an interplay of possibilities.’ Attwood (2004, p.15) argues that in today’s society, objectification is a necessary precondiction for erotic gazing in a narcissistic culture ‘where the body is widely represented as an object for display’. In this climate, there is a ‘strong encouragement for a female gaze and the creation of a space for male narcissism’ (MacKinnon, 1997, p.190). Therefore, securing the gaze of others connotes ‘desirability and self-importance for both women and men’ (Attwood, 2004, p.15). It could be argued therefore, that women’s magazines may provide a stage for the objectification of men which in a ‘narcissistic culture’ is both inevitable and desirable. The following study is concerned with whether there is evidence of a female gaze within women’s magazines that fits within Mulvey’s framework of gaze. Thus, whether men are actively viewed by women as passive objects. Furthermore, Mulvey points out that the appearance of women are often coded for strong visual and erotic impact, so that they can be said to connote ‘to-be-looked-at-ness’ (1989, p.10). This element will be analysed in the examination of the images of men within the three chosen magazines to discover if men display the same visual codes and therefore imply they are receiving a female gaze. The growing preoccupation with sex and male bodies within women’s magazines has come under much debate by theorists, with one of the most passionately critical arguing they are morally reprehensible, offering ‘a depressing portrait of the modern British woman’ (Anderrson and Mosbacher, 1997, p.18). Women were described as dishonest and crude, with ‘no moral standard at all’ (p.56). Women can be, once corrupted, both more disgusting and degraded than men. As Shakespeare said, ‘Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds’. (Burrows in Anderrson and Mosbacher, 1997, p.57) Despite the passionate and dramatic way the report denounced the content of women’s magazines and their sexual content, the arguments put forward were branded as outdated and rigid, with the overwhelming consensus agreeing that the liberalisation and sexualisation of magazines were, although not perfect, a good and liberating thing nonetheless. Magazines borrow from feminist discourse, which imply to their readership a genuine commitment to the equality of men and women in their sexual worth (Tyler, 2004, p.96). The depictions of female sexuality are an empowered one, as there are representations of young women as sexually active and independent with the right to desire sex and receive sexual pleasure. The magazines can therefore be seen as sexually liberating and offering an image of sexual agency for women (Farvid and Braun, 2006, p.299). The main elements and issues covered by women’s magazines all figure ‘high in the feminist agenda’, and confirm that women’s magazines strive to provide an image of equality (McRobbie, 1999, p.57). Others argue however, that regardless of the emergent sexual discourse which implies women’s magazines provide a feminist message for readers; the obsession with men in the magazine’s reinforce an earlier notion that believes men are the route to happiness, and in reinforcing this attitude, they are legitimising and naturalising patriarchal domination (Farvid and Braun, 2006, p.296). The ideological underpinnings conform to rigid and traditional norms. These constructions position women as objects of male desire and underscore women’s subordinate position in contemporary society’ (Durham, 1995, p.18). Furthermore, it has been argued that women’s magazines use sex as a faà §ade to represent women as dangerous and daring through sex when in fact, the sexual acts represented are only ‘mildly transgressive’, and are actually based on traditional gender roles (Machin and Thornborrow, 2003, p.455). The theory of women’s magazines presenting traditional and stereotypical gender roles in the subtle undertones of the magazine’s, mirrors the opinion theorists felt about women’s magazine’s in the 1940s and 1950s; that they projected the image of a ‘simpering housewife’. Admittedly the appropriate roles for men and women were referred to more explicitly in those times, however it still implies that both present essentially the same message: that men are the route to happiness (Klassen et al, 1993). Goffman’s (1979) study into gender stereotypes within advertisements commented on how different poses portray messages about masculinity and femininity. He found that ‘women were often portrayed in very stereotypical ways, such as in submissive or family roles and in lower physical and social positions than men’ (Baker, 2005, p.14). A number of theorists adopted his methods for analysing magazine images, all of which supported his findings that gender is stereotyped within images; with women portrayed as submissive and passive, and men as dominant and superior (Kang, 1997; Klassen et al, 1993; Krassas et al, 2001; Vigorito and Curry, 1998). Similarly, Kim and Ward (2004, p.48-49) argue that women’s magazines skew the portrayal of males and females to their target audience so that editors, writers and advertisers can take advantage of gender myths and fears. In contrast to this traditional view of gender is McRobbie’s (1999, p.50) argument that it is wrongly assumed the ideology of the magazine’s will be absorbed in a direct way by readers. Hermes (1995, p.148) supports this argument suggesting that readers only connect with part of what a magazine is saying, and cultural studies makes the mistake of assuming that ‘texts are always significant’. Additionally Gauntlett (2002, p.207) points out that the encouragement of women to be active in their search for sex is a rejection ‘of passive femininity’, and ‘is feminist progress’. He adds that while women’s magazines may have a large proportion of content concerned with finding the right man, women are aggressively seeking out partners rather than waiting for a ‘nice husband to come along’ (p.191). He therefore rejects the idea of women being presented as passive, subservient beings which is a traditional notion of femininity. The presence of men as objects to be viewed by women is in itself also a way in which traditional gender ideologies is subverted within the magazines. This approach to men is traditionally only associated with the way men have treated women (Gauntlett, 1999, p.188). Though there are convincing arguments for both sides of the argument; that women’s magazines either present a feminist message, or a traditional ideological message, most scholars agree women’s magazines ‘do not construct a single mythic meaning of feminine identity, or present one ideological position for their readers. Instead, the discourses of women’s magazines are mixed, somewhat contradictory’ (Bignell, 1997, p.56-57). The oppositional arguments surrounding the extent to which gender is presented within women’s magazines leads McRobbie (1994, p.163) to believe there are ‘spaces for negotiation’ within women’s magazines, and that they bring ‘half a feminist message’ to women that would not otherwise receive it. In support of this, Hollows (2000, p.195) argues the feminist messages that are within women’s magazines produce spaces ‘where meanings can be contested, with results that might not be free of contradictions, but which do signify shifts in regimes of representation.’ Within the following study I wish to identify to what extent gender is portrayed as stereotypical and traditional, and how this is negotiated within the ‘emergent’ sexual discourse of the magazine’s, specifically in the objectification of men. Alongside this aim, I also wish to identify whether there is evidence of a female gaze in which men are presented in a way that implies they will receive an active sexual objectifying gaze.

Free College Essays - Devon as a Microcosm in Knowles A Separate Peace

  Devon as a Microcosm to the Outside World in A Separate Peace  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Welcome to a small school called Devon during the summer of 1942.   At the beginning of the second World War, Devon is a quiet place with close friends and great memories, until one event brings the entire school into itÕs own war.   With the star athlete having his leg Ã’accidentallyÓ broken by his best friend, Devon turns against itself into a war zone where nobody is safe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It all began with a childish game of jumping out of a tree into a river, a test of guts and will.   All fun and games until that summer day when the star athlete is ready to jump out while his best friend follows him up the tree to jump next.   The branch is shaken slightly, and suddenly the schoolÕs top athlete is lying on the ground with a broken leg.   This event seems so small and feeble, but it will soon not only tear a friendship apart, but the whole school, as well.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  &nbs...

Appropriation of Romeo and Juliet

Discuss the appropriation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare and ‘Romeo+Juliet’ by Baz Luhrmann Texts and ideas from texts are appropriated and transformed into other text forms and other compositions in a different context. An appropriation is a text that is appropriated or taken over by another composer and presented in a new way. Romeo and Juliet’ is a well-known high culture text that is a tragedy about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. In the 1997 film, Baz Luhrmann has taken what is valued about the original play of ‘Romeo and Juliet’; the themes, evocative language and poetry, the timeless storyline and humour, and has placed it in a context which is accessible and appealing to a modern audience.This essay will demonstrate how and why Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ has been appropriated and valued for modern audiences in relation to: variations in the reactions to the text over time, differences and similarities between language, settings, prologue and chorus, themes, characterisation, techniques, values and contexts, as well as different readings of the play and other appropriations. Shakespeare’s time was an age of great change, as the old ways were being questioned, and more than any other Renaissance figure, Shakespeare exposed an ability to use the past and shape it for his own dramatic needs.As a result of this, his ideas and storyline in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ were being questioned. The earliest registered critic of the play was diarist Samuel Pepys who, in 1662 wrote: â€Å"it is a play of itself the worst that I ever heard in my life†. Ten years later, the poet John Dryden wrote â€Å"Shakespeare show’d the best of his skill in his Mercutio†, praising the play and its comic character Mercutio. In the mid-18th century, writer Charles Gildon and philosopher Lord Kames argued that the p lay was a failure in that it did not follow the classical conventions of drama.However, writer and critic Samuel Johnson thought it to be one of Shakespeare’s â€Å"most pleasing† plays. It is evident that â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† has received mixed reactions, but also gained value by responders as the context has changed over the years. In ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Shakespeare applied two specific aspects of life in Renaissance Italy to create the complication of his play. The first was the history of bloody interfamily disagreements that degraded Italian cities uring the Renaissance era, and the second was the fashionable approach to love, based on the poetry of Petrarch (1304-1374, an Italian poet who wrote about love). However, Shakespeare does not simply adopt and recount history; instead he modified the civil wars of the period into a minor war; a family feud that takes place in a stable state. Also, he contrasted the fiction act of the Petrarchan lo ver with the experience of a young man who is truly in love (Romeo). Baz Luhrmann approaches his new version of ‘Romeo+Juliet’ with the same intent.He entertains contemporary viewers by using modern ideas to convey the values embodied in the play and the impossible love, hate and sorrow that are the essence of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Introducing these same ideas in a different context has proven the value of Shakespeares’ storyline and the importance of the morals associated with it. An aspect of Shakespeare’s play and Luhrmann’s film that varies is the setting. The play is set in the 16th century in Verona, whilst Baz Luhrmann’s film takes place on Verona Beach, 20th century times, resembling Los Angeles.The setting of the film is a striking contrast to the Elizabethan England of William Shakespeare; hence the attitudes expressed in the film vary from those conveyed in the play. This also contributes in articulating the contemporary at titude to religion, violence, duty, etc and how it has significantly changed from those of 16th century England. A major feature that Luhrmann has maintained in his film is the original Shakespearean language that characterises the play.Although the meaning of particular sentences has been changed, other parts have been emphasised. An example is Mercutio’s speech at Sycamore grove, the dialogue is very similar, â€Å"Her wagoner [Queen Mab], a small grey-coated gnat†¦ And in this state she gallops night by night† and this has been reiterated by close up shots of Mercutio’s face, showing his emotions. Also the famous line; â€Å"O Romeo, Romeo! – wherefore art thou Romeo? † is from the original play and has been reinforced by an offer gaze from Juliet, showing her love for Romeo.This shows contemporary audiences Luhrmanns’ ability to capture the core of the tragedy through traditional Shakespearean text, and that even though the context has changed over the years, the language of Shakespeare is highly valued and pondered by the majority of people. In addition, a difference in the film by Baz Luhrmann, compared to the play by Shakespeare is the prologue and chorus. In Shakespeare’s original production, the chorus would have entered the Globe Theatre, and to gain the audiences’ attention, would yell â€Å"Two households, both alike in dignity† and the rest of his part.In Luhrmanns’ portrayal of the chorus, he instead uses close up shots of a television with an African American woman delivering a news report. Whereas Shakespeare’s audience were aurally dependent, modern audiences rely immensely on visual aspects of Luhrmanns’ ‘Romeo+Juliet’. The use of the television ‘caught’ the contemporary audiences’ eye and the African American woman represents the historically important legacy of the civil rights black movement, which is another aspect tha t appeals and relates to a modern audience.This shows that the variation in context has led to new values which Luhrmann has incorporated in his film, proving his appropriation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is much more superior to Shakespeare’s play for a contemporary audience. A vital component and similarity in Shakespeares’ play and Luhrmanns’ film are the themes. Baz Luhrmann has kept the same themes and ideas from the original play in his film which shows they are actually timeless and can impact on all audiences, no matter what age they are a part of. One of the key themes in the play and film is love.When Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, he forgets his former love Rosaline and falls genuinely in love with Juliet. She in turn responds to him with a love that is innocent and eager. Another important theme in the two texts is hate. Peace is destroyed by the hatred that the Montague’s and Capulet’s feel for each other and the causes o f this are not important, the results are. The love of Romeo and Juliet provides a strong contrast to the hate and are aspects of the play that do not have to be â€Å"modernised†.Hate and love can be interpreted as the duality of human life; hence even though the context of the film has differed from the play, these two themes remain to be just as relevant today as they were in Shakespeare’s time. Furthermore, Baz Luhrmann has taken a modern perspective on each character, giving them character traits that may have only been hinted at in Shakespeares’ play. An example is the different representations of Romeo’s first meeting with Juliet at the masked ball.In Shakespeares’ play, the use of language conventions such as sexual innuendo, as well as the line; â€Å"And palm to palm is the holy plamers’ kiss† portrays Juliet as either being a guarded character who is not interested in Romeo to an otherwise much more sexual and suggestive pe rsonality. On the other hand in the film, Juliet is conveyed as a flirtatious and completely exotic character. In the scene where she meets with Romeo, Luhrmann reinforces Juliet’s sensual eye movements, with close-up shots, as she gazes past the fish in the fish tank to lock with Romeo’s eyes.Shakespeare’s characterisation of Romeo and Juliet appealed to the late 16th century audience, however as times have changed, so has the context, and Luhrmann expresses his characterisation of the couple as a way of reaching out to his young and contemporary target audience. Additionally, it is vital to remember that in the 17th and 18th centuries, plays were enacted in theatres and Shakespeare’s audience came to the play with a significant level of aural exposure, whereas Luhrmanns’ film is more visually developed. Hence, a key variation in the two text types is the techniques used.Shakespeare has expressed his ability to use diverse language to appeal to hi s audience. An example is the balcony scene of Act II Scene II, when Romeo says; â€Å"It is my lady, O it is my love†, reinforced with hyperbole â€Å"two of the fairest stars in all the heaven†, exaggerating the view of Juliets’ sparkling eyes. Another example is Shakespeares’ use of puns and bawdy or sexual jokes, which can be seen in Act I Scene IV, when Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio discuss going to the Capulet’s party; â€Å"A torch for me! Let wantons light of heart, Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels. (Romeo jokes about the ladies at the Capulet party being immoral when they are actually respectable). An additional language feature evident is the use of similes; â€Å"It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear†. Romeo says this line to describe Juliet when he first sees her. The Elizabethan culture understood the puns, the sexual jokes, as well as the language that is found so anc ient and old in the 20th century. All these language conventions prove that Shakespeare wrote ‘Romeo and Juliet’ to entertain his audience, writing within the context of his culture.On the other hand, Baz Luhrmann has adopted a style very much of his own in creating the film ‘Romeo+Juliet’. To appeal to a contemporary audience, Luhrmann has used multiple visual techniques. One example is the use of costumes, at the Capulet ball Tybalt was dressed as a devil. This shows his evil and violent personality, representing the theme of violence and hatred. Camera work is another technique used effectively; an example is in the final scene when alternating close ups of Romeo and Juliets’ fingers moving are shown, which creates dramatic irony as we see Juliet waking up just as Romeo prepares to kill himself.Luhrmann also uses playful humour which can be seen when Romeo stumbles over to reach Juliet, appealing to his young audience. In addition Latin and punk m usic, a children’s choir and a production number is used in the film to create a blissful and contemporary atmosphere. It is evident, throughout the use of modern technology and visual techniques, Luhrmann has successfully made his appropriation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ much more superior to Shakespeare’s play, for a modern audience. Moreover, a variation in values between the play and film is The Wheel of Fortune and religion.During Shakespeare’s time, it was widely believed that fate and/or fortune was the main controlling force in life. Just as a part of a wheel moves from a low to a high position or from high to low, so does a man’s life. Hence, Shakespeare used this value to portray the idea of as to what extent fate and to what extent human foolishness and error, contributed to the final tragedy. On the other hand, Luhrmann takes what implications of religion there are in the play and makes them a key visual focus in his film.Romeo and Jul iet have a relationship that is based around the church, and there is usually a cross or other religious symbol in the scenes in which they appear, encouraging the story to be viewed in a Christian context. Luhrmann uses his Christ imagery as a way to show contemporary audiences that the young lovers play a Christ-like role in their families – sacrificing themselves for the final peace between their families. Because of the lover’s sacrifice, Verona has hope for life, just as Christians in the world have hope for life because of their Saviour (God).Hence, Luhrmanns’ ‘Romeo+Juliet’ conveys the values of its original context whilst relating to his modern audience by depicting current social issues which make it more relevant and comprehensible to the audience. Furthermore, as the context of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by Shakespeare has changed, so has peoples’ interpretations of the play. Early psychoanalytic critics saw the complication o f ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in terms of Romeo’s overconfidence developing from â€Å"ill-controlled, partially disguised aggression†, which led to Mercutio’s death and the lovers suicide.In the late 1900’s, critics such as Julia Kristeva focused on the hatred between the Capulets and Montagues, arguing that this hatred caused Romeo and Juliet’s passion for each other. Juliet for example, speaks of â€Å"my only love sprung from my only hate† and usually articulates her love through an anticipation of Romeo’s death. Feminist literary critics debate that the blame for the family feud lies in Verona’s patriarchal society. For example, Coppelia Kahn, a feminist critic believes the firm, manlike code of violence implied on Romeo, is the main force driving the tragedy to its end.In this view, the teenagers â€Å"become men† by involving themselves in violence on behalf of their fathers. Juliet also obeys a female code of purity and obedience and she demonstrates this by allowing others, such as the Friar to solve her problems for her. This shows that ‘Romeo and Juliet’ has had many different readings over the years and critics’ values, professions and cultures can have a major influence on their interpretations. In addition, Luhrmanns’ ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is not the only appropriation of Shakespeares’ play. The play has been adapted numerous times for stage, film, musical and opera.David Garrick’s 18th century version modified many scenes, removing material then thought of as offensive, and Georg Benda’s adaption excluded much of the action and added a happy ending. Performances in the 19th century, such as Charlotte Cushman’s, updated the original text, and centred on greater realism. In 1935, John Gielgud’s version reinforced the Elizabethan culture and costumes, and kept very close to Shakespeare’s text. In the 20th century, the play has been diversely adapted, including the 1950’s musical ‘West Side Story’ and the 1996’s MTV-inspired ‘Romeo and Juliet’.It is evident that Shakespeares play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ has a timeless storyline as well as powerful themes and language, and has been appropriated multiple times as the text is highly valued. In conclusion, it is now clear that William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is highly valued and Baz Luhrmann has taken what is valued about the original play; the themes, evocative language and poetry, the timeless storyline and humour, and has placed it in a context which is accessible and appealing to a contemporary audience.The variations in the reactions to the text over time, differences and similarities between language, settings, prologue and chorus, themes, characterisation, techniques, values and contexts, as well as different readings of the play and other appropriations has shown how and why the text has been appropriated and remains immensely valued. It is through appropriations like Luhrmann’s, which have continually rekindled the fire to enable the original storyline of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ to be perceived by an ever changing audience.