Using either Peter Pan or Elidor, examine the relationship between the Essay

Using either Peter Pan or Elidor, examine the relationship between the real world and the fantasy world - Essay Example f a kind†, and although readers find themselves somewhat confused in drawing a straight line between reality and fantasy, â€Å"there are kinds of writing in which absolute clarity is not a virtue, when for instance, the author has to evoke a mood, to suggest feelings of which his characters are scarcely aware themselves†, and â€Å"clarity appeals to the intellect, but the emotions are often more deeply stirred by something less sharply comprehended†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Mincoff, Marco, â€Å"The Study of Style†, p.10, 13). Many distinguished authors, essayists, critics have written about Peter Pan and the â€Å"Neverland† beginning their works with the famous opening sentence â€Å"All children, except one, grow up†. Many of them use a scientific psychological approach and argue about the Freudian Oedipus complex in the main character, which actually falls into â€Å"the third common area of psychological criticism, that is, the analysis of fictional characters† (â€Å"Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama†, Kennedy, X.J. and Gioia, Dana, p.1398). Hereby, I would try to give my own understanding of the novel and leave scientific arguments to more adequate people for such a difficult task. Before I go into some deeper analysis of the novel itself, let me say that I agree with most of the opinions that we (the people) really wish at one time or another to remain children forever and never grow up, because everyone knows growing up brings too many problems along. A minor proof of this can be found in Goceva-Zdravkovska’s short poems about passage of time: It is obvious that in the three years period between these two short poems, the poet had grown up, and didn’t like it. Many people feel this way, and so did Peter Pan. However, his creator J. M Barrie knowing the boy wanted to remain a boy forever created the â€Å"Neverland† for him as well, and Peter never grew up. Speaking of Peter Pan’s creation and J. M. Barrie, it must be said that the author got the

Key Skill Essay Example for Free

Key Skill Essay Ensure your work is accurate and clear and is saved appropriately  You need to have achieved Key Skills 9 and 10. In addition your teacher needs to have verified that the work is both accurate and clear. This means they need to have supplied a written statement saying that the work is accurate. They cannot do this is there are any mistakes so check the work clearly. Advantages and Disadvantages of using ICT for this task  Demonstrate knowledge of how IT can help you in your work and be able to compare your use of IT with other methods  You need to write about how IT helped you to produce your presentation. This might include spell-check making sure that the words were spelt correctly, or the use of cut and paste to move objects around the page to try out different layouts.  The second part of this Key Skill needs you to write about how else you might have done this presentation. You need to compare creating computer generated presentation with another method maybe using a pen and pencil. The advantages and disadvantages of using IT  You need to list at least two advantages and two disadvantage of using IT to write the story. Example You might have used a pen and paper. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a pen and paper to write the story against using a computer?  You must make sure that you have covered both the advantages and the disadvantages. Example  Disadvantages might include cost of hardware software and peripherals or time spent learning how to use the programs needed to search, find and use information  The Importance of Copyright and Confidentiality  When it is necessary to observe copyright or confidentiality  You need to write a few lines about copyright what it is and how it affects you and the pictures you have found on the internet and CD/Clipart. You can present screen shots from the site showing copyright information or copies of emails sent and receiving permission to use graphics, text and photographs You can write about confidentiality what it is and how it does/does not affect you. You could refer to the lack of personal information and the fact that the Data Protection Act (1998) does not affect you.  Example  You have not used pictures of yourself or other young people which could identify them  Error Handling and Virus Protection  How to identify errors and their causes You will need to show, using screenshots, of errors and how to solve them. This can show the use of the office assistant, or searching for a web page that returns a not known error. It could be a picture of the spell check identifying a spelling error. How to minimise risks from viruses  You will need to provide a description of how to avoid getting viruses from floppy disks or from Internet downloads, including the purpose and use of virus checkers and how they prevent and remove a virus.  A couple of paragraphs are all that is required. Health and Safety Matters Work safely and take care of equipment, avoid losing information and know how to get help when dealing with errors  You will need to write a paragraph about:  Taking care of equipment e.g. storage of disks:  You must not put your disks near a magnet as this will delete the content, not throwing them around  Avoiding loss of information e.g. use of AutoSave or backup. Saving information onto disks as well as the account at school  Obtaining help e.g. on-line help, telephone support or teacher assistance.   I could not work out how to adjust the margins so I used the online help (screenshots here)  You need to show (through screenshots) that you have backed up your files. How to work safely and minimise health risks  You need to write a short paragraph about two health and two safety risks involved in using computers.  You may write about the use of anti-glare screens and taking a break from using the computer to rest your eyes or wrists. You may write about repetitive strain injuries from not having the correct keyboard and backache from not having the correct chair. Think about the rules in your computer room not drinking in a computer room, trailing cables or bags in the aisle.

Justice in Platos Republic :: Papers Justice Plato Republic Essays

Justice in Plato's Republic Justice. What is justice? In this world where many people look out only for themselves, justice can be considered the happiness of oneself. But because selfish men do not always decide our standards in society, to find a definition, society should look at the opinions of many. Just as in the modern society to which we live, where everyone feels justice has a different meaning, the society of Plato also struggled with the same problem. In this paper, I will look into the Republic, one of the books of Plato that resides heavily on defining an answer to the meaning of Justice, and try to find an absolute definition. I will also give my opinion on what I personally think justice is. During the time Socrates and his fellow citizens spent looking for a definition, they came across many different examples. Well-known Athenians, such as Polemarchus, bring out their own definitions of what justice is, with examples like Justice is "Doing the right thing, or "Giving everyone his due." But soon after these definitions on justice were given, they were shot down by the quick wits of Socrates. Throughout the books of The Republic, I enjoyed reading the many ways that Plato picked apart the flaws in examples by others. It seems that Plato could find flaws without spending much time actually examining the definition. Friends and men of Athens had to restate and restructure their definitions time in and time out during the search for the meaning of Justice. Without the skill that Plato possessed in examining faults in definitions, one can quickly assume that a faulty definition works to be true. I did this many times while reading through different definitions. For example, the definition Polemarchus gives in section two of book one, saying that justice is giving everyone what is "appropriate" to him. To me, an example like this would fit as a definition, because without much examination, it works well for most situations. For example, if a man is good, then an appropriate return for his goodness is to be good back to him. But if a man acts in a bad or troublesome way, an equally bad punishment is needed to counter his actions. I see this fitting, but Socrates of course easily found a flaw, finding this definition useless if followed, because of there not being a person best at benefiting friends and harming enemies.

Coco avant Chanel :: Coco avant Chanel

Coco avant Chanel est un film franà §ais rà ©alisà © par Anne Fontaine, qui est sorti au cinà ©ma le 22 avril 2009 en France. Anne Fontaine est une rà ©alisatrice, actrice et scà ©nariste franà §aise nà ©e au Luxembourg et a connu beaucoup de succà ¨s avec ce film. Audrey Tautou, la merveilleuse actrice franà §aise tient le rà ´le de Coco Chanel. Coco avant Chanel est un film biographique et romantique, qui s’intà ©resse aux annà ©es de formation de la grande couturià ¨re Coco Chanel. Ce film a bien à ©tà © reà §u par les critiques et a connu un immense succà ¨s auprà ¨s du public. Mondialement, ce film a gà ©nà ©rà © des recettes de plus de 43 millions de dollars. Cette Å“uvre a à ©tà © sà ©lectionnà ©e pour quatre nominations au BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts), trois nominations du Cinà ©ma Europà ©en, six nominations de Cà ©sar, et l’Oscar des meilleurs costumes. Ce film biographique raconte la vie de Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, la conceptrice de mode, modiste et grande couturià ¨re franà §aise cà ©là ¨bre pour ses pià ¨ces de và ªtements de haute couture. Gabrielle Chanel est issue d’un milieu modeste. Sa personnalità © hors du commun, son assurance et sa franchise ont fait d’elle, une personne charismatique. Chanel et sa sÅ“ur, Adrienne, ont à ©tà © abandonnà ©es par leur pà ¨re quand elles à ©taient jeunes et elles ont grandi dans un orphelinat. Gabrielle attendait tous les dimanches que son pà ¨re vienne les chercher dans l’orphelinat. Quelques annà ©es plus tard, elles dà ©butent comme couturià ¨res et chanteuses dans un cabaret majoritairement frà ©quentà © par la classe ouvrià ¨re de l’à ©poque. Gabrielle est surnommà ©e  « Coco  » à   cause de chansons qu’elle chante tous les soirs avec sa sÅ“ur. Lorsque sa sÅ“ur lui informe qu’elle va se dà ©mà ©nager à   Paris pour à ©pouser son baron, Gabrielle dà ©cide à   son tour qu’elle a besoin d’un nouveau paramà ¨tre dans sa vie. Elle rend visite à   son ami Baron Balson (Benoà ®t Poelvoorde), un riche proprià ©taire de chevaux de course, qui vit dans la banlieue de Paris. Baron Balson lui permet d’entrer dans la haute socià ©tà © franà §aise. Tranquillement, Gabrielle commence à   s’intà ©resser davantage à   la mode. Elle conà §oit des chapeaux et des và ªtements pour la femme moderne, avec l’idà ©ologie minimaliste que la simplicità © est mieux. Pendant son sà ©jour avec le Baron Balson, Gabrielle rencontre et tombe en amour avec Boy Capel (Alessandro Nivola), un homme d’affaires anglais. Elle ne savait pas qu’il à ©tait sur le point de marier une femme de la haute hià ©rarchie anglaise, mais les deux amoureux s’engagent tout de mà ªme à   se planifier des visites rà ©gulià ¨res.

Percy Julian

pj Mike Reszkowski Percy Julian Percy Julian, the forgotten genius, was one of the greatest chemists in the United States. He became a very successful and wealthy person despite his poor family and childhood. His discoveries and works are huge contributions to American lives even still today. His ability to overcome difficulties and work hard in the toughest situations is what makes him a person we should all aspire to be. Julian was one of very few African American chemists, which made it even harder for him to succeed.Born in Montgomery, Alabama on April 11th, 1899, race negatively affected him every step of the way. As a young adult he had to attend high school at night while in college to keep up with his white classmates because public high school wasn’t available for blacks at the time. After graduating from DePauw University he tried desperately to find a job professing or in a chemistry lab but was constantly refused because of his skin color. Finally his luck started to change. After professing at an all black college, he landed a job in a small, underprivileged laboratory at DePauw.From here, the lost list of accomplishments begins. What really kick started his career as a chemist was his work at DePauw. There he synthesized Physostigmine, a drug still used to treat glaucoma, skin and kidney disease, and leukemia. But the school wouldn’t offer him a professing job because of his race. Next, his work was continued at Glidden Paint factory, Here him and his research crew began studies on the soybean plant. His quick discoveries improving paint for the company were soon overcome by his ambition to achieve greater so he began that research on his own time.Still fascinated with the soy bean plant he further studied into the uses of it and made an even more important discovery, the protein extracted from the soy bean plant could be used to make hormones for the body. Such uses include the drug to prevent miscarriages, a major issue in at the t ime. Of his next achievements were discovering an easier and more efficient way to synthesize cortisone using yam which was used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, a crippling disease that many people suffer from. These were made at his own laboratory which later he sold and became one of the first black millionaires in the U.S. The list can go on for a long time, but that’s not the point. The point is that he worked up from nothing and struggled through the racism of America. He continued on when the world around him said to quit, and he wasn’t good enough. His diligence and determination is the two things that made him successful, and two things all of us should have in us. They are the two things necessary to succeed, the hard work has to be put in and you have refuse to quit. This is why Percy Julian did all that he did, and it’s why he became one of the most famous and successful chemists of our time.

The Colour Purple Essays

The Colour Purple Essays The Colour Purple Essay The Colour Purple Essay Essay Topic: Woman of Colour Novel From reading the novel it could be said that the first half is concentrated on how men hold the power over women. This view is supported by Stuart who highlights the exploitation of black women by black men. However I do not agree with this view. I dont think the focus is jus on gender itself although it does play a part, but I think their sex and colour was also brought up. During the novel we see that males dominated females and white families were classed as more important than black families. This was caused by the time in which the novel was set in, slavery had been abolished however it was still in peoples minds and we see it still carried on in some areas of the novel. One example of this is when Alphonso is almost selling Celie. He barters by adding a cow to the deal and points out her positive sides, she aint no stranger to hard work, and she clean. Celie has the power to move on and almost start life again, partly through gaining financial power. This is portrayed to us when Celie leaves with Shug and sets up her own business making pants for women, which had only started as a hobby. However Celie made it work for her, she started making money and became independent as she was making her own money now. I am as Mary O Connor quoted an extract by Gates, Celie writes herself into being. This shows a change amongst Celie showing she believes in herself whereas before at the beginning of the novel she crossed I am out and replaced it with I have. Celie making trousers may have given here this power because they are often looked at as a symbol of freedom for women. Within the context of the time period in the novel, women wearing trousers would have been looked upon as rebellious which itself gives that person a form of power. This however was not true for Albert; after Celie left him he became a mess. He locked himself in the house and Harpo had to go and get him out. Albert, probably shocked that Celie had actually left him later became a changed man who Celie began to like as he was into all kinds of new things like nature. We also find Albert used to sew with his mother, something Celie and Albert now have in common. He says people used to laugh at him and Celie said, well, nobody gon laugh at you now here help me stitch in these pockets. We now see that Albert has started to respect Celie and doesnt just look at her as his own property, took me long enough to notice you such good company. Mary OConner says that Alphonsos exhortation towards Celie at the beginning of the novel gave her a way out. He threatens Celie that she cannot tell anyone what he had done to her apart from god. He tells her she can tell god but no one else or he will kill her mother, you better not never tell nobody but god. Itd kill your mammy. Through the threat from Alphonso, Celie may feel he has power not only over her but also over her loved ones as her mothers life is at risk, as shown by O Connor speaking would be an act of murder, a matricide. By giving Celie the right to write to god he had given her a way out and saved her from becoming insane or mentally ill. Although she cannot tell another person, she has someone to confide in and to share her problems with. The threat from Alphonso supports Stuarts perception that men are mostly troublesome, sometimes cruel. Alphonso here has shown a psychological strength because by threatening her, hes forced her into not speaking to other people about any of her problems and teaching her to keep all her problems to herself. However he is not aware that Celie writing to god allows her to offload and share her problems with someone other than herself. O Connor says that Celies existence to be denied this explains that in her rape experience and also in the fact that she has a lack of voice she is therefore not able to share her bad experience with anyone. However I think she is able to express her feelings through writing so is therefore giving herself a voice and existence which goes against what O Connor states. Walker shows Alphonsos psychological power over Celie in the beginning of her writing letters. Celie crossed out I am. This is almost as if she is crossing herself out. She changes it to, I have always been a good girl. It seems that Celie is taking the blame for what Alphonso has done to her. This is the first time we see an authority figure abuse Celie which reinforces male dominance in her life. The rape not only shows physical power strength and power but also emotional authority, due to Celies naivety, for his own pleasure. Another time in the novel in which we see Alphonsos power over Celie is when he is trying to get rid of her by marrying her off. However its more like he is selling her as they barter, he even throws in a cow. This again relates back and shows how black females in this time period were still being treated as slaves. O Connor tells us her feminist analysis is interested in the voices, as its a male dominated conversation where Celie only gets in a few words on a highly important decision which can affect her whole life. Here Alphonso shows his total power over Celie and the fact that not only does he control her life now, but he also controls her future and how or who she will spend it with. The fact that she cannot decide herself who she wants to marry takes all control away from her. Throughout this Celies voice is absent, and even when its important decisions about her own life she still seems to have no voice. Religion to the lives of the people in the novel was not the sanctuary it might have been according to Mary OConner, Alphonso gave Celie one way out perhaps the result of some dialogical residue of his Christian culture. However Celie received a beating after church, cause he say I winked at a boy in church. The colour purple itself is a symbol of violence which runs throughout the novel as its the colour of bruises. However it can also portray authority as its the colour of royalty. Walker symbolises power through this quote, womanism is to feminism as purple is to lavender. This tells us Walker thinks womanism as a stronger form or feminism as the colour purple is brighter than lavender. Shug tells us that the colour purple is everywhere and that God has used this colour to portray beauty, I think it pisses God off if you walk pass the colour purple in a field somewhere and dont notice it. It can also be said that Gods love for this colour made black people in this complexion as in one of Netties first letters to Celie when she arrives in Africa she talks about the Senegalese peoples skin, So and so is blacker than black, hes blueblack. Celies getting married and it looks as if shes getting away from Albert and also from the abuse and suffering. However we find its going to be the same life for her its just a different set of males throwing and shouting abuse at her, The children be outside the room peeking through the cracks. It all I can do not to cry. I make myself wood. I say to myself, Celie, you a tree. Thats how come I know trees fear man. We can see how unhappy Celie really is, she explains she trys to make herself like wood so that they cannot affect or hurt her anymore. Another section of power in the novel is the physical domination of the women. Celie being a black woman is disadvantaged as not only is she looked upon as a slave but she is also dominated by the male authorities in the novel. She suffers at the hands of men. We can therefore argue that the emancipation proclamation of the post civil war era freed men but not the women because the male authority then saw the woman as their slave which is how Celie is treated by both Albert and Alphonso, we see this when Albert does not get off his horse to meet Celie but also speaks about her in third person, Hes still on his horse. He look me up and down. This shows us his power over her. Alphonso treats Celie like a slave. He shows no respect towards her, from this we can learn that men are not in Celies heart which is why I agree with what Andrea Stuart says, Rather like the weather, men are part of womens (usually) hostile environment, a perennial force to be dealt with daily, but not the centre of their emotional existence. Another male figure that dominates over Celie is Albert. The main and the most obvious way we can see Albert dominates is that Celie does not call him by his name, she calls him Mr. This gives us evidence Albert controls the relationship. This again links back to slavery as slaves would not call their master or owner by their first name. When Albert went to see Celie he did not get down from his horse showing more power due to the fact he is higher and therefore in a higher position than she is, He still on his horse. He look me up and down. Another view of Celie as a slave is the fact that no loving relationship exists, it seems like Celie is there to cook, clean, look after the kids and Alberts needs, so therefore he just uses her, Mr clam on top of me, do his business. She says do his business. From this we see its for Albert and that Celie is being used like a piece of meat and gets no pleasure out of it, He abuses her physically and verbally, humiliates her publicly, and is responsible for her decades-long separation from her much loved sister Nettie. Celie doesnt say anything she lets Albert get on with it, Mary OConnor says, Celies voice would seem to be absent from this account of male voices around her. I also agree with Mary O Connor at this point in the novel, I think Celie had lost her voice from the time Alphonso had told her to write to God but not to tell anyone. However later in The Colour Purple we find that Celie with help from Shug regains her voice, takes a stand and calls Albert by his name and threatens him. She later leaves with Shug and her full confidence back. Albert acts totally different in the two relationships he is in, with Celie he dominates and controls the relationship however in the relationship Albert and Shug share he is the opposite. Shug controls what happens and Albert does anything she tells him to. This also shows us the difference in character of Celie and Shug, Celie is easily controlled but Shug is a strong character. One critics view is some women wear pants; and some of the men wear dresses. Mary OConnor is telling us that in some relationships women can rule and have the men listening to what they say and do as they tell them, this is defiantly true for Shug. We also see that when Albert is with Celie he wears the pants but when hes with Shug he would appear to be wearing the dress. Another relationship where the woman dominates is between Sofia and Harpo. Sofia has total control over their relationship, she holds the power and it seems Harpo hates this. On the other hand it may not be that he hates it but the pressure from society forces him to act in certain ways. Tony Brown says, Love has been drained out by the brutality of a society panic-stricken over black masculinity. This gives us the idea that culture is the main reason for the need to hold power. Harpo is an example of this violence in society, for example when his mother was killed by her boyfriend in front of him. He associates being dominant as a way of asserting himself. He wants the power in the relationship because he has seen the way his father holds the power in his relationship with Celie. We know Harpo wants the power as Sofia tells us once he git on top me I think bout how thats where he always want to be. Harpo confides in Celie and asks what he should do, Celie tells Harpo to beat Sofia to gain control. This advice is surprising but coming from Celie can be understood because she has suffered abuse all her life and she is used to it. Its all she knows and therefore she believes its normal. Power and the placement of it is also shown in the African part of the novel and it is through these tribes we are able to compare Celie with the traditional African way of life. The Olinkas, one of the main tribes that are introduced to us, hold the power of life and death over their wives. The men are also looked upon as better than women in the tribe. The structure of power in that who holds it and who doesnt in the tribe is also shown in Celies life through her being raped and that fact she is not able to enjoy sex with her partner Albert, I know what he doing to me he done to Shug Avery and maybe she like it. The fact that she cannot enjoy it may be cause by Celies feelings and emotions towards males as she has been abused by them all her life. This is supported by Stuarts view that men are never the source of emotional sustenance or long term happiness for women. However this is does not seem true for Shug as she looks happy with her male partners, this may be because she always seems to have control over her relationships. In conclusion I can say that in the beginning of The Colour Purple it is the men who hold all the power, however as new characters are introduced it is slightly more balanced as Shug and Sofia speak there mind and stand up to any man. Also later Celie and Squeak both stand up for themselves, they take control of the situation but also take away the power from the men and hold it themselves. At the beginning of the novel Celie writes to God, she then starts writing to her sister Nettie, this shows a change in her and in the end all her hopes pay off as she breaks away from her abusing husband and lives with her family; her sister Nettie and her kids with Shug.

Free Essays on BlockBuster Strategy

Blockbuster Video With the growing usage and purchase of videos and VCRs, David Cook started Blockbuster. The industry at the time had many individual video rental stores, and the stores that existed were not very customer responsive. This fragmented market, had low entry barriers for starting a video store. Blockbuster realized the growing demand in videos, and as a result Cook started a video superstore based on: giving a unique identity to customers, a wide variety of tapes, a longer rental time, targeting the largest market segments, and longer more convenient hours. These concepts promoted Blockbusters differentiation in the industry, offering a better valued service to the customers. Soon Blockbuster franchised, opening stores in the most populated areas to ensure a higher return on investment. In addition, Blockbuster uses horizontal mergers to consolidate their respective industries. As a result, Blockbuster creates an overall economy of scale. In addition, Blockbuster used a chaining strategy to obtain cost leadership. This is because through being interconnected they can function as one business entity offering lower prices and wider selections to customers. To make sure their growth would be sustainable, Blockbuster hired top managers with skills to grow retail chains. Blockbuster marketed their services on numerous television markets reaching 75 percent of the U.S population. As a result, Blockbuster was able to build brand recognition through convenience and family oriented video image. Blockbuster started to diversify realizing that the entertainment industry was changing. Blockbuster started to sell complimentary goods such as food products in addition to movies to increase sales. In addition, they started to rent video games to increase sales and appeal to the younger consumers. Also, buying Spelling Entertainment and creating horizontal mergers with Sound Warehouse and Music Plus in the entertainment industry, Bl... Free Essays on BlockBuster Strategy Free Essays on BlockBuster Strategy Blockbuster Video With the growing usage and purchase of videos and VCRs, David Cook started Blockbuster. The industry at the time had many individual video rental stores, and the stores that existed were not very customer responsive. This fragmented market, had low entry barriers for starting a video store. Blockbuster realized the growing demand in videos, and as a result Cook started a video superstore based on: giving a unique identity to customers, a wide variety of tapes, a longer rental time, targeting the largest market segments, and longer more convenient hours. These concepts promoted Blockbusters differentiation in the industry, offering a better valued service to the customers. Soon Blockbuster franchised, opening stores in the most populated areas to ensure a higher return on investment. In addition, Blockbuster uses horizontal mergers to consolidate their respective industries. As a result, Blockbuster creates an overall economy of scale. In addition, Blockbuster used a chaining strategy to obtain cost leadership. This is because through being interconnected they can function as one business entity offering lower prices and wider selections to customers. To make sure their growth would be sustainable, Blockbuster hired top managers with skills to grow retail chains. Blockbuster marketed their services on numerous television markets reaching 75 percent of the U.S population. As a result, Blockbuster was able to build brand recognition through convenience and family oriented video image. Blockbuster started to diversify realizing that the entertainment industry was changing. Blockbuster started to sell complimentary goods such as food products in addition to movies to increase sales. In addition, they started to rent video games to increase sales and appeal to the younger consumers. Also, buying Spelling Entertainment and creating horizontal mergers with Sound Warehouse and Music Plus in the entertainment industry, Bl...

How to Pronounce Shenzhen, One of Chinas Major Cities

How to Pronounce Shenzhen, One of China's Major Cities Since Shenzhen was designated the first Special Economic Zone and an experiment in market capitalism in China in 1980, it has appeared frequently in Western news media. Today, it has a population of around 10 million people, with about twice that many in the larger metropolitan area. Considering that the city had little more than 300,000 citizens in 1980, its one of the fastest growing cities on record, even though the growth has recently slowed down considerably. The city was chosen as a Special Economic Zone because of its proximity to Hong Kong. Shenzhen is written æ · ±Ã¥Å" ³ in Chinese, which means deep and ditch (between fields). Were going to provide a quick and dirty explanation of how to pronounce the name so you have a rough idea of how to say it, followed by a more detailed description, including analysis of common errors. The Easy Way to Learn to Pronounce  Shenzhen Most Chinese cities have names with two characters (and therefore two syllables). Heres a brief description of the sounds involved:   Shen - Pronounce sh in sheep plus an as in an appleZhen - Pronounce as j in jungle plus an as in an apple If you want to have a go at the tones, they are high, flat, and falling respectively. Note:  This pronunciation is  not  correct pronunciation in Mandarin. It is our best effort to write the pronunciation using English words. To really get it right, you need to learn some new sounds (see below). Pronouncing Names in Chinese Pronouncing  names in Chinese  can be very hard if you havent studied the language; sometimes, its hard even if you have. Many letters used to write the sounds in Mandarin (called  Hanyu Pinyin) dont match the sounds they describe in English, so simply trying to read a Chinese name and guess the pronunciation will lead to many mistakes. Ignoring or mispronouncing tones will just add to the confusion. These mistakes add up and often become so serious that a native speaker would fail to understand.   How to Actually Pronounce Shenzhen If you study Mandarin, you should never ever rely on English approximations like those above. Those are meant for people who dont intend to learn the language! You have to understand the orthography (i.e., how the letters relate to the sounds). There are many  traps and pitfalls in Pinyin  you have to be familiar with. Now, lets look at the two syllables in more detail, including common learner errors: ShÄ“n (first tone): The initial is a retroflex, unaspirated, fricative. What does that mean? It means that it should feel like the tongue is slightly curled backwards as when saying right, and then pronounce a hissing sound (such as when urging someone to be quiet with Shhh!) This is close to sh in sheep, but the tongue tip is farther back. The final is reasonably easy to get right and sounds close to the short description above (an in an apple).Zhà ¨n  (fourth tone): This syllable is fairly easy to get right if you get the shen right. The only difference between the two is that zhen has a small stop in front of the hissing sound; you can think about it as a small and rather soft t. This type of sound is called an affricate, a combination between a stop and a fricative. The final part is pronounced the same as in shen. The are some variations for these sounds, but ShÄ“nzhà ¨n (æ · ±Ã¥Å" ³) can be written like this in IPA: [Ê‚É™n tÊ‚É™n] Conclusion Now you know how to pronounce ShÄ“nzhà ¨n (æ · ±Ã¥Å" ³). Did you find it hard? If you’re learning Mandarin, dont worry, there arent that many sounds. Once you learn the most common ones, learning to pronounce words (and names) will become much easier!

Mental Health Assessment and Management Case Study

Mental Health Assessment and Management - Case Study Example Depression will also always affect one’s thoughts. The person will tend to think negatively about the world, family, self and their future. They will think of life being hopeless, they will think of themselves being useless and even think of taking their life (Roy, 2005; Lam, 2012). A depressed person will also either eat too much or not enough. Might have trouble sleeping or oversleep due to extreme tiredness. In the end, depression can affect one’s life, to a point that it results in serious problems with one’s family, at school, job and with friends (Roy, 2005; Lam, 2012). Mrs. Johnson is suffering from depression. She recently lost her job, which may be a sign of depression being the cause of losing the job. She feels worthless â€Å"She feels her children may be â€Å"better off† without her†. She also has a record of three-month worsening anxiety, which explains the depression. Anxiety is a cause, and also a symptom of depression. Other symptoms of depression identified from Mrs. Johnson’s report are; decreased appetite decreased energy, and suicidal ideation (Roy, 2005; Lam, 2012). Another mental problem observed is suicide. Warning signs of suicidal person are; if the person is talking about suicide, if the person is depressed and feeling hopeless, if the person has low self-esteem, if there is change in the person’s sleeping patterns, eating habits (eating less or more than usual), personality (withdrawn, less sociable or sad), and behavior (poor/ reduced concentration). Mrs. Johnson’s depression could be a cause of her lack of concentration that resulted in a loss of her job. She is to be divorced, and worries about her children. She thinks she is a failure. She may also have to sell her house. All these negative thoughts are a source of the thoughts about suicide. It could also be that Mrs. Johnson’s accident could have been self-inflicted. She tells all her experiences in tears after the accident. It could mean that she was trying to end it all. This could have been her first attempt to suicide, and so she was explaining the reason as to why she needed it. From NHS information, it is also clear that Mrs. Johnson was, and is still vulnerable to suicide. Mental health, life history, lifestyle, relationships, employment, and genetics, are some of the factors that make one vulnerable to suicide (NHS, 2012). Mrs. Johnson has a family history of depression in his father and grandfather (paternal) and also has an uncle that committed suicide due to depression. She recently lost her job; her relationship with her husband is coming to an end, while that with her sons is filled with hopelessness as she perceives it. She is also depressed and has suffered anxiety for three months.

Strategic Role of Human Resource Management Assignment

Strategic Role of Human Resource Management - Assignment Example A good place to start this was in the business of home textiles, as the firm successfully established its first renowned brand in the home textiles market in Turkey. Earlier in 1990s, the firm managed to engage itself in the business of electronics after acquiring Vestel Electronics. Zorlu aimed further to expand by taking the plunge into the energy sector in 1996. After ten years, the firm started to initiate another business in the real estate. Today, in Vestel Electronics alone, Zorlu is employing more than 15,000 people, and having 1,050 sales points and 400 after-sales service centres. Having almost 50 companies, Zorlu has now become home to around 30,000 employees who manage to work with the company for the future of providing highly improved quality of life for all. Prior to the actual recognition of potential applicants who would make it through the entire recruitment process, the Zorlu Group is adhering to its policy to select the human resource having a heart to live in its core values. On its website for its Human Resource Policy, the firm states, â€Å"We expect every employee to commit to our group’s shared values† (Zorlu Holding, 2013). This shows that Zorlu would want to become effective in employing its corporate culture and strategy by making sure that the human resource has the adherence to its core values. After passing the tests, the successful applicants would proceed to series of at least 2 or 3 interviews with the HR or the executives in relevant departments who would initiate at some point a competency-based interview (Zorlu, 2009). Those who would make it all the way from the general tests to interviews proceed to offer stage. This is the final part of the recruitment process where the applicants would receive employment contracts if they accept the offer (Zorlu, 2009). This process is a clear indication of optimising the human resource’s potential contribution for organisational benefit (Compton et al., 2009). This also paves the

Human Resource Management Company Changes Essay

Human Resource Management Company Changes - Essay Example The unstructured interview is the most used interview for selecting employees although this is most likely to change, as there is increasing evidence that the other two kinds of interview are a lot better at identifying applicants who are likely to do well on the job. The 'reliability and validity', which Wysocki (2000) refers to, are two standards that are used in the selection process. When an organization is trying to separate the best candidate out of a group of candidates, some sort of rating scale is needed, the people selecting the new employee need to be able rate each candidate numerically, the best way would be to give them a score for each selection method used. When all the candidates have been scored, their scores can be compared and decisions made about who is the best person for the job. "Five generic standards that should be met by any selection method are, (1) reliability, (2) validity, (3) generalisability, (4) utility and (5) legality." (De Cieri H, Kramar R, et al, 2003, p 196) The scores that are given to each candidate need to be reliable, that is free from random error. Reliability is defined by De Cieri and Kramar (2003) as 'the degree to which a measure is free from random error' . ... De Cieri and Kramar (2003), define validity 'as the extent to which performance on the measure is related to performance on the job.' This basically means that the scores of candidates need to be linked to how well they will perform on the job. The closer the link, the more valid the score. Generalisability is defined as "the degree to which the validity of a selection method established in one context extends to other contexts. Utility is the degree to which the information provided by selection methods enhances the bottom-line effectiveness of the organization." (De Cieri H, Kramar R, et al, 2003, p 205). "The final standard that any selection method should adhere to is legality. All selection methods should conform to existing laws and existing legal precedents."(De Cieri H, Kramar R, et al, 2003, p 207). Structured interviews usually have the highest reliability and validity scores when compared with unstructured or semi-structured interviews, making the structured interview the better choice of interview for the organization to use as a selection method. Schmidt and Hunter (1998) created a table rating the validity of different selection methods; the structured interview had a validity of 0.51 whilst the unstructured interview had a validity of 0.38. These numbers are correlation coefficients; a correlation coefficient is "a statistic that measures the degree to which two sets of numbers are related to each other."(De Cieri, H. & Kramar, R., 2003, p 197). This means that the structured interview is better than an unstructured interview at predicting how well a candidate will perform on the job. Other selection methods, which have also improved over the years, are used along with the selection interview, they include; "References, physical ability

Technology determinism and media convergence Research Paper

Technology determinism and media convergence - Research Paper Example In media convergence, the strategy involves three elements; corporate concentration, digitization and government deregulation. This strategy allows companies to cut labour cost by transmitting the same media content over the other media outlets. The purpose of this would be attracting increased advertisement simply by providing better package for advertisers. For the company, material and administrative costs are reduced since they transmit similar things in many media station the company owns. It also helps in increasing brand recognition and brand royalty. Furthermore, it also raises the barriers for new customers seeking a chance to enter the media markets hence limiting advancing competition from other companies (Jorda 2008). An example of media convergence could be could be the merger between Warner Brothers and Time Inc in 1989 in order to create the world’s largest media house. The merger also had businesses in the entertainment sector, magazine publishing, film production, music recording and distribution. In 2001, AOL bought Time Warner in an attempt to expand the merger to accommodate the internet (Jorda 2008). Another example of media convergence is BCE Inc, a telephone company that expanded into the television industry, purchased the national CTV network, expanded to publishing newspapers, acquired The Globe and Mail: plus a new media together with a family of websites.

The Class and television in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Class and television in the UK - Essay Example On the other hand, commercial television was to be regulated more firmly (especially in regard to advertising and content) and the game shows that had won ITV high ratings over the last few years were to have their prize monies slashed. The disparity between Pilkington's judgements of the two channels was quite clear. This disparity was firmly and inextricably interwoven with the class structure of Britain at the time of the report, and television's place in that structure. By 1962 the working class was becoming increasingly affluent, riding the post-war industrial boom and supported by the new welfare provision put in place by Clement Attlee's reforming government of 1945-51. Between 1951 and 1958 real wages rose by 20% (Curran, 204), this growth favouring principally the lower middle classes. This increased prosperity naturally converted into an increase in the number of television sets bought: in 1951 there were 586,000 licences, which grew by nearly twenty-fold to 11,659,000 (Sendall, 1982, 370). This increase was almost certainly driven by the availability of the new ITV. As well as greater prosperity for the working class, there was also increased social mobility, again due to the Attlee government and the grammar school system it had put in place in the late 1940s. An example of this new t rend was a member of the Pilkington Committee itself, Richard Hoggart, who has been characterised by Andrew Crisell as "a working class beneficiary of higher education and celebrated historian of popular culture." (109). I will argue that it was the personality type and, more importantly, class position, of people like Richard Hoggard, that gave the Pilkington Report its particular tenor. One of the main reasons the BBC outperformed ITV in the Pilkington report's findings was that the report was driven by so-called 'Reithian' values (after the first Director General of the BBC). Both channels were judged on their merits as public service broadcasting, as Sendall has said, "the assumption was consistently made that entertainment needed to be 'balanced' by a suitable proportion of improving material" (Sendall, 1983, 88). The viewers of television had to be improved in some way; that is, television took on a moral and social function. The report said so itself, the committee being quite adamant that, "television is and will be a main factor in influencing the values and moral standards of our society." (Crisell, 111). Judged in this way, ITV - which was subject to market pressures in a way that the licence-fee funded BBC wasn't - was almost certain to fall short of the committee's criteria. In the main, ITV produced entertainment, and all indications seemed to suggest t hat the mass majority of people (mainly from the working class) watching ITV preferred this type of output to that which might 'improve' them. However, Pilkington was less concerned with what the democratic public wanted, and more with what they should have, seeing broadcasting as a vehicle for an elite class to educate and better those moraly (which usually also means economically) beneath them, rather than a product, which is chosen by the democratic individual

Technology determinism and media convergence Research Paper

Technology determinism and media convergence - Research Paper Example In media convergence, the strategy involves three elements; corporate concentration, digitization and government deregulation. This strategy allows companies to cut labour cost by transmitting the same media content over the other media outlets. The purpose of this would be attracting increased advertisement simply by providing better package for advertisers. For the company, material and administrative costs are reduced since they transmit similar things in many media station the company owns. It also helps in increasing brand recognition and brand royalty. Furthermore, it also raises the barriers for new customers seeking a chance to enter the media markets hence limiting advancing competition from other companies (Jorda 2008). An example of media convergence could be could be the merger between Warner Brothers and Time Inc in 1989 in order to create the world’s largest media house. The merger also had businesses in the entertainment sector, magazine publishing, film production, music recording and distribution. In 2001, AOL bought Time Warner in an attempt to expand the merger to accommodate the internet (Jorda 2008). Another example of media convergence is BCE Inc, a telephone company that expanded into the television industry, purchased the national CTV network, expanded to publishing newspapers, acquired The Globe and Mail: plus a new media together with a family of websites.

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 13

Case Study Example The iPad and the kindle reader were created to serve the same purpose which is to aid ion acquiring scholarly materials. However, the iPad has been developed to incorporate many features and tasks. However, the kindle reader stands out as the best gadget to use in terms of education. With its partnership with the marketing giant Amazon, the kindle reader has made shopping for books much easier. The kindle reader has been developed to download all file formats of documents. Additionally, the kindle reader has been developed to suit all handheld and computer gadgets. To its features, there is an inclusion of the outstanding 8GB memory which makes storing of files easier. The kindle reader also has the ability of storing 6000 books which makes it the ultimate gadget to use in accessing books. Texting while driving has been an issue posing increasing negative effects on the transport system across the globe. From the social setting, lives are lost each due to carelessness driving mainly attributed to texting while on the wheel. According to Laudon (2012) the effects of texting on the while has cost the society the lives of many people. The political front has also felt the effects as governments officials are banned from texting while driving. This was evidence that the government is more than willing to curb the mess. It unethical to text while driving knowing the danger you are exposing yourself and others to. This in some cases can be termed as murder. The effects of texting while driving has been severe in the United States like many other nations around the globe. The states around the United States share the same negative sentiments when referring to texting while driving. However, the general population is not well sensitized as people continue with this ignorant trait. Individuals ignore the warnings made by authorities and other concerned parties. Amid the warnings from authorities, two separate

Censorship of Electronic Communication Systems Essay Example for Free

Censorship of Electronic Communication Systems Essay Communication system of society is changing rapidly with the time. In ancient ages people use to communicate with shouting. If people are much more apart from one another the letter writing was the only means of communication just before 500 years. Due to rapid development of science, now a days a message can be passed to millions of people who all are scattered in whole world by a simple electronic communication system. Due to electronic communication devices true as well as false message can be spread to the people with in short time, this may cause negative impact on society and country. For shake of betterment sometime it is necessary to censor some of the news, ideas, books etc in the electronic communication. Electronic Communication. Every day, in our work and in our leisure time, we come in contact with and use a variety of modern communication systems and communication media, the most common being the telephone, radio, television, and the Internet. Through these media we are able to communicate (nearly) instantaneously with people on different continents, transact our daily business, and receive information about various developments and events of note that occur all around the world. Electronic mail and facsimile transmission have made it possible to rapidly communicate written messages across great distances. Facebook, twiter, Hi5, blogs, online radio, online newspaper etc are the easiest way to spread a news or rumor. Censorship. Censorship the control of the information and ideas circulated within a society has been a hallmark of dictatorships throughout history. In the 20th Century, censorship was achieved through the examination of books, plays, films, television and radio programs, news reports, and other forms of communication for the purpose of altering or suppressing ideas found to be objectionable or offensive. The rationales for censorship have varied, with some censors targeting material deemed to be indecent or obscene; heretical or blasphemous; or seditious or treasonous. Thus, ideas have been suppressed under the guise of protecting three basic social institutions: the family, the church, and the state. Censorship is the suppression of speech or other public communication which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient as determined by a government, media outlet, or other controlling body. It can be done by governments and private organizations or by individuals who engage in self-censorship. It occurs in a variety of different contexts including speech, books, music, films, and other arts, the press, radio, television, and the Internet for a variety of reasons including national security, to control obscenity, child pornography, and hate speech, to protect children, to promote or restrict political or religious views, and to prevent slander and libel. It may or may not be legal. Many countries provide strong protections against censorship by law, but none of these protections are absolute and it is frequently necessary to balance conflicting rights in order to determine what can and cannot be censored. Example of Censorship: 1. Mobile network coverage was not allowed in Chittagong hill districts for insurgency problem. Insurgents and miscreants used to communicate with each other and operate against general people. 2. Censorship is also imposed on social media like facebook, tweeter, YouTube in many Muslim country like Syria, Pakistan , Bangladesh, Indonesia etc for protesting against disrespect to their beloved prophet. 3. People below 18 years are not allowed to watch or visit some of the adult site or web/books. 4. Recently in our country its one of the hot topic .Some blogger insulted our beloved prophet through the blog. To stop violation among people Bangldesh government stop some of the blogs. Benefits of Censorship It is evident that the hotly debated issue concerning media censorship is hardly started, especially in today’s ever changing media. With the ever changing medial rules and regulations, media authorities are always on their toes with regards to evaluating what is fit for publication or broadcast. This article aims at highlighting both the pros and cons of censorship. 1. National Issue: a. In present days a country involve in developing nuclear weapon impasses ban on telecasting or broadcasting any news regarding nuclear weapon subject. b. A scandal or spreading obnoxious picture of very high official of the country needs a immediate censorship on electronic midea. 2. Censorship on news: During martial law special censorship is done in print and electronic media. 3. Protects young children. The most obvious benefit of censorship includes radical regulations aimed at protecting children from obscene content. Moreover, media censorship help prevent hate speech and other organizations that spread hate ideologies. By filtering media content, parents are sure that their children are safe from obscene content. 4. Upholds social value Internet censorship, on the other hand suppresses the sharing of information to such an extent that some websites are not accessible. In fact, some countries from different parts of the world have installed internet/media censorship to help keep the values and tradition restored/ or alive. With that said, media censorship plays an essential role in safeguarding moral and social value in the society. 5. Protects against sexism and racism We are all familiar with the saying that our children are future leaders. Many folks have devoted their time to molding their children’s ‘’future’’. Since children learn from their peers and what they see on television, media censorship aims to protect them against sexism, racism and segregation. That way, children are raised well and with admirable social values.

19th Century Colonialism and Racism

19th Century Colonialism and Racism Colonialism and Racism in the 19th Century Throughout much of the 19th century, European powers used their financial wealth and technological advancements to colonize much of Asia and almost the entire continent of Africa. Oftentimes the motivations were national pride and the acquisition of natural resources, but there was another very potent impetus behind Western imperialism in the 19th century: racism. At a time when Charles Darwin had just recently revealed his theory of evolution, and much of the previously unchartered territory of the world was becoming known, the European powers felt themselves to be the superior race, because they believed they were the most civilized, or because they had the most advanced technology. This idea, known as social Darwinism, takes the natural theory of evolution and applies it to human races, positing that the societies and races that are â€Å"superior† than others are more â€Å"fit† to exist and survive, and therefore they make take advantage of and exploit the other, i nferior peoples who are not as â€Å"fit† to survive. With this idea in mind, many Western powers sent troops and resources around to globe to set up colonies and imperialize other nations, often with no regard for the indigenous people. Although this massive wave of colonialism in the 19th century was driven by desire for material wealth and national pride, racism also played a significant role. In George Orwells Burmese Days, he chronicles the daily life of a British gentlemans club in upcountry Burma, part of the British colony of India. His account gives a very telling indication of how the British citizens viewed the local citizens of Burma, and it reveals the racism that was at the heart of the imperial system. When the club is discussing the suggestion to allow a Burmese man to join, the Secretary of the club says, â€Å"Hes asking us to break all our rules and take a dear little nigger-boy into this Club†¦That would be a treat wouldnt it? Little pot-bellied niggers breathing garlic in your face over the bridge-table. Christ, to think of it!† (Reilly, 285). The use of a derogatory racial slur clearly demonstrates the way the British gentlemen thought of the locals, clearly as inferior people. The use of the term â€Å"nigger† has long been associated with people of African descent, but here the British Club secretary uses it to refer to the local Bu rmese citizens, an obvious indication of racial hate and insult. Their hatred and racism go so far that one member of the club, a local company manager, says â€Å"Ill die in a ditch before Ill see a nigger in here† (Reilly, 286). The continuous use of racial slurs and insulting remarks indicate that the British members of the club were all highly racist towards the local people, a factor which definitely influenced the British colonization of India, and the treatment of the indigenous peoples. In a similar portrayal of life inside an imperialized nation, Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness takes a close look at a steamboat journey deep into the heart of the Congo, the captain of which was a white man. The first signs of racism come out when he refers to the African people on his boat as â€Å"cannibals†, implying that they were savage and uncivilized, although there is no other evidence that these people were in fact cannibals. These basic false assumptions are often seen in stories of imperial racism; White colonists are always quick to judge the local people as brutal savages without actually taking the time to understand their culture. However, the ship captains racism goes far deeper than that, when he comments â€Å"the men were†¦No they were no inhuman. Well, you know that was the worst of it—this suspicion of their not being inhuman. It would come slowly to one. They howled and leaped and spun and made horrid faces, but what thrilled you was just t he thought of their humanity—like yours† (Reilly, 296). His pain at realizing that he was connected to these people, through a common humanity, hurts him because they appear so wild and savage to him that he would prefer to believe they were not human, but rather animals or beasts. His European heritage makes him regard himself as superior than the local Africans, and in turn he sees them through racist eyes, another important factor in the Western colonization of Africa. Both these excerpts of colonial life in the 19th century demonstrate that the Westerners almost always considered themselves superior to the local citizens. The European powers had convinced themselves that because they had the power and resources to create global empires, they were somehow inherently better than the people they were conquering, and this all too often lead to the exploitation and degradation of indigenous peoples around the globe. Another example of the conflict between two cultures is shown in the case of Ida Pruitt, in the book Chinas American Daughter by Marjorie King. Growing up in an American family working as missionaries in a small town in China, Ida experiences both the local Chinese culture around her and the American ways of her Christian missionary mother, who resents many things about China. As her mother constantly tried to convert Chinese people into Christians, Ida witnessed the harmful effects of such colonial interactions. King writes that â€Å"As Ida became aware of the differences between the Chinese and the Christian missionary cultures, she resented Christianitys intrusion in the Chinese culture† (King, 17). Even as a young girl, Ida is able to understand that the Western forces (her mother) are attempting to insert their own ways of life, religion, and culture into the Chinese culture because she regards them as inferior. The religious component of this is especially powerful, as many forms of Christianity believe that it is their responsibility and duty to spread their religion and convert as many people as possible, regardless of changing their previous way of life and destroying the original culture. The focus for the Westerners in colonial China was on taking advantage of the local people in order to convert them and insert western culture as a replacement for their own. Ida recognizes this, and â€Å"Ida admired her fathers adaptation to Chinese ways in order to help build genuine friendships between the Chinese and Westerners† (King, 19). Her father acts as a model for a better, more mutual exchange of culture and ideas between the Chinese and the Westerners, which is an equal interaction between the two, not the domination of one over the other as Idas Christian mother attempts to instigate. Ida Pruitts experience as an American in colonial China greatly differ from those of the Westerners in both Heart of Darkness and Burmese Days, as she actually identifies more closely with Chinese culture than she does with her original ethnic culture. Instead of approaching the local citizens as being inherently inferior or below her, Ida embraces their traditions and culture, and in many ways finds the Chinese way of life better than the American one that her mother works so hard to encourage. Especially because she lived in China at such a young age, â€Å"Growing up in the halls and courtyards of the haunted house of Song Family Village, Ida felt herself to be part of Chinese life stretching back thousands of years† (King, 6). As opposed to the British club officer who uses racial slurs to insult the Burmese people, or the steamboat captain who observes the â€Å"wild† and â€Å"inhuman† people of the Congo, Ida grows up surrounded by the Chinese culture, an d she is able to compare and contrast it with the Western tradition promoted by her mother. The racist characters in the other accounts experienced life as a Westerner, and therefore never were able to appreciate or respect any other culture. This stubborn obsession with ones own culture resulted in their imperial racism towards the local peoples. With Ida, she was able to form her own cultural and racial identity while experiencing both Western and Chinese lifestyles, and this allowed her to really respect and understand both, and in doing so she was able to remain connected to both cultures without having to racially reject or degrade one or the other. Racism is unfortunately an inherent part of human society, and it can be especially devastating when it is used to guide political and military decisions, such as during the colonization of Africa and Asia in the 19th century. Many people were killed, exploited, or left in poverty solely because of the racial hate of others. The European imperialism of the world, although based on many motivations, was in part based on racism, as demonstrated in the excerpts from Joseph Conrad and George Orwell. However, not all interactions between cultures were negative, such as the case of Ida Pruitt in China. She was able to ignore her mothers blind bias and learn to value and appreciate Chinese culture, something that indicates the importance of being open minded and experiencing other cultures for oneself before judging. Perhaps if the British officers didnt think so lowly of the locals, they would have provided better things such as schools and libraries, which in turn would result in a bette r educated country and an improved society. If the steamboat captain hadnt viewed the Africans as savages, maybe he wouldnt have been so focused on the material wealth and financial gain that was possible in Africa, but in setting up stable governments and creating better infrastructure for all people. Although things didnt turn out this way, we can learn from this past and apply that knowledge to create a better future. Ida Pruitt is a great example for overcoming racism, by experiencing a different culture for oneself and criticizing your own heritage, rather than stubbornly purporting your way as the best and only way, and hating all other cultures and societies that are different. Always racism may never go away, we can make a difference by understanding the past and learning to appreciate the value of all human societies and races. King, Marjorie.Chinas American Daughter: Ida Pruitt (1888-1985). Hong Kong: Chinese UP, 2006. Reilly, Kevin.Worlds of History: a Comparative Reader. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2007.

The Advantage Of Commercials :: essays research papers

The Advantage of Commercials It began in the early 1940's and to this day still is in many of our lives, even more so then before. It's the TV that I'm referring to. The TV started only as only musicals on it,. But eventually proceeded up to today's oriented world, with movies, sports, and violence. Today more than 98% of all households have a TV. Over 75,000,000 of TV sets are color. To how haw our lives depend on TV; according to A.C. Nielsen, America watches more than 7 hours per day. Many people say TV has many disadvantaged, like expensive commercials. For example, on 30 second commercials in the 1984 Super Bowl cost approximately 450,000 dollars. If you just look at the price it sounds costly, but in reality TV is one of the most cost-efficient media there is. Not only is cost an advantage of TV commercials, so are TV's impact credibility, selectivity, and flexibility. Television is powerful in may ways, mostly by having the ability to combine all major medial into one media called commercials. TV commercials are like direct mail because it comes directly to the consumer in his or her house. It is like the radio because TV has to have sound to make it powerful impact. It is also similar to print or newspapers because TV is able to show the product alone, in a setting, or in use. Finally, unlike any other advertising vehicle, TV can portray the object in motion while the other forms of media cannot. TV is believable mostly because of the old of "seeing is believing" an that is what TV does. Commercials have an unbelievable capacity to induce belief because of this old saying. The other major print that make TV commercial believable is that the actors make the commercials and A or the A+. What is meant by this is that when and actor uses a product on TV and has a satisfying look on his or her face, that's implying that the product is doing it's job effectively. Also the actors can demonstrate the product tooo The most common way to prove a product worthyness, is to test it against a well known competitor. All of these ways make TV commercials not only very believing, but also very persuading. The next quality that TV commercials have is that the commercials are selective. Commercials can reach any target audience. For example, if a commercial is toward children, the commercial will be played in between after school programs that the children like. If commercial is directed toward housewives, they will be played mostly during the midmorning and afternoon.

The Traditional Medicine of China :: China Chinese Culture Medicine Health Essays

The Traditional Medicine of China Traditional medicine of China has a long historical and cultural background dating back about 2500 years. The ancient Chinese people were able to reach a level of social stability that included the ability to treat disease of emotional, physical, and spiritual origins. Although a belief in spirits as the cause of disease has remained in China even to the present day, the view that the body obeyed a natural order struck a chord in the intellectual elite of ancient China. It was this elite class that refined and developed these ideas over many centuries.(1) The ideas that the ancient Chinese had about the organs of the body, and their functions, as well as the causes and development of disease, show large differences when compared with Western medicine.(2) The Chinese do not think of theory, as we do in the West, as needing to be proven to reach the highest degree of truth. A Chinese doctor can look at the kidney as a machine and think of it as a reflection of universe.(2) He can apply two different disease classification systems, cold damage or warm damage where he feels it is appropriate, without being deterred by contradictions between the two.(3) One (Western) method of gaining knowledge is analysis. It is the method of breaking things into component parts to understand the whole. This method has been applied in China, but not to the same level as in the West. Analysis is one of the important features of all western modern science and technology. In fact, the analytical approach is the basis of western medicine, and it is part of the Western mindset.(4) Analysis is not as important to Chinese medicine as in the West. The ancient Chinese did use analysis in their investigation of the human body, but to a lesser degree. Analysis provided some important insights into the workings of the human body. The ancient Chinese knew, for example, that the stomach and intestines were organs of digestion, and that the lung drew air from the environment.(5) The origins of China's medical knowledge is not certain. They observed phenomenon, and identified relationships and patterns. They compared whole phenomena in the body, and watched how they related to each other.(6) This is shown by "qi,'' an entity that Westerners find hard to conceptualize, since it does not fit any known scientific category.(7) Qi is thought to be the universal energy that runs everything, right down to the

Death in Venice and Cat and Mouse Essay

Thesis: The contradiction between one’s public image and unadulterated feelings or desires is a dominant theme in Death in Venice and Cat and Mouse. Both use minor characters to help represent this theme as well as foreshadowing plot. Minor characters may often be overlooked in literature as the reader’s attention is focused on the major characters. However, minor characters are, in fact, an important contributor to theme and plot. On comparing Death in Venice and Cat and Mouse, a similar theme arises; the struggle in human nature between what is conveyed on the surface and what is happening beneath. The minor characters represent this struggle in the major characters, while foreshadowing their fate. In Thomas Mann’s novella, the reader is invited to witness Aschenbach’s struggle with admitting his love for Tadzio, while maintaining his respectable reputation. When examining the old man on the boat and the poor singing quartet, it is clear that the appearance and manner of the minor characters are very similar. They portray Aschenbach’s inner torment and foreshadow his tragic fall from grace. The minor characters in Gà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½nter Grass’s novel represent somewhat differently Mahlke’s actions (participating in the war) conflicting with his inner beliefs. The undermining of the priest and the behaviour of Mahlke towards the lieutenant commander symbolize Mahlke’s struggle and foreshadow his joining the military. Mann’s characters are clearly portrayed as grotesque relating to Aschenbach’s tragic fall from grace, while Grass’s characters are respectable men in society representing his true feelings about the war. The struggle and fate of the Aschenbach personified in the minor characters is arguably more evident in Death in Venice simply because there is one protagonist. Nevertheless, both novel and novella effectively use the minor characters to contribute to this theme and foreshadow plot. In the beginning of chapter three in Death in Venice, Aschenbach is faced with his first unsettling encounter when he meets the old man on the vaperetto. This minor character represents Aschenbach’s hidden desires beginning to expose because of the conflict with youth and age. A description of the old man is given on page 211. â€Å"The company on the upper deck consisted of a group of young men†¦chattering, laughing†¦One of the party, who wore a light yellow summer suit of extravagant cut, a scarlet necktie and a rakishly Panama hat, was the most conspicuous of them all in his shrill hilarity. But, as soon as Aschenbach took a slightly closer look†¦his youth was false. He was old, there was no mistaking it. There were wrinkles round his eyes and mouth. His cheeks’ faint carmine rouge, the brown hair†¦was a wig, his neck was flaccid and scrawny†¦his yellowish full complement of teeth†¦was a cheap artificial set, and his hands with signet rings on both index fingers were those of an old man.† (pg. 211) This quote signifies the truth (the man’s real age) trying to be disguised through make-up, flashy attire, artificial teeth, and young company. Aschenbach’s own struggle for admitting his love for Tadzio and concealing it is being introduced. The old man tries to mask the reality of his age similarly to Aschenbach failing to recognise his true feelings for Tadzio. Aschenbach must deny his inner desires, and hide them from the public eye, as he is a venerated writer. More importantly the grotesqueness in the old man’s forgery of his age foreshadows Aschenbach’s tragic fall from grace. The minor character is said to be â€Å"flaccid† and â€Å"scrawny† indicative of frailty much like Aschenbach’s impending state that consumes him and brings him to his tragic death. Disguising the truth can also be seen in Cat and Mouse through the priest, Father Gusewski. It can be argued that he takes advantage of Pilenz by exploiting his spiritual position. For example, on page 123 Pilenz describes the priest’s occasional â€Å"wanderings of his hands†¦down [Pilenz’s] back†¦to the waist of [Pilenz’s] gym shorts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , and Father Gusewski uses the power of his spiritual position to defend his behaviour when he says that it was Pilenz’s â€Å"catholic soul he was looking for†. The priest’s inner desires are concealed through his position much like Aschenbach’s are through his. Mahlke’s conflict is in his spiritual inner self conflicting with the inevitably of joining the war. Eventually, he conforms to society and ignores his true opinions of the war. Perhaps, the undermining of the priest foreshadows Mahlke’s efforts to ridicule the lieutenant when Mahlke steals the medal. Also on page 123, the narrator discusses the priest’s attempts at changing his name to sound more Germanic. The priest is in a way complying with the war similarly to Mahlke. Perhaps, the priest’s actions foreshadow Mahlke’s surrender of his faith when he temporarily joins the military. Similarly, the lead singer in the â€Å"beggar virtuoso† lies to Aschenbach when he conceals the truth about the cholera epidemic. The arrival of Aschenbach’s death is once again stressed by the appearance and manner of the minor character. However, there is a development in the grotesqueness of the character, perhaps, demonstrating a progression in Aschenbach’s fall from grace. Words such as â€Å"savagely†, â€Å"grimacing†, â€Å"grotesque†, and â€Å"stench† infer a more sinister aura to the minor characters. The alliteration simply emphasises the filth of the lead singer. This development further depicts the extent of Aschenbach’s inner torment surfacing. Also, with the juxtaposition of opposite societies, the reader is made aware of the conflict between Aschenbach’s inner desires and his image for the public. A hint of sarcasm underlines the singer’s response to Aschenbach’s question about the disinfec tions. The many short, repeated questions and exclamation points seem over-enthusiastic as if the singer is laughing inside and mocking Aschenbach. â€Å"A sickness? But what sickness? Is the sirocco sickness? Is our police a sickness†¦? The signore is having a little joke! A sickness! Certainly not signore!† (pg. 254) Then the singer’s laughing that followed is described as â€Å"shrieking; he pointed his finger up at the guests, as if that laughing company above him were the most comical thing in the world† (pg. 254). Perhaps, the laugh is allegorical of Aschenbach’s opinions of his love for Tadzio. Maybe, Aschenbach is ashamed of his feelings, and feels he is being exposed. The laugh may also be directed towards the visitors and their ignorance of the cholera epidemic. Hence, conveying the future, deadly prospects of the guests and especially Aschenbach’s. Mahlke’s reaction to the lieutenant is similar to that of Aschenbach’s towards the singer. There is an atmosphere of discomfort, exposure, and conflict during the lieutenant commander’s visit on pages 88 through 96. â€Å"Mahlke hadn’t wanted to attend†¦Mahlke began to tremble before the lieutenant commander had even opened his mouth. Mahlke’s hands clutched Mahlke’s knees, but the trembling continued†¦Sudden movement of [the lieutenant’s head]†¦Mahlke trembled, feeling no doubt that he had been recognised, but he hadn’t†¦When [Pilenz] had turned around toward Mahlke, he was gone†¦the only reason why Mahlke had caught [Pilenz’s] attention†¦was that he didn’t join in the laughter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pg. 88-96) Mahlke feels uncomfortable around the lieutenant as he trembles and does not laugh with the other boys. If the lieutenant delineates the war, then Mahlke’s attitude towards it is clearly that of someone opposing it. Juxtaposing the hero and the anti-hero represents Mahlke’s inner struggle. He cannot avoid joining the military, yet it goes against his inner beliefs. Mahlke must conform to society and conceal his real opinions much like Aschenbach does his. Mahlke’s dissidence with the war efforts is evident again in his attempt to steal the lieutenant’s medal. This foreshadows Mahlke’s accordance with the military as he has broken the law, and positions himself closer to the lieutenant who is symbolic of the war. In both texts, the minor characters embody the struggle of the major characters, while signifying their fate. The minor characters are, in effect, literary motifs used to symbolize theme and plot. In Death in Venice, Aschenbach must appease his love for Tadzio, as it cannot be unmasked for the public’s eye. However, the famous writer succumbs to the power of his desire and stays in Venice despite the many warning signs, and he is led to his death. The same occurs in Cat and Mouse when Mahlke refuses to return to the military at the end of the novel. Mann and Grass carefully demonstrate the influence minor characters have on the text as a whole. Through characterising the minor characters and including them in the larger scheme of things, the importance of their role is made very clear.

English Language Proficiency Essay

â€Å"English is the craziest language.† This tagline was made famous by the American author, speaker and teacher – Mr. Richard Lederer. His column, â€Å"Looking at Language†, is syndicated in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States. He has written more than 30 books, including Anguished English, Get Thee to a Punnery, Crazy English, A Man of My Words, The Word Circus, The Miracle of Language, The Cunning Linguist, Word Wizard, and Presidential Trivia. Known as a â€Å"verbivore†, a word he coined in the early 1980s, Lederer’s interests include uncovering word origins, pointing out common grammatical errors and fallacies, and exploring palindromes, anagrams, and other forms of recreational wordplay. We all know that English is the universal language and by means of this, we can easily communicate with other nationalities all over the world. Filipinos are known to be good English speakers and to start our training at an early age, schools all over the Philippines managed to have the English Policy. It wouldn’t be only a benefit for the students but for their teachers as well. Based on the past issues of ECHO, QCA already underwent a system in which the faculty club had been given a chance to go for an English training. Even the students actively participated in the said policy that they should speak English or else they will pay their penalty. It’s not about prohibiting us to use our native language but it helps us to become more confident in communicating with people. As an opening for the year 2013, ECHO wanted to know the voice of the students today regarding this matter. Would they still like the English Policy back to nurture their capabilities in this language? Let’s hear some of their opinions. â€Å"Indeed! As a student, I want to help my classmates and schoolmates to develop more about English grammar and communication. In this way we can improve our English skills,† Brian Caacbay of I – Agap A stated. John Karl de Jesus from IV – Abad Santos B said, â€Å"Yes, I still want the English Policy back in QCA because it helps students to develop their competence in the use of the certain language and to encourage positive attitudes towards learning it.† â€Å"For me it’s a yes, because it can help us to improve our grammar. It can also help us to speak more fluently in English,† Reign Mariano of I – Agap A remarked. Most of the students answered positively and this brings a great  opportunity to all of the QCAians. English may be a crazy language but it’s not that hard to learn as long as we are eager to do it for own good sake.

Engineering design Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Engineering design - Assignment Example Additionally, the implication takes note of the risk level that is associated with the established significant parameters (Budd, 2006). From the questionnaire generated, the customer requirement for key ring torch includes a metal shell body having different colors, 58 by 20 MM size, LED light for lighting, nice color, and 4pc button cells that are included on the key ring. I used the questionnaire over the other methodologies because the responses are collected in a standardized manner; therefore, this method is more objective, certainly more than the Focus Group Discussion and Interviews. Generally, the method is relatively faster in collecting information than the interviews and the FDG. However, in some cases the method took a longer time to develop, apply and to analyze. Additionally, the information can be easily collected from a larger group portion. The potential is not always realized because the questionnaire returns are usually very low. However, the rates of return can be improved ones the questionnaire is responded and delivered on time. The questions in the questionnaire are outlined in the appendices (Cather, 2001). . Design Parameters Some of the design parameters for the keyring torch include type of material body color of the keyring torch Led lights Switch battery size packing mechanism flash mode Charge lead time. Using a Focus Group Discussion, the major design parameters include the material used, the body color, and the charge lead time on that order. Some of the key features of Key ring torch include the unbreakable LED light, a lithium batters having a shelf life of one year, burn time of over ten hours, the lay on the chain of the key, and small and lightweight. Some of the application of the key ring include the lighting for driver, emergency for office and home, chart reading for the pilots and astronomers, and outdoor tasks like hunting, camping, and fishing. The key ring torches are bright idea for promoting a company. The customer key ring can be customized with a company’s logo or even the message. From the Focus Group Discussion it was evident that the clients preferred aluminum alloy material, blue, pink, red, and silver body color. The brightness for the LED light is 13000mcd, a button switch, a battery of 3*LR44, a size of 58*20MM, key ring flash mode, and the charging leading time of five to seven days. The clients required the packing to be in an inner box of 500 pieces, with cumulative weight of 12.5 Kg. FDG conducted is outlined in the appendices Design Specification Name Parameter Specification Features Body color Blue, Pink, Silver, Green, and red painting Material Aluminum alloy Switch Button LED Lights Brightness of 13000mcd Size 58 by 20 MM Battery 3*LR44 Packing 1 piece/OPP, 100pcs/CTN, NW 12.g Kg Charge Lead time 5-7 days Flash mode Key ting Details of Packing Packing Inner Packing Outer Packing Meas G/N.w 1 pcs/ bag 100 pieces /inner box 500 pieces per Carton 32*23*24cm 13.5/ 12.5 Kg Design Specification and the customer requirement The design is based on the outlined specification. The reliability requirement of the key ring torch was part of the technical specification document. The company set the requirement for the key ring torch. The reliability of the product is not easy to specify. It is very easy to use the qualitative language like the needs of the product needs to exceed the expectation of the client. The key ring torc

Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Diversity - Essay Example CEI is an indication of zero tolerance to discrimination in the workplace, especially with reference to the LGBT community. The rating of corporations in terms of their CEI displays to the public companies with good and ethical practices in terms of their corporate cultures. For a company to appear in the list of top ten LGBT companies, it has to exhibit maximum CEI. This compels potential employers of LGBT community to develop their organizational cultures with gender orientation in mind. Consequently, the 100 percent CEI requirement is a good initiative of checking workplace discrimination on LGBT community in a work environment crippled by dearth of LGBT workplace protection law. Human rights must be protected from all dimensions. Every member of the society deserves to enjoy protection against discrimination of whatever kind. Consequently, it is difficult to object the demand by Diversity Inc’s requirement of 100 percent CEI for companies listed in their website, which is a public exhibition of companies that are socially responsible and zero tolerant to workplace

Eminent Domain (Real Estate Analysis) Research Paper

Eminent Domain (Real Estate Analysis) - Research Paper Example In most cases use of eminent domain by real estate developers results in disputes and court proceedings referred to as condemnation proceedings. Additionally, use of eminent domain by private agents can result in increased corruption since the agents can use the process to enable them pay less for property. In some cases, government official have been involved in corruption whereby they have used eminent domain to acquire private property and later sold it to private developers. The power of eminent domain is restrained by public clause of Fifth Amendment, which requires that the government provide adequate evidence for the acquisition in addition to just compensation before seizing private property for public use (Aycock and Black 53-54). Initially, the eminent domain was used to obtain private properties for public uses such as schools, roads, and parks. However, the eminent domain has been expanded and is often used to include other project meant to benefit the public. Real estate agents are thus able to employ the power of eminent domain when they want to acquire property for purposes such as urban renewal projects. Several real estate agents help in fostering development, which is crucial for economic growth. They are thus empowered by eminent domain to acquire property for commercial development (Aycock and Black 53-55). There are many questions regarding the legitimacy of eminent domain especially when it is used to acquire property for private developers such as real estate agents. Although the government is required to provide evidence that the project is for public benefit, there are question on how some real estate projects benefit the public. Additionally, ways of calculating of the just compensation is questionable. Therefore, it is important that the government exercise eminent domain carefully since it affect the constitutional rights of the property owners (Cook Web). Transfer of property land to real estate agents entails

Analysis The Blind Faith of the One-Eyed Matador Essay

Analysis The Blind Faith of the One-Eyed Matador - Essay Example Juan Jose is a seasoned bullfighter (torero) in Spain who comes from a family with bullfighting brothers and a retired torero in his father. The author introduces the reader to the story showing Juan Jose and the Bull in the bullfighting zone and the event known as the Feria Del Pilar that is a highly anticipated date in the bullfighting calendar. The author describes the bull by revealing its name, Marques- ashy black. This allows the reader to see how the bull is huge and indicates the power and muscle that the bull has over Jose. The author also reveals that the bull is a 5-year-old bull and weighs 1,100 pounds. Russell then goes ahead to describe Juan Jose as a father of two, 38 years of age and one of top matadors in Spain. This sets the atmosphere for the reader because it makes the reader part of the action making him/ her feel present at the event (Russell 1). Russell then describes the action that occurs between Padilla and Marques. The author’s description makes the reader feel as if Marques is a human being just like Juan Jose. For instance, the author states, â€Å"Padilla and Marques are alone in the sandy pit, but a carousel of faces swirls around them. A thousand eyes beat down on Padilla, causing sweat to bead on his neck† (Russell 1). This makes the reader feel as if Juan Jose and Marques are two fighting opponents with similar attributes (Russell 1). The author describes in detail how Marques injures Juan Jose in the bullfighting match. Preceding the injury the author sets the atmosphere to prepare the reader for the worst. For instance, just after the match begins, she says, â€Å"A glancing blow from Marques unsteadies Padilla; his feet get tangled... Padilla has the bad luck, the terrible luck, of landing on his side. And now his luck gets worse† (Russell 1). This prepares the reader for the

The Advertisement is by the Multinational Coca Cola Company Essay

The Advertisement is by the Multinational Coca Cola Company - Essay Example The advertisement initially ran in many channels in the United States of America, in Canada, where the last of the ads was shot and eventually the ad was shown in many channels throughout the world including in CNN, Fox, South Africa’s SABC, Britain’s sky television among many other national and international TV stations, and later modified to suit radio stations throughout the world. The advertisement was shot and different aspects and scenes added from the original one in 1995, to the year 2001, when the ad was stopped. This was due to the fact that Coca Cola was changing its advertisement strategy from using a single ad worldwide, approved by its Atlanta Georgia headquarters, to more localized advertisements by individual countries. Furthermore, the voice behind the ad, musician Melanie Thornton, had just passed on a few weeks before the Christmas of 2001, presenting Coca Cola with a dilemma. However, due to public demand, the advertisement was back on the air in most countries in 2007. Coca Cola announced that several customers and clients had complained of not seeing the ads on TV, yet the ad marked the beginning of the Christmas season for them, as well as having nostalgic and sentimental value to all those who loved it in its earlier years (Sandison, 2007). As said above, the advertisement by Coca Cola called ‘Holidays are Coming’ or the ‘Christmas long trucks’ holds a special place to people who saw it in the late nineties to the early years of the first decade of the 21st century. The advertisement is a very catchy one with a simple but enjoyable song to accompany it. Many people have come to associate the ad with the beginning of Christmas festivities, which sets them in the right mood for the holidays.

Colonial reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Colonial reflection - Essay Example Branch argues that colonial expansion was key to the formation of territorial states by presenting theorization of the interaction between colonies and metro-poles and highlights the significance of ideas and practices of political authority and structure. Branch asserts that sovereign statehood and the practices of international relations had their origin or were influenced by Europe by building upon many theories. Some of the theories that support this argument include historical sociology regarding the origin of European statehood that argues that European state system is exclusively internal to the European continent. Branch is right in his argument because European expansion of colonial powers and the competition among different forms of European rule ended up in sovereign state since every rule wanted to control at least a territory they conquered. The objective of the colonialists was to exercise their power in the places they conquered and this favored well the system of sovereign state. I concur with Branch that system of sovereign state spread to different parts of the world because of direct colonial imposition and imitation thus implying that practices and ideas of the modern states originated from colonial world. Practices that were used during the colonial period have been reflected in the modern states even though they were adopted as a conscious response to the perceived novelty of extra-European expansion. However, this argument has been challenged in many ways such as the need to incorporate extra-European dynamics in arguing the case and the challenges that may be faced in applying the European experience to other parts of the world. It can be argued that European influence in state building cannot be ignored because Europe greatly dominated the world and therefore it was easy for them to impose either directly or indirectly their own ideas of state building. Process of colonial reflection

Organisational Theory Essay Example for Free

Organisational Theory Essay Apple is a global giant whose success has been built on outsourcing to a range of other organisations located across the world. How can different organizational theory perspectives assist us in acquiring different understanding of Apple, its organizational network and influence? In this essay you must use at least two perspectives to analyze Apple. Introduction In this revolutionised world, changes occur rapidly, be it in an organized or disorganized way (Henry Veltmeyer 2008). Organisations are dealing with more complex systems and concepts. The study of organisational theories gradually gains importance because it involves the study of abstract issues relating to organisations. It is essential as it benefits in analyzing and discovering new meanings to life both inside and outside the organisation (Hatch and Cunliffe 2006). Apple’s innovative story has been told and retold all around us. Its success is largely due to the late co-founder, Steven Paul Jobs. With the passing of Steve Jobs, Apple Inc is still prospering and currently the most admired company is the world (Fortune 2012). In organisational theory, the success of Apple can be analysed into two perspectives that vary extremely; Modernist and Post-Modernist. The modernist attributes Apple’s success to its unique organisation chart and ‘knowledge is power’ organisation culture. Post-modernist give credits to Apple’s acknowledgement of discourses and environment influences related to the organisation. Apple’s ability to churn out great quantities of products to meet the demand and its consistent engagement with stakeholders showed the efforts to be competitive in the industry. It is also a significant contribution to its success. However, Apple’s way of achieving success is a cause of debate due to its pathological relationship with its stakeholders. This essay aims to provide an exploration into Apple’s Inc organisation; perspectives of its stakeholders and how the relationship towards its environment. The context of the essay will be separated into two parts. Part A and B. Part A will touch on the meta-theoretical assumptions of modernist and post-modernist and how it relates to organisation’s power, control and the environment. Part B will apply the assumptions and definitions in part A to analyze modernism and postmodernism perspectives on Apple. The focus will be on the ways that Apple demonstrates power and how it influences its environment and network which includes stakeholders. Part A Ontology Ontology is defined as the science or study of reality (McAuley, Duberley Johnson 2007). It seeks to clarify what are the reality and the phenomena we take to constitute aspects of the reality. Modernist’s ontological assumption is described as objectivism. It claims that social world and reality is in order and that the reality is in a rational, structured manner regardless of our knowledge (Boisot Mckelvey 2010). They view the existent of time is real regardless of the human’s awareness because of humans develop hypothesis and propositions that showed the reality of time. On the other hand, there is no clear stance on the ontological assumption of postmodernism. It is developed in reaction of modernism position (Moore 2001). Postmodernist rejects and challenge the modernist view and argue that time is ‘created’ through the discourses of human because it provides meaning and assurance to humans. Epistemology Epistemology is the study of the criteria we set and how it justifies the belief. It seeks to clarify how beings create knowledge to claim the world is justified. Modernist takes a positive point of perspectives in viewing the world in search for knowledge. Modernist’s epistemological assumption is positivism, whereby rational hypotheses and practices of knowledge will define reality and understand nature(Hatch and Cunliffe 2006). They sees ‘truths’ to be the discovery of the human’s accurate hypothesis and conceptualization to be analyzed with the reality found in objective world. Nonetheless, postmodernism rejects modernism’s notion of ‘truths’. It describes reality as an illusions created by languages and discourses. It refers to the subjective means by which humans organise what they perceive. Discourses are thoughts, written or spoken or any mediums that construct a particular phenomenon, they are in a social and politically linguistic framework that influences humans experience and understanding of it (Crowther Green 2004). Instead, postmodernist aims to provide an alternative explanation/meaning through the use of discourses. Methodology influence on Organisation Modernist Continuing from the epistemology of modernism, it sees apprehension of knowledge means understanding all aspect of an organisation functions. Ways of solving and analyzing organisation issues are developed to better manage and create profitability for the company. Modernism and the methodological term, positivism, underpin the structures and episteme legitimacy in this ‘noisy’ world. Post-modernist Post-modern methodology lies in ‘anti-positivism’, where language, discourse and deconstruction are the main influences. Language can have different meaning and different significance when combined with other words (Moore 2001). The construction that could be produce may vary extremely in different circumstances. Postmodernists call this idea the Ludwig Wittgenstein’s notion of language games. Knowledge creates and reproduces discourse that exercise power and distort the reality that modernist assumes. The concept of discourse emerges in ‘poststructuralist linguistics as a means of discussing the collective process that constructs and shapes language in use.’ Deconstruction ‘is a way of reading and rereading texts using different contexts in order to expose their fundamental instabilities and multiple interpretations.’ Organisation Power and Control Organisations require power. Power in organisations has to operate on the phenomena of changing organisation practices and changing the ways in which organisation theorist have theorized the practices (Hatch and Cunliffe 2006). Max Weber suggested that power is making decisions according to planned results where the social actor gets to decide the means and ends of action. Political scientist, Robert Dahl further resides the relationship of the actor by suggesting that actors may be individuals or collective which leads to different instruments of power (Clegg, Courpasson Phillips 2006). ‘A’ can get ‘B’ to do something that ‘B’ would not otherwise do, just like the abstract ideology of billiard where the significant lies more on the strategy and gamesmanship behind the cue rather than final position of the balls. Anthony Giddens, expanded Weber’s definition of power stating that power involves a set of capabilities that intervene a given set of events by 2 distinct types of resources; allocative and authoritative. In modernist organisations, Weber argued, formal rationality would be best established and where dominance will be most complete. Modernism views power in organisations as a structure to coordinate activities in the pursuit of organisation goals. It seeks to impose order on the chaos and to integrate the competing interest and agendas so that a single, harmonious vision and a consistent set of premises govern the conduct of participants. The instrument of power is seen to resolve conflicts through negotiation and maximize control of operations. Modernist views controlling individuals in organisation necessary because employee possesses self-interest that will hinder organisation interest. The modernist control theories of bureaucracy, clan and agency will be applied on Apple. In contrast, Postmodernism theorist argues that unified goals can arise only when dominant actors delegitimize alternative interpretations and rationalities. It emphasizes the central role of power in shaping social institutions. The connection of power and knowledge is assumed to be inseparable and thus knowledge loses a sense of innocence and neutrality (Scott 2003). Postmodernist insist that the rational formal structure must be set alongside various informal systems that represent attempts to resist any single vision of order (Hassard 1995). Foucault’s theories pointed out that resistance towards domination is inevitable as power comes from everywhere. Any form of resistance will just reinforce them (Clegg et al. 2006). It views power as a multi-dimensional because it is like a network that dispersed throughout social, political and organisational world. Organisation Environment and Network Organisational environment is anything residing outside the boundaries of organisation that may impact upon the organisation. The organisation needs to adapt well to its environment and vice versa for the relationship to operate in an ideal prospect (Hatch and Cunliffe 2006). Modernist believes there is boundary between organisation and the external environment. Environment relates the factors such as inter-organisational network and its stakeholders. Networks are defined as stakeholders, consumers, environmental groups, competitors and so on. Modernist theorist assumes that there are inputs and outputs between the organisation and environment. The environment empowers and constrains an organisation; it impacts upon organisational goals and needs to be managed. Stakeholder theory refers to any actor that is vital for the survival or success of the organisation, and because of the boundary, other factors does not concern. As the focus is explaining how environmental influence operates, modernist researchers developed theories to analyze the environment. The Environmental contingency and resource dependent theory will be applied on later on. On the other hand, postmodernist deconstruct the dominant assumptions such that organisations and the environment are two distinct entities where there is no fixed boundaries; organisations are part of the environment (Boisot and Mckelvey 2010). By deconstructing, it aims to better serve the society’s needs and desires. Postmodernist theorist believes discourses used to define organisation-environmental relations are served to reinforce authority and inequality between an organisation and those ‘external’ to the organisation. Its stakeholder theory examines the ethics of constructing our organisations in ways that acknowledge the rights of those whose lives are influenced by the organisation. Compared to modernist, the definition is wider because it has a boundary less organisation and environment. It includes actor that affects or is being affected by the organisation, therefore even factors outside of the organisation are being considered. Part B Apple’s Organisation Power Control This part of the essay aims to analyze and understand Apple’s organisation in different perspectives in terms of its organisation power and structure. In modernism, the notion of power is based on authority. This is where the CEO, has the right to exercise his power. Steve Jobs has been always at the center of attention for being ruthless in unsuccessful projects. For example, the failed venture of MobileMe in 2008 caused the disbanding of the team (Lashinsky 2011). This rationalization is what modernism lean towards as they believe bureaucratic justification will lead to technical efficiency. Modernist researchers analyze that positivism exist in Apple. Apple’s philosophy of only choosing the best of the best candidate during interviews mirrors Steve Jobs statement of ‘A worker hires A worker, B worker will hire C worker’ (Lashinsky 2012). It displays that only rational hypothesis of hiring and trusting talented employee through tried and tested results in the business world that will bring Apple success. In terms of output and behavior control of the employees, it is difficult to measure at times. Modernist theorist uses few methods of control theories to sought control over employees so as to maximize organisational interest. In modernist view, these theories can be applied to Apple accordingly. Bureaucratic and Clan theories aim to achieve a desirable corporate culture within the rules and authority among the employees. In Apple, there is a top down management where it all begins with the CEO, then to the executive team. They have a unique organisation circular structure where the CEO is at the center and the network of executives spread out from there. Late Steve Jobs also instilled a concept that the employees’ working style are own task-oriented, which creates differentiation and departmentalization. The corporate culture also became more united and there is no more fiefdom. The successes of the products are credited to Steve Jobs ability to instill the ‘Apple Way’ strategy to give the organisation clear directions, individual accountability, sense of urgency and the change of focus to products instead of profits. Agency theory focuses on ensuring that the executives perform in the best interest of the organisation. The focus turns to performing for the organisation, therefore controlling outputs become more important. Performing employees gets to attend the famous Top 100 meeting which the CEO will personally invite them. This theory also emphasizes the success of secrecy working in a modernist perspective where Apple controls the information that concerns their products to height up the hype and gain more profits. Alternatively, postmodernist deconstruct power and control, rebutting the single dimension and views power presence throughout social, political and organisation world. Apple’s tip top secrecy organisation is well known (Lashinsky 2012). Postmodernists look at secrecy as a form of imposing a multidimensional power on its employees by the top management. Inside Apple, employees cannot have any resistant to the secrecy culture. Any resistant will result in greater power. Greater power comes in the sense of punishment; employees may get sacked (Clegg et al. 2006). More precautions will be also taken to minimize the chances of it happening again. Therefore, instead of seeing secrecy as a form of increasing efficiency and profits for the Apple, postmodernism argues that it’s a form of power that gives the top management control over the organisation. Another aspect of multidimensional power analyzed was the ability of Apple not making any indication to stop the global group who wants to boycott Apple products due to the massive suicides rate and pressure to increase workers’ wages at its main supplier, Foxconn. Postmodernist argues that in a one dimensional power situation (modernist perspective), Apple will find means to ‘kill’ the enemy (the boycott group) with its powerful influence in the business world. Here, Apple is using a second dimension by not ‘killing’, but proving to the rest of the people that Apple is still an ethical and superior organisation. This way, Apple silently gets an army of ally to do the job to influence the boycott group to change its mindset. From another point of view, on the contrary, there is an increasing sign of fresh debates concerning postmodernism theory on whether is resistance really forbidden. The suicides cases at Foxconn and significant rise of terrorism in the past decade do post a serious question to postmodernist researchers (CCTV 2010). These extremes examples show signs that resistance might have, in fact, the ability to affect power positively. The suicides cases have indirectly forces Foxconn to reconsider its management styles and most importantly increasing the workers’ wages (Chan Pun 2010). Apple’s Environment and its Network Influence Apple’s relationship with the environment is a two way situation. The following theories will analyze how Apple operates under the environment and its network. In modernism, it can be argued that Apple seems to go against the environmental contingency theory. Apple has a vision to avoid over complicating by manipulating its environment and structure. Steve Job has been making his organisation to be simpler in every ways, from the responsibilities of the executives to its consistency simplicity of its store layouts (Froud et al. 2012). Its product variety is also purposely concentrated to a few. With the limitation of variety, Apple countered this shortcoming by introducing a multi-dimensional model which minimize cost and increase its revenue. This substantial amount of revenue also includes introducing Itunes and the unique operating system. This counterabilty of its shortcoming is related to the next theory; resource dependency (Fortune 2008). As modernist views organisation are dependent upon the environment for inputs and outputs. Theorist Pfeffer and Salancik emphasize that organisation are under the restriction of their environment hence the resource dependence theory was developed. The aim was to find counter-dependencies to prevent the organisation from over reliant on the market. Apple’s need for the analysis for its resources is due to its vulnerability in the environment and the power that environment holds. The environment has the power to make demands on the organisation, for example, increasing competitions and thus resulting in competitive prices, product differentiation and efficient organisational structures and processes. Apple’s relationship with its supplier, Foxconn, is a prominent example of apple’s ability to navigate the harsh world of environmental challenges to find ways of getting cheaper labour. The jobs created in China are twice compared to USA, but the differential in salary showed USA has a significant larger share of the payout (Freeland 2011). Apple also created counter dependency by having joint ventures with Samsung Electronics to have them make the processor chips and alliances with companies like Google and Youtube to make use of their world map and video applications. By inventing their own operating systems and programs, it also provides Apple with increase efficiency because they do not need to rely on the environment to react if they have any new ideas or concepts. Critics have argued that Apple has been adopting a narrow view on the perspective of stakeholder theory because they will neglect the factors that are indirectly connected to the organisation. This interpretation mirrors modernism due to its creation of the boundary of the ‘outside’ world and its stakeholders. The comparison made earlier with the jobs created in China and USA suggested that Apple is adept at avoiding the social obligations to provide secure, internal, high quality employment for its own nation, USA. This generates another thought on business ethics that Apple is actually prioritizing on getting the highest profit margin (their average profit is already approximately 70% of selling price) instead of the reason of the competitive industry. On the other hand, postmodernist claims that stakeholder theory is an integration of the organisation and stakeholders, thus they see Apple actions to affect anyone who are affected even if it is indirect. In Apple’s website, they have the environmental responsibility page to ensure its stakeholders are assured that Apple do consider every factor that relates to its organisation to be taken care of (Apple 2012). Postmodernist also argued that by creating boundary between organisation and environment, there will be negative externalities. Apple’s ability to entice consumers with the introduction of Iphone 5 is a cause of negative externalities. Externalities such as driving the consumption rate of the society when Iphone 4s still have a long product lifespan, this creates another issue of environmental repercussions and increasing workload/stress issues at Foxconn. Apple’s does produce positive externalities in the process of unveiling their products. For example, consumer did not have to bear the cost of intense advertising by Apple because Apple’s strategy of using multi-dimensional power to influence the public to do the ‘advertising’ for them worked. Blogs, video parody and even news were heavily speculating and discussing about the new products, thus bringing in ‘free’ advertising as a form of positive externality to the consumers. 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