Saturday, November 30, 2019

Media Academic Theory

Introduction Media has been present in societies for decades due to its importance in entertainment, enlightenment and provision of information. Consequently, its presence has attracted studies on how it affects the society. Research has proven that media has fundamental effects on its’ audiences behaviors and thoughts.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Media Academic Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Theories in various fields such as psychology, media studies, sociology and communication are called media effects. Some critics suggest that the media delimits an individual’s ability to be autonomous by linking the world to an individual, and reproducing a society’s self-image. Media content that are meant for newsworthy events usually have enormous control on the society. Media content are initially written in scripts before being relayed as finished contents to the audience. There are di fferent theories that people use to interpret and write scripts. This paper examines the strong points as well as the limitations of analyzing media theories through academic concepts (Kirsh, 2009, p. 56). Writing a script for the media refers to the act of conveying ideas in a reader’s mind through the use of words. A scriptwriter writes the words on a page so that the words create sounds and images, which the reader can understand (Dyer, 1993, p. 99). Theories of understanding media focus on approaches, concepts, debates and research, which helps readers understand why media content is the way it is. To understand scriptwriting, it is essential to focus on the theoretical and practical aspects of scriptwriting. Theories of scriptwriting provide more depth to the scripts as it gives the writer an opportunity to think deeply about what they are writing. It also makes them aware of their intended audience. Therefore, they can be confident that they will effectively communicate their ideas. Theory also helps writers think through their scripts, emphasizing on the important parts of the story. This makes writers grasp their own themes and ideas. Discussion Despite the importance of the media, there are conflicts on its analysis, especially, the effects of has on individuals. Through technological advancements and cultural improvements, media has gradually changed in content and complexity. This has encouraged the advancement of diverse theories to help analyze its scripts. To understand the effects of media, it is important to understand the approaches to different theories. Interpreting film and media scripts cannot depend on one theory, as people perceive concepts differently. However, in order to form a uniform understanding of scripts, academic concepts become useful.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One major benefit of using academic concept is that they offer background information into the history of scripts. This background information provides knowledge to scripts writers and audience, which makes it easier for them to understand the present trends. Theoretical approaches to media are greatly related to the social and political economies, as well as various studies. The second advantage of using such academic approaches is that they emphasize media reception and consumption. An example of this approach is ethnography, which provides a universal understanding of how language and people operate. Language and people refer to semiotics and psychoanalysis respectively. Most media theories are centered on Marxism ideas. Karl Marx came up with a theory that explained how the society’s economic base and conditions determine its beliefs, ideas and thoughts (Marx, 2001, p. 81). Different media approaches emerge from this theory, especially those that focus on the society’s super structure, on the societyâ€℠¢s base, and those that focus on the relationship between the two. Marx focuses on economies because he believed that people with ownership of the production of the means of production controlled all of the society’s ideas. Another advantage of using academic concepts in understanding film script is that they help in connecting different arms of the society, providing a better understanding of the functionality of our society. They also help us understand the relationship between various societal institutions such as the social and economic institutions. This importance is emphasized by the political economy approach. This approach seeks to understand ways in which economic issues affect media production and consumptions. This makes people aware of the relationship between consumption and media production, thus, they are able prevent the effects of media consumption. They also make audiences understand that meaning to any concept is relative; the way people use and understand words differ in different social and cultural context. For example, Ricky Gervais use of the word â€Å"Mong†. In those days, the word described people suffering from Down ’s syndrome or was used to describe a retard. However, many teenagers used the word to mean a â€Å"stupid† or a â€Å"foolish† person.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Media Academic Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The media picked this word and used it to stir protest from people over its use. These approaches concentrate in studying social relations, especially those that include the production, consumption and distribution of media resources. In other words, the approach looks at meanings, and how audiences interpret texts. It is advisable to choose words and texts carefully because peoples’ interpretations of words differ. In order to relay information to an audience, a scriptwriter must convey t heir intended meaning and close any possibility of misinterpretations. The limitation associated with linking different societies comes when there is moral decadence due to the integration. By connecting people, the media helps them share copy cultures, which may be dangerous. People may imitate harmful behaviors from other cultures, or harmful lifestyles (Moores, 1993, p. 88). This concept also connects how technologies, structures, government policies, and commercial support shape the content, communication systems and media. Because of these, political theories approach usually considers the contexts of media institutions such owners of media houses and their locations. To achieve maximum benefit from media and films, one must take advantage of the available opportunities such as through government policies, technologies, structures and commercial support. Media house owners also benefit by understanding how to build their communication systems as well as prevent government sanct ions. To capture the problems associated with the modern capitalist societies, The Frankfurt School came up with new mass media conceptualizations. Mostly, their approach dealt with the technological advancements and its affects on cultures. It placed more emphasis on media consumption rather than its production. Technology was allowing people to copy original art pieces, therefore, making them more accessible than before. This reproduction influenced multiple interpretations, which in turn affected media production (Bell, 2001, p.111). Gradually, there has been an exponential increase in accessibility and media outlets. Another approach to media theories is the ethnographic approach, which explores lived cultures. Media ethnographers investigate the multiple manners that audiences receive texts. The ethnographers base their investigations on empirical approaches by gaining evident statistics and data about people’s behavior. The approach also investigates the complexities of audience responses, focusing more on cultural consumption, rather than the reception of media content.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The gratification theory on the other hand, directly deals with consumption of media content. The theory is interested in how media audiences satisfy their needs through the media. To answer the question, the theory defines what possible needs people would have, which the media would satisfy. Psychologists define a â€Å"need† as a basic requirement that an individual may need to survive. Needs are also classified into â€Å"higher† and â€Å"lower† needs. Safety and biological needs are the lower needs, upon which human life depends on. Higher needs, on the other hand, are socially and culturally constructed. An example of a need is the need to â€Å"belong†. Gratification theory investigates the most appropriate way to fulfill this need, such as through social interactions. However, it emphasizes on media’s contribution to the fulfillment of this need. Studies suggest that people need the media for a number of reasons especially in terms of perso nal identity, personal relationships, diversion and surveillance (Deacon et al., 1991, p. 155). The same studies argue that the media usually fulfill these needs through escapism, providing the audiences with opportunities to have opinions, and identification with characters. It is important to understand that people’s needs vary; therefore, media cannot fulfill the needs the same way. For example, people whose need is to experience beauty, pleasure, curiosity or emotive needs differ from those who seek identification and belonging. Finally, psychoanalysis approach to media seeks to understand human behavior. This approach is widely applicable regardless of economic environments or social contexts. This approach is based on Sigmund Freud’s theories, which scrutinizes the conscious and the unconscious part of human minds. The knowledge that a human mind is divided into â€Å"id†, â€Å"ego† and the â€Å"super ego†, which are each responsible for ce rtain responses and behaviors (Weinstein, 2001, p. 63). Using this concept, media critics investigates how human beings respond to the media, how it satisfies their needs, how they relate to the content and the possible impacts media has on people. Psychoanalysis also explains the process of identity formation. During the formation of healthy relationships between the id, ego and super ego, and individual forms an identity. However, when the media interferes with this development, an individual may form a dysfunctional identity. Additionally, whatever appeals to an individual’s ego, or id, may affect their relationship. Psychoanalysis also explains an individual’s memory, and how people recall issues. While it is healthy to let go of hidden and harmful feelings, most people use the media to hide their feelings. This becomes dangerous in the end, as they are unable to handle certain issues (Nà ¶th, 1997, p. 71). Media practice is largely comprised of different types of languages. The media language includes written, spoken and a system of complex codes that rely on their contexts. Semiotic approaches examine the functionality of these languages. Semiotic refers to a common science of systems of signs together with the role of these signs in constructing and reconstructing meaning. In media studies, semiotic concentrated on the connotation of a given text. However, semiotics refers to a broad meaning of texts. Language consists of signs, which audiences can interpret as they occur. Additionally, audiences can interpret these signs using Saussure’s theories, which aid in interpreting visual signs that are present in the media. This theory argues that signs consist of â€Å"signified† and â€Å"signifier†. The signifier refers to the spoken sound, image or page writing. Whenever audiences hear or see the signifier, it influences them to have a mental idea or image of what it may represent (the signified). On the other hand, a sy mbol or a photograph may act as a signifier in a visual cognition (Balnaves, Donald, Shoesmith, 2009, p. 67). Semiotic approaches center their arguments on the interaction between various signs in creating meaning. Relationships between signifiers are important as they influence the audience’s understanding of text meaning. For example, people understand the word â€Å"young† due to its relation to â€Å"old†, â€Å"peace† to â€Å"war, and â€Å"black† to â€Å"white†. To understand this concept clearly, one must distinguish between â€Å"denotative† and â€Å"connotative† meanings. Denotative meaning is the literal definition of a concept, while a connotative meaning is the description that is culturally defined. By this, it is easy for media critic to examine a cultural text by looking at it in the denotative and connotative perspective. For a long time, semiotics has been the most common method of qualitative textual anal ysis. In the contemporary analysis, â€Å"sound† is a major consideration. Many films use sound to derive emotions from audiences. For example, watching a horror movie like â€Å"Halloween† directed by John Carpenter, an audience realizes that the director uses different soundtracks to derive different reactions from them. Audiences can hear the sound of a chain saw. While some may interpret this literally, others would find it scary and relate it horrifying images even before seeing the images (Perse, 2001, p. 65). Conclusion Finally, the benefit of using academic concepts while interpreting media scripts is that it helps in understanding social conflict and concerns such as feminism. Media has become a dominant way of approaching such issues, and seeking their solutions. Feminism directly deals with power relations among men and women, which structures all societal life such as politics, family, leisure, welfare, culture and education. A general assumption among femi nists is that there is a social construction and maintenance of unequal relations amongst the sexes in societies. This has influenced the emergence of feminist theories, which seek equality between the two sexes. The media’s weakness in the feminist issue is how negatively it portrays women. The media has also influenced discussions concerning cyber cultures, masculinity and globalization, as contemporary issues. In response to this, feminists investigate gender identity and related issues such sex roles. The semiotics used in media to refer to females also matters under this discussion. Language and choice of words is a concern among media critics, who argue that in most cases, films portray females negatively by giving them questionable roles in films. As described above, there are several benefits of the media, especially when understood under the academic concepts. The approaches discussed include gratification, psychoanalysis, political, and ethnographic. The media provi des entertainment, enlightenment and information to its audiences. It also connects people through sharing of events and information. In respect to academic concepts, media helps people understand the wider society in relation to its institutions such as the political systems, economy, families, and education. However, the media has certain negative impacts especially on the culture and psychological makeup of the audience. Through the media, audiences learn certain things that may be harmful in their lives. Media highlights the negative things while audiences imitate. This is especially harmful for young people, who form harmful habits such as poor dietary sequence. It also influences an individual’s outlook towards life as well as their self concept. By believing what the media portrays to be right, people slowly start identifying with these things, hence changing their own identities. To examine the contemporary media landscape, it is paramount to combine several approache s because one approach would be inadequate in covering all issues. Despite this, globalization of the media encourages studies of new technologies, which help in understanding the relationships between issues. The combination of the above approaches becomes useful in explaining these issues. References Balnaves, M., Donald, S., Shoesmith, B., 2009, Media theories and approaches: a  global perspective. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Bell, D., 2001, An introduction to Cyberculture, London: Routledge. Deacon, D., et al., 1991, Researching communications: A practical Guide to methods in  media and cultural analysis. London: Arnold. Dyer, R., 1993, The matters of images: essays on representations. London: Routledge. Kirsh, J. S., 2009, Media and youth: a developmental perspective, New York: John Wiley and Sons. Marx, K., 2001, A contribution to the critique of political economy, Chicago: C.H Kerr. Moores, S., 1993, Interpreting audiences: the ethnography of media consumption, New Yor k: Sage. Nà ¶th, W., 1997, Semiotics of the media: state of the art, projects, and perspectives, Boston: Walter de Gruyter. Perse, M. E., 2001, Media effects and society, London: L. Erlbaum Associates. Weinstein, F., 2001, Freud, psychoanalysis, social theory: the unfulfilled promise. New York: SUNY Press. This essay on Media Academic Theory was written and submitted by user Miranda K. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free Essays on Dumpster Diving

A precursory reading of Lars Eighner’s article about dumpster diving revels that the author began the practice of â€Å"scavenging† about a year before he actually became homeless. This suggests to the reader that while dumpster diving may provide an effective method for survival while being homeless, for Eighner, the process of diving has more of a symbolic significance. What Eighner reveals in his article, however, is not only a reflection of his own personal struggles with materialism; rather it is a larger commentary about how life in America has become driven by consumerism. Critically assessing what Eighner writes about dumpster diving, it is quite evident that the author supports the ideology that life can be sustained through the practice. By offering such helpful hints as to cut the mold off of cheese and always ask â€Å"why was this thrown away?† when selecting food from the dumpster, Eighner is able t provide for his readers a practical guide for living, and further surviving, on the streets. However, as the reader progresses through the article, it becomes clear that the main objective of the author is not to show the reader how to survive on dumpster. Instead, Eighner’s point is to demonstrate that the average homeless individual can live, and live well, off of what many Americans see as simply refuse. To elucidate these points, Eighner notes that he has come to two conclusions after ten years of dumpster diving. The first is that there is no value in the abstract. Material things that most individuals collect and put in their homes have no inherent value to the process of life. Second, Eighner has come to conclude that material possessions are transient while ideas are more transcendental. As such, the author believes that material possessions essential have no value. What Eighner argues is that a society that is driven by materialism has essentially no meaning. Further unless ideas are created, materialism will consu... Free Essays on Dumpster Diving Free Essays on Dumpster Diving A precursory reading of Lars Eighner’s article about dumpster diving revels that the author began the practice of â€Å"scavenging† about a year before he actually became homeless. This suggests to the reader that while dumpster diving may provide an effective method for survival while being homeless, for Eighner, the process of diving has more of a symbolic significance. What Eighner reveals in his article, however, is not only a reflection of his own personal struggles with materialism; rather it is a larger commentary about how life in America has become driven by consumerism. Critically assessing what Eighner writes about dumpster diving, it is quite evident that the author supports the ideology that life can be sustained through the practice. By offering such helpful hints as to cut the mold off of cheese and always ask â€Å"why was this thrown away?† when selecting food from the dumpster, Eighner is able t provide for his readers a practical guide for living, and further surviving, on the streets. However, as the reader progresses through the article, it becomes clear that the main objective of the author is not to show the reader how to survive on dumpster. Instead, Eighner’s point is to demonstrate that the average homeless individual can live, and live well, off of what many Americans see as simply refuse. To elucidate these points, Eighner notes that he has come to two conclusions after ten years of dumpster diving. The first is that there is no value in the abstract. Material things that most individuals collect and put in their homes have no inherent value to the process of life. Second, Eighner has come to conclude that material possessions are transient while ideas are more transcendental. As such, the author believes that material possessions essential have no value. What Eighner argues is that a society that is driven by materialism has essentially no meaning. Further unless ideas are created, materialism will consu...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Behistun Inscription - Message to the Persian Empire

Behistun Inscription - Message to the Persian Empire The Behistun inscription (also spelled Bisitun or Bisotun and typically abbreviated as DB for Darius Bisitun) is a 6th century BCE Persian Empire carving. The ancient billboard includes four panels of cuneiform writing around a set of three-dimensional figures, cut deep into a limestone cliff. The figures are carved 300 feet (90 meters) above the Royal Road of the Achaemenids, known today as the Kermanshah-Tehran highway in Iran. Fast Facts: Behistun Steel Name of Work:  Behistun InscriptionArtist or Architect: Darius the Great, ruled 522–486 BCEStyle/Movement: Parallel CuneiformTextPeriod: Persian EmpireHeight: 120 feetWidth: 125 feetType of Work: Carved inscriptionCreated/Built: 520–518 BCEMedium: Carved Limestone BedrockLocation: Near Bisotun, IranOffbeat Fact: The earliest known example of political propagandaLanguages: Old Persian, Elamite, Akkadian The carving is located near the town of Bisotun, Iran, about 310 miles (500 kilometers) from Tehran and about 18 mi (30 km) from Kermanshah. The figures show the crowned Persian king Darius I stepping on Guatama (his predecessor and rival) and nine rebel leaders standing before him connected by ropes around their necks. The figures measures some 60x10.5 ft (18x3.2 m) and the four panels of text more than double the overall size, creating an irregular rectangle of approximately 200x120 ft (60x35 m), with the lowest part of the carving some 125 ft (38 m) above the road. Behistun Text The writing on the Behistun inscription, like the Rosetta Stone, is a parallel text, a type of linguistic text that consists of two or more strings of written language placed alongside each other so they can be easily compared. The Behistun inscription is recorded in three different languages: in this case, cuneiform versions of Old Persian, Elamite, and a form of Neo-Babylonian called Akkadian. Like the Rosetta Stone, the Behistun text greatly assisted in the decipherment of those ancient languages: the inscription includes the earliest known use of Old Persian, a sub-branch of Indo-Iranian. A version of the Behistun inscription written in Aramaic (the same language of the Dead Sea Scrolls) was discovered on a papyrus scroll in Egypt, probably written during the early years of the reign of Darius II, about a century after the DB was carved into the rocks. See Tavernier (2001) for more specifics about the Aramaic script. Royal Propaganda The text of the Behistun inscription describes the early military campaigns of the Achaemenid rule King Darius I (522–486 BCE). The inscription, carved shortly after Dariuss accession to the throne between 520 and 518 BCE, give autobiographical, historical, royal and religious information about Darius: the Behistun text is one of several pieces of propaganda establishing Dariuss right to rule. The text also includes Dariuss genealogy, a list of the ethnic groups subject to him, how his accession occurred, several failed revolts against him, a list of his royal virtues, instructions to future generations and how the text was created.   So, What Does it Mean? Most scholars agree that the Behistun inscription is a bit of political bragging. Dariuss main purpose was to establish the legitimacy of his claim to Cyrus the Greats throne, to which he had no blood connection. Other bits of Dariuss braggadocio are found in others of these trilingual passages, as well as big architectural projects at Persepolis and Susa, and the burial places of Cyrus at Pasargadae and his own at Naqsh-i-Rustam. Historian Jennifer Finn (2011) noted that the location of the cuneiform is too far above the road to be read, and few people were likely literate in any language anyway when the inscription was made. She suggests that the written portion was meant not only for public consumption but that there was likely a ritual component, that the text was a message to the cosmos about the king. Translations and Interpretations Henry Rawlinson is credited with the first successful translation in English, scrambling up the cliff in 1835, and publishing his text in 1851. The 19th-century Persian scholar Mohammad Hasan Khan Etemad al-Saltaneh (1843–96) published the first Persian translation of the Behistun translation. He noted but disputed the then-current idea that Darius or Dara might have been matched to King Lohrasp of the Zoroastrian religious and Persian epic traditions.   Israeli historian Nadav Naaman has suggested (2015) that the Behistun inscription may have been a source for the Old Testament story of Abrahams victory over the four powerful Near Eastern kings. Sources Alibaigi, Sajjad, Kamal Aldin Niknami, and Shokouh Khosravi. The Location of the Parthian City of Bagistana in Bistoun, Kermanshah: A Proposal. Iranica Antiqua 47 (2011): 117–31. Print.Briant, Pierre. History of the Persian Empire (550–330 BC). Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia. Eds. Curtis, John E., and Nigel Tallis. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2005. 12–17. Print.Daryaee, Touraj. Persianate Contribution to the Study of Antiquity: Etemad Al-Saltanehs Nativisation of the Qajars. Iran 54.1 (2016): 39–45. Print.Ebeling, Signe Oksefjell, and Jarie Ebeling. From Babylon to Bergen: On the Usefulness of Aligned Texts. Bergen Language and Linguistics Studies 3.1 (2013): 23–42. Print.Finn, Jennifer. Gods, Kings, Men: Trilingual Inscriptions and Symbolic Visualizations in the Achaemenid Empire. Ars Orientalis 41 (2011): 219–75. Print.Naaman, Nadav. Abrahams Victory over the Kings of the Four Quadrants in Light of Darius Is Bis itun Inscription. Tel Aviv 42.1 (2015): 72–88. Print. Olmstead, A. T. Darius and His Behistun Inscription. The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures 55.4 (1938): 392–416. Print.Rawlinson, H. C. Memoir on the Babylonian and Assyrian Inscriptions. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 14 (1851): i–16. Print.Tavernier, Jan. An Achaemenid Royal Inscription: The Text of Paragraph 13 of the Aramaic Version of the Bisitun Inscription. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 60.3 (2001): 61–176. Print.Wilson-Wright, Aren. From Persepolis to Jerusalem: A Reevaluation of Old Persian-Hebrew Contact in the Achaemenid Period. Vetus Testamentum 65.1 (2015): 152–67. Print.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Cars Technical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Cars Technical - Essay Example After World War I, the United States became a renewal of economic growth, from new inventions to growth of an expanding road infrastructure. This economic growth helped accelerate the need for the automobile. The automobile industry grew quickly because of many innovative inventions. In the 1950's innovation was getting greater speed through the design of more powerful engines. In the 1960's innovation was building a sleek but performance driven auto. In the 1970's, the automobile and gas shortage led many automakers to look for innovative ways to control emission and decrease gas consumption. The convergence of computer and auto industries helped improve gas mileage and cut down on emission. The last 25 years of the car industry has seen technical and design advances that increased standardization, platform sharing, and CAD design. Body styles have changed to include the hatchback, minivan and sport utility vehicle (Consumer Guide p 10). Automotive engines are called internal combustion (IC) engine because the fuel that runs them is burned internally, or inside the engines. There are two types, reciprocating and rotary. Reciprocating means moving up and down, or back and forth. Almost all automotive engines are of the reciprocating type. In these engines, pistons moves up and down, or reciprocate, in cylinders. This type of engine is called piston engine. Rotary engines have rotors that spin, or rotate. The only such engine now used in automobiles is the Wankel engine. 1 )Types of Engine System: 1.1 Car Engine: The main function of a car's engine is to make it move. Engines come in a range of strengths as well as speeds. All recent engines are made of vital parts. Car engines are built around cylinders (generally something from 2-12 of them, however usually 4, 6 or 8) in which the fuel is burnt. Super-strong metal and sealed shut, arte used to make these cylinders however at one end open and closes exactly like bicycle pumps: these consist of tight-fitting pistons (plungers) that may slide up as well as down in them. At the top of every cylinder, there are two valves. The inlet valve permits fuel as well as air to go into the cylinder; the outlet valve lets the exhaust gases loose. At the very top of the cylinder, a sparking plug (or spark plug) is present, this is a device which is controlled electrically as well as makes a spark to put fire to the fuel. At the base of the cylinder, the piston is connected to a continually turning axle that is known as a crankshaft. The crankshaft's function is to powers up the gearbox of the car which then drives the wheels. The capacity of an engine function is depends on the power or the horse power that i t develops. This in turn is reliant on the ability of the engine. 2.)Diesel Engines: In 1892, Rudolph Diesel, a German engineer developed the "diesel" engine. Unlike the gasoline engine, the diesel engine is capable of spontaneous combustion of liquid fuel without requiring spark ignition. "The key advantage of the diesel engine over the gasoline engine is its fuel economy as well as durability" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine). Known as a "workhorse" the diesel engine became the engine of choice for heavy construction machinery, mining

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Answer the following questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Answer the following questions - Essay Example An individual’s opportunity to be a private pilot is no doubt rewarding and at the same time very meaningful. Aeronautic engineers have a huge blessing possessing critical education and experience in air control operations. Hence, certain requirements are implemented by the federal government. The first and foremost is possessing a â€Å"private pilot certificate,† which is critical for aeronautics and traffic control. As the resume indicates, The impressive element about the resume is the fact that this individual possesses experience in the Air Manifest system, which is crucial in this job. Moreover, this individual has experience documenting, which can be used for auditing purposes. Undoubtedly, it takes a special person to be an inflight crewmember and an ambassador of the JetBlue brand.  Lastly, the cargo screening is a crucial component towards the individual’s experience. I would like the individual to have more experience in systems. Since most positions are dominated by information systems, it would be crucial if the individual possesses some background programming. Moreover, the individual should have more education and exposure in customs. As a aeronautics engineer, tourist VISA is extremely essential along with FMM, which is a visitor permit that is provided by the airline. In addition, a customs declaration form is vital. Clearing immigration upon arrival is highly suggested for foreign pilots since clerks do check these documents. For further approval, the FMM permit gets stamped by the airport officials. My shinning moment in customer service was when the system crashed and I had to figure out the flight schedule using â€Å"paper and pen.† It was one of the most difficult aspects to overcome since the flight database is crucial towards customer service. Thanks to my quick troubleshooting method and organizational leadership skills,

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Stereotyping of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans Essay Example for Free

The Stereotyping of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans Essay Stereotypes have existed in different forms throughout history. Although they are prevalent in all areas of the world, most countries have overcome name calling various ethnic groups to a degree better than the past. However, people in America still place several racist connotations on minorities. This is ironic because the United States is considered to be a giant melting pot of different cultures, and Americans still are racist toward diverse ethnic groups. Hispanics are one minority Americans constantly categorize and even degrade with derogatory names. Hispanics are consider to be from large families, dirty, not born in the US, unable to speak English, uneducated, eat too much beans and tacos, good dancers, and that they are gangsters who like to get tattoos and ride on low riders. Many people have bad images of the Mexican race because they see one Mexican person who dress a certain way or even acts a certain way and they assume they are all bad people. For example if you see a Hispanic man that is baldheaded and has on baggie clothes people assume that he is a gangster by the way he looks. On the other hand most Mexicans perceive Anglo Americans to be arrogant, over-bearing, aggressive, conniving, rude, unreliable and dishonest because of the unscrupulous actions of some. They worked hard to get were they are today in society. Today, Hispanic-Mexican people face challenges living between two cultures, and one of these is in employment. Hispanic-Mexican people receive reduced wages and are forced into stereotypical fields because of stereotypes and discrimination, and from their education. First, a challenge Hispanic-Mexican people face is discrimination and stereotypes which lowers their wages and keeps them in certain job areas, but for an adequate education to allow them to compete in an increasingly challenging job market condemns too many of them to unemployment, underemployment, or work in professions with little promise for upward mobility and jobs with decent salaries. Congressman John Box called for restrictions on Mexican immigration because the Mexican was a product of mixing by the Spaniard and low-grade Indians. This mixture, according to Boxer, was an obstacle to participation in American democracy. There are many incidents where Hispanic-Mexican women are viewed, stereotypically, as a woman only capable of being a housewife, and as a sexual object. They also argue that cross-cultural conflict Hispanic-Mexican people have to deal with on an everyday basis, in this, purely dominated by Caucasians. In Hispanic-Mexican culture the wife might perform work outside the household; this was usually an acceptable alternative only in cases of extreme economic duress. In such cases, her efforts were limited to a restricted number of options, almost always of a part-time nature, and contributed nothing to improve her subservient status within the house. This division of authority established between man and wife was perpetuated by their offspring. Girls were taught distinct behavior patterns and were encouraged to adopt specifically defined aspirations quite different from their brothers, beginning at an early age. Motherhood was the ideal objective of all young girls and the primary virtue of all those who achieved it. Throughout the course of my life I have lived in different areas and have been subject to different viewpoints about race and ethnicity. In each of the areas I have lived, I have experienced differences and things in common in how people are treated. When I was very young I was the minority and other times I have been a majority. I currently live in a majority Hispanic-Mexican community. The Westside of Phoenix, AZ has a much less diversified population, yet racism, media, and the government still contributes to the discrimination of many of the residents, which has caused uncertainty and grave disadvantages. Right now Arizona is going through the 1920’s, and 30’s with the treatment of Hispanic-Mexican people. The governor, sheriff and the rich have come to the conclusion that all Mexicans are criminals and should be deported just like the U. S. government did in the 1920’s with the mandatory deportation of all Mexican people whether they were legal or not. Nativist scholars and politicians feared mongrelization as a by-product of contact with Mexicans, and in 1925 a Princeton economics professor even spoke of the future elimination of Anglo Americans by interbreeding with Mexicans. They were considered at that time by Congressman John Box called for restrictions on Mexican immigration because the Mexican was a product of mixing by the Spaniard and low-grade Indians. And as late as 1969, a California judge ruling in an incest case reiterated similar racist beliefs. He stated in court: Mexican people think it is perfectly all right to act like an animal. We ought to send you out of this country. You are lower than animals maybe Hitler was right. The animals in our society probably ought to be destroyed†. This mixture, according to Boxer, was an obstacle to participation in American democracy. They also did increasing violence perpetrated by Anglo Americans made Mexicans and Mexican Americans intensely aware of their subordinate status within the American Southwest. They did not have equal protection under the law, despite the guarantees of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the U. S. Constitution, and several laws were passed to specifically control their way of life. According to Griswold del Castillo: A Sunday Law imposed fines ranging from ten to 500 dollars for engaging in `barbarous or noisy amusements which were listed as bullfights, horse races, cockfights, and other tradition California amusements. At the same time, a vagrancy law called `the Greaser Law was passed. This law imposed fines and jail sentences on unemployed Mexican-Americans who, at the discretion of local authorities, could be called vagrants They are doing these things again here in Arizona. They have done it with SB1070 and have put fear in a lot of Mexican-Americans and Mexicans because this law is Racial Profiling or Stereotyping against all the Hispanic people here. They have ripped so many families apart by deporting one of the parents or even both leaving the children alone or with a parent missing. This law is like having Hitler here going after the Jewish people the only difference is that Arizona is not exterminating them. I have these people for many years and have learned, lived and raised children with them. They are not what my government sees them as. They are a proud people with strong family values and culture. They are not stealing the jobs from white people, but are doing the jobs that the white people refuse to do. Now because of how Arizona wants to act the cost of dairy, fruits and veggies has gone very high. The farmers can’t afford to pay what the prisons want nor the regular white guy who is willing to work in the field. References: del Castillo, Richard Griswold, and Arnoldo de Leon. North to Aztlan: A History of Mexican Americans in the United States. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1996. McWilliams, Carey. North from Mexico: The Spanish-Speaking People of the United States, updated by Matt S. Meier. New York: Praeger, 1990. Between Two Worlds: Mexican Immigrants in the United States, edited by David G. Gutierrez. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources, 1996. Samora, Julian, and Patricia Vandel Simon. A History of the Mexican-American People. South Bend: University of Notre Dame Press, 1993.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Free Things They Carried Essays: Instinct :: Things They Carried Essays

Human Instinct in The Things They Carried Fear is a strong emotion that is constantly haunting the minds of the men in Tim O'Brien's book, The Things They Carried. Fear is handled by different men in different ways. However, through the characters of Dave Jenson and Lee Struck in "Enemies" and "Friends," two opposing reactions can be seen. HCAL defines cultural studies as something that can "...either create community or cause division and alienation"(240). By using cultural studies it is possible to analyze these two stories to understand why these two men react differently to he same emotion under different circumstances. In "Enemies," Jenson and Struck have a fight over a missing jackknife which evolves from a broken nose to a broken mind. The two men become enemies; not only are they faced with the fear of war, but also of the fear of each other. Jenson was affected the most by this. He began to loose his sanity watching both the enemy lines and his own men trusting no one. In an attempt to justify the fight with Struck, he breaks his own nose along with yelling and shooting off rounds of ammunition. The fear that built up inside of Jenson causes him to be alienated from the rest of the Army. Unlike the prior story, in "Friends," fear helps to bring Jenson and Struck closer together. They are both afraid of returning from the war dismembered in some fashion. To prevent this, the men form a agreement that if one of them is hurt in such a way, that the other would kill them. Because of this pact, the men are united with a common trust. This helps to subside the fear and allow them to not be as scared of the war. These two stories show how fear can cause the bond of friendship and community or hatred which resulted in alienation. The two character, Lee Strunk and Dave Jenson, show how a mans reaction to fear can affect him. In the story "Enemies," Jenson slowly begins to isolate himself as a way to keep away from Strunk. He views everyone as the enemy making his foxholes near the perimeter and always keeping his back covered. This constant fear ate way at Jenson until he finally lost his sanity. In "Friends," Jenson and Strunk take deal with fear in a more positive way.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Lenin in accounting for Stalins defeat of his opponents in the years 1924-1929 Essay

How significant were the personalities of the contenders to succeed Lenin in accounting for Stalin’s defeat of his opponents in the years 1924-1929 Stalin, throughout the fierce fight for power exploited his attributes to the best of his ability, however his tactics were not the only factor in his eventual success. Perhaps what’s more interesting is the systematic fails, one by one of all of his contenders – which was due to their individual personalities. Many argue this is the more significant reason for Stalin’s rise to power, and that if this had have been changed Stalin’s success would have been entirely different. Stalin’s opponents, understandably had very different personalities. However looking in hindsight none of them seem to create a difficult situation for Stalin. This could be due to Stalin’s natural ability to change and use his opponents strengths and weaknesses, or perhaps the general naivety of many in the politburo. One main example of this is Trotsky, and his rather egotistic and arrogant personality. This intern made people weary of his power, and made him completely oversee Stalin as a contender for power. Lenin in his testament says himself he is â€Å"not sure whether he will always be capable of using that authority with sufficient caution† and the politburo completely over saw this cautious remark for their own reputation. The evidence seems to suggest members of the Bolshevik party didn’t use their personality’s to the best if their potential. Furthermore Trotsky seemed very trivial about the whole situation. In 1924 he didn’t make Lenin’s funeral, eventually blaming that on Stalin. In the successive years after he didn’t make important politburo meetings and refused to make alliances. In 1926 he did eventually see light forming the ‘united opposition’ however by then it was too late and Stalin’s fan base was too large in the central commission. Another example of this is how Bukharin in 1925 decided to stay strictly to the Bolshevik rules. This perhaps shows how good a man he is, but not how good a politician he is. In that situation he has seen his fellow socialist members being taken over by Stalin, but does very little to stop this. Furthermore he says himself Stalin is â€Å"an unprincipled intriguer who subordinates everything for his appetite for power† The evidence here suggests he saw the dilemma, but does very little about it. In hindsight we now know he allowed Stalin to use his powerbase for his own political marketing. This shows the true naivety of Bukharin and how Stalin’s personality completely overshadowed anybody else’s in the politburo. Moreover this shows how truly significant the personalities of every one of Stalin’s contenders were, in allowing and creating a path for Stalin to walk to power. Perhaps if other people in the politburo were willing to play underhand tactics like Stalin, the end would have been different. In retrospect we can see personalities might not be a main factor – perhaps the individual ideologies played a larger role, but it’s the way people acted towards Stalin, completely overshadowing him that makes personalities so significant. Other peoples personalities did play a vital role, but now in stark contrast we begin looking at Stalin’s personality strengths, and how he uses them to the best of his ability. He, from the very beginning was a ‘yes man’ following Lenin till the very end. However one major strength that Lenin foresaw was Stalin’s ability to challenge his thoughts and ideologies. Stalin from the very beginning has ‘a very strong personality’ (Lenin) and this was used this in the July days (a troubled time for the Bolshevik party) when Lenin needed this unique quality from him. Arguably this is Stalin’s biggest asset. Furthermore Stalin’s ability to change tactics and ideologies, particularly in the later stage of the power struggle was, down to an incredibly versatile personality. Moreover his ability to look into the future and plan his actions to aid his accent was stunning, as if he planned every move meticulously and almost in hindsight. Looki ng at the evidence, Stalin’s personality was vital in his accent, but perhaps if the others had been different the overall outcome would have drastically changed. Personalities were vital in the success and failures of the struggle, however Stalin’s under hand tactics played an equally important role. Before and during the 5 year struggle he implemented many tactics to undermine his opponents, and one by one remove them from the possibility of power. Lenin saw this in his final years, and discussed it in his testament, however Stalin persuaded Kamenev and Zinoviev to fight his side, and intern keep his job. Furthermore his ability to switch ideologies and allies is a testament to his versatile personality. An example of this is in the later stages of the struggle, when only him and Bukharin were left for the job. Stalin suddenly rejected NEP because it was failing and turned radically left. This sudden maneuver allowed left wing supporters and nationalist war communists to support him, as well as gaining the support of anti NEP politicians. In all this he managed to leave Bukharin to pick up the pieces of NEP. Furthermore Stalin re introduced grain requisitioning in early 1928 to make sure NEP was a complete fail. Its these quite brilliant tactics that formulate into a plan that make Stalin truly versatile and incredibly shrewd and devious. In everything Stalin did there always seemed to be a very formulated plan, and in this was surrounded by brilliant political tactics. However these tactics were merely ways of getting rid of political opponents, and due to personalities as whole, arguably tactics are not as important as other factors. Alternatively the power bases’ of other opponents could be as significant as personality in the war struggle for power, and the defeat of all his opponents. All Stalin’s opponents had important roles within the Bolshevik party, and in many ways – more significant roles than Stalin. One in particular is Trotsky. Head of the Red army, and an incredibly influential role within the Politburo. Lenin says himself â€Å"personally he is, to be sure, the most able man in the present Central Committee† His power base is remarkable, with huge amounts of Kudu’s within the Bolshevik party. However – arguably as well as him being too â€Å"self-confident† Stalin used this wealth of power base to his advantage by forming the Triumvirate with Zinoviev and Kamenev. When we turn to other members such as Bukharin, we see that generally their powerbases, although more significant for policy making were not as useful for gaining power as Stalin’s, and perhaps this was a significant reason for their in individual defeat. Stalin’s role within the party was General secretary and head of enrolment and promotions. This involved the inner workings of the Party. The evidence indicates that Stalin used his role, from 1922 to strengthen his fan base within the party and Central committee, which later in 1925/26 seemed to secure his position within the party, in 1923 it was up to 30%, and steadily rising. This seems to indicate his role and power base far out saw anyone else’s within the party, and that actually he was in the perfect position to take up power, even foreseeing this in 1924 – by controlling what Lenin saw from the politburo, and vice versa. Stalin took up a highly administrative role, and this worked in his advantage, however the evidence suggests that if other factors were stronger, such as opposition personalities that Stalin still wouldn’t have made it to power. Arguably in this light personalities seem more significant. Ideologies of the opposition and Stalin play of key significance in how arguments were won and lost. For example, Trotsky stayed far left with all his ideologies – perhaps in a more noble way than Stalin, and eventually he was engulfed by Stalin’s devious tactics. Another example would be Zinoviev and Kamenev, in the triumvirate staying right of the spectrum. However when they rejoin to form the left and united opposition – they lose huge respect for changing ideologies within the party. Interestingly this seems like an incredibly vital point – leading onto Stalin’s ideological viewpoints. Throughout the start of the political struggle, he sways right – but doesn’t involve himself in any main arguments about, for example rapid industrialisation. This tactic to stay the middle man has its disadvantages. For example he is described by members of the Bolshevik party as ‘a grey blur’. However it also has its advantages. Stalin was then able to sway from his very Right views within communism – to left views with not much notice – he was able to move ideologies to strengthen his fan base and his viewpoints. For example when the NEP failed – he removed himself from it, thus allowing Bukharin to take the blame – and him stay in the positive public spotlight. It’s this very middle ideological viewpoint that the evidence suggest allowed Stalin to change as he did, allowing him to use it to his great advantage. Despite this, other arguments perhaps suggest it is not the most significant factor in Stalin’s accent within the government, and that actually his deceitful, arrogant and shrewd personality was the true reason that allowed him to flourish the way he did. In conclusion, looking at all the evidence it is clear a combination of factors were involved in Stalin’s accent of power. On one hand it seems Stalin’s powerbase seems to be the primary factor, that despite anyone’s efforts his place within government allowed to build a vast fan base in such a short amount of time. Furthermore others power base didn’t seem to match the superiority of his, even though on the forefront they seem more important, Trotsky is a prime example of this. On the other hand his tactics seem the obvious significant factor – looking at how he manipulated allies and oppositions, such as Bukharin and Zinoviev. More over his ability to control the politburo with his allies over the testament suggests that this could have been a primary turning point for Stalin’s direction on how to achieve power. However diving into the muddle of linked causes, personalities seems to come out on top. The tactics and moral high ground was generally taken by his opposition, but it seems they didn’t play hard enough. They didn’t morally want to use underhand tactics and switch ideologies – because they believed in what they were fighting in. It’s this decorum that contributed more than anything else. Looking at the other side of the spectrum Stalin’s fierce personality, with no conscience seems to be the perfect mix to manipulate not only the communist party – but the general public as well. It is this sheer inhumane ability to be deceptive in this way that allows the evidence to suggest, on the top, personality is the most significant factor in accounting for Stalin’s defeat of his opponents in the years 1924-1929.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

The Man Who Loved Flowers – Short Essay

Describe the setting and atmosphere. The story takes place in May 1963. The summer Is Just around the corner and everybody is smiling to the man in the gray slut because he exudes, he Is hopeless in love with the girl Norma. After he bought the tea roses for Norma, the afternoon turns to evening and the bright atmosphere Is replaced by darkness and gloomy cityscape when he makes his way to he's loving Norma. 2. Characterize the young man HIS hair was dark and cut short. HIS complexion was fair, his eyes a light blue.Not an extraordinary face, but he was beautiful. When he takes his hammer from his coat pocket and stats smashing her, he see he's reel Identity, the series-killer from the radio. 3. What does the other characters think of the young man, and how do Owe learn about it? 4. What news are we told on the radio, and what effect does it have on Dust as readers? It poured out bad news, a hammer murderer was still on the sass. 5. Who is Norma? She is the woman the character buy fl owers. 6. How does King develop suspense in the story, and what element of ;surprise is here? 7. Give your interpretation of the statement â€Å"His name was love† 8.Theme and message? 9. Compare It to â€Å"The Bogeyman – can you find cellmates between the two stories? 10. Compare Stephen King's short stories to Edgar Allan Pope's â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart and consider how horror Is created In the two stories (are there differences)? The Man Who Loved Flowers – Short Essay By hinderer The story takes place in May 1963. The summer is Just around the corner and everybody is smiling to the man in the gray suit because he exudes, he is hopeless in urns to evening and the bright atmosphere is replaced by darkness and gloomy His hair was dark and cut short.His complexion was fair, his eyes a light blue. Not an pocket and stats smashing her, he see he's reel identity, the series-killer from the 4. What news are we told on the radio, and what effect does it have on U s as 6. How does King develop suspense in the story, and what element of Surprise is 9. Compare it to â€Å"The Bogeyman – can you find similarities between the two stories? And consider how horror is created in the two stories (are there differences)?

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Violence, Media, and Children Do a No-Cost Argumentative Essay Sample

Violence, Media, and Children Do a No-Cost Argumentative Essay Sample Read a free sample of an argumentative essay. While reading figure out how better to make arguments in your own argumentative essay. Violence, of course, is not a new concept – it’s actually been around since the beginning of civilization. But today it seems different, a new phenomenon. This is mostly due to the attention that violent crimes like rape and murder and assault get in the media. The media has intentionally sensationalized violent crimes just to get people to visit their website, pick up and buy their paper or magazine, or visit their social media platforms in order to grow their brand and give advertisers a reason to promote their businesses. It unfortunately always comes down to a media company trying to make a buck. FRATERNITY VIOLENCE IN HIGHER  EDUCATION But we have to ask ourselves, â€Å"What are the consequences of this attention that violence gets?† Quite naturally, another question emerges: â€Å"Does violence in the media cause violence in children?† The answer to this question is of course not so black and white, but actually shades of gray. This has been an ongoing debate for years, starting with the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 and extending to the current time with the Charleston, South Carolina, shooting at a primarily black church. Both events have garnered national and international attention, in turn prompting arguments in gun-rights and media attention debates. While it is difficult to determine which children who have experienced televised violence are at greatest risk, there appears to be a strong correlation between media violence and aggressive behavior within vulnerable ‘at risk’ segments of youth.   Dr. Beresin, Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital It’s hard to say whether these particular kinds of events have a direct effect on children to do the same. Some would say that people with a mental illness are likely to only commit these kinds of violent crimes in the first place. They either want to do serious harm to other people for some sick, sadistic reason, or they see that the media is basically celebrating a violent perpetrator. In an article published on aacap.org, the website for the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, â€Å"The Impact of Media Violence on Children and Adolescents: Opportunities for Clinical Interventions, Dr. Eugene V. Beresin has some interesting insights on the topic. â€Å"While the causes of youth violence are multifactorial and include such variables as poverty, family psychopathology, child abuse, exposure to domestic and community violence, substance abuse, and other psychiatric disorders, the research literature is quite compelling that childrens exposure to media violence plays an important role in the etiology of violent behavior,† says Dr. Beresin, Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital. He goes on to say that the last 30 years or so have urged extensive research on the relationship between violence on TV and violent youth behavior. He says many studies have confirmed this correlation. According to the article, the typical American child watches more than 200,000 acts of violence (and more than 16,000 murders) before they reach the age of 18. It says that TV programs portray approximately 812 violence acts every single hour, with cartoons and another program for children having up to 20 acts of violence every hour. Read also: The Contribution of Academic Institution in Childrens Well-Being What is even more frightening, the article goes on to say, is how vulnerable young people who have been victimized in some way, shape or form may feel that violence is an outlet, a solution to their problems. This is especially true when children see so many of their favorite heroes in stories resorting to violence either as revenge or as a tool to combat evil – in other words, the bad guys. The scary thing is, a young, vulnerable child or even an adolescent may feel they are the hero, while they may see the person or persons bullying them or hurting other people or persecuting them in certain social groups as the bad guys. When they resort to what they have seen on television, they are likely to feel it is OK to resort to violence as a way of doing away with the bad guys. Children who watch televised violence are desensitized to it. They may come to see violence as a fact of life and, over time, lose their ability to empathize with both the victim and the victimizer. Dr. Beresin While this is certainly an issue of debate for many, it is false and irresponsible to pretend TV and other forms of media do not affect viewers, especially young people, in a negative way. This consequence may definitely come down to mental illness in most children and adolescents, as people who resort to violent crimes as a means to solve problems can only be sick in the head. Nonetheless, more and more young people are feeling a sense of aloneness in the world, perhaps evening feeling overlooked in a society that rewards people for being famous, for standing out and being popular. They yearn for celebrity, they yearn to be important, and in seeing how the media gives unlimited attention to bad things done by bad people, they see how violent, criminal behaviors can be an effective way to become larger than life. And so they conduct violent crimes knowing it will make them famous. It’s quite sad, really. But it’s the truth.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Appearance and Staging of The Relapse; or Virtue in Danger

Appearance and Staging of The Relapse; or Virtue in Danger In John Vanbrugh’s The Relapse; or Virtue in Danger, Act I, scene i. plays a crucial role in establishing the theme of appearance versus reality. Because this play is a continuation of Colley Cibber’s Love’s Last Shift, it is imperative that the first scene of the opening act has the ability to stand on its own. Therefore, in order to exude the themes of duplicity and manipulation, deceit and denial, it is essential that the casted actor and actress know not only how to act, but how to act within an act. In addition, by focusing specifically on the tone and the word choices Vanbrugh utilizes for the dialogue between Loveless and Amanda in the opening scene, the audience can readily detect the ultimate fate of the couple’s marriage. Lastly, by choosing the perfect setting for which the opening scene occurs and by directing the physical movements and facial expressions desired from the actors, the new rendition of Vanbrugh’s The Relapse will not only be a success, but will enable the audience to develop a deeper understanding of the characters and the motivations behind their actions in less than 150 lines. As the curtains open, the lights should be affixed upon a handsome looking man in his late twenties. Wearing clothing not as royal as the king or as disheveled as a beggar, this man must have an uncomfortable look in his appearance, not fitting in the role he is playing. Similarly, surrounded by shelves and shelves of thickly bound novels, the man should be sitting in an armchair with a novel in his hand, but his eyes shifting from one object to the other. Immediately, the appearance and the setting of the opening scene should radiate a sense of discomfort and unsuitableness. Assuming that a majority of the audience has not seen Cibber’s Love’s Last Shift, Loveless, husband to Amanda, must not appear to be the fully unkempt rake from the inception or the fully refined and reformed gentleman at the end. By allowing the setting and the initial perception of the actor to become the foundation of The Relapse, there is room for growing validity in the actors’ verbal exchanges. As Loveless opens with a soliloquy, he declares, â€Å"How true is that philosophy which says / Our heaven is seated in our minds† (I. i. 1-2)! With the help of the uncomfortable manifestation in which Loveless displays through his actions and speech, the audience can infer that Loveless is not only sitting in a room he is not fully accustomed to, but he is also partaking in something he has rarely done before, reading. Furthermore, Loveless betrays him desires to the audience by revealing to the audience of â€Å"all the roving pleasures of [his] youth/ (Where nights and days seemed all consumed in joy,/ Where the false face of luxury / Displayed such charms† (I. i. 3-6). Unconscious of his vulnerability to the audience, Loveless is mentally and emotionally reflecting on â€Å"the raging flame of wild destructive lust† while verbally seeking innocence by deeming his thoughts as â€Å"a warm pleasing fire of lawful love† (I. i. 15-16). By showi ng the contradictions between what he says and how he feels as well as emphasizing the inability to blend with his surroundings, the audience can see that Loveless is trying to talk himself out of what he loves. As the title of the play will suggest, Loveless has already relapsed in his mind and his heart. In fact, the reality is that Loveless does not find the life of â€Å"moment’s peace† to be exhilarating and prefers to engage his mind â€Å"musing on [his] happy state / and full of grateful thoughts† (I. i. 9, 20-21). The language of the opening scene is vital because it reveals both Loveless’s actions and his habitual nature. In addition, by manipulating the setting and the dress of the actor with the character’s dialogue, the scene takes full advantage of the character’s natural role as a rake. When Amanda walks on stage, she should bring no surprises or excitement. Although the actress playing Amanda should be young, in her early twenties, and attractive, she cannot be exceedingly beautiful. In addition, the actress playing Amanda should have a calm gait and plain, simple attire. By doing so, no new feelings are incited for Loveless, allowing their marriage to appear monotonous and habitual. In the exchange between the married couple, the word â€Å"heaven† is repeated over five times, disclosing to the audience that their love may extend beyond reality. There is a play on appearance versus reality in this exchange; although the perfect and divine nature of heaven is used to delineate the relationship between Loveless and Amanda (appearance), religion itself is detached from their relationship (reality). In addition, when Amanda enters the stage to meet Loveless, there should not be an interruption to Loveless’s thoughts. He verbally tells Amanda â€Å"You find me musing on [his] happy state / And full of grateful thoughts to Heaven and you† but his thoughts have not departed from â€Å"roving pleasures† (I. i. 20-21, 2). Similarly, when Loveless woos Amanda by saying â€Å"The largest boons that Heaven thinks fit to grant / To things it has decreed shall crawl on earth / Are in the gift of women formed like you,† the actor must act with deceit, almost imagining that the person he is wooing is not Amanda, but one of the â€Å"wild destructive lust† (I. i. 28-30). In order for the relationship to appear duplicitous and manipulative, both the actor and the actress must exaggerate their movements and speech. Every time the word heaven is used, the actors should be exaggerating their physical interactions with each other by drawing themselves closer to each other, climaxing when Amanda says, â€Å"There let [their love] grow forever† (I. i. 39). Unfortunately, the downhill deterioration of Amanda and Loveless’s marriage begins all too soon after the farfetched exchanges of Heaven granting them forever growing love. Amanda should be slowly pulling away from Loveless’s caress as she comments, â€Å"’Twere all the heaven I’d ask. / But we are clad in black mortality, / And the dark curtain of eternal night / At last must drop between us† (I. i. 42-45). Amanda seems to acknowledge in the futility of their relationship by disclosing the inevitability of â€Å"that mournful separation† (I. i. 47). Because Loveless is the deceiver, the actor who plays his role must be able to be simultaneously sarcastic, yet charming. Amanda, on the other hand, is intelligent yet insecure. Therefore, the actress playing her role must not be domineering and self-righteous, but must possess both intelligence and a sense of fear and self-denial when questioning her husband’s faithfulness. From the once seemingly affectionate and loving exchange between a husband and a wife now surfaces the harsh reality of a relationship built upon â€Å"rocks of reason† (I. i. 55). Also, within this conversation, there needs to be focus on Amanda’s ability to manipulate as well, though her manipulation result in sorrow and grief. Amanda’s utilization of guilt is a weapon of her manipulation. After claiming the certainty of a division between them, Amanda must look away from Loveless sorrowfully as she says, â€Å"Perhaps that pain may only be my lot;† but turn to him once more with the slightest tone of accusation saying, â€Å"You possibly may be exempted from it: Men find out softer ways to quench their fires† (I. i. 50-53). By questioning Loveless’s constancy simply by generalizing men as having the ability to find another female replacement, Amanda, in effect, is able to extract from Loveless the foundation of his love for her: â€Å"You’ll f ind ‘tis built upon a steady basis / The rock of reason now supports my love† (I. i.54-55). If logic and reasoning are the only means by which Loveless is married to Amanda, then the truth has been revealed and there is no more hope for this marriage. In addition, knowing that the character Amanda plays is that of a submissive wife, she does not have any power or control over Loveless. In fact, Amanda’s fears are made so transparent for the audience that sympathy is aroused toward her while condescension and contempt for Loveless. Therefore, the actress must reveal her truest self exposing to the audience her love for Loveless and her fears of his infidelity in their marriage. As Amanda confesses with parallel statements of, â€Å"I know its false insinuating pleasures; / I know the force of its delusions; / I know the strength of its attacks; / I know the weak defence of nature; / I know you are a man – and I – a wife,† her voice must be crying out in desperation, her body becoming weaker and weaker after each â€Å"I know† (I. i. 65-70), her knees touching the ground as she accepts her position as the subservient wife. Loveless, on the other hand, is roused to his feet in anger upon hearing h is wife’s fears and confession that she â€Å"is uneasy at your going to stay so long in Town† (I. i. 65). The role of the authoritative and the submissive can be portrayed by the actor and actress’s bodily physique. Amanda must have a fragile and innocent appeal to her; Loveless should appear arrogant and self-righteous. The words Loveless uses in response to Amanda include banish, traitors, arms, destructions, roving, bankrupt; these words show the harshness and coldness Loveless feels toward his wife. On stage, Loveless must rise in anger, his speech becoming more agitated, as he defends himself by saying â€Å"I have never thrown one roving thought that way† (I. i. 89). The actor must also be standing over the actress, exuding a sense of authority and power in the hands of a man. Knowing from the very beginning that the character, Loveless, does not belong in the countryside, there also needs to be a sense of urgency in his speech that reveals his desire to leave ‘Town’ and go to London as well. Ultimately, Loveless once again betrays his inner desires for sex with other women with his air of pride. Although he uses â€Å"honest conscience [as his] witness to never have thought of other women, his rhetoric are all indicative of sex as he references to â€Å"old cast mistress† and his â€Å"former boon companions† (I. i. 108). What appears to be honest conscience is in reality a mere reflection of Loveless’s inner desires. Towards the end of this act, Vanbrugh uses short, staccato lines in the back to back exchange between the couple; Loveless and Amanda are both engaged in an unbridled rage and ruthless contempt has been made exceptionally clear in the language structure. Throughout the argument, the two actors should be facing each other at a short distance away. Although the argument is tense, the actor playing Loveless must stand firm in his belief that Amanda’s distrusts of his faithfulness are wrong. In order to portray the anger on stage, not only must this exchange happen in rapid succession between Amanda and Loveless, they need to physically exaggerate their bodily movements to show anger and frustration. Although Loveless will remain cold-hearted even when the act ends, Amanda’s voice must be brought to a whimper after Loveless screams, â€Å"Fie, fie, Amanda! It is not kind thus to distrust me† (I. i. 127). Whereas Loveless’s fears are founded on distrust, Amanda ’s are â€Å"founded on [her] love† (I. i. 128). There is a collision of faithfulness and infidelity, love and deceit. As the act concludes, Amanda’s last lines, â€Å"’Twould be a weakness in my tongue / my prudence could not answer / If I should press you farther with my fears; / I’ll therefore trouble you no longer with ‘em,† depict her ultimate surrender to her husband’s infidelity (I. i. 136-140). Unable to persuade Loveless to stay with her in the countryside, Vanbrugh limits the female voice in communication to man, suggesting that the only hope for Amanda now is in a higher power of God. The first act of John Vanbrugh’s The Relapse; or Virtue in Danger is extraordinarily powerful in its ability to disclose characters’ motives and inner desires to the audience. In addition, not only is this opening scene captivating, it does not rely on luxurious staging or lighting. Because this play has a focus on appearance versus reality, through the means of dress and setting, the audience is able to acknowledge the ways in which the actors manipulate and deceive. From setting the stage to appear unfitting for Loveless to clothing Amanda in a simple night gown, the audience is able to detect the incompatibility of the married couple. Relying on the actors’ tone and body movements to betray their own selves, the audience can see through the actors’ deceits and self-denial. Ultimately, it is through the careful and well thought-out intertwining of the script and the acting that will determine the success of The Relapse.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Contemporary issue in financial reporting Case Study

Contemporary issue in financial reporting - Case Study Example Due to the afore-mentioned factor, Microsoft can find the combination of balance sheets more useful in acquiring Yahoo, as it is an online Company. One more aspect that is useful for Microsoft in Pooling of interest method, it does not result in creation of goodwill. This leads to report higher earnings. (Answers.com, 2008) Thanks for giving us a chance to advise you on adoption of 'pooling interest' method. So that we can let you know, why it is beneficial for a company trying to acquire another, while you are contemplating to acquire Yahoo Corporation. While acquiring a company a firm follows one of the two methods. The first one is pooling of interest and the other is purchase method. The later involves the goodwill, which is a premium for buying a business. The goodwill is a result of subtracting purchase price from its book value. However, this is not advisable as Microsoft is trying to acquire Yahoo for more than the book value and this may result in negative goodwill according to purchase method. Hence, pooling of interest method is advisable for acquisition of Yahoo, for reporting higher earnings and a probable resultant higher share price. (About.com , 2008) When we consider the situation of Microsoft taking over Yahoo.com, let us take into consideration the earnings of both the companies at the end of 2007. The earnings of Microsoft at the end of 2007 is $11,030 and that of Yahoo is $1,403. Let us suppose that the book value of Yahoo's share is $10. Microsoft is contemplating to pay $32.5 per share. If it happens, the company has to pay $ 227987.5 million. However, the book value of Yahoo shares is $ 70150 million only. The difference is $ 157837.5 million. This will be termed as good will if Microsoft follows the purchase method and needs to be amortised in 40 years by amortising 1/40th part of the earnings every year. (Microsoft, 2008) If the company follows pooling interest method, there is no need of showing good will and the resultant company's balance sheet is the combination of balance sheets of two companies before acquisition. If the Book value of Yahoo share is $10 then the total book value of 7015 million Yahoo shares equal to $7.0150 billion. However, Microsoft has to pay $ 22. 8billion. The difference is $ 15.785 billion. (Ad vision, 2008) This has to be amortised in the resultant entity within 40 years according to purchase method. In Pooling of Interest method, there is no way to consider the goodwill as the company pays the amount to the investors and the balance sheets are combined from word to word and value to value. This reports the higher earnings and in the future years and allows higher earnings per share resulting in a higher share price in the market, which is not possible with purchase method as every year 1/40th part of the earnings cannot be included in reporting the earnings. A company like Microsoft, which have enough reserves of cash do not need the amortisation and can concentrate on For example, when we consider, the earnings of Microsoft and Yahoo in the year of 2007, the number of shares in Microsoft is 9848 million and the number of sha