Basquiat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Basquiat - Essay Example Though there were trying situations from his early childhood onward, he managed to find the most appropriate ways to counter them and to be exact in his road to fame. He painted as an artist who never bothered of restrictions and he had nothing to lose. Basquiat fought against many distressing situations in his life and rose to attain recognition by the year 1980 through 'The Times Square Show'. He collaborated with many artists of his time, including art-writers, curators, and collectors, to form a group which later came to be called as the Neo-expressionist movement. Though the painter developed to be one of the most realized artists of his time, his friends were worried about his extreme drug consumption, unpredictable behavior etc. Before he died at his 27 due to mixed-drug toxicity, he had achieved significant recognition. For a complete understanding of the life and artistic works of Basquiat, it is pivotal to depend on the authentic bibliography on him. However, the value of t he visual means along with the written word cannot be overlooked. In fact, the visual media has been able to offer a greater awareness of Basquiat's life. Therefore, though Basquiat has been memorialized through the biopic in 1996 by Julian Schnabel as well as the best selling biography of Basquiat by Phoebe Hoban in 1998, the former has a greater value to the audience as it offers a complete picture of the life of the artist through various aspects such as music and the sound effects, the effect of acting, and the other visual effects. This paper deals with a comparison between the reading and the film in order to suggest why the visual representation has a superior validity in understanding the life of Basquiat. Through his biography of Basquiat, Phoebe Hoban was able to create a true picture of the artist's life, but it was never a complete picture to the readers, as many often he failed to relate to the powerful emotion of the readers. Basquiat is represented as the most notorious artist who failed to accomplish his goals. Hoban presents the life of this great artist as cashed in on both fame and greed which were the characteristics of the 1980s. "Basquiat's life spanned an historic shift in the art world, from Pop to Neo-Expressionism, from hip to hype." (Hoban) To the biographer, graffiti was only the beginning for the painter and he soon involved with a New York scene which considered art as an element of the whole array of media. "'Artists were mixing up their media,' Phoebe Hoban suggests, and 'music film, painting and fashion were recombining in innovative ways' at the end of 1970s and early 1980s." (Thompson, 68) According to Hoban, Basquiat's stylistic qualities are part of establi shed African-American aesthetic traditions. The biography of Basquiat suggests why the artist was able to accomplish as a great painter. Accordingly, his contemporary world as well as the subsequent periods failed to recognize the "qualities in Basquiat's paintings and to concentrate instead'on his celebrity lifestyle'" (Thompson, 69) Similarly, the art movement of the time also failed to achieve a significant impact on the scenario. The biography Basquiat by Hoban,

Electronic Banking Has More Benefits for the Bank than for the Bank's Essay

Electronic Banking Has More Benefits for the Bank than for the Bank's Customers - Essay Example Because customer satisfaction has gained much significance in all industry segments, and banking being a retail industry where rush of customers for their daily banking needs is huge, benefits of e-banking to the customers are being provided with extra vigour by the banking industry to attract more and more customers as banking market is very competitive. For banks, internet banking offers the strategic possibility of cutting costs, better customer service; attract more customers and add-on with the cross-selling opportunities. Banks view electronic banking a very positive feature of their services. E-banking has its own challenges and opportunities, challenges emerging from the serious ramifications of global e-banking. In the global context, it is stated that the transaction costs have reduced drastically making it feasible to realise cross-border banking transactions electronically. Such an opportunity provides to the banks the potential of economies of scale. Such electronic cros s-border transactions need to be cleared by banks by taking additional safety measures (Nitsure, 2004). Benefits of e-banking to Banks Cost-effective According to Orr (1999) electronic banking cuts the cost of each transaction at once. ... It cuts down the cost of the bill if it is served to the customer electronically in comparison to when it is physically delivered in hard paper via post. Irvine (1999) remarks that banks leverage cost by saving 40% than in hard copy. Both the customers of the bank and the bank itself get the benefit from reduced cost without affecting the provision of effective and comprehensive services. Loyal Customers According to a research organised by Forrester Research, 61% of the participants were of the view that if banks come forward to deliver the services as desired by them they would gladly remain customers with such banks (Dixon, 1999). Knowing well what their customers want, banks are offering a â€Å"hub† of related services such as bill presentment and payment, financial planning, property planning, insurance, loans and brokerage services. The internet has facilitated this convergence of financial services, which was not possible otherwise from a centralised system. Banking we b sites providing convergence of services to the customers deliver a more comprehensive experience to such customers who randomly visit the bank website to use the offered services. The objective of the banks behind such convergence of offered services is to hook the customers by creating loyalty, providing the opportunity of bundling of services, which can be realised in increased earning from such customers, using various services of the banks under the umbrella. Additional Services Banks are offering financial portal services to their customers wherein various financial services and products like stocks and mortgages are presented to the customers, which have opened up another earning stream for the banks. It has become possible because of Internet integration.

The Media And Entertainment Information Technology Essay

The Media And Entertainment Information Technology Essay The Media and Entertainment industry is that sector of business which provides consumers the service and products which keep them updates as well as busy. This sector includes print media, television, radio, film entertainment, video games and casinos. Today this industry can is heavily dependent on the technology. Thus, media and entertainment industry and technology grow hand in hand. The evolution of this industry has brought into practise new business practises and technologies. Enterprise Resource Planning Enterprise Resource planning is a computer based system to integrate business management practises and latest technology. The system integrates various processes of an organisation and helps to achieve the goal of the organisation. Thus, ERP includes the following components; Business Management Practises, Information Technology and Business objectives. In other words, ERP is software that helps in collecting and distributing scattered information across the various departments of an organisation. Thus, at the heart of ERP is centralized data server to acquire information from and supply information to other servers in each department. ERP software architecture includes the various enterprise functions. It includes Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, Customer Relationship Management, Finance/Accounts and Manufacturing. Formerly, ERP were used in large scale industries. But today ERP is used in all kinds of organisation irrespective of field and scale of operation. Advantages It establishes a perfect integration of all the functional areas. The system streamlines various business processes and workflows. There is smooth flow of information across various departments of the organisation. There is an increase in efficiency, performance and productive levels by the use of ERP. It helps in taking decisions, thus enhances forecasting. Improve customer service and satisfaction. The Ideal ERP System An ERP is considered to be ideal if it integrates all the below mentioned processes of the organisation: Manufacturing: Engineering, material planning, production processes, resource planning, workflow management, quality control etc. Financials: Accounts, fixed assets, ledger, cash management and billing. Human Resource: Recruitment, training, labour rules, attendance, payroll, compensations Supply Chain Management: -Inventory management, sales order administration, supply chain planning, supplier scheduling, supply transportation and distribution. Customer Relationship Management: Service, commissions, sales and marketing, customer contact and sales support. Data Warehouse: Information storehouse that can be accessed by organisation, suppliers, customers and employees. ERP Vendors Case Study Company: Melco Crown Entertainment ERP Software: Microsoft ® Dynamicsà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ AX 2009 ERP Solution Company Overview: Melco Crown Entertainment is owner and developer of casino resort in Macau. The company got listed in NASDAQ in 2006 raising in excess of US$1.14 billion in the process. The company aims to provide the best entertainment experience in Macau. It has 40 different business entities. The company has various properties like City of Dreams, which fulfils the companys goal. The company is one of the largest employers in Macau with more than 10,000 employees. Business Challenge: The company had no prior experience in using a ERP system for all its 40 business entities. Each department functioned on its own. As Melco got listed on NASDAQ it faced strict requirements to meet in the global market. Further, Melco had to meet the requirements of Macau gambling regulations. Thus, Melco Crown Entertainment Needed an ERP which could comply to all this rules. The companys HR and Finance faced challenges due to the heterogeneous nature of business. The time consumed was more and increase in the number of employees made it difficult and costly to support. Further, the nature of business made the company realise the need of better data visibility and management. Thus, the company needed a centralised knowledge management and timely access to business data. Also, the company wanted to improve its productivity and security. The company had a very short time meet all these challenges and implement a ERP solution due to its other on-going projects. Solution: The company studied and analysed three different ERP products. But it was Microsoft Dynamics AX that suited the most for Melco Crown Entertainment. In the words of Mr. Roger Seshadri, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Melco Crown Entertainment, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 ERP Solution has all the ingredients of a world-class enterprise product. We wanted an ERP system with excellent usability and good bang for our buck. Dynamics was the clear choice. Microsoft Dynamic AX Microsoft Dynamic AX is the most easy to use enterprise resource planning solution for small and large scale organisation. It provides the user with software tools which are compatible with tools used every day like MS office. This ERP software makes people in organisation work more efficiently, manage data and gives a competitive edge in global market. For companies in the media and entertainment business, the advancement in technology and era of digital media has brought immense complexity to the industry. Organisations that continue with outdated business management solution may fail to survive in this market. Thus, Microsoft Dynamic AX is one business solution that has helped this industry in the following manner: It manages resources more efficiently. It helps in keeping track of production crew, talent, and other tangible resources more efficiently It reduces cost of operation by reducing the manpower. Various business intelligence tools help produce project report, graphs easily. The software integrates data from all the various aspects of media industry. Thus, giving the company better data visibility and provides information when required. Media industry is constantly in touch with its customers though it products and service. Microsoft Dynamic fosters betters relationship between the organisation and its customers by maintaining proper track of their order and customer satisfaction. Impact on Melco Crown Entertainment: The implementation of Microsoft Dynamic ERP solution overcame all challenges faced by the organisation. This software was a great success for Melco Crown. Today, success of Melco Crown can also be attributed to this business solution. Thus, benefits provided by the software are: Increase in productivity: This ERP significantly increased the employee productivity at Melco Crown Entertainment. Dynamics AX integrated all the application of various business entities, reducing the complexity. The conventional interface of Dynamic AX avoided the complexity of change management and training. Improvement in business processes and compliance: It has provided business process re-engineering and standardisation across all the entities. Most of the process are automated, making less labour work. Dynamic AX has provided a robust financial system with process and system controls, security, workflows and audit trial. The payroll for 10,000 employees is executed faster. The system also manages Macau and Hong Kong labour laws and tax requirements. Centralized Information management: Real time access to information has made Melco Crown Entertainment a tough competitor in the entertainment industry. With integrated and timely information availability has improved the decision making pocess, which helps in planning future goals. Lower IT costs: The company has been able to fulfil the demanding and critical business requirements with less hardware. Thus, IT team can focus on more business value jobs.

Platos Meno Essay -- essays research papers

Plato Meno   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Plato’s dialogue Socrates discusses ways in which virtue can be acquired with Meno. Three possibilities are confronted, first that virtue is innate within the human soul. The second suggests that virtue can be taught, and the third possibility is that virtue is a gift from the gods. These ways are debated by Socrates and Meno to a very broad conclusion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Socrates poses the question that virtue may be innate within the human soul. This is to say that all people would have virtue within them, but it is only those who find it that can truly become virtuous. To prove the concept of innate understanding to Meno, Socrates, acquires the help of one of Meno’s slave boys to demonstrate. Socrates establishes that the boy has never been taught mathematical geometry and starts bombarding him with a series of questions on the physical properties of a square. First he asks the boy to multiply the square by two, and he succeeds. However, the boy fails when asked to divide the same square into two parts half the original size. By asking the boy a series of questions yet, never actually telling him the answers Socrates helps the slave to â€Å"recollect† the knowledge that is within him. Meno is of course astonished with this feat that Socrates maintains is simply a matter of recollection.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This example given by Socrates, though obviously persuasive to Meno is somewhat unstable. It can be shown that Socrates manipulated the boy into recollecting the information by offering suggestive material within his questions. For example, if a person did not know the sum of the equation two plus two one could ask: if a person had two apples and someone else gave them two more would the person then not have four apples in total? A question was asked yet the information on how to perform the operation was directly given in the statement. Thus it can be reasoned that Socrates in a sense did teach the boy how to divide the square.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Following this demonstration Socrates poses a second idea that virtue may be taught. He begins by looking for teachers of virtue and comes up with four examples. The first is Themistocles who is agreed to be virtuous by the debaters and obviously a good teacher of his virtue. However the debaters also agre... ...finite preference to any of the possibilities that have been stated.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now the question is would Socrates have maintained that ignorance is bliss based on his views of the possible ways of acquiring virtue? I would conclude that he would not see ignorance as bliss because Socrates believes that the truth is far greater than the unknowing. Throughout the dialogue Socrates and Meno journey to put aside their ignorance to come to the truth on how virtue is acquired and possibly more importantly what virtue is. Even though the path to truth has proved painful in that the two are more perplexed on the topic at the end of the dialogue then at the beginning Socrates would have seen this as the first step to achieving the truth. This of course is better than not achieving that step at all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Socrates is ultimately concerned in finding the whole truth and would have defiantly preferred knowing some of the truth rather than being ignorant to it. Even though Socrates knew that the journey to reach the truth may be painful, ignorance would be far worse than a painful truth. Ultimately he knew that the way must be tried!

Why should manager want it in their workforce

The concept of organisational commitment (OC) is not easy to describe. By studying the literature on OC it becomes apparent that there is little consensus as to the meaning of the term. As the area has grown and developed, researchers from various disciplines have ascribed their own meaning to the topic. This is one of the reasons why defining OC is difficult. One definition is â€Å"Giving all of yourself while at work† (Martin and Nicolls). This definition is not very specific nor is it precise. A second definition says that work commitment come into being â€Å"When a person, by making a side-bet, links extraneous interests with a consistent line of activity.† (Becker, 1960) This definition focuses mainly on activities and behaviour in OC. A third definition explains OC as â€Å"an attitude or an orientation towards the organisation which links or attaches the identity of the person to the organisation.† (Sheldon, 1971) The two last definitions differ from each other in their understanding of OC. The second focuses mainly on behaviour while the third is more based on attitude and identification. A good definition should cover the attitudinal-behavioural dichotomy and one definition that does that is Richard T Mowday et al's (1982) definition: This definition represents something more than the previous because it says that OC goes beyond mere passive loyalty to an organisation. It sees commitment to an organisation as an active relationship with the organisation such that individuals are willing to give something of themselves in order to contribute to the organisation's well being. Mowday's definition can be characterised by at least three factors:  · A strong belief in and acceptance of the organisation's goals and values  · A willingness to exert considerable effort on behalf of the organisation and  · A strong desire to maintain membership in the organisation Mowday's definition also has some weaknesses. Firstly it is important to notice that this definition does not prelude the possibility that individuals will also be committed to other aspects of their environment. It simply asserts that regardless of these other possible commitments the organisationally committed individual will tend to exhibit the three characteristics identified. Secondly, the definition doesn't clarify the terms ‘identification with' and ‘involvement in'. It can be discussed whether this is a good definition since the terms may be understood as ambiguous. Although this is not an ideal definition of OC, it is a definition that gives a good understanding and explanation of what OC is. Furthermore, Staw (77) differentiates between 2 different types of OC. Attitudinal commitment: Refers to commitment rooted in an employee's identification with the particular value system upheld by the co, and a desire to continue working there. Behavioural commitment on the other hand, comes about through a consistent pattern of action by an employee over a period of time, and the way in which s/he tends to become bound by this behaviour and hence reluctant to change. The point made here is that attitudinal commitment should lead to behavioural commitment and behavioural to attitudinal. Understanding this, we will examine in part 3 possible ways managers in which look to initially generate OC. There are several possible reasons why managers should want work commitment in their workforce. Drennan suggest that most managers believe that with real commitment from staff the performance of their business could improve dramatically. Beside an increased performance the work will also be a better place to work. The empirical studies carried out on the topic of OC represent a rich collection of findings with respect to both the antecedents and the consequences of the construct. Here is a short explanation of five possible outcomes that has been studied. Few important correlations have emerged in studies, although the correlations are consistently in a predicted direction and often reached statistical significance. (Mowday et al., 1974; Porter, Crampon, & Smith, 1976; Steers, 1977a) Therefore we should expect commitment to influence the amount of effort an employee puts forth on the job and this efforts should have some influence on actual performance. Committed employees are desirous of remaining with the organisation. Highly significant, positive correlations have been found between increased tenure and increases commitment in Mowday 1974 and Steer 1977 studies. Theory would predict that highly committed employees would be more motivated to attend so they could facilitate organisational goal attainment. Modest support can be found in several studies like F.J. Smith, 1977; Steers, 1977a, but this support is not entirely consistent (Angle & Perry, 1981). When an employee's commitments lie outside the organisation (e.g. hobby, family), less internal pressure would be exerted on the employee to attend (Morgan & Herman, 1976). We could say that commitment may represent an influence on attendance motivation. In a study by Angle and Perry (1981), commitment was found to be strongly and inversely related to employee tardiness. The theory underlying the construct suggests that highly committed employees are likely to engage in behaviours consistent with their attitudes toward the organisation. Coming to work on time would certainly represent one such behaviour. The strongest or most predictable behavioural outcome of employee commitment should be reduced turnover, which are shown in five studies. (Angle & Perry, 1981, Hom et al., 1979; Koch & Steers, 1978; Mowday et al., 1979; Steers, 1977a) In a sixth study, a longitudinal design was used to track commitment levels over time among a sample of psychiatric technicians. (Porter et al., 1974) Again commitment was found to be significantly and inversely related to subsequent turnover. Using the model suggested by Mowday et al, we look at the development of OC in 3 stages. What should be clear here is the significance of the early part of the company's relationship with an employee in seeking OC. Here we refer in particular to recruitment and induction practices of the firm. Employee characteristics: Choose people whose values, beliefs, etc in some way fit with those of the firm. The role of this ‘fit' in securing attitudinal commitment is significant Employee Expectations: Make sure these correspond with the realities of the job Job Design: Increase scope leads to increased commitment. Important dimensions inc: variety, autonomy, feedback, significance, challenge. – Participation, group work, and interdependence of tasks leads to commitment thru greater involvement and also increased felt responsibility – Make work challenging: Will attract those individuals who value work and bring an attitude of achievement to the organisation. Management and structure: Integration and supportive/open management – Loosen tight supervision and give employees more discretion Reward System: Internal labour market Organisational characteristics: Co must be seen as protecting the workers' interests while offering employment stability. Socialising employees is also important here, altho little research has been done on either its implementation of its usefulness. Increasing focus on behavioural commitment 1. Employees' jobs more likely to inc those dimensions mentioned above in ‘Job design' 2. Higher extrinsic awards + increased value of investments made by employee 3. Workers generally more socialised in the co Note: A major factor in influencing OC which has been ignored deliberately is that of personal experiences and histories that employees bring with them from previous jobs, etc. as this is beyond the scope of management intervention. In this essay we have mainly argued that organisational commitment is good and we have explained why manager should want it in their workforce. It is also evident that having a strong committed workforce has its advantages. One thing we have not mentioned is the disadvantages of a committed workforce. Randall (1987) used the term â€Å"blind† commitment in describing a workforce that was too committed. If you are too committed it can lead employees to accept the status quo even if the ultimately means that the company loses its ability to innovate and adapt to change. Another possible drawback to commitment can be illustrated by the example of a mediocre employee who has been at for a particular org for some time and who would struggle to get another job elsewhere. In this case, we assume s/he would be committed to his/her job so as not to risk losing it. In this way, this paper, having shown that there are many reasons why managers may wish to secure OC and how it can be achieved, has also highlighted some potential drawbacks that managers should be aware of.

Moksha and Salvation

Since the fall of man and the manifestation of sin, a wedge was placed between God and man. Man has strived to establish a reconnection with God through a variety of sources. Salvation is the source or bridge that connects man to God. Every religion has its own philosophy concerning the path of salvation. â€Å"The goal of most Indian religions is to break the cycle of karma and samsara and be free from the burden of life. This breaking of life is called Moksha† (Hopfe & Woodard, 2009, [pg. 85]). Moksha is the Hindu term used which liberates the soul from karma . This liberation can be experienced through death or while one is yet living. In observing the Hindu concept of salvation in comparison to Christianity, there are some similarities as well as differences. It is the Hindu belief that salvation, referred to as Moksha â€Å"can be obtained through three paths: knowledge (inana), devotion (bhakti), ritual works or karma† (McDowell & Stewart, 2006). These are the three concepts that illustrate the differences and similarities in both religions of how salvation can be attained. In observing the similarities, the first similarity is the theory that salvation can be attained through knowledge. This type of knowledge is spiritual. In Hinduism it is believed that â€Å"Humans basic problem is not wickedness but ignorance. People are ignorant about the true nature of reality and believe that they are separated from Brahman† (Hope& Woodard, 2009, [pg. 105]). In the Hindu society, it is only when Moksha is obtained that one is able to see life from a clear perspective. According to Upanishads, â€Å"When true knowledge of the illusion of life is realized, one can be freed from the bondage of life and achieve unity with Brahman† (Hope& Woodard, 2009, [pg. 89]). In contrast, in Christianity Satan is referred to as a liar and a deceiver. It is his duty to distort the minds of God’s children and cause them to lose focus of their divine purpose on the earth. He creates the illusion that that there is no Hell and neither is there a God. Thus, many of God’s people continue to live destructive lifestyles as if they will live forever. The second similarity that both Christianity and Hinduism share is the belief that its liberation cannot be found in earthly things. Believers of both religions are challenged to disregard earthly things and esteem heavenly things. In a world that is so full of hate, suffering, misfortune and tragedy; people are on desperately searching to fill some type of void. From a Hindu perspective, â€Å"Humans do not recognize the Brahman but instead try to cling to the objects of life-which are like mirages-they keep slipping away from our grasp† (Hopfe &Woodard, 2009, [pg. 05]. Many Christians find themselves plagued with the same problem; they begin to chase after the things of the world rather than the things of God. Concerning material things Griffiths states, â€Å"There are four ends of life, pleasure (kama), wealth (artha), duty (dharma) and liberation. The modern world recognized the first three but has lost sight of the last, yet without this goal of final liberation, of ultimate transcendence, all the other goals lead to frustration. †¦. (Griffiths, 1982, pg. [66]). It is only when one comes to the realization that the world and all it has to offer is temporary, and can’t bring true fulfillment; will they then center their priorities on things eternal. Though the similarities of salvation are quite similar, when comparing both religions; there are also some major differences. One of the major differences between how both religions perceive salvation is that Hinduism teaches that salvation must be earned. The theory â€Å"what goes around, comes around is what the religion is centered around. Through karma, or doing good things; one can either gain salvation or escape reincarnation. However, Christianity teaches that all of our works are just like filthy rags. In Christianity it is taught that salvation is given through grace. Ephesians 2: 8-9 says, â€Å"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and not this from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast† (NIV, 2007, Ephesians 2:8-9). The most profound difference is that that Hinduism recognizes no single path to gaining salvation As stated previously, â€Å"Moksha can be obtained through three paths: knowledge (inana), devotion (bhakti), ritual works or karma (McDowell & Stewart, 2006). Another method of attaining freedom is through the exercise of Yoga. Through various Yoga exercises one seeks to connect with Brahman. In contrast, the path to salvation in Christianity requires one simple confession; this confession is found in Romans 10:9: â€Å"That if you confess ith your mouth â€Å"Jesus is Lord† and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved† (NIV, 2007, Romans 10:9). Jesus Christ is the way to salvation none can attain it any other way, for He said, â€Å"I am the way, the truth and the life†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (NIV, 2007, John 14:6). In summary, the path to salvation is sought in various ways through both Hinduism and Christianity. Each individual in these religio ns are in search for something that they realize the world can’t offer. It is only when one understands this simple concept that the path to freedom begins.

The eNotes Blog Happy Birthday, PBS!

Happy Birthday, PBS! On Sunday, November 3, PBS turned forty-four years old. Wow.  Ã‚   Thats a lot of numbers.   Id have to count with this vintage piece from Sesame Street a bunch of times to count THAT high! PBSs mission, from the beginning, has been to inform and inspire the diversity reflected in the American audience.   Astonishingly, even with the plethora of choices in broadcasting today, 90% of households watch PBS annually. There are many reasons to continue to love and support your local PBS station.   Its news programming has been named the most trustworthy institution among nationally known organizations, for ten consecutive years. How about Masterpiece Theater, which just celebrated its fortieth birthday and is enjoying wild success with its hit show Downton Abbey?   Heres a preview of Season 4, which premieres on December 17, 2013 Or perhaps your taste runs a bit more to the Monster Piece Theatre side? Here we have Grover interpreting the classic Upstairs, Downstairs: One of the best things about PBS has always been its educational programming for children.   Seventy-seven percent of children ages 2-11 watch PBS Kids each year.   Here are some other interesting facts about that programming: So send your local station a birthday card and while youre at it, become a member.   Members are still the largest source of support and they need you to keep quality, commercial free programming available, for your kids, and for you.

A Christmas Carol Essay Example

A Christmas Carol Essay Example A Christmas Carol Paper A Christmas Carol Paper Essay Topic: A Christmas Carol With reference to the themes of wealth and poverty, what lessons do you think Charles Dickens wanted his audience to learn from the story of Scrooges changing character? Charles Dickens was using A Christmas Carol as an attempt to challenge his audience of rich contemporaries into action to combat the problem of the mistreatment of the poor in London at that time. Poverty at this time was rife in London. The penny-pinching, tight-fisted, upper and middle classes exploited the poor and underprivileged around them. Charles Dickens wished to change this with his novella A Christmas Carol. He wished to communicate to them the problems that the poor were facing and that they should be helped and not just put in poor houses and prisons to decrease the surplus population. He felt that the poor were being grossly mistreated and that his work will be able to get through to people as nothing else would. He hoped it would be widely read and would influence people especially at the time of Christmas as people tend to be kinder to their fellow human beings at that time of year. He wished to bring relief to the problems that the poor face day on day. Scrooge treats everyone disrespectfully and he is a misanthropist which is someone who hates people in general. The way that Dickens creates Scrooge brings the problem that Dickens is trying to solve to the attention of the reader and they immediately understand what Dickens is describing the problem as because of Scrooge. In the first stave the first person that Scrooge comes into contact with is his clerk Bob Cratchit who was a very under paid worker that Scrooge had employed. From the moment dickens describes the relationship between Scrooge and the clerk it is clear to the reader that Scrooge thinks he is superior to Cratchit because of the money that Scrooge has. Dickens quotes Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerks fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal, but he couldnt replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal box in his own room this is just one example of how Scrooge treats his clerk as he could not find the simple generosity inside him to give his hard working clerk some coal. Also when the clerk is leaving for the night on Christmas Eve he has a conversation with Mr Cratchit. Cratchit asks for the day off tomorrow which is Christmas Day and Scrooge is very reluctant to let him have the day off. Scrooge quotes; A poor excuse for picking a mans pocket every twenty-fifth of December! But I suppose you must have the whole day. Be here all the earlier next morning! This is an example of how badly treated Mr Cratchit is by Scrooge not only is he underpaid for how much hard work he puts in he also has only one holiday a year that even then his boss is reluctant to let him have the day off. This is Dickens being clever and using Cratchit to his advantage by making the reader feel sympathy for Cratchit by how Scrooge treats him so that Dickens can tell the reader through there relationship that the poor needed to be treated better or with more compassion. During the first stave Scrooge is visited by two charity collectors when he is at his place of work. This scene in the book is a key one because Scrooges actions during this scene are to some extent evil. The charity collector is asking whether Scrooge could donate some money to those who are not as wealthy as himself. Scrooge becomes tense during this scene and quotes; I wish to be left alone. Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I dont make merry myself at Christmas, and I cant afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there. This quote is showing the reader how shockingly tight Scrooge is with his money and how unkind he is during a festive season of the year. The charity collector says that Many cant go there, many would rather die. This quote is supposed to make Scrooge feel a fragment of sympathy for these poor people but no Scrooge replies. If they would rather die they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. Besides excuse me I dont know that. This is an example of an evil quote from Scrooge and this is probably as dreadful as it gets. This quote is a key quote as it describes exactly how cold Scrooge is but also later on in the novel is used against him successfully. Also in the first stave Scrooge has a conversation with his nephew who is one of his only living relatives. The nephew is described as very warm and light an example of this is: He has so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooges, that he was all in glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again The words heated, glow and sparkled are key in this description as they work with the novel as the novel works through symbolism. Scrooge is associated with: Cold, Hard and Dark and his nephew is a contrast of this as he is described as Warm and Light.

Ile Ife (Nigeria) History and Archaeology

Ile Ife (Nigeria) History and Archaeology Ile-Ife (pronounced EE-lay EE-fay), and known as Ife or Ife-Lodun is an ancient urban center, a Yoruba city in Osun state in southwestern Nigeria, about 135 northeast of Lagos. First occupied at least as early as the 1st millennium CE, it was most populous and important to the Ife culture during the 14th and 15th centuries CE, and it is considered the traditional birthplace of the Yoruba civilization, of the latter part of the African Iron Age. Today it is a thriving metropolis, with a population of about 350,000 people. Key Takeaways: Ile-Ife Ile-Ife is a Medieval period site in Nigeria, occupied between the 11th and 15th centuries CE.  It is considered the ancestral home of the Yoruba people.  Residents made naturalistic Benin bronzes, terracotta and copper allow sculptures.  Evidence at the site shows local manufacture of  glass beads, adobe brick houses, and potsherd pavements.   Prehistoric Chronology Pre-Classical (also known as Pre-Pavement), ?–11th centuriesClassical (Pavement), 12th–15th centuriesPost-Classic (Post-Pavement), 15th–17th centuries During its heyday of the 12th–15th centuries CE, Ile-Ife experienced a fluorescence in bronze and iron arts. Beautiful naturalistic terracotta and copper alloy sculptures made during the early periods have been found at Ife; later sculptures are of the lost-wax brass technique known as Benin bronzes. The bronzes are thought to represent rulers, priests, and other notable people during the citys florescence as a regional power. It was also during Classic period Ile Ife that construction of decorative pavements, open-air courtyards paved with pottery sherds. The sherds were set on edge, sometimes in decorative patterns, such as herringbone with embedded ritual pots. The pavements are unique to the Yoruba and believed to have been first commissioned by Ile-Ifes only female king. The Ife period buildings at Ile-Ife were constructed primarily of sun-dried adobe brick and so only a few remnants have survived. During the medieval period, two earthen rampart walls were erected around the city center, making Ile-Ife what archaeologists call a fortified settlement. The royal center had a circumference of about 2.5 miles, and its inner-most wall encircles an area of some three square miles. A second medieval period wall encircles an area of some five sq mi; both medieval walls are ~15 feet tall and 6.5 ft thick. Glass Works In 2010, excavations were undertaken in the northeastern part of the site by Abidemi Babatunde Babalola and colleagues who identified evidence that Ile Ife was making glass beads for its own consumption and for trade. The city had long been associated with glass processing and glass beads, but the excavations recovered almost 13,000 glass beads and several pounds of glassworking debris. The beads here have a unique chemical makeup, of contrasting levels of soda and potassium and high levels of alumina. The beads were made by drawing a long tube of glass and cutting it into lengths, mostly under two-tenths of an inch. Most of the finished beads were cylinders or oblates, the rest are tubes. Bead colors are primarily blue or blue-green, with a smaller percentage of colorless, green, yellow, or multicolored. A few are opaque, in yellow, dark red or dark gray. Bead-making manufacturing is indicated by pounds of glass waste and cullet, 14,000 potsherds. and fragments of several pottery crucibles. The vitrified ceramic crucibles are between 6 and 13 inches tall, with a mouth diameter of between 3–4 inches, which would have held between 5-40 pounds of molten glass.   The production site was used between the 11th and 15th centuries and represents rare evidence of early West African crafts. Archaeology at Ile-Ife Excavations at Ile Ife have been conducted by F. Willett, E. Ekpo and P.S. Garlake. Historical records also exist and have been used to study migration patterns of the Yoruba civilization. Sources and Further Information Babalola, Abidemi Babatunde, et al. Chemical Analysis of Glass Beads from Igbo Olokun, Ile-Ife (Sw Nigeria): New Light on Raw Materials, Production, and Interregional Interactions. Journal of Archaeological Science 90 (2018): 92–105. Print.Babalola, Abidemi Babatunde, et al. Ile-Ife and Igbo Olokun in the History of Glass in West Africa. Antiquity 91.357 (2017): 732–50. Print.Ige, O.A., B.A. Ogunfolakana, and E.O.B.  Ajayi. Chemical Characterization of Some Potsherd Pavements from Parts of Yorubaland in Southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Archaeological Science 36.1 (2009): 90–99. Print.Ige, O.A., and Samuel E.  Swanson. Provenance Studies of Esie Sculptural Soapstone from Southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Archaeological Science 35.6 (2008): 1553–65. Print.Obayemi, Ade M. Between Nok, Ile-Ife and Benin: Progress Report and Prospects. Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria 10.3 (1980): 79–94. Print.Ogundiran, Akinwumi. Four Millennia of Cultura l History in Nigeria (Ca. 2000 B.C.–A.D. 1900): Archaeological Perspectives. Journal of World Prehistory 19.2 (2005): 133–68. Print. Olupona, Jacob K. City of 201 Gods: Ilà ©-Ife in Time, Space, and the Imagination. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2011. 223-241.Usman, Aribidesi A. On the Frontier of Empire: Understanding the Enclosed Walls in Northern Yoruba, Nigeria. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 23 (2004): 119–32. Print.

The Music of Josquin des Prez Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Music of Josquin des Prez - Research Paper Example that he did not compose what his patron wished – he composed when and what he wanted and that the reason as to why he frequently changed his jobs was that compared to his counterparts, he demanded a higher pay. Josquin was mostly celebrated for his motets and chansons and was very particular about his songs – if anyone tried to alter them, he became very furious. His contemporaries admired his composing skill greatly. These included Cosimo Bartoli a Florentine mid-century composer who asserted that Josquin’s standing was equivalent to Michelangelo’s stature in sculpture, as well as Martin Luther who confessed that the mastery that Josquin had was so great that it defied comparison with the endeavors of his counterparts. Additionally, Heinrich Glarean, a theorist and humanist from Switzerland, in his judgment of Josquin, confessed that Josquin’s skill was utterly versatile, so endowed with a natural vigor and acumen that he was able to do anything pertaining music. Glarean adds that this polyphonist’s songs gracefully and fluently expressed the moods of the heart matchlessly (Knighton & Fallows 15). In their commentary on Josquin’s artistic and historical position in music development, Davison and Apel compares him with Raphael, his contemporary in painting history (225). Another writer by the name Charles Joseph gives a commentary on Josquin’s inventiveness arguing that what has made his music to be so popular is its intriguing compositional logic. Josquin expertly integrates the simplest motivic cells into great melodic compositions of architectural perfection. Consequently, composition and analysis teachers have always advocated that their students examine his works thoroughly (Judd 299). Another person who praises Josquin is Henricus Glareanus. While analyzing his melodic structure and modal mixture, Glareanus pays tribute to Josquin praising this prince of the perfect art for his handling of the modes producing profound pathos, sonorous beauty

Why do people term an illness to be physcial or psychological Is there Essay

Why do people term an illness to be physcial or psychological Is there a relationship between public causal attributions of functional somatic syndromes and h - Essay Example Cognitive structures such as illness schemata helps to organize information from internal sensations (symptoms) and disease-related information gathered from the external environment. Howard Leventhal and his colleagues (Leventhal et al. 1984) have proposed the most relevant model of symptom perception within the tradition of information processing. Their Common Sense Models of Illness approach is rooted in cognitive psychology and builds on the work on cognitive schemata and prototypes. In specific, Leventhal et al. propose that individuals tend to construct their own individual representation of symptoms or illness and that this idiosyncratic representation will, in turn, influence their behavior (e.g., help-seeking, adherence and compliance). In specific, they proposed that illness representations (or schemata) are a function of an individual's semantic knowledge about symptoms and disease and specific contextual factors such as the nature of somatic changes and the situations in which these occur. This semantic knowledge accumulates across the life span and is acquired through the media, through personal experience, and from family and friends who have had experience with the disease. Therefore, the perception of cause can have an effect on the behavior towards an illness, because the cognitive dissemination leads to the semantic knowledge of the disease. Understanding how a person views a disease can impact behavior towards the illness. People's common sense models of illness strongly influence which symptoms a person will search for and will ultimately perceive. Work by Meyer and his colleagues (Meyer et al. 1985) on hypertension illustrates this point. Hypertension disease holds one or a combination of disease models about high blood pressure. As Meyer and his colleagues demonstrated, some patients hold the belief that hypertension is a disease of the heart, others believe that it is an arterial disorder and a third group might associate hypertension with emotional upset. Importantly, the kind of belief patients' hold affects the way they monitor their body: Symptoms that are consistent with their specific illness belief are more likely to get noticed. The relationship between a person's cognitive knowledge of the cause is therefore directly related towards the symptoms and evaluation of 'cures' for the illness. This research study will incorporate that foundation of illness cause perception by quantitatively e xamining the differences between illness cause perception amongst participants. In addition to general concepts of illness, people also hold organized conceptions-termed disease prototypes-for particular diseases (Bishop 1991; Bishop and Converse 1986). Prototypes of specific diseases help people organize and evaluate information about bodily sensations that might otherwise not be interpretable. Thus, a person who holds the belief that he or she is vulnerable to heart disease is more likely to interpret chest pain in accord to his or her prototype of heart disease than a person who does not hold this belief (Bishop and Converse 1986). This latter person might instead regard the chest pain as signaling a gall

M3 Mortality Data Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

M3 Mortality Data Paper - Essay Example It helps to determine the competence of health facilities, the efficiency of drugs used by specific patients and the effects of lifestyle habits on health (Shi, 2008).  Ã‚  Mortality data is limited because it cannot accurately determine future death trends. Socio-economic factors, socio-political factors, lifestyle habits, natural calamities, and migration influence the value of the data since these factors are significant especially when authorities manipulate them. Therefore, mortality data is limited in the mode of collection and interpretation. Most deaths go unreported, especially those that do not occur in health institutions. Consequently, deaths that do not occur in hospitals are rarely investigated.  This may result in wrong recording and interpretation of recorded data (McKenzie et al., 2012). Additionally, recording of death in the health departments may lead to multiple records, thus distorting the figures. Descriptive research attempts to explore the health problem extensively through the analysis of mortality data.   In understanding the problem, descriptive research engages the three elements of time, place and person in integrative ways and relates findings with emerging phenomena. It appraises the regularity and pattern of the three elements as they influence public health (McKenzie et al., 2012). It also evaluates the circumstances defining a person by assessing the social patterns causing ill health and mortality. Place implies the geographic locality and its features that are likely to influence health. By studying a place, epidemiologists assess the incidences of diseases and the causation factors in the environment (Shi, 2008). Place may imply the environmental surroundings such as school, workplace, and the population density of an area. In evaluation of â€Å"person,† factors of social status, age, education levels, gender and access to health services are assessed .   The research also evaluates personal habits

Marketing strategy of adidas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing strategy of adidas - Essay Example Adidas is guided by the three principles which were laid down by the founder, Adi Dassler – to aim for the production of the best possible foot wear to serve the requirement of sports, to aim for the protection of the athlete from any possible injury and produce a durable product (Step back in time, n.d.). They company operates out of Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America through a network comprising of more than 170 subsidiaries. The organisation is headquartered at Herzogenaurach, Germany, employing over 31,344 people worldwide (Adidas AG - Financial and Strategic Analysis Review, 2009). The journey for the company began in 1920, when Adi Dassler, with the aid of two shoemakers, produced homemade leather training shoes. A major milestone was achieved, resulting in superb promotion for the company, in 1932, when Arthur Jonath, a German athlete, won a bronze medal in the 1932 Olympics using shoes produced by the company. The company was on its upward spiral and soon the revenues of the company crossed 400,000 Reich mark in 1935. Sportsperson from 120nations used Adidas products in the Seoul Olympics in 1988. The company has seen many highs and undergone major structural changes in the way it has approached the market place. It has been quick to realize that marketing and customer orientation have become vital on the part of a modern company. The company has changed its entire outlook – which resulted in the creation of the three divisions - adidas Sport Performance, adidas Sport Heritage and adidas Sport Style from the existing Footwear and Clothing/Accessories . The company also decided to give its customers to option of customising the products they wanted to buy according to their own specifications – a business model which is now replicated all over the market space. The company went ahead with its aggressive marketing campaign and adopted a new tagline in 2003 -

Library Information Studies-The Information Society (Unit)-Essay Assignment

Library Information Studies-The Information Society (Unit)-Essay ( )-Is Australia an information society - Assignment Example According to Boyd and Ellison (2007), the network society is comprised of production, power and experience, which build a culture of virtuality in the universal surges that transcend time and space. Since the latter years of the twentieth century, it has become humdrum for critics to announce that the world we live in is an information society. Therefore, if this is wholly genuine, then we must certainly have key ramifications for the information sciences. It is beyond hesitation that social concerns impinge upon the work of information intellectuals and professionals similarly. As we look at the definitions of what an information society is, it is important that we first put into account the nature of, and standard for, an information society (Bawden & Robison, 2012). According to Bawden and Robinson (2012), the most objective perception of the information society is founded on economics. Thus, when most of the economic activity and assets of a community is based on insubstantial, information based goods and products, then it appears justifiable to explain this as an information society. An analogous case is founded on occupations. Bowen and Robison (2012), assert that when people are employed as information employees, as opposed to manual workers, then the community should be termed as an information society. Whereas these economic and occupational assumptions appear collectively persuasive, they have been dismissed on a number of grounds, most specifically since supporters of the perceptions have the tendencies to espouse a vague, and may be irrationally extensive perceptions of what may be considered as information society. Bawden and Robison (2012), thus far argues that this is an option, and may be the most popular explanation based on technology. When a community has adequately dominant and extensive information and communication technologies,

How could television be used to improve social and political life in Essay

How could television be used to improve social and political life in the United States - Essay Example Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are the leading methods of getting social and political information to a massive audience. These announcements exist on channels that are usually controlled by the city, and they cover current political information and other goings-on throughout America. â€Å"The best way to improve social life in the United States is to let the vast majority of the population know what is going on in America’s social life (Womack, 2009).† Most of these channels run 24/7, always updating their information so that those that watch these announcements stay up to date. While these announcements usually have their own designated television stations, there are some counties that prefer to air the announcements during news broadcasts or popular television shows - times when there is a good chance that there are already a massive number of people sitting in front of their televisions. Similarly, another popular method of using the television to improve social and political life is the news. A little more formal than Public Service Announcements, the news informs people of numerous goings-on in the world, influencing the social and political side of television viewers, especially the political side. People are able to view the different debates going on in politics and decide for themselves which side of the argument they are more in agreement with. They can also conclude their own argument if the ones on television do not please them. They are able to build a political opinion by watching the news on television. As a large majority of people do watch the news, many news companies make sure to feed the important, need-to-know information in the first half-hour (Calavita, 2005). A method that is used to guarantee a large audience when it comes to viewing either Public Service Announcements or a news broadcast is by placing the program immediately after a popular television show. This method is implemented with the belief that

Library Information Studies-The Information Society (Unit)-Essay Assignment

Library Information Studies-The Information Society (Unit)-Essay ( )-Is Australia an information society - Assignment Example According to Boyd and Ellison (2007), the network society is comprised of production, power and experience, which build a culture of virtuality in the universal surges that transcend time and space. Since the latter years of the twentieth century, it has become humdrum for critics to announce that the world we live in is an information society. Therefore, if this is wholly genuine, then we must certainly have key ramifications for the information sciences. It is beyond hesitation that social concerns impinge upon the work of information intellectuals and professionals similarly. As we look at the definitions of what an information society is, it is important that we first put into account the nature of, and standard for, an information society (Bawden & Robison, 2012). According to Bawden and Robinson (2012), the most objective perception of the information society is founded on economics. Thus, when most of the economic activity and assets of a community is based on insubstantial, information based goods and products, then it appears justifiable to explain this as an information society. An analogous case is founded on occupations. Bowen and Robison (2012), assert that when people are employed as information employees, as opposed to manual workers, then the community should be termed as an information society. Whereas these economic and occupational assumptions appear collectively persuasive, they have been dismissed on a number of grounds, most specifically since supporters of the perceptions have the tendencies to espouse a vague, and may be irrationally extensive perceptions of what may be considered as information society. Bawden and Robison (2012), thus far argues that this is an option, and may be the most popular explanation based on technology. When a community has adequately dominant and extensive information and communication technologies,

Media Effects on School Shooting Victims Essay Example for Free

Media Effects on School Shooting Victims Essay The participants of this study were students of Jokela High School, the school which experienced the shooting, and a control group of students from Pirkkala High school, which had not experienced a shooting. Jokela High School, at the time, had 474 students enrolled. All 474 of these students were asked to partake in the study. Participation in this study was voluntary and of the 474 students, 231 accepted the invitation to participate in the study, 180 students declined, 34 students could not be reached and 29 students consented to participate but never did. 526 students agreed to participate in the study from the control group school, Pirkkala High School. The participants were a mixture of both male and female students ranging from ages 13 to 19 years of age. Large portions of the families of the students from Pirkkala belong to the upper middle-class compared to Jokela, but there were no major differences in sociocultural background or crime rate between the two communities. The data in this study was collected by dispensing a questionnaire in a school setting in March of 2008. If a student was absent from school the questionnaire was mailed home along with the consent forms. The questionnaire started out asking basic background questions, such as socioeconomic status, living arrangements, previous psychological support or exposure to shootings. Next, students were asked to take a 36-item General Health Questionnaire to measure psychological and psychosocial symptoms. Students were also asked to complete The Impact of Event Scale to map symptoms into two categories, Intrusion and Avoidance. Students were then asked to rate their exposure to the shooter as either no exposure (control students), mild, moderate, significant, severe, and extreme. Each of these categories had descriptions to help the student choose the right option that applied to them. Lastly, students were asked questions about the media’s interactions with them. They were asked if the media interacted with them after the shooting, if they cooperated with the media, if the questions had an effect on their feelings after the shooting, and how the reporter approached them. Then they were asked if they followed the news coverage on the event over the next couple days and what type of effect the coverage had on their feelings.

Management Fayol Organization

Management Fayol Organization PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT Henri Fayol was born in 1841 in Istanbul. He was one of Europes leading thinkers on management theories and was one of the most influential contributors to modern concepts of management. Fayol was a key figure in the ‘turn-of-the-century Classical School of management theory. He suggested that management is a universal human activity that applies to family as well as to the organization. His Frenchmen has been described as the father of modern operational management theory. His ideas have become the very foundation of modern management concepts. Henri Fayol was a French engineer and director of mines, was little known outside France until the late 40s when Constance Storrs published her translation of Fayols 1916 Administration Industrielle et Generale . Fayols career began as a mining engineer. He then moved into research geology and in 1888 joined, Comambault as Director. Comambault was in difficulty but Fayol turned the operation round. On retirement he published his work a comprehensive theory of administration described and classified administrative management roles and processes then became recognised and referenced by others in the growing discourse about management. He is frequently seen as a key, early contributor to a classical or administrative management school of thought (even though he himself would never have recognised such a school). Henri Fayol theorising about administration was built on personal observation and experience of what worked well in terms of organisation. His aspiration for an administrative science sought a consistent set of principles that all organizations must apply in order to run properly. F. W. Taylor published The Principles of Scientific Management in the USA in 1911, and Fayol in 1916 examined the nature of management and administration on the basis of his French mining organisation experiences.. With two exceptions, Henri Fayols theories of administration are going directly into the bureaucratic superstructure described by Weber. Henri Fayol focuses on the personal duties of management at a much more granular level than Weber did. While Weber laid out principles for an ideal bureaucratic organization Fayols work is more directed at the management layer Fayol was the famous theorist who proposed that there are five primary functions of manager. He believed that management had five principle roles which he saw as (1) Planning: To forecast and plan the future by drawing up plans of actions and how they will be implemented by identifying the strategies (2) Organizing: To build up the structure, material and who give the delegated authority to carry out the specific tasks (3) Commanding: Maintaining activity among the personnel and giving orders in the specific period of time telling the employees what exactly to do and how. (4) Co-ordinating: Binding together the whole of the team so that they can harmonize their activities and efforts to one unified goal or achievement. (5) Controlling: To see that everything occurs in conformity with policy and practise. Controlling is described in the sense that a manager must receive feedback on a process that is being carried out in an organization so that he can make the relevant adjustments if necessary. Most of these activities are very task oriented, rather than people oriented, very similar to Taylor and Scientific Management. While both have a task focus, their approaches are quite different. Fayol was particularly interested in authority and its implementation while Taylor concentrated on work organisation (e.g. efficiency). In many ways their views illustrating some of the differences between the USA and Europe. The views and attitudes towards organisations and management are not always led by American theorists. He advocated a consistent set of principles that all organisations need to run properly. Although many of todays management text including Daft (2005) have reduced the five functions to four, co-ordinating was congregated into the rest of the main functions. However all modern day management texts are based and organized around Fayols four functions. Henri Fayol also fused the 14 principles for organizational design and effective administration. The 14 principles of management were discussed in detail in his book published in 1917 Administration industrielle et gà ©nà ©rale. He compared the conclusions made by Peter, Kanter and Handy. Fayol developed fourteen principles of administration to go along with managements five primary roles. He laid down the following principles of organization which he later called the principles of management: Specialization of labour: A principle of work allocation and specialisation in order to concentrate activities to enable specialisation of skills and understandings, more work focus and efficiency. Specializing encourages continuous improvement in skills and the development of improvements in methods. Authority: The right to give orders and the power to exact obedience. If responsibilities are allocated, then the post holder needs the requisite authority to carry these out including the right to require others in the area of responsibility to undertake duties. Authority stems from: that ascribed from the delegation process (the job holder is assigned to act as the agent of the high authority to whom they report hierarchy) Allocation and permission to use the necessary resources needed (budgets, assets, and staff) to carry out the responsibilities. selection the person has the expertise to carry out the responsibilities and the personal qualities to win the support and confidence of others. Discipline: No slacking, bending of rules. The generalisation about discipline is that discipline is essential for the smooth running of a business and without it standards, consistency of action, adherence to rules and values no enterprise could prosper. in an essence obedience, application, energy, behavior and outward marks of respect observed in accordance with standing agreements between firms and its employees 1916 Unity of command: A concept that suggests there should be only one supervisor for each person in an organization. Each employee has one and only one boss. The idea is that an employee should receive instructions from just a single superior . This generalisation still holds even where we are involved with team and matrix structures which involve reporting to more than one boss or being accountable to several clients. The basic concern is that tensions and dilemmas arise where we report to two or more bosses. One boss may want X, the other Y and the subordinate is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Unity of direction: A single mind generates a single plan and all play their part in that plan. The unity of command idea of having one head (chief executive, cabinet consensus) with agree purposes and objectives and one plan for a group of activities) is clear. Subordination of individual interest to the general interest : When at work, only work things should be pursued or thought about. Fayols line was that one employees interests or those of one group should not prevail over the organisation as a whole. This would spark a lively debate about who decides that the interests of the organisation as a whole are. Ethical dilemmas and matters of corporate risk and the behaviour of individual chancers are involved here. Fayols work assumes a shared set of values by people in the organisation a unitarism where the reasons for organisational activities and decisions are in some way neutral and reasonable. 7. Remuneration of staff: Employees receive fair payment for services, not what the company can get away with. â€Å"The price of services rendered.† 1916 The general principle is that levels of compensation should be fair and as far as possible afford satisfaction both to the staff and the firm (in terms of its cost structures and desire for profitability/surplus). 8. Centralisation: Consolidation of management functions. Decisions are made from the top. Centralisation for HF is essential to the organisation and a natural consequence of organising. This issue does not go away even where flatter, devolved organisations occur. Decentralisation is frequently centralisaed-decentralisation !!! The modes of control over the actions and results of devolved organisations are still matters requiring considerable attention. 9. Scalar chain/line of authority: Formal chain of command running from top to bottom of the organization, like military. The scalar chain of command of reporting relationships from top executive to the ordinary shop operative or driver needs to be sensible, clear and understood. 10. Order: All materials and personnel have a prescribed place, and they must remain there. The level of generalisation becomes difficult with this principle. Basically an organisation should provide an orderly place for each individual member who needs to see how their role fits into the organisation and be confident, able to predict the organisations behaviour towards them. Thus policies, rules, instructions and actions should be understandable and understood. Orderliness implies steady evolutionary movement rather than wild, anxiety provoking, unpredictable movement. 11. Equity: Equality of treatment (but not necessarily identical treatment) . Equity, fairness and a sense of justice shouldpervade the organisation in principle and practice. 12. Stability of tenure or Personnel Tenure: Limited turnover of personnel. Lifetime employment for good workers. Time is needed for the employee to adapt to his/her work and perform it effectively. Stability of tenure promotes loyalty to the organisation, its purposes and values. 13. Initiative: Thinking out a plan and do what it takes to make it happen. At all levels of the organisational structure, zeal, enthusiasm and energy are enabled by people having the scope for personal initiative, in respect with Tom Peters. 14. Esprit de corps: Harmony, cohesion among personnel. Here Fayol emphasises the need for building and maintaining of harmony among the work force, team work and sound interpersonal relationships. Its a great source of strength in the organisation. Fayol stated that for promoting esprit de corps, the principle of unity of command should be observed and the dangers of divide and rule and the abuse of written communication should be avoided The final two principles, initiative and esprit de corps, show a difference between Fayols concept of an ideal organization and Webers. Weber predicted a completely impersonal organization with little human level interaction between its members. Fayol clearly believed personal effort and team dynamics were part of a ideal organization Out of the 14, the most important elements are specialization, unity of command, scalar chain, and, coordination by managers (an amalgam of authority and unity of direction). Advantages of Fayols theories and contributions Fayol was the first person to actually give a definition of management which is generally familiar today namely ‘forecast and plan, to organise, to command, to co-ordinate and to control. Fayol also gave much of the basic terminology and concepts, which would be elaborated upon by future researchers, such as division of labour, scalar chain, unity of command and centralization. Disadvantages Fayol was describing the structure of formal organizations. Absence of attention to issues such as individual versus general interest, remuneration and equity suggest that Fayol saw the employer as paternalistic and by definition working in the employees interest. Fayol does mention the issues relating to the sensitivity of a patients needs, such as initiative and ‘esprit de corps, he saw them as issues in the context of rational organisational structure and not in terms of adapting structures and changing peoples behaviour to achieve the best fit between the organisation and its customers. Many of these principles have been absorbed into modern day organisations, but they were not designed to cope with conditions of rapid change and issues of employee participation in the decision making process of organisations, such as are current today in the early 21st century. Successes Fayols five principle roles of management are still actively practiced today. The author has found Plan, Organize, Command, Co-ordinate and Control written on one than one managers whiteboard during his career. The concept of giving appropriate authority with responsibility is also widely commented on (if not well practiced.) Unfortunately his principles of unity of command and unity of direction are consistently violated in matrix management the structure of choice for many of todays companies. Conclusion Henri Fayol was important for two reasons: first, because he placed management centre stage; second, because he pondered the question of how best a company could be organised. He was also one of the earliest people to write and lecture on management issues, and indeed is sometimes referred to as the first management thinker. It is clear that modern organizations are strongly influenced by the theories of Taylor, Mayo, Weber and Fayol. Their precepts have become such a strong part of modern management that it is difficult to believe that these concepts were original and new at some point in history. The modern idea that these concepts are common sense is strong tribute to these founders. References Accessed on: 30 December 2007 www.healthknowledge.org.uk Accessed on: 30 December 2007 www.wikipeida.com Accessed on: 01 January 2007 www.onepine.com Accessed on: 02 January 2007 www.analytictech.com Accessed on: 02 January 2007 www.bola.biz Accessed on: 05 January 2007 www.learningmatters.com Accessed on: 06 January 2007 www.12manage.com Accessed on: 07 January 2007 www.answers.com Accessed on: 07 January 2007 www.intute.ac.uk The History of Management Thought by Daniel A. Wren Business: The Ultimate Resource by Daniel P. Goleman Project Management by David L. Cleland Fifty Key Figures in Management (Routledge Key Guides) by Morgen Witzel Daft, R. (2005). Management, (7th ed.). Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western. Fayol, H. (1949). General and industrial management. London. Pitman Publishing company. Fayol Fayol, H. (1987). General and industrial management: Henri Fayols classic revised by Irwin Gray. Belmont, CA: David S. Lake Publishers.

TRANSITIONS: FROM EUPHORIA TO REALITY :: Essays Papers

TRANSITIONS: FROM EUPHORIA TO REALITY The Second Industrial Revolution had many facets which keyed a major transition from the old way of life based on nature and reason to a new way reliant upon new products and inventions. The Revolution changed people's beliefs. Previously, they had a great propensity to believe in reason to solve their problems whereas now machines and inventions were changing their daily lives. In the First Industrial Revolution emphasis was placed on research and development while in this time frame new items like electricity and steel were the norm. In this report, I'll write about three segments of the Second Industrial Revolution including technological advances, economic struggles and social classes. Henry Bessemer was a key player during this epoch with his process (pictured above) for manufacturing steel in a efficient and economic manner. The Englishman was so successful that steel production rose from thousands of tons to millions of tons over a fifty year period ranging from the mid 1800's to the early 1900's. Bessemer was used by Napoleon III to build a stronger and better cannon for the French army. (Life, p62) A major transformation took place with the invention of electricity. Electricity became the main source of power. People became dependent on it in almost all aspects of their daily lives. Electricity enabled factories and other buildings to be erected therefore creating more jobs and better standard of living. The chemical industry played a role in the Second Industrial Revolution. Germany was the leader in scientific research in this area. Among the chemical inventions were novocain, (we all know what that is ) blacktop surface and many new plastics. Laundry soap would also contribute to modernizing living. The internal combustion engine was invented in 1886. This led to the development of the automobile by German Gottlieb Daimler. In the early years of the auto, the referred car was the Benz (forerunner of today Mercedes–Benz) but only the elite could afford it. auto production boomed in Britain, Germany and France until Henry Ford came up with the affordable Model–T which tripled the production and sales of its European counterpart. The automobile lessened man's reliance on nature by providing an alternative mode of transportation. The latter part of the 19th century showed a decline in economic prosperity. Less industrialized countries were losing people due to agricultur e problems resulting from bad weather. Migrations to countries such as the United States and Canada numbered over 50 million people over 75 year span.

Janes Psychological Problems in Charlotte Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpape

Jane's Psychological Problems in Charlotte Gilman’s "The Yellow Wallpaper" In Charlotte Gilman’s short story "The Yellow Wallpaper," Jane, the main character, is a good example of Sigmund Freud’s Studies In Hysteria. Jane suffers from symptoms such as story making and daydreaming. Jane has a nervous weakness throughout the story. Jane is a victim of a nervous disorder of the brain called hysteria. She is aware that she suffers from a series of mental and physical disturbances. She says that she has a " temporary nervous depression: -- a slight hysterical tendency- what is one to do?"(2). According to Freud hysteria is a nervous disorder that causes violent fits of laughter, crying, and imagination. It is a lack of self-control. Jane experiences some of these symptoms. Her imagination takes over her personality a number of times. There are three instances where her creative imagination literally takes over her personality. The first is when she is describing to the reader the so-called nursery. The second instance is her way of talking about "The Yellow Wallpaper." The third is the remarkable ending, where she seems to lose herself in her rebellion against her husband John. Jane’s "nervous weakness" comes over her several times throughout the story, and in the context of Freud’s analysis of hysteria I will distinguish her problems (10). One problem is that Jane describes to the reader the so-called nursery, but she is actually talking about her bedroom with the barred windows. Jane states, "The windows are barred for little children, and there are rings and things in the walls"(4). I think that she imagined that the rings were a game of some sort for the children that would play in the nursery. In reality, the pu... ...kept on creeping just the same, but I looked him over my shoulder"(20). This goes to show that "the woman that creeps" was Jane all along. At the end of the story, she completely releases herself in her rebellion against John. She says, "I’ve got out at last," said I, "in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back"(20). Jane talks in the third person because of the result of her nervous weakness. From her imagination of the so-called nursery, "the woman," the yellow wallpaper and talking in the third person it is clear that she has serious psychological problems. Works Cited Breuer, Joseph and Sigmund Freud. Studies In Hysteria. Boston: Nervous and Mental Disease Publishing, 1950. Gilman, Charlotte. "The Yellow Wallpaper" and Selected Stories. "The Yellow Wallpaper." 1892. New York: Doubleday Dell, 1989. 1-20.

Ambush Marketing

Ambush marketing is a marketing tool, which may lead to serious marketing success. Ambush marketing emphasizes the importance of shows in big business promotion, and the role of big business in creating shows. Sporting events represent just one example of the way ambush marketing can work in real world business environment. Sponsorship becomes secondary as soon as ambush marketing tools are applied in practice. Ambush marketing is the use of a Sporting Event, in marketing, while not sponsoring the event.The use of the event is done to associate the company with the event, however, in most cases a rival company will be the official sponsor of the event. This is done in full legality and does not break any laws. Ambush marketing is an extremely flexible means of using shows in business promotion. Ambush marketing can take variety of forms, and be adjusted to particular marketing situations. However, this form of marketing strategy generates numerous legal and ethical issues. Sponsors c laim discriminative character of ambush marketing approaches.Simultaneously, ambush theory offers a list of solutions to tackle ethical and legal issues. A Great, yet hypothetical, Example of ambush marketing would be an American Superbowl, which is usually sponsored by Budweiser Beer. Miller beer traditionally associated with the game is not its official sponsor. In reality, Miller uses the benefits of Budweiser’s sponsorship to promote its own trademark, without breaking the legality of the sporting event. Why this trend? Sport is a big business and big businesses are heavily involved in sports.Athletes in the major spectator sports are marketable commodities, sports teams are traded on the stock market, sponsorship rights at major events can cost millions of dollars, network television stations pay large fees to broadcast games, and the merchandising and licensing of sporting goods is a major multi-national business. Although sports have had a commercial component to its o peration since its formative years tracing back to Ancient Greece, in no previous time have we seen the type of exponential growth in the commercialization of sports as occurred in the past decades.This is mainly due to the sophistication of advertisement such as the purchasing of TV and radio slots and billboards in prime locations. It is important to note that sponsorship is not the first financial resource of sport organisations. The main sources of funding for major sport and mega events are TV broadcast rights, sponsoring comes in second and ticketing third . Sponsoring grew in line with the phenomenal increase in TV demand for sport events. One of the main reasons for the emerging yet inevitable trend of Ambush Marketing is to this hype surrounding famous events such as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup and the NFL Super Bowl.Due to the high costs of sponsoring such events, smaller companies cannot afford to spend the amounts larger conglomerates and multinational companies like Co ca Cola, Samsung, McDonalds, Nike, and Kodak pay for getting their sponsorship, and this is one of the basic reasons that is perpetrating ambush marketing. Even larger companies are limited to the amount of events they can sponsor since the sponsorship fees do not include the expenses of the advertisement such as TV, print, outdoor ads, and promotional activities.For the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the Coca-Cola Company forecasted their expenses to about $60 million for commercial air time on NBC’s Olympic telecasts in addition to the $40 million the company paid for its worldwide sponsorship rights. Common Forms & Strategies Ambush Marketing takes many forms. One main form commonly used is known as Association Ambushing. This is when the non-sponsor gives the impression of being an official sponsor by using words or symbols associated with the event.For example, during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Anheuser-Busch was the official sponsor and Schirf Brewery, a local and small company, came up with a fairly clever idea of marking its delivery trucks with â€Å"Wasutch Beers. The Unofficial Beer. 2002 Winter Games. † Another main type of ambush marketing is known as Intrusion Ambushing, which is when the non-sponsor piggybacks on the media and spectator exposure of the event for instance by advertising near event venues. Some of the most commonly, but not restricted, employed ambush marketing strategies are as follows:1. Sponsoring the broadcast of the event: Kodak’s sponsorship of the ABC broadcasts of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics when Fuji was the official IOC sponsor.2. Sponsoring sub-categories within an event and exploit the investment aggressively: During the 1988 Olympics at Seoul, Kodak secured the worldwide category sponsorship for the Games, while Fuji obtained sub-sponsorship of the U. S. swimming team.3. Making a sponsorship-related contribution to a players’ pool: Ian Thorpe was sponsored by Adidas when Nike was the official clothing supplier for the Australian Olympic team.Thorpe was even photographed with his towel draped over Nike’s logo at a medal presentation ceremony to protect his personal contract with Adidas. 4. Engaging in advertising that coincides with a sponsored event: Intense advertising done by a competitor during or around a sponsored event such as booking billboards near to event venues to fool consumers into thinking there is a link to the event. An example of this was during the 1992 Olympics; Nike placed large murals of USA basketball team members Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley on the sides of buildings in Barcelona.Nike was not an official sponsor of the Games. 5. Pulling a stunt: This is when a small amount of people pull a high profile stunt to attract attention. For example, during an Australian-New Zealnd rugby match in 2002, two naked men streaked onto the playing field â€Å"wearing† a painted-on Vodafone logo, while Vodafone was not a sponsor. Effectiveness Ambush marketing, undoubtedly has been found to be quite effective in its success in creating the appearance of being a legitimate sponsor. In practice, it appears that the public does not properly identify the official sponsors.On corporate sponsorship, Tony Meenaghan explained in an article for the Sloan Management Review, â€Å"By sponsoring an event or providing a budget for an event's broadcast, a sponsor can generate audience awareness while simultaneously creating associations of the event's values in people's minds,† Further on he states, â€Å"An ambush marketer can associate with a major event without large-scale investment in securing rights and thereby fulfill brand awareness and image objectives at low cost—benefits usually available only to the official sponsor,† â€Å"It also generates goodwill, which is a consumer's natural reaction to support for an activity of which he or she approves.At the very least, it creates consum er confusion, thereby denying the legitimate sponsor clear recognition for its sponsorship role. † Meenaghan claimed that ambush marketing â€Å"simultaneously reduces the effectiveness of the sponsor's message while undermining the quality and value of the sponsorship opportunity that the event owner is selling. † In a 1994 survey by the Wirthlin Group, a corporate image research organization, showed that only 12 percent of American adults were able to identify Coke as an Olympic sponsor, despite its’ 66-year affiliation. Furthermore, no other Olympic corporation sponsor had more than 3 percent recognition.An outstanding example on the effectiveness of ambush marketing that is still seen as the ambush of all ambushes is Nike’s marketing campaign for the 1996 Atlantic Olympics. Nike plastered the city in billboards, handed out swoosh banners to wave at the competitions and constructed an enormous Nike center overlooking the stadium. Following the 1996 Atla nta fiasco, many thought Nike had been an official sponsor of the games. In December 2001, a study found that, from a list of 45 likely sponsors of the 2002 World Cup, 20 percent of those polled picked Nike. Ethical & Legal Issues The main question that arises is whether or not the practice of ambush marketing is ethical, illegal, or simply smart business practice.In reality, marketing has never been a gentle industry to begin with. Ambush marketers refer to the event and to their own names and products in an ingenious and creative manner, without using registered trademarks, logos, and slogans so in most cases they manage to circumvent the law. This puts the legal position of ambush marketing practices in an unclear position. Referring back to the Nike example during the 1996 Atlantic Olympics, Simon Pestridge, Nike’s brand manager explains diplomatically in an interview with MSNBC following the event, â€Å"We play inside the rules and we bring a different point of view th at’s true and authentic to sport. â€Å"Corporate sponsors and event organizers regard the â€Å"parasitic† or piggyback tactics, a term often used by aggrieved event organizers and their sponsors, as unethical. On the other hand, ambush marketers argue it is a fair game. Merrill Squires, managing partner of the Dallas-based Marketing Arm, said in a 1999 interview with ABCnews. com, â€Å"The weak link is marketers who sign a sponsorship deal and don’t look at it carefully. They need to negotiate for every potential right to block out competitors. † Tackling the Issue Learning from experience, sponsors and event owners have picked up on several strategies for countering ambush marketing:1. Pressurize event owners to protect their events. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) seeks to block ambushing by controlling images, official license souvenirs, and by offering first option to official sponsors on other promotional opportunities.2. Link event and broadcast sponsorship. This includes combined packages of event sponsorship, broadcast sponsorship and advertising time around television broadcast of the event.3. Anticipate potential competitive promotions. Sponsors must investigate the terms of sponsorship contract, what rights co-sponsors have and if they are in the same industry.4. Exploit the sponsorship rights secured. Sponsors should launch a well-rounded marketing communications campaign and exploit the association with the event fully.5. Resort to legal action, especially if a non-sponsor uses marks associated with an event. There have been several major attempts to crackdown on ambush marketing. One major attempt was the Sydney’s Solution also known as the Sydney 2000 Act, which went further than ever in trying to counter ambush marketing.The highlights of the Acts passed were the Indicia and Images Act and Olympic Arrangements Act. The Indicia and Images Act prohibited the use of phrases and images from unlicense d commercial use, which was broadly defined that would suggest a connection with the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The Olympic Arrangements Act prohibited any selling or distribution of articles in public places within a 3km radius from the event.There were several non-sponsors who were still able to legally market their brand around the event. In the end, Sydney went further that ever in trying to crackdown on ambush marketing strategies, but were still found to be inadequate for responding to ingenious marketing strategies. It is clear that the control of ambush marketing requires additional strategies. In the future as the Beijing Olympic Games are approaching in August 2008, the International Olympic Committee claims they are preparing to counter ambush marketing. The IOC plans to safeguard its sponsors’ interests inside the venues by making sure no ambush marketing campaigns are being picked up by television cameras.Non-authorized beverages will be banned from the venues as well as t-shirts and products featuring non-sponsor corporate names linked with the Olympic Games. Conclusion If Ambush marketing provides smaller companies with a chance to promote themselves, does that mean that ambush marketing approaches are legally and ethically misbalanced?Does that mean that smaller companies illegally use the official sponsorship benefits to promote their trademarks? There is no definite answer to that question. One thing is clear: Ambush marketing remains one of the most effective marketing tools in contemporary business and sports. As long as sports turn into business, and business makes money in sports, ambush marketing will bring substantial financial profits to those who are aware of its benefits.The coming Olympic Games in Beijing will show the effectiveness of anti-ambush procedures which the IOC plans to implement, but companies will still seek new means of advertising themselves without sponsoring big shows. Ambush marketing is an evasive tool of s elf-advertising; as long as it takes unclear legal position, ambush marketing strategies will keep flourishing across all levels of promotion in business. Ambush marketing is an ambiguous means of companies’ self-promotion. On the one hand, it helps smaller companies gain a better market share and make their trademarks recognizable to potential customers. On the other hand, larger sponsors view ambush marketing as the means of undermining their marketing stability.Confusion is the third, and probably, the most important effect ambush marketing causes on consumers. In this complicated marketing environment, competitors should be more careful when signing sponsorship deals. Legal responsibility will eliminate the majority of ambush marketing threats which sponsors should address on their way towards success and recognition.Bibliography1. Sauer, Abram. â€Å"Ambush Marketing Steals the Show. † May 27, 2002. .2. Meenaghan, Tony. â€Å"Ambush Marketing—A Threat to C orporate Sponsorship. † Sloan Management Review. Fall 1996. .3. â€Å"THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; In ‘trolling for sponsors,' organizers of the 1996 Games are playing against the clock — and trailing. † The New York Times. 31 August 1995 .4. Garrigues, Cristina. Ambush Marketing: A Threat to Global Sponsored Events? 26 March 2004. .5. http://www. usp-age. com/flash/2006/jul06/marketing_battle. swf.6. http://www. austlii. edu. au/au/journals/MurUEJL/2001/10. html.7. http://www. accessmylibrary. com/coms2/summary_0286-9614696_ITM.8. Shah, Tina. â€Å"Ambush Marketing.† November 2004 http://www. advancedge. com/archives/nov04/MBArk_ambush_marktng. pdf.9. ALSO NOTE ABOUT RAPPAPORT DOCUMENT Wei L, Kretschmer M. , Ambush Marketing: A study of strategies and legal responses, ISLR Pandektis, Vol. 5:3, 2004. Davis R. N. , Ambushing the Olympic Games, ISLR/Pandektis, Vol. III Nr. ?, p. 7.10. Page name: Ambush marketing, Author: Wikipedia contributors , Pu blisher: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. , Date of last revision: 28 April 2008 04:46 UTC , Date retrieved: 30 April 2008 15:14 UTC , Permanent link: http://en. wikipedia. org/w/index. php? title=Ambush_marketing&oldid=208688867 , Page Version ID: 208688867.FOOTNOTE : According to the International Olympic Committee, the revenues generated from these sources for the period from 2001 until 2004 accounted for respectively 53%, 34% and 11% of , the remaining 2% coming from other licensing activities, http://www. olympic. org/uk/organisation/facts/revenue/index_uk. asp;This is roughly true in relation to football as well. According to FIFA’s 2006 Financial statements, 58% of its revenues in 2006 came from TV broadcasting rights and 24% from marketing rights, i. e. sponsoring, http://fr. fifa. com/mm/document/affederation/administration/2006_fifa_ar_en_1766. pdf; FIFA’s overall yearly revenue for the period 2003-2006 reached CHF 3. 238 billions.

Gender Bias in the Religion Essay

The term â€Å"religion† refers to a human spiritual approach which comprises of practices, beliefs, and symbols which have a supernatural quality or significance. This gives a follower of a given religion the meaning to the life experiences in reference to the truth. The question of whether there is gender bias in the religion has triggered many debates and discussions in the past and in the modern society. In order to determine whether there is gender bias in the religion, one requires knowing about the history of the major religions that exist and the state of women and men in the religions. The claims that gender bias exist in the religion emanates from the opinion that women seems to be oppressed in the religion. However, some argue that gender bias has been promoted by application of religious beliefs in a negative way. Every religion has defined roles of both men and women and these differences have played an important role in promoting gender bias. In all the religions, gender bias is linked to the dominant role that men play in the religion and in the society. The religious perception of who men and women are and their role determines is an important factor in determining whether gender bias in the religion exists. In this paper, the question of whether religion bias exists in the religion will focus on some of the most popular religions in the world; Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Arguments on why each of these religions is considered to have gender bias will be presented. In addition, the beliefs in the religions that speak against gender bias will be discussed Discussion Gender bias in Christianity Christianity is a religion whereby the religious beliefs and practices are based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians are expected to follow the teachings and the religious beliefs that were taught by Jesus. In Christianity, gender bias is linked to the dominant role of men in the religion and the society as compared to that of a woman. According to the Bible in Genesis1:26-28, both man and woman were created equal and in God’s image. Contemporary criticism of Christianity has been attributed to its gender bias. According to the Bible, the origin of sin is considered to have come from the woman. Some people have used this religious teaching to consider women inferior to men. Another argument that is presented to justify gender bias in Christianity is that almost all the writers of the Holy Scriptures were men, with the exceptions of the book of Eshter. Only a few women participated in the writing of the scriptures. However, women have a strong presence in the Holy Scriptures. These women include, Eshter, Naomi, Deborah, Rachel, Mary Magdalene, and the Virgin Mary. Christian beliefs and attitudes have varied based on the societies within which the Christians have lived. Because Christianity through its holy scriptures prescribe gender roles for both women and men, lack of involvement or minimal involvement of women in church leadership is considered to be gender bias in the religion. Women until the second half of the twentieth century were not allowed to take part in ecclesiastical and pastoral office duties. Only men were allowed to undertake religious duties in these offices. This traditional stance of Christianity still remains influential in some Christian denominations (Gilbert, 2006). For instance, the Eastern Orthodoxy, the Roman Catholic and the Complementarian Protestants still have men dominating the church leadership. Although women may participate in church leadership, their role is minimal as compared to the men’s dominant role. For example, the top leadership positions such as those of bishops, archbishops, and priests are reserved for men while women play a minor role in top leadership. The fact that women have a little role to play in the religions’ top hierarchy is considered to be gender bias in Christianity The role of women in the church is considered to have been overlooked, downplayed or denied throughout the Christian history. The minimal participation of women in religious duties contributed to the domination of men in the society and in government leadership. During the Patristic age, only men were allowed to take the religious teachings offices and sacramental ministry. The Christian society for a long time has not considered it right to have women serve in the church top leadership However, in the early centuries, the Eastern church allowed women to participate in church leadership to a limited extent by ordaining women as deaconesses. The Western church reserved the position of deacon for men only. In the ancient churches such as the Roman Catholic, Coptic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, church leadership continued to be reserved for men only. Up to date, these churches have the position of the pope, bishop, archbishops, and priests strictly reserved for men. Women serve the church as nuns. Another argument that is presented to support gender bias in Christianity is the selection of all Jesus’ apostles as men (The Good News Bible, Mark 3:13-35). Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God who suffered, died, and resurrected for their salvation. Jesus is considered to be the Christians’ model of a virtuous life, a physical incarnation of God, and a revealer of God’s message. The New Testament gospel is a written account of Jesus life. According to Christianity, Jesus had twelve disciples who were all men whom he appointed to be the leaders of the church. This is viewed as the reason why church leadership is often reserved for men. Because priests represent Jesus, then having male priests is considered to be right. Women are not ordained as priests in Christian churches which still hold the traditional stance of having church leadership received for women. Gender bias in Christianity is attributed to lack of ordination of women as priests. Women can only work as nuns but cannot be elevated to the positions of priests, bishops or pope in religious hierarchy (Roman Catholic). In the ancient Christian societies, only men served as priests. In early Christianity, the religious law makers or the Pharisees applied religious laws that discriminated women . According to the Good News Bible in John 8:1-6,the Pharisees brought an a woman to Jesus who they claimed had committed adultery. According to the Pharisees, the law of Moses required them to stone her to death. Jesus told them that the only one to stone the woman would be the one who had never committed a sin. None of the Pharisees stoned the woman. Jesus showed mercy to the woman due to the injustice that was being done to her since no punishment was being given to the woman’s sexual partner. Apart from such treatment against women by the traditional Jewish societies, rules that were put in place portrayed women as inferior to men. For example, men were not supposed to speak to women publicly. Modern Christianity teaches against such treatment based on Jesus’ teachings against the discrimination of women. Christianity advocates for men as the head of the family (McGrath, 2006). A woman who was created from man is meant to be a companion and a helper to a man, a belief that has made man to be viewed as superior to a woman . The application of this belief has promoted gender bias in the church and in a Christian society. The superiority of man over a woman which is supported by the scriptures has continued to influence the perception of women. The doctrine of Holy trinity in Christianity has been used to argue that men are the best suited in representing Jesus who is the son of God, who is also considered to be â€Å"Him† just like in Islam and Judaism. Although Christianity has been criticized for promoting gender bias, it has also spoken openly against ill treatment of women. In the story of creation, man and woman were created differently but they were supposed to work together as equals. A man and a woman in a marriage are meant to love and respect each other (The Good News Bible, Ephesians 5:31-33). The early Christian society which discriminated women (the Pharisees) was criticized by Jesus. In addition, Jesus preached against injustice on women and showed compassion towards them. Christianity is said to acknowledge the important role of a woman because Jesus who is the Christians’ model of a virtuous life accepted women, including those who were seen to be sinners. In the early church, women were depicted to be teachers, leaders, and apostles (Rebecca, 1997). The New Testament through the letter of Paul to Timothy preaches against discrimination. Apostle Paul asks Christians to treat each other well with respect, and the younger women with absolute purity. In Galatians 3:38 the Bible states that â€Å"there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus† . These teachings oppose roles that promote gender bias. The church has continued to promote the important value of women through the Virgin Mary. However, the issue of gender bias in the church has led to the formation of women’s movements with the aim of changing the role of women in the church. For example, the â€Å"Christian feminism† movement is trying to challenge some traditional Christian interpretations of the Holy Scriptures which define the role of women. The modern debate on gender has promoted Christian feminism and Christian egalitarianism arguments. Gender bias in Judaism Judaism is based on the Hebrew Bible which is also referred to as the Torah. The Hebrew Bible is the first section of Tanakh and it comprises of the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deutronomy. Some Jewish laws are not written in the Torah. Those that have been derived from the textual hints are referred to as Oral Torah. The religion just like in Christianity has defined roles for men and women (Elyse, 2008). Women are not allowed to become religious leaders in Judaism. In addition, priests are supposed to marry pure women (Leviticus 21:13-14). The Talmud passage in Reboot 61a-b indicate that priests should not marry a woman who is barren unless he has a wife and children. A barren woman is considered to be a â€Å"faithless wife†. Women do not participate in church leadership although various women such as Miriam (prophetess) and Rachel are recognized in the religion. In the traditional Jewish societies, the women were allowed to play the roles of prophetesses and Nazirites despite their minimal role in the religious matters. Jewish women were expected to participate in religious rituals. Orthodox Judaism portrays gender bias when women were exempted from studying some advanced Jewish texts although the evolutions of the orthodox society has resulted changes in such practices. Traditional Orthodox rabbis in the contemporary society oppose the change of Judaism accepted norms of observance to promote gender equality. These changes include the modern Orthodox Judaism support for more advanced education for Jewish women. Furthermore, the issue of whether women should study Talmud is still controversial in modern Orthodoxy. In traditional Orthodox Judaism, women are not allowed to serve as witnesses in a rabbinical court. The traditional exclusion of women testimony as advocated by Judaism is seen as discrimination against women. Jewish women are not ordained as rabbis, although rabbi – like positions for Orthodox women have now been created despite many followers opinion that ordaining women as rabbis goes against the Jewish law. The Torah in the book of Exodus 21:10 support polygamy which is considered to be gender bias against women (Rabinowitz and Harvey, 2007). Despite the gender bias in Judaism, several women are recognized as role models in the scriptures. Modern Judaism has now allowed active participation of women in reading the Torah, serving as a cantor, and being part of the Minyan. Gender bias in Conservative Judaism has triggered changes that aim at including mixed seating and promoting synagogue corporate leadership. Reform Judaism now promotes equality of women and men, encouraging women to participate in religious rituals earlier reserved for men. Gender bias in Islam Islamic teachings are based on the teaching of Prophet Muhammad, where the Muslims are required to observe the five pillars of Islam. Theologically, Islam promotes equality of men and women. The Muslim society however is seen to establish a distinction between men and women. According to the Islam teachings in Al-Baqarah, 2:228 â€Å"and women shall have rights, similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable†, women are equal to men. However, the different status and responsibilities for men and women in Islam depends on the religious interpretations. According to the Quran 49:13, Islam promotes equal treatment for both men and women (Stowasser, 1996). Gender bias in Islam is attributed to the Sharia law due to its promotion of practices that are to the disadvantage of the women. The Sharia law prevents the mixture of both men and women at the places of worship and the traditional interpretations of Islam are considered to allow polygamy for men. This is seen by some as against the equality of both men and women. Muslim women are not allowed to take religious leadership positions in Islam and a suggestion for women to become imams is criticized and disputed by many. Medieval Muslim women had problems accessing religious education as compared to the men. Women cannot be allowed to lead mixed prayers in the mosque since worshipping at the mosque is done with women and men in separate places. The women’s’ freedom of movement and travel is limited by the Sharia law, and women should only travel together with a male relative (Mumisa, 2002). For instance, the prohibition of women to drive in some Muslim societies is considered as the Sharia law discrimination against women. Although this was a move to promote a woman’s safety, Muslim women are sometimes prohibited from driving. Some Muslim women have been discriminated against due to extremist Islam beliefs. For example, in Afghanistan women have in the past been denied access to education and job opportunities. Islamic law has also undermined the involvement of women in leadership and it promotes gender –biased inheritance rules which are considered to oppress women . When giving evidence in a court according to Sharia law, a women’s evidence is counted as half that of a man’s evidence. Islam support polygamy and Shiite Islam is criticized for allowing mota or Sigheh where men can exercise a temporary marriage, and women are expected to submit to such practices. Muslim men are allowed by the Sharia law to marry non – Muslim women, while the same does not apply for Muslim women. Muslim women under Sharia law should not interact with men who are not their relatives unless in presence of a male relative. This is viewed as discouraging social interaction of women with other members of the society (Safi, 2003). Despite the ill treatment of women in Muslim societies that promote Sharia law, Islam promotes equal rights and dignity for both men and women. It has been argued that gender bias is linked to Islam not because the religion is biased but due to the practices that exist in Muslim societies. Islam provides women with an equal status to that of men in theory and in practice. The women are assured of financial security through inheritance whether it’s during marriage or in case of divorce and widowhood. Islam recognizes a woman’s’ role as a wife and as a mother, and it does not prohibit her from seeking employment. Islamic teaching defines men and women as recipient of† divine breath† due to their creation with the same human-spiritual nature and both men and women are acknowledged by Allah as His trustees on earth (Yvonne et al, 2006). Gender bias in Buddhism Buddhism is a religion whose teachings are based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Buddhism comprises of two branches, Mahayana and Theravada. Buddhists uphold the four noble truths (Eliot, 2003). Women Buddhists can easily integrate with other members of the society and are given an honorable place in the society. Buddhist women even in the ancient times were able to access religious knowledge and participate in religious ceremonies. However, womens’ religious roles differ from those of men. For example, religious women are not able to perform religious duties similar to those of the monks. Buddhism teaches that a marriage is a contract between equals. Gender bias is portrayed in the doctrine of Karma and rebirth in Buddhism which supports inherent male superiority. Furthermore, gender bias in Buddhism can be seen in the domination of men in religious leadership. Though Buddhist nuns can hold important religious positions, they are categorized as a group than can occupy a niche in the religious realm and secular world. Buddhism considers women as religiously insufficient hence they have to depend on men to make merit. The religion allows multiple spouses for a man and only one for a woman Both men and women in Buddhism are able to realize nirvana equally, although the paths of realizing it vary. Gender equality is promoted in Mahayana Buddhism since it allows the ordination of women to serve in religious duties as Bhikkhunis. Bhikkhunis are also referred to as Buddhist nuns. Buddhism promotes spiritual equality for both men and women a belief that prevents supremacy of males in the religion. This had Buddha acknowledge the spiritual potential of both women and men. For instance, the order of Bhikkhunis or nuns represents the important role of a woman in Buddhism. The Sasana is comprised of Bhikkus (Monks), Bhikkhunis (Nuns), laymen, and laywomen. This ensures that women are not segregated from religious activities. Unlike in Hinduism, funeral rites in Buddhism can be conducted by a widow or a daughter hence the birth of daughters only is not considered as a misfortune. However, male offsprings are preferred in Buddhist societies due to the ideology of male superiority. Gender bias in Hinduism The most authoritative text of Hinduism is the Vedas. The position that is given to both men and women depend on the specific text and context of the Vedas. For example, positive reference to women is given in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, while restriction on the role of women is given by the Manu smriti (Michaels, 2004). Gender bias in Hinduism is seen in the religious practices. For example, the birth of daughters with no sons becomes lamentation due to the importance of a male offspring in funeral rites. When a father dies in a Hindu community, only male offspring are allowed to assure a family of its happiness by carrying out funeral rites. A wife without a son is therefore superseded by a second or third wife. Male children in this case are highly regarded unlike the female children. The religious practice of Sati is criticized for discriminating and giving harsh treatment to women. The sati in Hinduism encourages the immolation of women after their husband’s death. Although women willingly take part in sati, many cases result from societal inducement or compulsion. Examples of women who are mentioned in Hindu Holy Scriptures to participate in Sati Vasudeva’s wives (M Bh. Mausalaparvan 7. 18) and Madri (M Bh. Adiparvan 95)). The Hindu religious practices promote discrimination of females due to the culture of payment of dowry, which makes female children to be viewed as a burden to the family. The religious customs of having the bride’s family pay dowry to the groom’s family has had many female children looked down upon with cases of female infanticide being witnessed . In Manu VIII 416-417,the ownership of property by women is restricted and alienation of Hindu widows from the society has also been attributed to female infanticide. Marriage of females at a very early age and denial of women to marry again after the death of a husband are gender bias religious practices that are still witnessed in some Hindu societies. Apart from the above arguments that support gender bias against women in Hinduism, the religion supports the participation of women in religious rituals. In addition, both men and women can learn about the sacred texts of the religion and women have been appreciated due to the representation of some deities in the religion as females (Williams, 2005). Conclusion Whether there is gender bias in the religion is an issue that has triggered heated debates from the people all over the world, especially the religious leaders. In various societies, gender bias has been witnessed. While some gender bias has been attributed to the religious beliefs and practices of the society members, some bias has been attributed to the culture of the people and not the religion. Various arguments have been presented to prove whether there is gender bias in the religions that exist. Some arguments support the notion that there is gender bias in the religion. In all religions, the beliefs, traditions and values that are advocated for greatly influence the way of life of the followers. Therefore,the role that different genders play in the society and in fulfilling religious duties are linked to the religious beliefs and traditions upheld by the members of a given society. This is why gender bias that exists in the society is related to the religion. 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