A World of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A World of Art - Essay Example 2). On the other hand, there were complaints about the materials used to build it because it clashed with the park. They viewed the metals as being â€Å"an intrusive violation of the natural landscape† (Sayre, 2007, p. 2). Not only did the artwork symbolize emotions of the public, but it also encapsulated the park because its name The Gates goes along with the original creators of the park who envisioned gates at every entrance (Sayre, 2007, p. 3). The point of these examples is to show how an artist may intend for their artwork to be received in one way since it is how they see it, but it is not. Every artist, every individual differs from one another and he or she absorbs, views, creates the world in his or her unique point-of-view. There are as many meanings in art as there are a variety of personalities and beliefs in people. 2. Abstract, or nonobjective, artwork is defined as a nonrealistic illustration that does not portray an established, familiar part of the universe like person, place or thing. In order to classify it, it has to be viewed in terms of brush strokes, color, etc. For example, Westerners find it hard to assign Erna Motna’s painting to landscape because it is abstract (Sayre, 2007, p. 8). Representational, or realistic, in terms of art is defined as describing a work of art that is a universally recognizable dictation by everyone. An example of this would be an illustration of the Empire State Building. Everyone understands this to be a famous part of New York City just by viewing the artwork. The association between the art and a real landmark, person or thing is what makes it representational. Form and content’s meaning can be described as a vital definition of the term art. Form is an element of art, the rules of intention and even items, or tools, an artist uses. It takes on a physical form. Content differs from this in that it is an idea, or expression by the artist. Both function as two parts, or halves of art. A n example of this is Malevich’s painting (Sayre, 2007, p. 11). The term ethnocentric, or ethnocentrism, revolves around the belief that one’s own culture is superior to all others, and this pertains to art in that the artist creates an illustration with the intention of portraying his or her own culture in the best possible light. It is also about how â€Å"different cultures possess different visual conventions and do not easily understand each other’s conventions† (Sayre, 2007, p. 28). Iconography is the science of determining, classifying and understanding specific factors or themes in a piece of visual art. It maintains the artwork’s original meaning rather than it be reaffirmed by current society because current society may not understand the reasoning behind specific elements in the artwork. Iconography studies the visual or symbolic images in the time it was created like in Jan van Eyck’s painting The Marriage of Giovanni Arnolfini an d Giovanna Cenami (Sayre, 2007, p. 31). Photorealism evolved from American Pop Art and it can be defined as art that has been reproduced to mimic photography, or the way a camera captures images. Art by Chuck Close pertains to photorealism. Surrealism was an artistic movement that means using art to portray an expression of the unconscious mind. â€Å"Surrealism is a style of art in which the reality of the dream, or the subconscious mind, is seen as more ‘

Human Biological Systems, Organisation of the Body Assignment

Human Biological Systems, Organisation of the Body - Assignment Example liverworts, mosses Pteridophytes These are vascular plants which characteristically do not produce flowers and seeds. Reproduction takes place via the dispersion of spore. The dominant generation is saprophytic. Have true roots. Club mosses, ferns, horsetail Gymnosperms These are seed producing plants and seeds develop to form cones. They produce unisexual flowers. pines, ephedra, juniper, fir, redwood Angiosperms These are seed producing plants and are known as flowering plants. They show derived characteristics and produce flowers, endosperms, and fruits. Water lilies, black pepper, bluebells, cucumber (SOLOMON & MARTIN, 2005). TAQ 2. Flowering plants Monocotyledons Flowering plants Dicotyledons Monocotyledons consist of 55,000 species and are predominantly herbaceous Dicotyledons consist of 165,000 species and are woody stemmed plants The primary root soon aborts and the mature root system becomes adventitious Mature root system either primary or adventitious or both Consist of a single cotyledon Consist of two cotyledons Intrafascicular cambium is not present and leaves are parallel veined Intrafascicular cambium is present and leaves are mostly net veined Vascular bundles are scattered in two or more rings Vascular bundles are present in the form of a ring surrounding pith Floral parts are borne in sets of 3 and sometimes 4 Floral parts are borne in sets of 5 Pollen is typically triaperturate Pollen is uniaperturate (KOKWARO, 1994). TAQ 3. Classes Characteristics Examples Jelly fish, Anemones (Coelenterates) Aquatic, mostly marine and body cavity has a hypostome. The hypostome is surrounded by sensory tentacles Corals, hydra Flatworms (platyhelminthes) Flatworms are bilaterally symmetrical and have no internal body cavity. Have a distinct head and tail and have no specialized circulatory and respiratory system Planaria, tapeworms, flukes Round worms (nematodes) Non-segmented worms, bilaterally symmetrical, body has a complex cuticle around it. Ascaris lumb ricoides, Enterobius vermicularis Ringed Worms (annelids) Have elongated bodies divided into segments and are called segmented worms. The worms exist in different shapes and colors. Body cavity is lined by mesoderm and have a closed circulatory system Earthworms, leeches Snails, slugs, squids (Molluscs) Non segmented worms, have a mantle and an internal as well as external shell. A radula is also present Octopus, mussels, tusk shells Star fish, sea urchin (Echinoderms) Have a radial symmetry and the central body has several protruding arms. Tube feeds with suction pads are also present Sand dollars, sea stars Insects, spiders, crabs (Arthropods) Have segmented bodies with paired segmented appendages. Have bilateral symmetry and a chitnous exoskeleton Scorpions, centipedes, millipedes (THORP & COVICH, 1991) TAQ. 4 Classes Characteristics Examples Spiders, ticks, mites, daddy Longlegs, scorpions (Arachnida) They make webs and have two body regions. They have chelicerae and very long l egs Rust mite, clover mite, black widow spider Centipedes (Chilopoda) Segmented bodies with a single pair of legs on each segment. Have a single pair of antenna Blue ring centipede, stone centipede, earth centipede Millipedes (Diplopoda) Segmented bodies with two pairs of legs on each segment. Have a single pair of antenna. Pill millipede, bristly millipede, spotted millipede Crabs, lobsters (Crustacea) They have three major body segments namely head, thorax and abdomen. Have two pairs of antenna. They have

Changing attitudes toward death and dying

Changing attitudes toward death and dying The death process is permanent and predictable and it is known as the personal event that the person can never think. The history of deaths has been looked upon events of social importance and each and every culture has defined some rules and regulations to define death as an extraordinary passage and the way to deal with the outcomes. At the time of twentieth century, the terminology death along with its social definition has transformed and prepared extraordinary opportunities for the purpose of getting sociological inquiry. The decline in the mortality rate has been identified as most common feature within the social histories. Life expectancy rate the time of birth has increased from last 30 years in 1900 to 50 years.  Ã‚  It has been stated that almost two third part of longevity from ancient times to the present times has occurred in the short period from 1900 (Preston, 1976).  Ã‚   Death has been an inevitable event since the inception of mankind in this universe. There is always the worry among individuals towards the life and well being. The individuals are worried at one or the other instance for living their lives. Therefore, it becomes crucial to understand what are the exact factors related to death and dying of humanity. An individual, if not dies, can result in disturbance of life cycle of this globe. This is not under the control of anyone to make amendments in this life cycle. The report here titled as, Death and dying: Changing attitudes through the ages; discusses about various factors that are affecting the lives of individuals. Report begins here with a clear focus laid on the aims of the report followed by research questions to understand the topic thoroughly. Various factors had been found of importance to be studied. There has always been a question in mind whether and how an individual behaves towards death and is it considered a positive aspect or not. How the individuals are are fear of death and what the right time of death is. These all aspects are explored in the report in below sections to have a thorough control over the research topic. 2 Aims and Research Question The research report here aims to understand the struggle that human being is facing since centuries. The change in philosophy associated with life is the main cause of change in attitude of human beings towards death. One can explore further this death on relating it with the time period in the life of human history. The western world has increasingly shifted towards change in conception for death due to rise in Christianity and the way it has affected lives (Aries, 1974). Therefore, the below are few stated research questions to explore further the concept of death and dying and the changing attitude:- Is death good or bad? How the attitude of individuals has changed towards death and dying? Is the man of today more worried against death? What is the right time of death? The discussion in this report would analyze various associated concepts to explore further the concept of death and dying in todays life. 3 Discussion Most of the deaths have occurred among the old aged ones but not among young generation people. The studies in United States reveal that people at the age of 85 years and above has accounted for almost one percent of entire population and they account for 17% of death (J. Brody, 1983). So the deaths have taken new meanings for the society and individual both. Death is not known as an adventitious part of life (Parson, 1963). Smaller number of lives has cut before completing education, work and social life (Preston, 1977). Fatalism provides a higher degree of control as well as predictability (Cf. Lofland, 1978). The delay in the death process has come up with the speed. The social institutions and norms have delayed it. It is not much surprising that death and its social meaning has gone off and the proper understanding of death has been reassessed by sociologists. From past two decades, a considerable literature as a quasi popular and scholarly type has been generated by number of p eople such as journalists, nurses, psychologists, philosophers, theologians, historians, ethicists, sociologists, social critics and thanatologists (cf. Fulton 1976, 1981; Pollak 1979-80).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The word dying is called as the ultimate shortage of time by Moore (1963) and it has taken a most important point that it has the power to threaten an individual self.  Ã‚  A famous person has given his  view on the sociological study of death that death always asks for an identity of an individual (Robert Fulton, 1976a).  Dying is known as the social process that focuses on the sociological issues that  are concerned with the process of dying and self. Researches have not clearly shown the actual conditions of dying. But one British study has talked about the dying among the patients who are living in this world and among the people who are known of their own attitude (Cartwright, Hockey Anderson, 1973).  Ã‚  The attitude of people towards death varies according to the ages and stages of life. Most of the people are living into later years and they have their own predicted on time deaths. A growing number of people are present at the position to consider the sense of thei r own deaths. Some sociologists have identified themselves engaged in the questions which are related to the death and its social meaning and its relation with the process of dying that how the topic of death is of great importance. What type of attitudes about death people have in their mind? What type of preparations they make for anticipating death (Riley, 1968)? The first survey in United States have found the attitude of people towards death and that survey was conducted in 1960s (Riley, 1970). That study has assessed the thought about deaths that most of the people at the all ages have non-threatening images of death in their mind. It has found that death is a blessing and it is not dreadful event for the person who dies but it is very sad for the survivors. The study also has revealed that death comes very quickly and few people have argued that death means the people have to suffer a lot. There was significant increase found in the degree to which the deaths process imposed upon the everyday lives of people. People were asked about an uncertainty of deaths or their lives. It has been found that death as a part of thoughts increased among the person at all ages and it increased in the later years of the lives of people. The researchers have found that people are unwilling meet with these realities. In 1970s, people agreed that each person die with the dignity and if the person has died, then the person has to tell it to doctors. Some studies have also taken place within the topic of anticipation of death. There was one question asked that do the people feel good to avoid the deaths and not try to make plans for anticipating deaths? Do they feel to make plans for death?  Ã‚   3.1 Self destruction The case of the sociological relationships of the person to the death which is known as suicide was taken. There were some sociological studies conducted on the topic dying and death (Cavan 1928; Halbwachs 1930; Henry Short 1954; Dublin 1963; Gibbs Martin 1964; Douglas 1967). Several studies have taken place on the social factors that are related with the rates of suicide. Several measures were taken such as industrialization which was identified by the gross national product and the status of integration. It has been founds that status integration was negatively correlated with the suicide rates.  Ã‚  Other study revealed about the suicide rates which were related with the family and their marital status and it was based on Durkheim theory.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   3.2 Self management of death time It has been stated by several studies that people who are concerned with the relationship of themselves to the society are self motivated for managing the time of their deaths. It has assumed that the determination to live the life without identifying any biological linkages. It must b involved within thistopic (Marshall, 1980).  Ã‚  The people who are separated from the society always commit suicide and the people who are attached with it, delay the death or try to observe the time of getting social significance (Kalish, 1970). It has been proposed that deaths can be expected at the time of social occasions such as the Jewish day of compensation (Yom Kippur; Phillips Feldman, 1973).  From the year 1904-1968, researcher had found the difference between the deaths in non election as well as election years. They found that there was significant difference in the mortality rates of US people before electing US president. Some researchers have shown the fact about the low mortality rates just before to ceremonial occasions and the researcher found strong relationships between the death and the birthdays. The theory was that the people at their birthdays receive attention from the people (Philips, 1972).  Ã‚   3.3 Social Stressors and the Self Several sociological studies have talked about the social outcome for the lives of people along with fundamental changes during the period of industrial relocations, retirement, and institutionalization and at the time of economic depression. The mortality rates depend on these variables. It has been predicted that retirement is known as a stressful event which lead the higher rates of death for retirees as compared to the people who works. Life long work is considered as the stressor and retirement variable acts as the moderator that increases longevity. It has been revealed by the studies that mortality rate among the early and normal retirees within the major industries are different. The mortality rate of early retiree was higher than the predicted rates. The mortality rate in case of normal retirees was no different between the normal and expected rates. Some data was taken out from the companies such as pension, medical records, personnel etc. 4 Findings 4.1 Death is good? If you are born to this world, you are probable completely to experience death at one time or the other because death is inevitable. The point is whether death is a good thing to experience or is it a bad one? Everyone living in this society faces death at one or the other instance. No one is born eternal. An individual dies and ends his or her life at certain age due to natural or accidental death (Lynch, 1997). There are thousands of ways in which a human being can die. This death adds to the fear in mind of humanity. Human beings fear of this uneven cause at one or the other time. Death is acceptable for some people, while others fear against death (Nagel, 1970). The pain and fear of death can be dangerous. At such an instance, it becomes important to result in an approach to ensure that a person lives for long; however, the human beings have no control over this mandatory part of life that results into end of life. A human being feels comfortable considering death is for all and there is no loss of it if anyone faces it. All the human beings have to face death one or the other day. The human beings shall live their days and take complete enjoyment of it. One shall not be worried for his death at the entire instance, but shall be aware of comfort and enjoyment throughout his life. Humanity has to take due interest of this and live his life. While on looking at other side, people consider life as most important asset for them. Life is of supreme importance and there is the life is priceless. Therefore, it brings into attention whether life is most important for one? Yes it is as per the point that life is everything for a human being and the loss of life means the greatest loss that can be in ones life. There is no positive or negative aspect associated with it though. Human beings give away everything for the sake of life. This brings into attention the importance of life. Shall we live our life without any tension or shall we keep on worrying because of no importance of life? It is true that all the human beings want to live more and more. But, can one live for eternity? None of the human beings is here to be here. The life cycle keeps on rotating and the human beings die. Thus, from the above discussion it can be noted that the point whether death is good is a complex point to be cleared. It is not easy to find the right way in which we can consider whether death is good for a person or if it is not. There comes the need to assist in the way to come up to know whether death is good or not (Nagel, 1970). If the age has gone for an individual to live, the death could be a favourable point for him. However, it is still tough to say that death can be good. On the other hand, in case someone dies due to an accident or any uncertain reason, it is an unfavourable act for him. 4.2 Death- A change in Perception Death has been a point of sorrow since long when the conceptual designs by Holbein demonstrated the paintings of dead Christ with a sorrowful act (Julia, 1989). The perception of individual towards the death changes with the passage of time. For a child, death is not defined. However, in the adulthood, it becomes a fear factor for most of the human beings. The human beings consider it as the real cause of danger at their stage when the love to live. Therefore, individuals perception is quite conservative at this stage. However, the old aged people are not usually worried of death due to the reason that they already lived their life. Nagel (1970) has argued that people do not fear for death because of non existence for long term because of this. One does not consider life as suspended for a short period of time because this is considered as a misfortune. It can be a pity for those who get out of the circulation of life. One is not conceived, but is born for once. The point always exists in mind for the fear of death in humanity. Being dead is not an event but a curse as per the humanity. The consideration is laid on living for the whole life without any risk. However, the risks are always related with the life. One cannot be at a state of complete risk free life. The time does not demonstrate whether the state of life would be at complete risk free state. Therefore, the need exists at such an instance to life for the society. As per the interviews conducted by Barnes (2008), responses were collected with regard to existence of God. These provided the details of self reflection along with clarifying important them es of writings. Barnes (2008) says that he does not trust for existence of God, but he misses God. 4.3 Man of today- Worried of death The man in todays life is more worried of death (Julian, 2008). On looking at the past records of Renaissance and mediaeval times, it can be noted that death was amongst the community events. The family members band together with each other to share the moments of sorrow at such an instance. This helps them be with each other at typical instances. This was considered as the reason for being together. However, the concept has changed into a religion in todays time. None of the character is rigid in itself right from the beginning to the end, as there are continuous changes in thought process (Troyer, 2007). Today, it is usual to share the moments of sorrow with each other at hospital to share the tough times with each other. This helps in confining the complex situation with each other to give some support in these times. However, the fear of death is one and the same on comparing time of past and that of present. The death is such an instance which gets out of the scope of an understanding of human being. This even can occur anytime and anywhere with anyone, no matter what the situation and setting is with the surrounding. An individual conceives death as a complex phenomenon. The death has been a point of worry right from the time it was recorded long- long ago when the humanity started. It is a simple concept in everyones mind that life is the cause of joys and death is the cause of sorrows. There is a paradigm shift in the concept associated with death. This was the concept quite personal in historic times, but has become individualistic at present instance. This raises the need for higher degree of need for maintaining and regulating the tough situations to assure that the mankind is out of danger. If an individual gets ready to face the time of death, he can do so. The human psychology is the main factor that can result in death or life of a human being (Michel, 2003). The perception of an individual depends on his life and profession with regard to death. Doctors and nurses who are operating surrounded by death of people all around one or the other day, consider this as the normal phenomenon at usual instance, while others take it as a tough one. The main factor is the relatedness of death with the person who is suffering from it. This characteristic affects the humanity in one or the other way. 4.4 Dreadful act- Is there right time for it There has always been a conception in mind, what is the right age for death? One considers life as an important part right from his birth to the time the human being leaves his life (Nagel, 1970). Therefore, the life of humanity is always a good opt for individuals. But, one looking at the real life, we can note a number of events when the individual wishes to leave his life due to some or the other reason. This acts against the humanity and the living being gives up against his life. This may be at early stages of life or might take place at later stages. When an individual feels uncomfortable of his body and physique, the chances are there for taking an interest of ending ones life. However, these chances even increases more when the human being is not comfortable mentally due to some or the other reason. This acts quite badly against the humanity and the life is at risk. The death is an imminent part of ones life as one cannot survive always. The most common components associated with life are death, vision, and premonitions (Crissman, 1994). The situation of promotions are not easy to be faced as it is the time when one knows that he is going to die within short span. This is the main factor that acts against the life and well being. The person gets worried due to this factor. This knowing of the situation can be due to some magical reason, or be supernatural, or through the natural sign or inner conviction (Crissman, 1994). The condition rises to take due care of such an instance; else the chances are there for risk against life and well being. Thereon, the humanity survives only due to the situational success (Bryant, 2003). However, historic people were during the Appalachian culture focused more depending on superstition. 5 Conclusion For the topic titled as, Death and dying: Changing attitudes through the age, the topic was noted to be highly complex in actual sense. It was found that the researchers are contributing well to the research topic since the last century. This demonstrates high degree of interest among the individuals towards this concept. The death is always under the consideration to postpone because of increasing awareness and interest among individuals to live their lives. There is always the moral dilemma related to the euthanasia among individuals. However, the case of fear is increasingly getting over the lives. Increasingly individuals get involved in wrongful act. This has raised the accidents of suicides to a higher degree. The death in todays time has shifted towards being more and more deadly. Individuals take more interest in being attracted towards enlarged life. However, the change in attitude of man is still not much different as compared to that of historic times. There is still the importance laid on lives and humanity. This raised the attention among individuals to live for longer duration. On the other hand, the complex lives in todays time has resulted in increased the complexity of humanity. This further adds to the pressure on the mind of individuals leading them to depression and thus resulting in wrongful acts. There is no time for death until the end of hope of an individual. This point out increasing interest among individuals to live and enjoy their lives with not much interest laid on the other factors. The fear against death is therefore a phenomenon which does not seem to decrease even after decades. Individuals would be keeping living their lives for more and more years, in spite of this being an uncontrollable variable for individuals.

Importance of Knowing Other Cultures :: Cross-cultural Experiences

Question Answered: Present the ways in which cross-cultural experiences strengthen a continuous development of the world environment. Cross-cultural experiences can be numerous things. It could be as simple as having a potluck, joining a book club, or participating in a forum. Cross-cultural experiences can also be moving to or visiting a different neighborhood, city, state, or country. All of these activities involve an exchange of ideas about people's identities. Let us suppose an American boy, who I will refer to as "person A" for the purposes of this paper, visits his Japanese friend, "person B.," In their everyday interactions, they talk about their families, ancestors, history, favorite food, hobbies, etc. Person A, consciously or not, gives knowledge of the reality of his culture. As in any other initial exposure to something foreign, person B enters into this experience with some preconceived notions. As he listens to and observes person A, he comes to understand an identity - particularly, that of person A. Consequently, person B gains knowledge, and uses it to resolve his stereotypes and rightfully adjust his opinions. A more significant consequence of this particular cross-cultural experience is what results in person B. In such an exchange two things come to effect. One, person B becomes compelled to teach person A about his own culture. His appreciation for his new knowledge, as well as his own desire to rid others of misconception s about his culture drives him to share his identity with those around him, starting with his friend. Eventually, the knowledge spreads; and so does the drive to educate. Two, this exchange allows person B to exercise the important virtue of having an open mind. He becomes open to experience different cultures because of a resulting desire to understand the diverse world. In turn, the world environment continues to develop because, not only are there more people who are willing to educate, more people are willing to learn with an open mind. The evolution of the globalized societal landscape is directly connected to the occurrence of cross-cultural experiences. This is because, with more understanding about the world cultures, we can continue to evolve as a unified group of individuals. The world environment is defined by how we interact with each other. It involves relationships as inclusive as a country's interaction with another country or as intimate as someone's friendship with his roommate.

Dick Spencer Case Analysis Essay

Dick Spencer In this case Dick Spencer, a well-known employee of an aluminum producing company worked his way up the ranks from being a successful salesman to a plant manager. However through his transition of roles Dick experienced some pitfalls. In the following paragraphs I will discuss the main contributing factors to Dick’s success as a salesman and the issues he faced as a plant manager and provide informed alternative solutions. Dick knew the business well which played a vital role in his success as a salesman. Fresh out of college and with a Master’s degree in Business Administration attributed to his knowledge of the business world. According to Foster-Pedley (2013), individuals with a MBA apply their new expertise and fresh talents in their jobs and towards the advancement of the organization. â€Å"They use resources better, applying their imagination and creativity more effectively, and dare to transform and make progress† (Foster-Pedley, 2013, p. 13). Individuals who attained a MBA credit their promotion, field change or pay increase to the degree (Ainsworth, 1995). We’ve all heard the adage,† knowledge is power† and Dick certainly had the potential and prevailed as a salesman. Dick had the ability to sale and according to his coworkers he was personable which amplified his sales ability. Effectively communicating and connecting with customers is an important aspect of the buyer-seller relationship (Hung, Lin, 2013). Whether it’s on a personal level or professional level making that relation is the key. Through his easy to talk to personality, Dick built relationships and gained trust. Research indicates â€Å"higher levels of trust are expected to result in more positive attitudes, higher levels of cooperation and other forms of workplace behavior, and superior levels of performance† (Dirks, Ferrin, 2001). Additionally in order to sale a product you have to know your product. Product knowledge directly correlates with how customers will respond to your product (Sangtani, Murshed, 2013). Once you’ve established a connection with the customer you want to listen and understand your customer’s needs. Having product knowledge is important so you can identify what your product(s) can do to serve your customer’s needs. According to Feiertag (2006), â€Å"It is just not enough to simply mention the feature; it needs to be presented as a value to the prospective buyer.† Successful individuals working in sales are enthusiastic and highly motived about  se lling their product (Stevenson, 2004). Dick was able to signed several large contracts by applying these fundamental sales skills. Dick was confident in his abilities to get the job done. Shortly after being employed Dick secured a single, large contract deal, placing him high on the sales leader board. Dick was confident in his abilities and took pride in getting the job done. It’s important to have confidence at work to professionally grow and advance your career. Dick’s confidence as a salesman later helped him get a management position. Dick enjoyed being a salesman and was pretty good at it. The study performed by Gyllensten and Palmer (2014), found participates were happier on the job and outside of work when their confidence levels increased. They also reported improvements in employees completing their work duties and a willingness to make decisions (Gyllensten and Palmer, 2014). Again we can also give credit to Dick’s MBA degree as providing self-assurance in his job performance abilities (Simpson, 2005). Confidence gives you the courage to do things you normally wouldn’t feel comfortable doing. In sales there are plenty of circumstances where the ordinary sales pitch just won’t seal the deal. Dick was also very committed to the job which reflected in his sales volume. In a review of the research on organization commitment and job performance, researchers identified there is a direct correlation in commitment to the job and achieving favorable results (Myer, Paunonen, Gellatly, Goffin, Jackson, 1989). Consistent with this prospective, Shore and M artin (1989) found that â€Å"better performance was shown by employees with higher commitments.† Dick was so committed to the job that it cost him his first marriage. He was serious about reaching his sales goals and each of these factors previously described played a part in his success as a salesman. However after a few years as a salesman, Dick wasn’t getting the satisfaction from the job as he had in the past. Therefore he requested a transfer out of the sales department and into a management role. Dick was named plant manager at Modrow. He came in at a hectic time when a lot of changes were being implemented. In his efforts to familiarize himself with the daily operations, Dick first struggle as a manager was micro-managing. He had his hand in everything possible which made his employees feel very un-easy. According to Dr. White, Dick possessed many symptoms of a Micromanager. For example, Dick interest in cutting costs required the expert knowledge of the accounting group. Knowing that  accounting wasn’t his strongest subject he still spent numerous hours burying himself in details that he just could not understand. Micromanagers don’t allow any decisions be made with their approval (White, 2010). Dick had also taken on too many tasks at once making it almost impossible for any of them to be implemented successfully. Being the micromanager that he was, Dick didn’t delegate tasks very well, another symptom of a micromanager (White, 2010). Another example of Dick’s micromanaging is when he insisted on changing the disposal process of scraps. When discussing this change with his foremen, Dick didn’t listen to the foreman’s thoughts as to why the change wouldn’t work. Micromanagers tend to have the mentality; it’s my way or the highway. Traditional micromanagers will completely disregard new concepts offered by their subordinates (Weyand, 1996). Work-related stress affected Dick’s job performance. It also was creating issues with his family as they felt abandoned while he spent countless hours at the office. Through trying to prove himself to leadership and to his new employees, Dick lost focus on other important matters. His management position required him to take on more responsibilities which demanded more of his time. â€Å"In order for supervisors and managers to excel and be a dynamic force in organizational life, job stress must be harnessed† (Stanley, 2014). As Dick noticed processes that needed to be changed he was unsuccessful in communicating those changes. As a manager being able to successfully communication is essential. Communication failure could potentially become a serious problem in an organization. Information is lost causing confusion reducing productivity and increases costs. In an article published by Jost (2006), he discusses several situations where failure to communicate resulted in some hefty financial costs to many companies. Dick was so focused on cutting costs that he forgot to look at the big picture. If he had effectively communicated his interest to cut costs with his supervisors and foreman, he could have potentially found a solution. Additionally, his relationships with his employees weren’t the best, which is another consequence of ineffective communication (Tunk, 2014). Now I’d like to focus on the following recommendations that could resolve Dick’s  micro-managing style, work-related s tress, and ineffective communication. To address Dick’s micro-managing style, he needs to be flexible in how the job gets done. Dick can delegate tasks that can be handled without his supervision and give them ample time to complete each task. He can do this by building trust, empowering his employees to be a part of the decision making process (White, 2010). Making rounds within the plant had a negative impact on employees. They were worried about what he was up to and why he kept coming around. There was a lack of trust. His presence caused everyone to be less productive in their jobs. The second recommendation is time management to address Dick’s work-related stress. It’s important for Dick to find a balance between work and family for the sake of his marriage and kids but also for his well-being. If Dick continues operating this way it could potentially lead to some serious health problems (Heikkia et al., 2013). To help him find this balance he needs to reevaluate what’s most important to him. Review his job duties that need to be completed and prioritize them. Identify the tasks that can be done by someone else and delegate those tasks (McDonald & Hucheson, 1998). Dick should also try to engage in outside activity that requires his complete attention. Research supports â€Å"that a psychological detachment from work effectively mitigates some of the negative effects of work-family conflict† (Moreno et al., 2009). My last recommendation is improving his communication skills. Dick was not successful in trying to implement a change in the process to discard scrap siding. The keys to effective communication is listening and learning. Effective communication improves work performance and productivity within the business. It also builds trust and creates transparency which is something Dick is currently lacking within the Modrow plant. Communication promotes collaborative work where everyone has an opportunity to share information (Tunk, 2014). If Dick were to implement these few changes I believe he would start reaping the benefits of his management role and overall increase morale at the plant. References Ainsworth, M., & Morley, C. (1995). The Value of Management Education: Views of Graduates on the Benefits of Doing a MBA. Higher Education, 30(2), 175-87. Dirks, K. T., & Ferrin, D. L. (2001). The Role of Trust in Organizational Settings. Organization Science, (4), 450. doi:10.2307/3085982. Feiertag, H. (2006). Product knowledge is key to improving group sales. Hotel & Motel Management, 221(8), 10. Foster-Pedley, J. (2013). Older and maybe just a little bit wiser.. Finweek, 12-13. Gyllensten, K., & Palmer, S. (2014). Increased employee confidence: A benefit of coaching. Coaching Psychologist, 10(1), 36-39. Heikkilà ¤, K., Fransson, E. I., Nyberg, S. T., Zins, M., Westerlund, H., Westerholm, P., & †¦ Kivimà ¤ki, M. (2013). Job strain and health-related lifestyle: Findings from an individual-participant meta-analysis of 118,000 working adults. American Journal Of Public Health, 103(11), 2090-2097. Hung, K., & Lin, C. (2013). More communication is not always better? The interplay between effective communication and interpersonal conflict in influencing satisfaction. Industrial Marketing Management, 42(8), 1223-1232. doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2013.05.002. Jost, A. C. (2006). What We’ve Got Here Is†¦ FAILURE to Communicate. (cover story). Journal Of The Quality Assurance Institute, 20(4), 2-5. McDonald, B. D., & Hutcheson, D. (1998). Balancing work, family, work, self and work hurts employees. Business Press, 10(48), 29. Meyer, J. P., Paunonen, S. V., Gellatly, I. R., Goffin, R. D., & Jackson, D. N. (1989). Organizational Commitment and Job Performance: It’s the Nature of the Commitment That Counts. Journal Of Applied Psychology, 74(1), 152. Moreno-Jimà ©nez, B., Mayo, M., Sanz-Vergel, A., Geurts, S., Rodrà ­guez-Muà ±oz, A., & Garrosa, E. (2009). Effects of work-family conflict on employees’ well-being: The moderating role of recovery strategies. Journal Of Occupational Health Psychology, 14(4), 427-440. doi:10.1037/a0016739. Shore, L. M., & Martin, H. J. (1989). Job satisfaction and organizational commitment in relation to work performance and turnover intentions. Human Relations, 42(7), 625. Simpson, R., Sturges, J., Woods, A., & Altman, Y. (2005). Gender, Age, and the MBA: An Analysis of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Career Benefits. Journal of Management Education, 29(2), 218-247. Stanley, T. L. (2014). stress management for high achievers. Supervision, 75(5), 17. Stevenson, B. (2004). 4 Reasons Why Sales Fail. NZ Marketing Magazine, 23(1), 32-33. Tuck, P. (2014). A failure to communicate. Training Journal, 43-47. Weyand, J. (1996). Micromanagement: Outmoded or alive and well?. Management Review, 85(11), 62. White Jr., R. D. (2010). The Micromanagement Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Cure. Public Personnel Management, 39(1), 71-76.

Who Fired at Lexington and Concord

Who Fired At Lexington? Who fired first at Lexington? This question seems to remain a mystery until now, but after much research, and answer has been decided. After scouring through many affidavits, maps, paintings, and such, I have learned that the most logical answer is that the King’s troops, or the British, were the ones who opened fire unto the colonial troops. There is credible testimony as well as a piece of art that leads to this conclusion. To begin with, there are two witnesses to the Battle at Lexington and Concord that openly admit to the British being the ones to first open fire.John Parker, the commander of the militia in Lexington, accounts that upon hearing that the British troops were approaching he gave orders to his men to â€Å"disperse and not to fire†. He then also recalls that his men were rushed by the British troops who opened fire and killed eight of their party without receiving any provoking from the militia in Lexington. Another man, Simon W inship gives account of his experience on the night of the Battle at Lexington and Concord.He states that he was riding his horse on the public road in Lexington, unarmed, when he was approached by the British troops and ordered to dismount his horse. When he asked why, he was removed from his horse by force from the British commanders. The commanding men ordered Winship to march with the troops. He refused, but somehow ended up marching with them for half of a quarter of a mile. The troops were told to halt, prime and load their weapons. The troops then marched on until they came into contact with Captain Parker’s militia.He then recounts that an officer at the head of the said British troops, â€Å"flourished his sword, and with a loud voice, giving the word fire, fire, which was instantly followed by a discharge of arms from said troops†. Winship accounts that he is positive that there was no discharge of arms from either side until the word fire was given by the sa id officer. A painting also gave credible representation of the events that occurred that night. The painting clearly displays the King’s regiment, marching into the space that was occupied by the colonists.The Colonial troops, dispersed and held their ground without provoking the red coats to attack. The commander of the British troops, is shown atop his horse waving his sword in the air as to commence the attack on the Colonial troops. It is obvious as demonstrated by the evidence, that the King’s troops were the offending party which opened fire on the Colonial troops. Even though there was testimony accounting that the Colonial troops were the ones to open fire, they were discounted as credible due to their biased position.

Reflections on Federal Environmental Policy essay

Reflections on Federal Environmental Policy essay Reflections on Federal Environmental Policy essay Reflections on Federal Environmental Policy essayThe current major environmental issues include pollution (water, air and land pollution), overpopulation, water scarcity, land degradation, nuclear waste contamination, global climate change, and depletion of resources, and other issues. Most environmental issues require adequate solutions in the form of environmental protection. I think that related policies are effective, although much should be done to strengthen current policies. For example, waste management policy is regulated at the federal level, while municipal solid waste remains the issue of local policy. Current environmental policies tend to solve various environmental problems, which incorporate a set of interconnected issues that influence the sustainability of our planet.   There are many changes in the environmental policies that affect my personality and personalities of other people. Today people understand the dimensions of existing environmental problems and find the proper solutions to address these problems through the use of new technologies. As a result, particular environmental issues can be deconstructed. People understand the major causes and effects of current environmental issues. I have changed my attitudes toward environmental concerns. I use new technologies to save environment, e.g. energy saving, water saving, etc. My thoughts about environmental policies prior to reading this week’s reading assignment were improper. My perspective has been reinforced now that I am more informed.   I have learned much new information during this course. Now I have an opportunity to relate this, what I have learned this week to my own experiences. For example, I can define environmental protection as an important policy area that has direct relation to human health. I understand social, economic and political impact of current environmental policies.   Undoubtedly, one of the most complex and influential environmental problems is glo bal climate change. To address non-human induced climate change, it is necessary to find solutions to the problem of pollution, especially in large cities, because air pollution has global impact on the environment.

desert storm essays

desert storm essays I denna uppsats har jag valt att behandla humanitra och miljmssiga aspekter p Gulfkriget 1990 -1991. P grund av mnets omfattning har jag valt att strikt begrnsa mig till dessa aspekter och inte ta upp t ex militra och strategiska sdana. Detta har tyvrr visat sig vara ett mne som inte ens jag klarar av att skriva p ett roligt stt om. 1:2 Iraks behandling av kuwaitiska krigsfngar och civilbefolkning 1:3 Skadeverkningar p miljn i Kuwait 1:4 Plundring och frstrelse 2:2 Flygoffensiven - Operation Desert Storm 2:3 Markoffensiven - Operation Desert Sabre 2:4 Skadeverkningar p miljn i Irak "Gulfkriget och den humanitra folkrtten" av Christer Ahlstrm, Folkrttsdelegatio- "The true cost of conflict", Kapitel 2, "The Iraq Conflict" av Den 2 augusti 1990 invaderades Kuwait av irakiska trupper. Detta var den slutliga kulmen p en lngre tids konflikt mellan lnderna angende olje- flt p den irak-kuwaitiska grnsen, och ar i norra Gulfen. De verbala hotelserna trappades gradvis upp under 1990, fr att kulminera i juli med att Irak anklagade Kuwait fr att ha stulit irakisk olja till ett vrde av 2.4 biljoner USD. Natten till den 2 augusti inleddes invasionen. Det kuwaitiska frsvaret verraskades, och de invaderande styrkorna mtte ringa motstnd. Vid 7-tiden p morgonen stod de irakiska styrkorna i Kuwait City, och efter 48 timmar hade hela landet intagits. Den 8 augusti frklarade den irakiska ledningen sin avsikt att annektera Kuwait, och den 28 augusti offentliggjordes att grnsomrdena mellan Irak och Kuwait hade infrlivats med den irakiska provinsen Basra, samt att vriga delar av Kuwait nu ut- gjorde Iraks 19:de provins. Fr frsta gngen i FN:s historia hade en medl...

A contrast between opposing values in Hard Times Essay Example for Free

A contrast between opposing values in Hard Times Essay ? The first incident that involves the circus and circus people that I would like to talk about, and that clearly demonstrates the contrast between opposing values is on page 34 onwards. Mr Gradgrind, the absolute pinnacle of fact in the book, goes to visit the Circus people to tell them that the fanciful Sissy Jupe can no longer attend the school. I have chosen this incident as it involves more of the circus characters than really at any other time, secondly the description of the circus shows just how far from the world and values of fact it is. The circus is the best symbol for representing the alternative to all that is fact in the book; the circus is seen as a world of mystery and wonder almost of magic and idea that completely goes against the idea of facts. Gradgrind and Bounderby go to see Sissy’s father only to find out he has abandoned his daughter, it is then that Mr Gradgrind decides on the possibility of taking Sissy to his own home, and educating her in the ways of fact from there. Mr Bounderby and Mr Gradgrind get together during this time and have a conference of opinions based upon the fact and laws they have always followed, Gradgrind being softer at heart but still the fact machine at this point wants to take Sissy home, but Gradgrind can be heard to be saying â€Å"No. I say no. I advise you not. I say by no means.† He does this as he is the metaphor for fact throughout the book and to take someone else’s child on as your own and teach them the ways of fact, when she has been living the life of fancy for many years seems absurd to Bounderby. However, at the same time that Gradgrind is having a debate about the matter with Bounderby, â€Å"†¦the various members of Sleary’s company gradually gathered together from the upper regions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The circus people are described in this chapter as being â€Å"†¦remarkable gentleness and childishness about these people, a special inaptitude for any kind of sharp practice, and an untiring readiness to help and pity one another, deserving often as much respect, and always as much generous construction, as the every-day virtues of any class of people in the world.† Unlike the likes of Bounderby and Gradgrind, who cannot be described as emotional or passionate or anything of the sort just â€Å"plain hard facts† Sleary in this chapter is the real philosopher on the ideas of fancy he even says it â€Å"†¦I lay down the philothophy of the thubject when thay to you, Thquire, make the betht of uth: not the wurtht!† This chapter clearly show the contrast between opposing views and values in Hard Times, the circus shows a whole new world but is representative of a whole new set of values the ideas of fancy are represented in the themes and scenes with the circus. The thing is with the circus is that it has almost dreamlike status things happen there that cannot happen anywhere else and it appears to be an almost illusion, for example â€Å"The father of one of the families was in the habit of balancing the father of another of the families on top of a great pole.† These are the things that you would only expect to see in dreams and so therefore it is fanciful, a complete contrast to the ideas of fact displayed throughout the rest of Hard Times. A good example of how far opposed to the ideas of fact the circus is takes place on page 12 and 13 when, Mr Gradgrind the keeper of facts and bringer of knowledge to Thomas and Louisa Gradgrind’s lives, catches them sat watching the circus people, he takes the view that the circus was bad news, as it opposes everything he stands for â€Å"Now to think of these vagabonds attracting the young rabble from a model school.† He sees the idea of the circus so fanciful and alien to him, he feels that to watch a circus act would be to debase himself or a well-educated child. It even says â€Å"his own mathematical Thomas abasing himself on the ground to catch but a hoof of the graceful equestrian Tyrolean flower act!† This sentence shows what the opposing values are fully in Hard Times, it is obvious from the statement that anything mathematical or just plain practical is in direct opposition to the fanciful nature of flower shows and the like. Thomas when caught does not even protest but knows that to obey his father’s principles he must â€Å"[give] himself up to be taken home like a machine.† That is clearly the way of fact to be machine like, and that is why the circus is such a good opposition and symbol of everything fact isn’t, Gradgrind condemns circus like ideals when he says â€Å"In the name of wonder, idleness and folly!† apparently to dream or to be imaginative is lazy in Gradgrind’s books. Which is why the factual way in which Gradgrind has based his life upon is so offended by the ideas of fancy as he doesn’t like the thought of being considered as being not lazy but that there can be other ways to work hard in life. Gradgrind is so full of the idea that facts are right, that he even questions and believes that with all these thoughts at the disposal they could make the wrong decision, when surely it isn’t a case of right and wrong? Just opposing views and they do oppose each other! Gradgrind does say though â€Å"Thomas though I have the facts before me I find it difficult to believe that you with your education and resources should have brought your sister to a scene like this.† This makes it seem as though education is supposed to kill the imagination, which clearly conflicts with the views of the circus, which believe that you should work hard and perform in life, but never let the dreams die. A contrast between opposing values in Hard Times. (2017, Nov 15).

Decision-making processes within private limited companies in England Essay

Decision-making processes within private limited companies in England and Wales - Essay Example According to Section 14 of the companies Act 1985, the registered memorandum of association and articles of association bind members and the company and are assumed to have been signed and sealed by each member thus all members must observe the provisions of the covenant (Grier, Griffin and Capper, 1998). In the case of Wood v. Odessa Waterworks (1889), the judge clarified that the articles of association not only constitute a contract between the shareholders and the company but also a contract between each individual shareholders (Bretagne, 2005). Companies Act 2006 made significant changes to the old Companies Act 1985 especially on the proceedings and governance of Private limited companies. Table A of the Companies Act 1985 was replaced with Model Articles of Association for the private limited companies and public limited companies that are contained in Companies Act 2006 (Griffin, 2006). The model articles took effect on 1 October 2009 thus making it possible to take advantage of benefits offered by Companies Act 2006. For instance, private limited companies incorporated before 1 October 2009 can continue with their previous articles of association or amend the articles in order to exclude the requirement of having to hold annual general meetings and employing a company secretary (Birds, 2010). Another significant change brought about in the decision-making of private limited companies in England and Wales is the removal of the previous statutory ‘cap’ on the authorized share capital (Lacy, 2002). ... e sets of model articles for public and private companies limited by shares and set model articles for the companies limited by guarantee (Clayton, 2008). The private limited companies are no longer required to have a company secretary. However, the companies can decide to appoint a secretary and his authority should be equivalent to that of a secretary of a public limited company (Hannigan, 2012). Such appointment must be notified to registrar of companies and records filed in the company’s register of secretaries. According to the previous law that was in force recently, Company Act 1985 required the directors to appoint the secretary, determine the remuneration and remove the secretary from office (Davies, 2010). The current law has simplified the decision-making process through removing the previous statutory requirement of holding an annual general meeting (Kershaw, 2012). The current law makes it possible to make decisions through written resolutions. In the previous 198 5 Act, private limited companies were required to hold annual general meetings (AGMs), but the current law gives the members the flexibility to determine whether to hold AGMs or or make critical decisions through written resolutions (Grier, 2009). However, members that hold 10 percent of the voting rights can go ahead and request for an annual general meeting (AGM). Under the previous law, the written resolutions required unanimous consent of all members unlike the current law provides that normal rule for ordinary and special resolutions will apply to written resolutions and a simple or 75 percent majority will be sufficient to pass the written resolutions. Part 13 of Resolutions and Meetings in companies Act 2006 sets a statutory minimum period of notice of general meetings to 14 days, but

John Stuart Mill's On Liberty as applied to an issue of modern times Essay

John Stuart Mill's On Liberty as applied to an issue of modern times - Essay Example He was concerned that this majority would stamp out diversity, repress individuals whom failed to conform to herdlike values, and stifle dissenting views. The mass media presents a complex study because it involves an interplay between a tightly controlled corporate elite and masses of citizens whom too often turn to and rely upon the mass media for facts and information. How the mass media presents events is critical to American citizens attaining the intellectual and physical sovereignty to which Mill referred as constititing the foundations of their liberty and freedom. This essay will argue that, viewed through the principles articulated by Mill, today's oligopolistic mass media undermines and stifles the ideals to which he aspired for American citiens; as a result, notions such as the legitimacy of diversity and the sanctity of variety have been dealt a critical blow. As a preliminary matter, before discussing Mill more particularly, it is necessary to place modern American mass media in context. ... In democratic societies the manner by which the media system is structured, controlled, and subsidized is of central political importance. Control over the means of communication is an integral aspect of political and economic power" (McChesney, 1997: 6). The irony is that, although the mass media is privately controlled, it is structured in a way which more resembles a non-democratic oligopoly or military junta than a democratically-structured disperssion of media outlets. In short, from a structural point of view, American mass media is controlled and delivered by a wealthy corporate elite, economic and political barriers often bar entry to new participants, and American citizens receive their news from this structural mass media creature. In addition to structure, it is important to discuss the more substantive features of American mass media. A superficial analysis might yield the view that American mass media, as a corporate enterprise designed to generate profits for corporate shareholders, reflects like a mirror the diversity and the variety of the American citizenry. If the mass media oligopoly didn't give the American consumers what they wanted, this logic goes, then the consumers would switch allegiance and the corporate profits would dry up. There are two fundamental flaws with this argument from the point of view of a theorist such as Mill. First, how the corporate mass media decides to present programming is often a product of detailed surveys and focus groups (Carper, 1995: D-19.2); in effect, the mass media is appealing to the majority as a primary justification for the selection of suitable subject matter and viewpoints. Rather than making programming decisions independently, based on

The topic is Prostitution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The topic is Prostitution - Research Paper Example A mere act of law will possibly not solve all the problems related to this issue. It might be argued by some people that legalizing prostitution will make it easier to control the dark and corrupt side of this trade. It will give some measure of dignity to the sex workers. It will ensure they get regular health check-ups and they are not left to the mercy of unscrupulous pimps or customers. They shall be better paid and ultimately like any other organized sector they shall get some measure of legal protection. (Hayes-Smith and Shekarkhar, 50) Although this is one way of looking at it there is another viewpoint, which considers prostitution to be a threat to the institution of marriage. According to this group legalizing prostitution will result in the break-up of many marriages, as it will make it easier for spouses to cheat on their partners. One might argue that a faithful spouse shall remain so even if prostitution is legalized. So if in the long run legalizing this trade results in some long-term benefits for the women concerned it should be seriously considered. (Hayes-Smith and Shekarkhar, 53) It has been discovered that indoor sex workers are less likely to face violence than prostitutes who work on the streets. Surveys conducted in Vancouver, British Columbia have revealed that about 67% of the indoor sex workers had never faced any violence in their profession. This survey concentrated on massage parlors, escort agencies and women who worked as independent sex workers. This was in stark contrast to the violence faced by women who worked on the streets of Vancouver. Here the rate of violence was as high 98% and it is obvious from this survey that indoor sex work is safer than working on the streets. I n the United Kingdom Jeal and Salisbury reported that 79% of their indoor sex workers had never faced violence. Another survey conducted by Sanders and Campbell found that around 76% to 79% of the indoor sex workers had never experienced violence (O’Doherty, 218). So if the Government legalizes prostitution the women will no longer have to work on the streets. They can operate from their own private set-ups without fear of prosecution. This will give them greater autonomy and more litheness. They will no longer be at the mercy of pimps and middlemen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A lack of awareness and education puts most prostitutes at a disadvantage. As a result of this when they face violence of any kind they are unable to fight for their rights. Moreover there is a feeling among certain sections of the public that anybody engaged in this kind of profession deserve what they get .A prostitute who complains of violence by the customer is therefore not likely to receive much sympathy. Legalization of prostitution will enable women to fight for their rights. It will also protect them from corrupt law-enforcement officials. (O’Doherty, 223-224)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The fact that economic problems might lead to an increase in the level of prostitution is borne out by what we see in Russia today. There has be en a rise in the level of prostitution in Russia. Unfortunately little action has been taken by the State to regulate and control this industry. As a result of this venereal diseases and HIV infection has spread rapidly. According to the information of the Ministry of Health of Saratov oblast, in 1996-2003 the number of people infected with AIDS was

What are the advantages and disadvantages of asexual and sexual Essay

What are the advantages and disadvantages of asexual and sexual reproduction in animals - Essay Example Division of the zygote takes place repeatedly resulting to the growth of an embryo. This embryo grows inside the female or outside in other animals into multi cellular organism. As a result of the shared genetic information in sexual reproduction by the gametes, the off spring produced contains variety. This constitutes part of the advantages of sexual reproduction since the genetic variation gives the species an advantageous element of survival. Furthermore, genetic variation results to evolution of species which form better organisms (Kent, 2000). This species have better surviving traits in the unstable environments. Species which reproduce sexually have low extinction rates. This is beneficial as it ensures continuity of population. Sexual reproduction has several disadvantages. To this end, the need to have both male and female mate for reproduction is some time inconveniencing since both may not be willing (Rinkevich & Matranga, 2009). It also consumes excessive time and energy to look for a suitable partner. Moreover, there is no assurance after fertilization that the nucleus cell of male will fuse with the female cell. .Furthermore, counter-productive genetic combination conditions should be stable. Asexual reproduction involves one organism producing an offspring identical to it genetically. It requires one parent to reproduce. In single celled organisms the parent cells are split into two cells’ with equal content by binary fission. Multi-cellular organisms use a process known as mitosis to split cells into cells with equal number of chromosomes. Asexual reproduction has several advantages. One, it is very beneficial to the types of animals that stay in one area or not able to look for mates to reproduce. The fact that asexual reproduction does not need mating of female and male gives is advantageous to these animals as they are able to reproduce as they are. Another advantage, since no need to find a mate many off springs are produces

Who defines beauty Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Who defines beauty - Research Paper Example Beauty is a very subjective issue and thus can only be judged by the receiver. For one, with increased education, both men and women are using more measures to determine what is beautiful and what is not. For example, men have discovered that women favor dominant males and as such men may forgo their health, safety and so on in order to acquire rank so that they can have the power that makes them attractive to women. Elliot Aronson, a social psychologist at Stanford University, argued that how one sees oneself to some extent determines how attractive others see them. This is especially important given that it is almost impossible to find a culture that appreciates one’s body as being beautiful just as it is. Furthermore, we are no longer living in the Darwinian era where natural selection ruled and our purpose in life was merely mirrored towards reproduction and survival of the fittest. This means that we are no longer restricted to defining beauty within the constructs of finding a suitable mate. To put it better, finding a potential mate today involves looking for more than the ability to procreate. Today, both sexes are looking for intelligence, personality, compatibility and most of all the moral compass of the potential partner, friend, acquaintance or work mate. Unlike animals, men and women of today are seeking for greater meaning and purpose in their lives. This naturally means that our rationale of what beauty slightly differs from that of our Darwinian counterparts. All said beauty can only be judged by the receiver.

The topic is Prostitution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The topic is Prostitution - Research Paper Example A mere act of law will possibly not solve all the problems related to this issue. It might be argued by some people that legalizing prostitution will make it easier to control the dark and corrupt side of this trade. It will give some measure of dignity to the sex workers. It will ensure they get regular health check-ups and they are not left to the mercy of unscrupulous pimps or customers. They shall be better paid and ultimately like any other organized sector they shall get some measure of legal protection. (Hayes-Smith and Shekarkhar, 50) Although this is one way of looking at it there is another viewpoint, which considers prostitution to be a threat to the institution of marriage. According to this group legalizing prostitution will result in the break-up of many marriages, as it will make it easier for spouses to cheat on their partners. One might argue that a faithful spouse shall remain so even if prostitution is legalized. So if in the long run legalizing this trade results in some long-term benefits for the women concerned it should be seriously considered. (Hayes-Smith and Shekarkhar, 53) It has been discovered that indoor sex workers are less likely to face violence than prostitutes who work on the streets. Surveys conducted in Vancouver, British Columbia have revealed that about 67% of the indoor sex workers had never faced any violence in their profession. This survey concentrated on massage parlors, escort agencies and women who worked as independent sex workers. This was in stark contrast to the violence faced by women who worked on the streets of Vancouver. Here the rate of violence was as high 98% and it is obvious from this survey that indoor sex work is safer than working on the streets. I n the United Kingdom Jeal and Salisbury reported that 79% of their indoor sex workers had never faced violence. Another survey conducted by Sanders and Campbell found that around 76% to 79% of the indoor sex workers had never experienced violence (O’Doherty, 218). So if the Government legalizes prostitution the women will no longer have to work on the streets. They can operate from their own private set-ups without fear of prosecution. This will give them greater autonomy and more litheness. They will no longer be at the mercy of pimps and middlemen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A lack of awareness and education puts most prostitutes at a disadvantage. As a result of this when they face violence of any kind they are unable to fight for their rights. Moreover there is a feeling among certain sections of the public that anybody engaged in this kind of profession deserve what they get .A prostitute who complains of violence by the customer is therefore not likely to receive much sympathy. Legalization of prostitution will enable women to fight for their rights. It will also protect them from corrupt law-enforcement officials. (O’Doherty, 223-224)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The fact that economic problems might lead to an increase in the level of prostitution is borne out by what we see in Russia today. There has be en a rise in the level of prostitution in Russia. Unfortunately little action has been taken by the State to regulate and control this industry. As a result of this venereal diseases and HIV infection has spread rapidly. According to the information of the Ministry of Health of Saratov oblast, in 1996-2003 the number of people infected with AIDS was

Who defines beauty Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Who defines beauty - Research Paper Example Beauty is a very subjective issue and thus can only be judged by the receiver. For one, with increased education, both men and women are using more measures to determine what is beautiful and what is not. For example, men have discovered that women favor dominant males and as such men may forgo their health, safety and so on in order to acquire rank so that they can have the power that makes them attractive to women. Elliot Aronson, a social psychologist at Stanford University, argued that how one sees oneself to some extent determines how attractive others see them. This is especially important given that it is almost impossible to find a culture that appreciates one’s body as being beautiful just as it is. Furthermore, we are no longer living in the Darwinian era where natural selection ruled and our purpose in life was merely mirrored towards reproduction and survival of the fittest. This means that we are no longer restricted to defining beauty within the constructs of finding a suitable mate. To put it better, finding a potential mate today involves looking for more than the ability to procreate. Today, both sexes are looking for intelligence, personality, compatibility and most of all the moral compass of the potential partner, friend, acquaintance or work mate. Unlike animals, men and women of today are seeking for greater meaning and purpose in their lives. This naturally means that our rationale of what beauty slightly differs from that of our Darwinian counterparts. All said beauty can only be judged by the receiver.

Unconscious mind Essay Example for Free

Unconscious mind Essay The word personality originates from the Latin word â€Å"persona† which means mask. From the modern meaning of mask, it means a cover used for disguise. However from the ancient Latin-speaking world, the word is used not to conceal something but to typify or represent a character in theater plays. Thus, personality is what differentiates or distinguishes a person. It is a mask that sets an individual apart from others. For a more detailed description of personality, it is defined as the sum total of the qualities and characteristics of a person as shown in her manner of walking, talking, dressing, and her attitudes, interests, and ways of reacting to other people.   Consequently, to make things simpler and to quote from Glen Allsopp, a popular internet blogger, personality is a set of qualities that make a person distinct from another. Psychoanalysis was pioneered by Sigmund Freud. This perspective believes that there are three levels of awareness or divisions of the mind namely conscious, preconscious and unconscious. Freud represented these levels of awareness through an iceberg. The part of the iceberg visible above the surface is the conscious mind. Just below the surface is the preconscious mind, anything that is not yet part of the conscious mind. Hidden deep below the surface is the unconscious mind, feelings, memories, thoughts, and urges that cannot be easily brought into consciousness. The unconscious can be revealed in dreams and Freudian slips (or slip of the tongue is a verbal or memory mistake believed to be linked with the unconscious mind). In addition, according to Freud, there are three parts of personality called as id, ego and superego. The id works on the pleasure principle. Its goal is instant gratification and satisfaction from our primitive drives related to hunger, sex, aggression, and irrational impulses. The ego works on the reality principle. It protects the person against the immediate gratification of the id. Conscious awareness resides in the ego, although not all of the operations of the ego are conscious. The ego brings the person down to what is real. As an example, when a person is hungry or is sexually  driven, the desire can only be satisfied at the right place and at the right time. The ego controls the person’s actions and allows for higher level cognitive skills. The superego, on the other hand, is the moral center of personality, containing the ego ideal and the conscience, and is the source of moral anxiety. The superego would create perfectionist and civilized individuals that are incapable of compromising what life requires. While the id would create pleasure-seeking individuals whose main goal is to satisfy every desire without delay. The ego balances the person as it compromises what the id desires in accordance to the superego. Carl Gustav Jung believed that there was not only a personal unconscious, as described by Freud, but a collective unconscious as well. This collective unconscious served as a form of psychological inheritance. It contains all of the knowledge and experiences we share as a species. The collective unconscious contains archetypes or models of people, behaviors, and personalities. These archetypes are innate, universal, and hereditary. These are unlearned and function to organize how we experience certain things. The four major archetypes according to Jung are: the self, the shadow, the anima or animus, and the persona. The self is the unification of the consciousness and unconsciousness wherein various aspects of personality are integrated. T he shadow exists as part of the unconscious mind and is described as the darker side of the psyche. It is composed of weaknesses, repressed ideas, desires, instincts, and short comings. The anima is the feminine image in the male psyche while the animus is the male image in the female psyche. It is represented as the â€Å"true self† rather than the image a person projects to others. Lastly, the persona is how we project ourselves to the world. It is like our social mask that we wear for different situations and groups. It shields the ego from negative images. Archetypes are not limited to the four types previously mentioned nor are fixed. Other archetypes that Jung described are: the father (authority figure), the mother (nurturing and comforting), the child (longing for innocence), the hero (champion, defender), and the trickster (liar, deceiver) among others. Psychiatrist Alfred Adler proposed feelings of inferiority as the driving force behind personality and developed the birth order theory. Firstborn children with younger siblings feel inferior once those younger siblings get all the attention and often overcompensate by becoming overachievers. Middle children feel superior over the dethroned older child while dominating younger siblings and they tend to be very competitive. Younger children feel inferior because they are not allowed the freedom and responsibility like those of the older children. Frank Sulloway, another theorist proposed that birth order has a profound effect on one’s personality. Firstborns are more dominant, less open to new ideas, and more conscientious than later-born children. Consequently, later-born children are more open and rebellious.

Black Comedy And William Faulkner English Literature Essay

Black Comedy And William Faulkner English Literature Essay In the literary work As I Lay Dying, the author William Faulkner portrays his use of black comedy in the novel. Black comedy is defined as the morbid, gloomy, grotesque, or calamitous situations in its plots (Dictionary.com). Faulkner demonstrates his writing techniques of black comedy through the characters actions. As I Lay Dying is criticized as a black comedy because of the portrayed tragic irony of incoherence, insanity, and the submission to abuse in the novel. As I Lay Dying have several examples where The Bundrens demonstrated incompetent behavior throughout the novel, which was grotesque behavior that is found to be humorous among readers and critics. An example is Cash building his mothers coffin outside her window. From Jewels perspective Its because he stays out there, right under the window, hammering and sawing on that goddamn box. Where shes got to see him (Faulkner 1864). That is unfortunate that Addie must witness her son take pride in building her coffin outside her window. Another example is Anse Bundren, the husband who is not self sufficient for himself or articulate the meaning of work. Darl states I have never seen a sweat stain on his shirt. He was sick once from working in the sun when he was twenty-two years old, and he tells people that if he ever sweats, he will die (Faulkner 1864). Addie Bundren has always prepared his meals, watched the children, clean, and wash laundry. Faulkner shows irony of how Anse marries a woman after knowing her for a couple of days after Addie has been buried. Vardamen who is the youngest son in the family has taken upon himself to believe his mother could not breathe in her coffin. Vardamen caught a fish from a nearby creek and gave it to Dewey Dell to prepare for dinner. After Addies death, Vardamen compared his mother to the fish that was lying the pan bleeding. He figured if the fish died because it could not breathe, he should drill holes into Addies coffin so she can breathe. The tragic incoherent behavior was demonstrated when the lid of the coffin was removed and discovered there are two holes drilled into Addies face. The eldest child in the family named Darl was considered insane at the end of the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Darl narrates Jewel and I come up from the field fifteen feet ahead of him, anyone watching us from the cottonhouse can see Jewels frayed and broken straw hat full head above my own (Faulkner 1860). This suggests the possibility the beginning of his insanity not being surfaced. The black comedy was suggested when Darl decides to set the barn on fire as a method of saving his mother only to put other members of his family at risk. When the family arrived in Jefferson, Mississippi, Addie was then finally buried. Ironically, Darl was taken in by two officials has taken Darl into custody and placed him in a mental intuition in Jackson, Mississippi. In the novel, Cash thoughts stated I be durn if I could see anything to laugh at (Faulkner 1947). The primary shock in Darls final short monologue is his transfer of himself to the third person (Simon 104). Addie Bundren had a small excerpt in the middle of the novel about her thoughts and feelings. She began to display submissive behavior to abuse stated When the switch fell I could feel it upon my flesh: when it welted and ridged it was my blood that ran, and I would think with each blow of the switch: Now you are away of me! (Faulkner 1920). Throughout Addies life her father influenced Addie the meaning of life is the preparation of staying dead for a long period of time. She then finds herself marrying Anse and come to the realization there is no point in living after baring her second child, Cash. It is humorous to find that she spent her whole life mentally and physically abusing herself through her relationship with Anse and until death. It is a travesty how she spend her life through abuse but ironically Jewel decides to resent her until death and after death. As I Lay Dying is humors because of the characters display of grotesque behavior. Faulkners characteristic style as well as the variations in style that create differences in tone, ranging from comedy to thoughtful contemplation (Bunselmeyer 424). The tragic and exaggerated events that happened throughout the novel gives critics something to laugh about because of irony of incoherence, insanity, and the submission to abuse in the novel that hopefully will not happen in reality.

Managing Global Human Resources Essay examples -- Global Business Mana

The environment in which business competes is rapidly becoming globalized. More and more companies are entering international markets by exporting their products overseas, building plants in other countries, and entering into alliances with foreign companies. Global competition is driving changes in organizations throughout the world. Companies are attempting to gain a competitive advantage, which can be provided by international expansion. Deciding whether to enter foreign markets and whether to develop plants or other facilities in other countries is no simple matter and many human resource issues surface. (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, and Wright; 534) Doing business globally requires that adaptations be made to reflect cultural and other factors that differ from country to country and from continent to continent. The nature and stability of political systems vary in character and stability, with contracts suddenly becoming unenforceable because of internal political factors. Human resource regulations and laws vary among countries in character and detail. In many countries in Western Europe, laws on labor unions and employment make it difficult to reduce the number of workers because required payments to ex-employees can be very high. Equal employment legislation exists to varying degrees. In some countries, laws address issues such as employment discrimination and sexual harassment. Cultural forces represent another important concern affecting international human resource management. Culture is composed of the societal forces affecting the values, beliefs, and actions of a distinct group of people. (Mathis & Jackson, 171) Cultural differences certainly exist between nations, but also between countries. Getting individuals from different ethic or tribal backgrounds to work together may be very difficult in some parts of the world. Culture is important to human resources for two reasons. It determines the other factors ? political-legal, economic, and education-human capital factors. Culture affects human capital, because if education is greatly valued by culture, then members of the community try to increase their human capital. (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, and Wright; 537) Economic conditions vary also from country to country. Many lesser-developed nations are receptive to foreign investment in order to create jobs for their growing populations. In man... ...en employers deal with the union they are dealing indirectly with the government. There is a greater tendency in Europe for salaried employees to be unionized. The global expansion of IHRIM is in direct support of IHRIM?s mission statement: ?To be, internationally, the leading association enabling customers to achieve strategic objective through the integration of information technology and human resource management.? (IHRIN, 05-29-2000) Works Cited Cherrington, David J., Laura Zaugg Middleton. An Introduction To Global Business Issues. http://www.elibrary.com HR Magazine. 06-01-1995 Internet available: http://www.ihrin.org/affiliates/index.cfm Mathis, Robert L., John H. Jackson. Human Resource Management.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Essential Perspectives. 1st edition. South-Western College   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Publishing. Cincinnati, 1999. Noe, Raymond A., John R. Hollenbeck, Barry Gerhart, and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Patrick M. Wright. Human Resource Management. Gaining A   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Competitive Advantage. 3rd edition. Irwin McGraw-Hull.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Boston, 2000. Sherman, Arthur, George Bohlander, and Scott Snell. Managing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Human Resources. 11th edition. South-Western College   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Publishing. Cincinnati, 1998.

European Integration Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the tragedies of World War II, European leaders have made striving efforts to prevent such a catastrophic event from occurring on their continent again. The best solution seemed to be highly mechanized cooperation among the highest European powers to assure that future conflict, and perhaps war, could not arise between them. If all the states ran themselves in a manner cooperating with their neighbors, conflict could be avoided. To prevent other nations from not cooperating, treaties and institutions would have to be designed for each area of international interest such as trade, communications, security, and so forth. As the century progressed, more organizations, institutions and associations were developed and soon leaders recognized that maybe more good could come to Europe as a whole if cooperation as such could grow and eventually arrive at full European integration.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The â€Å"establishment of the European Union in November 1993 reoriented the European movement .† The union incorporates a good portion of Western Europe and fundamentally acts as an enforcer of all the agreements the included nations make with each other in terms of trade and the â€Å"economic, political, and social stabilization of the entire continent .† As we seem to get closer to Europe’s achieving integration, the actual possibility of it ever really occurring has been in constant question among scholars. Liberals believe that cooperation on the level of integration is very possible and likely, as each nation essentially desires to maximize its own individual gains, and each nation gains more by cooperating more and banding together as one â€Å"state†. However, as constructivists remind us, we cannot neglect the element of identity in this equation. Thereafter, we must recognize that lately it is more popular for nations to fig ht for their own established identity rather than to create a new one for the good of maintaining peace in their new state as we have seen in so many Eastern European countries. Therefore, as realists would agree, integration is in reality impossible due to the trend of nations to protect their individual sovereignty and at the fear of losing it, move towards more nationalistic regimes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liberals believe that nations inherently wish to cooperate as it benefits both actor... ...ative gains. They can never know each other’s intentions, and won’t risk the cooperation if they think they can gain more in the future from conflicting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Furthermore, as in the Balkans or in Russia we have seen how disinclined nations or ethnic groups are to ignore their own unique national identity in order to create a new identity of the newly established state. Richard Caplan and John Feffer note that, â€Å"nationalism has been embraced as a bulwark against the erosion of cultural diversity and popular sovereignty in the face of creeping federalism .† New ethnic conflict arises and peace is far from realized as a result of integration. The potential European integration would suffer a similar and most likely greater effect. In the long run, integration, if actualized, would not lead to a peaceful and trusting state as hoped, but instead a brand new set of ethnic and nationalist conflict. This is a risk most states are probably not willing to take.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As we have seen on smaller scales in newly integrated democratic states in Europe today, nationalism is not a dying epidemic. In fact, ethnic and nationalist conflicts

The Painted Door Theme Essay

James Sinclair Ross was a Canadian banker as well as an author. He was most well-known for his short stories set on the Canadian prairies. In Ross’ short story The Painted Door, Ann and her husband John live on a farm in Saskatchewan in the 1800s. While a snowstorm is approaching, John leaves for his father’s farm to help him look after the chores, leaving Ann by herself in the storm. The theme of The Painted Door is isolation leads to irrationality and misery. This can be seen in the characterization of Ann throughout the story, the isolated setting of their farm, and the symbolism of the storm.Throughout The Painted Door Ann struggles with an inner conflict as a result of her feelings of isolation. These emotions are not only present because of the isolated setting in which the story takes place, but also due to the loneliness caused by the distance between her and John in their marriage. John focuses on his work far too much for her liking and their communication ski lls have become less than satisfactory. As she looks out at the land she begins to feel lonely, and those emotions only increase as John leaves her alone to battle her conscience when he travels to his father’s farm.When Steven, John’s close friend, arrives to play cards and to keep her company, Ann begins to compare him to John to determine the better man. Ann thinks about Steven as she tends to the fire and makes observations such as, â€Å"His hair was dark and trim, his young lips curved soft and full. While John, she made the comparison swiftly, was thick-set, heavy-jowled, and stooped. (page 204)† Her comparisons of the two men in a back and forth fashion effectively display how conflicted Ann is as she is caught in a battle between her mind and her heart.Her descriptions of Steven make him appear to be more attractive and a gentleman, while John is the man she married, but has had trouble communicating with. As Ann compares the two men, she uses Stevenâ⠂¬â„¢s positive attributes and John’s flaws to convince herself that Steven is a better man. Her reasoning leads to her irrational choice to cheat on John with Steven, which can be seen as a reason for John’s death when he left the house during the storm with no intention of returning after catching the two of them.Ann’s isolation led to her making an irrational decision that ruined her marriage and will cause her to be even more lonely and miserable without John, the man she loves. The setting of The Painted Door is described in such a way that it enhances the feelings of isolation and misery in the story. Certain imagery is used to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind to inspire emotions of loneliness. The setting is often described as very cold, or as barren and empty. â€Å"The sun was risen above the frost mists now, so keen and hard a glitter on the snow that instead of warmth its rays seemed shedding cold (page 190)†.In this section of the story, Ross uses words that symbolize happiness, such as â€Å"sun† and â€Å"warmth†, but certain words can be connected to isolation, such as â€Å"frost† and â€Å"cold. † By relating both the Earth and the sky to such chilled words, the imagery leaves the reader feeling as though they are trapped along with Ann in her isolation. Another example of isolation in the setting is, â€Å"She shivered, but did not turn. In the clear, bitter light the long white miles of prairie landscape seemed a region alien to life. Even the distant farmsteads she could see serves only to intensify a sense of isolation (190)†.This portrays the area that they live in as very empty since their nearest neighbours are miles across the snow, giving Ann no one to go to when she is alone. These feelings of isolation and misery are what are constantly weighing on Ann’s shoulders throughout the story and lead to her irrational thoughts and decisions later on, suc h as her choice to sleep with Steven. The snowstorm that occurs during The Painted Door gradually builds over the course of the story and can be seen as a symbol for Ann’s inner conflict.The storm in the story is also Ann’s enemy in a person vs.  nature conflict, separating her from her husband and isolating her from the rest of the world. The stormier it becomes, the more Ann becomes cut off from the outside world. The storm separates her from John for a long time and because of this, Ann considers things that she normally wouldn’t, such as having an affair with her husband’s best friend. These extreme conditions are the driving force behind Ann’s irrational thoughts. As the story progresses and she spends more time alone, Ann’s thoughts and worries begin to build up.The way the storm is described in the story, the reader can infer that the same turmoil is also present in Ann’s mind. By describing the storm as â€Å"eventual furyà ¢â‚¬ , â€Å"blustering and furious†, and â€Å"insane and dominant† these phrases can also be related to Ann’s ever changing thoughts about John. While the storm worsens, Ann becomes closer to committing her sin. As the storm reaches its peak, Ann gives in to her emotions and sleeps with Steven. â€Å"The storm wrenched at the walls as if to make them buckle in. So rigid and desperate were all her muscles set, withstanding, that the room around her seemed to swim and reel.So rigid and strained that for relief at last, despite herself, she raised her head and met his eyes again. (page 209)† In the meantime, unknown to her, John is battling the storm to keep his promise to return to her. As Ann wakes up afterwards, the storm slowly dies down, leaving a path of regret, guilt, and misery behind it. The stormy, isolated conditions of the setting and in her mind are the driving force behind her irrational decision to sleep with Steven and the misery that foll owed her choice. Isolation can be the reasoning behind irrationality and misery, and in The Painted Door, there are no exceptions.Ann’s inner conflict making her choose between her husband and Steven, the loneliness of the setting that seemed to trap her, and the storm that symbolized the thoughts and emotions inside of her were all forms of isolation that led Ann to irrational actions. Had she stopped to think about where her thoughts were going, perhaps Ann would not have let her isolation affect her rationality. Then John would still be alive and she would not feel the guilt, misery, and loneliness that followed her decision.

Symbolism and Imagery in Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies Symbolism and Imagery Throughout everyday life people use certain symbols, or images, to relate their feelings and unconscious thoughts to something more tangible and concrete. To a young child, a special blanket might provide them with a sense of security and comfort; furthermore, said blanket may include the ability to calm the child in a state of distress. Someone who had recently lost a loved one, might use objects that contain a degree of sentimental value in order to better hold onto the memories of the lost relationship.The symbol of the maple leaf, to Canadians, represents a sense of belonging and acceptance, a sense of pride and loyalty to a society and culture unique to that of Canada. In his novel Lord of the Flies, Golding provides his audience with endless amounts of symbolism and imagery. Some of the more prominent ones demonstrated in his novel include that of the Conch; representing order and democracy, the Fire; representing hope and rescue, and las tly, but possibly most importantly, that of the Beast; representing Fear and uncertainty.As the novel progresses and evolves, so too, do the symbols of the conch, fire, and beast. Through the use of his symbols, Golding challenges his audience’s pre-societal-conceived views, provides an overall commentary about the devolvement of mankind, and emphasizes his grander ideas about humanity and the mounting savagery that exists on the island. In the earliest stages of the novel, the symbol of the conch holds an inexplicably awe-inspiring compulsion over the boys. Piggy, being the first to point it out among the creepers, is amazed by its beauty and intricacies.Described as â€Å"glistening† and â€Å"delicate† the conch demands attention, not only in description but as well as sound. â€Å"Gosh! † Ralph had whispered in a sense of wonder following the initial sounding of the booming horn. As the children gather from all corners of the island they are immediate ly drawn to Ralph; â€Å"But there was stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, his appearance, and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch. †(Golding 19). Through electing Ralph as their chosen leader, the boys make the unconscious decision of emocracy, clinging to their traditions of society and, in turn, their civility and, what could arguably be, their inner â€Å"goodness. † As one of his first roles as Chief, Ralph establishes what is known as the â€Å"Rule of the Conch†: if one wishes to speak, they must hold the conch and cannot be interrupted, except by Ralph thus creating a divide between himself and the average individual of the island civilization- Sufficiently furthering the theory that the conch stands for democratic rule and society.After all, what is society other than rules and regulations made by those in a position of authority meant for the common man to fallow? As the concept of time, both na tural (day and night) and well as artistic (plot development), progresses the conch’s power, and, in turn, Ralphs’, start to diminish. Jacks presence and the evil he represents grow increasingly more powerful and dominant; â€Å"Jack broke in, contemptuously. ‘You’re always scared’ ‘I got the conch. ’ ‘Conch! Conch! Shouted Jack, ‘We don’t need the conch anymore. †(Golding, 37) indicates that the power of democratic society is crumbling under the weight of the growing savagery on the island. Jack begins to outwardly and publicly undermine and oppose Ralph, the rule of the conch and, more largely, society and civility itself. He speaks out of turn, accuses Ralph of being a coward and takes over leadership on multiple occasions; demonstrated in their hunt for the Beast in chapters six and seven- Jack continuously takes the lead while Ralph strays behind to ponder inwardly and with Simon. The conch’s symbol ic meaning depends on the state of the children’s minds. Once power becomes more real to Jack than rules, the conch is meaningless. † (Kinkead-Weekes and Gregor, 7) illustrates that there is no real, physical power to the conch; it is simply a shell- that power is in what society, and individuals within society, allow it to be. In chapter eleven, Castle Rock, Piggy is brutally murdered by Roger while clinging desperately to the conch in his last stand against Jack, his tribe, and, ultimately, barbarity. The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. † (Golding, 200) through the destruction of the conch in such a violent manner Golding extinguishes any lingering hope for Ralph and civility. The audience experiences a complete and utter sense of loss and hopelessness at this point, they mourn not only for the death of Piggy but the realization that their pre-conceived optimistic views on society have been challenged and finally shattered; both literally and metaphorically. The shell, whose sound began as a summons to society, ends as a murderous explosion on the rocks† (Kinkead-Weekes and Gregor, 4) adequately demonstrating that society, like humanity is ultimately flawed, and will collapse when confronted with an opposing force of darkness or even the slightest hint of a barbaric nature and tendency. The symbol of the fire is similar to that of the conch in the respect that it develops thoughout the course of the novel, but differs in the fact that it does not so much devolve, but rather changes shape and takes on two meanings.The fire in fact, becomes a â€Å"double-edged† sword. When one is asked; â€Å"what are the first three things you would do if stranded on an island? † Most would reply with; â€Å"find food, water, and shelter, of course. † Ralphs main priority on the island, after his adventurous exploration with Jack and Simo n, is to be rescued. In the beginning he is dead set on the notion that sooner or later a ship will come by the island and when it does, that the â€Å"grown-ups† will coincidentally pass by, he wants to be ready; â€Å"We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us.So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire. †(Golding, 37) indicates that the boys, and Ralph in particular, are mainly focused and devoted to the concept of rescue. All the children go charging up the mountain in eager abandonment to create a fire in the hope that it will increase their chances of salvage; suitably emphasizing the remaining touches of society present within the boys and on the island. Once the fire is made and lit, through the use of Piggy’s glasses, the boys quickly realize that if not controlled and kept in check, the fire can become rapidly dark and dangerous. On ones side the air was cool, but on the other the fire thru st out a savage arm of heat that crinkled hair on the instant† (Golding, 41) through the use of imagery Golding depicts the fire as something â€Å"savage† and threatening, effectively foreshadowing the boys’ barbaric decline. The destructiveness of the fire could also be used as a symbol to parallel the outside world’s perils of atomic warfare; â€Å"A tree exploded in the fire like a bomb. † (47) The loss and assumed death of the boy with the mulberry mark parallels the deaths of thousands of innocent bystanders at the mercy of manmade creations i. e. the fire and the atomic bomb. The chaos and destruction that the fire evolves into corresponds with that of the uncontrolled mass chaos that is warfare. The vigorous importance with which Ralph views the fire becomes the bone of contention that eventually drives him and Jack apart. While Ralph holds steadfast to the importance of the fire , Jack, and most of the other boys, abandon it and allot all t heir time and energy to hunting, regressing into their base instincts of savagery, emphasizing Golding’s theory about humanity that, if given the choice, man will always choose to resort to their barbaric nature.Ironically, by the end of the novel, Ralph is driven from hiding and hunted through the use of the fire. Jacks tribe sets an all-consuming raging fire that envelops the island and destroys all life within it; â€Å"meant as a signal fire for passing ships of planes it becomes, though misuse, a wild beast with a life of its own which invades the whole place†¦ What happens accidentally in the second chapter is done deliberately at the end by the boys turned savages. † (Delbaere-Grant, 78). Golding illustrates the boys making the conscious and all too thought out decision to resort to this act of barbarism.And only through said acts, were they able to achieve a smoke signal large enough to attract the attention of a passing ship; â€Å"We saw your smoke. Wha t have you been doing? Having a war or something? † (Golding, 223) Ralph replies with a sincere nod of the head, but the naval officer continues to treat it all as a joke. The officers’ naivety and complete lack of seriousness pertaining to the events taken place on the island is a symbolic reference to mankind as a whole and it’s propensity for violent ignorance.He could not see that the events taken place on the island were a direct reenactment of the war he himself had participated in and an example that even the most â€Å"civilized† of men are capable of the horrors of murder. No one of Golding’s symbols is more prominently demonstrated than that of the Beast, he allots multiple chapters in the novel to the concept of the Beast. In the first stages of its evolution, there is much speculation as to what the beast actually is. The children contemplate that the â€Å"Beastie† is a â€Å"snake-thing† which then evolves to the imaginar y form a ghost and then to that of a children’s-fable concept of the squid.They use their imaginations to justify and explain the fear and uncertainty that is becoming predominately present with the ever evolving concept of â€Å"the Beast. † Like children anywhere they experience nightmares and illusions about the Beast; they take the unknown component of its existence and turn into something more relatable in order to justify their fear. â€Å"The thing is- Fear can’t hurt you anymore than a dream. There aren’t any beasts to be afraid of on this island. †(88) at this point in the novel all the evidence pertaining to that of the beast is based on imagination and fear. There is no physical manifestation of the beast.Simon is the only who begins to speculate that â€Å"maybe it’s just us† In chapter six, Beast form Air, a dead parachutist falls from the sky to land on the top of the mountain where Samneric are maintaining the fire. Due to the fear already instilled in them by the groups’ speculations of the beast, they immediately become frightened and run away. This physical manifestation and the illustration that it is, indeed, human, greatly contributes to Golding’s intentions regarding the Beast; â€Å" The tangle of lines showed him the mechanics of this parody; he examined the white nasal bones, the teeth, the colors of corruption† (162).The figure that had fallen from the sky, thought to be the beast, is human and, ironically, Beast all in once- furthering Golding’s overall proposition that within all mankind, there holds the innate capacity and propensity towards evil and our own, personal, inner beast. In addition, the manner in which the parachutist is introduced, through the act of falling, is a theme that repeatedly occurs throughout the novel both literally; the planes fall from the sky after it is shot down and Piggy’s fall to his death on the rock protruding from the sea, and metaphorically; the fall of mankind.The fall of the parachutist parallels that of the fall of Lucifer which, discussed in Dantes inferno, is â€Å"neither angelic nor demonic, but profoundly a human reality. † The fall of Lucifer, which theologists describe as the fall from grace, and, in turn, a loss of civility is the result of hubris, otherwise known as excessive pride. The boys, and most in particular, Jack demonstrate pride in the way they view their new society in the beginning.The boys’ view that they are â€Å"proper English boys† and somehow superiorly unflawed, leads to the ultimate downfall of their humanity and lead them straight into the grasp of their barbaric roots. At a key point in chapter nine, A Gift for Darkness, Simon speaks to the lord of the flies, but rather his inner beast; â€Å"You knew, didn’t you? I’m apart of you! Close, close, close! †(158) confirms what he had been thinking all along, that the bea st is something that dwells within, there is no externalization of a beast, simply the evils we see within ourselves and our companions.Through Simon and his foreboding chat with the pig head, Golding demonstrates most sufficiently and prominently the nature of mankind, and externalizes the inner conflict that humanity is sure to face, pertaining to the certain devolvement they face when left to their own devices, stripped of societal law. Golding also states in contrast that the beast is both â€Å"harmless and horrible† (162) meaning that unless confronted and accepted it will take siege.The boys, in their persistent and vigorous denial of fact that â€Å"maybe it’s just us† give fuel to the ever-growing and present fire that is the beast. By fighting so hard to deny their inner beasts the boy unconsciously become beasts themselves; â€Å"Their defense against an imagined external beast allows the beast within them to gain absolute and transform them into mur ders† (Boyd, 16). As the Beast changes and evolves, gaining speed and momentum, the boys’ civil nature diminishes, allowing them to commit terrible and unimaginable horrors ill thought of by society.By regarding the Beast as God-like, offering a ritualistic sacrifice, the boys completely give in to their base instincts and tendencies for barbarism and savagery. They become awed by the power of the Beast and the possibilities it withholds. By the end of his novel, Lord of the Flies, and through his careful use of symbolism and imagery, Golding challenges his audiences view on society, thoroughly and sufficiently enforcing his comments about to the issues pertaining to the devolvement of mankind.He methodically emphasizes his theories regarding humanity and the increasing savagery that exists on the island. Golding demonstrates the conch’s transformation from order and democracy to that of chaos and dictatorship. The symbol of the fire goes from that of hope and re scue to that of danger and destruction. The Beast, on the other hand, transforms symbolically from that of fear and uncertainty to awe and reverence.Through closer observation of Golding’s uses of symbolism and imagery, no matter how diverse and complex the said symbol may be, there is always a reoccurring theme and connection present; savagery. Every path of every symbol leads back to one root, one destination; the savagery in which the boys ultimately resort to on the island, as well as the common link they all have regarding the outside â€Å"real† world. Golding’s symbols do an exceptional job in helping his audience grasp the larger picture that is his novel; mankind’s certain devolvement into savagery.Works Cited Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. London: Faber and Faber Limited, 1954. Print Boyd, S. J. â€Å"The Nature of the Beast† The Novels of William Golding. Sussex, UK. University of St Andrew Press. 1988. Delbaere-Grant, Jeanne. â₠¬Å"Rhythm and Expansion in Lord of the Flies† William Golding: Some Critical Considerations. Ed. Jack Biles & Robert Evask. University of Kentucky Press. Lexington, 1975. Print. Kinkead-Weekes, Mark. Gregor, Ian. William Golding: A Critical Study of the Novels. Faber and Faber Press, 1984. Print.