Slimate change essay Essay

Climate change is the most significant challenge to achieving sustainable development and threatens to drag thousands of people to severe poverty. It refers to any outstanding measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. This includes major changes in temperature, precipitation or winds patterns and others that occur several days longer. Some Caribbean islands in particular are vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels will have a consequential and dampening effect on their economy and livelihood. Climate change can damage coral reefs, reduce land source for agriculture and alter the fishing industry. A study shows that the World Bank states that if the see continues to rise at this rate countries will be mostly affected at a global level by climate change in 2050. The rising of sea level will also wreak havoc. A few possible consequences of rising sea levels are , firstly , billons spent on adaption. For example the U.S has roughly 20,000km of coastline and 32,0 00km of wetlands. A recent study showed that the estimated cost of adapting to even a one meter, the rise of sea level in the U.S will cost up to U.S $156 billion dollars. Secondly, within a meter the rise of sea level in some islands would be submerged. A Pacific island name Kiribati, in early 2005 have gone under the waves ,inundated by a high spring tide that washed away farmland , wells which were once pure water was contaminated, land homes and other facilities were lost. Lastly, cities will end up below sea level, which will meritably displace and cause massive economic damage. Higher sea defenses becomes impractical an even the wealthiest of nations will see cities destroyed due to floods. A sustainable development is to introduce water sports. Water sports can have a positive force on people in trms of health and recreation. It can provide social benefits for billions of people around the world. There can be an increase of tourism revenue, therefore providing the economy with an income and continue or start infrastructural development in the country. We as a country as well can host international competitions. These competitions, games and tournaments can run through the year. The level of poverty will reduce due to the creation of employment.in the health sector; this can lead to a healthy lifestyle which can prevent diseases and such to affect a person throughout his or her life. Really and truly no one of us here today will like to live a life full of diseases and pain. Through water sports people can also increase their stamina and strength. Ladies you  better want to join a swimming class now because this can help you shed a few of those extra pounds. Lastly we as a country can achieve social integration. In this process we as a republic can adopt, accept and facilitate new cultures and traditions. We can make our country diversified into a multi culture country. Secondly climate change can cause hurricanes, tropical storms and tornados to become more intense, therefore they are longer lasting, unleashing stronger winds and causing additional mutilation to coastal ecosystems and communities. The main offender is advanced ocean temperatures, since tropical storms and hurricanes get their strength in warm waters. As sea surface temperatures rise, developing storms will accumulate more strength. Many scientists believe the broad premise that a hotter climate likely contributes to the increase in the strength of any hurricane or storm, which is previously underway and intensify. There is also abstruse evidence that sea level rising is another product of climate change which can therefore contribute to a higher risk of treacherous hurricanes and storm surges. They are like giant heat engines. They transfer latent heat energy from the ocean to the atmosphere transforming some of it into mechanical energy in the process: the maelstrom of hurricane winds and giant waves. â€Å"High sea surface temperatures lead to the evaporation of moisture which provides fuel for the storm. Then it gives up the latent heat {power of the storm}. Together they provide for stronger storms. This evidence is very clear,† says Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the NOAA’s {National Center for Atmospheric Research in, Boulder Colorado. Tragic consequences of hurricanes and storms are such as: floods, loss of homes, facilities and loss of friend’s family and relatives. A sustainable development that can be introduced is to provide facilities where citizens can go for assistance after storms or hurricanes. This is where people can go to the facilities and receive assistance in these tragic times. In the after math of a storm, in each community, firstly should have a natural disaster team whereby they can come to the rescue during these times of need. In this way they must have medical equipment, the basic necessities. They should have place for storage items such as foods, bottled water, medical supplies, clothing and money. They must have meetings with the general public to let them know how to contact them and ask for assistance. Lastly, climate change affects the water availability and water demand.  Sufficient supply of freshwater is essential for almost everything in this world. Population growth will increase the demand for water and at the same time, climate change will affect the freshwater availability. For example there are less water in parts of the United States of America and Asia – more in parts of Europe. The ISI – MIP results indicate that in the Western, United States, Southern Europe and parts of Asia, climate change lowers freshwater availability. Subsequently, this may lead to challenges for the agriculture sector, and food production. The ISI – MIP experts of water resources, ecosystems, agriculture energy and analyzing projections with the sector. The experts study the effects of climate change of two to five degrees in climate change. Appalling consequences are such as an unclean environment, mosquito nesting areas and so forth. A sustainable development for this can be to preserve water in a community tank. If people in the community give a fair amount of water from their daily supply for storage in the community, when a drought arrives each person from the community can receive sufficient water to sustain them for a drought. During this period of time the political leader of his or her constituency should appoint a person to distribute the water equally in his or her constituency. Therefore that person can make a table on when he or she gets water and when to cut off there supply and send to another person. This way life as we know it will be cleaner and preserved. In conclusion to my essay climate change affects us human beings in so many ways. There can be more I can add but these three points I wrote today in my essay was very intriguing to me. I quote from Al Gore â€Å"As human beings, we are vulnerable to confusing the unprecedented with the improbable. In our everyday experience, if something has never happened before, we are generally safe in assuming it is not going to happen in the future, but the exceptions can kill you and climate change is one of those exceptions.† Climate change shouldn’t be taken for a joke. Earth is our home. Take care of it , because one day to come we will have no land to live on. Glossary http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/climate_change.html#XOgv23pA2phHu034.99

Bandura Theories On Social Cognition

Albert Bandura`s social learning theory places learning in a social context. Bandura and his colleagues take the position that personality is acquired, or learned behavior. In particular, Bandura`s insistence that behavior can be learned from mere observation is a significant departure from Skinner’s behaviorist position. An original empirical demonstration of observational learning was presented in a study by Bandura, Ross, and Ross (1993). Nursery school children were allowed to watch an adult’s unusual aggressive actions against an inflated Bobo doll – the kind that pops back up after it has been punched or knocked down.The adult models hit the doll with a hammer and kicked it, tossed it in the air, and even sat on it and punched it. After merely observing this behavior, the children were later allowed to play with toys that included the Bobo doll and hammer. The children who observed the adult model, either live or on videotape, hit the doll more frequently t han a control group who had not seen a model. They also tended to hit the doll the way they had observed the adult model do it. Bandura interpreted this study as demonstrating that the probability of behavior can be strengthened through observation.Indeed, in Bandura`s approach to personality, much of one’s behavior is learned and strengthened through imitation, which is a kind of social cognition learning. In this term paper I address the difference in the effectiveness of using simulation intervention program based on a Bandura`s Social learning theory. Moreover, to find out if the program improves either or both the quality and speed of the learning process of students enrolled in a highly technical training program. This term paper focuses on using simulation based learning environments in vocational training program.In this paper, the experimental methodology and instruments are described, results and findings presented and finally discussed and concluded. METHODOLOGY Do ing my research on Bandura`s Social learning theory in complex simulation-based learning environments, I experienced a large difference in how learners reacted to my learning material (Kluge, in press, 2004). Complex technical simulations involve the placement of the learner into a realistic computer simulated situation or technical scenario which puts control back into the learner’s hands. The contextual content of simulations allows the learner to â€Å"learn by doing.† Although my primary purpose was in improving research methods and testing procedures for evaluating learning results of simulation-based learning, the different reaction of the participants were so obvious that I took a closer look. I had two different groups participating in my learning experiments: students from an engineering department at the University, mostly in their 3rd semester, and apprentices from vocational training programs in mechanics and electronics of several companies near the Univer sity area in their 3rd year of vocational training.Most of the students worked very intensively and concentrated on solving these complex simulation tasks whereas apprentices became easily frustrated and bored. Purposes of the Study Although my first research purpose was not in investigating the differences between these groups, colleagues and practitioners showed their interest and encouraged me to look especially at that difference. Practitioners especially hoped to find explanations why apprentices sometimes are less enthusiastic about simulation learning although it is said to be motivating for their perception.As mentioned above, my primary purpose when I started to investigate learning and simulation based on Bandura`s Social Cognition theories was focused on improving the research methodology and test material (see Kluge, in press, 2004) for experimenting with simulation-based learning environments. But observing the subjects’ reactions to the learning and testing mate rial the question arose whether there might be a difference in the quality of and speed of the learning process of students involved in my study.Research Design A 3-factor 2 ? 2 ? 2 factorial control-group-design was performed (factor 1: â€Å"Simulation complexity†: ColorSim 5 vs ColorSim 7; factor 2: â€Å"support method†: GES vs. DI-GES; factor 3: target group, see Table 2). Two hundred and fifteen mostly male students (16% female) in eight groups (separated into four experimental and four control groups) participated in the main study.The control group served as a treatment check for the learning phase and to demonstrate whether subjects acquired any knowledge within the learning-phase. While the experimental groups filled in the knowledge test at the end of the experiment (after the learning and the transfer tasks), the control groups filled in the knowledge test directly after the learning phase. I did not want to give the knowledge test to the experimental group after the learning phase because of its sensitivity to testing-effects.I assumed that learners who did not acquire the relevant knowledge in the learning phase could acquire useful knowledge by taking the knowledge test, which could have led to a better transfer performance which is not due to the learning method but caused by learning from taking the knowledge test. The procedure subjects had to follow included a learning phase in which they explored the structure of the simulation aiming at knowledge acquisition.After the learning phase, subjects first had to fill in the four-item questionnaire on self-efficacy before they performed 18 transfer tasks. The transfer tasks were separated into two blocks (consisting of nine control tasks each) by a 30-minute break. In four experimental groups (EG), 117 students and apprentices performed the learning phase (28 female participants), the 18 control tasks and the knowledge test. As said before, the knowledge test was applied at the end b ecause of its sensitivity to additional learning effects caused by filling in the knowledge test.In four control groups (CG), 98 students and apprentices performed the knowledge test directly after the learning phase, without working on the transfer task (four female participants). The EGs took about 2-2. 5 hours and the CG about 1. 5 hours to finish the experiment. Both groups (EGs and CGs) were asked to take notes during the learning phase. Subjects were randomly assigned to the EGs and CGs, nonetheless ensuring that the same number of students and apprentices were in each group. The Simulation-Based Learning EnvironmentThe computer-based simulation ColorSim, which we had developed for our experimental research previously, was used in two different variants. The simulation is based on the work by Funke (1993) and simulates a small chemical plant to produce colors for later subsequent processing and treatment such as dyeing fabrics. The task is to produce a given amount of colors i n a predefined number of steps (nine steps). To avoid the uncontrolled influence of prior knowledge, the structure of the plant simulation cannot be derived from prior knowledge of a certain domain, but has to be learned by all subjects.ColorSim contains three endogenous variables (termed green, black, and yellow) and three exogenous variables (termed x, y, and z ). Figure 1 illustrates the ColorSim screen. Subjects control the simulation step by step (in contrast to a real time running continuous control). The predefined goal states of each color have to be reached by step nine. Subjects enter values for x, y, and z within the range of 0-100. There is no time limit for the transfer tasks. During the transfer tasks, the subjects have to reach defined system states for green (e. g. , 500), black (e. g., 990), and yellow (e. g. , 125) and/or try to keep the variable values as close as possible to the values defined as goal states. Subjects are instructed to reach the defined system st ates at the end of a multi-step process of nine steps. The task for the subjects was first to explore or learn about the simulated system (to find out the causal links between the system variables), and then to control the endogenous variables by means of the exogenous variables with respect to a set of given goal states. With respect to the empirical evidence of Funke (2001) and Strau?(1995), the theoretical concept for the variation in complexity is based on Woods’ (1986) theoretical arguments that complexity depends on an increasing number of relations between a stable number of (in this case six) variables (three input, three output: for details of the construction rational and empirical evidence (Kluge, 2004) Altogether, empirical findings and theoretical assumptions have so far led to the conclusion that experiential learning needs additional support to enhance knowledge acquisition and transfer.Target Population and Participant Selection: In the introductory part, I me ntioned that there were two sub groups in the sample which I see as different target groups for using simulation-based learning environments. Subjects were for the most part recruited from the technical departments of a Technical University (Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronics, Information Technology as well as apprentices from the vocational training programs in mechanics

The 1929 Great Depression How and Why it Happened Essay

The 1929 Great Depression How and Why it Happened - Essay Example Seeking to understand the ramifications of the Great Depression, this essay seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the precursors to the worst economic crisis in American history. In addition to exploring the effects of the Great Depression on American society, we will explore the affects of this event on global trade, politics, the development of Nazism in Germany, and its effects on the Soviet Union. The terms â€Å"Great Depression† and â€Å"Great Crash† will be used synonymously throughout this essay since they refer simultaneously to the same event: the economic collapse of 1929 and the ensuing economic and social crises for much of the Western developed world (McNeill 1963). In an attempt to provide a comprehensive summary of an event with international consequences and geopolitical reverberations, this essay be structured in the following manner: 1) the Great Depression of 1929 will be explained and analyzed on a global scale, looking at the tangible effects of this event on the United States and the countries of Europe (both democratic and authoritarian/capitalist and proto-communist); 2) parallels with this event and the modern economic crisis will be explored primarily through a prescriptive lens, employing the complete and definitive work on the subject, John Kenneth Galbraith’s The Great Crash. Reasons for the Great Crash/Depression will be discussed with reference to how we can learn from lessons from the past; 3) finally, we conclude with a synopsis of the research explored with an eye to the main causes of this event and their ramifications. Understanding that the Depression was an international event with global repercussions, the follo wing will analyze the varied impact of this economic collapse on both the United States and the countries of Europe. In the first four years of the Great Depression, world trade fell by an astonishing 60%. As an example of the decline in economic

Memo about a recent job interview you had in nursing Assignment

Memo about a recent job interview you had in nursing - Assignment Example Occasional travel may be required for training purposes. According to Gurak and Lannon (2013), â€Å"Always create a dynamic tone with active voice.† The job required people with prior experience in nursing. It also recommended education; people with proper education are much appreciated by the Department of Health and Human Services. According to the job description the candidate has to perform several duties. Some of those duties include assessing patient care need, adjusting the staff appointments accordingly, and assessing the opportunities of improvement. It also requires the candidate/applicant to serve on committee as well as review and revise nursing policies. An applicant must also be ready to participate in problem solving, developing plans for the care of patients, and to formulate nursing intervention based on their identification of the diagnosis. A candidate is also obliged to consult with healthcare professional on patients to coordinate the diagnosis, to promote harmonious environment, and to initiate treatments and medications based on appropriate utilization of standing orders. Additionally, the candidate must b e able to operate specialized equipment and maintain professional knowledge through updating himself or herself by continuing learning. A candidate must also be able to perform other related duties related to the nursing profession. In other words, the candidate applying for this job must be ready to work industriously with other people. He or she must also be ready to continue learning so as to gather new technological

Ethics class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethics class - Essay Example The accepted standards of business operations safeguard the interests of companies, and violation of these standards constitutes unethical practices (Jennings 319). The emerging concern is whether Samsung has engaged in unethical business practices, or whether Apple is making false allegations against Samsung. Apple operates in the telecommunications industry with other numerous companies. The environment is competitive, guided by technology advancement, creativity, and innovativeness in developing products for the diverse world markets (Jennings 383). The situation that Apple is in following the allegations against Samsung is based on its product design technology and the numerous patents that it holds. The question is: Is Apple right or using false allegations to capture market attention? This has resulted in an ethical dilemma, especially after a South Korean court ruling in favor of Samsung. In this respect, a number of options emerge. These are: Apple’s allegations could have been right, Samsung could have actually imitated Apple’s products, or both companies could have engaged in unethical business practices in their line of operations and competition. The position of Apple in the matter constitutes an ethical

Answer 5 questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Answer 5 questions - Essay Example It is made up of two proteins named fibroin and sericin. There are various mechanical properties of silk depending on the animal that produces it. Spiders, for example, produce dragline silk that has a high tensile strength and a strain that fails at 6%. Other forms of silk produced by spiders, especially the orb-web-spinning spiders, are superior to almost all natural structural materials produced by man and other animals. Another type of spider silk, the viscid silk, possesses remarkable extensibility and maximum strength of over 1 GPa (Meyers et al.). Other structural materials derived from animals include exoskeleton of arthropods, as well as keratin-based hooves and horns (Meyers et al.). Synthetic fibers rayon and nylon are also actually organic in origin. Rayon comes from cellulose, which is the solid part of the plant cell wall. On the other hand, nylon is the first type of fiber that is considered truly synthetic. It is made up of linear superpolymers (â€Å"Miracle Fibersà ¢â‚¬ ). 2. Terrestrial Locomotion Typically, tetrapods have the upper arm and upper leg extended in such a way as it is almost at a straight horizontal line with respect to its body. Moreover, the forearm and the leg form a nearly right angle relative to the body. The body weight of the tetrapod is actually concentrated into the torso or the upper segment with only a small portion of the weight on the upper part of the lower limbs or the area of the thighs. The main task of the limbs is to lift the body off the ground in order to walk. Moreover, the legs of tetrapods have internal bones within them and with muscles that are externally attached in order to facilitate movement. Furthermore, the basic form of the leg of a tetrapod is that it has three key points or joints: the shoulder joint, the knee joint and the ankle joint. The sequence and the arrangement of these joints facilitate movement and make it possible and smooth (Polly). One principle of tetrapod locomotion includes the fact that locomotion must be a compromise or a balancing force between movement and gravity. This means that the animal must always remain in a state of balance whether it is at rest or it is in motion, except when it is falling over. Secondly, the force for locomotion is derived from muscles and gravity. Thirdly, bones and muscles must be regarded as lever systems in order to produce locomotion. Bones and the joints that they form are usually involved in one or more lever systems while muscles are confined to only one lever system. It is the action of these lever systems that produce a forward motion in tetrapods. There are several lever systems suited for each task in the body. However, those lever systems that work the hardest include those that support weight, close jaws or produce forward motion. The heavy muscles, in particular, which are located toward the center of the body and the proximal ends of bones, are actually a major source of movement for the tetrapod body (Polly) . Unlike in bipedal and flying animals whose balance in locomotion centers on the hindlimbs, tetrapods have their balance concentrated over their forelimbs. Moreover, the propulsion for locomotion comes from their hindlimbs, and their head serves to counterbalance the body (Polly). Cats usually have a longer swing duration of the hind limbs, a shorter stance duration, and the same step durations of fore and hind limbs. However, as the cat moves faster, its step duration becomes shorter. These specifics may become slightly different in the case of a

A Critical Evaluation of Central Government Urban Regeneration Term Paper

A Critical Evaluation of Central Government Urban Regeneration Policies since the 1980s in Docklands, London - Term Paper Example Moreover, some parts of Docklands were experiencing severe dereliction, and this only acted to discourage investors into the area, owing to the ensuing high and uncertain development costs (Brownill 1999). Even then, a lot of development sites lacked the proper infrastructure for accessibility, and this further curtailed on development. Owing to the absence of proper linkage strategies between Docklands, the larger part of London, as well as the entire country and the world as a whole, this only served to decrease the investment returns of employers, by leading to added costs (Brownill 1990). The market too failed to provide the necessary amenities, environment, and infrastructure that Docklands so much needed, if at all it was going to attract an investor, while also casting off its hitherto diminished image. Ultimately, some hidden gaps were later to emerge, and these were discovered to have been a hindrance towards a positive market operation. A case in point was the lack of a private house developer in the area for a long time. This then acted to discourage would-be house developers, as they lacked a benchmark to gauge their chances of recouping their investments, should they venture into the housing business. During this period of the 1980s, Docklands charged the...s for commercial rent (less than 5 pounds for every square foot of office space), when compared to other parts of the London city, such as the west end (around 12 pounds per square foot of office space) (Brownill 1990).This was despite the fact that Docklands had limited office space. At around 1981, the railway network in Dockland was both slow and inconveniencing, for travelers and transporters alike, who commuted between the town and the other parts of London.

International Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7000 words

International Business - Research Paper Example in Spain – Germany with 26.3%, France 7.8% and Netherlands with 4.1%; the share of other countries in the FDI in Spain seems to be extremely low – Canada with 0.3%, Libya with 0.3% and Mexico with 0.23%2. It is clear that alternative schemes of trade need to be developed by the Spanish government in order for the country’s FDI to be increased; an indicative example is the trade line between North America and Spain which can be highly competitive; exporters would prefer North America instead of Europe and Spain could have a crucial role in transporting the goods3. In the services sector, the FDI in Spain can be characterized as satisfactory; for the period 1986-1990 the FDI on the country’s Financial and business services has been estimated to 35%4. CARIFORUM enterprises tend to cooperate with Spain in the services sector; in the context of the particular sector, the following areas of common initiatives – among Spain and the other countries of the CARIFORUM have been reported: a) in the tourism industry, Spain is supported by Britain – Europe – and by countries of the America – both the North America and the Latin America (see also Figure 1 in Section 3 above), b) in the Spanish real estate industry also investments have been noted by CARIFORUM enterprises; c) a series of service sectors has been available to CARIFORUM countries that wish to invest on Spain: ‘professional services, computer and related services, privately funded R&D services, real estate and communications services, construction and related engineering services’5; at the same time the education, health industry and the financial services industry of Spain are also open to investors from CARIFORUM countries. No major inv olvement in other Spanish services industries has been identified – referring to the inward investments by CARIFORUM enterprises in Spain. Indeed, it seems that CARIFORUM enterprises tend to invest on the Spanish tourism and real estate markets as having the

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 25

Project Management - Essay Example also provides a set of relevant suggestions that can help the Department to successfully conduct large scale of IT project towards increasing efficiency of the fire service and rescue operations. The report focuses on critically exploring the project management activities of â€Å"The FiReControl project,† which was initiated in the year 2004 and was expected to complete by the month of July 2009. In order to explore each component of the project management activities, the report provides a clear description of the project activities that led it to face failure in the context of fundamental project management theories and justifications. Moreover, the report also focuses on developing a critical evaluation of the project management activities and major factors underpinning the failure of the â€Å"FiReControl project† in the context of relevant theoretical implications and practice guidelines of project management. In addition, the report offers a set of relevant and justified recommendations in respond to the project management activities in the â€Å"FiReControl project† in the context of pertinent theoretical concepts. The recommendations provided in this report also provides a major reflection regarding the project management activities that substantially lowered the possibility of success of the overall project and suggested appropriate set of project management activities that can help the project managers to effectively deal with issues in each stage of the project. The FiReControl project as per the observation in the case is one of the major initiatives with a wide range of valuable insights in the form of streamlining fire rescue operations of the control rooms and offer appropriate services to the community members. According to the observation, the project is aimed to bring progress in the resilience, efficiency as well as technological development in the English Fire and Rescue Service through a replacement of 46 local control rooms along with a wide

English Views of Native Americans During Catholic-Protestant Conflict in the New World Essay Example for Free

English Views of Native Americans During Catholic-Protestant Conflict in the New World Essay English Views of Native Americans during Catholic-Protestant Conflict in the New World During the 16th and 17th century, as settlers from Europe continued to flock to the New World, technologies were being introduced that affected English views of Native Americans and how they saw Catholic, or more specifically, Spanish treatment of the Natives. Many countries wanted superiority in the Americas and to do that they needed more colonists and support from their homelands. To accomplish these goals different means were employed. For England, the New World settlements served a variety of purposes. To secure investors through stock purchases by showing them they would be well rewarded, attract new colonists, and to expand Protestantism in the New World to combat the Catholic movement in the Americas (text 38). Helping in these goals were new technologies that created some of the first propaganda. Many people in Europe feared the Native Americans, thinking of them as savage and uncivilized. Unrest and this fear among the people probably caused many to avoid even entertaining the thought of transplanting themselves and their family to an unknown continent. In 1588 Thomas Harriot published the first pamphlet about life in the New World. Describing great weather, fruitful land, and a wealth of goods these writings encouraged people to travel across the Atlantic. Along with him, painter John White, portrayed the Native Americans as a peaceful people that could easily coexist with Europeans. Taking liberties from these paintings, Theodore de Bry, a protestant from Belgium, made copperplate engravings of civilized Indians. These pictures and views of the Natives had a widespread appeal across England and alleviated fears of the New World which encouraged more settlers to take the voyage and more investors to purchase stock in colonizing companies. One of the biggest battles in the New World was between Catholic and Protestants to control the Americas. During this time Spain was the envy of Europe. With a large navy they were one of the most powerful armies in the world, wealthy, and boasted many colonies in the New World. Several countries, especially England, looked upon Spain with disdain. England being a Protestant country and Spain Catholic did nothing but increase the tension. Public opinion was very important in this power struggle. In 1598 Theodore de Bry republished Bartolome de Casa’s â€Å"Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (text 38-39)† which helped win supporters for the Protestant movement and England’s prerogative in the Americas. Originally this book was written in 1541 about Spanish mistreatment of the Indians. De Casa’s writing along with de Bry’s graphic illustrations horrified people of the torture and killing of Indians by the Spaniards. The Protestants saw the Catholics as agents of the devil who needed to be purged from society in the New World. Ironically this thinking was hypocritical as almost all countries, including England, mistreated the Native Americans throughout colonization and for centuries to come. Many travel accounts were written over the years that portrayed a frightening and exciting New World to the Europeans. While most of these accounts were written based on opinion and very little facts, they had an important place among society and were very powerful in swaying people’s opinions about Native Americans, the New World, and rival European nations. New technologies of publishing and illustrating at the time helped spread these documents ideas and opinions faster than ever and we saw for possibly the first time ever a propaganda war.

Media Essays Baudrillard Media Terrorism

Media Essays Baudrillard Media Terrorism Baudrillard Media Terrorism Discuss Baudrillard’s controversial contention that Western media have been complicit in terrorism. What does he mean and how convincing is his argument? Jean Baudrillard was an influential but highly controversial French Philosopher, Sociologist and cultural theorist. The â€Å"prophet of the postmodern media spectacle† (Butterfield: 2002) best known for his work on contemporary social theory, the modes of mediation and technological communication (Kellner: 1994: 1), commenting in particular on AIDS, cloning, the first Gulf War and terrorism. Baudrillards writings and his almost confrontational view have led to him being fiercely criticised by many, giving him nicknames such as â€Å"the high priest of post-modernism† (Gane: 1991: 47) and â€Å"the David Bowie of Philosophy† (Merrin: 2005a: 5). His continual TV appearances, tours and newspaper coverage only reinforced his critics â€Å"suspicion of his superficiality† (Merrin: 2005a: 6). Overall his theories were regarded as old hat up until 9/11 and the World Trade Centre terrorist attacks, where his writings on the matter once again put him in the spotlight, although not all agreed with what he has to say none could help but take note. Before I get into Baudrillards writings on terrorism it is important to outline some of his earlier works and theories, so you get a good scope of the mans thinking’s and view of the world in which we live in. An important point, central to all Baudrillards theories is his concern over the importance of images within contemporary culture. He builds upon Plato’s allegory of the cave, in which he compares the world’s population to cave dwellers, viewing false reality instead of absolute truth, in the form of shadows on the wall. Baudrillard takes inspiration from this idea, as well as the work of Lev Manovich, to come up with a theory which has been described as â€Å"inverted Platonism† (Stam: 2000: 306). In â€Å"Plato’s Cave† the cave dwellers, shackled to the wall, naively view the shadows cast on the back wall as actuality as they have never seen anything other than that, they never experience the absolute truth only the manufactured truth. Baudrillard takes this one step further though by â€Å"denying the existence of any actuality or reality that may be revealed† (Plantinga: 1996: 307), arguing that there is no protocols now in place which can help us distinguish between appearances and reality. Baudrillard states that we are stuck in a postmodern â€Å"hyper-reality†, where ‘truth’ is â€Å"simply the latest media consensus† (Plantinga: 1996: 307). The televisions, images and mass media which have now replaced Plato’s cave wall have become a means not of informing and revealing truth but of taking part in the creation of the manufactured consensus which passes as truth and knowledge in the postmodern world (Plantinga: 1996: 307). The real has almost completely disappeared, with any glimmer of absolute truth over-shadowed by media simulation. In his book Simulacra and Simulation Baudrillard looks at the West’s relationship between reality and images. He claims that modern society has replaced all reality and meaning with symbols and signs, and that humans are experiencing a simulation of reality rather than reality itself. This is an idea famously explored in the Wachowski brothers film The Matrix (1999), with the character Morpheus referring to the real world as the â€Å"desert of the real† (Baudrillard: 1994: 1), a reference lifted straight from Baudrillards work. Baudrillard has since claimed in interview that The Matrix is nothing more than a misunderstanding of his work (Lancelin: 2004). The simulacra that Baudrillard refers to are signs of culture and media that creative the perceived reality, serving as a powerful form of â€Å"social control† (Baudrillard: 1993a: 60), and can be divided into four discreet semiotic stages. Before simulacra, in pre-modern societies signs are few in number and simply refer to and reflect reality. Their primary purpose is to reflect a divinely sanctioned hierarchy and social positioning (Barker: 1996: 50), rigid and firmly fixed in place. Religious paintings such as those of Jesus or the Virgin Mary are held to be true copies of a higher reality, which people can worship like they are the real thing, disregarding the fact that they are nothing but a replica. The so called First Order of Simulacra stretches through the 14th and 15th centuries, during the Renaissance period. Baudrillard states that during this counterfeit time we changed from being a limited order of signs, â€Å"to a proliferation of signs according to demand† (1983: 85). As religious views and sanctioned hierarchy begin to fade, man-made copies of the real world start to be produced on mass. For the first time during this period we get signs splitting away from reality, the truth can be altered and changed to suit different purposed, creating false copies which are not representable. The third stage and Second Order of Simulacra came as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution, where advances in mechanical production in things such as cameras and printers radically changed the relationship between signs and the real. At this stage an â€Å"industrial law of value† (Smart: 1993: 52) reigns, where technological and mechanical reproduction come to constitute a new reality. The more these signs multiply, the more their relationship with the real is undermined. As Walter Benjamin once said images become the things themselves, absorbing â€Å"the process of production, changing it finalities and altering the status of product and producer† (Baudrillard: 1983: 98). The reproductions dilute the experience of the unique image, they lose the special value associated with the unique and authentic, instead acquiring a much more abstract kind of value. Baudrillard’s Third Order of Simulacra is where we are at now. In our contemporary postmodern societies, images have floated free of reality, taking the processes of abstraction which took hold in industrial modernity to their extremes. As Baudrillard says â€Å"one is not the simulacrum of which the other would be the real: there are only simulacra† (1994: 21). The copy has now become the real, with nothing authentic left behind the simulation. It is no longer possible to appeal to a real referent, as distinctions between representations and objects can no longer be sustained in a world where simulation models rule (Smart: 1993: 52). Baudrillard’s work explores the paradoxes of post-modern, simulation culture, stating that we have now got to a stage where the simulations merely refer to other simulations. As he sees it we can no longer experience anything outside the codes of simulation, the boundaries between signification and reality have imploded, so now all we can experience are representations of representations. According to Baudrillard reality has either disappeared or never existed in the first place. This death of reality has caused enormous panic amongst our post-modern culture as we attempt to nostalgically resurrect and retrieve the real. We find evidence of these attempts to search for authenticity everywhere, as Baudrillard says â€Å"when the real is no longer what it used to be, nostalgia assumes it full meaning† (2001: 174). The rise of myths of origin, second-hand truth and objectivity, lead to an escalation of the true lived experience, which grows into a demand for things which are more and more real. Baudrillard defines this obsessing of the real as â€Å"hyperreality† (1995: 28), with it in fact taking us further away, rather than closer to the real. We as a postmodern culture never stop on our search for more reality, through things such as DVD deleted scenes and commentaries, and the watchings of documentary series such as Bodyshock and Extraordinary People, with their less than subtitle titles, we attempt to come closer with ‘reality’, but once again we are just one step closer to a media fabrication. Baudrillards views reject those of traditional Marxist productivism, with him thinking they no longer offer an adequate explanation to postmodern situations. He has turned to theorists who look at formulating an alternative notion of economy and culture, based on observations of primitive societies, in particular the work of Georges Bataille. Bataille’s notion of the â€Å"solar economy† (1997: 193) of excess and destruction argued that there is a more fundamental, primary form of economy which could be taken straight form primitive society. Baudrillard also studied the work of Marcel Mauss, with his theories on gift-giving. Mauss states that there was no â€Å"pure expenditure† (Mauss: 2001: 98) without the expectation of a replicating â€Å"counter-gift† (Mauss: 1998: 101). This â€Å"symbolic exchange† between gift and counter-gift becomes the law of the universe, the challenge to give. Baudrillard refers to the semiotic culture in which we live as â€Å"the code† (2001: 7), where control has been taken from the realm of decision-making. Where our Western binaristic semiotic culture rests largely on binary opposites, good and evil, life and death, etc, societies based on symbolic exchange do not. Everyday life deals with symbolic offerings of gifts to the dead, and they are expected to respond as a matter of obligation. I n western semiotic culture, our choices are defined in terms of yes/no decisions, binaristic regulations which displace real choice, pepsi or coke, Manchester United or Manchester City, for example. When Baudrillard refers to an event as symbolic he means that it is a gift, and thus demands a counter-gift in return, resulting in a challenge. 9/11 was the largest example of this symbolic challenge, and perhaps â€Å"the most potent symbolic event since the crucifixion of Christ† (Butterfield: 2002), where the terrorists gave a gift to the west in the form of terrorism, so there was no alternative than for the gift to be countered. Baudrillard stated that the erection of the twin towers â€Å"signifies the end of competition† (1993a: 69) and the monopoly of binary logic. Where before the Manhattan skyline had been filled with skyscrapers all competing with each other for our attention, the World Trade Centre with its two identical towers put an end to it, they where both the yes and the no. William Merrin says that Baudrillard is â€Å"motivated by his belief in the radical presence and possibility of symbolic forces opposing, spiralling with and irrupting within the semiotic culture† (2005b). His views have never differed from those that semiotic culture has never truly freed itself from older symbolic culture, with the symbolic operating within the semiotic. We need to break out of this yes/no culture and find the symbolic within and outside culture. For Baudrillard it is this outside culture, notably Islam, which threatens the Western semiotic system. Although his theory has been attacked as â€Å"an imaginary construct which tries to seduce the world to become as theory wants it to be† (Kellner: 1989: 178), Baudrillard claims that the media itself creates many of the worlds events, and thus are actually ‘non-events’ as they are creations of simulation. Things such as Reality TV and celebrity news create a large number of these hyperreal non-events, which just wouldn’t happen without the media. We as media consumer’s infact crave real events to happen, even going as far as to fantasize about them. Films such as Cloverfield, The Siege and Day After Tomorrow, show our secret fantasies of mass destruction and death, which creep into our mundane lives. With the rise of these non-events comes the rise of ‘fateful events’, in the same way simulation triggers a quest for the real. The death of Princess Diana was the result of a media circus, reality TV which created both a non-event and a â€Å"secret exhilaration† (Merrin: 2005b) In the same way as Diana’s death, 9/11 was a non-event in the sense that it was experienced as a hyperreal image and embraced as a media event. The buildings where chosen as targets due to their media prominence, relating to films and previous fantasies of destructions. It was however also, as Baudrillard calls it, an â€Å"absolute event† (2003: 41) in that it testified to some secret symbolic sense of fate in Western culture. For Baudrillard â€Å"in the end it was they who did it but we who wished it† (2003: 5), the terrorists where just â€Å"pushing that which already wants to fall† (1993b: 209). Baudrillard sees this terrorism as being produced by the repression of the symbolic, with it returning, infiltrating and destroying us like a virus. The closer the western project of globalisation gets to perfection, the more we will see resistant symbolic challenges. Baudrillard says that the more cursed gifts of westernisation we give out the more countergifts we will receive in the form of sacrificial death. 9/11 is a paradox, Islam’s countergift to the west. The west has responded in the only way they know how, as a semiotic culture, by going to war. Although it was not as simple as yes/no, good/evil, this is how it was responded to, conceived in binary, systematic terms. As Baudrillard states â€Å"if we hope to understand anything we will need to get beyond Good and Evil† (2002), this was much more than just a clash of civilisations; it was gift giving at its most destructive. Jean Baudrillard sets out to be provocative in his work, he wants to stand out and make people take not of him, even if it’s for all the wrong reasons. He describes himself as a â€Å"terrorist and nihilist in theory as the others are with their weapons† (1994: 163), noting that change must be brought upon our postmodern society, although not through means of violence. For Baudrillard it is our semiotic culture that have given rise to terrorism, through its imposing of our values on other cultures and mass media fantasization of our own destruction, so we must accept the returning gift of terror which comes with that. As Baudrillard says, the only thing which is not acceptable about terrorism is the violence behind it, â€Å"theoretical violence, not truth, is the only recourse left to us† (1994: 163). Through his work he was trying to do what the terrorists where, just without killing anyone. Bibliography Barker, S., 1996. Signs of Change: Premodern, Modern, Postmodern. New York: SUNY Press Baudrillard, J., 1983. Simulations. New York: Semiotext(e) Baudrillard, J., 1993a. Symbolic Exchange and Death. London: Sage Baudrillard, J., 1993b. Baudrillard Live: Selected Interviews. London: Routledge Baudrillard, J., 1994. Simulacra and Simulation. Michigan: University of Michigan Press Baudrillard, J., 1995. America. London: Verso Baudrillard, J., 2001. Jean Baudrillard: Selected Writings. Stanford: Stanford University Press Baudrillard, J., 2002. L’Espirit du Terrorisme. Trans. Donovan Hohn. Harper’s Magazine, February 2002. p.13-18 Baudrillard, J., 2003. The Spirit of Terrorism. London: Verso Botting, F. Wilson, S., 1997. Bataille: A Critical Reader. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Butterfield, B., 2002. The Baudrillardian Symbolic, 9/11, and the War of Good and Evil [ONLINE]. Postmodern Culture, 13.1 (September). Available at: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/postmodern_culture/v013/13.1butterfield.html [accessed: 12.03.08] Gane, M., 1991. Baudrillard: Critical and Fatal Theory. London: Routledge Keller, D., 1989. Jean Baudrillard: From Marxism to Postmodernism and Beyond. Stanford: Stanford UP Keller, D., 1994. Baudrillard: A Critical Reader. Oxford: Blackwell Lancelin, A., 2004. Le Nouvel Observateur with Baudrillard [ONLINE]. Le Nouvel Observateur. Available at: http://www.empyree.org/divers/Matrix-Baudrillard_english.html [accessed: 17.04.08] Mauss, M., 1998. Marcel Mauss: A Centenary Tribute. Oxford: Berghahn Books Mauss, M., 2001. The Gift: The Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies. New York: Routledge Merrin, W., 2005a. Baudrillard and the Media: A Critical Introduction. Cambridge: Polity Merrin, W., 2005b. Total Screen: 9/11 and the Gulf War Reloaded. International Journal of Baudrillard Studies, Volume 2, Number 2, July 2005 Plantinga, C., 1996. Moving Pictures and the Rhetoric of Nonfiction: Two Approaches. In Bordwell, D Carroll, N., Post-theory: Reconstructing Film Studies. Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 307 Smart, B., 1993. Postmodernity. London: Routledge Stam, R., 2000. Film Theory: An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell

A Phoney in The Fifty Dollar Bill :: The Fifty Dollar Bill

A Phoney in The Fifty Dollar Bill  Ã‚        Ã‚  In "The Fifty Dollar Bill" written by Donald Hall, the narrator of the story seems to be an honest man, but is he really? I believe for the most part he is very honest—except for when he did not want to be drafted so he bribed his congressman. He had several reasons for wanting to be exempt from the draft. He was always honest, until he realized he had something important that could be lost. The very beginning of the story starts with the narrator talking to us (the readers) about how honest he is. He tells about how he is well respected both in his profession and in the community where respect "is not accorded easily" (Hall 957). He is saying since he is a lawyer, respect is hard to earn. He tells us all the things he has never done: "I have never asked the judge who is my best friend to fix a ticket for the son of my liquor dealer. I have never promised a favor to a detective in order to hide evidence unfavorable to my client" (957). He is making it a point for us to believe he is honest. When he talks about other lawyers, he says they "live on intimate terms with dishonesty" (957). This statement implies that he could not handle being dishonest, or that at least he does not "live on intimate terms" with dishonesty. However, the final statement of the first paragraph, "I call myself an honest man," does not really sound like he means what he is saying. He says, "I call myself an honest man," not "I am an honest man." If the narrator was so worried about being honest, what reasons could he have had to try to bribe the congressman? He had a lot to deal with when the rumors of the draft came around. The narrator was a third-year law student. He only had one more year to complete before he got his degree. His wife was pregnant and about to have their first child. Those two things were very important to him, and he could not take the chance of losing them. Not only this, but he feared his own death. He had a "repeated sequence in his mind’s eye" in which he kept seeing his own death. The dream not only took place while be was asleep, he also saw his death while he was awake.

Homecoming by Bruce Dawe Essay -- Poem Poetry Poet Bruce Dawe Home Com

Homecoming by Bruce Dawe The poem 'Homecoming' originates from Bruce Dawe. Its journey depicts the aspects of war and its devastations upon human individuals. Using mainly the Vietnam War as a demonstration for its destructions. Within this poem Bruce Dawe dramatizes the homecoming of Australian veterans' bodies from Vietnam. This is clearly an anti-war poem, reproducing the sentiments of those who opposed the time when this war occurred. The poem starts of in what seems to be a monotone. With many simple verbs such as 'picking... bringing.... rolling ... whining...' are used to depicts how days after days, it is all the same. The bodies of the soldiers, days after days are all monotonously follow the same routine and being treated in a somewhat a seemingly cold and offhanded way. These simple words are repetitive; they aim to enhance the effect of imprinting a strong image within the readers? visual imagination of the relentless pace. Forcing the readers into feeling this great injustice for these soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for their country, within the war. Yet their bodies are treated no less than animals, following a strict routine of piling up in trucks, convoys, tagging them, giving them names, and boarding them onto the jets so they can finally return to their beloved home. This is their homecoming. The tone of this particular poem is apparent here. Within the title itself ?Homecoming? is irony. W hen homecoming is spoken of, an image of happi...

The Potential for Future Crop Loss Essay -- Agriculture Farming Enviro

The Potential for Future Crop Loss On the subject of potential crop loss there are several variables, which influence drought and plant disease resulting in a loss of crops. The first variable is that of drought. Drought is a result of shifting weather patterns, which changes the amount of precipitation an area receives. There are three major causes of drought, deficient and unfavorably distributed precipitation, excess heat and warm winds (Nemanishen, 1998, p.35). Historically the grasslands of North America have had a highly varied climate with years of drought immediately followed by years of sufficient precipitation. For example, in the area of the Palliser Triangle in the grasslands of Canada, wheat crop loss has been seen numerous times in history varying in severity depending on the weather patterns of the season. In drought years the wheat yield is particularly sensitive to low antecedent moisture reserves, below average rainfall in the crop growing season, and summer heat waves with hot, dry winds (Nemanishen, 1998, p.24). In consecutive drought years the precipitation deficit accumulates resulting in soil moisture depletion in the root systems (Nemanishen, 1998, p.26). The loss of soil moisture also leads to a lack of ground water recharge resulting in declines of runoff and stream flow making the crops particularly susceptible to wind erosion. Major droughts have reduced annual grassland rainfall fifteen to twenty-five percent and July and August average rainfall twenty-five to fifty percent. As a result of drought wheat crop production dropped twenty –five percent in North America (Borchert, 1971, pp10-11). In order to avoid crop loss it is important for scientists and farmers to identify weather patterns ... ...ast, it’s happening right now and it will happen in the future. Works Cited Borchert, J. R. (1971). The dust bowl in the 1970s. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 61(1), 1-22. Boyce, N. (2001). Revisiting Ireland's great famine. U.S. News and World Report, 130(24), 44. Daly, D.C. (1996). The leaf that launched a thousand ships. Natural History, 105(1), 24-32. Hertstein, U., Grunhage, L., & Jager, H. J. (1995). Assessment of past, present, and future impacts of ozone and carbon-dioxide on crop yields. Atmospheric Environment, 29 (16), 2031-2039 Lowdermilk, W. C. (1999). Conquest of the land through 7,000 years. Agriculture Information Bulletin, (99), 1-24. Nemanishen, W. (1998) Drought in the Palliser Triangle. PFRA Drought Committee. 23-40.

Role of Advertising in Newspapers

The Role of Advertising in Newspapers Revenues from sales of advertising pay for the bulk of the costs of newspaper production. That’s why the reading public pays so little for its newspaper. What is advertising? An advertisement is a message designed to sell the advertiser’s goods or services to prospective buyers. Types of newspaper advertising There are two types of newspaper advertising – display and classified. A display advertisement is a written message, often accompanied by an illustration or photograph, which can be placed in any section of the newspaper.A classified ad refers to those advertisements that are separated into specific classifications and located in one or more sections of the newspaper. Display advertisements There are two types of display ads found in the newspaper – national and local. National advertising usually refers to products that are promoted on a nation-wide basis, such as automobiles and brand-name products or retail cha ins. Local advertising is used to promote local, regional or national products. The ad is written, however, to appear in the local market.When placing a display ad, the advertiser is charged by the amount of space the ad occupies in the newspaper. The price of the space varies with certain factors: †¢Newspaper circulation (the larger the circulation the higher the price charged) †¢Size of ad †¢Use of colour †¢Guaranteed position in newspaper †¢Day the advertisement runs †¢Advertising frequency To attract a reader’s attention and to sell a product, many techniques are used in the creation of a display ad. As a result, these ads are usually professionally prepared in creative services departments of the newspaper, the advertiser or a contracted advertising agency.The physical appearance of an advertisement often determines its attractiveness to the reader. Some aspects considered in ad preparation are: †¢Size of the ad †¢Use of colour â⠂¬ ¢Amount of white space, i. e. , not too crowded †¢Graphics chosen †¢Type style and size of text The information included in an ad can definitely influence its effectiveness in selling a product. Some display ads are purely factual and appeal to reason. Information in these ads usually relates to: †¢Quality of the product †¢Price or value of the product †¢General description of the product Guarantee of the product Other display ads appeal to the emotions of the consumer and may emphasise: †¢Brand loyalty – the advertiser wants you to identify with and continue buying established brands. †¢Conformity – the â€Å"everybody is buying this particular brand or item† approach. †¢Hero worship – endorsement of a product by a personality in entertainment or sports. †¢Status – an appeal to the buyer’s ego. †¢Humour – entertaining, but deceptive; says little about the product. †¢Personal a ttractiveness – a wishful-thinking ad appealing to a particular feminine/masculine image. Style changes – the buyer is asked to keep up with the times. †¢Vanity – this kind of ad appeals to the buyer’s self image or ego-gratification where the buyer’s happiness comes first. †¢Economy – everyone likes to think he or she can economise while spending. †¢Luxury – symbols of wealth and excess. †¢Convenience – work and time-saving devices. †¢Lifestyle – the advertisement associates a certain lifestyle with a product. †¢Security – this covers many kinds of security: emotional, personal, financial, etc. †¢Sex – the ad uses the lure of sex appeal.It is similar to the appeals of feminine and masculine attractiveness. Keep in mind that more than one appeal may be found in the same ad. Classified ads Classified ads are not written by creative service departments, but by individuals wi shing to advertise goods and services available or needed. When placing a classified ad, advertisers are usually charged by the line. As a result, classified ads are brief. The price varies with the number of insertions desired and the particular days chosen. For example, the unit cost of an ad may decrease if it is run all week.On the other hand, a premium could be added to the cost if a high circulation day is chosen, such as Saturday. In some cities and towns different days are popular for certain types of ads. In your area, for example, Saturday may be a heavy real estate day, while Monday may be popular for car and truck ads. Placing a classified ad is very simple. One dials the classified advertising department of the newspaper and a trained operator assists in the placing of the ad. The operator will also help in the writing of the ad and in the selection of insertion dates.The process can also be done on-line. The classified ad section is organised to assist readers in locat ing relevant information. Many classified ad readers have specific goals in mind, rather than casual browsing. The classified ads – as their name implies – are grouped together according to product or service type. An overall index conveniently directs readers to each specific category, within which listings are arranged alphabetically. A newspaper is any printed periodical or work containing public news or comments on public news.Each newspaper tries to win the heart and loyalty of its readers through news and views, articles, pictures, poems, cartoons, editorials, presentation techniques and exclusive stories and news items. It censures the corrupt and the erring. It airs public grievances sad reflects public opinion through letters to the press. Napoleon feared four hostile newspapers more than a thousand bayonets. According to him â€Å"a newspaper is a grumbler, & censurer, a giver of advice, a regent of sovereigns, a tutor of nations. ‘ Gopal Krishna Gokha le considered the newspapers to be the rousers and the sentinels of the voice of people. In India newspapers have a vital role to play and an important duty to perform, both as ‘vox populi' (voice of the people) and as builder of public opinion. In this sense, it is the ‘people's university'—book, pulpit, platform, forum, theatre and counselor, all in one. There is no interest—literary, social, political, religious, commercial, economic, scientific, technological, agricultural, mechanical, cultural, histrionic and so on and so forth—which is not covered â€Å"by the news-paper.There, a vast majority of the people in this country are still illiterate or at least unenlightened, even among the literate persons, about two-thirds do not read newspaper regularly. The Indian masses lack intellectual capacity and comprehension required in reading a newspaper. Approximately 17 percent of people read newspapers and out these dot even half of the people read e ditorials, comments or serious initial articles. The rest content themselves by reading the headlines or the topical news.Young men read sports news and film reviews, the businessmen confine themselves to market reports about shares, stocks and the prices of gold, silver and essential commodi ¬ties. Only old, retired people pour over the newspaper from end to end, and that too because they have no other pastime to pass time. This shows that the number of those who have genuine interest in newspapers is very low. But it is these people—national and state leaders, teachers, lawyers, philosophers, academicians, technocrats and bureaucrats—who form the intellectual and intelligent section of the Indian society.They speak for the common people and voice their grievances against mismanagement of public affairs. They serve as a link between the rulers and the rated, the government and the people and complete the chain of action and reaction. The newspapers in India perform their pole as guardians of the public interest, watch-dogs and a source of all kinds of informa ¬tion. They are not State-controlled, as in U. S. S. R. and Pakistan, they enjoy freedom of expression. Of course, they must function within the bounds of law. They must not infringe the law regarding libel and deformation, otherwise they would be liable to penal action.Even the restricted freedom of the Indian newspapers it the envy of the journalists in other countries of Asia where there has been a prolonged spell of military dictatorship, autocratic rule or emergency. In India, the newspapers keep a powerful check on the mis ¬deeds, the tyranny and this, corrupt practices of the government. Thomas Jefferson paid rich tributes to this function of the newspaper when he said, â€Å"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. However, all newspapers do not play a positive end construc ¬tive role expected of them. There is a section of newspapers in India, which indulges in blackmail, extortion of money and distor ¬tion of facts and news. This yellow journalism is despicable. Such newspapers violate all ethical standards and adopt a purely merce ¬nary and anti-national attitude. This is sub-standard and base Journalism. They should be treated like smugglers, black-marketers and drug-pedlars and antisocial elements and should be dealt with an iron-hand. What Jefferson said about newspapers in America applies to newspapers in India also. ‘I Chapter, truth; II Chapter, probabilities; third, possibilities; fourth, lies; fifth, blatant lies; and the first chapter is the shortest,† Most of the country's leading newspapers are owned or domi ¬nated by big industrial houses and capitalists—Birja, Dalmia, Express group, As a result, the interests of the general public are often sacri ¬ficed at the altar of capitalis m and business interests. Moreover, the lion's share of the total circulation of newspapers, a little above 5crore, belongs to the bigger dailies published from Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, the metropolitan towns.The national dailies enjoy a great deal of influence and command huge resources. But the smaller newspapers, that are published in the regional languages and that have a smaller circulation, have to face perpetual financial crisis and are often forced to close down. This belies the Govern ¬ment policy of patronizing smaller newspapers and imposing rest ¬raints in bigger newspapers. In several countries abroad, especially in the West, newspapers have power to make and break governments; but in India news ¬papers do not carry much weight and do not cut much ice.The Government does not pay much heed to their views and does not respond to their criticism for the simple reason that it commands a colossal majority in the Parliament. Gloating over absolute majority, t he Government even tries to shifle free press (as has several times been done in the case of the Indian Express group of papers). One common method of pressurising newspapers that the Central or State Governments in India adopt is to stop giving adver ¬tisements and notifications released by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (D. A. V. P. , Government departments and public sector enterprises; to such newspapers as do not cringe and adopt a fawning attitude and thus made them suffer financially. Advertisements are sometimes used as a weapon to corapell complia ¬nce, for it would be impossible for a newspaper to survive without advertisements, the prop and the life-blood of all journalism. A num ¬ber of such cases have been taken up in the Press Council of India and have been commented upon. Another method is that of stopp ¬ing or substantially cutting down the supply of newsprint paper quota to such ‘dare-devil' newspapers.Newspapers in this renaissanc e country should regard their pro ¬fession as a noble mission of educating and enlightening people. They should impose certain moral and national restraints and discipline upon themselves. They should refrain from indulging Its rumors and turning out biased information and distorted truths from ulte ¬rior motives. As purveyors of news and views, they should play the rote of ‘people's university' and serve the motherland as guardians and custodians of people's liberty.

Letters Giving Information

Dear Sir/Madam, As the main organizer of performance that is being planned to stage at Can Tho university, I am writing to you on behalf of the students in my drama class to request that you be so kind as to help us to publicize the event. Now, I would like to give you some information about the performance. To welcome the Lunar New Year, my drama class is planning to stage a musical based upon George Bernad Shaw’s Pygmalion – My Fair Lady.My Fair Lady is a world popular musical and is the record for the longest run of any major musical theatre production in history. Therefore, I’m sure it will attract many audience. The performance will take place at 7 pm on 30th January at the Great Hall in Can Tho university. Visitors are expected to come earlier. To carry out this performance, we prepared thoroughly and drilled diligently. Actors and actresses have formerly acting experience, so I trust audience will not be disappointed with the drama.We’d like if the above information could be included in bulletins of local news. I’m sure that this event will be of interest to many people who love art and drama. Next, allow me to suggest that the journalists could be invited to report on the event, and to interview the actors and members of the audience. This way, members in my class will have better opportunities to develop their career. Thank you for your time  and cooperation in this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information. Yours faithfully, Letters Giving Information Dear Sir/Madam, As the main organizer of performance that is being planned to stage at Can Tho university, I am writing to you on behalf of the students in my drama class to request that you be so kind as to help us to publicize the event. Now, I would like to give you some information about the performance. To welcome the Lunar New Year, my drama class is planning to stage a musical based upon George Bernad Shaw’s Pygmalion – My Fair Lady.My Fair Lady is a world popular musical and is the record for the longest run of any major musical theatre production in history. Therefore, I’m sure it will attract many audience. The performance will take place at 7 pm on 30th January at the Great Hall in Can Tho university. Visitors are expected to come earlier. To carry out this performance, we prepared thoroughly and drilled diligently. Actors and actresses have formerly acting experience, so I trust audience will not be disappointed with the drama.We’d like if the above information could be included in bulletins of local news. I’m sure that this event will be of interest to many people who love art and drama. Next, allow me to suggest that the journalists could be invited to report on the event, and to interview the actors and members of the audience. This way, members in my class will have better opportunities to develop their career. Thank you for your time  and cooperation in this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information. Yours faithfully,

Leadership Styles and Theories Discussion

Leadership Styles and Theories Erica Hunter Faculty: Sherry Knight NUR 415 Leadership and Management in Nursing March 18th, 2013 The student name indicated on this title page signifies that the author has read and understands the IWU Honesty Policy as outlined in the Student Handbook and IWU Catalog. Affixing this statement to the title page certifies that no cheating or dishonest use of information has occurred in completing this assignment. The work submitted is original work specific for this course.If cheating and/or plagiarism are discovered in this paper, it is acknowledged that the university policy will be followed, and may result in dismissal of the student from Indiana Wesleyan University. Leadership Styles and Theories Leaders in healthcare and in business follow a leadership style to manage their employees. The Leadership styles vary from two factor theory, expectancy theory, and OB modification to transactional theory and transformational theory.The two factor theory is where the organization considers salary, status, and security to promote job satisfaction (Yoder-Wise, 2011, p. 10). Expectancy theory is where the organization believes an individual perceived needs influence their behavior thus affecting their work performance (Yoder-Wise, 2011, p. 10). OB modification is where the leader uses positive reinforcement to motivate followers to repeat constructive behaviors in the workplace (Yoder-Wise, 2011, p. 11).The two main theories I want to focus on are transactional and transformational theories. A transformational leader is one who promotes teamwork among the staff, encourages positive self-esteem, motivates staff to function at high levels of performance and empowers staff to become more involved in the development and implementation of policies and procedures (Atkinson Smith, 2011, p. 44-50). This leadership style is readily received by employees. This type of leadership was practiced when I worked in endoscopy at Miami Valley Hospital.The team leader Kandi encouraged the staff with positive affirmations. She would take the time to teach new policies and give an opportunity for the staff to ask questions about the change. Kandi followed up on quality issues and if an error was found she used it as an opportunity to learn for the employee in a non-punitive manner. Transactional leadership is when employees adopt the traditional view of the â€Å"boss† image (Yoder-Wise, 2011, p. 39). The superior makes the decisions with little or no input from the subordinates.This leadership style makes employees feel powerless and worthless to help with change. Hopefully this leadership style is used less within organizations. Leadership Styles and Theories References Atkinson Smith, M. (2011, September). Are you a transformational leader. Magnetic Pull, 42(9), 44-50. http://dx. doi. org/10. 1097/01. NUMA. 0000403279. 04379. 6a Yoder-Wise, P. (2011). Core Concepts. In P. Yoder-Wise (Ed. ), Leading and Managing in Nursing (5th ed. , pp. 5-6). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby.

Is Competition Good or Bad??

A continuing concern within physical education is the proper role and level of competition. Many of the abuses associated with organized sport are assumed to be the result of an overemphasis on competition, of a win-at-all -costs perspective. It is not uncommon for physical educators to advocate reducing competition, to replace competitive activities with cooperative activities, and to modify competitive activities in ways that reduce competitiveness.In its most extreme form, this kind of criticism within the physical-education profession suggests that competitive activities are harmful for children. The issue can be viewed from another perspective. The issue is not whether competition is all good or all bade, but rather is how we can eliminate bad competition and emphasize good competition. Good competition creates a festival atmosphere, with all the attending traditions, rituals, and celebrations.Good competition creates a forum within which children and youth can test themselves a gainst accepted standards of excellence. Good competition involves rivalry, but never the kind of rivalry in which one side can win only to the extent that the other side loses. Good competition also means striving within the rules and traditions to do the best you can and then, when the competition is over, understanding that the winning or losing have little meaning outside the competition itself.Bad competition, on the other hand, should be eliminated. Using the rules to gain an advantage, assuming that the only way to win is to have the best score, disregarding the traditions and rituals of the activity, and letting the outcomes affect you after the competition is over are all indications of inappropriate competition. Students in physical education should learn the differences between good and bad competition. The only way they can do this is to have these things pointed out to them as they experience good competition.

Delta Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Delta - Assignment Example It is clear from the facts provided in the case study that JetBlue and Southwest adapted technology and blended it perfectly with the customer needs. The use of live TV, paperless environment, online ticketing services, effective and use of laptops by the pilots as well as use of routes which were less served by others was some of the key activities performed by these firms to remain profitable and leading airlines in the industry. Pilots were using emails to forward their suggestions whereas the flight maintainece records were being computerized thus making the technology the key part of the overall operations of these airliners. It is however, critical to note that both these firms also actually focused upon meeting customer needs. The CEO of JetBlue used to interact directly with the customers thus offering a firsthand experience of customer expectations and these airliners responded to such expectations by offering customers what they needed. It is relatively difficult for the larger airliners to actually maintain the low cost carriers due to various reasons. Not managing disruptive technology effectively is one of the reasons as to why such larger airliners actually could not keep pace with the more agile and low cost carriers. The complacency of the organizations along with the already established rigid procedures may have further restricted the ability of these firms to actually execute the low cost strategy. These services were operated by already the same people who were also responsible for operating the premium services of the airliners. Bureaucracy, established unions and other organizational factors made it relatively difficult for larger firms to actually capitalize on the opportunities offered by the low cost carriers. Though the airliners industry was deregulated during 1970s however, the presence of the unionized labor actually made it relatively difficult for such firms to focus on reducing the cost and achieve

Music During Renaissance And Reformation Periods Essay

Music During Renaissance And Reformation Periods - Essay Example The English Renaissance is considered to extend from the early sixteenth to the early seventeenth century, and refers to a cultural and artistic movement in England. The Reformation is a period that overlaps with that of the renaissance. The English Reformation started in the reign of Henry VIII. (1509 – 1547 A.D.) with England breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church based in Rome. This was brought about by Henry VIII, who insisted on divorcing his first wife, Catharine of Aragon, who could not bear him a male heir, to marry Anne Boleyn. Divorce was not permitted by the Church, due to which the king took this extreme measure, of taking the church’s power as well on himself. His subjects were also not happy with the church’s clergy and priests, who were fraudulent. The Pope’s power was ended, and Henry VIII became the the Supreme Head of the Church in 1534, and the country continued to be Catholic.

Strategic HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Strategic HRM - Essay Example The only difference is that in the game of business, teams compete against one another for customers, innovations, employees, and ultimately the profit margin they are able to accrue at the end of the day. The other difference is the time frame, whereas in sports the game is over a defined period of time, in the business, the time frame is unlimited as long as the business exists. Just like in the sports, the business empires that win indicate consistency in their preparation, planning, and skills in their execution plans. These business organizations do understand best their positions, where they are aiming at, and how they want to achieve their aim. It is also important to note that these winning business firms have constant touch with the customers needs and how to comply, the technological advancement that are relevant to the business as well as the market trends and innovations that will enable them be ahead of the park compared to their competitors in the market (Wal-Mart, 2011 ). Business organization then have to keep pondering on how best the cardinal factors in the business can be best satisfied to make then take the lead in either service delivery or product delivery to the customers. In this regard, all business owes allegiance to a strategy either planned or unplanned, strategy in this case is the language that implies a game plan. A business strategy is the lifeline of a business organization that drives both the short- term and the long-term projection and determines the success of the business in an ever-changing business environment and stringent competition. Overview of Wal-Mart Company Wal-Mart boost of being one of the largest family owned multinational retail cooperation. It is an American company having been founded in 1962 by Sam Walton. Walton family is arguably the leading shareholders in the cooperation, as they own about 48% of the total share of the business empire. The incorporation of the business took place in the year 1969 and by 1972 its shares were floated in the New York Stock Exchange for public trading (Wal-Mart, 2011). The corporation was branded Wal-Mart in 2008 having relinquished its former name of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in pursuit of the Forbes Global 2000, Wal-Mart was ranked 18th in the perking order of the largest public corporations in the world and the leading in the US. The cooperation also employs about two million employees which makes it one of the world largest private employers. The headquarters of the business is at Bentonville, Arkansas. In the United States, it is considered one of the leading grocery retailers having in the year 2009 collected 51% of the total sales it realized in the year i.e. US$ 258 billions. This percentage sale was realized on the grocery sale alone. Wal-Mart scope of operation in the global is equally expansive, it has a total of 8,500 functioning store in 15 countries operating under different references. In the United States for instance, the company operates under the name Wal-Mart including the 50 states of the US. In India the company is called Best Price, Mexico, its called Walmex, in UK it’s referred to as Asda while in Japan, it is referred to as Seiyu. Wal-Mart has expansive and extensive operation in Canada, Brazil, and Argentina (Wal-Mart, 2011). While in the North America, the business has registered performance of varied

Management and Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management and Leadership - Essay Example As the research stresses the role and responsibility of management is to promote stability or to enable the organization to run smoothly, while the role of leadership is to promote adaptive or useful changes. A manager is directly responsible for the jobs tasks and supervision of its employees. This person can influence the corporate culture a lot thought his particular management style. A relaxed and easy going manager is a person people can open up for ideas. Good communication is a very important element of a healthy corporate culture. In a job environment in which there a lot safety issues the corporate culture should be about paying attention to work without any distractions, the managers job in these scenario is be an authority figure and implement a disciplined work environment. Managers are supposed to display leadership skills, but leadership in itself is a characteristic which any person can possess within the organization. According to the research findings managers are considered to have formal leadership since the company gives them a certain level of authority over the staff. The fact that the manager holds this type of leadership capability does not make him necessarily a good leader. Informal leaderships comes from within and people that have this trait are leaders by example which people look up to because they have special abilities or a charismatic personality.

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 212

Summary - Essay Example As there was progression in time, the farmers thought they were to have a special day away from the working days where they could be able to praise God and prayer take place (Phillips, 98). In the contract and agreement with God, there was need of a special place where there would be honoring the contract and special people that would be needed to administer and carry out the contract. This led to development of religion with coming up with a Sabbath day, a priest and churches. There is also a link that can be given between cave art and religion. In the Paleolithic cave art there is evidence of religion. There was belief by the ancestors that the spirit world existed deep in the dark foreboding caves. Through the caves, the ancestors believed that the supernatural world could be contacted in the caves or these were the places where they could leave the signs that were needed by the spirits (Phillips, 99). According to Jean Clottes, those that lived in the development of art period believed that there was supernatural powers that lined inside the caves and the only way of attempting to contact the spirits was giving respect and contacting the powers in the

10 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

10 - Essay Example There are two groups of software professionals; one is the production part of software development and the other one is service part of IT providers. The reason for making two groups is that, the profession is more or less of the same, design and development. The second group is also doing the same but for public service. The responsibility of a software engineer is to design and implement a variety of software solutions. They may be occupied in the design and testing of various applications like computer game, some business applications, operating system or various superior software programmes for extreme hardware and equipment. Once the system is completely designed, the testing team will test and debug the system and after that the maintenance team maintain the system. The software engineers normally work in a complicated and highly technical environment. The application engages computer science as well as mathematics. They should know programming languages and applications because they will be involved in a variety of works. After a university or high school degree, most of the students select the career as IT professional or in software services. The path from university to a company is very straight. According to the recruitment policy; they recruit some experienced candidate. Companies prefer managerial skills as well as technical skills. The demand of IT jobs is extremely high as it provides a better economical potential, better salary scales, and job security. In the United Kingdom those who move to the IT sector from municipal administration won’t get enough job satisfaction. On the basis of their experience; It professionals are classified as a Software Programmer, Analyst, Project Leader and so on. In spite of an enormous reforms relying on outsourcing and transfer of personal, the interviewees assemble all their resources to carry on in the private company the organisational profession that they underway in public administration they

Principal of business Leadership Research Paper

Principal of business Leadership - Research Paper Example Business leadership is a process of organizational influence in which a single person or a group of people can enlist the support and aid of others in the business organization so as to accomplish its common goals and objectives. Leaders may not have formal authority but have the power to drive people to do something so as to achieve a common goal or task. Any business, no matter the size, requires effective leadership. For this reason, many scholars have come up with numerous principles to guide business leaders on how they can be effective in their leadership roles and responsibilities. This essay will discuss the principles of business leadership that effective business leaders should abide by. This paper will focus on how to be an effective business leader. There are very many scholarly and non-scholarly sources that talk about what makes an effective business leader (Frey, Kern, Snow & Curlette p 212). Most sources that are reviewed in this essay link the success and performance of a business organization with effective business leadership. The performance of a business organization is also closely associated to specific leaders of that particular organization. Hersey, Paul, Blanchard, Ken and Johnson (55) argue that the influence of effective business leaders is very powerful and can never be ignored. Business leadership requires individuals who have the capacity to influence others positively towards the realization (Kaiser, Hogan and Craig p 96). That is why effective business leaders are guided by business leadership principles as they execute their leadership roles. This principle calls for a business leader to be clear on what they want to ‘be’, ‘do’, ‘have’ and ‘know’. In being clear on what a business leader want to be, he or she should know what he/she is. This means that he/she should identify his/her beliefs and values so as to understand

Evidentialist Method Apologetics Essay Example for Free

Evidentialist Method Apologetics Essay Introduction Apologetics comes in several different methods that are utilized to defend one’s faith and also to evangelize. One method of apologetics is Evidentialism, also known as Natural Theology. Evidentialism is probably the most popular form of apologetics, if not the one that leads the field. Our current world demands proof and supporting data and Evidentialism stresses the deliverance of accurate substantiation with the hope of bringing cynics and criticizers to the truths of Christianity. Evidentialism continues to excel in the field of apologetics and does well in confronting the major worldviews with the truths of the Christian faith that can be proven with factual analysis. This review will provide the reader with a summary of the Evidentialist Method, a critique of the Evidentialist Method, and a list of some of the more popular Evidentialists. Summary of the Evidentialist Method Apologetics comes from 1 Peter 3:15 and is most properly defined as giving a defense. In his commentary, John Walvoord states, â€Å"(apologian, the â€Å"defense† which a defendant makes before a judge; (Acts 22:1; 25:16) for their hope in Christ.† It is the impetus for Evidentialist apologetics to follow this call and seek to â€Å"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.† Another writer, Dan Story, states, â€Å"This is ‘evidential’ apologetics, and it works on the premise that the weight of the evidence will always support Christianity and always refute contradicting beliefs.† In order for Evidentialism to be effective, it must hold to its premise of dispensing the truths about Christianity by establishing factuality. The Evidentialist is able to take any offered topic and utilize it as evidence as they are stimulated by the antagonist’s desire to deliberate logic and reason. In Acts 19:8, the Apostle Paul was diligently â€Å"arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.† Yet, Paul understood completely that there was none other that could open the hearts of men except God (Acts 16:14). Critique of the Evidentialist Method The Evidentialist Model for apologetics is a very sensible method to be utilized in evangelism. The world today demands physical, tangible proof and relies only on what can be seen and studied, and the Evidentialist is quite versed in the practicality and effective use of the method to clarify God’s truths. The method accepts the essential foundations of the non-believing doubter and tries to supply purposeful truth to that individual area. This reason-giving model has established its effectiveness in apologetics. There are a couple of issues of concern when it comes to the application of Evidentialism. One concern that stands out is that it adopts the thought that the fallen man can come to the supposition of Christ as Savior. It is my contention and belief that aside from the Holy Spirit man cannot come to this conclusion. However, I do feel that via the logical evidence presented, God opens the non-believer’s heart. Story clearly shows the â€Å"Holy Spirit also convicts and convinces people of the truth through extra-biblical evidences.† Popular Evidentialists History shows that the method of Evidentialism has been utilized for quite some time. There have been many superior thinkers who have used the method and have contributed greatly to the enhancement of apologetics. Although the list is long, a few of these men merit mention, William Paley (1743-1805), John Locke (1632-1704), and more contemporarily, Norman Geisler, William Lane Craig, Lee Strobel, Gary Habermas and Ravi Zacharias. These stellar thinkers have all utilized Evidentialism in furthering apologetics. There is an organization worthy of mention, Answers in Genesis, who employs the use of Evidentialism in explaining creationism to minister the truths of God, which also includes the explanation of the Gospel to many non-believing skeptics that exist within many secular evolutionist groups. Conclusion The Great Commission demands that all believers be prepared to defend their faith and be ready to offer a defense for those beliefs. There are many opposing worldviews that stand between men and salvation. When these opposing views are confronted in a loving and practical manner, much misconception can be dispelled in a practical manner. Using Evidentialism, the world that desires substantiation, a method driven apologetic is very successful. Bibliography Booth, Anthony Robert. The Two Faces of Evidentialism. Erkenntnis 67:3 (2007), http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/195447959 (accessed January 18, 2013). Story, Dan. Defending Your Faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997. Story, Dan. Engaging the Closed Minded: Presenting Your Faith to the Confirmed Unbeliever. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1999. Sudduth, Michael. Reformed epistemology and Christian apologetics. Religious Studies 39:3 (2003), http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/197230405/abstract?accountid=12085 (accessed January 18, 2013). Walvoord, John F., Roy B. Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition od the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983. The Holy Bible: New International Version [ 1 ]. John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, Il: Victor Books, 1983-), 1Peter 3:15. [ 2 ]. The Holy Bible: New International Version, Biblegateway.com. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1 Peter 3:15version=NIV (accessed January 18, 2013). [ 3 ]. Dan Story, Engaging the Closed Minded: Presenting Your Faith to the Confirmed Unbeliever (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1999), 64. [ 4 ]. Dan Story, Defending Your Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997), 4.

Pleasantville the use of colour Essay Example for Free

Pleasantville the use of colour Essay Discuss why the film makers decided to use both black and white and colour in Pleasantville  Pleasantville was released in September 1998 but is set mostly in a 1950s sitcom after the main characters are sent into a televison because the two main characters, David and Jennifer broke their television remote; disabling their television. Gary Ross uses colour to make the viewer think about important events in history, to put across some important messages and also, using colour small referances are made throughout the film to historical events. His main messages are about communism and the mcarthy era in the 1940s to 50s, the black rights movement and a sense of an idealistic reality. This is all shown by the gradual changing of the colour of objects and people in Pleasantville. The Mcarthy era was a time during the cold war from the late 1940s to the late 1950s where America was afraid of communism. It was named to critisize the actions and followers or Senitor Mcarthy who lead many political witch hunts, however the mcarthy period extended back before Senetor Mcarthy had a part in it and the term is used to generalise this period in time. In these political hunts, anyone could be acused of being a communist, especially government members and people in the entertainment industry (like Gary Ross father who was also a director). These people could have everything taken away from them, and many jobs were lost in America due to these witch hunts, the people in question would be thrown infront of a jury and be forced to confess other communists and how the person in question had broken the law. This is shown when Bud (the main character played by Toby Maguire) and Mr.Jonson (the local shop owner) is taken and has been put on trial, without a lawyer and a chance to defend themselves. They are taken because they were coloured and did not conform with Code of Public Conduct which was established when the black and white inhabitants of Pleasantville are scared of change and being in colour, much like the people in the Mcarthy era. The people of the Mcarthy era were scared of change, they saw change and wanting freedom a way of rebelling and wanting to overthrow the left wing, democratic government. This is very hypocritical as America portrayed itself to be The leader of the free world. Many things were done to stop this, for example when the black and white people of Pleasantville smashed the coloured stain glass window with a bench. The use of colour in this case is shown to divide the two groups of people: the new generation of people, open to change and not scared of the future (the coloured people) and the older fashioned generation, set in their ways and afraid of change (the black and white people). The other major historical event pictured is the major African-American civil rights movement in the late 1950s. This is depicted by coloured people (signfying the African American people) being segregated from the black and white people (signifying the white), this is evident in the courtroom scene colour divided scenes, very much like the relationship between white supremists and the black population of America at that time.