Monday, September 30, 2019

Critical Thinking Essay: the Godfather Essay

The Godfather, a story about a multigenerational crime family by the Italian American author Mario Puzo, was one of the best-selling books since it was published in 1969. Not only the book was a phenomenon, its movie under the direction of director Francis Ford Coppola had also become a landmark in American movie since it was released in 1972. The Godfather detailed impressively the activities of the gangster world, especially the Corleone family which was under the control of the patriarch Vito Corleone starring by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as his youngest son Michael Corleone who soon inherited his father’s position. The film lived up to the term masterpiece which helped it win three Academy Awards for best actor, best picture, and best adapted screenplay. Although the movie was full of brutal violence and mass killing of people, it also showed the care, the love, and the loyalty of the Corleone family members for each other. Rather than just showing the criminal side of breaking the laws or murdering people, The Godfather showed a brand new vision of the gangster world to the audiences. The criminal genre first started with the film the Little Caesar which was the first movie ever made about the gangster world in 1931. Later, many famous directors had taken advantage of this new trend and released many great movies with this genre, such as director Howard Hawkes with his famous film Scarface in 1932 and director Raoul Walsh with the movie White Heat in 1949. Those were all the big films that gave the audiences the impression of how audacious and dangerous the Mafia was. Mostly those movies focused on a younger gangster who was trying to work his way up in his criminal career to become well-known and powerful in the underworld by all means. Then, the release of the Godfather impressively surprised all the fans of the mob movies with a totally different viewing experience. The film depicted a systematic criminal organization, a â€Å"family business† that was transferred from generation to generation. The audiences are attracted in the very first plot of the movie when it shows Vito Corleone is doing his â€Å"business†. The man is insisting him to take revenge for his daughter who was brutally beaten by her boyfriend and he will pay any price the Godfather wants. The audiences will think that surely the Don will say â€Å"yes† because that is how a mobster is in their mind: Give them money, they will do anything. However, Vito says â€Å"No† because the only thing he wants from the man is friendship and he feels disrespectful when the man is only talking about money. Another plot that shows the breakthrough of the Godfather is when his oldest son, Santino, was butchered by Emilio Barzini’s men, the second most powerful Don, Vito still takes the initiative of renouncing all the vengeance at which audiences think there will be a massacre between the two families. Vito also makes a concession in doing drug business though he mentioned that he never believed drugs. In return, he wants a guarantee from other families for the safety of his own family and the younger son, Michael, who is still in Sicily hiding away from the police. Furthermore, thanks to director Coppola for being determined in choosing the appropriate actors and actresses for every characters in the movie which was a great contribution to the movie that made it become a masterpiece. Marlon Brando was not the first choice for the character Vito Corleone, he was actually refused for casting by the Paramount executives. However, Coppola believed Marlon was the best match for the character so he fought hard for him until the executives agreed. Marlon proved to the executives that Coppola was right by showing his consensus in being a patriarch of a powerful criminal family. The way the Godfather talks to his clients makes him a respectable man to his friends and family but a dangerous and cold-hearted killer to those who wants to go against him. Besides, the great performance of Marlon Brando puts an outstanding development of Al Pacino’s character. Like Marlon, Al Pacino was not highly valued by the executives because of his looks and lack of experiences in acting. However, with his efforts, the viewers can see the improvement in performing Michael Corleone through all the scenes. The scene he played that helped him keep his role is when Michael was in the restaurant with McCluskey and Sollozo. This plot was really breathtaking and terrifying that makes viewers attentively watch it to the end. Michael’s shiver and worry before the shot successfully portrays an inexperienced mobster, a newbie in the underworld of Michael. Indeed, in the second half of the movie, when Michael took over his father’s chair and started the wipe-out of all of the family’s rivals, he showed an image of a young Don who was more wise and dangerous than his father. As a gangster movie, the Godfather has many plots that can make viewers jump out of their chairs or hide their faces behind their hands. As an experienced director, Coppola knew how to combine background music with the plots to emphasize their contents. For example, when Jack Woltz refused the offer from the Godfather of letting Johnny Fontane cast a role in his movie, the next morning he woke up and saw his beloved horse head in his bed. The evil music was playing very small when the scene was showing Woltz’s garden, viewers could even hear the sound of the crickets. Then the camera slowly moved to Woltz’s bedroom where the music was playing louder and louder as it reached near Woltz’s bed. Finally, the music turned to maximum when Woltz was screaming because he saw the horse head. This scene really freaked people out because Coppola used a real horse head. Lastly, the movie is remarkable because it shows deeply the human part of mobsters. A typical example of how the Corleone members care for each other is Santino’s care about his sister, Conny. At the first scene of the movie, there was the wedding of Conny and Carlo. Unfortunately, Carlo did not love her. He purposely married to Conny because he wanted to get involved in Corleone family which was the most powerful Mafia family in New York. However, Vito Corleone did not let any outsiders to be part of the his business. Carlo was disappointed and he started abusing Conny fiercely, his just married wife. In the film, audiences can see Santino was the only member in the family protected Conny. Santino was also a very hot-tempered person. In some plots, because he was so aggressive, he brought a very bad impression on viewers. Nevertheless, watching him beating Carlo on the street, viewers would have a more positive feeling toward him. Another plot that makes the audiences more sympathy with the movie is when Vito retired, he became an old man with very simple joys of doing gardening and playing with his grandson. Later in the movie, he died by a heart attack, a very normal way that could happen to other elders. That scene really surprises viewers because they may think as one of the most powerful Don in the Mafia world, Vito Corleone should have had a more honorable death. Overall, although the Godfather was released in 1972 at which the performance of the actors and actresses were not as good as the casts now, it still has the full attention of audiences every time they watch. It is rated R which means it has many extremely violent scenes and nudity plots. Some people may think its violence is quite tame. However, if parents don’t take seriously consideration before letting their kids see the movie, their kids might still have a nightmare at night. Work Cited Seal, Mark. â€Å"The Godfather Wars.† Vanity Fair. N.p., Mar. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. . Rovi, Bruce Eder. â€Å"Little-Caesar – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes – NYTimes.com.† Little-Caesar – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes – NYTimes.com. The New York Times, n.d. . â€Å"TheGodfather Trivia: Leavethe Gun, Read the Trivia!(Total Trivia Entries: 147).† The Godfather Trivia. N.p., n.d. .

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Explore the various reasons for Hamlet’s delay Essay

Shakespeare presents the subject of hamlet’s provocation in a way that many different reasons could be suitable and debateable at the same time. Through the whole play, Shakespeare makes it clear that hamlet delays the intended murder for reasons such as preventing Claudius from going to heaven, waiting for the right opportunity to strike, hamlet trying to get proof that his ghost’s father is right and possibly that he wants to kill Claudius and lie with his mother. In the early stages of the play, the audience is introduced to the death of hamlet’s father â€Å"the king† and soon afterwards his mother marries Claudius. Hamlet’s father’s ghost appears suddenly to hamlet and tells him to kill Claudius, the man responsible for his death but spare his mother. However hamlet delays because he is uncertain if his father’s ghost is real or the devil sent to deceive him and damn his name as quoted † that spirit I have seen maybe the devil, sent to damn out of my weakness and melancholy. † The term â€Å"maybe† clarifies that hamlet has doubts about the true form of the ghost and therefore he needs solid proof and believes that the devil exists with bad intentions of making people sin. However, hamlet clearly fears weakness and melancholy or he does want to be taken advantage of. At this point in time, he shows how smart he is by saying†I will have grounds more relative that this, the play is the thing. † This quotation suggests that hamlet decides to search for his proof to make sure that he is right and fair but at this time, his mind is troubled because he does not know the truth yet but is eager to find out by making the players play his father’s death where in that process he will observe Claudius’s reactions. It’s fair to say that hamlet is a religious person and his religious beliefs that ghosts are agents of the devil are the ones which make doubt his father’s ghost and therefore delay his revenge. When hamlets get proof that Claudius is indeed the murderer, the opportunity of killing him in the church presents itself but hamlet does not take it because he does not want to send Claudius to heaven as quoted from his soliloquy † a villain kills my father and I, son do and send him to heaven! No† hamlet withdraws from killing Claudius because Claudius has confessed his sins and if he dies now, Claudius will go to heaven to enjoy while he and his father suffer in hell and clearly hamlet does not want that. One of the reasons he does not want them is the fact that he does not want let down his father’s ghost which told him to kill Claudius in sin so that he suffers the same fate as his father and hamlet clearly wants Claudius to suffer for killing his father. After he withdraws, hamlet says to himself that he will wait for the time when Claudius is in sin as his father was and then strike. Hamlet’s final judgement prevents him from acting which is based on religion. However, this lost opportunity can be attributed the reason that hamlet is moral and different from Claudius and by killing Claudius is like him being compared to a murderer. I also assume that his psychological status, that is his troubled mind which I think is depressed and possibly a real madness prevents him from carting out the murder. Some critics say hamlet delays because he is waiting for the right time. I agree with that because he has an opportunity to kill Claudius in the church but he does not take it and says that he will wait for the time when Claudius in sin as quoted † when he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed. † The term when suggests a time it will right in hamlet’s mind to kill Claudius and so he waits for that right time. However, other reasons for the right time might be that Claudius is a king and so well guarded that it’s not easy for hamlet to strike him down and hamlet fears the consequences if he kills Claudius. He fears he will hurt his mother for a start which he does not want to happen and secondly, he has no clear proof to prove that Claudius is the villain except for the ghost which people assume is an agent of evil or the devil and so people will deny his proof. Hamlet wants Claudius to be seen as the villain but if he kills Claudius, people will assume that he is the villain and probably be driven out of the country. In conclusion, hamlet’s provocation is due to many reasons which all make sense and sound right as presented by Shakespeare. His delay could be as a result of waiting for the right so that everything goes as planned by him and also the need to get concrete proof his father’s ghosts is right to avoid deception by the devil which is smart.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Implementing Change in Healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Implementing Change in Healthcare - Essay Example The basic problem with healthcare is that there are too many patients wanting the same type of health care. This breeds monotony into the life of a heath care professional and hence the employee becomes bored of doing the same job again and again. Also an employee gets de-motivated when patients keep coming with the same diseases and they feel that they aren't doing anything substantial to help patients. For an employee to feel satisfied, he/she should be put of job rotation so that different kinds of jobs are being done after every few days. Seeing different diseases and helping out to solve them, is not only beneficial for the employees to learn new healthcare techniques, it also helps them to realize the importance of their jobs. Such a situation calls for bringing about a change in the medical profession. No matter whether a change is of major proportions or is objectively rather small, the change manager must anticipate that people in the organization are going to find reasons to resist changes. It is a basic tenet of human behavior that any belief or value that has been previously successful in meeting needs will resist change. This applies even if there are better more successful alternatives to meet those needs. Resistance to change takes many forms. ... Bystanders Change Agents Passive Active Energy of Response Reasons for Resistance The main reason for resistance is the uncertainty of the new situation. People like to lead their lives the way they have been living in the past unless that life is entirely unsatisfactory. Change is attached with negativity and this bias is not entirely wrong. Factors such as downsizing, change in working conditions, having a new boss or a new organizational structure is related to having a negative affect on these people. Kotter give four basic reasons why employees resist change. 1. 'Parochial' Self-Interest - This belief is that people are selfish and they care only about themselves thus a change in their surrounding is bound to affect them thus they resist it. 2. Misunderstanding - The second reason given by Kotter is that due to lack of proper communication and information/knowledge about the change begets resistance from the employees. 3. Low Tolerance of Change. -Thirdly people want to live the life they have been living and want the security and stability in their work. 4. Different assessments of the situation - The last reason is purely business natured. This reason says that employees in the business would either agree or disagree with the change decision. Some people might see the advantage of change while others might see the same factors as the disadvantages. Force Field Analysis The force field analysis is a method which helps in identifying the most important target groups for a campaign, identify competitors, it helps in identifying how to influence these target groups and helps in investigation the balance of power regarding an issue. The driving forces are written on the left while the restraining forces are written

Friday, September 27, 2019

Contemporary Art Form Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Contemporary Art Form - Research Paper Example The paper "Contemporary Art Form Paper" discovers the Contemporary Art. There is overwhelming consensus among the general populations of the world that the American invasion of Iraq in 2003 and its continued occupation of the country under dire civil turmoil, is both unwarranted and immoral. This is testified by the massive public demonstrations (in the United States and the rest of the world) that was witnessed as soon as war plans were announced in early 2003. The violation felt by the general public is such that the protests continues to this day, which is most visible in the blogosphere and alternative media commentary. In this backdrop, some creative artists in the United States and elsewhere have tried to employ various art forms to register their protest. The recently inaugurated play by Karen Malpede, titled Prophecy takes the audience into the heart of the Iraq war. It explores the complex web of links between various sections of civil society when a region is militarily int ervened. Starring such stalwart actors as Kathleen Chalfant, Andre de Shields and George Bartenieff, the play brings out the far-reaching consequence of any war and underscores the chaos and disruption that attends it. If not directly being didactic about wars of all sorts, the play subtly implies the futility of war. Indeed, the anti-war message from the theatre community has been so resonant in the last decade that a thematic anthology was published recently. â€Å"Acts of War: Iraq and Afghanistan in Seven Plays†,

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Q. Explain how high risk investments can end up contaminating fixed Essay

Q. Explain how high risk investments can end up contaminating fixed income securities - Essay Example This essay tries to answer how the high-risk investments contaminate fixed income securities. Although fixed income securities are safe to invest in, their earnings are relatively low thus it is wiser for an investor to invest in high-risk investments in the short run since the chances of earning more are high. The anticipated higher returns as stated above have led to the contamination of fixed income securities since an investor who aims to generate more income tends to invest in high-risk investments (International Monetary Fund, 2004). Liquidity is another factor of contaminating fixed income securities since the high-risk investments are easily convertible to cash in comparison to the fixed income securities (The Wall Street journal, 2010). This means that fixed income securities demand is low in the open market thus in case of inflation; an investor will lose more due to the depreciation of his principle amount. In high-risk investment, the market is always open thus one can sell his stock when he anticipates that its value will reduce incase of anticipated inflation. The risk of missing opportunity also contributes to high-risk investments contaminating fixed income securities (Moodys manual of investments, American and foreign, 1998). If the investor does not invest in a risky investment and the high returns are realized, he will curse why he did not take the risk. This makes it more possible for an investor to take the opportunity in high-risks investment more than in in the fixed income

How technolgy and information system asserts commercial and industrial Essay

How technolgy and information system asserts commercial and industrial trade - Essay Example technologies and how these in unison with each other form the rationale for the exact basis of the changing business trends, ever so often adopted fads and so on and so forth. (Fitzgerald, 2000) It is quite possible to think of the changing technological regimes in the context of present day business scenarios but when one looks at them from a global standpoint, the ideology related with the technological market can be nothing else but considered flawed in the real sense of the word. For this not to happen, one needs to study the technological angles that are set in individual countries and then categorize them with the regional or on a broader context, continental basis. After this has happened, one could go on and introduce the respective technology on a worldwide footing. All this needs proper understanding of business insights, foreseeable changes in the related scheme of things and a general know-how with regards to the strategies, tactics and activities that an industrial trade or commerce entity would entail whilst keeping in mind the entire business perspective. Technology is advancing at a rapid speed and due to this factor, the business perspectives need to be aligned with these regimes so that in the end there is a complete mesh between the technological advancements and the manner in which they are exploited upon by the commerce and industrial circles, both at the client side as well as the ones who are designing for it, i.e., the advertising agency. (Streeter, 2000) The changes have happened not only on the scientific advancements’ side but also at the forefront of business scenarios which have seemingly changed their stance towar ds the improved and enhanced technologies with the passage of time. However this requires a special effort from the people who are at the helm of affairs within the commerce and industrial circles relating that with the technological settings since this aligning is so very vital to the overall effect and the consequences

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Domestic Violence- What Age does this start Research Paper

Domestic Violence- What Age does this start - Research Paper Example Domestic violence in women can start as early as 12 years of age (Unicef, 2011). These abuses are caused mostly by people who are close to them; that are their relatives. Women aged 12 years and older experienced about 552, 00 non-fatal violent victimization (Calatano, Smith & Snyder, 2009). However, women who are above 18 years old experience a higher rate of violence from their intimate partners. However, the rate of women victimization declines as they approach the age of 25, but it may be witnessed in years later. Domestic violence in women does not end at a specific age. Data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey reveal that most female rape victims were raped before attaining the age of 25 but there are recorded cases of victimization in older years like 60 (Black et al., 2011). In men, domestic violence can be experienced when they are ten years old (Unicef, 2011). However, this cases increases when they are in their teen years. Statistics from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey show that male victims of rape were ten years or younger when the rape occurred (Black et al., 2011). Less domestic violence is reported for males above the age of ten years old. According to statistics by National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, this rate decreases to almost 0% at 25 years for men above ten years. Hence, the violence approximately ends at 25, and this is according National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (Black et al., 2011). Source: Black, M. C., Basile, K. C., Breiding, M. J., Smith, S. G., Walters, M. L., Merrick, M. T., & Stevens, M. R. (2011). National intimate partner and sexual violence survey. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In conclusion, women are the most affected by the issue of domestic violence and most of them experience it when they are below the age of 15 and this continues for years later while in men domestic violence is

Monday, September 23, 2019

Information mangment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Information mangment - Essay Example Technology has changed a lot; from the way people manage their information to the way data is stored and also to the way it is distributed among people. Why the topic is important This topic is important because many people are not aware that they manage information in more than one way every day. Information management does not only involve the collection and management of data from different sources (Beynon-Davies, 56, 2009). It also involves the distribution of this information to one or more different other sources or individuals. Information management in business is used to do different things. The information management software is used to assist in running the business. An information management software in business helps connect a business with access to database servers, business intelligence, management of contents and also the protection of data from other sources that might cause data discrepancy. My argument in this essay Information management is an issue that is very important in business and the whole world as a general since it enables the secure storage of data, collection and management and also the distribution (McAfee, 300, 2009). Without information management, there would be an unstable system of business, technology and living as a whole. The essence of this essay will be to center on the significance of data technology in business and life as a general. Most people overlook the concept of information technology as something that would not aid them in their day to day lives. When it comes to developing data and managing it, it is very crucial that there be a source to which one can manage the data. Theories Since management means the overall organization, control, planning, structure and organization, controlling, processing, evaluating and reporting of all the information actions that transpire daily, it is then safe to say that information technology helps to meet client objectives and enable corporate functions in the delivery of inf ormation to people. In information management, there are numerous stipulations used in explaining the term. There is information retrieval, information seeking, knowledge organization, and the society. Without these four key aspects, then information management would cease to have meaning. Information management has been taken into an assumption by many, and the purpose of this essay is to show individuals that information management involves a lot than people may think. In an organization, the ability to process certain information brings out the power of a company to perform. An organization’s ability to process information strengthens a company’s core and management practices. Taking a look at social media, the quantity of data that is substituted in a single second can illustrate the level of management of data that is used. Social media is a networking site that enables people to interrupt with each other and share things like photos, videos, information pertainin g to themselves and many more stuff. Much information that is exchanged and also a lot of information are stored in the servers since social media’s contain a lot of people (Boddy, Boonstra & Kennedy, 100, 2005). With such information, it is crucial that an information management system be used to deal with all the data in the servers. Data pertaining to the people of social networks, the information that they exchange on a daily basis is stored in secure locations so as to maintain the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Media Representation on the Conflict in the Middle East Research Proposal

Media Representation on the Conflict in the Middle East - Research Proposal Example The events in the world like the twin tower bombing on September 11, 2001, in New York City, Washington DC and Pennsylvania and the numerous wars that occurred in the centuries will be indelibly impressed on the minds of millions, if not billions, of the world’s inhabitants. Where were you when you heard the news on the attack on the World Trade Center in New York and on the Pentagon in Washington? What was your reaction to the news on TV, Internet and newspaper when war broke out in the Middle East, learning that the US is installing their troops in Afghanistan? What’s your idea of Bin Laden? Who is he? How did you feel about the story of Hitler and the Holocaust? How far has man reached in pursuit of self-destruction? The incredibly swift destruction of so much property and lives has given mankind reason to pause and reflect. But what was the role of media in representing these events? Isn’t it a normal happening nowadays to hear and view of such news? Artists and Their Shock Tactics to Imply Change. In truth, scene of war has been displayed dozens of times in art galleries in different forms. People get used to it. They find beauty in it—that is, the bloody sprawl of bodies on the floor while heroically winning a battle over the battle, butchering brothers and neighbors of a different race. What do you think is the purpose of the artists in displaying the gruesome effect of the scene? What was the reaction of the art’s appreciator? Is it some kind of a form of a shock tactic? As viewed by Juliet S. Samuel of The Harvard Crimson online edition, shock tactics in the name of art are nothing new, whether it’s excrement smeared on the Virgin Many (Chris Ofili), crucifixes submerged in urine (Andres Serrano), or Danish artist Marco Evaristti exhibiting live goldfish in functional blenders.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Sufism & Its Effects On Islamic Culture Essay Example for Free

Sufism Its Effects On Islamic Culture Essay â€Å"Sufism is the journey and the realization of truth, and a Sufi, is the seeker of truthâ€Å" (Janghda, 144). Therefore, in order to understand the lives of Sufis and their contribution to Islam, one must first comprehend the meaning of Sufism. â€Å"Sufism is the spiritual practice by which one can achieve ultimate spiritual gratification. The term ‘Sufism’ has been derived from various words, such as ‘Safa’ which means ‘pure’ and ‘Saff’ which means high in rank† (All About Religion). All these meanings have one thing in common which is also apparent by the looks of a Sufi, uniqueness. That Sufis do not fit the general perception of a man or woman, they were people who gave up the world’s material belongings and it’s luxuries to explore the inner self. â€Å"One must live in the world, not be of the world†, Jamal ad-Din al-Rumi. Love is the basis of Sufism, like most of the religions of this world and the core objective of Sufism is to find the oneness. A Sufi must realize that God exists everywhere, as the creator and the creation. Tasawwuf is a practice in Sufism in which one purifies oneself by the remembrance and obedience of God. It is the complete detachment from the worldly issues and devoting your mind, body and soul to God. This practice is similar to conventional Islamic practices such as zikr and prayer. Thus to achieve a status of a Sufi, one must go through many levels, such as killing your ego, breaking away from the material wants and loving everything, as all is created by God. Sufism has no boundaries as it a spiritual religion; it seeks truth through divinity and not sections. Instead of mentors or preachers who have learned about religion through people, a Sufi seeks his own answers. There are no value of favoritism and preference, all creations are equal. Sufism is not just a religion, it is a way of thinking and a lifestyle, and thus one must be open-minded, tolerant and humble to start the journey. Without these traits one cannot achieve spiritual enlightenment. â€Å"Therefore, most of the well known Sufis that have passed have known to not conform to the society they reside in, providing knowledge about Islamic mysticism to their people through poems, stories and various texts which are still enchanting and informing people till this day† (Arbery, 15). Farid ud-Din Attar was a similar mystic, born in the city of Nishapur in Iran and also buried in a tomb in Nishapur (The Free Dictionary). Although he lived over centuries ago but some of Attar’s works are still read and appreciated even now. His name Attar, meant herbalist who was also his profession, as he was a well-known medic. He would see hundreds of patients daily, prescribing herbal medicines that he himself prepared to his patients. In his days of youth, he travelled comprehensively through Egypt, Damascus and even performed pilgrimage at Mecca in search for wisdom. After a long journey, Attar came back to his hometown and embarked on his Sufi journey. During this time, Attar wrote tremendous texts but his most well known is Maqamat-e Toyur (The Conference of the Birds). Attar’s ability to look beyond the texts and find a deeper meaning in not just readings but in every daily doings made him a better author and poet, his teachings and poems still are relevant for that alone reason. Attar passed away in old age, even though the details of his death are weary but a traditional tale does narrate the demise of Attar. In this folk tale, Attar had been made a prisoner by the Mongol when they invaded Nishapur. During that time, an unknown person came to the Mongol king and offered a thousand pieces of silver in turn of Attar’s freedom. When Attar heard this, he recommended the king to not take such a ransom, and the king did just that in greed. Later, another man came to the emperor and offered him a bundle of straws in exchange of Attar’s freedom, to which Attar advised the king to take the offer, as that is what he was worth. When the Mongol king heard this, he decapitated Attar in anger (Arbery, 74). The authenticity of this tale is not important but the message it has is very valuable. It shows that a man of such knowledge of religion, mysticism and medicine, thought of himself as only worthy of a bundle of straws rather than thousand pieces of silver. Therefore, a Sufi must be self-less to attain the truth. The truth is that the body of a person is just a shell, in which the soul resides, a soul that mirrors God. Even if you kill the body, which is of no value, the soul will live on forever.

Friday, September 20, 2019

A Case Study Of Benetton Marketing Essay

A Case Study Of Benetton Marketing Essay Promotion techniques have developed greatly over the years, but nothing has had a greater impact on the tools, methods or ways of developing the promotion strategies than the influence of the new technologies and of new communication tools. We live in an age of speed; communication has become faster and faster especially using Internet tools like: email, online social networks, web banners, web page advertising etc. In the digital age, the organizations should take advantage more and more of the power and the edge offered by the information technology, in order to inform the present or potential clients or consumers in a better and faster way. Marketers have been using electronic tools for many years, but the Internet and other new technologies created a flood of interesting and innovative ways to provide customer value. This new way of reaching the costumers has captured the imagination of marketing scholars and practitioners (Fuciu and Gorski, 2009). In this time and age, companies must proceed with care in choosing the most appropriate methods of reaching their clients or consumers from a financial or ethical perspective. But that does not mean that they can not shock the clients / consumers or use tools and ways of communications that mostly unusual and different from the common methods of promoting products or services. One of these unusual promotion / advertising techniques is the concept of unconventional advertising. In our paper we present the concept of this tool, a brief history as well as several important advantages and disadvantages, and a case study of social marketing advertising campaigns that were developed by the Benetton group which are meant to shock. 2. THE CONCEPT OF UNCONVENTIONAL ADVERTISING The idea of advertising is along as the history of mankind. Archeological finds have dated the early types of advertising, like inscription tablets, discovered in the basin of the Mediterranean Sea. There is evidence that the Romans would paint the announcements of gladiator combats on walls or stones at the crossroads (Kotler and Armstrong, 2008, p. 635) Before we can start to discuss the concept of unconventional advertising we must underline the concept of classical advertising. Over the years this concept has greatly developed and evolved due to the usage and evolution of promotion techniques. One of the most important definitions for the classical advertising is offered by the American Marketing Association (AMA, 2012) which states that advertising is the placement of announcements and persuasive messages in time or space purchased in any of the mass media by business firms, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and individuals who seek to inform and/ or persuade members of a particular target market or audience about their products, services, organizations, or ideas. According to Philip Kotler (Kotler and Armstrong, 2008, p.1014), advertising is any type of paid presentation and non personal promotion of certain ideas, goods or services by an identified sponsor. The advertising is considered to be any activity developed by an organization that has the role of preparing the general public to respond in an positive way to the organizations offer (Petrescu, 2008, p. 113). A group of authors (Balaure, 2002, p. 487) mentions that advertising is means by which the organization intents to offer the a large array of information to the public with regard to its activity, products, services brand or company by any identifiable supporter (identified buyer). Advertising (Zyman and Brott, 2008, pp. 11-12).is more than the TV commercials, it includes brand positioning, the package, choosing a certain celebrity as a product image, donations, customer relationship management, the way the organization treats its employees or even the way a secretary answers the telephone As we can see from the above mentioned definitions, it is possible to underline several common aspects of these authors like: (1) the placement of information in a persuasive manner; (2) the need to inform the clients / consumers or the general public; (3) there is always an object (product, service, event etc.) of the communication between the organizations and the market; (4) advertising is always paid by a certain individual or organization. Over the years the forms of advertising have evolved greatly. Probably the first recognized advertising forms that we can relate to were those of the 19th Century when in 1936 a French newspaper La Presse was the first daily paper that allowed to print inside its pages a paid advertising (Eskilson, 2007, p.58). Due to the development of new communication techniques since the beginning of the 20th Century like: (1) radio, in the early 20s; (2) commercial television advertising in the middle of the last century; (3) cable TV advertising in the 1960s; (4) Internet advertising since the early 90. All these forms of advertising have had a large number of variations over the years. Among these variations one is considered a bit different than the other ones: the concept of unconventional advertising. In the past years, more and more companies have allocated a bigger part of their marketing budgets for the unconventional strategies. There are several factors that have contributed to the growth of the importance of the unconventional advertising: (1) the lack of credibility and the inefficiency of traditional advertising; (2) customers reluctance to the advertising message; (3) the need to reduce the costs of promotion; (4) the need for differentiation of the products and brands; (5) consumers better understanding of marketing and selling techniques which makes them immune to commercial messages; (6) the need for a better targeting of the audience which has become more and more fragmented (Jurca, 2010, pp. 323 333). The new and innovative manners of the advertising companies and marketing specialists of gaining the attention of the clients has developed and evolved greatly in the last decades. In order to reach the clients differently then their competitors, companies have created new, inventive and unconventional tactics, strategies used for the promotion activities of products, services or events. The concept of unconventional advertising is not very different from the definition that was offered by the American Marketing Association but it is difficult to pin down because it is strictly related to the perception of the people and the frequency of use. The unconventional advertising is permanently changing that is why is virtually impossible to give a comprehensive definition of it. Nevertheless, it can be stated that unconventional advertising comprises all those unusual, non-traditional, innovative and inventive means, methods and strategies of promoting a product, service or brand (Jurca, 2010, pp. 323 333) Several important types of unconventional advertising have developed and it is important to underline certain aspects: (1) Viral marketing refer to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales) through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of pathological and computer viruses. Viral marketing is spreading as a popular, efficient marketing tool, as consumers increasingly pick and choose what ads they watch and when. Viral is todays electronic equivalent of old-fashioned word of mouth. Its a marketing strategy that involves creating an online message thats novel or entertaining enough to prompt consumers to pass it on to others spreading the message across the Web like a virus at no cost to the advertiser (Howard, 2005); (2) Marketing in video games corporate marketers have for decades vied to embed their respective brands in movies and television shows, some are beginning to focus on subtler efforts by embedding brands and logos in electronic games. The advergaming industry allows corporate sponsors to connect with young consumers lifestyles (Kaikati and Kaikati, 2004, pp. 6-22). (3) Bait-and-Tease Marketing to the situation where a celebrity uses or talks about a product or a brand without it appearing conspicuous (Kaikati and Kaikati, 2004, pp. 6-22); (4) Bait-and-tease marketing is the strategy of getting people interested in something that later is revealed to be something quite different (Huba, 2005, in Jurca, 2010, pp. 323 333); (5) Ambient advertising is one of the most important forms of unconventional advertising. It is an outdoor form of promotion that uses alternative and unconventional media, called ambient media (Pavel and Cătoiu, 2009) in order to transmit the message; (6) Elevator advertising is another form of unconventional advertising that has been frequently used in the past years. The walls and even the floors of the elevator units can be used to promote products, services and brands either by placing stickers, posters or even products inside the units or by running commercial movies and ads if the elevators are equipped with screen displays (Pavel, Cătoiu, 2009); (7) Aerial advertising is a form of outdoor advertising, but it is not included in the above-the-line category and in this category includes airplanes pulled banners, skywriting, and blimps (Jurca, 2010, pp. 323 333) etc. As we can see there are several important and interesting methods of developing unconventional advertising, however there are several other elements that can be mentioned and are worth studying in a future paper like: body advertising; graffiti advertising; transit advertising; affiliate marketing; bathroom advertising etc. 3. FIGURES AND TABLES As an introduction to this case study it is necessary to explain, in a few words, what represents the Benetton Group to all of us. Benetton Group was established for the first time in a small Italian town in 1955 by the Benetton family. During the years, Luciano Benetton (one of the three brothers an a sister of the family) developed the company, engaging it in the manufacturing and distribution of clothing, shoes, cosmetics and accessories. The groups principal brands include United Colors of Benetton, Sisley, PlayLife, Nordica, Prince, Rollerblade and Killer Loop. In the advertising field, the genius whos name stand for himself in the branch is Oliviero Toscani, Benetton Art Director and Photographer hired by Luciano Benetton in 1982. He is the man who developed the idea that the products must be separate from advertisement. He is well-know around the world for his unusual advertising techniques and themes. Using these images in this unconventional way is an effort by Benetton to break through the complacency that exists in our society (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). By removing these images from their familiar contexts and putting them in a new context they are more likely to be noticed and given the attention they deserve as the viewer becomes involved in the process of answering the questions: What does this image mean? Why does this image appear with a Benetton logo? How do I feel about the subject of the image? What can I do? Luciano BenettonBefore the Toscani Age, the Benetton Group used a traditional way of advertising, focused on its products and logo the Benetton word with a stylized knot of yarn above, contained within a dark green rectangle. Then, Luciano and Toscani realized that they have to stand apart from the rest of the competition and the standard practices of the advertising industry. So, they decided to use the idea of life style accessory and not a clothing brand according to Benetton. Disturbing, revolting, stunning, horrifying, shockingly graphic those are the words that define the Benetton Group advertising campaign. Its gritty, to real and so unglamorous everything fashion is not. And yet its an advertisement for a high end clothing company. All this started with the first theme of Toscani: teenagers and kids from culturally diverse nations who, dressed very colorfull in Benetton attire, were engaged in a variety of playful acts. These is the picture that created the pathway of the Benetton advertising campaign: racial harmony and world peace. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSsC4360tpwa46frL2-MMHG-vcZA1Ni7-q1QU2sFYye8UUeYQSXJQhttps://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSyQbygZHTYc4a7jUxQV1Il73zbaek3Kaoq-77_OQYUn0ejR38YXQ Fig. 1 Benetton All the colors of the World campaign 1982 1984 In a year in witch Ronald Reagan is in the White House and Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie are writing We Are The World, The Benetton Group launch United Colors of Benetton a phrase thrown into pop culture not only referencing the companys colorful clothing but also the idea that cultural diversity is good. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSlpvCgu6ewKjLgYARfXfgChEk0P5wLxkNh2s-LtgkSiWgtjWveZA Fig. 2 All colors are equal, just as all men are equal Benetton 1985 Then, in 1988, the company started to mix the people, ideas, legends and culture. So was born the new advertisements featured Joan of Arc and Marilyn Monroe, Leonardo da Vinci and Julius Caesar or Adam and Eve. https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmcH6UtYDV0v2wu_APlI9Yz2kr8E0cUPPUhIpp-GL4tperPNYsoA https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQBEmCoY5XczTw1HfNEKFy-JOoXZDQuwI-dHGaieR05F8PTAKCOhg Fig. 3 Mixing ideas Benetton 1985 Those mixed ideas and, most of all, the presence of black and white people in the same photo received severe criticism because many thought that was reminding the time when, bought in UK and USA, the black women breast-fed white babies in the times of slavery. Despite all the negative points of view, Benetton maintained that such photos were only symbols of brotherhood and not exploitation of the particular race. The next stept for Luciano Benetton and Oliviero Toscani was discussing other issues: social problems, war deaths, AIDS crisis, environmental disaster, political violence, war exile, etc. Unlike traditional adverts, our images usually have no copy and no product, only our logo. They do not show you a fictitious reality in which you will be irresistible if you make use of our products. They do not tell anyone to buy our clothes, they do not even imply it. All they attempt to do is promote a discussion about issues which people would normally glide over if they approached them from other channels, issues we feel should be more widely discussed. Luciano Benetton So, by switching the focus of the viewer to relevant issues of the time which they believe need attention, Benetton support a cause. Their posters and all advertising ads show aspects of life, unadulterated and uncensored. That shouldnt impact people negatively unless those people want to close themselves off from the world. And, the most important aspect of all, when people have a reaction, whether positive or negative, to an advertisement, that advertisement stays in their minds for longer. https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxufkmLOi3qRB9yD4YndGUlkoss5gOjjxqTBy2ob5ME5gFUq_Ahttps://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSCMrMFaGcKTLCdaxbe6tkIhrXqQ1TiUJG0kGKhEsqfh7t-zJ7x https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4zZ-vZbqg8WY3FOUYbm0LexU2FMyekrwjYqfIljegrEdX10L7 https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTge6woiEToiStvqlyMeaXUILtAoTCQNXzyc-cb0uhCr3xbueB2 https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRdDjTxxo2PwL33syPaSFmvDLRrG87Np9VhFhKLH1X6LKcTzvZ9cg Fig. 4 Mixing ideas Benetton 1992 and so These advertising offended Nearly every advertisement today is in some way promoting a certain lifestyle, or seems to include the message that without the product in question, happiness is unattainable. By choosing the skinniest and prettiest models to wear the clothes that they produce, many companies lead the viewer to believe that, by wearing those clothes, they can look just like the models. But when this doesnt happen, especially the young women are affected by depress because, despite the effort and money that they pay to buy the clothes advertised, the look will never be the same. So, by switching the focus of the viewer to relevant issues of the time which they believe need attention, Benetton support a cause. Their posters and all advertising ads show aspects of life, unadulterated and uncensored. That shouldnt impact people negatively unless those people want to close themselves off from the world. Benettons policy of social responsibility 5. CONCLUSIONS By submitting your paper, you agree and accept the commitment that at least one of the co-authors will present the paper in person at the 2012 International Scientific Conference of the Romanian-German University of Sibiu conference. Accepted and presented papers will be published in the CD Conference Proceedings with ISBN, as well as in written format edited in partnership with Lambert Academic Publishing from Germany.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Dyslexia Essay -- Learning Disabilities Dyslexic Essays Papers

Dyslexia Growing, developing and learning are the facts of life for all children. Each day children are faced with many new concepts and various challenges. Can you imagine how it feels for a child to face not only new challenges life has, but to face these challenges while living with a learning disability? These challenges are met not just when they begin school either. Students suffer from learning disabilities from the moment they begin learning, not when they start school. Learning disabilities are real and they affect millions of people. â€Å"One such disability that affects over approximately 15 percent of the total American population is dyslexia† ( Nosek 5).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We will discuss the following issues and areas surrounding dyslexia: What is dyslexia? Causes of dyslexia. Two different terms to describe dyslexia. Characteristics of someone with dyslexia. The learning process. Three areas that are affected by the disability. Focusing and behavior. Misconceptions about dyslexia. Seeking help through organizations. What exactly is dyslexia? â€Å"The word dyslexia is derived from the Greek â€Å"dys† meaning poor or inadequate and â€Å"lexis† meaning language. Dyslexia is a learning disability characterized by problems in expressive or receptive, oral or written language†(Wilkins URL). Simply put, dyslexia means trouble with reading, writing, and spelling. Dyslexia is not stupidity, laziness, lack of interest, or anything to be ashamed of. Dyslexia is not a disease; it has no cure and it will not go away. It knows no age, gender, or class boundaries. â€Å"There is a significant disproportion between the sexes, however. The proportions of male to female dyslexics are 3 to 1. Dyslexia can also be compared to amnesia because it is selective† (Bakker 23). Some experts use the term specific learning disability instead of dyslexia† Despite much research, nobody knows what causes dyslexia. Current research is focused on such possible causes as genetics, physiology, biochemistry, and structural changes in the brain. â€Å"There are theories that something is wrong with the brain or that certain chemicals are missing. One of the most popular theory is that dyslexia is a structural defect in the brain which involves the central nervous system† (Irlen 98). Numerous studies have been done throughout the years. â€Å"In 1907, the idea was first expressed that the genetic fac... ...start to cry. -David Artuso People can learn to cope and adjust to dyslexia by using different avenues, just the same as a blind person learns to survive in his environment. â€Å"Dyslexics have to work with and around their condition, not dream of getting over it† (Hurfort 33). Dyslexia is a condition that requires change in the person’s everyday life, not just in reading and writing, in order to perform well in society. Once a dyslexic adapts, according to his or her needs, that person can do anything a non-dyslexic person can do. Works Cited Bakker, D.J. Developmental Dyslexia and Learning Disorders. Germany: Karger Publishing, 1987. Grolier’s Encyclopedia New York: Macmillan Education Company 1994 Hurford, Daphne. To Read or Not to Read. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998. Irlen, Helen. Reading By the Colors. New York: Avery Publishing Group, 1991. Nosek, Kathleen. The Dyslexic Scholar, Helping Your Child Succeed in the School System. Texas: Taylor Publishing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company, 1995. Savage, John. Understanding Reading Problems. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1985. Wilkins, Angela. What is Dyslexia? http://www.interdys.org/about_dy.stm. May 15, 1999.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe vs. The Second Coming by William But

â€Å"Things Fall Apart† by Chinua Achebe vs. â€Å"The Second Coming† by William Butler Yeats When comparing the novel â€Å"Things Fall Apart† by Chinua Achebe and William butler Yeats poem â€Å"The Second Coming†, at first there seem to be no similarities except for the phrase â€Å"things fall apart† which is used in both. But as one closely examinee the reasons why both authors use this sentence, one realizes that both of them try to show a great change, which, in the poem is related to reality, while in the novel is related to the story. It is important to mention that the two people who are comparable are not the poet and the writer but are the poet and the main character of the novel, Okonkwo. When the whole village and tribes fall apart because of the arrival of Christianity, Okonkwo comes to have the...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Educational Philosophy Statement :: Education Teaching Progressivism Essays

Educational Philosophy Statement Education is everywhere. This is why teachers need to be the best they can be. Since all children and adolescents are required to attend school, they need teachers that care about them and their education. In order for a teacher to be able to do this, he/she needs to understand the nature of students and knowledge. These two things go together. A teacher also needs to know what the purpose of an education is because without knowing, a teacher does not really have a purpose. In my philosophy, I will discuss why I think my curricular area is important and how I will professionally develop myself to become the best teacher I can be. To begin, we need to understand the nature of students. The nature of students varies between individuals. The majority of students are well-behaved and come to school ready to learn. Part of this is due to the way they have been raised, but most students are basically good. There is a small percent of students whose nature, it seems, is to make everyone miserable. I do not know if this is because of a difficult childhood at home or because the student just likes to be the center of attention. Either way, there are always students that will give their teachers a hard time. I guess this is their nature. Every individual is different, therefore, the nature of the students I will teach some day will be different depending on their background and other various things that may happen to them as they grow up. For example, a student that has lost a sibling due to an illness or accident, may become very bitter throughout life. The nature of this student’s be havior which is being shaped by this may make this student a cold-hearted and mean student. These are the students that teachers need to spend extra time with and try to make them feel loved, no matter how hard this may be. I, as a future teacher, need to look at students and try to help them out no matter how difficult that may be.

Contingency Plan Essay

This amount is significant to impact the authorities, public and media when major incidents or scandals occur. The consequences of any academic or natural incidents are required to be dealt with immediately according to the circumstances. This plan includes a list of potential incidents that may possibly develop into crises in case the management disregards them. These Incidents are divided into three categories: natural, human-induced and combined, base on the nature of education institution. We concentrate specifically on the circumstances of fabricating the academic credentials of teaching staffs. The purpose of this plan is to establish proper guidelines for relevant departments in order to communicate the facts that may lead to potential crises. We intend to prompt an honest and positive image of HKBU that may affect the accuracy and wholeness of the information we announce. Yet we insist that over reaction is better than no reaction. An opportunity for the public and media’s to spread a second-guessing and unreliable report that will result in detriment of the university. This plan is to protect and even promote the entire interest of HKBU on the basis of being transparent and effective. Under any circumstances that may damage the interest of HKBU, we should identify the stakeholders and arrange proper responses to them. Internally, we have the officers of HKBU, nominated as members of Crisis Management Team (CMT). They represent the interest of HKBU and devote themselves to protect the image and profit of the university. Academic staffs should be informed timely when CMT decides to trigger the contingency plan. Externally, the Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government, students and parents are the investors and consumers of HKBU, who should be informed accordingly in terms of the circumstances. The three categories of risks will be identified and classified as: natural, human-induced and combined, based on the nature of education institution. Natural: Disasters: Fire, blizzards, wind storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, lightning strikes and earthquakes†¦ Technological: Equipment failure: for example; drainage system,  digital system†¦ Human-induced: In addition, this may reduce the number of new students’ enrollment and the credibility of the HKBU degree. In this point of view, a contingency plan must be prepared in advance to deal with the incident or crisis. 5. 2 Threshold of the Crisis The scenario we set in this incident is that, many news media had created a lot of negative reports regarding the fabrication of academic credentials on teaching staff. Students and their guardians suspect the teaching quality, and were displeased with the teaching staffs. The public also doubt the high valuation of HKBU. The image and credibility had been damaged by this crisis. However, the university just knew them on the reports and not made sure the authenticity of this professor’s academic credential. This crisis is not the kind of crisis, which has a single clear-cut signal. In another words, the threshold of this crisis is not a very clearly event or signal which can be notice and identified easily like fire, suicide, earthquake, and so on. So it is needed to set a series of signals as the threshold of the crisis, which in order to tell the officer that is responsible for the alarming system: the crisis is coming. We treat these assume following signals as the threshold of the crisis: the assume situation we put in this contingency plan is that, many news media had made a lot of negative reports on the fabricating academic credentials of teaching staff of The Hong Kong Baptist University already. And the influence of these media is huge, like the Apple Daily, the Ming Pao News, and the TVB. The students and their parents already had suspect on the teaching quality of HKBU, and dissatisfied with the teaching staffs. And the public also doubt the prior highly valuation of HKBU. The image and credibility had been huge damaged by this crisis. However the university just knew them on the reports and not made sure the authenticity of this professor’s academic credential. 5. 3 Specific Responsibilities of Crisis Management Team (CMT) The CMT is formed by six members and is headed by the President & Vice-Chancellor, the top level manager and final decision maker in the whole process. Each member has his/her specific responsibilities and shares the team responsibilities. Furthermore, the ultimate goal for CMT is to respond and handle crisis effectively and protect the interest of HKBU. 1. Composition of CMT Consequently, he/she must take the responsibility to activate the contingency plan. Also, he is necessary to be responsible for informing all team members together immediately and take charge of the team meetings, list and prioritize the publics that must be informed. Besides, the duty of president and vice-chancellor in the crisis is to monitor and approve PR activities and news releases. Due to the seriousness of fabricating academic credentials and the authority of the president and vice-chancellor, in this plan, he is appointed as the spokesperson to deal with news media and publics. Thus, another responsibility for president and vice-chancellor is to get media training. Vice-President(Academic) The vice-president(academic) of HKBU is in charge of the faculties and schools in academic aspects, thus the prior responsibility for him is to contact the dean of the school/faculty that is relevant to this crisis, arrange meetings with the dean, verify and understand the situation from the dean. They also need to cooperate in facts gathering. After the meeting, the responsibility for vice-president(academic) is to share the information with team members timely. Another important role for vice-president(academic) is to contact the Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government, for reports and updates the crisis. Vice-President(Administration) and Secretary The vice-president(administration) and secretary is the direct leader of Personnel Office in HKBU, while this crisis is caused by the neglection of Personnel Office, thus the main responsibility of vice-president(administration) and secretary is to coordinate with the staff in Personnel Office immediately, to ensure the effectiveness of activities in solving the crisis. Furthermore, another crucial responsibility for vice-president(administration) and secretary is to supervise and cooperate with Personnel Office in finding out the loopholes of the existing employment system, re-examining this system and amend it into a better verifying system. Vice-president(administration) and secretary need to be responsible for connecting and inviting the third party — Hong Kong Educational Level & Degree Profession Qualification Attesthion Union to verify the degree. Director of Personnel Office The principal responsibility for the director of Personnel Office is to ensure the first-hand messages are collected accurately and immediately to the Communications and Public Relations Office. Specifically, the director of Personnel Office should be responsible for leading the Personnel Office to investigate completely about the professor who are suspected in fabricate academic credentials. Director of Communications and Public Relations Office As a member of CMT, main duty for the director of Communications and Public Relations Office is to divide staffs into two groups that concentrate on internal communication and external public relations activities respectively. For the internal communication group, the director of Communications and Public Relations Office need to ensure this group can provide effective media training to spokesperson. Furthermore, this group takes charge of serving as a channel in delivering the latest news from the Personnel Office to the whole CMT. Also, they need to update new progress of the crisis to students in HKBU. For the external public relations group, the responsibility for the director of Communications and Public Relations Office is to lead this group in to preparing the media kits, sending updated information to students’ parents and contacting the media. 5. 4 Action to Be Taken 5. 4. 1Process Diagram 5. 4. 2 Specific instructions to the relevant departments 5. 4. 2. 1 Emergency arrangements within 24 hours 1) Communication and public relations office must verify the accuracy of information and current situation.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Analyse How Businesses Are Organised Essay

Definition: The way a business is organized internally to enable employees to carry out their job roles and communicate with each other. There are many Organisational structures these organizational structures allow you to know what everyone’s role is in a business and also who they have power over. The business is able to work more sufficiently if they have an organizational chart. Span of control – A span of control is the number of people who report to one manager in a hierarchy. The more people under the control of one manager, the wider the span of control. Less means a narrower span of control. Chain of command – Chain of command is the order in which orders and decisions are passed down from top to bottom of the hierarchy. Line Manager – A Manager who is responsible for achieving an organisations main objective by executing functions such as policy making, target setting and decision making. Purpose of organisational chart: The purpose of an organizational chart is that it depicts the staffing order of a company. It is commonly shown in a hierarchical format; it also helps identify who does what in an organization, how many staff work in the company and what the chain of command is. This information is important to internal staff, HR departments, stakeholders and board members. Why is there a need for an organizational STRUCTURE? It is essential for a business to have an organizational structure because if they didn’t have one the business would be a disorganised mess. Here are the advantages of having an organisational structure. Firstly it would be favorable towards the employees. There would be less inconvenience as the employees who- know who to go to and report to if they have any problems and need a person higher up in the hierarchal structure of the business to sort it out for them. Therefore the workers would know what responsibilities they have and what job they would need to do. Without the structure a business has the employees wouldn’t be able to carry out their jobs and the departments of the business would have too many employees or too little. Moreover both business London Heathrow Marriott and McDonald are allocated nationwide which shows that they need to be able to carry out orders quick and adequately which it also shows they are well organized. London Heathrow Marriotts organ isational structure: Here is London Heathrow Marriott’s organizational chart. London Heathrow Marriott’s hierarchical structure is a Flat centralized hierarchy structure this allows the business to make faster decisions and it allows more responsibilities for the managers and others increasing motivation but this disallow to fewer opportunities for promotion leading to lower self-confidence. the advantages of a flat hierarchical structure for lhm: A wide span of control is an example of an organizational structure and where additional employees are at an equal level instead of being superior to one another. This is an advantage to the London Heathrow Marriott as it tells us that there are fewer hierarchies consequential in an easier and faster communication. Also there would be fewer employees working at the top of the hierarchical structure which means it would cost the hotel less money. This shows that employees lower in position are not constantly maintaining authority and being managed which will make the workers more persistent and give incentive to achieve their responsibilities to the best of their abilities. This will give confidence to the employees to work to the best of their abilities and show that they are committed to their job which could lead to receiving a promotion which shows that London Heathrow Marriott don’t have to spend more money in order to train new employees. This also shows that London Heathrow Marriott are not losing any sufficient amount of money which they can spend on something else and it also shows that they are achieving their aim of making ‘ £20million per annum’ of profit. In addition to being able to communicate without any trouble there is also â€Å"excellent team spirit†. Disadvantages of a hierarchical structure for lhm: Even though there are lots of advantages to having a flat hierarchical structure it has its disadvantages. When some employees have other boss’s it shows that it is a flat hierarch in a business. This is sometimes not meant or adapted for a particular purpose and can cause lot of Trouble or difficulty caused to one’s personal requirements or comfort, they may find it distressing being controlled from more than one boss’s. Also there is less control within the business as there is only one manager per department and it would be harder for the manager to keep track of each inferior to who they are in charge over. This shows that there is a large area of responsibility this might direct to some tasks that a business wants to achieve to be completely inefficiently meaning that they want to do things without any trouble which can effect the business as a loss for the business as there might be a problem but if it hasn’t been fixed or repaired after a period of time and if the person in charge of the people lower in the chain e.g. trainees, employees might be dealing with a lot of staff but some jobs and prospects of a business might be at risk of no longer existing. Therefore there will a less chance of getting promotions as a flat hierarchical structure as described in the hierarchical chart, there are more people lower in the chain than there is of superiors leading to lower morale. how flat hierarchical structure helps LHm achieve its aims and objectives: One of the objectives London Heathrow Marriott wish to achieve is; â€Å"75% of guest’s to be satisfied†. The hierarchical organizational structures lead staff a clear principle to what their job is and the aims and objectives they should meet. With a flat hierarchical structure there is less confusion for employees and also many customers are satisfied, especially when the employees in the business know what they are doing. London Heathrow Marriott also want to achieve;â€Å"Labour turnover less than or equal to 25%†.By having a flat hierarchical structure in the business shows that rules within the business are made faster, furthermore managers are able to take actions quicker to any worries which a employee has. Hence employees will feel as if their need and concerns are heard out and met so they wouldn’t have any reason to leave the business. McDonalds organisational structure: Here is McDonald’s organizational chart. McDonald’s hierarchical structure is a flat plan. Where there is one manager who is in control of the other assistants and employees. He takes all the decisions and he is in charge of the main functions. This makes it very simple for the staff because all they have to do is selling. This way they can pay more attention to the customers, so I think this is indeed the best structure for a McDonald’s restaurant. But the McDonald’s corporation has a hierarchical structure. This is a huge company with lots of different departments which has to be organized very well, because if the employees aren’t directed in the right way they won’t do their jobs right. So this way it is all ordered and the people can work undisturbed, this saves time and money for the business. the advantages of a flat hierarchical structure for McDonald’s: The advantages of a flat hierarchical structure for McDonald are that faster decision can be made so that they wouldn’t have to waste time on making decision and make quick profit. Also there is a shorter channel of communication so that employees can find out any necessary information which they need to know. It is also more cost effective as Flat Organisation is less costly because it has only few managers. It also creates fewer levels of management. It is more suitable for routine and standardized activities. Disadvantages of a hierarchical structure for McDonald’s: There are chances of losing control because there are many subordinates under one manager this will result in bad discipline in the organisation as they have lost control. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Business text book [ 2 ]. Business Dictionary [ 3 ]. Business Dictionary [ 4 ]. http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/line-manager.html [ 5 ]. Interview with HR Manager Anna Foley [ 6 ]. Interview with HR Manager Anna Foley [ 7 ]. Interview with HR Manager Anna Foley

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Bicultural Education Essay

At the onset of a new school year, students routinely are on the lookout for their new teachers. This behavior may be rooted to possibly terror or lenience that the fresh teacher may bring to the four corners of the classroom. From the viewpoint of the educators, however, being in the company of between twenty and thirty young people may mean various things. Such may be twenty or thirty reasons too to use authoritarian language over a rowdy class or to create a relaxed ambience around a subdued class. The teacher, as an adult, enforces his will by numerous measures over the very juvenile students, who submit to the adult’s lead or, if they resist it, find themselves subject to some kind of injunction. Darder’s book Culture And Power In The Classroom: A Critical Foundation For Bicultural Education delves into the reality that American education is in a revolution. The statistics of students with little or no knowledge and skill in speaking the English language are on the rise. The situation also suggests that in the enrollment season, schools will be flocked with assorted kids. From the linguistically and ethnically different to the academically different as far as the pop US culture is concerned. The callous reality is that the success of students and educators lies in the curricular particulars. Teachers and students working hand in hand, in a culturally sundry classroom will grasp that there is no single best tactic to edify all students. The mindset is that there is an array of strategies that should be incorporated. Not every rubric is suitable for every foreign language classroom. An educator, or a cluster of educators, may desire to cultivate their own rubric for evaluating their students’ linguistic proficiency. Some linguists toiled with educators to generate rubrics for their group of foreign students. The procedure of constructing rubrics can itself aid teachers in modifying their lesson plans to satisfy the distinctive needs of their foreign students. Darder furthers that in addition to the textbook to be used as principal reference for the session, the lecture would include a number of aids that shall help the pupils understand various concepts successfully and enjoyably. Specifically, the lecture shall be carried out not without visual aids as some itself may be confusing in the absence of visual illustration. Using examples, strategies, and integration of the concepts may guarantee that key concepts or valuable ideas are not elapsed, or that these are not confused with other concepts instilled by the primary culture. On the other hand, the full attention and sensitive actions of the school administration, mentors, and most importantly, the parents make up the key solutions to the non-English-speaking students. Personally, I do believe that an individual education plan must be developed for each child. Parents have the right to participate in this planning, but not all do. There is the possibility that even the best-designed educational plans will not be carried out because of lack of time and resources. Teachers who want to be helpful may have large classes and heavy workloads that prevent individualized instruction in a bicultural classroom. In the end, Darder remarks that developing a learning culture, which attaches importance to respect to children with different cultural backgrounds is essential to guarantee healthy relationships and an atmosphere beneficial to the learning experience in a bicultural classroom. Education curricula that are anchored in the postulation that the customs of the mainstream group in society are the best and sole means to function have the end product of marginalizing foreign students and of thinning their contribution in and outcomes from education. I agree that core curricula and school resources must place premium on the assortment of the school population and of American civilization so as to make sure that all students can feel they fit in. Educators have to be able to utilize the virtue of compassion that students convey to the learning environment. Reference Darder, A. (1991). Culture And Power In The Classroom: A Critical Foundation For Bicultural Education. Greenwood Publishing

Saturday, September 14, 2019

An Introduction to Creativity and Creative Arts Essay

Domain 5 of the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework is The Creative Arts, which includes four elements: music, art, movement, and dramatic play. Each of these Domain Elements supports children’s imaginative thinking and self-expression and enhances their progress in other Domains. For example, children may count musical beats, experiment with mixing colors to make a new one, create dialogue for a story drama, or move like the animal characters in a story. In such activities, they are learning in several Domains and using a variety of social, cognitive, and creative processes. The creative arts engage children’s minds and senses. They invite children to listen, observe, move, solve problems, and imagine, using multiple modes of thought and self-expression. Active involvement in the creative arts stimulates brain connections that support children’s learning. A growing body of research on the effects of early arts experiences shows their positive relationship to improved, overall academic performance. Research in the arts also demonstrates that when creativity is developed at an early age, its benefits are continual and are transferred to many intellectual tasks (Arts Education Partnership 2000). All areas of creative arts can incorporate the diversity of children in the program. Dance, art, pantomime, and creative expression are areas where English language learners can be included without needing to rely on language skills in English. Music can be particularly effective since it can be fun for children to learn a song in either English or ano ther language. Music experiences for young children involve listening to, learning about, and making music. Children can listen and respond to different kinds of music by moving, dancing, painting, or talking about how it makes them feel, what instruments they hear, how it compares to other pieces they have heard, or what they do or do not like about it. They may use simple rhythm instruments to create music or to accompany live or recorded music. Children also enjoy singing favorite songs, learning new ones, and making up their own. Art experiences allow children to convey their ideas, feelings, and knowledge in visual forms. Individually and in groups, children use materials such as crayons, paint, playdough, clay, found objects, glue, tape, and paper, along with tools such as scissors, brushes, rolling pins, cookie cutters, and more. They explore the processes of art using materials, tools, and techniques and create products such as drawings, paintings, sculptures, mobiles, and collages. Developing an appreciation for and aesthetic awareness of art is also a part of this Domain element. Movement includes dancing to music and moving in various ways to learn what the body can do or to express an idea or feeling. Children might imagine how an animal moves, then try to imitate it. They could focus on a specific feeling, such as joy or fear, and create movements to express the feeling. Movement facilitates spatial awareness and sensory integration, contributes to overall health and fitness, and promotes development of physical skills. Dramatic play and drama involve make-believe. Children take on roles such as mother, waiter, mail carrier, or doctor. They put objects to imaginative uses—for example, transforming a large box into a spaceship or cave. Dramatic play also offers a wide range of opportunities for children to use and expand their cognitive, language, literacy, and social skills (as described in other Domain sections). To support children’s involvement in the creative arts, Head Start teachers need to focus on what it means to be creative. Individuals are creative when they take existing objects or ideas and combine them in different ways for new purposes. They use their ever-growing body of knowledge to generate new and useful solutions to everyday challenges. Early childhood teachers are creative when they invent new ways to individualize the environment, curriculum, and interactions with young learners. In addition to understanding and recognizing the creative process—in themselves and in children—Head Start teachers can encourage learning through the creative arts by introducing children to excellent and varied examples of art forms. They can involve children in noticing, thinking about, and discussing artistic productions. Using open-ended questions, teachers invite children to examine critique, evaluate, and develop their own aesthetic preferences. Teachers also provide raw materials, props, tools, and appropriate spaces so that children can create in their own ways. They observe and respond to children in ways that communicate acceptance for creative expression. They can plan and offer integrated experiences to take advantage of the many ways creative arts support learning in other Domains.

Friday, September 13, 2019

A raisin in the sun by Lorraine Hansberry Research Paper

A raisin in the sun by Lorraine Hansberry - Research Paper Example With $10,000 worth of insurance check, Hansberry asks if this is enough to buy their American Dreams. Raisin in the Sun depicts the deferred American Dream, where blacks diverge on their ideas of being African American and how this affects their definition of the American Dream, but as a family, they resolved their individual differences through affirming racial equality through racial integration and the variety of their dreams. The play argues that the poverty of the black working-class is a product of racial prejudice and a misplaced sense of humility. The setting of A Raisin in the Sun embodies the constrained life of African Americans. The Southside Apartment of the Youngers is a place of â€Å"weariness† where â€Å"too many people have lived for too long† (Hansberry Act 1 Scene 1). Blacks are compressed in a limited space through the policies and programs of the government that rely on racial prejudice. May talks about the space that limits African American growth, a space that ensures their poverty. She says: â€Å"Hansberry speaks to the material/ecological situatedness of her characters’ lives† (May 130). Most blacks rented and did not own their houses, a situation that Lena wanted to change. For her, having a house in a white neighborhood is already the realization of her American Dream. Walter thinks differently, however. Washington argues that Lena’s American D ream opposes Walter’s version of it. He asserts: â€Å"[Lena’s] is in short, not the true American Dream, but a second-class version of it reserved for Black Americans and other poor people† (Washington 130). Lena has a misguided sense of humility because she sees that a house is enough. Walter knows better because he does not aim for mere existence, but a true sense of development through a business undertaking. But Lena warns him of taking more than what the white society can afford to give blacks. She says: â€Å"When a man goes outside

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Alternative Fashion Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Alternative Fashion - Research Paper Example A person who spots alternative fashion styles usually does so, to stick or conform to the subculture that has a unique way of conducting itself outside the mainstream lifestyles. Subcultures, in this case, refer to cultures that consume a majority of a person’s time and are different from predefined social norms. This way, alternative lifestyles are used to show conformity and a sense of identity with the group that one belongs to and its significance. For example, nudism as an alternative lifestyle advocate for people to stay naked or expose their bodies in any manner that makes them feel comfortable. In this case, the alternative fashion is that which helps them identify and portray the values that their lifestyle stands for. However, on alternative lifestyles, people are sometimes classified according to various stereotypes found in the society and not according to their lifestyle. For example, for people who like to live a gothic lifestyle from the dark ages, are usually labeled as Satanists despite having no affiliations with such groups or practices (English Republic). Since this is just but a stereotype, the real value of their lives lies in their outlook of the world around them. In this case, their outlook on life is usually dark, and their thought focus is usually on death. The need to sport alternative fashion in the form of torturous materials and disturbing images adorned on their clothes comes from this outlook. Moreover, on lifestyle, alternative fashions are adorned by members of certain groups and stick to them as their identifying factor in the lives they lead. The groups do not necessarily have written codes but an understanding of how they behave and conduct their activities is known. This is in people such as hippies who are known to be friendly, open-minded and tend to love everyone they meet.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Ethics wssay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethics wssay - Essay Example This good reputation will continue earning it more revenues owing to the fact that more customers repurchase vehicles and attracts new customers. The employees of the organization will feel that their employer cares about them and for this reason they will have the impetus to increase their productivity, and there will be a reduction in labor turnover (Institute, 2010). However, the organization will be experience some bottlenecks in case the legislature passes laws that will strip off its tax benefits. The operations of the organization will have to change and there will be lower profits. Uncertainty is not good for business; the organization should always strive to be in control or to influence action where possible. Volkswagen can allow the vote to go through as this is in line with the organization’s ethical culture of promoting the workers’ welfare. The Promotion of the workers’ welfare will enhance productivity, minimize the labor expenses ascribed to the exit of employees, and maintain a good public image. The organization also needs to gain support from the legislature and the governor on the importance of ethical behavior to a flourishing business. This meeting with the law-making authorities is essential for the out and out clarification of the rationale for the decision in order for the organization to limit the probability of negative consequences. The organization needs to let the state know that the success of the business is advantageous to the state in terms of additional revenue generation. An explanation to the state will also give the organization an even better reputation for risking its business for the welfare of its employees (Institute, 2010). This deci sion will portray the organization as one that has a commitment to bringing positive change in the culture of non-unionism. The state is likely to support the organization in the quest to maintain the state’s popularity as a caring authority for its citizen’s welfare.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Coursework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Coursework - Assignment Example Highly technology driven companies, both Nintendo and Sony have invested heavily in e-commerce activities which is quite apparent from their websites. Through their websites, both the companies facilitate their user relating to the placing new orders, acquiring customer’s feedbacks in order to enhance their services and also using it as a plat form for releasing new products and features. The report presents an analysis of both the companies in terms of operational and marketing strategy, what models they have adopted in order to generate revenue, striking marketing tactics and methods as portrayed in the websites of the both the companies. Competitor Analysis The method used in the competitor analysis of the Nintendo (Wii and Nintendo 3DS) and Sony (Playstation) is the Michael Porter’s five forces model. According to the model, there are five forces prevailing in the market which affects the competitive rivalry between the components. The analysis assists the companies in identifying the factors keeping which into consideration the company can devise its marketing and operational strategy. This model gives importance to the financial as well operational aspects of a business and sets criteria according to which the company can assess the activities of its competitors and counter them through effective and efficient management. The five forces according to the Porter’s model are as follows [2] The bargaining power of the customer can be regarded as the influence that the consumer base has on the pricing strategy of the company. Currently the Playstation and Nintendo 3DS are sold at prices $399 and $249 respectively. Since Playstation offers a more advanced and high tech gaming experience thus its prices are steeper as compared to its competitor. The fact that bargaining power of customer can cast significant impact on the profitability of the company can be corroborated from the fact that initially the Playstation was sold considerably belo w its per unit cost, causing a significant decline in the profitability of the company. In order to justify their demand prices, both the companies must communicate with their consumer base and make them aware the latest add-ons the product comes with and assuring them that the prices are justified. This requires innovation and smart marketing tactics. Suppliers of both the companies are the companies providing raw material for the manufacturing of the product. Software houses can also come under this category as they provide important technical expertise in devising interactive user interface. Bargaining power of supplier means that the supplier wants to obtain benefits through increased prices of raw material, reduction in the credit terms etc. This can also affect the financial outlook of the company with increased cost of goods sold and reduced profit margin. Other factors which the model takes into account are the threat of new entrants into the market and threats of the substi tute products. The biggest competitor of Playstation in the console gaming market is the Microsoft’s product ‘X-box 360’ which also offers high tech gaming experience. As per the Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that the battle with Sony is over — referring to that the Wii has won over the PS3 — and that the new enemy is Apple, with its ever expanding mobile lineup. [3] Both the

Monday, September 9, 2019

Sport clothing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sport clothing - Essay Example According to NoÃŒ voa & DrăGoicea, (2015, p. 207), sport technology represents a specific type of means to recognize human interests and aims in sport. Sport technology can also refer to the ways in which athletes tend to improve their training in a competitive environment for them to enhance their overall performance. Use of technology in sports involves application of knowledge in using specialized equipment and tools and making use of the available improved technologies to perform tasks more effectively and efficiently. Sporting technologies available include, tennis rackets, pole-vault poles, golf clubs, motion capture, advanced computer stimulations and athletic sports gear such as clothing and footwear. Use of technology in sports is viewable in many perspectives. For instance, technology use exists in the assessment of athletes through biometric sensors, laser-based speed timing and a number of medical technologies. Sports teams and athletes have benefited from the use of technology through better film breakdowns for study, competitive scouting efforts, and statistical reporting. Technology assists in sports competition through instant replays and sensors that help sporting officials decide on whether a ball crosses a line into a goal. This happens in hockey punks and in soccer balls. Fans also benefit in technology through improvements in camera techniques and video display technology (Cremades & Tashman, 2014, p.183). To enhance the athlete’s performance, sports gear such as the clothing and footwear should be friendly and should be of valuable quality in terms of strength thickness, flexibility, durability and resistance to moisture. Footwear is more of a comfort and injury protection wear than a performance enhancing wear in sports. On the contrary, clothing like full body suits streamlines the athletes performance period in a competitive race. Composite tennis racket relates to sporting equipment designed to

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Mentoring Children with Learning Disabilities Essay

Mentoring Children with Learning Disabilities - Essay Example ns those children who have a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in imperfect ability to listen, think, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations. The term includes such conditions as perceptual handicaps, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia and developmental aphasia. The term does not include a learning problem which is primarily the result of visual, hearing or motor handicaps or mental retardation, or emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural or economic disadvantage† (U.S. Office of Education, 1977, p. 65083) "Gifted and talented are those ... with demonstrated achievement and/or potential ability in ... (a) general intellectual ability, (b) specific academic aptitude, (c) creative or productive thinking, (d) leadership ability, (e) visual and performing arts, and (f) psychomotor ability." (Cooper, 1995). This definition now included skills which are not easily manifest, and to successfully and credibly label someone as â€Å"gifted† many processes are necessary than mere parental observation. Benjamin J. Lovett and Lawrence J. Lewandowski (2006) did a thorough research on the identification of students who are gifted and at the same time have learning disabilities. It attempts to pin down a concrete system of screening of the population of the gifted with learning disabilities (G/LD). Children who manifest both giftedness and learning disability often get frustrated due to the duality of their abilities. Although they may have a vast knowledge of certain themes, they still manifest an inability to demonstrate academic achievement. They have feelings of inadequacy because of inner conflicts of knowing how smart they are yet they cannot perform at par to their intelligence (Shevitz et al, n.d.). It is specifically for these cases of children that the Wings Mentor Program was established. A

MHE 511 MODULE 1 DISCUSSION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MHE 511 MODULE 1 DISCUSSION - Essay Example It is important for local, state, and federal stakeholders to formulate and implement functional plans that address different types of emergencies and disasters (Haddow, Bullock, & Coppola, 2010). Response plans ought to be different depending on the type of emergency or disaster in question. For example, approaches to natural and manmade disasters differ in regards to the causes, subsequent effects, and the actions taken by relevant agencies in that regard. In this respect, response plans should be tailored towards specific emergencies and/or disasters. From a personal point of view, there exist critical differences between bio-terrorism, natural, and other types of emergencies. It follows, therefore, that response plans targeting each of the aforementioned emergencies should differ from one type of emergency to the next. Doing so would ensure that local, state, and federal disaster management agencies are in a position to concentrate, focus, and identify key points of concern or interest across varying emergencies. For instance, response plans for bio-terrorist emergencies would hardly work in weather-related natural disasters, thus the need for different response plans in such

Saturday, September 7, 2019

A Brief History of Hieroglyphics Essay Example for Free

A Brief History of Hieroglyphics Essay The word hieroglyph has been applied to the scripts of the Indus civilization and of the Hittites, who also possessed other scripts, in addition to the Mayan, the Incan, and Easter Island writing forms, and also the signs on the Phaistos Disk on Crete, but the strict meaning of the word is used only to describe the carvings on Egyptian monuments. The most ancient hieroglyphs can be dated back to the end of the 4th millennium BC. They describe scenes and are cut in relief, or into the stone, mostly in chapels or tombs. Although it is impossible to know, but these early signs are probably based on the same system that the later set of hieroglyphics, known as classical hieroglyphics is based. Hieroglyphic signs were representations of living beings or inanimate objects by simplistic drawings. Over the years, some of the representations fell out of meaning, such as clubs, which at one time were used as weapons, and other weapons took their place. But they glyph stayed. Sometimes the object described by the glyph completely fell out of daily use and the meaning eventually became lost or it was distorted beyond recognition. Always only a few people in a limited circle understood the script. Only those who needed the knowledge in their professions were able to acquire the task of writing and reading the glyphs. These people were, for example, officials, doctors, and priests. Since the glyphs were too complex for everyday use, hieratic script was developed. Easier abbreviated script was developed for writing by brush stroke on a medium such as papyrus. Classical hieroglyphics evolved through the need to identify a pictorial representation of an event, such as a hunt or a particular battle. Hieroglyphs were added to scenes to signify that the work of art was not just an unknown war or such, but a specific one. This also one of the first times that we see people interested in preserving their history for others to learn about in later times. It was this new attitude toward time and toward history as unique events in time led to the invention of hieroglyphic writing. Hieroglyphics dominated monumental and sacred writings and was accepted in the Greece until the situation was altered with the conversion of the area to Christianity in the nd and 3rd centuries AD. The new religion fought against the Egyptian polytheism and traditions, and with its victory, the Greek script triumphed. The ability to understand the script was lost for many hundreds of years until the failure of Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt turned up the Rosetta Stone on which was written the same statement in three languages, Classical hieroglyphics, Hieratic script, and Greek. With the discovery of thi s asphalt tablet, archeologists were finally able to begin to unlock the key to understanding the long dead written language of hieroglyphics.