The Joy Luck Club Essays (883 words) - The Bluest Eye, Point Of View

The Joy Luck Club THE BLUEST EYE The Bluest Eye is a complex book. Substance wise it is a disturbing yet relatively easy read, but Toni Morrison plays with the narrative structure in a way so that complexity is added to the hidden depth of the text. From the beginning to the end of the book, the author takes the reader through a series of point of views that take turns in narrating the story. But by the end of the book, the author leaves the reader unclear on who the actual main character of the book is. Pecola Breedlove, although never the narrator, seems to be the constant victim and equally the main character of the story. Many readers can see the book as a story about Claudia MacTeer, who is the main narrator of the book, but most everything she narrates has a direct tie to Pecola's life. From the very start, Claudia describes the home environment in which she lives in. That home environment is linked to how Pecola comes to live with them and what affect the two had on each other. Pecola's presence slightly foreshadows her future longing for blue eyes by showing the great interest she had in Shirley Temple, who was known for being a pretty white girl. Claudia then goes into a series of stories and descriptions of what type of environment Pecola must live in at her own home. She describes the abandoned store in which the Breedlove family lives in and the terrible condition of the furniture, which reflects the type of family the Breedloves are. Whether it was Claudia or another unknown third person narrator, a specific situation is described in a brutal manner of exactly what type of environment exists in Pecola's home. The situation was where Cholly and Polly fight each other with little hesitation or thought, and the brief narration ends with how Pecola is affected by such actions. Claudia's experiences are even more tied to Pecola's life through the events that occurred with Maureen Peal. Claudia begins describing Maureen as her own enemy but soon enough Maureen is introduced into Pecola's life along with the point of view she had upon the ugly child. Maureen was fascinated by Pecola, which represents one of the many characters who looked down upon her. Along with the narration of Claudia and the third person, Cholly and Polly have a significant representation in the story. The springtime is used to represent the birth of new love and appropriately the origins of Cholly and Polly is the main story. The chapter describes how the two were in love and describes in depth the growth of both. Rather than being seen as a story of another character, the origins of Cholly and Polly can be seen as the explanation of Pecola and her condition, which heightens the idea of Pecola being the main character. Starting from birth, Cholly was abandoned, he then abandoned his own life in search of his father. The cruelty of his father had a big impact on the future of Cholly and the life he led as an adult. Cholly never had a father figure in his life and so he never learned to become a father, which became a proponent of Pecola's psychological downfall. Polly as a child always played the role of a housewife. She had great aspirations of one day meeting her prince and living a wonderful life. She thought she found him in Cholly when he came along and cared for her lame foot , but as she and Cholly began to have more problems, she began to take out her anger for Cholly onto her children. Quickly, the Breedlove household became full of hate and that hate was thrown onto the innocent Pecola. Throughout the entire book though, different characters laid their hate and insecurity upon the innocence of Pecola. More than simply specific characters, by the end of the book, Pecola became the scapegoat of the entire town, ?She be lucky if it don't live. Bound to be the ugliest thing walking. Can't help but be. Ought to be a law: two ugly people doubling up like that to make more ugly. Be better off in the ground.?

Who Was Columbus essays

Who Was Columbus essays Christopher Columbus may have "Sailed the Ocean Blue in 1492," over 500 years ago, but only in recent years have books been written about the explorer that cover any new territory (pun intended) concerning personal information on this explorer. For the most part, he has remained a remote figure without much depth and understanding. As Carla Phillips and William Phillips said in Christopher Columbus in United States History: Biography as Projection, "His exploits have assumed mythic proportions, but there has been little attempt to probe beyond the myth." In fact, of the hundreds of books written on Columbus, nearly all are positive and many of them rehash the same information that has been in textbooks for decades and decades. In another one of their books, The Worlds of Christopher Columbus, the Phillips historian team adds that it was really not until the fourth centenary that "Columbus's life found its first great American debunker," through the writings of Justin Winsor. Instead of trying to cut down Columbus through religious prejudice, slanted information or character defamation, Winsor based his information on the documentary record and unbiased scholarship. He noted that Columbus was everything from a bad administrator to profiteer hoping to gain from the slave trade. One of the difficulties with a thorough study of Columbus is that much of the information about him comes from his own writings. Because of his strong ego, it comes as no surprise that Columbus only shows his good side in his log. He also probably thought of the important heritage his writings would leave to future generations. As the Phillips say, "Columbus had a strong sense of his own worth, rarely admitting any personal failings and tending to blame any and all misfortunes on the actions of others." In fact, in a flourish of pretentious mysticism, Columbus adopted the name ...

Financial accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Financial accounting - Essay Example Marks and Spencer’s well established business attracts a great deal of consumer base irrespective of demography. The primary business of the company comprises of selling general merchandise which mainly consists of womenswear. menswear and an expanding kids wear. The company, through its resilient and effective marketing tactics, has able to capture market share of around 11.0% by value and 11.2% by volume. Another source from where the company earns a great deal of its revenue is through selling food items. Marks and Spencer is the leading provider when it comes to selling fine quality food. The company sells everything from fresh meals to canned food items, highly acclaimed and praised range of wines to other groceries products. The company has improved its shelf availability and has adopted the strategy of renewing its food range. The proactive approach has resulted in an increase of 1.8% in sales revenue from food business. The financial year 2010 proved to be another prog ressive year for Marks and Spencer. During the current year, Marks and Spencer’s revenue increased by 5.2% during the current year to an impressive ?9.5 billion which has caused the operating profit to increase by 9.8%. The company, following its growth strategy, aspires transform its operation into multi channel business. The company has taken major steps in investing its direct sales business which enhanced the revenue by 27% during the current financial year. In addition, the company is actively following its strategy of refurbishing its stores and giving them a new and improved look. The refurbishment has resulted in an increased storage space and has created a fashionable shopping environment. The following table compares the financial results of Marks and Spencer, for the financial year 2010 with that of the year 2009. As quite evident from the above comparison, the financial outlook of the company has improved. The increase in group revenue primarily pertains to the in crease in like-for-like sales as well as the addition of new stores and outlets, both in and outside of England. Since Marks and Spencer do a significant number of its sales overseas, the company’s revenue is majorly increased due to the fluctuation in exchange rate. Although the recent credit crisis and global economic meltdown proved to be a hurdle, but the impact was offset by prudent risk management and apt allocation of capital investment. The gross profit to sales ratio for the year ended December 31, 2010 was 8.93% which has decreased by 0.67% during the current year. Despite the decrease in gross profit to sales ratio, the net profit of the company has increased by ?16.2 million. The increase in net profit is due to the fact that during the current year the company did not spend any exceptional cost which it incurred during the prior year on strategic restructure. In addition, the company took strong measures to control its finance cost during the current year and cur tailed it by ?52.3 million. An analysis of balance sheet of Marks and Spencer highlights the fact that during the current year the company’s non-current liabilities, in terms of borrowings from banks and other financial institutions, was comparatively less than the previous year. The fact that Marks and Spencer curtailed its borrowings highlight the fact that the company is focusing on gearing is business through raising capital by issuance of share capital, rather than acquiring capital from financers. The earnings per share (EPS) of

Interpret the result in your report. Also, your report and model Essay

Interpret the result in your report. Also, your report and model (where possible) should analyse the following- - Essay Example In both cases, the major components of the statements are explained e.g. remunerations disclosures, segment reports and interests disclosures have been made. The reliability of the financial statements has also been made better by the better governance structure and the independence of the auditors. According to the auditor’s reports, the financial statements give a true and fair view of the positions of the company. Moreover, both M & S and Morrison have reported the financial performance in a comparable manner. The performance in 2011 has been compared to those of 2010 to help investors monitor the firms’ progress. Notwithstanding, the notes to the financial statements have been compiled to make the information better understandable. Comparatively, Mark Spencer notes are detailed. On the element of legislations, the companies’ strategies have incorporated their products and services to satisfy the expectation of the customers and the society. For instance, Morrison is committed towards reducing the quantity of carbon released to the environment. In both cases, the users to the financial statements are the shareholders, investors, customers, the government and competitors (Palepu & Healy, 2008). The government requires the information for determining the tax amounts, customers for purposes of knowing progress of the companies and shareholders for monitoring the companies return (Palepu & Healy, 2008). The complex nature of the financial statements and the accounting jargon is the limitation in the financial reports. In conclusion, the preparation of the financial statements in accordance to the accounting standards and the companies act is necessary for comparison purposes and uniformity in reporting. This explains why both the companies have largely there is no major differences in reporting. Wahlen, JM, Bradshaw, M, Baginski, SP, & Stickney, CP, 2011, Financial reporting, financial statement analysis, and valuation: a

Analysis of Coronary Artery Disease Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Analysis of Coronary Artery Disease - Assignment Example Therefore, any disorder or malfunctioning in the coronary arteries may lead to  a serious cut off in the flow of oxygen and minerals to the heart leading to an imbalance between supply and demand of  oxygen, which is life-threatening because  the heart  is  the  pump of blood circulation, which supply oxygen to all organs. Atherosclerosis is the chief causes of  coronary artery diseases (CAD) which cause changes in structure as well functionality of blood vessels.  It is the process in which, progressive dumping of cholesterol and other fatty materials across the arterial wall occurs. These dumping results in a contraction of the lumen i.e stenosis, which restricts blood flow. Further, spasm, birth defect, lupus, arthritis, blood clogging are few other causes apart from atherosclerosis. Ten years ago, CAD is thought to be a disorder of men. Generally, CAD occurs a decade earlier in men than women,  up to the time of menopause, because a high level of estrogen  pro tects women from CAD. Anyhow, after menopause, it happens more frequently in women in comparability to men. It is noticed that ratio of women suffering from CAD is higher than men in the age group of or beyond 75. CAD is assumed to be the leading  lifer taker in developed countries. Studies imply about 5-9% of people aged 20+ are suffering from CAD. The death rate rises with age, and it is more common in males in comparison to females,  but the  death rates for men decrease sharply after the age of 55 and finally after aged 75. The death rate of women is higher than men, who are of the same age.  Ã‚  It is estimated that +16 million Americans are suffering from CAD and 8 million of them had a myocardial infarction (increased 1 Million per annum). Framingham trial predicts approximately 50% & 30% of males and females respectively in the age 40+ population are suffering through CAD (Helen H, and Munther K).

How Does the Body Maintain Acid-Base Balance?

How Does the Body Maintain Acid-Base Balance? It is important to regulate chemical balance or homeostasis of body fluids. Acidity or alkalinity has to be regulated. An acid is a substance that lets out hydrogen ions in solution. Strong acid like hydrochloric acid release all or nearly all their hydrogen ions and weak acids like carbonic acid release some hydrogen ions. Bases or alkalis have low hydrogen ion concentration and can accept hydrogen ions in solution. Acidity or alkalinity of a solution is measured by pH. (1) Regulation of Acid-base Balance Body fluids are maintained within a narrow range that is slightly alkaline. The normal pH of arterial blood is 7.35 and 7.45. Acids are continually produced during metabolism. Several body systems including buffers, the respiratory system and the renal system are actively involved in maintaining the narrow pH range necessary for optimal function. Buffers help maintain acid bases balance by neutralizing excess acids and bases. The lungs and the kidneys help maintain a normal pH by either excreting or retaining acids or bases. (1) Hydrogen ion concentration of body fluids Hydrogen ions are continually being added to the body fluids as a result of metabolic activities. To maintain a constant (H+) in the body fluids, input of hydrogen ions must be balanced by an equal output. On the input side only a small amount of acid capable of dissociating release H+ is taken in with food. Most hydrogen ions in the body fluids are generated internally from metabolic activities. Normally hydrogen ions continually being added to the body fluids from three following sources: Carbonic acid formation. The major source of H+ is through H2CO3 formation metabolically produced CO2. Cellular oxidation of nutrients yields energy with CO2 and H2O as end products. Catalysed by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, CO2 and H2O from H2CO3 which then partially dissociates to liberate free hydrogen ions and HCO3-. Reaction The reaction is reversible because it can go in either direction, depending on the concentration of the substances involved. Within the systemic capillaries, the CO2 level in the blood increases as metabolically produced CO2 enters from the tissues. This drives the reaction to the acid side, generating H+ as well as HCO3- in the process. In the lungs, the reaction is reversed: CO2 diffuses from the blood flowing through the pulmonary capillaries into the alveoli from which it is expired to the atmosphere. The reduction in CO2 in the blood drives the reaction toward the CO2 side. Hydrogen ions and HCO3- form H2CO3 which rapidly decomposes into CO2 and H20 once again. The CO2 is exhaled while the hydrogen ions are incorporated into H2O molecules. When the respiratory system is able to keep pace with the rate of metabolism, there is no net gain or loss of H+ in the body fluids from metabolically produced CO2. When the rate of CO2 removal by the lungs does not match the rate of CO2 produ ction at the tissue level, the resultant accumulation of CO2 in the body leads to an excess or shortage of free H+ in the body fluids. Inorganic acids produced during the breakdown of nutrients. Dietary proteins and other ingested nutrient molecules that are found abundantly in meat contain a large quantity of sulfur and phosphorus. When the molecules are broken down, sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid are produced as by-products. Being moderately strong acids, these two inorganic acids dissociate to a large extent which releases free H+ into the body fluids. In contrast, the breakdown of fruits and vegetables produce bases that neutralize the acids originating from protein metabolism. Organic acids resulting from intermediary metabolism. Numerous organic acids are produced during normal intermediary metabolism e.g. fatty acids are produced during fat metabolism and lactic acid is produced by muscles during heavy exercise. These acids partially separate to produce free H+. Hydrogen ion generation normally goes on as a result of ongoing metabolic activities. (1) Buffer systems Buffers prevent too many changes in pH by removing or releasing hydrogen ions. If excess hydrogen ions is present in body fluids then buffers bind with the hydrogen concentration which minimizes the changes in pH. The acidity of a buffer is immediate but limited in capacity to maintain or restore normal acid-base balance. The pH of blood plasma is around about 7.3-7.4. The pH of urine is 7 which are neutral but it can be more but certain factors can make the pH of urine go up or down. The pH of mucus can vary from organ to organ with a pH of 6.9 to 9. Lymph has a pH of 7.4 and saliva has a pH of 7.4 (2) The phosphate buffer system Phosphoric acid changes quickly into dihydrogen phosphate (H2PO4-). The dihydrogen phosphate is an excellent buffer since it can either grab a hydrogen ion or reform phosphoric acid or it can give off another hydrogen ion and become monohydrogen phosphate (HPO42-). The figure shows that in an extremely basic condition, monohydrogen phosphate can even give up remaining hydrogen ion. If H2PO4- is in acidic solution, the reaction above will go to the left and if the H2PO4- is in a basic solution, the reaction proceeds to the right. Therefore the phosphate buffer system can accept or donate hydrogen ions depending on the solution it is in. (2) The protein buffer system Protein themselves act as buffers. Proteins are made up of amino acids and amino acids have a central carbon with four groups off of it. These four groups are carboxyl group (COOH), an amino group (NH2), a hydrogen atom and an à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Rà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ group. The carboxyl and amino groups are what enable proteins to act as buffers. (2)aminoac.jpg (21060 bytes) The carboxyl group is attached to the amino acid central carbon; C-COOH. In the figure there is a carboxyl group off to the left. The carboxyl group consists of a double bond to one of the oxygen and a single bond to the hydroxyl group. The important part of the carboxyl group is the hydrogen atom within the hydroxyl group. Round about neutral pH the carboxyl group is actually COO- instead of COOH. If the protein finds itself in a more acidic solution, the carboxyl group will be able to take on the extra hydrogen ions and return to COOH configuration. (2) The amino group is attached to the amino acid central carbon; C-NH2.the amino group is shown at the right hand side of the diagram of the amino acid above. Round about neutral pH the amino group is NH3+ rather than just NH2. It actually tends to carry an extra hydrogen ion at a normal pH. Then if a protein finds itself in a more basic environment, it amino group on its amino acids can actually release their hydrogen ions and return to NH2. Amino acids can accept or donate hydrogen ions making them excellent buffers. Any given proteins typically have hundreds of amino acids so proteins make superb buffers and they are found in high concentration in intracellular solutions. (2)protbuff.jpg (23396 bytes) The carbonic acid system In blood plasma, the carbonic acid and hydrogen carbonate ion equilibrium buffers the pH. In this buffer, carbonic acid (H2CO3) is the hydrogen ion donor (acid) and hydrogen carbonate ion (HCO3-) is the hydrogen ion acceptor (base). Carbonic acid plays an important role as a buffer in maintaining pH in blood plasma. H2CO3(aq) http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/arrowdbl.gifH+(aq) + HCO3-(aq) The buffer functions in the same way as the phosphate buffer. Additional H+ is consumed by HCO3- and an additional OH- is consumed by H2CO3-. If pH falls below normal value, a condition called acidosis is produced and if the pH rises above the normal value, a condition called alkalosis is produced. The concentrations of hydrogen carbonates ions and of carbonic acid are controlled by two independent physiological systems. Carbonic acid concentration is controlled by respiration that is through the lungs. Carbonic acid is in equilibrium with dissolved carbon dioxide gas. H2CO3(aq) http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/arrowdbl.gifCO2(aq) + H2O(l) An enzyme called carbonic anhydrase catalyses the conversion of carbonic acid to dissolved carbon dioxide. In the lungs, excess dissolved carbon dioxide is exhaled as carbon dioxide gas. CO2(aq) http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/arrowdbl.gifCO2(g) (4) The pH Buffer system The buffer systems guard against sudden shifts in acidity and alkalinity. The pH buffer systems are mixtures of the bodyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s own naturally taking place weak acids and weak bases. These weak acids and bases exist in balance under normal pH conditions. The pH buffer systems can work chemically to reduce fluctuations in the pH of a solution by regulating the amount of acid and base. The most important pH buffer system in the blood involves carbonic acid which is a weak acid formed from the carbon dioxide dissolved in blood and bicarbonate ions which is the corresponding weak base. Carbaminohaemoglobin is a compound of haemoglobin and carbon dioxide and it is one of the ways in which carbon dioxide can exist in the blood. 15-25% of the carbon dioxide is carried in the blood this way. When carbon dioxide binds to haemoglobin, Carbaminohaemoglobin is formed which will lower the haemoglobins affinity for oxygen via the Bohr Effect. When there is no oxygen, unbound haemoglobin molecules have a greater chance of becoming Carbaminohaemoglobin. The Haldane effect relates to the increased affinity of de-oxygenated haemoglobin for H+ offloading of oxygen to the tissues therefore results in increased affinity for the haemoglobin for carbon dioxide and H+ which the body wants to get rid of which can then be transported to the lung for removal. The veins which carry deoxygenated blood back to the right atrium of the heart appear bluish due to the distinctive blue colour of carbaminohaemoglobin. How acid-base balance is maintained including the role of the kidney and lungs as means of excreting excess acidic or basic ions The lungs and kidneys are two major systems that work on a continuous basis to help regulate acid-base balance in the body. In the biochemical reactions above, the process are all reversible and go back and forth as the bods needs change. The lungs can work very quickly and do their part by either retaining or getting rid of carbon dioxide by changing the rate and depth of respirations. The kidneys work much more slowly. They take hours and up to days to regulate the balance by either excreting or conserving hydrogen and bicarbonate ions. Under normal conditions these two systems work together to maintain homeostasis. The amount of acidity or alkalinity blood possesses it important. When the level of acidic compounds in the body rises then the body acidity increases to through increased intake, production or decreased elimination. When the level of basic compounds in the body falls through decreased intake, production or increased elimination. The body uses different mechanisms to co ntrol the bloods acid base balance. Role of the lungs: the release of carbon dioxide from the lungs is a mechanism the body uses to control blood pH. Carbon dioxide is mildly acidic and it is a waste product of metabolism of oxygen. Waste products such as carbon dioxide get excreted into the blood. The blood transports carbon dioxide into the lungs where it is exhaled. As carbon dioxide mount up in the blood the pH of the blood decreases which means acidity increases. The brain controls the quantity of carbon dioxide that is exhaled by monitoring the speed and depth of breathing. The amount of carbon dioxide that is exhaled increases the breathing to become faster and deeper. Bu adjusting the speed and depth of breathing the brain and lungs are able to regulate the blood pH minute by minute. (3) Role of Kidneys: the kidneys are also able to affect blood pH by excreting excess acids or bases. The kidneys have some capacity to change the amount of acid or base that is excreted but because the kidneys make these modifications more slowly than the lungs do, this compensation can take several days. (3)

The Themes of Robert Frosts Mending Wall Essays -- Mending Wall Essays

The Themes of Robert Frost's Mending Wall One of the major themes of Frost's Mending Wall is the cycle of the seasons. Several phrases refer to the seasons, particularly in a repetitive, cyclic way: "spring mending-time," "frozen ground-swell," "once again," "spring is the mischief in me." Another theme is parallelism or the lack of it. Sometimes this parallelism takes a physical form, associated with the wall, as we imagine the two men walking parallel paths: "We meet to walk the line." "We keep the wall between us as we go." "One on a side." It is a mental wall, though, as well as a physical one, and I read the gaps as making possible a meeting of minds and attitudes as well as of lands and bodies. Closing the gaps in the wall means closing off points where the two men might meet physically or mentally. As the poet says, "If I could put a notion in his head," but he can't. The two men, the two minds, will remain parallel, on opposite sides of a wall. I find parallelism in the language as well as in the central image of the two men walking along a wall. I find it in phrasings like "To each the boulders that have fallen to each." "And some are loaves and some so nearly balls." "Walling in or walling out." I find it most centrally in "Good fences make good neighbors," whose neat parallelism contrasts in my mind with the redundancy, the tangled, circling syntax of "Something there is that doesn't love a wall." The parallelisms in phrasing lead me to think of speech and language themselves as themes. I find many phrases like, "'I tell him," "He only says," "I'd rather he said it," "his father's saying," "He says again." The neighbor speaks "his father's saying" twice. The poet also speaks twice, and both their repetition... ...rresponds to the poet's wayward imaginings, the walls-up to the control of that imagination. Works Cited Frye, Northrop. Northrop Frye on Twentieth-Century Literature University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division (February 13, 2010) Holland, Norman Norwood. The Brain of Robert Frost: A Cognitive Approach to Literature. Routledge (October 1988) Poirier, Richard. Robert Frost: The Work of Knowing Stanford University Press (April 1, 1990)

Dove Marketing Analysis Essay

Imagine you have oversight of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. Are you comfortable with what is going on? Is this a brand that is out of control with its promotional messages? Dove released its first advertising on 1957, in which Dove called its product as â€Å"cleaning cream† instead of soap. After that, Dove launched some advertising to emphasized on its functional feature. In 2000, Dove became a Masterbrand of Unilever. In other words, it had to establish a meaning for Dove that could apply to and extend over the entire stable of products. In order to stand for a point of view, â€Å"The Campaign for Real Beauty† began to process. Then campaign focus on the self-esteem and confidence instead of appearances, it still could be include into female field. Just from external to inner, So Dove is not out of control with its promotional message. In my opinion, I am comfortable with Dove’s campaign due to the following reasons. First, Dove more concerned about women’s feeling and inner spirit. When the advertising plays too many shots on the beauty of girls, sometimes, the values and aesthetic of the society will be influence. Women and teenager girls would pay more money and time to fit their body. Therefore, Dove’s advertising will not add this misleading. Second, Dove choose YouTube and Blog as the major platform, it is a wise and trendy choice. Internet plays more and more important role in the modern life, especially the raise of the social networking. In the future, Dove has more opportunities to attract public and ahead of other companies. Third, Dove always guarantees the quality of ads. Their advertising is not a simple product promotion, but some interesting story and conversation. The products of Dove even do not need to be photographed. The consumers will remember such high-quality ad and are willing to share with others. Moreover, Dove’s Real Beauty campaign built a buzz and was widely exposed. People actively discussed the campaign through Internet and TV shows, even famous celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno talked about it in their TV shows. Though there were many parodies in the Internet, they were funny and generated more attentions on the brand. Last but not least, the campaign was contributed to the brand’s business growth and values. In 2006, Landor Associates identified Dove was one of the 10 brands with the greatest ercentage gain in brand health and business values. 2. Is Dove’s attempt to engender social engagement through its promotional campaigns too risky an endeavor given its lack of control over consumer parody and accusations of trying to sell under the pretense of contributing to the social good? In the business, every decision faced the profit and risk. Generally, th e greater the risks result in the greater rewards. The risks are as follow: Through the investigation, Dove found out that many women had discontent with the â€Å"young, white blonde and thin† models, because they could not attain that standard. Dove started the advertisement â€Å"Campaign for Real Beauty†, underlining their products will â€Å"feel better†, while other company always publicize â€Å"look beautiful† in the commercial. The risk is that whether or not the consumers understand and accept that change. On next stage, Dove was a very controversial event. Billboards were erected to vote on whether a woman on the billboard was â€Å"outsized† or â€Å"outstanding†. A counter showed the result. As a beauty brand, this campaign will attract public attention; simultaneously will challenge the brand cognitive. What’s more, Dove broke the traditional rule in the company and go forward without paid media at all. YouTube become the most important platform instead of television. When Dove made this decision, the risk is that maybe they will lose some traditional and classical consumers. Facing the negative responses, Dove did not ignore them, but positive embrace them. The company list both view in other medias and allow public to discuss these. They also sent interactive packages to media outlets to help spur the debate. Finally, Unilever established the global Dove Self-Esteem Fund to raise the self-esteem of girls and young women. Such activities give a support to the â€Å"Real Beauty†. Dove’s public relations channel strategy was to generate broad awareness for â€Å"The Campaign for Real Beauty† and establish an emotional connection with women. Therefore, a political figure or a major news organization or even a film is not as influence as an open dialogue. 3. After reviewing the blogs, what do the various discussions contribute to the meaning of the brand? There are mainly two opinions exists among the blogs. The supporters considered Dove’s Real Beauty campaign was an emotional touch from Dove to consumer. They thought the campaign has shed light on some important truths about the media’s unrealistic portrayals of women, and it’s important and necessary to send a health beauty message to the society. However, the criticisms thought that Dove is hypocritical and the campaign is just aimed to sell more products and gain more profits. The reason they thought Dove is hypocritical is because Dove comes from Unilever, which promotion young, thin and sexy woman in the Axe’s advertisements. They also criticized Dove’s advertisements had many untruthful details and inconsistent. What’s more, they thought the campaign has no major aspirational values attached to the product and was undermining the aspiration of consumers. Regardless of these different opinions towards the Real Beauty campaign, Dove’s brand name has successfully gone viral and drew a lot of attentions worldwide. People were spreading quickly the message of â€Å"Real Beauty† and they still continuously discuss it nowadays. This kind of exposure has extraordinary impact of Dove’s brand awareness and popularity. Therefore, it contributed to the brand’s long-term value and equity. Though there were many parodies exits in the Internet, for ordinary consumers, they might just remember how funny and interesting the parodies were, as well as the appealing â€Å"real beauty† messages that Dove tried to spread. It was a risk strategy for Dove, but as long as Dove manages its public relations and other advertisements carefully, consumers would still like Dove’s affordable good-quality products. The increasing sales growth of Dove could be a strong argument for it. Moreover, I think Dove was trying to be an inspirational brand to inspire positive self image among women. It successfully differentiated itself to other competitors. The Dove Self-Esteem Fund program was a plus to win over customers’ hearts. 4. Describe Dove’s brand management organization and the reason for it. Do you see any problems or issues that will result with this split-responsibility setup? In 2000, Dove was selected to be a Masterbrand and lent its name to Unilever entries in personal care categories. There are two split-responsibility groups in Dove’s brand management organization: Brand Development and Brand Building. Brand Development group charged with development of the brand, took responsibility for developing the idea behind the brand, developed the brand plan. It was accountable for medium-to long-term market share, for brand health, for measures of innovativeness, and for creating value in the category. It was centralized and global in scope. The other group Brand Building charged with building the brand in specific markets and was decentralized according to the major geographic regions in which Unilever operated. It was accountable for growth, profit, cash flow, and short-term market share. It managed public relations and informal communication. The pros of this split-responsibly setup brand management system are that the advertising messages could be more tailored to different markets. However, the problem might result with this split-responsibly system is the inconsistent management of the brand image. It’s a challenge for the two groups to balance between short-term values and long-term values for the brand. For example, the Brand Building group might develop an aggressive public relations strategy to generate attention in order to gain short-term market share, which might not be a smart move to build the brand’s long-term value and gain long-term market share.

The Black Age essays

The Black Plague/The Black Age essays During 1347-1351 there was something called the black age. Hence the name it was about this "black plague." One theory is when the world froze over it covered the disease under miles of sands in the Gobi Desert, then after so many years and sandstorms it got uncovered. You didn't know this, problay thats why I'm here to When you hear "the black plague you may like a lot of people its just one disease but the truth is it has many diseases, Symptoms, and Causes. There were three commonly seen forms of the Black Death. The bubonic plague, the pneumonic plague, and the septicemic plague. The bubonic plague was the most common; the symptoms included enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes (around arm pits, neck and groin), vomiting, headaches, fevers of 101-105 degrees Fahrenheit, and nausea. These symptoms took from 1-7 days to appear. The two other plagues were less common, probably because victims often died before they reached another place. Symptoms for the pneumonic plague included coughing up bloody mucus, because this form of plague infected the lungs. This form of Plague was especially dangerous since it could be transmitted through the air. The third plague, septicemic, was the most rare, and there is still no cure found for it. Victims suffered high fevers, and their skin usually turned a dark purple, this is where the term 'black death' got its name. ictims often died the same day the symptoms died; in some towns as many as 800 died a day. The bubonic and septicemic were carried by fleas, who lived off the rats. They would bite a victim and regurgitate infected blood into the bloodstream. But then there were "cures." There were many cures for the Black Death in the middle ages. Very few work, as no one knew that the majority of the plague was transmitted by fleas. People burned a great number of things to ward of the plague. They included juniper, laurel, pine, ...

Essay on The Genesis of self and social control

Essay on The Genesis of self and social control Essay on The Genesis of self and social control Essay on The Genesis of self and social controlThe issue about the nature and role of individual identity has been widely discussed by sociologists. According to Robert Brym and John Lie (2009), the connection between the individual identity and the larger society is a â€Å"focus† for many sociologists, including George Herbert Mead and Erving Goffman (p. 13).   Both sociologists were focused on the study of individual identity, placing emphasis on the role of interaction with other people. The studies of George Herbert Mead and Erving Goffman contributed to the development of symbolic interactionism as their views have very much in common (Burkitt, 1991).   However, there are certain differences between George Herbert Mead’s and Erving Goffman’s interpretations of the constitution and reproduction of individual identity. From sociological perspective, the concept of individual identity refers to the study of the relationships between individual behaviors an d collectivity. The ideas of George Herbert Mead and Erving Goffman regarding individual identity are influential in shaping the model of individual identity. According to Richard Jenkins (2014), â€Å"individual identity embodied in selfhood – is not a meaningful proposition in isolation from the human world of other people†(p. 42). Both Mead and Goffman make efforts to interpret the constitution and reproduction of individual identity, but they do it in different ways.The major goal of this paper is to compare and contrast George Herbert Mead’s and Erving Goffman’s interpretations of the constitution and reproduction of individual identity. Besides, it is necessary to define whether one of these approaches to individual identity superior to the other.George Herbert Mead’s interpretations of the constitutionand reproduction of individual identityGeorge Herbert Mead’s interpretation of the constitution and reproduction of individual identit y is based on psychological approach to the study of the role of interaction with other people. As the sociologist, Mead is interested in the study of identity, placing emphasis on its development in social context. He states that identity is part of the individual’s character (Mead, 1925; Goffman, 1971).Actually, George Herbert Mead’s original and groundbreaking conception of the interrelationship of self and society is influential. Mead’s understanding of the self reflects the role of the intersubjective character of social action (Jenkins, 2014). He explores various issues regarding the construction of individual identity, including how an individual’s sense of identity can be derived from the relationship of the self to the other (Burkitt, 1991).   In other words, Mead believes that through an individual’s interaction, it is possible to arrive at a sense of identity (Mead, 1925; Brym Lie, 2009). One’s own individual identity can be ac hieved through the application of general conception of society.In addition, Mead introduces a number of different categories and dichotomies, which help to better understand the nature of self and society. Mead’s interpretation of intersubjectivity is one of the most important issues in the field. In his works, Mead’s ideas are connected with the desire to have an understanding of life â€Å"as a process and not a series of static physicochemical situations† (Mead, 1925, p. 251). Mead rejects the use of metaphysical explanations regarding life processes. He is focused on subjective explanation of life, placing emphasis on the understanding of self as the product of the so-called social act. According to Mead (1925), â€Å"selves exist only in relation to other selves†(p. 278). This fact means that selves depend on others, and they cannot exist without a community of other individuals. The major argument made by Mead is that the social refers to the form of generalization of others, influencing the development of one’s own individual identity, which implies that â€Å"the mind is itself intersubjectively constituted† (Mead, 1925).According to Mead, individual identity can be described as the product of human communication that provides certain roles to individuals. Actually, the concept of the role forms the basis of his study of identity. Mead was a philosopher and psychologist; therefore, his view of individual identity is based on some philosophical thinking. He managed to create a â€Å"theory of the social origin of human selves† (Goffman, E.1971, p.28). According to Mead, it is impossible to separate the theory of human behavior from the theory of the mind. He developed the concept of social behaviorism to emphasize the role of individual identity and behavior in social interaction.For Mead, the concept of â€Å"the self† is connected with symbolic experience of individuals (Mead, 1934). Mead believ es that reality is established in the process of human interaction. He writes,Symbolization constitutes objects not constituted before, objects that would not exist except for the context of social relationships wherein symbolization occurs. Language does not simply symbolize a situation or object which is already there in advance; it makes possible the existence or appearance of that situation or object, for it is a part of the mechanism whereby that situation or object is created (Mead, 1934, p. 78).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mead believes that individual identity influences the mind to make people interact with one another. The mind becomes a tool used to promoted active participation in the community activities (Mead, 1934).Erving Goffman’s interpretations of the constitutionand reproduction of individual identityErving Goffman’s interpretation of the constitution and reproduction of individual identity is based on different aspects of individualà ¢â‚¬â„¢s personality. Goffman states that there are different meanings of the term â€Å"identity†. He defines three meanings: â€Å"social identity†, â€Å"personal identity† and â€Å"ego identity† (qtd. in Manning, 1992, p. 98). Goffman’s interpretation of identity is based on the connection between social identity and individual identity. Together, social identity and individual identity reflect some significant aspects of self, which are â€Å"socially in play with others, affecting them and affected by them† (Burns, p. 26). Goffman’s works are developed to highlight the role of individual identity in social development. He gives explanation to the self in order to effectively manage social interaction. Yet, the understanding of Goffman’s ideas leads to the underestimation of the complexity of the theoretical perspective developed by him. Goffman discusses the peculiarities of performing social interaction and the ways to sustain social order (Goffman, 1970; Goffman, 1967). According to Burkitt (1991), â€Å"Goffman refuses to broach the question of which is the most real, the presentational front or the self of the actor who is behind it†(p.70). In his theoretical approach to the study of individual identity, he is focused on two selves: â€Å"the self who is a mask and the residual self that it hides† (Burkitt, 1991, p. 70).In addition, Goffman discusses the nature of the concept of embarrassment that can be characterized as an individual’s possibility to participate in face-to-face interaction. It may occur â€Å"whenever an individual is felt to have projected incompatible definition of himself before those present† (Goffman, 1967, p. 97). Actually, these projections occur in certain social environment where incompatible principles of social interaction are prevalent. In case of the conflict between these principles, embarrassment performs its social function. Social e ncounter is based on face-to-face interaction. Social construction of the self is associated with social encounter.In general, Goffman states that each self is socially constructed and requires the appropriate social interaction. He helps to assess the role of an individual’s ability to influence the formation of individual identity under social conditions, which not only shape human actions, but also limit them (Burns, 2002). The self that has been constructed in social interaction is active, aimed at realization of one’s own plans and desires (Goffman, 1967; Burns, 2002).The key similarities and differences between George Herbert Mead’s and Erving Goffman’s interpretations of the constitution and reproduction of individual identityLike Mead, Goffman provided many different categories, which are still applied to the field of sociology. He explores the significance of the rituals of social interaction and reveals the key dimensions of the self. The consti tution of identity, according to Goffman, is connected with the presentation of self with little real substance. Mead’s approach places emphasis on the role of social interaction in the construction of the self.However, Goffman has developed the idea of the concept of identity more systematically. According to Goffman, every individual faces considerable problems in his/her life that require modeling one’s self and making it perceptible to others (Goffman, 1970).   The works of Goffman have direct relation to symbolic interactionism. As the major characteristic of symbolic interactionism is the use of symbols, such as language, in human interaction in order to develop socially constructed reality, Goffman’s views regarding the role of individual identity and its constitution are relevant. Similar to Mead’s approach, Goffman refers to the significance of social intercourse. In general, from the symbolic interactionist perspective, socialization influence s individual identity. Due to the interaction of the self and society, it is possible to perceive social meanings, reinterpret them and give adequate response (Burkitt, 1991).   In other words, socialization can be defined as the continual formation of individual identity over time. According to Goffman (1971),â€Å"role is the basic unit of socialization† (p.105). Due to roles, individuals have an opportunity to perform concrete tasks in society and achieve success. Besides, roles help to highlight the qualities of individuals, their self-image and responses of others.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In fact, the theories of Mead and Goffman help to better understand the impact of identity on social interaction and assess the effectiveness of symbolic interactionism.   Goffman is focused on subjectivity of social life. He compares social interaction to different elements of social life, including â€Å"a carefully staged play†, â€Å"defined rolesâ₠¬  and other elements that influence interaction. Social life can be viewed as real-life drama, in which each individual performs its role. As a result, it is impossible to separate an individual’s identity from an individual’s performance. He writes,A correctly staged and performed character leads the audience to impute a self to a performed character, but his imputation – this self – is a product of a scene that comes off and is not a cause of it. The self, then, as a performed character, is not an organic unit that has a specific location †¦it is a dramatic effect arising diffusely from a scene that is presented (Goffman,1971, p.23)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Goffman characterizes identity as â€Å"a dramatic effect† because it equates the self and the mind. The self can be viewed as an effect, if identity is performed. In other words, the self becomes the major source of a wide range of activities performed by individuals , as well as their beliefs and ideas. Goffman considers that the capabilities of individual identities play a significant role in the realization of social performance. These views are not connected with Mead’s theory of the self. According to researchers, Goffman’s dramaturgical theory regarding the role of the self and identity differs from Mead’s views in the field of social psychology (Manning, 1992; Mead, 1925).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In contrast to Goffman’s views, Mead provides an opportunity to see the distinction between the two parts of â€Å"the self† – the â€Å"I†, which characterizes immediate consciousness, and the â€Å"me†, which defines the product of performance or interaction of an individual (Mead, 1925). This fact means that Mead’s explanation of â€Å"the self† is taken from the practical action of an individual and social interaction (Brym, Lie, 2009; Manning, 1992).Co nclusion  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, it is necessary to conclude that George Herbert Mead’s and Erving Goffman’s interpretations of the constitution and reproduction of individual identity have very much in common, but, at the same time, there are certain differences between them. One of these approaches to individual identity is superior to the other. Goffman’s approach provides more systematic understanding of the presentation of one’s individual identity in social interaction.   The sociological concept of identity, according to both Mead and Goffman, was established as individual characteristic combined with social interaction. The self can be viewed as an individual’s identity. Goffman’s ideas highlight the significance of cooperation between individuals. Goffman’s approach is more influential than Mead’s approach, although Goffman explored some themes developed by Mead in his works. In general, two theorists Mead and Goffman contributed to the study of sociology that has a strong impact on the way sociology as a science is represented now.   Their works share some similarities regarding the construction of identity.

Answer 5 of the 8 question for speech assighnment Assignment

Answer 5 of the 8 question for speech assighnment - Assignment Example cal design, where one organizes the events that relate to the speech according to their significance, this would help in preventing one from leaving out anything vital. Use of a preparation outline could also prove helpful. One could write an outline and some few points below it, and this would help one highlight the key points that could be used to support the message being passed. This could be supported by a delivery outline. Delivery outline would help a speaker remember the sequence or the way by which he intends to deliver the speech. This will help prevent one from straining while trying to remember the point that should follow (Pink, 2009). Finally, the speaker should make sure to remember the general purpose of the speech. Sometimes one may tend to be carried away by the speech, and forget to stick to the purpose of the speech. Thus, by putting the broad purpose in mind, the speaker will be able to focus on delivering the broad goal of the speech. There are a number of ways by which one could gather resources so as to use as evidence in the speech. One of the methods could be to plagiarize. To plagiarize means to take ideas from another person, and deliver them as if they were one’s own. For example, one could borrow ideas from another person’s previous speech or a textbook, and deliver them to the audience as if they were one’s own (Pink, 2009). Another way one could gather resources could be through periodical optional, where one gets information about a topic from a research aid, where different articles have been put together for research purpose. It could be from magazines or even journals. The internet is also another reliable way by which one could get resources or evidence for one speech. All one needs to do is just Google the topic or the word one intends to speak about, and information about it will be provided. An online database could also be beneficial in helping a speaker gather information for his speech. This is easily done through

World Literature Phase 4 DB 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

World Literature Phase 4 DB 2 - Essay Example unchaste action, or dishonoured step,/That hath deprived me of your grace and favour;/But even for want of that for which I am richer,/A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue/As I am glad I have not, though not to have it/Hath lost me in your liking†. In sharp contrast to this poetic statement is this coarse dialogue from King Lear in Act IV, Scene VI: And the creature run from the cur? There thou/mightst behold the great image of authority: a/dogs obeyed in office./Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!/Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;/Thou hotly lustst to use her in that kind/For which thou whippst her. So, in short, Shakespeare is real. And it is in this sense of reality, the frankness of portrayal of human nature which can be lyrical at times, and rude and brutal at others, that Shakespeare has triumphed over time. Shakespeare’s themes are universal: they strike a chord in people of the twenty-first century, and interestingly, some or the other versions of King Lear, Regan, Goneril, Edmund and Cordelia exist in the modern times. For instance, there are many people in today’s capitalistic times, who like Edmund, strive to rise above their circumstances, "Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit; / All with mes meet that I can fashion fit", More importantly, Shakespeare does not make King Lear a morality play where the good get rewarded and the evil punished. While those that are evil meet with their deaths, the innocent die too: Lear, Gloucester and Cordelia die despite not having done much to deserve it. Shakespeare seems to say that evil is a part of human existence, and that the world is not a just place. Death takes those that are evil and those that are innocent with a grand indifference and seemingly without reason, a distinctly post- modern or existentialist way of looking at things. What is more, Shakespearean plots are well-structured and undiluted. Full of drama, vivid imagery and iridescent language, Shakespeare