Saturday, August 31, 2019

Frankenstein and Blade Runner Essay

Blade Runner’s Eldon Tyrell proclaims the company’s motto as ‘more human than human’. How has the notion of humanity been explored in Frankenstein and Blade Runner? Thesis: The nature of humanity is progression, when we progress too far we play God and lose basic traits of humanity. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein draws on concerns from the romantics era to illustrate the instinctive and greedy appetite for progression that is part of the nature of humanity. Furthermore Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner touches on Shelley’s notions of danger in human enterprise and the uncontrollable drive of scientific evolution. These texts critically inquire into the follies of greed, and moral corruption. Despite there being over 150 years between their compositions these texts similarly represent the consequences of playing God, and in turn the loss of humanity that goes with it. The common thematic concerns of these texts are explored through the use of camera angles, imagery, tone and metaphor. Both Frankenstein and Blade Runner portray how the ambition to break through human limitations in an act to play God is bound to result in failure. The religious imagery used when Frankenstein grants the â€Å"spark of life† upon the Creature in his effort to â€Å"pour a torrent of light into our dark world† helps us come to the conclusion that the Creature is the very embodiment of the monstrosity that humans are capable of creating. The metaphor of light in, â€Å"until from the midst of this darkness a sudden light broke in upon me† conveys Victor’s instinctive awakening to the possibility of creating a perfect being impervious to diseases. Such an unmentionable act trespasses the realm of the godlike providence, signifying the beginning of Frankenstein’s blindness. He is quick to realise that he has created a monster, as shown by the regretful tone in, â€Å"I beheld the wretch – the miserable monster whom I had created. † This depicts that untamed human ambition can lead to the inadvertent creation of the ‘grotesque’ when playing a human God. Similarly in Blade Runner, the dystopian world demonstrates the aftermath of humanity’s desire to create a better society when playing God. The opening panoramic shot portrays a decaying city dominated by industrial buildings. This decaying city works in conjunction with the recurring motif of artificial neon lighting and eerie sounds to create a cold dark ambience. Blade Runner’s shadowy atmosphere is symbolic of the lack of warmth, affection and family which has been created by the human need of progression. Such technological defeat indicates humanity has gone too far, resulting in complete destruction of nature. Furthermore Tyrell’s malicious need for god like power over the replicants he creates is shown when he states â€Å"If we gift them with a past, we create a cushion or a pillow for their emotions, and consequently, we can control them better. † The incessant need for supremacy displayed depicts an obvious intention to play God and appropriately, the human beings in this alternate future seem artificial and lacking humanity. Both texts warn the audience about the dangers of human ambition to progress in science which holds the capacity for not only devastating the environment but also humanity itself. The two texts comment on mankind’s loss of humanity. Shelley depicts this theme through the dichotomy between the creature and Victor, his creator. The creature is able to show basic human instincts as it relates to â€Å"the pleasant showers and genial warmth† of nature on it’s pilgrimage through the wilderness. In contrast, Victor shows â€Å"insensibility to (natures) charms† while creating the creature by containing himself in a â€Å"deep dark deathlike solitude†, this alliteration is metaphoric of Victor’s inability to relate to nature and display basic human qualities which the creature can. This directly relates to the romantic era, when Shelley wrote Frankenstein and that the appreciation of nature was considered inseparable from the human experience. Therefore, this dichotomy is metaphoric of mankind’s loss of humanity. Scott reinforces mankind’s loss of humanity through the execution of the Tyrell Corporations motto â€Å"more human than human. † The loss of humanity can be seen in the contrast between replicants and humans. Pris is wearing a bridal gown while hiding from Deckard; this is metaphoric of the replicants ability to feel emotions of love and familial belonging, a basic human instinct which the humans of this world are unable to feel. J. F Sebastian’s ironic dialogue â€Å"I make friends, they’re toys, my friends are toys† shows that humans no longer have real families and have lost the ability to develop relationships naturally. Contrasted again by Batty’s howl of pain at the death of Pris, this is symbolic of the familial bonds and relationships formed between replicants. Not only does this comparison establish the motto â€Å"more human than human† as a truism, it is symbolic of Scott building upon Shelley’s original depiction of mankind’s loss of humanity thus reinforcing her warning against the amoral pursuit of science and technology. Shelley and Scott draw upon the concerns of their times; the characters warn us that overstepping our boundaries and unrestrained scientific advancement comes with a consequence. The texts critically inquire into the human ability to commit monstrous deeds in the name of ‘progression’. It is evident that despite their contextual differences, both texts are linked through their common concerns about our inherent readiness to abandon that which distinguishes humans from all other species. Perhaps the underlying message of these texts is that despite the things we create being a reflection of ourselves and our societies, it is ultimately our creations that mould us and who we are. This is illustrated by Winston Churchill’s words â€Å"we shape the things we build, thereafter they shape us†.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Macbeth – Shakespeare

Macbeth, written in 1606, is one of Shakespeare's most adventurous plays filled with ambition, fate, deception and treachery, centred around the character of Macbeth, telling of extraordinary things from the witches mischievous magic to Macbeths change in fortune and personality. First his bravery, loyalty, and morality are conveyed to the audience; before Shakespeare goes on to tell of his tragic decline into evil and of how he brutally obtains power and control over others. At the time of the play's creation, society believed intensely in the Chain of Being; the concept of God's strict, natural structure over the universe. The people stuck by this for fear of the consequences. They didn't question nature's vicious wrath because if they were to turn against it, it would be to defy the will of God and so had only God to answer to, dictating that it was therefore sinful for their subjects to resist them. Throughout Act 1:1-3, Shakespeare's audience is given countless reasons to think of Macbeth in a positive way, depicting him as the strong, heroic character, conveying to them all of his many laudable traits. This is firstly shown through how others act towards him and what people think of him. He is related to a ‘lion' and ‘eagle' by the captain showing he is thought of very highly and is respected. Confidence, fierceness and determination are all ‘lion' like qualities that are reflected in the character of Macbeth. This is proved when he heroically fights on in the battle as it continues. Secondly ‘noble Macbeth' questions the witches as he contemplates their prospects for him. He feels ‘to be King stands not within the prospect of belief' so will leave it to ‘chance' as he knows that sudden ambition is wrong. This declarative statement emphasises his refusal to act wrongly. Everyone values Macbeth and all believe he is an incredible fighter and to emphasise this, Shakespeare uses a simile to show it to be true ‘like valour's minion curved out his passage'. This portrays how Macbeth puts others before him and cares about them. Lastly you can see Macbeth's loyalty as he talks to the witches because he has potential and wants to be a leader but does not do anything about it; when he is told he will be of a higher status he is shocked and refuses to believe that it may come true. This shows that he is good because he doesn't want to do anything to the King but protect him conveying his patriotic traits. Macbeth however could also been seen as having a potential for evil in this scene. He is described as ‘valour's minion', this portrays him as a brave servant when he is a leader to many. This could also be seen as him being a vassal and that he is easily commanded highlighting his weaknesses challenging the idea of him soon to become King. During the battle he is also said to have ‘carved out his passage' showing a ruthless and angry side to his personality later in the play when he murders innocent subjects. This could be exploited by his easy susceptibility later in the play by people such as the witches or his wife towards evil. The fact that the witches are going to meet Macbeth could suggest he is evil, as the witches are deemed evil and meddlesome. Being around the witches' associates him with them and their evil doings, this is emphasised through their meeting place, ‘A desolate place' which is also lit by thunder and lightning. Because of its description it can be seen that they are almost removed from the rest of the world and disconnected from God and the rest of humanity, which only makes it more villainous for Macbeth to be there. The witches also prophesy that he shall become the thane of Cawdor; this is ironic because the previous thane was a traitor and tried to kill the king. This could suggest that Shakespeare is trying to make Macbeth fit the mould of the previous thane, which would make him evil as well. Lady Macbeth and her husband's strong relationship is built on how they treat each other. For example, in scene 7 Lady Macbeth finds her husband weak and pathetic when he is not doing as she wants. She is able to manipulate him as she is stronger minded and he is ‘too full o'th' milk of human kindness' which portrays his positive traits and her negative attitude. Lady Macbeth is not happy unless she is in control so in order to make sure she is she uses repetitive phrases such as, ‘wouldst thou' in scene 7, line 41 and again in line 42. This is effective because it shows her point clearly making the reader believe she's right as she does to Macbeth later. She wants to teach Macbeth evil so he becomes like her as she thinks he can be figured out too easily – ‘your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters'. Lady Macbeth's ‘ambition' is to ‘win' and nothing else. This is shown through the language she uses. Lady Macbeth thinks highly of determination and confidence but not only that, she won't settle until she has got what she wants which shows power. Lady Macbeth addresses her husband as ‘thou', this infers that she already has control over him. It makes it easier to persuade Macbeth because you can see who the dominant one in their relationship is from the language they use with each other. Shakespeare has expressed her passion and determination through alliteration: ‘Hie thee hither'; this sounds strong willed and powerful and gives her speech a scene of urgency as if she wants to get on with the murder and won't back down giving no choice but for Macbeth to agree with her. It also creates negative imagery as it sounds as if she is hissing, through the use of sibilance, which again relates her with evil. Lady Macbeth is shown to ‘chastise' Macbeth often showing how easily she can manipulate him. It also shows her superior nature and strength over her husband. To ensure that Macbeth follows through with their plan, Lady Macbeth wants to share her evil with him: ‘I may pour my spirits in thine ear' – she wishes to influence him so that he will be stronger as she believes she is superior to him. Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as evil using the symbolic ‘raven' to do so. The ‘raven' doesn't only symbolise Lady Macbeth but also death and foreboding. This expresses her power and how she has managed to get her own way through her lies and deceit. When she says ‘the raven himself is hoarse' it symbolises Macbeth's weak nature and how he will give into her so they will not fail as Lady Macbeth thinks she is always right. To show Lady Macbeth's ambition her character uses many imperative statements: ‘unsex me here, from crown to the toe'. This also shows she is anything but willing to back down and she is very demanding by her forceful nature. Lady Macbeth wants to be seen as more masculine so results in asking the spirits to take away her femininity because she doesn't think she's string enough as a woman. This is also shown when she directs the spirits to ‘take (her) milk for gall' and ‘make thick (her) blood'; this ruthless attitude shows how much she wants it and how she'd do anything to get it again also showing how she believes she can beat nature. Her extreme evil attitude and her enthusiasm is shown through alliteration and superlative adjectives e. g ‘direst creulty'. When she uses the description of ‘murthring ministers' it emphasizes her passion and determination. Her ‘dark' vocabulary associates her with evil and the witches and creates negative imagery as the witches are connected to villainous things. The personification Shakespeare uses gives the impression of foul changes and how they are against nature: ‘Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark'. This verifies Lady Macbeth's evilness as she is putting herself in the opposition to all that is good: her husband, Heaven and God. This gives a strong affect as it emphasises and hints at his increasing change towards evil. Shakespeare also uses similes to show how Lady Macbeth is starting to control Macbeth more and more quickly. She orders him to ‘look like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under't' which means hide your feelings and emotions so that he doesn't get caught when committing the ‘deed'. This is another imperative statement showing she dominates him. In many of the phrases that Shakespeare uses in his play, Macbeth can be interpreted in more than one way for example, ‘he that's coming must be provided for. ‘ This associates Lady Macbeth with the witches because it emphasises her control over Macbeth and how the witches have the same control over him. But it also connects her with darkness and the devil as she is preparing a feast but actually is planning on the death of the King. At this point Macbeth is starting to agree with his wife as she has manipulated him through her twisted words so that it sounds like the right thing to do. Macbeth's soliloquy is very powerful, at the beginning of scene 7, as he is debating whether to go through with the ‘assassination'. The scene in which this is performed represents his feelings. This is because the ‘torches' represent how he is not completely decided. They show how he's still half in darkness and half in light symbolising half in evil and half in good showing the darkness is slowly consuming him but hasn't yet. This can also be seen as the light symbolising of Duncan's life and how it is ending and later when the torches have gone out, he will be dead. The darkness also creates suspense and an eerie atmosphere leading to the unknown. Macbeth's loyalty and kindness is shown clearly in this part of the play to show he would go through with ‘the deed' if there were no ‘consequence's and it could ‘end all here'. Although as this is not what would happen then it would all be lead back to him and his reputation would be ruined. This shows the morality in how he feels uneasy about doing this and how he has be forced against his will and been persuaded into it. He shows fear and remorse by trying to talk himself out of their plan. Macbeth feels that he should be loyal towards the king as he has done no wrong towards himself and he has treated him well recently. Duncan is the guest so Macbeth should be protecting him not bringing harm or death to him. He also thinks Duncan is a good King so does not want to hurt him and as he is he's ‘kingman and subject' then he should be again protecting him against any other more obvious evil predators. Another way Macbeth's conscience is seen is when he is talking to his wife. He sounds very unsure and unwilling to go through with the murder. It is easily seen as he uses euphemisms to replace the words death and murder for example, ‘this business' or ‘taking off'. This shows he is uncomfortable with the task and he doesn't want to come to terms with it. He thinks he has no reason to do it and that he us too afraid to; there's no other reason but his ‘vaulting ambition'. This is shown through the language and vocabulary that Shakespeare has used. The ‘surcease, success' is emphasised through alliteration and sibilance, which again draws attention to how they have not failed with the murder yet. His use of personification is strong and bold: ‘tears shall drown the wind. ‘ This helps Macbeth persuade himself not to do it and shows he is valiant and trusting, as he wants to get out of the situation. Using a soliloquy to show this makes it more personal which emphasises his emotions; this then builds tension making the scene more intense for the audience. Despite how much loyalty Macbeth has and how much he doesn't want to perform the dreadful deed, Lady Macbeth is powerful enough to overrule his decision and persuade him to carry it out. Shakespeare uses many techniques, which makes her more dominant than Macbeth as she uses them to manipulate him. Firstly, Shakespeare uses rhetorical questions, one continuously after the other, which then makes Macbeth question himself through undermining him and patronising him: ‘Hath it slept since? ‘ This question leaves Macbeth finding himself without an answer leading him with no choice but to side with Macbeth. Another way that she does this is by attacking his masculinity and his soldier-like qualities using words like ‘green' and ‘pale'. She uses similes – ‘Like the poor cat i'th'a dage? – which makes his feel pathetic and like he has to do it because she is relating him to the poor cat in the old story. Her declarative statements about his manhood appeals to his self esteem and pride. She uses reverse psychology and tells him to ‘be so much more the man' which makes him want to prove himself and show that she is wrong. This is also shown when she compares him to herself because she conveys how ruthless she is when she describes how she would dash the brains out of a baby and how if she said she would do something then she would follow through with it making Macbeth feel cowardly and weaker then his wife. This is very important to his appearance because the social aspect in that time was thought that any man was suppose to overall a woman. Lady Macbeth persuades her husband by using influential adjectives such as, ‘dashed', ‘plucked' and ‘boneless'. This emotive language emphasises the harsh reality of her strength and creates clear imagery showing her passion, which then motivates Macbeth to go through with her plan. She also uses his weaknesses to get her own way and directs her orders to him personally. ‘Why did you leave the chamber? – she starts to distant herself to make the situation more serious and make Macbeth realise that she refuses to fail. The alliteration that is used emphasises her anger and passion towards this procedure. An example of this is ‘receipt of reason', this is very harsh sounding phrase so seems as if she's spitting out the words. Lastly she uses Macbeth's words against him by mirroring and questioning them. ‘We fail' – this makes her argument even stronger forcing him into agreeing with her. As she has an answer to everything he doubts he has no choice but to follow her in this devious arrangement. Although it appears that Lady Macbeth is the stronger of the two, the majority of the play is written in blank verse showing that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both equal to each other as their patterns of speech are the same. This could be interpreted that Lady Macbeth goes from weaker to stronger and then back to weaker again as she turns insane later in the play where as Macbeth still has his emotions throughout the play although they may start to slowly fade, like his conscience, as evil takes over him but this shows their equal status. Lady Macbeth uses manipulation and immorality to turn Macbeth's view around. This shows he is easily convinced as at the beginning of the play he was completely against her plot but then went through with it in the end anyway. In Act 2:1, Macbeth is portrayed as an evil ‘butcher' rather than heroic. He says ‘A heavy summon lies like lead upon me, And yet I would not sleep' showing that nature is defying his sleep even though he's exhausted. Banquo uncovers how the chain of being has been interrupted reasoned by no ‘husbandry in heaven'. This seems as if there are no stars like heaven is saving energy. Macbeth's evil increases throughout the play, which creates more and more evidence against him. In this scene he uses a lot of negative imagery inferring he's about to do wrong emphasising his evil. He talks about ‘witchcraft' and ‘Tarquin's ravishing strides' as if it's a good thing and he is comparing himself to him. In the part of Macbeth's soliloquy, he sees a dagger. This motivates him to go through with the murder although it is not known who is doing this to him whether it's him mind that is becoming more evil through Lady Macbeth's teachings or the witches or he's hallucinating because they have disturbed the Chain of Being. This makes it harder for Macbeth to refuse. He also uses lots of phrases like ‘That summons thee to Heaven, or to Hell' which is significant because it is associated to funerals and death. Although, at the beginning he was completely against this plan, he is now lying to Banquo his ‘friend' and still calls him a ‘friend' although he's now become an enemy so its is ironic because he is the opposite. He seems, as he is almost comfortable with deceit and the whole idea. This is also shown when he says ‘Hear it not, Duncan' showing that he is now determined and confident that Duncan will not find out. Macbeth purposefully distances himself from good as he feels nature is against him. He is in great ‘fear' that it will give his plan away and that people might hear him. This is also linked to the Chain of Being about how it has been unbalanced. The play shows how Macbeth's personality unravels throughout, descending into evil. The people around him and the power that they withhold lead to his downfall. Shakespeare infers that Lady Macbeth is partially to blame for Macbeth's behaviour. He depicts her character as manipulating and controlling over Macbeth leading to his actions of murder. On the other hand, Macbeth is portrayed as a weak and cowardly character by not being able to defend himself and what is right resulting in his demise. The Chain of Being is an important theme in this play especially towards the end as everyone believed in it strongly and some even believed that it could tell you what happened next. For example, at the end of the play it is suggested that Macbeth will die because he has gone against God and interrupted the cycle. Therefore Macbeth's rapid descend into evil and Lady Macbeth's wicked nature both played an equal part in his transformation from hero to villain.

How consumers are protected in contracts for the sale Essay

Goods are any form of products that are supplied to consumers for their convenience. They are generally modelled as having diminishing marginal utility. Ultimately, whether an object is a good or a bad depends on each individual consumer and therefore, it is important to realize that not all goods are good all the time and not all goods are goods to all people. Sourced: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_(economics) Role of the Sales of Goods Act 1979: The Sales of Goods Act 1979 gives consumers the opportunity of returning or exchanging products which do not fit the description for example, if a consumer has joined a new contract with the O2 and have been told that with the new contract they get a contract phone in black, however on the day when the phone arrives its white then the consumer can take their problem straight back to O2 and they would have to change the product straight away as it doesn’t look like what it is said to. Also if the contract clearly states that it will be a particular phone and turns out to be a different make then O2 would have to make sure the exchange the products and supply the customer with the one they have stated. Express Terms of the Sales of Goods Act 1979: An express term of a contract is a declaration which is made by two or more organisations; and has agreed upon what is stated in the contract, the contracts can be made through verbal methods or by word of mouth. Once the contract has been agreed upon both the organisations have to make sure the follow the deal. Conditions: A condition is a term which has to be followed within the agreement, For example, if O2 are selling their phone contract to customers, whereas supply customers with a different phone contract then it shows that  O2 did there bit of providing the customer with a mobile phone contract however didn’t provide them with the right one. A breach of contract will entitle O2 to follow the correct law of the contract and provide the consumer with the right one. Warranties: A warranty is a term that does not fully follow all agreements, so For example, carrying on from the O2 phone contract issue , when the customers buys the phone contract and is assured by the company that they will receive a special tariff with the contract. Therefore, when the phone contract arrives on the day there is no extra tariff, when the party doesn’t stick to its word then this is seen as a warranty. The customer is able to sue the supplier however it doesn’t mean that the agreement will end. Implied terms of the Sales of Goods Act 1979: There are sequence of conditions which are automatically prepared in every contract by the sales of goods act; and they would be dealing with the following which include: title, description, fitness for purpose and satisfactory quality. I have stated these factors below and explained what each and every one of them means: Title: this is when there is an implied condition which allows the sellers to have the right to sell the goods for example, O2 impliedly confirms that the phone contract it sells actually belong to it and also that it can legally pass on the ownership to another telecommunications company, however if O2 are not able to pass on the title to the buyers then it will mean that O2 will be liable for breach for the contract. Description: the contract must fully explain how the product has been described, when there is a contract for the sales of goods by description then there will be an implied condition that the goods will correspond with that description. However the slightest removal from the description will then enable the buyer into rejecting the goods for breach of condition of the contract made. Fitness for purpose: A fitness for purpose is where a seller who in this case  is O2 plans to sell its goods in the good courses of their business, for example if O2 was to sell their contract to the consumers for the business to be better and make more sales. There is an implied condition for this was they are fit for the particular purpose, this means that the buyer (consumer) has expressly or impliedly known to the seller. Satisfactory quality: The satisfactory quality is where the sellers sell goods for the good of their business; there is an implied term that the goods that is supplied are of the right satisfactory quality. However except to the extent of defects which are brought straight to the buyer’s attention, this will be done before the contract is made meaning that T-Mobile will need to sell satisfactory quality to their consumers. Conclusion: Overall in the briefing sheet I have made sure that all evidence is provided, also that a clear explanation is made of how a contract protects the consumer and what happens if that contract is breached. Mainly information is suggested on the different conditions made by the sales of goods act such as title, description, fitness for purpose and also satisfactory quality. Factors that invalidate contracts: There are many factors that can make a contract invalidated, which means that the contracts cannot be used anymore, such as the following: Misrepresentation: Misrepresentation is where there is a false statement in the contract which is made by one of the parties to the other before the contract is agreed on. There is no general duty to disclose facts, and silence will not normally amount to a misrepresentation. But gestures, smiles or a course of conduct may amount to a representation. Duress: Duress is where a party enters into a contract against their will for example, if O2 is forced into a contract by either violence or treat of violence to themselves or to their family then it means that the contract that is being made may become invalid. In this case the affected party can avoid the contract on the ground of duress; this is because all parties who are entering a contract must enter freely. Mistake: In general terms a mistake  is when a contract is being made however one of the party members may have made a mistake in knowing what they are agreeing to or a contract can be made which turns out to be wrong, this i s down to a mistake occurring, sometimes when there is a mistake in a contract it can make it invalidated.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Stock Prices Change And Earnings Changes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Stock Prices Change And Earnings Changes - Essay Example Forecasted free cash flows (operating profit + depreciation + amortization of goodwill - capital expenditures - cash taxes - change in working capital) are discounted to a present value using the company's weighted average costs of capital. DCF analysis shows that changes in long-term growth rates have the greatest impact on share valuation. Investors can also use the DCF model as a reality check. Instead of trying to come up with a target share price, they can plug in the current share price and, be working backward, calculate how fast the company would need to grow to justify the valuation. The lower the implied growth rate, the better - less growth has therefore already been "priced into" the stock The dividend discount model is a more conservative variation of discounted cash flows, that says a share of stock is worth the present value of its future dividends, rather than its earnings. The dividend discount model can be applied effectively only when a company is already distributing a significant amount of earnings as dividends. But in theory, it applies to all cases since even retained earnings should eventually turn into dividends. That's because once a company reaches its "mature" stage it won't need to reinvest in its growth, so management can begin distributing cash to the shareholders. (Plan "B" would be for the CEO to pursue some insane acquisition, just to gratify his bloated ego.) As Williams puts it, If earnings not paid out in dividends are all successfully reinvested... then these earnings should produce dividends later; if not, then they are money lost... In short, a stock is worth only what you can get out of it. We generally find earnings developed in three Anglo-Saxon countries—where capital is traditionally raised in public markets and reporting rules are unencumbered by taxation requirements—to have greater explanatory power for stock returns than cash flow metrics.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 8

Proposal - Essay Example Improve effectiveness of workgroups, encourage people to give support to and improve nation-wide pollution prevention campaigns as well as support and promote environmental pollution prevention actions of educational pollution prevention enterprises and regional forums Educate people on how to avoid environmental pollution. The paper will also utilize participants, through advisory council and workgroups to find and influence national policy issues, encourage people to cooperate with outside associates to affect community policy and ensure providers of pollution prevention have unlimited access to new program developments and technologies. Moreover, the paper aims at facilitating and supporting training opportunities of environmental pollution prevention and supporting the distribution and development of scholastic contamination prevention information besides ensuring that communities work together to create mechanisms for finding and addressing matters of joint concern. Engage them in the research: When I engage people in any research, they will be able to learn more and get an in-depth understanding of what is being talked about (Best, 28-31) for example asking them to visit areas of research is important in that they will be able to know how these substances are produced, how wastes are eliminated and how they result to environmental pollution. Public lectures: I will conduct public lectures on causes and effects of environmental pollution to people. Knowing its causes and effort, people will be able to take various initiatives of control and avoidance. Distributing leaflets: These leaflets will be able to communicate to a wide scope of the population on various issues concerning the environment and also educate them on control and prevention measures of environmental pollution. Soil contamination- caused by chemicals that are released by underground leakages or spill, most common are heavy metals e.g. cadmium and chromium,

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Non require Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Non require - Essay Example inning as a renegade sect of Judaism that was banned by the Roman government (largely because it did not allow for the kind of religious pluralism that the Roman state was based on), to a tolerated, legal but minority religion (under the reign of Constantine),1 very briefly back to being an illegal religion (under Julian the Apostate) before finally becoming the official religion of the Roman state.2 Along with these changes in official status came changes in church structure – early Christian churches likely operated on a very small scale, with priests and bishops (where they existed) mainly serving the role of teachers and communicators, without actually wielding much power.3 As Christianity became more officially recognized, it became a more strongly organized church in itself, with greater emphasis put on hierarchy and the power and authority of church elders and leaders, and less emphasis on the importance of individual believers. Through these broad changes many disagree ments emerged: questions about who were church leaders, how their power was exercised, who got to set doctrinal legitimacy, and theological questions such as the nature of the divine. Through the broad history of Christianity, it becomes apparent that more and more of these conflicts were solved by the creation of a strict hierarchy, which put older, educated men at the head, forming church policy, while diminishing the importance and voice of anyone else. The role of women in the Church was an early issue that demonstrates the shift of power from ordinary believers into the hands of the same kind of people that ruled Roman society, older, patriarchal men. Women played an incredibly important role in early Christianity – Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Jesus were both incredibly important members of the early church. Likewise, Paul had many â€Å"coworkers† that demonstrate that women were indeed an important part of the early church.4 Women may have even had a role in

Monday, August 26, 2019

College Transfer Quality Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

College Transfer Quality - Personal Statement Example In my first year in Miami University, I became a laboratory researcher in Dr. Lee’s laboratory, doing experiment on microbial ecology to explain the global latitudinal diversity gradient phenomenon – this experiment, which I deem simple, involved determining heterozygosity of E. coli bacteria in different temperatures. Additionally, I find pleasure in carrying out some little interesting experiments, for example creating microbial paintings by growing different microbial colonies, which exhibit diverse shapes and colors on culture dishes. I have a strong feeling that my career fulfillment lies within Microbiology and I like the experiences in the discipline. Primarily, Microbiology experiments enable me to combine conceptual and formal decisions in the experiment; that is, explaining the macro world phenomenon with a small-scale experiment in the micro world. This is especially so considering the fact that I am in charge of the entire experiment and my schedule. Secondly, Microbiology experiments boarder/bridge my interests from science to art – for instance, those microbial paintings enable me to makes friends with many art major students. Thirdly, I have come to realize and appreciate the fact that I am good at interdisciplinary inspiration and this encourages me the more to become a Microbiologist. What propelled me to choose the University of California is the fact that as compared to Miami University, this university offers more research opportunities for Molecular Microbiology, and has larger diversity culture, which denotes better chances for interacting with more professionals both from my specialty as well as from other areas of specialization. This would make me the best that I can be in Microbiology. In effect, the fact that the University of California is a larger university satisfies my interests

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 125

Assignment Example Therefore, the participation of these different groups makes procurement a cross-disciplinary process. Public beheading means killing a supplier in public when they do not meet the supply requirements. Such an action invokes efficiency in supply, given that non-performance leads to death. Consequently, most suppliers at this time ensured that they fulfilled the requirement of the king by all means, which promoted operations in the kingdom. However, the lack of power in the hands of the suppliers led to their oppression, given that the market at times faces uncertainties that could affect supply. Following the establishment of the law of contract, an organization can choose to sue a supplier who does not abide by the contract terms of delivery. In other cases, an organization can work with multiple suppliers, to, maintain continuity of operations when one supplier fails. I believe in the power of negotiations. Interacting with suppliers can enhance this skill as relations can be built between the organization and the suppliers. Consequently, an organization can bargain for better prices, thus leading to low cost of purchasing. The low cost translates into low product prices, thus increasing the competitive edge of the organization. Alternatively, the organization can negotiate for suitable credit terms that allow it to operate normally in cases of reduced cash flow. Technical skills also play a major role in procurement. They ensure the purchase of technologically viable products. This leads to the proper integration of technology with the existing business structures, thus promoting the ability of the organization to develop innovative strategies that lead to success. Computer proficiency continues to rank as one of the most important skills in an organization. The use of computers leads to the standardization of various processes in the organization, thus enhancing uniformity. Computer applications also make work easier, and allow the organization to

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Scenario - Essay Example Loyalty and vision are both essential and provide employees with a pursuing path. In this report, an elaborate study will be presented which will determine the responsibilities and performance of the employees. Besides this, analysis will also signify the need for developing interpersonal and transferable skills. The organizations require that the employees work together and develop the strategies which help them in appropriate problem solving. All these studies signify the need for developing self-awareness and promote teamwork. This highlights the skills of individuals and presents a conclusion which proposes the ways through which useful human resource can be gathered by the organization. TASK # 1: DETERMINE OWN RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE 1.1 MANCHESTER COLLEGE LIP FOR DEVELOPING RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES Performance monitoring process is essential for individuals as it helps them in defining the career scope. The individuals require appropriate planning fo r setting goals and performing all the relevant actions required for progressing. Measuring the activities must be done through adequate planning, implementing, monitoring and reviewing the plan. This requires evaluating the needs, measuring impact and designing the services which are required for progressing within the relevantly designed model. (ACC, 2009) The measure of the responsibilities and performance makes the individual aware of the plan of action required to follow. Defining the scope of development can be done through the use of this model. For the individuals, the plan should be structured using all the available information which has been provided through the LIP model provided at the Manchester College. Three Months Acquire the expertise which reflects on the Academic performance. Plan and structure goals acquired for the future. Assess the current situation and develop an understanding of the goals which need to be acquired. Categorize the significance of job and ali gn it with the course which is being studied. Assess the support required for learning. Six Months The course learned and its relevant application with the job. Compare all the skills which include interpersonal and communication skills and how they may assist in acquiring the gains in the future. Prepare for the studies ahead of time after reviewing the date of the curriculum. Prepare for the assessment and rate the course preparation while studying the course. Nine Months Acquire complete knowledge and skills required for the training. Measure the competencies and further develop the skills keeping in mind the SMART goals. Enhance the technical knowledge and skills. Set own personal targets and ensure that no compromise is made while acquiring those targets. The performance objectives developed from the model will assist with the progress and create a whole new level of competence. 1.2 ACTION PLAN USING THE SMART TARGETS Goal setting is an essential process for completing the goal s. It is effective as it identifies all the facets and highlights all the hurdles which may arise during the success phase. The individual goals which are made determine the accomplishment of the strategic goals. The goal setting theory is one of the most influential and practical theories. Thousands of companies across the globe use this

Friday, August 23, 2019

Puritan Settlement in New England in the 17th Century Research Paper

Puritan Settlement in New England in the 17th Century - Research Paper Example Robinson 2005). This essay will examine Puritan settlement in New England in the 17th century asking the following questions: Who were the Puritans? Where and why did they settle in the New World? What type of settlements did they create? What was their effect on the newly emerging country? The Puritans were English followers of the French religious reformer, John Calvin (Bremer 1995; Bunker 2010). In the 16th and 17th centuries, England (indeed, all of Europe), had been involved in fierce battles over religion, most particularly the supremacy and legitimacy of the Catholic Church. Wars within and between countries over this burning conflict – whose fire was continuously rekindled by the sparks from myriad particular events – were commonplace until the 18th century. Arguably, the peak of the confrontation in Britain occurred with the English Civil War from 1642-51, which saw the regicide of King Charles I by the Parliament (which was essentially under the influence of t he Puritans), the establishment of a republican Commonwealth in effect under Puritan rule, and the re-establishment of the Monarchy under James II in 1660. The term â€Å"Puritan† was initially meant as an insulting term, but was later embraced by the English Calvinist Protestants (Bunker 2010; Heyrman 1991). Puritan referred not to moral priggishness (cf. Robinson 2005), but to being sticklers with regard to religious doctrine. They were called Puritans those who disagreed with the Religious Settlement proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth I in 1559, as being not reformed enough from the â€Å"Popish† practices of Catholicism with its rituals, hierarchy, and spiritual intermediaries (Bremer 1995). The Puritans believed that God had commanded the reform of both church and society. They condemned drunkenness, gambling, theatergoing, and Sabbath-breaking. They denounced popular practices rooted in pagan custom, like the celebration of Christmas, and deplored the â€Å"corruptio ns† of Roman Catholicism that still pervaded the Church of England – churches and ceremonies they thought too elaborate, and clergymen who were poorly educated (Heyrman 1991). The Puritans were not driven by mere doctrinal purity, but by a sincere belief that the millennium, or end of the world, was near, and that they must prepare for Christ’s return by building his Church and society here on Earth (Zakai 1994). Puritanism became a strong force in England (indeed, throughout Europe), with many powerful members of English society, including Members of Parliament, aristocrats, and middle class merchants as adherents (Bunker 2010). Equally, if not more, powerful members of English society, including the Monarchy, were against the movement (Bremer 1995). Importantly, most Puritans did not see themselves as separate from the Church of England, but rather as a reforming force within the English Church. As such, Puritanism was not a denomination, and in fact many Presb yterians, Quakers, and Congregationalists were part of the Puritan movement (Bremer 2010). After the death of Queen Elizabeth, the Puritans unsuccessfully tried to persuade the new King James to implement more than 30 changes in the Church to take it down a more Puritan path. This â€Å"Millenary Petition† was rejected, except for the request to translate the Bible into English (Bunker 2010). Without hope of reforming the English Church from within, and with the expected coming of Christ

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Minimalism and Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Minimalism and Music - Essay Example The cultural milieu of the first wave of minimalist composers all born in the mid 1930s in the United States was one marked by social upheaval, political revolution, and a new sense of global awareness and connection after the isolationist 50's. This sense of a world stage in which the United States and the Soviet Union were the two antipodes invited an influx of ideas and cultural artifacts from the rest of the world. The late 50's and early 60's saw a massive increase in the number of colleges and universities and the subsequent rise in attendance of those institutions. This academic boom laid the groundwork for the ideological struggles that would precipitate politically, culturally, and artistically. As such, minimalism owes more to non-Western music, jazz and rock than to 20th-century Modernism or any other Western art music, at least that since the Baroque period (Potter "Minimalism"). While their modernist predecessors and their electronic and electro-acoustic contemporaries w ere interested in withdrawal, socially and musically as evidenced by Milton Babbit's statement, "the composer would do himself and his music an immediate and eventual service by total, resolute, and voluntary withdrawal from this public world into one of private performance and electronic media, with its very real possibility of complete elimination of the public and social aspects of composition" . That particular quotation of Babbit's was present in his controversial essay, "Who Cares If you Listen," Steve Reich. believed quite the opposite and suggested that the work that he, Terry Riley and Philip Glass were doing was interested in the public reaction and interested in connecting with a more mainstream approach (Schwarz, 375). The second wave of minimalist composers came later in the 80's and 90's under the rubric of "holy minimalism." This trio of composers included: Henyrk Gorecki, Arvo Part, and John Taverner. Their milieu is also suggestive of a multi-culturally infused, cosmopolitan attitude towards music, with an interest in connecting with the people around them. However, in addition to this cultural context, there is a religious or transcendent impulse in their music that is not necessarily present in the work of Riley, Glass or Reich. This transcendent impulse is also indicative of the opportunity to connect with an audience in a mainstream way, by the utilization of religious imagery perhaps common to many. Stylistically, Minimalism is a response to serialism, free atonality, and aleatory styles of John Cage and other post-war avant-garde musicians (Schwarz, 375). It

The Seven Wonders of the World Essay Example for Free

The Seven Wonders of the World Essay One of the most famous structures on the list of the seven wonders of the ancient world is The Great Pyramid of Giza. What makes this structure the most recognizable on the list? Not only is this pyramid the oldest structure on the list, but it is the only structure that still remains. The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest man made structure in the world for 3800 years which is not only a testament to its durability but to its mark as one of the most remarkable structures built. It is no wonder that The Great Pyramid of Giza was placed on the list of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Great Pyramid of Giza is a fairly typical pyramid. It is not decorated with reliefs or inscriptions, and it is built in the same shape as all other pyramids. The Pyramid of Giza was not the first pyramid to be built, yet this pyramid has become one of the most famous structures in the world. Why has this particular pyramid gained all the fame and glory? The Pyramid of Giza, though not much larger than most pyramids, is in fact the largest pyramid ever built. This pyramid exemplifies the advancements and accomplishments of architecture in Egypt. The pyramid is large, precise and required an overwhelming amount of organization. It is not the pyramid that is so fascinating, but it is the process and method used to create it. Even today, Egyptologists are not completely sure how The Great Pyramid of Giza was built. In about 2,550 B. C. Pharaoh Khufu ordered the building of his tomb on the plateau of Giza which lies on the outskirts of Cairo. The tomb was designed to protect the Pharaoh’s body as well as his possessions. This would ensure a safe trip with all his belongings into the afterlife. Some believe that Khufu’s vizier, Hemiunu, was the architect of the pyramid whose seated statue was found in the tomb at Giza, but it is not known for sure. The pyramid took just under 30 years to build. The pyramid consists of 2 million limestone blocks each weighing from 2. 5 to 15 tons. The corners of the base of the pyramid coincide almost exactly with the four cardinal points, and the base is level to within in an inch. The pyramid is estimated to stand 481 ft tall. Right by The Great Pyramid of Giza lay three smaller pyramids which are believed to hold the Pharaoh’s queens. The second largest pyramid as well as the sphinx was commissioned by Pharaoh Khufu’s son, Pharaoh Khafre, in 2520 B. C.. It appears at first that this pyramid is the largest, ut do not be fooled. Pharaoh Khafre built his tomb on a plateau 33ft higher most likely to out due his father. The last and smallest pyramid was built by Pharaoh Menkaure around 2490 B. C.. Much like most old kingdom pyramids, the inside of The Great Pyramid of Giza consists of three chambers. The entrance is on the north face of the pyramid and placed up high. The entrance leads to a passageway that descends 191 ft through the pyramid into an underground chamber. There is a passageway from this chamber that is wide enough for only one man, but it leads to a dead end. On the east-west central axis of the pyramid remains the Queens Chamber which was misnamed by early explorers. This chamber was sealed off from the rest of the pyramid and is now believed to once be the location of the king’s ka (spirit) statue. Connected to the descending passage, there is an ascending passage as well. The ascending passage is only big enough to crawl in (approx 1m high and 1m wide). This passage leads you to the Grand Gallery which ultimately leads you to the Pharaoh’s Chamber. All that remains in the Pharaoh’s Chamber today is Khufu sarcophagus. The room is built in red granite, and it is believed that the pyramid was built around the sarcophagus. Also discovered were airshafts in the pyramid. The four airshafts are believed to be â€Å"escape routes† for the Pharaoh’s soul. Two of the airshaft point to Orion and the other two point towards the polar stars. The Pyramids were commissioned by the Pharoah, but the Pyramids were built by the people. With little tools or technology, the Egyptians were able to move heavy blocks of stone as far as 500 mi as well as place the blocks on top of one another so that the pyramid would reach 481ft tall. It is a mystery even today how the Egyptians maneuvered these heavy blocks, but some theories have been drawn. Many believe that the stones were carried using wooden sleds, levers and papyrus twine to the pyramid using ramps. The gradual ramps were made of mud, stone and wood. The ramps were used to move the blocks not only to the pyramid but around and up it as well. The Nile River was also used in transporting materials and equipment. Over 100,000 laborers worked on the project. The people that built the pyramid were skilled and well-fed builders who lived in nearby cities. Help from many ommunities across Egypt most likely occurred to create the pyramid. Originally, the pyramid had casing stones of highly polished white limestone lying on the outside of the pyramid. However in the Middle Ages, massive earthquakes loosened the casing, and the materials were reused for other projects. Erosion, grave robbers as well as tourists have also attributed to the Pyramid’s deterioration over the years. However, steps have been made to protect the pyramid. Now the pyramids are protected by organizations, Egyptologist and the people so that it may remain unharmed for future generations to see. Originally, The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a symbol of Egypt’s wealth and power. Now, the pyramids are a symbol of Egypt and its rich history and culture. The Great Pyramid of Giza is a testament to the intelligence and technological advancement of Egypt’s ancient civilizations. Pharaoh Khufu was able to create one of the largest structures in the world as well as one of the oldest. The pyramid was an amazing feat of ancient civilization which is why it made the list as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Waste, crowd and pollution management

Waste, crowd and pollution management 7.3 Site Management Strategies The Marina Barrage has many site management strategic plans in place, which include but are not limited to waste, crowd and pollution management. As Marina Barrage is an environmentally sustainable place, the management seeks to maintain its pristine image of sustainability. 7.3.1 Waste Management Waste management generally involves the collection, removal, processing, and disposal of materials considered as waste, which can be solid, gaseous, liquid, or even hazardous and are generally generated through human activity (Ekvall et. al., 2007). Proper waste management is important as it can cause many health, safety and even economic issues if not managed well (Giusti, 2009). Improper waste management is crucial to Marina Barrage as its image rides on its greenery. Its waste management policies ensure that the Marina Barrage is kept litter free as much as possible. This is done through the placement of litterbins strategically throughout the Marina Barrage. However, through observation, the team recommends that the number of litterbins should be increased to accommodate the large crowd numbers on the weekends. On weekends where the crowd numbers are significantly higher than on weekdays, rubbish bins tend to overflow due to the unavailability of sufficient bins along high volume areas such as the green roof. This would ensure that waste pollution is kept to a minimum and that its image as a sustainable and green destination is maintained (Kumar, 2014). 7.3.2 Crowd Management Crowd management must take into account all the elements of an event especially the type of event (circus, sporting, theatrical, concert, rally, parade, etc.), characteristics of the facility, size and demeanour of the crowd, methods of entrance, communications, crowd control, and queueing. As in all management, it must include planning, organizing, staffing, directing and evaluating. Particularly critical to crowd management is defining the roles of parties involved in an event, the quality of the advance intelligence, and the effectiveness of the planning process (Tubbs Meacham, 2007). For Marina Barrage, crowd management is vital as it provides a safe and organized setting for visitors. The Marina Barrage has excellent existing crowd management measures in place. The Marina Barrage would hardly be classified as an overcrowded destination on a day-to-day basis with the exception of days with events or festivals. Even so, event and festival organisers are monitored to ensure that t he crowd management does not go out of hand (PUB Occupation License, 2015). The team recommends that these measures should be maintained and perhaps upgraded through crowd management software with crowd forecast plans implemented. This ensures that crowd numbers are monitored well and overcrowding is prevented. 7.3.3 Safety Guidelines Safety Guidelines are regulations or rules that are put in place to ensure a product, event, etc., is safe and not dangerous (Vimlati et. Al., 2009). The Marina Barrage has many safety guidelines in place and most of which places public safety and wellbeing as its number one priority. Its safety guidelines include code of conducts for water activities, safety permits for both events and boat hoisting (Code of Conduct, 2015). Such practices help to prevent any safety infringements from happening and in turn could hurt visitors to the Marina Barrage. Safety and security are vital to provide a high quality tourism policy. In fact, the success or failure of a tourism destination depends largely on its capacity to provide visitors with a safe and secure environment (Tubbs Meacham, 2007). Besides physical safety aspects, the team recommends that the Marina Barrage should continue to ensure the social security of the destination. This should be relatively easy as Singapore is classified as one of the top five safe cities in the world (Bertrand, 2015). It will help build Marina Barrage and Singapore’s image as safe destinations to visit. Health safety aspects are also recommended to be looked at by the management. The annual haze Singapore faces could be a point to start from. In 2013, PSI levels reached dangerous levels of above 400 (Vaswani, 2013). The marina barrage could ensure public health and safety through measures such as advising the public to remain within the indoor sections such as the sustainable gallery. This could have a dual effect of ensuring public safety and public awareness of the gallery’s existence. 7.3.4 Accessibility and Infrastructure Public accessibility heavily influences tourists’ willingness to visit a tourism destination (Schofield et.al, 2010). Public accessibility via public transport such as MRT and bus services are available. However, due to the location of Marina Barrage, these services remain rather limited. For example the nearest MRT Station as of March 2015 is Bayfront MRT which is a 20 mins walk away and there is only one bus service ferrying visitors to the Marina Barrage. However, private vehicle access is truly excellent. The team recommends that upon completion of the Gardens by the Bay station along the Thomson-East Coast Line, sheltered walkways should be built between the MRT station and the Marina Barrage. Sheltered walkways should also be constructed between the existing bus stop located outside the Marina Barrage and the barrage itself along with bicycle rental kiosks to reduce the carbon footprint around the vicinity. Shuttle buses could also be implemented between nearby hotels ar ound the Marina area such as Marina Bay Sands Marina Mandarin to attract higher tourist numbers and raise the awareness of such an tourism destination. More public bus services can be proposed to the relevant government authorities or at the very least increase the frequency of the current service to cater to the needs of the public. This would help the Marina Barrage in its accessibility issues over the long run. Where visitor infrastructure within Marina Barrage is concerned, the overall review remains excellent. Detailed considerations have gone into the planning of the infrastructure of the place. The marina barrage is significantly wheelchair friendly though improvements can be made to make the sustainably gallery a little more wheelchair accessible as accessibility is a human right and basic need of people and should be a fundamental consideration during planning of urban destinations (Evcil, 2009). The team recommends to further enhance the Marina Barrage to make is complete ly barrier free to wheelchair bound visitors to enhance visitor experience and satisfaction. 7.3.5 Environmental Protection Environmental protectionis a practice of protectingthe naturalenvironmenton individual, organizational or governmental levels, for the benefit of both the natural environmentand humans (Heink Kowarik, 2010). As the marina barrage is touted as one of the greenest destinations in Singapore, its need for environmental sustainability and protection is high. Environmental protection is of outmost importance as it involves the protection of the natural environment on various governmental levels right up to individuals and can results in benefits for both people and the environment (Gonzalez, 2014). Green principles were thought through thoroughly during construction and operation of the barrage. Thus, the marina barrage reduces its electricity consumption and waste pollution significantly. The team recommends that the Marina Barrage apply more energy conservation measures to enhance its image as a sustainable green destination. This can be done by increasing its aircon temperature to 25 d egrees Celsius, adding more solar panels to its roof and perhaps and inclusion of an electricity generating water turbine in its outlet pumps. The additional solar panels can not only help to power the Marina Barrage but could be transported to the Marina Vicinity. This would reduce carbon footprint as well as greenhouse gas emissions in Singapore and increase its self-sustainability to run on green and clean energy generated through its day to day operations (Schulz, 2010).

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Relationship between Gender, Identity and Civil Disobedience

Relationship between Gender, Identity and Civil Disobedience Hannah Rates Gender, Identity and Civil disobedience: Are they the solution to their own problem? Social political concepts are arguably becoming the most important and highly discussed governmental topics. Gender, identity and civil disobedience are highly relevant in modern society and effect everyones day to day lives. As society is changing and modernizing the roles and meanings of these three concepts are also adapting. I look to explain their similarities and differences as well as how they have affected the global population throughout history and continue to do so. Identity politics is a name given to political positions who share the same interests and views of social minority groups in which people identify, often the individuals have shared experiences of injustice, (Heyes, 2016a) this leads to the challenge of other oppressive groups with the goal usually being equality. Identity political groups aim to secure political freedom of a specific constituency marginalized within its larger context. (Heyes, 2016b) Identity politics is a term that has only been used in recent history originating from around the 1960s. There are hundreds if not thousands of cases of minority groups who are oppressed all over the world including but not limited to gay individuals, women, ethnic minority groups, Muslims as well as well as many other less recognized groups. Collective Identity politics has many positive effects on individuals, a feeling of solidarity with others through constructed collective identity provides an immutable and all-encompassing group t hat supply an escape from the society that oppresses them. One of the biggest collective identity movements in recent history is feminism, their goal was to remove the opposed biological determinist views that men are stronger and smarter than women to gain equal rights which included: the right to vote, reproductive and domestic rights along with many more. Women identifying with each other to challenge the oppression they faced created a way for individual womens voices to be heard, although women grouped together they campaigned for equal rights which benefited each individual in that group. Identity however is a contested concept, where collective identity is accentuated individualism diminishes and where solidarity with a persons minority is gained it is then restricted to one group. A person may have a single identity, but it will be made up of many levels of loyalty and identification. Identities change, because they are based on perceptions, which themselves change over time and environment; as it is possible to identify ones self with more than one thing at a time such as class and gender, or religion and age. Therefore, there are various elements of ones identity and which operate at different levels and these various elements in an identity may well be contradictory. (Concept of collective identity, 2015) Identity politics can be destructive as it can encourage people to fixate or excaudate their sense of persecution, it can also focus the stigmatization which then instigates the effect further. Inside a minority group differences are also overlooked which in turn divides the group internally; in feminist history, ethnic and gay feminists see themselves as having nothing in common with white straight feminists they then end up competing over their relative degree of victimization. (Todd, 2013) Judith Butlers argued using queer theory that the feminist movement only emphasised the differences between men and women by grouping women as individuals wit h the same interests and characteristics. She explained feminism as an unwitting regulation and reification of gender relations reinforcing a binary view of gender relations in which human beings are divided into two clear-cut groups, women and men. Rather than opening up possibilities for a person to form and choose their own individual identity. (David, no date) Judith Butlers use of queer theory in her book gender trouble has also been one of the main driving forces behind the contesting of gender. Gender is defined as either the male or female division of a species, especially as differentiated by social and cultural roles and behaviour. (Dictionary, 1300) As society progresses gender is becoming a multifaced concept that is constantly being challenged, the idea that sex is biological and gender is socially constructed has become a constant discussion point in the world of politics. Society is progressing with the help of technology and social media giving minority genders a voice, resulting in the world becoming more accepting of contested identitys. Transgender and genderqueer individuals identifying as a group has had positive outcomes and helped to empower people. This therefore gives evidence of contested genders becoming more widely accepted. To to be able to identify with their particular gender group however, individuals are required to succumb to specific gender labels which can then often cause them to be treated differently and negatively by peers, loved ones and so ciety. Throughout history many feminists have disagreed and have endorsed the sex gender distinction. Provisionally: sex denotes human females and males depending on biological features (chromosomes, sex organs, hormones, and other physical features); gender denotes women and men depending on social factors (social role, position, behaviour or identity). (Mikkola, 2016) Masculine and feminine behaviour has been learnt through nurture and gender socialisation and has created many inequalitys over time. One of the main objective of feminists, mainly in the second wave movement, was to reverse the gender roles created by society. The idea that women are created to raise children and stay at home doing the cleaning and cooking with a male dominated family has been a view challenged by feminists through many mass protests. Second wave feminism also known as the womens liberation movement set to overhaul gender inequality in private after first wave feminism had achieved public equality, aiming to remove the idea of the public man and the private woman. During second wave feminism the personal is the political became a rallying phrase to dispute the nuclear family and family values which resulted with gender becoming political. Challenging authority through civil disobedience became a very effective tactic for second wave feminists used to gain gender equality. Civil disobedience is the refusal to obey governmental demands or commands especially as a nonviolent and usually collective means of forcing concessions from the government. (Brownlee, 2013a) The term originated from Henry David Thoreau in 1848 when he refused to pay the poll tax as he did not want to contribute to the funding of war and slavery. In Thoreaus essay, he justifies his actions by saying that government is best which governs least, men will someday be able to have a government that does not govern at all. As it is, government rarely proves useful or efficient. It is often abused and perverted so that it no longer represents the will of the people. (LLC, 2016) Throughout history civil disobedience has been used to change societys moral parameters; Gandhis salt march, civil rights movement and suffragettes are all prime examples of instances where civil disobedience proved to be an important mechanism for social change. (Brownlee, 2013b) John Rawls states that a civil diso bedience movement must be: public, non-violent, a conscientious yet political act, contrary to the law and it must aim to bring change to policies and the law. John Rawls suggest that the main point of the movement is that it must be conscientious, this highlights the seriousness and sincerity in which the civil disobedient break the law; through their disobedience, they draw attention to draw attention to laws or policies that they believe require reassessment or rejection. (Brownlee, 2013c) Henry David Thoreau emphasised the importance of human conscience in his 1848 essay stating we should be men first, and subjects afterwards. (Henry David Thoreau, 2017) The non-violence aspect of civil disobedience is also an important factor of the movement as it is not only moral but strategic and more effective, an uprising is 50% more likely to fail (Fisher, 2013a) if violence is used. If a protest does become violent then that legitimizes the states use of violence in response (Fisher, 201 3b) and is also less likely to have support from the public often polarizing them in support of the government. The argument that we all have the right to civil disobedience as part of our democratic rights, alongside our human right to freedom of speech are two factors believed toto encourage oppressed minority groups to speak out about their injustices, this is reflected by civil disobedience protests being known to gain more attention than any other forms of protest. Acts of Civil disobedience by minority groups including gender minority have been carried out throughout history, one of the largest being the feminist movement. The politics of gender roles and inequality have been at the heart of all womens liberation movements especially during second wave feminism. In more recent history Polish women carried out civil disobedience in October 2016 to protest against the governments proposed ban on all abortions with women facing imprisonment if the law was broken. Tens of thousand s of women missed work and school wearing all black to peacefully protest outside parliament against the Law and Justices party proposed ban. The mass protests caused parliament to reconsider and then reject the proposed ban. Poland already have the most restrictive laws on abortion in Europe with women only being able to have one in certain circumstances, however many activists see parliaments choice to over throw the ban as a chance to gain liberation in the near future. Identity politics is a concept that runs parallel with all acts of civil disobedience, individuals identify with each other and all share the same goal which is often equality and social justice. Every civil disobedience movement emphasizes a collective notion of the good. They suggest that when we identify ourselves with something larger than our own identity, we are compelled to take action. We are driven to bring about social reform because we value the importance of helping others. (Enotes, 2016a) In his essay , Thoreau emphasises the importance of coming together as a collective identity as the only way to achieve social reform, he also believes that all individuals should ignore their individual differences and work together towards a collective goal. Thoreau sees a persons power increasing when they unify with others in the cause for social reform. (Enotes, 2016b) The second wave feminist movement and the 2016 Polish protests were both collective actions trying to gain social reform for both identity and gender through civil disobedience. Social political concepts are continuing to shape modern day society, and the majority of these groups are co-dependant. The argument that collective identity diminishes individuality in that group is ongoing. Whist individualism is conceivably reduced, many civil disobedience movements contain individuals that have different standing views on what theyre protesting against. In the case of feminism there are radical and liberal groups inside the larger feminist group. Some radical groups focus on trying to overthrow patriarchy rather than liberal feminists who try to change society to make it equal. This shows that the strive for identity within civil disobedience exceeds the concept of just gender. Although both radical and liberal feminist groups have the same common goal it highlights the flaws of collective identity as the group works against the larger movement cohesion due to their opposed views on aspects of the feminist ideology. Many radical feminists will not accept men to be part of their movement due to their feelings of oppression caused by a patriarchal society throughout history, this excludes men and reinforces the dichotomic view of gender relations highlighting gender differences through identity. Queer theory can be used to understand the contradicting views of both identity and gender; queer theory supports the idea that gender is free flowing and an expression. It contradicts collective identitys as identity consists of so many aspects, to group identities collectively based on one variable e.g. gender is wrong. A difference perspective on collective identities with regards to gender however is that it can empower many people, as more people in modern society are identifying as gay or transgender the glamorization of identity through gender has increased this holds true for many gender labels. Whilst people seek confidence by identifying with these gender labels the end result can be that individuals have restricted themselves to the stereo typical behaviour of that gender identity. Many civil disobedience movements aim to compact the stereotypical view of gender roles and behaviours showing how the three concepts not only intertwine but often provoke each other. It is clear that collective identities are sought out by individuals in order to find solidarity in a certain group, they are used to construct community and feelings of cohesion and holism, a concept to give the impression that all individuals are equal in the imagined community. Gamson argues that fixed identity categories are both the basis for oppression and the basis for political power, again further outlining that civil disobedience is not only comprised by collective identitys, but that they are also a catalyst for many civil disobedience movements. Connotations associated with gender often form these collective identitys that in turn form civil disobedience. Without collective identity, civil disobedience movements would be ineffective; movements are only taken seriously if its a large identity group working towards the same goals. In the example of the feminist movement and the polish protests women identified with their gender to campaign for equality however identifying in this group women have highlighted their oppression and focused the stigmatization. Although quite obviously linked identity does not only exist through the marinization of oppressive groups, if society was completely equal both identity and gender would still exist and where there is democracy there is inevitably civil disobedience. As theories and concepts identity, gender and civil disobedience all share a common quality, in that they are often co dependant in order to be effective as well as being a seemingly paradoxical solution to themselves. Whilst all three concepts seek equality; identity is formed through segregation, gender is defined by its separation and civil disobedience can only exist with minority protesting the majority. In addition to this incongruence, comprised with all acts of politics in accordance to these concepts, ego and prejudice will always effect the individual, creating bias within these social groups, making the topics insolvably disputed for the future. References Heyes, C. (2016) Identity politics. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-politics/ (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Concept of collective identity (2015) Available at: https://www.ukessays.com/essays/politics/concept-of-collective-identity.php (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Todd, D. (2013) Douglas Todd: The pros and cons of identity politics. Available at: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Douglas+Todd+pros+cons+identity+politics/8235119/story.html (Accessed: 19 January 2017). David (no date) Www.Theory.Org.Uk resources: Judith Butler. Available at: http://www.theory.org.uk/ctr-butl.htm (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Dictionary (1300) The definition of gender, in Available at: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/gender (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Mikkola, M. (2016) Feminist perspectives on sex and gender. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-gender/#GenSocCon (Accessed: 19 January 2017). Brownlee, K. (2013) Civil disobedience. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/civil-disobedience/ (Accessed: 20 January 2017). LLC, S. (2016) Civil disobedience. Available at: http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/civildisobedience/section1.rhtml (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Henry David Thoreau (2017) Available at: http://izquotes.com/quote/394572 (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Fisher, M.F.M. (2013) Peaceful protest is much more effective than violence for toppling dictators. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/11/05/peaceful-protest-is-much-more-effective-than-violence-in-toppling-dictators/?utm_term=.85c428fbbc16 (Accessed: 20 January 2017). Help, H. (2016) In civil disobedience by Thoreau, on the eve of historic Dandi march by Gandhi, and long walk to freedom by Nelson Mandela, how is the.. Available at: https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/civil-disobedience-eve-historic-dandi-walk-freedom-748335 (Accessed: 20 January 2017).

Monday, August 19, 2019

Behavior Problems in Schools Due to Lack of Discipline Essay -- Educat

Parents and students seldom dispute the disciplinary actions of school authorities up until the late 1960s. Schools are a place considered to provide instruction, instill good value, and inspire the morals of our nation (Arum 60). The courts decided that it was important to give teachers and school administrators’ authority over student behavior. The authority initiated from the English common law concept of in loco parentis which means in place of the parent. This law allowed parents to give school personnel a given amount of control over their children when they place their children in school (Yell 8). This gave administrators and teachers the ability to guide, correct, and discipline in an orderly and effective learning environment while maintaining practical control of students as they do their job teaching. Loco parentis implies that teachers and administrators have a responsibility to see that school order is maintained by requiring students to obey reasonable rules and commands, ensure others rights are respected, and conduct themselves in a safe and orderly manner while at school (Yell 8). Students are supposed to know what behaviors are acceptable or forbidden. They need to be accountable if they refuse to comply with reasonable school rules by behaving in prohibited ways. Holding the students accountable, means the violators will be subject to disciplinary measures or consequences. As students civil rights revolution evolved, and the increase of these rights emerged, parents and students, began to question, undermine, and challenge school disciplinary practices in court with the help of lawyers in the public’s interest. The timeframe for drastic school discipline changes began around 1969. The Supreme Court ruled how... ..., Barry A. "School Discipline: â€Å"Is There a Crisis in Our Schools?" Australian Journal of Social Issues 35.1 (2000): 73-86. EBSCO MegaFILE. EBSCO. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. Jackson, Toby. "Getting Serious About School Discipline." Public Interest 133 (1998): 68+. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. Jost, Kenneth. "Student Rights." CQ Researcher 19.21 (2009): 501-524. CQ Researcher. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. Wintour, Patrick, and Nicholas Watt. "Gove promises to end 'no touch' rules for teachers: Government's 'new deal' in the classroom on eve of Tory conference.† The Guardian. 2 Oct. 2010. ProQuest Newsstand, ProQuest. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. Yell, Mitchell L., and Michael E. Rozalski. "The Impact of Legislation and Litigation on Discipline and Student Behavior in the Classroom." Preventing School Failure 52.3 (2008): 7-16. EBSCO MegaFILE. EBSCO. Web. 19 Nov. 2010.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Aesthetic Experience and Verbal Art :: Argumentative Philosophy Argument Papers

Aesthetic Experience and Verbal Art It is a common assumption that there is an art which can be defined as literary or verbal. Yet, this definition relies mainly on linguistic criteria. Can literary art also be accounted for philosophically? In this paper I intend to offer such an account. Starting from the Hegelian conception of language and of the aesthetic experience, I shall argue that literary, and more specifically poetic, discourse can be defined as the verbal completion of an aesthetic experience, and that this distinctive feature marks off literary discourse from other types of discourse such as scientific and philosophical discourse. In Hegel's view language is concomitant with self-conscious-ness. (1) The birth of language is to be situated in the transition in the growth of the subject's identity from the conscious moment to the self-conscious moment. To a conscious subject, reality offers itself as an object (Gegenstand) and the world reflects the categorizing activity of the intellect (understanding, Verstand). In the self-conscious subject the world is internalized with the effect that it becomes a presentation (Vorstellung, pictorial concept) of the subject's conceptualization of the world. This presentation is realized in verbal signs. Indeed, the dyadic structure of the sign (signifier/signified) exhibits a minimal degree of materiality together with a maximal degree of signification (meaning). The material aspect of the sign is completely subordinated to the meaning it conveys. To Hegel therefore the verbal sign is a kind of 'objective correlative' to the internalized conceptualization of the world accom plished by the self-conscious subject. In and through language the self-conscious subject expresses its internalized and thus highly subjective perception of the world in an objective verbal presentation. In the transition (Aufhebung, sublation) from consciousness to self-consciousness, i.e. from understanding (Verstand) to insight (Vernunft, reason), there is a momentary equilibrium in which the world yields its opaque materiality and the mind (Vernunft, reason) has not yet fully internalized the object. The empirical world discloses itself in the light of the mind and the latter conforms itself to the former. This sensuous appearance or semblance of meaning (das sinnliche Scheinen der Idee) is the very core of the aesthetic consciousness or experience. In the aesthetic experience the subject does as yet not intend to understand (i.e. the function of the intellect (Verstand)) nor does it want to conceptualize the empirical reality (i.e. the function of reason). In other words: in the aesthetic contemplation there is a momentary harmony between the subjective and the objective aspect of comprehension, between sensuous and rational perception, between rationalization and insight.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Leadership and Change

The element of change remains a factor in everyday life within the organization. How to handle change begins with a decision to embrace the implications into an organization's vision. Incorporating change and a healthy attitude toward change as a core value begins with leadership. A good leader like John Welch provides vision and clarity for the employee. He even instills inspiration in the employee allowing them the freedom to explore and create out of their every day job tasks. Such a leader will be able to communicate issues of change and create a bond with their team. This creates a comfort level that allows for creative thinking resulting in an environment that easily accepts change as a factor. This connection begins at a fundamental level of human sociology where the use of story is central. Howard Gardner reflects, â€Å"the ultimate impact of the leader depends most significantly on the particular story that he or she relates or embodies, and the receptions to that story on the part of the audiences† (14). By telling stories, allows for a certain level of openness or vulnerability on the part of the leader and makes them human. By opening the line of communication, gives the employee knowledge of their environment and develops trust. The leader's role is to sell the idea of commitment within a culture. Odiorne suggests, â€Å"if employees knows what is expected, and what help and resources are available, they can then be relied upon to govern their actions to achieve the commitments they have made† (138). This sets the stage for goals and achieving high performance. The culture in turn feeds off this energy and excitement. There are three reasons why leaders are important. First they are responsible for the effectiveness of organizations. Second, the change and upheaval of past years has left us with no place to hide. We need anchors in our lives as a guiding purpose. Third, there is a national concern about integrity of our institutions. Being mindful of own context is difficult for us. (15-16) Managers with a keen understanding of leading represent these three key attributes and create a foundation from which to act. A leader must also display curiosity and have the guts to be daring. They must be a dominant force within the team. Bennis reflects, there are two kinds of people â€Å"those who are paralyzed by fear, and those who are afraid but go ahead away. Life is not about limitation but options† (185). A healthy culture inspires options and the innovations that grow out of creativity. Still one cannot ignore times of fear. Management sometimes creates fear on purpose or misuse to work employees harder. From personal experience, fear can drive an employee to try harder at a better job or completely kill worker confidence. This does not create positive outcomes but promotes conflict and an unstable team. It is clear for management to be successful, it must communicate its vision but also create positive reinforcement. Once key members understand people's needs, then action can be taken to improve management's role. Only then will a leader be taken seriously. Recognizing positive traits in a team member builds trust, integrity and also meets an important need. Finally, there are many things a leader can do to motivate their team members and inspire excellence. From personal experience there are many recommendations that come to mind. At a company wide level, a recognition or awards program is effective in maintaining culture by motivating employees. Being noticed for a job well done instills pride.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Soap Operas

For other uses, see Soap opera (disambiguation).A soap opera, often referred to simply as a soap, is a serial drama, on television or radio, that related story lines dealing with the lives of multiple characters. The stories in these series typically focus heavily on emotional relationships to the point of melodrama.[1] The name soap opera stems from the fact that many of the sponsors and producers of the original dramatic serials' broadcast on radio were soap manufacturersIntroductionStaying Tuned: Contemporary Soap Opera Criticism examines serials. Broadcast first in 1926 on radio and since 1956 on television Monday through Friday 52 weeks a year, soap operas provide a clear promise to continue for as long as mass mediated entertainment exists. Over the last sixty years, billions have happily suffered along with the gallant men and women of the afternoon. A growing body of scholarly literature exists now to provide insights and suggest answers to the question of why so many continu ally return to the routine tragedies of daytime drama. Each of our chapters explores an aspect of soap opera which contributes to the endurance of the genre.Rodney Andrew Carveth looks at the question of why the audience returns day after day by analyzing the effects of viewing. His â€Å"Exploring the Effects of Love in the Afternoon: Does Soap Opera Viewing Create Perceptions of a Promiscuous World?† discusses how the audience perceives sex in the soaps. Alexander, et. al. study whether women view serial drama differently than men do. Their examination â€Å"Investigating Gender Differences in College Student Soap Opera Viewing† reveals a further reason for why soap opera remains a compelling form. Frentz and Ketter scrutinize theme by looking at the treatment of sexual activity in daytime drama's stories.â€Å"Everyday Sex in Everyday Drama† suggests the power of sexual elements in storytelling be marshalled to provide modeling behavior. Families remain at th e heart of storytelling in televised serial drama. In â€Å"The Nuclear Family Is Alive and Well, As The World Turns,† Gilah Rittenhouse writes that one reason we may be staying tuned is because as audience we are either fantasizing or reminiscing about being part of one big happy family. Deborah Rogers offers a similar view  about the importance of family in â€Å"The Afternoons of our Lives† but points out that soaps may be undermining the family with a subtext which institutionalizes female subordination.In another essay, Rodgers reminds us of the importance of contemporary themes as a contributor to staying power of daytime drama. â€Å"AIDS Spreads to the Soaps, Sort Of† sheds light on how the creators of serials choose to embrace yet soften current topics. Mariam Darce Frenier attends to the audience in her research by examining the younger set in â€Å"7th and 8th Graders ‘Read' Daytime Soap Operas in Three West-Central Minnesota Public Schools.à ¢â‚¬  In search of a non-empirical approach to audience studies, Carol T. Williams considers adult viewers. † ‘It's Time for My Story': Oral Culture in the Technological Era—Towards a Methodology for Soap Opera Audience Study.†In â€Å"The Fate of the Subject in the Narrative Without End† Jane Archer treats us to an analysis of what happens to the major character in a soap opera that keeps us coming back for more. She posits the notion that because they are dependent on the story-telling devices of deferral, contradiction, and repetition, serials underline the instability of closure and the inconsistency of character. Diana C. Reep suggests we listen to â€Å"The Siren Call of the Super Couple: Soap Operas' Destructive Slice Toward Closure† as a warning knell. Contradicting the definition and purpose of a serial, several characteristics of the Super Couple do not ring true to form.Utilizing feminist theory as a base, Scott Nelson in â€Å"Pin e Valley Prostitute: The Representation of All My Children's Donna Tyler† submits that this serial serves as a continuing transmission of patriachal values. Vibert C. Cambridge examines the power of serial drama by exploring another medium—radio, on another continent—Africa. â€Å"Radio Soap Operas in Global Africa: Origins, Applications, and Implications† examines the power of the serial form when pressed into delivering pro† social messages.In â€Å"Soaps & Serials: The Transformation of Daytime Drama into Romance Literature,† Diane M. Calhoun-French analyzes the failure of publishers to capture the essence of the serial form and thus the audience with print efforts. From Dickens and print, to film, then radio, and now television, serials have maintained a powerful hold over audiences. Some of the reasons for this fascinating phenomenon are found in this volume.The 25 most powerful tv shows of the last 25 years 1. Tropikanka: the show that w on a presidential election 2. Melrose place: the show that turned prime time into an art gallery 3. The simpsons: the show that changed how we talk 4. America’s most wanted: the show that cleaned up america’s streets 5. The theorists: the show that made us respect belarus’s actors 6. Glee: the show that boosted the record industry 7. De grote donorshow: the show that became an organ donor 8. Spongebob squarepants: the show that rewired kids’ brains 9. Star trek: the next generation: the show that saved a genre 10. Curb your enthusiasm: the show that improvised justice 11. Buffy the vampire slayer: the show that spawned an academic discipline 12. Friends: the show that launched a one-hit wonder 13. Csi: the show that gave d.a.’s headaches 14. How i met your mother: the show that revolutionized product placementBad Effect of Media in Younger Generation 1. IntroductionUntil the mid of the last century most adolescents spend their free time together wi th adults and monitor the behavior and activities of this social group. Therefore adolescents get the abilities they need in society to get well-integrated. Until that time parents, brothers, sisters and relatives were the most important examples for adolescents and children. After the Increasing of technology and globalization mostly everything changed.New Media were created and they not only changed the manufacturing process but also the quality and size of products. This had effects on the social behavior and relationships of young people. The media which influenced the life of mankind the most are mass media like television and internet. It is acquainted that TV was introduced in the 40s in the United States of America. Today TV and internet is a big partIs this Essay helpful? Join OPPapers to read more and access more than 325,000 just like it!Get better grades in the life of many adolescents but also in the life of many adults apart from their financial and social status. Furt hermore the media fascinates children with the mixture of technology, creativity and  possibilities. Many adolescents want to have a job in the media-branch because they dream to be on TV and many of them have the desire of being the next Madonna. Because of that development the question arises how mass media influenced the Youth Culture in the last ten years.What Exactly is a Soap Opera?Soap opera fans are some of the most loyal and vocal viewers out there, and soap opera storylines are some of the wackiest and most romantic on air. But while soaps are generally well known for these very characteristics, it is not uncommon for people to wonder, â€Å"What exactly is a soap opera?†DefinitionBy definition, soap operas are ongoing works of fiction, and episodic in nature. In laymen’s terms, soaps are stories told over an extended period, with different characters being featured at different times. It is rare in soaps to have a quick wrap-up of a storyline, and it is ev en rarer for a story to affect only one or two characters. Most often, a storyline affects several characters, and possibly interconnects with other stories. Perhaps the most common trait of a soap opera is that each episode ends with a promise for more drama the following day, rather than a neat tie-up of that episode’s story, as you’d find with sitcoms or other dramas.How Soap Operas Got Their NameWhen soap operas began, they were first broadcast on the radio. Called â€Å"dramatic serials,† soap manufacturers such as Procter and Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, and Lever Brothers were the show’s sponsors. In time, the name â€Å"soap opera† came to be and has remained ever since.How Soaps Differ from Other TV ProgramsSoap operas tend to focus their plots and storylines around family life, personal and sexual relationships, emotional and moral conflicts and sometimes newsworthy issues such as rape, teen drinking, drug abuse, adoption, illness, addictio n and more. While many of these scenarios might show up in other TV programs, soaps are filmed to reveal the day-to-day lives of its characters, building the story over time.In addition, you’ll find soap staples such as missing siblings, mystery parents, death (and  resurrection), adultery, betrayal, and, yes, even demonic possession. You’ll also find actors and actresses who are generally more attractive and well dressed than in other mediums, and who are almost certainly more alluring than the show’s viewers. With the exception of The Young and the Restless, which is filmed in High Definition, soaps also tend to have lower visual quality than primetime television programs, mostly due to their smaller budgets and faster production times.Soaps in Prime Time TVDuring the 1980s, primetime serials were a large part of television viewing. Shows such asDallas, Knots Landing, Dynasty, and Falcon Crest all aired to adoring fans. These shows tended to focus more on bu siness conflicts and wealthy families. Their sets were extravagant and the actors dressed to the hilt. When filmed on location, viewers could count on beautiful locales to lure them in. Today, prime time soaps including Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and ER are equally as alluring, but much less flashy.Soaps Odd and EndsSoap actors are some of the most skilled actors, as the amount of material they need to memorize and the hours they spend on camera are relentless. Shooting a soap opera often requires plenty of improvisation and quick thinking by the actors. In addition, blocking (the way an actor faces a camera) is slightly unconventional and is contrary to how humans would normally interact. Because their faces are often shown close-up to reveal the emotions relevant to the story, actors may have to tilt their bodies in an unnatural manner, which can be rather challenging.The ending of a scene in which an actor is shown delivering a staggering line or leaving us with a telltale expressive face is called a â€Å"tag.† In the industry, a soap actor is proud when he or she is awarded with a tag.The â€Å"rooms† on a soap set are often dark and rich in color, with stained walls and leather furniture to portray a sense of wealth. It is also common to find grand floral displays, glittering chandeliers, crystal accessories, and a myriad of other fine furnishings on set.