Mathematics Educational Theories Essay

My investigation has led me to think about lots of ideas that can be used with children in Early Years classroom as well as with KS1. Numbers displayed on telephone sets and remote controls are probably the first form of numbers in an order that young children come across with. Primarily, number lines 0 – 10 & 0 – 20, as a part of the 100 square can be used where children familiarise themselves with numbers and recognise the correct order of numbers. Number lines are very versatile. They can be of any size, for individual or whole- class use. They can start on any number. Blank number lines are infinitely adaptable; they can be used for counting calculations using all four number operations. They are a good way to practice and overlearn the number bonds to 20 that children need to be able to remember fluently. Visual counting pattern on number lines can help children to understand relative numbers and number sequences. Moving a step forward from the correct order of numbers, the children can identify and colour all the odd and even numbers and establish rules for recognition. When children are confident with bigger numbers, a large 100 square is ideal to work with the whole class to learn timetables, addition & subtraction of larger numbers by counting numbers above it or below it. Children can also identify multiples of 2,3, 5, 10 and others by highlighting numbers in different colours and demonstrate sequential patterns. They can reverse the two digit numbers, read them and make new numbers. Problem solving activities such as pick a number between 0-10 or 0-20, double it and add 1, is very exciting as children manipulate with numbers at their own pace. Lots of different games can be introduced. Snakes & Ladders, number dominions, dice games, dot to dot, finding the difference between two dices; place value cards are few examples. By playing and replaying a selection of games, children can practice to grapple ideas, number facts and concepts in a way that they can enjoy and strengthen skills at the same time. Active involvement aids their learning and enhances their attitude towards the subject. But it is important to focus on the particular learning target that the game is reinforcing. Hundred squares can be cut into several parts to form a jigsaw and children can be challenged to put the pieces together again. (See some activity ideas in the appendix)

Critical Note: Ode to a Nightingale Essay

The speaker responds to the beauty of the nightingale’s song with a both â€Å"happiness† and â€Å"ache. † Though he seeks to fully identify with the bird — to â€Å"fade away into the forest dim† — he knows that his own human consciousness separates him from nature and precludes the kind of deathless happiness the nightingale enjoys. First the intoxication of wine and later the â€Å"viewless wings of Poesy† seem reliable ways of escaping the confines of the â€Å"dull brain,† but finally it is death itself that seems the only possible means of overcoming the fear of time. The nightingale is â€Å"immortal† because it â€Å"wast not born for death† and cannot conceive of its own passing. Yet without consciousness, humans cannot experience beauty, and the speaker knows that if he were dead his perception of the nightingale’s call would not exist at all. This paradox shatters his vision, the nightingale flies off, and the speaker is left to wonder whether his experience has been a truthful â€Å"vision† or a false â€Å"dream. † Referred to by critics of the time as â€Å"the longest and most personal of the odes,† the poem describes Keats’ journey into the state of Negative Capability. John Keats coined the phrase ‘Negative Capability’ in a letter to his brothers and defined his new concept of writing: â€Å"that is when man is capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason† Keats’ poems are full of contradictions in meaning (‘a drowsy numbness pains’) and emotion (‘both together, sane and mad’) and he accepts a double nature as a creative insight. In ‘Nightingale’ it is the apparent (or real) contradictions that allow Keats to create the sensual feeling of numbness that allows the reader to experience the half-swooning emotion Keats is trying to capture. Keats would have us experience the emotion of the language and pass over the half-truths in silence, to live a life ‘of sensations rather than of Thoughts! ‘. Thus, ‘Ode to the Nightingale’ is more feeling than a thinking poem. Keats often deals in the sensations created by words rather than meaning. Even if the precise definition of words causes contradiction they can still be used together to create the right ambience. Negative Capability asks us to allow the atmosphere of Keats’ poems to surround us without picking out individual meanings and inconsistencies. That I might drink, and leave the world unseen† Hearing the song of the nightingale, the speaker longs to flee the human world and join the bird. His first thought is to reach the bird’s state through alcohol–in the second stanza, he longs for a â€Å"draught of vintage† to transport him out of himself. But after his meditation in the third stanza on the transience of life, he rejects the idea of being â€Å"charioted by Bacchus and his pards† and chooses instead to embrace â€Å"the viewless wings of Poesy. The rapture of poetic inspiration matches the endless creative rapture of the nightingale’s music and lets the speaker, in stanzas five through seven, imagine himself with the bird in the darkened forest. The ecstatic music even encourages the speaker to embrace the idea of dying, of painlessly succumbing to death while enraptured by the nightingale’s music and never experiencing any further pain or disappointment. â€Å"Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget What thou among the leaves hast never known† The poet explores the themes of nature and mortality. Here, the transience of life and the tragedy of old age is set against the eternal renewal of the nightingale’s fluid music. Man has many sorrows to escape from in the world, and these Keats recounts feelingly in the third stanza of his poem, a number of the references apparently being drawn from firsthand experience. The mention of the youth who â€Å"grows pale, and spectre-thin, and dies,† for example, might well be an allusion to Tom Keats, the younger brother whom the poet nursed through his long, last struggle with consumption. But the bitterest of all man’s sorrows, as it emerges from the catalogue of woes in the third stanza, is the terrible disease of time, the fact that ‘Beauty cannot keep her lustrous eyes’. It is the disease of time which the song of the nightingale particularly transcends, and the poet, yearning for the immortality of art, seeks another way to become one with the bird. Even death is terribly final; the artists die but what remains is the eternal music; the very song heard today was heard thousands of years ago. The poet exclaims: â€Å"Forlorn! the very word is like a bell To toll me back from thee to my sole self! † The reverie into which the poet falls carries him deep into where the bird is singing. But the meditative trance cannot last. With the very first word of the eighth stanza, the reverie is broken. The word â€Å"forlorn† occurs to the poet as the adjective describing the remote and magical world suggested by the nightingale’s song. But the poet suddenly realises that this word applies with greater precision to himself. The effect is that of an abrupt stumbling. With the new and chilling meaning of â€Å"forlorn†, the song of the nightingale itself alters: it becomes a â€Å"plaintive anthem†. The song becomes fainter. What had before the power to make the sorrow in man fade away from a harsh and bitter world, now itself â€Å"fades† and the poet is left alone in the silence. As the nightingale flies away, the intensity of the speaker’s experience has left him shaken, unable to remember whether he is awake or asleep; thus â€Å"Adieu! he fancy cannot cheat so well†. The â€Å"art† of the nightingale is endlessly changeable and renewable; it is music without record, existing only in a perpetual present. As befits his celebration of music, the speaker’s language, sensually rich though it is, serves to suppress the sense of sight in favor of the other senses. In â€Å"Nightingale,† he has achieved creative expression and has placed his faith in it , but that expression–the nightingale’s song–is spontaneous and without physical manifestation. This is an odd poem because it both conforms to and contradicts some of the ideas he expresses elsewhere, notably the famous concept of â€Å"Negative Capability,†. This can be taken several ways, but is often linked with the statement he made: â€Å"If a sparrow come before my Window I take part in its existence and pick about the Gravel. † While Keats’s begins his poem with â€Å"a drowsy numbness pains† the poem that follows is anything but numb. But the opening ties in with the words that end the poem: â€Å"Fled is that music — Do I wake or sleep? Life is or may be a dream — a very Shakespearean image — but, dreaming or awake, perception and empathetic participation are rooted in Keats’s own consciousness. It is only in dreaming, Keats says, that we can become conscious of, and merged with, the life around us. Thus, Keats heads towards Negative Capability in the poem. Keats is not as great as Shakespeare but he has the sam e power of self-absorption, that wonderful sympathy and identification with all things, that â€Å"Negative Capability† which he saw as essential to the creation of great poetry and which Shakespeare possessed so abundantly.

Analysing NetFlix Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysing NetFlix Performance - Essay Example This increased their expenditure on streaming from the US $33 million to the US $200 million per year.On July 12, 2011, they increased their monthly subscription from the US $ 9 to the US $ 15. It takes off after 2003 when the company makes a profit for the first time. Between 2003 and 2009 the growth is steady but slow. The year 2010 find’s the stock taking off in a big way. The reason may be the sudden increase in subscription base or due to the tie-up with Starz Entertainment. The company becomes a dot-com success story. Video rentals are a technology-driven industry. At the time NetFlix entered the market DVD’s were a novelty and were costlier.Internet was also in its infancy. Video Cassettes were the popular medium and it was mostly retail renting. NetFlix made use of the compactness of the DVD and the accessibility of the internet to start online renting, sending the DVDs by mail. Monthly Subscription was another attraction. When the business prospered they tied up with Cable TV operators and Movie producing companies to get new movies at the earliest time. They also made use of the Improvement in the internet speed by offering Movies over the internet by streaming.This meant that no physical media was to be transported and that the user can make his choice online. The Web Portal of the Company also has facilities for registering viewer preferences. Right decisions at the right time and adapting to changing technologies and keeping track of the user preferences are the reason behind NetFlix’s success.The recent dip in stock prices and the negative comments of the customers on the increase in subscription rates are only temporary hiccups.  

An argument paper on global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

An argument paper on global warming - Essay Example ".Skeptics consider global warming a myth, a fantasy or a Western agenda, but they might have no answer for the present Tsunami in Japan and floods in Australia, or the frequent droughts in any other part of the world. The global warming started since Industrial revolution. Industrial growth, automated transportation, mechanized agriculture since industrial revolution has lead to the production of poisonous gases like chloro fluoro carbons, which have formed a thick layer on the upper atmosphere of earth leading to the rise in temperature. Industrial wastes, deforestation, burning of coal and petroleum products, green house gases emission have aggravated the effects. GREEN HOUSE GASES: Greenhouse gases have the ability to absorb and hold the heat of the atmosphere, this phenomenon is called green house effect. Green house Writer 2 gases form a sort of warm air blanket that actually helps in sustaining the present ecosystem. Major Green house gases are Carbon dioxide, (CO2), Methane ( CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2o) and fluorinated gases. Carbon dioxide is produced by burning of fossil fuels, solid waste and wood products whereas methane is emitted during coal, natural gas and oil production, methane emissions are also produced from livestock and other agricultural practices, and nitrous oxide is the product of agricultural and industrial activities whereas fluorinated carbons contribute in depletion of ozone layer. As the earth’s climate is variable it is not exactly possible to determine the cause of damage – Is it the human activities or the rising concentration of green house gases- however. A National Research Council study dated May 2001, stated, â€Å"Greenhouse gases are accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of human activities, causing surface air temperatures and sub-surface ocean temperatures to rise. Temperatures are, in fact, rising. The changes observed over the last several decades are likely mostly due to human activities, but we cannot rule out that some significant part of these changes is also a reflection of natural variability.† THE CARBONDIOXIDE EMISSON: Carbon dioxide is the main constituent in the carbon cycle known as photosynthesis- Plants, algae, cynobacteria absorb CO2, sunlight, and water to produce carbohydrate energy for their survival in which oxygen is generated as a waste product. Living beings emit CO2 in their respiratory process. It is also produced as by-product of combustion, by volcanoes, hot springs and natural geysers. The content of CO2 in the atmosphere is 388ppm by volume that varies with the changing season; human activities have definitely increased the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Charles D Keeling was a pioneer in the monitoring of carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. He explains, â€Å"Atmospheric mixing ratios for carbon dioxide are now higher than at any time in Writer 3 The last 800,000 years, standing at 380 parts per million (ppm) c ompared to a pre-industrial high of 280ppm. The current rate of increase is around 2ppm per year† (Keeling Curve) INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND ITS IMPACT: Man has tremendous potential for construction and –Destruction as well. He has tried to become a God by trying to bring changes in the natural processes of nature. These

Career Assistance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Career Assistance - Research Paper Example The two documents are different in that a certificate is mainly used for verification while a license is used to define the terms and conditions of an agreement. In business for instance, one needs to have a license in order to install a business, as well as have a certificate indicating that he is the rightful owner of the business. With the current changes being experienced in our contemporary societies, technology is the way to go. Technology makes works easier which saves time at the same time brings about satisfaction of both the service provider and the recipients (Venable, 2010). Human resource managers should ensure regular update of their employees into new technologies. This is because it enhances efficiency as well as improves employee productivity. For example, computers have simplified data analysis as compared to the manual analysis of data. Moreover, technology has been highly linked to innovations which play a major role in career development. Internet services that are a result of new technology enable employees to further their skills through research, which can also enable them to come up with new discoveries (Venable, 2010). Consequently, it can be said that managers who empower their human resource technologically provide them with a favorable environment of developing their

Job Brochure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Job Brochure - Essay Example Additionally, it provides quality of life to patients, which is not provided by other hospitals, as well as provides fair wages. It also has plans to expand the facility in order to provide its services to patients better. It has trained and mentored staff members in order to make its clients or patients have full confidence on the facility. Additionally, it aims at providing ample services and treatment to their employees through treating them well, paying them reasonably as well as giving them time for recreation. There are also spacious rooms for individuals suffering from different conditions to ensure efficient and effective delivery of Bright Home services. There are a number of old people around the Bright House Nursing Home facility which helps boost its client base. However, in order to reduce its expenses, it has plans to purchase a new facility and renovate the Wayfield bed and breakfast. Its center location also helps in promoting its accessibility to all its clients arou nd as well as from other areas. Additionally, being a non-profit organization, as well as an alternative care model, it helps the facility to offer other self-oriented facilities at a good price. Therefore, it provides health care to its patients at affordable prices. Its main focus is to make sure its patients; especially old people get the quality health care to make sure they live a healthy life. The structure, culture and a business model of Bright House Nursing home offers services that are exceptional, cheap, of high quality and offered conveniently. All these services are offered to the customer on a clean, safe and friendly environment. Jones (2007), Chap 8, Pg,126 claims that the culture and structure of an organization coordinates and motivate employees to perform at a high level in team, group as well as in other departments. Additionally, it helps in solving problems that stems up from lack of cooperation, conflicts, and misguided goals. The above explained model, struct ure and culture of Bright Home, will allow the company to operate more effectively and efficiently. The Bright House Nursing Home structure and business model can be summarized as having the following elements; Dedication, Competence, moral and ethical values. I chose competence, because, in any business, what the employee does normally leads the business in to the market. Dedication can also be referred to as ethical and moral values, which drive the owner of the business to go beyond offering customer service in order to lead his employees into achieving his goals in a fast, competitive, and friendly manner. By being honest with the clients, it is the most unique value as well as important that any business can offer to the customers, of course with the best service, (Jones, 2007, Chap 8, Pg,128). Bright House Nursing Home has chosen to draw the attention of its clients who receive quality-oriented service and have the desire to satisfy the constant need of their patients as well as exceed their expectations (Jones, 2007, Chap 8, Pg, 130. However, in order to achieve the results Bright House Nursing Home is committed to offering exceptional services in an environment that is combined with employee retention and motivation. We also provide health care to the elderly, skilled nursing care which only employs qualified personnel, computerized medical

Potential reviews on peer-reviewed journal articles related to the Literature review

Potential reviews on peer-reviewed journal articles related to the dimension of international entrepreneurship - Literature review Example However international entrepreneurial efforts to gain hold of significant opportunities are disturbed by certain factors limiting accessibility of the international entrepreneur to such opportunity zones. The paper relating to the above fact tends to reflect on the importance of opportunities and how the paradigm of accessibility enhances the value addition to the opportunity exploration activities of the international entrepreneur. International Entrepreneurship Baker, Gedajlovic and Lubatkin (2005) and Giamartino, McDougall and Bird (1993) observe that the concept of international entrepreneurship gains potential in the amalgamation of two distinct sets of studies relating to the domain of ‘International Business’ and ‘Business Entrepreneurship’. The main focus of the International Entrepreneur like the Regional or Local Entrepreneur lies in investigating, evaluating and thereby optimally exploiting the emergence of new opportunities in the global landscap e. The international entrepreneur having gained sight of new opportunities relating to the specific or diversified business domain in the international arena tends to evaluate the accessibility parameters to the same. Thus business decisions are framed not only in terms of the opportunities sighted but also in the process of gaining optimal benefits related to such. Henceforth a successful entrepreneur not only endeavours to locate significant opportunities but also tries to evaluate the institutional and infrastructural support pertaining to the different international regions (Baker, Gedajlovic and Lubatkin, 2005, p.492, 496; Giamartino, McDougall and Bird, 1993, p.39). Plattner (2005) and Peterson (1988) remarks that the dimension of international entrepreneurship gains dominance in the light of globalisation. The emergence of globalization has led to the growth of enhanced cooperation pertaining to transnational boundaries thereby helping in the mutual growth of different nation s. No nation in this globalized climate tends to operate in an isolated mode. Thus solutions to entrepreneurial and other issues are sought from amongst the cooperation and support rendered in terms of infrastructures, policies and opportunities by other global nations that work to form a mutual association like Commonwealth Nations (Plattner, 2005, p.510; Peterson, 1988, p.7). Probing for International Opportunities Czinkota et al (2011) highlights that international companies to become successful in the globalised scale are required to conduct an effective probe to the level of changes occurring in the external environment pertaining to different international regions. The international entrepreneurs to succeed in the highly competitive and changing global business environment are required to understand the pattern and level of alterations happening and thereby effectively adapt to such changes. Organisational managers are thus required to reorganise and restructure the business c oncerns to gain ease of access to potential opportunities and resources in the international business arena (Czinkota et al, 2011, p.25). The international entrepreneur in terms of Czinkota et al (2011) and Secor (2007) is not required to evaluate the characteristics or features of diverse international zones ranging across different geographies in a separate fashion. Rather the entrepreneur

Scenario Analysis Develop a training or college course Essay

Scenario Analysis Develop a training or college course - Essay Example In our discussion, we will critically analyze and present the efficient method that can be used to train a staff of a given business organization. Trainers should always work towards success and as argued by scholars, success of a teacher is attained through good performance and excellence of the students. Therefore, to achieve your goal, always ensure you reach the all class meeting the students’ expectations. Observation has been made that a good teacher is the one who understands their students hence coming up with conducive and convenient teaching program without ignoring any gender, age and class. The teacher should satisfy the whole class so as to ensure excellent results. Basing our argument on the case of the group of trainees given in this paper, it is right to understand the theories concerning with adult studies so as to make effective decision on how to tackle the varying group for good understanding. Age theory explains the fact that, individuals at different age are faced with different problems. They are exposed to various individual issues depending on the period of life at hand. People at the adult period of life are observed to be more concerned with their achievements in life and value of their culture. They appear to be more resistant to change and always fighting towards protection of their good values. Adult group according to age theory is observed to have great feeling of membership to their community (International Conference on Green Communications and Networks, Yang & Ma, 2013). This makes them more resistant to any idea that seems to violate and depleted their traditional practices. On the other hand, stage theory brings out the different stages that are undergone by an individual as they grow up. These theorists argued that, knowledge is never stagnant it is always in progress. They asserted that as individuals move from one level of life to another their knowledge becomes more and more. Therefore, adults will always want to

Foundations of Public Health and Health Promotion Essay

Foundations of Public Health and Health Promotion - Essay Example The shortcomings of these models are addressed by the Red Lotus health promotion model which advocates for a value and principle system to guide actions in all aspects of health promotion process. Hawe, Degeling, and Hall Needs Assessment and Planning model conducts an assessment to obtain a comprehensive picture of the health issues and problems facing the community. Through this assessment, practitioners can guide their actions towards health intervention initiatives aimed at improving health conditions. The assessment process is divided into two stages. First, identifying health problem priorities. During this stage, data is collected and analysed to determine what health problems are critical so that priority to health problems is set (Hawe, Degeling & Hall, 1990). The magnitude of a specific health problem determines its priority in terms of needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Second, analysing the health problem. The aim of this stage is to gather more data about the factors that lead to the identified health problems. Once enough data is collected and analysed, priorities are set on how to address the health problems identified. Values and principles of health p romotion such as community empowerment and participation are then used to describe how to solve the health problems. The shortcoming of this model is that it takes a technical orientation approach to solving health problems. For example, it describes how health promotion problems should be addressed without putting emphasis on values and principles to guide actions and yield positive results. The Program Management Guidelines from New South Wales Health gives a guideline of steps to follow to guide actions. The guidelines given reflect actions that may occur simultaneous. It gives guideline on how to organize and plan the health promotion programs to

HP deskjet Essay Example for Free

HP deskjet Essay Case: Hewlett-Packard-Supplying the Deskjet Printer in Europe The DeskJet printer was introduced in 1988 and has become one of Hewlett-Packards (HPs) most successful products. Sales have grown steadily, reaching a level of over 600,000 units in 1990. Unfortunately, inventory growth has tracked sales growth closely. HPs distribution centers are filled with pallets of the DeskJet printer. Worse yet, the organization in Europe claims that inventory levels there need to be raised even further to maintain satisfactory product availability. THE DESKJET SUPPLY CHAIN The network of suppliers, manufacturing sites, distribution centers (DCs), dealers, and customers for the DeskJet product make up the DeskJet supply chain (see Exhibit 17. 14). HP in Vancouver does manufacturing. There are two key stages in the manufacturing process: (1) printed circuit assembly and test (PCAT) and (2) final assembly and test (FAT). PCAT involves the assembly and testing of electronic components (like integrated circuits, read-only memories, and raw printed circuit boards) to make logic boards used in the printer. FAT involves the assembly of other subassemblies (like motors, cables, keypads, plastic chassis, gears, and the printed circuit assemblies from PCAT) to produce a working printer, as well as the final testing of the printer. The components needed for PCAT and FAT are sourced from other HP divisions as well as from external suppliers worldwide. Exhibit 17.14 HP DeskJet Supply Chain Selling the DeskJet in Europe requires customizing the printer to meet the language and power supply requirements of the local countries, a process known as â€Å"localization.† Specifically, the localization of the DeskJet of different countries involves assembling the appropriate power supply module, which reflects the correct voltage requirements (110 or 220) and power cord plug, and packaging it with the working printer and a manual written in the appropriate language. Currently, the final test is done with the actual power supply module included with the printer. Hence, the finished products of the factory are â€Å"localized† versions of the printer destined for all the different countries. For the European Market six different versions are currently produced. These are designated A, AA, AB, AQ, AU, and AY as indicated in the Bills of Materials shown in Exhibit 17.15. Exhibit 17.15 HP DeskJet Bill of Materials The total factory throughput time through the PCAT and FAT stages is about one week. The transportation time from Vancouver to the European DC is five weeks. The long shipment time to Europe is due to ocean transit and the time to clear customs and duties at port of entry. The plant sends a weekly shipment of printers to the DC in Europe. The printer industry is highly competitive. Resellers want to carry as little inventory as possible. Consequently, there has been increasing pressure for HP as a manufacturer to provide high levels of availability at the DC. In response, management has decided to stock the DCs so that a high level of availability is maintained. THE INVENTORY SERVICE CRISIS To limit the amount of inventory throughout the DeskJet supply chain and at the same time provide the high level of service needed has been quite a challenge to Vancouvers management. The manufacturing group has been very successful in reducing the uncertainties caused by delivery to the European DC. Forecasting demand in Europe, though, is a significant problem. It has become common to have product shortages for model demands from some countries, while inventory of other models keeps piling up. In the past, the target inventory levels at the DCs were based on safety stocks that were a result of some judgmental rule of thumb. Specifically, target inventory levels, equal to one-month average sales, were set for each model carried in the DC. Now, however, it seems that the increasing difficulty of getting accurate forecasts means the safety stock rules should be revisited. HP has put together a team of employees to help implement a scientifically based safety stock system that will be responsive to forecast errors and replenishment lead times. They are to recommend a method for calculating appropriate safety stock levels for the various DeskJet models carried in  the European DC. The team has a good sample of demand data that can be used for developing the safety stock methodology (see Exhibit 17.16). HP hopes this new methodology will solve the inventory and service problem.

Plato on Gender: An analysis

Plato on Gender: An analysis Plato on Gender Platonic advocacy of female public engagement as articulated in Republic V challenges an organizational ethos by which the activities, movement, and behavior of women were severely restricted. Indeed the role of women in Plato’s political philosophy is arguably at odds, not only with the negative and oppressive depiction of women in Athenian philosophical thought at large, but also with the broader Platonic corpus which seems to speak to the natural inferiority of females. Plato advances the radical argument that insofar as the body and soul are distinct, women and men may serve coequally in the guardianship of the state. That is, assuming that the nature of a person is independent of his/her body, and to such an extent as each individual should be assigned work suited to his nature, both sexes will be capable of performing all the functions needed by the city, including philosophy, despite the innate and inevitable inferiority of women (Okin, 1979). Yet however progressive hi s embrace of women in terms of their capacity to assume political, ethical, and intellectual responsibilities alongside men; the evidence suggests that Plato did not stand for a liberationist philosophy that elevates women to the moral status of men. Only by examining the proposals of Republic V with an eye toward the overriding aims and structure of the ideal society do Plato’s apparent contradictions in his views toward women become apparent. While his views on women were no doubt revolutionary for the day, the degree to which Plato was motivated by an egalitarian ethic remains an open question. We must remember that Plato was a product of a society locked into a rigid patrimonial order in which the confinement of respectable women was de rigeur and where upper class women were valued primarily as instruments of reproduction and legitimacy (Pomeroy, 1975). The Athenian woman of citizen class was secluded within the parental home until she became a ward of the matrimonial household, where she was expected to exercise her maternal responsibilities, especially the breeding of sons. She was likewise controlled and deprived with respect to her sexuality, without the compensation of any participation in life outside the domestic sphere (Okin, 1979). Socialization with men at any level, even within the confines of the home, was not consistent with her service to the household and commitment to chastity, frugality, and silence (P omeroy, 1975). In conceptual terms, meanwhile, emotionalism and lack of self-control were seen as products of female nature; reserving bravery, norms of reason, and objectivity for men within the intellectual and institutional structure (Just, 1989). Thus to the extent that women were devoid of moral agency and self-possession, they were subject to the authority and guardianship of men, effectively disqualifying them from the ruling class as a condition of â€Å"natural† dependency. The recurrent theme in the literature is of female subordination and loss of autonomy as a result of excessive physical indulgence: â€Å"women are in bondage to their physical appetites as much as those who are legally bound† (Just, 1989, p. 186). A woman, as such, is unable to subordinate her appetites, desires, and emotions to reason (i.e. higher-order valuations) in pursuit of virtue. A man however, presuming the opportune socio-economic conditions, is free, and hence is arguably considerably less, if at all, inclined to fall victim to akratic action. By this reasoning, men maintain the ability to act in accordance with their decisive better judgments, while women are seen in connection to and dependent upon their appetitive urges (Politics, 1260a2-12). Hesiod’s Theogony, for example, likens the woman to a gluttonous and sexually licentious â€Å"stomach† inflicted on the man to consume the fruits of his labor and weaken his resolve to self-govern, which, as a free man, he is presumed capable of (Just, 1989, p. 164). Aristotle confirms; noting in the Politics that, â€Å"the woman has [a deliberative faculty], but [that] it is without authority† (Politics, 1260a12-14). Correspondingly, he submits that â€Å"to a woman, silence brings refinement – whereas this does not apply to a man† (Politics, 1260a30-31). Hence, as Just comments, â€Å"the opposition between those innately possessed of self-control, and those who lack it . . . ideologically r enders women’s subordinated place within the social structure of the polis a ‘natural’ one† (Just, 1989, p. 166). Against this backdrop, it seems unrealistic to believe that Plato was immune to the influences of the historical and cultural standards that underscore his dialogues. In fact, in the Timaeus, Plato himself explains the inferiority of women in terms of devolution from an original creation consisting of men. Those able to master their passions and live virtuously on Earth are granted passage back to the stars from which they came; cowardly and unrighteous men are reborn as women to account for their failures. â€Å"All male-born humans who lived lives of cowardice or injustice were reborn in the second generation as women† (Timaeus, 90e7-8). Indeed victory of the rational over the irrational was the means by which a debased soul may return to â€Å"his original condition of excellence,† and avoid further degeneration into an animal form appropriate to the evil nature which he had acquired (Timaeus, 42b1-d2).Plato continues to explain that, ultimately, procreation results from the union of the â€Å"woman’s desire and the man’s love;† an explanation that speaks to appetitive/reason distinction discussed above (Timaeus, 91d1). Thus Plato builds a hierarchy of goodness and rationality in which woman is positioned midway between man and beast, a sentiment echoed in the Laws (Okin 1979). The dialogue of Republic V, however, suggests that while human beings can differ in many ways, certain attributes have no bearing on the assignment of different functions to different persons in accordance with their natures. For example, whereas a man with a full head of hair is known to be a good cobbler, the bald man is not necessarily incapable of practicing the same profession (Republic V, 454c1-6). There seems, therefore, to be no reason to consider the difference between the sexes in terms of procreative function relevant to whether they should play equal roles in the guardianship of the state (Okin, 1979). Plato thereby manages to reconcile the dialectical opposition between the belief that different natures ought to accord with different pursuits, and the suggestion that the same pursuits be open to both sexes in spite of female inferiority. Thus although he asserts that women are generally less capable than men, especially in physical strength, he maintains that individual members of both sexes are capable of concurrently performing all the city’s functions, including rule and defense (Okin, 1979). The collective good therefore seems to demand that individual pursuits and education be in keeping with the merits of each, irrespective of sex. That â€Å"women bear . . . and men beget,† Plato reasons, is not tantamount to proof that women ought to be denied the ‘guardian-rearing’ education provided to their male peers (Republic V, 454d5-12). Accordingly, Plato maintains that the guardians of his state, along with their (collective) wives, ought to enjoy the same pursuits. Just as a â€Å"male and female doctor have souls of the same nature,† so to would Plato’s purported male and female guardians (Republic V, 454c10-d1). Plato does, however, prescribe a lighter share of defensive duties to women, in keeping with their relative physical weakness and consistent with their assumed level of strength (Republic V, 455d7-e2). Thus although Plato expands the range of activities open to women, the notion (articulated in the Timaeus) that the female form embodies a wicked soul certainly calls into question Plato’s embrace of the egalitarian ideal as such. To be sure, Plato grounds his emancipation of women in the metaphysical assertion that the body and soul are distinct, such that the body becomes an obstacle to the ambitions and potential of the soul. If a male soul can reside in a female body and vice versa, it follows that a female with a philosophical nature may aspire to re-enter life as a man to the extent that she severs her attachment and dependence on the body in favor of philosophy (Bar On, 1994). In effect, since the desired quality of one’s soul may be incongruous with one’s sexual identity, Plato implies that manliness is not necessarily a function of the body. If â€Å"female† refers to someone connected to the world on a bodily level, and â€Å"male,† to a p erson elevated to a philosophical plane (Bar On, 1994), then anyone of a suitable nature can be considered male as a matter of statecraft. In this vein, Okin argues that Plato shared his fellow Athenians’ contempt for women, suggesting the emancipation of female guardians was a necessary byproduct of the dismantling of the family: â€Å"The most important consequence of Plato’s transformation of the guardian class into a single family is the radical implication it has for the role of women† (Okin, 1979, p. 37). Sensing the antagonism between the state and the family, Plato seeks to disengage the guardians from all connections and motive which may undermine their dedication to the state, thereby extending the primary ties of kinship throughout the ruling class (Okin, 1979, p. 37). Thus Rousseau points to a causal link between the abolition of the family and the granting of equal opportunities to women, such that â€Å"having dispensed with the individual family in his system of government, and not knowing any longer what to do with women, [Plato] finds himself forced to turn them into men† (Ok in, 1979, pp. 37-8). Indeed the need for unity within the ruling class – which eliminated private property and the wifehood, and minimized the role of maternity – is critical to the involvement of women in the administration of the city. â€Å"If for the female guardians the relationship to particular men, children and households has ceased to be crucial, there seems to be no alternative for Plato but to consider women as persons in their own right† (Okin, 1979, p. 38). Thus the utilitarian ethic by which Plato’s seeks communal â€Å"happiness† (eudaimonia) is not built on modern notions of liberty, justice, or equality of the sexes. Plato appeals to the efficiency, harmony, and moral goodness on which his politics rest – the oppression of women notwithstanding. â€Å"Excellence, not liberty, is his goal, and he rejects liberty as the enemy of excellence† (Vlastos, 1994, p. 22). The discharge of women from the confines of their traditional domestic role – absent a suitable outlet for the excesses of female nature – would constitute a threat to civil accord, leaving Plato no choice but to rethink the matter of woman’s role and her potential abilities (Okin, 1979). Allen, who explains Plato’s acceptance of women in the context of a political agenda that does not tolerate any manner of civil discord, and which thereby aims to eliminate potential sources of disorder in the city, also shares this in terpretation (Okin, 1979). Arguably then, Plato intends to foster harmony and unity of purpose by resolving the problem of selfishness and contentious interests through the elimination of private property. Thus where property, inheritance, and marriage are reintroduced – as prescribed in the Laws of Plato’s second best city – the proprietary status of women renders immaterial Plato’s frustration with the â€Å"irrational† maintenance of rigid sex roles (Okin, 1979). â€Å"Given these basic features of the social structure of the city, it is not surprising that Plato, in spite of general pronouncements to the contrary, is not able to treat or use women as the equals of his male citizens† (Okin, 1979, p. 46). Further, and of importance if one is to fairly evaluate Plato’s concern for all women, though Republic V validates the notion that female talents may extend to other crafts under the rubric of maximum efficiency, it proffers nothin g toward applying this notion to any but those fortunate enough to be of aristocratic decent.Hence, even if we were to absolve Plato of his (perhaps more subtlety) biased inferences observed in conjunction with his emancipation of the female-elite, a comprehensive feminist portrayal of the great philosopher demands that one reconcile his violently opposed views on feminine potential as a function of class. What emerges is a Platonic distinction between similarities in the potential range of men’s and women’s talents and similarities in ability, with the related distinction between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. Whereas â€Å"women share by nature in every way of life just as men do,† there exists no pursuit of mankind in which the male sex maintains not the gifts and qualities to a higher degree than the female, save for absurd examples of household production (Republic V, 455c4-d7). This distinction helps to explain why Plato defines male guardians as the â€Å"best of the citizens† and the female guardians as less-than, i.e. the â€Å"best of the women† only (Republic V, 456e1-5). By extension, Plato asserts that the female-guardians – despite their having been educated in tandem with the males – will serve as assistants (i.e. ‘secondary companions’ of sorts) to their male compatriots (Republic V, 471c2-d 4). His description of the optimal brigade arrangement, whereby the guardians would be â€Å"less likely to desert each other†¦if their woman joined their campaigns†¦.positioned in the rear to frighten the enemy, and in case their help should ever be needed† indubitably indicates this much, while further implying that men harbor greater capability and potential in warfare than do women (Republic V, 471d1-4). Therefore, in constant reference to the â€Å"wives† of the guardians, and by defining female guardianship in terms of its value to men, Plato betrays the cultural predispositions embedded in language throughout his work. Unsurprisingly, the notion that ‘a woman can do what her fellow man does, but is nonetheless incapable of doing it as well,’ lies at the heart of feminist objections to Platonic thought. Some suggest that Plato’s apparent hostility toward women can be explained by appeal to an elitist contempt for a corrupt and inefficient social order under which women fail to meet their potential. Vlatos, for example, adopts a minimalist and conservative conception of personal rights that intends to reconcile the equality Plato provides for women with the philosopher’s negative portrayal of women elsewhere (Vlastos, 1994). On Vlastos’ account, if Plato’s policies reflect a belief that â€Å"equality in the rights of persons shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex† – a claim that bears contrary to the norms governing the status of Athenian women at the time – then Plato is aptly characterized as a feminist (Vlastos, 1994, p. 12). On attempting to reconcile the emancipation of the female-elite in Republic V with the reproachful remarks targeted at women – as evidenced throughout the broader Platonic corpus – Vlastos suggests that the â€Å"‘womanish’ traits [Plato] denigrates are those of the great mass of women, not of those brilliant exceptions from whom the guardians would be recruited; and, moreover, they are the traits common to women now [i.e. Plato’s time], under conditions [then] prevailing which [did not] foster the development of energetic minds and resolute characters† (Vlastos, 1994, p. 18). Arguably, Vlastos’ explanation does not merely ‘explain away’ Plato’s irreverent tone toward women; a tone persistent throughout his works and, notably, targeted at the general female body. Ultimately, Vlastos’ approach fails to satisfy those who subscribe to a liberationist ethic that values women’s preferences and needs for thei r own sake (Annas, 1976). On this account, Pomeroy calls attention to contempt for women throughout the Platonic texts, either expressed directly, or implied through images and metaphors; and points to a proprietary canon that positioned women as property, prizes, and slaves under the custodial care of men (Pomeroy, 1975). Moreover, noting that Plato’s liberation of women resides within a metaphysical framework in which a woman’s opportunity to pursue â€Å"knowledge of the good† depends on the intrinsic value of the soul, Annas poses a consistent hostility toward women throughout Plato’s dialogues. Accordingly, she argues against the feminist thesis; namely pointing to the facts that Plato does not reject inequality between the genders as such, nor does he suggest, in any way, that he genuinely cares for the desires of women, as women (Annas, 1976). Clearly, the broader Platonic corpus fails to transcend the gender stereotypes and sexist notions that circumscribe its time. However, in so much as Plato gives voice to a class of citizens that remained mute for ages – barred by the values of a rigid societal construct – some may deem Plato a revolutionary proponent of female-actualization. While his overall presentation may offend modern feminist sensibilities, Plato’s policies are attuned to the potential of females in the face of a disparaging cultural opposition. And, although the evidence suggests that Plato does not consider women as the moral equals of men – by any measure – he nonetheless deserves credit for being among the first to promote the equality of women in meaningful aspects of social status and function. References Annas, Julia. (1976). Plato’s â€Å"Republic† and Feminism. Philosophy, 51, 307-321. Aristotle. (1995). Aristotle Politics: Books I And II. (Trevor Saunders, Trans.). New York: Oxford University Press. (Original work written 350 B.C.E.). Bar On, B. (1994). Engendering Origins: Critical Feminist Readings in Plato and Aristotle. New York: State University of New York Press. Just, R. (1989). Women in Athenian Law and Life. New York: Routledge Press. Okin, S. (1979). Women in Western Political Thought. Princeton: Princeton University Press Plato. (1997). Complete Works: The Republic. (J.M. Cooper D. L. Hutchinson, Eds.). Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. Plato. (1997). Complete Works: Timaeus. (J.M. Cooper D. L. Hutchinson, Eds.). Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. Pomeroy, S. (1975). Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves: Women in Classical Antiquity. New York: Random House, Inc. Vlastos, Gregory. (1994). Was Plato a Feminist? In Nancy Tuana (Ed.), Feminist Interpretations of Plato (pp. 11-23). University Park, PA: Penn State Press. Walmart: Everyday Low Prices Strategy Walmart: Everyday Low Prices Strategy Wal-Mart is the worlds largest retailer stores emerged in Arkansas, USA since 1962 by Sam Walton with his belief that the future of retailing lay in discounting, focusing on value drivers: price and service, convenience and a wide rage of product all in one store. The successfully of implementation is to adapt innovative practice selling the brand with slogan Every Day Low Prices (EDLP) mixed with other philosophies into its pricing. In early days, One of the key strategy was concerned on small town locations: open discount stores in small town and spread out its stores and filling un-served gaps avoiding from competition radar. As, Wal-Mart saturated its market and effectively barred new competition. With the prospect of low price policy, Wal-Mart is relentless cost control. Non-stop of reducing of their price parallel with cost control. Including of being the partnership with suppliers, they claimed that it helped the suppliers improve inventory management and efficiency as win-win partnership. Another core competence is logistic management. Wal-Mart very early demonstrated commitment to technology in the industry. Being the earliest to adopt satellite technology connection the chain to one big network. Moreover, Wal-Mart has been seeking for the continuing development by adoption RFID in the system. In term of service, Wal-Mart understands the art of motivating its employees from all level to perform their best. For instant, under the ten-foot rule, any member of staff within ten feet of a customer must offer them assistance. Its labor relations are exceptional. Workers are not plain employees but associates, eligible for a share of the profits and stock options in the company. This has created a famously loyal and highly competitive workforce. Now, Wal-Mart is facing a change to their business in China. Over the past few years Chinas retail industry and its distribution and logistical infrastructure have opened up significantly with decreased government regulation. For Wal-Mart this will mean a large change in its business strategy and it will now look to profitably expand with Chinas booming economy. In order to set a new strategy Wal-Mart will need to identify what issues it will face in the short and long term. One such issue is the fact that the business model used in America will not directly transplant to China. For example, in the U.S., Wal-Mart places stores in small towns to gain a competitive advantage. China, on the other hand, will not support such a structure. In China, the economic growth has been concentrated exclusively in coastal regions supporting urbanites. The U.S. business model also uses Wal-Marts distribution, logistics, and IT networks to gain economies of scale and competitive advantages. China does not have the infrastructure for Wal-Mart to gain the same scale economies and advantages. Instead, Wal-Mart China will need to find alternative ways to turn core competencies into competitive advantages. Other issues Wal-Mart China faces are differences in consumer preferences habits between American and Chinese consumers, increasing competition among foreign and domestic firms, and overcoming local protectionism obstacles. SWOT Analysis of Wal-Mart (S)trengths Wal-Mart is a powerful retail brand. It has a reputation for value for money, convenience and a wide range of products all in one store. The company has a core competence involving its use of information technology to support its international logistics system. Wal-Mart has a lot of suppliers, since the company claimed that it had always treated its supplier as partners and also helps suppliers improve inventory management and efficiency. Wal-Mart has a competitive strategy. For example everyday low prices (EDLP) or Always Low prices, this helped to drive the concept of EDLP and drew a million customers to its door. (W)eakness The biggest obstacle Wal-Mart faced in Mainland China was lack of an information-technology network with suppliers making the purchase and distribution difficult. (O)pportunities To take over, merge with, or form strategic alliances with other global retailers, focusing on specific markets such as Europe or the Greater China Region.   The stores are currently only trade in a relatively small number of countries. Therefore there are tremendous opportunities for future business in expanding consumer markets.   New locations and store types offer Wal-Mart opportunities to exploit market development. They diversified from large super centres, to local and mall-based sites.   Opportunities exist for Wal-Mart to continue with its current strategy of large, super centres. (T)hreats Very high competition in china market, especially the local brand. The Buying behavior of Chinese consumers, Chinese consumers always compare the different of the price before they make a purchase. Regulatory restrictions, in china the constraints on a foreign retailers operation directly limited the regional expansion of Wal-Mart stores and the efficient use of distribution centers. Local protectionism, it is serious problem faced by many multinational firms trying to expand operations through china. The Infrastructural Deficiency, Wal-Mart distribution system depended on transportation, but china transportation were no well connected and were serious fragmented. Case Questions: Why is Wal-Mart successful in the US? What are Wal-Marts competitive advantages and its sources? Wal-Mart has the critical strategy such as Every Day Low Prices (EDLP) to capture demand of consumers and brand reputation and trust of customers make Wal-Mart become outstanding firm. Two key developments made the success possible: Distribution: Wal-Mart set up highly automated distribution centres, cutting down on delivery time and costs. Inventory flow: The companys computerized inventory systems gave managers real-time information on their stocks, speeding up the re-ordering of goods. The competitive advantages of Wal-Mart are technology, being the earliest to adopt satellite technology connection the chain to one big network. Besides, Wal-Mart has been seeking for the continuing development by adoption RFID in the system. Using the inventory management over the competitors and a lot of suppliers that deal with Wal-Mart. Also, the main successful of Wal-Mart is cost-control. Wal-Mart can control and avoid unnecessary cost very well, therefore Wal-Mart can offers a low price than competitors to consumers as a result of economic of scale. 2. Should Wal-Mart replicate its domestic model in its original form in China? Why? Can it build the same competitive advantage in China through its successful domestic model? Wal-Mart should not use the same strategy form in china. Because it is different in culture , environment, legal and politics. The original might be success in US but the characteristic of Chinese people is totally differently from USs people. It is hard to build the competitive as the same as in United state because due to local supplier, distribution or supply chain is not the same as in USA. Also, Wal-Mart might lack of technology in china, so I think the original model might not work in china 3. Provide suggestions on potential strategies that Wal-Mart China should consider in going forward. Creating Guanxi Conducting marketing expansion research: a critical role in global success. It permits the company to take into account different environments, attitude and market conditions and hence to minimize risks. To get information for possible business expansion To monitor the political climate To review various ways of market To evaluate the business partners Alternatives Wal-Mart has many options when determining what strategy to set going forward in Chinas newly deregulated market.    One such option is to accept defeat.    Wal-Mart has attempted to transplant its American business model in other countries such as Germany, South Korea, and Japan and realized huge failures.    Japan is consistently a loss making operation for Wal-Mart, and Wal-Mart has already completely retreated from Germany and South Korea due to its inability to.. http://walmartstores.com/AboutUs/297.aspx http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/325922.stm

Plato’s Apology Essay -- essays research papers

Plato’s Apology Socrates was a very simple man who did not have many material possessions and spoke in a plain, conversational manner. Acknowledging his own ignorance, he engaged in conversations with people claiming to be experts, usually in ethical matters. By asking simple questions, Socrates gradually revealed that these people were in fact very confused and did not actually know anything about the matters about which they claimed to be an expert. Socrates felt that the quest for wisdom and the instruction of others through dialogue and inquiry were the highest aims in life. He felt that "The unexamined life is not worth living." Plato's Apology is the speech Socrates made at his trial. Socrates was charged with not recognizing the gods recognized by the state and corrupting the youth of Athens. In The Apology, Socrates attempted to defend himself. He spoke in a very simple, uncomplicated manner. He explained that he had no experience with the law and courts and that he would just use honesty and directness. He also explained that he behaved in the way that he did because of a prophecy by the oracle at Delphi, which claimed that he was the wisest of all men. Recognizing that he was ignorant in most things, Socrates concluded that he must be wiser than other men only in that he knew that he knew nothing. Socrates explained that he considered it his duty to question people in order to expose their false wisdom as ignorance. By doing this, the youth of Athens bega...

Media Violence - Cartoon Violence and Violent Children :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Cartoon Violence and Violent Children With the recent increase in violent crimes committed by children, adults have been looking for answers to what causes children to commit these acts. Researchers have performed formal studies, and other approaches have been taken to answer the question. Their ideas and perceptions have strayed far and wide, looking for a suitable answer; one such answer of the many they have uncovered is television, but especially television geared towards children: cartoons and animation. In recent years, animation has taken a more openly violent twist during the same time period that the unique and varied forms of Japanese animation have come to America; both have raised many parents' eyebrows as articles and media coverage portray both, but especially Japanese animation, in a harsh and unfair light, depicting all series and movies as violent and only fit for mature audiences. The adults' perception of animation varies greatly from the children's perception, as many factors, such as media depictions , personal opinions, and even the standards of cultures, come into play on the decision of what is suitable for younger viewers. While it is not the first medium ever to reproduce violence for entertainment, television has certainly been the most notorious. However, television stations "do not air violence because they want to. They air it because that is what sells. The blame is upon ourselves for the large volume of violence, since they are merely responding to what we want" (Kim). This love for violence has filtered into nearly every television show aired currently. Virtually every television station airs shows, either live action or animated, that involve the characters fighting, arguing, or just acting in a malevolent way towards something or somebody else. The news always carries stories of what crimes have been committed during the day, daytime talk shows and soap operas often involve fighting and conflict, and even children's television is starting to take a more serious, mature twist in its presentations. Shows such as the live action series Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers have been called into que stion because of the numerous fight scenes and injuries that they depict; however, Power Rangers is one show that does provide a message to children at the end, informing them that the fighting is not real and that they should not imitate the Power Rangers. Despite this warning, children do imitate their heroes, hoping to emulate them and be able to stand as strong and powerful as they do.

The Patient Griselda, by Giovanni Boccaccio Essays -- Literary Analysi

â€Å"The Patient Griselda†, by Giovanni Boccaccio, has hidden meanings to it. Domestic violence from Gualtieri to his chosen wife, Griselda is apparent. Gualtieri feels as though his is condoned to such abuse of his wife because of her low-born social class status, her non-nobility. He further oppresses his power over her by disallowing her to have control over the upbringing of their children. Gualtieri, a young Italian marquis, was pressured by his servants to marry. His subjects were in fear that there would not be an heir to maintain the stability of their state. Gualtieri agrees to marry, but makes it clear to his subjects that he will he will find his own wife. The marquis makes his people promise that they will not question him nor criticize his choice for a wife. â€Å"My friends, since you still persist in wanting me to take a wife; I am prepared to do it, not because I have any desires to marry, but rather in order to gratify your wishes. You will recall the promise you gave me, that no matter whom I should choose; you would rest content and honour her as your lady†, (Boccaccio 164). The beginning of the marriage was peaceful. Then Griselda gave birth to a daughter. It is at this time that Gualtieri begins to â€Å"test† Griselda. His tests are actually forms of emotional abuse. He begins by testing Griselda’s obedience by having the child taken away to be raised elsewhere by woman kinfolk. He told Griselda that their daughter was dead, that he had her killed by his subjects. He repeats this same test with the birth of their son a few years later. Griselda, with no words of protest, surrenders both her children to their deaths by their own father, her husband. Griselda was abused by Gualtieri from the beginnin... ...ers as you would have others do unto you†. If it had been Griselda putting her husband through these so called â€Å"tests†, the outcome would have been very different. There would not have been any kind of a â€Å"happy ending†. Works Cited Boccaccio, Giovanni. everything2.com. Tuesday November 2000. 4 August 2010 . Campbell, Emma. "Sexual Poetics and the Politics of Translation in the Tale of Griselda." (2006): 17. Damrosch, David and David L. Pike. The Longman Anthology of World Literature Second Edition. Pearson Education, Inc., 2009. Davis, Walter R. "Boccaccio's Decameron ." The Implications of Binary Form (2003): 20. Fulton, Helen. "The Performance of Social Class:." Domestic Violence in The Griselda Story (n.d.): 42. Jaster, Margaret Rose. ""Controlling clothes, manipulating mates: Petruchio's Griselda"." (2001): 13.

How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States?

It is no surprise that Buddhism has been embraced by the Americans with gusto. The Buddha was a man of ethics. And, the Chinese bodhisattva is a lady of compassion. Such are the deep values that the American peoples have cherished over the ages – moral principles coupled with compassion. The Chinese bodhisattva, in particular, is a great inspiration for the Americans. She is Kuan Yin: She Who Hearkens To The Cries Of The World (Blofeld, 1997). Is this not the present definition of America as well in global affairs? Zen Buddhism has acknowledged that ‘All is One.’ In other words, there is no essential difference between the different kinds of Buddhism practiced in the United States today. Rev Patti Nakai writes that the American female followers of Tibetan Buddhism have been at the forefront of dealing with women’s issues. To put it another way, the American woman is trying to closely follow She Who Hearkens To The Cries Of The World. The American man, too, is following her lead, by voicing his agitation at injustices throughout the world, and supporting his government in struggling for human rights everywhere.The American women, while fighting for women’s rights, do not hesitate in mentioning Shakamuni’s denunciation of women to prove their point, however. Shakamuni knew women as mere objects before it was explained to him that women, too, should be given a chance to grow in spirituality, simply because everything in this world is impermanent. Finally, Shakamuni did agree to respect women – he had seen impermanence in the death of his father. Before this event, he had been taught that women were akin to animals that are trained to breed, nurture, and How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States?3 entertain the opposite sex. Shakamuni had seen all the women in his life – from his stepmother to his wife, to all the dancing girls and servants of his palace, as creatures that lived solely to p lease men. The change came only when Shakamuni was told by Ananda, â€Å"Give women a chance; we cannot say for sure that they will fail unless they have a chance to study and follow the Dharma† (Nakai). In any case, it was the aunt of Shakamuni Buddha who became the first Buddhist nun and an inspiration for the American Buddhist women apart from Kuan Yin (Nakai).On the other hand, the American man is inspired by Shakamuni Buddha himself, who can learn and grow based on new experiences without turning back to his time of ignorance. This time of ignorance is experienced by every soul; the Buddhist American man delights in the fact that there truly is no turning back once he has had a chance to study and practice the straightforward, uncomplicated and harmless Buddhist principles. Yet another reason why American women have embraced Buddhism is that the Buddhist concept of karma, with its emphasis on self-knowledge, has become a powerful source in helping them overcome the hards hips they faced in life.American women believe that by employing the Buddhist concept of karmic retribution, they hold themselves responsible for the tragedies in their lives. These women have now come to believe that those tragedies are of their own making – that they have created their own suffering. Practicing Buddhism, then, is a form of ‘psychological healing,’ by means of which they not only engage in the Christian expression of ‘Know thyself’ but also begin a process of self-renewal. Sharon A.Suh (2004), the author of Being Buddhist in a Christian World: Gender and Community in a Korean American Temple further writes that the Buddhism of psychological healing for female practitioners at the Korean How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States? 4 Buddhist, Sa Chal Temple in the United States, differs from the Buddhism understood by the male practitioners, who do not understand Buddhism as an emotional and fortune-seeking religi on like the women do. Rather, the American man appears to show more interest in the intellectual and political approaches to Buddhism.He wants to genuinely understand how Buddhism can be used to further the interests of his nation besides improving his position/ situation in the home and workplace. American Style Buddhism There are two main types of Buddhism being practiced in the United States today: the Asian immigrant Buddhism and the American convert Buddhism. On the surface level, the only difference between the two forms of Buddhism lies in the respective languages spoken by each group. On a deeper level, there are quite a few differences in the way each group comprehends Buddhism.The practices of each group differ but naturally. In our day, there is an increasing body of scholarly research and writings on the American convert Buddhism, and although the American individual wants to look at all kinds of Buddhism, he or she is left with no choice but to engage in American style Buddhism. The American is, no doubt, expected to understand his or her language more clearly, apart from the benefits of easy identification with American style expressions (Suh). Converting to another religion always requires study. The American Buddhist is not naive either.All styles of Buddhism (and all religions, in fact) look upon the welfare of the individual with respect to the human society, as well as the welfare of the human society with respect to the individual, as their chief interest. The American Buddhist is not only practicing different kinds How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States? 5 of meditations to be at peace with himself and the world; but, as mentioned previously, also to fight for human rights in the United States and across the world, albeit peacefully.Karma Lekshe Tsomo writes on the women’s rights issue at the forefront of Buddhism: Since 1987 Buddhist women from around the world have begun to unite on a grassroots level and a ssume leadership in working for the welfare of human society. Now, just fifteen years later, the Buddhist women’s movement is recognized as a highly dynamic forum representing over 300 million women worldwide. This movement, emerging from the margins into the international spotlight as a force for social change, is an example of how women can unite their resources and talents, workin harmony, and make significant contributions to global understanding. This innovative movement focuses on Buddhist women’s issues and perspectives, but embraces all living beings. It is innovative in incorporating scholarly perspectives, spiritual practice, grassroots activism, and cultural performance as equally valid dimensions of women’s experience. Creating a forum that unites women from such a rich variety of backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives with respect and appreciation is an expression of women’s enormous potential for global transformation (â€Å"WomenPracti cing Buddhism†). Buddhism looks upon itself as a religion of peace. But, for there to be overall peace within the individual and the human society, all issues of importance to the individual must be dealt with in a peaceful and amicable manner. The American would not feel satisfied until he has dealt with issues that concern himself. It is difficult for this individual to feel at peace until he or she has intelligently tackled the human rights issues in society, for example, sexual discrimination. After all, the American has converted to Buddhism keeping its benefits in mind.This individual would not settle for less, just as the Buddha never sacrificed his principles. The American Buddhist would like to experience peace at home, peace at work, and peace in the community at large through his or her conversion to Buddhism. Inequality and discrimination, as an example, have stolen peace at many levels. But, Buddhism is encouraging How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States? 6 the American to be true to Self, and to be at ease in every situation in order to successfully engender peace.Karen Andrews, an American Buddhist woman, explains the meaning of discrimination in Buddhism itself: Buddhism has, throughout its history, slowly moved east, from India through China, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Japan. Most recently, it has begun its jump across the ocean to the United States. With each move, the expression of Buddhism has changed to suit the culture of the people. Buddhism has not yet been in the United States (or any other Western country) long enough to develop into a clear new form, suitable for Western culture.There are many aspects of traditional Buddhism which need slight adaptation in order to be accepted within the complex structures of Western society. One of the areas of traditional Buddhism which modern Western Buddhists find the most problematic is the area of gender. In most Asian Buddhist traditions, the leaders and teac hers are all male, while females are given less prestigious roles. Western Buddhists tend to come from highly educated and socially liberal backgrounds, which means that they tend to feel that men and women are equal and should be given equal opportunities in all endeavors.This difference of opinion between Western and Asian Buddhists causes a certain amount of tension. Even though the American woman loves Buddhism for the freedom, dignity and peace it allows her to enjoy, this Eastern religion is also disadvantageous in terms of Buddhist patriarchy. To take control of this disadvantage, many American women have pioneered a gender-neutral and gender-free way of understanding and practicing Buddhism. This has been made easy by the fact that Buddhist teachings do not revolve around divine revelations that would allow for no change in the understanding and practice of Buddhism.American women who have been raised to hate discrimination, have chosen to ignore the obvious sexist practices in Buddhism by following a middle path. In so doing, however, they have ensured that they do not step out of Buddhism altogether (Boucher, 1998). The American Buddhist men have agreed with the American Buddhist women on this issue. They have been taught to hate discrimination, too. How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States? 7 And so, American Buddhism does not face a dire problem of discrimination within the institution itself.Besides, peace is helpful; and hence, Buddhism is good news in America. How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States? 8 References Andrews, Karen. Women In Theravada Buddhism. Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley. Retrieved 25 June 2007, from http://www. enabling. org/ia/vipassana/Archive/A/Andrews/womenTheraBudAndrews. html. Blofeld, John. (1997). The Bodhisattva Of Compassion: The Mystical Traditions Of Kuan Yin. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boucher, Sandy. (1998). Turning the Wheel: American Women Creat ing the New Buddhism.(1st rev. ed. ). New York: Beacon Press. Nakai, Rev. Patti. Women in Buddhism. Urban Dharma. Retrieved 5 December 2006, from http://www. urbandharma. org/udharma/womenbuddhist. html. Suh, Sharon A. (2004). Being Buddhist in a Christian World: Gender and Community in a Korean American Temple American Ethnic and Cultural Studies Series. Seattle: University of Washington Press. Women Practicing Buddhism: American Experiences. Smith College. Retrieved 5 December 2006, from http://www. smith. edu/buddhism/index. php.

Gender Discrimination in Developing Countries Essay

Although we live in the 21st century gender discrimination still remains. Despite the fact that international laws have granted men and women equal rights, in some parts of the world there is discriminatory attitude towards men and women, which affects their lives on a daily basis. Since women are mostly affected by discrimination, I will try to cover as many different types as possible. First of all, in eastern countries when girls are born they are considered as just another expanse. Their place is in the home, and they’re considered to be servant of the household. As they grow up they’re made to feel inferior to boys. Also in some parts of the world, girls do not have the right to go to school and be educated. Resulting in them not being able to seek a career later on in their lives. As far as labor in concerned girls are likely to work from daybreak until the light drains away, they work hard without recognition or reward, not to mention the fact that since infancy women run the risk of physical harm, they’re vulnerable to abuse, especially those living in societies where their rights mean practically nothing. In addition, this is a phenomenon in developing world countries since there is much poverty striking families; they see their daughters as an economic predicament. Even newborn girls lack the opportunity to be breast fed by their mothers, since their goal is to try and get pregnant again with a boy as soon as possible. As they grow up, they receive less food, healthcare, even fewer vaccinations then boys. In my opinion, the whole world is facing a devastating reality regarding discrimination against girls and women in developing countries. This results in numerous individual tragedies, which contributes to less potential for the countries they’re born in. It is my firm belief that if one part suffers, so does the whole. I feel sorry for all of those female children, who are defenseless against the trauma of gender discrimination. I’m certain that the various international organizations, are working hard to improve the livelihood of girls and women  living in developing countries, such as, UNICEF, UNIFEM, or Amnesty International. I feel relieved that at least they’re trying to raise international awareness. As for the validity of the source is concerned, it is secondary source primarily based on fact. The source is trustworthy indeed, since it comes from the representative of Children In Need Inc. which strives to encourage people to help and support children in need. They do provide accurate information, since they express their own experiences from visits to those countries. Questions: Don’t you think it’s time you stepped up and contributed to raising international awareness about gender discrimination? Is it right for a baby girl to be deprived of her mother’s breast-feeding? Are we proud of being citizens of developed countries, without being aware of what goes on in some other parts of the world? Don’t you think food; education and healthcare should be a right that all children despite gender should have?

Comprehensive Health Assessment Paper Essay

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the results of a comprehensive health assessment on a patient of my choosing. This comprehensive assessment included the patient’s complete health history and a head-to-toe physical examination. The complete health history information was obtained by interviewing the patient, who was considered to be a reliable source. Other sources of data, such as medical records, were not available at the time of the interview. Physical examination data was obtained through inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation techniques. The case study results are interpreted from the perspective of a registered nurse, and three nursing diagnoses are identified. Biographic Data M. H. is a 63-year-old married white female. She is currently unemployed for four months. Her most recent employment of seven years was as a private home health aid for a friend’s elderly parents who have since passed away. She was born in Buffalo, New York into a family of German decent. She currently lives in a suburb of Buffalo, N. Y. English is her primary language. Culture and Spirituality M. H. was raised in a traditional German family where her father was the head of the household. However, her father and mother made many decisions mutually and shared household chores (Purnell, 2014). Her father was an Air Force pilot during World War II, and then worked as a chemical engineer until retirement. The household atmosphere was loving and respectful. She and her five siblings were brought up as Roman Catholics. They were expected to be polite, use table manners, be on-time to meals, respect their elders, do as they were told, share, finish their chores before recreating, get good grades in school, pray before meals and at bedtime, and attend church every Sunday and on holy days (Purnell, 2014) . Past Health History When she was a child, M. H. did not have any serious illness, nor does she have any chronic illnesses currently. She did, however, have a severe case of chickenpox when she was about 3-years-old, and shingles about 18 years ago. M. H. has not been in any major accidents or had any life-threatening injuries during her life. She has been hospitalized two times for childbirth. Her obstetric history includes Gravida 2/Term 2/Preterm 0/Abortion 0/Living 2. Both births were uncomplicated vaginal deliveries. Surgical history includes tubal ligation at age 24, and removal of benign cysts in her left breast, left cheek, and left wrist between the years 1998-2003. All of her childhood vaccinations are up to date. She gets vaccinated for influenza almost every year, but she did not get vaccinated this season. She received the varicella zoster virus vaccine in February, 2015; no reactions noted. Her last tetanus shot was more 10 years ago. She denies ever having been exposed to tuberculosis (TB), and nor has she ever had a TB skin test (Jarvis, 2012). M. H. sees her primary physician every year for a physical. Her last physical was in February, 2014. She also sees her dentist annually for a check-up and cleaning. She is currently scheduled for April, 2015. As a child she never needed corrective lenses, but for the last 15 years she has needed glasses for reading. Therefore, her vision is checked annually, most recent appointment having been in January, 2015. Because she has a history of benign cysts in her breast tissue, she gets a mammogram every five years. Her last mammogram was in 2010. Results of her Pap tests have never been abnormal. She cannot recall the date of her last gynecological exam. She also gets a coloscopy every couple of years, since her father died of colon cancer. In relation to allergies, M. H. has no known drug allergies. Current over-the-counter medications include an occasional 400-600 mg dose of ibuprofen for â€Å"aches and pains†, a daily vitamin, and melatonin for insomnia, and antacids, such as Tums, for her â€Å"heartburn†. Her current prescription medications include a 225 mg tablet of Venlafaxine HCL once  daily for anxiety related dizziness, and a 20 mg tablet of Atorvastatin for high cholesterol. She drinks alcohol socially, approximately two 12 ounce beers a day. She is a former smoker of one pack of cigarettes a day for nearly forty years. Her quite date was September, 2011. She denies the use of street drugs. Review of Systems M. H. states that she is generally in good overall health. No cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, vascular, musculoskeletal, urinary, hematologic, neurologic, genitourinary, or gastrointestinal problems. No history of skin disease. Skin is pink, dry, and void of bruising, rashes, or lesions. No recent hair loss; head is normocephalic. Pupils equally reactive to light; no history of glaucoma or cataracts. Ears are in normal alignment; no history of chronic infections, hearing loss, tinnitus, or discharge. Nose and sinus history includes clear nasal discharge â€Å"since last October†, and occasional nose bleeds; states she use to get nose bleeds often as a child. Mouth and throat are absent of lesions; no bleeding gums, sore throat, dysphagia, hoarseness, or altered taste. Neck is void of pain, swelling, tender nodes, and goiter; full range of motion. M.H. states that she performs self breast exams routinely and denies any lumps or discharge. Lungs are clear; peripheral pulses present bilaterally; capillary refill less than 3 seconds. Heart rate is in normal sinus. Bowel sounds are present in all quadrants. Her psychosocial status is appropriate. M. H. denies recent weight change, weakness, fever, sweats, or fatigue (Jarvis, 2012). Abnormal findings include an elevated cholesterol level, which is also familial. Furthermore, she has a history of stress related anxiety, and was diagnosed with anxiety related dizziness in 2012. She states that before she started taking a medication her doctor prescribed, her dizzy spells could happen at any time. As a result, she avoids certain situations, such as riding in a boat. Functional Assessment After graduating from Bryant and Stratton business school in her early twenties, M. H. spent 15 years as a manager of several apartment complexes. She then worked as a manager of a retail mini-mart for the next 15 years until she got layed-off. Meanwhile, with the help of her siblings, she was  taking care of her elderly mother, her mother’s husband, and elderly mother-in-law until they all passed away. Shortly after these events, friends hired her to care for their parents, and now they have passed away. However, she still helps the friends by cleaning their house, completing simple home improvement tasks, and going grocery shopping and ruuning errands for them. M. H. lives with her husband of 42 years. She was raised Roman Catholic, believes in God, but does not attend church regularly. She states that she is an honest, hard-working woman. She takes her dog for a walk several times a day for exercise, and is independent in her activities of daily living. She and her husband enjoy time with family and friends, and host dinners and get-togethers often. Her hobbies include sewing, upholstery, and gardening. Getting 6-8 hours sleep at night is M. H.’s normal pattern, although she has occasional stress-related insomnia. She states she tries to eat healthy, is aware of â€Å"good† versus â€Å"bad† food choices, and does not have any food intolerances. Both her husband and she share the cooking and grocery shopping duties (Jarvis, 2014). A typical daily diet includes a small bowl of whole grain cereal with skim milk or a protein shake for breakfast, soup and/or sandwich for lunch, and a cut of lean meat with a vegetable side for dinner. She and her husband occasionally order pizza, get a fish fry on Fridays during lent, or go out for Chinese food. Normal elimination pattern includes one or two bowel movements a day; she has no problems urinating, although if she drinks regular coffee, it will cause urinary frequency. In regards to interpersonal relationships, she has a very strong relationship with her siblings and their families, her husband’s family, and her children and their families. She enjoys caring for her grandchildren on an â€Å"as needed† basis. She qualifies time spent alone as productive and/or relaxing, stating â€Å"everyone needs a little time alone to work on their own projects† (Jarvis, 2014). She considers her neighborhood, house, and work environment safe. She states she has the â€Å"typical stresses of life, like making money to pay bills, repairing their old house, and being married and  having a family†. Conclusion Based on the results of the comprehensive assessment data, M. H. is a relatively healthy person, who has not had any serious or life-threatening medical problems during her life. She presents with anxiety and anxiety related dizziness that is currently under control with medication. She follows up with her physician and other health care professions on a regular basis, eats healthy, and takes her medications as prescribed. She also has a healthy psychosocial status with family and friends. From a nursing perspective, three nursing diagnoses apply to M. H. in her current situation. The first priority diagnosis is Anxiety (moderate) related to stress as manifested by insomnia and dizziness. Second priority diagnosis is deficient Knowledge related to anxiety and dizziness as manifested by M. H. stating lack of complete understanding of the condition. The third priority diagnosis is disturbed Sensory Perception (kinesthetic) related to psychological stress as manifested by sensory distortions (i.e., dizziness). These diagnoses will assist nurses to identify appropriate interventions that will help M. H. achieve an optimal state of wellness (Doenges, Moorhouse, & Murr, 2010). References Doenges, M. E., Moorhouse, M. F., & Murr, A. C. (2010). Nurse’s pocket guide: Diagnoses, Prioritized Interventions, and Rationales (12th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company. Jarvis, C. (2012). Physical Examination and Health Assessment (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. Purnell, L. D. (2014). Culturally Competent Health Care (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company.

Analysis of a Cityscape: Blade Runner

‘Analyse the design of a cityscape in one film or television episode. ’ Nightmare visions of futuristic societies, or dystopias, are a major theme of the sci-fi genre and most post-1970s Hollywood films portraying these worlds embody a ‘crisis in US ideology’ at that time. These sci-fi films usually illustrate issues regarding: ‘environmental pollution, over-population, violent crimes, bureaucratic administration and economic exploitation’. They also represent the unrepresentable, showing us things that we can only otherwise imagine.In this essay I will attempt to explore the labyrinthian landscape of Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi blockbuster Blade Runner, and consider the ways in which it mirrors the social, economic, and political context of the time in which it was made, as well as the socio-ecological consequences of contemporary problems such as war and pollution. I will also further explain how the film’s soundscape is essential to the meaning behind its narrative. The design of sci-fi frequently contains alien planets, foreign bodies, and space-age cityscapes, giving these spectacular fictional worlds an overall glossy, futuristic feel.Blade Runner is a scintillating world with a high-rise landscape, but closer examination reveals that structured within this milieu are metaphors of a dystopian society. Across the top of the skyscrapers are immense neon advertisements and television screens that project messages down for the people to see, showing that this is a world of complete industrialisation. These features provide primarily the main source of light throughout the city. The overall mise-en-scene is obscure and brooding, much like a late 40s and 50s film noir, and the contrast between light and dark here depicts repressed social fears of totalitarian control.The divide in society is evident when we look at the difference between the replicants and the humans. The replicants feel safer on the decayed s treets and adopt working-class lifestyles, for example, Leon works in a run-down hotel, while Zhora works as a stripper in Chinatown. Deckard, in contrast, lives high above the crowded streets, protected by high-tech security devices. Police crafts also hover above, beaming down their probing lights and surveilling the people below. The Cold War period consisted mostly of spying and tense international relations between the US and the Soviet Union.It is almost like Orson Welles’ Big Brother, where no one is free and everyone is constantly being watched by a ruling intellectual force. The theme of paranoia therefore comes into play here; the omnipresence of the police force is a visual motif of corporate power. The superstructures that we see dwarf the smaller, decrepit buildings and crumbling architecture; this binary opposition thus creates a high/low spatial allegory for the lower class- the workers who live below in the post-apocalyptic streets, depressed and dehumanized; and the elite- those who live in high-rise apartments above the rest of the city, benefiting from the labourers.Like in Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927), the difference between the elite and the masses is virtually dramatised by this spatial opposition and the concept of the upper class is literalised. The vertical architecture serves as metaphor for a hierarchy of evil power and is a symbol of economic inequality and corruption, intrinsic with a society that is out of kilter. Fears revolving around race, space, and social class are therefore structured within these thematic elements.Figure 1 (page 6) shows the pyramid of the capitalist system of the early 20th century. People of America believed that anyone could become wealthy and enjoy good lives by working hard – this was the American Dream. Sadly, capitalism reared its ugly head and citizens soon discovered that this economic system benefits only those at the top of that pyramid- ‘the winners gain at the expen se of the mass of losers’. It reflects the philosophy of Orthodox Marxism, where economic base determines cultural and political structure. Who then controls this vast city?As stated in Antonio Gramsci’s theory of cultural hegemony, a culturally diverse society can be dominated by one social class, by manipulating the social culture (beliefs, perceptions, values) so that its ruling-class worldview is imposed as the societal norm, which is then perceived as a universally valid ideology beneficial to all of society, but in fact benefits only the ruling class. The biggest and most dominating of structures within this cityscape are in fact two pyramids, home to none other than Eldon Tyrell, head of the Tyrell Corporation.Pyramids are archetypal Egyptian symbols of power and immortality. Rising high up within this city, they denote a future of affluence and progress, and technological triumph. Tyrell’s office is laden with rich items, golden statues and intricately c arved pillars. Yet it is the cinematography techniques here that are key to representing this majestic interior. The warm, golden hues are a stark contrast to the rest of the city that we have been exposed to. The fact that Tyrell’s office is located so high up is an indication that people who live in the highest, most prestigious places are clearly elites.They are at the top of the hierarchical â€Å"pyramids† of economic or political structures- they are the ruling force of society. Since the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945, science fiction has portrayed dystopias to show the massively destructive capacity of certain scientific developments. These nightmare visions are society’s fears over these developments. Science fiction explores a darker side of science, articulating real fears about advances in areas such as nuclear power or genetic modification.More recently, the Cold War had reached its peak in the 1980s, and the corporate evil seen in Blade Runner echoes a ‘growing weariness of the cold war and anti-communist attitudes that had been festering since the wars in Korea, Vietnam, and later’. The tone of this period of history was incredibly pessimistic, with the continuous danger of nuclear war looming over the world. This cynicism about the future of mankind and of the planet is clearly seen in Blade Runner. ‘The information age was a time where computers and electronics replaced the heavy industry of the modernist period, and political control was applied through mass media.Information became a commodity, and films that portray these spectacles show them as developments that pose challenges to society. They also correspond to contemporary crises developing in the US throughout the 1980s, for example, use of the media to portray political messages’. Anxiety over scientific and technological advancements is central to most science fiction films and is a very apparent theme when examining the cityscape o f Blade Runner; from vast television screens, to vertical strata, to the Voight-Kampff machine.They serve as a warning to society over the compulsion to force science and technology to create what is hoped to be a utopia for all, but in fact ends up dominating everything and everyone to the point where people are no longer free. The final aspect of the design in Blade Runner regards the soundscape of the film. Produced by Greek composer Vangelis, the film’s score owes a lot to the meaning behind its narrative. The film’s genre is part cyber-punk, part film noir, and through orchestral instruments and unique electronic sounds, he creates a sense of eeriness or alienation.Most of the music heard is quite ambient, but rather static with no real drive or pinnacle. However, within this ambient structure is a diverse range of musical styles, for example, Jazz is heard frequently- an old-fashioned film noir effect, stereotypically associated with subjugated urban settings, bu t also more commonly linked to intimate moments, such as the growing love between Deckard and Rachael. However, it is also somewhat melancholic at times and works as a sign of doom, insinuating that things will not end well.A recurring musical symbol is the sound of bells; church bells connote religion, and this is often heard on the top floor of the pyramidal Tyrell building, implying that Tyrell is a powerful, god-like figure. In terms of the film overall, there are very few moments when there is complete silence; even when there is music missing from a scene, sound effects emanating from the environment are usually present, for instance, it constantly rains throughout the film, so rain is heard repeatedly, indicative of the depressed and forlorn atmosphere.The reputable vertical intensity of Los Angeles’ landscape depicts the power relations intrinsic within the cityscape of Blade Runner. It provides us with a picture of decay and abandonment associated with a dystopian wo rld. It is more nightmare than vision, more anxiety than hope, expressing social fears of racial, political, and economic crisis, as well as the perils of advanced technology, whether it be through genetic engineering or a Voight-Kampff invasion of humanity. In the end, it is the verticality of the cityscape which ultimately defines the purpose of Ridley Scott’s arbitrary dystopia. Bibliography Bullock, A. , and Trombley, S. (eds), The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought (Third Edition), Harper Collins, Canada, 1999 Carper, S. , â€Å"Subverting the Disaffected City: Cityscape in Blade Runner† in Retrofitting Blade Runner: Issues in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Judith B. Kerman (ed) Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling Green University Popular Press, 1991 David Desser, ‘Race, Space, and Class: The Politics of Cityscapes’, in Alien Zone II, p. 82 Heldreth, L. G. and Kerman, J. B. (ed), â₠¬ËœThe Cutting Edges of Blade Runner’ in Retrofitting Blade Runner: Issues in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and Philip K.Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Bowling Green University Popular Press, Bowling Green, Ohio, 1991 40-52 Kellner, D. , Leibowitz, F. , and Ryan, M. , ‘Blade Runner: A diagnostic critique’, in Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Media, no. 29, February 1984 King, G. , and Krzywinska, T. ,Science Fiction Cinema, London: Wallflower Press, 2000 Prince, S. ,Visions of Empire: Political Imagery in Contemporary American Film, Greenwood Publishing Group, New York, 1992 Sammon, Paul M. â€Å"The Making of Blade Runner. † Cinefantastique 12 (1982): 20-47 Stiller, A. and Kerman, J. B. ed) â€Å"The Music in Blade Runner† in Retrofitting Blade Runner: Issues in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? University of Wisconsin Press, Wisconsin, 1997. Pages 196-200 Websites Kurt Bullock, Vertical Apocalypse: Altered Noir Cityscape within Blade Runner’s Dystopia: http://soma. sbcc. edu/users/DaVega/FILMST_101/FILMST_101_FILMS/Bladerunner/Vertical%20Apocalypse_Bullock. pdf Fig. 1 taken from http://www. aaronblake. co. uk/blog/2010/03/08/the-pyramid-of-the-capitalist-system/) ‘Paranoia and cynicism in Blade Runner’ in American Cinema: 1960-Present: http://amcinema1960present. ordpress. com/category/second-student-post/page/11/ (Fig. 1) ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Douglas Kellner, Flo Leibowitz, and Michael Ryan, ‘Blade Runner: A diagnostic critique’ from Jump Cut, pp. 6-8 [ 2 ]. Geoff King and Tanya Krzywinska, Science Fiction Cinema, p. 64 [ 3 ]. Ibid, p. 73 [ 4 ]. Sammon, Paul M. â€Å"The Making of Blade Runner†, Cinefantastique: 20-47 [ 5 ]. Kurt Bullock, Vertical Apocalypse: Altered Noir Cityscape within Blade Runner’s Dystopia, p. 1 [ 6 ]. ibid [ 7 ]. David Desser, ‘Race, Space, and Class: The Politics of Cityscapes’, in Alien Zone II, p. 82 [ 8 ].The Pyramid of the Capitalist System- http://www. aaronblake. co. uk/blog/2010/03/08/the-pyramid-of-the-capitalist-system [ 9 ]. Alan Bullock and Stephen Trombley (eds), The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought, pp. 387–88. [ 10 ]. Geoff King and Tanya Krzywinska, Science Fiction Cinema, p. 17 [ 11 ]. ‘Paranoia and cynicism in Blade Runner’ in American Cinema: 1960-Present-http://amcinema1960present. wordpress. com/category/second-student-post/page/11/ [ 12 ]. Stephen Prince, Visions of Empire: Political Imagery in Contemporary American Film, p. 167 [ 13 ]. Leonard Heldreth, ‘The Cutting Edges of Blade Runner’, pp. 40-52