Saturday, May 25, 2019

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

This paper comp ars two works that of Jack Londons To inning A Fire and Robert Frosts An disused Mans Winter Night. Obviously common to the two literary works is the pass backdrop from which the story progresses. The two authors employ the wintertime while and use it to help move the story and create memorable images. For instance in Robert Frosts An Old Mans Winter Night, the author creates a cozy image of an old sm all(prenominal)-arm who is able to keep the household fires burning.In fact readers find it especially cordially as the Frost describes the existence and the elements inside his home as approximately contrasting to the one away(p) it. There is frost gathering outside the home as contrasting the lamp that rock-and-roll near his hand. There is a warm glow that one feels as he reads these lines. The poem speaks of this old patch who has lived his life and now muses and relaxes in the reliever of his home. A reader can best get hold of this poem by establishi ng where the person is and what he is doing there.Right complete the start, we find that the authors feelings are an expository progression of an old existence and his creaking room that creaks just like him. From the elements described by the author, the reader is presented with a house that has barrels all around him but he seems to be in go out of these things. In fact, he is described as having scared the cellar under him. This does not go just once because we read that the author pens as scaring it once again. Yet, that is not the only thing which the old man is in control of.He likewise clomps off and scared the outer night. The old man is completely in control of his environment even if he is old, for the author writes that in clomping off, he also is able to scare the outer night, which by now must be completely dark since the poem begins with a description that all out of doors are looking darkly in on him. The sounds are also known well to the old man as the autho r states that these are familiar sounds including the nose drops of the trees as well as the crack of the branches.Cracking of branches already connote strangers or unfamiliar people and possibly wild animals, yet the old man is not afraid of that at all. He is just seated there, contemplating on simple, mundane things that comfort him and give him the warm glow despite the fierce winter outside his house. It can be quite a puzzle for readers because an old man ought to be afraid of being alone in such a epoch of the year. Yet, he is perfectly comfortable, t abolishing to his home and being satisfied that he is happy in whatever time of the day it was.Even if it was very cold outside, he is able to sleep comfortably. He does not mind the icicles along the wall nor the snow upon his roof. The house is old and may not even be control for any man to live in, much more an old man, for the log that makes it up moves and shifts with a jolt or any movement. The picture of an old man in his own house, keeping the house warm on a cold winter night may be inconceivable to any compos mentis(predicate) person because of the dangers that are linked to this. But this old man is able to do it on his own, without any help from anyone.Meanwhile, Jack Londons To Build a Fire tells the story of a man and his dog as they trip with the Klondike region in Canada. They are returning to the camp where they design to have a warm meal but they took the longer route to the camp since the man had to check if there were logs from Yukon. But the winter in Yukon was so strong with frigid temperatures. The author writes that this kind of winter was not merely colder than fifty below zero it was colder than sixty below, than seventy below. It was seventy-five below zero. Thus, this was deviation to be a long and arduous journey back to the camp.Unlike Frosts old man in winter who had a cozy and warm place inside his home despite the harsh winter, the man in To Build a Fire had to thi nk ahead so that he could quash pools of freezing cold water hidden under the thin ice. These were hazardous spots along the way and the man had to order his dog to test the sports stadium since the weather was too harsh for the man to make it back to the camp. Along the way, we read how the man struggled to keep warm and to go back to the camp. It was a embarrassing way to travel and even his dog knew that it was not wise to travel in that condition at all.We read this man who lacks the wisdom not to travel in that kind of weather as compared to the old man, this man was not aware of how to respond to his environment. He had not mastered nature at all. This was so unlike the old man who remained unperturbed. The man with the dog acted dreadfully amidst the winter. He was not sure that he would make it through. The two authors made use of the winter in unlike ways. Frost made winter the characters ally, because the old man was able to sleep despite the cold winter.But London use s winter as the adversary of the man with the dog. They fight off nature and the dangers that lurk in every step they take. Readers become engrossed with the plight of the man. Readers are almost sure that the man cannot make it because he does not even have control of his legs and fingers and arms as he walks, flailing them in desperation. While the old man in the poem is in complete control of his surroundings, feeling cozy and warm all over, the other man no longer is in control of anything, not even his own dog.His dog senses the danger from his masters voice and does not beckon to his calls and commands. There would be a completely different story if the element of the winter season was changed to the weather in the tropics. The old man would probably feel warm and go for a walk outside, where it world power be hazardous as he is alone with no one to help him in time of need. The man with the dog would simply breeze through the journey back to the camp, finding his friends and family waiting eagerly for him. It would be a fast and easy journey.But Jack London wanted to illustrate how a desperate man responds in times of crisis. Readers get the exact feeling that the author wants to send out to his readers because for a second, one goes back to the text at the end when the author pens, Then the man drowsed off into what seemed to him the most comfortable and satisfying sleep he had ever known. How very contrasting the sleep of the old man in Frosts poem when we read, Once in the stove, disturbed him and he shifted, And eased his heavy breathing, but still slept.

Friday, May 24, 2019

Solar Energy Facts

ASTOUNDING SOLAR ENERGY FACTS What is solar verve? concourse often think of solar nada as solar panels mounted on roofs in sunny neighborhoods. This is only part of solar energy (solar energy facts,2012). solar energy is the oldest energy seeded player. Plants, animal and the microbial life have been exploitation it as a principle energy source since the clock of creation. It is in the form of heat and light(a). In the past years, people have tapped solar energy enabling it to be used at all times including the nights, in all weather conditions, can be stored as well as be transferred.solar energy can be defined as the applied science used to exploit the suns power and make it usable. Solar energy facts * Solar energy makes life a reality. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb temperateness and provide food and oxygen which animals consume to live. Human bodies absorb solar energy this helps to regulate body temperature. Sunlight also provides vitamin D, which is necessary to human health. * Solar energy is an extremely clean energy source. It is environmentally healthier than traditionally fossil related forms of energy since it does not emit any known pollutants to the environment. The humanity absorbs approximately 3. 85 million exajoules of energy from the sun. This is big compared to the worlds use of about 56. 7 exajoules. The sun is the sole source of solar energy, believed to pop off for more than 5 billion years. This means solar energy is the most renewable and viable source of energy. * The practical use of solar energy is inexhaustible. da Vinci Da Vinci (1452-1519) proposed the concentrating solar principle, which a concave mirror directs rays to solar water heaters. Also upon launch, satellites and spacecrafts use solar energy as their main source. Solar energy is responsible for the weather and ocean currents. Majority of the thermal energy which is due to solar energy stored in the ocean. This means the transfer of energy on the ear ths surface relates to the ocean-atmosphere. Utilization of solar energy * Solar thermal plants concentrate the suns energy as a heat source to boil water used to run steam powered turbines to generate electricity. * Solar panels using photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into electricity to light homes, though storage batteries may be needed. Solar energy can be used in war, as from Archimedes who by directing heat rays using mirrors burned down ships that had siege Syracuse. * Solar water heater utilizes solar energy to warm water for homes. Also by the use of heat receptive surfaces, solar energy can be used to heat pools. * In food processing, solar energy presents a significant functionality in drying. In summary, solar energy is a renewable source of green energy and has a tremendous and endless industrial utilization.It is also vital to life and nature. This solar energy facts reveal that solar is the main green energy source at hand. References Solar Energy Information a nd Facts(2010). Retrieved from http//www. valopia. com/index. php/Solar/solar-energy-information-and-facts. html Solar Energy Facts. (2012). Retrieved from http//www. solarenergy-facts. org/ Solar power facts. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http//www. solarpowerfacts. biz/ Wind Solar Projects. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http//www. windsolarprojects. com/

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Enron Case Essay

1.What led to the collapse of Enron under Lay and Skilling?There were various debates as to wherefore Enron collapsed under Lay and Skilling. One reason Enron collapsed under Lay is because Lay simply did not practice what he preached. Lay did not live by his code of ethics and neither did his corporation. not only that, but Lay and top management gave Andrew Fastow an claim to the code of ethics to continue doing business. Another reason that Enron collapsed, under Skilling, is that Skilling had a performance evaluation process for all Enron employees that didnt express the code of ethics that they shouldve followed which caused employees to rank their peers lower as to enhance their accept position in the firm.2.How did the top leadership at Enron undermine the foundational values of the Enron Code of Ethics?The top leadership at Enron undermined the foundational values by granting an exemption to Andrew Fastow to continue bringing in dirty money through his actions. Also, the top leadership allowed an unethical culture of ethics by promoting to the employees that they had to make the numbers literally any way they could even if that meant to break the law.3.Given Kenneth Lays and Jeff Skillings operating beliefs and the Enron Code of Ethics, what expectations regarding ethical decisions and actions should Enrons employees reasonably have had?Enron had a grand and respected code of ethics among its peers. Also, Lay and Skilling had respectable operating beliefs since they also represented the Enron Code of Ethics. So, reasonably, the employees expectations should have fun to do the right thing chastely and ethically as well as to uphold the respect, integrity, communication, and excellence Enron stood for.4.How did Enrons corporate culture promote unethical decisions and actions?Enrons corporate culture promoted unethical decisions and actions simply bythe greed that the top management showed and carried out. For example, Skillings implementation of per formance evaluations for all the employees was unethical because it was geared to fire the lower one-fifth of the employees. Not only that, but partnerships were mostly created only to hide the companies losses through the bonus program.5.How did the investment banking residential district contribute to the ethical collapse of Enron?The investment banking community contributed to the ethical collapse of Enron because not only were they enablers but they also participated in the frauds as well. For example, Enron would book loans called prepays to their operating cash flow. Also, Andrew Fastow was also allowed to use a tactical maneuver where a poor performing asset would be taken off the books and be sold back to the company at profit after the expiry of quarters after the earnings had been booked.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Community behavior Essay

African American spirituality has woven collectively the best of African Anglo cultures to creatively play their own African American identity. While shocking large numbers have not been socially, politically or economically free in the history, the practice of spirituality has facilitated the increase of different forms of cultural and spiritual freedom by interpreting, transcending and embracing, the constraints of an oppressive culture.Further to a greater extent than, the development of their own beliefs, norms, forms, practices, and structures has given rise to a culture and life that is a typical form of human survival, existence, and, freedom most importantly. The black churches as the centers of freedom influenced the praxis of African-American spirituality. They have become safe places where blacks gathered to embrace their unite concerns as a community of faith. They have been the only institutions in the African American experience that has continued relative independ ence from the domesticating influence of white tweet and overlords.Some black churches consider may be the last place to see integration due to the need to maintain a power hind end not available to black people elsewhere. After reviewing almost aspects of worship as the context for cultural and spiritual freedom, black preaching in and expose sides of the black churches be one of the most powerful expressions of freedom for black people in America. The ability to produce a soul language that defines fair play into systems of meaning gives power and purpose to black people.Subsequently, Black community success to the full adopts and adapts the structures of the much larger culture for their own purpose this practice comes from a repeat consciousness or translating. African Americans translated the experience of one kind to that of another which leading them to freedom. Therefore, black people spirituality gave freedom to the spirit and mind that the outside(a) condition coul d not take away. The religious approach is due to a deep faith in the sacredness of life that reaffirmed a personal dignity in blacks which resulted in the practice of nonviolence and mercy.Black community determines themselves how they responded to oppression. Various forms expressing improvisation and innovation from black soul forces constituted black culture. These forms under the subtitles black music, literature, humor, tribe tales, sports, art and dance and their worship forms under the headings of prayer, shouting, healing, dancing, singing praising and instrumental music transformation, teaching and preaching. These forms express that what is true and valuable will be intractable by black community itself and will subvert and defy attempts of the larger culture to discern. performes can prove to be of great importance as it assistances in providing a psychological and physical assistance to their congregants by providing treatment and prevention oriented programs in the society. A great example from the history is the Black Church that has served through decades as an in clump social guider. And its effectiveness posed people to research on the formal means. Substance abuse, support, wellness screening and education were some of the fields where the Black Church provided its suffices.Individuals and churches that are associated with it hold significant importance in the history as it created a chain between informal and formal system of care that benefited the society specially those who are marginalized or underserved. These programs were encouraged by many others like lay persons, natural helpers, and religious leaders. As farthest as these religious leaders are concerned, they made their finding in the treatment of mental illness and they made everyone realize that paraprofessional counselors are in no way less then the professional counselors.They made their achievement in four areas of community medicine primary care delivery, health promoti on and malady prevention, community mental health and health policy. The church had great potentials. It provided and outstanding performance in collaborating with formal care systems to maximize its programs. Eng et al. helped a great get off in promoting the churchs health care programs. Such natural helpers have gone through a training program where they learnt how to interact with the health professionals, resource mobilization, primary self-care skills and prevention, organization of educational and operate-oriented activities.Whilst the lay advisors were supposed to foster social support, they were expected to promote a healthy general well-being of people and were asked to keep a close link with the formal care system. As far as the roles of religious leaders are concerned, they are not fully described in the health care literature. In the early 1970s, a need for psychiatrics developed in rural areas, as these individuals were recognized the more underserved population. Th ese investigations evolved and helped in the contribution of pinch the mental health status between the urban and the rural individuals.Social, economic and geographical factors are the attributes of such rural problems. The main fuss in the rural life of South was to separate the effects of poverty from the effects of race, color, cast etc. but after some time the result was discovered. But later it was discovered that only 3% of the licensed psychiatrics were practicing the rural areas and the rest were gone to nowhere. Rural populations were again left to the same position as it was before. The Black Church has no challenger as the cultural womb of the black community.Not only did it give birth to new institutions such as schools, banks, insurance companies, and low income housing, it also provided an academy and an arena for political activities, and it nurtured young talent for musical, dramatic, and artistic development (1990, 8) The factor of race still existed between thes e populations no-matter if its urban or rural it also greatly affected the mental healths of each individual. Many theorists believe that White American have been always against the black consumers, because they have no understanding of blacks culture, customs, beliefs etc.But on the other hand blacks are not either interested in consuming goods or services from the Whites. They are less likely to trust White therapists and try not to interact with them in any case. Studies proved that Blacks are interested in consuming goods and seeking services from the blacks due to the understanding of same culture and traditions, it is also based on the preference of similar attitudes and racial compatibility. The research grew further and further. The research helped in understanding the need to change and acceptance of cultural and attitudinal differences and system-levels barriers.Studies proved that racial identity can be a part of success. Here racial identity means that identification of diverse racial backgrounds it holds the basic knowledge of ones culture and traditions. Accepting the non prescriptive behavior of minorities can also help in dealing with societies therapists play a big role in understanding the culture background. Lack of understanding of cultural responsiveness may result in disturbance between racial differences and help seeking environment. As compare to white blacks are more tolerant of psychological distress.They are very quick in diagnoses of schizophrenia and psychosis and control such diseases in their premature stages. Individuals, interpersonal and system-level factors promote understanding of service use and psychiatric morbidity. They focus on individuals because individuals predict reasonable outcomes related to services and treatment. Researchers always pick out individuals to get correct outcomes the individual factors include race, religiosity, beliefs about mental health and copying styles. Social support, stigma and social dist ance are included in interpersonal level.The Black church tradition provided an environment for reapplying already learned processes for interdependence. Embedded within the individual were past experiences, traditions, values, and norms for emotions, cognitions, and behaviors conducive to relatedness and interpersonal ness that reflected a collective sense of belonging with, quite an than to, caring, similar others (2001, 40) Management of mental illness is essential to the social support in rural areas. An alternative to expensive or inaccessible impatient or out patient services are neighbors or extended families.Researchers have also identified the contributions made by natural helpers in promoting positive changes to the environment. rational illness and health care systems motivated natural helpers to provide social support to the rural black communities. A powerful indicator of poor utilization of care is Stigma that is influenced by individuals and interpersonal levels. It discourages the search for formal services but encourages the social support and informal care systems. The study says that Blacks have high levels of tolerating psychological distress the main reason behind this is stigma and fear of hospitalization.This sometimes results in help-seeking from specialty providers but this happens only in extreme cases. This dead reckoning shows the higher emergency level among Blacks compared to Whites, Asians and Hispanics. Informal systems are fostered by fear and stigma amongst the rural Blacks. It was noticed that poorer Blacks were more likely to experience distress, physical, mental and interpersonal problems as compared to wealthier Blacks. But as compared to Whites, 15% Blacks are less likely to seek help for emotional problems than their physical or interpersonal problems.Furthermore, Blacks seek help for their financial problems but this is limited to their geographical boundaries and economic barriers. The above study has made it clear that, urban counterparts provide more social and mental services as compared to the rural churches and it also have less links with the formal system and promote the informal systems of care. We also analyzed that White churches have more links with the formal system of care than Black Churches but Black Churches provide more social and mental health service.

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

The Social Issues in China

The social issues in China atomic frame 18 in point of fact varied and colossal ranging. There atomic snatch 18 just about problems that do shamed the nation for quite long and a permanent solution has never been obtained. However, some open been alter the nation, yet they do not hinder the citizens from growing economic eithery.Be evidence of the vast number of these social problems, the political sympathies has faced considerable difficulties in trying to come up with solution to them. to the highest degree of these issues atomic number 18 addressed by the media. In so doing, some that are sensitive to the political issues may be considered. Some professionals clench that the Chinas fragile social balance when combined with the bubble economy, contributes to instability of the country. On the same plinth, others argue that the societal tr intercepts in China have actually created a balance to sustain it.For this reason, the paper forget examine some of the social pr oblems affecting the nation. By and large, it go away majorly delve on handicraft and elitism and discrimination majorly affect the country socially. Moreover, it will examine on the causes of the problems, the effort made by the governing to help solve the problems, the outcomes from the manner in which the problem is solved. intimately importantly, some possible ways that green goddess help reduce or solve the problems so that they do not inflict emotional and psychological pain to the recipients.Causes of UnemploymentBecause in that location is difficulty in the state enterprise development, in that respect is a reason for the laid off-off workers within most cities in China. Old state owned enterprises are facing serious losses and liquidating sine they do not have the capability to sustain a wide range of masquerading unemployment. On the other hand, the impudently owned states leaders in most cases tend to unload themselves from the burden of outmoded workers.They do t his so that they can expand their profit margin. Moreover, there are some significant changes that have groomn place in the industrial structure, and this has caused a lot of wrinklelessness in any case many tribe. On the same regard, a number of large old and huge enterprises of the capital of unassailables produced are found to be increasingly difficult to bid for more orders because there is massive change for the demands of secures on the customers side, because of the new facilities.Another major cause of unemployment worth pointing out is continued increasing of the surplus work force. The population growth of the country is increasing at an alarming rate and this makes the level of employment to go down. There are new entrants into the labor grocery store hence makes the job opportunity to go down. As the population increases, the firms to absorb them reduce in number hence making the majority to become idle, because they do not have anything to keep them busy.Another cause of is inadequate skills at workplace and lack of education. This has affected the great percentage of the Chinas population. In an ideal world, there are quantities of people who cannot get jobs because of their little knowledge. Most of the companies in the country need enhancing, and must therefore get quality employees lest they stop operating.Furthermore, another data shows that educational backgrounds of many people are straight intertwined to unemployment. Most of the un busy people are those with little knowledge as far as the job they want is concerned. From the analysis it is inherent that the three are some of the major causes, and it is not only in the private sectors, but also a national problem which needs proper solution from twain the labors and the government at large.Government Effort to Solve the ProblemDespite the fact that these problems have affected the country both economically and socially, the government has tried at all represent to device methodol ogies to help curb the problems. First, the government has come up with the enrollment expansion plan. For the past twenty years, Chinas college enrollment rate has stood to about three percent, which is a lot lower than most of the developed countries. On the same pedigree, the education department also sensed the need expand the enrolment rate in the colleges.Also, the primeval government tried all ways out to deploy many measures in a bid to expand the rate of enrolment in school. This has been achieved through building of schools, hiring more professors from and outside the nation to help in impacting knowledge to the learners. Above all, offering scholarship to the slimy students. By and large, the processes have greatly change the illiteracy level in most of the people within the country and today, majorities are employed.There has been increase in the demand and supply of the goods produced. In veritable essence, supplies do not only outweigh demand, but many of the emp loyers have questioned the education that the college students have received. Because many learning institutions have been started, most green people are able to access, education in their line of specialization, and this has helped them a lot in their line of specialization as far as job market is concerned.On the same line, students are made aware of the unemployment issues as early as they get into schools. Through this they are encouraged to work extra ruffianly so that they evade the problem when they come out of school. In point of fact, one who does not have outstanding papers finds it difficult to secure job because of the competition in the job market.The local government has made plans with the enterprises to help those in colleges and universities by enhancing a plan which gives graduates work and training experience. The local government does the contact work and convinces most of the enterprises so that they can provide job opportunities and internship programs for th e graduates for a period of one year. During this period, the government supports the interns by providing for them a small border on a monthly basis.After the end of the internship, the enterprise can either decide to absorb the interns depending on the effort made during the period of placement. Also, the government suggests that the graduates can stay in colleges and do research as co workers, and they get paid by the research funds. Through this, they ultimately get good pay that sustains their economic wellbeing so that they become responsible people in the society.Most importantly, during the training sessions, the students are made aware that there employment market is flooded and they should try as much as possible to get self employed. Because of this, most of the graduates have started their own businesses to help them generate income for themselves without inevitably depending on the employment from the government.Outcome of UnemploymentGenerally, unemployment crisis is social, economic and political problem that affect every society. When the society is not empowered economically, it fails in all aspects. For example, unemployment creates social disparity amongst the rich and the poor. The rich, in most cases, does not find it comfortable associating themselves with the low class earners, which should not be the case.Because of the problem, most of the many people who are employed in China do not have time to spend with the unemployed citizens because they actually do not merge at any aspect. The poor has their own shopping centers, lanes, rentals, slums, as opposed to the high class.The economic and social aspect unemployment is that it leads to high dependency ratio. When most of the youth are not employed, they will entirely depend on their parents to provide for them everything including basic needs. On the other hand, the parents may feel overburdened, hence loosing the good social relationship and bond betwixt themselves. On the same line , the families that are well of economically find it difficult to interact with the families that are not stable hence causing discrimination.For example, those from rich families take their children to good schools where they can attain proper education and eventually succeed in emotional state. On the other hand, the poor takes their children to slum school where the children cannot attain good education. This scenario widens the gap between the rich and the poor because there is no point where they meet social, hence widening their social inconsistency.Unemployment leads to unethical stay in the society. When the citizens are not working, they become idle along the streets. They do not think positively in most cases. The fact that they have to eat shelter and socialize and the money factor to support them is a problem, they end up in ethical practices that can make them get money to support themselves.Theft cases have been reported in most cases from young and old people who are not employed. It is not due their likeness, but the fact that they do not have what to generate for them income, they end up in such acts. On the same plinth, the government finds it difficult to manage the poor youths. This comes in the sense that that high number of them engages in malpractices which is against the government law, which eventually subjects them to physical torture. When the government is not in good terms with the youths, it is very difficult for the political stability to be in the nation.Possible ways to Solve the ProblemsIn the real essence, the problem should be addressed amicable so that it does not affect both parties. The government should understand that they need the young people who are jobless for the peaceful movement in the nation. On the other hand, the young unemployed should understand that they require the government to help them in most of the problems they face. Both parties should be beneficial to one another for peaceful coexistence in the so ciety.First, the government should device various modalities to improve the employment issue. There should ameliorate infrastructure to enhance people to move to every part of the nation to solicit for job opportunities. On the same note, the government should improve the housing dodging so that it can accommodate all the citizens without barrier. For example, those living in slums should be considered and be constructed for building that accommodates them peacefully.On the same pedigree, the charges of the rent should be accommodating to all so that many do not suffer when it comes shelter coverage. Similarly, the government should encourage e-commercial business and logistics to help in boosting then youths who are economically down. Most importantly, the government should provide funds to the young people who are jobless so that they can start their own business operation.In so doing, they will be dependant to themselves because they will be doing their own businesses and will not seek for employment. On the same dictum, it will be an advantage to the government too because there will revenue generated back to the government and peaceful coexistence will be maintained because the youths will no longer engage in the malpractices activities that can dent their image in the society.On the other hand, it is important for the youths to understand that they are the leaders of tomorrow and whatever thing they do today, affect their life to come. In so doing, they should be focused minded in everything they do. They should work hand in hand with the government so that they realize their goals by the end of the day. People should also live in harmony with one another without discrimination of age, sex, race or social class.When God created us, He was never discriminating and so we should emulate. The rich should embrace the poor and take care of them in most situations. They should be helped to get out of their poverty situations and make them stable. Most import antly, there should be peaceful coexistence between everyone living in the society, because when there is peace, there is love and harmony and it makes people to love and care for each other both socially, economically and even politically.

Monday, May 20, 2019

Capitalist Hegemony

capitalistic Hegemony at its Finest Alex Jackson Sarah Ciurysek Capitalist Hegemony at its Finest. By Alex Jackson Throughout time different societies nominate stopn their respective take on set out goal. Pop burnish is not simply a polish that has suddenly sprung from the ground in the last 20 years and wormed its way into text books, periodicals and university debates it is a cultivation built around a defined convocation of ideas, perspectives and attitudes. Pop culture in its evolutionary course of action has recognisen many changes from Roman sculpture to Baroque paintings to post-war Abstract expressionism, all amounting to what we know today to be our pop culture.However, the pop culture that we experience on a day-to-day basis in the 21st hundred is one and altogether(a) unparalleled by the pop culture already seen and past. Today we are surrounded by the ever-expanding mass media. Since the invention of the Internet in the 1980s, mass media has rotate like wild fire and with it the furthering evolution of the 21st nose potentiometerdys pop culture. With the growth of mass media in our pop culture we see new trends and patterns. As we all know, North America was built on a firm derriere of capitalism. This capitalism is the nominateation not only for businesses and associations, but for our developing culture as well.A ontogenesis notion and potential disquietude amidst this evolving foundation is the existence of capitalist hegemony. For one to understand this term one must know the interpretation of the two words individually. Mirriam Websters dictionary defines capitalism as an economic system characterized by close or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, prices, employment and the distribution of goods Hegemony, defined also by Websters dictionary is the social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group. In combination, the two represent a power exerting itself over a group in attempts to feed and control consumerism. Capitalist hegemony can be seen on the television set, in advertisements, film and impression highs. The rule by which capitalist hegemony is spread, that we will consider in this essay, is the video game. Video games transmit to the spread of capitalist hegemony in two ship canal by dint of the easily-accepted method of suggestion of consumerist narratives and through the extremist method of exerting complacency on a populous.From an early age, all of us feed been bombarded with a consumer culture. We have been taught by mass media always to want, look for and buy the next big thing. Video games have taken up this torch in that easily-accepted, subtle way. Theres no need to tell a mortal to buy, the task is more indirect. haltingrs play through a story, the narrative more often than not universe all about consumerism of one form or another. As masked as the consumerist plot may be, it is more than likely there. Take for example a game much(prenominal) as Dead berth 2.This game involves the main character Isaac Clarke fighting his way through the Sprawl in attempts to destroy a giant relic called the Marker, which is responsible for an alien infestation. At first glance, the story line of Dead stead 2 gives no evidence of capitalist tendencies however the player need only kill one of the creatures in the game and pick up the loot to enter currency into the game. Money and power nodes give the player to upgrade Isaacs abilities and buy weapons and suits, and additional ammo and med packs.The gamer thereby is subliminally being taught the values of capitalism, find notes buy new things. In other approaches to video games the developers dont go to such length to mask consumerism. In games such as Need for Speed Underground the player races for money so as to purchase upgrades for already purchased cars, and to buy new ones. In digital Games and Cultural Studies by Garr y Crawford and Jason Rutter, this point is explained Numerous games are based upon the principle of capital accumulation where the central aim and field is to make more money to improve characters avatars skills or possessions. (Crawford and Rutter) one(a) might argue for sports-related games such as Madden NFL 12, or NHL 11 where the object of the game appears to be purely sport. Win a game, move to the next round is the essential plot however, these video games have been sponsored by extensiver companies looking to get their name out to more consumers. Although the advertisements are small and only seen on the back boards of the field or ice rink where the game is staged, the information does go in. consort to studies, advertisements need to be put in front of the viewer for an extended amount of time in advance he viewer picks up on it. What better place than a video game to reveal a viewer to a continuous stream of advertisements. To add to the two previous methods of cons umerism being pushed through video games, there remains a third methodology. Typically, a well received video game will be made into a series. The game that supersedes the one before it always promises to be big and better better graphics, better sound, etc. This leaves the player wanting more and lusting for the next big chapter.Many large game development companies such as EA games with Battlefield, and UBISOFT with Halo follow this trend and have met been with great success. Crawford and Rutter, in reference to the Birmingham School can be quoted as saying that, the shared values and culture of a society are those based largely on dominant (that is, ruling class) values and ideologies. (Crawford and Rutter) If our dominant culture is founded on capitalism, then the governing values and ideologies have to be exerted via subcultures such as pop culture and the ways in which its groups communicate.We have looked at the spread of consumerism via video games. This concept is easygo ing to swallow because we see evidence of it everywhere we look. However, the second theory of how pop culture contributes to capitalist hegemony isnt so easy to digest. As technology continues to advance and things such as social networking and portable communications grow, we begin to see a decrease in the need to go outside and meet people. The same goes for video games.With the entrance to video games in the 1970s we have seen the creation of a new kind of computer geek, the gamer. Gamers can spend extended amounts of time inside, staring at a screen. With the advancement of video game graphics, intriguing storylines and strategic challenges, its no wonder gamers would rather play video games than interact, play sports or give-up the ghost useful members of society. A sudden lack of community has sprung up in the midst of our new found technological enlightenment. Digital gaming could be seen (and has been seen by many) as a clear illustration of the individualism of society. (Crawford and Rutter) People no longer need to come outside to communicate, to do activity or exercise. The rate at which these games are flying off the shelves would suggest more football is being contend on home computers than on local fields (OConnor, 2002). The uprising of this new phenomenon is evidence of a growing complacency in our society. People needing to do less and less.Looking at this from the viewpoint of a large capitalist corporation, it means profit maintaining the existing status quo to promote dominant capitalist values, (Crawford and Rutter) keep people inside, in front of a screen absorbing information that fuels their desire to buy. Stuart Hall suggests that cultural products (such as television programmers, popular music and digital games) may be encoded with dominant values, ideas and beliefs. (Hall, 1980) Albeit a little extreme, Hall is support in an indirect way. John Hopson, a games researcher at Microsoft Games Studios holds a doctorate in behaviora l and brain sciences.Based on one of Hopsons studies, a gamer can in essence be persuaded to puddle a set of behaviors the developers want, each contingency is an arrangement of time, activity, and reward, and there are an infinite number of ways these elements can be combined to produce the pattern of activity you want from players. (Hopson) Simply put, large corporations limit to subliminally brain wash us with messages of use to capitalist pursuits. These ideas are conceptual, large and potentially a microprocessor chip fanciful, but the evidence supporting them is happening before our eyes.People keep on buying based on information consumed through media portals including game consoles. The emergence of gamers and the diminishing need to go outside is a regular reminder that, although seemingly unrealistic, someone is using the right approach to acquire profit. Video games, among other methods, contribute to some form of capitalist hegemony whether intended or not. It would be frightening to know that a corporation would approach the market with such fervor as to send subliminal messaging through a game console. Its surprising the very real effect of advertisement has on the consumer. -Merriam-Webster. http//www. erriam-webster. com/. N. p. , 2011. Web. 14 Apr 2011. -Crawford, Garry, and Jason Rutter. Digital Games and Cultural Studies. Sage Publications. (2006) -OConnor, A. (2002) Evan better than the real thing? , The Times, The Game Supplement, 9 December. Pp 2-3. -Hall, S. (1980) Encoding/ decoding, in S. Hall, D. Hobson, A Lowe and P. Willis (eds) Culture, Median, Language Working Papers in Cultural Studies. Chicago, IL University of Chicago Press. Pp 215-43 -Hopson, John. Behavioral Game Design. Gamasutra (2001) n. pag. Web. 14 Apr 2011. .

Sunday, May 19, 2019

An Analysis of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Essay

The Curious Case of benjamin push is a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgeraldon May 1922. It was later adapted into a word-painting in 2008. The story is one of its kinds as it is ab break through a person named benjamin Button who is natural with a body of a anxious(p) man in his 80s. As the story progress, Benjamin finds out that his physical secerns atomic number 18 becoming better as he grow. The story mainly focuses on Benjamins life particularly on his relationships where he has to go through a circle of conflicts of life. In the resolution, it ends with Benjamin who is also a baby, breathing on his last breath. There are a lot of symbols depicted in the story particularly in the 3 hour movie version which contains symbolisms such as the humming snicker, the clock in New Orleans Train Station, the 7 lightning strikes, and Lake Portchartrain.The first symbol is the hummingbird. The bird symbolizes two things which are Benjamins life and concept of eternity. Looking at the nature of the bird, it is extremely small in size and in f take on, it is the smallest bird in the gentleman. They are very petite and tenuous that a single squeeze by a human back tooth instantly kills it. The bird is rarely found because they do not take flight in groups. Plus, this is the hardly kind of bird that has the ability to fly backwards. To relate on the story, the hummingbird appears itself two times at the sea where Captain Mike Clark dies during the war and after-school(prenominal) the Hospital window during the Hurri usher oute Katrina when Daisy is on her deathbed. What makes it ironic is the fact that hummingbirds would not possibly survive in those kinds of events because they are physically weak. The bird after partnot fly for too long nor handle rough winds. But they are distinguishable in the story. This is why the hummingbird symbolizes Benjamins life. Although he is born with a body of a dying man, brittle bones, wrinkled skin and even the d octor Queenie called for says that he leave behind die very soon, it never happens. Benjamin keeps on growing strong and moves forward. Moreover, the hummingbirds ability to fly backwards describes the way Benjamins life moves, backwards. Furthermore, Captain Mike Clark has a hummingbird tattoo on his chest. When he was a kid, he dreams of becoming an artist just his arrest never supports him, saying that he must continue the fathers legacy of being a sail man. It is mentioned in the story where he tells Benjamin nearly the significance of hummingbird. The wings of a hummingbird look verymuch like the symbol of eternity, . Eternity is the idea of life that never ends. Benjamin knows that he is the only one of his kinds and sooner or later, his story will die along his death. Thus, in order to retain his story, he writes a diary and passes it to Daisy so that his daughter will have it. By doing that, his life may end but his journeys will remain for eternity. future(a) is the c lock in New Orleans built by Monsieur Gateau. He made the clock to grade anti-clockwise because he wants it to be a reminder for all to never forget about the fallen heroes of initiation War 1. Gateaus only wish is to turn back time so that he can have his son back who died during the War. The movement of the clock has 2 symbolisms. One is the identical symbol as the hummingbirds ability to fly backwards. The clock is a symbol of Benjamins physical state in his life where his body starts from old to young. some other symbol for the clock is that it symbolizes fates lateralisation over life. For Gateau, he is afraid that life is moving by him. He could not accept the honesty that his son is no more to be found. It pretty much kills him on the inside that results him to exile from the country. This goes the said(prenominal) towards Benjamin life, no one would wish themselves to be abnormal like him but the thing is, in that location is no authorisation over it. People can onl y accept how things go and move on. Another example is Daisys car accident, she is capable, talented and has a bright future career in concert dance but one accident changes all of it. It is very clear that each action people do, every hard work they put in, every words of prayer they say will eventually depends on ones own absolute fate. This indicates that people do not have the power to control the future, they can only plan and organize it and leave the rest to fate. Plus, it also questions people whether they are utilize their time wisely or not because clock never stops ticking. To relate back on Gateau, his action of making the clock from turning how it is supposed to turn (clockwise) can be considered as an act of denial towards fate.The third symbolism found in this story is the lightning that strikes Mr Daws seven times. Mr Daws keeps on saying the alike thing to Benjamin as he recalls how he got afflicted by lightning seven times. The symbolism that can be related to this is the number of lightning strikes Mr Daws get seven.This is a symbol of sin a, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. A person can only be in the stage of integrity or hopelessness if he is living in a retirement house, waiting for his death as referred to Erik Eriksons Stages of Development because old people extend to review their life and reflect on what they have done. Mr Daws could most probably be in despair regretting actions that he had done in the past. He once mentioned to Benjamin that he is blinded because of one of the lightning that struck him. But the truth is his eyes were never blinded. This shows that Mr Daws is not saying that lightning literally strikes him 7 seven times, but he is just reminiscing about his regrets in life. It shows how much pain and regret he is in that he would not mind it if lightning would ever strike him. Another symbol that has the same meaning as the lightning strikes is the lake Benjamins father usually goes to when he wa s a kid Lake Portchartrain. Benjamin knows about the earthly concern of this house when his father told him about it. Despite feeling hurt of being abandoned when he was a child by his own father, he brings his father to the lake. This is his way of showing that he forgives his fathers wrongdoings toward him. There at the lake, they do not do any talking, there is only silence as they watch the sunrise. There is a big difference between the ending of Mr Daws and Thomas Button. For Mr Daws, he leaves the world feeling regret while Thomas would surely feel his life as positively unified because he finally gets to be with his only son, Benjamin whom he thought would never forgive him.In my opinion, the story is very heartwarming. It can open anyones heart just by reading or watching it because that was the feeling I felt when I finished watching the movie version. Not only it carries a lot of moral values, the issues depicted in it are very significant for someone to straighten out the importance of time management. The best moral value that I managed to get from this story is that we must be thankful for the life we have and the things we have today because all of these may never be the same tomorrow. As a conclusion, people must know their purpose of life so that they would not bungle it like how it is depicted in this story.