Thursday, December 26, 2019

International Intercultural Management - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2845 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2018/12/14 Category Management Essay Type Research paper Level High school Tags: Economy Essay Did you like this example? Introduction In the World, we have various countries. The World, in short, is a combination of several countries. In each of these countries, we have a different culture and religion which is different from each other. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "International Intercultural Management" essay for you Create order For instance, we have some countries which are still stuck in their traditional cultures while others have embraced the modern culture. In other countries, we have both cultures in existence. In such a country the traditional culture bonds very well with modern culture. An example of such countries are those located in the Caribbean or the Middle East region of the World. For instance, in the Middle East Muslims have embraced a modern culture in some ways but they are still stuck to their traditional mode of dressing (Smith 2008). For our study purposes, we are going to consider two countries which share a somehow related culture in some ways. We are going to consider China and the US. One of the main factors which have led us to consider these two countries is the fact that they share an economy which is almost similar. Also, they have a population which is almost similar. The major difference between them is mainly found in the cultures of the two countries. In the US we have a population which has fully embraced the modern culture. Though we have a few citizens, who are stuck to their traditional culture mainly immigrants. When it comes to the Chinese culture, we have a blend of both modern culture and tradition culture since the country is located in the Caribbean region. The Importance of Culture in the Overall Management Culture is very important to the country and the peoples country at large. Culture goes a long way in determining the number of things. We are going to determine the major areas where culture is largely involved. Determining the Nature of Interactions Culture determines how people in a certain country are going to interact with each other. For instance, you may find people who share the modernized way of dressing choosing to live together in a village and work amongst themselves. On the other side, you find people who have a common traditional background choosing to work and live amongst themselves. A good example can be found in China, where those who have a traditional background choose not to interact with those who have a modern way of dressing. In most cases they consider their dressing code to be spiritual hence it connects them with their ancestors and their spirits. A good example is a Kimono which is worn among most women in the Caribbean regions of the World and Asia. Determining of the Management Style The culture goes a long way in determining the mode and style of management to be employed in the workforce. Take an example of the Chinese style of management, where they have an overall head who delegates all the duties to the other executives and their juniors. This makes service delivery and decision making among the Chinese a bit slow. Secondly, in negotiations, the Chinese people choose not to talk first in tabling down their arguments, unlike the Americans who will always talk first. When it comes to the American style of management, they have a mode where the duties are divided amongst the executives. Hence each executive can give orders. Economic Comparison In the economic comparison America and China rank top in the World. The U.S is the leading trader in the World when it comes to exports and imports while China closely follows it. U.S also boasts of the largest GDP in the World. It is not clear whether Germany or China comes second regarding GDP since their GDP is almost similar. As for me, I will conclude that China boasts of the second largest GDP in the World after the US. Lets consider two base years in our GDP comparison that is 2015 and 2016. In 2016 the GDP of the US was 57436, while in the previous year the GDP was 56175. This represents a growth of about 8% in the GDP. Secondly, in China, the GDP in 2015 was 55218 while in the following year the GDP was 56857. Also, this represents a growth of about 8.5%. This means that the economy of China is growing at a higher rate compared to that of US. Unemployment In 2015, the unemployment in the US was 5.30% while in 2016 the unemployment rates reduced to 4.90%. This means that the economy of US was growing thus creating more employment opportunities in the economy. In 2015 the unemployment in China was 4.5%. In the following year that is 2016, the unemployment rate drastically reduced to 3.96%. This paints a picture where the economy of China is performing better compared to the economy of US. On the contrary, the economy of US is ranked among the best in the World ahead of that of China (Hiroshi 2016). Exports and Imports In 2015, the US exported 0.10 % while it imported 4.60%. This means that the US imported more than it exported. In the following year imported 1.10% while it exported 0.40%. Also, this is in line with the previous year where the country exported more than it imported. Comparing this to the Chinese economy, in 2015 the country exported 5.40% while it imported 3.28%. This shows that the country exports more than it imports. In 2016, China exported 5.21% and imported 4.67%. This show that in 2016 China imported more than it exported. This might be one of the reasons why the economy of US is said to be performing better compared to that of China due to its stability (World Bank 2017). Levels of Public Debt The US is one of the top lenders in the World. China is also a top lender in the World. Most of their landings are given to developing countries of the World. Though these countries can fully fund their national budgets, they must borrow from the citizens and other financial institutions, eg, the World Bank. This is with an aim to keep their economies afloat even at hard times and to maintain the economy at equilibrium in times of recession or economic booms. In 2015, the US had a public debt of about 105% while in 2016 this amount rose to 108%. This shows that the U.S government is borrowing more and more. Comparing this to the government of China, in 2015 the country had a public debt of approximately 110%. In the year 2016, this amount rose to about 115%. This means that the government of China owes more debts to its citizens and international financial institutions compared to U.S. Factoring in the level of debt this might be another reason to show why the economy of U.S is performing better compared to that of China. Finally, in terms of the economy, the services sector contributes the highest percentage towards the GDP of the countries. In China, the industries sector contributes a higher percentage to the GDP compared to the US. In the agricultural sector, the contribution in the US is greater than that in China. However, the wideness of the services sector in the US makes its economy perform better than China (W.TO 2017). Population of the US U.S is one of the most populous countries in the World. This is the case since most of the country is urbanized. This means that the greatest percentage of the population lives in urban areas. There is little or no population at all living in the US rural areas. This is why the U.S largely depends on imports for most of its food supplies since there are no farmers in the rural areas to cultivate the fields. In the past four years, the population of the US has been on an upward trend. In 2013 the population was 317 million. In the following year 2014, the population grew to 319 million. In 2015 the population further grew to 321 million, and finally, in 2016 it reached its peak of 323 million inhabitants. In the US the growth has been attributed mainly to increasing rate of teenage pregnancies. Another factor which has led to the growth in population is the fact that the number of immigrants who are acquiring American citizenship is on the increase. In China, the population is 1. 4 billion approximately. This is the largest population in any country of the World. Compared to the US, the population of China has stagnated over the past few years. The estimated growth rate is 0.58% per year. This means that some countries such as India will soon catch up with China regarding population. The minimal growth rate is experienced in China since the government wants to limit the population. Religion In the US we have a very diverse base regarding the religion. We have the existence of almost all the major religions of the World. This is the case since 74% are Christians, 10% are Jewish while we have 35 as being Muslim. We also have 1% as Buddhists while other religions such as Hindu account for 1%. Finally, we have a nonreligious population estimated to be 17% of the total population. Comparing this to the prevalent religion in China, over 80% of the population has its allegiance to traditional methods of worship. These traditional forms of worship are accounting for over 80% range from Buddhism, Taoism, and a Folk religion. From the data available around 8% of the population practice a religion which is closely related to Taoism and the Chinese Folk Religion Cultures. Following a distance, second is the Buddhism religion which accounts for about 16% of the total population. In China Christians are estimated to be between 2-4 % of the population while Muslims do not exceed 2% 0n the higher level. We also have a percentage of around 1% whose religion cant be categorized in any of the groups since it is the original tradition religion of China (Van Hermet 2008). Language and Ethnicity In the US most of the inhabitants speak fluent English. This makes English the national language of the country. Over 85% of the total population can communicate in both spoken and written English. Following a distance second is Spanish since we have a large percentage of Hispanic migrants especially from Mexico. Out of the total population, those who speak Spanish are 14%. Chinese speakers in the US are roughly over 2% of the population. Other languages such as Polish, French, Italian, and German are spoken by less than 1% of the total population (United Nations 2017). Further narrowing down to ethnicity, from the 85% who can speak fluent English over 55% of them are Whites. Around 30% are Black Whites, often referred to as Black Americans. We also have Chinese Americans, Spanish Americans, and Italian Americans who account for the remaining 15%. This means that most of the English speakers are Native Americans and a few migrants. This makes US one of the most diverse countries of the World regarding population and language plus ethnicity. In China, the government recognizes over 50 different ethnic groups. Out of these ethnic groups, the Han constitute of 0ver 90% of the total population of the country. The minority groups in China constitute about 10% of the population. Imagine the remaining 49 ethnic groups sharing only 10% of the population? This makes the groups so minor in the ethnic composition of China. Due to this, we are not going to consider the minority ethnic communities in China. From this, we can get the official language of the Country of China. The official language is the Chinese Mandarin. This makes it the official language since over 80% of the Hans ethnic group can speak the language. Secondly, all other tribes in China speak a language which is closely related to Chinese Mandarin, though we have seven different categories of Mandarin Chinese. Pronunciation is almost the same what differs are just a few words. Hence the language is taught as the first language in almost all the schools and children learn it as the first language (National Bureau of Statistics of China 2017). Political Structure of US In the US we have a democratic system of government. This is where the citizens are given the powers to elect their leaders democratically through a national election. This means that we have major political parties in the US which field candidates during elections. This is not a case in China since we have a communist government. A single party only controls the government thus there is no multi-party politics in China. The single party in China is the Communist Party of China. They produce every member who is elected to the various houses of representation found in China. In short, this means that we have no opposition party in China (Yang 2004). Major Diets and their Comparison In the US we have a very modern population which has no limits when it comes to culture and lifestyle. This means that the citizens are at liberty to eat whatever suits their menu and taste. With this, it is not accurate enough to tell the stable food of most of the US citizens. In the US we have a uniformly spread appetite for junk foods. This can be told from the presence of many junk foods outlets in the country such as Subway, MacDonalds. Pizza in etc. From this one can effectively conclude that the staple food for most Americans is junk food which consists of fried foods and beef. This is not a case in China since we have a somehow conservative population. The population is still embedded deeply in its cultures. One can tell this from the foods and drinks which have a Chinese name tag added to them. For instance, you hear people talking about Chinese black tea. This means that most of the population in China has high regards to their traditional foods. This explains why, th ough we have a modern diet in China, it is also largely traditional. Having the traditional background of the diet in China leads us to the staple food of most Chinese. China among the Worlds largest producers of rice. This rice can be manufactured to take different forms which include spaghetti, noodles, pascha, etc. All these have their origin in rice. Further in China rice is eaten using two sticks commonly referred to as chopsticks. Hence chopsticks and rice are synonymous with China. This means that rice is the staple food in China (World Fact Book 2016). Comparing one of the Aspects of Management As we all know, management is a huge topic which has a lot of subtopics. This means that one cant talk of management as a whole since at some point you will deviate from the general purpose of the study. Hence one has to choose a certain sub-topic on management and fully concentrate on it. In our case, I will choose the subtopic on employment legislation in US and China. Comparison between Legislation in US and China In the US we have unique laws and regulations when it comes to employment. These laws and legislation are meant to safeguard the wellbeing of the employees. The government was very much aware that some employers would manipulate their workers. To avoid this, a harmonized guideline on the rights of the workers is contained in the constitution. The workers have gone a step further and formed trade unions to ensure that employers are fully compliant with the legislation. In cases where the employers violate the legislation, they can be sued in a court of law. In the US we have a specific court which deals with labor disputes (Thomas 2008). In China, the legislation on employment is not well outlined in the constitution. This means that no clear guidelines exist on how workers should be treated in the country. This gives room for manipulation of employees. This is the reason why we have very poor working conditions for employees in China since they have no clear basis from where the y can sue their employers. In China cases of employees being molested or harassed by their seniors are common. Employees are also subjected to long working hours. Conclusion From the above discussion and research, we have seen various cultures relating to the US and China. Some of these cultures are common or closely related while are other far apart. This is what leads to the uniqueness of every country. For instance, if you see a person behaving in a certain way or speaking a certain language one can differentiate whether they come from China or the US. However, people should not be discriminated according to their cultures, but we should embrace different cultures (Smith 2008). Work Cited Alon, I. Chinese Economic Transition. Westport: Prager Press (2003). Hiroshi, S. Unemployment, and Inequality in China. Routledge Press (2016). World Bank Report (2017). Overview of Chinese Economy. Retrieved November 2017. World Trade Organization (2017). Trade Position of China. Retrieved November 2017. World Bank Report (2017). Economic Overview of US. Retrieved November 2017. World Trade Organization (2017). The American Market. Retrieved November 2017. National Bureau of Statistics of China (2017). Statistical Yearbook 2017. Retrieved November 2017. United Nations, (2017). The Population of the World and Its Prospects. Retrieved November 2017. The World Factbook, (2016). China. Retrieved November 2017. Elizabeth, C. Worlds Apart, China and USA. New York: Norton Press. (2011). Yang, D. Retracing Governance in China. Stanford University Press. (2004) Thomas, D. Handbook on Cultural Management. London: Sage Publishers. (2008). Van Hermet, D. Individuals and Cultural A nalysis. Lawrence Associates Press. (2008). Smith, P. Nations and their Cultures. Sage Publications. (2008).

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Evaluating the Strategies Used in Health and Social Care...

Evaluating the strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interactions. Sensory Impairment: Sensory impairment could be a barrier to effective communication they can prevent service users and health care professionals from communicating correctly, this is because they interfere with a service user’s ability to send, receive and understand a message. According to Collins Education sensory impairment is the key issue why service users with sensory impairments are more exposed to ineffective care and their needs are not always met. This would make the service users have a low self-esteem because they will be left confused and unaware about their health. To†¦show more content†¦Environments that lack privacy can also discourage people from expressing their feelings and problems. To overcome reduce and overcome this barrier the staff working in the health and social care setting or organisation ensure that they provide places where their can communicate with service users without being disrupted by noise. It could also be overcome by making different changes to the environment, for example sound proofing rooms so that conversations can be kept private, fitting electronic devices, such as induction loop systems to help those with hearing difficulties, minimising background noise and making sure they can be seen clearly by the person they are communicating with. Health care professional could use the strategy of creating the appropriate environment in order to overcome the barrier of environment because by providing an appropriate environment the health care professionals will be providing an environment where service users will be able to listen and also gain deeper understanding of what is being discussed. They will also feel more involved in the interaction because they will be in a private space where confidential things can be discussed. Complex Situations Alcohol: Alcohol can affect effective communication in health and social care settings because if a service user is under the influence of alcohol and is unable to speak clearly with a health care professional they could beShow MoreRelatedM2, Review Strategies Used in Health and Social Care Environments to Overcome Barriers to Effective Communication and Interpersonal Interactions.1676 Words   |  7 PagesM2, review strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interactions. D1, evaluate strategies used in health and social care to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interactions. 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Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights Essay Example For Students

Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights Essay A prime example of gothic literature, Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights employs exemplary usage of gothic elements such as weather, the supernatural, and darkness. Resembling the epitome of classic horror movie characteristics, Bronte’s novel illuminates the darkness of life and the imperfection of the human soul. Heathcliff represents the â€Å"criminal,† torturing not only himself but also the individuals who surround him. Plaguing his victims, Heathcliff affects Cathy Linton, Hareton, and Nelly through his destructive path. In fact, Heathcliff’s role as a demonic character directly impacts the lives of those closest to him. Moreover, just as movies illustrate ominous settings, Bronte uses gothic imagery to develop themes in the book. Throughout Wuthering Heights, one of the most prominent features include the use of imagery during the course of the book, which brings about a unique and emotional experience that touches on the primary themes of the book. Of the prominent imagery in the novel used, the most prominent instances are Heathcliff and the sinister aspects that relate to him, elements of nature and their influence in the characters’ lives, and how love and passion or the absence of both cause Heathcliff to act out. In Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff is portrayed as a troubled character who seeks revenge for his problems. His symbolic connection to sinister things such as Satan in Paradise Lost, predatory beasts, and the links between him, the devil, and hell only further add to his development as a detached misanthropist. John Milton’s work, Paradise Lost includes many similarities to Heathcliff and Lucifer, almost to the extent of identifying Heathcliff with that of a fallen angel. In one part of Paradise Lost, Lucifer is spoken of by the author: â€Å"of dauntless courage, and considerate pride waiting revenge,† giving off the idea that Lucifer, like Heathcliff, waits for the perfect opportunity to act on his revenge after his mistreatment. In another section, Lucifer’s thought process is revealed when Milton says: â€Å"better to reign in hell than serve in heaven,† reflecting that Lucifer would rather be the master of the worst place imaginable than be a subsidiary in paradise. Mirroring this, Heathcliff feels this way about Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, with Wuthering Heights being hell and Thrushcross Grange being heaven. Besides this, Heathcliff instinctively employs many characteristics of beastly animals in his personality that constitute his character in the novel. After the death of Catherine, Heathcliff shows his animalistic ways concentrated from his anger. Heathcliff scratches and beats a tree out of frustration, howling like a beast, displaying his true nature: â€Å"He dashed his head against the knotted trunk; and, lifting up his eyes, howled, not like a man, but like a savage beast† (173). Along with his beastly characteristics, Heathcliff reflects devilish and dark traits. Upon returning home, Heathcliff is not recognized by Nelly. Who she sees instead is a dark silouette of a man, being Heathcliff (95). Later in the book, Catherine speaks to Nelly regarding her outrage over Heathcliff and Isabella, touching on Isabellas foolish love for Heathcliff. She relates his false love for Isabella to the form of a demon, saying: all is dashed wrong by the fools craving to hear evil of self that haunts some people like a demon! (121). All of these qualities show the detrimental state of Heathcliff as a character and his effect on others. Conversely, Bronte uses the elements of nature to indicate that life revolves around the changes and growth of the environment; through imagery, she uses nature to represent Lockwood’s first stay at Wuthering Heights, Catherine Earnshaw’s dissatisfaction with Edgar Linton, and Cathy and Hareton’s budding relationship. Certainly, the ominous weather haunting Lockwood in the beginning of the book foreshadows his impending and tumultuous night at Wuthering Heights. Specifically, Lockwood says, â€Å"A sorrowful sight I saw: dark night coming down prematurely, and sky and hills mingled in one bitter whirl of wind suffocating snow† (13). By illustrating this scene using the images of storms, skies, and hills, Bronte essentially connects the elements of nature with imminent threat in the plot. Moreover, Catherine’s description of her relationship with Edgar reflects the gradual changes of the forest and of the seasons. Cathy tells Nelly Dean, â€Å"My lo ve for Linton is like the foliage of the woods: time will change it, I’m well aware, as winter changes the trees† (83). Clearly, Catherine uses natural elements to depict her shallow love for Edgar. Furthermore, Bronte uses trees as an image to signify the the theme of the power of nature in the lives of individuals, specifically in the relationship between Cathy and Hareton. She writes, â€Å"We were in April then: the weather was sweet and warm, the grass as green as showers and sun could make it, and the two dwarf apple trees, near the southern wall, in full bloom† (337). In short, just as the trees in April start to bloom, the affection between Hareton and Cathy blooms. Thus, influence of the natural elements in the book represents a significant theme during Lockwood’s stay at the mansion, Cathy’s description of Edgar, and Cathy and Hareton’s new bond. .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 , .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 .postImageUrl , .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 , .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552:hover , .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552:visited , .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552:active { border:0!important; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552:active , .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552 .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4a8ac81d546e11fc2ba7d76ce3cc2552:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How similar and different are the two charachters "Willy Loman" and "Okonkwo"? EssayThroughout Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte weaves the influence of love and passion into the life of Heathcliff, using on-point imagery to illustrate the extent that they have on him. Dogs have a reputation for being loyal and protective of humans, and since Heathcliff has characteristics like a dog, he acts protective toward Catherine.Therefore, in the scene where Heathcliff visits the frail Catherine, Nelly says: â€Å"on my approaching hurriedly to ascertain if she had fainted, he gnashed at me, and foamed like a mad dog, and gathered her to him with greedy jealousy† (166). Heathc liff’s immense love for Catherine encourages him to pursue revenge against all those who have kept them apart, turning him into a devil in his own right. As keeper of the underworld, Lucifer harbours the damned souls of the world and punishes them ; this power to be the gatekeeper is mirrored by Heathcliff when he says of Hareton: â€Å"If does not turn you out of the room I’ll strike him to Hell, damnable witch!† (330). He speaks as if he has the power to send both Hareton and young Cathy (the damnable witch) to Hell as if admitting that he is in fact the Devil. Even after Cathy’s death, Heathcliff still clings to the remaining shimmer of his opportunity to be with her. In hopes that he may be with Catherine in the afterlife by opening up her coffin, he admits that he â€Å"bribed the sexton to pull away when I’m laid there, and slide mine out too† (297) so that they may be together eternally. Throughout Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, one of the most prominent features include the use of imagery during the course of the book, which brings about a unique and emotional experience that touches on the primary themes of the book. Specifically, Emily Bronte’s depiction of Heathcliff as a demonic and savage character directly relates to Lucifer in Paradise Lost, by John Milton. Essentially, Bronte indicates the theme of the presence of the Devil through Heathcliff’s life as a vengeful individual. Moreover, Bronte creates patterns between elements of nature and the lives of the individual characters to foreshadow and highlight the theme. She employs images such as the moors, hills, skies, and storms to connect the growth and changes in nature to the gradual â€Å"ups and downs† of life.Similarly, she indicates the theme of the influence of love through the destructive behavior of Heathcliff after the death of Catherine. Certainly, love drives the dec isions made by multiple characters in the book, especially Heathcliff. Clearly, Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights tells the timeless tale of the fallen angel, who succumbs to the destructiveness that comes from the absence of love.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Why and When did Fascism Loose Support Among the People and Discontent Become Visible Essay Example

Why and When did Fascism Loose Support Among the People and Discontent Become Visible? Essay The real rise and fall of the Italian fascist regime spans the period from around 1936 to its actual fall with the deposition and arrest of Mussolini on the 25th July 1943. With the signing of the Axis of Power in 1936, Mussolini appeared to have secured Italys position as a fascist power, independent of Germany and Hitler. The following years saw a heavy and deliberate attempt at the fascistisation of the Italian people targeting education and the youth. In Mussolinis words he wanted to form a nation of masters. The Italian nation had showed itself prepared to tolerate moderate fascism. However already the war in Ethiopia had been unpopular, coming heavy on the heels of the Wall Street Crash and Depression of the early 1930s. In October 1935, openly defying the League of Nations, Italy attached Ethiopia without declaration of war. The war lasted seven months, by the end of which the Ethiopians were over-ruled and annexed as an Italian province. However Ethiopian resistance continued and Mussolini attempted to quash the people action such as the execution in February 1937 of 30,000, many of whom included the young and educated. This action failed to impress the Italian people and was heavily condemned by the Catholic Church. It was a clear display of true fascist principles, principles that were already apparent to the rest of the world: We will write a custom essay sample on Why and When did Fascism Loose Support Among the People and Discontent Become Visible? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why and When did Fascism Loose Support Among the People and Discontent Become Visible? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why and When did Fascism Loose Support Among the People and Discontent Become Visible? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Fascism was characterised as a regime of an uncivilised country which key features were best expressed by violence and illegality. (Mack Smith Faye) More critically it demonstrated the impotence of the League of Nations, setting a precedent for future behaviour. Almost immediately after the Spanish Civil war commenced in October 1936. Fearing the spread of socialism and desiring fascist allies, Italy joined Germany in coming to the aid of Franco. It was a conflict that proved expensive and bloody, with very little to show. The popular reaction was one of resentment, the Italians were not prepared to fight anothers war at their own expense. The combat achieved nothing than heavy expenditure and the loss of troops, military arms and munitions that would have proved vital in the conflict to come. Mussolinis contact with Hitler was also unpopular with the Italian masses. His extremist influence upon the regime became more and more apparent with the introduction of true fascist institutions and laws. With a Jewish population of between 45,000 and 70,000 by 1938, Mussolini enforced laws of Jewish suppression in Italy, which included the exclusion of Jews from higher education, professions and all civil service, and forbade the intermarriage of Jews with Italians, to preserve the purity of the Italian race. Part of the purpose of this was Mussolinis desire to entirely fascistise the entire nation, and any Jews showing them to be true fascists, or possessing those qualities that Mussolini held to be Italian, were allowed to integrate into society. However these laws were very unpopular in Italy and were directly linked to Hitlers influence. They were also opposed and condemned by the Catholic Church, which still possessed a great influence over society in Italy, Pope Pius XI havin g already condemned Nazi racialism only a year before. The build up of friction between the Western Powers, with Germany at the forefront became the real test and demonstrator of Mussolinis power. His ally Hitler kept him in the background, a position which he regarded as an insult to his people, and with the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 he found himself forced to take a stance he termed as Nonbelligerence. It was a war for which Italy was not ready, and this decision was welcomed enthusiastically by the Italian people: The Duce is convinced of the necessity of remaining neutral, but he is not at all happy. Whenever he can he reverts to the possibility of action. The Italian people, however, are happy about the decisions taken. (Cianos diaries sept 3 1939, pg 143) However, with the German victory in France Mussolini saw his chance to enter the war, thus avoiding heavy conflict and, he believed, being able to take the spoils of victory with the re-allotment of defeated European territory. Against the advice of his government, Mussolini declared war on 10th June 1940, plunging the country into a struggle which he optimistically believed was near an end. With the entry into the war, it became quickly evident that Italys illusion of supremacy was groundless as it soon found itself subordinate to Germany. Mussolinis offers of military aid in France were declined, instead with offers of aerial aid in smaller conflicts such as the bombing of the Suez, prompting Mussolinis Foreign Minister and son-in-law Count Cianos comment Evidently he [Hitler] does not place much trust in us. The subsequent route of the war did little to impress the Italian people, the German invasion of Romania without any conference with Italy showed their inadequacy, filling Mussolini also with bitterness towards his allies. Defeats in the end of that year came as a shock, lowering morale and causing internal unrest, rumours spread through the cities of great victories, only being shattered to increase the uncertainty. The bad state of the Italian army became more apparent by the beginning of 1941. Many young officers had received no training in basic military tactics, while the comparatively easier life in British capture lead to surrender becoming commonplace among the troops. Hitler then installed German military units throughout the major Italian cities, creating an atmosphere of unrest and distrust. The behaviour of these troops increased the anti-German sentiment that was sweeping the country with reports of drunken soldiers ransacking Italian houses. This apparent inadequacy of the Italian people served to fuel a bitterness against them in Mussolini. Desperate for a nation of warriors he resented the middleclass resolving a war to break the well-to do, who are the worst type of Italians. In order to impress on the nation the seriousness of the war, Mussolini ordered an increase in the already high bread rations except for heavy labourers, in a move that appeared to the Italians as the white bolshevism of Mussolini. Upon whims he would introduce new sanctions and laws upon the country, deciding for example that New Years Day would cease to be a public holiday as, being the celebration of Christs Circumcision, it was no more than the celebration of a Hebrew right, which the Church itself has abolished.(Cianos diaries dec2 1940 pg312). When the bombing of Naples by the allies started, he again ordered fake air-raids in Rome, every time one occurred in Naples, to make the situation more dramatic. As the situation in Sicily grew worse , with the threat of Allied invasion, Mussolini ordered the removal of all civil servants from the island, provoking outrage among the civilians remaining there. Food shortages became critical, provoking small, housewifes protests in the provinces. In 1942 bread rations were halved and grain supplies were falling short, opening up new opportunities for what became a thriving black market prompting high inflation. The effects of these bombings, rationing, high prices and loss of faith in both the leader and the regime, resulted in the revival of active anti-fascist organisations and March of 1943 saw the first workers strikes there had been in Italy for nearly 20 years. The internal situation was now as critical for the fascist regime as the military fighting fronts and it was becoming increasingly clear that the Party, and more so Mussolini, was becoming less able to carry the nation through. As the grumbling among the populace became rife Mussolini, feeling isolated, started taking action. He dismissed several of his closest aids those who had advised him against the war and displayed discontent with the Nazi regime, among which was Ciano. This move left him separated from the few men who would have remained by his side at all costs, men vital to him, especially as by this point Mussolinis health was failing. Such an increase in discontent among the masses in Italy prompted the Fascist Party leaders that something must be done. The king, Victor Emmanuel had never been keen on Mussolini and was anti-German, sentiments shared by his household and the Italian Court. With the Allied landings in Sicily and an invasion of the mainland imminent, and hesitation on his part ended and Mussolinis deposition and subsequent arrest were arranged. On 25 July 1943 the Italian Grand Council met and a motion was proposed that suggested a loss of faith in the dictatorial regime. Passed by a high margin, including Ciano, Mussolini was informed that he no longer held power and his successor was named, a movement that provoked rejoicing throughout the nation. It is clear that Fascism was a system of government that was tolerated by the Italian people, but not one that was embraced by them. Its principles were contrary to Italy and her ways, demonstrated most clearly by her reluctance to fight, and her objection to extreme and unnecessary violence. As Mussolinis regime developed the characteristics of the Nazi doctrines of Italy, the people showed themselves unhappy and that they would not give their support to such a dictatorship. The fighting of wars that brought nothing but suffering and poverty to the country, and the use of these wars to punish as much as possible a people with whom Mussolini was now embittered with finally destroyed the loyalty that had been installed through repetition into the nation, so that by the time of Mussolinis fall, and the subsequent collapse of the Fascist Party, there was no one to voice any disappointment, or indeed those who did remained for the most part silent.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 essays

The Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 essays The Revolutionary War in 1775 and the War of 1812 are both similar and at the same time different. The Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 are similar in that, they both were fought mainly by the British and the North American colonist. At the same time, the two wars are different because they were influenced by different factors. As soon as the colonist got settled in North America, Britain began interfering with economic and political affairs of the colonies. Laws such as the Quarterly Act were examples of Britain influencing in the political affairs. Laws such as the Stamp Act were examples of economic interference in the colonies. The colonists were outraged by such events and started to rebel against their mother country. Soon people began to boycott British goods, which aggravated the situation even more. After the several boycott attempts, such as the Boston Tea Party incident, an event in time known as the Boston Massacre occurred. Though only a few people were killed, it was much exaggerated. Soon enlightened ideas were spread throughout the colonies. Ideas like, natural rights, encouraged people to break off from England. To ensure the majority of the colonial citizens, colonial leaders brought in an English writer named, John Locke, to write a pamphlet to encourage nationalism and to break off fro m the British. In 1775, The North American colonist and the English engaged in a massive war in North America to determine who would control the thirteen colonies. Future political leaders such as Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, and Adams bravely led the Minute Men. Many battles were lost, and many were won. Battles such as the Battle of Saratoga, and Bunker Hill, helped inspire the colonists to keep fighting the British and eventually defeating the British. When the Revolutionary War was over, the colonies were in a high state of nationalism and were in a huge debt to others. At the same time, the Rev. War had many positiv...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Biography of Francesco Clemente, Neo-Expressionist Artist

Biography of Francesco Clemente, Neo-Expressionist Artist Francesco Clemente (born March 23, 1952) is an Italian artist most closely associated with the Neo-Expressionist movement. His work reacts against Conceptual and Minimalist Art by returning to figurative ideas and techniques from the past. His work is influenced by other cultures, most strongly that of India, and he frequently collaborates with artists and filmmakers. Fast Facts: Francesco Clemente Occupation: ArtistKnown For: Key figure in the Neo-Expressionist artistic movement Born: March 23, 1952 in Naples, ItalyEducation: University of RomeSelected Works: Name (1983), Alba (1997), The Sopranos (2008)Notable Quote: When I look at a drawing of a person, I look at that person as living. Early Life and Career Born into an aristocratic family, Francesco Clemente grew up in Naples, Italy. He studied architecture at the University of Rome. He has spoken about a philosophical crisis that he experienced as a student. He felt deeply the fact that all people, including himself, would eventually die, and he believed he had no specific separate identity or consciousness from others. He said, I believe there is such a thing as an imagination shared by the different contemplative traditions. Self-Portrait (1991). Sally Larson (CC BY-SA 3.0) Clementes first solo exhibition took place in Rome in 1971. His works explored the concept of identity. He studied with Italian conceptual artist Alighiero Boetti and met American artist Cy Twombly, who lived in Italy. Boetti and Clemente traveled to India in 1973. There, Clemente encountered the Indian Buddhist concept of anatman, or lack of self, which became a central thematic element in his work. He opened a studio in Madras, India, and created his 1981 series of gouache paintings titled Francesco Clemente Pinxit while working with painters in the Indian states of Orissa and Jaipur. In 1982, Clemente moved to New York City, where he quickly became a fixture of the art scene. Since then, he has lived primarily in three different cities: Naples, Italy; Varanasi, India; and New York City. Neo-Expressionism Francesco Clemente became part of what was known as the Transavanguardi or Transavantgarde movement among artists in Italy. In the U.S., the movement is considered part of the broader Neo-Expressionist movement. It is a sharp reaction to Conceptual and Minimalist Art. The Neo-Expressionists returned to figurative art, symbolism, and an exploration of emotions in their works. Neo-Expressionism emerged in the late 1970s and began to dominate the art market for the first half of the 1980s. The movement received sharp criticism for the omission or marginalization of female artists in favor of all-male shows. Clemente was at the center of sometimes-heated discussions about Neo-Expressionism and its authenticity. With its relative lack of political content, some observers criticized the movement for being inherently conservative and market-focused instead of concerned with the creation of art itself. Clemente responded that he didnt feel it was necessary to tamper with reality in his work and said that he preferred to present the world as it truly exists. One of Clementes best-known Neo-Expressionist works is his 1983 piece entitled Name. The vividly-colored painting depicts a man, who looks similar to Clemente, staring out at the viewer. There are small versions of the man inside his ear, eye sockets, and his mouth. Another significant portrait in Clementes career is his 1997 painting titled Alba, featuring the artists wife. She is a frequent subject for his paintings. In the portrait, she is reclining in a slightly uncomfortable pose. The image feels like it is squeezed into the frame, giving the viewer a claustrophobic sensation. Many of Clementes portraits have a similarly distorted, almost uncomfortable style. Collaborations In the 1980s, Francesco Clemente began a series of collaborations with other artists, poets, and filmmakers. One of the first of those was a 1983 project with Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The artists each began their own individual paintings, then swapped so that the next artist could add their own content. The result was a series of canvases full of dramatic flourishes that are instantly recognizable as belonging to an individual artist; these flourishes collide into and overlap each other. In 1983, Clemente began his first project with poet Allen Ginsberg. One of their three collaborative works is the book White Shroud, with illustrations by Francesco Clemente. In the 1990s, Clemente worked with the poet Robert Creeley on a series of books. Another joint project was Clementes 2008 work with New Yorks Metropolitan Opera. He first worked with the renowned opera company when he created a large banner for the Philip Glass opera Satyagraha. Later in the year, Clemente created a series of paintings called The Sopranos: portraits of the divas featured in the Metropolitan Operas 2008-2009 season. They were created over a four-month period and featured the singers in their stage roles. Film and TV Appearances Francesco Clemente began his association with the film industry in 1997, when he made a cameo appearance as a hypnotherapist in Good Will Hunting. In 1998, Clemente created approximately two hundred paintings for director Alfonso Cuarons adaptation of Charles Dickens classic Great Expectations. In 2016, Clemente appeared in a film by independent writer, director, and actor Adam Green titled Adam Greens Aladdin. In the reworking of the Arabian Nights story, Aladdins dysfunctional family lives in an average American city ruled by a corrupt sultan. Francesco Clemente appears as the genie, Mustafa. Clemente is a frequent subject of TV interviews. One of the best-known is an extended interview with Charlie Rose in 2008 from his self-titled PBS show. Legacy and Influence Clementes work often defies specific characterization. Although he uses figural techniques associated with Neo-Expressionism, his pieces are not always intensely emotional in content. He eagerly embraces inspiration from artistic traditions other than his own. He encourages other artists to experiment boldly with media and techniques that are new to them. Travels, everyday life, and study in India heavily influence Francesco Clementes work. He has avidly studied Indian spiritual texts, and he began studying the Sanskrit language in New York in 1981. In 1995, he took a trip to Mount Abu in the Himalayas and painted a watercolor a day for fifty-one consecutive days. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City organized a major retrospective of Clementes work in 2000. Another retrospective at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin followed in 2004. Source Dennison, Lisa. Clemente. Guggenheim Museum Publications, 2000.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Causal Argument, Nouri Al-Maliki Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Causal Argument, Nouri Al-Maliki - Essay Example minister has a lot of support for him but there is an equal number of people who are against him and now raising their voices against the decisions taken by him. Mr. Maliki was elected as the prime minister of Iraq after the end of Saddam Husain’s regime by US. The reason of electing him as the Pm of the country and selecting a person as the speaker of parliament from another sect was to create a government that is represented by all. But, the decisions of the PM just when the American armies were leaving the country for a better good have once again raised questions on the future of the country and its people. The main question raised by the people of Iraq and many international authorities is: â€Å"Are the actions of Prime Minister leading Iraq to a civil war?† It was on the eve of celebrating a free Iraq when the three main leaders of the opposing party were house arrested on the orders of the prime ministers. The charges on them were of aggravating terrorism in the country. The charges on them looked absurd and although confessed by them on national tv they were proved to be manipulated and the confession was also proved to be due to torture. When all these charges were proved wrong, a large question arose on this action of Mr. Maliki that what was the need of such an abrupt action the main leaders of his opposing party when the country is still trying to get out of a major crisis. The leaders were of iraqqiya Coalition and also the current Vice President, Finance Minister and Deputy prime Minister. The iraqqiya coalition is an important of the country and the vice president Tariq al Hashmi also took more votes than the prime minister in the elections of 2010. This action of the prime minister against three important politicians of the c ountry could lead to the instability of the government and surely the country to a civil war. As we all have been observing that after the American army left Iraq, a series of bombings has started in many important cities

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Position paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Position paper - Essay Example The scientific community has conducted many studies that have shown that not only are men and women conditioned differently, but that these differences are often inborn. The human brain is, from birth, â€Å"masculine† or â€Å"feminine,† which is to say that there are various differences between the brains of the two sexes that result in their different development and behavior. Such differences were caused by evolution in a bid to help the sexes perform the different roles they had to play, and since the gender defined roles have only just begun to be questioned, it is not right to expect evolutionary changes occurring in our brains just yet. The MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and PET scans (Positronic Emission Tomography) done on human brains have made it clear that â€Å"the male and female brain are ‘male’ and ‘female’ regardless of the culture or the continent on which the men and women are raised† (Gurian 6). These differences are not limited to the brain alone; there are physical and hormonal differences between the two sexes that cannot be denied at all. Therefore, it is very hard, not to mention unrealistic, for someone in a relationship to expect their partner to behave and act like them. These differences cause both men and women to enter into a relationship with different expectations and aspirations. This is where the relationship can, and often does, go awry; often both the man and the woman do not understand that they are essentially different beings and, hence, have different needs from a relationship. In the relationship both of them give to the other what they want for themselves, without considering the fact that since both of them are tuned differently, it is only natural that both of them would want different things from each other. Men usually want sex more than women, for instance; Gurian asserts that it is because at ejaculation the level of oxytocin (or the bonding chemical) in their br ain reaches a high level, thus helping them bond with the person they are having sex with (110). It is perhaps because of this reason that the women often get confused when the man seems completely in love with them during sex, but withdraws afterwards, or does not seem connected at all. Interestingly enough, women have the same level of oxytocin normally, which man attain at ejaculation. The fact that there are higher oxytocin levels in women’s brains than in men’s (sometimes ten times higher), proves that it is a natural impulse for the women to â€Å"tend-and-befriend† (Gurian 12). This results in the woman being perceived as â€Å"too clingy† by the man, whereas the man seems â€Å"too aloof† from the relationship, hence, more resentment and creating rifts between the two is caused. These differences result in, as per Gray, men and women having a different approach to their relationship. Often, both the sexes do not realize that, thus, the chan ces of them having a mutually fulfilling and loving relationship are reduced substantially, where they engage in many an argument. Men function spatially and women function verbally, it is no wonder that men do not engage in conversations unless and until it is required. Women, on the other hand, need to verbally lay out everything and thus connect/bond with the other person. It is very frustrating for a woman to get her man to talk to her when he is going through some

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Reading Kafka Essay Example for Free

Reading Kafka Essay Reading Kafkas The Trial, especially for the first time, we often experience a blend of precision and obscurity; words, sentences, and single events are clear in themselves, but are linked to each other in ways we cannot always grasp. The blend of precision and obscurity is one of the most remarkable aspects of the style in which The Trial is written. The device is used constantly and consistently throughout the novel, and we assume that it is used like all other stylistic devices, i. e. to throw an aspect of the novel into relief. In an attempt to determine, if possible, what this aspect is, follows a detailed analysis of two paragraphs on pages 159 to 160 that I deem to be characteristic of the blend of precision and obscurity. In the two paragraphs, detail and precision interact with each other to produce a blend. Almost all descriptions are quite in depth, such as the description of the old woman wrapped in a warm shawl, yet these detailed descriptions are not connected with anything else in the book. The old woman does not reappear anywhere else in the book, and no symbolism, hidden meaning or reference becomes apparent after having analyzed the description. In more conventional novels, almost every character that appears is in some way, whether clear or obscure, connected with the main plot or a sub plot. Not so with The Trial. The old womans importance and connection, if indeed there is one, remains open to speculation: perhaps she belongs to the court, perhaps the scrap of what looked like carpet that K sees in the same paragraph comes from her warm shawl, perhaps this enigma is simply a device used by Kafka to confuse the reader. The possibilities and perhapses stretch on into infinity until they are lost in the obscurity of the cathedral. Kafka describes an object, person, or concept in great detail, with very few omissions in order to give the described every semblance of reality, but the meaning of the described is left completely open to the reader. This is the particular blend which casts its mottled shadow on the novel. A possible interpretation of this presence of this blend would be to say that it serves to give the novel a dreamlike, surreal quality. One knows from ones own dreams that certain aspects remain crystal clear in our memory, yet one can almost never remember for sure what the aspects role in the dream was. It is the same way with the blend: an aspect may be clear, but the rest is hazy. Supporting this interpretation would be the fact that K cannot read: he opens his album and looks through the pages for a while, probably only looking at the pictures without reading the text, and eventually has to stop this futile exercise ostensibly because it is too dark. The dream interpretation would also explain the randomness of events, objects, and people. Since the subconscious is left to work unrestricted in dreams, the products can be quite random and utterly impossible to link together or make sense of using logical means. The blend could also be viewed as a method to accentuate the confusion and plunge the reader yet deeper into the obscurity. In the second paragraph, when the candles have been lit, Kafka states that the candles only made the darkness more intense. If the candles and light are taken to represent precision and the darkness obscurity, then Kafka is clearly showing why he has worked the blend in to the novel. It is impossible to judge anything unless one compares it to something else. It is by contrast that we determine what is what. If one is constantly in the dark, one will not consider it dark, because one has become accustomed. Perhaps the candles of precision are there to throw the confusion and the haziness into sharp (or hazy? ) relief. Kafka only allows in any light so that the reader can see that he is bathed in darkness and confusion, and be attracted to the light. However, when the reader reaches the light he realizes the light is hollow as well: it is only aesthetically different from the darkness. In the second paragraph Joseph K. examines an altarpiece with his electric light. K. sees a Knight and looks at it for a considerable period analyzing it in detail without really understanding what the Knight is doing, nor why he was there. However, when K. shifts his light to see the rest of the picture, he realizes that the Knight is only a small piece of a conventional treatment of Christs burial. The parallel between K. and the reader is too strong to be overlooked. The reader, while reading the book, is looking through it one page at a time, attempting to analyze details and connect events. It is as if we too are looking at disconnected close-ups of a large picture. Like a picture, the events in the book are non-linear. They can be read any which way and in any order and still retain the same meaning. Kafka is essentially telling us as readers that we ought to shift our lights as K. does so that the whole of the picture is lit. If the reader focuses solely on one precise aspect, the rest of the picture is bathed in obscurity. Kafka, through the device of precision and obscurity, is telling the reader to take a step backwards and view the novel not as a succession of events like other conventional novels, but rather like a picture, where ones eyes and thoughts may rove freely along any lines that they choose. Only then will the whole come into focus. With reference to the last paragraph, I have been guilty of doing exactly what Kafka tells us not to do: i. e. analyzing in detail a small part of the text. Thus any conclusion that I may draw from these paragraphs alone are bound to be erroneous. However, draw a conclusion I will. I believe the blend of obscurity and precision is used to immerse the reader completely into the confusion of the text while at the same time advising the reader to take a step backwards. Given Kafkas rather eccentric sense of humor, I think it is quite possible that he believed pulling the wool over the readers eyes was uproariously funny, especially when the wool has directions telling how to lift the wool sewn on the inside, where it is too dark to see.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Anglo-Saxon Ideal Code of Conduct :: Beowulf Epic Poems Anglo-Saxon Literature Essays

Anglo-Saxon Ideal Code of Conduct The epic poem of â€Å"Beowulf† presents the characteristics of two heroes, Beowulf and Hrothgar. During this Anglo-Saxon time period, Hrothgar rules as the king of his Danish lands. However, this king faces many problems due to the disturbances of a monster known as Grendel. As an Anglo-Saxon warrior of the time, Beowulf hears of this creature and journeys through the hero's path to kill Grendel. Through this journey, Hrothgar and Beowulf reconstruct the code of conduct of an ideal Anglo-Saxon king and warrior. The Danish lands of the time are ruled by Hrothgar, a respected and generous king. These qualities of character were admired by the people of his time and place. All people of Hrothgar's kingdom respected this king, and they all accepted his â€Å"very word far and wide as a command.† The people also give him great titles such as the â€Å"Lord of the Mighty Danes,† â€Å"guardian of the Scyldings,† and â€Å"protector of warriors.† Much of these people's respect come in response to Hrothgar's generosity to everyone. This generosity can be seen towards Beowulf, when the king gives his thanks for the heroic deeds of the warrior. Hrothgar rewards Beowulf with priceless material as he says to the warrior, â€Å"You shall lack no earthly riches I can offer you.† The people of the land also trust their king, who holds a strong belief in God. In the scene where Hrothgar celebrates Grendel's death, he holds the monsters hand as he says, â€Å"Let us give thanks at once to God Almighty for this sight.† The followers of the king both respect and trust their ruler, and through his generosity and strong trust in good, Hrothgar displays the ideal code of conduct for an Anglo- Saxon king. Another epic hero that has qualities that follow the Anglo-Saxon code of conduct is Beowulf. This warrior, known to be the â€Å"strongest man alive,† leaves for a heroic journey when he hears of the evil Grendel. He first shows his strength and bravery when he sets sail to assist Hrothgar in defeating Grendel after hearing news of the creature in his own land. Beowulf is constantly referred to as brave, such as when he defeats Grendel, and Hrothgar must reward him for his heroics. As the â€Å"brave man moved forward until he stood immediately before the Danish lord,† Hrothgar says, â€Å"I will reward this brave man with treasures.† The unbeatable strength of Beowulf shows during his confrontation with Grendel, when the monster instantly realizes that â€Å"never had he met any man

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Heroism Redifined: Lord of the Rings

Heroism redefined Lord of the Rings J. R. R. Tolkien Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, offers the reader a truly compelling picture of the world of Middle-earth. The author, in great detail, depicts a complex reality which abounds in a whole variety of creatures, cultures, languages and histories. If we take a closer look on Tolkien’s masterpiece we will easily notice a complexity of themes, motifs, symbols which add to the semantic richness of the text. It is necessary to mention that Tolkien was considerably influenced by the literary tradition.Fascinated by literary genres such as a heroic epic, a chivalric romance or a fairy tale Tolkien skillfully weaved many characteristic conventions of these genres in Lord of the Rings. Among many other features drawn from the literary tradition the theme of heroism occupies a prominent position in Tolkien’s trilogy. On the one hand Tolkien follows a well known model of a courageous epic hero, but on the other hand he operates with the theme in an innovative way.Apart from a careful depiction of a well known image of noble heroism typical of great figures of historical significance such as Aragorn, the novel surprisingly offers a completely new image of heroism which is represented by small hobbits. Providing at the same time two parallel faces of the concept, Tolkien significantly changes and challenges the traditional meaning of heroism and, as a consequence, significantly enriches the literary tradition. A significant part of the trilogy is devoted to the deeds of great Men such as Aragorn.Drawing extensively on the tradition of heroic epic and chivalric romance Tolkien presents a powerful image of a knightly hero full of noble virtues. Aragorn is a â€Å"born hero† – a true heir to the throne of Gondor, â€Å"born to achieve great deeds in his time† (Zimmer Bradley 83). He is a courageous man of action, endowed with physical strength, who combats evil, brings order and re stores peace. Respected and admired by other characters, Aragorn is a hero of indomitable spirit who never commits mistakes and always serves as an epitome of bravery and virtue.Although Aragorn is one of the most prominent characters in the trilogy, the most important mission, to destroy the malevolent Ring, falls upon a completely different figure. The future of the whole Middle-earth does not depend on noble Elves or brave Men or even strong Dwarves but lies in the hands of the seemingly weak and insignificant hobbits (Gulisano 131). Tolkien’s surprising choice falls upon small and rather funny creatures which, in fact, do not really have any particular achievements. Though small and weak, it is Frodo and his faithful servant Sam who are burdened with an extremely difficult task.Contrary to all expectations Frodo is chosen to carry the ring: â€Å"You may be nobody in particular in yourself, yet for some inexplicable reasons, through no choice of your own, the Ring has co me into your keeping, so that it is on you and not on Gandalf or Aragorn that the task falls of destroying it† (LotR, I, 284) At first the small hobbit is full of doubts. He is neither a great wizard like Gandalf to plan the strategy of war against Sauron, nor Aragorn, an outstanding warrior who is destined to be the leader of the army of Gondor. Yet, the Ring has clearly chosen the hobbit.Unlike other significant figures of the trilogy Frodo has â€Å"heroism thrust upon him† (Zimmer Bradley 84). In contrast with Aragorn, Frodo is not born to gain glory, yet through experience and ability to endure hardships he finally rises to heroism. Though hesitantly, Frodo humbly accepts the task: â€Å"’I will take the Ring,’ he said, ‘though I do not know the way. †(LotR, I, 284) Even though Frodo would rather â€Å"stay at home than risk my life on the very slight chance of winning glory† (LotR, I, 284) eventually he resigns from his own comfor t and safety and full of hope takes up a dangerous journey to save the world of Middle-earth.During the journey he often trembles, regrets his lot and wonders why he was burdened with such an enormous load, still he manages to remain faithful to the mission till the very end. Deciding to carry the Ring Frodo starts to follow a path full of sacrifices and pain. As the Ring bearer he is forced to put up a constant resistance to his own ambitions and desire for power (Bramlett 70). Frodo undeniably becomes a hero of the story. Though he actually fails at the very last moment of his mission – he yields to the temptation and wants to posses the Ring for his own- the quest is still completed and Frodo returns covered in glory.However, as Frodo rather reluctantly accepts the heavy burden of the unusual quest there is another character who follows the same path on his own free will and without complain. Sam, Frodo’s devoted servant, becomes an unrecognized hero of the story, w ho bravely accompanies and supports Frodo till the very last stage of their journey. He is the one who cares even less for glory and heroic deeds. His only wish is to protect his master and follow Frodo even if it means death. (Zimmer Bradley 84) Throughout the story Sam undergoes perhaps the most significant development.He starts out as a minor character. Even Sam describes himself as a â€Å"luggage in a boat†. He is a rather comic and childish character hardly adequate for such a grand enterprise (Purtill 89). Although at first he displays a sort of a limited perception, which is not unusual for a hobbit – he can be very practical at times – â€Å"his mind was slow but shrewd† (LotR, II, 625). In the course of the novel Sam gradually takes more and more responsibility and acquires such importance that without him the quest would be unfulfilled.Sam seems to be a typical hobbit servant, yet Tolkien endows him with certain features which differentiate him from the traditional literary servants. This peculiar hobbit is endowed with a sort of curiosity which is quite unique for a hobbit. He is fascinated with Elves and dreams about an opportunity to meet them one day. He is much more open to the new ideas and experiences than a typical hobbit (Purtill 90-91). What is more, Sam is also aware of his own limitations. He usually depends on the opinion of others, as he is not able to decide on grand matters: â€Å" I hope that the master will think it out carefully.He’s as wise as any, but he’s soft-hearted, that’s what he is. It’s beyond any Gamgee to guess what he’ll do next† (LotR, II, 625). Moreover, Sam is also endowed with a significantly greater independence than a typical servant (Purtill 90-91). When Frodo decides to abandon Shire alone, without any support of his friends, Sam reveals Frodo’s plan to Pippin and Merry in order to protect his master. On another occasion he disobeys Ar agorn and secretly follows Frodo on the further journey without informing the rest of the fellowship. When his master comes at stakeSam is able to do absolutely anything. Above all else, Sam characterizes an enormous devotion, selflessness and love for Frodo. His care for his master is truly incomparable: â€Å"It is hardly possible to separate you form him [Frodo], even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not† (LotR, I, 284). Throughout the story signs of Sam’s love for Frodo can be frequently encountered: â€Å"Sam came in. He ran to Frodo and took his left hand, awkwardly and shyly. He stroked it gently and then he blushed and turned hastily away. † (LotR, I, 237) His love for Frodo is immense.He is totally selfless and ready for sacrifices for his master. His devotion is best portrayed in the last stage of the quest, when the fellowship is broken and the two hobbits continue their dark journey to Mordor all by themselves. As Frodo, due to the malevolent power of the Ring, gradually becomes both physically and mentally weaker, Sam becomes an actual guide and protector. He deals with the practical aspects of the journey and combats various obstacles throughout the way. Gradually Sam becomes less comic and much more doughty.Along with their approaching the gates of Mordor Sam is significantly gaining importance and becoming a truly mature character. When the two hobbits are just one step form completing their mission of destroying the Ring everything is almost ruined due to Gollum’s betrayal. Sam and Frodo are attacked by a giant spider Shelob. Frodo is wounded in the combat and Sam is convinced that his beloved master is dead. Though terrified and totally miserable he does not turn back. He feels an obligation to continue the quest. As soon as he realizes that his master is still alive he rushes to rescue Frodo.As for the time being he carries the Ring, and just like Frodo and others he is subject to the great temp tation. On this stage of the journey ominous power of the Ring is the most dangerous and the temptation is respectively stronger. The Ring plants in Sam visions of himself as a great warrior: Samwise the Strong. Hero of the Age, striding with flaming sword across the darkened land, and armies flocking to his call as he marched to overthrow of Barad-dur. And then all the clouds rolled away and the white sun shone, and at his command the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of tress and brought forth fruit.He had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own and all this could be. In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered plain hobbit-sense: he knew in the core of his heart he was not large enough to bear such a burden, even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray him. The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own lands to use, not the lands of others to command. And anyway, all those notions are only a trick,† he said to himself. (LotR, III, 880-881) Sam is saved by his great love for his master and his extraordinary common sense combined with modesty and humility. Deep down he realizes that the vision of himself as a great warrior is ridiculous. The illusion, in fact, does not even constitute a dream that he aspires to. Sam is aware that he is not meant to be a grand hero. He knows perfectly well that his true vocation is to be a humble servant and this is exactly what makes him happy.The great trial Sam is subject to requires from the little hobbit a great deal of common wisdom and strength. Sam who at first seems to be a rather weak and at times an irritating character demonstrates strength which can be compared to the one of Galadriel or Gandalf. He is not only able to resist the temptation, but also to return the Ring to Frodo without hesitation. Sam displays enormous grandeur. At this poi nt he presents more heroism than for instance one of Tolkien’s classic heroes Bromir for whom temptation turned out too great to resist.As one of the critics rightly suggests: â€Å"He [Sam] exhibits concrete wisdom rather than abstract reasoning, finds relationship more important than objects, is supportive, nurturing, and self-sacrificing. † (Purtill 95) Tolkien seems to suggest that these are the features that account for true heroism. Thanks to Sam the quest can be completed. He supports Frodo emotionally till the very end and even literally carries him to the Mount Doom when the latter is physically unable to reach the destination.At the last stage of their journey Frodo is so debilitated by the power of the Ring that he is practically unable to think clearly. All his powers are focused on resisting the temptation of putting the Ring on the finger. Form now on the success of the mission depends on Sam. At this point, the development of Sam is clearly visible. He r ealizes that the mission has to be completed, that they must do everything in their power to end the task. He knows that they have reached a point from which there is no return.Though, he is convinced that there is no hope for them and they are doomed to death, he still manages to follow once entrusted mission. Sam becomes an undeniable hero of the story. Though he does not acquire a sort of glory that Pippin and Merry achieve on a battlefield, still he does acquire the necessary virtue and wisdom to eventually become the leader and the ruler of the hobbits – the Mayor of the Shire. Lord of the Rings, among many other beautiful and complex images, provides one of the most extraordinary and memorable depictions of heroism.Greatly influenced by the literary tradition, Tolkien both follows and modifies the concept of heroism and consequently provides the reader with two faces of this traditional notion. Tolkien emphasizes a number of features characteristic for a heroic epic and a chivalric romance. Features such as courage, fortitude, nobleness and honour can be found in several prominent figures in the novel. One of the most distinct examples, personifying all these virtues, is to be found in Aragorn. He is a classic hero, descendant of the line of kings, great warrior, the one who restores peace and brings back justice.Aragorn is the rightful heir to the throne who bravely struggles with the forces of evil and at the end triumphantly comes back to his kingdom and marries Arwena – Elf princess. Aragorn embodies all features typical of a truly heroic character in the traditional sense of the concept. However, the author does not only provide the reader with a well known model of heroism based on strength and courage. The novel presents a new surprising aspect of this concept and at the same time establishes a modern, innovative definition of the notion.In the course of the novel the reader is exposed to a very peculiar juxtaposition of characters. Next to such heroic figures as Aragorn Tolkien places queer, little, funny hobbits. It is Frodo and his devoted servant Sam who become true heroes of the story. If it had not been for their simplicity, ordinariness, lack of violence and ability to self-sacrifice the whole Middle-earth would be seized by the forces of evil. Frodo and Sam represent ordinary, insignificant figures who through their selflessness, loyalty and love for friends are brought to the heroic glory.Realization of their own limitations, common sense and modesty prevents them form mistakes that other characters are prone to commit. Hobbits represent the kind of courage exhibited by an ordinary person, who rises to heroism in the face of challenge (Purtill 77). Their courage is moral as well as physical. On their quest they have to face both mental torments, such as resisting the power of the ring and fear of enemies, and physical hardships, like lack of food and water, exhaustion due to the strenuous journey and w ounds they receive during combats.Tolkien presents the reader a new definition of heroism which is based on love and humility and can be achieved not exclusively by the chosen, great figures but by everybody. Heroism that Tolkien offers in Lord of the Rings is within everybody’s reach, no matter how small and weak and ordinary they would be (Gulisano 132). Juxtaposing the two kinds of heroism Tolkien stresses the fact that both can harmoniously coexist and are complementary: â€Å"without the high and noble the simple and vulgar is utterly mean; and without the simple and ordinary the noble and heroic is meaningless† (Tolkien in: Purtill 60).

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Cycle Incense Sticks

â€Å"Everyone has a reason to Pray† 1 Established in the year 1945, Cycle Agarbatti was a well-respected and much preferred brand when it came to their target audience, being deemed a ‘trustworthy’ and ‘traditional’ brand. However, over the years, things had changed – access to technology increased, competition increased, nuclear families increased and so did the presence of internet in one’s life. Given this context, and given that Cycle wanted to connect with the youth, being ‘traditional’ wasn’t all that desirable any more.So the challenge was to make the category and the relevant for that part of society that had not given them a thought yet. Out of all the things that divide this country, class, caste, creed etc. , there was only one unifying factor – Cricket. In our country, it is equivalent to a religion, where Sachin is revered as the God. The entire nation had hoped that the personal success of Sachin Tendulkar and the collective success of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 would coincide in one grand affair.We won the cup, but a huge chunk of the cricket crazy nation was not appeased as their God stood at a precarious juncture in his 22 years of cricketing action. It was just a matter of time. All communication in this category has been established within the realms/ confines of prayer, both as a concept and a creative hook. Building brand salience for Cycle brand was the key and had to explore, create and exploit opportunities where one would have to leave reason to rest and just had to keep the faith. 2The answer to all prayers and a long and tiring wait came in the form of Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th international century on Mirpur on 16th March 2012. The maestro became the first cricketer to notch up 100 international centuries when he scored 114 against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup ODI tournament. And when he did, all he did was to look up and thank his God. This became the intervention point for Cycle with the message â€Å"Everyone has a reason to Pray†. It took Sachin over a year to score his 100th 100.And when it did, he thanked god. 3 What makes the innovation differentiated and unique? Twists and turns in cricket cannot be predicted. We managed to creatively and contextually place a brand message without being a part of the desi commercial blitzkrieg with vada pavwallahs, gola vendors and cola giants and spending crores celebrating the same. The scale of execution Every leading newspaper was going to cover Sachin’s 100th 100. There were going to be half page, full page and page on page coverage of the same.And our message was present on each such page. There were several pictures of Sachin in the coverage. But our brief was very clear: we would only have our message published in newspapers which had THAT picture of Sachin looking up, to thank god at the momentous occasion of his 100th 100. There were 6 publications who agreed to do so. Deccan Herald, Prajavani, Hindustan Times, Vijay Karnataka, Hindu and DNA with all their editions were chosen to populate this simple yet contextually relevant message.The brand message only occupied around 635 sq cm beneath Sachin’s picture which was set in over 5000 sq cms of editorial coverage across publications in ONE day. There are several ways in which a brand can populate their message: Spending money’s to create opportunities Vs. Latching on to events or occurrences fitting the brand ideology. Scenario 1: If we were to rope in Sachin as a brand ambassador, create a campaign for his 100th 100 and then celebrating it in media – it would mean an easy twenty crore + spends for us.Scenario 2: Instead, we managed our money by celebrating his win in a smart way and plugging the extremely relevant brand message 4 The Campaign won the ‘Big Bang Award 2012’ from AD club Bangalore. Our Media agency DDB Mudra MAX won the gold in the category PRINT INNOVATION. The parameters for the award selection: 1) The simplicity of the idea- (all great ideas are simple) 2) The brilliant brand fit 3) The execution 4) Cost effectiveness-in a way Sachin became our idea ambassador for ‘Everyone has a reason to pray’ at zero cost. 5 C S S UD E A E T IS

Friday, November 8, 2019

A Brief History of Kosovo Independence

A Brief History of Kosovo Independence Following the demise of the Soviet Union and its domination over Eastern Europe in 1991, the constituent components of Yugoslavia began to dissolve. For some time, Serbia, retaining the name of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and under control of the genocidal Slobodan Milosevic, forcefully retained possession of nearby provinces. History of Kosovo Independence Over time, places such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro gained independence. The southern Serbian region of Kosovo, however, remained part of Serbia. The Kosovo Liberation Army fought Milosevic’s Serbian forces and a war of independence took place from about 1998 through 1999. On June 10, 1999, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution which ended the war, established a NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo, and provided for some autonomy which included a 120-member assembly. Over time, Kosovo’s desire for full independence grew. The United Nations, the European Union, and the United States worked with Kosovo to develop an independence plan. Russia was a major challenge for Kosovo independence because Russia, as a U.N. Security Council member with veto power, promised they would veto and plan for Kosovo independence that did not address Serbia’s concerns. On February 17, 2008, ​the Kosovo Assembly unanimously (109 members present) voted to declare independence from Serbia. Serbia declared that the independence of Kosovo was illegal and Russia supported Serbia in that decision. However, within four days of Kosovo’s declaration of independence, fifteen countries (including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Australia) recognized the independence of Kosovo. By mid-2009, 63 countries around the world, including 22 of the 27 members of the European Union had recognized Kosovo  as independent. Several dozen countries have established embassies or ambassadors in Kosovo. Challenges remain for Kosovo to obtain full international recognition and over time, the de facto status of Kosovo as independent will likely spread so that almost all of the world’s countries will recognize Kosovo as independent. However, United Nations membership will likely be held up for Kosovo until Russia and China agree to the legality of Kosovo’s existence. Kosovo is home to approximately 1.8 million people, 95% of whom are ethnic Albanians. The largest city and capital are Pristina (about half a million people). Kosovo borders Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, and the Republic of Macedonia.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Conjugate the French Verb Entendre (to understand)

Conjugate the French Verb Entendre (to understand) Entendre  is a  regular -re verb  that follows distinct, predictable conjugation patterns. All -er  verbs share the same conjugation  patterns in all tenses and moods. Generally speaking, there are five major categories of verbs in French: regular -er, -ir, -re; stem-changing; and irregular. The smallest category of regular French verbs is  -re verbs. Entendre  Is a Regular er Verb To use  -re verbs, remove the  -re ending from the infinitive, and youre left with the stem.  Conjugate the verb by adding the -re endings shown in the table below to the verb stem. The same applies to entendre. Note that the conjugation table below includes only simple conjugations. It does not include compound conjugations, which consist  of a form of the auxiliary verb avoir and the past participle entendu. The Most Common -er Verbs These  are the most common regular -re verbs: attendre  Ã‚  to wait (for)dà ©fendre  Ã‚  to defenddescendre  Ã‚  to descendentendre  Ã‚  to hearà ©tendre  Ã‚  to stretchfondre  Ã‚  to meltpendre  Ã‚  to hang, suspendperdre  Ã‚  to loseprà ©tendre  Ã‚  to claimrendre  Ã‚  to give back, returnrà ©pandre  Ã‚  to spread, scatterrà ©pondre  Ã‚  to answervendre  Ã‚  to sell Entendre:  Meanings   The most common meaning of the French verb  entendre  is to hear, but it can also mean:   to listen toto intend (to do something)to meanto understand (formal) In the pronominal form, sentendre  means: reflexive: to hear oneself (speak, think)reciprocal: to agree, to get alongidiomatic: to be heard/audible, to be used Entendre: Expressions   Entendre is used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to hear about, intend to, attend mass and more with expressions using  entendre. entendre parler de... to hear (someone talking) about...  entendre dire que...  Ã‚  to hear (it said) that...entendre la messe   to hear / attend massentendre raison   to listen to reasonentendre mal (de loreille gauche/droite)  Ã‚  to not hear well (with ones left/right ear)entendre les tà ©moins  (law)  Ã‚  to hear the witnesses lentendre,   tentendre,   vous entendre   to hear him/her talk, to hear you talk qui veut entendre   to anyone who will listendonner entendre ( quelquun) que...   to give (someone) to understand / the impression that...faire entendre raison   to make someone see sense / reasonfaire entendre sa voix   to make oneself heardfaire entendre un son   to make a soundse faire entendre (dans un dà ©bat)   to make oneself heard (in a debate)laisser entendre ( quelquun) que...     to give (someone) to understand / the impression that...Ce quil faut entendre tout de mà ªme  ! (informal)   The things people say!Entendez-vous par l que... ?   Do you mean / Are you trying to say that... ? Faites comme vous lentendez.   Do what  you think is best.Il / Elle nentend pas la plaisanterie. (old-fashioned)   He / She cant take a joke.Il / Elle nentend rien ...   He / She doesnt know the first thing about...Il / Elle ne lentend pas de cette oreille.   He / She wont accept that.Il / Elle ne veut rien entendre.   He / She just wont listen, doesnt want to hear itIl / Elle ny entend pas malice.   He / She means no harm by it.Il / Elle va mentendre !   Im going to give him / her a piece of my mind!Jai dà ©j entendu pire !   Ive heard worse!Je nentends pas cà ©der.   I have no intention of giving in.Je vous entends.   I understand, I see what you mean.On entendrait voler une mouche.   You could hear a pin drop.Quentendez-vous par l ?   What do you mean by that?  Quest-ce que jetends ?   What did you say? Did I hear you correctly?... tu entends !   ... you hear me?!sentendre (faire quelque chose)  (formal)   to be very good at (doing something) sentendre merveille   to get along very well sentendre comme larrons en foire   to be thick as thieves (to be very close, get along extremely well)sy entendre pour (faire quelque chose)   to be very good at (doing something)cela sentend   naturally, of courseEntendons-nous bien.   Lets be very clear about this.Il faudrait sentendre !   Make up your mind!Je my entends ! Il sy entend  ! etc.   I know what Im doing! He knows what hes doing!Tu ne tentends pas !   You dont know what youre saying! Simple Conjugations of the Regular French -re Verb Entendre Present Future Imperfect Present participle j entends entendrai entendais entendant tu entends entendras entendais il entend entendra entendait nous entendons entendrons entendions vous entendez entendrez entendiez ils entendent entendront entendaient Pass compos Auxiliary verb avoir Past participle entendu Subjunctive Conditional Pass simple Imperfect subjunctive j entende entendrais entendis entendisse tu entendes entendrais entendis entendisses il entende entendrait entendit entendt nous entendions entendrions entendmes entendissions vous entendiez entendriez entendtes entendissiez ils entendent entendraient entendirent entendissent Imperative (tu) entends (nous) entendons (vous) entendez