The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr Hyde - 1950 Words

From its inception, the Gothic novel has prominently featured states of entrapment or imprisonment, but has seen a transition from entrapment as a state inflicted by others to a state constructed by the self within a society. The prisons are no longer Gothic dungeons controlled by powerful figures, but have shifted into a state of mind, and thus, the possibility of liberation from entrapment has become destabilised. Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde deals with several layers of entrapment – the physical, psychological and existential – but, unlike earlier Gothic novels, problematizes the possibility of escape as the entrapment has shifted to an internalized force. Henry Jekyll, is imprisoned by the†¦show more content†¦[†¦] He was austere with himself; drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages; and though he enjoyed the theatre, had not crossed the doors of one for twenty years. Victorian society’s repression of Dionysiac desires in favour of Apollonian self-disciplined order is most powerful on middle-class professional figures who were morally bound to uphold these standards. Therefore, the first lines of the novel, â€Å"Mr Utterson the lawyer†, firmly situate the novel’s characters within a class that characterises the Apollonian self. Mr Utterson is introduced by the adjective â€Å"austere† as a man who represses his Dionysiac desires of â€Å"a taste for vintages† and â€Å"theatre† with a self-induced severity. The third-person narrative contributes to the factual tone of the passage that suggests this behaviour is common place within the society. The characters of this novel are imprisoned by the internalised expectation of a pure Apollonian self. [†¦] I found it hard to reconcile with my imperious desire to carry my head high, and wear a more then commonly grave countenance before the public. Hence it came about that I concealed my pleasures; and that when I reached years of reflection, [†¦] I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life. Many a man would have even blazoned such irregularities as I was guilty of; but from the high views that I had set before me, I regarded and hid them with an almostShow MoreRelatedThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1675 Words   |  7 PagesThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Essay Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella, â€Å"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,† is a type of Gothic literature. In the beginning of the story when Stevenson is describing the lawyer, one â€Å"Mr. Utterson,† the mood is a bit dull. At first glance the reader may think that this story would be a bit boring and drab. Stevenson’s story is far from being another dull piece of British English literature. The setting and mood of this novella are more complexRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde Essay975 Words   |  4 PagesStevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novella that follows the basic outline established by Mary Shelley in Frankenstein. However, Stevenson’s monster is not created from body parts but comes from the dark side of the human personality. In both novels, a man conducts a secret experiment that gets out of control. The result of these experiments is the release of a double, or doppelgan ger, which causes damage to their creator. While most people think that The Strange Case of Dr. JekyllRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1440 Words   |  6 Pagescomplexity of human nature in his books, especially in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Kidnapped. The former is about a lawyer named Mr. Utterson seeking out the truth of Dr. Jekyll’s very strange will. He finds out that Jekyll was transforming himself into Mr. Hyde so that he could have the freedom to do whatever he wanted no matter how evil. By the time Utterson finds all this out and findsJekyll, he is too late and Jekyll has already killed himself. The latter is about David BalfourRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1196 Words   |  5 Pageswhich do let control you? The good or evil? This was a question that Dr. Jekyll from the book, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, could not answer. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a book about a man who cannot control the two sides of himself, causing him to do terrible things and not even be aware of it. The theme of this book is good versus evil. Dr. Jekyll is fighting his evil side, known as Mr. Hyde, throughout the book. Some people believe that the book’s theme hasRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde938 Words   |  4 PagesVictorian Hopes and Fears Involving Science as Found in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde During the Victorian Era there was a great race to use science to alleviate the suffering of the ill, specifically for those patients who were suffering from ailments of the mind. While some of the methods used to diagnose and treat such afflictions would be considered barbaric in nature by today’s standards, they were considered cutting edge medical science during the time of the Victorian Era. It was also consideredRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde964 Words   |  4 PagesThe Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, written by Robert Louis Stevenson was published in 1886. The story is published during the Victorian era, the Victorian era was an age of repression, there was no violence, no sexual appetite, and there was no great expression or emotion. In the story, Dr. Jekyll creates a potion that turns him into Mr. Hyde, Mr. Hyde is the complete opposite of what people are in the Victorian era. At first, Dr. Jekyll is in control of Mr. Hyde, but towards t he end MrRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1505 Words   |  7 PagesDuring the latter portion of the nineteenth century, Robert Louis Stevenson published his novella, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The fin de sià ¨cle saw the rise of different thoughts and ideas surrounding science and society. These concepts and interpretations sparked the discourse surrounding the theory of degeneration; which was the concern that civilization would fall to a lower state of being. This chapter will be reading multiplex personality as a manifestation of this broader culturalRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1739 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel â€Å"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde† by Robert Louis Stevenson, the novel â€Å"Frankenstein† by Mary Shelley, the short story â€Å"The Monkey’s Paw† by W.W Jacobs and the short story â€Å"Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. These four texts convey this theme through the use of gothic conventions such as death, madness and darkness. In the novels The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll are wronglyRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1351 Words   |  6 PagesThe Personas of Henry Jekyll Every person is born with bright and dark personas that people moderate due to the standards of society. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Jekyll and Hyde battle for the power to stay alive in the story. As Jekyll continues to try and take over his evil persona, Hyde tries to stay alive and cause evil in the world. In our society, many people will struggle with self control and Dr. Jekyll has trouble controlling his alter ego by performing his evil pleasuresRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1326 Words   |  6 Pages The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was published during the late Victorian era, but he clearly brings into question the acceptance of Victorian philosophies, especially the belief that one truth exists and that we can identify good and evil as separate entities. The names Jekyll and Hyde have become synonymous with multiple personality disorder. This novel can be examined from the natural dualism and Freud’s structural th eory of the mind. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr

Gender Wage Gap Of The American Association Of University...

Gender Wage Gap Lisda Lara Professor Akpo GOVT 2305-P50 August 4, 2016 Throughout our world’s history we have seen many grievous instances where discrimination caused severely negative repercussions on how our society functions. The inequity demonstrated by our nation in the past has estranged its residents based on their religion, the color of their skin, their beliefs, and even their gender. With time, our community has become more accepting which has led to the abolishment of most, if not all, bigotry and racist beliefs. However, there is still an issue today that we have been facing for almost a century. This conflict has led to the prohibition of certain people obtaining a particular job in some cases, and the penalty of being paid less than her male colleagues if she were to obtain that job. The problem is sexism and its consequences. The consequences of this type of discrimination lead to unequal pay for the same kind of work. â€Å"The American Association of University Women is releasing a new study that shows when men and women attend the same kind of college, pick the same major and accept the same kind of job, on average, the woman will still earn 82 cents to every dollar that a man earns† (Coleman) . This embodiment originates from the very popular credence that men provide for women in a family environment and that the wives’ are the parent who care for the children at home, therefore making them more unfocused in their workplace, hence the beliefShow MoreRelatedEqual Women, Equal Pay Essays997 Words   |  4 PagesAs long as an American woman is putting in the same amount of hours with the same qualifications and experience in the same occupation as an American male, and yet taking home a wage that is any lower, she is not being treated fairly as an equal. Contrary to many arguments, itâ₠¬â„¢s undeniable that a wage gap exists, and while there are various ideas as to the most probable cause, there is no reason why this gap should continue to go uncorrected or unchanged. Our government should take concrete stepsRead MoreGender Wage Gap And Gender Inequality Essay1519 Words   |  7 PagesGender Wage Gap Lydia Ogles November 2016 Introduction/Abstract The gender wage gap has been a nationwide problem since women were able to enter the workforce. Women have begun to speak out more about the issue and evaluate what they can do to change the industries and how they personally present themselves to help this change. Currently there is a wide range of opinions on this issue, with some saying it does not exist while others think it will ruin the economy if not fixed immediately. This makesRead MoreThe Wage Gap Within The United States1687 Words   |  7 Pagesright to equal wages; gender and ethnic inequality has been an on-going issue in the United States for a very long time. This inequality has been the reason for the Wage Gap which is a violation of everyone’s human rights. Some people believe that the wage gap is just a gender problem but it is not, it is unequal opportunities for racial and gender minorities; in fact some women that are of a certain race are paid significantly less than someone who is only of one minority. The wage gap relates to humanRead MoreGender Wage Gap Between Women And Women1483 Words   |  6 PagesThe gender wage gap is the difference in men and women’s annual salaries and can be found in every kind of job at all times. The gap stems from prejudice against women workers, resulting in women receiving less pay than men do for the same work. As of 1999, women make up sixty percent of the workforce and are the main income provider for four of every ten families. Yet, in 2015, the median annual income for women was $40,742 and $51,212 for men. That is eighty percent of what men are earning, orRead MoreGender Wage Gap And Gender Inequality1738 Words   |  7 PagesThe Gender Wage Gap is defined as the different amounts of money that is paid to women and men, often for doing the same work. Women who work full time, year round earn 77 cents for every dollar that men earn. Over a year women make $11,500 less than men and throughout their life this wage gap can affect women by making them earn anywhere from $400,000-$2 million less than men do. (Miller 2008, 6) The wage gap varies for women of different races. On average African-American women are paid 60 centsRead MoreGender Wage Gap And Gender Inequality Essay912 Words   |  4 Pagesall women- just want equal pay† by Lanier Isom is about the gender wage gap. The gender wage gap is the difference between male and female earnings. Isom basically states in this article that the wage gap exists because of gender, however many experts state that the wage gap simple does exists do to a factor such as gender, but of multiple factors. These factors being that the statistics presented in favor of a Wage gap are incorrect and manipulated to seem correct. That the so called wage gap mayRead MoreThe Impact Of Race On The Gender Wage Gap And Women Overall1605 Words   |  7 Pages Equality of wages in America is of high concern and has been for a long period of time. On no account of America’s history, have women and men’s wages ever been equal, rather they have always had a significant gap between them. This has seen women as undervalued, causing a lot of discrimination and hardship in the workplace for women. Especially for women of color the wage gap is even larger. The pay gap in America affects women of all ages, races, and education levels but what can they do to closeRead MoreSusan B. Anthony And The Equal Pay Act1014 Words   |  5 Pagesof this happening. All over the country, women are getting paid less than men and being told that it’s okay. It is not okay. Gender equality is something that has been a problem through the ages. Susan B. Anthony and many others fought for the right to vote which was granted in 1920. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law stating that no employer can discriminate based on gender. The American Association of University Women published a graph on Women’s Median AnnualRead MoreSocial Justice, Fair And Unbiased Treatment Of The Population Essay1593 Words   |  7 Pagesconcept of social justice more complicated, as it extends through due processes of the law, human rights among minority races and gender. Social justice includes basic necessities, standards and rights that should be extended to all (Vasquez 2012). Social justice is an area that some countries, such as ____, would consider Americans to be privileged in. However, Americans, especially those who have never experienced social injustice tend to be blind to many social injustices that happen everyday inRead Mo reDiscrimination : The American Association Of University Women1403 Words   |  6 Pagesbattle; whether it s race, gender, religion, beliefs, appearance or anything else that makes one person different from another, it’s happening every day. One significant discrimination problem the world population is combating, takes place in the work field. Women, who are as equally trained and educated, and with the same experience as men are not getting equal pay, â€Å"The American Association of University Women is releasing a new study that shows when men and women attend the same kind of college

Battery Industry Free Essays

Case Preparation For Discussion (Gillette) 1. Central problem/issue in case: The main problem is that, since its acquisition, Duracell has become a drain on the financial performance of Gillette. The board needs to decide what should be done to turn Duracell around and restore Gillette to a dependable financial performer. We will write a custom essay sample on Battery Industry or any similar topic only for you Order Now 2. How is the battery industry (you can use five forces analysis to answer this question)? Has it been changing? If yes, how? Overall, the industry is very attractive. New entrants realize the potential of snagging a piece of a highly profitable industry that produced $5. billion in revenue and $807 million operating margin. Threat of new entrants is low, as the capital requirements and technology development needed to stay relevant in the market proves to be a daunting barrier to entry. Also, in order to realize a significant profit, economies of scale must be realized to produce a massive amount of batteries while keeping costs low. This would be harder for smaller entrants to achieve. Threat of substitute products is low, as no replacement good has been introduced that may provide the consumer with the same benefits as using a battery. This makes the industry attractive. However, if a company produced a good that could replace the need for a battery, this would detrimentally alter the battery industry, making threat of substitute products a major factor of the industry. The bargaining power of suppliers is low because there is little differentiation between the inputs of the batteries, which can be acquired from many different suppliers. This low supplier power makes the industry attractive. The bargaining power of the buyer is fairly high, as there is high buyer concentration with low switching costs, which makes the industry less attractive. The major, key factor is the rivalry among competitors. There are three main competitors that comprise 85. 76% of the battery market, in which they are constantly upgrading their technology, promoting their products with strong advertising and marketing campaigns, and cutting prices of their goods. Yes, the battery industry has changed over time to create more efficient, less costly batteries than it ever has before; however, it is becoming fairly stagnant. With the competitors simply making them slightly more efficient than the leading brand and coming up with the next best advertising campaign, there is little more for each of the battery manufacturers to do with their product. The battery industry could be considered a â€Å"cash cow† – great profitability, large market share, but little growth. In order to stay on top, Duracell has to spend significant amounts of money on RD to continue to keep up to speed on the relevant technology. 3. What were the impacts of Duracell’s introduction of Ultra on the nature of competition in the battery industry? When Duracell introduced Ultra in May 1998, it began a long cycle of the battery industry’s main competitors introducing new, higher-powered, longer lasting batteries. Originally, these batteries were sold at a premium. Three months after the introduction of Ultra, Duracell was involved in several court battles, which were soon followed by Gillette’s announcement that it was restructuring the company and cutting jobs. After all the commotion around the battery industry, Consumer Reports told consumers that all batteries were standard, worked the same, and to buy the cheapest one. When Energizer and Rayovac introduced their new, updated batteries, they were sold at a price cut or at the same price as the standard battery. For all three main competitors, none of their baseline batteries were replaced, but rather simply updated and sold alongside the other on the shelf. Each introduction was accompanied by a pricey advertising campaign that was designed to win new customers and hopefully gain market share. 4. Why was Gillette unable to achieve the same success in batteries that it had been able to achieve in shaving products? Gillette is very good at using their knowledge and expertise in each of their segments to create related, diversified products to fit the needs of their consumers. They use what they already know, the resources and capabilities that they already have, to grow horizontally within each segment by creating a wider range of products and services for the consumer. For their personal grooming segment, they have expanded from simply razors to shaving cream and deodorants. They have been unable to find a way to do the same within their portable power segment, in which Duracell is the only company. In order to gain financially, they need to discover a way to expand the capabilities of Duracell. 5. If you were James Kilt, what strategic actions would you take? I would look for ways to expand the portable power segment, which includes Duracell. Perhaps using Duracell in all of Gillette’s electronic products, such as the electric-powered toothbrushes, electronic razors, or coffee makers. Also, a possibility is to perhaps create an exporting agreement to electronic goods producers to use Duracell batteries in their products as they are sold. Another possibility is to spend money developing a battery that could be used in auto production, then creating a joint venture with an auto manufacturer. Gillette already has good global presence, so expanding more globally could help. 6. What do you learn from this case? I learned that just because a company is profitable at a specific point in time, like Duracell, does not mean it will be profitable forever, even if it is teamed up with a strong, financially enduring company, like Gillette. In order to continue outstanding financial performance, you must evaluate where the industry is going in the future and look for ways to diversify and expand before it hits a downturn. How to cite Battery Industry, Essay examples

Melanau Tribe free essay sample

This costume bears strong resemblance to the traditional outfit worn by Malay men, called the baju melayu, and it even incorporates the wearing of a samping around the waist. Accordingly, the traditional costume for the Melanau womenfolk closely resembles the baju kurung donned by Malay ladies. Religion While originally animists, the majority of the Melanaus are now Muslim, although some of them, especially among the Melanau Mukah and Dalat, are Christian. Although most Melanaus are now Muslims or Christians, their forefathers religion was Liko, which means people of the river.Nonetheless, many still celebrate traditional rites such as the annual Kaul Festival. The Kaul used to be regarded as a religious annual ceremony to appease the spirits of all surrounding the people the sea, the forest, the land and the farm. Desp ite their different beliefs and religions, the Melanaus, like the rest of East Malaysians (Sabah and Sarawak) are very tolerant of each other and they rightly feel proud of their tolerance. We will write a custom essay sample on Melanau Tribe or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We would still come across a Melanau family with different child family members embracing Christianity and Islam while their parents still have strong animist belief.Today, however, the Pesta Kaul is celebrated more as a cultural festival, rather than a religious one . The Melanau are described as open, friendly, outgoing, and non-aggressive people. They value their relationships with friends and family members. Gotong-royong mutual assistance is still practiced, especially during weddings, funerals, and farming. Food Being a coastal community, Melanau food is largely based on bounties from the sea. They are blessed with very good catch both from the sea and rivers, and Mukah is rightly famous for its seafood.One of the most famous Mukah dish is Umai, raw fish prepared with ginger, chili and lime juice. For raw fish aficianados, this is simplicity at its best just the freshest ingredient seasoned very sparingly to preserve the natural flavours. Umai was originally a food of convenience for Melanau fishermen on fishing trips to the sea. Traditionally, umai is thinly sliced raw fish marinated with ‘assam paya’, a very sour fruit of a wild palm, onions, chillies, and a pinch of salt. Umai is to Melanaus what sushi is to Japanese.Today, umai is on the menus of posh restaurants and is often the piece de resistance of dinners and lunches. Tebaloi the food that is synonymous with the Melanau of Sarawak. Tebaloi is some sort of a cracker made from sago powder (in shredded form). A typical Melanau meal consists of rice with smoked, dried and preserved seafood. There are also cooked dishes such as curry and vegetables. Of all the Melanau delicacies, linut is considered as the most complete dish because it is served with ulam such as herbs and vegetables plus smoked or salted fish, spicy gravy and sambal.Linut is normally served during a family reunion or a gathering of friends and visitors. All these things tend to be ignored by the younger generation. Linut is now popular among the people because it is not only unique but also tasty. With a bit of innovation, linut will not only remain a unique traditional dish, it can also become other source of income for the Melanau community. DIALECT The Melanau language consists of various dialects—: Mukah, Balingian, Oya, Dalat, Daro-Matu, Rajang, Kanowit, Sibu, Bintulu, Seru and Tanjong (except for Melanau Bintulu dialect which can hardly be understood by the rest.

Animal Cruelty Essays - Animal Testing, Animal Rights, Free Essays

Animal Cruelty Essays - Animal Testing, Animal Rights, Free Essays Animal Cruelty Jeff Albrecht Joseph Aimone Writing and Rhetoric 13 December 2000 Animal Cruelty One of the most touchy aspects of our relationship with animals is the use of animals in laboratory sciences. Some manufactures of cosmetics and household products still conduct painful and useless tests on live animals, even though no law requires them not to. Some people, called anti-vivisectionists, are at one extreme in their concern. They want an abolition of all experiments on live animals. At the other extreme there are those who say that it is quite all right for us to do whatever we like to animals. They say that God gave us such a right, since it is written in the bible (Genesis 1:26) that man has dominion over all creatures. If these tests give some educational value, adds to scientific knowledge, or can help improve human health, they argue that it is worth killing animals or subjecting them to painful experiments. I believe that the unnecessary testing of animals is inhumane and unethical when alternative methods Albrecht 2 are available. The anti-vivisectionists say we should not allow experiments on animals and the animal utilitarians, or vivisectionists, claim that we can do anything to animals if it is for the ultimate good of humanity. Perhaps they are both wrong. Much can be learned from treating animals that are already sick or injured in testing new life-saving drugs and surgical techniques. Animals, as well as people benefit from new discoveries. But is it right to take perfectly healthy animals and harm them to find cures for human illnesses, many of which we bring on ourselves by poisoning the environment, eating the wrong kinds of foods, and by not adopting a healthy active life-style? Do people have the right to do what ever they like to perfectly healthy animals? Do we have the right to continue doing experiments over and over again in a needless repetition and a waste of animals if no new information is going to be gained? Animals suffer unnecessarily and their lives are pointlessly wasted. If the issue were simple, animal experimentation might never have become so controversial. Each year in the United States an estimated 20-70 Albrecht 3 million animals-from cats, dogs and primates, to rabbits, rats and mice-suffer and die in the name of research. Animal tests for the safety of cosmetics, household products and chemicals are the least justifiable. Animals have doses of shampoo, hair spray, and deodorant dripped into their eyes or applied to bare skin in attempts to measure eye and skin irritancy levels. Other are force-fed massive quantities of toxic materials such as bleach or soap, in a hit-and-miss attempt to measure levels of toxicity. Since 1938, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required that each ingredient in a cosmetic be adequately substantiated for safety prior to being made available to the consumer. However, neither the FDA nor the Consumer Product Safety Commission ( a regulatory agency that oversees product safety, consumer complaints, etc.) requires firms to conduct animal testing of any cosmetic product. Cosmetic companies use animal tests to insure themselves against possible consumer lawsu its. If sued for liability, they can protect themselves by arguing that the cosmetic was adequately tested for safety with tests standard in the cosmetic industry. How placing a piece of lipstick in the eye of a rabbit to determine if it is safe Albrecht 4 for the consumer, boggles my mind. If someone placed a piece of lipstick in my eye, I do believe it would irritate my eye also. How in the name of God does this test prove it is safe for the consumer? I don't believe lipstick is gong to be used in the eye area, unless you are an illiterate that cant read directions. The Draize Eye-Irritancy Test was designed to assess a substance's potential harmfulness to human eyes based on its effects on rabbits' eyes. This test was developed in the early 1940s by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This test is typically performed on six rabbits per substance tested. Technicians restrain each rabbit and place a measured amount of the test substance in the lower lid of one eye. Usually no anesthetics are given. the rabbits eyes are than examined at

Comparison of Egyptian and Mesopotamian Art essays

Comparison of Egyptian and Mesopotamian Art essays Egyptian and Mesopotamian art share both similarities and differences. For instance Mesopotamian art focused on less monumental structures, while embracing a pronounced literary element that Egyptian art lacked. Because of the constant threat to Mesopotamian societys security, a lot of their architecture created to fulfill the purpose of protection. It was made to impress yet intimidate the visitors to their cities; so as to present themselves as strong people. However Egyptian art wasnt meant as protection, their work mostly represented empowerment and control. This can be seen in their architectural work of places, shrines, and temples. These differences have their roots, partially in cultural differences, as Mesopotamians lacked access to the great stones that Egyptians could import for their monuments. Egyptian also were able to organize laborers to build these great temples, however this was difficult for the Mesopotamians whose soils were constantly under attack. The differences owed something, finally, to different beliefs, for the Mesopotamians were not as concerned as the Egyptians were, with preparations for the afterlife, which so motivated the great tombs and pyramids that have made Egypt and some of the pharaohs immortal in human memory. Comparisons in politics, culture, economics, and society suggest civilizations that varied substantially because of largely separate origins and environments. The distinction in overall tone was striking, with Egypt being more stable and cheerful than Mesopotamia not only in beliefs about gods and the afterlife but also in the colorful and lively pictures the Egyptians emphasized in their decorative art. Also striking was the distinction in internal history, with Egyptian civilization far less marked by disruption tha n its Mesopotamian counterpart. Therefore Mesopotamian art portrayed this insecurity and the attacks they face. In terms of similarities both of th...

WA2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

WA2 - Assignment Example Nelson (2012) calls tsunami as tidal waves while it is rejected as tidal waves by the governmental website for Tsunami. Tsunami is not essentially generated because of displacement of sea floor, but there are many other reasons. Its occurrence can be sudden and damaging for the coastal communities (Nelson). The word Tsunami was unknown to people before December 2004 when an earthquake of 9.1 magnitude hit Indonesia and vertically displaced the sea floor after which, a Tsunami got created and became the reason of killing nearly two hundred and thirty thousand people and affecting several millions. People suffered because of lack of proper warning measures taken by the authorities. Even after getting knowledge of tsunami, people continue getting affected as people saw a Tsunami in 2009, 2010 and 2011. There were tsunamis before, but the tsunami of 2004 made scientists to research it in depth (Nelson). The tsunami waves reach up to a height of 100 meters that build a wall against the land and eruption of this walled water on the coasts can be destructive for the residents of the coasts. These waves as per national geographic are created because of displacement of tectonic plates under the sea (National Geographic). With the rise or fall of boundary walls of the plates, the water over the ocean floor is displaced that moves forward in form of tsunami. Landslides and volcanic eruptions can also be comprehended as the reasons of creation of tsunami. In deep water, they do not have noticeable height, but in shallow water, their speed gets lessened and they get elevated energy and height that is damaging for the shores (National Geographic). Warnings can be sent to areas that are far from earthquakes and other regions as there is plenty of time to take actions. However, for coastal areas, the time for warning is less and people have to

Cinematography of the film Casablanca Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cinematography of the film Casablanca - Essay Example Edeson helped director Michael Curtiz in visualizing by focusing on the shadows and maximizing the use of proper lighting and angles. Wide-angle shots are placed in the beginning scenes giving importance to the place of Casablanca and how a German plane flies behind the sign for Rick's Cafe. The wide shot of the planes just over the cafe shows how important this place will be in the next parts of the story. An establishing shot will soon be noticed as camera angles focuses inside Rick’s cafe as if the audience were walking inside for the first time, giving wide angle shots of the patrons inside the club. Some medium shots are placed on individual characters such as the colored man piano player, until an extreme close up shot of a slip of paper is shown with an â€Å"OK† sign by Rick. Here it is established that Rick is an important man, in a medium shot, he is shown slowly puffing a cigarette. The shots through out the scenes create such continuity and gives credibility to the empty life of Rick. The intensity of the setting in a neutral country of Morocco is established with the mix of characters from the Allied forces and the Germans. It also creates an impression on how â€Å"all is fair in love and war† as what the story line would develop. There is also a use of proper lighting maximized with the proper dà ©cor to create at 1940’s kind of American cafà © with live band and gambling, but still the production team maintained certain props to make sure that the audience would remember that it is still in Morocco like the Islamic architecture that remains obvious in the interior. There is heightened use of lighting to create shadows especially to give focus on melancholic state like after curfew encounters at Rick’s cafe with Renault as he searches for money or documents. It creates a touch of mystery establishing that the main character Rick is an amoral man who after a painful heartbreak has remained to be neutral and cynical. He is portrayed as a bitter and sad man, as focused on the medium and close up shots of a face that seems to be sad and old despite earthly success. He moves slow and somehow gloomy with the background of shadows and smoke that surrounds his cafe. As for Iisa the leading lady, angles are focused on her sad and somehow glowing face with eyes that appears to be always in tears. The musical score also creates an impression. Most part of the film revolves around the song â€Å"As Time Goes By† as it somehow relives a memorable time in Paris by both Rick and Iisa. Songs from the 1930’s to the 1940’s are also el oquently highlighted and combined with national anthems from France and Germany, The audience are reminded that this is not just another love story, it maintains the political issues of World War II. Bogart plays a superb role of a romantic leading man, the sad and indifferent bad boy ruined by a past love. At first he seems to be the typical strong man, full of machismo and ego without caring for anyone in the world but himself. But a sense of humanity is shown by how he treats his employees such as Sam, the piano player. As Bergman enters the scene, we notice that indeed this could be the woman that has created all this illusion. When Sam had an encounter with Iisa, he pretends to have never met her before. It is obvious then that this woman would be someone important. Bergman portrays the role of Iisa with so much justice. The focus on her soft face makes a

Competitive Review of PepsiCo Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Competitive Review of PepsiCo - Term Paper Example PepsiCo is one of the biggest soft drink, beverage, and convenient snacks companies. Pepsi has been bringing refreshments to its customers for over 100 years. It has almost 18 brands in its portfolio. The soft drink and beverage market is highly competitive with changing customer tastes and preferences and therefore to maintain sustainable growth the management constantly has to introduce new marketing strategies, conduct market research and thereby position and reposition their brands or introduce new brands. Introduction of new brands has always been a favorite marketing strategy with PepsiCo management.    Pepsi has 18 mega brands available in nearly 200 countries and generates sales at the retail level of more than $1 billion. (See appendix 2 for PepsiCo mega brands and annual retail sales of each) Demand for non-alcoholic beverages is driven by consumer tastes and demographics. The profitability of individual companies depends on effective marketing. Large manufacturers have economies of scale in production and distribution, with average annual revenue per production worker close to $1 million. Small companies can compete by producing new products, catering to local tastes, or selling at lower prices.    Coca Cola is the world’s number 1 producer of carbonated soft drinks is Pepsi’s biggest rival. In the soft drinks industry, Coca Cola and Pepsi together have a market share of 95%. Where Coca Cola has a market share of 43.1% and Pepsi has a market share of 39.2%.    The target customers for Pepsi customers are mostly teens and young adults between the ages of 12 to 35 who are fast and lively. They have high expectations in life and are very mobile and active. Pepsi promotes itself as the choice of the â€Å"New Generation†.   One of its recent advertisement slogans is â€Å"Taste the one that's forever young ". â€Å"According to the Competitive Advantage model of Porter, a competitive strategy takes offensive or defensive action to create a defendable position in an industry, in order to cope successfully with competitive forces and generate a superior Return on Investment†(competitive advantage Porter).

Visual Pleasure And Narrative Cinema Analysis Film Studies Essay

Visual Pleasure And Narrative Cinema Analysis Film Studies Essay In this paper we are going to discuss the position of Laura Malvey in her work Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. We will also discuss how Mulveys thesis may be convincing in one instance but tested to its limitations in another using two examples. The psychoanalytic interpretation of the position of women viewers gets back to the famous essay by Laura Mulvey Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema, the original thesis of which was that the film form is structured by the unconscious of the patriarchal society and that woman as a spectator is always imposed the rules of a foreign game getting of the male type of pleasure for example, inherently scopophilic pleasure from the examination of the female body. But the issue in this work is not only and not so much about the pleasure itself, but about more serious things how the vision is the instance of identification formation of the subject through the visual practices and how the power is incorporated into the play that is, the question is raised in the work about the ideological effects of the basic cinematic apparatus. Mulvey argued that ideology is involved in forming the subjectivity of the individual at the level of the unconscious and that is how a female spectator, through borrowing the male gaze, takes the ideology of a patriarchal society, which is imposed. Laura Mulvey in Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema explains how the traditional Hollywood film claims the scopophilic view: In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its phantasy on to the female form which is styled accordingly. In their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness. (Malvey, 1975). The woman, demonstrated as a sexual object, acts as a leitmotif of erotic spectacle. The formulated problem in this context may be solved through a strong deconstruction of the vision machine, which constitutes a woman as an image, and a man as an owner of the sight. Mulvey proposes to destroy the voayeristic-scopophilic opinion, consistently destroying cinematic codes that postulate such view. Will this be the solution of the problem? Mulveys emphasis on the analysis of the specific of the cinematographic system, with all its radical and provocative judgements, seems to be legitimate. The real is the question of the discursive mediation properties. However, in general, the psychoanalytic criticism of visual representations may also have a profound methodologic effect. In our work we have to give two examples from visual culture and discuss how Mulveys thesis may be convincing in one instance but tested to its limitations in another. For this discussion I propose to take two films: Rare Window by Alfred Hitchcock and Kill Bill by Quentin Jerome Tarantino. The film Rare Window by Alfred Hitchcock is convicing the thesis of Laura Malvey that Man is the bearer of the look while Woman connotes to-be-looked-at-ness. The main character of this film is put in such conditions that he has to be scopophilic. A photographer Jeffries has broken his leg and now he has to watch everything going on outside through the window. The film reveals to us one of the main needs of men peep through the keyhole, figuratively speaking. It is really impossible to keep away from such a forbidden fruit. And the blame of everything is curiosity, namely it moves the main mechanisms in a man, allowing to forget about other equally important needs (food, rest, sex) and exciting the imagination at a time. In this film everything is concentrated around the man, Jeffries, women are just a background here. In this film we can see many scenes convincing Malveys thesis. Jeff Jeffries (Stewart), a photographer who works in magazine and has broken his leg, is forced to miss in the four walls and have fun just because of peeping into the daily life of the yard, and neighbors with binoculars. Having noticed the suspicious behavior of one of them, he comes to the firm belief that the latter has murdered his wife. Being motionless himself, Jeff enlists the aid of Lisa (Kelly), a quiet blonde working model in the fashion house here she is particularly beautiful. The girl is desperately in love with him and therefore agrees to perform for him a dangerous work down. Of all the works by Hitchcock this is an exercise in scopophilia in which the viewer is nothing left to do but to take part in the process. Its like to stay Hitchcock himself within 112 minutes. Look out the window and see what you should not see says Jeff to the nurse (Ritter), and the viewer looks through the window and sees what the main character sees. A men chained to the chair, staring out the window is one part of the film. The second part shows what he sees, and the third one how he reacts to what he sees. This is the purest expression of the idea of narrative cinema. Another confirmation of Malveys thesis is how Jeffries renews his erotic interest for girlfriend when she enters the other apartment and Jeffries sees her at distance. This is the power from a voyeurism point of view because Jeffries is controlling the visual the spatial and the temporal. In addition the camera movements are dictated by the male hero, Jeffries. Now let us discuss another film, in which Malveys thesis that Man is the bearer of the look while Woman connotes to-be-looked-at-ness in classical Hollywood cinema is tested to its limitations. As an example I would like to take the film Kill Bill by Quentin Tarantino. In this film we see a strong girl who denies Malveys view of women in the Holywood cinema. Having been four years in coma the girl-victim wakes up in the hospital in shock and with the atrophy of muscles, but in a few minutes after waking up she commits a double murder and steals the car of one of her victims. Further, in the course of the movie she can not stop, especially since the recalls, who is responsible for the fact that she has lost her baby, her husband and all the guests at the wedding, where her beating took place. The female character Uma Thurman (the bride) wears little makeup or did her hair in a manner to arouse the male audience through her physical looks. Additonally she hardly smiles on the camera drawing a distinction to the female characters in classical Hollywood cinema. The episode when the bride in cold blood composes a list of five names of her future victims, the main and the latest of which is Bill also deserves a special attantion. Here we see not a classical woman who appears as an erotic object, but a strong, manlike heroine. Further, in the course of the first part the violence over the first two names in the list of death follows. Even in the eyes of the main heroine, the bride, we see a burning, glowing white-hatred and this is the limitation of Malveys thesis that that Man is the bearer of the look while Woman connotes to-be-looked-at-ness in classical Hollywood cinema. The monologues of the character are also uncommon for a classical woman: Look lifeless, right? Well, I am not dead, the fortune smiled at me, thats what I can tell you. It so happened that the last Bills bullet drove me into a coma. In coma I was destined to lie for five years. Then I woke up And immediately I ran, as it is taught by one advertisement, fret and fume. I fumed and raged, and craved, and found blood. In total, until today, I killed 33 people. Only one remained. So, as we can see, the bride is a strong, manlike female character, unusual for the Hollywood cinema. To make a conclusion it should be said that in our work we have discussed the position of Laura Malvey in her work Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. We have also discussed how Mulveys thesis may be convincing in one instance but tested to its limitations in another using two examples. For discussion we took two films: Rare Window by Alfred Hitchcock and Kill Bill by Quentin Jerome Tarantino.

How Big is Your Gun Essay -- Gun Control

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, in 1791, stated â€Å"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.† The controversy soon started on who, what, and how the founding fathers bestowed these rights. Who should be allowed to carry arms? What type of arms should be allowed to bear? How can the people obtain these arms? All of these questions have been debated, discussed, and argued by both sides of the controversy. Who should be allowed to keep and bear arms? Federal law states that one must be eighteen years old or older to purchase a rifle or shotgun, and twenty-one years old or older to purchase a handgun. The pro-gun advocate argues that eighteen to twenty year olds should be allowed to own handguns and sixteen year olds should be allowed to have a rifle or shotgun, while their opponents are arguing that the law should be increased require a rifle or shotgun owner to be twenty-one or older and handgun owner to be at lease twenty four years old. One must also be a legal citizen of the United States, who has not renounced their citizenship, must not use or be addicted to any controlled substances, and must not have been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces to purchase and keep a gun. Noticeably absent are laws prohibiting gun ownership by alcoholics, although it is illegal to possess a gun while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. People for stronger gun control regulati ons argue that alcohol use mixed with guns dramatically increases the risk of accidental shootings. Activists on both sides of the gun control issue are still perfecting their arguments on the legality of gun ownership by pe... ...n years of age as long as they have no knowledge that the buyer is not allowed to own a gun. Gun control activists contend that this loophole puts guns in the hands of thieves, killers, and the mentally ill. Stricter registration laws are also sought after by proponents of gun control, the manufacturer and gun shop are required to register who they sold the gun to, but a sale between two individuals is not required to be registered to any authority. Gun activists see this exchange as free commerce and do not approve of the recommended registration requirements. Whether the path to gun ownership should be a straight shot or an obstacle course will remain an ongoing debate. There are concessions made by both sides of the personal weapon controversy, but there will never be complete agreement on who should be able to own, what type of weapon, or how they got it.

Market Structure in Aircraft Manufacturing

Market structure in the aircraft manufacturing industry The market for commercial passenger aircraft is an oligopoly dominated by Boeing and Airbus. Critically evaluate competitive factors which influence firm growth, new product Development and pricing in the commercial aircraft market. [60%] How is the commercial aircraft market different from the market for personal computers, In terms of market structure, new product design and growth opportunities? [40%] Ensure that you make use of an appropriate economics based theoretical framework Which employs suitable concepts developed in this course, as well as appropriate examples? Oligopoly is a form of market structure known as imperfect competition a) There are a small number of players or firms which have and exercise market power for example supermarkets in the uk. In aircraft manufacturing industry it is even more concentrated there is only two major players namely Airbus and Boeing. Implications are that the importance of a small number of large customers makes it sensible for suppliers to invest heavily in close long term relationships with them. Key account management is essential considering 80% of output is being to 20% of customers. ) Products are differentiated which allows firms to price them differently. c) High capital usage(and large fixed costs)and research and development mean that the optimal firm size is very large, resulting in a small number of sellers(producers/firms). d) Huge impacts of patents and research and development costs, as well as intellectual property rights. e) Economies of scale f) High government regulation(health and safety)recently Air has had a number of problems with Royce Royce engines on the A380 which has led to a number of planes being grounded

Platos Phaedo Essays - Socratic Dialogues, Dialogues Of Plato

Plato's Phaedo Essays - Socratic Dialogues, Dialogues Of Plato Plato's Phaedo In Plato's Phaedo, Socrates is explaining to his friends that the acquiring knowledge comes from a recollection of things from a previous life. Socrates uses this as a way to comfort his friends. Based on this, according to Socrates, if a human being can learn anything, they must have known something about what it is they are learning about. If a human being has known something without having been taught it (in this life), they must have learned it before their birth. If the soul existed prior to birth it stands to reason that it survives death, and thus Socrates' friends have no cause for grief. This prior knowledge is triggered into consciousness by sensory input. Plato is trying to work beyond a two-fold paradox. Namely, if a human being does not know something, they cannot learn it since they know nothing about it. If, on the other hand, a person knows it, they do not need to learn it. When Crito asks Socrates how he wishes to be buried when he dies, this is a mistake because it shows his lack of understanding. Crito's lack of understanding lies in the fact the he doesn't understand how the soul survives the body at death, and in fact Socrates will still in actuality be alive. By making this mistake, according to Socrates, he Crito is harming the soul. If Crito were in understanding of this, he would not have asked Socrates about burying his body, because Socrates is not merely a body, but rather the body is a casing for the spirit and who he is. Socrates does not take Crito's question seriously because to Socrates the body is not the basis of who he is. To Socrates, the fact that his body is going to die does not mean he will be dead. In fact, his soul will go on, be born in a different body, and go back to learning what the soul seeks to know. Socrates wants Crito to know that he will not be burying him, but instead just his body. Socrates is justified in his response to Crito's question because Crito's question goes against everything that Socrates says and stands for. I think that Socrates is upset with Crito for being so ignorant. He shows this by laughing at Crito for his question. He also shows this by telling the others that Crito only sees him as the body he will be burying, rather that the person talking to them. When it came time for Socrates to drink the poison, Crito again shows his lack of understanding by asking Socrates to wait awhile before taking it. Crito wants Socrates to try and enjoy the last bit of life that he can enjoy. Socrates again puts Crito in his place by saying that any human being would do this, but it is not right for Socrates. Socrates does not want to appear ridiculous for clinging to life when there is none left. Overall Socrates is trying to tell human beings that life is nothing more than an opportunity for the soul to learn what it is in search for. The human body is nothing more than an instrument for the soul to use. A person should not fear or run from death, but rather look at it as a chance for the soul to move on to something else and to another chance to learn more based on what was already learned

WRACK TECHNIQUES Essay Example

WRACK TECHNIQUES Essay Example WRACK TECHNIQUES Essay WRACK TECHNIQUES Essay Maps were a symbol of power. Because the secrecy meant they got lost it also shows the reader that discoveries can be lost. In the shifting patterns of time This links to the reoccurring images of SHIFTING SANDS. And WRACK/WRECK/ SHIP. David and Kurt are linked by their mutual quest to discover/ rediscover the shipwreck. Their problems are symbolized by the shifting sands. The image of footprints both as a heading and within narratives suggests evidence -? someone has been there but couples with images of sand show evidence can be lost like the ship/wreck. Again history is inconclusive. USE OF NARRATIVES. There are 3 stories all interwoven Davits search, his current research. This collides with Curts story about his search. The writer uses Curts voice but it represents a problem for the reader as Kurt is articulate when we are told he is in a maze and rambles. We need to decide what is true and accurate. His monologues are reflective narratives and the events took place at least 50 years ago. How true would be the memory of a drug addict We also have to rely on his version of events. Both share similarities in they are emotionally damaged (Tania and Veronica) so the reader discovers and speculates about the nature of relationships. The second story is Davits quest for both the ship and for some contentment in his personal life. His Story is revealed by 3rd person narration . David is tormented by his wifes death and is struggling to find love and friendship with Claire.. The description oftener relationship draws on the language of navigation and discovery. She is seen as undiscovered country p. 2 and David is a battered vessel. The narrator suggests there is no map for love Trust in mass is like trust in love little is what it seems. Both stories suggest on a personal level that the mind is uncharted and difficult to understand. We see Claire working at self-discovery. David too has to navigate through his emotions; his grief to find some middle ground with Claire. The third story is about the age of discovery. This involves comments about maps along with examples some true some not of explorers. All serve to suggest science is not exact and the process of discovery holds many angers. The historical narrative uses a factual and formal language to contrast the richer more poetic language of the 3rd person narrator. All three stories are linked by the theme of discovery and the metaphors and symbols of sand, ghosts and the idea that there are no exact sciences in the process of discovery both concrete and personal. THE SETTINGS Setting and weather e. G. Rain, wind are an important technique in the novel shadowing the emotional state of characters. Curts story is set against the backdrop of World War 2 and fall of Singapore. The chaos of their world was eke the chaos in their personal life. Ironically it was only in midst of this chaos and destruction that Veronica can finally admit her love. It has been suggested Singapore was symbolic because it heralded the fall of the British Empire which in the historical narratives shows white men triumph over indigenous people and rewrite their history and geography. THE BEACH SHACK. Was a perfect location for the isolation Kurt craved for his escape from the world. The dilapidated state of the shack represents the physical and moral decay of Kurt. Claire calls it a sinkhole THE SAND DUNES AND SEA. Symbolism the mysterious and uncertain nature of the past history. The sand and sea suggest shift and change the remote nature of the dunes reinforce the characters isolation and loneliness. The landscape is both beautiful and dangerous as shown by the dead body and the suggestions of landmines during the war years. The very suggestion of a ship wreck shows the dangers present then and now. The sea used for so many journeys can bring wealth, prosperity but can also destroy. Claire takes joy in swimming in the sea. THE UNIVERSITY allows the writer to develop his ideas about the tauter and process of academic discovery and coupled with the historical narratives provides many of the reasons why people embark on discoveries.

Education and Skills in Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Education and Skills in Japan - Essay Example Adult education has also offered to cater for those never had childhood education or those who want to further their informal education. Market offers avenues where the skills acquired through the education system are applied. A balance between education which supply skilled and vocationally-oriented workforce and the market has to be established for viable economy of a country to grow. The future of a country economic growth and development is much dependent on emphasis placed on the education system which supply work force in the market. Education and skills that an individual possesses form the personality and worthiness in the society. The role of education is the social purpose, intellectual purpose, economic purpose and civil/political purpose. The economic purpose reflects that most of those countries with high levels of literacy are the richest countries in the world based on GDP per capita. Market requires education and skills that are able to meet its workforce qualifications successfully. There are usually two approaches i.e. basic scenario and target scenario which if well formulated leads to high levels of employment coupled with high quality jobs for economic growth. Current Market requires individuals who are knowledgeable and well equipped with new sophisticated technologies to offer solutions in the society. The market offers opportunities for employment based on education and skills possessed by an individual but market forces tend to exploit education qualification at the expense of supply and this should be controlled and regulations formulated by government through the ministry of education of different nations to offer terms and conditions for any opportunities that arise in the market. 2 Japan has level of education due to well formulated system after war in the country. The model of education consists of mandatory free basic schooling for children aged 6 to 15 years. Upper secondary not mandatory but about 94% of those who attend lower education enrol and about a 40% of upper secondary graduates make to tertiary education. Today there is high enrolment rate in public institutions leading to high productivity rate in its population. This has led to a mature and learning society with rising incomes, more free time and rise in old population engaged in learning activities. The graph 1.1 below reflects the number of students who advances to high school from the year 1960 to 2001. There is positive growth in percentage from 57.7% in 1960 and tend to stagnate at 95% by the year 2000.3 This indicates high level of retention of students who forms part of 40 % tertiary institutions. Graph 1.2 reflects the gender parity among those who advance to tertiary institutions for the period. Male students dominated female the whole period but it reached at time between 1975 and 1990 when male enrolment decline significantly while that of female kept a positive growth. This led to narrowing the gap from 40.4% male and female 12.5% in 1970 to 46.9% male and 32.7% female in 1990.4 - Source: Asahi Shumbun Newspaper, 2006 Source: Asahi Shumbun Newspaper, 2006 Conclusion Economic prosperity of country heavily relies on education system that produces the work force. Market alone cannot shape the destiny of education and

Perform an analysis of data Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Perform an analysis of data - Research Paper Example From the results, high GRE scores and GPA affect positively the probability of being admitted into graduate school while having been into a high class undergraduate program has no effect on the probability of being admitted into graduate school. The probabilities of admission increase with increase in GRE scores and GPA. The objective of this research study was to evaluate the effect of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, Grade Point Average (GPA) and undergraduate program (whether from high class or low class) enrolled on the probability of being admitted (admitted and not admitted) into graduate school. Admission to graduate schools and colleges in the US depends on GRE scores and GPA among many other considerations. Student personal statements, referees and transcripts also form an important part of considerations during admission. According to Richmond (2006), high GPA and GRE does not mean high probability of admissions but shows how the student is likely to perform as a student and mostly many colleges allow a GPA of 2.5 as the minimum. However, according Barnes (2004), the consideration of GPA and GRE scores depends on the course one is applied for. For example, applying for a medical course one has to have very good scores in science and mathematics. Quantitative research technique was used in this research work as sought to determine the relationship between the dependent variable (admission) and the independent variables (GRE, GPA and undergraduate program). The use of this methodology is evident through the use of structured data collection tool where the 4 aspects are strictly recorded for each participant. According to Godin, G. (1993), the relationship between dependent variable sand independent variables can only be shown through the use of quantitative research approach. Secondary data is used in this research study and is available from http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/dae/logit.dta. This data if of 400 participants collected

Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Project - Assignment Example The constructive discussion with the with the various teams of IT, manufacturing, distribution and marketing helped in the charting out of four probable alternative that can be implemented by the company. The alternatives that are identified ranged from operating as separate business, merging all functionalities, merging nothing at all as well as merging some functionality. After weighing out the advantages and disadvantages associated with the four alternatives, the acquiring company has focused on progressing ahead with the alternative associated with merging of some functionality. By opting for the alternative related to merging some functionality, the acquiring company will have a series of unique advantages. Explaining in a more elaborate manner, it can be said that the acquisition of the soft candy company by the client has already increased as well as diversified their product portfolio. The diverse product portfolio will help the company to market their product to a larger group of target audience, who has a liking for either or both hard and soft candy kind of products. In order to gain the maximum amount of mileage in regards to the expansion of the product portfolio, the client company should focus on implementing a series of strategies. The first strategy is to create demand for the company’s expanded product portfolio through strong advertising. The advertising campaign should focus largely on raising awareness for the new soft candy products as well as developing an overall brand for the company. The second strategy is to separately identify and forecast the demand for hard and soft candy products in the various pockets of the domestic market and then sending estimated amount of products to fulfil the variable demand and thereby eliminate the option of either stock out or accumulation of inventory. This method of identifying and forecasting of product demand in the various pockets of the

Sherlock Holmes Essay Example for Free

Sherlock Holmes Essay Sherlock Holmes emerged in 1893 as a fictional amateur detective. He had solved many cases and was able to find the villain using scientific evidence. When Sherlock Holmes came out into the open, Britain was a corrupt place as the police force was useless and people used to kill and steal just for the sake of it. Jack the Ripper is the best known pseudonym to date from that period. He used to kill women prostitutes from the slums and cut out their throats. He then sent body parts of his victims to the police showing his superiority. People thought of Sherlock Holmes as a hero because they thought he could protect them from paedophiles and murderers even though he was a fictional character. The mastermind to Sherlock Holmes was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He based the super sleuth character on his fellow doctor, Dr Joseph Bell. He, like Holmes, was able to use the power of deduction to find out his patients occupation. Conan Doyle created this transcendent character because he was frustrated with other detective stories. Therefore he created a super human like detective who used scientific evidence to solve his cases unlike coincidence like the other detective stories. This made Sherlock Holmes a huge success story and when Doyle killed off the character, there was a public up roar and death threats were sent to his house. Because of this, Doyle brought back the character and his side kick Watson back from the shadows. Doyle managed to keep his audiences interested in Sherlock Holmes by cleverly making a flawless idea. This was to release different stories every month instead of keeping one story and carrying it one month after month. This was a clever and successful philosophy because Conan Doyle knew that if he stuck to one story then people would lose interest because people who missed an issue wouldnt buy the next one whereas if he made a new story every month then people would still buy the issue every month as they didnt miss anything. This is why it became known as Sherlock Holmes adventures. Sherlock Holmes adventures have a very unique structure. This is because it creates a story with in the story. It starts with the victim coming to Holmes about their problem(s). They then explain to him their problem(s). This is where Doyle creates a story within the story. Next, Holmes investigates and then sets out a plan. He eventually catches the villain. Parts of the structure can often vary. This is shown clearly in the story The man with the twisted lip. Instead of the victim coming to Holmes, they come to Dr Watson; Holmes right hand man. This shows us that Doyle is trying to vary his structure. Another thing is that the victims mostly always seem to be of high class. This is not present in the Red Headed League as Jabez Wilson (The victim) is of lower class. Although he is of lower class and his case is a bit dubious (this is because he suddenly stopped getting à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½4 weekly from his secondary job as it just suddenly disappeared) Holmes was still determined to solve his case. This shows us that Holmes will take on any case no matter who his client is or how silly the problem was. A good quotation to support the matter is the strangest and the most unique things are very often connected not with the smaller crimes. The characters that the stories revolve around vary from story to story. There are only two characters that are present in all the 3 stories that I have read (The Speckled Band, The Red Headed League and The man with the twisted lip). These two characters are the sleuthhound Sherlock Holmes and the wannabe detective Dr Watson. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses characters as a good device by showing the reader and audience that he has used the six rules of a good detective story. * The crime must be significant * The detective must be memorable * The criminal must be a worthy opponent * The clues must be available to the audience * The suspect must appear early in the story * The solution must be reasonable and possible Because of these rules, Holmes appears to be supernatural to the naked eye but if looked at closer you would find that this mind-blowing character has an idiosyncrasy. This is because he smokes on a regular basis and takes drugs etc. The fact that he smokes is shown clearly in the quotation from the Red Headed League Watson, I beg of you leave me for 1 hour. I believe this is a 3 pipe problem This emphasises the amount that he smokes. 3 pipe problem means he will have to smoke three pipes before he will get the answer which implies that it is a very difficult issue. This is because a determined and intellectual person like him doesnt struggle with much. The quotation in the paragraph above also shows us the way Holmes treats Watson. Holmes treats him like a child who doesnt know much. Another quote to back up the matter is My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We are spies in an enemys country. This is when Holmes replies to Watsons question with an unclear answer. It shows us how disrespectful Holmes can be and that Holmes feels that Watson has a lot to learn. Watson plays the role of the narrator and hooks the reader. Another role of his is the foil. He makes Sherlock Holmes look better. You reason it out beautifully. I exclaimed in unfeigned admiration. It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings true. This extract quoted from Watson, admires Holmes professionalism. It also highlights his deductive skills and scientific methods. Another thing Watson does is draw the mission to a satisfactory conclusion. This is also shown in the quote above. Watson always goes with Holmes on day and night trips to offer protection since he has a revolver. This shows his bravery as he offers his life and limbs to protect Holmes and himself. He often goes voluntarily even after Holmes has told him his life may be at risk. This reinforces his indomitability. Villains in Sherlock Holmes stories are always cunning and a good match for Sherlock Holmes. This makes the story more exciting and intoxicating as we dont know if the villain will get away with his crime. The villains are always of high class which makes them harder to track down or suspect as most people wouldnt question them. The villains in Holmes stories vary from classic villains or victims who are the villains. One classic villain is Dr Roylott. He is of high class and and has one of the oldest families in Britain. Another thing is that he is a doctor who has gone sour. This is reflected in the clothes he wears. As he goes to confront Holmes, he wears a black top-hat, a long frock-coat, a pair of high gaiters with a hunting crop swinging in his hands. This shows us that for a high class man, he has no self-esteem and has probably lost his dignity in the process. This definitely makes him a classic villain as he has no alternative but to become a villain to keep what he has left. All of this has an impact on the reader. It makes the reader second look Dr Roylott as they dont think he is a criminal at first but then it makes them look back at that decision and reassess the matter before making a conclusion that Dr Roylott is the villain. After this hectic period, the reader is left on the edge of their seats to find out if he gets away or if Sherlock Holmes and his accomplice catch him in the act. It builds so much tension as they are an even match. It makes the reader want to keep reading to find out what happens. Tension starts to build as soon as Dr Royllott walks in through the door. It has an impact on the reader as they want to know who the strange man is and why he came. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle manages to paint a picture perfect image of the characters into our heads. Doyle does this by using short but powerful adjectives to describe every unique and common feature of their body. He gives the detail over 1 or 2 lines to make it short and snappy. Even though he does this, he is able to paint the picture in our heads to the very last detail. A very stout florid-face elderly gentleman with fiery red hair This quote backs up the fact that the writer uses 1 or 2 lines of detail and is still able to make you imagine what the character looks like. He uses words like fiery which are short and snappy yet effective. It is ideal to describe Mr Wilsons hair colour. Florid is a good word as it lets the sentence flow and is still capable of using it to maximum effectiveness by describing Jabez Wilsons face. Holmes determination is probably the most important part of all Sherlock Holmes adventures. It is shown in all the stories I have read and has helped solve all 3 of the cases. This is because he always perseveres through the tough and easy times. The most iconic out of the 3 stories I read was probably The man with the twisted lip This is because it took him so long to figure out who the criminal was. Instead of turning his back on the case, he persevered and solved the case. He did this with sheer determination. In the end, the criminal was the victim (Neville St Clair). Overall, Sherlock Holmes is a magnificent character. This is because many people thought he was a real person. This shows how good Doyles writing was. Holmes also gave Victorian people hope as many murders and paedophiles lurked the streets. He even was a role model for the police force as trainee police officers were told to read them to show them how to catch criminals. Sherlock Holmes will be remembered for many centuries to come and his scientific way of thinking has been adopted by police forces. He will always be renowned as the greatest fictional and non-fictional detective the world has ever known. Baker Street also has a house where people post messages to Sherlock Holmes as that is where he is believed to have lived.

Impact of Multinational Corporations on Developing Countries

Impact of Multinational Corporations on Developing Countries Introduction For too long, citizens have been content to follow where government and multinational corporations lead. The profit motive has become immune to attack. It is understood that as long as something is profitable for shareholders, nothing else matters enough Occupy Protester CTV Op-ED RT News. The word Multinational is a combined word of Multi and National, which when combined refers to numerous countries. A Multinational Corporation is a corporation that has its facilities and other valuable assets in at least one country, which is other than its parent country. It is a organization or company that both produces and sells services and goods in a multitude of countries. Some MNCs have a budget which is greater than some small sized countries GDPs. [1] Some of the major examples of MNCs today are Nokia, McDonalds, Microsoft, Exon Mobile and BP. One of the initial MNCs was the East India Company (1600 1874), which is an excellent examples of both the benefits and drawbacks of such ventures. On one hand there existed a dynamic profit making entity, on the other existed a company operating on foreign soil, under very little control of the British government, having, operating and running their own private armies, utilizing military power and ultimately taking over administrative functions of India. MNCs have come a long way since then and have seen a sharp increase in the past few decades. The numbers of active MNCs went from being roughly 7,000 in the 1970s to 78,000 in 2006, being responsible for over half the global industrial output. [2] Multinational corporations usually bring with them foreign direct investment, which is direct investment in a country by the company for expanding their existing business base or for buying of raw goods and inputs from them. Multinational corporations were the vital factor in globalization, where local and national governments competed against each other in order to incentives and attract more MNCs and ultimately, investment in their countries. An example of such incentive is the Free Trade Zones, where goods may be manufactured, handled, landed or even exported without any intervention of the local custom authorities. Most of these free trade zones exist in developing countries such as Pakistan, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Brazil and India, as they are eager to attract more foreign investors. [3] Definition of MNC: Economists are not in unanimous agreement as to how best define trans or multinational corporations. Most MNCs are multidimensional and can be viewed from a multitude of perspectives. These include: Ownership, strategy, management and structural. According to Franklin Root (1994), that though some argue that ownership is the key criterion amongst all of the above, a firm truly becomes multinational given its parent company or headquarter is run/owned by nationals of varying countries. Examples that fit this category are Unilever and Shell, which are owned and run by Dutch and British interests. However via this test, very few companies would fall under the banner of being a true Multinational company, rather most are uninational. According to Howard Perlmutter (1969) [4] multinational companies might pursue either world oriented, host country oriented or home country oriented policies. He uses these terms as geocentric, polycentric and ethnocentric, however the last is misleading since it focuses upon ethnicity and race, but most countries are themselves populated by a variety and mix of races, whereas Polycentric means the MNCs operations only take place in a couple of foreign countries. Franklin Root (1994) [5] states that MNC is a parent company which: Shows implementation of strategies of finance, marketing, staffing and production in its business. Has direct and binding control over its affiliates and their policies. Uses those affiliates to conduct foreign production in several countries. Advantages of MNCs Increased Investment: The primary argument in favor of MNCs is that they enable investment into less developed countries which is essential for their growth. According to this argument, there exists a huge gap between the optimal investment levels and the levels of savings in a country. This gap can be minimized via foreign direct investments, i.e. transfer of resources from a foreign source in the form of economic injections. Technological Transfers: Another important aspect is the issue of technological transfer. Any MNC operating in a certain country needs to have an agreement with the host country about its operating guidelines. This can be both beneficial or harmful, depending upon the negotiations. If done right, the MNC would agree to a transfer of technology which would turn out to be very beneficial for the host country, since technological advancements require huge research and development funds that the developing countries just do not have. So it makes sense for them to open up their markets in exchange for a technology that could make them self reliant and self sustaining. Transfer of skills: Like a transfer of technology, MNCs also bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience. Their staff is amongst the best in the world and employees from the less developed countries learn plethora of skills from them, enabling them to train others and have a trickledown effect. Foreign firms pay for and provide world class training to its employees and stimulates intellectual as well as capital growth. Trickle down effects: MNCs, via their broad investments enable linkages backward, forward and horizontally. Not only does the MNC provide a FDI, but it also benefits companies that it collaborates with, such as industries that produce complementary goods. The service industry also benefits via the increase in investment. It creates additional demand and improves infrastructure abilities. Increase in Tax revenue: An increase in tax revenue is also an added benefit, since the host country gets to tax them and includes it in their public revenue. This can be used to finance projects that lead to development of infrastructure, causing economic development. Reduces gap between capital and labor: Less developed countries are also highly labor sensitive. As in the ratio of capital to labor is very low. MNCs employee vast numbers of the local population reducing this gap, creating jobs and employment and revenue means for the populace. There are two effects, direct and indirect. Job creation is direct, while the increased stimulus in demand and supply is the indirect employment effect. Encourages competition: This investment encourages entrepreneurship and breeds a culture of competition, increasing competitiveness amongst local companies, causing them to improve their own goods and services by increasing their efficiency and ultimately quality in order to better compete. Improves Balance of Payments: An added benefit of foreign direct investment is that it helps the Balance of Payments of both, the capital and current accounts, of the host country. Criticism of MNCs: Multinational corporations do control. They control the politicians. They control the media. They control the pattern of consumption, entertainment, thinking. Theyre destroying the planet and laying the foundation for violent outbursts and racial division. Jerry Brown There are two sides to every coin, and this is no different. Critics of MNCs state that the cons far outweigh the pros that MNC involvement brings to host countries. The primary concern for them is the high levels of unmonitored influence these companies have on host countries. Colonialism: MNCs are seen as a offshoot of western colonialism, albeit in a more subtle manner. Far from improving the balance of payments on both the current and capital accounts, critics argue that MNCs worsen it. This they argue happens when the profits are repatriated to their own countries. Though the local governments may come to an agreement that a certain portion of their inputs be bought in the local market, this however may come at a cost with negative impacts upon the less developed countries current accounts. Unmatchable influence: The power, influence and reach of these MNCs have enabled them to have considerable and highly influential affect on the political dynamics of numerous governments and their countries. The MNCs have been known to use this influence to pressurize governments into letting them become more competitive via the implementation of national policies that is conductive to their end goals, which is ultimately a hefty profit. One major drawback of such reforms is a vast decline in any socio-economic reforms. The regulation and responsibilities of states is growing in number as MNCs continue to expand economically and geographically. A set of new difficulties have taken rise as MNCs continue to take over most economic activities. Today, they outnumber states in terms of size and power. General Motors is an outstanding example to explain this phenomenon. The MNC is run at a scale larger than seven nations together. The power it has in terms of economics and politics, allows it to control a huge chunk of the world. Hence, it is worthwhile to note that since the 1990s when there were only 3 MNCs controlling the worlds economies, the number jumped up to 15 within the span of 10 years. Their large investment portfolios make MNCs a powerhouse when it comes to the negotiating table and most developing countries cannot match up to their level, enabling the MNCs to get the upper hand. This leads to them coercing the government into implementing policies that favor their needs at the expense of the local industry and market. Technological fraud: Technological transfer agreements are not always kept, and when kept they are usually skewed in favor of the MNC. Even though most do not agree to a full transparent technological transfer, even if that comes to pass, the technology passed onto the country is usually obsolete in nature or is patented so it would be of little use to the host country on a global scale. Little or No accountability: MNCs comprise of international bodies which function beyond the state authorities, in terms of decision making power and the power they hold over monetary assets. Though this legitimate challenge has been out there for thirty years now, yet only slight developments have been noted in terms of accountability. The old-fashioned regulatory body and the MNCs significant economic and political power have resulted in a clash which makes the regulation of states turn into a major problem. The MNC has surpassed the national legal structures and disregarded the delicate international bodies, increasing the already existing burden of fulfilling the basic norms of human rights. Undermine Social and Economic Rights: The MNCs dominant and significant position within the international forum increases its opposing competencies. MNCs can easily promote or undermine economic and social rights, which can in turn affect the international community, positively or negatively, depending on the local market of an economy. Though the State still holds much power over the laws and regulations on an international level, MNCs have a considerable impact over the decision making process of nation-states. As MNCs continue to grow economically and politically, the shift in power is gradually becoming visible. It is a must that the MNCs take into consideration the impact that they are leaving in developing countries. As MNCs continue to grow, their interference in the public domain also continues to increase. Their interference, leads to social and economic hazards for the public, i.e., the shareholders, employees, consumers and local populations. There is increasing support that calls for a more rigid and stricter regulation of the responsibilities of MNCs within their new assumed role. The world order is determined via deregulations of economics in nature and the lessening of government responsibilities when it comes to the public domain. This new reality has highlighted the growing need for regulation, as the influencing powers of various private organizations is increasing. This needs to be done in order to manage policies and reduce the gap. This extends to the customarily governmental realm of political and social policy, which are areas in which the Multinational Companies hold particular sway. Their contribution, be it positive or negative, will affect the economies, accordingly. Hence, a positive outlook on their part is a necessity if economic, cultural and social rights are to be promoted in this growing world of evils. Stifles Competition: The superiority of MNCs shines through their competitive nature as the stifle competition by getting subsidized inputs, lowering their costs and then competes with local manufacturers who cannot realistically match up to their prices. This results in a lot of them leaving the field, leaving the MNCs to monopolies the economy and then once in power, to jack up prices. Although FDI is supposed to foster growth, with the inclusion of MNCs it might lead to a loss of jobs as more businesses are put out of work. Although host countries require foreign investors to have a fix percent of local workers, this requirement is on the decline due to WTOs agreement on Trade Related measures on investment. Unmatched budgets: An offshoot of their influence on the government, the MNCs also have a huge advertising budget, which enables them to portray a much better image in the eyes of the local populace. With budgets that run in the millions, MNCs almost always succeed in gaining mass market shares of their products since the local companies cannot produce/hire production companies to do the same. This again alienates the local entrepreneurs and makes it harder for the majority of the population. Human Right abuses: The Multinational Corporation is an adaptable and established entity that profits from the principles of neo-liberal economics, as well as the predicament of the home and host state, the combination of which with restricted levels of liability and a decentralized decision-making hierarchy allows for abuses of human rights to take place internationally, by having doubt standards. Moreover, polices of MNCs such as the WTO, OECD, IMF and the World Bank, have enabled MNCs to gain a position of considerable influence on agendas of social and economic nature. In this never ending race to be the most economical, one major aspect that has not been given much due consideration is linked to the capacity that a state has to meet the terms and conditions of different forms of human rights obligations, i.e. economic, cultural and social rights. In order to meet this challenge, IMF and the World Bank have imposed economic reforms that allow production of goods and services to be worth exporting along with being deregulated and privatized. Foreign investment has become a must. Today, all states are inclined towards easing labor standards and modifying legal taxes to attract foreign investors. This inclination of states, in turn has led to a major destruction of human rights principles and the capability of states to self-sufficiently regulate their progress. Cooperation is required not only on an international level but also from non-state actors to safeguard rudimentary societal and financial privileges. As nations continue to fight over sovereig nty and the power shift continues to impact human rights negatively, the international legal structure is fast becoming inadequate to regulate and control the growth of influential non-state players, i.e. MNCs. Environmental impacts: Economic globalization has had quite a destructive impact on state regulation. People have been affected negatively and gradually the impact is increasing and becoming more obvious. The more competitive a nation, the lesser the regulations. Though this tactic is almost perfect in attracting multinational corporations, it is quite destructive in nature. In order to compete with such nations, other states are also forced to decrease their regulatory measures if they wish to get foreigners to invest in their country. No nation wishes to reduce its competitiveness or power. Foreign investors are now consuming the money that should have been legally invested in maintains the rights of the public socially, economically and culturally. Hence, MNCs are free from any legal obligations which may bind them and put a stop to the activities which are prone to destruct the communities that are subjected to the MNCs treatment. Moving Forward: With the growing economic power of corporations, an increasing number of domestic and international systems have started relinquishing control over their business over to their locally dominant MNCs. This leads to economic power having a say over political influence, which can be dangerous if left unchecked. The MNCs have complete power over national development, i.e. on matters such as trade, patent and monetary strategies. While regimes remain divided due to contradictory interests (effectiveness versus social modification), MNCs have a terse, vibrant and single-minded aim of creating as much profit as possible à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" profit which allows them to control all parties a national and international level. The abuse faced by developing countries at the hands of MNCs has now become almost unbearable. The international financial structure that accentuates the free market way of thinking, denationalization and a decrease in the involvement of the public sector is thwarting many developing and underdeveloped countries from sanctioning a fair and reasonable progress, on the basis of human rights. MNCs have uncountable funds, are only inclined to maximize profit, use the least amount of employees possible, jump from nation to nation without much consideration , import employees rather than using the local labor, and refuse to acknowledge the social requirements of the state they operate in. All these activities directly impact the socio-economic rights of the public. As a consequence of these elements and several other international monetary problems such as inadequate technology transmission, absence of external investment and the brain drain, various developing countries need guidelines in order to react efficiently to the circumstances. [6] There is a growing mistrust and anger developing in the developing countries where the economic and environmental impacts have started to show. Conclusion: I was initially recruited while I was in business school back in the late sixties by the National Security Agency, the nations largest and least understood spy organization; but ultimately I worked for private corporations. John Perkins In his book, Confessions of an Economic Hitman (2004) [7] , John Perkins states how he was hired by such organizations to coerce leaders of developing countries to take high levels of un payable loans in favor of a quick short time gain. He states that by doing so, the country would eventually default or ask for more time, upon which these multinationals would sweep in and monopolize the markets. This practice, he emphasized was being carried out globally and under the guise of various fronts. The public must be made aware of such fraudulent activities and they should demand an end to such exploitations. A few sweeping observations can be made. With trade and investment barriers on the verge of being dissolute globally, the penetration of MNCs across the globe, especially in developing markets is bound to increase. This would lead them into further clawing their way into the inner workings of weak governments and increase their socio-politico-cultural influences. With numerous MNCs merging, they are increasing their powers and would be harder to resist. Foreign direct investments has its pros and cons. However they should not be ignored for fear of their adverse effects. Instead policies should be made to better utilize them as the host country sees fit. Foreign capital is one of the primary catalyst of encouraging development, but it should never been treated as an alternate to domestic investments, but rather a helping supplement. Developing countries need to develop more indigenous industries that are capable of competing on a global scale, in a market full of MNCs. This cannot be done if local industries are considered infant industries and given subsidies so they could play safe, rather they should be forced to compete with the best of them, which would enable them to increase their efficiency. Less developed countries should focus internally and improve basic areas, so as to better compete against mega organizations and prevent them from dominating the market. This can only be done if they are made to come to economies of scale and plan on operating on a global scale, rather within the confines of a few local markets. [8] Multinational Companies are a reality and they are here to stay for the forseeable future. It is time for countries which have been exploited to start making changes and amend their ways for the better and the sooner the better.

Contemporary Rural America Captured in Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of

Contemporary Rural America Captured in Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Most Americans probably believe our times are different from Washington Irving’s era. After all, almost 200 years have passed, and the differences in technology and civil liberties alone are huge. However, these dissimilarities seem merely surface ones. When reading â€Å"Rip Van Winkle† and â€Å"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,† I find that the world Irving creates in each story is very familiar to the one in which I grew up. The players may have changed, and institutions have mostly replaced roles traditionally taken on by people, but the overall pieces still fit the rural lifestyle of contemporary America. Perhaps the biggest variation from life in these stories and life today in the small town concerns the role of the Van Tassels. As the prominent family in Sleepy Hollow, they serve as the social center. Baltus Van Tassel has more the air of an English country squire during harvest time than he does an American farmer. He is hearty, down to earth, and full of largesse (â€Å"Sleepy Hollow† 549, 556-557). The â€Å"’quilting frolic’† (553) is really a potluck dance. This type of community gathering continued throughout American history in rural areas. We have barn-raisings, fall festivals, holiday celebrations. However, the nature of the gatherings has changed in that the role of the prominent family now goes to the city or civic groups (such as a church). Rural America still has wealthy families and farmers, but rarely do they open their homes to the community for dancing and potlucks. The closest we still see of this is the ranch barbeque , but the outside nature makes it far less intimate. In my experience, these events are... ...ture of King George in â€Å"Rip Van Winkle.† Rip returns to his village twenty years after he left and realizes that someone has transformed the King into George Washington (541). Irving, realizing that much of life is merely a refashioning of the same ideas and structures into something that looks new, has taken an old German folk tale and turned it into a story of American life. We may live in a time with vastly different resources, technologies, and opportunities, but the urges that drive us are still the same. Works Cited Irving, Washington. â€Å"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.† The American Tradition in Literature. Vol 1. Eds. George Perkins, et al. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990: 544-563. 2 vols. ---. â€Å"Rip Van Winkle.† The American Tradition in Literature. Vol 1. Eds. George Perkins, et al. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990: 533-544. 2 vols.