Saturday, August 31, 2019

External and Internal Environmental Analysis Essay

External and internal environmental analysis is a critical component for an organization seeking to achieve its goals. The follow information within this paper presents a complete external environmental and an internal competitive environmental scan for JetBlue Airways. The information provided identifies and analyzes the most important external environmental factor in the remote, industry, and external operating environments. When addressing external environment it speaks to a set of forces and conditions outside the organization that can influence its performance. The most common forces include political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (or PESTEL). The paper will further identify and analyze the key internal strengths and weaknesses of JetBlue Airways. When addressing the internal environment it speaks to the key factors and forces within the organization affecting its operation. The internal strength and weaknesses will cover an assessment of the JetBlue Airway’s resources, their competitive position and possibilities within. Lastly the following will analyze the structure of JetBlue and how this affects organizational performance. External Environmental Factors For JetBlue external environmental factors cover political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal. The most important external environmental factors in the remote, industry, and external operating environment of JetBlue can be expanded through opportunities and threats. Opportunities encompass expansion, such as increasing routes and destinations within the U.S. Global expansion falls within expansion as well, while JetBlue has many successful partnerships with international airlines there is further potential abroad. Threats include fuel costs, advanced technology, and government relations. Fuel costs and advanced technology are almost synonymous. The increasing price of fuel in turn  increases operational costs. Advanced technology is a key factor in this space as well given new planes for example, have the technology to utilize less fuel in flight. Governmental regulations and legalities are another key threat for JetBlue. Airline regulations can increase expenses and potentially create inefficiency in operations in order to meet regulation requirements. Additionally, restrictions related to international trade, tax policy, and competition can thwart expansion efforts. Internal Strengths and Weaknesses JetBlue is a pro at utilizing its resources and structure. As such, JetBlue has proven to be efficient in its internal environment. Out of the physical and human aspects of the internal environment JetBlue focuses on human as the key factor. JetBlue views its employees and their skills as the key to a successful structure by emphasizing elements of loyalty, satisfaction, service quality, productivity, capability, and output quality. JetBlue reflects a culture of employees that understand how to retain customers and can perform under various situations with an equally varied consumer base. In addition to human capital, JetBlue uses physical assets to set them apart from the rest. The airline fleet of JetBlue is very precisely selected. From its new Airbus A321 to its Airbus 320, JetBlue prides itself on comfort and luxury. Other perks offered by JetBlue include lower priced airfare compared to that of its competitors and in-flight entertainment options that succeed its competition. Internal weaknesses include a smaller base of destinations compared to its competitors, which could be viewed as a product of their smaller planes and perhaps weaker brand recognition given its newness in the airline market. The weakness can be strengthened with expanding their location/market base. Competitive Position Major players in the U.S. airline industry include Delta Air Lines, United Continental, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue Airways. In 2013 many consolidations reduced the number of top players, such as U.S. Airways with American West, Northwest with Delta, United with Continental, AirTrans with Southwest, and American with U.S. Airways. Those carries, including JetBlue and Alaska, account for more than 90% of the U.S. market share (Cederholm, 2013). With the number of competitors in times of low or  moderate industry growth, the competition increases as each one tries to woo the consumer base. JetBlue is still the new kid so it is hard to say if its resources are inimitable. JetBlue’s low cost operations are interrelated to other activities in the organization like human resource management and technology development. If JetBlue were to reinforce competencies, with its efficient low-cost operations, it can find a sustainable competitive advantage making it a non-imitable organization. JetBlue’s competitive advantage is built off of differentiation and cost leadership. Differentiation comes with a strong brand image. JetBlue provides this image through its customer service and various in-flight features such as increased legroom and entertainment options per seat. JetBlue achieves cost leadership through efficient operations. JetBlue’s new planes minimize fuel costs and increases revenue per flight. Not offering in flight meals allows for quick turnarounds and overall reduced costs. The differentiation strategy and its features do risk ease of imitation or differentiate ones brand past the point of consumer support. If JetBlue continues to employ a combination of these strategies it will have an increased approach in outperforming its rivals. Superior performance will come through combined low-cost services with a differentiated offering as JetBlue does. As JetBlue moves onward, the extent to which it can maintain the integration of low-cost and differentiation will determine whether its competitive advantage is sustainable. Structure The structure of JetBlue is likely very simple compared to its counterparts. The highest of quality in customer service, one style of plane, a focus on environment, all this reflects its culture. With the human aspect being their highest priority they put a lot of thought into how they hire, train, set expectations, and monitor their employee base. JetBlue trains employees, provides compensation (likely more giving than the competitors), and equally provides empowerment among its employee base. JetBlue Airways seeks to hire and train great people (human focus), develop purpose, vision, and values. JetBlue operates on a strong organizational culture, where one listens to its customers and employees, cultivates leadership, and provided incentive. Summary The airline industry is exposed to upturns and downturns with economy trends. With that a growing economy creates a greater demand for air travel, whereas a decrease in the economy means reduced demand and intensified competition. JetBlue has managed to maintain a quality brand as a newer airline, in the face of some significant challenges, such as the tragedy of 9/11. JetBlue Airways new planes, competitively low fares, non-unionized labor, thus far an effective business model, and strong emphasis on the human element, it remains to provide a foothold in them market as a solid competitor regardless of its external threats and internal weaknesses. References Cederholm, T. (2013, September 3). Overview: External factors that influence the airline industry. Retrieved May 31, 2015, from http://marketrealist.com/2014/09/must-know-external-factors-influencing-airline-industry/ JetBlue | Airline Tickets, Flights, and Airfare. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25, 2015, from http://www.jetblue.com

Friday, August 30, 2019

Flaws in Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” Essay

Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is by any means a classic. However, there are several flaws. First of all the coincidence that everything happens with in my mind detracts some from the story. The other major problem is that the book seems to drag on and on the closer you get to the end, as if Twain had a page quota to fill and was not worried about the story. The other problem brought up on our hand-out was Huck’s lack of seriousness in what was a very serious situation for Jim. As for the coincidence part, it appears most obviously as you read towards the end. For example Huck ends up at Aunt Polly’s, and I was thinking, yeah†¦ right those chances are about one in a million. And then after Huck tells Aunt Polly that he is Tom, Tom shows up†¦ uh-huh, I bet. It is things such as those I just mentioned that make it very difficult for me to read a book without becoming frustrated. It is probably because I am used to real life and like it or not real life is just not that perfect. My other gripe was that Twain seems to ramble on and on and on an†¦.. To me it seems as if the story that he was writing became faint shortly after the time when Huck says, â€Å"It’s me. George Jackson, sir†(pg. 95). I do have to give him that the feud was interesting filler, but you can only take so much filler. Then when John Wayne (The Duke) and Elvis (The King) come along there seem to be four or five stops along the river that except for one little detail, are the same. Please excuse the jump back, but how coincidental is it that you have a Duke and a King on the same raft in the middle of the Mississippi river (yes I do know they are not really royalty but that does not matter)? Even during all of this complaining I have done I did find humor in such things as when Huck was observing some local â€Å"loafers† and their discussions about borrowing and lending chewing tobacco. â€Å"Here, gimme back the chaw and you take the plug. † (pg. 138). I can just picture four or five guys laying around chewing tobacco with spit/tobacco juice running down their chins, probably in dirty overalls with no shirts on underneath and boots, to complete the look, three or four days of beard waiting to be shaved, and oh yeah, a nice old straw hat. The picture of this I have in my head is just so vivid that it disgusts me now. I think that is one of the reasons this is such a great book, the imagery. The final thing mentioned was Huck’s lack of seriousness or that he was too humorous or too wrapped up in fantasy for the situation both he and Jim were in. Here as opposed to the things I attacked above I will have to be on the side of the defense. My foremost reason is that I do not think Huck realizes the seriousness of the predicament. Huck is a boy that lives in Hannibal, MO during the times of the Civil War, he probably does not know any other ways to deal with anyone who is a slave or is trying to escape. Put yourself in his shoes once and think of the trouble you might have. Then think how you would deal with these problems. Would it be in the way many kids do, with a bit of fun to try to alleviate some of the tension? Take the time when Jim thinks Huck is dead and he shows up scaring Jim to the point of carrying out a conversation with a â€Å"ghost†. Jim says † I alwuz liked dead people, en done all I could for ? em†¦ â€Å"(pg. 40). Read that section over and see if it does not seem to be in good taste, if you can call anything done by Huck â€Å"tasteful†. I think it does. My final task is to come up with a new ending. I think my ending goes like this: Huck and Jim find the mouth of the Ohio river as planned and venture upstream by any means available. As they continue up the river the bond between the two runaways becomes ever stronger. When they reach the free states and Jim is officially free. After waiting around a while the two begin to get money in any way they can. When it is enough Jim buys his wife and children out of slavery, and Huck takes a cut (not too much, just enough to get home). Once home Huck starts all over with his ever interesting plots (not without the help of Tom Sawyer). Time passes and over the years Huck misses Jim and eventually embarks on a quest. The quest to find Jim. This journey would be much like the journey he and Jim took just a few years ago. This time though, there is no John Wayne and Elvis to make the story drawn out and boring towards the end. Then Huck finds Jim, meets the wife and kids, and goes back home to lead a normal (or as normal as can be) life working as little as possible and living off his $6000.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Pokka Corp

February 1957 Established Nikka Lemon Co. , Ltd. for the production and distribution of lemon beverages. October 1963 Built Nagoya factory in Kitanagoya-city, Aichi Prefecture. April 1966 Changed corporate name to Pokka Lemon Co. , Ltd. May 1972 Commenced production and distribution of canned coffee, POKKA COFFEE. November 1973 Developed and promoted vending machines, separate machines for hot and cold drinks. January 1977 Established Pokka Corporation (Singapore) Ltd. September 1980 Commenced production of canned soup to enter soup business March 1982 Changed corporate name to Pokka Corporation. December 1984 Built central laboratory and Nagoya distribution center in Kitanagoya-city, Aichi prefecture. June 1985 Listed on Second Section of Nagoya Stock Exchange (NSE). July 1987 Listed on Second Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) February 1988 Built Toyota factory, far-infrared roasting factory for coffee, in Nishinakayama-cho, Toyota-city, Aichi Prefecture. April 1988 Listed on First Sections of TSE and NSE. February 1991 Built Gunma factory and distribution center in Isesaki-city, Gunma Prefecture. September 1993 Pokka Corporation(Singapore)Ltd. established Pokka Ace(M)Sdn. Bhd. October 1994 Established Pokka Create Co. Ltd. to start managing coffee shops and restaurants February 1996 Succeeded in developing de-oxygenating method; released first canned coffee produced using the method. December 1996 Acquired Foremost Blue Seal Ltd. in Okinawa December 2005 Implemented MBO and de-listed from TSE and NSE,to achieve further growth of the company and increase its corporate va lue. January 2008 Formed a capital and business alliance with Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd. September 2009 Formed a capital and business alliance with Sapporo Holdings Ltd. ——————————————————————————–

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Discuss the extent to which economic integration within the EU has Essay - 2

Discuss the extent to which economic integration within the EU has been subordinated to the achievement of political objectives - Essay Example The success of Coal and Steel Treaty led to the Treaty of Rome where the European Economic Community (EEC) or ‘common market’ as it was commonly known, created a freeway through which people, goods and services could freely move across the international borders (Europa, n.d.). It was a landmark decision as now people within EEC countries could move without passport and custom duties will not be levied on goods and services, even farmers were paid the same across the Community, giving a joint control over the production of agricultural products. The only drawback was the surplus production. The problem arose with different currencies prevailing in different countries, and for an economic stability the requirement for a single currency was increasingly felt. In the year 1973 Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom also joined European Community (EC). In 1992, The Treaty on European Union is signed in Maastricht, which has been a major EU milestone as it set clear rules for the future regarding single currency, foreign and security policy as well as closer cooperation in justice and home affairs. Under the treaty, the name ‘European Union’ (EU) officially replaced that of ‘European Community’. In the year 1999, the Euro (the common currency) was officially introduced in 12 countries namely Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland adopted Euro as their currency while Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom decided not to take it up as of, for then. As their foreign and security policy, the EU takes on peace-keeping operations by replacing NATO units in the Balkans, Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and then in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was a strategic victory of their combined military power. Slowly and gradually EU was becoming a formidable force to reckon with. On December 2007 the Treaty of Lisbon was signed to amend all previous

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Same sex mariage Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Same sex mariage - Research Paper Example Marriage is an essential part of the life of any person. Some of the main reasons why people marry each other include the need for financial stability, emotional understanding, the need for love, and a birth of children. Out of all these factors, emotional understanding holds the central place in maintaining a perfect marital relationship. Love and care are also the key factors that play a valuable role in creating and maintaining affectionate feelings in the minds of people. Although same sex marriages are not considered acceptable among religious and social groups in many parts of the world, this concept has found its base in many countries. For example, if we talk about the United States of America, we can say that the government believes in an individual freedom. Although the common belief is that marriage is a sacred relationship, which involves individuals from opposite genders, the concept of existence of such relationships between the members of the same genders has also star ted to influence the minds of many critics of same-sex marriages. It is due to this fact that the government of the United States has legalized same-sex marriages in many states. Some of those states include Massachusetts, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, and Connecticut (Doskow n.pag.). The courts of these states have declared that marriage is a basic human right, and gays and lesbians are also entitled to gain the benefits of this right (Cahill 4). Here, an important and recent development in this regard is that the French government has also legitimized same sex marriages a couple of days ago. â€Å"France has become the 14th country to legalise same-sex marriage† (Chrisafis 1). However, the truth is that although the government has legalized same-sex marriages, but the majority of the US population does not regard the living status of same-sex couples. They do not consider same-sex marriages good for the society. Let us now discuss some of the main issues relate d to the same-sex marriage. One of the main issues that homosexual couples usually face is criticism from the supporters of traditional family systems. The supporters of traditional family systems believe that a proper family is essential for the existence and development of a society. They believe that men are made for women and women for men, and that only the members of opposite genders can form and run a family system. They think that lesbian and gay couples deteriorate the foundations of the family system, because they can neither completely fulfill the sexual desires of each other nor they can give birth to babies, which is essential for the development of a society. They also say that same-sex marriages result in decreasing the available work force for a country because of their inability to produce children. Another issue that same sex couples face is the discouraging behavior of other members of the society. Generally, people do not encourage same sex marriages because they think that people do same-sex marriages just to fulfill their illegal sexual desires instead of making a sacred relationship. This is the reason why most of the people dislike same-sex marriages and raise a voice against them. The result is not good for same-sex couples because they cannot live freely in the society. They also undergo a hard struggle in order to find a respectable place in the society. Religious institutions also promote marriages between the members of op

Monday, August 26, 2019

Employee Relations concepts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Employee Relations concepts - Essay Example The grievance redressal procedure of an organization enables employees to air their dissatisfaction. It is important that organization has an effective grievance redressal system. This helps the organization to solve problems at the level of an individual rather than have them result in industrial unrest. Keeping track of employee grievances also helps an organization check its policies and procedures to avoid similar problems in the future and at the same time maintain good and relations with its employees. Grievances can arise out of the day-to-day working relations in an undertaking. Relations with supervisors and other colleagues also determine employee's job satisfaction. According to the National Commission on Labour, "the complaints affecting one or more individual workers in respect of their wage payments, overtime, leave, transfer, promotion, seniority, work assignment and discharge would constitute grievances." Such grievances, if not dealt with immediately and in accordance with a procedure that secures the respect of all parties, can result in climate of industrial conflict. In the absence of a grievance redressal system, an employee could either keep his dissatisfaction to himself or share it with his colleagues. ... Denial of leave, overtime or other benefits. Grievance Redressal Procedure - The Need There are a number of advantages that accrue to an organization because of its grievance redressal procedure. In the absence of a grievance redressal system, an employee could either keep his dissatisfaction to himself or share it with his colleagues. If an employee has not means of expressing his dissatisfaction, he will get frustrated and this would affect his performance. If he chooses to share his grievances with his colleagues, it could lead to unpleasantness and an unhealthy work environment. It might even lead to industrial unrest. If the settlement of the grievance at the first level does not satisfy the employee, he can approach the next level. The employee is given more than one opportunity in an effective redressal procedure. Grievance procedures keep a check on arbitrary actions. As a result, supervisors usually do not indulge in biased decisions. They are apprehensive of the employees approaching higher levels of management in order to redress their grievances. Grievance procedures help in upward communication. Employees are free to express their discontentment, problems or frustrations to the top management. By this, the top management becomes increasingly aware of the problems of the employees. Previous knowledge and experience, captured in the grievance redressal system, helps the management when formulating major plans like plant expansion or installation of latest technology. The management can take into consideration the problems that may be encountered by the employees. A good grievance redressal system helps to maintain harmonious industrial relations as employee grievances are settled before they turn into industrial conflicts. Trade

Working in teams and creating successful team dynamics Essay

Working in teams and creating successful team dynamics - Essay Example The aim of the paper is to examine the role of team dynamics in organizational effectiveness and analyze the factors which help the companies to create food working environment for their teams. Today, managers recognize the importance of teams dynamic in influencing behaviour at work. The concept of the organisation as a socio-technical system is concerned with the interactions between the psychological and social factors, as well as structural and technical requirements. Again, it may be remembered that technological change in the coal-mining industry had brought about changes in the social teamings of the miners (Campbell, 1997). Another important aspect if successful team dynamics is that team members in an organization will have one or more goals in common, such as to produce or market a product. Communication is essential within each team and members of a team have roles to play in order to achieve the team task. Expected behaviour patterns are developed within each team and these are referred to as norms. Any deviation from norms will bring team pressure to force a return to the 'norm'. Too low or too high an output as compared with the 'norm' may mean admonishment by team members. For instance, Apple Computer Corporation is a goof example of successful team dynamics: "Apple's management style was relatively in1ormal for a Fortune 100 company. As one employee in Finance said, "Things are done by committees, meetings, consensus. We have very few policies, systems, or controls. What we do is get a team of experts together and make a decision." (Gibbs, Beer, 1991) Distinctions have been made between formal and informal teamings. A teams team consists of carefully selected members who have skills and attributes that can assist the reaching of a desired goal. It will have a leader, subordinates, a location and a task to accomplish - for example, a planning committee. New methods of working disrupted the integration of small self-selecting teams of assembly line worker in Ford Motor Company who worked together as independent teams. The change had undesirable social effects and as a result the new method did not prove as economically beneficial as it should have done with the new technology. The result was a 'composite' method of working with more responsibility taken by the team as a whole. The composite method proved to be not only more rewarding socially to the workers but also more efficient economically than the previous new method of working (Sterman, 2000). To be able to create a good working environment, managers must be aware of certain aspects of team dynamics. Norms can be very influential in encouraging high or low productivity of members of the team. One method of increasing the dynamic in a team is to give members more say in the selection of persons they will be working with. Interview questions for employees: 1. Do like teamwork or prefer to work independently 2. Can you quickly see advantages and new opportunities 3. Is it easy for you to work in a diverse team 4. Is it important for you to be a leader of a team 5. Do you often influencing people without pressuring them 6. Can you work under pressure 7. What is your role in a team (now, previously) 8. What is you characteristic approach to teamwork 9. What is the best method of conflict resolution for you Explain. 10. When do you gain work satisfaction Explain. 11.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Knowledge is generated through the interaction of critical and Coursework

Knowledge is generated through the interaction of critical and creative thinking. Evaluate this statement in two areas of knowledge - Coursework Example It is this process of creating and examining ideas that validates knowledge. It is, therefore, essential to discuss the works of certain philosophers in order to prop the main argument. Thereafter, daily life instances can be evaluated to bring to light the link between creative thinking and knowledge. The two fields of knowledge that would come into consideration are mathematics and ethics. To begin with, Rene Descartes epistemological theory comes into practice. In his discourse theory, Descartes strives to arrive at true knowledge. True knowledge, in this instance, suggests knowledge that cannot be subjected to any skepticism. To begin with his discourse, he subjects all previous knowledge to doubt (Timmons and Shoemaker 284). Thereafter, he strives to affirm whether such knowledge is credible. Skepticism forms an indispensable core of critical thinking. Rene Descartes finds that almost all of preexisting knowledge, with exception of mathematical principles, is liable to doubt (Timmons and Shoemaker 284). He arrives at one single idea that the only thing he cannot question its existence is his very existence. The argument he relays for the proof of his existence is the idea that he thinks. This is because doubt is a form of thought and, therefore, the doubting being is him. The only knowledge that is free from doubt is that he thinks. According to him, thinking becom es the item of which he is immediately aware. Apart from this argument, Rene Descartes proved the shortcoming of senses in finding and examining knowledge. In proof of his claim, he uses the example of wax to illustrate the unreliability of senses as a guide to knowledge. He considers characteristics like color, texture and smell to be deceiving. When he watches wax from various directions, he records different data about it. He dismisses senses as to rely on sensations to achieve their effect. Sensations are pre-established notions about the appearance of objects. He, then, asserts

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Naccobus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Naccobus - Essay Example The sources will be picked from the list that has been used in the provided study. Each source will be analyzed separately and the reason why it was important to use it will also be given and how it helped in making the paper complete. Sher is this is one of the most important sources that have been used in this study. This source has been used throughout the study to provide concrete information on Nacobbus. Sher gives the required information about the Genus Nacobbus (222-227). According to this source the genus contains only two valid species which are indicated to be the Nacobbus dorsalis and N. aberrans. This source goes ahead to state where these two species are normally found. It indicates that N. aberrans is normally an important parasite of various vegetables like beans, chili, tomatoes and pepper. Further into the study, Sher has been extensively used to give information on variability that has been seen in Nacobbus (222-227). The source has been used to give information on morphological characteristic of N. aberrans. It reveals the various ranges of morphometrics of N. aberrans from various geographical locations in the world, thereby helping in understanding the various characteristics of the organism being studied. The reason why Sher is considered one of the important sources that has been used is the amount of information that has been obtained from this source on the characteristics and morphology of N. aberrans. The second source that has been considered among the 10 most important sources in this study is Thorne (1949). Thorne is talking about the new classification of the Tylenchida. It is one the proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington. This source has been used to give information on various discoveries that were made on Nacobbus in different regions of the world. The source has been used to give information on taxonomy of Nacobbus (Thorne 57).

Friday, August 23, 2019

Why do language users sometimes use figures of speech Essay

Why do language users sometimes use figures of speech - Essay Example In such cases, figures of speech help avoiding problems or conflicts of various forms. However, the use of figures of speech is not always justified – or desired. Under such terms, their engagement needs to be clearly and adequately explained. In the field of psychology, the science that deals with the evaluation of human behaviour, a series of theoretical models and approaches has been developed in regard to the use of figures of speech in daily human activities. These theories are presented in current paper aiming to explain the reasons for which language users prefer the figures of speech. The psychological and conversation analytic research frameworks are used for developing the above task. It is concluded that the use of speech is often unavoidable; however, the circumstances of their use need to be evaluated each time taking into consideration the actual social conditions but also the personal characteristics and perceptions of the language user. The potential use of fig ures of speech with no particular goal, just as a common practice (habit) should be also taken into consideration when examining their role in conversations developed daily across various human activities. In any case, the use of figures of speech cannot be considered as having the power to cause turbulences or oppositions; on the contrary, it is more likely to have a positive influence in regard to the limitation of social conflicts. This aspect of figures of speech is strongly emphasized in the literature published in the particular field – as these studies are analytically presented below. The findings of empirical research developed in this area have been also employed in this study aiming to offer a clearer view on the issues under discussion. 2. Metaphors – role and forms Theorists and researchers have used different approaches in order to explain the role and the functions of metaphors in everyday language. In order to understand and appropriately evaluate these views, it would be necessary to refer primarily to the context of metaphor in general, i.e. to describe its characteristics as a figure of speech. Lakoff and Johnson note that ‘the essence of metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another’ (Lakoff and Johnson 5). The flexibility of metaphors, i.e. their characteristic to be open to different interpretations has been considered as one of the main reasons for their extensive study by theorists and researchers worldwide (Lakoff and Johnson 1980, 103). On the other hand, the following question might appear: why metaphors are so important for the academic research? In fact, there are many different figures of speech, which could be available for analysis, but only metaphors have been examined in detailed making also use of concepts applicable on other sciences – such as the cognitive discourse analysis used for the development of academic research. The answer to the above question wo uld be as follows: a metaphor is not a common figure of speech; it can be used ‘both in poetry and the everyday communication’ (Bowdle and Gentner 193); moreover, it can reveal the personal views/ perceptions of the person involved in its interpretation, a fact which is valuable in the psychological research field. In accordance with Kock (2010) metaphors are likely to highly appear in everyday language; moreover, their appearance is related to the need for using ‘a common point of reference’ (Kock 364) in order to indicate the key aspects of a issue to which the

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Body soul destinction Essay Example for Free

Body soul destinction Essay Religious philosophy can offer no firm evidence for a distinction between body and soul. Discuss. Humans appear to have both a body and a mind, the body which is related to physical movements and appearances. And the mind which relates to feelings and emotions, qualia. Many philosophers therefore make a distinction between the mind and body, the dualist view that a person is made of two separate substances. On the other hand, some philosophers take a monist/ materialist view that the mind and the body are the same substance. This is a contentious area of philosophy, and has created a debate known as the mind, body problem. Such philosophers as Plato take a dualist view and try to offer evidence to suggest a distinction between the body and soul. Plato saw the body and soul as two separate entities. The soul that most closely resembles the divine and immortal. While the body resembles the human and mortal, which is endlessly changing and can be broken down. Plato was not trying to suggest the soul was perfect as it joined the body which it is inhibited by, however, he explains that by taking care of the soul the person can develop knowledge. Plato used evidence such as the world of the forms. He suggested that by taking care of the soul and ignoring physical pleasures the soul can return to the word of the forms when the body dies. The evidence of Platos theory can be seen everyday. For the body to survive it must meet its basic needs such as food, reproduction and physical pleasure. On the other hand for the mind to be stimulated it has other needs that are met through deep thought and learning. However, there is a flaw to Platos theory, how can you have two completely different substances that are the same thing? Platos theory suggests the body and soul can work together to achieve a higher level of existence, but if the body and soul are completely different there is no evidence to suggest they would be compatible. Another dualist, Aquinas took a more religious view of dualism. He believed that the body and soul were separate and described the soul as that which animates the body or anima. According to Aquinas, the soul operates independently of the body. Aquinas believed the only things that are divisible into parts decay. The soul is not divisible and therefore on this basis of Aquinas argument it is able to survive death. However, through the link with a particular human body the soul becomes an individual so even when the body dies the soul that departs has an immortal existence. Evidence for religious views on the soul come from the bible. Within the new testament, there are stories of Jesus resurrection that suggest dualism. Within one particular story Jesus disciples are walking to Emaus. Along the way they are joined by a man, it is only when they arrive at Emaus and offer the man a place to eat and stay that he reveals himself as Jesus. This supports the dualist view as firstly, it proves that the soul is immortal and lives on after death, and secondly that the soul is separate from the body as the man who claims to be Jesus appears to be unrecognisable implying he has a different physical appearance. For Christians this will act as firm evidence that there is a body soul distinction, however for those who are not Christian the evidence may not be so reliable. Cartesian duality formed by Rene Descartes, describes the mind and body as being separates and is based on the phrase I think therefore I am. Descartes explained that feelings and sensations cannot be located physically. He accepted that everything non physical is in the mind and therefore must be distinct from the body. The mind according to Descartes is non spatial and is distinct from material and bodily substances. He suggested that everything has characteristics and that the mind and bodys characteristics are different therefore hey must be separate. For example a property of the mind may be consciousness, whereas the body has more aesthetic qualities such as height breadth etc. Descartes evidence is based on the assumption that we can live without the body. He concluded that the body has the job of performing physical activities however, it is the mind that contains our identity. For Descartes the mind is I, that we can live without the body as the mind makes us who we are. Descartes took the religious view that after our death the soul is able to continue and be with God. A mans soul is that to which the pure mental properties of a man belong. Richard Swinburne developed a dualist view based on the soul being indestructible and indivisible. Swinburne suggested that is a logical possibility for a person to exist after the body dies, as the soul lives on. The soul according to Swinburne is linked with mental processes and activity and its independent from the body. Evidence for Swinburnes theory comes from near death experiences. In many instances people have claimed to have had near death experiences whereby their hearts have stopped during surgery and yet they have reported detailed accounts of what happened during the time they were clinically dead. For some this is evidence for consciousness, however if the body and soul is one entity this would be impossible. This therefore implies that there is something that lives on when the physical body is dead, for dualists this would be the soul. On the other hand although the details of the experiences seem to be accurate there is no proof that the experiences may not be caused by another physical phenomena. On the other hand Dawkins, a biological materialist would disagree with the opinion that the soul and the body are separate substances. Dawkins bases his theory on evolution and genetics. He would reject any concept of an eternal soul and therefore rejects dualism. Some of Dawkins work includes the selfish gene and the blind watchmaker Within these he rejects any idea of the religious view of dualism and within the selfish gene he explains that humans are a lucky accident and that all life is opportunistic and humans are merely genetic mutations with the need to mindlessly replicate. Dawkins does not deny human dignity and accepts the complexity of human life to be able to contemplate the origins of human life. The evidence for Dawkins theory of biological materialism is based on DNA. Dawkins explains DNA as a code of instructions that is made up of millions of strands of genetic information. Genes according to Dawkins program who a person is, and it is DNA that singly creates what a person looks like as well as their personality. For Dawkins both the mind and body are controlled by the DNA and therefore he suggests that there is no need for a soul. Although Dawkins theory is based on empirical evidence and it has been proved that certain genes decide certain parts of a persons characteristics there is yet no proof to suggest that genes make up the whole of a someones personality and therefore it could be seen that there may be something else, this may be the soul. John Hick has formed a view of religious materialism. He stated that humans are one composite being, one substance. His theory the replica theory he realised from a religious point of view the problem was continuity. In life after death how can someone be the same person without their body. Therefore Hick suggests that there must be some kind of replica. This replica is the same person however, whilst they cannot exist at the same time. According to Hick at the same time that when a person dies a replica of them is created by God. This is a way of preserving personal identity after death. The evidence for religious materialism is based on the resurrection of Jesus. Some accounts during the new testament describe Jesus after the resurrection and was recognised by followers before ascension. From a religious view this is evidence for the replica theory as it appears that Jesus died and when he came back had the same physical appearance as well as the same personality. Identity theory puts forward a materialist view of the soul. Identity theory is against behaviourism and suggests that the mind and the brain are in the same place. In the brain, consciousness is generated as well as the other physical processes we link with the brain such as movement. Evidence for this is put foreward in the philosophy files. Within the book and analogy explains how if you were to look in the brain you would be able to locate an area that is stimulated and that thoughts must be generated in this area. We already know only 10% of the brains capacity is used consciously and therefore it is a logical assumption that our mind is located within the brain. An analogy for this is that a woman can be a mother, a daughter and a sister etc. The same person can have many functions, it is therefore the same for the brain which as well as having the functions we already recognise such as controlling physical activity, speaking and controlling bodily functions it can also control the mind. Overall, although religious philosophy offers an explanation for the body soul distinction it is based on little empirical evidence. For those who already follow the religion it may fit in with their beliefs however, for those who are atheist of follow another religion the evidence that it uses makes little logical sense. Such dualists views as Plato where the assumptions are based on everyday life may be more appropriate, however there is still little empirical evidence to prove the theory. On the other hand materialists put fore ward convincing arguments based on scientifically testable theories i.e. Dawkins. But neither arguments yet put enough evidence fore ward to either prove their views or disprove that of others. Therefore the statement Religious philosophy can offer no firm evidence for a distinction between body and soul may be considered as correct, however there is not yet enough evidence to suggest that religious views of dualism cannot be true.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Design Activities and Environments Essay Example for Free

Design Activities and Environments Essay 1. Review the definitions of architectural and detailed design and the brief descriptions of high-level design activities at the beginning of the chapter. Which activities are clearly architectural? Which are clearly detailed? Which can be architectural or detailed? Designing the support services architecture and deployment environment and designing the software architecture are clearly architectural. Designing use case realizations and designing the database are clearly detailed. Designing the system and user interfaces and designing the system security and controls can be architectural or detailed. 2. Discuss the evolution of client-server computing from file server to multilayer applications to Web-based applications. What has been the driving force causing this evolution? Where do you think network computing will be in the next five years? Ten years? Cheaper computers, and networks, ubiquitous networking, and the desire of companies to increase the accessibility of their systems to increase the customer base/satisfaction, gain efficiencies from greater inter- and intraorganization coordination, and greater flexibility to reorganize people, processes, and systems. 3. Assume that the deployment environment for a high-volume payment processing system consists of the following: †¢ DB2 DBMS running under the OS/390 operating system on an IBM S/390 mainframe †¢ WebSphere application server running under the Z/OS operating system on an IBM zSeries 900 mainframe †¢ CORBA-compliant component-based application software written in Java that will be executed by other internal and external systems What are the key architectural design decisions that must be made for the system? When should the decisions be made and who should make them? Outline the subsequent design tasks that should occur after the key architectural design decisions are made. To what extent can the subsequent steps be performed in parallel? Some key architectural decisions to explore include: the key components and subsystems, where each component will execute and how will all of the pieces interoperate (which requires nailing down how the network, CORBA, and database infrastructure will be configured)? Many of the decisions depend on whether the supporting infrastructure is already in place. If it is, then many of the architectural decisions can be delayed until much code has been written and tested. If not, then the required infrastructure and tools will have to be acquired and configured. Developers will have to be trained, and architectural design will need to occur early to ensure that the developers don’t make any â€Å"mistakes† due to lack of fit with the development or deployment environment. Note that an OO development approach is assumed given the nature of the infrastructure and tools 4. Develop a network diagram that supports the architectural design decisions in your answer to number 2. Answers will vary. Some important points that should be included are: File servers just sent the data across the network. They tended to use lots of bandwidth, because the entire file was sent. Also, since the applications that processed the data were on all the different workstations, deployment and maintenance of these applications was expensive. Application servers moved the applications from the workstations (clients) to the server. This made it easier to maintain a consistent set of applications and to upgrade the applications. This movement was influenced by the appearance of â€Å"thin clients† that had very little storage, but good processing capability. However, due to the drastic reduction in storage costs, thin clients have not caught on. Multi-tier networks are where multiple servers and clients work together to provide the complete functionality of a system. Some processing will be on the clients. Servers such as database servers and application servers provide additional capability. The driving force behind much of this is the rapid growth and capability of the Internet and languages such as JAVA with protocols such as J2EE. Microsoft’s .NET also provides capabilities to have distributed systems. Answers for the future will vary.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Reduction Of The Carbon Emissions

The Reduction Of The Carbon Emissions As we know that most of the least-developed countries (LDC) or called developing countries are in the areas with harsh natural conditions. To some extent, poor natural resources limit those countries developments. It is different from the least-developed countries that the developed countries have favorable geographical and environmental advantages. They have emitted greenhouse gases for over 200years without any limitations. The average global temperature during the 1980s exceeded that of any other decade since reliable temperature recording began a century ago, and 1990 was the warmest year on record (Hansen, 1991). The consensus among climate scientists on the threshold marker for dangerous climate change that consensus identifies 2 °C (3.6 °F) as a reasonable upper-bound (UNDP, 2008). The issues above explain the global warming problem is becoming more serious and threat human survival in the 21st century. And the first measurement to decline the global warming is reducing th e emission of greenhouse gases. Therefore, we have placed a challenge in front of the least-developed countries. How do they balance development and reduction of carbon emission is a big problem. Therefore, I think the reduction of carbon emission is the most serious obstacle to development faced by most least-developed countries in the 21st century. In this paper, I discuss this problem from two sides: one is the internal causes of large carbon emission, and the other is the conflicts with developed countries on reducing of carbon emission. The global warming seems like a collective problem which faced by all the people in the world. However, for different interests both of the developed country and least-developed country are not willing to reduce their carbon emission. Although both of the two camps face the same problem, they still have some conflicts are inner of them. Because, limiting the emission of greenhouse gases will constraint the development of a country in some degrees. At the meanwhile, the reduction emission of greenhouse gases has been becoming a hot potato. In the least-developed countries, if agricultural productivity were drastically reduced by climate change, the cost of living would rise by one or two percent, and at a time when per capita income will likely have doubled. In developing countries, in contrast, as much as a third of GNP and half the population currently depends on agriculture. They may still be vulnerable to climate change for many years to come (Schelling, 1997). However, agriculture contributes only a small percentage-three percent in the United States-of national income. But agriculture is practically the only sector of the economy affected by climate (Schelling, 1997). So the developing countries will concern more about the effects of climate change on agriculture, if the developed countries have large emission of greenhouse gases which makes the climate becoming worse and worse. Another problem for the least-developed countries is the great amount of population. The large population will have more consumption of carbon productions. In other words, larger population will cause more emission of greenhouse gases. For such amount of population, the developing countries will make a big expense on the improvement of climate. So where the money comes from is a problem. Furthermore, a large population will cause poverty which will cause greater waste of resources and larger emission of greenhouse gases. For the developed countries, the problems are more complex. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution the concentration of CO2, the principal greenhouse gas affected by mans actions, has risen by 25 percent (Bongaarts, 1992). The developed countries have very high level of industrialization which means they have very big emission of greenhouse gases. Bongaarts article gives the evidence that in 1985 per capita CO2 emission from the developed world was more than five times higher than in the developing world. It seems the developed countries have fewer problems be faced than the developing countries, because the developed countries have basically eradicated poverty in their countries. However, it is not all the case, because the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) asks the contracting countries to fulfill their obligations. And the obligations of the developed countries are delivering the fund assistances to the developing countries. But few of the de veloped countries will to give fund assistance to the developing countries, because it would affect those countries GDP in a certain extent. Therefore, the least-developed countries will become much harder on reducing the carbon emission without any assistance from the developed countries. Also the least-developed countries are lost in the transfer of carbon emissions from the developed countries. For example, the vast majority of the worlds MP3 players are made in China, where the main power source is coal. Manufacturing a single MP3 player releases about 17 pounds of planet-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon leakage ¼Ã…’this is the idea that countries can reduce their own emissions by sending dirty industries abroad. The same countries may still import the finished goods from the developing world, creating a situation in which global carbon emissions rise, even as individual nations meet their targets (Spencer, 2007). For the least-developed countries, on the surface, their GDP has increased, but actually their environment was damaged permanently. So here both of the least-developed countries and developed countries are turning the core to the agreement which can deal the conflicts of greenhouse gases emission, funds, and distribute the responsibilities. The suggested measurement given by Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations says the world urgently needs to step up action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Industrialized countries need to make deeper emission reductions. There needs to be further engagement of developing countries, as well as incentives for them to limit their emissions while safeguarding economic growth and efforts to eradicate poverty.(UNDP, 2007) Although Bans words give the suggested solutions to the global warming, he doesnt give precise standards for the developed countries. Either, this is the bargaining topic in Copenhagen Climate Talks. China, India and other developing countries are currently exempted from the Kyoto Protocol, because they did not have large-scale emissions of greenhouse gases in the industrialization which caused by the current global climate change. However, some critics argued that China, India, and other large developing countries will soon become the large-scale greenhouse gas emissions countries. Also, if the Kyoto Protocol doesnt limit these countries who are outside the treaty now, it cannot achieve greenhouse gas reductions, and even accelerate the warming because it is possible that developed countries will move their carbon-intensive industries outside to the developing countries. For example the developed country invested in a developing country, and builds their carbon-intensive economy in the developing country which equals the developed country transfers their carbon emissions to the developing country. Although the treaty allows the developed countries can buy the carbon emissions fr om the developing countries, the developed countries prefer to investment because the costs of labor are cheaper and the environment of their countries wont be polluted. But for the developing countries, these kind of investments most likely harms to their development in the long-run. As conclusion, although it is difficult to find a balance between reduction of carbon emission and development for the least-developed countries, but the sustainable development is a long-run plan for every country. In the short run, the investment on the improvement of technology to reduce carbon emission will be paid in the future. And either developed countries or developing countries should strengthen international cooperation because we have a same target, and I hope the farce of Copenhagen wont repeat itself in the future.

Development of Dendritic Spines :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Development of Dendritic Spines Neurons have the capability of forming spiny outgrowths on dendrites that are associated with neuroplasticity. Stimulation, especially during post-natal development can lead to activation in the brain, referred to as Long Term Potentiation (LTP), associated with the growth of spines. These dendritic spines, which can number thousands to a single neuron, can have synaptic heads. Greater than 90 percent of synapses in the brain occur on them (1) . Through experimentation it has been found that a spine's glutamate receptors, calcium concentrations, and actin can affect its shape, length, and even presence on a dendrite. In general terms, how do dendritic spines develop and what do they affect in the brain? When a neuron is first formed it does not yet have dendrites, and therefore also does not have dendritic spines. Dendritic filopodia are formed from the dendrites first and then convert into spines after being innervated by synaptic fibers. Spines on different types of neurons attain their peak actin density at different times. Fewer spines are present in adults than children and there is a peak growth time during post-natal development. Adult brains show up to 50% fewer spines than developing brains (2) . Brain disorders, such as strokes, epilepsy, and forms of mental retardation like Fragile X, have been connected to deformations of dendritic spines or the total absence of them on certain neurons. Spines are predominantly found at excitatory synapses where inputs from many areas of the brain arrive. Initially during spine formation N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) is the main growth and development regulator. NMDA is a glutamate receptor found at excitatory synapses in most neurons in the mammalian brain. It contains channels permeable to calcium ions. Ions can accumulate and initiate currents at the head of the spine where the calcium channels are located, separate from the shaft of the dendrite. Weak calcium-induced currents affect individual spines whereas stronger currents can summate to affect multiple spines as well as areas of the dendrite's shaft. LTP is a strengthening of the synaptic connections which occurs when spines are formed. There are several steps to achieve a current in a spine. Magnesium ions block the NMDA receptor sites, but are displaced when a stimulus, such as caffeine, depolarizes the receptor. Calcium ions are then able to pass through and collect within the spine. Once the amount of ions reaches a threshold level the LTP is generated.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Why Young Individuals Commit Crimes? Essay -- juvenile delinquency, juv

Firstly, what does it mean when someone uses the term juvenile delinquency? Juvenile delinquency can also be referred to as juvenile offending is when a young person under the age eighteen who in which has repeatedly committed a crime or offense. In the United States and other countries, juvenile crime is one of the most serious problems. The reason why juveniles commit crimes is sort of complicated and difficult to explain. There have been several disparate theories to better help with understanding juvenile delinquency. All of these theories are categorized and are placed under three different groups: biological, psychological, and sociological theories. Biological theories all are based on the concept that people are prearranged to commit crimes. An Italian criminologist, Cesare Lombroso created Positive Theory or Positivism which is the major biological theory. The positive theory stated that people are born criminals and are not made. The positive theory also explained criminal behavior by centering on the biological and psychological factors. Cesare used the corpse of criminals who were executed to compare physical features to determine were criminals different from non-criminals. His conclusion was that criminals shared facial features. Sheldon a criminalist idea was that people behaved differently because of the different body types. He believed that a physically fit human was more likely to commit a crime than an out of shape or over weight human. XYY theory is another biological theory that has come into consideration. The XYY theory disputes that an abnormal chromosome are found in violent male criminals. This theory states that this abnormality in individuals is associated with criminal activity and aggressivene... ...w up committing crimes. (McDavid and McCandless, 1962) Works Cited "Cesare Lombroso". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 10 Mar. 2014 . Boyd R. McCandles, John McDavid. â€Å"Psychological Theory, Research, and Juvenile Delinquency.† The Journal of Criminal and Police Science 54.1 (1962):1-14. JSTOR. Web. 9 Mar 2014. Champion, D.J. (2004). The Juvenile Justice System: Delinquency, Processing, and the Law. 4th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall Inc. Ellwood, Charles A. "Lombroso's Theory of Crime." Journal of the American Institute of Criminal Law and 2.5 (1912): 716-723. JSTOR. Web. 9 Mar 2014. Siegel, Larry J , and Brandon C Welsh. Juvenile Delinquency, Theory, Practice, And Law. Wadsworth Pub Co, print.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

JD EDwards :: essays research papers

COMPANY OVREVIEW: JD. Edwards provide innovative, full range business solutions for multinational organizations for almost a quarter of a century. Its innovative approach allowed it to act as a true business partner with companies of all sizes, leveraging their existing investments and taking advantage of new technologies thereby increasing their competitive advantage. 80 international offices are maintained to support an ever-expanding customer base of more than 6200 installations distributed among 113 countries. J.D. Edwards also helped to shape the next phase of e-business in the Internet economy: collaborative commerce (C-Commerce). C-Commerce is the ability to deliver open, collaborative technologies that facilitate communication among organizations, suppliers and customers across a supply chain, maximizing value in business-to-business environments. J.D. Edwards has over 80 product alliance partners, leading to a myriad of platform variations in implementing their business solutions. Providing a means for its international sales force to demonstrate their range of applications in ways that emulate the diverse environments of its customers was a formidable and costly challenge. As with most dynamic international organizations, J.D. Edwards has a continually expanding internal requirement for collaborative and business process applications. A number of pending application initiatives meant that the wide area network infrastructure would require expansion. Reducing the network overhead of bandwidth hungry client/server applications could allay costly link upgrades. J.D. Edwards operates a tiered IT administration architecture. The primary IT expertise and 7x24 support services are concentrated at the corporate headquarters in Denver. Administrators are stationed at larger hub sites and also support smaller satellite offices. These regional administrators incur significant travel expense when server console access is required at the satellite locations. Solutions J.D. Edwards implemented Windows 2000 Terminal Services to provide single instance delivery of its business applications integrated within a wide variety of client environments. Their centralized Windows 2000 terminal servers now provide product demonstration capabilities for an international sales force of 300, highlighting an array of product integration capabilities. Centralizing these complex client scenarios significantly reduced the ongoing support and management of the sales systems. Prior to setting up Windows 2000 terminal servers, demos were being run by individual sales people on their own laptops, they would demo multiple versions of the software by having multiple hard drives. That was a lot of administration overhead. Deployment of the constant stream of application updates was also greatly simplified. When there are new versions of client software they’re very easy to deploy. J.D. Edwards also deployed Terminal Services as a delivery platform for a bandwidth hungry client/server application.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Effects Of Technology In Area Of Business Essay

The way businesses are conducted today has been greatly affected by the new technology. Information technology has increasingly become a transforming technology fundamental to all types of businesses and fields such as: communications, manufacturing, medicine, research, administration, education, tourism and entertainment (Jones, 1996). The Internet has become vital for many businesses and people. People in many businesses are conducting business activities like communicating with other people, selling, buying and surfing the markets for new opportunities on internet. Cause/Effect Technology has affected the ways businesses are conducted both positively and negatively. Nonetheless, new technology has caused major increases in employment downstream and discloses the most significant characteristic whether it is used in the office environment, the factory or other industrial sectors of labor saving and capital saving (Gill, 1996). New technology in the area of business is taken as a way of increasing of efficiency of production, whilst decreasing cost and increasing competence. Technology has greatly affected the way information is accessed. Now easy access to information has become the central factor in the organization of businesses, society and national economies, and promoted the growth of a global economy (Gill, 1996). Although, this has not been accomplished without serious implications for privacy and security; with controls of centralized information on personal credit, health, educational, banking and insurance records (Jones, 1996). Due to the progress of recent advancements like the Internet and other technologies, there has been serious apprehension related to their effects on liberty, privacy, individuality and quality of communication (Jones, 1996).  However regardless of this fact, it is hard to pay no attention to or prevent technology form changing the way in which businesses are conducted. Conclusion On the whole, it can be said that the effect of technology on business cannot be understood in isolation. As discussed earlier, technology has positive as well as negative effects on businesses and society on the whole but at this point in time we cannot afford to stop using the new technology because it has become the backbone of many businesses (Gill, 1996). It has been observed that technology has been responsible for improvements such as: overall economic growth, opportunities for work expansion, significant restructuring of the workforce, increased productivity, enhanced living standards and the globalization of work. On the other hand, we have also seen the negative effects of technology like: the increased levels of unemployment in some employment categories, the invasion in privacy and liberty of society. In conclusion, the technology and its effects on businesses debate can never come to an end.

Friday, August 16, 2019

What to Do if There are Suspicions or if Someone Alleges They are Being Abused

RecogniseRecognise the signs and symptoms or believe what you are toldRespondComfort – warm and caring Reassure the person that you believe them and that it is not their fault/they are in no way to blame Do not promise that you will keep it secret (may need to pass on to help them, important not to say one thing and do another) but only to people who need to know and will help Protect the individual – ensure they are in a safe place and protected from any further possibility of abuse Medical assistance if requiredReportReport the allegation immediately to a senior colleague (manager or named safeguarding lead) May have formal referral procedures or may make initial verbal referralRecordPreserve any evidenceTry to remember as much as you can – listen carefullyFull written report as soon as possible after the event including everything you observed, everything you have been told, any previous concerns you may have had, what has raised your concerns on this occasion Accurate and factualMake clear what you have actually seen and what is hearsay. Do not ask leading questionsReferYou may need to make a referral to another agencyIdentify ways to ensure that evidence of abuse is preservedIf this is a potential crime scene, must be very careful not to destroy any potential evidence.Do not clear up or wash or clean any part of the room or area in which the alleged abuse took place †¢Don’t disturb the scene, clothing or victim.Don’t remove anything (e.g. clothing, bedding).Do not allow victim to wash, bathe, brush hair or teeth etc).Secure the scene (e.g. lock the door).Preserve other potential evidence (e.g. documents) by locking them away.Keep other people out of the area.Get advice from the police if in doubt.Bear in mind that any medical treatment is a priority and must be provided immediately but make it clear to any medical staff that the situation may result in a prosecution so they need to record any findings carefully in ca se theu need to make a statement later.Explain the importance of an accessible complaints procedure for reducing the likelihood of abuseShould be simple to follow because it encourages people to raise their concerns.Indicates the organisation will respond to those concerns.If it’s too difficult to make a complaint, people won’t complain and the abuse may continue.Can identify any areas of weakness in a provider and help improve the service.If a complaints procedure is clear and easily accessible, abusers are more likely to be challenged on their behaviour. Knowing this would make them less likely to abuse.Helps vulnerable individuals to feel protected, empowered and less likely to accept abuse.Describe unsafe practices that may affect the well-being of individualsLack of training (e.g. manual handling, personal care, eating and drinking).Not observing confidentiality.Not following infection control procedures.Confusion over prescribing and administering medication.Fire evacuation procedures.Failure to comply with regulations.Explain the actions to take if unsafe practices have been identifiedTell their manager or named safeguarding person.Describe the actions to take if suspected abuse or unsafe practices have been reported but nothing has been done about itRecord any information carefully (factual, time and date etc).Keep moving through the management chain. If no one in your organisation responds, contact CQC or IW Council Safeguarding Adults Board (google and find out how to contact).If it is a criminal offence (e.g. theft, fraud, physical or sexual abuse) refer the matter to the police.Public Concern at Work is a national organisation that provides information legal advice to people who are concerned about malpractice at work.Free and confidential advice. (www.pcaw.co.uk) May be very difficult to pass information on – this is known as ‘whistleblowing’ Public Interest Disclosure Act (1998) protects whistleblowers and ensure s you cannot be victimised by your employer for reporting abuse or any other illegal acts So long as you have a ‘reasonable belief’ that one of the following is taking, has taken or may take place, you are protected by law:A criminal offence.Breach of a legal obligation.Miscarriage of justice.Danger to the health and safety of any person.Damage to the environment.Deliberate covering up of information tending to show any of the above.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Comparative Essay – Othello/Macbeth Tragic Heroes

Unit 1: ‘Many critics have argued that Othello is not a true Shakespearean tragic hero. Explore the idea that Shakespeare intended to make Othello fit the criteria of his tragic hero with comparison to Macbeth. ’ By Marina Georgallides A tragic hero, determined by Aristotle, must show a nobility and virtue of a certain magnitude however, their path to happiness should be ceased by their destructive vice (Harmartia- the flaw that eventually leads to their downfall).Peripeteia, the point where the character’s fortune changes, must evoke a state of pity and fear amongst the audience, and give above all, a didactic message. The outcome of this characteristic should result in a complex but sole instigation of both the hero’s Catharsis (a cleansing of emotion which is described by Aristotle as an effect of tragic drama on its audience) and Anagnoris when they reach their moment of realisation. It can be argued that Shakespeare fully abided by these rules in order to make a distinction between his characters’ prosperity and misfortune.Fintan O’Toole (post modernist critic) argues that Othello â€Å"is not tragic, merely pathetic†. However, Othello will be identified as a far greater tragic hero than Macbeth, illustrating how Shakespeare fully intended on creating a tragically heroic character such as Othello. As the play progresses, Othello’s monumental Harmartia is gradually revealed; his sense of inherent jealousy is implemented by Iago, the Machiavellian villain, and his gullibility makes him susceptible to it.Once he becomes convinced that his wife Desdemona is unfaithful, his jealousy does indeed feed itself just as Iago ironically warns, â€Å"the green eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on† (Iago- Act 3 Scene 1), leading to the hero’s monstrous behaviour. The apparent alliteration, â€Å"death and damnation† (Act 3 Scene 3) and â€Å"waked wrath† (Act 3 Scene 3), rev eals the great influence that Iago has upon Othello as his linguistic eloquence and his mental state rapidly collapse, resulting in both his use of evil imagery in language and in action, the murder of Desdemona.The hubris, argued by Helen Gardner (in 20th century) â€Å"is heroic because Othello acts from inner necessity†, appearing to show Othello’s desire to remake the world into a better place, an act that is heroic â€Å"in its absoluteness†. This admission of ethical duty perhaps may have encouraged a contemporary audience to pity Othello as his act, although terrible in itself, is nevertheless wonderful in its own manner of righteousness. Othello therefore appears to be more honourable since his wrong doing was out of love and not of hatred, something for which Gardener seems to forgive Othello.A contemporary audience would argue that gender also plays an important role in Othello as men were regarded as stronger and wiser, making it more forgivable of Ot hello. However, a 21st century audience would view women as equally as important as men, showing that Desdemona’s murder was underserved and unforgivable of Othello. Dr Johnson (1765) declared that Othello was a â€Å"very useful moral†, as the protagonist shows how one can be stifled by naivetà ©; the repetition of â€Å"honest Iago†, the external forces of evil, combine to cause Othello’s tragic manifestation and thus, his downfall.Macbeth’s Hamartia is his lust for power that eventually and unsurprisingly leads into his downfall. Arthur Kirsch (1984) highlights Macbeth’s â€Å"emptiness of his desires and the insatiability of his aspirations†. Macbeth becomes infatuated with the witches’ prophecy as he soon discovers how real it is, allowing him to be somewhat fixated on the idea of murdering the King and soon after, Banquo. â€Å"Macbeth does murder sleep†- the use of third person indicates the exponential deteriora tion of his mental state after killing an innocent King, as a result of his unquenchable thirst for power; essentially in itself more than one of the seven vices.Both Iago and Macbeth in this case, are the embodiment of the vices, both jealousy and greed, as opposed to Othello, who is only influenced by the vice itself. J. A Bryant (1961) argues that, â€Å"Macbeth is a wholly negative character who possesses the capacity for good but chooses to commit evil instead†, illustrating that his ulterior motive wasn’t for the good or righteous, as opposed to Othello, but for the selfish rise to power, evidently making him less of a tragic hero; he merely chooses evil because it works to his own advantage rather than making the world into a ‘better’ place.Both a Shakespearean and a modern audience would believe that Macbeth, like the Devil, has willed himself into a desperate position whereby he is captive of nothing except the providence he chose to ignore. In fa ct, a further aspect of his Hamartia is arguably his supposed lack of masculinity that he is constantly belittled and ridiculed for by Lady Macbeth. The use of a rhetorical question in â€Å"Are you a man? † indicates her ability to manipulate him into believing that he is not ‘strong’ enough to murder.This too, plays an important but yet, not as dominant, role in Macbeth’s downfall. The second element combined to create a tragic hero is Peripeteia where the downfall from a virtuous status to a catastrophic one is evident. Regardless of however many times Othello is referred to as the â€Å"Moor† by Iago, a derogatory term used to highlight his race, a Shakespearean audience will still be amazed by his aristocratic virtue as he possesses the verbal eloquence to assert to the signiors in the rule of three adjectives as â€Å"potent, grave and reverend†.In Act 3 Scene 3 however, Othello makes more references to the â€Å"devil†; a reflec tion of Iago’s evil nature being imparted upon him, as â€Å"goats and monkeys† are images that connote the devil. His eloquence of poetry in Act 1 is in stark contrast to his rather barbaric and politically incorrect behaviour in Act 3, particularly to a 21st century audience as his act of â€Å"striking her† (Desdemona) across the face is an incredulous act that is totally unacceptable to feminists now but may have been deemed as common or even deserved to a contemporary audience of the 16th century.His affection dramatically changes towards Desdemona and it can be argued that Othello â€Å"allows manipulation and jealousy to lead to his self-destruction†- Tasha Kelley (2010) Othello simply cannot help the jealousy that he feels within him, no matter how much of an influence Iago is upon him. At this point, Othello is entirely convinced and absolute in the killing of his wife; the use of hyperbolic language in â€Å"I’ll tear her all to piecesâ €  emphasises his sheer mercilessness since â€Å"all† of Desdemona will be killed.Unlike Othello, Macbeth changes rather early on in the play, and the only real evidence that the audience sees of his nobility is what others say about him. In Act 1 Scene 2 Duncan expresses, â€Å"O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman†; the use of positive adjectives to describe Macbeth would give both a Shakespearean and modern audience a good impression of Macbeth even before he is revealed in the play.On the other hand, current and contemporary audiences would also notice that the other characters in Macbeth are the ones who prove Macbeth’s honorary class, and not he for himself. After one consecutive scene, Macbeth’s Peripeteia is extremely abrupt that it can be portrayed as almost non-existent. â€Å"If Chance will have me King, Why Chance may crown me, Without my stir†- immediately one gains the impression of his violent underlying tone that is implied by the use of the word â€Å"stir†, revealing to a contemporary audience that his destructive intentions are intrinsic.According to Aristotle, there must be a clear distinction between the character’s prosperity and misfortune; Macbeth, as a tragic hero, does not condition himself to these rules religiously enough and it therefore, can be argued that his downfall is far too early on in the play for an audience to fully grasp his nobility. Whereas, Othello’s greatness is explored thoroughly for two whole Acts, allowing an audience of any time period, to understand that his noble qualities are innate.A contemporary audience, for example, would understand the reason for Othello’s downfall much better than they would with that of Macbeth’s as the play enables him to develop as a character and thus, show his true intentions, which are in this case, to love and protect Desdemona. Alas, an alternative interpretation of Macbeth of a Shakespearean audience would b e that he is an incessantly complacent man who, by all means, allows arrogance to corrupt his mind even in the first scene of the play.The most famous of quotes where Macbeth visualises a dagger, represents his wavering resolve and lust for power that slowly descends into his madness. â€Å"Is this a dagger, which I see before me†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Act 1 Scene 7, the use of a rhetorical question illustrates Macbeth’s hallucination of seeing an object that is clearly not there, which in comparison is a major downfall for someone who was deemed to be â€Å"valiant† at the start of the play.Susan Snyder (1994) states that â€Å"the play provides no answers to the questions it raises about the relative culpability of the witches’ equivocal predictions and Macbeth’s potential to commit murder†. Evidently, there is no real justification or distinction in Macbeth’s downfall other than his sick ambitious need for power. The third criterion that qualifies a tragic hero is Anagnorisis, where the protagonist acknowledges his/her own flaw that has led them to their downfall.After all the accusations and trauma that Desdemona has been through, her last and most angelic words being, â€Å"Commend me to my kind lord- O, farewell! † This suggests that she is a saint for forgiving all that Othello has done to her and shows just how much she loved Othello; a contemporary audience would ultimately feel pity for her as she is not the one to blame. However, a different view of Desdemona and what she represents has emerged over recent years amongst modern audiences; feminist and new historic critics have  examined her character in relation to the society she moves in.Marilyn French (1982), explores the masculine and misogynistic value system within Othello, and despite Desdemona’s assertiveness in choosing her own husband, French emphasises that Desdemona â€Å"must be obedient to males† and is â€Å"self-denying in the e xtreme† thus when she dies she is a stereotype of female passivity. Once killing Desdemona, Othello begins to express his sincere remorse for his wrongdoing through the repetition of alliteration.The use of alliteration in â€Å"Cursed, cursed† and â€Å"cold, cold†, Act 5 Scene 2, reveals how ashamed he is with himself for committing such a crime as he is emphasising it through the repetition of consonance sound â€Å"c†, and above all, goes closer to prove his tragic hero status. Through his two speeches, Othello is able to elaborate on the fact that he is wrapped with guilt; the rhyming couplet of: â€Å"I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way by this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. † epitomises his Anagnoris as he realises his sheer love for Desdemona with what remains within him, a flare of eloquence.In stark contrast, there is no real evidence of Macbeth’s Anagnoris, and in fact, he behaves rather arrogantly about the witchesâ€⠄¢ predictions because he believes that no real harm will happen to him. In Act 5 Scene 3, Macbeth expresses a very short speech in which no lamenting or mourning is apparent; â€Å"I have lived long enough; my way of life Is fall’n into the sear† is but a mere acknowledgement of his circumstances rather than realisation of his tragic flaw. A Shakespearean audience would notice that perhaps Macbeth has not fully repented for his mistake and is therefore, in terms of Aristotle, not a true, classified tragic hero.Macbeth is determined to continue fighting for his life whereas traditionally a tragic hero, such as Othello, should ultimately understand their downfall in exchange for their life. In Act 5 Scene 5, Macbeth does in fact have the verbal eloquence to express himself even in a state of supposed despair. The use of personification in â€Å"Life’s but a walking shadow† reinforces the state of his ignorance to register his own wrong doing and therefore, both a modern and contemporary audience can advocate that they do not feel the same sympathy as they do for Othello.Finally, the last criterion of a tragic hero is Catharsis; the point at which the tragic hero cleanses his heart and the audience’s too. Othello, despite all that he has been through, returns to the articulate and passionate man, and for that, an audience can feel as though the previous trauma of Desdemona’s death combined with his own wicked imagery is obliterated and washed from them. â€Å"And very sea-mark of my utmost sail† is an example of how Othello is able to speak in iambic pentameter even in such a horrific mental state, reinforcing an audience’s perception of how truly noble and titled he is.Most honourably, he is not afraid of killing himself in the name of love; he simply â€Å"kisses Desdemona, and dies†, making him appear as more of a tragic hero than Macbeth, who fights to live on. He leaves the audience feeling bere aved and pitiful because, despite his jealousy, he ‘loved Desdemona too well’, a crime that was surely too harshly punished. Although, Macbeth’s death is rather less tragic and more heroic in the sense that he refused to kill himself by â€Å"falling on my sword†; an audience would regard him as more honourable towards himself.Before Malcolm kills him, he partly recognises his wrong doing in the little speech that he gives; â€Å"Of all men else I have avoided thee: But get thee back, my soul is too much charg’d With blood of thine already†. Irrespective of the fact that Macbeth didn’t kill himself as he should have done, the imagery of â€Å"blood† reveals the extent of which Macbeth fights like a true soldier till the end. Unfortunately, as a modern audience, we cannot feel the same sympathy as we do for Othello as he neither recognises his flaw nor kills himself because of it; an imperative required for a true tragic hero.Mac beth is a rapid play that does not allow the main protagonist to develop as a character and for that reasoning; Macbeth lacks many of the imperative qualities needed within a tragic hero such as Peripeteia and Anagnorisis. Without a single doubt, Othello is one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragic heroes as fought for by Helen Gardner and Dr Johnson, regardless of Fintan O’Toole’s perception of Othello being â€Å"merely pathetic†. We can advocate otherwise that in fact Othello fulfils all four criterias of Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Film Analysis

How To Analyze a Film As you might guess, conducting a semiotic analysis of a film is a somewhat more complicated venture than conducting a semiotic analysis of a print advertisement. This is not to say, of course, that movies and advertisements do not share similarities. Both, for example, are â€Å"texts† that rely on visual imagery to tell specific stories, and both are in the business of promoting specific ideologies. At the same time, print advertisements are limited by the static nature of their medium. Film, on the other hand, is not a static medium, and thus its stories are much more complex. Analyzing a film, then, as our text relates, is much more like â€Å"reading a novel† (307). In short, analyzing a film requires you to take a careful look at the setting, plot, characters, dialogue, symbols, metaphors, archetypes, etc. , as well as those factors that have an influence on the film, such as the social, historical, and political context in which the film was created. STEPS FOR CONDUCTING A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF A FILM Despite the differences between movies and advertisements, the goal of a semiotic analysis of a film is nonetheless the same as a semiotic analysis of an advertisement, namely to determine its current social significance. With than in mind, here is an expanded and modified version of the steps for conducting a semiotic analysis, tailored specifically to film: 1. Establish the sign (film) to be decoded 2. Set aside your opinion; your task is to analyze the current social significance (This assignment is NOT a review of the film!! 3. Determine what the sign means (analysis of setting, plot, characters, symbols, etc. ) 4. Discuss how the film represents its topic 5. Sketch the overall context (historical, cultural, and political) in which the sign appears 6. Develop a list of questions, concerns, and/or issues that will guide your analysis 7. Develop a thesis statement Again, this is NOT the order in which everything should appear in your paper. This is merely a step by step of how to P REPARE to write a film analysis. It would also be helpful to find other important films in same genre of your chosen film and see HOW your film is different, and WHY that difference is important. ASSIGNMENT Using the steps for conducting a semiotic analysis of a film outlined above as the foundation for your argument, write a three to four page analysis of your chosen film. Preparation for this assignment requires the following: 1. ) Locating, renting, and watching the film 2. ) Going through the steps for conducting a semiotic analysis of a film as outlined above After completing the steps, your paper should include the following: 1. A thesis statement 2. A short but detailed description of the film 3. An analysis of the film that includes some of the details/discoveries that you made while completing the steps (NOTE: You may NOT use first person pronouns in this essay-â€Å"I†, â€Å"me†, â€Å"my†, etc. ) 4. A title page 5. At least two reviews of the film quoted and cited properly 6. Works Cited/References Page Film Analysis Throughout this scenes is John Watson who romantically searches for Sherlock realizing his friend is in great danger. Using this scene we discuss the language of film (Gaucheness. & Startled, 2012), observing the main elements and techniques- miss-en-scene, cinematography, editing and soundtrack- to create a scene in a film. In regards to miss-en-scene the scene takes place in what seems to be a classroom of sorts, Sherlock is face to face with the killer who, as mentioned earlier, is a taxi driver. The characters are facing each other, the dialogue intense yet offhand.With two tootles of pills between them, and the scene set in the evening, the only light that appears to be on is the one above the two characters as the emphasis of focus is on the them and the pills as Sherlock is trying to decipher which bottle contains the pill that kills and which doesn't. While the scene is set in a classroom with the constant close-ups on the faces of the two characters, there are times when it almost looks like they are in an interview room with the lighting above and sitting on opposite sides of a table.The music helps intensify the scene constantly creeping in and out of the scene building drama around these two people and these pill bottles. Sherlock dressed familiar attire of a long coat and scarf with his superior condescending look deduces that the cable dressed in his recently laundered but outdated clothing is a dead man walking with a brain aneurysm. Thus the scene is dramatic but with a sense of realism in the way the characters are dressed and set for an intense showdown. As this is all taking place in the classroom, during the intense moment the scene is then taken back to Watson as he realizes that Sherlock is in danger.The music has a sense of urgency to it as John after discovering the danger his friend is in searches frantically in the classrooms. Close ups are a main part in the scene as it builds the tension showing the facial expressions on both charact ers faces. As they take their seats in the classroom, the establishing shot is a mid-shot of the characters but a long shot of the classroom which helps set that particular scene. There are moments in the scene where the camera pulls back almost as a way to relieve the viewers from the tension.While the sighting is bright when they enter the classroom, it slowly dims so the focus is always on the two characters emphasizing the dramatic undertones of the scene. But the emphasis is the close ups on the characters. The scene is deliberately shot as a dialogue between to characters constantly switching from a close up on character to the other At first low angle shot on the taxi driver which portrays as being the dominating character as he is in charge of the scene but slowly as Sherlock pieces together the reasons for the taxi drivers murderous campaign, the angle is more eye level.Meanwhile during this intense meeting we cut to Watson with mid to long shots that are used as he is stil l looking for Sherlock in the school. There are close ups on his face showing his genuine concern for Sherlock the pace a lot faster than that in the dialogue scene of Sherlock and the Taxi driver. Within this scene it should be noted that continuity editing is apparent through shot reverse shot, eye line match, match on action, the 180 degree rule and the continuity of action sound and lighting. (Gaucheness. Startled, 2012) Watson running around scenes are fast paced and he dialogue between the two characters seems a slower pace but both are the same type of pace as the duration between the shots do in deed decrease heightening the suspense within this scene. Because of this constant dialogue between the two characters the camera is constantly cutting from one character to another developing this rhythmic editing used with the constant back and forth banter between Sherlock and the Taxi driver. Also established in this scene is the match on action â€Å"wherein a movement or actio n is started in one shot and completed in the next† (Gaucheness.Startled, 2012) This again, is portrayed well in this scene as the tension builds between the taxi driver and Sherlock with those who are smarter than who dialogue. Within this scene the non-dietetic sounds are blended with dietetic sound. During the dialogues pieces between Sherlock and the taxi driver the music is only heard quite faintly whenever Sherlock makes a deduction and when the taxi driver emphasizes his superiority. Through Watson scenes the music is urgent and you hear his footsteps so you are able to pick up on his urgency to find his friend.The USIA used is a repetition of the shows theme either with Just certain part taken or the same sequence in the score repeated in variation. The music theme is used constantly through the entire series of Sherlock and seems to play an integral part to the telling of each scene in any Sherlock episode blending in with the characters and the scenes themselves. As seen with the tension that is built up between the Taxi Driver and Sherlock. It's quiet yet as the drama unfolds it gets a little louder and quietest again making sure that the focus us on every little word that is said between the two characters. Film Analysis Film Analysis Assignment When first reading about this assignment I thought about movies that had a strong culture theme to it. I didn’t want to choose a movie that I’ve only seen once, only because I wanted to be sure of its cultural theme and I also wanted to be sure that I knew exactly what the movie was about and everything that happens in it. The movie that I decided to write about is Mulan. It is very clear that the context of this movie provides us with the information that the film takes place in the ancient times in China.We know this because in the opening scene it shows a Chinese soldier standing on The Great Wall of China. Also the clothing that they were is often affiliated with the Chinese culture so we can tell from this context where the movie takes place. Also a few times in the movie it shows the Chinese language written on certain things. I believe that the context of this film affects the communication between characters for a few reasons. One reason is whenever people greet each other, especially someone important, they would bow to them.Another way the context affects communication is that the characters talk to their elders so properly and respectfully. One of the main social identities in this film was the one that Mulan held. Since Mulan was pretending to be a man so she would be able to fight in the war, she definitely had to fit in with those among her. She had to talk like they did, walk like they did, participate in the things that she did. She did this so she would not blow her cover and be caught. The obvious culture identify in this movie is that they are all Chinese.We can tell this because of how they are dressed, their surroundings as well as their facial structure. One of the huge ways one of the characters helped us understand her perspective was when Mulan sang the song â€Å"Refection†. In this song Mulan is talking about how she doesn’t feel like she is good enough and that if she were to act h ow she really is she would break her family’s heart. She thinks that her reflection is someone she doesn’t know. With her singing this song we are able to truly see what Mulan thinks of herself and it helps us understand her more.The relationship between her identity and the context of the movie is pretty understandable. The context in the movie shows us the true identity of who Mulan really is. There is a major change in Mulan’s identity by the end of the movie. Throughout the movie Mulan is trying to prove to everyone that she will bring her family honor. At the end of the movie she ends up getting to take home the Emperors Imperial crest along with Shan Yu’s sword. The history in this movie greatly affects the characters standpoints. As we all know, Mulan takes place during the ancient dynasty days in China.So many details throughout this movie give that away. But the one of the many ways that history affects the standpoints of the characters in this m ovie is how they train as well as travel for their battle to fight against the Huns. With it being ancient days the soldiers’ are trained to fight with their hands, they are taught ty kwon doe and how to use a bow and arrow. If this movie had taken place in the 21st century, the soldiers’ would be trained how to shoot guns. This right here shows you that history greatly affects the characters.If Disney had decided to place the movie in present days the climax fight scene would be completely different. The perceptions of history in this movie can teach you many things. There are just so many little details that show you the films history. There’s a scene in the movie where the General has sent a letter to the training camp and we can see its history because Mushu writes the General back with pen and ink. Near the end of the movie the soldiers’ that fought in the battle parade through the city on horses and they have the traditional clothing from that time on as well.One of the main relationships between history and one of the main characters (Shang) is that he is now the leader of the army. Since he is now the leader he has to train the men how they were taught for battle back in those days. There was only one language used in this film, which was English. But there were many different communication styles used in the film. Since Mulan is portraying a man for most of the movie her communication style is very different from the others. She tries to make her voice sound like a man and say things she thinks they would say.At a few points in the movie she forgets to talk in a manly voice, but surprisingly does not give her cover away. There weren’t many uses on nonverbal communication/codes throughout the movie. I can honestly only think of a few things. In the opening scene when Shan Yu appears over The Wall, the Chinese soldier lights a big torch and says â€Å"Now all of China knows you’re here,† Also the cricket, who plays on of the sidekicks of Mulan is silent throughout the whole film. But through his gestures, as well as Mushu being able to know what he’s saying, helps the audience understand the cricket.There are a few main beliefs and values that are reveled throughout this film. In the begging of the movie we see Mulan’s father praying to their families ancestors. The ancestors are of great importance to her family. They believe that the ancestors will bring Mulan protecting with helping her fight in the battle. They also have a high value in their families honor. The littlest things that someone could do would bring their family so many dishonors. There is a scene in the movie where Mulan is to meet with the Match Maker so she can help find Mulan a husband.But through many clumsy mistakes the Match Maker is furious and tells Mulan that she will never bring her family honor. When her parents and grandmother hear of the news they are greatly disappointed in her. That is o ne of the main reasons she goes off to fight in the war. Doing this Mulan believes that she will be able to bring her family honor. There are a plenty of issues of power and hierarchy that are used in this film. At one point in the movie there are a few men sent in from the imperial city to give the town a message. The Emperor has ordered one man from every family must serve in the imperial army.This clearly shows just how powerful the Emperor is and how he can change a family so fast. There is also a scene in the movie where Shang (left in charge by his father General Li) has power over everything that goes on in the camp. There are some men fighting after dinner and as soon as he walks in the men immediately stop and salute him. There is also a scene when Shang is not thrilled with how Ping (Mulan) is training. He wants to â€Å"make a man out of her† but she just isn’t meeting his expectations. He tells her that in the morning she has to go back home. These two exam ples show how powerful he is over the men in the army.