Saturday, August 31, 2019
Nationalism With A Purpose Essay
The First and the Second World War changed the outlook of the world. Empires ceased to exist. A new concept of nations came into being. Colonies of European countries started to get their independence from foreign rule in quick succession.. Boundaries and territories became essential in deciding where a nation started and ended. Nations have been fighting with each other over boundary lines since history has been recorded however frontiers became exceptionally important with the end of the Second World War and the emergence of the Third world. One place where boundary lines and territory was of great importance was in the Indian subcontinent, which had been under the control of the British Empire from 1858 to 1947. The Indian sub-continent was to be decolonized and partitioned into two countries. A Muslim dominated, Pakistan and a Hindu dominated, India. Surprisingly, it was the first time that nations were being partitioned on the basis of religion. The partition led to many problem s between the two countries. One such issue was the conflict over the state of Kashmir. The dispute over Kashmir has dogged relations between India and Pakistan since the states were created by the partition of British India in 1947. The two countries have fought three wars (in 1947-48, 1965 and 1999). They have also been on the verge of resorting to nuclear weapons over this issue. The fight over Kashmir is an unending conflict. The biggest reason for its insolvability is that leaders of both nations have used religious nationalism to justify the wars and the struggle to incorporate Kashmir while masking the underlying motive of gaining economic and strategic advantages from it. Not both countries only Pakistan The conflict of Kashmir can be traced back to the time of partition and to the events that occurred during the time period when British controlled India was to be divided on religious lines. The state had been under the rule of the Sikh empire and the British had managed to exert their influence on the Singh rulers of the time. The State of Kashmir was important to the British because it worked as buffer zone to prevent invasion into India by Russia, China and Afghanistan. Therefore, as the British desire d the Sinkh monarchy rulers were generally puppets of the Britishprecisely following their orders in word and action. A close alliance was formed between the British and the rulers of Kashmir in this way. However, the partition of the sub-continent brought the in built tensionsà amongst the Muslims and Hindus over the state of Kashmir to the forefront.. Muslims under the Muslim League and Hindus under the Congress had been constantly endeavoring for more rights and representation from the British throughout the 1880ââ¬â¢s and 90ââ¬â¢s. The British finally decided to give India its independence, but the Muslims and Hindus felt entitled to separate states based on a religious divide which according to both was too great for both of them to exist harmoniously. Muslims felt entrapped as a minority in a Hindu dominant country. Through the efforts of Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League and Nehru, the leader of the congress, a plan was proposed to separate the two countries. It was the first time in history that such a partition was taking place on the basis of religion. After the failure of the Cabinet Mission Plan for a unified India on 1946, the British government announced it s ââ¬Ëdefinite intention to take necessary steps to effect the transference of power to responsible Indian hands by a date not later than June 1948.ââ¬â¢ Thus, the British sent their last viceroy, Lord Mountbatten to oversee the partition in of the most volatile regions of the world. The general plan of the partition was that the huge areas of Punjab, Bengal and Assam were to be divided according to the majority of the religion in the area. Therefore, the Muslim majority areas ceded to Pakistan and the Hindu majority areas to India. There were a number of princely states that were given the option to cede to India or Pakistan based on a vote to take into account the wishes of the local population. Kashmir was a Muslim majority state with a Hindu ruler. The ruler Hari Singh was confused as to where he should cede. Meanwhile, Sir Cyrill Radcliffe was sent by the British government to make an exact boundary line to divide the Punjab province now famously referred to as the Radcliffe Award Boundary Commission. According to the commission, the three Muslim majority tehsils of the Gurdaspur district were given to India. This went against the laws, which divided the rest of India. Nonetheless, Hari Singhââ¬â¢s hesitation to cede to either nation was to be the reason for his own tragedy. (Was Kashmir part of one of the tehsils given to India by Radcliffe? If not the last two sentences make, no sense.) With nation building and the formation of a new states came the concept of ââ¬Ënationalism.ââ¬â¢ Nationalism involves the concept of an imagined community by a particular community. It includes certain people in this imagined community and excludes others. India was portioned on the basis ofà religion so they had envisioned what areas came into their respective imagined communities. Unfortunately, they both envisioned Kashmir to be a part of their newly founded nations. As religious nationalism was the basis of the partition of India, it also became a veil to mask the real motives for the fight for Kashmir between the newly independent states of Pakistan and India. Kashmir had a Muslim majority population of 3,101,247 (77.1 %). The first war over Kashmir was fought in 1947 when there was a Poonch uprising in the state against Hari Singh. Pakistan sent in forces to secure the area out of fear that Kashmir would end up going to India. However, against preliminary plans the Paki stani troops ended up trying to invade Srinagar, Kahsmirââ¬â¢s capital. Hari Singh was afraid and made a deal to cede to India if India helped fight Pakistan. The fact that Pakistan and India fight a war over Kashmir a few months after they came into existence provided they had very limited supplies and could hardly stand up on their own as independent countries speaks volumes of the states religious and hidden economic importance. It is pertinent to look back at what Jinnah said to the Kashmiri leaders during the 1947 partition highlighting the decision of Hari Singh. In his speech, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, first governor general of Pakistan said, ââ¬Å"I hope that the Maharaja and the Prime Minister of Kashmir will realize the fast changing circumstances and wisdom demands that the feelings of the Muslims who form eighty percent of the population should not be ignored, much less hurt.ââ¬â¢ Therefore, it you observe closely, Jinnah made the issue of Kashmir, an issue to do with Islam and Muslims. The rhetoric he states in his speech is for a plea to pro tect the wishes of the ââ¬ËMuslimsââ¬â¢ in Kashmir. The civilians in the newly founded Pakistan would also think in the same way about the issue of Kashmir as having to do with Islam and their duty to help their Muslim brothers. The tact of religious nationalism is used as a mask. The very first president of Pakistan used this to make a claim over Kashmir. Therefore, the claim for Kashmir to be part of Pakistan as a religious mission was indeed a pertinent ploy to guarantee the support of civilians of the state. The second war was fought over Kashmir in 1965. After the first war, the British had decided on a plebiscite to take place in Kashmir to decide its fate. India and Pakistan had both initially agreed on this but India went back on its word and occupied Kashmiri territory. Therefore, the 1965 war was fought on the same platform. At the time,à President Ayub Khan was in power in Pakistan, a military dictator and the first of many that the country would see in its short history. The collection of the speeches of the soldier and statesman, organized by Rais Ahmd Jafri shows how he too follows a similar agenda about religious nationalism during his tenure as leader of Pakistan. The first is a speech on 25th August 1961 in Karachi at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs. He states ââ¬Å"The difference between Pakistan and other Muslim countries is that the upsurge in these other Muslim countries is racial, linguistic, territorial, anti-imperialist, anti-colonial and very little religious.â⬠Therefore, we can see that like Jinnah, Ayub Khan preached about the importance of Islam in Pakistan. He tried to inform Pakistanis about the significance of religion in the formation of their state of Pakistan and their role as falg bearers of Islam in the region. In his first broadcast on 1st November 1963, Ayub Khan made another speech in regards to the situation in Kashmir. He stated, ââ¬Å"The government and the people of India know that they have no right to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The world at large knows it. So the proposed integration would only heighten Indiaââ¬â¢s guilt. It would correspondingly heighten our resolve to free our bret hren from their bondage. Those who transgress deceive nobody except themselves.â⬠Looking at this excerpt from this speech, we can see how Ayub Khan was preparing the civilians for another war with India. He claimed Pakistanââ¬â¢s right for Kashmir on the basis of Islam decisively labeling the residents of Kashmir as brothers of the citizens of Pakistan. Kashmir is a Muslim populated area and thus it is Pakistanââ¬â¢s responsibility to free their ââ¬Ëbrethren.ââ¬â¢ Ayub Khan is using religion as a rhetorical force here. With Islam as a mechanism, Pakistanis would believe that they it is their responsibility to God to help other Muslim brothers and support the upcoming war and struggle for Kashmir. Therefore, it is vial to see how Pakistani leaders over time have used religion as a basis to motivate Pakistanis to think that the freedom of Kashmir is their responsibility and thae oppressors of their Kashmiri brotherââ¬â¢s, enemies of Pakistan and Muslims in general. Similarly, India used nationalistic mechanisms and rhetoric to convince civilians and army officers to fight and support the war, while hiding the real economic intentions in regards to Kashmir. The ââ¬Ë1965 War Story- Defense Minister Y.B Chavanââ¬â¢s Diary of India-Pakistan War gives an insight into how the sameà sense of nationalism had influenced Indians during the crisis. On September 20, 1965 Chavan writes in his diary, ââ¬Å" It was not an accident but was shot fown by Pakistani fighter planes near Bhuj. It was surprising that the plane went off the track nearly by 50 miles between Ahmedabad-Mithapur. I hate these Pakistanis.â⬠Therefore, this quote shows a different perspective. It shows the opinion and the thoughts of someone who was at service to India. Hate is a strong word to use, but yet Chavan casually writes it down in his diary. Therefore, nationalistic forces help create animosity. They declare the other side to be the ââ¬Ëenemy.ââ¬â¢ In this case, Pakistanis are bad and they should be hated. This mentality about Pakistanis being the enemy helped the generals and army officers to wage war against Pakistan. It was a way for them to suppor t and fight the war. It is important to see how leaders of the state had brainwashed army officers into listening to the states orders. Most generals and minister did not even know what they were fighting for or what they hoped to achieve. They were simply following orders with hate for the Pakistanis due to the differences that the state had created for them. (This bolded part is very vague and not clear at all. Diaries are suppose to be casual, its his personal diary not a novel. In a state of war the other side is suppose to be the enemy. Maybe you should highlight how the indian government tried to increase nationalism maybe by using religion or the atrocities of the Muslims or some other reason to motivate its forces.) The diary of an Indian war captive in Pakistan shows another similar example of this nationalism effect on the Indians. LT Col SS Chowdhary writes in his personal narrative called, ââ¬ËPrisoner of War,â⬠about his experiences as a captive on enemy soil in the 1965 war. This source is important because it shows the views about Pakistan from an Indian colonel. Unlike the former presidents of Pakistan, Ayub Khan and Muhammad Jinnah, the colonel is not promoting the nationalism that leads to hat red and animosity but he is actually on the side that is getting influenced. He talks about the hatred felt during sport matches between India and Pakistan. He says, ââ¬Å"They would lose to any country but India. So much is their hatred for India.â⬠Therefore, we can see the extent to which people on both sides hate each other. The whole concept of a ââ¬Ëthemââ¬â¢ and and ââ¬Ëusââ¬â¢ is created by nationalism and is the creation of leaders of state to justify war. He goes on to talk about his experience in the reflection stateà when he says, ââ¬Å"A Muslim is generally considered to be cruel and unkind.â⬠Therefore, his experience as a prisoner of war changes his perspective about Muslims. It is important to realize that Hindus and Muslims grow up considering the other to be cruel, unkind and generally ââ¬Ëbad.ââ¬â¢ It is the leaders of the state that carry out this propaganda to meet their own aims and steer the sentiment of the general public in their way. (you should elaborate in this paragraph what created that hate of them and us between the two states, thatââ¬â¢s hat you thesis is about.) Going t hrough examples of both countries, it is visible that religion was the basis of the partition of the subcontinent. However, religious nationalism was used by the states to brainwash the public into hating their respective neighbor. Both India and Pakistan have used religious differences to create hostility within their populations towards the other. This is the clever tactic that was used and is still being used by both countries in order to hide the real reason for fighting over Kashmir. The real purpose is that India and Pakistan both seek to gain economically and strategically from taking over Kashmir. This can easily be seen from the fact that Pakistan lost East Pakistan (Bangladesh). Bangladesh got its independence from Pakistan in 1971. Bangladesh is a Muslim populated area and was a part of Pakistan. The injustices Pakistan inflicted on Bangladesh furthers the case that Pakistan does not care about Muslim brothers. Like other countries, it only seeks to gain economic and strategic advances. Similarly, India also seeks to gain immensely from taking over Kashmir and creates a faà §ade about her sovereign and nationalistic right to take over it. After this part the essay is good! Kashmir is much more than disputed territory. It is a haven for untapped natural resources and land. Geographically, it can be divided into the two states of Jammu and Kashmir encompassing 84,471 square miles. It is the largest state in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. An article about the economic background of Kashmir by S.M Hudda shows us the economic potential of Kashmir and the benefits that both countries could gain if they took over it. Unlike other areas of the world, Kashmir is untapped. It has immense natural resources that have not been exploited. Even the mineral resources of the country are largely unexplored except in Riazi and Jammu. Therefore, both Pakistan and India are developing countries and can use Kashmir to tapà these mineral and natural resources. The article further states that Kashmir has an abundance of water resources. Hydel power could be generated using these water resources. India and Pakistan have extreme power shortages throughout the country and are in need for more power resources. This could solve their problem of power shortages. Therefore, this article provides evidence as to how Kashmir is a haven of untapped natural resources and one of the major reasons that both states are fighting over it. Kashmir also has a unique strategic location. This strategic location could help both countries militarily and economically. Kashmir borders Russia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Thus Kashmir works as a valuable window on these other regional powers. If Pakistan gets Kashmir, it can gain a military advantage over India. It will have a direct route to India and can attack it easily in the advent of war. India would have a similar advantage. The country, which gets a hold of Kashmir, can protect its borders this way. Thus, the national security of Kashmir is vital for the security of both India and Pakistan. Kashmir also maintains a key position as a trading route. It provides a pass to trade with Central Asia. India and Pakistan could gain economically from the exports and imports from this trading route. Sec ondly, another strategic advantage that India and Pakistan both seek to gain is in regards to the water resources. Water is a vital resource for any countryââ¬â¢s self-reliance. Shockingly, the rivers Sindh, Ravi, Jhelum and Chena that flow through India and Pakistan originate in Kashmir. These rivers are important to support the economy of both Pakistan and India. Both countries are agro-based and dominantly depend on agriculture to support them. Therefore, these rivers prove as a lifeline to both countries. Even so, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the first president of Pakistan has been quoted saying that Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan for this very reason. Both countries also fear that if the other gets hold of Kashmir, then they will cut the water supply to the other. Therefore, it is visible that Kashmir has great strategic and economic value to both Pakistan and India. Despite these advantages, India and Pakistan also exploit Kashmir to their benefit. This also proves the claim that both countries have never been interested in protecting the rights of the people and the only interest has been an economic one. An article in the Economic and Political Weekly explores the exploitation of Kashmir by India. It states that India seeks toà gain greatly from Kashmir. The article states, ââ¬Å"Furthermore, though couched in terms of security, this is not a question of security. The real question is that of expansion, security is a way of justifying that expansion in terms that appeal to national sentiments. What is at stake is not a genuine security interest, but the interest of being able to exploit markets and being able to dispose of labor surplus.â⬠Therefore, we can see that India has been exploiting markets in Kashmir for a long time and this is why she wants complete control. Another example of such exploitation is that India shows that it supports and gives aid to Kashmir but actually this leads to more financial burden. The budget deficit of Kashmir was 370 crore rupees and 300 crore were from interest payments from India. Also, India has built a highway linking Jammu and Srinigar . This highway helps India gain security but it also helps them in ââ¬Ëtaking out Kashmirââ¬â¢s timber and other primary products out.ââ¬â¢ Ironically, the money for the highway comes directly from Kashmirââ¬â¢s budget. India is only looking out for its own selfish interest and is completely exploiting its Kashmiri colony. This is why it wants to take complete control of Kashmir. Commercial trade is also another way that India is exploiting Kashmir. India has managed to exert influence and developed free trade with Kashmir. Kashmir has two natural resources: forests and water. There has been extensive deforestation and the wood has been taken out and used for Indian railways. The hydroelectric power plant contracts also go almost entirely to Indian companies. Therefore, India is not capitally investing in Kashmir but is only investing in power generations and transmission so she can better exploit Kashmirââ¬â¢s natural resources. Pakistan has also followed a similar expl oitation method in its colony of Kashmir. It proves the argument that religious nationalism is only part of propaganda that state leaders have made and continue to make to solidify their claim over Kashmir. The people of Azad Kashmir, Pakistanââ¬â¢s colony have sent hundreds of requests to the Pakistani High Commissioner in London to grant them export licenses so they could establish small scale industries in Kashmir. All these requests were not accepted, while Pakistani nationals were given export licenses for machinery. Another example of such exploitation is that there are eight thousand Kashmiri workers living in Britain who send remittances of about a million pounds each month to their families in Kashmir. Ironically, Pakistanis also own most of the banks inà Kashmir. Hence, the Pakistani government earns a huge amount of profits through foreign exchange and invests the money into Pakistan. Like India, Pakistan also exploits the forest reserve of Kashmir. The forest contracts are given to Pakistani nationals who offer much less than Kashmiri nationals. Surprisingly, most of the contracts are given to members of the military service. Pakistan has also prevented the workers to form a union in Kashmir while it has been allowed in Pakistan. Therefore, we can see that Azad Kashmir is a colony like Bangladesh was. Pakistan does not care about her ââ¬ËMuslim brethren.ââ¬â¢ That is the charade they use in order to get complete control of Kashmir so they can gain full economic advantage through exploitation. However, we have seen how nationalism is a newly invented ideology and how powerful it is. States use it to brainwash the public and members of the civil and military sector to hide real intentions. In the case of Kashmir, the issue has not ended since the partition in 1947. The biggest reason for this unending conflict is that both states have used religious nationalism to show the other as the ââ¬Ëenemy.ââ¬â¢ In the case of Pakistan, both former presidents have used Islam as a rhetorical device to convince civilians. In the case of India, the effect of this religious nationalism can be seen on the military officers who are willing to die for the sake of defeating the enemy. However, it is used to hide the underlying objective of both countries- gain economic and strategic advantages. Therefore, whoever seeks to gain Kashmir gains immensely from exploiting its natural resources, market and suppressed laborers? The issue could have been resolved if religious nationalism was put to the side and an economic deal was made between both India and Pakistan. Nonetheless, it shows how state leaders can use nationalism as a tool to herd people to their cause and exploit them in this way.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Effects of Mass Media Essay
What were the major developments in the evolution of mass media during the 20th century? The major developments in the mass media during the 20th century include electronic and digital communication. The first electronic device use for communication was the telegraph, which feature dot-dash signals. Thanks to the telegraph, people did not need to use transportation to deliver a simple message. With the telegraph a message was received in a matter of minutes. The telegraph was the foundation to many other electronic devices like the radio, fax machine, and the cell phone. With the digital era, communication has transformed our way of life. Cable TV and the internet have evolved so quickly that some traditional media have (like the newspaper) have lost their control over information. Other traditional media are also losing ground thanks to the development of emerging media. Media sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Tweeter are attracting more audience than traditional media. Facebook alone has over 1 billion users worldwide and its still growing. With new technology been develop every day, people are more connected than ever before, because of this, business like the post office are losing money every day because people no longer need to write letters, or mail a check to pay for their bills. News can be broadcast almost instantaneously by anyone with a mobile device. Devises like ipads, smart phones, and laptops allowed people to view anything from magazines, news articles, television shows and movies. Read more:Ã Essay on Mass Media Advantages and Disadvantages Most TVs are now been develop with internet and wi-fi connection, so people have a reason to purchase it. The development of mass media will continue to grow and new ways of information will eventually replace the old ones. How did each development influence American culture? The development of mass media has influence American culture in many ways. Before the development of new age technology, American culture way of communication was oral and written. People rely on books, manuscripts, and word of mouth to get information delivered. Even politicians depended on oral and written communication to get the vote of the people. With the development of the telegraph and eventually the radio, in America, people started moving from a farming culture, into a urban life style, where new industries and economic opportunities beckoned. With the development of digital communication, people started taking control over information. Publishers and TV station began losing ground over the control of information as well. With each development, people began to depend on themselves to get the information, rather than relying on teachers, or storytellers. The internet has allowed our culture to do interact in different ways. You can buy anything online, without leaving the house, you can work from home, take college courses and earn your degree, make a video conference, and many other things that could not be done in the past. There are many advantages to the development of mass media in our culture, but it has also disadvantages. I believe that the internet has made people lazier and less responsible. There are people that instead of going to the market to get food, they prefer to order groceries online to get it delivered home. When it comes to education, some students just search for the easy answers available online, instead of taking the time to do the research.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Bridging the Gap
Bridging the Gap January 28, 2014 Poetry of the 17th century is unique because it is of a metaphysical nature and it is deeper in meaning that the courtly love poetry before its time. It focuses on love, death, and loss other than death such as innocence and material possessions. The seemingly imposable things such as the afterlife and Heaven are said to be metaphysical in nature and both subjects are present in the three selected poems for this paper. Ben Jonson exhibits grief upon the loss of his first daughter and his first son in the poems ââ¬Å"On My First Sonâ⬠and ââ¬Å"On My First Daughterâ⬠, but his grief is displayed in different tones.Anne Bradstreet exhibits grief over the loss of her home and all of her material possessions in ââ¬Å"Here Follows Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666â⬠, but her grief turns into a comforting tone as she realizes her true possessions are in Heaven, not on Earth. ââ¬Å"Thou hast a house on high erect, f ramed by that mighty Architect, with glory richly furnishedâ⬠(Ferguson, Salter, & Stallworthy, 2005, p. 467). The three chosen poems deal with loss and grief.The poet of each poem expresses religious beliefs in Heaven and the afterlife and a comforting tone is exhibited for the reader to find comfort in the possibility that a better life exists beyond life on Earth. Ben Jonson was a poet born in 1572 and died in 1637. His work is often considered classical dramatics. His poem ââ¬Å"On My First Sonâ⬠expresses sorrow for the death of his first son. The poem is an elegy which means the poem is a serious reflection and a mournful poem about the dead. This is a twelve line poem with six pairs of rhyming couplets. Line five is the most emotional line. ââ¬Å"O could I lose all father now! â⬠(Ferguson et al. p. 323). Jonson tries to see death as an escape from the world. There is a calmer tone later in the poem as the poet is speaking in a more positive mood, seeing his son as his finest creation. The poem is written from the 17th century England and childhood illnesses were often fatal. Hospitals, vaccinations against diseases, antibiotics and treatments were unknown during that time. Many children did not live very long. When they died, parents reacted to their death in a different manner than people in current society react to the death of a child. The poem is delivered in rhyming lines called couplets and it is addressed to the dead son.Metaphor is present when Jonson refers to his son as being lent to him. For seven years. ââ¬Å"Seven years thou wert lent to me, and I thee pay exacted by thy fate, on the just dayâ⬠(Ferguson et al. , p. 323). Jonson believes that all life is a gift from God, and now God is taking back his child at a young and tender age of seven. As Jonson grieves over his son, he also shows the reader how death is something to be envied. Perhaps death is something to look forward to. This feeling is explained in lines s even and eight when Jonson states ââ¬Å"To have so soon scoped worldââ¬â¢s and fleshââ¬â¢s rage, and, if no other miser, yet ageâ⬠(Ferguson et al. p. 323). An escape from the turmoil that one encounters throughout life is escaped by death. Jonson also vows to not become too attached or to love someone too much in the future so he will not feel so much pain again. Jonson also wrote ââ¬Å"On My First Daughterâ⬠which is an elegy about his first daughter who died at the age of six months old. In this poem, Jonson believes nothing lasts forever and death is inevitable. Written in the 17th century, childhood death was not uncommon. Jonson delivers sadness as well as a feeling of comfort and belief that the poetââ¬â¢s baby girl is in Heaven.A hidden message in this poem is that death is not the final destination. The religious thoughts throughout the poem offer peace and comfort about death and the afterlife. ââ¬Å"Yet all Heavenââ¬â¢s gifts being Heavenââ¬â¢s dueâ⬠(Ferguson et al. , p. 323) insinuates that nothing lasts forever and death is inevitable. Jonson sees his daughterââ¬â¢s death as if she belongs to God and now God has taken her back. This twelve line poem contains six pairs of rhyming couplets. Lines three and four demonstrate a rationalization of the death as well as the ability for Jonson to overcome his emotions more than a woman could. Yet all heavenââ¬â¢s gifts being Heavenââ¬â¢s due, it makes the father less to rueâ⬠(Ferguson et al. , p. 323). He also finds comfort in knowing he lost his daughter to death with her innocence intact. Because she died with her innocence, there is a special honor of believing she in honored in Heaven and Jonson finds comfort in the sad event of his daughterââ¬â¢s death. Jonson uses rationalism in his poems as he reasons with the death of his children. ââ¬Å"On My First Daughterâ⬠has a different attitude and delivery from the attitude and delivery regarding his sonââ¬â¢s death in ââ¬Å"On My First Sonâ⬠.He appears to accept his daughterââ¬â¢s death with less grief than his acceptance of his sonââ¬â¢s death. The length of time he had with his daughter and his son could also determine the tone he took in each poem. He could have bonded with his 7-year-old son as where he did not bond with the 6-month-old daughter. He does however find comfort in believing both children are in Heaven and free from pain. He believes Heaven is a better place than living on Earth. Anne Bradstreet, born in 1612 and died in 1672, is the 17th century Puritan author of ââ¬Å"Here Follows Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1616â⬠.Her subjects within her poems were home, life, relationships, living, sorrow, and grief. Her faith and values are apparent throughout the poem. The rhyming of every two lines allows the reader to process the words before going to the next two lines. The nine six-line stanzas are written in plain style. The Puritan in Bradstreet preferred a plain style of writing that rarely included figurative language. She stressed simplicity, clarity of expression, the use of everyday words, and the implied metaphor even though most of her images and words are literal throughout her poem.The context of Bradstreetââ¬â¢s poem is the 17th century Puritan colonies in North America. The theme of the poem is that materials possessions are worthless and the only thing that is worthy is going to Heaven in the afterlife. The reader takes a journey through the descriptions of Bradstreetââ¬â¢s possessions before her true feelings are revealed regarding loss, material possessions, and a personââ¬â¢s salvation in Heaven. There are obvious sentence inversions to accommodate the demands of rhyme. This is present in the first line of the poem ââ¬Å"In silent night when rest I took for sorrow near I did not lookâ⬠(Ferguson et al. p. 466). The speaker becomes aware of her house burning down and s he informs her readers about the material objects in a material world. Pain and loss are explored while memories and fantasies about her home are revealed. ââ¬Å"No pleasant tale shall eââ¬â¢er be told, nor things recounted done of oldâ⬠(Ferguson et al. , p. 467). The statement reveals a woman mourning the material loss while also mourning the lost years of an imagined future in her house. The turning point in the poem occurs when the speaker is finished grieving over the ruins of her home.She begins to realize that she should focus on her home in Heaven and the beautiful afterlife she will have rather than her home on Earth. The last two lines of the poem express to the reader how the speaker truly feels. ââ¬Å"My world no longer let me love, my hope and treasure lies aboveâ⬠(Ferguson et al. , p. 467). Bradstreet, like Jonson, finds comfort in believing in the afterlife and having faith that Heaven is where good and Holy people will spend eternity. Heaven, in both authorââ¬â¢s beliefs, is a better place than living on Earth.The gift of Heaven through good works was a common belief during the 17th century. Jonson and Bradstreet both suffered a great loss. Jonson lost two children to death while Bradstreet lost her home and all of her possessions to a fire. They both grieved over their loss but in a different way. The end of each poem confirms the authorââ¬â¢s religious beliefs that Heaven and the afterlife are better than life here on Earth. References Ferguson, M. , Salter, M. J. , & Stallworthy, J. (Eds. ). (2005). The Norton anthology of poetry (5th ed. ). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Myth Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Myth Analysis - Essay Example In that context, Ramayana not only makes an interesting story but also facilitates much guidance to one in the path of righteous behavior. Perhaps, that is why the Hindu religion attributes such a huge importance to this epic. Ramayana not only sheds much light on how a family man ought to lead life and face the hardships one comes across in the sphere of oneââ¬â¢s duties as a family man and a public figure, but also has an undeniable spiritual aspect associated with it. Thereby, the concept of Dharma that is of prime relevance in this epic needs to be analyzed and understood so as to have a deep insight into the spirit of Ramayana. As per the Hindu theology, the human intellect and reason face immense challenges from the distractions and deviations created by the five senses. These senses give way to afflictive emotions like anger, greed, lust, attachment and arrogance which deflect a person from the rightful duties expected from one as a social and spiritual being (Narayan 85). Wrapped amidst this anger, greed, lust, attachment and arrogance, it is imperative that each sphere of the human life is defined in the light of an order of actions and duties that lead to the maximum fulfillment of the human life in this world and in the next world (Narayan 85). Thereby, Dharam happens to be a well defined order of actions and duties imposed on the human being as a worldly and spiritual being, enjoined on one so that one could lead a fulfilled and socially constructive life. At least, this is the essence of Dharma in the Indian epic Ramayana. In the light of this definition it needs to be understood that the Hindu rel igion accrues varied duties to an individual towards oneââ¬â¢s parents, wife, children and other family members in a hierarchical order that collectively constitute the Dharma or the righteous behavior expected of an individual. In that context, propriety towards oneââ¬â¢s parents and the king command a
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Debate Critiques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Debate Critiques - Essay Example For instance, the advantages of ethical obligations such as rise in market share, increase in market value, higher sales improved sales, lower employee turnover, and cost control are all explained with sufficient data obtained from previous researches. Furthermore, this presentation entices sufficient thought in the readerââ¬â¢s mind about possible negative impact of multinational corporations, which is also explained in this presentation. Another scoring point in Team Aââ¬â¢s presentation is that it explains the potential negative impact of absence of ethical obligations by explaining what kind of impact multinational companies can have on the economy, country, and environment if they did not have any ethical obligations towards these entities. The main strengths of presentation by Team B include its succinctness and reader-friendly approach. This presentation highlights the most important points related to the kind of ethical obligations that multinational corporations have. Further, it highlights the ethical considerations multinational companies have kinds of impact ethical obligations can have such as employment practices, workplace conditions, environmental impact, local customs, and ethics. However, this presentation does not provide any information related to experimental evidences. Another weakness in Team Bââ¬â¢s presentation is in its flow and presentation of information, which could have been better as it covered almost same information as Team A, but without any experimental evidence. Although information here is not irrelevant, the relevance of information presented is not established. Lack of support from experimental evidence presents this as a weaker presentation. The main strengths of Team Aââ¬â¢s presentation include its presentation style, logic, and flow, and link to experimental evidence. Every point made in this presentation has been clearly explained and
Measuring the reactions of the enzymes catecholase in different levels Lab Report
Measuring the reactions of the enzymes catecholase in different levels of pH in different tempereture - Lab Report Example Temperature rise of about 10oC normally doubles or triples the rate of enzymatic reactions. However beyond the optimum temperature the enzyme activity decreases. If catecholase activity is minimally affected at different temperatures and pH then it can be hypothesized that it has a large range of optimal activity. The aim of this experiment was to test the effect of temperature and pH on the enzymatic activity of catecholase. The effect of catecholase enyme at different temperatures, 0 and 37oC were tested at different levels of pH 2, 4, 7 and 12. Three tubes for each pH were set up and labelled A, B and C. To three tubes in each pH 3ml of the pH solution was added and 2ml of banana extract (substrate). To two tubes 1ml of the enzyme (potato extract) was added while the third tube the enzyme was not added and acted as the control. The test tubes were then shaken and put in the appropriate temperature and the optical density measured after three minutes. The reaction rate was the highest at all temperatures at pH 7. At room temperature the reaction rate was the highest in the tube without the enzyme. pH 4 and 12 had the lowest reaction rates at all temperatures. The reaction rates were highest between 0oC and room temperature in the presence of catecholase and lowest at 0oC without the enzyme. Catechol oxidase (catecholase) is a polyphenol oxidase enzyme present in many plants (Aniszewski et al. 2008). It is responsible for catalysing the reaction between oxygen and hydroxylated benzenes leading to the production of quinines and water. The enzyme mediated reaction rate was the highest at physiological pH and at temperatures between zero and room temperature. This shows that the enzyme has a large range of optimal temperatures. However, it has a narrow range of optimal pH. The narrow pH range during which catecholase activity was the highest is due to the effect of pH on the redox
Monday, August 26, 2019
The Port Authority Trans Hudson (P.A.T.H.) Term Paper
The Port Authority Trans Hudson (P.A.T.H.) - Term Paper Example By the close of the 2011 fiscal year, the ridership had risen to over 250, 000 (Carleton 4) There are a number of rail services in the country, which exists independently, in New Jersey, Manhattan, and Hoboken, the PATH uses underground rail networks, this allows for convenience and reduces the chances of accidents as the train rapid train services travels at speed exceeding 200kilometer per hour. As the rail system approaches the New York city, its rail system crosses or runs adjacent to other independently existing rail service providers such as the New York city subway. Despite the closeness of the rails or the crossing patterns of the rail system, PATH uses only its rail system without overlapping or running on other companyââ¬â¢s system. Currently the PATH has grown and increased its infrastructure to sustain the current statistics of ridership and intercity connections. This is a reflection of effective management and infrastructural transformations successfully implemented by the port authority during its take over in the 19590s. PATH originally known as Hudson and Manhattan Railroad dates back to before the first New York subway the railroad was first planned in 1874. In the plan, the railroad was to connect New York and New Jerseys while passing through such adjacent neighborhoods as Hudson. The construction could not take effect as the available infrastructure could not effectively tunnel the railroad below the Hudson River. The construction began in 1890 but stopped again in 1900 as the company ran out of funds. When the company through the help of a young Tennessee lawyer, William Gibbs McAdoo secured the funding in 1992, the construction resumed but the company had to change tact as McAdoo became the chief executive officer of the rail system. He called for the application of better technology in the construction of the underground tunnels; the constructor therefore employed the use of tubular cast iron plating. Te tubular cast iron had higher t ensile force and could therefore resist more tension than the compact wrought iron that the company had previously used. The construction of underground rail required a lot of precaution, at some places the ground was soft and readily gave way burying the workers. The company had to take act cautiously while employing the best technology that could safeguard the million plus travelers who would eventually use the system. The rail system was guided by the need to secure the safety of both the passengers and the rest of the society. The company therefore needed to minimize incidents of accidents; this informed the idea of either underground or over ground networks. In the neighborhoods of Grove Street in Jersey City all the way to Newark, the rail system runs at ground level and in raised trucks (Davies 166). The choice of what type of rail to use at the different places was informed by the complexity of the areaââ¬â¢s planning. The Groove street was already populated by the time t he rail network was laid, it thus become impossible to displace the people and destroy the buildings, furthermore, the ground is a wetland which proved cumbersome to navigate and install the underground tunnels. The first train journey took place in 1907 between Hoboken and the 19th street. The management at the time lived through some
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Interpreting and Applying Legislation Assignment
Interpreting and Applying Legislation - Assignment Example [1 mark] 2. What is the legal duty placed on employees to take care of their own health and safety while they are working? Refer to the relevant section of the Act in your answer. (Summarise in to your own words ââ¬âNo more than 50 words) Section 19(a) of Public act 1992 describes how the act applies to employees. Employees are expected to ensure their own safety by having protective clothing and equipment, while Section 19(b) seeks to protect other people from employeesââ¬â¢ action or in action. [1mark] 3. What is the meaning of the word ââ¬Ëhazardââ¬â¢ under the HSEA? Section 2 of the public act 1992 provide the definition of hazard as an activity, arrangement, circumstance, event, occurrence, phenomenon, process, situation, or substance (whether arising or caused within or outside a place of work) that is an actual or potential cause or source of harm; subparagraph (i) and (ii) validates this definition as; (i)à A situation where a person's behaviour may be an actua l or potential cause or source of harm to the person or another person; and (ii)à Without limitation, a situation described in subparagraph (i) resulting from physical or mental fatigue, drugs, alcohol, traumatic shock, or another temporary condition that affects a person's behaviour. [1 mark] 4. ... The act guides and safeguard people in there place of work against indemnification and help meet international standards. 5. Why is it important to know what the ââ¬Ëpurposeââ¬â¢ of an Act is when trying to understand it? (Hint: Refer to relevant sections of The Interpretation Act 1999 in your answer). Section 5(1) of the interpretation Act 1999 submits that acts are to be interpreted according to their purpose. Purpose is therefore important for clear understanding and interpretation of an act. [1 mark] 6. What is the meaning of ââ¬Ësignificant hazardââ¬â¢ and what is an employer legally required to do when a significant hazard is identified. Refer to the relevant sections of the Act in your answer. (Provide the definition and then summarise the legal obligations in to your own words ââ¬âNo more than 50 words) A significant hazard is a hazard that can result to serious occupational illness. Section 8 prescribes that employers have a role of eliminating significant ha zard to employees. If it cannot be eliminated, section 9 requires the employer to isolate it from the employees. If elimination and isolation are impracticable, then significant hazard must be minimised (section 10). [1 mark] 7. Where do you find the list of injuries and illnesses that constitute ââ¬Ëserious harmââ¬â¢? Give two examples of serious harm. Scheduleà 1 HSE Act 1992 Example of Serious harm; Amputation of body part. Loss of consciousness, or acute illness requiring treatment by a medical practitioner, from absorption, inhalation, or ingestion, of any substance. [1 mark] 8. What is an employer required to do where there has been a serious harm illness or injury? Refer to the relevant section of the Act in your answer. (Summarise in to your own words ââ¬âNo more than 50
Saturday, August 24, 2019
OPEC's Failure in the 1980s Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
OPEC's Failure in the 1980s - Essay Example The oil market of the early 1980's saw supply increase as producers found the higher price was worth the opportunity cost to produce more (Tucker, 63). Consumers, willing to conserve at those same high prices, decreased consumption and OPEC was forced to obey the Law of Supply and Demand while its diminished market share neutralized the cartel effect. OPEC, formed in 1960, had seen steadily falling value in a barrel of oil until key events of the 1970's reversed that trend. Arab solidarity in response to Israel's involvement in the Yom Kippur war of 1973 triggered an oil embargo on nations supporting Israel. OPEC's ability to act in concert while controlling a large percentage of the supply resulted in a market shortage. Consumers were immediately faced with few, if any, practical product alternatives. However, new producers entered the market to produce in locations that were now profitable at these prices. The North Sea began production and the Soviet Union peaked at 12 million barrels per day making it, a non-OPEC member, the world's top producer ("Supply"). The high price also made new technologies feasible that would have not been economical at the lower prices. These forces combined to increase supply. Consumers also reacted by reducing consumption.
Friday, August 23, 2019
Leadership in strategy formulation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Leadership in strategy formulation - Assignment Example .As the headline itself suggest, the article is an effort to emphasise the crucial role of leadership in strategy formulation and implementation. It has been pointed out that ââ¬Ëstrategyââ¬â¢ as such has undergone a change over the years and in todayââ¬â¢s context the market forces play a key role in influencing strategy formulation.It has also been stated that, ââ¬Å"â⬠¦.Strategy must be a dynamic tool for guiding the development of a company over timeâ⬠. This implies that strategist must be constantly on the watch regarding the process of implementation. In addition, in order to come out with desired results, the strategists must also monitor the policies being adopted by companies in the competition. Michel Porter, suggested that a company could gain sustainable competitive advantage provide it follows any of the three generic strategies, namely; If the company is able to become the lowest cost producer of the product or service in the industry and is able to e ffectively pass it on to the customers, then it can very well acquire the cost leadership. To support the argument Montgomery has cited the example of Ryan air, a successful low cost airline. Ryan air started off as a full service airliner priced at less than half the fares of rival companies, but soon realised that in order to make inroads into the customer base of rival companies it has to do something innovative on prices front, and thus converted to no-frills, low cost airline. Product or Service Differentiation: The article too emphasises the importance of product differentiation in order to be able to do successful business, gain profitability and establish a brand identity. Montgomery points out that this has been possible with the infusion of economics into strategy formulation. In this strategy, companies try out efforts to offer some pleasant surprises to the customer. Some innovative features are added to the product or service so that the customer could perceive some uniqueness in the product or service. Montgomery cites the example of IBM, when its CEO solicited views from the employees of IBM on; If our company disappeared tonight, how different would the world be tomorrow Is there something about our company that makes a unique contribution to the world The article further emphasises that, "It (strategy) has become more about formulation than implementation and more about getting the idea right at the outset than living with strategy over time". This statement depicts the dynamic and evolutionary nature of strategy formulation. The rapid pace, with which changes are taking place, makes it pertinent on the part of the strategists that they should formulate the strategy in such a manner that it can deliver the optimum benefits to the company the very first time itself. Because, once the strategy is known to competitors, they are bound to come out with a counter-strategy. As has been elaborated in the article itself that while gaining depth, the strategy has lost breadth, which implies that the strategy has become more focused towards its objective/s. 2. How do these three current views of strategy - the RBV(resource-based view), strategy positioning and emergent theory - fit with Montgomery's idea that strategy must be a "dynamic tool "and needs to be "lived with over time". Three current views of strategy include, the Resource Based View (RBV), strategy positioning and emergent theory. RBV is a method for analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the company. Such a view helps in explaining the competitive edge of the company based on the resources and capabilities of the company. For the purpose of RBV analysis, resources for a company can be classified in three broad categories, namely tangible assets, intangible assets and organisational capabilities. Positioning of the strategy is another crucial aspect which determines the success or failure of the strategy. It is
Thursday, August 22, 2019
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Essay Example for Free
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Essay Over the last few lessons in drama we have been working on a number of tasks to do with Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire. These tasks involved using movement as well as words; some were naturalistic and others were much more abstract. Our first task was to walk like different characters from the play, focusing on the way they used certain parts of their body to show their personalities. First we had to walk like Stanley. Most of us walked with a confident swagger, sticking our chests or pelvises out to indicate his masculine pride. When we were asked to sit down in character, we sat back in a relaxed manner, opening our legs and perhaps loosely crossing our arms or draping them over the back of our chair, indicating total self-assuredness. Next we were asked to play Blanche. I decided to portray her as a fidgety person, constantly smoothing her clothes, fixing her hair or touching her face, to show her insecurities and lack of confidence. I also walked with short, dainty steps, to show how fragile and slight she is. When we sat down, I leaned forward slightly, with my shoulders slightly hunched, to show her vulnerability. Finally we were asked to portray Stella standing upright, slightly tense as if waiting to heed to Stanleys latest demands and Mitch big, awkward, slightly more hunched and less confident-looking than Stanley. After this task, we were asked to depict Stanley and Blanche as animals. For Stanley, nearly everyone acted like a wolf or a fox strong, territorial, sly, always hunting and watching. For Blanche, I chose to act like a small bird, which would preen and look pretty but would be fidgety and nervous and would fly away when frightened. Our next task was to get into groups and act out scenes taking place before the play begins, which would reveal something interesting about our characters. I was in a group with Emily, and we were told to act out a scene from when Blanche and Stella still lived at Belle Reve. Emily played Stella and I played Blanche. Our scene began with Blanche climbing through the window of the room she shares with Stella, late at night. Stella, who has been studying, admonishes her for being so late and tells her how worried she has been. Blanche, who has been drinking but claims she limits herself to one, has just met a young man who reads poetry, who, as we know, will later commit suicide. It is revealed that Stella is the clever sister, who has the potential to make something of herself, and Blanche is the wilder, worldlier sister who relies on her beauty to have fun. This explains why Stella left Belle Reve and had the ability to get a husband and a home of her own, and why Blanche was left be hind, unwilling to grow up and surrender her beauty. Millie and Genna also played Blanche and Stella at Belle Reve. Their scene involved Blanche taking Stella out on the town for the first time. Blanche is very domineering and worldly, and Stella is naà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ve and nervous about the shortness of her dress. Stella wears white, showing her innocence, and Blanche wears red, showing her corrupted virtue. Jack and Owen played Mitch and Stanley. They gave Mitch a deep personality, having him hint about wanting to settle down with a wife and worrying about his mother. They also showed Stanleys love for Stella, as he talks about her in a very loving and tender way to Mitch. Next Felix and Flick, playing Stanley and Stella, showed how Stella was very like Blanche when she first met Stanley, unused to this more working class environment, yet being excited by Stanleys attentions. Finally, Angelika and Hugo, playing Stella and Stanley, show Stella as being naà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ve and Stanley being mysterious and inquisitive, trying to figure her out . In our next task we did Hot Seating. One by one, we were asked questions in character about our views on different events in the play. I chose to be Eunice, because although she is not a main character in the play, she is good friends with Stella and her husband is friends with Stanley, and she lives in the flat above them, so she would have a very clear idea of what life would be like for them. I chose to give her the opinion that Stanleys hitting Stella isnt good, but is acceptable, and is just a part of marriage that cannot be avoided. I was particularly impressed by Emilys portrayal of Stella after having her sister taken away. She made it clear that Stella was heartbroken, and although she claimed to believe Stanley, she let on that she had no choice but to believe him. I also liked Alex as Blanche, gushing and acting pleasant and sweet to try and cover up her past, but when difficult questions were brought up her act fell and she would refuse to talk about it. Our final task was to act out the scene where Blanche has been stood up by Mitch on her birthday and use freeze-frames to mark the most important moments in that the scene. I was in a group with Felix and Alex. Felix played Stanley, Alex played Blanche and I played Stella. The moments we marked were: Stanley throwing plates off the table; Stella and Stanley on the porch with Blanche on the phone, trying to reach Mitch; Stanley giving Blanche a ticket back to Laurel; and Stella going into labour. For each of our important moments, we froze in position for four seconds, before doing an action and moving onto the next moment. There were subtle differences between each groups piece; instead of using an action, as we did in ours, Millie, Flick and Jack used an important line of text in each of their moments, which I found very effective. Although I found these tasks challenging (especially as I knew we were on camera), I enjoyed interpreting different characters in new ways. I also worked with different people to whom I normally would, which was a good experience and made me enthusiastic and eager to work with them again in future lessons.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Evaluation of Training Essay Example for Free
Evaluation of Training Essay The evaluation of training identifies the extent to which the program has succeeded in enhancing the knowledge or skill-set of the participants. Kilpatrickââ¬â¢s model of training evaluation identifies four levels of evaluation: trainee reaction, participantââ¬â¢s learning, behavioral change, and impact on business. The major tools of training evaluation include interviews, questionnaires and surveys, observations and secondary data, and pre and post assignments or tests. The emerging trend is empowered evaluation, or making participants responsible for the evaluation. Introduction: Objectives of Training Evaluation The broad objective of evaluating training is to measure the effectiveness of the program in relation to the enhancement of knowledge or skills and the application of such skills and knowledge at work by the participants. The secondary objective of evaluating training is to improve future editions of the program in terms of modules, facilities, and contextual factors. The evaluation of training also helps identify the factors that help and hinder effective training of individuals and provide a guide map for support the participant requires at work The successful evaluation of a training program depends on application of the correct objectives while designing the evaluation exercise and the correct feedback from the participants in relation to the inputs received from the trainer. Kilpatrickââ¬â¢s Model of Training Evaluation Donald L Kilpatrick of the University of Wisconsin proposed four levels of evaluation. The first level of Kilpatrickââ¬â¢s model is seeking trainee reaction, or the participant feelings regarding the training experience. The instruments used to capture such reaction include post-survey questionnaires or feedback forms and verbal reactions of the participants during the conclusion of the training program. Some of the common questions included in such surveys include whether the participants enjoyed the training, whether they considered the training relevant, whether they liked the venue, style, timings and the like, their opinion on the ease and comfort of the experience, and the like. The answers to such questions could be in either an open-ended format or a series of multiple-choice options. This level of evaluation is easy to obtain and analyze and takes place immediately after the training ends. It gives a broad and general indication regarding the success or failure of the training program. The second level of Kilpatrickââ¬â¢s evaluation model focuses on the participants learning, and measures the whether the desired skill and knowledge enhancements have taken place. The measures in this level indicate the extent of advancement or change in the intended direction or area. The common measurement instruments for this factor include pre and post training tests or assignments and interviews. The success of evaluation however depends on the establishment of a reliable and clear scoring measurement scale. The third level of Kilpatrickââ¬â¢s evaluation model focuses on measuring behavior change, or the extent of application of the acquired knowledge or the implementation of acquired skills on the job. The evaluation of this factor depends on any noticeable and measurable change in the activity and performance of the participants when they return to their job roles after the training, and on whether such changes are sustained or temporary. The evaluation also extends to measuring whether the participants could transfer their learning to others and whether they are aware of their change in behavior, knowledge, skill level. The common evaluation tools for such measures include ongoing observation and interview over time. The use of 360-degree feedback is a convenient tool to measure performance on a continuous basis. The measures required at this level are not easy to quantify and arbitrary snapshot assessments and subjective ratings often hamper successful evaluation at this level. The fourth level of evaluation in Kilpatrickââ¬â¢s model is measuring business results, or the effects of the training on the business or environment. The measures would typically be business or organizational key performance indices such as volumes, values, percentages, timescales, return on investment, staff turnover, quality ratings, achievement of standards and accreditations. Most of such measures would already be in place as part of the normal management reporting systems. Organizations traditionally focused on the first two levels of evaluation. In recent years, the third and fourth levels have also become common points of evaluation. The Process of Training Evaluations The process of conducting the training evaluation depends on the objective of evaluation, or the level of evaluation required. The instruments used to measure of participantââ¬â¢s reaction to the program and their acquisition of knowledge and skills need to be devised prior to the program and administered to the participants immediately after the program concludes. The evaluation of the behavioral change or the application of the acquired knowledge and skills to the job and measuring their impact on the business is complicated and a sustained effort. The various tools to evaluate such measures, such as interviews, questionnaires, 360-degree appraisals, feedback from supervisors, secondary data, observations and the like need to be structured and phased over a period of time, and the results compared with the previous data and the intended objectives of the training program. Conclusion The latest concept in training evaluation is empowered evaluation, wherein participants improve their programs themselves through self-evaluation and reflection. The responsibility for evaluation in this model rests with the participants and professional agency or entity conducting the training on a collective basis, and the process of evaluation necessitate cooperation, collaboration, and sharing of resources. References Goodstein, J. Goodstein, L. D. (1991). A Matrix for Evaluating Training in The 1991 Annual: Developing Human Resources (pg: 184). San Deigo: University Associates.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Effects of Late Procurement for Specialist Subcontractors
Effects of Late Procurement for Specialist Subcontractors 1.1. Overview This dissertation sets out to explore the various reasons why there are delays in the subcontractor procurement process in UK Construction Industry. The dissertation will be focusing on purely the private sector of the industry and determining what effects the late procurement can have on the project, both in terms of the commercial and programme implications. The procurement process in construction begins with the client tendering the project to the main contractors. This dissertation will not focus on this element of the procurement process and will in turn focus purely on the procurement of the specialist subcontractor trades. A specialist subcontractor is defined as a contractor appointed to carry out activities in the development of a built asset that involve specialist construction knowledge and skills, (Specialist Sub-contractor, 2016) The reason for this topic is due to the working environment in which the author current works, the author is a project manager in the glazing facade industry working on major projects in the UK construction industry. The issues surrounding late procurement has been disused both on sites and in the academic environment for many years and links have been made between the number of claims for delay and variations, and the pre-construction process (Mosey, 2009). Benefits of early procurement can include the ability to value engineer solutions, correct design co-ordination, review more sustainable solutions and many more. 1.2. Hypothesis The research will demonstrate that late procurement can harm more than the programme on a project, it will show that late procurement can affect the design and quality of the project. The evidence will also show the negative effects that late procurement can have on the BREAM status of a building/ project and sustainability. 1.3. Null Hypothesis Late procurement has no effect on the project in any way. 1.4. Aims To explore the various types of procurement in the private UK Construction Industry To determine what classes as late procurement and understand the main and most common reasons for late procurements To evaluate what are the benefits to late and early procurement in terms of the key project requirements; Time Quality Cost. BREAM/Sustainability An additional aim to the dissertation, if sufficient time and resources are available. What can be done to improve the procurement processes 1.5. Objectives Read up on the various different procurement methods and strategies and understand which are relevant to the UK construction industry. Interview 4 to 5 individuals from different sectors of the UK construction industry. Speak to various levels of the construction industry project delivery team to understand the effects they believe early and late procurement can have on the industry. Questionnaires will be sent out to the following parties. Main Contractor Project Directors * Main Contractor Senior Procurement managers Main Contractor Senior Quantity Surveyors Main Contractor Project Managers / Package Managers * Main Contractor Site Managers Main Contractor Design Managers Architects * Specialist Sub-Contract Directors* Specialist Sub-Contract Project Managers* * Indicates the various project members which interviews will be completed with. 2.1. Introduction The initial literature review will explore the various documents which have been reviewed against each aim. This will highlight where there is a vast amount of literature available and where alternative options have had to be used, as set out in the objectives previously. A literature review (also called literature research study or literature survey) groups relevant ideas and evidence from secondary sources into a logical flow, addressing significance and understanding. (Laycock, Howarth, Watson, 2016) 2.2. The various stages of the procurement process Before the procurement process can be understood the term procurement needs to be understood. Dr Denise Bower stated that procurement is the term used to describe the overarching process of the identification, selection and acquisition of civil engineering services and materials, their transport, the execution or implementation; and subsequent project performance. (Bower, 2003). As in any project, there are various elements which need to be procured, in construction these different elements tend to be larger and require sub-contractors to be procured on various different contracts to manage the design, supply and installation of the various elements. The acquisition of the various trade will be linked to the programme, the type of procurement and contract which is being used. One of the first thing which must be created is the Project Execution Plan (PEP), the PEP sets out how the project which has been defined in the strategic brief will be procured (Morledge Smith, 2013). The PEP is directly linked to the procurement approach which can be dictated by the constraints of the project or by the client. As mentioned, the procurement process is directly linked to the programme, for both on and off site. The programme as a whole is linked to the construction process which is stipulated by British Standards BS 6079-1:2010, which is titled, Project management. Principles and guidelines for the management of projects. There are various different stages to the construction process and this is clearly depicted in Figure 1. Figure 1typical stages of a Construction Project (Harris McCaffer, 2013) The British Standard for procurement policies, strategies and procedures are under BS 8532:2011. This document provides the backbone for the procurement division in the UK construction industry. The document states that it gives recommendations and guidance on the development within a public or private sector organization of policies, strategies and procedures for the procurement of construction in the built environment. (British Standards Institution, 2011). Figure 2 portrays a decision structure for which forms of procurement should be used, the structure highlights the main frequently used forms of procurement in the construction sector. Figure 2 Identifying the Procurement process (British Standards Institution, 2011) 2.3. What classes as late procurement Late procurement in its simplest terms can be explained as when the procurement process chosen does not leave enough time to complete the programme to meet all three demands of the performance triangle as shown in Figure 3. Majority of specialist subcontractors packages are design and build. This means that if there is a delay in the procurement process it is the offsite period which is effected as the end date on a construction project rarely moves, unless the delay is due to the client. Figure 3 The Performance triangle Cost, Performance/Quality, time A Design and Build contract is a single source approach in the sense that, generally, the eventual contractor takes on single-point responsibility to develop the entire design and deliver the works according to the clients requirement (Bower, 2003). A reduced design period makes design coordination between the different trades, especially in the specialist works, where the original intent by the clients architect may not adhere to CDM and building regulation. Late procurement in complex projects could be classed as a lot earlier than in the more standard buildings. A complex project can be classed as a project where it is not a standard structure or a repeated building such a chain hotel etc. Banwells report from 1964 stated that specialist consultants, some of whom may infact also be specialist contractor, should be brought in at the earliest stage as full members of a design team (Banwell, 1964). Obviously the precise period when procurement can be classed as early and when it can be classed as late is debateable and will come down to a commercial decision from the main contractor. 2.4. The positive effects early procurement can have on a project The discussion over the benefits of early procurement / contractor involvement has been discussed for over 50 years, Banwell report 1964. In 1998 the Egan report was publish and this was the turning point for the construction industry as he recommended a radical rethink, it was this report which lead to the creation of the Construction Industry Council (CIC). The Construction Industry Council (CIC) is the representative forum for the professional bodies, research organisations and specialist business associations in the construction industry. (Construction Industry Council 2017, 2017) David Mosey looked into this subject in a great deal, he stated that, a procurement model which omits contactor and specialist design contributions can increase risk and can result in poor communications between team members, unnecessary delays to progress of the project and the creation of incorrect information that leads to claims and disputes. (Mosey, 2009). This outlook is in line with many other academics, the JCT CE guide also states that, It is important that contractors and any key specialists are engaged early, ideally at a stage when the proposed design is not complete so that it is possible for the contractor and key specialists to consider ways in which the design can be made easier to build and maintain (JCT CE Guide, 2006). Design consultants are also in favour of this approach, the CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and Information Association) interviewed John Hayward, director of Mott MacDonald in 1998. He was quoted as stating Our preferred approach, particularly on more complex projects, is to select the contractor who will construct the project at concept stage. The primary objective is optimise buildability and thus improve delivery against time and cost criteria, (CIRIA, 1998). By engaging contractors and specialist contractors at an early stage allows the creation of improved details which follow the build sequence as well as reduce build costs on site for re visits etc. The early involvement approach reduces the focus on the client. The design and built contract relies on the client expressing a clear performance brief at the outset and leaving the main contactor to determine its own means to complete the project in line with the required cost, time an quality parameters. (Mosey, 2009). The client would normally employ their own design team, architects etc, to generate this clear brief, by engaging a core team of specialist contractors this brief can be specifics and accurtate regarding specifications and details. This will reduce and remove some of the off-site time once a contractor is appointed as the brief should be transparent to both to contractor and the subcontractors tendering for the various packages. 3.1. Introduction This chapter will discuss and evaluate the proposed methods which will be undertaken in the research of the dissertation. The different research methods have been carefully chosen by the author based on the title and topic environment. 3.2. Research Paradigms A paradigm, in business, is a model of something, or a very clear and typical example of something (Cambridge Dictionary, 2017). Even though paradigms have increased through the raise in social media, there are still mainly two, Positivism and Anti-positivism. The third paradigm which will be considered in this research is critical theory. (Dr. Nirod K. Dash, June 2005) Positivism, in philosophy, adheres to the view that only factual knowledge gained through observation, including measurement, is trustworthy. (Dudovskiy, Positivism Research Philosophy, 2017) This is a very scientific approach and relies on fact and data rather than thoughts and opinions. Anti-Positivism can also be referred to as interpretive sociology or interpretivist. This is when the researcher interprets the elements of the study and uses their own thoughts, opinions and believes in order to arrive at a conclusion. This method of study usually focus on meaning and may employ multiple methods in order to reflect different aspects of the issue. (Dudovskiy, Interpretivism (interpretivist) Research Philosophy, 2017) Critical theory suggests action research methods to explore the current field knowledge. This is generally used to solve problems immediately. This form of research will form from the back of the interviews when interviewing site level members of the project team. Table 4 The three research paradigms and the various methods (Dr. Nirod K. Dash, June 2005) Research paradigms Research approach Research methods Examples Positivism Quantitative Surveys: Questionnaires longitudinal, cross-sectional, correlational; experimental, Survey of procurement managers into the percentage of late procured packages per major project. Anti-positivism Qualitative Biographical; Phenomenological; Ethnographical; case study Reviewing the literature which is already been written. Completing interviews with different sectors an interpreting their responses. Critical theory Critical and action-oriented Ideology critique; action research In field questionnaires and interviews 3.3. Data Collection Various different types of data will be collected from the different research methods that have been proposed above. These different methods where chosen in order to gain an increased understanding of the industry as a whole, not just from an academic or site level. The different methods will also allow a large amount of different data to be collected, analysed and reviewed. Positivism research will lead to primary data through the surveys and questionnaires. 3.4. Methods 3.4.1. Objective 1 In order to explore the various types of procurement in the private UK Construction Industry the author will complete an extensive literature review. This review will examine the data from research which has been complete by other academics, this will secondary data. Secondary data will be reviewed as this will provide an alternative opinion on the current and past industry. A wide range of opinions will be critical when reviewing the primary data which will be collected from interviews and questionnaires The emphasis of this objective is also to evaluate how much change has happened in the procurement practise to see if the role of a specialist subcontract has been considered when developing the process. In order to understand this the interview with the Main Contractor Procurement leaders will help explain from a practical level whether the theory mentioned in the literature review is completed in the field. The only issue with this method of research is that the academic literature may be one sided or based on past practice and not reflective of the current UK construction industry. 3.4.2. Objective 2 Determining what classes as late procurement and understanding the main and most common reasons for late procurements will be achieved through primary data, the data will be collected by different members of the UK construction industry completing interviews. In order to achieve a rounded and diverse set of responses the author will also aim to interview difference companies in the same sector. The interview questions will be created following an extensive literature review and a review of the questionnaires. The interview questions will contain the same core questions for each sector in order to achieve a broad understanding of the different opinions of late procurement. There will be different role specific questions which will be directed towards the environment that each interviewee works in. 3.4.3. Objective 3 Exploring the perception of late/early procurement and what effects it has on the construction industry will be the hardest objective to complete. The author will create various surveys aimed at different disciplines to understand the different effects and issues caused by the delay in procurement. The questionnaires for the procurement team will try to gain an understanding into the procurement procedure they follow and whether it is by personal choice, company procedure or effected by time critical requirements. The questionnaires will be sent to colleagues in the authors working environment which will then be passed on to their colleagues, this is referred to as snowball sampling. This method has many benefits including; Reaching members of the construction industry in high positions which would have been previously unachievable. Saving time, as other people are sending the questionnaire around the various other individuals No large scale pre planning required, the author will just have to speak to the various key members about the request. However, there are also some disadvantages to this technique; Lack of control over who takes part in the survey Sampling bias as the initial subjects will pass the questionnaire onto their close colleague who may be in similar positions or have the similar options. (Explorable, 2017) 3.5. Research model The model displayed below highlights the various stages which will be completed during the research stage of the project. The first 3 stages have already been completed, along with the definition of the aims. The next stage is to complete the objectives and then review and analyse the data collected. Figure 4 A flow chart depicting the dissertation process 3.6. Gantt chart displaying target project dates Table 6, Gantt chart displaying the target dissertation timeline In summary the author has shown that there has been previous research into the proposed topic, however this research has been into the various procurement strategies and the benefits of early contractor involvement. There has not been much research into the effects of late procurement or the reasons for late procurement. This is where data from the interviews and questionnaires will be harnessed. The methodology clearly portrays that the results from the questionnaire and literature review will be used to create the interview questions. This method will allow any gaps in information to be capture in the interviews, it will also allow some of the more challenging questions to be clearly answered by the interviewee. The main challenge that the author will face is participation with members of the industry for the questionnaires and interviews. The benefit of working in the industry and on major construction site is that the author will have personal links to various members on the industry, this should aid in the response rate. References Banwell. (1964). Banwell Report The Placing and Management of Contacts for building and Civil Engineering Work. London: HMSO. Bower, D. D. (2003). Management of Procurement. London: Thomas Yelford Publishing. British Standards Institution. (2011). BS 8534:2011 Construction procurement policies, strategies and procedures. BSI Standards Publications. Cambridge Dictionary. (2017, March 01). Paradigm. Retrieved from Cambridge Dictionary: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/paradigm CIRIA. (1998). Selecting Contractors by Value. London: Construction Industry Research and Information Association. Construction Industry Council 2017. (2017, March 7). Retrieved from Construction Industry Council: http://cic.org.uk/ Dr. Nirod K. Dash, I. (June 2005). Module: Selection of the Research Paradigm and Methodology. Manchester Meropolitan University. Dudovskiy, J. (2017, Feb 28). Interpretivism (interpretivist) Research Philosophy. Retrieved from Research Methodology: http://research-methodology.net/research-philosophy/interpretivism/ Dudovskiy, J. (2017, March 01). Positivism Research Philosophy. Retrieved from Research Methodology: http://research-methodology.net/research-philosophy/positivism/ Explorable. (2017, March 05). Snowball Sampling. Retrieved from Explorable: https://explorable.com/snowball-sampling Harris, F., McCaffer, R. (2013). Modern Construction Management. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. JCT CE Guide. (2006). JCT Constructing Excellence Contract Guide. London: Sweet Maxwell. Laycock, E., Howarth, T., Watson, P. (2016). The Journey to Dissertation Success. Oxon: Routledge. Morledge, R., Smith, A. (2013). Building Procurment. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. Mosey, D. (2009). Early Contractor Involvement in Building Procurement- Contracts, Partnering and Project Managment. Wiley Blackwell. Specialist Sub-contractor. (2016, Jan 21). Retrieved from Designing Building Wiki: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specialist_contractor Please find attached at the end of the report the following documents 6.1 Research Ethics Checklist for Students (Page 19 to 25) 6.2 Participant Information Document (Page 26 to 27) 6.3 Participant Consent Form (Page 28 to 29) RESEARCH ETHICSà CHECKLIST FOR STUDENTS (SHUREC7) This form is designed to help students and their supervisors to complete an ethical scrutiny of proposed research. The SHU ResearchEthicsPolicy should be consulted before completing the form. Answering the questions below will help you decide whether your proposed research requires ethical review by a Designated Research Ethics Working Group. The final responsibility for ensuring that ethical research practices are followed rests with the supervisor for student research. Note that students and staff are responsible for making suitable arrangements for keeping data secure and, if relevant, for keeping the identity of participants anonymous. They are also responsible for following SHU guidelines about data encryption and research data management. The form also enables the University and Faculty to keep a record confirming that research conducted has been subjected to ethical scrutiny. For student projects, the form may be completed by the student and the supervisor and/or module leader (as applicable). In all cases, it should be counter-signed by the supervisor and/or module leader, and kept as a record showing that ethical scrutiny has occurred. Students should retain a copy for inclusion in their research projects, and staff should keep a copy in the student file. Please note if it may be necessary to conduct a health and safety risk assessment for the proposed research. Further information can be obtained from the Faculty Safety Co-ordinator. Generalà Details Name of student Katherine Louise Walter Course or qualification (student) MSc Construction Project Managements Title of proposed research The effects of late procurement for specialist subcontractors in the Uk Construction Industry Proposed start date January 2017 Proposed end date October 2017 Brief outline of research to include, rationale aims (250-500 words). This dissertation sets out to explore the various reasons why there are delays in the subcontractor procurement process in UK Construction industry. The dissertation will be focusing on purely the private sector of the industry and determining what effects the late procurement can have on the project, both in terms of the commercial and program implications. The main aims of the dissertation are; 1.To explore the various types of procurement in the private UK Construction Industry 2.To determine what classes as late procurement and understand the main and most common reasons for late procurements 3.To evaluate what are the major effects on late procurement and do they aid or hamper the three key feature of a successful project a) Time b) Quality c) Cost. d) BREAM/Sustainability 4.What can be done to improve the procurement processes Where data is collected from individuals, outline the nature of data, details of anonymisation, storage and disposal procedures if required (250-500 words). Data will be collected from individuals in the construction sector via interviews and questionnaires. The nature of the data will be both opinions and facts. The opinions will be taken from various sectors of the construction industry in order to gain a wide range of data. The questionnaires will also be sent to various different employees for different companies. This approach will try to avoid results being effected by one companies practice. The data received from the questionnaires will then be used to generate questions for interviews. These interviews will try to focus down into some of the trends displayed in the questionnaires. The interview will also ask questions about the company procedures as well as the individuals thoughts and opinions on how the system could be improved. 1.à Healthà Related Research Involvingà theà NHSà orà Social Care/Communityà Careà orà theà Criminal Justiceà Serviceà orà with researchà participantsà unableà toà provideà informedà consent Questi
Graduation Speech: Strive to Succeed :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address
This is it. In less than five minutes we'll be done with high school But you know I've got to say something before we go. When I moved here in eighth grade my plan was to go back to live with my Dad in Washougal to be with my friends that I had for ages. But I stayed, I got to know you guys, and heard stories about you and your life-long friends. And I even got implanted in some of your memories. Actually, in this year cheerleader ... who was it, oh Jason Jons wrote something proving this in my yearbook. This is what he wrote, "There's too much to be said here man. We've been friends sine 7th GRADE. (Eyebrows and smile.) Remember those times," apparently not, "with the bass rebels." Now Jason who are they? Something along the lines of Desperado. Then he continues to tell me how I shouldn't anything especially that which I've never experienced. But along with all the stories and memories, I learned so much more from all of you. Burke you taught me how to work hard and work with confidence, and for those that know Burke they know that confidence is not something he is in short supply of. And Josh you prov ed that white guys can bust a move. Kira showed that a smile with a laugh can move a mountain, and Randy like Einstein you have displayed that all geniuses have messed up hair dos. I mean really, one day he comes up to me pulls out a lock of hair and cuts it off with a pair of scissors and said, "Christian, you can't tell where it came from." And I didn't say it then, but I really couldn't. However, ladies and gentlemen, parents, faculty, and administration the observation that is most prevalent about this class, the thing that I have learned the most from the, is that hope is something that only dies when you give up, and it is something that will never dies in this group of people. I don't think I need to mention how many times this class, in spite of its numerous accomplishments, has emotionally hit rock bottom. But these graduates here tonight, the people that I am honored to call my class with aide of each other pick themselves up, smile, and know that tomorrow is coming with a promise, a promise that if we do not relent we will succeed.
Monday, August 19, 2019
one :: essays research papers
One flew over the cuckoo's nest One flew over the cuckoo's nest One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest For as long as time could tell, whenever and wherever there is a corrupt ruling system in place, there will always be an opposing force trying to over throw it. This ruling system can be a variety of things. In some cases it is the government, a boss, or basically anything or anyone that has some type of control or authority over something else or someone else. In some cases the opposition can successfully take over control of these corrupt systems, while in other incidents the opposition is pitifully pounded back to silence. In other cases, the opposing force will be beaten, but in their shadowy remains lye a path for future generations to follow. In the case of Mc Murphy and the Big nurses a power struggle, the opposition (Mc Murphy) gets beaten silent, yet his words will continue to ring throughout the halls of the ward. Mc Murphy has been made a martyr, and has ultimately stripped Big Nurse of her abused powers and paved the way for fellowmen to escape her entrapment. Based on the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey, it seems that the authors' perspective on this issue is that the system in place during this time period is in need of change. Ken seems to like the revolutionist characteristics found in his main character, and emphasizes the idea of questioning the authority power. His belief seems to be that even if you are not successful in changing the system in entire, the effects of a person trying can still be very effective. In fact, if all you manage to accomplish is changing a small aspect of the system, it was still all well worth the fight. For as seen, the effects of a minor victory, ripple into much larger victories in the battles to come. As a revolutionist, you set an example for others to follow and in essence pave the way for others to follow. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the main character, Randle Patrick McMurphy, fights to change the system in a mental hospital. McMurphy is very outgoing, loud, rugged, manly, a leader and a rebel. From the first couple scenes of the book, there is a constant power struggle between the patient's new found savior McMurphy, and the evil Nurse Ratchet who rules their wing of the hospital with an iron fist.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Definition of Command Economy :: essays research papers
THE COMMAND ECONOMY A command economy is one in which a central authority has control of the resources of the economy and makes most of the economic decisions. TODAY : DICTATORSHIPS OR CUBA OR CHINA IN THE PAST: NEW FRANCE & THE WARTIME ECONOMY OF THE 1940'S NEW FRANCE New France was discovered by accident while explorers were searching for shorter trade routes to India and China, where they hoped to find rich sources of gold and spices. By accidentally discovering central and South America they did discover gold and silver produced by the Aztec civilization. In Canada the first resources to be exploited were - FISH & FURS. New France, as a colony, was to serve 2 purposes. 1. a source of NATURAL RESOURCES for the people of France. 2. A place where the FINISHED MANUFACTURED GOODS could be sold. The King had ABSOLUTE POWER until 1663, then he appointed officials. The main one was the INTENDANT, who ran the economy of the colony the way the King wanted it. The industry was AGRICULTURE & FUR TRADING. Furs, fish and other raw materials were sent back to France. In New France, LAND = WEALTH. Land was given to the Lords (Seigneurs) of the King in return for Taxes and a promise to settle the land. The Lords got farmers (habitants) who paid the Lord taxes and if the farmer didn't pay the taxes the Lord would take his land. GOODS PRODUCED = WHEAT, TOBACCO, OATS, HEMP (a plant used for making sails). THE BRITISH COLONIES OF THE TIME WERE RUN IN MUCH THE SAME MANNER. WHAT WAS THIS TYPE OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY CALLED? CANADA'S WARTIME ECONOMY OF THE 1940's. The entire economy of Canada was involved in the WAR EFFORT. North America became a very important resource area for the Allies. 1941 - The WARTIME PRICES AND TRADE BOARD set maximum prices that goods could be sold for in Canada. 1942 - Goods were rationed such as food and fuel. THE GOVERNMENT HAD ABSOLUTE POWER There was an increased demand for resources to supply the war effort such as materials for PLANES, SHIPS, TANKS, BOMBS. The war was destroying economic resources in Europe. 1. soldiers, as well as others were killed 2. factories, roads and rail lines were being destroyed 3. dams and oil tanks were bombed 4. bridges were destroyed 5. land and crops were burnt or otherwise destroyed
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Character Study: Scott Hastings Essay
The film strictly ballroom directed by Baz Lurmann is a drama/comedy about peoples attitudes towards dance and other cultures. A character that makes a dramatic change is Scott Hastings. He changes from being smug and self centred to being accepting of other cultures and that other people can be successful with the help of family and friends. Scott is a very arrogant, self centred person before he properly meets Fran. His mother Shirley has a great influence on his behaviour. ââ¬Å"Half of the trophies in this room were won by Scott.â⬠Shirley shows Scott that is alright to be rude to people and that the world only revolves around him. In Les Kendallââ¬â¢s dance studio, Scott is irritated by les and Shirley because they showed their disgust about Scott dancing his own steps and rebelling against Les and Shirley. This causes Scottââ¬â¢s partner Liz start dancing with the dancing champion Ken Railings, also Scottââ¬â¢s arch enemy. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t want us to end up like that drunk Ken Railings. The director shows Scottââ¬â¢s reaction to this by using extreme close ups to show his facial expressions and mid shots to show his body language to the people around him. At the end of the scene Fran approaches Scott and asks to dance with him. This triggers the changes that Scott starts to make. Scott changes due to Fran approaching him and asking o dance with him, ââ¬Å"Look what youââ¬â¢re carrying on about? Youââ¬â¢re going to wake up tomorrow and feel like a real idiot about it.â⬠Scott decides to give Fran a chance at dancing and realises that Fran can really dance. In the Fiesta scene Baz Lurmann uses the opportunity to reveal Scott. Rico confronts Scott about the kind of dancing Scott is doing with Fran and Scott lies to Rico and says that he has been practising the Pasa Doble, Scott then tries dancing the Pasa Doble, but soon learns that it is the wrong dance because the people at the Fiesta start to laugh at Scott for dancing the wrong dance. ââ¬Å"What, why are you allà laughing at me?â⬠Rico starts to dance the Pasa Doble and Scott joins in. The director uses this dance off to reveal the fact that Rico is Scottââ¬â¢s contrast and the extreme close ups on both of the dancers feet. This symbolises that Scott respects Rico and learns that he has to earn respect and not be given it like a handout. In this scene Rico is wearing a genuine matadorââ¬â¢s jacket to show Rico has an upper hand on dancing the Pasa Doble. Scott also realises how he acted before he met Fran and Rico and his behaviour towards people ho he thinks are ââ¬Ëbelowââ¬â¢ him. The ending sequence is another sequence that also changes Scott. This is the scene where Shirley pressures Scott into dancing with Liz after her new partner Ken Railings dumps her. Fran sees Scott and starts dancing in beginners dancing. ââ¬Å"Fran is back in beginners where she belongs. Scott sees Fran upset and shows his true colours and feelings about Fran. Finally Scott realises Fran is the right dancer for him and this is also the time when Doug tells Scott the truth about his and Shirleyââ¬â¢s past. ââ¬Å"Son, can I bend your ear for a tick.â⬠In the dance sequence following what Doug revealed to Scott, he realises that Fran and her culture is important. The matador jacket which Rico wears in the earlier Fiesta scene is now worn by Scott to symbolise the respect and knowledge he has gained through Rico and Fran. Scott now reveals his feelings for Fran by kissing her. Therefore the character Scott changes from an arrogant self-centred boy to a courageous admiral character. This is shown though the three main scenes when Scott feels challenged. In the opening scene Scott thinks of Fran and all of the people who cannot dance as good as him like they should look up to him but in the Fiesta scene, Rico and the Spanish community laugh at Scott proving his theory wrong. Scottââ¬â¢s new sense of respect leads through to the ending sequence when Scott portrays freedom and the sense to respect everyone, no matter what culture they are.
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