Impact of Mass Media Essay

Enculturation has undeniably been influenced by mass media. Meanwhile, enculturation is defined as â€Å"the gradual acceptance by a person or group of the standards and practices of another person or culture† (MSN Encarta Encyclopedia Online, 2009). Mass media, on the other hand, is the â€Å"technological means of sending information, ideas, opinion, etc. through the mass commuinication device to a diverse audience† (National Institute of Open Schooling, 2009). In changing and molding the culture, mass media has become an essential factor. Due to the important influence of mass media in enculturation, both has inevitably become inseparable. Through mass media, communication and information dissemination has become more effective and swift. The information about one country is immediately transmitted to another place which will eventually influence that place. The influence of mass media, however, can be good or bad to young people. For example, the young people has also been assaulted with a series of conflicting messages that has relation to human decency, respect for others, and peaceful co-existence in one place through the power of mass media (Deci and Ryan). It is also noteworthy that an artist can easily influence the culture of young people through the power of mass media. Britney Spears, for example, has been an icon in some other parts of the world. Her styles and songs were inculcated in the minds of young people and made others emulate her entirely. Furthermore, the impact on enculturation by the mass media have become stronger because of the techological innovations like the internet. People from other parts of the world has come to understand the lifestyles of others. It has effectively eliminated physical, philosophical, religious, and political boundaries among nations. It can be noted that during the 9/11 attack, the world’s view about terrorists and terrorism have changed. Ramarkably, peaceful talks has also been possible among nations having different religious beliefs and government. Hence, mass media has been an effective means in shaping one’s own culture and the acceptance of other people’s culture.

Body Systems

Brenda Young Several systems in the human body maintain its proper function. These systems fight disease and infection; maintain proper blood flow to lungs and body, and dispose of any waste that the body no longer needs. Learning how each system works was educational and quite amazing. Our immune system fights off bacteria, viruses, and disease. Our environment if full of harmful toxins that our bodies are subject to daily.Most of the viruses are harmless, and our immune system can protect against them. The few that are able to invade our body's defenses can cause terrible disease and possibly death. A virus by itself is incapable of reproducing, it is not until the body and cells become invaded that disease can set in. In a short amount of time, the infected cells generate hundreds of thousands of new viruses released into the bloodstream where they are free to infect other cells.Skin, inflammatory response and the immune system are three defenses our body uses to fight disease and infection (Chairs, â€Å"Immune System,† 2013). Without the digestive system, the protein ND starch in our food could not be broken down into usable molecules, and therefore would be useless. Digestion and absorption of the food we eat is done so with the help of several organs in our body. The nervous system and the endocrine system control the digestion process.Once we have chewed our food and activated the release of saliva, the brain sends a message to our stomach where a protein- digesting enzyme from glands in the stomachs lining is released. Two hormones then circulate in the blood entering the pancreas where pancreatic Juice containing food- setting enzymes and sodium bicarbonate is released and food is broken down for the body to use and absorb (Chairs, â€Å"Digestive System,† 2013).The entire way the human body functions are interesting and unbelievable. By maintaining good health with nutrition and exercise, we help the immune system fight infection and ou r digestive system can easily dispose of and break down the food we eat. When our body is healthy, our minds are healthy. References Chairs, D. D. (2013). Human Body Systems: Structure, Body, Environment (2nd De. ). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBooks Collection database.

Nao Bell and Jar with Sculptural Rim Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nao Bell and Jar with Sculptural Rim - Essay Example is serves to indicate that the primitive art creators of the age had some measure of geometry and trigonometry incorporated, which is evident from the very geometric patterns on the rim. Additionally, the curves used to compile the base of the jar provide further evidence for the use of advanced geometrical techniques. The second piece, the Nao bell, provides another unique experience of Oriental craftsmanship. The colour of the Nao bell indicates that it was fashioned by water exposure over time since the existing colour belies the materials used to create the piece (Kimbell Art Museum). The Nao bell shows the detail that was assigned to art pieces, especially of a ritualistic nature, in ancient Chinese society. The scrolls on the sides of the Nao bell signify the intricacy that could be produced through castings from the period since it would require detailed mold making including provisions for precise cast making. In addition, the curves defining the rims of the Nao bell and the depression inside the bell are also testament to the virtuosos of the

Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Critique - Essay Example However, just like any other business, the JC Penny Department Store is one that has also gone through its demoralizing moments (Zmuda, 1). The store has been indicted not to have good deals for its clients, an aspect that makes most of the clients move to other stores for a cheaper price. Pricing strategies are indeed vital for the success of any store of JC Penny’s kind. As a departmental store, the store has endeavored to impose low prices on its goods and services, which at times would reduce the store to retail store. I would in this case argue that JC Penny Company is one that needs a lot of rebranding if it has to claim a prestigious place in America. A transformation in the company’s operation especially in reinstating the client’s confidence would be of great benefit to the management. Zmuda, Natalie. ‘JC Penney Reinvents Department-Store Retailing. Unveils Sweeping Shifts to Pricing, Promotion, Presentation, Product.’ Advertising Age. January 25, 2012. Web. Available at:

Best Pratices for OS, FW and SELinux Coursework

Best Pratices for OS, FW and SELinux - Coursework Example Similarly, â€Å"yum update† command will be appropriate in case of a need to update an entire system (Membrey, Verhoeven & Angenendt, 2009). The yum package that comes with CentOS entails scripts for performing system-wide updates on daily basis. Users would need to enter the command su -c /sbin/chkconfig --level 345 yum on; /sbin/service yum start. This command should be followed by the root password in case a need arises to activate the daily automatic update. It is necessary that users create copies of computer files for use in cases where the original files diminish through ways like computer crash or theft (IBM, 2013). Accidents are inevitable. Therefore, it is crucial that users regularly store work documents within a backed up network server. Safety of the operating system will be easier to attain if certain password protection mechanisms are put in place. Examples of such mechanisms include regular change of passwords, users stopping the habit of sharing passwords or login ID (s) and the administrator of the operating system under use ensuring that the systems are accessed only after users have supplied matching combinations of the login credentials, automatic disabling of user accounts in case of login attempts that go past six. In case of the highly vulnerable environments, it would be appropriate using Kerberos. Kerberos will employ strong encryption coupled with complex ticket granting algorithm in authenticating users on a network and to permit streams of data over IP networks. This approach will fit environments like colleges where the implementation of other security mechanisms has remained to be a challenge. Organizations will often need firewalls to protect the confidential information from unauthorized and malicious users. Even as organizations use different access control features embedded in firewall systems to attain system

Could the Tide be Changing (Travel Agency Management) Essay

Could the Tide be Changing (Travel Agency Management) - Essay Example and Horner, S. 2006). However the recent proliferation of the e-commerce business model has challenged traditional adage that â€Å"location, location, location† is critical to commercial success (Chaffey, D. 2006); effectively undermining the traditional travel agency distribution model, forcing travel agencies to re-develop and reformulate competitive strategies to sustain growth (Zhou, Z. 2003). This is further evidenced by the recent merger of package holiday specialists MyTravel and Thomas Cook in 2007 (Taylor, I. 2007). It was reported that the merger was driven by business necessity in order to ensure survival in the competitive nature of the market facilitated by the e-commerce business model (Taylor, I. 2007). Moreover, it was propounded that â€Å"the merger is predicted to save  £75million a year by 2009/10 through cuts in duplicated services and assets including staff, shops, aircraft, offices and IT systems, particularly in the UK† (Taylor, I 2007). Whilst some analysts reacted to the merger as a further nail in the coffin of the high street travel agent, the alternative question posed is whether this in fact matters in the digital arena (Taylor, I. 2007). Moreover, it is arguable that the proliferation of the Internet and online growth could in fact have signalled a new tide against the recent trend of losses and closures within the industry. The focus of this analysis is to evaluate recent business analyst forecasts signalling the decline of the high street travel agency within the emerging online market as evidenced by the rapid growth of â€Å"virtual† travel agencies such as Expedia and lastminute.com (Evans, N., Campbell, D. & Stonehouse, G. 2003) Whilst, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) figures indicate a significant reduction in high street travel agencies (www.abta.com), this analysis will evaluate whether such

Investgative Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Investgative Report - Essay Example e terraces to have a better view of both the interior and external sections of the restraint as I took notes of how the premises operates together with other notable things that I would be able to witness. To begin with, the hotel is strategically located in Fort Lauderdale with a perfect view of the ocean whereby the fresh breeze blows off to create a beautiful ambiance for the revelers. Casablanca cafà © is conveniently located in the sense that it is easily accessible and at the same time convenient since anyone who intends to visit the restaurant can conveniently access it either through bus or the numerous taxi that are available along 3049 Alhambra Street. The restaurant is housed in a beautifully restored ancient home that has a perfect finish both in the interior and exterior that creates a sensational ambiance for visitors that come in. The interior dà ©cor is designed in a manner that makes it perfect for dinner outings and romantic dates since it is cozy and with some jazz music playing from the music bar. The cafà © offers a wide variety of cuisines as I would observe from their menu. The range includes food from various cultures for instance; Mediterranean, French as w ell as the indigenous American cuisines. It is an advantage to the restaurant since it does not limit its services to an individual culture of foods but packages its services in a manner that will attract clients across cultures due to the room for choice that is available. The services at Casablanca cafà © are impressive, personally I asked for a coffee latte and within the next one minute my order was already processed and I was enjoying my drink. I notice the joint is a favorite spot for many people reason being the time I spent at the establishment close to one hundred clients checked in a majority of who were coming in for an early dinner. I observed a significant number making out with takeaway food an impressive phenomenon that I noted. It is prudent to notice that some clients may

Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 15

Accounting - Essay Example On April 16, 2010 the company release a news story that showcase one of its new innovative products called milk bags. The news release may have influenced the price of the common stock. J Sainsbury plc is the United Kingdom’s biggest player in the food industry with a market share of 16%. In 2009 the company achieved total revenues of 18,911 million pounds. The revenue total was 6% higher than in 2008. Normally greater revenues lead to better bottom line results. In the case of Sainsbury the greater revenues did not help the company improve its performance since its net profits decreased between 2009 and 2008. In 2009 the firm had net income of 289 million pounds, a figure that is 40 million pounds lower than the previous year. The net margin of the company was 1.53%, while the industry norm is 1.4% (Dun & Bradstreet, 2010). The return on equity and return on assets of the company were 6.88% and 2.88%. Both figures were lower than the industry average of 11.9% and 5.5% (Dun & Bradstreet, 2010). The current ratio of the company which shows that ability of the firm to pay its short term debt was 0.55. The current ratio industry norm is 1.9 (Dun & Bradstreet, 2 010). The results means the firm is underperforming in comparison with the industry and that the firm is at risk of having cash flow problems. The stock price of the company during April faced upwards tendencies. These types of movement are short term fluctuations. Based on the fact that the company is facing liquidity problems and the bad profitability results in terms in relation to its assets and equity I would not invest in the common stock of

Edward Jones As One Of The Famous Organization In The Brokerage Case Study

Edward Jones As One Of The Famous Organization In The Brokerage Industry - Case Study Example The firm deals in individual bonds and stocks and mainly targeted the rural and sub urban areas. But wit time as the firms succeed, it decided to enter the fast growing economies but to its shock it faced difficulty in entering the urban areas with its concept. Thus the paper deals with the strategy that the firm adopted in order to stay competitive and competitive advantage over its competitors. The brokerage industry suffered a huge threat from the financial analysis such as the banks which also started to provide similar kind of offerings as the brokerage firms. To overcome this threat and make a place in the minds of the customers the firm decided to adopt the differentiation and expansion strategy offering the customers services which they look forward for and ensure high savings. The report deals with internal and external assessment of the industry and the firm by implementing the tools such as PEST analysis, Porters five force and VIRO Analysis. The current strategies have be en discussed along with the current issues and each of the alternatives is evaluated and finally recommendation has been provided to Edward Jones to adapt to the expansion strategy. Contents Executive Summary 2 External Assessment 4 Internal Assessment 5 Current Strategies 6 Key Issues 7 Implementable Strategic Alternatives 8 Criteria and Evaluation of Alternatives by Criteria 9 Recommendation and its Implementation 10 Limitations and Critique of Recommendation 10 Reference 12 Exhibits 13 Exhibit 1: External Assessment 13 Exhibit 2: Internal Analysis 15 Exhibit 3: Structure of strategic Alternatives 17 Exhibit 4: Assumption and Justification 19 Exhibit 5: NPV of Expansion Strategy 20 Exhibit 6: Action plan 21 External Assessment The retail brokerage industry enabled the individual consumers to invest in financial assets such as bonds and stocks. The industry has grown in the second half of the 20 century which has increased the individual ownership of financial assets and also incre ased the demand for brokerage services. A fundamental shift in the income level has also increased the responsibility of individuals for retirement’s assets. The brokerage business also grew with the rise in value of stock market. This increase made the stock much more attractive. With the baby boomer generation reaching the phase of retirement their financial concern has shifted from the accumulation of savings for retirement to the distribution of the assets. The retail brokerage industry showed growth opportunity in the field on technology and social factors. With an increased in the pension plans, people started to invest more giving rise to retail brokerage. Also with low substitute, the retail brokerage industry has the opportunity to grow and regain its place which it had made few years back. Opportunity lies with the adoption of new and latest technology along with moderate price, the retail brokerage industry has a wide opportunity to flourish in the world of online investment. This factor can also lead to threat because the number of online users has increased, missing out the attention by individual broker (Exhibit 1) However threat lies with the risk of entry of potential competitors which tends to increase the number of competitors and diversity of the products. Another weakness lies with the firm’s brand value which still stands behind in terms of brand awareness in the urban areas and with more of the clients using off the online services poses a huge threat for Edward Jones. Internal Assessment Edward Jones is a brokerage firm and serves only individual consumers and has segmented customers based on three criteria, retires preretirees and the small business owners. Edward Jones became the fourth largest broker

International Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Relations - Essay Example This would involve the Americans thinking the worst about Iran and to act out of self-interest. This probably would mean that Iran would be bombed. The second approach could be a liberal one which would involve the U.S. acting within the bounds of the international system. Both of these approaches will be explored in this brief essay. Realism involves looking at the political system in a way that takes self-interest as the paramount motivator for actors. There is not really any such thing as altruism in this theory, only power and efforts to accumulate power. In order to have power, a country must have security (Bell, 2008, p. 25). For the United States, Iran represents a serious security threat to the world order it has established. Iran threatens Israel and to a less extent Saudi Arabia. A lot of the rhetoric from Iran is poisonous and also suggests Iran is a threat. Washington can only take Iran at its word when it says that it wants to destroy Israel, America's ally. The way that Iran treats its own people lends all of this credence too. Because of these factors, the United States should act decisively. Clearly, negotiation has not been successful. For many American realists, the only thing that Iran will understand is force. Following this theory through to its conclusion, it seems necessary for America to bomb Iran. Politicians like Dick Cheney might be described as realists.

The Meaning of life Essay Example for Free

The Meaning of life Essay What is the meaning of life? is a question many people ask themselves at some point during their lives, most in the context What is the purpose of life? Here are some of the many potential answers to this perplexing question. The responses are shown to overlap in many ways but may be grouped into the following categories: Survival and temporal success to live every day like it is your last and to do your best at everything that comes before you to be always satisfied to live, go to school, work, and die to participate in natural human evolution, or to contribute to the gene pool of the human race to advance technological evolution, or to actively develop the future of intelligent life to compete or co-operate with others to destroy others who harm you, or to practice nonviolence and nonresistance to gain and exercise power to leave a legacy, such as a work of art or a book to eat to prepare for death to spend life in the pursuit of happiness, maybe not to obtain it, but to pursue it relentlessly. to produce offspring through sexual reproduction (alike to participating in evolution) to protect and preserve ones kin, clan, or tribe (akin to participating in evolution) to seek freedom, either physically, mentally or financially to observe the ultimate fate of humanity to the furthest possible extent to seek happiness and flourish, experience pleasure or celebrate to survive, including the pursuit of immortality through scientific means to attempt to have many sexual conquests (as in Arthur Schopenhauers will to procreate) to find and take over all free space in this game called life to seek and find beauty to kill or be killed

Assessing The Capacity Planning For Bmw Business Essay

Assessing The Capacity Planning For Bmw Business Essay First of all, capacity refers to the upper limit or ceiling on the load that an operating unit can handle. And the load might be number of physical units produced or number of service produced. (Stevenson, 2009).According to Eng. Abdel Moniem shehata, he said that capacity is always something to manage. He added that capacity planning is not necessary to be time consuming or expensive. And any company will use the capacity planning depending on its tools and resources. According to BMW, the Company owns workers, machines, tools, engineering and materials and etc, and they have to use all this resources to maximize productivity and take full advantage of it to reach high capacity. When Mr. Abdel Moniem shehata was asked about the importance of capacity decisions towards BMW he said that the more capacity the more profit the company will gain and the expenses will be decreased as BMW involves manufacturing so it is important to set a capacity planning because the source of income of BMW comes from selling cars. However, Capacity is important because it deliver benefits and profits much more than what was expected. Mr. Abdel Moniem shehata said that capacity is very important as it affect and have impact on BMW as a Company and its cars. It also affects competitiveness and he said that he thinks that the most near competitors to BMW are Mercedes and Volkswagen as the three brands are Germany and the factories are located near to each other. On the other hand, the firm that has more capacity will have an advantage of delivery speed. He added that capacity decision affects the Operating costs by helping in minimizing operating cost. There are two different ways to measure capacity which are design capacity and effective capacity. The design capacity is the output rate while the effective capacity is the design capacity minus allowances. According to BMW Eng. Abdel Moniem shehata says about the ways BMW use to measure capacity, that at the beginning of any business a Feasibility study is very important to start with and study it very proper and ensure that it is right to reach the profit which the company needs. Afterward things that is essential for production comes after like machines, inventories, workers, engineering, and equipment all these kind of resources which will help in achieving high capacity. Then the budget of the production is putted which consists of income and outcome. Income like assets and expenses while outcome like revenue and profit that is received. Mainly BMW measures capacity by multiplying the number of machines or workers with the number of shift, with utilization and with efficiency. According to the determinants of effective capacity there are factors that influence capacity. The design of BMW is important including the shape and the size. Also the design can have influence on capacity. According to BMW it is important to produce cars with the same range other than different ones. He added that quality of the car is an important part in the determinants of effective capacity. As by increasing quality the capacity will increase as well. And other external factors like safety, purchasing decisions and inventory stocking decision, all these factors have a great impact on capacity. Any company or organization has a capacity formulation bases its capacity strategy on assumptions and prediction. Strategy formulation consists of 3 primary stages which are leading, following and tracking. Leading helps in building capacity in a hope of future demand increases. While following start building capacity when demand increases current capacity. Finally tracking keeps capacity to keep demand increase (Stevenson, 2009). However, BMW can measure the success of its new process by tracking how long it takes for one car to be built from the very beginning until its all done. If vehicles take different of times to be built then it is a sign of uneven flow of materials to the production line. Another way is looking at the number of vehicles that are returned for warranty work. This measurement looks at the final product. If suppliers are hurried to complete orders, they might reduce the quality of the products that they are supplying to BMW. Once those low quality parts are used in the manufacturing of a new car, the customer will find it unsatisfying and it will be returned back to be corrected. The capacity planning is done by the general manager and other people that are responsible for the materials and engineering as well. There are six steps of capacity planning. The first step is to Estimate the future capacity requirements, the second step is to evaluate existing capacity, the third step is identify alternatives, the fourth step is to conduct financial analysis, the fifth step is to assess key qualities issues, while the six step is to implement alternative chosen, finally, the six step is to monitor results.(Stevenson, 2009). But Eng. Abdel El Moneim said that BMW makes the capacity planning in 3 simple steps. The first step is determining service level requirements; as they categorize the work done by systems and quantify customers expectations for how those works get done. The second step is to analyze the current capacity which is important to analyze it to see how it is meeting customers needs. The third step is planning for the future, by forecasting BMWs future business activity and determining it. However, Implementing is important as it ensure that the available capacity will be enough even if any changes happened if the future. Finally, when coming to the evaluation of the capacity planning at BMW Mr. Abdel Moniem shehata said that Evaluations carried out to learn lessons that can be used to improve ongoing or future capacity planning efforts are of potentially greater value. Unfortunately, improvement-oriented evaluations are seldom carried out. This is a serious shortcoming of evaluation practice, since capacity-development efforts involve a great deal of experimentation, and managers need to know the results in order to sharpen or reformulate objectives and reorient their activities in appropriate ways. In conclusion, for any company to achieve a successful planning capacity is to set goals and define objectives.   The company must also ensure that the planning process is carefully recognized.   And if the company found any mistake in the plan or the plan is not working, it doesnt mean that the organization has to start the planning from the beginning but only to correct or improve the parts which include the mistake. BMW creates their capacity planning at least once a year and sometime every six months. Reference Page: Trading eBook. (2010). , AL: Scribd. Retrieved May 3, 2011, from http://www.scribd.com/doc/36253765/bmw-case. kern, H. (2008). , AL: Tech Republic. Retrieved May 3, 2011, from http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-ways-to-build-a-solid-capacity-planning-effort/370 (2010). , AL: Carzy. Retrieved May 6, 2011, from http://carzy.co.in/blog/car-news/bmw-india-expand-capacity-8000-units-early-2011.html/

Main purpose of job design

Main purpose of job design The main purpose of job design is for quality, speed, dependability, flexibility, cost, health and safety. This is the way to achieve greatness in conducting their working style and working techniques. Globalization is claimed that it will help in increasing the economic prosperity and opportunity in the developing the world. Globalization will help the company to gain more profit and a lot of advantages. Not only profit and advantages can be gain, globalization will also have its own disadvantages. Strategy formulations include the materials in making the product, where is the product being manufacture and who is producing the product. This is the strategy to improve the needs and quality for the customer. Borrowing technology from apparel manufacturers is also one of the company strategies. Process of manufacturing the product will also help in maintaining the quality; follow the newest technologies and trend. This will help in saving the cost and fulfil the customer needs. Shoe manufacturing processes and the key factors in the design of products and services for shoes are covered in this assignment. Shoe manufacturing sequence and the system of the manufacturing process will be discussed in detailed. The key factor of designs of shoes product which includes the shoe insole and sole portion and various type of service provided in shoe manufacturing including the after sales services are presented in this assignment. Besides, discussion and elaborating of quality planning and quality control processes in achieving high performance products and services for company. There are some different quality planning for the production and the quality control for New Balance such as applying some ISO quality standard as a prove for the company. ISO 9000 is the series of quality standard which reflecting the importance of quality and reliability. Quality and costing is related to each other, have a good quality product only can make the company financially strong but it also cannot be archived without the help from high technology apparel. The time was a profit for the company; we need high technology machineries to increase the amount of products with greater and stable quality. Last section of this assignment, describe about the profit that the company earned throughout the years since it was taken over by the current chairman, Mr. James S Davis, based on the industrial analysis did by a company called DATAMONITOR and the Factsheet announced by the company itself at financial year 2010. Then we have a topic about the result to the company after the company ventured to new market in Asia, and some about the payback from the investment on technological machineries that the company had spent on. Introduction What is a job design? Job design is the principles and techniques to the humanization of work, improve satisfaction, improve quality and reduce employee problems. It is a process to achieve satisfaction and trust from consumer. What is globalization? Globalization is mean of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations. It is also a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world. What is strategy formulation? Strategy formulation is a way of a company plan on its business strategy. Strategy formulation is vital to the well-being of a company or organization. This strategy has effects on the company which will bring benefits. What is the process to meet the customer needs and quality? It is mean by how the shoes are being produced. This process of making the shoes will help to follow the modern trend of making the product and save cost. Furthermore, we have mention clearly about example of quality control of New Balance such as the step of the quality check from raw material until final product. The definition of Total Quality Control (TQC) or Total Quality Management (TQM) was stated clearly here. The machines purchase from New Balance to increase their efficiency and control quality of their shoes. This helps New Balance develop better designs, improve quality, and innovate their process capabilities. To produce a good quality and precision part in a huge number and reduce worker was an aim of all manufacturing field company, but by using handmade work is hard to do so. The only way can do is through high tech machine, by this way not only can come out a quality less reject part, on the other hand together reduce worker and make company earn in good selling and save a lot in labour cost. This will make the company finance to be strong and the enemy of manufacturing field factory was the part that been produce reject and return from their customer, this will make the company lost a lot in the costing. Let us see what technology can help in manufacturing. New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. which is a privately held company that founded and based in Massachusetts in USA performance in finance. The company was first setup in 1906 as the manufacturer of arch supports and orthopedic shoes. Now the company is famous as the manufactures for running, hiking, tennis, basketball, cross training shoes, and variety of athletic apparel. The company is being well known as the only shoe manufacturer still based in USA that offering its products in a wide range of width size with high quality of craftsmanship, which generate billion of sales annually. According to the latest factsheet dated 2010, the company is making massive earnings after the business owner taking over and decided to be more focus. The owner also invested lot of money to upgrade the manufacturing plant with newer technology machinery. Until now, the latest record show that there was a total of $2.32 billion USD sales made in the financial year 2009, whereby $1.07 billion USD of annua l sales in USA, $1.65 billion of annual sales worldwide. Discuss the job design and method of work organisation employed by New Balance Corporation for both local and global market to remain competitive. Critically derive the advantages and disadvantages of going global. Job design purpose and objective is for quality, speed, dependability, flexibility, cost, health and safety. Job design is also mean by application of working principles and techniques humanization of work. This is the way of conducting their working style and working techniques. The aim of job design is to make sure and improved the job satisfaction of the company. Improved quality of product is an objective of design. New Balance Corporation is a company that stress on quality. New Balance is an athletic shoes company that mainly focus on performance rather than the outlook and style. The aim of job design is also to raise the productivity levels, challenge and responsibility of ones work. Example is the New Balance shoes come in a wide range of widths and sizes. The quality can be achieve because New Balance Company have their philosophy which is listen, learn and refine. Another method that New Balance Company uses is well-trained workers. The well train workers are train to perform different jobs and tasks. New Balance Company is creative by adapting to new technologies to shoemaking. The company also constantly give training to their employee in teamwork and technical skills so they can work by sharing and helping each other on the task to make sure everything done on time. Dependability is a job design method that New Balance Company stresses on. New Balance Corporation is a company that design and manufacture their product in the United States. Example of dependability is buyer or consumer will look into where the product is manufacture because consumer depend and trust product that are import from countries such as United States, Germany, Japan and others. Reduce employee problem is also one of the main purpose of job design. Job design is an aimed to reduce or overcoming job dissatisfaction and employee bad behaviour arising. Dissatisfaction and employee bad behaviour arising will cause the employee to make mistake. Once the employee make mistake then accident will happen and that will cause health and safety. Running shoes of new balance company is made United States. This is the culture where it produces close to the customers and also allows quick turnarounds on new design and order fulfilment. This is the flexibility of the company to fulfil the desire of customer to purchase the product. One of the method that New Balance Corporation is they refuse to hire superstars to endorse its product and this will also help to cut a lot of cost. Borrowing technology from apparel manufacturers is also one of the company methods. This will help the company to save money and also following the modern trend. Globalisation is claimed that globalization increases the economic prosperity and opportunity in the developing world. There are advantages of globalisation and also disadvantages on going global. Advantages of globalisation Staying in one country is not a good method to remain competitive, so the New Balance Corporation chooses to launch a strategy to distribute all over the globe. To gain more profit is a company aims. Profit can be gain by expand their products to all over the globe. Expand the products to worldwide will be a global marketing advantage. From the global business, New Balance Company can be advertised on the internet and customers can easily view and purchase wherever and whenever they want. Advertising in the internet is a good advantage for the global business. Increased sales are for sure under the advertising in the internet. Under the global marketing, higher profits can be earn and achieve. New knowledge and experience is also an advantage under the internet global marketing. Another advantages going global is jobs been created. Once the company invested in another country, the job opportunity created. Once there are jobs for people, the economy will run smoothly. Wealth can be ob tained under the global marketing and productivity can growth wider. Wealth can be obtained means that human is going to gain money and an easier lifestyle. When going global, business will not only depend on the existing market but it will also have wide scale market. This means that new markets and producing dynamic sales can be obtain easily. The brand can consistency maintains their brand image. When the consistency in brand image is achieved, the brand will became famous and popular. This will also bring to higher sales and profit. Besides that, good ideas will be gain under going global. Good ideas can be gain from any individual in the globe and that can lead to a better design. This will help to identify what consumer needs and wants for their product. Going global will also establish good relationship between countries. After establish good relationship between countries, free trade between countries also increases. Furthermore, the flexibility of corporations to operate ac ross borders increases. This will ensure the company to run their business smoothly and without difficulties. Disadvantages of globalisation Global marketing also have its disadvantages which is the difference of consumer response can be unpredictable. Some of the product might be selling fast and out of stock. Differences of consumer likes will cause the product to pile up and cannot be sold. Product that cannot be sold might go for a very cheap price and that might cause losses to the company. The disadvantage on internet marketing is when their product is promoted in the internet; they will have to compete with different type of brand and product development. Besides that, the disadvantages also include differences in consumer patterns such as needs and wants that is influence by their regional. Differences in legal concerns may also create conflict to the home market. Language barrier is a disadvantage on going global because different countries have their own languages and they might not understand English. There are also additional costs to set a website on the internet. Besides that, advertising and maintaining the website will also cost another sum of money. Another disadvantage on going global is the company will faces a lot of challenges and competitive environment. The company will face challenges from other brand that offer cheaper and quality product. Cultural problems are also a disadvantage for the globalization. This will endanger the age old cultures which have been followed religiously all over the world. There are many countries which would never agree when it comes to culture or religion. The influence of local cultures and tradition will slowly start to wear down when the migration become easy. Globalization will also increase the spread of diseases. Disease can be spread because of the increase in flow people. This will cause human to vulnerable to health issues. Conclusion is there are advantages and disadvantages of going global. Done by: Lai Kiat Xiang Observe the strategy formulation and processes to continuously improve to meet the customer needs, and quality at lower cost. Shoe is a type of footwear that protects and supports the foot. Running shoes or athletic shoes is different from the ordinary shoes. The rubber on athletic shoes helps to cushion the hard surfaces when running. The construction of athletic shoes is important in order to prevent injuries and giving a good balancing and support while running. Running shoes can be divided into two main sections which is upper covers the top of the foot and the sole. The two main sections can be divided into three which is insole, midsole and outsole. The process of the running shoe is starting at the front on the upper part is feather line. This is where the edge is form. The edge is form where the toe guard tip meets the bottom of the shoe. A single piece of material that gives shape to a shoe and forms the toe box is call a vamp. The vamp has an attachments some sort of a throat which it contains the eyestay and lacing section. Under the lacing section is the tongue. The tongue protects the foot from direct contact with the laces. Reinforcements are attached to the vamp along the sides of the shoe. There are two types of reinforcements. First, it is the saddle. The saddle is when it is sewn on the outside of the back of the reinforcements. The second type of the reinforcements is called an arch bandage where if it is sewn on the inside. Collar is a part where it is further towards the back of the shoe. Collar usually has an Achilles tendon protector at the top back of the shoe. The foxing shapes the rear end of the shoe and underneath there is a plastic cup which it is use to support the heel. The plastic cup which supports the heel is called the heel counter. Figure 1 Figure 1 above is showing how shoe is made. The first step as we can see from the diagram above is involving the die cutting. The shoe parts are cut in a cookie cutter fashion. The pieces that are cut will form the upper part of the shoe. The pieces will be stitched or cemented together and the upper part will be form. After the pieces were cemented, the upper will looks like a round hat rather than a shoe. This extra material is called the lasting margin. After that, lace holes will be punched out. After that, a last which is a plastic mould is use to fit the upper before the upper is cement with the insole board. The upper has to heat before fit on to a last. It is then both the upper and insole board is press together to get bond. Midsole and outsole is then cemented on to the upper. Before midsole and outsole is cemented to the upper, both of the outsole and midsole will have to be align and bond together. When the cement is cool, the shoe is removed from the last. The midsole is designed to absorb the shock and the wedge is designed to supports the heel. The insole which is arch support is located inside the shoe. Below is a sample of a completed running shoe. One of the strategies to improve to meet the customer needs and quality is by manufacturing some of its product in America. When the product is manufacture in America, trust of buyers will increase. The trust of buyers increase because America product is a trusted product compare to other countries. Example is whenever a product is being manufacture in China, consumer and buyers will think twice before purchasing the product. Besides that, New Balance has their own strategy formulation on their product which is their own technical innovations. The technical innovation is such as a blend of gels inserts, heel counters and a greater selection of sizes. Some people might have a larger foot and New Balance Company is producing a greater selection size of shoes. Quality control is one of the strategies by the New Balance Company. New Balance Company is producing a good quality of shoes because of the ingredients and materials in making their shoes. The ingredient is such as gel, air or plastic on making the midsoles. The inner side of the midsole is often made of firm material such as polyurethane (PU), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or combination of them. This material is use in order to prevent overpronation of the foot. Polyurethane is used in the heel area and a very thin layer of ethylene vinyl acetate is used in the insole. Besides that, New Balance Company also uses investing in other countries as their strategy to get their customer needs. Once the company invest in that country, the customer will get the product easily and the goods dont have to be import from America. This will also cut the cost on the product. Borrowing technology from apparel manufacturers is also one of the company strategies to cut cost and still following the modern trend. Done by: Lai Kiat Xiang 3. Critically observe the shoe manufacturing processes and examines the key factors in the designs of products and services. In their manufacturing process line, its not only about manpower but also with the robotic machines. It is why New Balance also brings in the new technology from apparel manufacturers and spends $100,000 for every see-and- sews machines which able to produce a pair of shoes in 24minute compare with 3 hours use if in China and get high productivity with efficiency speed. Shoe manufacturing sequence Design for shoe sole n upper and provide material detail Create shoe sole mould to make exclusive sole and insole. Make a sample or prototype for testing. Have implemented on the product. Final products come out. Start production for shoe sole and insole. Cutting, sewing, lasting and finishing Quality control and delivery order. How to satisfy customizations on shoe manufacturing with systematically? A. Satisfaction fitting impact Materials: The Main reason should concern for good quality shoe is the shoe material. The relationship between suppliers and manufacturers must be good and both must be able to solve problems together and suppliers must fast react on the specific material orders. B1. Outlook customization The customization of shoes may include the upper material colours and outlook designs. If a manufacturing systems have a high capability to satisfy aesthetic customization that allow buyer choose their shoes colours, it must be a great set of coloured materials or the material can be dye the upper portion. B2. Shoe accessories Shoe accessories such as bows, decoration or any particular lace may add into the shoes to add to the standard station. C1. The materials are needed to satisfy transpiration or thermal request with much kind of different materials. C2. Due to various types of materials, technical could needs for particular stitching technique different by the standard way for the leather. It may needs a flexible stitching station which able to adapt to different typology. C3. If the insole production system have the capability to satisfy shock absorption of the production customization of the sole, it may needs more complex and right technique to realize a various set of shock absorption. State of the art technology is used to identify the right shape of human feet to custom orthotic foot bed. A typical scan of human leg will be tested and this let the manufacturer able to make the most comfortable orthotic insole. After inspected, cleaned, dressed and polished, heel socks, laces and the brand label will be added, then the QC (quality checked) will be approved and the shoes will be packed and ready to sell. After sales services also available from some shoes company. Method for doing an orthopaedic shoe lift Split the sole in half, add the material build up to your specified height, taper off correctly at the front, and then reattach the bottom of your sole. This method ensures an aesthetically pleasing look as well as being very comfortable and unnoticeable. Add a shoe lift and build up to the full length of the sole. This is the correct way to do it and all of shoe lifts are done this way unless specified otherwise. Why need a build up of the sole, but not just use an insole Insoles are bad for foot when used for this purpose and can cause problems in back. The correct and safe way is to have a build up. How high of a shoe lift can build? There is corrected leg length discrepancies for patients as high as 6 inches and are not limited to that. Any shoe can add shoe lift? Any shoe with a full length concrete sole will take to a shoe lift nicely, and shoe manufacturer work with running shoes, dress shoes, work and hiking boots, and golf shoes too. Charge for shoe lifts? Cost starts at $39.99 for a half inch and an additional $14.99 for every quarter inch thereafter. There are additional charges for harder to split soles like the ones in boots and golf shoes. Done by: Wong Yng Chung 4. Discuss and elaborate the necessity of quality planning and quality control processes in achieving high performance products and services for the company. Quality control for New Balance can be: Dimensions of sole and insole Dimensions of various shoe size Colour, pattern and designs Material of the shoe Elasticity/durability of the shoe Life time of the shoe Quality check from professional Remain the shoes quality for different production line Reliability of shoes box packaging for delivery. Solid, long term partnership with trustable suppliers. Ensuring in-store safety and quality New technology to improve the effectiveness and quality of production. Total Quality Control (TQC) or Total Quality Management (TQM) refers to quality control beyond the sustaining of quality. These two concepts may lead to continual increases in quality. Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa, recipient of many awards, including the Deming Prize, Total Quality Control as a system of inventing and implementing quality technologies into various departments of a company engineering, production, sales and service all this is purposely for satisfying customers. He stated that viewed chronologically, TQC is only the first stage of Companywide Quality Control (CWQC). CWQC incorporates quality function deployment (QFD), where as TQC does not. QFD is a design procedure that introduces quality control in product development. It is a formal mechanism that guarantees the comment of the customer is heard throughout all the phases of manufacturing a product or providing a service. As Dale Besterfield stated in his book Quality Control, the deliverance of a quality product or service requires the responsible integration of all the firms departments such as marketing, product engineering, purchasing, manufacturing engineering, manufacturing, and inspection and testing, packaging and shipping, and customer service. TQC is far more than sustaining quality, as it may include control systems, employee relations and organizational behaviour, statistical process control, and Japanese management techniques. Quality control techniques and standards, affecting almost all aspects of business, have now been adopted at national and international levels. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award exemplifies the former. President Ronald Reagan signed the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Improvement Act on 20th of August 1987. The act was the culmination of a national campaign to improve the quality of goods and services in the United States. The award represents the highest level of recognition that an American company can receive. On an international level, the ISO 9000 series of quality standards was first published in 1987. These standards reflect the importance of quality and reliability as critical factors for achieving and maintaining worldwide competitive advantage. Another example is the international environment management standard, ISO 14001. Companies worldwide use this standard as a blueprint to develop and refine internal environmental management systems. New Balance purchased 70units see-and- sew machines in 1 short and set up on machine shops to grind the 30 templates need for a typical shoe. Each set of templates took about 1 week, but they manage to make their workers to produce a pair of shoes in 24minute compare with 3 hours use if in China and get high productivity with efficient speed. High salary paid for their workers such as well-trained employees are able to make $14 an hour. All of these well-trained employees can be perform well and they are performing half a dozen different jobs and switching task every few minute. The efficiency of the manufacturing has been increase. Every person of them able to operate computerised sewing equipment and automated stitches that of 20 peoples work. New balance corporate also remain competitive at home by introduce new technologies to shoe making creatively. Constantly training is also provided for their employees either in teamwork or technical skills to improve their employees quality. Firstly, employees start with 22hours of classroom training on teamwork and get constant training on the factory floor. Then they will work in teams of five or six, sharing task and helping one another until make sure everything get done. In this teamwork function, many ideals about improvement of process will be come from shop floor workers. In their manufacturing process line, its not only about manpower but also with the robotic machines. They also bring in the new technology from apparel manufacturers and spend $100,000 for every see-and- sew machines. The most impressive part is they purchased 70units in 1 time and set up on machine shops to grind the 30 templates need for a typical shoe. Each set of templates took about 1 week, but they manage to make their workers to produce a pair of shoes in 24minute compare with 3 hours use if in China. Labour cost per shoe is $4 hour in Maine compare to $1.30 in China, it is a range of $2.70 for every shoe which is 4percent more from the selling price of $70. But good salary paid is worth-able when they get high productivity with efficient speed. Investment time on the manufacturing process helps New Balance develop better designs, improve quality, and innovate their process capabilities. By the way, if it outsourced all of its production then this would cause the company to suffer lost financially. Done by: Wong Yng Chung 5. Carefully observe how the reduced-quality product would affect the company financially. Discuss the financial analysis to justify the use of technology in the shoe manufacturing operation. For a company the quality of product is very important to convince customer to trust and buy their product, it totally affect companies financial once the product that produce rejected and returned. The cost of transport will be charge to company for the return part. Besides that, normally reject part will cause line down if the part very urgent to support to the end customer, means that the cost will to be charge to our company account due to our reject part. When the reject part was returned, company have to arrange manpower to rework for the part and extra costing will be count for the rework base on how many hours needed to complete the reject batch. If unfortunately the reject bath cannot rework it have to be scrap, means that extra issue cost will be needed for the raw material besides that production have to be rearrange to rebuild for the reject quantity. Once reject part was found internally, the machine have to be stop and realignment or resetting to make sure come out part will be in good quality. On the other hand, some time it will take one or half day to refitting or resetting regarding to the reject defect, This will cause no output for the day and fail the shipment for that day. Delay shipment also will cause penalty by quantity not enough for the customer. To come out a quality product for new balance, a modular manufacturing (teamwork) system were introduced. With this system it come out a better quality control and more efficient production, this system was improved with associates trained on more than one job in the factory, which meant a more varied days work and tighter quality control for the product. For the year 1991, production only can run around 2000 3000 pairs of shoes in a week and steadily increased to 4771 pairs of shoes per week by 1993 and continued increased to 7403 pairs of shoes by year 1996 and to 9787 pairs of shoes by 1998. The factory and finally broke the one million pair of shoes per year barrier in 2003. [11] To produce big amount quantity and quality of shoes in a day, we need help from the technology and impossible to produce big amount and precision part by human. For example by using the inversion type rubber shoe-mould finalizing machine, it was a professional shoe making equipment which integrates the vulcanization, stitching and finalizing all process can be done by it and was fully function of automatic program control can save a lot of labour cost. Besides that it was a control by hydraulic pressure system it can keep constant the temperature, deflate, draw pattern and also control time automatically. The adoption of the mechanical connecting bar structure was to ensure no split of mould and degumming phenomenon during the vulcanizing process. Because of the machine is inversion type, the shoes surface can be kept clean, high quality jackboot and other military shoes also can be produce by it. This is the advantage of the technology and help company to save lots of labour cost an d produce quality product and some of the process is impossible can be reach by human being.[12] Besides that in the shoes mould technology with a precision mould it can produce two pair of shoes in a short cycle time compare with a handmade, presently of new moulding technology which can reduce of the cycle time and increase in a number of cavities from two to four, this had been shown that the production efficiency has been improved with the help of the new improved shoes mould design for longer mould life and better quality parts, besides that by improved the cooling system of the mould gate and separate core inserts it used to improve ventilation, reduced thickness of the part without any compromise on quality. By this new technology it allow the significant cost saving intelligence, process innovation, increase productivity, the preventive maintenance qualit

Advancement Does Not Equal Destruction Essay -- Argumentative Persuasi

Advancement Does Not Equal Destruction It is 7:15 am on a Monday morning. You look outside and see 5 inches of snow on the ground and wonder â€Å"Do I have to go to school this morning?† You can’t waste time waiting for your school’s name to pop up on a TV news broadcast, so you quickly click onto the internet. Within moments, you have determined the status of your school, overjoyed that you can jump back into bed and sleep for a few more hours. Receiving information this quickly and easily is beneficial for everyone; it simplifies tasks and gives people more options for reading and writing information. With an internet connection, anyone can access the vast communications network known as the World Wide Web. People can do practically everything on the web: pay bills, check movie times, schedule classes, chat, email, read online newspapers, etc. One no longer needs to subscribe to a daily newspaper to get the latest local, national, and world news. At the click of a button, one can access numerous news sites that contain up-to-the-minute news from around the globe. This not only changes the way people read the news, but it also changes the way people write about the news. Online news is not presented in the same way as printed news. The operators of online news sites strive to attract visitors with bright graphics, eye-catching color schemes, and many helpful links. These work to help the user feel comfortable with the site, promoting the user’s return. The capabilities of multi-media also complement online sources, giving the user a more connected feel. There are so many news sites available on the web, but most share common designs. Most news sites have a similar layout, which includes a navigation frame at the top... ...ron, Dennis. â€Å"From Pencils to Pixels: The Stages of Literacy Technologies.† Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble & Anne Trubek. New York, NY: Longman, 2003. 35-52. Birkerts, Sven. â€Å"Into the Electronic Millenium.† Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble & Anne Trubek. New York, NY: Longman, 2003. 62-73. Landow, George. â€Å"Twenty Minutes into the Future, or How Are We Moving Beyond the Book?† Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble & Anne Trubek. New York, NY: Longman, 2003. 214-226. New York Times on the Web. 5 Apr. 2004. http://www.nytimes.com. 5 Apr. 2004. â€Å"Woman with dwarfism brings comedy to UK.† BBC News: world edition. 5 Apr. 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/40005000/rm/_40005075_dwarfism09_davis_vi.ram 5 Apr. 2004.

Essay on Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie -- Glass Menagerie essays

Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie Symbolism plays an integral part in Williams’s play, The Glass Menagerie. Examples of the use of symbolism include the fire escape, as an escape from the family, the phonograph, as an escape from reality, the unicorn, as a symbol for Laura's uniqueness and the father’s photograph, representing something different to each character. Through regonition of these symbols, a greater understanding of the play’s theme is achieved. Throughout the play, Tom Wingfield was torn by a responsibility he felt for his mother and sister and the need to be his own man. He used the fire escape most in the play. He went outside to stand on it when he smoked, to escape the nagging from his mother, and to make his final independence from his family. Tom didn't like being responsible for his mother and sister, working day-in and day-out at a job he hated. He wanted to escape down those stairs and never come back. In scene V Tom speaks to the audience about what he observes from the fire escape, Paradise Dance Hall. The dance hall to him was what he wanted, everyone was living exciting lives "hot swing music and liquor, dance halls, bars and movies, and sex that hung in the gloom..." Tom longed to live a more exciting life. In the final scene Tom says "I descended the steps of this fire escape for a last time and followed, from then on, in my father's footsteps, attempting to find in motion what was lost in space." Tom wanted to be free and to him the fire escape was the exit into freedom. Movies were also an important part of Tom's life. He went to the movies when he and his mother argued or when he felt he needed some excitement. In scene IV Amanda asks "Why do you go to the movies so much, Tom?" and... ...nger; anger that he's abandon them and is doing what he wants. The symbols used in the play are a means of escape. For Tom it's the movies and the fire escape, for Laura it's the Victrola and her glass and for the father, it's his picture. He's escaped from the responsibility of raising and paying for their family. Works Cited and Consulted Beattie, Elisabeth L. "The Glass Menagerie." Masterplots, ed. Frank M. Magill. Revised Second Ed. Vol. 5. Pasadena: Salem Press, 1996. Bigsby, C. W. E. "Entering the Glass Menagerie." The Cambridge Companion to Tennessee Williams, ed. Matthew C. Roudane. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997. Williams, Tennessee. Conversations with Tennessee Williams, ed. Albert Devlin. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1986. Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie. New York: New Directions Publishing, 1995. Essay on Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie -- Glass Menagerie essays Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie Symbolism plays an integral part in Williams’s play, The Glass Menagerie. Examples of the use of symbolism include the fire escape, as an escape from the family, the phonograph, as an escape from reality, the unicorn, as a symbol for Laura's uniqueness and the father’s photograph, representing something different to each character. Through regonition of these symbols, a greater understanding of the play’s theme is achieved. Throughout the play, Tom Wingfield was torn by a responsibility he felt for his mother and sister and the need to be his own man. He used the fire escape most in the play. He went outside to stand on it when he smoked, to escape the nagging from his mother, and to make his final independence from his family. Tom didn't like being responsible for his mother and sister, working day-in and day-out at a job he hated. He wanted to escape down those stairs and never come back. In scene V Tom speaks to the audience about what he observes from the fire escape, Paradise Dance Hall. The dance hall to him was what he wanted, everyone was living exciting lives "hot swing music and liquor, dance halls, bars and movies, and sex that hung in the gloom..." Tom longed to live a more exciting life. In the final scene Tom says "I descended the steps of this fire escape for a last time and followed, from then on, in my father's footsteps, attempting to find in motion what was lost in space." Tom wanted to be free and to him the fire escape was the exit into freedom. Movies were also an important part of Tom's life. He went to the movies when he and his mother argued or when he felt he needed some excitement. In scene IV Amanda asks "Why do you go to the movies so much, Tom?" and... ...nger; anger that he's abandon them and is doing what he wants. The symbols used in the play are a means of escape. For Tom it's the movies and the fire escape, for Laura it's the Victrola and her glass and for the father, it's his picture. He's escaped from the responsibility of raising and paying for their family. Works Cited and Consulted Beattie, Elisabeth L. "The Glass Menagerie." Masterplots, ed. Frank M. Magill. Revised Second Ed. Vol. 5. Pasadena: Salem Press, 1996. Bigsby, C. W. E. "Entering the Glass Menagerie." The Cambridge Companion to Tennessee Williams, ed. Matthew C. Roudane. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997. Williams, Tennessee. Conversations with Tennessee Williams, ed. Albert Devlin. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1986. Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie. New York: New Directions Publishing, 1995.

An Alternate Perspective on the Mythical West :: essays papers

An Alternate Perspective on the Mythical West The topic of the American West has intrigued me throughout my life. The tales of cowboys and Indians, of the rugged individual and nature, has always sparked my interest. A land with such quixotic stories of adventure, the West has instilled itself in American history. The yarns and movies of the mythical frontier provide a perception to which I among many others have chosen to adopt at one time or another. This perception has been embedded in many youths, providing a nationalistic view of America using the West as a symbol of the individualism to which our forefathers fought for. Yet it is human nature to be inquisitive, and so I delved into this topic in the hopes of developing a better understanding of the history of the great American frontier. The myth of the American West has been intertwined throughout United States history. It is often perceived as a romantic story, a legacy that has ingrained itself in American culture and society. The 1890 census announced the end of the frontier, closing a chapter in American history. In 1893, Frederick Jackson Turner argued the importance of the frontier in shaping American politics, economy, and culture. Turner’s nationalistic view of the West created a problem, providing a mythical notion of a realistically rough arena filled with conflict and frustration. Furthermore, the thesis proposed by Turner proved to be futile for the present and future. The firmness of Turner’s thesis left it susceptible to challenges, creating a revolution of historical study of the Old West in the mid-twentieth century. Historians dedicated to the American West have branched off from Turner and have created a field that hinges on this complex area. These historians have challenged the old myths of a quaint West, seeking to expose the true nature of Western expansion. Among these historians, Patricia Nelson Limerick has developed a perception of the West based on the stories of the men and women who actually lived there. In her book, The Legacy of Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West, Limerick maintains that Westward expansion was not a romantic saga of cowboys and Indians, but instead was a gradual conquest based on economics and politics. In a sense, the West was not founded by rugged individualists, but rather by competition and profit.

Bulgarian Identity and Folklore

The tapestry of a Bulgarian’s life is interwoven with the country’s rich and colorful folklore, songs and dances, varied festivals and witty proverbs. The folk culture which has been preserved through the centuries is an intrinsic part of a Bulgarian’s daily activities. The spirit and identity of a Bulgarian is entwined with the folk traditions and customs, as it influences and shapes his way of thinking.Also, a history of suffering under the Ottoman rule and coming through it with their identity intact, adds a special dimension to the people of Bulgaria, packing power to the motto â€Å"unity makes strength. † The courage that the peasant community displayed in clinging to their cultural identity, under the â€Å"Turkish yoke,† united them to fight for their freedom. The determination that they displayed in preserving their identity under extremely oppressive conditions, tells us why the modern Bulgarian army never lost a flag.This essay will first learn what â€Å"identity† means to a Bulgarian and then move on to study the historical facts that shaped the Bulgarian identity as it is today. It will explore how Bulgarian identity has survived over the centuries and how the folklore traditions in its entirety, bonds Bulgarians scattered all over the world to their motherland. This essay will also provide a glimpse into the Bulgarian folk culture including festivals, rituals, proverbs mythology and music, which have kept the Bulgarian identity and spirit alive round the world even today.Shaping the identity In 19th century Eastern Europe, the emerging nation-states depended on their peasant traditions, which had survived foreign invasion and dominance, to form an definite idea of what they stood for. According to Herder, every nation is an organic entity with its own native cultural institutions and pure spirit which are best reflected in the folk poetry of the peasants. If a nation is to seek political sovereignty, it m ust find its pure spirit and build its future on the cultural traditions of the past.The native peasants were thus viewed as the soul of the nation, and folklore their legitimate expression. For the people of Bulgaria, their folk culture was also a weapon, which they used as an inspiration to unite and fight for their freedom. The Haidouk folk songs – about the heroes who hid in the mountains and formed a band of guerilla fighters – influenced the people of Bulgaria to join the bands and fight against the oppression of the turks, which tells us how powerful folklore is.Today, folk culture in Bulgaria is carefully preserved and taken forward with government-sponsorship, through various organizations and festivals. The government understands that folk culture, with its vital music and traditions, is what keeps Bulgarians together, no matter where they are. For the Bulgarian community, the traditions will always remain a part of life. The beliefs, knowledge, traditions an d value system still plays a major part in social and cultural interaction.This explains why ethnic discourse is so often â€Å"objectified† in folk culture events in Bulgaria, and why folk texts of various kinds are so widely used in it. In fact everyday life is dominated by the folklore traditions because they are regarded as a system of values, norms, texts, patterns and technologies. According to William R Bascom, ethnomusicologist, folklore serves to sanction and validate religious, social, political and economic institutions and plays an important role as an educative device in its transmission from one generation to another.He therefore suggests that folklore must be examined in better detail and care, because it gives us a clearer picture of the facts that shapes the destiny of a culture. Through the oral traditions of folklore, hundreds of songs, legends, rituals and tales are handed down to the present. Traditions that go back to Slavic antiquity are still alive tod ay, for example, the ritual sharing of sweetened wheat to commemorate the death of a loved one, forty days after his decease.Another tradition, this one peculiar to the Bulgarians, is the exchange of â€Å"martenici. † According to which, the year begins on March first (mart is Bulgarian for March). As part of the tradition, a red string, is attached to children’s wrists as well as animals’ necks and tails – to combat evil. This is one of the most popular custom among Bulgarians world-wide. On this day a string is offered to each member of the family and to all of one’s friends, in order to bring them health and happiness throughout the year.Another unique aspect of Bulgaria which differentiates it from the rest of the world is its special voice. It is said that there is nothing in this world to match the Bulgarian voice, which is why a Bulgarian folk song performed by Valya Balkanska was recorded on a gold CD and sent aboard the Voyager to be the earth’s ambassador in alien worlds. Bulgarian folksongs too are singular in nature.There might be a folk song for every occasion from field work to harvest, from birth to a funeral, for any stage of life that you can think of, but they are not repetitive and Bulgarian music remains exceptional. The folk songs and the dances afford a rich background for the understanding of the spirit, that kept alive, the spark of national feeling for over five hundred years under foreign occupation.The unconscious pictures that people create of themselves are more authentic and more accurate than any other source that we can secure and the Bulgarian peasant through the medium of folklore has painted a picture of what he considers important. Folklore customs aside, in Bulgaria the official historic pillars of identity are three, chosen by the government, for their various positive and shining qualities. First of all the Protobulgarians – warriors, who defeated the superpower Byzantium and established a state on its land in the 7th century.Secondly the Slavs – industrious, egalitarian, freedom-loving people, useful in times of pro-Russian orientation and finally the Thracian ancestors – ancient, wise, peaceful. It was the Thracians who contributed the Kukeri traditions and the ever-popular day of Baba Marta. The Slavs are said to have created the traditional circular Bulgarian folk dances and the lucky number three. Without knowing it, these centuries-old civilizations worked together to create a modern culture for their descendants.Today, Bulgarians consider both the Slavs and the Thracians to be their ancestors. However, history proves that the more primitive Thracians were here first. If we look into the symbols that can be associated with the Bulgarian identity, the Balkan mountains and the Balkan lion stand out, both for obvious reasons. The Balkans appear as symbols of shelter in many folk songs for the haidouks, the venerated resistance-fighte rs, who in turn were the symbol of Bulgaria's urge for national liberty.The â€Å"Balkan lion† as the epitome of Bulgaria's victorious spirit too appeared in the first national hymn of the country, composed by Nikola Zhivkov . Despite decades of oppression or maybe because of it, the Bulgarians have an identity that is rich and vital. The concept of this identity stands on the stable foundation of a folk culture which incorporates strength, humor, wisdom, music as well as a unique and varied mythology.But, there is another school of thought which begs to differ in the matter of Balkan stability and provides a different point of view. Always traumatic and unstable, Balkan reality invites discourses of domination. Within this asymmetrical system of antagonisms and co-operation, stereotypes of Balkan character emerge as identities. It is said that the Balkan identity has been a potent channeling tool in the cultural exorcism of civilized Europe.The challenge for Balkan scholars, though they desire a modern non-ethnic identity, is to resist the lure of globalization. But, since the Balkan countries lack what it takes, the region’s best resistance to globalization is to foster an alliance of cultural critics across ethnic and professional lines. A window to the Bulgarian history History tells us that the Bulgarians are Asiatic in origin. Kinsmen of the Huns and Avars whose earlier raids had greatly disturbed the peace-loving Slavs.The Bulgarians were the first Asiatic people who established a permanent home in Balkania. They effected the conquest of the Slavs, but in the course of about two centuries were absorbed by the more numerous race, and largely lost their identity. Intermarriage and mixture of blood modified the physical type of the Bulgars. They lost their language and were converted to the same type of Greek Orthodox Christianity as the Slavs. They adopted the same Cyrillic alphabet and became thoroughly Slavicized.Nothing but the name Bulga rian remains to associate them with their Asiatic forebears. In the tenth century, Bulgaria came under the direct control of Byzantium, but recovered its independence in 1197 after a long struggle. The Bulgarian ruler at the time, Kalojan, set the seal on this victory in 1204 by having himself crowned the King of Bulgaria by a papal envoy. The second Bulgarian state thus inaugurated lasted until the Ottoman conquest, which took place in 1393. After that, the country ceasedto exist as a separate entity until the nineteenth century. Whatever Bulgarian culture survived through this period did so ‘behind the protective walls of monasteries. ’ Turkish rule lasted five centuries and is viewed by Bulgarian scholars as â€Å"the darkest period in the history of the Bulgarian people. † The Bulgarians were the last of the Balkan peninsula to attain their liberation. Perhaps because of the proximity to Constantinople, the hand of the Turk was felt more heavily in Bulgaria t han elsewhere.The only thing that continued was the village system in which the peasants were allowed to handle their own affairs. Oppressive, too, was the domination of the Phanariote clergy. This was even worse than the civil oppression of the Turks, because the clergy pursued a systematic policy of obliterating all evidences of Bulgarian culture and literature. In 1825, Illarion, the Greek Metropolitan of Tirnovo, made a bonfire of the old library of the Bulgarian Patriarchate, which till then had survived all the vicissitudes of the Turkish era.So thoroughly was this accomplished that the Bulgarians had actually passed out of the consciousness of Europe till the beginning of the nineteenth century. Bulgarian schools were closed, manuscripts were destroyed, and with the extinction of the Bulgarian archbishopric of Ochrida, the last stronghold of the old national Church, to which the Bulgarians had clung tenaciously, disappeared. It seemed that nothing could save the Bulgarians fr om complete Hellenization.Early in the nineteenth century, however, signs of a literary and cultural renaissance, the invariable prelude to a revival of nationalism, began to appear in Bulgaria. From the study of their past, the Bulgarians discovered their true identity and then went on to fight for it. Bulgaria’s chequered history, the points where it differs from the rest of the Europe and the fact that it serves to protect Europe from the imminent Islamic invasion also shapes its identity.Bulgarian historians, who also serve as national ideologists, always point out that it shields and protects Europe – a role that Europe is expected to understand and appreciate. Also the point here is to prove that Bulgaria was a cradle of European culture and that its history is intrinsically connected with Europe's development. Interestingly enough, at the same time historians take pride in matters that actually separate Bulgaria from the West European cultural tradition – the fact that it adopted the Cyrillic alphabet, and did not accept Roman Catholicism.The history of the country, which was conquered by the Turks in 1396, but managed to preserve its specific Slavic cultural and national identity throughout the five centuries, until 1878, when its European identity re-emerged, is stressed repeatedly. Folk culture In the field of culture, a long hard battle had to be waged against the Greeks, who by reason of their domination of the Church, gained a stranglehold on Bulgarian culture and even on the Bulgarian language.There was thus very little cultural advance until the end of eighteenth century, and it is small wonder that until recently Bulgaria was regarded as a very backward country. After the collapse of the Bulgarian Empire and its subsequent absorption into the Ottoman lands, the cultural level of Bulgaria reached an impasse. But soon a striking development of folk songs was noticed throughout the region. In the western part of the country th ese were largely epic, connected with the Serb epic cycles.These songs have a greater connection with the historical events that they purport to recount. The songs of the western region were less poetic, sober and realistic. In the east, however lyrical songs predominated. It was in such a condition, where traces of the popular language were slowly making their way into the written forms of Church Slavonic, that modern literature came into being and inspired national resurgence. Bulgarian folklore, mythology and festivals Bulgarian folklore exhibits a certain duality in nature.On the one hand, folklore is displayed as a spiritual expression of an agrarian type of society, where the central point is to recreate the annual farming cycle and the human life cycle in a tradition, based on folklore ritualism. On the other hand, it is permeated by the historical time of the Bulgarians. The interpretation of this time has found its most imposing expression in the Bulgarian heroic epic, simi lar to the epical sagas of other cultures.Furthermore, mythology too pops out from every nook and cranny in Bulgaria, in seemingly unlikeliest of places. Bulgarian mythology, with its in vampires and goblins, samodivi and dragons, endless tales with fantastic plots, for example in – A Lad Outruns the Sun, A Maiden Outshines the Sun – makes the Bulgarian culture such a rich and interesting one. It is amazing the way in which the Bulgarian folklore, mythology and festivals along with dance, music and assorted rituals come together in a holistic manner.They connect the spiritual growth of the Bulgarians with the cultural traditions of the other Balkan nations, irrespective of their religious identification and independent ethnic history. It could be said that when all these three elements come together, it reveals, a profound relationship with the Bulgarian daily experience and historical destiny. Somewhere the smaller events of life fall together in harmony to make the b ig picture.Among rituals and ceremonies, marriage and the continuity of the community is arguably the most important theme in the Bulgarian calendar, along with farm-related rituals. All festivals stress on these two points one way or the other. The most popular marriage-related ritual is the contrasting mid-winter and spring- time ceremonies for males and females respectively. For example, unmarried young lads, on 24 December, after midnight, visit each and every house, forming bands called ‘koledari or survakari’ and sing songs with an intricate mythical content.Similarly in the springtime, the maidens form ritual groups of girls, known as lazarki , perform a specific repertory full of tragic themes. In this context, the Bulgarian masquerade ritualism is very rich. The lazarki and koledari rituals are female and male life cycle initiations respectively. They prepare the males and females for the stage of matrimony. To elaborate on the theme, let us list a few festival s and rituals that allows us a glimpse into the two big wheels of folk life – life and farm cycle.The festivals in Bulgaria are innumerous and definitely merit a section of their own. According to ethnographers, the overall number of Bulgarian festive rites exceeds 11,000 – a plentitude of customs accompanying Bulgarian people's lives from the cradle to the grave. Here are a few popular festivals celebrated in Bulgaria. The Martenitsa Tradition – Baba Marta, Grandma Marta This is by far the most popular festival of Bulgarians and is celebrated world-wide by Bulgarians. This is a unique Bulgarian custom which originates from the ancient Thracians.The earliest martenitsas were made of white and red woolen threads to which a silver or gold coin was occasionally tied. Other rituals observed on March 1 include women dressing all over in red and in North-eastern Bulgaria, the lady of the house would toss a red cloth over a fruit tree or spread red wool onto a field to secure fertility. In stock-breeding areas, a white-and-red thread was commonly tied to the livestock. The tradition is still alive and widely respected.Every year on March 1, Bulgarians all over the world present each other with martenitsas, thus introducing and spreading this very Bulgarian custom, to a broader canvas of people. New year celebrations The most colorful set of winter calendar customs is that of New Year's celebration. From time immemorial, the fireplace and the table spread have been symbols of generosity and abundance. The richer the spread, the more fruitful the coming year is expected to be. It is a custom observed nation-wide.The koledari would go from house to house singing carols and wishing health and prosperity to the family. The koledari's dress and costume ornaments differ from region to region. This custom is characterized by extremely colorful rituality involving songs, blessings, and dances. The koledari perform on Christmas Eve as well. Having to do wi th the Julian and the Gregorian calendar, the customs have preserved their original vitality and are related to the anticipation of fertility. Ladouvane or Singing to RingsThis is another New Year's custom, expressing an young girls' eagerness to get married and enjoy a happy family life. Ladouvane or koumichene is a maidens' rite performed on the day before New Year only in the areas of Western Bulgaria, Central Balkan Range and in some regions along the Danube River. In the rest of the country, it is celebrated on Midsummer’s Day. Koukeri – the mummers tradition Koukerovden marks the beginning of the spring calendar. Everybody makes his own mask competing to show greater personal skill and craftsmanship.Therefore, no two ritual masks are alike and the men take great pride in displaying their masks. Young men in masks, visit houses and distribute gifts as part of the tradition. Todorovden – St Theodore's Day St Theodore's Day is celebrated six days after Shrove tide. It is also known as â€Å"Horses' Easter† because of the horse races commonly held on that day. According to folk tradition, newly married women would make a ritual Theodore's round loaf of bread decorated with a dough-modelled image of a horse's head.The ancient roots of this folk festival lie in Thracian mythology. The horse is a sun symbol, while the horseman is known in the Bulgarian lands through the cult of the Thracian Horseman. Trypon Zarezan – Vinegrower's Day Trypon Zarezan is celebrated during the first half of February. It is an old occupation-related custom. On this day, observed throughout the country, the vines are pruned and sprinkled with wine. In some areas, a Vine King is chosen and he is crowned with a wreath of wine twigs.Blagovets – Annunciation Day The festival of Blagovets, celebrated on March 25, symbolizes the beginning of spring – swallows returning from the southern lands. Popular Christian mythology associates the day wi th the story of Virgin Mary sitting in the garden and sewing, then leaning and smelling a sprig of basil and thus getting pregnant. Being an ancient festival, Blagovets is laden with old-time rites shrouded in popular Christianity. Easter Easter is the most revered festival in the Church calendar of Orthodox Christians.Making Easter cakes was introduced in Bulgaria as late as the 1920’s, but nowadays it has a very important place in the Bulgarian people's customs. Typical of the festival is the dying of eggs, a custom much enjoyed by all. St George’s Day St George’s Day is among the most important folk festivals. It is observed on May 6 and marks the beginning of trading activity and stock-breeding for the year. Its expressive rituality has been preserved to date.On the night before St George's Day, young boys would pick blossoming willow twigs to decorate the house, the pens, and the livestock for health. During the night, the sheep were turned out to feed beca use that night's dew on the grass is believed to have a curative powers. Bulgaria could easily be called the land of festivals, with almost every other day in the calendar being a festival of sorts. But it is the very same festivals, in all their abundance and glory, which prove to be at the core of the Bulgarian identity.Festivals are as a rule, a time when people socialize and bond, thus the plentiful festivals may explain the strong ties that Bulgarians world-wide share with their motherland. Story telling in Bulgarian culture Humor mixed with huge dollops of wit and a fine appreciation for life is what endears the native Bulgarian story-telling to the world. Bulgaria’s Nasreddin Hodja is a name everybody recognizes. This witty character is always getting the better of his rival comical character Hitar Petar.In fact Hodja can be termed the classic Bulgarian who endures hardship with loads of humor, wit and resourcefulness. As regards story-telling, the Bulgarian folk tale is characterized by its interest in the magical, its commitment with various everyday life events, confronting the rich and the poor, the clever and the fool, as well as by its abundance of candid and natural humor. The Bulgarian has a feeling for the legendary, most often associated with an old-testament imagery, and a live sense of historical narrative.Storytelling in Bulgaria is particularly enticing because the folklore memory travels into the realm of magical creatures, buried treasures, heroes who save the world, vampires, angels and healing spells†¦all fantastic and captivating. It also reminds us of the remote roots of the Bulgarian folk culture. Chase two rabbits and you catch none†¦ Classic proverbs like this one are as much a part of the everyday experience of the Bulgarian peasant as are his folk verse, song and tale.The proverb plays a more important role in the life of the Bulgarian than it does in the peasant civilizations of other European countries. As wit nessed in many other cultures of the world, the proverb is a focal point in conversation, argument or rhetoric. It is widely used to express compactly an idea or to create a mental image. It is a true mirror on the inner life of the people, of the conditions which prevail in their lives, of their morals and of their manners.Many Bulgarian proverbs are crudely expressed, internal evidence that they stem from the folk and are thus authentic. The proverbs also help in understanding the psyche of the man who uses a particular proverb. Here is a good one – An idle man makes a good prophet. Bulgarian music, folk songs and theater A Bulgarian can never be separated from his music. A character shared by the rest of the world you could say, but it is not all who share the fine appreciation for music that Bulgarians instinctively have.For a Bulgarian, life is a musical, with all its accompaniment. For him there is no plateau in life – joy, sorrow, loneliness or death that exists without music and suitable lyrics. Internationally, the Bulgarian music fascinates both the general public and the experts. At the turn of the century, the Bulgarian folklore tradition was given some new impulses, mainly in Macedonia and Thrace. Influenced by the revolutionary reality, a considerable number of songs were created.The musical expression of this cultural system has its regional and general characteristics for example, the Rhodope song, Thracian song, Shopp song, Macedonian song, among others. But the specific Bulgarian two-voice songs, and the phenomenon of irregular beats are unique. Regional variations are not strictly delineated, but certain typical characteristics have formed several musical dialects: North-Bulgarian, Dobroudjanian, Thracian, Shopp, the Pirin Mountains area, the Sredna Gora region, and Rhodopian.The distinguishing features of the Bulgarian folk song can be traced along three lines – homophonic, rhythm and vocal wealth. Today the Bulgarian f olk tradition is revived in the context of the specific new phenomena in music, where various styles and forms of genre meet as is witnessed in all parts of the world, in almost all cultures. In Bulgaria at the same time, there is a growing presence of performers coming from different ethnic groups, chiefly Gypsies, whose musical art has been exerting its influence on the Bulgarian folklore for a good while.What makes the Bulgarian folk song special is its rhythm and vocal wealth. They are of a caliber described by the experts as ranging from fantastic richness to primitive monotony. The extended time inherent in the folksongs are its distinguishing feature, as it is non-existent in the rest of the European music. Theater too is part of the Bulgarian love for expression. Once Bulgaria was free, its natural aptitude and love for music, drama, song and dance came to the fore.It is a fact that the musical theater in its informal form has always played a major role in Bulgarian culture. But after independence, classical operettas, revues, vaudeville, children's plays, and modern musical comedies flourished under the indulgent eyes of the Bulgarians. In a deliberate move to bring professionals together to explore this genre, the government established the State Musical Theater in 1948. The Bulgarian involvement with operetta, goes back to about seventy-five years.The State Musical Theater is the heir to a tradition that reached its high point during the 1930s. At that same time, private ensembles such as the Free Theater of the Renaissance, the Cooperative Theater, and the Odeon performed numerous works for enthusiastic audiences. An impressive standard was established which is appreciated all over the world today. The Bulgarian talent in the area of music, voice and opera is legendary, with people flocking to enjoy what the masters have in store for them.Bulgarians Abroad While there were no Bulgarian political institutions during the Ottoman era, the Bulgarian cu lture and language were well preserved as a result of Ottoman policy, which made no real attempt at cultural, religious, or linguistic assimilation. Gradually, both the formation of crafts guilds called esnafs, whose members underwrote the promotion of Bulgarian culture, and through the medium of education, Bulgarian cultural and ethnic consciousness spread.By the 1870s, there were thousands of Bulgarians living outside of their homeland in such places as Vienna, Bucharest, Odessa, Bessarabia and Constantinople and were to be a major influence on the Bulgarian Revival. The interest toward Bulgarian folk songs and dance has been sustained in the past two decades by a number of highly professional and amateur groups – American, Japanese, Dutch, Danish, among others and has culminated in the success of the Swiss recording of â€Å"Le mystere des voix bulgares,† followed by a worldwide tour of the Bulgarian vocal ensemble.The craving for Bulgarian folklore in the West is a basically urban phenomenon. For the foreigners, the representations of Bulgarian folklore music – the sound icon of Bulgarians is a fascinating one. During the 1970s, interest in Bulgarian female polyphony exploded in the wake of the American folk revival and the women's liberation movement.Groups began springing up all over, at colleges and community centers, often incorporating dance as well as singing. Although in the early years, instructors were mostly Americans, in the past decade, since the fall of the Bulgarian communist government in 1989, more and more Bulgarian instructors have been able to come to the United States to teach vocal and instrumental skills. Bulgarian folk songs and performers are liked and praised ar

Rainbow’s end-belonging

Relationships and experiences shape an individual's sense of belonging Belonging means the idea of being part of something where you are accepted without compromise, conditions or limitations. Relationships with people around ones environment and experiences through one's life have a strong connection to shape an Individual's sense of belonging. The play Rainbows End by Jane Harrison demonstrates that relationships and experiences affect Individuals to shape their sense of belonging.Relationship between females usually has a great Influence on shaping Individual's sense of belonging. In the play, Rainbows End, It Is shown through contrasting Dolly and Errol. â€Å"But†¦ A real home? A real home Is where there are people looking out for each other In this part, Dolly pauses for a moment In which punctuation is used to indicate that she is confused and disagree with Errol. While Errol thinks the ‘home' is where he physically belongs, Dolly thinks the ‘home' is where h er family belongs together. This difference refers to their cultural background.Aboriginals believe that they are all closely related so that they always have to be together. However, Whites are usually individualists who just care about their ‘own' family thus; they haven't had to consider the place where they belong. Dolly and Roll's relationships with their own community has shaped their different perception about ‘home'. Furthermore, the play conveys that the sense of belonging can be divided by relationships people are involved. When Dolly goes to the Miss Moorland-separator Ball, she is the only person who is an Aborigine. Thieve cooking at us†, Dolly is an unwelcome guest in the Ball between Whites. Then Nancy, who is also a White, says â€Å"Love your dress, Dolly. Love your fabric [with a giggle]†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. L thought we took them to the tip. † sarcastically in a derogative tone. As the White is in higher status than the Aborigine, they used to i solate and discriminate them in Australia even though originally Aborigines were living in Australia. In the same way, Dolly was insulted by Nancy Just because she wasn't belonging to the white but belongs to Aborigines.The Rainbows End emphasizes that the relationship In group an have different sense of belonging to other groups and sometimes It does not get along together. An individual's sense of belonging can also be affected by the experiences they have had. Nan has a strong desire to go back to her hometown as she was obliged by the White to leave her hometown. â€Å"They forced us to leave. Forced us to leave Counterargument. Our home. † By repeating ‘forced us to leave', Nan exposes her strong sense of resentment towards Whites. Nan's sense of belonging Is reinforced through this experience.The more she has got forced, the more she Is offensive about her family. Gladys used to admire the white society and had strong desire to fit in there. â€Å"†¦ The QUE EN pulls her into a hug. The lights come back to reality. Gladys is holding a bunch of weeds. † The weed is the symbol of poorness which is her reality. She had many daydreams. However, by experiencing the rejection from the bank manager, the blocked out from the Queen's visit and the isolation from housing problem, she begins to realism that the Whites would not accept her; the Aborigines.So she starts to approach to the reality and consider the way to change. We demand the right to make our own decisions. † Finally, Gladys makes a speech in the petition, represents the development of indigenous voices. The experience has changed Gladys sense of belonging more respectfully. According to the relationship and experience, individuals can shape one's sense of belonging. This is well demonstrated in the play, Rainbows End. Relationships can have an influence on shaping one's sense of belonging and can be divided into each group. Also the experiences make changes or strengthe n one's sense of belonging. Rainbow’s end-belonging Relationships and experiences shape an individual's sense of belonging Belonging means the idea of being part of something where you are accepted without compromise, conditions or limitations. Relationships with people around ones environment and experiences through one's life have a strong connection to shape an Individual's sense of belonging. The play Rainbows End by Jane Harrison demonstrates that relationships and experiences affect Individuals to shape their sense of belonging.Relationship between females usually has a great Influence on shaping Individual's sense of belonging. In the play, Rainbows End, It Is shown through contrasting Dolly and Errol. â€Å"But†¦ A real home? A real home Is where there are people looking out for each other In this part, Dolly pauses for a moment In which punctuation is used to indicate that she is confused and disagree with Errol. While Errol thinks the ‘home' is where he physically belongs, Dolly thinks the ‘home' is where h er family belongs together. This difference refers to their cultural background.Aboriginals believe that they are all closely related so that they always have to be together. However, Whites are usually individualists who just care about their ‘own' family thus; they haven't had to consider the place where they belong. Dolly and Roll's relationships with their own community has shaped their different perception about ‘home'. Furthermore, the play conveys that the sense of belonging can be divided by relationships people are involved. When Dolly goes to the Miss Moorland-separator Ball, she is the only person who is an Aborigine. Thieve cooking at us†, Dolly is an unwelcome guest in the Ball between Whites. Then Nancy, who is also a White, says â€Å"Love your dress, Dolly. Love your fabric [with a giggle]†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. L thought we took them to the tip. † sarcastically in a derogative tone. As the White is in higher status than the Aborigine, they used to i solate and discriminate them in Australia even though originally Aborigines were living in Australia. In the same way, Dolly was insulted by Nancy Just because she wasn't belonging to the white but belongs to Aborigines.The Rainbows End emphasizes that the relationship In group an have different sense of belonging to other groups and sometimes It does not get along together. An individual's sense of belonging can also be affected by the experiences they have had. Nan has a strong desire to go back to her hometown as she was obliged by the White to leave her hometown. â€Å"They forced us to leave. Forced us to leave Counterargument. Our home. † By repeating ‘forced us to leave', Nan exposes her strong sense of resentment towards Whites. Nan's sense of belonging Is reinforced through this experience.The more she has got forced, the more she Is offensive about her family. Gladys used to admire the white society and had strong desire to fit in there. â€Å"†¦ The QUE EN pulls her into a hug. The lights come back to reality. Gladys is holding a bunch of weeds. † The weed is the symbol of poorness which is her reality. She had many daydreams. However, by experiencing the rejection from the bank manager, the blocked out from the Queen's visit and the isolation from housing problem, she begins to realism that the Whites would not accept her; the Aborigines.So she starts to approach to the reality and consider the way to change. We demand the right to make our own decisions. † Finally, Gladys makes a speech in the petition, represents the development of indigenous voices. The experience has changed Gladys sense of belonging more respectfully. According to the relationship and experience, individuals can shape one's sense of belonging. This is well demonstrated in the play, Rainbows End. Relationships can have an influence on shaping one's sense of belonging and can be divided into each group. Also the experiences make changes or strengthe n one's sense of belonging.