Monday, September 30, 2019

Does Age Really Matter? Essay

Some people may think that age matters in relationship while others say that relationships work best when the male is older, but I do not agree with either ideology. I used to believe that age matters in a relationship but after personally going through an experience that counteracted those beliefs, I finally believed. When my cousin, Mojgun, met the love of their life no one, including myself, ever believed that the relationship would work, especially since she was five years older than him. Usually in the Persian culture, the man is supposed to be older than the female, always, and when that isn’t the case, there is not much hope for the relationship. After being together for six years, they finally married, and now she is expecting their second child, and they are happier than they could ever be. With that, age doesn’t matter in a relationship because it all depends on the individual’s ideals, culture, and what their goal is in that relationship or that point in their life what they’re looking for. Age doesn’t matter in a relationship; as long as they both are mature and they have a same goal in their life and they care about each other. A relationship is like a boat in the ocean if they don’t know where they’re heading too and if they can’t work together, they never can land the boat. The only thing that matters the most in a relationship is the love between couples. If you are in a relationship with a person that takes advantage of you or abuses you, it makes no difference what your situation or age is they will do that no matter what the age is. An example of that is one of my mom’s childhood friends married a man two years younger than here, and since they have been together he has been abusive to her ever since. It has not gotten any better, in fact it has gotten worse, because now she is use to it and thinks that’s what love is. No matter what people try to do, including my mom intervening, she always goes back to him because that ’s how her brain is trained now. That’s what she grew up with, especially with her relationship, and that’s what she is accustomed to. The relationship obviously is not healthy because they both don’t have the same goals in that relationship, which should be including treating each other with respect, not degrading each other. No matter what the age, if she was younger or  older, her husband is the type of person who is abusive, and age would not fix any of it. It would remain the same because that’s how his personality is. Perhaps, if he was actually loving, and really treated her with respect, she would know what real love is, but she does not, and it is sad to see her live with that, thinking that deep down it is love. Love should not hurt, and in her case that’s all she feels on a constant basis from him. Through this example, it clearly shows that age does not take a toll on the end result or on what’s occurring between my mother’s friend and her husband. No matter what the age, everything will still stay the same, and eventually as time passes by things will get worse and w orse, as sad as that is. When people have the same goals on the other hand, like for example, wanting to settle down and have children, relationships are more likely to be successful. When couples have the same goals at the time of meeting or starting a relationship, it plays really vital to the success of that relationship. If one likes to go out and party, and the other does not there is always going to be that friction between them because one is doing something the other does not approve of, and so forth. Regardless of the age, there is always going to be that friction. On the other hand, if both like to stay at home, dine in, and share the same interests it really doesn’t matter what age they are because they share the same interests or common goals. When couples have the same long-term goals in mind, such as having kids or settling down getting married, they will do whatever they have to do to complete that end goal, and both do that to make sure it happens. For example, if a man is not looking to settle down, while the woman is, there is always going to be friction, and most likely that relationship is not going to work out. In my own experience, even though I am only twenty two years old, I have had relationships where girls wanted to become something more serious than I could handle, and I just was not ready for that. As a result it caused a lot of road blocks because we did not see eye to eye on what was going on with the relationship and where it was going, therefore me having to break up with her because it’s not a common goal we shared. I did not plan on marrying her or being in a committed relationship where I knew I wanted to marry her, I just was not ready. Regardless of age, if one is ready to settle, when the other is not, the relationship is most likely not going to work, because it’s in their  mentality, the personality, whether they want to settle down at that point in time or in their life. Anyone could make an argument that if someone was older or younger, it could have an impact, but in the end, it all depends on the individual and age doesn’t necessarily mean that your outlook, personality, or opinions change. As one gets older, you can argue that their opinions become more solidified, and they become more stable with who they are, and what they want in life. Primarily in the Persian culture, women are always treated with the utmost respect. It does not matter how old each partner is in the relationship, because there is always the basic foundation of treating each other with respect, especially Persian men with Persian women. They are like a team, and no matter what, they will do what they have to do to win the game (life), side by side. When a couple sees eye to eye, it does not matter how old they are, it matters that they understand each other, and want their relationship to work. Relationships work if you take the time to get to the know the person you are going to be with. If they don’t share the same ideals, culture beliefs, or goals in life, most likely the relationship is not going to work. It all depends on the type of individuals that are paired together and whether there is chemistry and that drive to make it work, otherwise it’s an uphill battle. When couples who are together share the same interests, goals in life, and beliefs, there’s a higher probability that their relationship will work, regardless of their age.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Travelling Abroad Is a Waste of Money

TRAVELLING ABROAD IS A WASTE OF MONEY I strongly disagree that travelling abroad is a waste of money because we can learn history of civilizations, we can learn cultures of different peoples and we can witness the greatness of Allah. Firstly, in Surah Al- Ankabut: 20, Allah says : â€Å" Travel the earth then see how He makes the first creation, then Allah creates the latter creations†¦ † What this verse indicates is the disappearance of one nation to give place to another. For instance, the nation of the Pharaohs has been replaced by modern Egypt.Other nations which have disappeared include the people of Ad and Thamud in the Middle-East. Through travelling we can learn the history and witness the remains of these civilizations. Secondly, we can learn the cultures of different peoples around the world. In Surah Ruum: 22, Allah says : â€Å" And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colours.. †. Hence, if we travel from China across to Europe, we will see peoples of different looks, colours, sizes, cultures, languages, and ways of living.They include Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Persians, Arabs, and Europeans. All look different from one another, speak different languages, and practise different cultures. Finally, in Surah Ibrahim : 32, Allah says : â€Å" Allah†¦ made ships subservient to you to run their course in the sea by His command ,and He has made the rivers subservient to you. † This verse tells us that Allah provides the facilities for mankind to travel( by sea or river ). In so doing one can appreciate the creations and greatness of Allah.For instance, sailing in the seas will give us the opportunity to see sharks, beautiful islands, and the huge waves. Sailing in the rivers will give us the opportunity to see the numerous floras and faunas, rapids, and waterfalls. Although travelling abroad does cost a lot of money, inconvenience and sometimes have to face some di fficulty, in my opinion, travelling abroad is not a waste of money because of the benefits we can get from it. [336 words]

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Italian Neo Realism and the Movie Rome Open City Review

Italian Neo Realism and the Rome Open City - Movie Review Example 45-87). This paper discusses Italian neo realism and its portrayal in the movie Rome Open City in a concise and comprehensive way using the sources mentioned in the list of Works Cited. Adair (pp. 45-87) discusses that the liberalization of the economy and the relaxation of political controls coincided with the Italian entry into the Second World War in June 1940 on the side of Germany. The situation in Italy, by 1940, was one of ideological and political uncertainties, and in part, for these reasons, of artistic possibilities. Armstrong (pp. 78-99) discusses that De Sica's I bambini ci guardano/The Children Are Watching Us (1942) and Visconti's Ossessione/Obsession (1943), variously regarded as the 'first' neo-realist films, and perhaps, the 'first' anti-fascist ones, were produced by private companies with State subsidies and State approval. And, Rossellini's 'Fascist' war trilogy, made as war propaganda between 1941-1943, was described by him as 'neo-realist', as much neo-realist as his antifascist Roma citta aperta/Rome Open City (1945). If the issue was ideology or economy, the Fascist Party or the interests of industry, it was the latter not the former that prevailed (Armstrong, pp. 78-99). By 1943, Fascism was no longer supported by Italian capitalism. On the contrary, it was pushed aside. Fascism had become a danger. It was no longer a protection against social disorder, but the cause of disorder, no longer an instrument for economic development, but a hindrance to development. The class that had helped brings Fascism into being, now acted to eliminate it. Mussolini was overthrown by a coup within the Fascist leadership encouraged by conditions created by the Allied military advance, and not by the 'people' (Armstrong, pp. 78-99). He was replaced by an officer in the Fascist High Command, Marshal Badoglio. The dates of Italian neo-realist cinema roughly correspond to the fall of Fascism in 1943 up until the consolidation of the first postwar Italian government under the Christian Democrats (Dc) around 1951 [the Dc came to power in 1948]. But the features of Italian neo-realism are not at all clear (Armstrong, pp. 78-99). Neo-realism was a tendency more than it was a definite aesthetic. Some films were more neo-realist than others. None were ever purely neo-realist. Neo-realism was an ideal toward which certain films approached in varying degrees of closeness. What is most important is to indicate the conditions that made neorealist cinema possible, then impossible, rather than to attempt to define it. The dominant cinema in Italy in the 1930s--the cinema associated with Fascism--was a commercial genre cinema. Most films screened in Italy came from America, nearly 80 per cent; most Italian films were modeled on American ones. It was logical that Italian films took American ones as their model. The Italian industry, with help from the Fascist State, sought to reconstruct itself and prosper (Munsterberg, pp. 673-76).

Friday, September 27, 2019

Sam's Liability for SamCom Ltd's Obligations Essay

Sam's Liability for SamCom Ltd's Obligations - Essay Example Promoters also have a fiduciary duty to the shareholders, as he stands in the same position as a company director. As such, Sam cannot make a secret profit and he must have full disclosure with any transaction that he takes while he is the promoter of the company. He also cannot serve himself at the expense of the shareholders (Erlanger v New Sombrero Phosphate Co (1878) 3 App Cas 1218). The facts state that the business that became SamCom Ltd was valued at ?50,000, yet the business was sold to SamCom Ltd for ?90,000. This might be a breach of Sam’s fiduciary duty to his shareholders (Cahn & McDonald, 2010), if he did not disclose that his company was worth substantially less than what SamCom Ltd. paid for it. The solicitor who Sam hired to take the necessary steps for incorporation, however, is not considered a promoter, as Re Great Wheal Polgooth Co. Ltd. (1883) 53 LJ Ch 42 established that persons who are acting as a professional capacity at the behest of the promoter, such as solicitors, do not become promoters. As for the contract to buy the silicon chips for ?5,000, this is a pre-incorporation contract, and the company would not be bound on this contract. This was established in the case of Kelner v Baxter (1866) LR 2 CP 174, which established that pre-incorporation contracts do not bind the company. ... was incorporated, so the company would not be bound by this contract. Separate Personality of the Company and Lifting the Veil On the facts, it may be assumed that this is a closely held corporation. This does not, however, negate the separate legal personality of SamCom Ltd. According to established English law, a corporation is a separate legal personality who has the ability to sue and be sued and hold debts in its name (Wild & Weinstein, 2011). Moreover, the fact that only one person is a corporation does not defeat the separate legal personality of the corporation. This was established in the seminal case of Salomon v. Salomon & Co. [1897] AC 22. In this case, Salomon made leather boots, and he was basically the sole bona fide shareholder of his company. The company went into liquidation, and the creditors attempted to make Salomon personally liable for the company's debts. The Salomon court held that, as long as a company is a legal entity, then the business, and the debts, bel ongs to the company, not to the shareholder(s). In this case, the lower courts had attempted to say that Salomon himself was liable, because he was the only interested shareholder – the other shareholders were his family members, and they were disinterested. The House of Lords held, however, that this does not defeat the claim of corporate personality. Therefore, this case may be applied to the facts, in that SamCom Ltd. is a closely held corporation, but, as per Salomon, the corporation would still have a separate legal personality and Salomon further demonstrated that corporations, because they are separate legal entities, will be liable for the debts incurred by

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Challenges, problems and conflicts that may occur in teams (Teamwork Essay

Challenges, problems and conflicts that may occur in teams (Teamwork vs. Individual work in efficiency of decision making) - Essay Example g need not always be the responsibility of an individual alone, and various professional as well as academic contexts reveal the decision making process taken up jointly by a team. The effectiveness achieved when making individual decisions differs from the effectiveness attained when teams take decisions. However, if a particular decision should be taken by an individual or a team is totally dependent on the nature of the problem that needs to be solved as well as the available time and resources. Therefore, whether decisions made by individuals are more effective from that of teams or vice versa cannot be ultimately stated as each problem differs from the other, thereby requiring unique decisions as well as different forms of decision making. In order to understand the difference in effectiveness arising out of individual and team decisions, one must first be thoroughly understand the concepts of individual and team with reference to decision making. Larson and LaFasto (1989) provide a definition of team, which states that it is a â€Å"unit of two or more people† who engage in interacting as well as coordinating their work in order to â€Å"accomplish a specific goal† (Morden, 2004, p. 248). Katzenbach and Smith further describe the concept of team as a small group of people who possess â€Å"complimentary skills† and are committed to a â€Å"common purpose, performance goals, and approach† for which they are mutually accountable (p. 248). Therefore, team is comprised of two or more individuals who are influenced by a common commitment and who are ready to coordinate their activities in order to take decision regarding a particular problem within a stipulated time frame. There are different t ypes of teams and each category or type has a basis of its own. Morden identifies the different types of teams such as â€Å"permanent or temporary team,† based on the period or purpose for which they are created; â€Å"formal† teams including, vertical and horizontal teams that

MKTG 3000 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MKTG 3000 - Essay Example The public who attracted towards this ad will take more time in analyzing the features of this advertisement. The theme of this ad is that the two pieces of Bounty chocolate available in the chocolate packet displayed in the picture are not mere chocolates, but â€Å"Two pieces of paradiseâ€Å" just like the two thighs of the female model represented in the advertisement. The ad tried to keep consistency in its theme as the model has wore only two pieces of dress and the entire picture consists consist of only two other objects; a coconut tree and a beach. The coconut tree moving in the wind and the beach at the backdrop are giving more pleasant feelings to the viewers of this advertisement. This advertisement ask the readers to enjoy the taste of the Bounty chocolate just like they are enjoying the thighs of the female model presented in the advertisement. The above advertisement clearly shows that how fierce is the competition in the food market. The advertisers are not taking any ethical means while preparing their advertisements. Their intention is only to catch the attention of the public and for that purpose they are ready to go up to any extent. I don’t think the above advertisement may succeed in increasing the sales of the Bounty chocolate beyond certain limits. Current consumers are more aware of the quality of the goods they are purchasing rather than the attractiveness of the advertisement. At the same time, because of the variety displayed, the above advertisement may catch the attention of the teenagers. The intention of the advertiser might be the same also. The intrusion of television and internet like medias decreased the demand of magazine and journal like print medias. People are spending less time for reading printed articles nowadays and therefore printed ads are not reaching the eyes of the public adequately. If the printed ads are not much good in catching the attention of

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Modern sheet-metal forming processes used in the automotive industry Essay

Modern sheet-metal forming processes used in the automotive industry - Essay Example Parts that are made using sheet metal have numerous attractive qualities, which include excellent accuracy of dimension, adequate strength, light weight, and a wide range of possible dimensions ranging from miniature parts in electronics to the large parts of airplane structures. All sheet-metal forming processes can be divided into two major groups: cutting processes that include shearing, blanking, notching, piercing, and so on; and plastic deformation processes, which include bending, stretch formation, deep drawing, and other various forming processes. The cutting group of processes involves cutting the material by subjecting it to sheer stresses between punch and die or between the blades of a shear. The punch and die may be any shape, and the cutting contour may be open and closed. Parting: this consists of cutting the piece into several pieces or removing pieces of scrap of various shapes from deep drawn pieces. The operation of parting results in production of some scrap, unlike cutoff. Bending; this consists of straining flat sheets or strips of metal uniformly around a linear axis. Metal on the outside of the bend is stressed in tension beyond the elastic limit. Metal on the inside of the bend is compressed. Bending is a process by which metal can be molded into any shape through plastically deforming the material. It usually refers to deformation about one axis, and the material is stressed above its yield strength but below it’s ultimate tensile strength. The surface area of the material is not altered much. It is a flexile process by which a wide variety of shapes can be produced using standard die sets. The material is placed on the die, then positioned in place using stops and gages, and held in place with hold-downs. The upper part of the press, which is the ram with the desired shaped punch descends and forms a v-shaped bend

Monday, September 23, 2019

Can a machine have a conscience Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Can a machine have a conscience - Research Paper Example pic indicate that conscience is a complicate matter to be understood even in humans and hence cannot be replicated in machines no matter how intelligent they are or will be made to be. With the new technological innovations of this century that continue to shock even the inventors, there is possibility of them developing a machine that will have a conscience in the future. One of the best brain scientists in the world Christof Koch who works for the Allen Institute for Brain Science located in Seattle is very positive of having a breakthrough in the scientific and technological industry which will lead to development of a conscious machine. He believes that it is only a matter of organizing the machine to work like a mammalian brain and the results will be epic (Regalado 2014). The institute he is working in has dedicated millions of dollars in neuroscience research of the mammalian brain studying its neurons and synapses and trying to find out about consciousness through the Human Genome Project. He vouches for the integrated information theory which will be able to explain about consciousness in detail which would in turn lead to development of a machine with the same components, neurons and synapses to enable it have a conscience. According to the authors Tononi and Koch (2008), the concept of consciousness is as imperfect to understand and explain in detail as the law of physics and other sciences but it is there and can be explored further. If there is a theory to explain about consciousness no matter how complicated or vague it currently is, it means that there is hope that further research, development and expansion of the theory will lead to reproduction of machineries with inbuilt conscious and hence will act, think, feel and make decisions similarly to a human being. Detailed clinical study using sophisticated instruments have provided a basic understanding of the process of consciousness (Tononi and Koch 2008). These results are the basics of the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Job search plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Job search plan - Research Paper Example Consequently, the formation forms a crucial source of natural gas reservoirs. Thus natural gas extracted from these reservoirs would be used as a source of energy. Marcellus Shale, like other fossil fuel formations such as oil and coal, was essentially formed through decomposition of remains of plants and animals over a long spell of time. Natural gas could be formed through two processes which include the following: Thermogenic formation. This process refers to the formation of natural gas as a result of temperature and pressure changes in the Earth’s crust resulting in compression effects on the overlying debris. Consequently, Marcellus Shale formation was as a result of a thermogenic formation process. Thus, the shale is a geological formation that was formed as a result of accumulation of sediments in the sea. Consequently, organic matter (such as the remains of plants and animals) was compressed at extremely high pressures for a long time. This process resulted in the formation of thermogenic methane. The organic particles decomposed were covered in mud and other sediments. Consequently, the debris exerted pressure on the underlying organic matter. This cycle was carried on for long spells of time amounting to millions of years. Thus, with time, more and more sediments and debris was piled on the organic matter beneath the materials. This, in turn, continued to exert increased pressure on the organic matter. As a result, the organic matter was compressed. Consequently, the compression resulting from the overlying debris broke down the organic matter. This process was also aided by the exi stence of extremely high temperatures beneath the Earth’s crust (Victor, and Jaffe 26). Since the crust’s temperature increase with depth, at shallow deposits with low temperature, more oil was produced as opposed to natural gas. However, at deep deposits with extremely high

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Creative Writing (Story beginnings) Essay Example for Free

Creative Writing (Story beginnings) Essay A golden haze encircled the angels head and its torso glowed dazzling white against the drab dreary wall behind. Whats happe she willed her mouth to finish the sentence but it wouldnt obey so she gave up. She fought too against the uplifting force taking her away from the slightly damp pavement but as every ounce of resistance drained out of her limbs, she went limp and was completely at its mercy. The final thought that crossed her mind before it succumbed to the black cloud that eventually engulfed her was that she recognised this angel. * Elizabeth Anne Johnson Lizzie to her friends was a beautiful girl. With endless jet-black locks flowing down her back and striking features, she looked straight off a catwalk. Tonight she was wearing her favourite pale pink mini-dress with manicured nails and dainty heels to match; and with her perfect figure, she was more than able to carry it off. A combination of her stunning looks and the confidence she exuded made every head turn when she walked past a fact of which she was well aware. Lizzie had spent all night in Brightons new trendiest nightspot Heaven. The place was heaving with bodies bouncing to the thundering beats pounding out of the state of the art stereo system. They were puppets dancing to the tune of the headphone-wearing master in the glass booth above. Fluffy white clouds were suspended from the ceiling, in keeping with the paradisiacal theme, and the strobe lighting completed the effect. The drinks were flowing and the atmosphere was electric just how Lizzie liked it and as she cast her chocolate-brown eyes around the dance floor a wave of euphoria swept over her. She felt as though she was perched on top of the world. Already tonight, she had received fifteen requests to buy her a drink a record even by her standards and had accepted only one. This was one more than usual though. She may have seemed like the happy-go-lucky type but appearances can be deceptive and she was quite the opposite. Lizzie, a seasoned partygoer, was extremely cautious, especially after the letters Nevertheless, against her better judgement, she was drawn in by the hypnotic charms of this blonde-haired stranger and felt powerless to resist. His eyes were bottomless pools of baby blue and he had a passive, peaceful presence she trusted him immediately and completely. She began chatting to him and it suddenly dawned on her that she was telling her life story to a total stranger but she pushed the thought out of her mind just as quickly as it had surfaced. Besides with his crisp white shirt, soft voice and wide grin, he seemed harmless enough. Chapter One (2) The sun was playing hide and seek behind the rows of trees as Detective Flynn drove up to the Heaton mansion. He was filled with the giddy excitement of a man about to change his life. He knew how lucky he was to be here and that this case could potentially make or break his career. Flynn was extremely tall and so scrawny one feared he might blow over in a sudden gust of wind. Through the flaming red curtains flopping over his forehead, intense blue eyes peered out inquisitively. As the mansion came into view for the first time he was awestruck. Beyond the wrought iron gates, it stood large and handsome. It was a huge stone structure with countless windows glinting in the afternoon sun and set in acres of sprawling grounds, of which every inch was flawless. The only thing blemishing this perfect watercolour was the black and yellow police tape running the length of the building. The old rusty Ford Escort coughed and spluttered to a halt in the immaculate courtyard and with an almighty heave Flynn managed to force the door open. As he stepped out gravel crunched beneath his feet. He was dressed in a pair of old faded Marks and Sparks jeans and looking around, was suddenly painfully aware of how old and faded they really were. He was also regretting the rest of his wardrobe choice. His slightly off-white shirt had a straight out of the laundry basket look and his black leather loafers hadnt seen a dab of polish sincewell ever. Despite this, John Heaton greeted Flynn with a warm friendly handshake. The two had been at school together and even though their lives had taken extremely different paths, they had remained the best of friends. As he was being introduced to Heatons wife Claudia, the detective couldnt help but notice how much his friend had changed. A nervous and slightly awkward teenager, John Heaton had become a confident self-assured 35 year-old. He now spoke with the eloquence and poise that only a multi-billionaire could. He was dripping with expensive designer labels a far cry from the washed out tee shirts and baggy jeans of his adolescence. Money oozed out of his every pore. One thing, however, had definitely not changed. Observing the dreamy look that descended upon his face as he gazed at his wife, Flynn could tell his old chum was still a sucker for a pretty girl. And this was one pretty girl! 15 years his junior, actress Claudia Gilbert-Heaton was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty. Yet, as she tentatively extended her perfectly manicured hand to shake his, Detective Flynn took an instant disliking to her. Her broad smile was almost condescending and didnt reach her eyes, which were icy and distant. Im so pleased to finally meet you, she said, looking him up and down, staring pointedly at the ink stain on his shirt pocket. The disdainful look in her eyes betrayed her words and he could tell she was quite the opposite. The reason for this, he would soon discover Chapter One (3) It screamed at me. Its waving arms taunted me as they jerked up and down and the smiley face was more of a sneering face. At that moment all I wanted to do was shatter it into a thousand pieces but it was so far away and my legs were still sound asleep. I picked a rolled up sock up off the floor and with all the energy I could muster, sat up and launched it. It hit its intended destination with satisfying thud and mercifully, the screaming desisted. Putting the bright yellow, Little Miss Sunshine alarm clock so far out of reach had been a pre-emptive strike by mother against my Sunday morning lie-in. Ha, I thought, shell have to think of something better than that! I managed the beginnings of a triumphant grin before, exhausted from my exertions, I slumped onto the lumpy mattress and slid back into a peaceful slumber. Ten minutes later I heard the sprightly purposeful pounding that could only be her bounding up the stairs. She burst through the door, wearing her mechanical cheery smile. Morning love, sleep well? Why arent you up yet, I heard the alarm go off ages ago? she asked, ruffling my unruly brown curls. She then marched over to the window, with unnatural liveliness considering the time and spread the curtains wide. Oh Mum, its too bright, I mumbled in complaint, raising an arm to shield my bleary eyes from the light. She ignored me. I sometimes think you wouldnt know an early morning if it came up and bit you on the behind. Now get up, Im sure youve plenty of work to do today and we dont want you falling behind now do we? she chirped, practically, it seemed, in unison with the birds outside. I need sleep, I whined, yearning for some pity. It didnt come. You shouldnt let sleep get in the way of things. Heaven knows I dont; I cant. What would happen if I did? Nothing would get done around here thats what! she tutted and continued with renewed vigour, Goodness, look at the state of this room! Im sure youve forgotten what colour the carpet is! This is not a positive working environment. How on earth can you get anything done in here? She asked and without pausing for an answer, delved into the abyss that was my bedroom floor. She began sorting tidying and organising like an unstoppable whirlwind of efficiency, her neat blonde bob bouncing up and down. I merely lounged on the bed and watched on in amazement. Within minutes she had transformed the cluttered chaotic mess into a tidy, orderly bedroom. When she finished, she stood up, brushed some imaginary specks of dirt from her skirt and staring at my sprawled out figure, flashed me the look. Oh no, I groaned inwardly. It was the I-am-so-disappointed-you-didnt-turn-out-more-like-me look. This look was always followed by a stream of criticisms, of which most, to be fair, were usually quite accurate. I sighed and braced myself for the oncoming tirade. Literary Analysis of Story Beginning (1) When writing my own story opening, I tried to use techniques that would make the reader want to read on. For example, I described the main characters appearance in detail so that the reader would be able to form a mental picture of her. Just from the first few paragraphs, the reader knows that she is a beautiful girl with endless jet black locks and chocolate brown eyes. The effect of this is to make the reader relate to her with empathy rather than objectivity because they feel they know her. I also tried to show her personality was sweet and kind. Her clothes and shoes are powder-pink and dainty. I also mentioned that she seemed like the happy-go-lucky type. I did this so the reader would like her and be affected by anything that may happen to her. I included her full name Elizabeth Anne Johnson so that the reader would feel like they were getting a complete picture of her. However, for the rest of the opening, I referred to her as Lizzie. This created a bond between the reader and the character because she is Lizzie to her friends so the reader feels like her friend. It is written in the 3rd person narrative so the reader can get a full overview of all the events in the story. The narrative structure deviates. This creates suspense, as there is no development of the action in the first paragraph in the rest of the opening. I purposely created a huge contrast between the eerie and spooky first paragraph and the rest of the opening, which seems like an ordinary night out, by using varying degrees of character and event description. In the first paragraph I did not use any description at all and just used non-specific terms like she. This was to create mystery and apprehension. In sharp contrast to this, I fully described character and events in the rest of the story. I began with telling the reader her full name so they felt they were being formally introduced. I then went on to describe her appearance, clothes what she is doing: tonight she was wearing She had spent all night because I did none of this in the first paragraph. I did however make some links. For example, in the first paragraph, the words angel, uplifting and glowed are used. In the rest of the opening, the words Heaven, fluffy white clouds and euphoria are used. This is to create a link between the two parts of the story and establish an ongoing theme of heaven and the supernatural. I also used a sense of vulnerability to link the two main characters. With the girl in the first paragraph it is obvious. I used carefully chosen vocabulary. She willed her mouthit wouldnt obey shows that she isnt even in control of her own body. She fought to against the uplifting forcewas completely at its mercy, her mindsuccumbed to the black cloud that eventually engulfed her. Also the word succumbed is quite passive. However the vulnerability in Lizzies character is subtler. At the end, she is drawn in by the stranger and feels powerless to resist. This links Lizzie and the girl but also the angel and the stranger because they hold the power in the respective relationships. I think the links make the reader want to read on because its like giving them some pieces of a puzzle. They can see some of the picture so they read on so they can find the rest of it. To create further curiosity, the phrase especially after the letters is not explained at any point in the opening, forcing the reader to form their own opinion. The fact that she was extremely cautious especially after the letters makes the letters seem sinister and let the reader know they were a cause for concern. I used ellipsis at the end so show it is an unfinished thought and an unanswered question. I carefully chose vocabulary to foreshadow dramatic events. For example, on top of the world is a well-known phrase, which means in a position of great happiness or success. However I used the phrase perched on top of the world in my story opening. The word perched suggests instability and precariousness so implies that her happiness may be short lived. I also used the progression of time to create effect. The story begins with the girl trying to speak and then finally collapsing she willed her mouth to finish the sentence but it wouldnt obeysuccumbed to the black cloud that was threatening to engulf her and then goes to a lively vibrant scene. I did this so the scene would seem like a flashback or a dream as we know the main character is unconscious. The strobe lighting in the scene adds to the dream-like quality. I tried to create an image of the setting (the club) being beautiful and pure. I did this by calling it heaven and using description like fluffy white clouds. I then used words like heaving with bodies thundering beats and pounding when describing the people and what they are doing to create a contrast. I did this to imply that clubbing itself is innocent enough but the people make it dangerous. I used alliteration in several places for effect. drab dreary wall emphasises how dull and grey the wall in contrast dazzling white of the angel, to to make it stand out more. In bodies all bouncing to the thundering beat, the b sound is repeated to try and mirror the beat of the music. I used the phrases bottomless pools of baby blue and passive, peaceful presence because they are quite soft sounds and I wanted to make the stranger seem calm and therefore contrast with the setting, which is electric. I used a metaphor They were puppets dancing to the tune of the headphone-wearing master in the glass booth above because it emphasises the submissive nature of the clubbers and the idea of a person wielding power over someone else. The issue of power is explored in many different parts of the story. I also used repetition. The word seemed is used at the end the last paragraph. She may have seemed like the happy-go-lucky type but appearances can be deceptive and she was quite the opposite and he seemed harmless enough. This is to suggest that just because the stranger seems harmless he may be quite the opposite and to foreshadow him doing something harmful in the future. I put it in italics both times to add emphasis and draw the readers attention to it. In conclusion, I think the techniques I used were effective because there are unanswered questions right at the beginning, which are never answered and this appeals the curiosity of the reader, making them want to read on.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Comparison of Subculture and Countercultures

Comparison of Subculture and Countercultures In any society there are not only cultures, but also a variety of subculture and countercultures that develop within society. Subcultures and countercultures are formed by generalizations, occupation, class, lifestyle, likes, dislikes, etc. [1] Basically subculture is a group of people that differentiate from the larger culture that they belong to. In earlier 1950s, there has been a distinction between an accepted majority style and a subculture as an active minority style. Dick Hebdige argued that a subculture is subversion to normality. Subcultures tend to be perceived as negative and have a nature of criticism. Subcultures bring together individuals who feel neglected and allow them to develop a sense of identity. [2] Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior deviates from the societal norm. Although distinct countercultural undercurrents have existed in many societies, here the term refers to a more significant, visible phenomenon that reaches critical mass and persists for a period of time. It is important to distinguish between counterculture, and subculture. [3] Subculture A subculture is a group of individuals that do share some qualities that the majority of society share, but the group has its own values, beliefs, norms, behavior, etc. Subcultures tend to be created when society endures problems or enjoys common privileges. Most individuals within a subculture have common interests and beliefs.   Types of subculture   Following are the major types of subculture. Organizational Culture A type of subculture that allows members to have solidarity, community, and social relationships that influence individual behavior. It is the way an organization deals with the environment.   Counterculture It is a type of subculture that completely disregards societys norms and values and creates new ones.   They tend to develop when people will not conform to the mainstream.   They have their own beliefs, problems with cultural integration, and have their own material culture. [1] Racial or nationality subcultures These subcultures tend to vary in their values, ambition and beliefs which get reflected in their consumption priorities, spend save patterns, purchase behavior, use of credit, social traditions and customs etc.Nowadays multiracial societies like America comprised of citizens who come from different nationalities or belong to different races. Religious subcultures: Most societies of the world today consist of people subscribing to different religions, which may differ in their beliefs, values and customs. The religious subgroups may follow different custom, have important rites of passage (like birth, marriage and death) performed in different ways and have different festivals. [4] Counter culture vs. Sub culture Counterculture can be defined as a group whose behavior deviates from the societal norm. It is different to the mainstream culture in their politics, norms, social beliefs, and way of dress and social structures. (or) A counter culture is one that reacts against the prevailing culture in place. Example: Throughout the last century examples of counterculture might be the suffragettes, the green movement, polygamists and feminists, punk movement and the infamous hippie counterculture movement of the 1960s, are formed and exist to oppose the dominant culture. All of these counter cultures have specific beliefs and values that cause social change. Counter cultures are large movements that cause social change. Counter cultures are against mainstream culture.[5] Members of a counterculture come together around their desire to reject movements within the larger, dominant culture. While members have this opposition in common, they may not share religious or political affiliations, similar socioeconomic situations, or values. Countercultures can be both negative and positive. They can also become larger when more people are involved and assimilate into the mainstream just as subcultures in general have this potential.[6] Biker Gangs, drug users, career criminals, prisoners, and terrorists have in common that they all have negative perceptions from society and are countercultures. [7] Subculture A sub culture can have its own beliefs, norms and values, but they are generally able to exist within mainstream culture. Their beliefs or manner of being may be different enough to make them stand out, but they are not at odds with society. Subculture is a culture shared and actively participated in by a minority of people within a broader culture. Examples: sub cultures might be Goths, emos, surfies, homies etc. Jews and Tea Party members are both examples of subcultures in the U.S. While the Jewish subculture is based around shared religious values, the Tea Party movement was primarily founded around dissatisfaction with the political status. Sub cultures tend to also share common interests and experience. Sub cultures can exist within mainstream culture.[5] Sub cultures are united by common aesthetics, interests and experience. Subcultures are distinctive segments of the larger culture of a region or society that are marked by shared interests in music or cultural phenomena, membership in a specific ethnic or religious group, or shared socioeconomic status. While some subcultures exist in contradistinction to the societys dominant culture, others exist harmoniously within it. Subcultures incorporate large parts of the broader cultures of which they are part, but in specifics they may differ radically. Subcultures bring together like-minded individuals who feel neglected by societal standards and allow them to develop a sense of identity. Subcultures can be distinctive because of the age, ethnicity, class, location, and/or gender of the members. [6] The qualities that determine a subculture as distinct may be linguistic, aesthetic, religious, political, sexual, geographical or a combination of factors. They certainly play an important role in any individual life and help to explain how each person develops a frame of reference. [7] Everybody has their own perceptions on society, values, and life in general. Values, attitudes, gestures, and sanctions tend to stem from the dominant culture in ones life. Throughout the dominant culture that a person spends his or her time in learning and changing through different experiences many subcultures have developed. Subcultures allow people, who share similar interests to assimilate, socialize, gives them a sense of belonging and fellowship among peers.  [8] Similarities Countercultures and subcultures both identify themselves in juxtaposition to the dominant culture of a society. Members usually dress and behave in different ways than average citizens of a society and are usually identifiable by their different appearances. Differences Culture is made up of an amalgamation of subcultures. So, a single subculture is a small segment of the larger culture, which is usually defined by shared socioeconomic status or a common cultural interest. A counterculture, on the other hand, is defined by their opposition to the dominant culture. A member of a counterculture may oppose the prevailing cultures values. Or, it could just oppose certain segments of the culture, or certain subcultures. A subculture is differs slightly from the dominant culture in a society, while a counterculture opposes the culture or subculture itself.[6] Literature review Dick Hebdige argued that a subculture is subversion to normality. Subcultures tend to be perceived as negative and have a nature of criticism. [9] According to Hebdige, subcultures are actually an alternative and reconfiguration of the dominant cultures. As his all very brief references to black and West Indian cultures suggest that he considers these cultures to be transplanted dominant cultures within British society. This misrepresentation raises the question of whether ethnic groups or minorities fit into Hebdiges notion of what constitutes either a parent culture or subculture. [10] According to Wolfgang Ferracuti, subculture is a normative system of some group or groups smaller than the whole society .This implies that there are value judgments or a social value system which is apart from and a part of a central value system. But a subculture is only partly different from the larger culture, and cannot be totally different from the culture of which it is a part; otherwise it is what Wolfgang called contra culture. This implies that the subculture has some major values in common with the dominant parent culture. The transmission of sub cultural values involves a learning process that establishes a dynamic lasting linkage between the values and the individuals .But also important to Wolfgangs subculture of violence theory is the notion that people may be born into a subculture. They argue that the black subculture actually values violence and that it is an integral component of the subculture which experiences high rates of homicide. Just as the dominant society punishes those who deviate from its norms, deviance by the comparatively non-violent individual from the norms of the violent subculture is likewise punished, either by being ostracized, or treated with disdain or indifference. Also, the more a person is integrated into this subculture, the more intensely he embraces its prescriptions of behavior, its conduct norms, and integrates them into his personality. The subculture of violence theory might be even more relevant today than it was when it was first published, especially with regard to juvenile crime. It seems to be a common fear that adolescents today are more violent and lacking in empathy than those of only a generation or two ago. Parker (1989) criticisms of the black subculture of violence model are many: First, the use of global indicators describing an entire class of people, southerners or blacks, assumes that these communities are homogeneous in values and lifestyle, an assumption that is clearly false for any group as large as these groups. Second, particularly in the case of blacks, it entails an implicit pejorative indictment of urban minority residents and communities, which is unfair and racist in nature. Finally this approach ignores the role of institutionalized racism itself in producing a link between violence and racial composition. Wolfgangs subculture of violence theory has had its share of critics. Erlanger (1974), Parker (1989), Shihadeh and Steffensmeier (1994), are just a few of the investigators who have failed to find the theory useful in explaining sub cultural violence. Other authors have found that the sub-culture of violence theory is a useful model, particularly when it is used along with other theories Benedict and Baron. Kennedy and Baron call for such an integrative approach, and assert that often, different theories may complement one another. Finally, still other researchers continue to rely upon the model. 11] Scholars differ in the characteristics and specificity they attribute to counterculture. Counterculture might oppose mass culture,  or middle-class culture and values. Counterculture is sometimes conceptualized in terms of generational conflict and rejection of older or adult values. It typically involves criticism or rejection of currently powerful institutions, with accompanying hope for a better life or a new society. Countercultures tend to peak, and then go into decline, leaving a lasting impact on mainstream cultural values. Their life cycles include phases of rejection, growth, partial acceptance and absorption into the mainstream. According to Sheila Whiteley, recent developments in sociological theory complicate and problematize theories developed in the 1960s, with digital technology, for example, providing an impetus for new understandings of counterculture. Andy Bennett writes that despite the theoretical arguments that can be raised against the sociological value of counterculture as a meaningful term for categorizing social action, like  subculture, the term lives on as a concept in social and  cultural theory to become part of a received, mediated memory.[12] Conclusion The term counter-culture is not entirely an adequate way of describing all of the changes that took place for several reasons: some changes were a progression of events throughout the century, other changes were due to scientific discoveries which have always produced new ideas and ways of looking at the world, and many changes can be better described as movements or ideologies.[14] Subcultures allow people, who share similar interests to assimilate, socialize, gives them a sense of belonging and fellowship among peers.   Sub cultural studies often involve participant-observation, and may variously emphasize sociological, anthropological, or semiotic analysis in order to address the organization and production of relational, material, and symbolic structures and systems. [15] Suggestion Healthy sub-cultures share leaderships conceptualizations of how tasks should be accomplished; how employees can advance and take on greater responsibility; how employees interact with each other; the ways in which change is accepted and accomplished; and how new knowledge is acquired and perpetuated. Distinct, healthy sub-cultures are organizationally aligned in their understanding of how they must perform to produce successful and acceptable results and outcomes. Leaders actively seeking to influence their organizations culture must consider sub-cultures. The major point here is to make sure that you are integrating and linking your sub-cultures into the broader, intended cultural objectives. Accept and foster productive sub-cultures while consistently communicating how employees must perform in order for the organization to be successful.[13]