Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Essay - 1064 Words

In Achebe’s book, â€Å"Things Fall Apart†, the life of a Nigerian man named Okowkwo is depicted. At first look, it may seem that Okowkwo’s story is the main theme of the book, but upon further examination it is easy to see that the plight of his indigenous Igbo people are the main theme representing what really fell apart. Achebe introduces the reader to the intricate culture of the Igbo people from the earliest chapters in the book. He describes rituals, laws, and religion of these people with great attention to detail allowing the reader to further understand and identify with the Igbo people on a personal level. An example of this is the tradition of kola nut and how it is shared when welcoming someone into a home. Achebe writes,†¦show more content†¦His punishment for this is a seven year exile for his entire family. For the reader this presents as a sign that things are about to change and that the dynamics of the book are heading in a different direction. At this point the reader may believe that this is the turning point in the book, but it is merely a sign of things to come. Achebe also provides readers with another sign of things to come in the destruction of Abame, a neighboring village located near the village of Okonkwo’s exile. A white man arrived at Abame and was la ter killed by the people of the Abame village who feared he would bring about the destruction promised by the Oracle (Achebe, 1994). The destruction of the Abame village is Achebe’s first signal to readers that the people of the Igbo may never be the same. After the destruction of Abame, missionaries arrive in Mbanta to spread the message of their Christianity bringing along with them, the English government system (Achebe, 1994). Achebe describes the arrival in such a manner that the reader can visualize the distinct differences between the two groups of people. The Christians are visibly more modern with a religious foundation that is extremely different from that of the Igbo people. They also bring with them laws that function in no way close to the Igbo culture’s form of crime and punishment. When Okonkwo hears this news he feels likeShow MoreRelatedThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1415 Words   |  6 Pagesbook Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe does just t hat. This book should be taught in schools because it shows the values and traditions of Achebe’s Igbo culture, persistently teaches life lessons throughout the book, and shows the darker reality of European colonialism in Africa. Chinua Achebe is known as one of the most influential and famous authors to ever write. Chinua Achebe originates from an Igbo background and he expresses that through his writings very well including Things Fall ApartRead MoreThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe1324 Words   |  6 Pages Chinua Achebe chose to write his novels in English to reveal a deep response of his people to colonisation and to make that response understood to people all over the world. Things Fall Apart was written in English to teach people worldwide of the struggles he faced and the people of Nigeria faced growing up. Many authors and critics have written about Achebe’s ‘Things fall apart’ adding their valued opinion on what he was trying to say and his decision to write in English. In the followingRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe Essay1203 Words   |  5 Pages who took their land for monetary gain. This was a dark period of time for Africans that live there. The U.S. Civil War and The Great Depression both can be related, in this instance, to how down their people were because of what happened. Chinua Achebe said it best, â€Å"I would be quite satisfied if my novels...did no more than teach my readers of their past...was not a long night of savagery from which the first European acting on God’s behalf delivered them†(qtd. in â€Å"Morning Yet† 45). In theRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1452 Words   |  6 Pagesassume control over the Roman Empire. However, imperialism in Africa remained a recorded element from 1750 to 1945. This paper visits how control and changes were influences over the Africans during this time period as seen through Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart. (UKEssays, 2015) Europe was experiencing a few financial and political changes that forced the major European forces to investigate abroad regions to add to their resources during the seventeenth century. In order for the EuropeanRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe2361 Words   |  10 PagesThings Fall Apart Book Critique Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a historical fiction novel describing the life of Okonkwo in a Nigerian village succumbing to European ways, in order to portray Achebe’s view on imperialism. It was chosen for us to read by our teacher because it describes imperialism and its effects in an Ibo village of Nigeria. It also shows the treatment of natives by the Europeans and how the natives reacted. Things Fall Apart is useful to our course of studies because itRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1265 Words   |  6 PagesThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is markedly relevant to our current course of studies in World History, as it tells a story based on European Imperialism in Africa. Coming off the heels of our Imperialism unit, this post-colonial novel provides very helpful context on different civilizations’ perspectives throughout the Age of Imperialism; aside from analyzing death tolls, descriptions of conflicts, and names of countries, it was previousl y hard to envision what life was actually like during thatRead MoreThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe 735 Words   |  3 PagesThings fall apart. Achebe. Ernest Gaines once said, â€Å"I write to try to find out who I am. One of my main themes is manliness. I think Im trying to figure out what manliness really is.† Indeed, every society or culture has its own understanding of an ideal man. Even though these characteristics are different in various parts of the world, the significance of masculinity can never be overestimated. â€Å"Things Fall Apart† by Chinua Achebe is considered as one of the best examples of a riseRead MoreThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe692 Words   |  3 Pagesthe way to go. Through commercial trading Islam spread into Igboland, and this led to more Igbo people leaving the Igbo way of life for another, whether it be Islam or Christianity which divide the country in two. In the novel Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe British colonialism and the migration of Muslims to Nigeria led to the change in the faith, social and economic changes in the Igbo society. Traditional Igbo faith believes that there is only one creator or god known as ChinekeRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe897 Words   |  4 PagesIn the novel, â€Å"Things Fall Apart† by Chinua Achebe the Igbo tradition revolves around structured gender role. Everything essential of Igbo life is based on their gender, which throughout the novel it shows the role of women and the position they hold, from their role in the family household, also planting women crops, to bearing children. Although the women were claimed to be weaker and seemed to be treated as objects, in the Igbo culture the women still provided qualities that make them worthyRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe Essay1851 Words   |  8 Pageschoice and styles are critical not only to the reader’s understanding of the text but to his appreciation as well. How language is effectively manipulated in their writings enhances the reader’s valuing of the works. The selected novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a representation of Igbo culture and their language. It explores the life of an Igbo tribe at the time of when colonization hit Africa. It could be considered as a post-colonial text, as the protagonist of the story and the other

When Looking Into Battered Woman Syndrome It Is A Relatively

When looking into Battered Woman Syndrome it is a relatively new defense and standing point in the court of law compared to other methods. This defense has also gained a ton of scrutiny in its time as it is a very vague defense and can be used in a multitude of situations in which it does not exactly apply as it would to others. I personally feel that this defense can be very helpful to women who truly need it, and it provides a cover for women who truly don’t need to be protected and need to be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law for the crimes which they have committed. This is something we went over for a journal and it interested me a great deal, especially with the case of Susan Wright. In the first article by†¦show more content†¦One had information from an Expert Witness and one did not. She also used this method again, but with smaller groups from a total of 131 students, which gave the same result. No matter if they had expert testimony or not, the gr oups all felt the charges should be changed from Murder to Manslaughter and all groups had agreed that the woman had acted out of self-defense. In my third article by Lenore Walker discusses Battered Women and the impact caused on them from martial abuse that had led to Battered Women to be diagnosed with PTSD from the level of beatings, and constant abuse they took from their partners over the time of the relationship. Walker discusses five major areas that negatively affected with the women’s coping skills they are manipulation, dissociation, anger, intimacy, and compliance. When she was assessing women of the PTSD like symptoms she had come to notice a few things about the women, that lead to diagnose them with PTSD as the symptoms, as well as what triggered the responses are the same across the board for all those diagnosed with PTSD. She noticed that many of the victims would minimize the trauma or even deny it happened from the very start which is a common coping method that she had pointed out in her article. She also noticed that some of the women would almost go into a sort of trance like state in which they would gazeShow MoreRelatedCase Lavern Longsworth V The Queen Judgment 115046 Words   |  61 PagesCourt of Appeal Act, Chapter 90. On 3 June 2014, she filed a further application to introduce fresh evidence. Both applications were heard by the Court of Appeal on 10 June 2014 and granted as prayed. The hearing was then adjourned to 21 June 2014 when the court heard submissions on sentencing. [3] On 27 June 2014, the court, pursuant to section 31(2) of the Court of Appeal Act, substituted for the verdict of guilty of murder returned by the jury on 1 November 2012, a judgment of guilty of manslaughterRead MoreEpekto Ng Polusyon19213 Words   |  77 Pagesviolence, women’s unequal status in patriarchal societies and consequently one’s value, status, authority, power, privileges, and socialization are determined by gender (Taylor, 2001). It is not only while enduring an abusive relationship that the woman feels the impact of the negative stereotyping associated with domestic violence, research shows that even after leaving the relationship, feelings of rejection and stigma from the wider society are apparent. McInnes (2003) describes these negativeRead MoreHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 Pagesventure between General Electric and a Japanese company, GE Fanuc is a manufacturer of factory automation and control products. Headquartered in Virginia with 1,500 employees, the HR department primarily performed administrative support activities. But when Donald Borwhat, Jr., took over as Senior Vice President of Human Resources, he and his staff began by restructuring and decentralizing the HR entity so that each functional area of the company has an HR manager assigned to it. The HR managers wereRead MoreStrategic Marketing Management337596 Words   |  1351 PagesHow can we ensure arrival? 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Retailing, entrepreneurship, and ethics courses could use a number of these cases and their learning insights. It can certainly be used in training programs and even appeal to nonprofessionals who are looking for a good read about well-known firms and personalities. TEACHING AIDS As in previous editions, you will find a plethora of teaching aids and discussion material within and at the end of each chapter. Some of these will be common to several

Human Resource Management Model in Developing Countries

Question: Discuss about the Human Resource Management Model in Developing Countries. Answer: Introduction: In the module the case of Silvertail Airlines, which was the only airline company as competitor of Singapore Airlines in Singapore is being analyzed. Till the year of 1990 there was a policy of two airlines by the Singapore government which owned Singapore Airlines had made convenient and appropriate arrangements with its national competitor Silvertail. The strategy was working well for the people who were able to finance for high priced airfares and schedules that were limiting. According to Armstrong Taylor, the government made efforts in such that both the airlines did not have to put in more efforts in attracting passengers and this effort was named as duopoly (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The efficiency of both the airlines was remarkable. It was in the year 1980 when changes in the airline sector of Singapore started to come into surface. This has result the pressure to intensify and the government of Singapore to denationalize the sector of air transports. However, there were some nascent airline companies which became unsuccessful in confronting the duopoly set up by the government. Initially there were very minimal effects and the duopoly continued to exist. The effects that were resulting in the market were superficial till the cheaper carriers in both international and domestic markets were introduced. As per Armstrong Taylor, the introduction of cheap airline service had a critical and tense effect on Silvertail (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The share price of Silvertail fell. The investors of Silvertail were displeased. The Board of Directors of Silvertail was replaced with a team of dynamic and competent accountants, marketers, advertisers and a few professiona ls who were experts in their field of human resource were called in from United States of America where they all were working under a very intellectual and broad minded CEO. The new team worked more efficiently and was quick in taking action. Their approach was ruthless which was appropriate and was the need of the hour (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The high and stretched network of management was removed as a result in order to reconstruct the management the middle positions of the management had to be dismantled. The maintenance was deployed from exterior source and the regional branches had to be shut. Budhwar Debrah, (2013, 4), Silvertail developed into an advanced, crude and inventive company after lot of strife. However, the ground crew and the cabin crew of the new Silvertail refused to opt for new company even after being approached repeatedly by other companies (Budhwar Debrah, 2013). Therefore the Recruitment Manager and the Director of cabin crew of Silvertail had to discuss about the issue and downsizing the human resource of the company was considered. Downsizing Downsizing in human resource management is the process of decreasing the number of employees from an organization. It is a strategy of improving organizations efficiency by altering the organization system, contracting the workforce and reconstructing the work. According to Brewster, Mayrhofer Morley, 2016, Downsizing becomes a significant activity when the organizations costs, the workforce and work process is affected and measures are required to be taken in order to increase organizational efficiency (Brewster, Mayrhofer Morley, 2016). Though it is not considered as a positive practice by the management and employees of any organization, downsizing also has many positive effects such as saving of cost, strengthening the business and continuing in the business. It is also considered as fat trimming in organizations. It is a way to obtain profitability and increase efficiency in organizations. As per Dias ( 2016), this is a strategy that the management of the organizations impleme nt when they realize that their organizations is not being operated at the highest efficiency and need to find out methods so as to generate more productivity from the organization (Dias, 2016). This also boosts organizational competitiveness in the market. A ratio of employees are made to terminate from the organization so as to counteract the alterations in the market such as acquiring or merging with other companies, removal of service lines or products, a large part of the share market being occupied by the competitors, a slowed down economy, etc. as a result of which downsizing becomes necessary (Hendry, 2012). The work process is affected in an organization by organizational downsizing. This occurs as the workload remains the same as before downsizing but the employees performing the workload are less. The effect of downsizing in an organization results in two kinds of employees: Victims are those employees who are made to terminate their employment in the company Survivors are those employees continue their employment in the organization even after downsizing. To have an effective downsizing in an organization, the management must take the initiative to communicate with its employees the reason due to which the organization has decided to undergo downsizing and the plan for downsizing (Hoque, 2013). It should be the responsibility of the management to pay heed and listen to what the employees would convey along with provision of necessary comfort to keep the surviving employees motivated. The management of any organization also needs to prepare its employees for downsizing in advance. The managers of the organization should measure all the factors which influence the decision of downsizing initially. According to Jackson, Schuler Jiang (2014), at first the analysis of the issues which downsizing is going to solve has to be done followed by the identification of resources that can be utilized in the present moment (Jackson, Schuler Jiang, 2014). The effects that downsizing is going to have in the long term should also be considered. The m anagers must keep in mind that whether and in what ways highly capable employees with exclusive skills and talent be replaced at the time of improvement along with risks that are involved in losing those skilled employees (Mondy Martocchio, 2016). It is also necessary that the managers treat the employees with dignity and humanely. While planning for downsizing the management of the organization needs to identify these key issues: Determination of number of people who are about to lose their job Determination of which employees are going to be made to terminate their employment and the basis of their termination (performance, seniority or potential, etc.) Determination of the methods of downsizing being carried out i.e. early retirement, termination or layoffs, attrition or severance) Checking of whether there will be any legal implications, violations to be specific (human rights or collective agreement, wrongful dismissal and employment standards) Drawing plans for present scenario as well as for future works which is a major challenge for any organization and is often overlooked. Materializing the decision. Conducting follow-up assessment and evaluate the efforts of downsizing which is important but neglected most of the time by the management of organizations. Restructuring the organization by downsizing leaves a huge effect especially on those employees who survive in the organization, their approach and attitude along with human resource as a whole. However understanding the workforce might be, downsizing still has a negative effect on the human resource and the way in which the workforce look up to the management (Nickson, 2013). Downsizing can be considered as a portion of strategy of workforce which extensively alienate closely with the business strategies as a whole. Certain practices to fend off while downsizing are: Using downsizing as the first counteract than using it in the last as employees and workforce costs are generally not the real source of the issues in the organization. Rather workers are the source of backbone of the organization and contribute by their innovation, creativity and renewal. Not being able to change the way business is being carried out while trying to change the workforce does not help the organization as the results obtained are same as the real alterations is required in the business and not in the workforce. Not being able to recognize the importance of involving employees to suggest ways for reduction of waste, efficiency and costs as the workforce ,at while have a more clear vision of the issues on the ground which top managers fail to notice. Overlooking the implications that occurs on the shareholders that downsizing has. Ignoring the deterioration of organizational and company culture as the employee morale is going to be affected first which gives a negative sense to the employees regarding organizational culture. Being unable to reassess results and rectify the mistakes which results in no change in productivity. Alternatives to Downsizing With the need of downsizing in an organization the management should also look at the scenario whether it is permanent or temporary. There are certain alternatives which a manager can take if he or she seeks to avoid downsizing being aware of the current business scenario. As per Purce (2014), if the downturn is permanent then the management needs to retrain the workforce so as to progress into new business lines (Purce, 2014). But if the management thinks that the downturn is temporary then the alternative is to trace out numerous potential ways for cutting costs. Alternatives for permanent downturn are: Redeployment: - Shifting the underused employees into customer facing profiles such as sales will boost productivity. Reduction of working hours to reduce payroll costs. Cutting of payments and salaries with incentives. Inculcating rings of defense strategy wherein first ring is to stop the hiring process and remove unrestrictive costs and the second ring is to shift most of the employees to four day workweeks and then eliminate the contract and temporary workers. Including work sharing among the workforce. Moving to workspaces that are smaller and allowing tele network. Alternatives to Downsizing When Downturn Is Temporary Alternatives to avoid downsizing when the downturn is temporary are: Cutting or removal or removal of staff that is temporary. Offering of voluntary retirement. Cutting or reducing salaries and pay. Elimination of overtime. Freezing of salaries. Rising of delays. Reduction of working hours Ceasing of hiring Using leaves with incentives. Using of furloughs that are temporary. Suspension or reduction of contributions that are matching to the savings plans sponsored by the company. Raising contributions of the employees to benefit the plans. Elimination or delaying of bonuses. Cancellation of costly advantages and business trips. Implications of Downsizing According to Renwick, Redman Maguire (2013), the victim employees no doubt face the direct heat of the downsizing as their income dwindles. Downsizing gives rise to financial insecurities that creates depression. This further makes people feel that they do not have any control over the events (Renwick, Redman Maguire, 2013). This gives rise to the ailments such as headaches, hopelessness, fatigue, sleeplessness, severely upset stomach, etc. These ailments can be cured when the victims are offered help to reach for other opportunities, people and networks and concentrate on individual strengths. The layoff generally creates a society of employees that are insecure inwardly and prone. Some of these employees become so habituated and will be able to experience downsizing twice or thrice till the time they retired. It produces a series of physical and mental consequences on health. However, people who voluntarily accept termination during downsizing are less affected the burn out. Thes e people accept that the process being undesirable and uncontrollable leaves options for them opened. This results in much lower stress (Riley, 2014). Implications on the Survivors The workforce that sustain the downsizing often feel depressed and guilty. Most of the cases there is a decrease in the trust, motivation, loyalty, morale of the employees in the organization. There is an also a decline in the satisfaction of job, job involvement and organizational commitment after downsizing. Simultaneously there is increase in the intentions of the employees to quit, stress levels becoming high, actual voluntary turn over levels up. . This gives a sense to the employees partly that they actually have no control over their important events of their lives (Storey, 2014). Implications on the Organization Most of the organizations become unsuccessful in achieving their objectives by downsizing. One of the most important factors that the organization fails to achieve its objective is to create a negative effects in the existing employees. They believe that the policies of downsizing are not fair and are enforced on them. They are not explained clearly about the procedures and policies of layoffs. There is a lack of empowerment of the members during the downsizing period. There are worries among the workforce about their employment and future (Renwick, Redman Maguire, 2013). The employees have a feeling that due to the layoffs their workload will eventually increase. The downsizing strategy being intentionally carried out due to necessity, the efforts of the employees to achieve the organizational objectives solely depends on the behaviors and attitudes of the employees. The organizational commitment in the workforce decreases. This leads to the decrease in productivity with increase i n severance and absenteeism. On the other hand when the workforce believes that the downsizing process in the organization is fair and the employees receive support from the organization there is a significant rie in the commitment of the employees in the organization. Downsizing brings changes in the environment of work for the employees which lead to uncertainty. Human Resource Plans To Consider The brand of a company has a very strong effect on the employee as well as on its customers and clients. The brand of the employer is a very important part of the employee value hypothesis. It communicates about the organizations identification to its entire workforce, whether current or potential. According to Mondy Martocchio, (2016), the brand of the employer influences the recruitment of the employees, their retention, engagement and impression as a whole in the market (Mondy Martocchio, 2016). Employers brand refers to the reputation that the company has in the market. Downsizing in an organization with a good branding definitely sets the market heating up. It is the responsibility of the senior Human resource managers to put in efforts to maintain the brand of the employer even after downsizing. Career management Career management is the planning of ones personal career with orderly planning and effective management choices and undergoing the employments during throughout his or her life for attending growth, financial security, overall fulfillment, work and life balance, achievement of goal, etc. Career management much similar to organizational management as organization is a collection of individuals. The beginning of career management starts with the idealization of individuals short term goals which begins with individuals studies and courses. Efforts are meant to be given every single day towards achieving the goals. Eventually career management ends with the analysis of the plan of career management and to trace out if progress is achieved or there needs to be changes in the plan (Jackson, Schuler Jiang, 2014). The employers have benefits in information on managing careers to their employees. The human resource professionals should know how to help employees in managing their careers during downsizing so as to boost up employee engagement and ease up succession planning and workforce. It is a strategy used by an organization to define the ways it manages and prospects the pay and benefits of its employees. An effective strategy regarding compensation can serve as motivation for existing employees while attracting new ones (Hoque, 2013). Compensations are different from regular salary as the former includes all aspects of benefits of an employee. The compensation strategies that are practiced in an organization are:- Direct financial compensation which includes pay received as salary, wages, commissions, bonuses, etc. which an employee receives at regular intervals. Indirect financial compensation: - Benefits such as retirement plans, employee services, leaves, education services and other benefits, etc. come under the financial rewards form indirect financial compensation. Non-financial compensation: - These denote to the section of opportunities for advancement, recognition and career developments along with conditions and environments for work. During downsizing efforts should be made by the management of the organizations so as to include the most appropriate compensation to its employees as every employees need is different from the other (Dias, 2016). Every employee works for different reasons and motivation. Fair compensation by the management to the employees after downsizing can help reduce the stress level in the workforce to a great extent and thus, it should be a necessary plan to be implemented by the organization. References Armstrong, M., Taylor, S. (2014).Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page Publishers. Alfes, K., Shantz, A. D., Truss, C., Soane, E. C. (2013). The link between perceived human resource management practices, engagement and employee behaviour: a moderated mediation model.The international journal of human resource management,24(2), 330-351. Bratton, J., Gold, J. (2012).Human resource management: theory and practice. Palgrave Macmillan. Budhwar, P. S., Debrah, Y. A. (Eds.). (2013).Human resource management in developing countries. Routledge. Brewster, C., Mayrhofer, W., Morley, M. (Eds.). (2016).New Challenges for European Resource Management. Springer. Dias, L. (2016). Human resource management.Human Resource Management. Hendry, C. (2012).Human resource management. Routledge. Hoque, K. (2013).Human resource management in the hotel industry: Strategy, innovation and performance. Routledge. Jackson, S. E., Schuler, R. S., Jiang, K. (2014). An aspirational framework for strategic human resource management.The Academy of Management Annals,8(1), 1-56. Mondy, R., Martocchio, J. J. (2016). Human resource management.Human Resource Management, Global Edition. Nickson, D. (2013).Human resource management for hospitality, tourism and events. Routledge. Purce, J. (2014). The impact of corporate strategy on human resource management.New Perspectives on Human Resource Management (Routledge Revivals),67. Renwick, D. W., Redman, T., Maguire, S. (2013). Green human resource management: A review and research agenda.International Journal of Management Reviews,15(1), 1-14. Riley, M. (2014).Human resource management in the hospitality and tourism industry. Routledge. Storey, J. (2014).New Perspectives on Human Resource Management (Routledge Revivals). Routledge.

New Media for Marketing Practices

New media and the modern economy No one can dispute the fact that new media has gained wide usage. While a number of people argue that new media presents problems for the operation of companies, I beg to differ with them basing on experience as a user of new media and backup from academic literature. New media has brought about a substantial number of benefits to firms across different industries.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on New Media as the Most Common Platforms on Which Firms Enhance Marketing Practices specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Weitz and Wensley (281) observed that the 21st century has witnessed a revolution in communication and media. The number of media platforms has been rising at an accelerated pace. As it is today, there are numerous media platforms that are used in the world. New media platforms have overshadowed the ancient forms of media. They include blogs and other social media pl atforms like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Skype. Advancement in information and communication technology has backed up the development of new media. Massive debates in the prevailing corporate world are centered on new media and how they are utilized to enhance business performance. Companies have concentrated on developing new media platforms because they enhance business. A substantial number of companies have been reported to have developed strong media platforms (Stokes 174). The contribution of new media to business development I have made numerous observations about the role of new media in business enhancement. New media develop out of the demand for the flow of information an interaction between people in distant locations. They are a wide range of new media platforms which keep advancing day by day. New media platforms that exist in the current globalized economy include Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Yahoo and YouTube. Research about new media produces findings which show tha t new media platforms attract a substantial number of customers as soon as they are developed. New media platforms have users which range from millions into billions. Billions of people use diverse platforms of new media for conducting social and business transactions. This means that firms can easily get people to buy their products on the new media (Weitz and Wensley 283). Using new media to enhance customer engagement Speaking of competition in the current global economy, I would like to point at how new media helps in enhancing competitiveness of firms. According to Hastings (177), the current global economy is competitive. There exist a high number of companies which compete for customers. The new media have turned into desirable tools for increasing the level of engagement between firms and their customers. With new media, it is easy for companies to manage customers. New media work based on advanced information and communication technologies. Information and communication tec hnology is the most desired platform on which firms maximize on the opportunities that exist in the environment. Advancement in information and communication technology is often accompanied by the growth in new media (Lievrouw and Livingstone 1).Advertising Looking for research paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More I can strongly say that new media are the most common platforms on which firms enhance marketing practices. I argue this from the experience I have as an active user of new media. Companies keep creating online marketing platforms. Most global firms thriving the market today, highly utilize new media. They use these platforms in linking link with customers who use new media. With new media, firms get it easy to link to a wide range of customers (Hastings 178). They get to understand different demands and needs of customers thus tailoring products and services to meet their demands. Through the use of online marketing platforms, a substantial number of firms have managed to expand their sales. Firms also manage to export their products into new markets that are placed in areas that are distant from where they produce. Firms are advertising their products using the new media. Better utilization of the new media for advertising help firms to create strong brands. They also get views on the trend in the market through the new media hence make strategic moves that help them remain competitive (Stafford and Faber 2). Works Cited Hastings, Gerard. The Sage Handbook of Social Marketing, Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications Inc, 2011. Print. Lievrouw, Leah A, and Sonia M. Livingstone. Handbook of New Media: Social Shaping and Social Consequences of Icts, London: SAGE, 2006. Print. Stafford, Marla R, and Ronald J. Faber. Advertising, Promotion, and New Media, Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 2005. Print. Stokes, Jane C. The Media in Britain: Current Debates and Developments, Basingsto ke: Macmillan, 1999. Print.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on New Media as the Most Common Platforms on Which Firms Enhance Marketing Practices specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Weitz, Barton, and Robin Wensley. Handbook of Marketing, London: SAGE, 2006. Print. This research paper on New Media as the Most Common Platforms on Which Firms Enhance Marketing Practices was written and submitted by user Charley Wilkerson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Expanding Circle - Definition and Examples

Expanding Circle s The expanding circle is made up of countries in which English has no special administrative status but is recognized as a lingua franca and is widely studied as a foreign language. Countries in the expanding circle include China, Denmark, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, and Sweden, among many others. According to linguist Diane Davies, recent research suggests that some countries in the Expanding Circle have . . . begun to develop distinctive ways of using English, with the result that the language has an increasingly important functional range in these countries and is also a marker of identity in some contexts (Varieties of Modern English: An Introduction, Routledge, 2013). The expanding circle is one of the three concentric circles of World English described by linguist Braj Kachru in Standards, Codification and Sociolinguistic Realism: The English Language in the Outer Circle (1985). The labels inner, outer, and expanding circles represent the type of spread, the patterns of acquisition, and the functional allocation of the English language in diverse cultural contexts. Although these labels are imprecise and in some ways misleading, many scholars would agree with Paul Bruthiaux that they offer a useful  shorthand  for classifying contexts of English world-wide   (Squaring the Circles in the International Journal of Applied Linguistics,  2003). Examples and Observations The spread of English in the Expanding Circle is largely a result of foreign language learning within the country. As in the Outer Circle, the range of proficiency in the language among the population is broad, with some having native-like fluency and others having only minimal familiarity with English. However, in the Expanding Circle, unlike the Outer Circle, there is no local model of English since the language does not have official status and, in Kachrus (1992) terms, has not become institutionalized with locally developed standards of use.(Sandra Lee McKay, Teaching English as an International Language: Rethinking Goals and Approaches. Oxford University Press, 2002)Expanding Circle English and Lingua Franca English- Despite the all-pervasive use of English throughout what many like to term the international community and despite countless anecdotes about emerging varieties such as Euro-English, professional linguists have so far shown only limited interest in describing lingua franca English as a legitimate language variety. The received wisdom seems to be that only when English is a majority first language or an official additional language does it warrant description. . . . Expanding Circle English is not deemed worthy of such attention: users of English who have learned the language as a foreign language are expected to conform to Inner Circle norms, even if using English constitutes an important part of their lived experience and personal identity. No right to rotten English for them, then. Quite the contrary: for Expanding Circle consumption, the main effort remains, as it has always been, to describe English as it is used among the British and American native speakers and then to distribute (Widdowson 1997: 139) the resulting descriptions to those who speak English in nonnative contexts around the world.(Barbara Seidlhofer and Jennifer Jenkins, English as a Lingua Franca and the Politics of Property. The Politics of English as a World Language, ed. by Christian Mair. Rodopi, 2003)- I argue . . . that a lingua franca model is the most sensible model in those common and varied contexts where the learners major reason for [studying] English is to communicate with other non-native speakers. . . . [U]ntil we are able to provide teachers and learners with adequate descriptions of lingua franca models, teachers and learners will have to continue to rely on either native-speaker or nativized models. We have seen how a native-speaker model, while appropriate for a minority of teachers and learners, is inappropriate for the majority for a range of linguistic, cultural and political reasons. A nativized model may be appropriate in Outer and in certain Expanding Circle countries, but this model also carries the disadvantage of cultural inappropriacy when learners require English as a lingua franca to communicate with other non-native speakers.(Andy Kirkpatrick, Which Model of English: Native-Speaker, Nativized, or Lingua Franca? English i n the World: Global Rules, Global Roles, ed. by Rani Rubdy and Mario Saraceni. Continuum, 2006) Also Known As: extending circle

Life and Art of Cindy Sherman, Feminist Photographer

Life and Art of Cindy Sherman, Feminist Photographer Cindy Sherman (born January 19, 1954) is an American photographer and filmmaker whose â€Å"Untitled Film Stills,† a series of photographs meant to evoke a still shot from a fictional movie, launched her to fame. Fast Facts: Cindy Sherman Occupation: Artist and photographerBorn: January 19, 1954 in Glen Ridge, New JerseyEducation: Buffalo State CollegeKnown For: Photographs exploring themes of feminism, image, subjugation, and superficialityKey Works:  Untitled Film Stills  series (1977-1980),  Centerfolds  series (1981) Sherman is well known for the insertion of her own image into her photographs, donning prosthetics, costume, and makeup to transform herself into the subject of her gaze. Often engaging themes of feminism, image, subjugation, and superficiality, Sherman continues to be sought after as a voice of critique in a media-based world. She is considered a member of the â€Å"Pictures Generation† of American artists, who came to prominence in the 1970s and 80s. Early Life and Family Cindy Sherman was born Cynthia Morris Sherman on January 19, 1954 in New Jersey. She grew up on Long Island and was the youngest of five children. Because the sibling closest to her age was nine years her senior, Sherman felt like an only child, sometimes forgotten in the midst of so many others in her family. Sherman has said that, as a result of her family dynamic, she sought attention in any way possible. From a very young age, Sherman donned alternate personas with the assistance of her extensive costume wardrome. She describes her mother as kind-hearted and â€Å"good,† though primarily concerned that her children make the right impression (something which tempted the young Sherman to rebel). She has described her father as mean-spirited and closed minded. Shermans family life was not happy, and when Sherman was 15 years old, her elder brother committed suicide. This trauma had repercussions for Sherman’s personal life, and she cites it as the reason she ended up in several long-term relationships she did not want to be in, believing she could help other men where she could not help her brother. She was married to the video artist Michel Auder for 17 years in the 1980s and 90s, a marriage which ended in divorce. Beginnings as an Artist Sherman studied art at Buffalo State College. After graduating, she moved to New York City with artist Robert Longo, who was a fellow art student and Buffalo State graduate. In the 1970s, New Yorks streets were gritty and sometimes unsafe. In response, Sherman developed attitudes and attires that acted as coping mechanisms for the discomforts she would meet on her way home- an extension of her childhood habit of dress-up. Though she found it upsetting and uncomfortable, Sherman ultimately saw New York as a place of reinvention. She began to show up to social occasions in costume, and eventually Longo convinced Sherman to begin photographing her characters. These were the beginnings from which the Untitled Stills were born, most of which were photographed in or around the apartment the two shared. In many ways, the rebellious spirit instilled in Sherman as a child never left her. For example, as her work was gaining popularity in the 1980s, the artist took a turn towards the grotesque, creating work that featured various bodily fluids spilled and smeared within the frame, as a way to challenge the art world’s perception of her as salable and appropriate to â€Å"hang above a dining room table.† In the 1990s, the National Endowment for the Arts withdrew its funding from â€Å"controversial† projects. As an act of protest against what she perceived to be a form of censorship, Sherman began to photograph outrageous portraits of genitals, using plastic hospital dummies and mannequins common to medical school classrooms. This type of subversion continues to define Sherman’s career. Untitled Film Stills Sherman works in series of photographs in which she builds off a theme that addresses a social issue. Her subjects have been wide-ranging as what it means to age as a woman, the subjugating effect of the male gaze on the female form, and the contorting effects of social media on self-image. Within each series, Sherman acts as the model, costumer, make-up artist, and set designer. The â€Å"Untitled Film Stills† (1977-1980) are arguably Sherman’s most famous works. These images, all in black and white, evoke key moments in Hollywood cinema. Though the â€Å"films† from which these photographs were taken do not exist, their appeal lies in the fact that they evoke moods played out ceaselessly in popular movies, thus causing the viewer to sense that he or she has seen the film before. Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #17 (1978).   tate.org The tropes portrayed by Sherman include the young ingenue, dominated by the city, who gazes off in fear at an unknown person or object out of frame, and the outcast, standing among detritus and ruins, waiting for someone to arrive. Often, these images contain within them a threat and a feeling that nothing good can come of these situations. By inserting discomfort into images of women, Sherman asks the viewer to consider the subject and understand her vulnerability. Centerfolds and Later Work In the early 80s came the â€Å"Centerfolds,† a series of double-width images intended to mimic the typically seductive and alluring poses of models placed at the center of adult magazines. Sherman turned the concept of a centerfold on its head by using the format to depict women who had endured physical abuse. The images hold the viewer accountable for approaching the works as if they were designed to please- in Shermans words, they are a â€Å"thwarted expectation. Cindy Sherman, Untitled #92 (1981). Centerfolds series.   christies.org In 2017, Sherman made public her personal Instagram account, which serves as an extension of her practice. Sherman employs the tools of digital airbrushing- intended to falsely alter images of the human face to achieve the tool of flawlessness- and instead pushes these contortions to an extreme. Using applications intended to improve images, Sherman exaggerates features, thus drawing attention to the fine line between inhuman perfection (the type that only social media is capable of showing) and inhuman, almost alien-like alteration. In line with her popularity in the more traditional art world, Shermans account (cindysherman) has garnered hundreds of thousands of followers. Awards and Accolades Cindy Sherman is a widely honored artist. She has received both a MacArthur Genius Grant and a Guggenheim Fellowship. She is an honorary member of the Royal Academy, and has been represented in numerous biennials across the world. Sherman continues to be an important voice not only in contemporary art, but also in the media age. Her biting critique gets at the core of an issue and hyper-focuses on it through the poignant and intimate medium of portraiture. She lives in New York with her parrot, Frida, and is represented by Metro Pictures Gallery. Sources BBC (1994).  Nobodys Here But Me. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?vUXKNuWtXZ_U. (2012).Adams, T. (2016). Cindy Sherman: Why am I in these photos?.  The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/jul/03/cindy-sherman-interview-retrospective-motivation.Russeth, A. (2017). Facetime with Cindy Sherman.  W. [online] Available at: https://www.wmagazine.com/story/cindy-sherman-instagram-selfie.

The representation of savagery and civilization Term Paper

The representation of savagery and civilization - Term Paper Example The American civilization for example, was a combination of European immigrant new technology in terms of superior weaponry farming and international trade technology. It therefore easily overpowered that native technology of bows, arrows and constant migration of Native American tribes. This paper sets out to distinguish between the concepts of savagery and civilization with reference to the contribution of a number of primary sources who have tackled this topic in the past. Perspectives of Primary Sources on Savagery and Civilization In the Descent of man, Darwin describes as native the communities that were to be found in the Western Frontier during the expansion of American rule. He makes the assertion that reproductive power is lower in barbarons or savages than in civilized people (Darwin 45). This was an attempt to compare a purely biological process [reproduction] in people who had attained different levels of civilization. It is clear from the argument in the paper that Darw in is actually talking about mortality rate or reproductive rate. This is because he goes further to argue that because of the poor living conditions, the barbarons have a lower rate of survival. However he goes further to allege that savages appear to be â€Å"less prolific that civilized people† (Darwin, 46). Among the reasons given for the low population levels among the savages are wars with neighbors, a tendency to wander from place to place that endangers the lives of infants, diseases, famine and lack of water. Darwin also states that infanticide is a major cause of depopulation since the savages would rather kill children, especially girls, in an attempt to keep down the population levels (Darwin, 46). Another great blight of colonialism was slavery. Arguments that some cultures were superior to others and civilized persons were much more superior to native savages fuelled the slave trade. This trade ensured that some people were subhuman as they had not undergone the full extent of development in the process of natural selection. According to Darwin certain humans were a sub species of the human species (Darwin 175). Humans therefore shamelessly traded in other humans like commodities. They owned them, made them work and then sold them up to other owners. However, Darwin’s allegations have since been challenged by later day scholars who termed some of Darwin’s assertions as inadequate, presumptive and not supported by irrefutable evidence. Among the scholars who disagree is Fredrick Jackson Turner who refers to the civilization of America as meeting of minds between the European settlers and the American native life (Turner, 3). He goes further to describe how the European had to adjust to the American life by planting corn, using the birch canoe to travel and even adopting the native Indian war cry in order to survive. He acknowledges that the European brought with him some superior technology including the gun and train, but the se alone were not enough for his survival as the environment proved too tough unless he adjusted (Turner, 4). According to him, therefore, it is the combination of cultures that brings about civilization rather than a single purist culture (Turner, 4). The contribution of these arguments towards colonialism was that colonists always argued that they were bringing forth a new