Compare and contrast the three sky's religions Essay

Compare and contrast the three sky's religions - Essay Example From these stories, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity have a reference point, the Hebrew Bible. In light to this argument, it is justified to argue that the Abramic god is the centerpiece of the three religions. Additionally, the three religions believe in God being eternal, omnipresent, and the sole creator. They are of the belief that God is holy and exists in all places, is powerful, present at all times. These aspects link the three religions to the concept of God and the role of Abraham in religion- the founder. They also believe that in prayer, the transcendent God can answer the prayer of all individuals. This means that God is the creator and controller of all humans. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are referred to as self-described monotheistic religions. They, however, have varying views in terms of their understanding of God (Ridgeon, 2003). According to the Muslims and the Jews, God is just in one form. Their doctrines emphasize on the unity of God. On the other hand, the Christians believe in the three manifestations of God- the trinity. This entails God the father, son and Holy Spirit. The Muslims and the Jews argue that the Christians do not uphold the doctrine of oneness. This means that Muslims and the Jews argue against the fact that Christians separate the concept of the unity of God. However, the Christians argue that God is a divine being and cannot operate in wholeness deviant of the three explanations. They also argue that just like Judaism and Islamism are singular existences, the same case is the Holy trinity. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam also have varying opinions on the concept of afterlife and the end of the world. According to Ridgeon (2003), Christians believe that the kind of life one leads on earth determines the kind of afterlife they will lead. Those who end up in hell are the ones who led a wicked life, and that those who repent their sins and lead a godly life will enjoy eternal satisfaction in heaven. In the case of

Dramatic Irony in Oedipus Essay Example for Free

Dramatic Irony in Oedipus Essay In the play written by Sophocles, Oedipus the King, there are several instances of irony. Dramatic irony, or tragic irony as some critics would prefer to call it, usually means a situation in which the character of the play has limited knowledge and says or does something in which they have no idea of the significance. The audience, however, already has the knowledge of what is going to occur or what the consequences of the characters actions will be. The degree of irony and the effect it has depends upon the readers grasp and recognition of some discrepancy between two things. Our first taste of dramatic irony comes very early into the play when Oedipus vows to bring to justice the killer of Laius, which is in reality himself. When he learns that the bringing of justice of Laius killer will rid the city of a terrible plague, he sets forth with a plan to track down the killer. Oedipus begins to curse the killer and vows: Oedipus: As for the criminal, I pray to God Whether it be a lurking thief, or one of a number I pray that that mans life be consumed in evil and wretchedness. And as for me, this curse applies no less (968) This is very ironic, as Oedipus is indeed, without knowledge of the truth, talking about himself. Another example of dramatic irony is the power of fate and Oedipus powerlessness against it. Throughout the play we are aware of Oedipus fate and we realize there is nothing that he can do to change it. When Oedipus tells his city after listening to their plea for help against the terrible sickness and plague that has taken over the city: Oedipus: I know that you are deathly sick; and yet, Sick as you are, not one is as sick as I. (963) The audience understands the truth and the irony in that statement. Oedipus should not worry about himself becoming sick for he is already infested with the sickness. A third example of the irony of Oedipus is the fact that Oedipus seemed to be blind and deaf to the truth. He appears to be on a valiant search for the truth and justice of the killer of Laius, yet refuses to hear the truth when it is spoken to him. In order to hear the truth Oedipus needed to be able to hear and interpret it, yet he only heard what he wanted to hear. Therefore rendering him unable to understand the mystery of who he truly was. In this play there seems to be a constant string of ironies throughout. Oedipus is in denial of the truth. In his dramatic speeches he misconstrues the information that he has been given by Teiresias, as well as Creon and Iocaste. The horrifying realization that the prophecy of the Sphinx is in fact the truth, causes Oedipus to blind himself. The audience therefore pities him, which is a result of the use of dramatic irony. The use of irony in a play allows the writer to make their audience want to see how the events which are occurring, mentally affect the main character, even if they already know how the story will end, as in Oedipus the King. Kennedy, X.J., and Gioia Dana. Oedipus the King Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 2nd edition. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 2000. 960-1005.

Theories Of Intellectual Property Philosophy Essay

Theories Of Intellectual Property Philosophy Essay Introduction: The term intellectual property refers to a loose cluster of legal doctrines that regulate the uses of different sorts of ideas and insignia.   The law of copyright protects various original forms of expression. The economic and cultural importance of this collection of rules is increasing rapidly. And lawmakers throughout the world are busily revising their intellectual-property laws.  [1]  Partly as a result of these trends, scholarly interest in the field has risen dramatically in recent years. There has been an evident mushrooming of articles deploying theories of intellectual property in law reviews and in journals of economics and philosophy. This article discusses those theories, evaluates them, and considers the roles they do and ought to play in lawmaking. Different jurisprudential approaches in IP law making: Most of the recent theoretical writings consist of struggles among and within four jurisprudential approaches of intellectual property law. 1.2.1 Utilitarian aspect of IP jurisprudence: The first and most popular of the four employs the familiar utilitarian guideline that lawmakers must put emphasis on maximization of net social welfare while shaping property rights.   In the context of intellectual property, it is generally thought that, lawmakers must strike an optimal balance between, on one hand, the individual rights of the creator and on the other hand maximization of public interest. A good example in this regard is William Landess and Richard Posners essay on copyright law  [2]  .   The distinctive characteristics of most intellectual products are that they are easily replicated. Those characteristics in combination create a danger that the creators of such products will be unable to recoup their costs of expression (i.e. the time and effort devoted to writing or composing and the costs of negotiating with publishers or record companies), because they will be undercut by copyists who bear only the low costs of production (the costs of manufacturing and distributing books or CDs) and thus can offer consumers identical products at very low prices.   Awareness of this danger will deter creators from making socially valuable intellectual products in the first instance.   We can avoid this by allocating to the creators (for limited times) the exclusive right to make copies of their creations. All of the various alternative ways in which creators might be em powered to recover their costs are, for one reason or another, more wasteful of social resources.  [3]  Ã‚   This utilitarian rationale, however has been criticized on the ground of its tendency to create monopoly rights. A related argument dominates the trademark law. The primary economic benefits of trademarks, are (1) the reduction of consumers search costs, because consumers can rely upon their prior experiences with various brands while deciding which brand to buy in future, and (2) the creation of an incentive for businesses to produce consistently high-quality goods and services. On the other hand while dealing with its criticism, trademarks can sometimes be socially harmful also, like for example, by enabling the first entrant into a market to discourage competition by appropriating for itself an especially attractive or informative brand name. Awareness of these benefits and harms should (and usually does), guide legislators and judges when tuning trademark law; marks should be (and usually are) protected when they are socially beneficial and not when they are, on balance, deleterious.  [4]   1.2.2 Labour theory and its jurisprudential aspect: Robert Nozick  [5]  after associating himself with Lockes argument, Nozick turns his attention to Lockes famously ambiguous proviso the proposition that a person may legitimately acquire property rights by mixing his labor with resources held in common only if, after the acquisition, there is enough and as good left in common for others.  [6]   Nozick contends that the correct interpretation of this limitation is that the acquisition of property through labor is legitimate if and only if other persons do not suffer thereby any net harm. Construed in this fashion, the Lockean proviso is not violated, Nozick argues, by the assignment of a patent right to an inventor because, although other persons access to the invention is undoubtedly limited by the issuance of the patent, the invention would not have existed at all had the inventor not put in any effort due to fear of copying. 1.2.3 Personality theory and its jurisprudential aspect: The premise of the third approach derived loosely from the writings of Kant and Hegel i.e. private property rights are crucial to the satisfaction of some fundamental human needs; policymakers should thus strive to create and allocate entitlements to resources in the fashion that best enables people to fulfill those needs. From this standpoint, intellectual property rights may be justified either on the ground that they shield from appropriation or modification artifacts through which authors and artists have expressed their wills (an activity thought central to personhood) or on the ground that they create social and economic conditions conducive to creative intellectual activity, which in turn is important to human flourishing.  [7]   Justin Hughes derives from Hegels Philosophy of Rights the following guidelines concerning the proper shape of an intellectual-property system (a) We should be more willing to accord legal protection to the fruits of highly expressive intellectual activities, (b) Because a persons persona his public image, including his physical features, mannerisms, and history is an important part of personality, it deserves generous legal protection, despite the fact that ordinarily it does not result from labor (c) Authors and inventors should be permitted to earn respect, honor, admiration, and money from the public by selling or giving away copies of their works.  [8]   1.2.4 Social planning theory and its jurisprudential aspect: The last of the four approaches says that, property rights in general and intellectual-property rights in particular can and should be shaped so as to help foster the achievement of a just and attractive culture.   This approach is similar to utilitarianism in its orientation, but dissimilar in its willingness to deploy visions of a desirable society richer than the conceptions of social welfare deployed by utilitarians.  [9]   Other writers who have approached intellectual-property law from similar perspectives include Keith Aoki, Rosemary Coombe  [10]  , Niva Elkin-Koren, and Michael Madow.  [11]  As yet, however, this fourth approach is less well established and recognized than the other three. 1.3 Varying jurisprudential views in US, UK, France and Germany: Until recently, the personality theory had much less currency in American law.  However in contrast, it has figured very prominently in Europe.  The French and German copyright regimes, for example, have been strongly shaped by the writings of Kant and Hegel.   This influence is especially evident in the generous protection those countries provide for authors and artists rights. In the past two decades, moral-rights doctrine and the philosophic perspective on which it rests have found increasing favor with American lawmakers, as evidenced most clearly by the proliferation of state art-preservation statutes and the recent adoption of the federal Visual Artists Rights Act.  [12]   Critical analysis of the theories of IP jurisprudence: Lawmakers are confronted these days with many difficult questions involving rights to control information. The proponents of all four leading theories purport to provide lawmakers with answers to the upcoming questions in IP jurisprudence. Unfortunately, our choice among these four options will often make a big difference. The third, for instance, suggests that we should insist, before issuing a patent or other intellectual-property right, that the discovery in question must satisfy a meaningful utility requirement; the other three would not.  The second would counsel against conferring legal rights on artists who love their work; the other three point in the opposite direction. The fourth would suggest that we add to copyright law a requirement analogous to the patent doctrine of nonobviousness; the others would not.  In short, a lawmakers inability to choose among the four will often be disabling. Similar troubles arise when one tries to apply Lockes conception of the commons to the field of intellectual property.  What exactly are the raw materials, owned by the community as a whole, with which individual workers mix their labor in order to produce intellectual products? It is agreed that IP law would have to be radically revised to conform to the Lockean scheme.  But the scale of the necessary revision is daunting. Is it justifiable on Lockean or any other premises -that if one thinks of a new way of dancing he claim IP protection and prevent everybody else from doing the same? Similarly, by registering the trademark Nike, can one prevent others from using it in any way- including reproducing it in an essay on intellectual property? If not, then what Is the extent of these rights? We come, finally, to the well-known problem of proportionality. Nozick asks:  If I pour my can of tomato juice into the ocean, do I own the ocean?  How far, in short, do my rights go?   Locke gives us little guidance.  [13]   1.5 Conclusion: The limitations of the guidance provided by general theories of intellectual property is perhaps easiest to see with respect to the last of the four approaches.  Lawmakers who try to harness social-planning theory must make difficult choices at two levels.  The first and most obvious involves formulating a vision of a just and attractive culture. What sort of society should we try, through adjustments of copyright, patent, and trademark law, to promote?   The possibilities are endless. Through continued conversations among scholars, legislators, judges, litigants, lobbyists, and the public at large, there may lie some hope of addressing the inadequacies of the existing theories.  The analytical difficulties associated with the effort to apply the Lockean version of labor theory to intellectual property may well prove insurmountable, but there may be some non-Lockean way of capturing the popular intuition that the law should reward people for hard work.  Only by continuing to discuss the possibility and trying to bring some alternative variant of labor theory to bear on real cases can we hope to make progress.   Much the same can be said of the gaps in personality theory.   The conception of selfhood employed by current theorists may be too thin and acontextual to provide lawmakers much purchase on doctrinal problems.  But perhaps, through continued reflection and conversation, we can do better. Conversational uses of intellectual property theories of the sort sketched above would be different from the way in which such theories most often have been deployed in the past.  Instead of trying to compel readers, through a combination of noncontroversial premises and inexorable logic, to accept a particular interpretation or reform of legal doctrine, the jurists and lawmakers should attempt, by deploying a combination of theory and application, to strike a chord of sympathy in their audience.  The sought-after response would not be, I cant see any loopholes in the argument, but rather, it needs to be acknowledged and addressed. That conclusion, however, does not imply that the theories have no practical use.  [14]  In two respects, I suggest, they retain considerable value.  First, while they have failed to make good on their promises to provide comprehensive prescriptions concerning the ideal shape of intellectual-property law, they can help identify nonobvious attractive resolutions of particular problems. Second, they can foster valuable conversations among the various participants in the lawmaking process.  

The Horror of Christianity Essay -- essays research papers

"A Pagan Joke" A Pagan died and, much to her surprise, found herself at the Pearly Gates facing St. Peter. He walked up to her and said, "Hello, and welcome." She stared at St. Peter in complete confusion. "Wait a minute," she said. "I was supposed to end up in the Summerlands." He smiled. "Ah, you must be one of our Pagan sisters. Follow me, please." Peter gestured for her to follow him down a small path, which went through the gates and down a bit to the left. They walked for a short while, then he stepped back and gestured her forward. Looking past his hand, she saw the verdant fields and forests of her desired Summerlands. She saw people feasting, dancing, and making merry, exactly as she expected. While shaking her head in wonder, the Pagan happened to glance over to one side and saw a small group of people a short way away from the edge of the Summerlands. The people in the group were watching the revelers, but not joining them. Instead, they were screa ming and weeping piteously. The Pagan looked at St. Peter. "Who are those people?" St. Peter replied, "Them? They're fundamentalists. They're a bit surprised to see you all there, so they stand there and carry on like that all day." â€Å"Why? Don't they have better things to do?" Peter leaned conspiratorially toward her. "They don't really have a choice. They're actually in Hell. God doesn't like being told what He thinks." I start this paper with this joke to prove a point. When read, pagans, athiests, and those that lie outside the mainstream of Christianity will enjoy it, while Christian Fundamentalists and Conservatives will think it is in poor taste. Some might go so far as to say â€Å"My goodness, he is going to step on a lot of toes with that!† The question remains, though, WHOSE toes, and why does it matter? The answer can be found if we examine the psychology of Christianity. Christianity is one of the worlds most widespread and pervasive religions, and has been around a good long while. Wherever it goes, it seems to spread and promulgate and overrun. Evangelistic Christians send out missionaries to fulfill one of the commands given to them in the Bible: â€Å"Go ye forth and preach the Gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.† (Mt. 28:19) Christi... ...rt or be ostracized, join or suffer, love Christ or be of the devil, and accept the Church or be destroyed. Not all Christians do this and not at all times. But some Christians do commit acts of destruction and this fearful violence is occurring everyday and has occurred for most of the last two millennia somewhere on our world. â€Å"The night is black, Without a moon. the air is thick and still. The vigilantes gather on The lonely torchlit hill. Features distorted in the flickering light, The faces are twisted and grotesque. Silent and stern in the sweltering night, The mob moves like demons possesed. Quiet in conscience, calm in their right, Confident their ways are best. The righteous rise With burning eyes Of hatred and ill-will. Madmen fed on fear and lies To beat and burn and kill. They say there are strangers who threaten us, In our immigrants and infidels. They say there is strangeness too dangerous In our theatres and bookstore shelves, That those who know what's best for us Must rise and save us from ourselves. Quick to judge, Quick to anger, Slow to understand Ignorance and prejudice And fear Walk hand in hand....† ~Neil Peart, Witch Hunt

Contrasting Attitudes in Two Campers in Cloud Country by Sylvia Plath Essay

Sylvia Plath’s poem â€Å"Two Campers in Cloud Country† displays tones of naturalization and of objection to society. The speaker expresses his distaste for the mundane life and his respect for nature by incorporating style with literary devices. In Sylvia Plath’s poem â€Å"Two Campers in Cloud Country† the speaker uses diction and figurative language to portray attitudes of mockery towards civilization and awe towards the freedom of nature. First, the speaker opens the poem by saying â€Å"In this country there is neither measure nor balance† (l. 1). This has a negative connotation and is the initial expression of how the speaker uses diction to display negative feelings to society. Another negative connotation is when the speaker calls the clouds â€Å"man-shaming† (l. 3). The speaker also refers to people as â€Å"trolls† (l. 6), insinuating that people are slaves to society. These negative connotations are directed towards the mundane city life with it’s â€Å"labeled elms† (l. 9) and it’s â€Å"tame tea-roses† (l. 9). Another portrayal of the speaker’s mockery of society is the use of sound devices. This is important when considering the diction because the plosive sounds give the reader a subconscious understanding of how the speaker feels. For example, the word â€Å"gesture† (l. 4) presents the naturalistic view on how insignificant people are in comparison to the clouds. As seen in line six, â€Å"trolls† also is used for a sound device coupled with negative connotations. Another example of coupling plosive sounds with negative connotations would be â€Å"Public Gardens† (l. 7). The plosive sound devices are purposefully placed by the speaker to create a more apparent dissatisfaction in his diction. More often than not the speaker makes blatant statements towards the harsh and confining life in the city. By stating â€Å"one wearies of the Public Gardens† (l. 7) the speaker is deliberately pointing to the civilization’s tedious lifestyle. In line 17 the speaker says â€Å"It is comfortable, for a change, to mean so little†. This implies that the speaker’s bondage to society is broken by the freedom of nature. More subtly are sardonic inserts used to portray the speaker’s mocking tone. For example, â€Å"Here on the last frontier of the big, brash spirit: (l. 12) displays a tone of sarcasm towards how cities may view themselves. Whether it is blatant or subtle, the speaker delivers his attitude of mockery through diction. Second, the speaker expresses an attitude of awe towards nature after a tone shift. The tone shift in the beginning of stanza five changes from that of sardonic to admiration. The speaker describes the horizons as being so beautiful that â€Å"the colors assert themselves† (l. 14). Not only does this give an appealing and vibrant connotation. It shows respect for nature’s ability to be independent and control itself with or without the encouragement of man. In line 19 the speaker describes the rocks as â€Å"conceiving a dynasty of perfect cold†. To those who are not like the Two Campers this may be an oxymoron; to the Two Campers it deems true. This quote also shows how the speaker finds refuge in the outdoors. The tone remains to be in veneration but shows more dreamlike characteristics when the speaker announces â€Å"Tell me I’m here† (l. 21). The tone’s tendencies to be rather naturalistic become more apparent in the final two stanzas of the poem. The speaker also uses sound devices to exhibit the comfort of nature. Soft sounds such as â€Å"simplicities sough† (l. 25) and â€Å"Sleepily as Lethe† (l. 26) make lulling and peaceful sounds. Another soft sound used by the speaker is â€Å"lightest sighs† (l. 24). These sounds are comforting to the reader and are deliberately used to create a subtle liking for nature as opposed to the plosive and harsh sounds of the city. The tone shift of stanza five gives way to an important attitude of awe that the speaker portrays with his diction. Another way the speaker portrays the initial attitude of mockery is through figurative language. The speaker uses personification to contribute. The speaker expresses the want of a trip where â€Å"trees and clouds and animals pay no notice† (l. ). Personifying the trees and clouds seems that the speaker is acknowledging that nature is unconcerned with humans and the city due to it being held in such high esteem. It seems that nature looks down upon the city for attempting to mimic or recreate the fresh environment with â€Å"labeled elms† (l. 9) and â€Å"Public Gardens† (l. 7). The speaker further mocks the city by holding nature in such high esteem and becoming bored by the monotonous society, encouraging nature to â€Å"pay no notice† (l. 8). Plath also uses alliteration to mock civilization by calling the tea-roses â€Å"tame† (l. 9). In order to portray the speaker’s attitude in the comparison of nature to civilization, the speaker incorporates symbolism. For example, the speaker states â€Å"The pines blot our voices up in their lightest sighs† (l. 24). This is symbolic of how nature is preventing the troubles of society from disturbing nature and all of it’s grandeur. These figurative language devices contribute significantly to the speaker’s attitude. Unlike the figurative language supporting a sardonic tone to society, other devices are found after the tone shift to contribute to the tone of veneration to nature. The speaker expresses his awe by acknowledging that the country is alive. The speaker says that â€Å"night arrives in one gigantic step† (l. 16). Plath applies personification when at the sunset the â€Å"colors assert themselves† (l. 14). Once again, this gives nature an independence. The speaker uses alliteration, such as â€Å"blank-brained† (l. 27), to reassure the reader that the environment is stress-free. Another example is when the speaker admires the reflection of the stars in a lake by saying â€Å"Planets pulse in the lake like bright amoebas† (l. 23). Coupled with a sound device, the allusion to â€Å"Lethe† (l. 6) refers to the mythological river which was sought after for its peaceful forgetfulness. This also symbolizes the comfort and refuge in the calming wilderness that the speaker finds. The uses of these figurative language devices are greatly significant in the speaker’s expression of attitude. In conclusion, Sylvia Plath’s poem â€Å"Two Campers in Cloud Country† expresses two contrasting attitudes. Through the use of diction and figurative language, the speaker’s attitudes are clearly portrayed. These devices contributed immensely in making concrete the expression of the two tones.

Financial Crisis in Asia essays

Financial Crisis in Asia essays Have you ever been in a situation where you were low cash and in debt? Well, I know I have. I remember one time when I had used up all of my money for the month, and owed, at the same time, my sister ten dollars. Boy, that was pure hell. You cant buy anything, and you feel like you have no control over anything. Well, imagine an entire continent in a financial rut. That is what is currently going on in Asia. This dilemma is known as the Asian Financial Crisis. Now, what exactly is the Asian Financial Crisis? Well, it is the current imbalance of Asias economy. While some areas are doing great, most areas are poor and economically unstable . Currency value has gone down drastically, the stock market is at an all time low, and people all over the continent are fearing for their futures. The United Nations definitely should get involved in this crisis. They should have been more involved in international loaning, which would have helped, if not prevented the debt Asia is in now. They also should have made sure that the currency rate stayed stable the second the stock market began to drop. Perhaps, if the UN was more involved in Asias economic affairs this crisis would not be in this state of mishap. (There were many things that caused the Asian Financial Crisis. One of them would have to be overseas borrowing. It is very important to understand that if the country is borrowing from the rest of the earth its foreign debt will grow over time. Thus, flows (items on income and cash flow statements) translate into changes in stocks (balance sheet items, like family fortune, the stock of capital, government debt, and net foreign debt). So, in the end, Asian countries borrowed too much, and were careful too little. Companies in the worst-hit countries, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand, borrowed boundless sums of money as their economies boomed. T Even worse, they borrowed much of it in U...

Themes, Tone, and Language in Animal Farm essays

Themes, Tone, and Language in Animal Farm essays George Orwell's Animal Farm is one of the greatest satirical novels of our time. A classroom favorite, Animal Farm provides a unique learning opportunity for students of literature and politics alike. "Animal Farm... is a rare example of a great work in which the timeless literary qualities are fused perfectly with the time-bound persuasive qualities." (Rodden, 2- 3) There are many elements in Orwell's book that allow for this universality and depth. George Orwell's novel Animal Farm is a great piece of satirical and literary work due to the author's universal themes, digestible tone, and crafty use of language. The basic plot of Animal Farm closely parallels that of the Russian Revolution. The animals on Manor Farm in Hertfordshire, England (the place of Orwell's birth) are dissatisfied with the negligent treatment they are receiving from Farmer Jones. The animals decide to fight back, taking over the farm through battle, and renaming it Animal Farm. The pigs Snowball and Napoleon both want to rule the animals, but Napoleon succeeds in driving Snowball from the farm and setting him up as the perfect scapegoat for every unpleasant event that will follow. Napoleon declares himself president of the farm, and his rule becomes more and more iron-fisted and cruel. In the end, Napoleon and the other pigs are treating the animals as poorly as the farmer ever did, and they begin to resemble human beings in every way; things are exactly the same as they were in the beginning. This is a distopian story of revolution and corruption. One major theme of this story is the sad but often true story of evil triumphing over the good. In the end, although the animals have fought and worked for their freedom, oppression reigns. In all instances in the book, the corrupted characters prevail. For example, in the power struggle between the two pigs, it is Napoleon who wins, alt...

Orientalism and its Effects on Today’s Society essay

Orientalism and its Effects on Today’s Society essay Orientalism and its Effects on Today’s Society essay Orientalism and its Effects on Today’s Society essay  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Orientalism is a unique concept that has been widely discussed in academic literature. Orientalism can be characterized as a positive concept that highlights the role of the Orient in the life of the West (Said 203). Academic specialists involved in the study of the Orient are called Orientalists. Orientalism requires specific knowledge of people, places and civilizations (Said 203). The study of Orientalism provides an opportunity to have a better understanding of the West’s views regarding the Arab and Islamic world. As Orientalists are focused on the study of ancient traditions and customs and artistic representation of the Orient in Western world, this paper will provide much important information on the effects of Orientalism on our society (Diken et al. 26). It is necessary to take into consideration the fact that the meaning of the term â€Å"Orientalism† has b een changed. Today, it is no more a style of thought, but it is a powerful ideology that helps to assess the distinctions between East and West (Diken et al. 26). The study of oriental influences on various aspects of today’s society highlights the significance of religious concepts, namely Asian religious traditions. Thesis statement: The continuing effects that Orientalism has on today’s society include the effects on attitudes, image and knowledge reflected in different social activities, such as art, literature, music, political decisions and gender politics.The major goal of this paper is to discuss orientalism and the continuing effects that it has on today’s society. The study will be narrowed down to one country – the United States. To achieve the established goal, it is necessary to discuss a number of issues, such as the background information about Orientalism, the key definitions of the term, some facts from the history of Orientalism, and Ame rican Orientalism and its effects on American Society.Orientalism: Background Information  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In order to explore Orientalism and its effects on today’s society, it is necessary to define the meaning of Orientalism and analyze some facts from its long history. Orientalism is represented not only as Western ideology, but also as an academic discipline and as a literary motif. As a result, the concept of Orientalism is associated with prejudices (Kontje 56)Defining OrientalismOrientalism is a controversial concept that can be defined in different ways. First, the term â€Å"orientalism† can be defined as an â€Å"ideology, a set of prejudices that bolster a sense of European superiority over the East and thus implicitly or explicitly legitimate imperialism and colonialism, the exploitation of subjugated people deemed culturally or racially inferior to the dominant culture† (Kontye 56). Second, the term â€Å"orientalismâ₠¬  refers to the discipline, which involves the study of Eastern culture, religions, traditions and languages (Kontye 56). Third, the term â€Å"orientalism† is represented as a theme in literature and art (Kontye 56).Some Facts from the History of Orientalism  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Orientalism was originated as the so-called â€Å"western construction of knowledge about peoples in the Middle East and Asia† that was established in during colonialism (Merryfield Subedi 288).   Today Orientalism continues to influence various aspects of human life. The history of Orientalism is long and colorful. After the discovery of America at the end of the 15-th century, the sea route was opened to India. The development of new economic relations was marked by the development of Orientalism as a philosophical thought.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, in the 19-th century the term â€Å"Orientalism† was effectively used to chara cterize the features of the genre of painting. In fact, this genre was promoted by French and British artists who described the Orient in their art works, including the themes of the Middle Eastern traditions. According to historians, the works of Orientalists embraced oriental expression and inspiration, which were reflected in the cross-cultural influences of artists (Merryfield Subedi 285). The popularity of Indian, Chinese and Japanese traditions was reflected in textiles, ceramics, furniture and unique architecture styles. Although Said managed to reinterpret these influences by developing his radical theory, the representations of the East affected social life of people living in the West (Merryfield Subedi 285).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Moreover, the effects of Orientalism had different forms depending on different cultures involved in the Orientalist influences. According to Said, the discourse of Orientalism can be described as â€Å"basically homogene ous† (Burke Prochaska 22). Said claims â€Å"Orientalism is the corporate institution for dealing with the Orient -dealing with it by making statements about it, authorizing views of it, describing it, by teaching it, settling it, ruling over it: in short, orientalism as a Western style for dominating, restructuring, and having authority over the Orient† (Said 3). American Orientalism reflects Said’s claim because it is based on the idea of domination of the West and its influence on the East.The Continuing Effects that Orientalism has on today’s Society  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to researchers, Orientalism was originated in colonial period, but today it â€Å"continues to shape attitudes, images and knowledge† (Merryfield Subedi 288).   A well-known Orientalist Edward W. Said placed emphasis on the use of specific methods of teaching, which could help to â€Å"overcome orientalist thinking through contrapuntal (a te rm from music meaning characterized by counterpoint) literature and histories that create new understandings and knowledge† (Merryfield Subedi 288). As a matter of fact, the themes, which reveal Orientalism and its traditions, are persistent in today’s society. Many researchers are based on the argumentation regarding the differences between the cultural aspects of East and West (Diken Laustsen 26). One of the arguments that provide explanation to the major causes of the continuing effects that Orientalism has on today’s society is that the â€Å"relationship between the West and the Orient is not merely one of a difference between two elements within the same space† (Diken Laustsen 26). The Orient can be explained as a space which does not provide difference between the political and the social. According to researchers, â€Å"the Orient is constituted as a fantasy space that both conditions and escapes the social† (Diken Laustsen 26). In other words, the Orient is associated with human desires because fantasy produces desires.Said criticizes Western Orientalism because it reflects many trends found in Asian works of art created by Indian, Chinese, and Japanese artists and writers (Said 60). In the 20-th century, various Western cultural themes were found in Asian art and culture. Besides, Orientalism shaped cinema, theater, photography and music.The Effects of Orientalism on AttitudesOrientalism has a strong impact on literary genres in western literature. These effects are reflected in attitudes of both the reader and the author. For example, the Arabian Nights helps to explore the significance of complex relationships between men and women. According to Abdulla Al-Dabbagh, â€Å"many studies of the impact of the Arabian Nights on literature, literary criticism and literary thinking have been done†(30). Most of these studies highlight the effects of Orientalism on attitudes of readers.The Effects of Orientalism o n ImagesOrientalism has a strong impact on the images that can be found in art and literature. According to researchers, some aspects of Orientalism as the concept and practice have direct relation to analysis of the images associated with the Orient (Abdulla Al-Dabbagh 30). Many Orientalist images describe the contribution of women to social development. Based on the works of Orientalist artists, such as Henriette Browne and others, and the literary works of many authors, such as Jorge Eliot and others, it is possible to â€Å"challenge masculinist assumptions relating to the stability and homogeneity of the Orientalist gaze† (Lewis 1). It has been found that the images of women were not perceived as the images of men because of the effects of male position of Western dominance. Orientalism helped to highlight racial differences that existed in human society (Rotter 1206). The relationships between men and women were influenced by race and gender positions. Researchers state that â€Å"women’s visual and literary Orientalism† was found in the images produced by writers and artists (Lewis 1). As a matter of fact, women’s involvement in Orientalism contributed to the overall understanding of the effects of Orientalism on the images found on the works of art and literature (Lewis 1).The Effect of Orientalism on KnowledgeThe effect of Orientalism on knowledge is crucial to the understanding of some political and philosophical concepts associated with the Orient. According to Abdel Malek, one of the types of Orientalism can be characterized as â€Å"collaborating with colonial powers† (qtd. in Netton 261). Actually, Abdel Malek gives explanation to the phenomenon created by Orientalism. This phenomenon is based on gathering the proper information regarding different nations that could be dominated by other nations (Netton 261). In other words, Orientalism was found in the structure of Western sciences during the penetration of im perialism into human society (Rotter 1206). Recent studies point out to the fact that Orientalism is in crisis today because of the â€Å"rise of national liberation movements, which brought an end to the age of colonial domination† (Netton 261). As Orientalist views are considered to be the tools of colonialism, the effects of these views on knowledge are enormous.American Orientalism and its effects on American Society  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Nature of American Orientalism  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The effects of Orientalism on American society established foundation for interactions between American people and Asian people. Some researchers state that Orientalism is over, but its effects on society point out to the fact it is far from over. The debate over orientalism continues in the United States, especially after the events of 9/11. According to researchers, â€Å"in many ways it has just begun† (Burke Prochaska 1). In A merican society, Orientalism is represented as an academic discipline, which is based on philosophical views regarding the Asian culture and languages. The practice of Orientalist ideas links culture and power, providing a wide range of examples in American society associated with the philosophical thought of the Middle East (Burke Prochaska 1). According to researchers, â€Å"their special properties miraculously filter out historical context and complexity, the better to spotlight the supposedly essential cultural features of Middle Eastern culture†(Burke Prochaska 1). The concept of Orientalism in American society has been shaped by Said’s paradigms regarding the relationship between the West and the East. In general, the roots of Orientalism in the United States are associated with the attitudes, beliefs and values of the immigrants who came from Europe to North America in the late 16-th century –early 17-th century (Leong 7). Most European immigrants had their individual views about the Eastern philosophy characterizes the Eastern civilization as â€Å"more decadent, exotic, and immoral† (Leong 7). These attitudes, beliefs and values were included in the philosophies of European empires, such as France, Germany and Britain. These nations provided many justifications of the dominant positions in the global context, explaining their dominance by their more civilizing missions. In general, these Orientalist views were developed in the United States, incorporating the concept of Orientalism in different aspects of social life (Leong 7).American Orientalism was built on the philosophical thought of European Orientalism. However, European Orientalism reflected negative attitudes toward the Asian people and the Orient in general. American Orientalism â€Å"took a form specific to and supportive of the United States’ emerging role as a world-wide moral and economic force† (Leong 7). It has been found that Orientalist vi ews were very popular in the United States, reflecting not only cultural perceptions and expressions, but also religious aspects and economic issues (Rotter 1206). The Orientalist views were found in the functioning of missionaries, diplomacy, business organizations, as well as the media (Leong 7). According to researchers, the interests of missionaries, diplomacy, business organizations were marked by the role of the U.S. involvement in different religious and economic issues, while many Asian countries, such as China and Japan, lacked the proper economic and religious development, and required considerable changes through the conversion to Christianity and the growth of Capitalism (Leong 7).Orientalism and its Effects on Today’s Society essay part 2

A note on Water Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Jump Ship and Shop - Case Study Example The second way is hosting events for customers with decorations and background carols (Mill 314). It allows customers to spend more time in the resort, explore the various products and services offered, and ask questions and clarifications where necessary. The third way to market is using the internet for the resorts with websites. The resorts design the home page to reflect the Christmas season and email any deals to their customers in the mailing list. Many shoppers would want to buy things for themselves and their friends and families. Resorts draw attention to larger groups of young people and families and especially between twenty-five years to fifty years and hence they direct any marketing activity to this age bracket. The resort needs also to target website visitors and make their home pages stand out to attract the attention. If we market resorts properly, they may receive customers from all over the world who are looking for exclusive and unique products and services. Proper marketing enhances increased sales returns and in return, customers expect efficient

Create a Business Plan for Your Own Company - With Financial Statement Assignment

Create a Business Plan for Your Own Company - With Financial Statement Data - Assignment Example The company also has other investments in steel and iron businesses such as steel manufacturing operations including electrical furnaces, steel processing service centres that take care of processing and distribution services, steel sales business and production of motor vehicle parts. Apart from manufacture of steel and iron products, the company has other portfolios that include supply of mineral and metal resources to Japan and other areas of the world. The company also has investments in generation of renewable energy, industrial and infrastructure, water treatment and supply, project development in fields such as logistics and social infrastructure. In its integrated transportation systems business unit, the company deals with logistics, financing and sale of motor vehicles, sale and financing of construction machinery, trade and ownership of commercial ships, sale, purchase and leasing of aircrafts and helicopters and rolling stock leasing. The basic chemicals business unit dea ls with manufacture of industrial chemicals and the logistical support for their clients. The performance chemicals business unit deals with manufacture of agricultural chemicals, performance materials such as plastics and synthetics. In addition, the unit also deals with liquid crystal display material and commodities, semiconductors and supplies for printed circuit board. Energy business unit I and II deals with exploration and processing of energy sources such as oil, gas and uranium among others, in addition it also develops environmental business such as carbon credits, biomass ethanol and hydrogen. The food business unit deals with grains for livestock, energy production and human consumption. In addition, it also deals with food ingredients, distribution, retail support services and agri-foods. The consumer service business unit deals with a wide variety of business activities that include medical and health care services, real

Joint Venture entry mode of Marks and Spencer in China Essay

Joint Venture entry mode of Marks and Spencer in China - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that entering into a new market has been commonly accounted as one of the major challenges faced by companies seeking the benefits of internationalization market expansion. In its course to diversify in the global plethora, the company needs to deal with many barriers including cross-border trade regulations, cultural paradoxes and various other socio-economic factors that are deemed to influence business operations in the targeted host country. Contextually, entering into the market of China also posed considerable challenges to Marks & Spencer (M&S), which is a renowned British multinational retail chain. Critics have thereon argued that it is fundamentally owing to lack of market understanding and appropriate strategies adopted by companies to mark its failure in Asian countries like China. Several challenges and problems encompass the entry of M&S in the market of China. With the opening of their first outlet in the Chinese market, the company experienced a dip in its performance, which was accounted as considerably lower than the expected level in the Chinese market. The outlets opened by M&S, at the initial phases of its operations in the Mainland China, failed to satisfy the needs of the Chinese local customers owing to the company’s lacuna to identify customers’ preferences in the market and offer services accordingly. For instance, the M&S stores were unable to provide garments of smaller sizes, as preferred by the customers in China. (Wood, 2012). Reportedly, the supply chain of the company was also lacking its usual effectiveness, which further inhibited the reputation of the company in the Chinese market, at its introductory phase. Additionally, it was also known that the management of the retail chain was implementing its strategic experiences gained from its operations in Hong Kong, irrespective of the fact that the consumer buying behaviour are found to be considerably distinct in these two regions. This again depicts the lack of market survey of the company taking into account the tastes and preferences of customers in the host country (China Retail News, 2009). In addition, the decisions taken by the company for not collaborating with any of the local firms in China, i.e. ignoring the benefits of JV also barricaded the utmost efficiency of its strategies by restricting the cooperation of local firms to a certain extent. It was thus considered as a mistake made by M&S, which retarded its smooth entry in the Chinese market. However the company focused on concentrating on its size and range of services offered to the Chinese customers as its major Unique Selling Propositions (USPs). Subsequently, the first shop of the company was opened in the Mainland and was propounded to be one of the biggest shopping centres in Asia. Nonetheless, this decision of the company came as a surprise for many investors in the stock market, as opening of the store came just after the global economic turmoil that kept investors wondering regarding the finances of M&S. It has also been noted that competition level from the local marketers were observed to be quite h igh in this area, as the local retailers are more competent in serving the customers in the market providing products preferred by customers of lower age groups and lower income groups. On the contrary, it would be vital to mention that the products

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Appreciation of works of art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Appreciation of works of art - Essay Example Asymmetry is evident in the painting because there is an imbalance of the number of people on the right and on the left sides. On the right side of the painting where a group of people are gathered, the space from which they are staying creates a sense of depth to the viewer through the use of hatching. Looking at the portrait, one could almost understand that behind the opening or door from which the people are standing; there is a deeper space wherein more people could be present, or at least it is a path where the people entered through. The lines that are used also create distance. From the viewer’s point of view, since there are no borders used on the edges of the painting, there is a distance created wherein one can see a front and a back side. The lines at the back of the three people on the center make the setting look narrower at the back, suggesting that it is farther than where the three characters are located similar to how things are seen in reality. For instance, when something is near a viewer, it is big and clear enough for someone to see the details. However, as the viewer stays farther away from the object, it becomes smaller and can only be determined largely by its shape. This is what happens in the painting. Since the back wall is shown to be bounded by width and height in contrast to the open space on the ‘front’ of the people, it appears to be farther away from the viewer and therefore, creates distance. Moreover, Pilate is shown to be nearer the viewer than the other characters. This is done by completing every detail that shows the man washing his hands, seated on his chair with all his raiment and other uncovered part of his body visible. In contrast, the man pouring the water on the basin seems to be a little farther behind Pilate because some parts of his body are covered such as his leg. The basin in front of him covers his left leg so that the illustration looks realistic creating an illusion that makes him appe ar to be located a bit farther than the main character. The same is true with the man standing behind with a green robe. His feet are not shown, suggesting that they are covered by the man seated on front of him. Consequently, space is created as well because of the distance that is portrayed by the lines mentioned earlier. Pilate seems to be sitting right in the middle of the room because there is a space left on the front which seems to be bare. This is effectively done by placing the chair of Pilate a few squares away from the bare floor. In addition, the distances between the figures such as between Pilate and the people show the spaces created in the picture as well. The placing of the people also creates the illusion of space in a similar fashion as described above. For instance, the hands of the two men behind the man in green robe on the right side of the painting show a sense of distance and space. The hand of the man in red turban does not only seem to be father behind the hand of the man in front of him but it also creates some space between them. Symbolism could also perhaps be evident in the painting. For instance, it is known that Pilate did not find any crime committed by Jesus so that he did not like to crucify him. However, since the people are becoming wild in their demands, he had to make a decision that he was not really satisfied about. To keep the peace and order of the community, he had

Joint Venture entry mode of Marks and Spencer in China Essay

Joint Venture entry mode of Marks and Spencer in China - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that entering into a new market has been commonly accounted as one of the major challenges faced by companies seeking the benefits of internationalization market expansion. In its course to diversify in the global plethora, the company needs to deal with many barriers including cross-border trade regulations, cultural paradoxes and various other socio-economic factors that are deemed to influence business operations in the targeted host country. Contextually, entering into the market of China also posed considerable challenges to Marks & Spencer (M&S), which is a renowned British multinational retail chain. Critics have thereon argued that it is fundamentally owing to lack of market understanding and appropriate strategies adopted by companies to mark its failure in Asian countries like China. Several challenges and problems encompass the entry of M&S in the market of China. With the opening of their first outlet in the Chinese market, the company experienced a dip in its performance, which was accounted as considerably lower than the expected level in the Chinese market. The outlets opened by M&S, at the initial phases of its operations in the Mainland China, failed to satisfy the needs of the Chinese local customers owing to the company’s lacuna to identify customers’ preferences in the market and offer services accordingly. For instance, the M&S stores were unable to provide garments of smaller sizes, as preferred by the customers in China. (Wood, 2012). Reportedly, the supply chain of the company was also lacking its usual effectiveness, which further inhibited the reputation of the company in the Chinese market, at its introductory phase. Additionally, it was also known that the management of the retail chain was implementing its strategic experiences gained from its operations in Hong Kong, irrespective of the fact that the consumer buying behaviour are found to be considerably distinct in these two regions. This again depicts the lack of market survey of the company taking into account the tastes and preferences of customers in the host country (China Retail News, 2009). In addition, the decisions taken by the company for not collaborating with any of the local firms in China, i.e. ignoring the benefits of JV also barricaded the utmost efficiency of its strategies by restricting the cooperation of local firms to a certain extent. It was thus considered as a mistake made by M&S, which retarded its smooth entry in the Chinese market. However the company focused on concentrating on its size and range of services offered to the Chinese customers as its major Unique Selling Propositions (USPs). Subsequently, the first shop of the company was opened in the Mainland and was propounded to be one of the biggest shopping centres in Asia. Nonetheless, this decision of the company came as a surprise for many investors in the stock market, as opening of the store came just after the global economic turmoil that kept investors wondering regarding the finances of M&S. It has also been noted that competition level from the local marketers were observed to be quite h igh in this area, as the local retailers are more competent in serving the customers in the market providing products preferred by customers of lower age groups and lower income groups. On the contrary, it would be vital to mention that the products

Appreciation of works of art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Appreciation of works of art - Essay Example Asymmetry is evident in the painting because there is an imbalance of the number of people on the right and on the left sides. On the right side of the painting where a group of people are gathered, the space from which they are staying creates a sense of depth to the viewer through the use of hatching. Looking at the portrait, one could almost understand that behind the opening or door from which the people are standing; there is a deeper space wherein more people could be present, or at least it is a path where the people entered through. The lines that are used also create distance. From the viewer’s point of view, since there are no borders used on the edges of the painting, there is a distance created wherein one can see a front and a back side. The lines at the back of the three people on the center make the setting look narrower at the back, suggesting that it is farther than where the three characters are located similar to how things are seen in reality. For instance, when something is near a viewer, it is big and clear enough for someone to see the details. However, as the viewer stays farther away from the object, it becomes smaller and can only be determined largely by its shape. This is what happens in the painting. Since the back wall is shown to be bounded by width and height in contrast to the open space on the ‘front’ of the people, it appears to be farther away from the viewer and therefore, creates distance. Moreover, Pilate is shown to be nearer the viewer than the other characters. This is done by completing every detail that shows the man washing his hands, seated on his chair with all his raiment and other uncovered part of his body visible. In contrast, the man pouring the water on the basin seems to be a little farther behind Pilate because some parts of his body are covered such as his leg. The basin in front of him covers his left leg so that the illustration looks realistic creating an illusion that makes him appe ar to be located a bit farther than the main character. The same is true with the man standing behind with a green robe. His feet are not shown, suggesting that they are covered by the man seated on front of him. Consequently, space is created as well because of the distance that is portrayed by the lines mentioned earlier. Pilate seems to be sitting right in the middle of the room because there is a space left on the front which seems to be bare. This is effectively done by placing the chair of Pilate a few squares away from the bare floor. In addition, the distances between the figures such as between Pilate and the people show the spaces created in the picture as well. The placing of the people also creates the illusion of space in a similar fashion as described above. For instance, the hands of the two men behind the man in green robe on the right side of the painting show a sense of distance and space. The hand of the man in red turban does not only seem to be father behind the hand of the man in front of him but it also creates some space between them. Symbolism could also perhaps be evident in the painting. For instance, it is known that Pilate did not find any crime committed by Jesus so that he did not like to crucify him. However, since the people are becoming wild in their demands, he had to make a decision that he was not really satisfied about. To keep the peace and order of the community, he had

Manifest Destiny Essay Example for Free

Manifest Destiny Essay The belief in Manifest Destiny, America’s right to expand westward, was popular among the Democratic Party, which paved the path for conflict in U.S. politics. In the 1840’s, Manifest Destiny was used as justification for the annexation of Texas, the war with Mexico, and to acquire portions of Oregon from the British. The debate over whether America really had a manifest destiny to expand all the way west or if it was used as an excuse to acquire more land led to debates in U. S. politics. Advocates of manifest destiny, mostly democratic, argued that the U.S., as a more advanced culture, had a God-given right to expand its borders. They believed the expansion would civilize the West and America’s democratic, cultural, and religious values would benefit the Native Americans. In addition, supporters would argue that the belief would strengthen the union, making it invulnerable. On the opposing side, consisting mostly of the Whig party, the God-given right to expand all the way westward at the price and rights of thousands of innocent natives was blasphemy. The Whig party was not manifest destinies only critic, abolitionist, fearful of slavery spreading, argued that the constitution did not give the country the right to gain new land and the country’s vital institutions would suffer as America was spread too thin. Look more:  essays on manifest destiny Texas’ sought to join America as a new state, after it gained independence from Mexico and had a revolution. The process of expansion in which newly democratic and free states would seek entry into the United States, rather than the U.S. extending its government over unwanting people was ideal. The Democratic Party was threatened to fall apart if Texas entered the Union, as it would become another slave state and this forced both Presidents Jackson and Van Buren to decline Texas’ plea. During the election of 1844, both Henry Clay of the Whig Party and Van Buren of the Democratic Party were against the annexation of Texas, this displeased the Democrats as they wanted to gain Texas so they dropped Van Buren in favor of James Polk, who was for adding Texas as another slave state. Polk cleverly tied Texas’ annexation into the Oregon dispute, the controversy over Oregon’s border. In 1846 the dispute was settled over the Oregon Treaty where the British relinquished its holding to the lower Colombia basin. This appeased expansionist in the north, who fought for Oregon and expansionist in the south, who focused primarily on Texas. After Polk’s election, he moved to occupy a free portion of Texas that was still claimed by Mexico. This sparked the Mexican-American War in 1846, were there were calls for â€Å"All Mexico†, mostly from Eastern Democrats, however Mexico’s annexation brought up much debate. If Mexico were to become a part of the United States it would mean millions of non-white Mexicans would become U.S. citizens, something Americans were not too keen on. The racist aspect of Manifest Destiny considers inferior Mexicans unqualified to become Americans whereas the mission aspect of Manifest Destiny dictates that Mexicans would become improved under American democracy. The â€Å"All Mexico† movement quickly abated with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 which granted Alta California and Nuevo Mà ©xico to the United States, both of which were sparsely populated with Mexicans. After the Mexican-American War ended in 1848, disagreements over the expansion of slavery made further annexation by conquest too divisive to be official government policy. The belief in Manifest Destiny in the 1840’s greatly influenced both U.S. politics and policy and is to blame or thank for Americas expansion from â€Å"sea to shining sea.†

Nigerian Breweries Marketing Analysis

Nigerian Breweries Marketing Analysis EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is set to discuss about the marketing report of Nigerian Breweries Plc. It covers their history, the PEST analysis, their strategies and tactics. A good marketing report is needed in an organisation to know the status of the organisation and to know where they are failing and succeeding so that they can correct or maintain the situation. This paper would fully explain the marketing report of Nigerian Breweries with a little recommendation. INTRODUCTION Kotler (2002) defined Marketing as the social process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others. Marketing is essentially about marshalling the resources of an organization so that they met the changing needs of the customer on whom the organization depends. (Palmer, 2003) Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that customer and organizational objectives. (Drucker, 2005) The concept of marketing as a business philosophy defines marketing as a process that is intended to find, satisfy and retain customers while business makes a profit. But central to all these definitions is the role of the customer and his relationship to the product. A market research is imperative for a company to know what type of products or services would be profitable to introduce in the market. Also with respect to its existing products in the market, good market research enables a company to know if it has been able to satisfy customer needs and whether any changes need to be made in the packaging, delivery or the product itself. (Anonymous, 2009) HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Nigerian Breweries Plc (NBPLC) is the countrys pioneer brewery. Incorporated in 1946, it commenced production in 1949. It started as a joint venture between the United African Company (WAC) International, UK and Heineken of Holland. Thus, at inception, it was 100 per cent foreign owned. By the early 1950s, when it began operating fully, some indigenous traders already involved with its products were invited to become shareholders. Under the indigenization policy of the early 1970s the foreign shareholders were forced to sell a significant proportion of their holdings. Today, the company is 60 per cent Nigerian owned and 40 per cent foreign owned. The 60 per cent Nigerian stake is held by company employees and members of the public, while the 40 per cent foreign ownership is split almost equally between CWA Holdings Limited (for Unilever) and Heineken Brouwerijen BV. Its first bottle of beer, STAR Lager, rolled off the bottling lines of its Lagos Brewery in June 1949. Other breweries were subsequently commissioned by the company, including Aba Brewery in 1957, Kaduna Brewery in 1963, and Ibadan Brewery in 1982. In September 1993, the company acquired its fifth brewery in Enugu state, and in October 2003, its sixth brewery, sited at Ama in Enugu. Ama Brewery is the largest brewery in Nigeria and one of the most modern worldwide. Operations at Enugu brewery were discontinued in 2004, leaving the company with five operational breweries. The company has a portfolio of high-quality brands, including Star Lager Beer (launched in 1949); Gulder Lager Beer (1970); Maltina (1976), which now has three varieties, namely Maltina Classic, Maltina Strawberry, and Maltina with Pineapple; Maltina Sip-it (2005), which was packaged in Tetrapaks; Legend Extra Stout (1992); and Amstel Malta (1994). The company also re-launched Heineken Lager into the Nigerian market in June 1998. Nigerian Breweries is the most capitalized quoted company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), it is also the first company in any sector to declare N12 billion in PBT and the first company in Nigerian history to declare dividend of N8 billion (Vanguard, 2003). Nigerian Breweries operates many related companies, including beverage-related manufacturing companies making corks, labels, bottles, packing crates; and a logistics network, including transport companies, warehousing companies and retail sales management THE MARKET ENVIRONMENT Market Environment is the various external forces that can directly or indirectly affect the many activities of an organization. This is an integral part of environmental scanning. These activities include acquisition of human resources, raw materials, financial resources, and development of goods and services. The marketing environment includes forces such as: political, legal, regulatory, economic, social, technological, and competitive. Nigerian Breweries Plc functions in two different market enviroment namely the Macro and Micro which affects it externally and internally. (Kotler, 2004), the PEST analyses and the Porters Five Forces model of Nigerian Breweries would be discussed in this report. PEST analysis stands for â€Å"Political, Economic, Social, and Technological analysis† and describes a framework of macro-environmental factors used. (P)OLITICAL ANALYSIS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Political analysis involves elections, employment law, consumer protection, environmental regulations, industry-specific regulations, competitive regulations, inter-country relationships/attitudes, war, terrorism, political trends in the country where the company is based. The political situation in Nigeria has experienced a stable balance since the commencement of the democratic governance and this has impacted on Nigerian breweries plc in different ways. Politically, Nigerian breweries was affected positively when the ban on importation of barley was lifted as well as placing a 20% tariff on both products by the federal government on January 6 1998, this increased its options of raw materials for production as the company had been forced to make use of local corn and sorghum for brewing in the past. Sales in Nigerian Breweries have been on the rise as opposed to the style in European and other developing markets partly because despite the individual state governments efforts by creating laws to regulate the sales and distribution of alcoholic products it has not put in-place proper control mechanism to checkmate and control the phenomenon of alcoholic consumption, this is due to the laxity in enforcement of laws in Nigeria and the high level of corruption in government (Daily Trust, 11 September 2008). (E)CONOMICAL ANALYSIS Economical Analysis involves the exchange rates and stability of the host country, skill level of work force, labour cost, and Economic level of growth, unemployment rate, inflation rate and interest rate. Nigeria is a growing economy therefore it is less affected by the recent global economic financial crisis and this has a positive impact on the sales of Nigerian breweries products as people have disposable income and can spend more on drinking of beer products, this therefore is a positive development for the company (Malandrakis, 2009). Also, the unemployment rate in Nigeria is really high and it makes a lot of people idle and they spend most of their time at bars which helps increase the sales of beers. The Exchange rate in Nigeria is low comparing to the US dollar and it can affect the business when the raw materials are being imported as it cost a lot of money. Another economical issue which is affecting Nigerian Breweries negatively is based under the labour cost which is the lack of constant electricity supply in Nigeria; this has forced the company to make use of alternative means of power supply such as generators were the company spends a huge budget on diesel which has a constant increasing price. (S)OCIAL ANALYSIS Social Analysis involves the Demographics, Class Structure, Gender, and Age, Attitude (health and environmental consciousness) The production of recreational centres in major cities which have all been changed to drinking joints locally known as â€Å"Joints† (Daily Trust, 11 September 2008) has changed drinking of beer into a social activity. It has observed that people prefer drinking out with friends as drinking of beer has become similar with celebrations such as weddings, parties, clubs and other social gatherings, among youths drinking is done in order to belong. This social drinking habit is clearly evident as it supports on trade sales which dominates the Nigerian market with a market share of 80% sales (Malandrakis, 2009). In northern Nigeria, states like Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto ban beer drinking because of their Sharia Law. A law is passed around that people who drink any form of alcohol or commit adultery, theft would be severely punished (The Guardian, 2002) and this affects the sales of beer in that region. Nigerian breweries is also involved in social responsibility by sponsoring events such as star quest which is aimed at discovering new musical acts (Nigerian Tribune, 8th June 2009) amongst other social events and creative writing workshop, a program created to groom the young writer (Vanguard, 15 July 2009). (T)ECHNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS This involves inventions, new discoveries, research, energy uses/sources/fuels, communications, and rates of obsolescence, health manufacturing advances, information technology, internet, and transportation. Technology has not been a major aspect in Nigerian Breweries Plc but they have invested in the equipments used for beer production to make it have its original taste. They also invest in generators for electricity because of the electricity issues in Nigeria. The Social factors have the strongest effect on the market power of Nigerian Breweries Plc as drinking is a lifestyle which has evolved over the years. The Porters five forces apply new entrants, Buyer power, Supplier power, Substitute and Rivalry for analysis. POTENTIAL ENTRANTS Potential Entrants are other organisations interested in entering the industry. Potential entrants trying to come into the brewery industry in Nigeria find it very difficult because of a lot of mostly the Government policies, the cost of exit and entrance and this puts Nigerian breweries at a comfortable position as market leaders and leaves the company with nothing to worry about as regards new companies that may spring up. Other reasons why new companies find it difficult to come into the industry is because the switching cost is really high so any new company cannot just switch or leave the industry, brand loyalty is really high because the public is used to the products of Nigeria Breweries. SUBSTITUTES From Porters Model, substitute products refer to products in other industries. To the economist, a threat of substitutes occurs when a products demand is affected by the price change of a substitute product. Finding a substitute for beer in Nigeria is practically impossible because drinking beer in Nigeria has become part of social activity and also with the affordable price for the average and low earners (a bottle of star larger beer costs N140 which is less than a pound and is cheaper compared to wines, brandys and other bottled alcoholic drink) it has the price has a competitive advantage over the type drink like wine and brandy. The only major competitor within the industry that Nigerian breweries has in beer products is Guinness Nigeria Plc and both companies have between them 77% market share (WW8) therefore it would only take a special brand to substitute either of these brands. BUYER POWER Buyer power can be explained as the impact that customers have on a producing industry. This occurs when there are many suppliers and one buyer. In Nigeria Breweries, the buyer power is very little as they are the major supplier in the industry and the customers have little option but to get products from Nigeria Breweries. Buyer power can also explained by switching cost which is expensive due to the high prices of substitutes like wines and brandy. Also, Nigerian Breweries have grown so well that consumers have very strong brand loyalty on their products such as Gulder, Star. SUPPLIER POWER This can simply be explained as when there are many buyers and just one or little supplier. Nigerian breweries has a very high supplier power because the use of local corn and sorghum for manufacturing of beer has a high market value because of the limited availability of barley and other substitutes for brewing of beer, the farmers and suppliers of this raw materials have the power to raise their prices as they wish, leaving Nigerian Breweries at their mercy. RIVALRY The Nigerian beer industry has only 2 major companies in the industry which are Nigerian breweries and Guinness Nigeria Plc and this gives Nigerian Breweries less competition but high rivalry because there is low switching cost since the cost of a beer from Guinness Nigeria is almost the same price. Rivalry could also low because there are only two companies in the industry so it has enough market for both of them and it can gear its strategies against only one major competitor (Oyeyinka, 2002). THE COMPETITION OF NIGERIAN BREWERIES The major competitor for Nigeria Breweries is Guinness limited Nigeria, it manufactures beer in the brand mane of â€Å"Harp† in Nigeria. Harp Lager Brewery is located in Ikeja, Nigeria. This Nigerian brewery belonging to Tony Joyce started production in 1981. The annual production of beer is about 1,500,000 hl. The other beer production units of Guinness Nigeria Limited are located in Agbara, Benin, Aba in Imo. The other little breweries include Benue breweries, Olympic breweries, Sona Breweries and Consolidated Breweries. In general, competition for Nigerian Breweries is minimal as its only major competitor is Guinness Nigeria limited. Nigerian Breweries has the edge over these competitors majorly because of its brand loyalty and because of the fact that it has being producing beer for over 60 years. It also has a lot of branches all over Nigeria so as to reach the customers demands. MARKETING STRATEGY A marketing strategy is a process or model to allow a company or organisation to focus limited resources on the best opportunities to increase sales and thereby achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. (Ulrich et al, 2002) Nigerian Breweries Plc uses Marketing strategy to maintain competitive advantage. It uses the market segmentation, targeting and positioning as a means of carving out its own share of the market and catering for their needs. SEGMENTATION Market Segmentation can be defined as dividing a market into distinct groups with distinct needs, characteristics, or behaviour that might require separate products or marketing mix. (Anonymous, 2002) Segmentation refers to individuals and organisations with similar characteristics having significant implications for the determination of market strategy (Jobber, 2007), Segmentation can be broken down into Geographical segmentation, Demographic segmentation, Psychographic segmentation, Lifestyle, social class, and personality-based segmentation Behavioural segmentation. Nigerian breweries Plc segmentation is in relation to its consumers which serves all classes and ages of legal drinkers. In Nigeria, drinking beer is seen as a social event of festivity and because of its affordable price, it can be seen amongst the high, middle and lower class earners. The advertisement way of life which the company has built up over the years to appeal to all age groups and societal status types has also helped boost their market sales. Nigerian Breweries have advertised their major beer product (Star) as a drink that delivers superior enjoyment and brightens all social occasions this is so because the drink is seen as a key to happiness and celebration by its consumers. In general, Nigerian Breweries focuses on all the segment of market and has produced different types of products which covers all the segment of market in Nigeria TARGETING Market Targeting can be defined as the selection of a particular market segment toward which all marketing effort is directed. Market targeting enables the characteristics of the chosen segment to be taken into account when formulating a product or service and its advertising. (Keegan, 2001) Nigerian breweries have targeted their beers towards different market segments using a differentiated targeting strategy and they have two major beer products that target different classes and age groups. The â€Å"Star† beer product targets the youth, this is evident from most of its advertisements and sponsorship programs which is usually directed toward the younger generation while the â€Å"Gulder† beer product targets the older and higher financial class of people, this is also evident in its own type of advertising methods and sponsorships. POSITIONING It could also be defined as the place the product occupies in consumers minds relative to competing products. (Anonymous, 2002) Market positioning depends much on how competitors position themselves, a producer can be said to be successful if he can achieve the mental position which he/she is trying to make in the mind of the consumer. Nigerian breweries Plc have two major beer brands, Star and Gulder which respectively for the younger celebrating generation and for the more sophisticated and older generation of drinkers., This brandings falls in line with the customers perceptions of the two products as more of the younger generation identify with the Star brand which is not as bitter in taste as the Gulder brand which is more expensive in price than the Star brand. THE MARKETING MIX The term marketing mix refers to the primary elements that must be attended to in order to properly market a product or service. Also known as the 4 Ps of marketing which are Price, Promotion, Product and Place. PRICE The price you set for your product or service plays a large role in its marketability. Pricing for products or services that are more commonly available in the market is more elastic, meaning that unit sales will go up or down more responsively in response to price changes. (Jones, 2007) Price can be stated as the actual or rated value of a valuable product which is up for exchange; some define it as amount of money paid for product (Kotler et al, 2005) The price of the products (Star beer) produced by Nigerian Breweries is affordable for all the consumers in the market because it is produced from local corn and sorghum which is cheap so they make their profit and satisfy the customers which are mostly the youth and since most of their sales are mostly made from youth, the price would always remain affordable so as not to lose customers and reduce sales. PRODUCT Kotler et al, 2005 defined Product as anything that can be offered to a market for attention, acquisition, use or consumption that might satisfy a want or need Nigerian Breweries has two main beer products and they can be described as the core products of the organisation i.e. they serve their actual purpose for which it is bought by the customer which is for the quenching of thirst. However Gulder brand can be described as a luxury product meant for the sophisticated individual, these products are classified as consumer product because they are bought by the consumer to actually consume and not for other purposes. Nigerian Breweries has more than enough products for every type of consumers. They produce bottled water for thirst, Star beer for the youth, Maltina for the consumers that do not take alcohol. PLACE This term really refers to any way that the customer can obtain a product or receive a service. (Jones, 2007) Nigerian Breweries Plc has a wide distribution channel and makes use of external companies for distribution of its products nationwide; Nigerian Breweries use other transportation companies to assist distribute their goods nationwide. This system of distribution helps make the product more available to the consumers but this however limits the direct contact between producer and consumers which reduces feed-back time for the producers. PROMOTION Promotion is concerned with any vehicle you employ for getting people to know more about your product or service. Advertising, public relations, point-of-sale displays, and word-of-mouth promotion are all traditional ways for promoting a product. Promotion can be seen as a way of closing the information gap between would-be sellers and would-be buyers. (Jones, 2007) Nigerian Breweries Plc carry out sales promotion in two ways namely Consumer sales promotion targeted at the ultimate consumer market and trade sales promotion targeted at the members of the marketing channel, such as wholesalers and retailers, benefits of sales promotions include increased profit making. Examples of Nigerian Breweries sales promotion are â€Å"Star Xmas Carnival† which was targeted at the companys retailers and consumers were prizes like bags of rice, DVD Players and other items were won by consumers each day for 21 days (Ekeh, 2009), Gulder ultimate search were the winner took home 3 million naira cash prize (Ajayi, 2004). EVALUATION OF STRATEGY AND TACTICS Nigerian Breweries has been one of the major companies in the brewery industry for more than 60 years so it is fair to say that their strategy and tactics over the years have been close to spot on. In response to competition, Nigerian Breweries has been involved in several re-branding, product development and diversification efforts in the last 5 years. In 2006, the company launched its Guilder Max brand which was a darker, richer version of the successful Guilder Lager. In an attempt to enter the soft drink market, NB launched the Farouz brand of soft drinks (pineapple and pear flavour). Recently, they repackaged the Maltina brand by introducing a larger sized bottle while maintaining the price of the former bottle. The Star brand which is the flagship product of the company was also rebranded and has achieved huge success since then. RECOMMENDATION FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT Nigerian Breweries is already a major force in Nigeria but it is still not internationally recognised like other International companies in the industry so the major recommendation for Nigerian Breweries would to expand their products internationally or at least expand it within Africa. They could also build new refineries in different places in Africa to help expand their organisation. Since the distribution of their goods is done by other companies, they could venture into that business so they could proper feedback from their customers and be able to satisfy them more effectively. They could also venture into production of new brands of products so as to broaden their market. Investing in technology can also help with the growth of their organisation. Building vending machines can also help with the effective distribution of their product. CONCLUSION Nigerian Breweries is and would remain one of the major brewery companies in Nigeria and this marketing report that shows their strategies and tactics have tried to explain the reasons why they are such a major force in the brewery industry in Nigeria. It is obvious that there is room for improvement by them expanding their market and business into new countries but the important thing is that they are succeeding in their primary goal which is being able to satisfy their customers in their home land. REFRENCES Amos Etta, 16 october 2004, Gulder; After the search, what next? Vamguard News paper. Bennett Linda A., Ph.D, Carlos Campillo, M.D, C.R. Chandrashekar, M.D and Oye Gureje, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., FRANCZP, 1998, Alcoholic Beverage Consumption in India,Mexico, and Nigeria, A Cross-Cultural Comparison. Ekeh Desmond, 3 January 2009; 2008 Brand review: Consumer promotion as key driver, The Guardian Newspaper Kotler Philip et Al, 2002, Principles of marketing. Fourth European edition 4th European edition. Essential Guide to Marketing Planning / Marian Burk Wood. Jobber David, 2007, Principles and Practice of Marketing, 5th edition; Maidenhead McGraw-hill Education. Jones, Scholes 2007, Exploring corporate strategy: text cases. 8th edition. Malandrakis Spiros, 2009, Nigeria Spearheads Optimistic Outlook for Beer Sales in sub-Saharan Africa, Euro Monitor Moschis P George, 1993, Life Stage Segmentation for Marketing Strategy Development Nigerian Tribune, 8th June 2009 Obike Uche, 2005, Nigeria Breweries Continues to Expand Market Share; This Day Newspapers Oldroyd Mike, 2004, CIM Revision Cards, Marketing Environment; Butterworth Heinemann. Oyeyinka O, Banji, 2002, Manufacturing Response in a national system in Nigeria, The United Nations University. Ulrich R, Mc Donald, Shellhamer, Lopetcharat, 2002, Promoting Brand Benefits; The role of consumer Psychographic and lifestyle. Journal of consumer marketing. Vanguard, 5 June 2003, Nigeria Breweries Consolidates Corporate Leadership; Africa New Wang Weiyue, 2009, Managing Customers and Markets; Salford Business School. http://www.nbplc.com/homepage.php (ww1) http://www.heinekeninternational.com/nigerian02.aspx (ww2) http://web.ebscohost.com/ (ww3) http://allafrica.com/stories/200809110416.html (ww4) http://www.ias.org.uk/resources/publications/theglobe/globe200202/gl200202_p6.html (ww5) http://www.fas.usda.gov/grain/circular/1998/98-02/dtricks.htm (ww6) http://research.afrinvestwa.com:8080/GetDownload.aspx?dwlID=74 (ww7) http://www.euromonitor.com/Alcoholic_Drinks_in_Nigeria (ww8)

Ethan Frome Hidden Meanings :: essays papers

Ethan Frome Hidden Meanings Ethan Frome: Hidden Meanings Ethan Frome is the story of a family caught in a deep-rooted domestic struggle. Ethan Frome is married to his first love Zeena, who becomes chronically ill over their long marriage. Due to his wife’s condition, they took the services of Zeena’s cousin, Mattie Silver. Mattie seems to be everything that Zeena is not, youthful, energetic, and healthy. Over time Ethan believes that he loves Mattie and wants to leave his wife for her. He struggles with his obligations toward Zeena and his growing love for Mattie. After Zeena discovers their feelings toward each other, she tries to send Mattie away. In an effort to stay together, Ethan and Mattie try to kill themselves by crashing into the elm that they talked about so many times. Instead, Mattie becomes severely injured and paralyzed. The woman that was everything that Zeena was not became the exactly the same as her. In Ethan Frome, the author communicates meanings in this story through various symbols. One of the m ost significant symbols used in this story is the very setting itself. A symbol is a person, object, or event that suggests more than its literal meaning. Symbols can be very useful in shedding light on a story, clarifying meaning that can’t be expressed with words. It may be hard to notice symbols at first, but while reflecting on the story or reading it a second time, the symbol is like a key that fits perfectly into a lock. The reason that symbols work so well is that we can associate something with a particular object. For example, a red rose symbolizes love and passion, and if there were red roses in a story we may associate that part of the story with love. Although many symbols can have simple meanings, such as a red rose, many have more complex meanings and require a careful reading to figure out its meaning. The first symbol that I noticed in Ethan Frome is the setting. It plays an important role in this story. The author spends much of the first few chapters describing the scene in a New England town Starkfield. When I think of a town called Starkfield, a gloomy, barren place with nothing that can grow comes to mind. As the author continues to describe this town, it just reinforces what I had originally thought.