Malaysian Economics Essay

Differences in education During the British rule, each ethnic group also generally experienced different education systems. Most Malays were educated in the government school system located in the rural areas that used the Malay language as the medium of instruction. The Chinese on the other hand sent their children to the Chinese medium schools, which mere established by Chinese voluntary associations. Nevertheless , the elite segment of each ethnic group generally sent their children to the English medium schools located in the urban areas, where the quality of education was far better than the rural Malay-medium school. Furthermore, most secondary and tertiary education was available in the urban areas with English as the medium of instruction. Those who were educated at the English medium schools tended to gain positions in the civil service, commerce, business, and professions. Since most of the Malays were educated in the rural Malay medium schools, this indirectly limited their upward social mobility. . 2 Differences in skills Since Malay only received the education from government school in rural areas, the skills were limited. Lack of skills and knowledge were the factors of unemployed. This will worsened the situation of poverty and income disparities between the ethnic groups. Sectoral employment of Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera (%) in peninsular Malaysia, 1970. Sector| B umiputera| Non-Bumiputera| Primary| 67. 6| 32. 4| Secondary| 30. 8| 69. 2| Tertiary| 37. 9| 62. 1| Notes: Primary (agriculture) Secondary (mining, manufacturing, construction, utilities, and transport) Tertiary (wholesale and retail trade, finance, government, and other services) 3. 3 Differences in access to capital A majority of non-malays are usually found to be living in the southern and western states of Malaysia , such as Pulau Penang and Kedah. These states form modern urban sectors and also modern rural sectors which are playing the important roles in the economic activities. On the other hand, the Malays lived in the northern states of Malaysia, and they are indeed in the traditional rural sector. This imbalanced development had result the imbalance capital gain among the ethnic groups. Wealth Decomposition by Asset Classes in 2007 Asset Classes| Bumiputera| Chinese| Indian| Savings| 567| 2 795| 1 026| Investment Assets| 1 853| 4 629| 2 058| Financial Assets| 2 419| 7 423| 3 083| Real Estate| 70 453| 120 903| 84 146| Wealth| 72 873| 128 326| 87 229| 3. 4 Differences in unemployment pattern The supply of skilled manpower in their own field is the main problem in employment restructuring. Despite the limited success of bumiputera students, the presence of skilled and qualified bumiputera workers and professionals are inadequate. A few factors that contribute to this problem are such like limited accessibility to modern educational facilities and quality educational or even low family income. Bumiputera are mainly attracted to the public sector and lately the bumiputera states the record for having the highest employment rate among malay university graduates. Although the manufacturing sectors display a tremendously high rate or malay labor force, most of them are employed in the lower level or non-manegerial level of occupations.

Human Resources Task 1

Task #1 – JDT2 Memo to CEO To CEO: As you may be aware, the company is currently facing a lawsuit brought about by a former employee, Mr. X. He is claiming that under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII he has been a victim of â€Å"constructive discharge† since we have changed the company’s working schedule policy to a four day rotational shift. Constructive discharge or forcing an employee to resign by making the work environment so intolerable a reasonable person would not be able to stay (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2012). is illegal according to U. S. law. Mr. X states that since we have gone to the four day rotational schedule, his religious beliefs are being infringed upon since he would have to work on his religious â€Å"holy day†. According to U. S. law, the company does have an obligation to accommodate Mr. X’s request. The law requires an employer to reasonably accommodate an employee's religious beliefs or practices, un less doing so would cause difficulty or expense for the employer. (EEOC, 2012).I would like to make the following recommendations regarding this situation. First, deny any wrong doing based upon the following: 1. Mr. X neglected to notify anyone within the company of his religious status, in other words he did not establish one of the key components of prima facie (Leagle, n. d. ). Had Mr. X made the company aware of his religious beliefs, it might have been possible to make allowable accommodations for him. 2. Mr. X was not subjected to intolerable conditions during his employment, which is also another component.A constructive discharge occurs when a person quits his or her job under circumstances in which a reasonable person would feel that the conditions of employment have become intolerable. (Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, 2002). 3. If the Mr. X was unable to agree to the reasonable accommodations put forth by the company, then the company would sustain â€Å"undue hardship† (Justia, 1982) by requiring the added expense and time to hire a temporary employee to cover Mr. X’s shift. Secondly, to avoid any legal issues around Title VII or the Civil Rights Act of 1964 I recommend implementing a â€Å"best practices† policy.According to the Society for Human Resource Management, â€Å"Employers should adopt â€Å"best practices† to reduce the likelihood of discrimination and to address impediments to equal employment opportunity. † (Society for Human Resource Management, 2011). Possible practices to be implemented could include written criteria for hiring, standardized questioning, proper record keeping, management training, publicized anti-harassment policy, allowing non-disruptive religious expression and proactively intervening in possible conflict. (EEOC, 2012). References EEOC. 2012). Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices. Retrieved from http://www. eeoc. gov/laws/practices/index. cfm EEOC. (2012). Prohibited Employment Po licies/Practices. Retrieved from http://www. eeoc. gov/laws/practices/index. cfm EEOC. (2012). Best Practices for Eradicating Religious Discrimination in the Workplace http://www. eeoc. gov/policy/docs/best_practices_religion. html Leagle. (n. d. ) Jerrold S. HELLER v. EBB AUTO CO. , Retrieved from http://www. leagle. com/xmlResult. aspx? xmldoc=19891863774P2d1089_11857. x ml=CSLWAR2-1986-2006Liebert Cassidy Whitmore. (2002, August 10). Court Concludes There Was No Constructive Discharge Due to Religious Beliefs. Retrieved from http://lcwlegal. com/64957 Justia. (1982, March 22). Marvin Brener v. Diagnostic Center Hospital. Retrieved from http://law. justia. com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/671/141/442160/## Society for Human Resource Management. (2012) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. EEOC Retrieved from http://www. shrm. org/LegalIssues/FederalResources/FederalStatutesRegulationsan dGuidanc/Pages/TitleVIIoftheCivilRightsActof1964. aspx

The Ho-Chunk Nation

Ho-Chunk Nation The Ho-Chunk Nation’s culture and beliefs have sustained them for centuries which make their tribe one of the strongest Native American Tribes in the United States today. Their tribe is made up of 7,071 members, due to the devotion of the tribe elders passing along traditions to the younger generations. Today, the Ho-Chunk Nation is a non-reservation tribe with 3,407 acres of trust land and 5,310 acres of taxable land. The Tribe had to repurchase this land that they once owned from the U. S. Government.The Ho-Chunk Native Trust Lands are located in: Adams, Clark, Crawford, Dane, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Sauk, Shawano, Vernon and Wood Counties in Wisconsin and also in the State of Illinois. There are also large numbers of tribal members that live in Minneapolis, Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago. In 1836, the Ho Chunk was removed from the choice land of southern Wisconsin to make room for the miners that were taking over the land. The area was also in demand for the lush farmland of the various river valleys.This land was taken from the Ho Chunk for nickels and dimes, and the people were forcibly removed on to Indian reservations in northeastern Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Ho-Chunk elders recall terrifying scenes of tribal members being rounded up at gunpoint and loaded into boxcars against their will. They were shipped to reservations far from the place they called home. Eventually, many Ho-Chunk refused to live on the poor reservations and returned to their homeland in Wisconsin. The native people with an ancestral lineage dating back to pre-history were first known as the Wisconsin Winnebago Tribe.This name was given to them by early European explorers. In 1994, when the tribe adopted its present constitution, the Nation reclaimed their original name: Ho-Chunk or â€Å"People of the Big Voice. † The Ho-Chunk were avid hunters, gatherers and farmers. They created and became known for their raised garden beds where they grew specialized plants for food. The men hunted while the women gathered. The food consisted of corn, squash, green plants, roots, berries, making maple syrup and maple candy, venison, fresh fish, and small game.After harvest, the food storage process consisted of drying foods naturally for the long winters. As Caretakers of the land, they moved as the food source did, and during seasons providing the plant life abundant to this region. Villages moved to conserve the area's resources. Their history of living off the land helped the Ho-Chunk develop a unique relationship with Wisconsin’s terrain. Women tanned hides, wove mats from the strong grasses near the waters' edge, made clothing, and taught their daughters.The grandmothers and grandfathers played an important part in the instruction and rearing of children. The Dagas, or Uncles, were the disciplinarians within a family unit. There was no need for a mother or father to raise their voi ces, for the practice was to train the children to have such respect for a Daga. The children lived in fear of punishment from their Daga that they were well-mannered and productive children. The Ho-Chunk government provides many services to their tribe. The housing program helps with home ownership and property management.The education program has four primary school districts in Tomah, Black River Falls, Baraboo, and Wisconsin Dells. The labor program which is a certification of Indian preference for contracting and subcontracting; safety, and they provide supportive services; which helps youth employment. Health services which provide Food Distribution Program, Community Health Representatives, Community Health Nurses, At-Large Health Care, Alcohol/Drug Program, Environmental Health, Benefit Coordinators, Special Diabetes Programs for Indians and a Mental Health Program.They Also provide services for veterans and social services. Bibliography 1. Wisconsin State Tribal Relations I nitiative, Ho-Chunk Nation http://witribes. wi. gov/docview. asp? docid=5638&locid=57 2. Ho-Chunk Nation http://www. ho-chunknation. com/UserFiles/File/OOP/04HCN_mediakit_rtpages_ACT. pdf 3. http://www. mpm. edu/wirp/icw-52. html 4. http://www. wisconsinhistory. org/whspress/pdf/247. pdf

Indentured servants in Colonial America Coursework

Indentured servants in Colonial America - Coursework Example They led a life of hardship with stringent punishment. Their daily routine was centered to the work and they had to work from the dawn till late at night and provided small portion of food. Most of the indentured servants had hard taskmasters with long working hours. They had little spare time for their own work. The plantation workers, after coming back from the plantation had to feed the cattle, cut the wood, prepare the supper and dinner for the next day etc. (Morgan, 2001). After their time was up, they would either go back to their own country or stay back and toil the land that was given to them. As the indentured servants were not paid any wages except for the food and the lodging, they had no saving and the land was the only means of livelihood for them. Some indentured servants like Anthony Johnson became successful farmers and traders after their contract expired. Johnson was granted land and he became a wealthy as tobacco farmer as well as one f the first black slave-traders (Foner,

Exam paper---read the requirement I send you carefully Essay - 2

Exam paper---read the requirement I send you carefully - Essay Example Explanation will be given how the perfectly competitive firms response due to changes in consumer demand. Another market structure is Monopoly. In monopoly market there is only one seller in the market. The differences between the characteristics of the two markets will be discussed. In this paper, brief explanation will be given for different types of market structure. Main Body Perfect Competition Demand –Supply Equilibrium The equilibrium is a situation where the market demand is equal to the market supply. This means for a particular industry, the market demand will be equal to the market supply. Suppose the Pizza industry is providing the same supply of Pizza as compared to the demand for the product. In case of market equilibrium, there is no pressure for price change because both the consumers and producers are satisfied in this situation. There is neither excess supply in the market nor excess demand in the market (Machovec, 2002, p.19). In the above diagram, the equil ibrium has been shown by the interaction between demand and supply curve. P is the market price and Q is the quantity demanded. Market will produce OQ amount of output and the consumers will demand the same amount of output. So the price will remain same. Due to changes in any of the factors, the entire equilibrium position will get affected. It would result in either excess demand or excess supply. In perfect competition, the firms are price takers. In the short run equilibrium for perfect competition, the price is determined by the demand –supply equilibrium. P1 is the market price and each firm follows the same price. As the price is same for each unit sold the AR curve will be constant and it will be equal to the MR curve. At, MR=MC the firm maximizes its profits. In the following diagram, the profit maximizing output is Q1 and the market price is P1. The firm’s profit is shown by the shaded area. The firm earns supernormal profit because AR is more than AC. Super Normal profit In short run, there are three situations existing in the market. Super Normal Profit: When average revenue is greater than average cost (AR>AC) the firm earns super normal profit. In case of super normal profit, the existing firms earn high profit so the other players will also try to enter into the market. When the new players cut through the competition the firm again starts to earn normal profit (McEachern, 2006, p.43). Normal Profit: When Average Revenue is equal to Average Cost (AR=AC) the firm earns normal profit. Loss: When Average revenue is less than Average Cost (AR

A Contraversial Issue utilized by George W. Bush during his presidency Essay

A Contraversial Issue utilized by George W. Bush during his presidency - Essay Example evel of responsibility by the governments of Afghanistan and Iraq in the terror attacks of 11 September on the U.S., the actions which allegedly caused the invasions in question. First, this discussion will examine the motives postulated by the U.S. for military actions against these sovereign nations. It is the contention of this dialogue as well as the vast majority of the world and, as it now seems, the American public that these actions were patently illegal, immoral and inexcusable. The ‘War on Terrorism’ as it is commonly referred to, is phrase coined by United States government officials and is primarily used to justify the military initiative de jour. It is generally defined as the current conflict between the U.S. and radical Islamic factions. Immediately following and as a reactionary response to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S., President George Bush stated the county’s intent to initiate a ‘War on Terrorism’ which he characterized as a prolonged battle against those that would employ terrorist actions along with the nations that enabled them. When the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, legal advisors tied closely to the ideology of the Bush administration within the Justice Department’s Office advised Bush that the U.S. was not legally bound by the U.N. Charter or international laws with regard to rules of engaging a perceived enemy. These views were echoed by Alberto Gonzales, then White House legal advi sor for the President and now Attorney General of the U.S. He also advised President Bush that he did not have to comply with the Geneva Conventions in the handling of prisoners, or ‘detainees’ in this war on terror. This opinion, shared by legal counsels to the President, applied to not only those directly affiliated with Al Qaeda but to the entire ruling party in Afghanistan, the Taliban, because, as they argued, Afghanistan was a ‘failed state’ (Mayer, 2005, p. 32). The Bush administration chose to follow the

Leadership & Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leadership & Entrepreneurship - Essay Example But why do businesses really fail? Is it in the poor leadership skills of the manager? Or is it in the poor marketing forecasts? Business strategies that have worked decades ago may need to be reviewed for their effectiveness in an organization. With the present ever changing times, if a leader cannot adapt to change thinking that his business style which has worked for many years is enough, he may lose to competition (Sharp 1991). A degree in Business Management or Marketing can help entrepreneurs develop business or marketing strategies that can ensure the survival of businesses in today’s business world. These degrees can also help in the development of leadership skills that can make or break small to medium enterprises. But why is it important to acquire education or knowledge of management to become an effective entrepreneur? This relationship of leadership and entrepreneurship will be thoroughly discussed in the paper, giving implications of leadership in the development of an effective business enterprise. Also a comparison between two SME companies will be provided to serve as evidential examples for the analysis of the effect of leadership and its role in the entrepreneurial world. Likewise, the paper will discuss the close relationship of good governance in terms of profitability for sustainable businesses. The theories that may be applied and the possible errors that some leaders may commit that lead to the downfall of their businesses (Finch, 2003). The development and growth of the economy relies heavily on the sustainability of the entrepreneurial activities encompassing small, medium and large businesses. As such, developing economies look at entrepreneurship as a vital factor for its continued growth (Asel, 200). In lieu of the importance of entrepreneurship to economy, the role of leadership is also perceived otherwise as equally essential to the significance of entrepreneurship in building a sustainable

Discuss the role of nature, its character and its significance in the Essay - 1

Discuss the role of nature, its character and its significance in the fellowship of the ring. from the book lord of the rings - Essay Example Nature has its own characterization that features a unique duality: one, ideal and benign; and, aggressively cruel in the other. The reader first learns about nature during Bilbo’s birthday celebration when village talk drifts towards the Old Forest, a â€Å"dark bad place† and unfit to be lived in. As the story unfolded later on, this side to nature would be reinforced by how Mirkwood and Fangorn were described. When Merry and Pippin, for instance, find themselves deep in the Fangorn Forest, their impression demonstrates the perceived hostility of the place. At one point, Pippin quips, â€Å"It is all very dim, and stuffy, in here† later on commenting about the â€Å"weeping, trailing, beards and whiskers of lichen,† underscoring the â€Å"frightfully tree-ish† environs wherein no animals or hobbits could endure. In the Fellowship of the Ring, the bad nature has been sufficiently covered. Gimli, at some point in the quest remarks about the reputation of Caradhras as a cruel mountain and that, true to the stories, it has, indeed, attempted to impede their quest as well. Then there is, of course, Old Man Willow who lulls the Hobbits to sleep and traps Merry and Pippin inside. Without the intervention of Tom Bombadill, they would have been eaten and crushed. Tom admonished the miscreant tree, saying â€Å"you should not be waking. Eat earth! Dig deep! Drink water! Go to sleep!† According to Treebeard, later on in the story in his conversation with his Hobbit friends, some trees â€Å"have bad hearts† as well and so when people are not friendly towards them, they become aggressive in response. The other character of nature is demonstrated in the way the author paints an ecological utopia such as that of the Shire. It is inhabited by peaceful creatures who loathe machines and are content with tilling the earth. This characterization is a potent demonstration of how nature at its best is supposed to be, untouched by man’s greed and abuse. Take for instance

Small system practice - social work Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Small system practice - social work - Assignment Example es are unequal to the larger student community thus as a social worker you may use inequality to promote a higher level of equality in the access of limited resources hence giving them a slightly better chance than the other student community. Using the ERS system it may give many conflicting rules and thus ethical principles may apply. For example, Principle 6-confidentiality and Principle 7- full disclosure both seem to act but the rank in the EPS system dictates the preceding principle gains priority(Ralph & Harrington & Frank 66). This way will ensure ethical practice dilemmas related to immigrants are handled carefully and mindfully.. 4. Building a community partnership strategy. The social student worker will be obliged to bring the families of the deported parents together and through their voices and hearing their wishes and needs advocate for providence through facilities such as foster homes. Bringing together community stakeholders and making it clear of their roles in that it will include giving where the return will be improvements that will propel the lives of the children and families as well as support their

Sleep research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sleep - Research Paper Example There is talk of circadian rhythm for the alternation between waking and sleep. It is a question of cycle ultradian for the alternation between NREM and REM sleep. Sleep ventrolateral preoptic nucleus depends on Ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO). Triggered by the daily accumulation of adenosine, the VLPO sends centers stimulation signal to stop the production of histamine and other substances that keep us awake. Sleep can be considered as an altered state of consciousness. Its peculiarity is that it is based on a state of maximum rest and relaxation; this is why it is refreshing. According to sleep specialists, the voltage to be aware (this voltage gradually depletes the nervous system but can respond to the existence) is found in the sensation of the eyes. When the individual falls asleep and the eyelids are closed, the voltage decreases. More arrival pictures of dream are a support for the mind in that it relies on. The human being visualizes images that impose themselves but are not required and built in effort, and it gives the mind the feeling of relaxation. This is how the images are of a hypnotic dream, and it is this process that relies on the Hypnosis. Sleep is the act of entering at rest. It is extremely important for human beings, and once a person goes to sleep, several metabolic processes important for the body take place. In short, sleep contributes to our physical and psychological health. One of the benefits of sleep is its contribution to the health recovery in cases of illness, and on intimate terms to the cell and contribution to the good condition of the immune system. Specialists claim that sleep disturbances may be significant barriers to recovery from illness. There is consistent evidence that sleep deprivation causes increased risk of diabetes, blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Sleep also contributes to mental and emotional wellbeing (Franklin and Lehrman). Those people who manage to sleep well

The problem of democratic regimes in central Europe Essay Example for Free

The problem of democratic regimes in central Europe Essay The First World War which was aimed at making the world safe for democracy had far reaching consequences. More than thirty countries had embraced the spirit of democratization and thus adopting democratic constitutions, a few years after the Treaty of Versailles. A large number of states in Central and Eastern Europe had become democratic. The majority of these countries were new nations that emerged as a consequence of Versailles. Linking up with the prevailing democratic spirit was thus quite natural. The trend spread from Estonia in the North to Albania in the south. It was a period characterized by great hopes for the future of democracy. Before long, the tide began to turn. A counter wave was beginning to take shape, and would gradually gather more and more momentum and strength. The 1920s and 1930s were characterized by far reaching setbacks for democracy. This new trend was witnessed in Petrograd in 1917, with the overthrow of the republican regime and closure of the democratically elected Duma by the Bolsheviks. This same method of gaining power was successfully used by right-wing nationalist forces in other countries. In 1922, Mussolini assumed the leadership of a group of Italian fascists and matched on Rome. He did not encounter much resistance and managed to oust the elected government and make himself a dictator. This came to be a trend setting event. Mussolinis daring act greatly inspired the German Nazis. Democracy thus fell victim to usurpers for many European lands. By the final years of 1930s, virtually every country in Central Europe was under authoritarian government (Rothschild, 1990). In the 1930s, nearly every state that had introduced a civilian and democratic regime shifted to military rule. With the conclusion of a pact between Hitler and Stalin in 1939 which allowed each to expand within his respective sphere of interest, the prospects of democracy seemed bleak. In Czechoslovakia, armed German assault abolished the existing democratic system. Belgium, Netherlands, France, Norway, Luxembourg and Denmark soon came under the same spell. Meanwhile, Finland came under Soviet attack. At the beginning of 1940s, democratic governments were very few. In the en tire world, the number of democratic countries amounted to about ten. Autocracy appeared to be sweeping everything before it. This paper is concerned with the problems that democracy faced during the nineteen twenties and nineteen thirties. It particularly looks at the challenges and threats that faced democracy during this period of time and the consequences of such challenges. The recurrent scene of liberal democracies falling victims to dictatorship dominated inter-war politics. The western powers hoped that their victory would bring in an epoch modeled in their own image. This was backed by the fact that the European continent at the beginning of the Great War had nineteen monarchies and three republics with the number of republics increasing to sixteen while that of monarchies decreasing to fourteen. Yet, the democratic revolution soon proved to be illusory. Not one democratic country could last a year before its democratic constitution became violated by one or other brand of dictator. This phenomenon cannot be attributed to a single cause except for the inability of the Western Powers to defend the regimes that they had inspired. All the brands of dictators shared the conviction that Western democracy was not meant for them. The problem of democracy emanated from both the subjective and objective basis of politics. The subjective aspects of the social foundations of politics were however more difficult to influence than their more objectifiable structural side. Although it is clear that more durable forms of political systems have to be rooted in a more general supportive culture, its more specific elements in most cases defy clearer specification and quantification (Berg-Schlosser Mitchell, 2000). A sense of identification with a politys very existence is a precondition for any form of polity, both with regards its geographical national extension and its legitimate quality. Where there is an absence of either of these elements, or where they are undergoing basic changes, this can to a certain extent and temporarily be replaced by mere force or repression. However, in the longer run, important aspects of political structure and political culture have to be brought in line (Auer, 2004). For the democratic political system, this implies a general respect for the dignity of every human individual and its rights, a particular degree of mutual tolerance and trust in society, and a wider acceptance of democratic rules of the game. Among the things that presented a threat to democracy were Germany and Soviet Russia. These two countries also presented the two fundamental revisionist threats to the interwar territorial and social settlements. Even though many democratic European governments were wary of Bolshevik danger, Germany proved to be the basic menace. Neither in absolute nor in relative terms had Germany been made weak to the extent that had been assumed in the 1920s. Within Germany, the Germans failed to identify with democracy and instead viewed is as an obstacle. The Soviet Union on the other hand wanted to expand the extent of communism. Democracy thus suffered from these forces that it seemed incapable of conquering. As such, weak democratic regimes had to succumb to the emerging ideologies and force of dominant forces. As such, the very structure of the various European societies that supported various ideologies also posed a problem for democracy. The alliance option for other classes in both the late nineteenth century and in the twenties and thirties was changed by the existence of a large landed class which also changed the political outcomes. The authoritarian options for the bourgeoisie were opened up to the extent that the alliance of landlord-state-bourgeois impacted on the politics of the middle class and peasantry, locking out options for the working class (Davies, 1996). This in itself dealt presented various obstacles for democracy. It can also be said that the breakdown of democracy in interwar Europe was a consequence of the agrarian class relations and patterns of state-class alliances of the nineteenth and early twentieth century’s. As such, it may be generally claimed that the major problem that democracy faced in Central Europe during the 1920s and 1930s was the incoherence between the thoughts, social, political and economic structures of the countries. Today, it is now generally accepted that democracy needs a supportive culture, even if it is agreed that this culture can be strongly shaped by temporary and short-term factors including economic performance, and by other underlying variables such as the institutional setting upon which this culture is set. Popular support for the establishment of an independent civil society integrating intermediate group and associations which feed into the political process and aggregate different societal interests is also needed. Since the freedom of speech, religion, media, assembly and the right to form independent groups and opposition parties were all suppressed during the communist era, the norms associated with civic culture had to take time to establish itself.

Boston Artwork Essay Example for Free

Boston Artwork Essay The public artworks that I chose are Asaroton 1976 (Unswept Floor) and Boston’s Famed Rainbow Tank. The similarities of these artworks are that they are both available in public view and that they are unique types of artwork. There is not much like the Rainbow Tank or the Asaroton ’76 types, as they were original ideas of the artists. Considering the effect that they have on people, both artworks seem to blend in the everyday life of those who see it in a regular basis. The Asaroton is being walked around and stepped around, while the Rainbow Tank contains liquefied natural gas. It’s as if the artwork has naturally been there, a part of everyone’s ordinary lives despite the fact they are extraordinary creations (Millis, 1997). The Asaroton ’76 is an artwork like no other, as it is composed of bronze replicas of everyday waste and debris of the market, which is then embedded in concrete. At first glance, the artwork just seems to be a deformity or an abnormality in the road (Harries/Heder Public Art, 2006). But if you look at it closely, you will see the intricate details and designs embossed on the concrete walkway. In relation to this, it is situated in a segment of the street which forms a major crosswalk. Many people pass it or walk over it everyday, but they don’t seem to mind. To them, the artwork is already a part of their everyday lives. Boston’s Famed Rainbow Tank is actually a gigantic tank of liquefied natural gas which was painted with five huge swaths of color, artistically placed as though they’re just strokes of a paintbrush (NPR, 2001). The colors are yellow, orange, blue, vermillion, and purple. With the way the tank is painted, it’s as if it was just a large canvas for an abstract artwork. The stripes actually doesn’t resemble anything, but according to those who gaze at this gigantic work of art, they see faces of prominent personalities, whether they’re our friends or foes (images of Ho Chi Minh, Fred Flintstone, Saddam Hussein). The Asaroton ’76 is situated in the busy, open air produce market on Blackstone Street. The place it is embedded is a part of a major crosswalk, so you can just imagine how many people walk over it or pass it during the course of the day. Heavy motor traffic is also present during the day, so we can say that this artwork is not something that we keep in museums or galleries, as it is best appreciated in public. Boston’s Rainbow Tank is situated somewhere along Boston’s waterfront, the industrial part of the area. The rainbow tank is such a massive structure that many people can see it without having to get close to it. There were restaurants just around the area, and the rainbow tank has been a common view for the urban dwellers. The tank holds a good spot in everyone’s heart, as it was made originally as a sign of peace, and now it remains a masterpiece unique from any other artworks. The effectiveness of Asaroton ’76 in conveying an artistic message is incomparable, as it artfully depicts some of the common things that we see everyday. It immortalizes the debris of everyday life, which seem to reflect back to us, how we oftentimes don’t recognize these stuff as artistic or as anything valuable. With the Asaroton, we are able to see how these things, no matter what they are, can be a very good subject for a wonderful work of art. It’s main difference with the Rainbow Tank is obviously the size, and also the feeling it conveys, as it serves as a reminder of the things we usually neglect or ignore, as for the Rainbow Tank, it is a sign of peace, that’s why it conveys a feeling of happiness to the viewers. The Rainbow Tank is effective in its purpose of spreading peace, as it conveys a feeling of peacefulness and childish joy, despite the size of the structure. People who look at it tend to smile, even without a reason. Its mere presence in the area brings and assurance of peace for the people, though in reality, it could easily be a target of terrorism, with all the natural gas it contains. References: Harries/Heder Public Art. (2006). Asaroton 1976 (Unswept Floor). Retrieved June 9, 2008, from http://www. harriesheder. com/asaroton. htm Millis, C. (1997). An opinionated, irreverent look at Bostons public art. Retrieved June 9, 2008, from http://www. bostonphoenix. com/archive/art/97/08/21/PUBLIC_ART. html NPR. (2001). Bostons Famed Rainbow Tank Inspires Admiration, Scorn. Retrieved June 9, 2008, from http://www. npr. org/news/specials/response/home_front/features/2001/nov/rainbowtank/011105. rainbowtank. html

Solar Energy Sector In India General Studies Essay

Solar Energy Sector In India General Studies Essay India with abundant sunlight, unutilized manufacturing potential, readily available labour and significant demand for power, is one of the most promising markets for solar energy. The country is currently the seventh largest producer solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and ninth largest producer of solar thermal energy. Most parts of the country receive 4-7 kWh of solar radiation per square meter per day. There are 250-300 clear, sunny days in a year. This puts countrys solar potential at around 600TW per year. Still, solar energy is not the most popular source of renewable energy in India. Wind at 9,522 MW, continues to dominate the renewable energy sector , accounting for over 70% of total renewable capacity of 13,451 MW as of Sept, 2008. This sectoral report tries to cover the niche sector of solar energy in India which is still in nascent stage with very few detailed reports available. The sectoral report covers the size and growth of this sector various government initiatives taken to ensure the growth momentum considering the fact that solar power is still quite costly as compared to conventional sources of power. Thereafter the various key success parameters in the form of various issues challenges which decides the growth in this sector are covered like managing high cost, policy hurdles, environmental concerns, low land availability, power evacuation hurdles, profitability problems, entry barriers for new manufacturing facilities etc. Next the key enablers to sustainable success of solar energy sector in the form of technological innovations is discussed based on various factors. Here the focus is on various upcoming technologies in the solar sector like crystalline silicon, thin film, solar thermal/ CSP etc . Sectoral Report also give a brief overview of the key initiatives in the solar sector taken by a company which made it a leading company in solar sector. Finally the growth projection for the solar sector as a whole is being highlighted. Size and Growth of Solar energy sector in India The government of India started focusing on the solar energy segment when Ministry of New and renewable Energy (MNRE) launched a countrywide solar PV programme as a part of its renewable energy programme. It aimed to provide remote village electrification through decentralized distributed generation(DDG) using solar technologies and promote such technologies for urban, industrial and commercial applications. India has since transformed into a low cost hub for manufacturing solar PV cells and modules, a large proportion of which is exported to other countries. For instance, according to a 2008 study on solar PV industry by Indian Semiconductor Association, India produced 335 MWp of PV products during the period 2002-07 of which 225 MWp was exported. The annual production of solar PV cells increased from 9.5 MW in March 2000 to 110 MW in March 2000. The production of solar PV modules grew from 11 MW to 135 MW over the same period. In 1982, the government launched the national solar thermal energy programme to promote solar technologies such as parabolic troughs, parabolic dishes and solar power towers for generating grid-interactive power. The programme involved increasing awareness about the use of solar thermal energy as well as encouraging the manufacture of solar thermal equipment. The government even subsidized solar thermal products like water heating systems and solar cookers. Since then, Indias solar thermal energy collector area (a solar thermal collector absorbs sunlight to convert it into heat energy) has increased significantly from 119,000 square metres to over 1.66 million square metres as of March 2007. However the number of solar thermal installations (comprising parabolic troughs, parabolic dishes and solar towers) per 1000 people is still very low at 0.52. The MNRE has targeted installing 5 million square metres of collector area by 2012. In terms of end-use, there was area of solar water heating systems and 0.62 million box-type solar cooker units as of Dec, 2007. Recent government initiatives In June 2008, the prime minister launched the National Action Plan for Climate change (NPACC), which categorically targets an increase in solar based generation in country. As part of the plan, the government has approved the creation of national solar mission on the lines of the Atomic Commission. The mission has a target of adding 1000 MW of concentrated solar power in the next 10 years. Also as part of governments plan for solar energy segment is the launch of a major research and development programme which would enable the creation of more affordable and convenient solar power systems, and promote innovations for storing solar power for sustained, long term use. International cooperation would be an important part of RD programme. The US government recently sent a delegation including fourteen US-based solar energy companies on its first trade mission on solar energy in India. Till date the union government has made various concessions for solar energy development in India. The MNRE in an effort to promote large sized grid-interactive solar power generation projects, recently introduced a generation based incentive (GBI) of Rs 15 per kWh for solar PV and Rs 13 per kWh for solar thermal projects. Solar PV power generation plants with minimum installed capacity of 1 MWp per plant are eligible for the incentive. However, the incentive is available only for maximum cumulative capacity of 10 MWp of grid-interactive solar PV power generation projects in a single state, with the overall project size being limited to 50 MWp. Further, no single entity can achieve GBI for projects of more than 5 MW. The industry has been demanding the removal of the total capacity and per plant limits but, so far , no steps have been taken by the government in this regard. The government has also sanctioned the Development of Solar Cities Programme for the Eleventh Plan Period. The programme will extend support to municipal corporations for preparing and implementing the plan to set up 60 solar cities at investment of Rs 5million, which will enable a minimum of 10 per cent reduction in total demand conventional energy by 2012. The Forum of Electricity Regulators, headed by the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, is working on the road map to achieving the NAPCCs target of sourcing 5% of total power generation from renewable sources. Key Success Parameter for Solar Sector Growth: Handling Issues Challenges Despite these efforts, the solar industry still faces a plethora of issues including high production costs, lack of land, inadequate financing options and rising environment concerns. Moreover, despite the government offering many incentives, the industry is demanding more in order to be commercially viable. Policy Hurdles According to project developers, further policy action is required on the solar energy front. There is still a cloud of confusion surrounding the policy framework. Developers have cited issues as lack of clarity regarding the clearances required to set up operations. Others complain that it takes excessive time to obtain the multiple clearances required. Many developers have also faced problems with state governments as the latter have not adhered to the power purchase agreements. There is also strong demand for removing the cap on MNREs GBI. High Costs Despite costs coming down over the years, power generation from solar PV is still four to five time more expensive than fossil fuel-based generation. The estimated cost of generation from solar PV and solar thermal sources in India is Rs 12-20 per KWh and Rs 10-15 per KWh respectively. On the other hand, power from conventional sources can cost as little as Rs 3-4 per KWh. According to industry estimates, the current tariffs for initial 10-year period are not sufficient to make solar projects viable. This combined with project financing at 12-14 per cent with a loan tenor of seven-eight years result in internal rate of return (IRRs) of 6-10 %. Attractive IRRs have been the single most important factor for growth for the solar PV industry in Europe, with developers receiving at least an incremental return of 4-6 per cent over the capital/ financing cost. Several factors have contributed to this trend. With respect to crystalline solar PV-based power production, one of the most significant cost components is the high cost of energy, which constitutes around 11% of the total production cost (for a vertical integrated plant). Energy costs borne by solar power developers in India are especially high as industrial consumers are typically charged higher energy tariff to cross subsidize domestic and agricultural consumers. Interest cost and depreciation are two other important cost components, comprising 15% of production cost. According to a presentation by Rajeewa Arya, Chief Executive Officer, Mosaer Baer Photo Voltaic , project financing for solar power developers is usually granted at an interest rate of 12-14% for a loan tenor of seven-eight years, making solar PV projects ‘unviable. Thin film based solar PV technology is a cheaper alternative to mono or polysilicon based solar PV technologies as it costs less to manufacture thin film modules. Thin film modules are created by coating entire sheets of glass or steel with thin layers of semiconducting materials, which obviates the need for large quantities of semiconductors, thus lowering energy inputs and, consequently, the cost of production. With thin film modules, there is also added opportunity of locally sourcing raw material. The current cost structure of thin film silicon-based modules varies from Rs 50 to Rs 64per watt peak (Wp) depending on the efficiency (6 to 8.5%) of the module compared to Rs 88.7per Wp for silicon crystalline modules. Entry Barrier against Competitors for Manufacturing Process Solar PV cell manufacturing is a technology-intensive process requiring sophisticated expertise and know how. The technological landscape is changing rapidly. Moreover, as it is challenging for new entrants to replicate the success of companies having a long standing in solar PV market, competition is reduced to an extent. Environmental Concerns Some of the raw materials used for producing solar PV cells, like cadmium , are hazardous. Other raw materials, like plastics are non-biodegradable. Although some of the wasted generated during the manufacturing process is recyclable (for example silicon), not all materials are recyclable . As a result disposal is challenge. Low Land availability Solar Power plants require large areas of land 35-40 acres for a 5 MWp installation. However suitable tracts of land are not always available and land acquisition is sometimes subjected to local resistance. Power Evacuation In the past, it has been often seen that a transmission line is required to be drawn from solar power plant site to the nearest substation, which is usually 4-5 Km away. The concerned power utilities generally insist the line be drawn by the promoter of solar project. Setting up a transmission line is not only unfamiliar work for solar project promoters or engineering, procurement and construction contractor , it also adds substantially to the capital costs incurred. For conventional power plants, the respective transmission or distribution companies set up the line and purchases power from premises of the generating station. This is because TD companies have the experience and legal support to tackle socio-political issues that arises while setting up transmission lines across land owned by multiple landowners. Profitability In addition to raw material and project financing costs, Indian solar PV manufacturing companies face the problem of achieving profitability, as most companies are partially integrated. This means that they either buy wafers and convert them into cells , or buy cells and convert them into modules. In the value chain, 60% of value addition lies in the polysilicon and wafer manufacturing segments. In India, however cell and module manufacturing is largely carried out domestically, leaving polysilicon and wafers to be imported. This leads to a substantial loss in margins, increases the cost of the solar panel, and thereby increases the cost of the energy generated from solar power. If it is assumed that both the partially integrated manufacturer and vertically integrated manufacturer can sell the module at around Rs 145( based on international pricing of a crystalline silicon module), this gives the vertically integrated manufacturer a margin gain of 42 percentage points over the partially integrated one. There are however , several technical limitations as a result of which partial integration is more feasible than vertical integration. These include unavailability of technology and raw material. A key reason for this is high capital requirement for setting up such manufacturing capacities. In light of this , capital subsidies could boost vertical integration and reduce cost of production. Solar Thermal Advantages of Solar Thermal Power Solar Thermal power exhibits a different set of dynamics from solar PV as energy storage is much easier in the former. Solar thermal power plants have systems for heat storage and , consequently , generate power even after sunset . Solar thermal technologies have the additional advantages of being able to generate electricity right after the construction of collector (in other technologies, there is usually a gap between plant construction and production of electricity , which increases the interest cost to investment made). Limitations of Solar Thermal Technology On the flip side, however the technology has two key limitations. First, while PV systems can be installed in proximity to customers , thereby decreasing transmission and distribution costs, concentrated solar thermal systems require optimal solar conditions and large open spaces, which are only available at a great distance from customers. The second reason, as is explained in a report by McKinsey Consulting, â€Å"The ability of concentrated solar thermal power to cut costs further may be limited because it relies on conventional devices such as pipes and reflectors whose costs will probably fall less significantly than those of materials used in semiconductor-based PVs†. Issues Challenges- Going Forward Overall, solar energy costs can be expected to decrease significantly in the future. Capital costs have already declined over the past two decades, bringing down the cost of solar PV and solar thermal. Costs are projected to continue reducing to eventually compete with fossil fuel prices. With economies of scale and development of new technologies, the industry is targeting to achieve a level of Rs6-8 per kWh in three to five years. Analysts have further advocated that developers undertake cost cutting measures such as sharing operational resources, and building the plant closer to consumers to save on transmission expenses etc. Moreover, a carbon tax on coal based generation could provide a significant boost to CSP technology. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology also promises a significant increase in solar cell efficiencies from current values of around 15% to over 50%, which could subsequently reduce the cost of the solar energy produced. Key Success Enabler for Sustainable Growth in Solar: Growth in Technological Innovations Crystalline silicon The development of crystalline silicon technology took shape in 1976 when the government launched a five year programme focusing on indigenous commercial production of solar cells and modules based on crystalline silicon. Advantages of Crystalline Silicon Crystalline silicon technologies have several advantages. They are tried and tested and relatively more widely available in the Indian market, thus familiarity among groups and producers. Consequently, most applications for solar PV use have been designed on the basis of silicon-based PV characteristics. The technology also has relatively high conversion efficiencies of 15 to 18% for the polycrystalline versions and 17-18% for the monocrystalline version. Hence, they are ideal for locations with space constraints as the size of the panels need not be very large. Issues with Crystalline Silicon On the flip side , however , crystalline solar PV technologies are heavily dependent on pure solar grade silicon which has limited supply. Though accessing high quality of sand for manufacturing silicon is not a constraint in India, production of refined metallurgical silicon is costly , complicated and energy intensive. Crystalline technologies are also expensive, costing $2.4 and $2.15 to produce a 1 Watt monocrystalline and polycrystalline cell respectively. Crystalline technologies consume 8-9 grams of silicon per watt. However, silicon is a scarce commodity in India and these costs end up constituting a large part (40-50%) of the module costs. Over the years though, silicon usage in crystalline technologies (in terms of grams per watt) is expected to reduce. Future outlook of Crystalline Silicon The future of crystalline silicon technologies will be driven by technological advances that will establish new benchmarks in solar PV cell efficiency using materials that can trap a higher proportion of incident spectrum and convert it into useful energy and reduce cost by developing less energy intensive techniques of production and benefiting from decreasing polysilicon prices , and reduces waste. In the future, though other emerging technologies are likely to gain prominence , industry experts expect that solar PV systems based on crystalline silicon will dominate the off-grid applications segment with small rooftop-based installations. Though crystalline technologies monopolize the solar PV market at present, they are expected to slowly be replaced by more cost-effective technologies such as those based on thin film. By 2011-12 , the market share of silicon crystalline is expected to decline to 65-70%. Thin Film Thin film-based solar PV technology is a low cost alternative to crystalline silicon. The market share of thin film technologies currently stands at around 8% but is expected to go up to 35%in the next few years in India. In contrast to silicon crystalline technologies, thin films are expected to be especially important for on-grid applications in India Advantages of using Thin Film The key advantage of thin-film technologies is that they are more cost effective than other crystalline-based solar PV technologies as they require fewer materials and energy. Issues with Thin Film However thin film-based technologies are still at research and evolution stage and have relatively lower conversion efficiency compared to silicon crystalline technologies. There are other future challenges. Although thin film technologies have revealed long-term stability, some degradation has been observed. This is yet to be properly understood and dealt with. Moreover, in the long term , the availability and price of tellurium ( a key raw material in the production of thin films) are likely to become a bigger concern when the production capacity level reaches tens of gigawatts. Solar thermal/ CSP In addition to solar PV, solar thermal technology is also gaining traction in India. For on-grid applications, concentrated solar power (CSP) systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. This technology is commercially available with over 12 billion units of operation experience. The one drawback it faces is its use of an oil based heat transfer medium, which restricts operating temperature to up to 400 C , resulting in stream of moderate quality. This technology is again suited for grid connected plants but with high temperature process heat requirement. The highest capacity achieved until now for a single unit with this technology is 10 MWe. This technology is ideally suited for stand-alone, off-grid power systems or clustered to larger grid-connected dish parks. The highest single unit solar capacity achieved with this technology is 25 kWe. In some recent designs, a unit size of about 10 kWe has been claimed. However projected mass production goals and costs are yet to be achieved. Status of Solar Thermal in India The cumulative collector area of solar thermal thermal energy in India has grown steadily from 119,000 sq metres in 1989 to more than 2.6 million square metres in December,2008. Though this is substantial increment , the absolute number of solar thermal installations per 1000 people is very low at 0.52. In terms of end-use, there are 2.6 million square metres of collector area of solar water heating systems and 640,000 box-type solar cooker units as of January, 2009. Issues with spread of Solar Thermal The key disadvantage with all concentrated solar power systems is that the hours of power production coincide theoretically with hours of sunshine. However, with some adaptations , such as energy storage , it is possible to control the hours of power production. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy , India has a gross potential of about 30 million square meters of collector area. In fact , in its draft policy , it has target of installing 5 million square metres of collector area till 2012. However, given the current status, a lot of distance is yet to be covered. However there are several key issues that needs to be addressed. Solar thermal power developers have to incur a high initial cost of equipment. Solar thermal equipment also requires a large quantity of space compared to conventional electric equipment. Currently , the number of equipment suppliers, spare part manufacturers and service providers for solar thermal equipment is limited. According to industry players , there is an urgent need for developing supply chain that can bring efficiencies to the system , from design to delivery. Concentrated Solar PV systems In order to tackle the above challenges, the industry is experimenting with concentrated solar PV-based systems, which use mirrors or lenses to focus light onto solar PV cells to produce electricity. This is in contrast to concentrated solar power using parabolic troughs or dishes that use heat from sun to produce steam, which turns an electric generator. Concentrated solar PV systems are so far at an experimental stage. Spanish firm Solfocus is working on a 3 MW concentrated solar PV power plant in southern part of the country. Future Growth Projections of Technological innovations in solar Substantial research is being undertaken to come out with more cost-efficient and conversion-efficient versions of solar power technologies. Researchers are targeting conversion efficiencies between 30% to 60% , while using similar low-cost materials and manufacturing techniques. In the solar PV field, new and emerging technologies are being designed to overcome the shortcomings of thin film such as poor electrical performance while maintaining low production costs. New solar cells made of nano materials are reportedly the next big advancement in the solar PV industry. Nano materials exhibit superior properties , such as high strength and flexibility , and trap more energy than conventional solar PV cells. Leading Companies in Solar Sector Applied Materials Inc.: Key success factors Future Growth projections Applied materials creates and commercializes nanomanufacturing technology that helps produce virtually every semiconductor chip and liquid crystal flat panel display in the world. Applied materials built on that expertise to enter PV cell manufacturing equipment industry and become the number one supplier in 2008 (Source: VLSI Research, Inc.) For crystalline silicon, they have the best-in-class tools with a focus on thinnest wafers , highest productivity and higher efficiency . The Precision Wafering System division offers MaxEdge â„ ¢ using the dual wire concept to enable cutting large loads with thin wire along with wire saw systems for cropping and squaring. The Baccini â„ ¢cell division offers the industry-leading solution in line metallization and test that can handle ultra-thin wafers. Further the companys Aton â„ ¢ offers the highest productivity and cost benefits for ARC deposition and passivation in cell manufacturing. For the thin film market, Applied has developed the SunFabâ„ ¢ Thin Film production line , the worlds first line capable of producing 5.7 square meter solar modules. As PV manufacturers seek to build highly automated , efficient plants, Applied Materials ability to commercialize innovative solar technologies and its unmatched global resources and service network bring the promise of a cleaner, brighter energy future. Future Growth Projections in Solar Energy Sector According to analysts and financial consultants, there may be temporary slowdown in the solar energy sector due to the current economic crisis. Funds have become restricted and companies are looking for safer investments. However the situation is going to turn around with increased government focus. According to industry estimates, the total annual demand for solar energy (including solar thermal systems) in India will rise from current 30-40 MW to 700 MW by 2012 due to falling costs of solar systems. The MNRE is targeting a solar energy capacity of 500 MW by the end of the eleventh plan period. However, this target is expected to be surpassed. By 2017, the MNRE expects Indias solar capacity addition is expected to rise from current 30-40 MW per annum to 70 MW by 2012, driven by decreases in the prices of solar PV. Around 50% of capacity addition is expected to come from solar PV based grid-interactive generation. Solar based generation for the grid is expected to be 25 MW, 50 MW, 75 MW and 100 MW in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The increase will be partially drawn by generation based incentive, which has already led to companies such as Reliance Industries and Moser Baer expressing interest in setting up grid-interactive solar PV plants worth over 1000 MW. All in all , the Indian solar energy industry is looking at busy times ahead. List of References: http://mnes.nic.in/ http://www.powermin.nic.in/ http://www.projectsmonitor.com/ http://www.indiasolar.com/ren-india.htm Datamonitor- Online Library Resources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India http://www.solarpowerindia.com/ http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ multiple news related to solar power sector http://www.cercind.gov.in/ http://www.crisil.com/research/ Based on Three years of work-experience in power sector related industry contacts Study of various textbooks literature regarding solar energy while I was doing Post Graduate diploma course in Thermal Power Plant engg from an institute under ministry of Power

Supernatural Imagery Depicted in Shakespeares Macbeth Essay -- Analyti

Shakespeare uses the supernatural in many different forms during the course of Macbeth to create an atmosphere and add drama, tension and interest to the story. Many of the supernatural images which appear in the play are based on the beliefs and superstitions of those around Shakespeare’s time who would have gone to see his plays. The theme of supernatural forces and beings occurs at many different points during the play, allowing a common thread to be recognized by the audience. The supernatural imagery that Shakespeare uses can be interpreted at many different levels by members of the audience who would have ranged from royalty to working class. Shakespeare integrates the theme of supernatural occurrences throughout each act in a variety of ways. Some of the most obvious supernatural images appear in the first act with the witches who set an atmosphere for the rest of the play. The self-proclaimed â€Å"weird sisters†, are seen throughout the story as a source of evil, their prophesies lead Macbeth to his downfall in â€Å"deepest consequence†, as Banquo had warned. However, there ...

Mary Shelleys Frankenstein and John Miltons Paradise Lost Essay

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and John Milton's Paradise Lost â€Å"Forth reaching to the Fruit, She pluck’d, she eat:/ Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat/ Sighing through all her Works gave signs of woe,/ That all was lost [†¦]† (PL 8. 781-784) In the gothic novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley weaves an intricate web of allusions through her characters’ expedient desires for knowledge. Both the actions of Frankenstein, as well as his monster allude to John Milton’s Paradise Lost. Book eight of Milton’s story relates the tale of Satan’s temptation and Eve’s fateful hunger for knowledge. The infamous Fall of Adam and Eve introduced the knowledge of good and evil into a previously pristine world. With one swift motion sin was birthed, and the perfection of the earth was swept away, leaving pain and malevolence in its wake. The troubles of Victor Frankenstein begin with his quest for knowledge, and end where all end: death. The characters in Frankenstein are a conglomeration of those in Paradise Lost. Frankenstein parallels Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, as well as God, while his monster acts an Eve/Satan mixture. The most predominant theme of this novel is the characters’ ever-present search for knowledge. It is this thirst for learning that spurs Frankenstein’s psychotic attempts to give life to inanimate tissue, ultimately causing his demise. Frankenstein, in this way, mirrors the character of Eve in Paradise Lost. Eve lives her most peaceful life in the Garden of Eden, her only job being to tend the plants in the Garden which she loves so much. In the novel Frankenstein, Frankenstein lives in an Eden of his own, though macabre in nature. His â€Å"garden of life† is actually mo... ...was influenced greatly by Milton’s work, evidence of which lies in the eerie similarities between the two. The allusions to Paradise Lost give the reader a story by which to subconsciously compare the characters of Frankenstein, thus also reiterating one of the main themes; the quest for knowledge and the resultant death. Following the death of Frankenstein, his monster utters his own last words. â€Å"‘But soon,’ he cried, [†¦] ‘I shall die. [†¦] I shall ascend my funeral pyre triumphantly, and exult in the agony of torturing flames’† (225). Works Cited Milton, John. Paradise Lost. 1667. Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library. 20 Nov. 2005. id=MilPL67.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/ modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=8&division=div1> Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 1818. New York: Penguin Classics, 2003.

Music and Poetry Essay -- Musical Poet Poem Poems Music essays

Music and Poetry The poetry of William Wordsworth initiated the Romantic Era by emphasizing emotion, intuition, and pleasure rather than form and affectation. His poems set the stage for John Keats, a central figure in early 19th century Romanticism. The fundamental themes in the works of both poets include: the beauty of nature; the consanguinity of dreams/visions and reality and yet the tendency of dreams to mask reality; the intense emotions brought about by beauty and/or suffering; and the transience of both sensation and human life. Although William Wordsworth and John Keats wrote poetry with entirely different senses of purpose, they came together in the worship of a song that each found in nature. Both Wordsworth and Keats were able to internalize their own experience and then re-externalize it in a piece of poetry – â€Å"The Solitary Reaper† and â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale† respectively – describing the effect of a stirring song each encountered in a natural se tting. William Wordsworth’s poem â€Å"The Solitary Reaper† reveres the song of a young Highland lass who is â€Å"reaping and singing by herself† (3). The poem is written in four stanzas of eight lines each, with a steady iambic tetrameter as its meter. The poem has a fairly steady rhyme scheme of ababccdd, though it varies in the first and third rhymes of the first and last stanzas. The poem has only eight enjambed lines. By making twenty-four of the thirty-two lines of the poem endstopped, Wordsworth allows the reader to read each line slowly. This consequently works to relieve any sense of suspense or moments of tension within the poem. As seen in Wordsworth’s â€Å"Nutting,† a lack of endstopped lines can allow emotion to build and inspire a sense of frenzied passi... ... Keats’ â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale† in crucial aspects. Both poems preserve a moment of intense beauty, allowing readers to experience the impact of deeply beautiful music within the rustic, natural setting beloved by both poets. Wordsworth and Keats preserve the beauty this music, using unforced and expressive language – vox audita perit, litera scripta manet . Thus, each poet’s experience becomes one that is lastingly present in his mind, inspiring a sense of rustic, melodic tranquility. The â€Å"spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings† - which Wordsworth saw as the heart of poetry – stimulated by each poet’s experience, allowed them to pen powerful poems. Both Keats and Wordsworth convey and then amplify the intense emotion that each encountered in his experience, as each poem combines, arguably, the two most powerful forms of communication: music and poetic verse.

Is Gospel Rap a Good Influence on Teenagers? Essay

R&B and Hip Hop now a days is what keep teenagers in the style. Teenagers think that just listening to curse words is called rap. They listen to the upbeat sound and get lost in the music. i think gospel rap will be a good influence on teens. Teenagers love up to beat music, most rappers have been influence and have now turned around, canton Jones is an example of a gospel rapper Teenagers love rap music, so why not love gospel rap. They love the beat. Teenagers tend to listen to famous people because they want to be like them so they do what they do and say what they say. Teenagers don’t want to listen to their parents. Teenagers feel like they don’t understand what they go through. They feel like since the rapper is rapping about the stuff they’re going through that they understand. Parents want to help out because they don’t want to see the children fail. When they listen to the rap it gets to their heads. When listening to that worldly rap you get so caught up in the music and the beat that you really don’t listen to the lyrics. Teenagers can listen to that rap music and take the understanding the wrong way. When you listen to gospel rap you can’t take it the wrong way, it’s telling you the truth. You can listen to gospel music and understand the lyrics. When gospel rappers rap they tell you what they’ve been through and what God did to save them from the mess they were in. Canton Jones is a part singer, song writer, producer, vocal arranger and entrepreneur. He is all about bringing his unique style of hip- hop, R&B, and urban gospel to the forefront of the industry. Canton Jones wants to inspire young people that you can still be cool and be a Christian to. Canton Jones has 4 albums and several songs. I love all of his music like; â€Å"love song†, â€Å"stay saved†, â€Å"the Password† and many more. Canton Jones is a good example of â€Å"How Gospel rap is a good influence on teenagers†. Teenagers want the sound †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦it’s there. They want the beat†¦. it’s there. Gospel rap is a good influence on teenagers.

Developing Virgin Coconut Oil-Based Products

One of the definitions of â€Å"virgin† in the Merriam-Webster pocket dictionary is: â€Å"fresh, unspoiled; especially: not altered by human activity.† Virgin coconut oil (VCO or VCNO) is produced from fresh coconut meat (non-copra). This does not pass through RBD processes. It is produced without the use of chemical and heat and does not contain aflatoxin/PAH’s. It retains its vitamin content, especially Vitamin E, an antioxidant, after undergoing the natural process of producing the virgin coconut oil. It is rich in lauric acid, an acid naturally found in mother’s milk that helps develop and strengthen the immune system of newborn babies.It contains medium chain fatty acids that is easily digested by the body and converted to energy.   The virgin coconut oil is a truly unrefined coconut oil made from organic coconuts. Testing done in independent laboratories reveals a 50% – 53% content of lauric acid. No chemical or high-heat treatment is used, and this oil contains no trans fatty acids. The virgin coconut oil has been extracted in an old-fashioned traditional method that has been used for hundreds of years. The coconut trees where the coconuts are sourced by producers are certified organic according to strict USDA standards.This high-grade virgin coconut oil has a long shelf life due to coconut oil's natural anti-oxidant properties. It has the longest shelf life of any plant oil (Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil, 2005). This product is popular in tropical countries. However, marketing of Virgin Coconut Oil is still not well-established in the United States and Europe.Marketing DescriptionVCO can provide instant energy to the body. According to experts the medium chain (C8 – C12)   fats in VCO is similar to the fats in mother’s milk, that gives babies immunity from diseases. The medium chain fatty acids have antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal and antiprotozoal properties. It was found out that the most potent is the lauric acid (C12) and its monoglyceride form monolaurin being mentioned as the most potent against lipid coated microorganisms which are not normally cured by ordinary antibiotics.Among the vegetable oils traded in the world, coconut oil is the richest source of medium-chain fatty acids (64%) and lauric acid (48-53%). The numerous health benefits of coconut oil are finally again reaching the mainstream. These benefits are reducing risk of heart disease, promoting weight loss when and if needed, supporting immune system health, reducing your risk of cancer and degenerative diseases, supporting a healthy metabolism, providing an immediate energy source, helping to keep skin healthy and prevent age-related damage, supporting the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, and preventing infections due to harmful bacteria, viruses, yeasts and other micro-organisms.These unique health benefits of coconut oil are directly related to its chemical structure, or more precisel y, the length of its fatty acid chains. That is, coconut oil is comprised of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs. Coconut oil is nature's richest source of these healthy MCFAs. By contrast, most common vegetable or seed oils are comprised of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), also known as long-chain triglycerides or LCTs.Objectives and IssuesPromoting VCO will be aimed at the three benefits of the product:Health BenefitsThere are several reasons to explain why long-chain fatty acids are not as healthy as the MCFAs in coconut oil. For one, LCFAs are difficult for the body to break down. They must be packaged with lipoproteins or carrier proteins and require special enzymes for digestion. Also, LCFAs put more strain on the pancreas, the liver and the entire digestive system. These LCFAs are predominantly stored in the body as fat. (That's why most people buy into the myth that fats are automatically â€Å"fattening†). LCFAs can be depo sited within arteries in lipid forms such as cholesterol. On the other hand, however, the MCFAs in coconut oil are healthier, because MCFAs are smaller.They permeate cell membranes easily, and do not require lipoproteins or special enzymes to be utilized effectively by your body. MCFAs are easily digested, thus putting less strain the digestive system. This is especially important for those of with digestive or metabolic problems. MCFAs are sent directly to your liver, where they are immediately converted into energy rather than being stored as fat. MCFAs in coconut oil can actually stimulate your body's metabolism, leading to weight loss (Mercola, 2006).Social BenefitsA noteworthy social benefit of the virgin coconut oil is in positive impact of the virgin coconut oil in obesity. When virgin coconut oil is used by people suffering from obesity, immediate response of the body can be observed. The metabolism of the person who took in virgin coconut oil in their system is chronically inhibited by something that was easily alleviated by â€Å"dilution† or molecular competition.Putting a tablespoonful of coconut oil on some rice during meals and half an hour later will result to normal breathing. The skin become pink and pulse may become normal. Over the next few months, the weight will be slowly and consistently decreasing. Eating more coconut oil lowered weight for some pounds. The anti-obesity effect of coconut oil is clear in the animal studies (Peat, 2004).Environmental BenefitsThere are a number of environmental benefits of virgin coconut oil. Farmers who attempted to use virgin coconut oil for fattening their animals found out that the virgin coconut oil made the animals healthy and active. The waste products excreted by these animals are not hazardous to the environment due to its organic and safe to the environment nature (Peat, 2004).An important thing to note in the production of the virgin coconut oil is that none of the products from this proce ss are wasted. The ground outer shells of the coconut are used for matting and packing fresh plants and flowers. The empty coconut shells are burned for fuel to supply heat for drying the meat. Other uses of the empty coconut shell is in cooking or heating for fuel for a variety of purpose. The exhausted meat as the waste product in the production of virgin coconut oil is often fed to livestock as a nutrient rich meal (Jamaican Gold: Raw Handpressed Coconut Oil, 2006).Product ReviewA.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Different Ways of Branding the ProductAlmost no product is perfect forever. And when the patent runs out, there is always someone who can make it cheaper. But even before the patent ends, there will likely be those who attempt an end run on your process. Most successful ingredient brands have continually refined their products to make them easier to use in manufacturing, or make them cheaper, or to perform better. This way, you will discover any opportunity to improve your product before so meone else does. Ingredient Branding is a different approach to building brand equity. This concept is a way to successfully introduce and market a radically new product.The usual way existing markets name the coconut oil is Virgin Coconut Oil. But this product being proposed here will have the name Coconut Virgin Oil or CVO for short. The CVO will be applied for trade marking that makes the logo come out as CVOTM.Branding the product as such will eliminate the basic idea that the product is of coconut virgin oil. This type of branding is called logo type branding. Marlboro didn’t name themselves Cigarettes or Pepsi naming their company as SoftdrinksTM. CVOTM  Ã‚   as a corporate ID will carry different types and forms of virgin coconut oil products. Each of these forms will have their own sub branding. For example:Product for medicinal benefits will be branded CVOTM   Medicinal.Product for beauty benefits will be branded CVOTM   Beauty.Product for culinary benefits wil l be branded CVOTM   Kitchen.Once the brands are decided and set, personalities will be chosen to partner these brands. A coconut tree will not be used to promote the product. A coconut tree may be developed as a mascot but personalities that can claim the benefits of the product will be more effective. These personalities will be chosen according to their credentials that are palatable and appealing to the target markets.B. Threat of SubstitutesThreats of substitutes are virgin olive oil, virgin pine oil, red palm oil, grapeseed oil, flaxseed oil and many others. Virgin olive oil is obtained only from the olive, the fruit of the olive tree, using solely mechanical or other physical means in conditions, particularly thermal conditions, which do not alter the oil in any way. It has not undergone any treatment other than washing, decanting, centrifuging and filtering.It excludes oils obtained by the use of solvents or re-esterification methods, and those mixed with oils from other s ources. It can be qualified as a natural product, and virgin olive oil can have a designation of origin when it meets the specific characteristics associated with a particular region. Virgin olive oils can have the following designations and classifications depending on their organoleptic (taste and aroma) and analytic characteristics. Tthe degree of acidity refers to the proportion of free fatty acids, not to the taste (Olive Oils Definition, 2006).Virgin pine nut oil (VPO) is the first and only natural and effective appetite suppressant currently known to man. When ingested – either in its pure form or as part of delicious foods – this tasty oil stimulates the abundant release of cholecystokinin (CCK). CCK is a substance naturally produced in the duodenum in the presence of fats and proteins. When delivered to the brain, it tells us to stop eating, thereby reducing the amount of food we consume, as well as our overall intake of calories (Organic Oils, Butters, and Nu t Butters, 2006).Red Palm Oil is produced from the fruit of the oil palm, Elaeis guineensis. It is a vegetable oil, not from an animal or dairy product and therefore does not contain any cholesterol (Organic Oils, Butters, and Nut Butters, 2006).Grapeseed Oils Infused with all-natural, fresh herbs, our Salute Sante! Infused Grapeseed Oils shine with delicious flavor and have a light texture and mouthfeel. A tasty substitute for butter, margarine and other saturated fats, use these oils as a delicious dip for bread, drizzle over salads and fresh vegetables, or use as a â€Å"liquid spice† in your favorite recipes (Organic Oils, Butters, and Nut Butters, 2006).Flaxseed oil contains linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid needed for survival (Thompson,   et al., 1996). According to the authors, unlike most oils, it also contains significant amounts of another essential fatty acid, alpha linolenic acid (ALA). They further mentioned that the effect of ALA as an isolated substance , and of flaxseed oil on the risk of cancer in humans remains unclear, with most animal and test tube studies suggesting protection, and some preliminary human trials suggesting cause for concern.They have stressed, however, that it is premature to suggest that ALA and flaxseed oil will either cause or protect against human cancer at this time (Thompson, et al., 1996). Flaxseed oil is not suitable for cooking and should be stored in an opaque, airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. If the oil has a noticeable odor it is probably rancid and should be discarded (Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil. Health Notes, 2006).C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Competitive RivalryDespite the numerous organic oils that are available in the market, competitive rivalry is existing in the market. Since the introduction of the virgin coconut oil in the market, there is an observed potential and competitiveness of the virgin coconut oil in the international market (Virgin Coconut Oil, 2006).D.   Product Uniquen essCVO is a the brand that values and sells integration. The integration of all three benefits of the coconut virgin oil will spell originality of this product. Many sellers of virgin oil are in the market but all their existing brand marketing remains like the back yard type. CVO will be striking because it will project a global brand bringing all the benefits of CVO that can be accessed by different local and inter-nation markets, single consumers or bulk buyers that use the CVO in their businesses.The vision of CVO is to project a global brand that promotes the coconut and its organic benefits to human kind.Marketers should understand that when global brands are desirable, it is not simply because they are global, but rather because their globalness implies other traits, such as quality and prestige. ‘There's a certain cachet of quality that comes with being available around the world, but it's not automatic,' says third co-author, Dana L. Alden, a professor of marketing at the University of Hawaii. ‘The brands that tend to be successful around the world tend to be of higher quality and are promoted as such (The Global-Brand Advantage, Spring 2003).Action ProgramThe mission of the product is to earn from promoting a healthy lifestyle using the coconut virgin oil. The goals of the product is to sell through distributors and retail outlets the many forms of CVO packed in a variety of ways suited for different uses. Thus, CVO will be promoted as a product beneficial to the body, lifestyle and environment. Promotion will be focused on the internet, health stores and grocery stores. Three promotional strategies are explained below.The plan will use personalities to promote the product. Using this strategy is still a cut above the rest using personal testimonies from man on the streets. The product must find people from different fields to help promote it. A deemed scientist will be found to endorse its chemical stability and safety. A super star will promote its beautifying effects. A known woman – mother advocate will be helpful in promoting its cooking and lifestyle benefits.2. Another plan for promotion will include giving away trial samples for free. Each time they buy a certain amount of product, the clients will be awarded a free pack that they can share to their friends who would like to try. Advocates who believe in the product can easily promote it. Giving them resources to help their own little promotion will have good future effects.3. A good promotional activity is advertisement in the various media such as newspapers, television, radio, and other events. The advertising arm must maximize events that center on alternative lifestyle and venues that promote environmental consciousness. Sponsorships in cash or in kind is also a good way to help promote the product. Users who can give the advertising arm information that can lead towards the promotion of the product in their communities will be awarded free produ cts.Proposed Budget$ 50,000 – Product Development and Importation of processed virgin coconut oil$ 30,000 – Advertising Costs$ 20,000 – Miscellaneous (Salaries, Incidentals)$100,000 – TotalProfits will be earned through proper management of sourcing of raw materials. Processed and bottled can be bought at an average of $ 3.00 per 500 ml. Prevailing retail price without shipping costs is $17.00 per 500 ml on the average. Retail is more than five times the cost which makes it viable for product development.ControlThree scenarios are seen as the CVO product penetrates a market. One, it is well accepted. Two, CVO is generally rejected. Three, CVO becomes unnoticed.The first scenario is favorable. Promotions and marketing goes into the market, information is heard, the product is sampled, and the consumers love it. This will look and sound easy but the challenge in this scenario is how to make these CVO goers and users become advocates. A bigger challenge is h ow to sustain the quality of the product they liked. There will be times when a consumer who easily accepts a new product has also the tendency to easily change his mind when another product comes along. These consumers will always try something new and thereby one can describe their product loyalty at a minimum. Making these consumers loyal is the job of the company.Works CitedJamaican Gold: Raw Handpressed Coconut Oil.   29 Nov. 2006. Oregon: The Essential Oil Company. http://www.essentialoil.com/Jamaican%20Gold.html.Mercola, Joseph. â€Å"Pure Virgin Coconut Oil: The Healthy Fat That Ignites Weight Loss, Banishes Infection, And Heads Off Heart Disease† (Among Other Things †¦). 29 Nov. 2006. BBB Online.   http://www.mercola.com/products/coconut_oil.htm.Olive Oils Definition. 29 Nov. 2006. Greenbrae: The Olive Oil Source. http://www.oliveoilsource.com/definitions.htm.Organic Oils, Butters, and Nut Butters. 29 Nov. 2006. All Things Coconut. http://www.smartsupply.us/ oil-butter.htmPeat, Raymond. Coconut Oil. Virgin Coconut Oil Testimonials, 2004. 29 Nov. 2006.   Conuq, Inc. http://www.conuq.com/peat-art1.htmlThe Global-Brand Advantage. MIT-Sloan Management Review, Spring 2003. 29 Nov. 2006. MIT-SMR. http://sloanreview.mit.edu/smr/issue/2003/spring/1g/Thompson, L.U., Rickard, S.E., Orcheson, L.J. and. Seidl, M.M. Flaxseed and its Lignan and Oil Components Reduce Mammary Tumor Growth at a Late Stage of Carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis, (1996)17:1373–6.Tropical Traditions Virgin coconut Oil. Holistic Beauty, 2005.   29 Nov. 2006. Natural Solutions-Holistic Beauty, Body & Bath. http://www.holisticbeauty.net/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=280.Virgin Coconut Oil Set to Enter U.S. Market. 29 Nov. 2006. Alternative Medicine. Best Health Options. http://besthealthoptions.com/alternative-medicine/2006/06/05/virgin-coconut-oil-set-to-enter-us-market/

Playing Upon the String of Emptiness Essay

Nowadays, the search for something new has been greatly pursued. The availability of resources helped individuals to innovate. It impels them to work beyond the existing rules and surpassing limitations, be it in the field of music, architecture, literature, etc. The modernity of this world brought upon by globalization made it easier to reach cultures. Cultures that were bound by their physical territories before have been accessible because of modern technologies. This easy, unlimited exposure provides endless ideas and innovations that bring about different works of art. For Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, this infinite flow of innovations or novelties offers unrestricted venues for artists to produce their works—venues that are free from rules and do not conform to a certain set of standards. According to him, this poses a threat to the morality of society as well as of the artists’. He argued that novelty is an art with unlimited freedom and thus equates to a soulless art. This perspective was explained in the context of Russian’s struggle with communism which Solzhenitsyn directly experienced. He focused on the deterioration of arts’ standard after the fall of Communism, specifically with literature. Due to the given freedom, arts do not fall under a set of standards, causing the artistic value to suffer. He then related that Communism promoted a new society. To be able to build a new one, the old cultures and traditions should be thrown away: To start a new world is to start from scratch. Solzhenitsyn then compared this situation to the literary artists in his country. They were writing outright criticisms of every aspect of Russian roots like language, religion, and traditional cultures—a move that was so desperate for a change to be made by who he termed as ‘desperate innovators’. The author disapproved of forgetting the roots of any artistic work, for this is important in the development of a new face of art. Solzhenitsyn does not believe in the aggressive step of aiming forward in the arts starting from nothing. Novelty becomes relentless with the absence of ancient roots. It is an unintelligible art with no significant value to the world—an art without a purpose and is useless. Solzhenitsyn cited what kinds of arts were produced because of the frantic novelty frenzy. The arts arising from novelty does not have that spiritual connection from the artist with the world. Since the ‘great cultural tradition’ has been detached, the spiritual grounds that were developed from it are missing as well. Arts were not produced for a greater purpose anymore. Thus, it does not emanate a higher sense of value for the world. It is reduced to a mere display without a profound significance. It was from the author’s observation that the absence of artistic limits has resulted in irresponsibility and apathy. Solzhenitsyn mentioned the ‘what do you care’ attitude of the Russian writers who created literary works when the censorship has been lifted after the downfall of communism. This kind of artistic mindset alienates the welfare of its audience. The line between right and wrong has become thinner, its boundaries blurry and sometimes interchanging. The arts, according to Solzhenitsyn, have been turned into more of a personal ambition of the artists rather than an intentional product of passion and love. He stressed that artists do not bring the world as the subject; they are the focal point. The arts became a movement of personal interests of the artists. Novelty becomes like a venue for affectation. Going back to Solzhenitsyn main argument, novelty became ruthless because it eradicated the classical foundation of arts. Arts cannot push for development if its foundation will be forgotten. It would be more disruptive if it will be forced to progress aggressively without any fundamentals to back it up. Alexander Solzhenitsyn sees novelty as a cause for a more individualistic nature rather than being communal in interaction. He was alarmed by how the current generation responded to old traditions. These traditions were treated as something useless and irrelevant in the present. Novelty was portrayed by the author as something anti-cultural and antagonistic of anything universally accepted. The saying ‘to each his own’ in arts or in general constitutes obscure distinction between good and evil. Another supporting factor for Solzhenitsyn’s argument is that this particular freedom attached with novelty developed into a negative relativity. This has been embraced by young artists who turn self-expression into a lack of sensitivity with regard to the effects of their work to other people. Social responsibility slowly ceased to exist anymore. Artistic freedom has always been believed to be helpful in maximizing an artist’s work. However, Alexander Solzhenitsyn presented an opposite view. The freedom vested on the artist implies a threat of producing an art with is a much lesser value. With no artistic limitations and no principles to follow, art becomes less of a recreation instead of serving a higher purpose. Solzhenitsyn emphasized the need to take the cultural tradition into account because without it, progress will be impossibly successful. He sees novelty as a trend resulting in chaos—socially and morally disruptive. It promotes an individualism that is obviously selfish and divides humanity even more. Innovations should be created for the benefit of others. Arts may be a compiled output of an individual’s unique skills and talents, but there will always be a responsibility attached to it because people get to grasp these works. An art is a huge factor in contributing to the formation of an ideology in a society. It is a powerful tool to propagate a message that can reach a huge number of people. Hence, Solzhenitsyn sees its development as critical because this will determine where the world will be heading to. The world will not be able to move forward without revisiting and considering the past. The cultural traditions within human society should be embedded for development. It is an important basis to learn from past mistakes and to improve on the present. It can be seen that Solzhenitsyn somehow views relentless novelty as the anarchism of art that will later on transcend into society. He mentioned the absence of laws in the process of arts and the lack of absolute truth. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn provided the view of novelty enclosed in a reckless handful of freedom and a lack of traditional grounds. He presented it as something negative because he had witnessed what it did to his people especially to the younger generations. As an artist himself, the author poses a huge concern on what kind of directions the arts would take since he knows the powerful influence of it to the society. He hopes to spread his view to make the younger generations be exposed of what history has brought the Russian country and what were its implications. Solzhenitsyn firmly believes that through history, it may shape the new artists to work for a greater purpose for humanity.

Critical analysis of “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson Essay

Overall Shirley Jackson discusses the movement of the setting, the unusual foreshadowing, and the outermost symbolism in â€Å"The Lottery† to give an overall point of view of the story. Even though a small village made seem peaceful, and a good place to raise a family, it is not always what it seems to be. The reader is about to enter a world with ritualistic ceremony and religious orthodoxy in â€Å"The Lottery.† The Lottery takes place on a clear and sunny summer morning around June 27 in a small village with about three hundred villagers gathering together in the central square for the annual lottery. As a child Shirley Jackson was interested in writing; she won a poetry prize at age twelve, and in high school she keeps a diary to record her writing progress. In 1937 she entered Syracuse University, where she published stories in the student literary magazine. Despite her busy life as a wife and a mother of four children, she wrote every day on a disciplined schedule. â€Å"The Lottery† is one of Jackson’s best-known works. In â€Å"The Lottery† Shirley Jackson will discusses the movement of the setting, unusual foreshadowing and outermost symbolism to give us an overall point of view from the story. When one thinks of a lottery, one imagines winning a large sum of money. Shirley Jackson uses the setting in â€Å"The Lottery† to foreshadow an ironic ending. The peaceful and tranquil town described in this story has an annual lottery every June 27 early part of 1800’s in a small village with 300 people (456). Setting is to describe time and place of the story. The story occurs â€Å"around ten o’clock† (456). This is an unusual time because in most towns all the adults would be working during mid-morning. In the lottery an ironic ending is also foretold by the town’s setting being described as one of normalcy. The town square is described as being â€Å"between the post office and the bank† (456). Every normal town has these buildings, which are essential for day-to-day functioning. Throughout the story little parts of setting are being told, to give a clearer picture for a better understanding of the story. Jackson foreshadows a surprise ending. Foreshadowing is to hint of something  that would follow with the story. As the story continues the reader is told that school has let out for the summer, and yet the â€Å"feeling of liberty sits uneasily with the children† (456), which is strange, for no normal kid would be anything less than ecstatic over summer break. Finally, the children are said to be building â€Å"a pile of stones in one corner of the square† (456), which is a very strange game for children to play. All of these hints indicate that something strange and unexpected is going to happen, and they all will make sense once we discuss the story’s final outcome. Symbolism is also a strong element of the story. The introduction of the black box carried by Mr. Summer (456) is a key turning point showing symbolism, which is anything in a story that represents something else, giving the awful ominous answers to all those foreshadowing hints. When the black box is brought in, it’s said to be a tradition that no one liked to upset. The villagers kept their distance from the box, as though they feared it (461). More and more the town’s peculiarity begins to become apparent. For an example, the names of certain residents hit at the irony and unfavorable events to come. From the author’s extravagant detailing of the town, one would expect this â€Å"lottery† to be a chance for one lucky family to win some money. Instead, the winner’s â€Å"prize† is death-by stoning In the story Tessie won the prize when Bill, her husband, forced the paper out of her hand (461). The portrayal of the residents at the end of th e story is disturbing–they go about killing the â€Å"winner† ritualistically, trying to â€Å"finish quickly.† (461). They show no empathy at all–they’re simply following an ancient ritual. Overall Shirley Jackson discusses the movement of the setting, the unusual foreshadowing, and the outermost symbolism in â€Å"The Lottery.† The lesson in this story hits pretty hard. The Lottery’s relationship to real life is that sometimes we are presented with traditions that have been adhered to for as long as anyone can remember, and we forget the reason these customs were created in the first place. The problem is that circumstances can change and make these traditions outdated, useless, and even harmful. Overall the main point of the story is that ignorant and indulgent believers can bring death to an innocent person, so therefore we must re-evaluate our traditions;  otherwise we’re just letting ourselves be stoned.