Introduction to Economics Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Introduction to Economics - Dissertation Example There are several advantages and disadvantages of low-cost health insurance. The advantage of low-cost health insurance is that it would help cater for the health needs of lots of people, it would also make the poor people and the elderly people benefit from the programs, the low-cost insurance program would also save the people from the financial hardships that is caused by the high-cost insurance schemes. The disadvantage of the low-cost health insurance program is that it might not really cover the costs associated with the healthcare of the people as it has several limitations. The reason that people invest in low-cost health insurance program is due to the fact that these set of people live on low-income earnings and they are compelled to invest in low-cost health insurance schemes that would cover their entire household. The poverty level of different countries is also the reason that these people invest in low-cost health insurance programs (O'Sullivan, Sheffrin & Perez, 2010) . The reason for the golf boom that is experienced in China is not far-fetched. The reason for the golf boom is due to the commitment of the Chinese government towards developing the sport.

Wright Family Essay Example for Free

Wright Family Essay Following is an estate plan designed for Wright Family. It consists of Margaret and Tom Wright, and their first child is about to come. Their objectives are: 1. To grow their wealth to ensure that their debt levels are reduced in the long term. 2. To have sufficient funding to ensure that their and their children’s needs are met, without both having to work full-time. 3. To ensure that their joint assets are protected as far as possible from any potential litigants. Thus, the aim of clients is to preserve and enhance the value of their estate and to avoid adverse consequences for their intended beneficiaries. Circumstances Margaret and Tom Wright are bright young professional couple expecting their first child soon. They come from middle class background. Tom is a partner in a medium sized accounting firm and Margaret is a doctor working in a local clinic. Both are doing well in their fields as Tom is a partner in middle sized accounting firm and Margaret has prospects of becoming a partner in the clinic where she works. Tom is quite a bit older than Margaret and has an eight year old son from his ex-wife whom he has divorced. As a result of his divorce, he has significant borrowings that funded his property settlement. Tom feels that his ex-wife and his son have been adequately compensated and now his key objective is to ensure that Margaret and their new baby are fully provided for in the event of his death. He wants to ensure that his former wife cannot overthrow any arrangement he establishes for the benefit of Margaret and his new child. Similarly, Margaret would like to ensure that Tom benefits from her assets, and not his former wife or his son. They want to have sufficient funding to ensure that their needs and, most importantly, the needs of their children, are met. Ideally, they would like to be able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle without both having to work full-time. Funding Tom and Margaret Wright have certain assets which shall provide them funding for their estate. They are: Tom’s Assets: 1. Interest in his accounting practice ( through a discretionary trust which he controls solely), 2. The equity in which is funded through a life insurance policy on his life in the event of his death, 3. Some superannuation (a portion of which has been ‘split’ with his former wife), 4. The family home that he and Margaret share, that is mortgaged to about 80 per cent of its value, 5. A trust funded by an advance of his inheritance from his parents, that he uses to fund his child support payments. Margaret’s Assets: 1. Savings from her years of working, 2. An investment property with the inheritance she received from her parents. In addition to these existing funds, they can also look for increasing their funds in future. This can be done by investing more in municipal bonds, real estate, modified endowments, stocks and mutual funds. Though the return through any investment varies, but careful planning and expert advice can yield expected results. Options and impediments From available facts, it appears that Margaret and Tom Wright are people of modest wealth who need to reduce taxes, protect their assets and secure enough to maintain their lifestyle. They are also at risk of litigation from certain parties and they would like to mitigate that risk. Considering their circumstances and objectives, it shall be wise for them to formulate an estate plan before actually finalizing their funding and investment strategy. An ideal estate plan ensures speedy transfer of estate to the intended beneficiary without any hassles. It also maximizes the value of estate by minimizing taxes and other expenses. The idea is to take benefit of various exemption clauses present. A major tax that comes in case an estate is transferred to a beneficiary is the estate’s tax. This can be reduced if the value of estate owned by the deceased is less at the time of his death. Most of the planning strategies achieve this by transferring the estate step by step by using annual gift tax exemptions in cases where a will is present. â€Å"Estate planning for people of modest wealth is challenging because they face significant death taxes but do not have such a large base of wealth that they can easily afford to make significant lifetime gifts or other transfers to reduce the taxes which will arise when they die. †

The American Dream in The Lost Beautifulness and The Gilded Six-Bits Es

The American Dream in The Lost Beautifulness and The Gilded Six-Bits The America Dream is defined in general as a dream of a land that is better richer for everyone based on accomplishment and opportunity. This dream is usually sought after by people who have been deprived of their social and human values. People who have not been able to achieve this dream based on restrictions of their situations that plague their lives. These situations can be different for everyone, race, sex, handicap, etc. My question is this goal obtainable? To me there is one thing that powers this dream a desire to be of higher class, socially and financially. The one thing that drives this monster concept of the American dream has always been around since the beginning of time. In â€Å"The Lost Beautifulness† by Anzia Yezierska and â€Å"The Gilded Six-Bits† by Zora Neale Hurston this power is the source of main conflict in these stories. Money it all comes down to money, no matter what you think the American dream is the true definition is money. Money plays the biggest role in society no matter where you are, you either have it or you don’t. People come to America because it is the richest country in the world. In my comparison of these stories you will see what money does to cause conflict with Hanneh Hayyeh and Joe. The American dream can be categorized into many definitions, but behind them all one thing stands MONEY.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are similarities when comparing these two stories, similarities that go back to the main problem with the American dream â€Å"money†. Both Hanneh and Joe wanted a piece of the pie. They both wanted to feel like the upper class weather it was a painted white kitchen or gold teeth. Hanneh’s urge to be like the upper class is shown through this quote: â€Å"it had been Hanneh Hayyeh’s ambition to have a white-painted kitchen exactly like that in the old Stuyvesant Square mansion† (Yezierska 1253). This urge to be like Mrs. Preston was pushed by money; she wanted to have a white kitchen like the one in the mansion. Hanneh had the American dream on her mind; she wanted to have something to prove. Hanneh wanted to prove to everyone that a Russian immigrant could also have the American dream to have money and nice things. All that Hanneh wanted to do was to have something nice for her son, something that he could come home and enjoy aft er being at war for so long. Althou... ...ey were eluded to think that it was worth everything and got tricked in return. Hanneh though lost everything and thrown onto the street, Joe lost the only thing he lived for his pride of Missie.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In conclusion The American Dream for Hanneh and Joe were both plagued by the one thing they didn’t have, money. Money stands in the way of many things for many people. You have to have money to make money, and you need to be someone to know someone. Hanneh and Joe had many more similarities than differences â€Å"in my opinion†. They both wanted to be rich and have things that only the upper class can have. The American dream for both of them was to be something that they were not; I used these two characters from these two stories because I believe that they got cheated in the same way. They both wanted so bad for people to respect them and to maybe get a piece of that dream pie. In the end the American dream is not a dream, it is a classification of the wealthy the higher class. This dream will always be sought after by the little man, and will always be true for the rich man. Hanneh and Joe are prime examples of the outcome of dreaming. I guess if you want money you have to dream.

Diego Rivera Essay -- Visual Arts Paintings Art

Diego Rivera Diego Rivera he is a Mexican painter who produced murals on social themes and who ranks one of my countries greatest artists. He was born in Guanajuato and educated at the San Carlos Academy of Fine Arts , in Mexico City. he studied painting in Europe between 1907 and 1921, becoming familiar with the innovative cubist forms of the French painter Paul Cezanne and Pablo Picasso. In 1921 Riviera returned to Mexico and took a prominent part in revival of mural painting initiated by artists and sponsored by the government . Believing that art should serve the working people and be readily available to them , he concentrated on painting large frescoes, concerning the history and social problems of Mexico, on the walls of public buldings.His works during 1930s included ...

Ethics, Justice, and Fair Treatment in HR Management Essay

1. Table of Contents: Preface i. Ethics and Fair Treatment at Work ii. What Determines Ethical Behavior at Work? iii. How Managers Use Personnel Methods To Promote Ethics and Fair Treatment? iv. Managing Employee Discipline and Privacy v. Managing Dismissals 2. Why I Selected This Book/Article: For the Course HRMN250 Human Resource Management 3. Book Theme (Key Quote): â€Å"Ethics and fair treatment play important roles in managing employees at work. Of course, few societies rely solely on managers’ ethics or sense of fairness to ensure that they do what’s right by their employee.† 4. Abstract: I. Ethics and Fair Treatment at Work. Ethics are normative judgments based on questions of morality. Ethics refers to what you stand for whereas fairness and justice are seen in terms of a decision’s result and the process of arriving at the same. Many countries have laws and legislations governing worker’s rights, not leaving them solely to an employer’s ethics. II. What Determines Ethical Behavior at Work? Several influences may determine whether a person acts ethical or not at work. They include: the boss: the  company; the organizational culture aided by a code of ethics; and the person themselves. III. How Managers Use Personnel Methods To Promote Ethics and Fair Treatment? Personnel methods such as selection, ethics training, performance appraisals, reward and disciplinary systems, managing compliance and personnel related method for ensuring fair treatment are tools which managers use to promote ethics and fair treatment in the organization. IV. Managing Employee Discipline and Privacy. Employee discipline may be punitive or non-punitive but should be fair and progressive, with an appeal forum. Employee screening and background checks are useful appraisal tool but should respect privacy laws or be given employee consented. V. Managing Dismissals. Fairness should be communicated in the involuntary termination of an employee’s employment and should be upheld by contractual agreements that show support for the same between the firm and the employee to avoid wrongful discharge claims. Layoffs, downsizing or closing plants should be down strategically and cautiously within legislative frameworks. 5. Brief Discussion of Book/Article Units/Sections/Chapters: I. Ethics and Fair Treatment at Work A. Principles of conduct governing an individual or group and are based on 1. Normative Judgments a. Something is either good or bad 2. Question of morality a. Society’s highest standard of behavior B. â€Å"Few societies rely solely on managers’ ethics or sense of fairness to ensure that they do what’s right by their employee.† They instead: 1. Formulated legislations to a. Protect employees i. Employees rights b. Enforce laws C. Justice is separated by experts into 1. Distributive Justice that shows a decision’s result exhibits a. Fairness b. Justice 2. Procedural Justice shows a. Fairness of process II. What Determines Ethical Behavior at Work? A. The person 1. The person most responsible for his or her own behavior B. The boss 1. Several elements of leadership determine ethical behavior including exhibiting a. Coercion b. Pressure c. Unfair/bias treatment of employee C. The organization’s culture including 1. The characteristics values, tradition and behavior a company’s employees share 2. The firm’s leaders ability to a. Walk the talk b. Clarify expectations c. Provide needed support for employees to make ethical decisions d. Provide an ethical code which is i. A document memorializing the standard that the employer expects the employees to adhere to III. How Managers Use Personnel Methods To Promote Ethics and Fair Treatment including the following A. Selection processes such as 1. Performing background checks 2. Ask ethical questions in the interview 3. Be fair in recruitment process a. Use good selection tools b. Respect applicants c. Provide useful feedback 4. Have establish formal ethical procedures B. Ethics training which involves 1. Teaching employees how to recognized a. Dilemmas b. Implications of actions c. Resolve dilemmas 2. Managers commitment to ethics 3. Having new-employees’ orientation 4. Equipping employees’ with a. Handbooks and copy of code of ethics b. Refresher courses C. Performance Appraisals – these attest to how fair or ethical an organization is and should be to employees 1. Clear 2. Understandable 3. Objective 4. Rewarding of ethical behavior D. Reward and Discipline 1. Swift to punish unethical behaviors 2. Rewarding of ethical ones E. Managing Ethical Compliance – To ensure compliance to legal and organizational ethical standards companies can set up 1. Frameworks 2. Procedures 3. Departments F. Supervisors and Fairness 1. Involve employees in a. Decisions that affect them 2. Make all aware of standards of evaluation 3. Communication should be a. Two-ways b. Practical IV. Managing Employee Discipline and Privacy A. Enforcing discipline encourages sensible behavior 1. Fair justice and disciplining involves 3 pillars a. Rules and Regulations b. Employees’ handbook 2. System of progressive penalties a. Gives a sense of fairness and opportunity for remedial b. Depends on severity of infringement 3. Process of Appeal a. Gives a sense of fairness and opportunity for remedial B. Discipline can be punitive or nonpunitive 1. Nonpunitive includes a. Issuing oral reminder b. If incidents arise again within six weeks i. Formal written reminder placed on file c. Further incident i. Give one-day paid leave for employee to sort out self d. Further incident i. Dismissal C. Employee Privacy – 1. Several employer actions that triggers most violation include a. Background checks b. Monitoring off-duty conduct c. Drug testing d. Workplace searches 2. By-laws that protect the same a. No bathroom or locker-room surveillance b. Cannot publish private matter such as i. Medical records c. May not appropriate employees’ name or likeness for commercial use without consent 3. Employee monitoring- a. This includes i. Reading their emails incoming and outgoing ii. Blocking sites iii. Monitoring in/out times as per workplace 4. Restrictions and guidelines a. Electronic Communication Act which i. Makes eavesdropping of employee legal up to a point ii. States monitored calls if found to be personal should not be further monitored iii. Business purpose exception iv. Consent exception V. Managing Dismissals A. Dismissal 1. Involuntary termination of employment 2. Most drastic organizational disciplinary action 3. Requires special care 4. Should be based on proper grounds 5. Should be done after effort to i. Rehabilitate person ii. Salvage person B. Aspects include 1. Termination at will where a. No contractual obligation between both parties i. Either employee can be terminated at any point/any reason ii. Employee can resign at any time/reason 2. Wrongful Discharge- Include a. Dismissals that i. Violate law ii. Fails to comply with contractual agreement aa. Stated ab. Implied b. Statutory Exceptions which are i. Governing laws that prohibits some kind of dismissals such as aa. Reporting safety violation c. Common law exceptions d. Public Policy Exception – where employee refuses i. To break an explicit public law ii. Well establish public policy C. Grounds for dismissal include 1. Unsatisfactory performance, for example a. Tardiness b. Can’t perform duties applicable to employment c. Absenteeism issues 2. Misconduct 3. Lack of qualifications 4. Changed requirement for the job i. Nature of job ii. Job no longer required or available 5. Insubordination D. Fairness in dismissals entails a. Giving full explanation as to why b. Progressive approach c. Process of dismissal i. Who does it ii. How it is done iii. Where it is done iv. Follow up services for the dismissed E. Security measures as per dismissals a. Disabling the dismissed i. Access to compound ii. Computers and other equipment iii. Access to phones and other assets F. Avoiding wrongful dismissal lawsuits 1. Create perception of fairness in a. Employment policies b. Grievance procedures 2. Make employees feel they are treated fairly 3. All employment-related policies, procedures and documents should be a. Reviewed b. Referenced 4. Have employee sign a. A â€Å"no fixed term of employment contract† b. Or a termination at any time clause 5. Communicate job expectations clearly 6. Make personnel supervisors liable; they should a. Be familiar with applicable laws b. Not at in anger c. Utilize the HR department for advice D. The Termination Interview – where the employee is informed of their dismissal 1. Plan carefully a. Make sure schedule is kept by i. Person doing the dismissal ii. Employee b. Use neutral location i. Not your office c. Have security or medical numbers at hand d. Keep interview to maximum 10 minutes e. Have all needed documents 2. Get to the point 3. Describe the situation, don’t emphasize person’s fault 4. Listen 5. Speak calmly 6. Review all elements of severance package 7. Identify the next step for the dismissed such as a. Outplacement counseling b. Exit interview as to i. Get insight as to what the company is doing right or wrong E. Layoffs, Downsizing and the Plant Closing Law 1. These are non-disciplinary separation such as a. Retirement b. Resigning c. Layoffs/bump-off – i. Selecting employees to take time-off with the expectation to return to work in the future d. Downsizing – usually reducing dramatically the number of people employed by a firm 2. The plant Closing Law (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act 1989) a. Firms of 100 or more workers must give at least 60 days’ notice before i. Closing down facility ii. Starting a layoff of 50 or more workers b. Doesn’t prevent organizations from shutting down c. Does not obligate firms to save job d. Does require adequate notice by employers to allow time for employees i. To job search ii. To retrain iii. To adjust to circumstances e. Penalty for infringement of this act include i. 1 day pay for everyday of the violation aa. That is, days when the notice should have been given F. Layoff Process 1. Plan for layoffs a. Have up-to-date appraisals in advance aa. This attests to rationale behind layoff procedure 2. Layoff implies softness a. Termination implies (cut off) 3. Layoff is characterized usually a. Work is not available b. Expected to be short term c. Expected recalling of employees at later date 4. Sensible Layoff Steps involves a. Identifying objectives and constraints b. Forming a downsizing team c. Addressing legal issues i. Reviewing factors of those being laid off including aa. Gender ab. Race ac. Religion d. Address security issues, including i. Personal ii. Infrastructural iii. Data e. Remain informative and truthful f. Plan post-implementation action i. Especially for remaining workers aa. Boost morale etc. 5. Dismissal Effect – plan to manage effect on a. Victims b. Survivors c. Managers i. Health 6. Layoff/Bump-off Procedures – detailed procedure determining who will be laid off it no work is available a. Survivors often chosen by i. Seniority aa. Based on date joining the firm not a particular position ii. Merit 7. Alternatives to layoffs a. Voluntary reduction in pay to keep everyone working b. Concentrating employees vacation during slow times i. Avoids having to hire seasonal workers c. Voluntary time off d. Offering early retirement packages e. Hiring temporary workers with the understanding that â€Å"they would be first to go† G. Adjusting to Downsizing and Layoffs 1. Downsizing a. Usually to boost financial position of the organization b. Boosting the morale of survivors and management is essential 2. Mergers and Acquisition a. Employees may now be hypersensitive as to unfair treatment management must i. Avoid appearing dominant ii. Avoid â€Å"win-lose† behavior iii. Remain business-like and professional always iv. Remain positive about acquired firms v. Remember that how the organization treats acquired employees affects aa. Organizational morale ab. Productivity ac. Commitment VI. Practitioner/Researcher Value of Book: A. The practitioner value of the book – The chapter â€Å"Ethics, Justice and Fair Treatment in HR Management† is of great practitioner value for several reasons. These reasons include firstly, the chapter’s readableness (the state or quality of being readable). The chapter has a uniform layoff where its main points or learning outcomes are indicated in an emboldened blue font of serif. Subtopics within these learning outcomes are given emboldened  red fonts of sans serif and further subtopics are indicated using emboldened green fonts of sans serif. Thus the chapter is uniformly organized and makes for easy reading and finding of key concepts and other information. Definitions are clearly highlighted at the foot of each page that has a gray background. The chapters’ practitioner’s value is shown also by the several tables and charts that conveniently summarize large amounts of information making for quick referencing by any practitioner. An example of this includes figure 14-12 on page 553, which shows the â€Å"Median Week of Severance Pay by Job Level†. This summative and quick reference format of key textbook and practical procedures for the issuance of severance is essentially useful to practitioners looking for reliable and timely solutions to everyday challenges. The chapter’s practitioner value is further attested to by several case studies and practical examples that show the key concepts presented being use in the real world and having practical application and relevance. Several case studies including that involving the infamous Enron (page 562) presents to the practitioner the relevance and implication of ethics by an organization. Comprehensive case studies are also presented at the end of the book in Appendix B such as that which deals with the ethical underpinnings of conduct of BP Texas management in relations to the March 2005 explosion. Practicality of the book/chapter is attested to by examples like that on page 547-48 which presents an example of employee monitoring software, thus presenting to practitioner a practical example of the concept of employee monitoring and furthermore giving a suggested tool to implement the same. Finally the chapter’s practitioner value is depicted by several step-by-step procedures that give the practitioner easy and ready to use procedures that they can easily implement for results and solutions. Page 546 gives an example of this for disciplining employees without punishment offering a readily available reference tool and guide for the practitioner to administer the same. B. The researcher value of the book The chapter (book) contains prodigious referencing. From its charts to tables to defining of key terms are given full reference linking information to their authors, websites and primary sources. Each chapter has its own endnote reference listing which gives all sources referenced as per the chapter. The sources are mainly in the form of scholarly journals and  articles attesting to the credibility of the information presented in the chapter. This chapter in question has about a WHOPPING 117 sources as per the information presented therein. Sources are easily verifiable. The books content are easily accessible as it contains an extension name and organization index with some 1200 entries. Its subject index is quite impressive as well in terms of its precision of search terms, concepts and points. The book/chapter presents an impressive Evidence Based HR section that presents evidence of how managers manage based on facts and evidence lending credence to the usefulness, credibility, applicability of the information presented. The book also presents authoritative findings and guidelines from professional bodies including The Society of Human Resource Management or SHRM as well as brief In-Text Study Guide from the SHRM organization. I therefore fully believe that the book is fully valuable to the researcher. VII. Final Impact Statement: In terms of ethics, justice and fair treatment in human resource management, we glean the importance of firstly the individual having a firm ethical framework, the organization also fostering the same and the society which embellishes the same. Governments are the regulating and enforcing entities of the same. We note in closing the authors remarks: â€Å"Of course, few societies rely solely on managers’ ethics or sense of fairness to ensure that they do what’s right by [to] their employees.† (Dessler, 2011, p. 533.). Instead we see legislations are used which at the minimum, organizations tend to subscribe to, and which satisfies both parties.

Similarities of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson Essays - Literature

Similarities of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson Essays - Literature Similarities of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson's works have numerous differences. Compared to Dickinson's short and seemingly simple poems, Whitman's are long and often complex. Yet both twentieth century writers share several similarities when delved into thoroughly. Though their approaches differ, they often deal with the same themes, and both pioneered their own unique style of writing. Using death as a theme is probably the strongest connection that Whitman and Dickinson share. Whitman's view on death is reflective of his belief in Transcendentalism. In "Song of Myself", Whitman uses the scientific principle of Thermodynamics to assert that there is life after death, because energy cannot be destroyed; only transformed. In stanza six, he writes "And what do you think has become of the women and children?/ They are alive and well somewhere,/ The smallest sprouts shows there is really no death". Whitman contends that life remains long after death, and to find him now all one must do is look "under your boot-soles". Dickinson's writings on death are more complex and paradoxical. She personifies death, generally seeing as a lord or as a compelling lover. In one of her more popular poems, "Because I could not stop for Death", death is like a kindly courter. He picks her up in a "Carriage held but just for Ourselves-/ And Immortality". Many of her other poems are about the moment of death, and what happens when the living cross over into the dead. In "I heard a Fly buzz- when I died", Dickinson tries to explain what happens at the boundary of death. She describes the experience as conflicted as she strives to define that moment with vivid images and sounds. Although Whitman and Dickinson write about death in different contexts, both seem to feel compelled to tackle the issue repeatedly. It is also apparent that neither felt intimidated about death. Whitman refers to his impending death in the final stanza of "Song of Myself". Dickinson herself wrote (to her cousins), "Little Cousins,/ Called back-/ Emily." on her deathbed. Religion is also another subject both writers struggle with, and it often ties into the death theme. During the Romantic era, previous ideals and morals were questioned. Religion was scrutinized, and often considered outdated and irrelevant. Whitman challenged the traditional idea of religion, basing his philosophy off of transcendentalism. He collapses the distinctions between the spiritual and the secular. He often puts himself in place God. For example, in "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" he implies that he can see across time. In stanza three, he directly associates himself with Jesus Christ by writing "I am with you", an echo from the Bible. Whitman frequently uses this echo technique, not only in "Crossing", but also in "Song of Myself". Stanza 19 in "Song" is parallel to the feast of the rich man in the Bible. Once again he compares himself to Jesus, inviting "the wicked just the same as the righteous". Despite the tendency of Romantics to dismiss God completely, Whitman, perhaps due to Puritan pressure, felt the need to address the larger issues of religion and God. His assertion that spirituality is found in each of us, not in some higher being is a result of his constant questioning of traditional beliefs, combined with his inability to discard all notions of morality and values. Emily Dickinson's philosophy on death was much more traditional, yet she too constantly questioned the Calvinistic beliefs she had grown up with. Her fixation on death is a fundamental part of her religious beliefs, and many of her poems focus on her anxiety over her Elect status. Many of her poems seem to question God's existence, and the importance of Him if He does exist. In one poem she seemingly makes fun of God, saying "That we had rather not with Him/ But with each other play". Yet many poems seem quite sure that He does indeed exist. This belief is emphasized by such lines as "I know that He exists", "I never spoke with God/ Nor visited in Heaven-/ Yet certain am I of the spot/ As if the Checks were given-". Like Whitman, Emily feels the need to challenge the role of religion, yet both

Effects of Social Groups on Personality and Behavior Essay Example

Effects of Social Groups on Personality and Behavior Essay Example Effects of Social Groups on Personality and Behavior Paper Effects of Social Groups on Personality and Behavior Paper Sociology social groups Social groups an Important feature throughout life, your own social group could potentially decide how you were viewed by others and could affect personality and behavior as most humans crave the acceptance and good standing a group brings. There were moments in my life where although I didnt completely agree with what my social was doing the influence that they exerted bested my own moral Judgments. During elementary school my group of 5 or 6 boys always felt like we ran the school, tit our own prestigious little group we had gathered the coolest kids to be a part of, in order to gain good standing in this group you had to be exceptionally cruel to other students, although I didnt agree with it at first I quickly learned to throw that aside to be accepted. One case was making fun of a boy who was handicapped, I didnt really want to do It but I was at a point where I was the leader of my group so as to not be ostracizes I Joined in and didnt think about till years later where I realized how wrong I was. The power of my group led me to behave immorally but once I gained good standing I used my power to possibly cause others to behave Immorally. I remember living in what many would consider to be the ghetto earlier in my childhood; gangs littered the streets of my small neighborhood, shady drug dealers and their drudge counterparts were in abundance, and my mom never wanted me outside. Although cops frequented my neighborhood occasionally harassing one of the teens nothing serious ever truly happened until someone brutally attacked another person over a dispute about money or something similar. I was outside at he time against my mothers wishes playing with friends when I saw a man being chased by 2 officers, all my friends followed so I went along. Although the memory Is hazy now I remember the man being tackled and beaten by the two officers for a very long time. The officers beat the man because of the length of the chase and the violent crime he committed to assert their authority, the length and severity of the beating to them is a normal reaction while to a bystander such as me and my friends a beating of that nature is unwarranted and excessive.

The 7 Steps to Becoming a Doctor A Complete Guide

The 7 Steps to Becoming a Doctor A Complete Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Medicine is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding fields a student can enter. Before deciding whether becoming a doctor is right for you, it’s important that you’re well-informed about every step you’ll have to take along the way. Here, I’ll walk you through exactly how to become a doctor, starting with high school. This career is definitely not for everyone- it requires huge investments of time, money, and effort- but if this career path is right for you, this post will help you start preparing now for a successful career. Career Outlook Medicine is a super competitive and rigorous field- doctors have a lot of responsibility, and have to spend a lot of time and money on their training. Healthcare is also a growing field, which means that the demand for good doctors will continue to increase over the coming years. This means that if you pass all of the necessary steps, you probably won’t have an issue finding a good job. Let’s take a look at the career outlook for physicians and surgeons (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics): 2015 Median Pay: $187,200 per year Job Outlook, 2014-2024 (percent change in employment): 14%, which is much faster than the average % change of 7%. This means that there will likely be an increase in demand for doctors. Pay and job outlook can vary depending on what type of doctor you want to be, so if you have a particular specialty in mind (e.g. dermatology, rheumatology), I encourage you to do your own research on projected career outlook. How to Become a Doctor: Career Path Overview Becoming a doctor is a pretty complex, multi-step process. Here are all the major steps I’ll cover in more detail in this post: Do well in high school Get into a great college Take the MCAT (and get a good score) Apply and get into medical school Become a licensed doctor by passing your boards Choose your specialty and complete your residency Take and pass your final boards to practice independently Still interested in how to become a doctor? Let’s get into the nitty gritty details of each major step. High School If you’re serious about becoming a doctor, you’ll do yourself a big favor by getting focused in high school. Like I mentioned, this is a pretty competitive field- the earlier you start distinguishing yourself as a great student, the easier the process will be. Here’s what you can do in high school to help prepare for later steps: Focus on Science and Math To fulfill all pre-med requirements in college (I’ll get to that in a bit), you’ll have to take quite a few science and math classes. Lay a solid foundation by taking a science and math course every year, and make it a priority to take advanced and/or AP courses. You’ll also want to keep your GPA (in these classes and all others) as high as possible. This is an important step because it also gives you a tiny glimpse into what college and medical school will be like. If you don’t enjoy science and math courses in high school, it’s unlikely you’ll enjoy them later on. Use this as an opportunity to think critically about whether you’d like to pursue this career. Do Plenty of Community Service Being a good doctor isn’t just about being a science and math whiz- it’s about being invested in caring for other people. Show how you care about helping others by volunteering consistently in high school. It’s best if you can do volunteer work that’s at least somewhat related to healthcare. You might see if there are any opportunities at a nearby hospital or clinic (I had friends in high school who helped escort people who were visiting family members in the hospital, for example). These volunteer opportunities can also help you decide fairly early whether a career in medicine is something you’re interested in pursuing. Of course, you don’t have to volunteer exclusively in healthcare environments- any community service opportunity where you’re helping other people is a good fit. Read more about the benefits of community service, and then check out our list of the nine best places to volunteer. Is working in healthcare a good fit for you? Volunteering in the field is a great way to find out. Get a Great Score on the ACT or SAT To get into a great medical school, it helps to go to a great college. To get into a great college, it helps to get a high score on the SAT or ACT. Plan on taking your first test by the end of your junior year- this gives you time to take your test of choice again if you want to try to raise your scores. Read these guides for more info on how to get a great score: What counts as a good, bad or average ACT or SAT score? How to get a perfect score on the ACT or SAT How long should you study for the ACT or SAT? Submit Stellar College Applications Your senior fall will be all about researching and applying to colleges. You don’t necessarily need to go to a school with a dedicated pre-med program, but it helps if your college or university has strong science and math programs- they’ll help prepare you for the MCAT and med school. If you want to go to a top-tier private school, you’ll have to submit applications with: High GPA High SAT/ACT scores Great letters of recommendation Polished and thoughtful personal essays Some great public schools may not require letters of rec or applications essays- nevertheless, it’s wise to start preparing these materials early in the college application process if you think you’ll apply to any colleges that require them. If you’re still working on college research, read more about: The best rankings lists and whether you should trust them Whether it matters where you go to college How to decide where to go to college College College is where you really start focusing your studies and preparing for a career in medicine. Here’s everything you should do as an undergraduate to prepare yourself for the next major step: medical school. Meet All Pre-Med Requirements Most medical schools require students to have taken a series of courses as undergraduates. This ensures that they have strong foundational knowledge in math and science, and will be well-prepared for the more advanced courses they’ll take as med students. Here are the core classes that most medical schools require: Two semesters of biology with laboratory Two semesters of inorganic chemistry with laboratory Two semesters of organic chemistry with laboratory Two semesters of math, at least one in calculus Two semesters of physics with laboratory Two semesters of English and/or writing This comes to 12 course requirements at minimum, which doesn’t give you a ton of wiggle room if you also have to meet requirements for a major without much pre-med overlap (say, romance languages or studio art). Because of this, many pre-med students choose majors like biology or chemistry- this makes it much easier to meet both pre-med requirements and the requirements for your major. If you decide later in college that you’d like to apply to medical school but you know you don’t have time to fit in all these requirements, don’t panic just yet. It’s fairly common for people to wrap up pre-med requirements by taking an extra semester or two at college (some schools call these students â€Å"super seniors†). You may also look into full-time post-bac programs if you have more than a few requirements left to fulfill. These options mean extra time and extra expenses, but they’re helpful (and sometimes necessary) steps before applying to med school. Keep Your Grades Up Your transcript will be a very important part of your med school applications, so your academic performance should really be your #1 priority as you work your way through college. Build Relationships With Professors and Mentors You’ll need a few strong letters of recommendation from respected faculty members when you submit your med school applications- use this to motivate you to network with as many people as possible. Develop relationships with professors and mentors by going to office hours, participating in class, and taking opportunities to work on research projects. Your nerdy professors will prove to be invaluable resources when you’re applying to med school, but only if you have relationships with them! Get Some Research Experience Having research experience under your belt is a big plus for med school applications, especially if you can squeeze in a publication or two. Working in a biology or chemistry lab would probably be most helpful for medical school. There are a couple ways you can get research experience as an undergraduate: Work as a research assistant (paid or unpaid) in an on-campus lab or an off-campus research institute. Look at campus job postings, or approach specific professors in your department about potential lab openings. If you don’t have time during the semester to take on extra work, consider summer opportunities. Complete an undergraduate thesis, which involves research work. This usually requires a professor to officially take you on as his/her student. Each school (and each department within a school) will have its own procedures and policies for undergraduate theses, so educate yourself early on (i.e. freshman year) if you’re interested in this track. Continue With Community Service Medical schools are going to look at your community service record as an important part of your application. You should make time for volunteer work in college just as you did in high school. The good news is that it should be easier to find relevant advocacy and community service clubs and organizations in college. Here are a few example activities you may be interested in (although this list is by no means exhaustive): Volunteering at a homeless shelter Joining a public health advocacy society or organization Volunteering at a nursing home, or engaging in other forms of elder care (e.g. Meals on Wheels) Joining a peer counseling organization It’s better to stick with a few clubs or activities over the long term (as opposed to jumping around between activities year after year). This demonstrates that you’re consistent and reliable- it also opens up opportunities for leadership roles, which is a big plus for your applications. Ace The MCAT The MCAT (or Medical College Admissions Test) is used as a predictor of your success in med school, and as such is weighted pretty heavily when compared to other parts of your application. Most students take the MCAT their junior year- this is arguably the most optimal time to take the test. You will have gone through many of your pre-med courses at this point, which makes studying for the MCAT a lot easier. Test Scoring and Logistics In total, it takes 7.5 hours to complete the MCAT. The sections on the test include: Physical Sciences Verbal Reasoning Biological Sciences Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior Each section is scored on a range from 118 to 132, with a median score of 125. You’ll receive an individual score for each section in addition to an overall score. Total (overall) scores range from 472 to 578, with the average score sitting at about 500. This scoring system is relatively new, so there isn’t any historical data available to predict what a good or â€Å"safe† MCAT score will be for med school admissions. Hypothetical percentile ranks state that the 85th percentile score will sit at 508-509. This coincides with a score of 30 on the old MCAT, which was thought to be a good score to aim for. The new MCAT encourages admissions officers to look favorably upon students who score around 500 or above. The MCAT is administered 15 times per year, so you have quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to scheduling the test. Be prepared for some hefty expenses - it costs $305-$355 to register for the test depending on how far in advance you sign up. There are Fee Assistance Programs available for students who may not be able to shoulder these expenses. After your scores are calculated, they’re automatically released to AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) - you won’t have to submit them separately to any schools unless they don’t use the AMCAS. Get more information on test dates and registration. If you’re adequately prepared the first time you take the test, you could save yourself the cost of an extra registration fee. Studying for the MCAT Plan on studying 200-300 hours if you want to do well on the test. Since it’s a 7.5 hour exam, you really don’t want to have to take it twice. There are a few different ways to prep for the MCAT exam: Independent study. This may work for students at a school with strong pre-med support who are also performing well in their classes. Strong foundational knowledge is the most important factor that affects performance on the MCAT, but students would still, of course, need to spend significant time preparing. An MCAT Prep Course. Pre-med students commonly take prep courses when they want a solid review schedule that will keep them on track. There’s a lot of material to cover, and a good course helps you make sure there aren’t any major gaps in your knowledge of content or strategy. They can be very expensive most are several thousand dollars. Kaplan and Princeton Review are a couple of the most popular options. Online Prep- Online resources can offer a great combination of structure and flexibility when you’re working to cover a lot of material. Khan Academy offers some free study material if you’re looking for a place to start, although it won’t suffice if you’re putting together a full online study plan. Dr. Flowers Test Prep is another, more comprehensive, resource for online studying. A private tutor. Students whose grades aren’t up to par or who have poorly on the MCAT before may want to consider this option. If you choose to seek out a tutor, choose someone with glowing recommendations and years of tutoring experience- they won’t come cheap, but they’re also less likely to waste your time and money. You can buy an official practice test through the AAMC for $25, in addition to other official study guides and prep materials. Applying to Medical School The medical school application process is extremely long. If you want to start med school the fall after you graduate from college, you’ll have to start your applications your junior year. Researching Medical Schools The average student applies to about 13 schools to optimize their chances of getting in- I wouldn’t recommend that you put together a list much smaller than that. The MSAR (or Medical School Admissions Requirements) website is one of the best tools for looking into important medical school information. For a $25 year-long subscription, you can easily access: Acceptance rates Average MCAT and GPA of applicants and accepted students Numbers of out-of-state students Application requirements Application deadlines Like with any school or program, there are med school rankings lists. Because US medical schools’ admissions criteria and curricula are so stringent and rigorous, however, keep in mind that admission to any school in the country should be considered an accomplishment. If you end up in a school in the country, and you follow through with a residency at a good hospital, you’ll have no trouble finding work. Types of Medical Schools There are two types of physicians in the US: allopathic physicians (MDs) and osteopathic physicians (DOs). Both types are fully licensed physicians, and are often very similar in the way they practice medicine- they just receive degrees from slightly different types of programs. We’re most used to hearing about doctors with MDs, so if you’re not familiar with DOs then I encourage you to do more research on these types of programs. DOs receive additional specialty training in certain areas, including using the hands to diagnose/treat illnesses and injuries. Read more about osteopathic medicine. Allopathic or osteopathic: which type of med school is right for you? The Application There are three steps to the application process: Step 1: Primary Application You send in your primary application by June the year before your first year of med school. Most med schools use the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), which is like a Common App for med schools. This application includes official transcripts, a personal statement, your resume/CV, and your MCAT scores. Start preparing these materials a few months before submission. Step 2: Secondary Application This usually happens in July-August on a typical application timeline (i.e. one where you submit the primary application in June). At this point, a school will either reject your primary application OR ask you to complete its secondary application. The secondary application will differ for each school you apply to. Sometimes, schools just ask you to submit an application fee to continue with the application process. Other times, schools send fairly extensive lists of essay prompts (e.g. â€Å"Why are you interested in attending this medical school?†). If the school is happy with your primary + secondary application, you will move on to the next step. Step 3: Interview If a school definitely does (or definitely does not) want to interview you, you’ll hear back from them pretty quickly. Some students are left in limbo for a while as schools deliberate about what to do with them. Interviews are the final decision-making phase. Your interview will either make or break your application. Preparing for interviews is tough because each school (and each interviewer) will have its own priorities and questions. Overall, you want to come off as (1) committed to the medical track (2) confident about your abilities (3) eager to learn (4) warm and empathetic (5) grateful for the opportunity to be there. Medical School After fulfilling all those pre-med requirements and submitting all those applications, you finally arrive here: med school. You’ll spend four years here, but that doesn’t mean the experience will be very similar to that of your undergraduate education- there are more decisions to be made, more opportunities for hands-on experiences, and more professional licensing requirements to worry about. Here’s an overview of what these four years will look like: First two years- Primarily classroom-based courses Third year- Training in each major medical specialty (also known as rotations) Fourth year- Primarily elective courses based on preferred specialty There are some other important steps along the way- like board exams- that I’ll address here as well. Years 1-2: Classroom Work You won’t have much say in what courses you’ll take during your first two years of med school. Your education during this time will be an extension of your pre-med requirements- you’ll take many advanced courses that will give you the important biological, anatomical, and chemical foundations you’ll need to work as a physician. These courses will obviously have an important impact on your GPA, which will affect how competitive you are when you’re matched for your residency/internship (we’ll get to that shortly). As such, it’s important to keep your grades up- your future self will thank you. At the end of your second year you’ll take the United States Medical Licensing Examination, or the USMLE-1. This test assesses your medical competency to see if you should continue with your education and medical licensure (another name for the USMLE exams is â€Å"Boards†). At most medical schools, you need to pass this exam in order to progress to your third year of school. Read more about the test and access exam practice materials. Year 3: Rotations In your third year, you’ll start working with patients in a medical setting (under a supervisor) within different medical specialties. This helps you gain hands-on experience as a physician, but perhaps more importantly, you’ll learn more about what sort of specialty you may be interested in. After the bulk of your rotations experiences in your third year, you’ll have to decide what sort of medicine you’d like to pursue. This decision will dictate what sort of elective courses you’ll take in your fourth and final year of med school, as well as how long you’ll spend in your residency (get more information on this in the Residency section). Med school rotations are a bit more productive than the one the hamster’s doing on this wheel. Year 4: Pursuing Your Specialty As you now know, your fourth year is dedicated primarily to taking elective courses to prepare for your preferred specialty and continuing gaining hands-on experience. You’ll also take the USMLE Level 2 (it’s similar to the first examination, only testing more advanced knowledge)- it includes a clinical knowledge and clinical skills portion. Residency Residencies (also known as internships) are supervised positions at teaching hospitals. You’ll be matched to an available residency position through the National Resident Matching Program, also known as the NRMP. You’ll be able to note your preferences, but you won’t have ultimate decision-making power over your matches. Once the NRMP sets you up, you sort of have to take what you’re given. You’ll spend at least three years in your residency program, but may spend more there depending on your specialty. During your first year, you’ll be known as an intern- you’ll be at the bottom of the totem pole, but not for long. During your residency you’ll also need to pass your final licensing exam (USMLE-3). The third and final licensing exam is taken during the first year of your residency. It tests your ability to utilize your medical knowledge and provide care in an unsupervised setting, which is what you’d have to do as a licensed physician. You will receive a salary as a resident, but it won’t be much. The average resident gets about $48,000/year, which will cover living expenses and your minimum medical school loan payments. Here are some example specialties and their respective residency requirements: Anesthesiology- 4 years Dermatology- 4 years Emergency Medicine- 3-4 years General Surgery- 5 years Internal Medicine- 3 years Neurology- 4 years Obstetrics and Gynecology- 4 years Pathology- 4 years Pediatrics- 3 years Psychiatry- 4 years Radiology- 4-5 years Beyond the Residency Once you’ve finished with your residency and passed all your boards, you can officially practice independently as a licensed physician! It probably won’t take you long to find work. You may want to practice in a hospital, a clinic, or private practice. You’ll have to keep up with Continuing Medical Education in order to practice as a physician, no matter specialty. This ensures that you stay educated and up-to-date on the latest research and best medical practices. Your education doesn’t end here- you’ll be working to keep up with new information and best practices for the rest of your career. Summary This is a ton of information to take on at once, especially if you’re at the beginning of this process (or even if you’re still unsure about becoming a doctor). There are a few good things you should take away from this, though: You don’t have to decide at the beginning of college that you want to become a doctor (although it does make it easier to fulfill pre-med requirements). The path to becoming a physician isn’t completely rigid, especially if you’re interested in other biological and physical science careers. You don’t have to think about all of these steps at the same time. Once you’re in med school, your peers will be thinking about (and worrying about) the same things- there’s no way you’ll forget any important steps. Becoming a doctor is definitely not for everyone- getting into medical school is really tough, and you still have a lot of training to complete after you graduate. But if you decide you want to enter the medical profession, you now have the info you need to start off on the right foot. What’s Next? If you want more information on what to do to prepare for med school while you’re in high school, you’re in the right place. Check out our guide on 59 great medical programs for high school students and our list of the 7 books every pre-med student should read. Starting to research different college or med school options? Start off with this complete list of BA/MD and BS/MD programs in the US. You may also be interested in our step-by-step guide on how to get into a BS/MD program. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. 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Environmental Impact Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Environmental Impact Analysis - Assignment Example Every meeting that is regularly done, the topics include all the environmental concerns that relates to every project. The recent meetings for 2015 is summarized below with highlights on the project proposal description, major key players, environmental issues related to the project, actions done, and fairness of the project. The project proposes construction of a three levels open parking garage with dimensions 91, 800 square foot, having 304 spaces with project location at the Century Centre Office Complex. The scope of works includes removal of the already existing 143 parking spaces and the current landscaping. The addition of 161 new spaces for parking with the 143 existing spaces would sum up to 304 spaces per level. In totality of the construction, there will be 1,013 parking spaces that would be created. The project with title â€Å"Century Centre Parking Structure† with Project Number PA 14-083, is a project of the Executive Office of the Planning division of the City of San Mateo. The proposed project will be located in 1400 and 1450 Fashion Island Boulevard, San Mateo, California. The planning is headed by Tricia Schimpp, with Senio Partner, Tom Wagner of the Harvest Properties. The project will provide more parking space for the workers, residents, and to all the people in the nearby vicinity. The proposed project site is at the Century Centre Office Complex with two towering office building at the middle of the parking lot. The site is surrounded with low to high multi-family at the north and south end, respectively. An executive office and the Marina Lagoon are located at the east and west side respectively. The location of the proposed project is at the Century Centre Parking Structure with address at 1400 and 1450 Fashion Island Boulevard with Parcel No. 035-440-690 and 035-440-700. A location map has been provided showing the project site location highlighted with yellow for emphasis The proposed parking lot

Law Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Law - Coursework Example Significant to the argument, is the relatively low number of offenders charged and convicted under the existing rules. Part of the challenge seems to lie in what critics argue is the vagueness of the law that is rendered even less clear in court, as it is impossible for a supplier to assess the ‘likelihood’ that an internet or software tool may be used in the commission of a crime. Opponents cite that the CMA does not allow for application of the rules to the cases which are often highly technical, and not readily translatable for jury consideration. The results are near null from a national perspective, which led to prosecution of a mere nineteen cases in 2007, with only ten defendants charged and convicted according to the Ministry of Justice. The most recent conviction numbers contribute to the overall picture of computer misuse enforcement and indicate a reduction in violations since ratification of the Act and instatement as code. Predictability may not be found, then, in the capacity of the number of users that might be knowledgeable enough to intentionally commit violations and only reliant upon enforceability; yet that is to be determined by due process of complaint. Charges rarely occur in a vacuum of random and unintentional incidence in correspondence to the strict liability of the Act, as it pertains to institutional transactions, can only, then, be founded on investigated wrongdoing correspondent to acts and attendant outcomes (i.e. victims). In the UK, the number of computer misuse violations is miniscule, and in fact receding. Prior to 2007, charges under the CMA saw a consecutive decrease over the past three years. Comparatively speaking, the numbers from 2007 are fewer than the past three years, with 18 successful prosecutions from 25 cases in 2006, 16 from 24 in 2005, 12 from 21 in 2004 and only higher in conviction

Wipro Consulting Services (WCS) as a global business leader in Coursework

Wipro Consulting Services (WCS) as a global business leader in technology consulting - Coursework Example But in order to become the business leader in technology, it needs to go further. It required the independence and also the strategic focus which comes from operating as one of the separate unit within Wipro but at the same time take the advantage of the parent company in technology and to acquire the customer base. Wipro Technologies Ltd is based in Bangalore and employs about 95000 people across its office which is spread globally (Lampel, wt al, 2010). In the year 2001, most of the technology consulting firms such s Infosys, Wipro and Tata Consultancy Services had started to provide the basis IT infrastructure as well as development of application services to its customers. As the companies started to gain a better knowledge and understanding of its customers the companies started to assist them to use IT in their business to improve the efficiency and hence reduce the cost. Today these IT firms face a tremendous pressure in order to deliver high value of IT services to its custom ers. As a result different business models were adopted by the firms and also by Wipro. Wipro Technologies uses two distribution models namely â€Å"Global Delivery Model† and â€Å"Fixed Delivery Model†. Wipro have developed globally a competitive business which is based on the expertise and also the ability to identify, train, and manage and motivate the talent. Prior to 2001, it was difficult as well as costly for the company to access their talent in the developed countries. Thus in such a situation it become increasingly necessary for Wipro to develop business models so to compete with the upcoming demand in the developed markets. Under the leadership of Kirk Strawser, Wipro undertook two from of business model. When IT software and consulting firm emerged in India, most of the Indian companies did not use the sophisticated technology to support the system; this further resulted in challenge for Wipro to convince the companies to use the technology and help build them a competitive advantage over the other firms. In addition, most of companies had an in house IT department and was not willing to outsource to other firms. The developed market offered a much deeper pool of customers and also higher price for the services than those in the Indian market (Khanna and Palepu, 2010, p.155). With the emergence of IT services and software, many big companies started to implemented the use of IT and as a result Wipro technologies competed with the service providers of technology. Wipro had faced challenge in its technology sector from two categories one was the global players and the next was the Indian players. Global players included companies such as Accenture, IBM, HP, Cap Gemini and EDS (Burgelman, et al, 2008). These companies had made more than 90% of the global consulting market. Wipro was way behind these companies. The companies made use of the resources and also because of cost advantage of its offshore presence in countries such as Russia, India, Philippines, Europe and others. Indian layers included companies such as TCS, HCL, Cognizant, Infosys and others. Wipro and these firms basically used the same concept as they started their operation with low cost IT service providers and adopted the â€Å"global delivery models†, â€Å"technology rationalization† and â€Å"service integration† (Lampel, wt al, 2010). The terrain of IT services and

Teen Suicide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Teen Suicide - Essay Example There could be several reasons why a teenager would end his life. It could be stress, depression, or pressure to perform or urge to achieve something. Sometimes problems in families like divorce of parents can also result in deep sense of shame and stress causing the teenager to get psychologically ill. Getting in to a new school or neighborhoods can also create pressure. The reasons for such an act are many and complex. When a person has tried all things in order to solve one's problems the ultimate way of escape seems to be suicide. Many teenagers who have attempted to commit suicide were interviewed; most of them wanted to get of a situation but did not want to die. However sometimes the stress of something, or feeling of loss or hurt is so great that it is difficult to overcome it. The feeling of disappointment is not easy to overcome and usually results in self-inflicted death. Suicide is one action which creates an emotional trauma in the entire family to unprecedented extent. When somebody in the family and especially teenagers commit suicide the whole family, friends and the people who might be related to the person in any way feel guilty. Most of the people believe that they could have done something in order to stop it. This sense of confusion and guilt usually sends other people in a state of depression. People who do not even know him, by just hearing the news get mentally upset. Though it is definitely true that the worst form of aggression is suicide, and it is also true that the victim gets punished the most; he loses his life. However, people who are related to him also get punished all life long. Such families usually get socially isolated. The families' friends are either in a state of shock themselves and do not know what to do or how to calm the teenager's family members, or in some cases they isolate the members and consider them as the cul prits. In such case, it is our duty to start communication with such people and help them in any way we could. Families are affected the most as they carry this burden all their lives (Kids Health, n.p). Anniversaries and birthdays are the most difficult part. Sometimes during the holidays when all family members are together, the sense of loss is often over bearing. This might cause tension in the family. However, the members of the family should see that everybody in the family is grieving. People have different ways of showing sadness, some might sit alone and quiet, others might show anger. However, family members should support each other and see that yet another suicide does not take place (Kids Health, n.p). The friends and the entire school body usually feel guilty. Teenagers usually spend more time with friends and in the school; hence it is normal that the friends will feel that they could have changed something in order to prevent the suicide from happening. However, victimizing ones self and others does not help and the entire school body should help each other pass through the difficult time (Kids Health, n.p). If the family, mother or the father sees that it is becoming difficult from them to cope with, they should always

Investing in Energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Investing in Energy - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that one reason for the oil foreign policy being different from the conventional Prisoner’s Dilemma game is that we are dealing with exchanges in the world’s political economy. One of the most common and fundamental interests of a multi-national corporation is the land rights on which oil can be produced and manufactured. Most of the oil consumed in the world today has moved from one country to another. It is, by far, the largest single commodity in international trade. This is why it is important. The Red Line Agreement of July 31, 1928, is an example in the history of oil co-operation, in which the United States did not get what it wanted in negotiations. Negotiations for the agreement began with the US and Great Britain squaring off for access to oil in the region that is now Iraq. At the end of World War I, the San Remo agreement awarded Britain mandate over Iraq, but the Americans opposed this. They claimed that since the war was won by the Allies collectively, oil exploration rights in the Iraq region should be shared. However, the British refused. Facing this impasse, the seven American oil companies decided to pursue their oil interests by official means through the Turkish Petroleum Company (TPC, later known as the Petroleum Company). Thus, negotiations with the TPC began in 1922, with the Americans actively pursuing the open-door policy. Essentially, it was in their interest to be assured that they had access to the oil regardless of the new developments that took place in oil production, in the Mesopotamian region. This was a critical time for the Germans and French since the US was making the transition from being one of the major providers of oil to one of the largest importers. One of the biggest problems for the American group and their pursuit of the open door policy is what is referred to as the â€Å"self-denying clause.† In the Foreign Office Agreement of 1914, the â€Å"self-d enying clause† prohibits owners of TPC from handling the production or manufacturing of crude oil other than through the TPC.

Teen Suicide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Teen Suicide - Essay Example There could be several reasons why a teenager would end his life. It could be stress, depression, or pressure to perform or urge to achieve something. Sometimes problems in families like divorce of parents can also result in deep sense of shame and stress causing the teenager to get psychologically ill. Getting in to a new school or neighborhoods can also create pressure. The reasons for such an act are many and complex. When a person has tried all things in order to solve one's problems the ultimate way of escape seems to be suicide. Many teenagers who have attempted to commit suicide were interviewed; most of them wanted to get of a situation but did not want to die. However sometimes the stress of something, or feeling of loss or hurt is so great that it is difficult to overcome it. The feeling of disappointment is not easy to overcome and usually results in self-inflicted death. Suicide is one action which creates an emotional trauma in the entire family to unprecedented extent. When somebody in the family and especially teenagers commit suicide the whole family, friends and the people who might be related to the person in any way feel guilty. Most of the people believe that they could have done something in order to stop it. This sense of confusion and guilt usually sends other people in a state of depression. People who do not even know him, by just hearing the news get mentally upset. Though it is definitely true that the worst form of aggression is suicide, and it is also true that the victim gets punished the most; he loses his life. However, people who are related to him also get punished all life long. Such families usually get socially isolated. The families' friends are either in a state of shock themselves and do not know what to do or how to calm the teenager's family members, or in some cases they isolate the members and consider them as the cul prits. In such case, it is our duty to start communication with such people and help them in any way we could. Families are affected the most as they carry this burden all their lives (Kids Health, n.p). Anniversaries and birthdays are the most difficult part. Sometimes during the holidays when all family members are together, the sense of loss is often over bearing. This might cause tension in the family. However, the members of the family should see that everybody in the family is grieving. People have different ways of showing sadness, some might sit alone and quiet, others might show anger. However, family members should support each other and see that yet another suicide does not take place (Kids Health, n.p). The friends and the entire school body usually feel guilty. Teenagers usually spend more time with friends and in the school; hence it is normal that the friends will feel that they could have changed something in order to prevent the suicide from happening. However, victimizing ones self and others does not help and the entire school body should help each other pass through the difficult time (Kids Health, n.p). If the family, mother or the father sees that it is becoming difficult from them to cope with, they should always

Heinrich's theories Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Heinrich's theories - Article Example Freud A. Manuele, the writer of this article reports that Heinrich’s law about the industrial accidents and its causes does not apply to the current situations and thinking. In his article He quotes work of different people who has worked on the same area. He is of the view that knowledge derived from those works seem to have been evolved in the aspects of how accidents take place and their contributing factors.Heinrich by calling him the ‘pioneer’ in the field of accident prevention and considering him to be the promoter of occupational safety and health. Though the article is about dislodging Heinrich’s law it also seems to appreciate his work to be the literature and background to the study which is the positive aspect to Heinrich’s work.This article continues with Heinrich, focusing on the negative aspects of his work by stating his work to be unsound and not valid because of the un- authentication of the kind of methodology and survey documents used by him for the analysis.The Article considers Heinrich’s work to be a non- researched work and makes a call that such work should not be used as a source, but the focus should be driven towards the current knowledge. He supports his view by quoting approved researches and work done on industrial accidents. For example he quotes Walton who is of the view that 85% of the problems in any operation are within the system and are dependably of management, while only 15% lie with the worker which is opposite to what Heinrich’s point of view.

Analogy of Poetry Essay Example for Free

Analogy of Poetry Essay The poem There Is Another Sky by Emily Dickinson was a poem written for her brother Austin. Emily uses nature to explain the message she is trying to provide for him. The poem provides a hopeful and positive feeling. The poem is full of optimism and inspiration. The pint of the poem is to provide encouragement and offer guidance. The lines â€Å"Here is a brighter garden† and â€Å"And there is another sunshine† demonstrate the optimism she is trying to portray. There are no stanzas or major events in the poem. The order that the aspects of nature are presented in provides. The last few lines of the poem further enhance the message. The poem ends with an open invitation for Austin to leave his gloomy state. Dickinson shows a sincere concern while providing inspiration for both the readers and her brother. She describes a utopia throughout the poem and uses words to describe a better place such as serene, fair, brighter, and unfading. The title there is another sky provides the since that there is an alternative option instead of a consistent negative outlook on life. There is a change in tone after the dash. Before the dash Dickinson states that there is a negative place and recognizes that everything in life doesn’t always work in your favor. She also uses â€Å"there is† creating distance. After the dash Dickinson implies that there in fact is another sky. She uses â€Å"here is† which implies that she can provide a better situation. Knowing that the poem is for her brother almost obligates you to feel sympathy for him and makes her message even stronger. Overall, Emily is trying to say that entering a new mind set and believing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel can provide you with a new attitude.

Examining Violence In Titus Andronicus Film Studies Essay

Examining Violence In Titus Andronicus Film Studies Essay Titus Andronicus is probably one of the most notorious and violent plays that the poet and playwright William Shakespeare has ever written. But even if this certain revenge play is unheard-of, there is still a lot of room for interpretation, even more when it is compared to a film version. One could for example comment on the several murders, the cannibalism, the rape, the dismemberment of human bodies and so on. Thus, revenge and violence are an important topic in this play and that is why I will analyze the presentation of violence in Julie Taymor s version of Titus Andronicus named Titus and released in 2000, and compare it to the representation of violence in the primary source. What I would like to demonstrate is that in the film violence is presented in a grotesque way. So the question is, whether the play offers a grotesque basis for Taymor s film or whether this is rather her own interpretation. In order to do that, I will first define the concept of the grotesque, including its connotations and effects on the reader or the audience. Furthermore, I will pick out scenes that support my argument. To demonstrate the grotesque in the film I will depict and interpret three key scenes. The first scene will be Lavinia s rape, in which Lavinia is assaulted by Chiron and Demetrius and gets her hands and tongue cut off afterwards. In addition, I will present a scene, where a messenger delivers Titus Andronicus his own hand and his sons heads. The last scene will deal with the situation, where Titus dresses up as a cook and serves Tamora, his most dreaded enemy, and others her two sons that he killed and cooked earlier. 1.2. Information on the Play and the Film In this section I would like to give information on the play and on the film in short terms. Titus Andronicus, which is a revenge play as already mentioned, was written by Shakespeare in the late 1580s and updated around 1593 . Sw rdh claims that there are still critics who are not sure whether the play was written by Shakespeare alone, since it is very different from his other plays. Julie Taymor s film Titus was released in 1999 and failed at the box office although it was highly praised by critics. In her adaptation the story is set in Ancient Rome but is mixed with modern elements, such as cars and firearms. In addition, in Taymor s framing of the Shakespearean play the boundary between reality and fiction is crossed several times . This crossing of boundaries is a hint that Taymor uses the filmic mode in her adaptation. According to Jorgens there are several modes that are used to measure the films relative distance from the language and conventions of the theatre . In Shakespeare on Film he introduces the theatrical, the realistic and the filmic mode. The theatrical mode looks like a theatre performance and involves the audience. There are a lot of medium and long shots used. The realistic mode, however, takes advantage of the camera s unique ability to show us things [] . This for example includes close-ups. The filmic mode is the mode of the film poet, whose works bear the same relation to the surfaces of reality that poems do to ordinary conversation . That means that reality becomes insignificant in the filmic mode and can be mixed up with elements of the unreal. In this mode many non-theatrical techniques which also include close-ups, long shots, several camera angle and movements. In Taymor s adaptation the reality is penetrated by dream sequences that Taymor herself calls Penny Arcade Nightmares or short P.A.N.s. Two examples of the P.A.N.s will be discussed later in this paper. According to Jorgens, the filmic mode makes it possible for the directors not only to present what Shakespeare literally has written in his plays but also the subtext , which reveals the character feelings and thoughts between the lines of a play. In this paper I will show that the grotesque is what is hidden between the lines in Shakespeare s play and what is made extremely visible in Taymor s film. 2. The Grotesque According to Thomson the concept of the grotesque changes from time to time and has gained importance only since the 1950s. However, the concept of the grotesque is old and was already used by poets as Dante and Ovid. The modern way to define the grotesque is to view it as a fundamentally ambivalent thing, as a violent clash of opposites [ ] Thomson argues that the grotesque is always connected to the comic and the terrifying at the same time and that there is problem to decide whether something is funny (not only in the sense of comic but also in the sense of strange) or horror. This leads to an unresolved problem and [the] special impact of the grotesque will be lacking if the conflict is resolved .Thus he offers the definition that the grotesque is the unresolved clash of incompatibles in work and response . Something grotesque can also be named bizarre, absurd and macabre, which I think is also very common in both, the film and the play. One of the lines Titus says in the scene where he asks Aaron to cut off his hand is: Lend me thy hand and I will give thee mine (3.1.189). He asks Aaron to help him to cut off his hand and tells him that he will give him his hand when Aaron is done. This is a macabre situation because the fact that Titus is having his hand lopped off is very gruesome, but the line he is saying is funny (in the sense of comic) and this evokes two opposite feelings namely disgust and amusement which is, according to Thomson, the usual but abnormal reaction to the grotesque. Harpham puts the definition of the grotesque in different words: when we use the word grotesque we record [ ] the sense that although our attention has been arrested, our understanding is unsatisfied . He also explains that the grotesque has always to do with the clash of two opposites, such as the known and the unknown or the perceived and the unperceived . Although he agrees with Thomson concerning the reaction towards the grotesque, he elaborates more on the fact that the grotesque also depends on our own perception and interpretation of a certain issue. He argues that these two points (among others) play a [ ] crucial role in creating the sense of the grotesque . Yates also points out that in Greek mythology a grotesque creature was something that had human and animalistic body parts. This could be a person with the head of a bat, a plant with the teeth of an animal [] and so on. In Taymor s film, this definition of the grotesque is used several times. The most persistent picture is that of Lavinia as a woman with the head of a doe. This comparison will be discussed later. In this paper, I will define a scene as grotesque if it matches Thomson s definition. That means that I will analyse whether a scene is funny and terrifying at the same time in order to be called grotesque. 3. The Original Titus Andronicus and Taymor s Adaptation 3.1. Scene 1: Lavinia s Rape 3.1.1. The Main Scene The scene starts with Tamora s sons entering with the ravished Lavinia in 2.4.1 in the play and their hysteric laughter in 63:05 min in the film, ending at line 55 and at 66:19 min. This scene will be analyzed concerning camera movements, angles and framing, because this is very important for the interpretation of this scene. This scene was chosen as one of the grotesque scenes because Lavinia is presented in a very grotesque way. It is not only her looks but also the use of the camera and the music that create this impression. All of these elements will be explained in this chapter. The rape scene begins with an extreme long shot of the two brothers laughing and moving around Lavinia, who is only shown from the back, being obviously filmed after the rape and mutilation. It is filmed from a high angle and creates the image that the audience sees the scene from her point of view. There is also a hand-held camera used, which moves quickly and follows the two men (or rather boys) causing a jerky, ragged effect , which is very often used in the horror genre. In addition, the fact that Lavinia is only seen from behind arouses the feeling that something very uncomfortable is following. When Lavinia is finally seen from front view, a canted angle, suggest[ing] imbalance , and a long shot are used, so that Lavinia s whole body and her surroundings can be recognized. She starts moving, her face wreathing in pain. This adds to the grotesque impression of the whole scene. When Chiron and Demetrius leave we can see Marcus walking through the forest. As he sees Lavinia, he starts walking towards her. Here, a medium shot is used and the scene is filmed on eye level. The camera movement can be described as a reverse dolly shot, which just follows the character that is filmed slowly and steadily. The camera starts zooming closer to Lavinia and when she opens her mouth, there is a medium shot showing her upper part of the body, which is followed by a close-up at Marcus s face. This whole second part of the scene with Marcus and Lavinia is shot at eye level. This is a contrast to the first part where Lavinia is filmed with Tamora s sons. It creates the impression that Marcus and Lavinia are at the same level. Marcus is devastated and pities Lavinia and you can see how much he loves his niece, so there is no imbalance or violence at all. Tamora s sons, however, hurt Lavinia and make fun of her afterwards. Moreover, the steady movements of the camera in the second part of the scene and the fast camera movements in the first part of the scene also aggravate this effect. In the film version, a lot of lines from the play have been left out in this scene. However, the words that Marcus says in the play are shown by the actors through facial expressions and movements of the body. In the play he says: Alas, a crimson river of warm blood [] Doth rise and fall between thy rosed lips (2.3.22-2.3.24). These lines and the following monologue are left out in the film. But since Lavinia opens her mouth and the audience can actually see the blood, it is not necessary for Marcus to repeat that. The whole monologue where he regrets what happened to Lavinia is also made superfluous through the close-up at his face, which already has been described. At this moment, his facial expression demonstrates his distress and words are not necessary. Another important fact in this scene is that Lavinia is compared to a tree. Marcus says in the play: Speak gentle niece, what stern ungentle hands Hath lopped and hewed and made thy body bare Of her two branches, those sweet ornaments [ ] (2.3.16-2.3.19) Here, Marcus uses a lot of expressions that have to do with wood and wood processing, which are branches , lopped and hewed , thus comparing her body to a tree. When he finds Lavinia in the film version, branches have been plugged into her stumps. This creates a very grotesque impression. It is funny in the sense of strange, because it is a very uncommon picture and it is terrifying at the same time, if one thinks about the pain that Lavinia must feel at this moment. Although this is not explicitly mentioned in the primary source, one could say that the play provides a basis for Taymor s interpretation because of the several comparisons to wood. Taymor also sets the scene that is described here in a place that reminds of a dead wood, because there are dead, black trees and stubs everywhere, surrounded by a lot of mud. In this scene Lavinia is also standing on a stub, which adds even more to Marcus s comparison of her as a tree, and her movements remind of a thin tree that is swaying in the wind. What is also worth mentioning is that earlier in the film, in the scene where Chiron and Demetrius kill Lavinia s husband Bassanius in front of her, the scene is set in a verdant forest. But after her rape the forest is dead, which could also be an allusion to the destruction of Lavinia and her chastity. Another hint that Lavinia s rape should be presented in a grotesque way is that fact that the incident that happened to her is often compared to Philomela s story. Harpham argues that the grotesque can also be found in the work of the Roman poet Ovid. Interestingly enough, Ovid s work is also used very often as a metaphor in Shakespeare s play. Marcus says later in the scene about his niece: A craftier Tereus, cousin, hast thou met, And he hath cut those pretty fingers off, That could have better sewed than Philomel. (2.3.41-2.3.43) Here, he compares Lavinia to Ovid s Philomela who is raped by King Tereus of Thrace and gets her tongue chopped off, as well. That comparison establishes a connection between the grotesque scene in Taymor s film and Shakespeare s play. However, according to Cartelli and Rowe, Taymor does not present Lavinia as Philomela but as Daphne, who is also one of the protagonists of Ovid s poems. Daphne was like Lavinia a chaste virgin. She was persecuted by Apollo who was madly in love with her and so she asked her father Peneus, a river god, to change her shape in order to stop Apollo. Consequently, her father turned Daphne into a tree. The picture of Lavinia as Daphne is even more strengthened when Young Lucius brings her wooden hands to replace hers. Another important argument is that Lavinia is constantly compared to an animal. In the scene where Aaron talks Chiron and Demetrius into raping Lavinia she is very often referred to as a doe. Aaron even says: And strike her home by force, if not by words (1.1.618). According to the notes of this edition the word striking was used as a technical term for killing or wounding a deer . In Taymor s film, there is a P.A.N. that reflects this allusion, which will be discussed later in this chapter. Thus, Lavinia is often compared to animals and to trees, but she is never regarded as a woman. Hanson argues that female composite figures are seen as sexual animals in Greek mythology. Lavinia is reduced to a sex symbol (as would be called nowadays). Finally, one could say that Lavinia s rape scene which is depicted in a very grotesque way in the film is not explicitly grotesque in the play. However, Shakespeare provides a basis for the grotesque scene, by comparing Lavinia to a tree and to Philomela, whose story was perceived as grotesque, as well and by actually having her hands and tongue lopped off. 3.2.2. Additional Scene: Lavinia as doe woman This scene cannot be found explicitly in Shakespeare s play. However, it is important for the scene that was described above and adds crucial information for the picture of Lavinia in the play. This very short scene is also one of the already mentioned Penny Arcade Nightmares . It starts at 93:25 min and end at 94:15 min. Starks argues that [t]he P.A.N.s, which occur at strategic moments throughout Titus, [ ] further interrogate the act of viewing horror . She adds that they are supposed to mix reality and imagination. Usually, in P.A.N. the characters try to reprocess something that has happened to them. But there is also always a nightmare element in these P.A.N.s. This P.A.N. happens parallel to the action in the play. It is the moment where Lavinia writes down the names of Chiron and Demetrius in the sand. The stage directions tell us that [s]he takes [a] staff in her mouth, and guides it with her stumps, and writes (4.1.76). In the film the staff reminds of a phallic symbol (Lavinia is reduced to a sex symbol again) and the P.A.N. takes place while she writes. At the beginning she can be seen with the head of a doe on her head and with tigers jumping from both sides at her. There is a long shot used and the whole scene is shown in slow motion. The doe usually connected to innocence and weakness and one must involuntarily think of Walt Disney s Bambi. The tigers however are connected to strength and power. This shows that poor Lavinia had no chance to protect herself from the two brothers. The music in the background sounds psychedelic and is accompanied by Lavinia s grunts. The colours are mainly blue and black except for her white dress. Suddenly Lavinia looks scared and there are close-ups of her face and the faces of Chiron and Demetrius. The last shot shows Lavinia standing on a pedestal in a breeze in her white dress which reminds very much of Marilyn Monroe, who was a sex symbol in the 1950s. This comparison underlines the idea that Lavinia is reduced constantly to an object of desire in the play and in the film. This P.A.N. shows us what cannot be seen in the main scene. We can see how much Lavinia must have suffered and as Taymor puts it a bolt of electric shock seems to run through [Lavinia s] body . However, the comparison to Marilyn Monroe in that situation and the fast cuts that are put together in the P.A.N. create a very grotesque image. According to Cartelli and Rowe the arrangements in this scene are the same as in all the other P.A.N.s. The victim stands in the middle and is attacked from the left and the right side. Stark also connects the shot where Lavinia can be seen standing on a pedestal to the first shot after her rape. The idea is basically the same: Lavinia is standing on a stump, wearing a white dress in a breeze. In this scene she seems to be the one who is put above all of the others but she is also the one who is humiliated in the worst way. However, the two shots evoke completely different feelings. After her rape the audiences is shocked by that shot and we pity Lavinia. But in the second shot the audience looks at her as an appealing woman, who is teasing with her movements, which adds a grotesque element to the whole Lavinia theme in the film. But, from our point of view her representation in the whole play is grotesque as well because of her constantly reduced role. 3.2. Scene 2: Titus and many severed body parts This scene will deal with Titus cutting off his hand with the aid of Aaron in order to trade it for the live of his sons. But Aaron tricks him and so, Titus only gets the heads of his two sons and his own hand at the end. In the play this scene starts in 3.1.151 and ends with line 206, going on from 3.1.235 until line 241. In the film the scene starts at 75:19 min, goes on until 78:00 min and continues from 80:19 min to 84:21 min. The part in between is not connected closely to the scene and will be left out. In this scene hands play again an important role. Lavinia loses her hands after the rape and cannot be an independent person anymore. In this scene the meaning of hands becomes even more evident. According to Katherine Rowe the hand is perceived as a separate part of the body, which controls the material world. She argues that the hand is [ ] the body part most often associated with intentional, effective action [ ] . Even Aristotle discussed the importance of hands and claimed that the hand is the instrument of instruments . According to Rowe, the Greek philosopher Galen continued Aristotle s thought and asserted that the hand not only is the supreme instrument but also a tool that uses tools . In the play there are often allusions made to the hand and it is associated with many different adjectives and attributes. It is called victorious, noble, idle and so on. What is also interesting is that the hand is the one that gets credited for several deeds. In this scene for example Lucius says to his father: Stay father, for that noble hand of thine That hath thrown down so many enemies Shall not be sent. (3.1.163-3.1.165) Thus, it is the ultimate punishment to lose a hand and turn into a person, who cannot be independent anymore. But still, Titus does not hesitate to give his hand for his sons lives, even though the thought of cutting it off must be horrible. This is the part of the scene, which fulfils the criterion of being terrifying in order to be grotesque. The funny part (this time in the sense of comic) is fulfilled by what is said by Titus. He tells Aaron: Lend me thy hand and I will give thee mine (3.1.188) Titus is actually making a joke in this very serious, potentially life-threatening situation. This creates an image of something grotesque and this is also how Taymor presents the scene in her film. This part of the scene is set in a kitchen. Here, the grotesque is very explicit, because Titus enters the kitchen with Aaron, takes away the cook s carving board, which she just used to chop vegetables, lays down his hand and lets him cut it off with a cleaver. It is a comic situation because the severed hand looks unreal as if it is elastic and because there is no blood at all, but still the thought of the pain that one must suffer getting his hand lopped off and Titus s facial expression, create a feeling of horror, which is supported by a close-up at Titus s face. The use of the camera and the filming techniques do not have as much importance in this scene as in the scene discussed in chapter 3.1. However, it is noticeable that Aaron talks directly to the camera several times, which is called a face-on tracking shot. This creates the effect that he is directly addressing the audience and he usually does that, when he is supposed to say something aside in the stage directions of the play. However, what is more important is the use of music in this scene. When Aaron and Titus walk to the kitchen to cut Titus s hand off, a lot of trumpets, horns and string players can be heard. The music sounds aggressive, frightening and loud and fits to the determined walk of the two characters and their speed. When Aaron leaves the kitchen with the hand and starts talking to the camera, the music changes and jazzy sounds can be heard. This again underlines the words that are said and helps turning the mood from frightening to comic. The second part of the scene is even more grotesque, because Taymor once again mixes modern elements with those from the Roman Empire. Guneratne puts it in the following words: [ ] a derelict biker-clown pulls a wagon functioning as a mobile arcade [ ] and, after dancing grotesquely about and manically promoting his show like a demented carny barker, he unveils the severed heads of Titus s two sons and the hand Titus severed to ransom them . This scene is described as a P.A.N. by Taymor herself. According to Cartelli and Rowe The penny arcade evokes the carnivalesque atmosphere of a fair or beachside entertainment zone given over to casual meandering among games of chance, fortune tellers, tattoo parlo[u]rs, and overstuffed displays of cheap prizes and merchandise . This quote implies that what you usually can see in such a circumstance is meaningless and just used as entertainment, but seeing the heads of one s own two sons has actually nothing to do with entertainment and cheap prizes , which add to the grotesque effect. Cartelli and Rowe continue that the P.A.N.s also demonstrate nightmare and let the characters relive what has happened to them before. However, the P.A.N described here is different, since it reflects a situation that is actually going on and not just a dream of one of the characters: This still life P.A.N. signals the turn in the play where the nightmares are now reality and madness can be confused with sanity [] . To underline the grotesque picture of the messenger Taymor also changes his character. In the play he seems to be compassionate, talking to Andronicus about his father s death. But in the film, he seems to be uninterested in what he is saying, as if he is quoting something he, himself, has no stake in . The way he delivers his massage supports the grotesque in the film. However, in this short part Taymor did not take the play as a basis for her interpretation. In this whole scene the comic element is presented at first by the clown and the little girl. The music, that is played, sounds like circus music and stops abruptly as the clown pulls up the roller shutter. The effect is that the audience is shocked and terrified, since the two heads of the sons, which look fairly unreal and disgusting, swimming in a red fluid, put in a dirty glass cover, are finally visible for everyone. This is already very grotesque but it becomes even more grotesque when Titus asks Lavinia to take his dead, severed hand in her badly injured mouth. The picture of the raped and mutilated girl with the dishevelled hair and the hand in her mouth makes her look like a dog, which is a very disturbing thought. Finally, one could say that this is also a scene, where the play offers a grotesque basis for Taymor s version. Marcus suggests that Titus should rant but instead of ranting Titus starts laughing. This is a reaction, which is not expected by the reader and turns the situation into something uncommon. In addition, the moment where Lavinia shall take her father s hand and carry it in her mouth is really happening in the play and Taymor takes Titus s request literally. The effect of this scene is stronger in the film than in the play, because watching Lavinia taking the hand is much more disturbing than reading it. 3.3. Scene 3: Titus, the Cook The last scene that will be discussed in this paper starts in 5.3.26 and ends with line 65. In the film the scene goes from 138:30 min to 144:30 min. In this scene, the grotesque can be found everywhere. It is grotesque how the cakes containing the two dead sons are presented. It is grotesque how Titus kills his own daughter and how all of the protagonists are stabbed with a knife, a spoon and a candleholder. The music, the camera angles and filming techniques everything in this scene seems grotesque. This analysis will begin with the filming techniques. Directly at the beginning of the scene there is a close-up at the two pies that Titus made out of Chiron s and Demetrius bodies, cooling down on a windowsill. There is vivid, friendly, jazzy music playing in the background and the curtains are moving slowly because of the wind. This picture evokes the feeling that some lovely housewife who lives in a cosy home, made these delicious looking pies for her family. But of course, this is not the case and the knowledge of the two dead human beings inside that pies cause feelings of disgust and agitation. As soon as the guests including Tamora, Saturnius, Lucius, Marcus and others are seated Titus brings in one of the pies and cuts it. The first peace is for Tamora and inside the pie looks bloody and raw, once again creating disgust. The whole scene is shot at eye level and most frequently there are medium shots and close-ups used to show the characters. However, when everyone starts eating there are several extreme close-ups at their mouths chewing with pieces of the pie sticking between their teeth. Wilson argues that these kinds of shots are supposed to cause dramatic effect . Looking at these people chewing raises the feeling of disgust even more. What is also remarkable is the use of the camera in the very last seconds of the scene. When Lucius puts a spoon in Saturnius mouth and feeds it into him until he suffocates, the scene is suddenly shown in slow motion and finally comes to a complete stop. Suddenly, Lucius is the only one that can move. He spits at Saturnius and shoots him afterwards. Finally, the scene is over and the rest of the characters are standing in the Coliseum. My suggestion is that these last seconds are used in order to point out Lucius s role. He is the only child of Titus who all in all lost one daughter and 23 sons that is still alive. Lucius makes not only an end to the scene but also to the whole violence and revenge, and becomes the new Emperor afterwards. Music and sounds in general are also very important in this scene. They underline the action in the film and support the use of the camera. When the very beautifully looking Lavinia enters the room the music changes and there is a quite orchestra in the background. As soon as Titus says that she must die it starts getting louder and when he breaks her neck, which is highlighted by a creaky sound, the music gets very loud and dramatic. A few seconds later there is again a change. When Titus stabs Tamora the soft music changes after a short moment and becomes aggressive. Now, rock music is used and is played until the ends of the scene. The rock music underlines the chaos that is breaking out at this moment and since everything goes very fast from there adds to the perplexity that the audience experiences after the end of the scene. Here, Lavinia is once more reduced to an animal. The way her father breaks her neck reminds more of wounded sparrow then of a woman or even a child. Again, Lavinia is compared to a historical figure. Titus alludes to Virginius who killed his daughter Virginia because she was deflowered (5.3.38). What is shocking is that in this scene he kills Lavinia not because of her pain or shame but because he cannot bear looking at her and because he has already cried so much because of her pain. As always Lavinia is not regarded as a woman but as something that is there to serve men. An interesting point in this scene is the connection of the character Titus to Hopkins s role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. In this film Hopkins played a cannibal and in Titus he once again turns into one, when he serves the cakes. This adds a comic element and once again strengthens the grotesque impression of the whole scene. Cartelli and Rowe also observe that Hopkins sucks in his spit before slitting Chiron and Demetrius s throats , which is also usually connected to his role a Lecter and which happens shortly before the scene described here. Starks connects this last scene to the opening scene of the film and calls it a grotesque parody of the opening frame of Young Lucius (Osheen Jones) playing with ketchup-blood on the kitchen table [] . In the first scene of the film a boy can be seen playing with toy soldiers and other figures in a kitchen, wearing a paper bag on his head. Hinz describes the setting as a typical American kitchen of the 1950s and read the paper bag as a symbol for the thin wall between real and imagined violence . The picture of the boy with the paper bag on his head is comic but disturbing considering his violent game and thus grotesque. Young Lucius is a character who really exists in the play but in Taymor s adaptation his role is taken by a boy who acts as the audience. He appears in every scene described in this paper and has influence on the film. In this scene, or rather after this scene and after his father being elected as the new Emperor, Lucius leaves the Coliseum with Aaron s and Tamora s baby on his arm, which, according to Hinz, hints at the end of violence between the Romans and the Goths. 4. Conclusion In this term paper it has been shown that violence is treated as something grotesque in Taymor s adaptations of Titus Andronicus. First of all, the term the grotesque has been defined and afterwards three scenes were chosen from the film and interpreted. Whether a scene is grotesque or not has been analysed according to Thomson s criteria. Finally the film scenes have been compared to the corresponding scenes in the play. Camera angles, camera movements, the gestures of the characters, the music and of course the text is what was taken into consideration during the analysis of the film. What has been pointed out in this paper is that the play offers a grotesque basis for Taymor s interpretation. It was not only presented very explicitly through the actions of the characters but also hinted at by the stage directions, by the actual text (e.g. through the use of metaphors and allusions to Greek mythology) and t