Changing Working Practices in the Music Industry Essay

Changing Working Practices in the Music Industry - Essay Example One such case in point is the deal between the record company EMI and singing sensation Robbie Williams. The $80 million deal which was signed in 2002 allowed the record company to share the profits during his world tours and his merchandising profits. According to a music business consultant, in the year 2010 the sale of albums will contribute only 30% of the total profits, whereas the other 70% would comprise of merchandise sales as well as sales from musical tours. Keith Negus (1999, p.22) comments ‘While portable CD players, Walkmans and car stereos have made recorded music increasingly mobile, the products of the film industry must still be watched in the cinema or at home on a video machine.’ Four of the major record companies in the world are Warner Music, Sony/BMG, Universal and EMI. For a long time, they had monopolized the music industry but now the trend seems to be changing. On such example is the band Enter Shikari, which has released their debut album under its own record label. Many such examples abound in the music industry, and this is making the major record companies see red. EMI and Universal has already started to retrench, EMI having laid-off almost half of its employees. Keith Negus (1999, p.15) states ‘That the major entertainment corporations are continually seeking to control and thus maximize their profits from cultural production is a point that has been repeatedly emphasized by political economists.’ The only glimmer of hope of the major record companies is the potential of earning profits from the burgeoning internet download market. Some experts believe that record companies tying up with major download sites will help the record com panies to stay in the profit books for a longer time. It’s clear now where the music industry is drifting to. According to the American music industry trade body RIAA, the number of paid downloads from internet sites is on

Value of Philosophy Essay Example for Free

Value of Philosophy Essay In the introductory lecture notes to this course I stated that we would start with a working definition of philosophy as being the â€Å"love of wisdom. † I have found, though, that just about every other definition attempted has many shortcomings. No one definition seems adequate to define what it means to engage in philosophy. Consequently, I think it is best to think of the philosopher in the somewhat imprecise term of a lover of wisdom. Someone who is continually in search of the truth. Though he/she might be ridiculed for pursuing the unobtainable, this search for truth/ knowledge can yield enormous benefits. It provides the tools to critically evaluate the world around us and the information we are given about that world. This ability to critically evaluate ideas is especially important given the role that such knowledge affects and shapes our lives—as we saw in the sections on B. F. Skinner, Positive Freedoms, and the Philosophy of Science. Furthermore, the changes in our society necessitate that we re-examine fundamental questions periodically. For example, advances in medical science have posed new ethical questions. Ethical judgments concerning genetic engineering (engineering certain characteristics into or out of our genetic make-up) calls into question fundamental ideas concerning freedom and individuality. Without some understanding of these subjects how can we frame answers to such questions? Even if we examine these questions, is our approach critical, authentic? Or do we choose to accept the answers given to us by society? Are we not then acting in a kind of Sartrean â€Å"Bad Faith? † How much of our humanity and freedom are we abdicating by not engaging in some kind of philosophical activity? Though we pride ourselves on being â€Å"rational† people, how rational are our thoughts and actions even if they are â€Å"proven? † Or, do we live up to Soren Kierkegaard’s remark in The Journals, â€Å"There are many people who reach their conclusion about life like schoolboys: they cheat their master by copying the answer out of a book without having worked the sum out for themselves. † Many of the great philosophers have attempted to justify and extol the virtues of the study of philosophy. I have put together a series of quotes of what I think are some of the more important passages addressing  philosophy’s role in education and our lives. As you read these quotes, consider whether or not philosophy practiced in this fashion and as it was studied throughout this course can actually lead one to be a lover of wisdom and help us—if not answer—at least understand some of the fundamental questions we have considered. Philosophy’s Role in Education Even the poor student studies and is taught only political economy, while that economy of living which is synonymous with philosophy is not even sincerely professed in our college. . . . Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which it was already but too easy to arrive at . . .. While civilization has been improving our houses, it has not equally improved the men who are to inhabit them. It has created palaces, but it was not so easy to create noblemen and kings. Henry David Thoureau, Walden It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the fool, or the pig, are of a different opinion, it is because they only know their own side of the question. John Stuart Mill, â€Å"The Utilitarian Calculus of Pain and Pleasure† You want to know my attitude towards liberal studies. Well, I have no respect for any study whatsoever if its end is the making of money. Such studies are to me unworthy ones. They involve the putting out of skills to hire, and are only of value in so far as they may develop the mind without occupying it for long. Time should be spent on them only so long as ones mental abilities are not up to dealing with higher things. They are our apprenticeship, not our real work. Why liberal studies are so called is  obvious: it is because they are the ones considered worthy of a free man. . . . Why then do we give our sons a liberal education? Not because it can make them morally good but because it prepares the mind for the acquisition of moral values. Just as that grounding in grammar, as they called it in the old days, in which boys are given their elementary schooling, does not teach them the liberal arts but prepares the ground for knowledge of them in due course, so when it comes to character the liberal arts open the way to it rather than carry the personality all the way there . . .. Words need to be sown like seed. No matter how tiny a seed may be, when it lands in the right sort of ground it unfolds its strength and from being minute expands and grows to a massive size. Reason does the same; to the outward eye its dimensions may be insignificant, but with activity it starts developing. Although the words spoken are few, if the mind has taken them in as it should they gather strength and shoot upwards. Yes, precepts have the same features as seeds; they are of compact dimensions and they produce impressive resultsgiven, as I say, the right sort of mind, to grasp at and assimilate them. The mind will then respond by being in its turn creative and will produce a yield exceeding what was put into it. Seneca, Letters from a Stoic Philosophy and the Uncertainty of our Answers to Fundamental Questions The value of philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its very uncertainty. The man who has not tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason. To such a man the world tends to become definite, finite, obvious, common objects rouse no questions, and unfamiliar possibilities are contemptuously rejected. As soon as we begin to philosophize, on the contrary, we find . . . that even the most everyday things lead to problems to which only very incomplete answers can be given. Philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts which it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom. Thus, while diminishing our feeling of certainty as to what things are, it greatly increases our knowledge as to what they may be; it removes the somewhat arrogant dogmatism of those who have never traveled into the region of liberating doubt, and it keeps alive our sense of wonder by showing familiar things in an unfamiliar aspect. Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy Philosophy, then, is not an empirical study: not the critical examination of what exists or has existed or will exist—this is dealt with by common-sense knowledge and belief, and the methods the natural sciences. Nor is it a kind of formal deduction, as mathematics or logic is. Its subject-matter is to a large degree not items of experience, but the ways in which they are viewed, the permanent or semi-permanent categories in terms of which experience is conceived or classified. . . . These models [categories] often collide; some are rendered inadequate by failing to account for too many aspects of experience, and are in their turn replaced by other models which emphasise what these last have omitted, but in their turn may obscure what the others have rendered clear. The task of philosophy, often a difficult and painful one, is to extricate and bring to light the hidden categories and models in terms of which human beings think (that is, their use of words, images an other symbols), to reveal what is obscure or contradictory in them, to discern the conflicts between them that prevent the construction of mare adequate ways of organizing and describing and explaining experience (for all description as well as explanation involves some model in terms of which the describing and explaining is done); and then, at a still ‘higher’ level, to examine the nature of this activity itself (epistemology, philosophical logic, linguistic analysis), and to bring to light the concealed models that operate in this second-order, philosophical, activity itself. . . . The perennial task of philosophers is to examine whatever seems insusceptible to the methods of he science or everyday observation, for  example, categories, concept, models, ways of thinking or acting, and particularly ways in which they clash with one another, with a view to constructing other, less internally contradictory and (though this can never be fully attained) less pervertible metaphors, images, symbols and systems of categories. it is certainly a reasonable hypothesis that one of the principle causes of confusion, misery and fear is, whatever may be its psychological or social roots, blind adherence to outworn notions, pathological suspicion of any form of critical self-examination, frantic efforts to prevent any degree of rational analysis of what we live by and for. Berlin, â€Å"The Purpose of Philosophy† Philosophy’s purpose is to illuminate the ways our soul has been infected by unsound beliefs, untrained tumultuous desires, and dubious life choices and preferences that are unworthy of us. Self-scrutiny applied with kindness is the main antidote. Besides rooting out the soul’s corruptions, the life of wisdom is also meant to stir us from our lassitude and move use in the direction of an energetic, cheerful life. Epictetus, The Art of Living, 84 Philosophy and the Enlightened Character Who can doubt . . . that life is the gift of the immortal gods, but that living well is the gift of philosophy? . . . They [the Gods] have given no one the present of a knowledge of philosophy, but everyone the means of acquiring it. For if they had made philosophy a blessing given to all and sundry, if we were born in a state of moral enlightenment, wisdom would have been deprived of the best thing about herthat she isnt one of the things which fortune either gives us or doesnt. As things are, there is about wisdom a nobility and magnificence in the fact that she doesnt just fall to a persons lot, that each man owes her to his own efforts, that one doesnt go to anyone other than oneself to find her. What would you have worth looking up to in philosophy if she were handed out free? Seneca, Letters from a Stoic Let no one put off studying philosophy when he is young, nor when old grow weary of its study. For no one is too young or too far past his prime to achieve the health of his soul. The man who alleges that he is not yet ready for philosophy or that the time for it has passed him by, is like the man who says that he is either too young or too old for happiness. Therefore, we should study philosophy both in youth and in old age, so that we, though growing old, may be young in blessings through the pleasant memory of what has been; and when young we may be old as well, because we harbor no fear over what lies ahead. We must, therefore, pursue the things that make for happiness, seeing that when happiness is present, we have everything; but when it is absent, we do everything to possess it. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus I tell you . . . let no day pass without discussing goodness and all the other subjects about which you hear me talking and examining both myself and other is really the very best thing that a man can do, and that life without this sort of examination is not worth living . . .. Plato, Socrates Defense (Apology). In other occupations, the reward comes with difficulty after their completion, but in philosophy delight coincides with knowledge. For enjoyment does not come after learning, but learning and enjoyment come together. Epicurus, Vatican Sayings Philosophy, likewise, tells all other occupations: Its not my intention to accept whatever time is left over from you; you shall have, instead, what I reject. Give your whole mind to her. Sit at her side and pay her constant court, and an enormous gap will widen between yourself and other men. Youll end up far in advance of all mankind, and not far behind the gods themselves. Seneca, Letters From A Stoic 3

Youth Travel For Tourism In Kenya Tourism Essay

Youth Travel For Tourism In Kenya Tourism Essay CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1. Background to the study Youth travel represents a significant market within tourism (Horak and Weber, 2000) in terms of size and growth rates (Matzler and Siller, 2003). Youth travel has also been identified as one of the largest segments of global tourism and also seen as having considerable potential for future growth as youth affluence increases (Richard and Wilson, 2004). Furthermore young tourists are often trendsetters who establish and build the attractiveness of tourist destinations (Horak and Weber, 2000). Economic importance and social value of youth travel has been recognized (UNWTO, 2008). Locally owned businesses and communities particularly benefit from adventurous young travelers (dAnjou, 2004) thus reducing leakages and stimulate investment (UNWTO, 2008). Youth travel is acknowledged to be multibillion dollar business and one that provides an indicator of future travel trends (Hall, 2005). However few countries are currently engaged in activities to promote youth travel (UNWTO, 2008). Besides, youth travel is a little researched sector of tourism market (Cooper et al., 2008). According to UNWTO (2008) only a third of countries have youth travel policy, less than a third collect statistics on the market, only a quarter have policies for product development and less than third have a marketing policy. In developing countries and more so in Kenya youth travel is seen as an extension of the education process, familiarizing young people with their own country and has not been classified as a separate category (UNWTO, 2005). In Kenya domestic youth travel has been spearheaded by the wildlife clubs of Kenya (WCK), a non-governmental organization whose aim is to promote wildlife and Environmental Education (EE) (Sindiga, 1999). Travel by young people locally, motivated by leisure, adventure and sport activities, is a significant sector that has continued to increase in frequency, and expand widely in the country (MOT, 2010). There are efforts to reach out to growing market to draw larger numbers of young travelers to Kenya. 1.2. Problem Statement Youth travel is a growing market which is becoming increasingly important for many countries. The youth travel has also been acknowledged to be multibillion dollar business but the question arises whether this multibillion dollar industry is fully tapped in tourism in Kenya. In spite of the size of the market and growth in youth travel, the final draft of tourism policy has no specific policy for this market. There appears to be a policy gap between the growing potential of youth travel and the lack of action on part of the government. Youth travel has not been given its due consideration nor has it been studied in great detail. Previous studies carried out on Kenyas tourism industry by Dieke (1994), Sindiga (1996), Ndivo (2009) among others have made few attempts to focus on addressing specific tourism market segments. This has led to having relatively little information available on the size, scope and status of the youth travel market in terms of the profile, preferred products, as well as supporting infrastructure. As result Kenya is losing out on the longer term potential of a rapidly growing market. 1.3. Purpose of the study The study seeks to identify and analyze the youth travel behaviour in Kenya in order to establish the potential of youth travel as a market segment for the tourism industry in Kenya. 1.4. Objectives of the Study 1.4.1. General Objective This study seeks to establish the potential of youth travel as a viable market for tourism in Kenya. The study aims at providing baseline information to support market-driven development initiative such as planning and marketing for the youth travel niche market. 1.4.2. Specific Objectives To investigate factors that influence the travel decision making among the youth. To explore the tourist products preferred by the youth. To determine the travel limiting factors for the youth travel market in Kenya. To profile the youth travel market in Kenya. 1.5. Hypotheses 1. H01: Youth travel decision making is not significantly influenced by social-economic and behavioural factors 2. H02: Choice of tourist products is not significantly different among youth of different social-economic and demographic status. 1.6. Significance and Anticipated Output The study seeks to establish the youth travel as potential market for tourism in Kenya. The study will seek to identify the youth travel niche market, product and infrastructure. It is considered that the findings of the study will contribute significantly to ministry of tourism as a guideline for formulating policies to enhance and promote youth travel. The findings will also contribute towards identifying attributes which satisfy young travelers in Kenya. This will be useful to local tourism investors and will also help in opening up the less visited destinations. Comprehending what young travelers seek in Kenya may help tourist marketers and promoters in increasing the growth of tourism by enhancing their strategies for marketing youth travel. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of knowledge in youth travel research which has been inadequately undertaken in Kenya while strengthening the existing body of knowledge in tourism in Kenya. 1.7. Limitations to the Study The study will use purposive sampling and the sample is selected from one particular tourist destination in Nairobi which is an urban setting. This may not represent the whole youth market in Kenya. The result should be generalized with caution to other regions. This is due to difference in culture, environment and social-economic conditions which may affect the youth travel decision making. However, care has been taken to ensure that the selected group represents the travelling youth segment noting that the city of Nairobi is the premier source of domestic tourism market in Kenya (Ndivo, 2009) 1.8. Conceptual Framework This study on youth travel as potential market for tourism in Kenya will be based on activities based model of destination choice by Moscardo et al., (1996) figure 1 in attempt to establish factors that influence youth travel in Kenya. Internal inputs Social psychological set factors: Personal characteristics, motives External output Destination characteristics derived from Information from experience, promotional information, Information from other sources Travel constraint Individual constraints: Money, time, social factors External constraints: seasonality, accessibility, etc Destination images and Awareness set Destination choice Actual travel Figure 1: A theoretical framework of travel decision making (Adapted from Moscardo et al., 1996) According to Moscardo et al., (1996) destination activities are seen as a critical link between travel and destination choice. They argue that motives provide travelers with expectations for activities and destinations are seen offering these activities The figure suggests that internal inputs and external output factors contribute to destination image and awareness set. Internal input refers to social psychological set of factors such as personal characteristics for example age, income, experience, lifecycle and personal motivation. The internal input factors are seen as providing the desired activities by an individual at a destination. External output refers to destination characteristics derived from information gained. These include past experience, promotional information and information from other sources. The external output factors are seen as providing information about activities available at a destination. Destination images are seen as the result of the destination characteristic, how they are presented and how they are integrated with social psychological factors such as motives and interests. Destination image is seen to provide the initial motivation to visit the place. Awareness set includes all the travel locations which people might consider as potential destination before any decision process about their trip has been initiated. Image of destination affects the choice of a destination. Destination choice is based on match between perceived activities offered and preferred activities. Travel constraints includes individual constraints (such as money, time and social factors such as fear and safety) and external constraints (such as seasonality accessibility and influence by significant others) are also seen to influence the actual travel to a destination. This study will therefore attempt to find out the influence of both social-psychological set factors and destination characteristics in creating destination image and awareness among the youth in Kenya. Finally the study will explore the potential socio-economic constraints that influence actual travel. 1.9. Operational Definition of Terms Youth-In this study youth will refer to Kenyan citizens and foreign nationals who are aged between 15-30 years. Youth travel-refers to young Kenyan and foreign nationals aged 15-30 years who travel within Kenya for leisure, business and other purpose not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. Niche market-defines the specific product features aimed at satisfying Kenyan youth travel markets needs as well as price range, production and quality. Destination-is any place in Kenya which attracts visitors, either as tourists who stay overnight or as same-day visitors. Domestic tourism-tourism involving Kenyan residents travelling within Kenya for the purpose of spending their leisure time. Backpackers-a form of tourism which appears to appeal mainly to a younger market, where tourist uses a rucksack, or a backpack rather than a suitcase to carry all they need. Tourism-refers to all activities of Kenyan visitors,(either as tourists (overnight visitors) and same day visitors) travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. I think you have covered your objectives well Think about adding more space for qualitative responses You can rearrange your questions according your specific objectives The questionnaire is fine but not neatly formatted. Use tables for neatness and format your question numbers to give it a professional look which will make it easier for your respondents to answer I would strongly suggest that you look at other questionnaires even from the internet to help you with point 4 above Questionnaire Date of issue: Dear Respondent, I am conducting a research on youth travel as potential market for tourism in Kenya. I will greatly appreciate your response to the questions listed below. Please indicate your response by ticking ( ) where appropriate. PERSONAL INFORMATION Caroline, Kindly consider having this section in a table-like format for collecting personal information and remove the question numbers 1 through 6. The reason being its standard information and it gives the respondent a feeling that they are answering too many questions yet its not like so Qn1. Your gender Male [ ] Female [ ] Qn2. Age 15-19 [ ] 20-24 [ ] 25-30[ ] (If your age is below 15 or above 30 kindly discontinue) Qn3. What is your occupation? Qn4. Marital status Single [ ] married [ ] other [ ] Qn5. What is your level of education? Primary [ ] High school [ ] TertiaryCollege [ ] University [ ] have option for other and explanation Qn6.What is your nationality Kenyan citizen [ ] Non Kenyan citizen [ ] Qn7. If engaged in any income generating occupation, what is your level of income per month (KSh)? This could come after the personal information section. Its a bit sensitive, and im not exactly sure how this information is going to assist you Below 20,000 [ ] 21,000-30,000 [ ] 31,000-40,000 [ ] 41,000-50,000 [ ] 51,000-above [ ] Qn8. What is the source of money you use for travelling to various tourist destinations in Kenya? Personal saving [ ] travel incentives [ ] parents/family assistance [ ] others [ ] This makes more sense to me only that you might have to explain in brackets what travel incentive means Qn9. How would you evaluate your level of awareness, about touristic facilities and attraction in Kenya on a scale of 1-5? Where: 1- Not aware 2-aware but need more information 3-no opinion 4-aware but would not prefer visiting 5= aware but would very much wish to visit list them one by one Tourist attraction rating Regions visitedtypenumber of visits specify National parks and reserves National museums Culturaleventsvillages Historical sites Landscapes Forest Entertainment Sport activities Recreational activities Coastal beaches Qn10. In making your decision to travel to your preferred tourist destination, how significant would the following source of information be to you? Where (1): totally Insignificant; and (5): very significant. Source of information 1 2 3 4 5 Friends/colleagues/family members Newspapers/magazines/brochures/books Travel agents/ marketers Internet TelevisionRadio Personal previous experience Number of previous visits Any other (please specify) Qn11. In choosing tourist destinations in Kenya, how would you rate the importance of the following travel motivations on a scale of 1-5 where (1): not important and (5): very important. Motivation factor 1 2 3 4 5 To visit friends or relative Relaxing atmosphere Outstanding scenery Oceans and beaches Sport facilities Camping To find thrills and excitement Low cost of holidays Warm friendly people Good roads and transport Outstanding food Attractive customs, life Nightlife Easier to have fun there Cultural activities Religious activities/ help people in need Class study/education with some fun activities Travel arrangement (packaged/non-packaged) Qn12.Below is a list of types of accommodation. On scale of 1-5 what type of accommodation would you likely prefer when on holiday vacation? Where 1-not preferred 2-least preferred (3-fairly preferred (4) preferred (5) most preferred. Type of accommodation 1 2 3 4 5 Budget hotels Youth hostels Lodges Home stays Accommodation offered by friends and relatives Villas/cottage Apartment Guest houses Any other specify Qn.12. which one of the following statements is TRUE concerning your travel arrangement? I prefer to travel independently [ ] I prefer travelling in a group [ ] Both of the above applies to me [ ] have this in table form for neatness Qn13.If you travel in groups indicate the type of travel group. School group [ ] have this in table form for neatness College group [ ] Researchers [ ] Volunteers [ ] Non-school youth groups [ ] Family groups [ ] Corporate groups [ ] Religious groups [ ] Cultural exchange groups [ ] Event driven [ ] Other and specify. Please have this in table form for neatness Qn14.How do you make your travel arrangement? Independently [ ] Travel agents/tour firms [ ] Online [ ] Others specify [ ] Qn15.Below is a list of tourist products. How would you evaluate your level of preference about the touristic products available in Kenya on a scale of 1-5? Where (1): least preferred and (5): -most preferred. Tourist product Rating 1 2 3 4 5 Wildlife parksReserves Bird site sanctuaries Museumshistorical sites Landscapes Conservancies Forests Picnic sites Cultural events Shopping Entertainment Hiking Camping Mountaineering Picnicking Sport activities Horsecamel riding Walking and trekking Qn16.Please indicate on a scale of 1-5 the type of transport you prefer while travelling to a tourist destination where 1-least preferred and 5-most preferred 1-not preferred 2-less preferred 3 fairly preferred 4- preferred 5 most preferred Type of transport Rating 1 2 3 4 5 Air transport Tour buses Public buses Personal cars Rental taxis Bikes Others (please specify) Qn17.On a scale of 1-5 how would the following factors likely limit your travel to a tourist destination. Where 1-most unlikely and 5- most likely factor Rating 1 2 3 4 5 Work schedules Income available Studies schedule Family responsibilities Friends/relatives choice/preferences Health Lack of interest Lack of awareness Fear and safety concerns Climatic conditions Transport Language barrier Accommodation availability Seasonality Others specify Qn18.On average how many nights would you spend in visiting any domestic tourist destination? Less than 1 night [ ] 1 night [ ] 2 nights [ ] 3 nights [ ] 4 nights [ ] 5 nights [ ]. Above five [ ]. Qn19. If less than 1 night specify the reasons Thank you for your co-operation in completing this questionnaire.

Gender Role Reevaluation in Boys and Girls by Alice Munro Essay

Gender Role Reevaluation in Boys and Girls      Ã‚   Recent history boldly notes the protests and political unrest surrounding the Vietnam Conflict during the 1960s and 70s. However, equally important in this era are the women who pushed for gender role reevaluation and publicly rebelled against the established social norm of a woman's "place." Although Alice Munro may not have been burning her bra on the courthouse steps, threads of a feminist influence can be found in "Boys and Girls." Munro's main character, a girl probably modeled after Munro's own childhood experiences on an Ontario farm, faces her awakening body and the challenge of developing her social identity in a man's world. "The girl," an unnamed character, acts as a universal symbol for the initiation of a girl into womanhood. Through first-person narrative, Munro shoes the girl's views of her budding femininity and social identity by describing the girl's conceptions of her parents' work, her parallel to the wild mare Flora, and the "mysterious alte rations" (Munro 474) in her personal nightly stories.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As if to forsake her femininity and forego a life of confinement and housework, the girl reveres her father's work and condemns her mother's duties. The sum of the girl's respect seems to lie with her father, as is evident in her reference to his work outdoors as "ritualistically important" (468). On the other hand, while the girl recognizes that her mother is busy, she still considers her mother's "work in the house [to be] [ ·] endless, dreary and peculiarly depressing" (468). The division between her parents' tasks is especially apparent in the girl's reaction to her mother's presence at the barn. She feels threatened by her... ...hether this quantifies complete acceptance with the girl, however, is not solidified by Munro due to the final sentence: "Maybe it was true" (475).         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Through opinion, comparison, and imagination Munro details the girl's journey from a rebellious tomboy to a slowly blooming woman. The characteristics so endearing to the girl's developing identity, such as her assistance in Flora's escape and her unwillingness [comment13] to easily submit to the social constraints of life as a woman, also lend themselves to her universality as a representative to initiation to femininity. Munro's own personal views of femininity arguably color this work, "Boys and Girls."    Works Cited Munro, Alice. "Boys and Girls." The Norton Introduction to Literature. Eds. Carl E. Bain, Jerome Beaty and J. Paul Hunter. 6th ed. New York: Norton, 1995. 465-75. Gender Role Reevaluation in Boys and Girls by Alice Munro Essay Gender Role Reevaluation in Boys and Girls      Ã‚   Recent history boldly notes the protests and political unrest surrounding the Vietnam Conflict during the 1960s and 70s. However, equally important in this era are the women who pushed for gender role reevaluation and publicly rebelled against the established social norm of a woman's "place." Although Alice Munro may not have been burning her bra on the courthouse steps, threads of a feminist influence can be found in "Boys and Girls." Munro's main character, a girl probably modeled after Munro's own childhood experiences on an Ontario farm, faces her awakening body and the challenge of developing her social identity in a man's world. "The girl," an unnamed character, acts as a universal symbol for the initiation of a girl into womanhood. Through first-person narrative, Munro shoes the girl's views of her budding femininity and social identity by describing the girl's conceptions of her parents' work, her parallel to the wild mare Flora, and the "mysterious alte rations" (Munro 474) in her personal nightly stories.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As if to forsake her femininity and forego a life of confinement and housework, the girl reveres her father's work and condemns her mother's duties. The sum of the girl's respect seems to lie with her father, as is evident in her reference to his work outdoors as "ritualistically important" (468). On the other hand, while the girl recognizes that her mother is busy, she still considers her mother's "work in the house [to be] [ ·] endless, dreary and peculiarly depressing" (468). The division between her parents' tasks is especially apparent in the girl's reaction to her mother's presence at the barn. She feels threatened by her... ...hether this quantifies complete acceptance with the girl, however, is not solidified by Munro due to the final sentence: "Maybe it was true" (475).         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Through opinion, comparison, and imagination Munro details the girl's journey from a rebellious tomboy to a slowly blooming woman. The characteristics so endearing to the girl's developing identity, such as her assistance in Flora's escape and her unwillingness [comment13] to easily submit to the social constraints of life as a woman, also lend themselves to her universality as a representative to initiation to femininity. Munro's own personal views of femininity arguably color this work, "Boys and Girls."    Works Cited Munro, Alice. "Boys and Girls." The Norton Introduction to Literature. Eds. Carl E. Bain, Jerome Beaty and J. Paul Hunter. 6th ed. New York: Norton, 1995. 465-75.

Female characters Essay

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a novel published in 2003 which tells the story of Amir, a young Afghan boy with a traumatic past, a guilty conscience, a war-stricken homeland and a broken future. The Kite Runner explores many different issues throughout the novel; one such issue is the representation of females. Females can be seen as â€Å"material goods†, and are often shown as marginalized, weak, demeaned, and subject to many double standards in todays society, and throughout earlier history. The Kite Runner shows the idea of female representation through the development and construction of make and female characters, combined with the setting and culture in the novel. The idea of marginalized female representation is also shown in other texts such as A Lot to Learn, and Hamlet, all of which used character construction to portray these ideas. The Kite Runner portrays the idea of females as being marginalized in many different cases. There are only two females that have any backstory or focus in the book The Kite RunnerAmir’s wife Soraya, and Soraya’s mother. Hassan’s wife is also mentioned briefly. The fact that women are not focused on, and barely mentioned in the novel also show that in Afghan culture, women do not play a large role, they simply blend into the background and do as they are told. Hassan’s wife, Farzana, is described as a ‘shy woman’, ‘courteous’, and spoke in a voice just ‘barely higher than a whisper’. It seems that she cooks, cleans, and does most of the basic housework. The fact that she is so shy, polite, and quiet shows how women have been brought up in this culture. Farzana has been brought up to obey men, and to speak only when spoken to, to be polite and courteous, and to always be virtuous. The only time Farzana stood up for herself, and her family, was when Hassan was shot by the Taliban. She ‘came screaming and attacked them’ and the Taliban promptly shot her. The fact that the men could so easily and quickly shoot a woman, who was simply defending her house and family, shows again the way that women may be seen as almost worthless in the Afghan society. Soraya Taheri, Amir’s wife, on the other hand, was the complete opposite of Farzana. When we first meet Soraya, she is described as a ‘slim-hipped beauty’, ‘decent’, ‘hardworking and kind’, with a ‘princess-like’ beauty to her, and she speaks with confidence, which is unlike all of the other Afghan women described in the story. Soraya has a past that she, and everyone around her, is ashamed of. After arriving in America, Soraya saw the care-free environment, the way that women were accepted, and Soraya realized that maybe she herself could have independence too. Soraya ran away to Virginia at the age of 18; she was ‘rebellious’, she felt that she should be allowed to be independent. When she returns to her family and moves to California, the rumours spread like wildfire. All of the Afghanis here about Soraya’s shameful act, and everywhere she goes, whispers follow her. No suitable suitors appear at her doorstep, and no one forgets her ‘mistake’. ‘Its so fucking unfair’, she says, and it really is. A double standard in this society, where the men can do whatever they please and ‘no one does a god damn thing’, and when a woman does something of the same nature, they are shunned. There is a small amount of talk about Baba’s wife, who died giving birth to Amir. The Afghan community claimed that Baba would never be able to marry a woman like her; she was virtuous, clever, studying at university, and to to pit all off, she was of royal blood. Baba finally does marry this woman though, and refers to her as his ‘princess’. The way that this marriage is described accentuates the idea that men want women the way they would want material goods. The marriages are described almost as if the men are simply picking an object, and showing said object off to the world. Gertrude is seen as unequal to the the almost all-male cast. Gertrude is a female character from Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet. The play is set in Denmark, early 14th century, and tells the story of a young prince, Hamlet, who gets a visit from his dead father’s ghost, and realizes that not all is right in the state of Denmark. Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother, and the queen of Denmark. After the death of her husband King Hamlet, Gertrude quickly remarries to the King’s brother Claudius. Hamlet depicts this sudden remarriage as betrayal, unfaithfulness, and the breaking of ‘sacred vows’. He feels disgusted that his mother would grieve so little, and move on so fast, and hatred for his mother beings to grow. The play Hamlet has been created so that we, as readers, see Hamlet’s point of view, but we do not see the way that the other characters think. I believe that this sudden remarriage was not simply because Gertrude was seduced, but because Gertrude could not hold her position of â€Å"power† without a male by her side. If we had Gertrude’s side of the story, I think we would realize that there were other motives to Gertrude’s marriage to Claudius. Gertrude could not run the state of Denmark, or even the castle, without a man in power with her; in the time Hamlet was set in, women were often demeaned, and were never seen as equals. To keep the state functioning as a whole, Gertrude realized she would need a new king to rule. Gertrude also may have realized how easy it would be for another man to take advantage; if they controlled Gertrude, they could control the state. Her marriage to Claudius at least guaranteed that the state was run by someone she trusted and could see as a ruler. None of these ideas were explicitly stated, because Gertrude was never really given a chance to defend herself and her actions, due to Hamlet being the focus of the story. ‘Frailty, thy name is woman’, Hamlet says, referring to poor Gertrude. He refers to the way that Gertrude was moulded so quickly to another’s will, the way her confidence faltered so soon, and how weak Gertrude really was. Hamlet is a character that has no respect for women. He holds a grudge against his mother, and as the play progresses, these dark feelings that he feels towards his mother grow stronger. Hamlet starts to feel so strongly to his mother ‘betraying’ him, that he starts to apply this idea to all women, even weak Ophelia. He seems to be under the impression that, though women are frail, weak, and delicate, all women deceive and take part in treachery. He does love Ophelia, but in the end, he feels that Ophelia would betray him, as all women do. He is applying a stereotype to all women, saying that they are will of weak and physical being, and treacherous at heart. Ophelia is also doted on quite a lot by her father and brother. Both men lecture Ophelia about staying virtuous, warning her not to ‘lose her heart’, but this is, again, a double standard. Laertes especially is being quite the hypocrite, since he, as a young man, would have been messing around with many young girls, and not had it held against him since it was socially accepted for men. Polonius also lectures Ophelia to keep her chastity, and talks to her as one would talk to a young child. He depicts Ophelia as being weak, innocent, nothing more than a child, and often gloats to the King Claudius about how ‘dutiful’ and ‘obedient’ Ophelia is as a daughter, as if she has no will of her own. He seems to be demeaning her, without even consciously meaning to, and Ophelia takes no offense to it; in that day and age, girls were simply brought up to accept it. ‘The object Ophelia’, Hamlet refers to Ophelia at one point. He says this the way he would say ‘the object of his affections’. He seems to be referring, yet again, to material goods, to objects, as if Ophelia is simply another prize he can add to his trophy cabinet. He also uses a great deal of sexual innuendos when around Ophelia, but neither Ophelia or any other members of the court find it offensive or out of context. He lays his head upon her lap and whispers comments that are obviously making her uncomfortable, but Ophelia never objects, simply because it was normal for women to be taken advantage of. Just like Ophelia being referred to as an object, the short story A Lot to Learn depicts an innocent girl as yet another material good. A Lot to Learn is a story about Ned Quinn, a scientist that has created the Materializer, a large machine that can create anything at the push of a button. The story tells the tale of Ned experimenting with the machine, and wishing for a girl. Before Ned mutters the word ‘girl’, he wishes for ‘money’, then a ‘martini’, then ‘beer’. These are two stereotypical goods that a person would probably wish for if he could have anything; money and alcohol. When Ned wishes for this girl, after wishing for two in-demand material goods, he seems to be sending a subtle message that perhaps he sees women as nothing more than objects of desire, yet another material good instead of a sentient being. If his experiment was a success, Ned would most likely hold on to this girl the way one would hold onto a trophy; a record of his achievements, simply for memories sake. The idea of being nothing more than an object is terribly demeaning, and another show of dominance from males. Women are very subtly discriminated and marginalized in this short story. As well as the idea of the girl being simply an object, Ned seems to be under the impression that this girl would obey him. Before wishing for a girl, Ned did not stop to think that maybe the girl would scream, or run in terror, or struggle; he simply assumed that the girl that appeared would obey. This is a show of Ned believing that women are weak – both physically and mentally. This shows an immediate message about dominance, the way that Ned believes that this girl would do exactly as he wished. He seemed to be under the impression that because he was a man, he is strong, powerful, and has a sense of dignity and respect, therefor meaning that the woman that he expected to appear would simply obey. Ned seems to be very confident in himself and his invention. Though he is nervous as he wishes for each new object, he seems to be under the impression that everything will turn out fine. Ned comes across a slight hitch, however, when he mutters the word ‘girl’. In our society today, the word ‘girl’ often refers to woman, not literally a girl or child. Its a misconception, just a word in our culture that has developed to mean something else from the original meaning. Ned obviously does not want the small, innocent child that appears in the machine, as he curses ‘Hell! ’. Referring to a woman as ‘girl’ is almost demeaning in a way. The fact that Ned wishes for a girl as well is slightly disturbing. Upon reading it, most people would immediately assume that Ned wants this girl for nefarious purposes, to fulfil a fantasy or something of that drift. This is another symbol of the female representation being marginalized, shoved aside as the weaker gender. All of these different characters from these three stories easily show the idea of females being marginalized and disenfranchised. Characters such as Ned Quinn, Hamlet, and General Sahib are constructed to be dominant over the female characters. The settings and culture, when combined with these strong male characters, show the many double-standards that exist between females and males, and also show the idea of females being represented as trophy objects.

Frankenstein and 2001 Comparison

Emotion and Human Destruction In both 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, man tries to create something more advanced than mankind. But, even though they are more advanced, they are less developed. The creations in both of these works have one major flaw, and that is that they cannot control their emotions. The creation called HAL 9000 in 2001 is a supercomputer designed to learn at incredible speed and calculate thousands of important facets on the voyage of Discovery.The monster in Frankenstein created by Victor Frankenstein also had the capability to learn at incredible speeds, had superhuman abilities, and became so smart that he could have rivaled his creator. However, neither HAL nor the monster had the mental capacity to control the amount of power their creators had given them. This becomes the main conflict in both of these works. From the emotional decay of these powerful creatures, we come to an ambiguous conclusion: Emotions will always lea d to the destruction of humanity.Happiness is one of many human emotions. Oftentimes, life events stimulate how happy we become. Furthermore, the need to find happiness and overcome obstacles is a need all humans have. There are a certain number of attributes that acute for a humans overall happiness. To name a few, things like living conditions, overall health, wealth, and relationships with other humans. The monster in Frankenstein had none of these things. He quotes, â€Å"Here then I retreated, and lay down happy to have found a shelter, however miserable, from the inclemency of the season. (Shelly 94). And later it quotes, â€Å"I possessed no  money, no friends, and no kind of property. † (Shelly 101) The monster had terrible living conditions; his diet consisted of nuts and berries, he had no money, and he had no friends. This led the monster to be extremely unhappy. And when humans are unhappy, they become jealous of others happiness. With happiness come jealously, an emotion we all pretend we never experience. But, when a human sees someone who is happier than they are, they instantly become jealous.They want what that person has, and they will do anything to get it. The monster is a pure example of this . He quotes, â€Å"†I lay on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the occurrences of the day. What chiefly struck me was the gentle manners of these people; and I longed to join them, but dared not. † (Shelley 93) The monster wanted human companionship, but he felt the humans would not accept him since he was ugly. This is why he talked to DeLacey first. DeLacey was blind, and could not discriminate against him.The monster basically pleads for acceptance quoting, â€Å"This, I thought, was the moment of decision, which was to rob me of, or bestow happiness on me forever†¦I sank on the chair, and sobbed aloud†¦`Now is the time! –save and protect me! You and your family are the friends whom I seek. Do no t desert me in my hour of trial! ‘† (Shelly 111) When the rest of the family came in, Agatha fainted, Sophie ran, and Felix beat him with a stick. This robbed him of his chance to be happy. He was jealous of the fact that every human could have friendly interactions, but he was doomed to loneliness forever.The monster now realized he could never be happy. This enraged him, and hatred became his fueling emotion! Hatred is the most prevailing emotion. It consumes people and turns them into the violent human beings who they actually are. The monster cursed the human race, and vowed revenge quoting, â€Å"My feelings were those of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery. (Shelly 113) The monster did in fact get his revenge. He hated the fact that Victor had close friends and loved ones, yet he had nothing.This made the monster turn to violence, and he killed everyone close t o Victor. 2001’s creation, HAL, has a different emotion which leads to his downfall. That is the emotion of pride. You see, pride is a feeling of pleasure from one’s own achievements. HAL was very prideful. You can glimpse it from this shot conversation HAL has during an interview: INTERVIEWER: HAL, you have an enormous responsibility on this mission. You're the brain, and central nervous system of the ship, and your responsibilities include watching over the men in hibernation.Does this ever cause you any lack of confidence? HAL: Let me put it this way, Mr. Amor. The 9000 series is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information. We are all, by any practical definition of the words, foolproof and incapable of error. Here, HAL takes pride in the fact that his 9000 series model has never made an error. But when HAL predicts a communication relay to go down, a 9000 computer on Earth says HAL is wrong with his predic tion.HAL quickly disbands this as human error, since HAL now sees himself as better than human. HAL also thinks that he is better capable to carry out the mission than anybody onboard. When HAL hears he may be disconnected, he goes berserk and kills everyone onboard until David Bowman shuts hit down. HAL’s downfall was because he had too much pride. We see this in the modern world all the time; people thinking they are better than others because of their achievements. In the pursuit of happiness, somewhere along the way, people will become jealous of others.They will want something someone else has, and they may not be able to get it. This in turn will cause them to hate or resent that person. They may lash out against them with words, or like the monster, will do whatever they can to strip that person of their happiness. But suppose you do become happy and rise to the top? The people in power almost always become prideful and abuse that power. Take dictatorships for example. They end up abusing their power, and think they are better than others. Ultimately, emotion is humanities greatest weakness.

Taxpayer Cost for Political Conventions

Taxpayer Cost for Political Conventions American taxpayers help pay for the political conventions held every four years by both the Republican and Democratic national committees. The conventions cost tens of millions of dollars and are put on even though there have been no brokered conventions and every presidential nominee in modern history has been chosen well beforehand. Taxpayers directly contributed $18,248,300 million to the Republican and Democratic national committees, or a total of $36.5 million, to hold their presidential nominating conventions for the 2012 election. They gave similar amounts to the parties in 2008. In addition, Congress set aside $50 million for security at each of the party conventions in 2012, for a total of $100 million. The total cost to taxpayers of the two national party conventions in 2012 exceeded $136 million. Corporations and unions also help cover the cost of the conventions. The cost of holding the political conventions, though, has come under intense scrutiny because of the nations growing national debt and annual deficits. Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has referred to the political conventions as mere summertime parties and called on Congress to end taxpayer subsidies for them. The $15.6 trillion debt cannot be eliminated overnight, Coburn said in June 2012. But eliminating taxpayer subsidies for political conventions will show strong leadership to getting our budget crisis in control. Where the Money Comes From The taxpayer subsidies for political conventions come through the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. The account is funded by taxpayers who choose to contribute $3 to it by checking a box on the federal income tax returns. About 33 million taxpayers contribute to the fund every year, according to the Federal Election Commission. The amount each party receives from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund to cover convention costs is a fixed amount index to inflation, according to the FEC. The federal subsidies cover a smaller portion of the political convention costs. In 1980, the public subsidies paid for nearly 95 percent of the convention costs, according to the Congressional Sunset Caucus, whose goal is to uncover and eliminate government waste. By 2008, however, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund covered only 23 percent of the political convention costs. Taxpayer Contributions to Political Conventions Here is a list of how much each major party was given in taxpayer subsidies to hold their political conventions since 1976, according to FEC records: 2012 – $18,248,3002008 – $16,820,7602004 – $14,924,0002000 – $13,512,0001996 – $12,364,0001992 – $11,048,0001988 – $9,220,0001984 – $8,080,0001980 – $4,416,0001976 – $2,182,000 How the Money is Spent The money is used to pay for entertainment, catering, transportation, hotel costs, â€Å"production of candidate biographical films,† and a variety of other expenses. There are few rules on how money from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund is spent. Federal law places relatively few restrictions on how PECF convention funds are spent, as long as purchases are lawful and are used to defray expenses incurred with respect to a presidential nominating convention, the Congressional Research Service wrote in 2011. By accepting the money the parties do agree, however, to spending limits and the filing of public disclosure reports to the FEC. Spending Examples Here is some example of how money is spent by the Republican and Democratic parties on political conventions in 2008, according to Coburns office: Republican National Convention Committee: $2,313,750 – Payroll$885,279 – Lodging$679,110 – Catering$437,485 – Airfare$53,805 – Film production$13,864 – Banners$6,209 – Promotional items - gift bags$4,951 – Photography services$3,953 – Floral arrangement for convention$3,369 – Communications consultant Democratic National Convention Committee: $3,732,494 – Salaries$955,951 – Travel$942,629 – Catering$374,598 – Political consulting fees$288,561 – Production music$140,560 – Production: Podium$49,122 – Photography$14,494 – Gifts/trinkets$3,320 – Makeup artist consultant$2,500 – Entertainment Criticism of Political Convention Costs Several members of Congress including Coburn and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma, have introduced bills that would end taxpayer subsidies of political conventions. The major parties are more than capable of funding their own national conventions through private contributions, which already generate over three times the amount the federal grants provide for this purpose alone, the Sunset Caucus wrote in 2012. Others have pointed out what they call the hypocrisy in congressional criticism of the General Services Administration for spending $822,751 on a team building meeting in Las Vegas in 2012 and lack of scrutiny over political convention spending. In addition, many critics of taxpayer subsidies for political conventions say the events are unnecessary. Both parties chose their nominees in the primaries and caucuses- even the Republicans, whose party implemented a little-noticed change in the primary system that lengthened the amount of time it took the eventual nominee to secure the 1,144 delegates necessary for the nomination in 2012.

Kylie Masshardt Essays (482 words) - Literature, Fiction, Culture

Kylie Masshardt Essays (482 words) - Literature, Fiction, Culture Kylie Masshardt Period 2 Adv. Methods of Communication May 2, 2016 Ignorance Is NOT Bliss What you don't know wont hurt you. A common phrase preached by many people everywhere. But what about what you do know that others don't? Through the choice of a stubborn, hard-headed animal, George Orwell exemplifies the burden that comes with being the only one aware of your situation when surrounded by ignorance. Benjamin, a donkey on Manor Farm in the book Animal Farm, shows the reader the downside of being the only one aware of your situation. Through the loss of a friend, the constant fear of knowing exactly what is to come next, and knowing the others will not believe him is exactly the price Benjamin pays for the knowledge of his surroundings. Excited by the promises made by Napoleon and Squealer for a better tomorrow, the animals on Manor were oblivious to seriousness of their surroundings. Cynical, stubborn, and fully aware, Benjamin the donkey knew exactly the fate of the farm. Benjamin was viewed by others as an "old cynic." He often remained quiet, but when he spoke it was a cynical remark usually along the lines of, "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey."(Orwell 36) Though Benjamin was fully aware of his situation he rarely spoke to the others of his knowledge. He knew the outcome of his action would most likely lead to his execution, keeping him quiet. He also knew the chances of the others believing him were slim. Strong, hard-working, and determined Boxer worked long strenuous hours to show his blind loyalty to Napoleon. Loved and respected by others, Boxer was a role model to some animals on the farm. The loyalty form Boxer, played a large role in Napoleons rise to power. After the continuing destruction of the windmill, Boxer worked long days and nights each time to re-build it even better than the last. Orwell states that Benjamin was "devoted to Boxer," but throughout the story, the mention of Boxers health from working strenuous hours was minimal. To save his friend, Benjamin let Boxer continue to work long back-breaking days. Boxers decline in health, now became apparent to more than just Benjamin. Boxers long days of working were over. Napoleon called a truck, which he informed the animals as a truck to take him to "Sugar Mountain." But in fact he had sold Boxer, a long devoted follower, to a factory for money. Once aware of where his friend was being taken, Benjamin screeched and trie d to inform the other animals where he was actually going. Some animals actually started to believe him, but they were instantly informed by Squealer that all was well, and went back to their ignorant lives. For Benjamin he knew his friend, Boxer, would no longer have to suffer the cost of ignorance.

A Comparison Study of Brutus and Antonys Speeches and Their Rhetoric

A Comparison Study of Brutus' and Antony's Speeches and Their Rhetoric Antony’s speech at Caesar’s funeral in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar was more effective than Brutus’ because Antony used a multifaceted emotional argument, instead of relying on one assertion, as Brutus had. Because of this, Antony was able to sway the crowd to his side, against Brutus and the Conspirators. â€Å"[Antony] does not†¦ show the insufficiency of any one approach†¦ Rather, his different rhetorical devices play into and strengthen one another† (Wills 46). The main flaw in Brutus’ speech at Caesars funeral was that his argument had only one source of proof, his reputation. â€Å"Brutus’ speech at Caesars funeral hammered home one argument- that his own honor had to be relied on† (Wills 79). During his speech, Brutus gave no tangible proof that Caesar was ambitious: no examples, witnesses, or letters proving that what he was saying was fact. The main weakness to this kind of argument is that if that one source of proof, in this case Brutus’ honor, is disproved, the entire argument falls away. Another flaw in Brutus’ oration was his failure to ‘read’ the crowd correctly, and because of this, he presented the wrong type of argument, a logical one, when he should have projected a more emotional one, as Antony did. While planning his speech, Brutus did not realize that the crowd would be more reactive to emotional prompts. While presenting a logical argument to more educated people usually has the desired effect, lesser educated people are almost always more responsive to emotional cues. During his address, Brutus only tries to emotionally involve the crowd once, when he tells them he loved Caesar, and was Caesars good friend, but he loved Rome more, and had no choice but to slay him. Although it is a good tactic, he did not emphasize it enough, and seeing that it was the only emotional point in his entire dialogue, the pathos part of his argument left much to be desired. â€Å"[Brutus’ oration] is all very cut and dried, pedantically so† (Wi lls 53). Overall, Brutus uses to much logos, logical points of an argument, for a uneducated mob. They agree with him and cheer him on, and want to crown him king, proving that they do not understand Brutus’ real reason for killing Caesar. Brutus did not want a king. But Brutus’ most intriguing flaws are the flaws in his personality that blocked him from understanding the crowd. â€Å"Brutus is a vain man†¦ an impractical idealist†¦ and lacks the saving sense of humor that springs from an understanding of his fellowman† (Matthews, Web). The way he acts and thinks gives him a terrible disadvantage, because he does not understand or know how to talk to the people. Since Brutus is from the upper class, he didn’t have much interaction with the lower classes of society, and did not realize that common men are not logical, idealistic creatures. If they were, his speech would have been very effective. Antony, on the other hand, had several examples that Caesar was not ambitious. â€Å"[Caesar] hath brought many captives home to Rome,/ Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill† (3.2.90-92 Shakespeare). Antony reminds the people of Rome that Caesar was not ambitious because he gave his war spoils to the people of Rome instead of keeping them for himself. â€Å"When the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept;/ Ambition should be made of sterner stuff† (3.2.93-94 Shakespeare). He also tells them of Caesar’s compassion and empathy for the common people. â€Å"I thrice presented to [Caesar] a kingly crown,/ Which he did thrice refuse† (3.2.98-99 Shakespeare). He then goes on to say that if Caesar had been ambitious, he would have taken the crown that Antony had presented to him. Caesars refusal proves Antony’s point that Caesar was not ambitious, and Antony begins to gain the approval of the common people as they think about what he has said. One of the other techniques used by Antony to sway the people was deceit. He lied or talked about things he never could have known to reach the crowd on a more emotional level. For example, Antony tells the crowd how he remembered the first time Caesar put on the cloak that he died in. Antony was not an associate of Caesar during the military campaign that overcame the Nervii, when he said Caesar first put on the cloak. Also, Caesar probably would not be wearing an old cloak he had fought battles in to a ceremony at which he expected to be crowned. Later, Antony points out the various wounds on Caesars body, and assigns each one to a specific conspirator. But how could Antony, who didn’t witness Caesars murder, know who caused the individual wounds? The individual conspirators probably could not find the individual wounds they had caused because of the frenzied way they attacked him. But although it us untrue, this is a very good tactic employed by Antony because it ‘put s a face’ on the conspirators, and gives the now angry mob people to hate. Antony triumphs because his skills and are strong in every area that Brutus’ are weak, and he has the advantage of speaking after Brutus, he knows what he’s going up against. â€Å"The psychology of the crowd that [Brutus] ignored or was ignorant of Mark Antony understands and applies† (Matthews, Web). Antony is able to understand the mob, and tailor an argument full of emotional prompts that involve the mob, and make them feel pity and empathy for Caesar, like when he points out the holes in Caesars cloak. His other advantage, speaking after Brutus, makes Antony’s job easier because now he knows exactly what he has to disprove, and has already seen how the crowd reacted to Brutus. With Brutus gone, Antony can disprove everything Brutus said without interference, and he does so with great ease, citing Caesars past actions and proving his lack of ambition. The many-pronged attack of Antony was what made his address to the mob much more effective than Brutus’. This was because he only had to disprove Brutus’ reputation as an honorable man to destroy Brutus’ entire argument. He did that easily by proving to the mob that Caesar was not ambitious, and therefore that Brutus was not honorable. Antony has lots of different examples to prove Caesar was not ambitious, and lied to get the audience more emotionally involved. He also figured out that he should focus more on pathos because the crowd was uneducated and very emotional. In the end, Antony was more effective because he used so many different advantages, proof, and various emotional ‘props’ in such a masterful way that they tied in with each other and mutually supported each other, making him virtually invincible. Works Cited Delaney, Bill. Shakespeares JULIUS CAESAR. Explicator 60.3 (2002): 122. MAS Ultra School Edition. Web. 11 Apr. 2014. Wills, Gary. Rome and Rhetoric: Shakespeares Julius Caesar. New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, c2011. Book. Matthews, Brander. The Plays from Plutarch. Shakespeare as a Playwright. Brander Matthews. Charles Scribners Sons, 1913. 254-263. Rpt. in Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Mark W. Scott. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale Research, 1988. Literature Resource Center. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. Harley Granville-Barker, â€Å" ‘Julius Caesar’,† in his â€Å"Prefaces to Shakespeare, first series, Sidgwick Jackson, Ltd., 1927, pp. 51-132 Stopford A. Brooke, â€Å" ‘Julius Caeser’,† in his â€Å"Ten More Plays of Shakespeare, Constable and Company Ltd., 1913, pp, 58-90 Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

Lying is never right Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lying is never right - Essay Example According to Webster, to lie is â€Å"1: to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive; 2: to create a false or misleading impression.† Lying, as defined by St. Thomas Aquinas, â€Å"a statement at variance with the mind†, is more accurate than Webster’s â€Å"to create a false or misleading impression.† This is because, according to Webster, it is possible to lie without making a false statement and without any intention of deceiving. If a person makes a statement which he thinks is false, but in reality is true, he certainly lies inasmuch as he intends to say what is false. A well-known liar may have no intention of deceiving anyone - for he knows nobody believes a word he says – but if he speaks at variance with his mind, he does not cease to lie. someone. An officious or white lie is such that it does not injure anyone. Jocose lies are told for the purpose of affording amusement. When a habit of lying has been contracted, it is practically impossible to restrict its vagaries to matters which are harmless. Therefore, although injury to others is excluded from officious and jocose lies by definition, yet realistically there is no sort of lie which is not injurious to somebody. According to Catholic teachings, an injurious lie is a mortal sin, but officious and jocose lies are of their own nature, venial sins. Telling the truth is not the easiest course of action to follow. On the contrary, telling the truth is often difficult, and frequently leads to unpleasant consequences. A major disturbing thought for us is that Christians, of all people, need to lie. Where are our Christian principles? â€Å"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.† (Ephesians 4:25). God makes it clear that â€Å"all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone,

General Questions for Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

General Questions for Marketing - Essay Example Therefore, a marketing orientation that covers all four directions and the best barometer of success, have been introduced that include product, price, place and promotion. 1. Product (customer solution). Before companies initiate the products in their minds, they should consider if these are desired or needed by their target market. For instance, General Electric is always conversing with their customers with regard to what product they should offer to make certain that the customers would buy their product, or else they will suffer horrible losses. A product perceived by a customer as a unique, different, and much better compared to competitors has a big opportunity to be successful. It is important that customers will get attracted with the features and benefits they can get, and most importantly are the attributes, performance and consistency of the product. The customer is the one who will purchase and use the product; therefore companies should give them priority with regard to what they should be offering. 2. Price (customer cost). The company should also set a specific place or position in the marketplace and in the minds of their target market to be competitive, and one of those, is getting their price right. Today, pricing is not just lay-outing the selling price to the customers because if they find it unjust or not worthy, they might turn down the product. Traditional pricing is not anymore appropriate today wherein customers are becoming price cautious. Therefore, before a company begins to design its product work, they should see to it that their target price range is made available to the general public, and the cost would not be a too much burden to them. For example, JetBlue and Southwest airlines are offering low-cost fares to freight customers in order to compete with legacy airlines, and consequently they have been successful and gain more market share. 3. Place (customer convenience). A quality product offered at a fair price should be dist ributed in a channel that is accessible to the target market. Companies of today are now using high technologies in order to reach their customers at ease. The internet and other software distribution tools are among the new distribution channels used by various companies. For instance, Wal-Mart adopted several systems like RFID (Radio-frequency Identification) and retail link in order to meet customers’ needs and make their product available to them. Customers should be given emphasized by the company in looking for product location because they are the one who will purchase, and their satisfaction matters. 4. Promotion (customer communication). Good promotion means giving the right information to the right person at the right time through advertising, public relation, personal selling, etc. that could help in gaining more customers; just like the sales promotion activities of Dr. Peppers against Mountain Dew and Sprite which are considered to be the company’s secret to have a solid market share increase. It is a basic fact that if the target market did not know the availability of the product or the information is not enough, then it is expected that they would not purchase the product. On the other hand, if they are aware on the existence of the product as well as its features and benefits, then they are likely to purchase. Promotion is expensive and crucial to the

System Development and Business Processes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

System Development and Business Processes - Essay Example Neither the storage of this information, nor the retrieval should be a time consuming exercise. All this should happen at the click of a button. YellowPen ushers in such a product. This should therefore bring in a great reengineering in the way the internet is used. Common shareable data helps in sharing research information across an organization. Knowledge Management is defined as availability of information for the right person at the right time. Information that one needs should be available when the person needs it. This is made possible by YellowPen. By using a common server, YellowPen is able to offer its services for any body who can log on to the system using Windows. It keeps the user posted as to what are the latest postings available which she has not read by having an online icon on their job tray. YellowPen provides a personalized Knowledge Management System for every user on the net. 1. Anywhere anytime accessible repository of all their information and the related information makes this methodology a unique and usable alternate to any other storage-retrieval mechanism that is in use. 2. Storage and retrieval is on the fly. When you need to store a specific information, all that we need to do is, drag and drop the specific page. The software captures the entire page with all its graphics and images into the YellowPen system. Along with this it also captures, who did the capturing, data and time stamps in addition to the location from which this was captured. YellowPen also captures a host of metadata along with this that helps in keeping the page updated and easily searchable for instant retrieval. 3. Being an encrypted and password protected database, it makes sure that the data is available on a single server and also is very well protected. It is also very well integrated with the current trends in piping XML data over RSS or Dublin Core. Do you believe that organizations will be better served by implementing YellowPen as an additional resource in a corporation Knowledge management in a company is very important. Nearly 60% of the information or knowledge in any company is in the minds of the people. Most of this knowledge gets transferred in the form of emails which are very difficult to search and locate when the need props up. A database with all the relevant information, easy to search option and a common repository where every body puts in relevant information is very useful and would bring out at least 20% of the dormant knowledge. If every company 'knows' what it 'knows' and could make use of that dormant knowledge residing in the emails and in the minds of the people, then certainly that company would be able to beat the competition. If a large company should need personal solution for these knowledge management systems, then they could create their own server with the software, which should be very valuable for their

What Honda has to offer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What Honda has to offer - Essay Example Honda therefore presents itself as a corporation which is founded upon the solid values of delivering high quality and efficient design cars besides portraying itself as an organization which shows its concerns about preserving the environment. This therefore allows Honda to become attractive especially to such audience which considers its ethical consumers and base their buying decisions on the basis of an organization’s environmental protection records. In order to compete with established firms in aircraft industry, Honda needs to rely more on its legacy and market its past successes in terms of bringing in high quality and efficient design car technology. Further, Honda also needs to ensure that it pitches its message to the audience which is its tested market. Honda has been more successful in markets other than US or Europe therefore in order to compete with these firms, it is critical that Honda must adapt to the regional marketing targeted specially at Asian

The Process of Essay Writing Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Process of Writing - Essay Example Initially, in order to decide the central idea, the writer needs to think what the purpose of writing the essay is (Carter, 2006). A further step is to identify the audience/readers whom the writing is intended to address. Once these two matters are determined, a thesis sentence can be made without any uncertainty. The thesis statement must be potent enough for exploration. See one thesis statement; ‘today the balance between work and play/recreation is not found in a justifiable ratio in the lives of professionals’. This assertion clearly indicates what the writer has determined to describe in the coming paragraphs. In other words, the following part of the essay is solely dedicated to establishing this opinion. Obviously, the writer needs to bring supporting evidence and reasons to strengthen his view because it can have an inevitably refuting opinion. However, the introduction is exclusively meant for clearly stating the writers view before entering a deeper level of thinking. In fact, the initial step of writing an essay is to create a draft or a master plan. The purpose of the draft is to organize the total content and structure of the essay since the thesis statement to the conclusion (Tarafder, 2009). It takes in various supporting ideas and examples that have to be presented in the following paragraphs. The writer can make a collection of appropriate phrases that would modify the chosen topic. For instance, consider some keywords that can be used for the above-mentioned topic; hectic schedule, stress, and strain, amusement, pleasure, exhausted, revitalize, fatigue, turmoil, physical requirement, enhances immunity etc.

System Development and Business Processes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

System Development and Business Processes - Essay Example Neither the storage of this information, nor the retrieval should be a time consuming exercise. All this should happen at the click of a button. YellowPen ushers in such a product. This should therefore bring in a great reengineering in the way the internet is used. Common shareable data helps in sharing research information across an organization. Knowledge Management is defined as availability of information for the right person at the right time. Information that one needs should be available when the person needs it. This is made possible by YellowPen. By using a common server, YellowPen is able to offer its services for any body who can log on to the system using Windows. It keeps the user posted as to what are the latest postings available which she has not read by having an online icon on their job tray. YellowPen provides a personalized Knowledge Management System for every user on the net. 1. Anywhere anytime accessible repository of all their information and the related information makes this methodology a unique and usable alternate to any other storage-retrieval mechanism that is in use. 2. Storage and retrieval is on the fly. When you need to store a specific information, all that we need to do is, drag and drop the specific page. The software captures the entire page with all its graphics and images into the YellowPen system. Along with this it also captures, who did the capturing, data and time stamps in addition to the location from which this was captured. YellowPen also captures a host of metadata along with this that helps in keeping the page updated and easily searchable for instant retrieval. 3. Being an encrypted and password protected database, it makes sure that the data is available on a single server and also is very well protected. It is also very well integrated with the current trends in piping XML data over RSS or Dublin Core. Do you believe that organizations will be better served by implementing YellowPen as an additional resource in a corporation Knowledge management in a company is very important. Nearly 60% of the information or knowledge in any company is in the minds of the people. Most of this knowledge gets transferred in the form of emails which are very difficult to search and locate when the need props up. A database with all the relevant information, easy to search option and a common repository where every body puts in relevant information is very useful and would bring out at least 20% of the dormant knowledge. If every company 'knows' what it 'knows' and could make use of that dormant knowledge residing in the emails and in the minds of the people, then certainly that company would be able to beat the competition. If a large company should need personal solution for these knowledge management systems, then they could create their own server with the software, which should be very valuable for their

The Process of Essay Writing Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Process of Writing - Essay Example Initially, in order to decide the central idea, the writer needs to think what the purpose of writing the essay is (Carter, 2006). A further step is to identify the audience/readers whom the writing is intended to address. Once these two matters are determined, a thesis sentence can be made without any uncertainty. The thesis statement must be potent enough for exploration. See one thesis statement; ‘today the balance between work and play/recreation is not found in a justifiable ratio in the lives of professionals’. This assertion clearly indicates what the writer has determined to describe in the coming paragraphs. In other words, the following part of the essay is solely dedicated to establishing this opinion. Obviously, the writer needs to bring supporting evidence and reasons to strengthen his view because it can have an inevitably refuting opinion. However, the introduction is exclusively meant for clearly stating the writers view before entering a deeper level of thinking. In fact, the initial step of writing an essay is to create a draft or a master plan. The purpose of the draft is to organize the total content and structure of the essay since the thesis statement to the conclusion (Tarafder, 2009). It takes in various supporting ideas and examples that have to be presented in the following paragraphs. The writer can make a collection of appropriate phrases that would modify the chosen topic. For instance, consider some keywords that can be used for the above-mentioned topic; hectic schedule, stress, and strain, amusement, pleasure, exhausted, revitalize, fatigue, turmoil, physical requirement, enhances immunity etc.

Drugs State Control Essay Example for Free

Drugs State Control Essay A drug is any substance that alters the normal biological functions of the body. Production of Illegal drugs is normally prohibited and their use is strictly controlled because they can lead to addiction or habituation. Drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana can be extremely dangerous if wrongly used and beneficial if put into correct use. The issue of drug use and misuse has posed a serious real problem. Prohibition of drug use has been at the center of discussion in various countries across the globe. Since this drugs are now on the hands of the nastiest criminals all over the world, control and regulations are necessary. The only remedy to this menace is full legalization accompanied by appropriate controls. I fully support the motion that drugs should be legalized since prohibition will deny the authorities the chance to educate the children on proper use of the drugs (Gargaro). The ongoing debate on legalization of drugs is asking the government whether it will help in solving drug problems appropriately. If I were asked a similar question, I would say yes. This is because the current prohibitions on drugs are just mopping up the problem and not providing real solutions. Legalization and taxations are the only ways through which real solutions can be achieved. Just think of this situation; at least every year in Britain, criminals control billions of pounds in the drug industry instead of the government and traders through the black market. This kind of business has encouraged global terrorism, illegal munitions trade, control on prostitution, and sexual slavery. Almost half of all the criminal offenses committed in the country are drug related. Couldn’t reducing these crimes free our legal services and prisons at least for a moment? Unnecessary prohibitions on drug use has led our children into committing drug related crimes, and this has denied them the much needed advice on drugs, besides undermining our respect for the law. The government should therefore take the obvious step, put all the drugs state control, and impose legislation and taxes on their sale. This will relieve our country the burden of staggering under unnecessary prohibitions (Gray). Prohibitions on drug and substance abuse such as alcohol have been in place since the 1920s in the US and other developed countries. It has made people believe that taking it is a criminal activity, which can land someone in jail. The ill effects of the drugs and alcohol are so adverse such that no sane person could like to be associated with them by using the drug. So many people are convinced that these effects are harmful, and have successfully restrained from the habit. It is good to establish such a law in the society, and most government has effectively controlled drug abuse since time immemorial through prohibitions. For example, the alcohol prohibition act of the 1920s proved effective because cases of alcohol consumption greatly dropped even though it did not succeed in eliminating the alcohol. The rate of crime and drunkenness dropped and taxes were reduced by putting the offenders in jail. Minor crimes such as vagrancy, public indecency, and disorderliness have been successfully eliminated use to these prohibitions. This is enough prove that this method really works (C.S). Prohibition of drug use in countries such as the United States, Britain, and other parts of the larger Europe has proved to be futile and the war on drugs in these societies has caused multiple harms to the users. Since prohibition is aimed at increasing price and penalty of a serious drug habit, it makes it unaffordable for most individuals. Penalizing the use of the drugs drives the law-abiding individuals into the criminal market economy. Criminalizing users and prohibitions exposes them to health risks that could have otherwise been avoided. In addition, it doesn’t make sense to criminalize some drugs while providing a free market to others. This distracts attention from legal to those that a re harmful but legal, such as alcohol. The prohibition on drugs has never and will never work. This attempt of trying to deny people their right of doing what they want with their bodies is doomed to fail as long as the person using the drug does not harm his or her neighbor. The current method that has long been used to fight the drug war is very expensive and has not yielded any meaningful results. It is a simplistic solution that has all along failed to recognize the complexity surrounding the problem. It has also been oblivious of the dangers a drug has on the individual. Full scale legalization of the drug act will enable the state to educate the public on risks associated with drug use, and how such problems can be taken care of. While there is a possibility that the act of legalization of drugs will attract more users, their lives will be much healthier and safer. Let us not get speculative here, since we are aware of people who used to take drugs but still leading healthy lives. For instance Barrack Obama to have taken Cocaine (Hope). The common myth surrounding the whole idea of legalizing drugs is that it will make people law abiding citizens, and enable the government to tax the industry. However, I am not sure whether the cartels will be naà ¯ve enough to allow the government takes over such a lucrative business. If the cigarette market has been able to evade the government’s taxing system, what about this industry that has an elaborate network of producers and illegal suppliers in the market? Legalizing and taxing drugs as some argue is not a solution to the drug menace in the world today. The reason is that the black market will be given an easy path to groove is because the act will be made socially acceptable. It will be much easier to take these substances to the market under the legalization act as opposed to government regulated outlets. This would also increase funding for the crime because the drugs will be easily accessed by users who can in turn lure non-users since there are no laws prohibiting the act. What are the results? The drugs will circulate in the society, destroy more lives, tear families, and cause people to be violent. Even if the current war on drugs is not effective, legalizing drugs is much worse and should not be passed into law (James). Conclusion The war on drug has brought more harm than good, and the policy on drug use has failed to protect the people it is intended to. In Mexico alone, the war on drug policy has claimed close to 14,000 lives since 2006. This figure does not however include those people who have been traumatized, maimed or displaced. Prohibitions on drug use have resulted in wars between the authority and the users in most cities across the world, and this battle seems not to be coming to an end any time soon. The war on drug should therefore, be stopped and pave way for the government to impose control measures and legalize the whole business. I support this motion because I believe that the outcomes of such a move would be beneficial, both for the state itself and in the fight against global drugs crime.

Nature And Scope Of Romanticism In Music Music Essay

Nature And Scope Of Romanticism In Music Music Essay Essay topic: Critically compare the main ideas regarding the nature and scope of Romanticism in music as set forth by Warrack, Samon, Burkholder and Whittall. Then, choosing any three major pieces of 19th century instrumental music critically compare their structure and style in some detail in light of the ideas you have gathered about Romanticism and its influence on musical composition in the 19th century. To set your suitable context, you should also carefully consider the extent to which the formal, tonal, stylistic and aesthetic aspects of the works chosen for study show their indebtedness to the spirit and forms of the preceding Classical period and the ways in which they may comprise a continuation, or a significant modification or even a repudiation of these. The Romantic period took its name from the ancient lingua romana of France. In the 18th century, scholars use the term to refer to free and imaginative (Samson, 2001). Warrack 1987, described Romantic as the period which was adventurous both in subject matter and in its invention. Unlike Classical, the Romantic represents a period of a domination of instinct over reason, of imagination over form, of heart over head. Whittall described in her article that Romantic does not move away completely from classical music, but it give more emphasise of element already present in classicism. Romantic composers tried to make music speak programmatically.There were many features of Romanticism that were distinct from the classical period, however many of them are derived from the Classical root. The most important of the many deriving from the key figure of Rousseau, was a new preoccupation with nature (Warrack 1987). Romanticism also saw an increased focus on melodies and themes. Orchestra was expanded and each instrument had its own role. The emphasis on melody found expression in extensive use of cycle form. New attention was also given to national identity. The Classical era was also one which was highly productive. Music became much more expressive, and the sound and quality of the instruments became more refined. This increasingly led to music being created which was able to evoke emotions and instill character such as none before its time. The combination of these elements has heavily influenced the subsequent development of music to the present time, from the very language of music to our increasing understanding of the link between music and emotions. In the following essay, I am going to discuses the main ideas regarding the nature and scope of Romanticism in music. Also three works of Romantic period will be compared in its formal, tonal and aesthetic aspects which show their repudiation and continuation to the sprit and forms of the preceding Classical period. Part one French Revolution The late 18th and 19th century was a time of political and economic revolution Napoleon Bonaparte became the leader of the Republic in 1799 and conquered most of Europe. Although the Revolution failed, its idea, which included the freedom, reform and a new concept of nation, speed across Europe (Burkholder, 2010). This Revolution had a significant impact on music, the French Revolutionary government supported large choral works and opera with librettos on themes of the Revolution or concerns of the time. Nationalism Because of the struggle of Revolution, Romanticism played an essential role in the national awakening of many central European people lacking their own national states. Revival and reinterpretation of ancient myths, customs and traditions by romantic poets and painters helped to distinguish their indigenous culture from those of dominant nation. The increasing importance of nationalism as a political force in the 19th century was mirrored in music and other arts. Many composers expressed their nationalism by incorporation elements unique to their native culture, such as folk song and dances. Composers used elements of rhythm, melody and modality characteristic of their respective nation (Kamien, 2003). The nationalist music echoed peoples fears, hopes and aspirations; it was the voice of Revolution. This national flavor of Romantic music-whether Polish, Russian or German contrasts with the more universal character of Classical music. Industrial revolution During the Romantic period, there were two major events that transformed Romanticism. New technologies began to transform the economy from a rural to an urban economy based on manufacturing by machines. It made major improvements in the mechanical valves and keys that most woodwind and brass instruments depend on. The new instrument often had a bigger, fuller and better tuned sound. They were played in new ways to produce different tone color. In addition, the development of piano enabled louder dynamic and more varied tone color. At the same time, there was a rise of the middle class. Whereas composers had previously lived on the patronage of the aristocracy, romantic composers often wrote for public concerts and festivals with large audiences of paying customers. Individualism Romantic music puts unprecedented emphasis on self expression and individual equality of style. Many romantic composers created music that sounds unique and reflects their personalities. The Romantics presented boldness over the preceding ages desire for restraint. They promoted the conception of the artist as inspired creator over that of the artist as maker or technical master (Kamien, 2003). Through individualism, the composer would reveal the world in expressing himself, hence the growing importance of expression as a source of aesthetic value, overriding the claims of formal propriety and convention (Samson, 2001). In addition, the changing economy not only made individualism attractive to the newly rich, it made possible a free market in the arts in which composers could play for audience who would pay for their performances. The emphasis on emotion and expressive tone color Romanticism describes the expansion of formal structures, making the piece more passionate. While classical era had strict laws of balance and restraint, the Romantic era moved away from that by allowing artistic freedom, experimentation, and creativity. Expressive, and melody become the dominate feature. The increasing use of dissonance and extended use of chromaticism, the properties of the diminished seventh facilitate modulations to many keys. Wagner and Beethoven also expanded the harmonic languages with un-used chords. In addition, there is a greater harmonic fluidity and longer melodies. The pianos were being used which improved chromatic abilities and greater projection of the instruments of the symphony orchestra (Brooklyn, 2009). The stress on individual also created greater reliance on instrumental color. While new instruments were constantly being added to the orchestra, composers also tried to get new and different sound out of the instruments already used and Berlioz was an expert in doing this. Exoticism Romanticism reached beyond the rational and classicist ideals models. It attempts to escape the confines of population growth, urban sprawl, and industrialism, and it also attempted to embrace the exotic, unfamiliar and distant in modes. Of all the emotions celebrated by the Romantics, the most popular was exoticism. Just as Romantics responded to the longing of people for a distant past, so they provided images of distant places. The distances need not be terribly great: Spain was a favourite exotic setting for French Romantics, for instance. North Africa and the Middle East provided images of Asia to Europeans. Generally anywhere south of the country where one was resided was considered more relaxed, more colourful, and more sensual (Brains, 1998). Romantic age was also a period in which Europeans travelled more than ever to examine far off lands of which they had read. Most native peoples were depicted as lazy. Many male travellers view the women of many foreign lands and described them as more sexually desirable than the women at home, and so they are depicted in fiction, drama, art and opera. At the same time, the imagination was elevated to a position as the supreme faculty of the mind. Not satisfied with the world as given, the artist meddles with reality and creates another reality. It is dynamic, uniting both reason and feeling. The emphasis on the activity of the imagination was accompanied by greater emphasis on the importance of intuition and instincts. Part two Beethoven as a transitional figure Ludwig Van Beethoven was considered the greatest artist of all time. He was aware of Enlightenment ideals; absorbed the music of Haydn and Mozart and absorbed the French Revolution (Burkholder, 2009). His style opened new realms of musical expression and profoundly influenced composers throughout the 19th century. For Beethoven, music was not just entertainment, but a moral force capable of creating a vision of higher ideals. His music reflects his powerful, tortured personality. More than his predecessors, Beethoven tried to unify the contrasting movements of a symphony, sonata, or string quartets. Musical continuity is heightened in his works in several ways. Sometimes one movement leads directly into the next, instead of ending with a pause, as was traditional. A musical bond between different movements of the same work is also created when their themes resemble each other. In his compositions such as the Ninth Symphony, a theme from one movement is quoted in a later movement (Kamien, 2004). Piano Sonata in C minor, Op.13 Beethovens thirty-two sonata are far more difficult than the sonata of Haydn and Mozart. They exploit the stronger, tonally improved piano of Beethovens time. One of his most famous sonatas is the Pathtique. It was written in 1798 when the composer was twenty-seven. The title Pathtique suggests a tragically passionate character in this sonata. Beethovens masterful improvisational powers are mirrored in the sonatas extreme dynamic contrasts, explosive accents, and crashing chords. At the early age of twenty seven, during his early period, Beethoven had already created a powerful and original piano style that foreshadowed 19th century Romanticism. First Movement The first movement of the Pathtique is in the Classical sonata form, but the material is quite different form that of a traditional sonata forms. It begins with a slow introduction common in symphonies. The dotted rhythm evokes the style of the French overture. In this movement, the tragic mood is intensified by dissonant chords, sudden contrast of dynamics and register, and paused filled with expectancy. The slow introduction is integrated into allegro that followed it in imaginative and dramatic ways (Kamien, 2004). Second movement and third movement The second movement is in rondo form. One of the interesting features of the adagio is its range in texture. After having a thick four voice texture in the principal themes, Beethoven temporarily reduces the texture to one voice near the closing B section. The last movement, in C minor, is a rapid and energetic rondo. This piano sonata is dramatic and intriguing. Beethoven drew many new effects from the piano; in addition, he experimented with compositional techniques that he would later expand in the symphonies and string quartets. The name perfectly catches the pieces character full of rhetorical gestures. Hector Berlioz Another important genre of the Romantic period is program music- instrumental music associated with a story, poem, idea or scene. Programmatic orchestral works such as Berliozs Fantastic Symphony depict the emotions, characters, and events of particular story or the sounds and motions of nature (Kamien, 2004). The French Romantic composer Hector Berlioz is known for his symphonies fantastique. This symphony tells the story of an artist gifted with a lively imagination who has poisoned himself with opium in the depths of despair because of hopeless love (Oxford, 2002). He composed this work in 1830 which was his first major work, although there were few of the musical ideas derived from some of his earlier composition but the countless aspect of this score are representative of Berliozs individual musical style. Among them are his rhythmically flexible, characteristically long spun melody of which the ides fixe is a prime example, contrasting harmonies, use of dynamics and instruments (Boston, 2006). First movement The first movement is daydream-passions. The melancholy, passion and fury and jealousy form the subject of the first movement. The form is similar to sonata form of the Classical composition. Through the movement, there is simplicity of presentation of the melody and themes. The most important element in the first movement is the idà ©e fixes. As talked previous, Beethoven had found remarkable ways of unifying large multi movement works, especially in his Ninth Symphony, by recycling motives. Such cyclism had a profound impact on romantic composer. One strategy Berlioz used to unify the symphonies fantastique is to have a melody, which he calls an idà ©e fixe, appear in each of the five movements. The idà ©e fixe were used to represent his beloved. This recurrence of the same theme in every movement of symphony was striking novelty in Berliozs day (Oxford, 2002). Second movement The second movement was titled A Ball. It has a mysterious sounding introduction that creates an atmosphere of excitement followed by harps dominated passage. The harp may symbolize the object of affection; provide the glamour and sensual richness of the ball being represented. The use of instruments to symbolize certain things is a special Romantic feature that was not used in classical period. Third movement In the third movement, Berlioz evokes a mood of loneliness in the midst of nature: a solo English horn is encoded by an oboe an octave higher. No previous symphonic movement had ever begun with a duet between these two instruments (Kamien, 2004). He saves the heaviest orchestration for the last two movements where he depicts the fantastic and diabolical. Though the supernatural had long been dealt with in opera, this is its first expression in an important symphony. Fourth and fifth movement In the fourth movement, Berlioz creates a menacing atmosphere with the opening orchestral sound, a unique combination of muted French horns and brass playing pizzicato chords. In the last movement, the high muted strings and basses begin a succession of fragmentary ideas in contrasting tone color, register and dynamic (Kamien, 2004). From his work, we can see that Berlioz is no doubt the creator of new orchestral sound. He still maintained the form used in classical period, however he also understood the role of timbre and he made the musics importance not just in melody and rhythm but in sound. The weird, never heard before sound and the asymmetrical rhythm made this amazing work a truly romantic manifesto. Brahms and his work Another important composer in the romantic period is Johannes Brahms. He was a master of creating piece of all the traditional form. One of his most famous works is Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op.98. The first movement of this work is in Classical sonata form and is dominated by this expansive opening them. The second movement has an airs of a requiem, it opens with a melancholic sort of fanfare. The rapid third movement is a scherzo in sonata form. This movement is joyful and stomping, which resembled dancing tunes which was famous in Brahmss life time (Kamien, 2004). The fourth movement is the climax of the symphony. It is a type of theme and variation related to the Baroque ground bass form. His use of Baroques variation form is unique in the Romantic symphonic and reflects his strong attachment to the musical past (Burkholder, 2009). Conclusion The Romantic was an important period of transformation into 20th century. The Industrial revolution, individualism, the emphasis on emotion and expressive tone color has all influenced composers in later centuries. In addition, they no longer view themselves as artists writing music to suit their patrons, as earlier composers saw themselves, but as artists expressing their own ideas and feelings (Burkholder, 2009). Romantic is truly an era of greatness.