Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Essay on Poetry Analysis - The Fish - 666 Words

The Fish is a narrative monologue composed for 76 free-verse lines. The poem is constructed as one long stanza. The author is the speaker narrating this poem. She narrates a fishing experience. The author is out in a rented boat on a body of water, presumably a lake. She tries to describe the fish to the fullest, which appears to be the purpose of the poem, without saying either the specie or an approximate age. The narration gives the impression that the fish is slightly old. There are a number of reasons as to why that fish got caught by the author, including time of day, the weeds weighing it down, fish’s age, and the fact that it has been previously caught five times. This poem is full of visual imagery; one can imagine being the†¦show more content†¦Next, the speaker talks about the fish’s eyes, larger, shallower, and yellower than hers. The different pieces of fishing line caught in his jaw shows how many times he either escaped or was let go by the other fishers. Then the description of the rented boat, the parts of the boat that all turned into a rainbow. There are four examples of assonance in this poem, lines 6-7, 10, 14-15, and 21. In lines 6-7, fought/all and hung/grunting are assonants. In line 10, skin/strips are assonants and also the speaker uses hung again which she used earlier in line 7 to reiterate that the fish is dying. Blown/roses and stained/age are assonants in lines 14-15. Line 21 is the last line in this poem to employ assonance, green/weed and also the third line to use â€Å"hung†. The fish hanging on both describes its age as well as its weight. There is also repetition of â€Å"rainbow† four times, lines 69 and 75, which shows that she had a â€Å"vision† or a transformation that caused her to release the fish. The author’s diction is easy to understand, not complicated fisherman dialect. In lines 8 and 9, she uses words that offer a precise description of the fish, battered and v enerable and homely. But she also employs words that show that she has knowledge of fishing, such as, shiny entrails (line 31), and isinglass (line 41). There is a little irony in the poem. In lines 5 and 6, the author says, He didnt fight. He hadnt fought atShow MoreRelated Formalistic Approach to Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat (Favourite)599 Words   |  3 Pages Formalistic Approach to Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat (Favourite)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp; Formal analysis of poetry helps to unfold the underlying meaning of a poem. This technique does not focus on the author of the poem, or what was happening in history during the time when the poem was written, but instead puts emphasis on the actual mean of the work. Formal analysis breaths life into the literary work and allows the poem to speak for itself. For example, in Thomas Grays poem OdeRead MoreEssay on Elements of Life1095 Words   |  5 PagesWhen analyzing and understanding poetry, many may discover that there could be several different elements and styles that an author can incorporate into their poems. Many poems may seem simple and straightforward on the surface, but there could be an underlying deeper meaning behind the words. There are many instances in which a song can be compared to a poem such as Elizabeth Bishops â€Å"The Fish† and the theme song from the 1981 film â€Å"Chariots of Fire†. These two are great examples of their relatedRead MoreCompa ring Modern And Traditional Poems1359 Words   |  6 Pages apart from considering a poem’s worth by linking to its social and cultural contexts, an independent analysis is quite possible. It is in this context that a deep textual analysis of the formal features of the poems becomes significant. A formal analysis can be done for any poem of any style, modern or traditional. The modern poems such as Theme for English B by Langston Hughes and â€Å"The Fish† by Elizabeth Bishop can be compared with traditional poems such as Shakespeare’s â€Å"My mistress eyes areRead MoreA Reflection in Sylvia Plaths Mirror1013 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction to Literature Professor Lyndsey Lefebvre November 18, 2013 A Reflection in Sylvia Plath’s Mirror Sylvia Plath’s poem Mirror (1963) is evocative, provocative, and expressive. According to Clugston (2010) these are important components of poetry. Sylvia Plath’s first line is a projection of the mirror providing its introduction saying, â€Å"I am silver and exact†(Plath, 1963, line 1). The mirror is the protagonist who performs a dramatic monologue about the reflections it observes throughoutRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Fish 1047 Words   |  5 PagesModernist Poetry Analysis February 25, 2015 â€Å"The Fish† Imagism is a style of poetry that employs free verse and the patterns and rhythms of common speech. The poet is free to write about whatever they want. The goal is to unify voice and image into a talking picture. Poets then have the power to make words into things. This then creates a picture for the reader. Marianne Moore is able to perfectly get her point across without directly stating it but making it clear enough. Moore’s poem â€Å"The Fish† usesRead MoreFinal Essay: English 1Bs Journey 1128 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish in its entirety can be simply described as author, biologist and physician, Lewis Thomas had once said, â€Å"We pass the word around; we ponder how the case is put by different people, we read the poetry; we meditate over the literature; we play the music; we change our minds; we reach an understanding. Society evolves this way, not by shouting each other down, but by the unique capacity of unique, individual human beings to comprehend each other† (Thomas 120). The impact literature can bringRead MoreThroughout Literary History The Definition And Application939 Words   |  4 Pagesthroughout history we will follow the views of five different theorists and their works: Matthew Arnold (1867), Sigmund Freud (1900), Wolfgang Iser (1960), Stanley Fish (1976), and Stephen Greenblatt (1960). Our first theorist comes from the Romantic theory and criticism. This era’s focus on the â€Å"individual which led to an unprecedented focus on poetry as the personal expression of the poet† (Leitch 12). A focus on the poet’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions led to readers sympathizing with the poet. LiteratureRead MoreEssay about The Fish754 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The Fish† nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Poems to me are an expression of a person’s outlook on a particular scene or subject. By reading a poem a person can be enlightened and take an understanding of what they are actually reading. In â€Å"The Fish†, I personally was caught up in all the excitement because I know what it feels like to catch a really gigantic fish. This poem, to me, shows an outlook on nature that I have always been accustomed to. In writing poems there is a whole category ofRead MoreThe Projection Of War 1151 Words   |  5 PagesThe Projection of ‘War’ in Poetry: Applying Metaphor Theory One study that investigates the role of metaphor in poetry is Peter Stockwell (2002). Stockwell defines metaphor as ‘ the use of one expression to refer to a different concept in in a way which is still regarded as meaningful, and metaphor has most prototypically been associated with poetic and literary usage.’ According to Stockwell, much work in cognitive science has demonstrated that metaphor is related to the function of human mindRead MoreThe Poetry of Sylvia Plath734 Words   |  3 PagesSylvia Plaths poetry roots from her harsh life long battle with heart break, death, and depression. It is clear by her work, that life was a daily struggle for this poet. In the research of her poetry, i found one poem in particular that really interested me. My main focus was the poem Mirror. The narrator of this poem is a wall mirror. At first glance, the mirror appears to be human, based off of its qualities and descriptions. The mirror has the ability to recognize things, such as the small

Monday, December 16, 2019

The Work Of John Locke - 1395 Words

Different theorists have attempted to explain why individuals submit themselves to an external power to form a society. Some philosophers argue that individuals submit themselves to an external power on a contractual basis through the mutual transfer of right since, primarily, everyone has a right to everything. On party, therefore, foregoes certain natural rights and so does the other so that both converge to limited rights that govern them. Such philosophers base their argument on the assumption that sovereignty is primarily unlimited and that it is foregone when rights are transferred (Kimmel 54). On the contrary, other theorists have argued that sovereignty is never foregone upon the transfer of rights but its rather maintained among the people through the people s in the form of a government. The government is, therefore, portrayed, in this case, as an external power belonging to the people, by the people and for the people. These contrasting theories have generated heated argum ents on which of them is analytically correct. This paper provides an analysis of the work of John Locke with regard to explaining why individuals submit themselves to external power to form a society. Also, the paper provides defensive evidence explaining why Locke s work is the most compelling explanation of the question. Meaning of Social Contract as Used in This Paper In spite of the differing arguments, the theories converge on the fact that some social contract is formed between men.Show MoreRelatedJohn Locke : A Work Of Political Ingenuity872 Words   |  4 PagesTHE PHILOSOPHER JOHN LOCKE: A WORK OF POLITICAL INGENUITY Locke’s profound writings have had significant impact and influence on the works of future political thinkers till today. He is the principal architect of the enlightenment which inspired the American and French revolution. Locke’s view is instrumental to modern philosophy. As a major proponent of liberalism aim to posit †¦. The work of Locke focusses on establishing civil society, choice of leadership and right of the people to resist oppressionRead MoreEssay on John Locke: Illuminating Path to Life, Liberty, and Property642 Words   |  3 Pagesprominent man by the name of Thomas Jefferson, were greatly influenced by the Enlightenment’s most profound philosopher, John Locke. Since the beginning of Enlightenment to the 21st century, Locke’s ideas have been behind countless innovators, philosophers, and politicians; including our very own Founding Fathers. From being an enlightened philosopher to creating bold, new ideas, John Locke is the single mo st influential person in history because he helped establish the basis of modern philosophical empiricismRead MoreBiography of John Locke876 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Locke was a British born philosopher, physician, and writer that played a significant role in the framework of The United States. He was born in Wrington, England on August 29th, 1632. A father, also named John, who was a country lawyer, and his mother Anges Keene, raised Locke. Both his parents were Puritans, which influenced his later work immensely (John Locke). Locke’s parents sent him to the famous Westminister School in London where he was led by Alexander Popham, a member of ParliamentRead MoreBusiness Ethics: John Locke Essay1696 Words   |  7 PagesBusiness Ethics: John Locke Business Ethics Business ethics is defined as â€Å"a specialized study of moral right and wrong that focusses on moral standards as they apply to business institutions, organizations, and behavior† (Velasquez, 2014, p.15). Business ethics is the study of moral standards that focusses primarily on how these standards may apply to social systems and/or organizations. For this paper I will be focusing on one of the great minds of business ethics, John Locke, his ideas andRead MoreJohn Locke1098 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Locke was born on August 29, 1632 the son of a country attorney and. Locke grew up in and during the civil war. In 1652, he entered the Christ Church (Oxford) where he remained as a student and teacher for many years. Locke taught and lectured in Greek, rhetoric, and Moral philosophy. Locke, after reading works of Descartes, developed a strong interest in contemporary philosophical and scientific questions and theories. In 1666, Locke met Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper, and from then on, this lifelongRead MoreJohn Locke And Modern Capitalism1204 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Locke was a philosopher that didn’t think human thought was based on pure egoistic behavior. Locke believed people were partially altruistic, believing that people respected the rights of others by rational thought capabilities. There is speculation about how John Locke would view the modern idea of American Capitalism and how it would complement or conflict his idea of the social contract. I will argue that John Locke would be against this interpretation of modern capitalism. There are differentRead MoreBenjamin Franklin And His Life1281 Words   |  6 Pageswas only 10 years old, his father took him out of school to go work with him at his candle making shop. Ben did not like this too much because he wanted to venture out and do other things, and making candles with his father was not one of them. Ben’s father sent Ben to his brother James printing shop, and Ben was thrilled to go work at a printing shop. Although his brother did not treat him very well, Ben was still excited to work at the shop. Working at his brother’s print shop brought manyRead MoreJohn Locke : The Most Influential Philosophical And Political Thinker917 Words   |  4 PagesThe Key to Locke John Locke â€Å"proved to be the most influential philosophical and political thinker of the seventeenth century† (Kagen 213). He lived in a period of great political change; Locke’s upbringing came to influence his philosophies, and these ideas had much significance in regards to the Enlightenment. Locke was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, Somerset (John Locke 9: 478). Early on came the outbreak of the English Civil War. Anglican and possessing Puritan sympathies, Locke’s fatherRead MoreAnalysis Of John Locke s The Of The Golden Era Essay1393 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Renaissance and William Shakespeare treated us to the best writings and plays in the English language. Likewise, John Locke is a man who accomplished what many men could not. He single handedly developed a political system that had a focus on liberty, his work would help influence many men from both sides of the Atlantic. Aside from being a brilliant political theorist, Locke was an author who wrote many outstanding writings. He is remembered as being one of the best English philosophers of allRead More John Locke Essay1215 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Locke John Locke is considered to be England’s most prominent philosopher. He was born August 29, 1632 in a small town of Somerset, which is south of Bristol, England. Locke was the oldest of three children. His mother died when he was 22 years old and Locke spoke of her very well. Locke’s father was a Puritan attorney and clerk to a justice of the peace in the town where Locke was born. He was very strict with his son when he was younger. which Locke later believed that parents should

Sunday, December 8, 2019

In Hong Kong deep excavations ... free essay sample

In Hong Kong deep excavations are often used for construction of underground transportation networks, buildings basements and water distribution system. The deep excavation methods always causing adverse ground movement and result in damage of the structure of the adjacent property particularly in soft ground situation. Thus, excavation and lateral support (ELS) system is very important to prevent the excessive ground movement. Some of the researchers have studies the ground deformation created by excavations in soft clay, however seldom of researchers have studies the deformation behaviour during excavation in reclaimed Land. In this Dissertation, a deep excavation case using diaphragm wall to support the mixed ground for studying the ground movement behavior will be shared. Nowadays, numerical analysis is the major method to estimate the ground settlement and deformation induced by excavations, while it is quite difficult to select a suitable model and difficult to determine the soil parameters. Review of the soil parameters is the most important process before carrying out the numerical analysis. Hence, back-analysis will be conducted to define the parameters for excavations in mixed ground. The proposed Dissertation report mainly focuses on the behaviour of Diaphragm Wall during deep excavation. This progress review report mainly to discuss the literature review and method to analysis the behavior of Diaphragm Wall for deep excavation process.The proposed Route 6 network development in Hong Kong comprise of Central Kowloon Route (CKR), Trunk Road T2, and Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel. Route 6 will offer an east-west express link between West Kowloon and Tseung Kwan O and resolve the existing heavily congested urban road network in the central and eastern Kowloon areas [CEDD, 2015]. Contract No. KL/2014/03 – Kai Tak Development Stage 3 is required to build a Trunk Road T2. The Length of T2 is about 420m underground vehicular tunnel by using of a supporting underground structure (SUS) which consist of diaphragm walls, pre-bored H-piles, tunnel top and bottom slabs, temporary end walls for CKR connection and ventilation adits buried underneath the existing Shing Cheong Road and Cheung Yip Street. Road T2 is the entrustment works of the part of Central Kowloon Route development [CEDD, 2015].Due to widespread volcanism and plutonism beneath the earths surface in ancient, the geological profile generally in Hong Kong are volcanic and granitic materials [Sewell 2000]. The subtropical and monsoonal climate with cool dry winters and hot and wet summers in Hong Kong has accelerate weathering processes in these kinds of rocks. The profiles are usually from few meters to several tens of meters in thickness depend on the intensive of the scrubbing processes [Fyfe 200 0]. The rocks cover with Quaternary surface sediments, ranging in thickness from lamellae to several tens of meters. Quaternary superficial deposit comprises many local deposits and extensive collapse of alluvium. Marine sediments may exist in some areas above the alluvial layer. In developed areas, a few meters thick of fill soil located above the sediments surface. Groundwater level is generally higher, just a few meters below the surface. Hong Kong mainly is hilly geometry land thus lack of flat land for urban development. The past century, the extensive reclamation has been carried out at the coastal line of Hong Kong Kowloon Peninsula [Fyfe 2000]. In Hong Kong, there are 6 type of decomposition levels to classify the soil and the rock, table 4 shown in Geoguide 3 are usually used to describe the volcanic and granitic materials in Hong Kong [Geoguide 3, 2017]. The soil mechanics terminology of rock define as the material of decomposition levels from Grades I to III and Grade I is fresh rock, Grade II ; III slightly and moderately decomposed rock. Grades IV to VI decomposition material define as soil. Soil is equal to rock of decomposition Grades IV and V or namely highly decomposed and completely decomposed materials. Grade VI, defined as residual soil, which is not common found in Hong Kong and usually in a thin layer.It is not easy to obtain undisturbed granular granitic and volcanic samples deeper than 20 meters for carry out testing in laboratory. Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is the most common method used in Hong Kong to verify its geotechnical characteristics. It has recently been found that shear modulus of granitic rock is highly nonlinear even at very small strains. In-situ measurements of shear modulus of granite soil at very small strains Go by compression wave and shear wave (P-S) velocity logging tests conducted at Kowloon Bay [Ng 2000], where N is number of blow count from SPTs. A range of SPT N values correlated with Youngs modulus such as E = 200 to 3000N (kPa) was proposed by Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of Civil Engineering Development Department (CEDD) of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) [Geoguide 1, 2017]. Also, the relationships between SPT N values and shear strength parameters (i.e., effective cohesion, c and angle of friction, I ;) and fine contents are given by [Pun and Ho 1996]. The range for I ; varies from 33Â ° and 44Â ° and c from 0 to 6 kPa related to the proportion of fine contents and SPT N values. The geological feature of Kai Tak airport is a reclamation area, it is using granular fill material from the seabed to develop Kai Tak airfield by hydraulic fill method from Victoria Harbour [CEDD web site]. During the feasibility stage of the proposed Central Kowloon Route, CEDD of HKSAR has conducted ground investigation for the proposed underground trunk road development. The geological ground condition of the area generally comprises of around 10~14m thick of fill, 2~11m thick of marine deposit, 12~22m thick of alluvium, 8~48m thick of completely decomposed granite and moderately decomposed granite (Bed Rock).Throughout ground investigation process on site and laboratory testing of soil sample, most of the important soil parameters could be defined. These information is important for design the deep excavation system and the proposed works such as:In dense urban city, space for new construction site is limited thus deep excavation for substructure work will induce adverse ground movement to the adjacent property. Throughout the past 30 years diaphragm wall was widely used for deep excavations in Hong Kong such as the Mass Transit Railway, Express Rail Link, Basement of Mega High-Rise Building and Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) that provide and extra underground space for development. Diaphragm Wall is reinforced concrete wall panel constructed in the ground using bentonite slurry trench technique during excavation, slurry has unit weight around 10. 5 to 10.8 kN/m3. Obstructions such as boulders may be presented during the excavation, hydrofraise machine ore pre-boring will be used to overcome the hard material. Water-stop will be provided in the vertical joint between the reinforced concrete wall panels.The D-walls are supported by props such as concrete floor slabs for top-down construction method or temporary props such as steel struts in both top-down and bottom-up construction method. In a complex underground structure, tie-back anchors may be used which provided more working space then the traditional strutting system. The advantage of top-down method is to speed up construction process and to minimize ground deformation, while the bottom-up method is often used when working space is allowed. According to the findings from [Long 2001], the wall deflection using the top-down construction method is not smaller than the bottom-up construction method. In some case, the wall deflection using the top-down construction method is found greater than the bottom-up construction method such as the case in Singapore Nicholl Highway.Inject grout curtain to the toe of D-wall is a normal practice which to control seepage of groundwater entering into an excavation site and to prevent the groundwater drawdown and ground settlement outside the D-wall. A pumping test is performed to ensure water tightness of diaphragm wall.Bottom-up method for construction of the underground vehicular tunnel was adopted in this project, hit and miss diaphragm walls with strutting as the temporary support system for stages excavation works. The layout and details of the ELS are presented in the following:Most of the excavation are carried out in dense urban areas, so it is very important to check the stabili ty of the works which may induce adverse effect to the adjacent structures during the design and construction period. It is necessary to prepare well in advance to predict the excessive ground deformation phenomenon of deep excavation in design stage and review during the construction stage to ensure the safety and serviceability of the adjacent buildings and facilities. Inappropriate planning and design of ELS system can result in substantial deformation of soil and damage to the adjacent properties. Based on the available information of site, preventive measures will be developed for ELS works. The key elements need to be identified by finite element simulation. Therefore, numerical analysis helps to design the appropriate measures suitable for construction. The accuracy of soil deformation estimation depends on the correct interpretation of the numerical tool, the appropriate soil parameters, water pressure and properties of the lateral support system.There are three categories methods for soil deformation prediction, they are numerical methods, the analytical solutions and, empirical methods. Those methods have their own advantage and disadvantage on application which depends on the specific site constrains. Particularly, the numerical analysis can provide analysis of non-linear soil behaviour and complex construction procedure, this method needs proper understanding of soil parameters and properties of the lateral support system.Two-dimensional (2D) finite element analysis is used by Engineers since 1969, owning to the availability of computer facilities and simply for modelling of different site constrains and construction methods. In most cases, 2D analysis is conservatively predicts the deformation behaviour. This conservative prediction due to correct interpretation of the soil parameters, location and nature of fictitious boundary conditions, effect of surcharge from adjacent structures, sequence of excavations, etc.Some researchers have studied the effect of diaphragm wall on the stress distribution and deformation characteristics of ground below adjacent structure at different locations. Idealized processing of typical building loads, analysis of their effects on excavation and lateral support systems, bending moments, shear forces and displacement of D-walls. The results of the study indicate that the use of D-wall can greatly limit the ground movement under the building and safely for excavation. The horizontal and vertical displacements and the shear stress in the soil decrease linearly with the distance from the D-walls.In this research, an effort will be made to compare the soil deformation pattern in design stage and construction stage owning to deep excavation. The Trunk Road T2 is still in construction progress. The predicted deformation modelling of the mix ground soil by the computer program Plaxis will be used and also compared with the actual site monitoring measured data such as ground settlement marker, vertical inclinometer, strain gauge and piezometer during the construction.Finally, back calculation will be adopted to evaluate the accuracy of estimated soil parameters. Even under similar ground conditions, soil parameters can change significantly due to size, loading history, and excavation methods. However, these soil parameters will be followed the guidelines in Geoguides. This method can prove to be the best practice in any geotechnical energineering, as well as the initial field and laboratory investigations. Therefore, it can minimize the risk of construction and damage to adjacent structures. However, how to overcome the challenge of accurately predicting ground deformation does not have much guidance. The key difficulties of predicting ground movements from the comparison results will be suggested and recommended the improvement for the prediction throughout on the design consideration and inspection process.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Risk and Technological Advancements

Introduction Technology may refer to the understanding and tools that can allow men and women to modify available resources into a usable form. Although there are a number of technological changes that have resulted from simply modifying the existing ones, new technological innovations can also be seen all over the world (Kendall 58).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Risk and Technological Advancements specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the last 150 years, the rate at which technological changes take place has increased quite significantly. Major changes are noticeable in the world of computing where new discoveries may occur almost every day (Kendall 58). In a study done by Arnoldi, risk only became a subject of concern to nations when it became apparent that technological changes were beginning to cause a lot of havoc in the lives of people (3). The use of risky chemicals has ended up harming the health of thos e using them to carry out their farming activities. It is such threats to human life that have made men and women realize the importance of addressing the issue of risk (Arnoldi 3). Swift and Callahan, however, note that even though science and technology are blamed for being the genesis of so many risky situations, they are the best tools that we can use to tackle the emerging risks of technology (27). Edwards and Bowen also argue that what might appear as a risk to people may just be a profitable opportunity that can alter people’s fortunes. A point in case is what takes place at the stock market. Although stock market activities are characterized with fluctuations that occur from time to time presenting us with periods of huge loses, a careful analysis will show that the resultant risks are addressed with the correct attitude, these periods may end up being great opportunities that will later benefit people. Courageous traders are known to relax and wait to see prices chan ge to their benefit (11). Technology and Transformation Beyond any doubt, progress in the use of technological has radically transformed the way human beings live and interact with one another. One major effect of technological advancements that is well known to most people is globalization; the process of integrating activities of men and women taking place in different parts of the globe. With nations now operating as though no boundaries existed between them, it is now possible for many to realize their dreams so easily. International trade has been reinforced allowing business people to sell their products to a much wider market than before. The communication industry has also undergone drastic changes enabling people to reach others cheaply and very fast. Researchers can now share and also receive huge chunks of information electronically. People are now able to live much longer, thanks to discoveries in the medical world that have made this possible.Advertising Looking fo r essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although the advances in various sectors have brought about improved services and in some instance seen a huge reduction in the presence of risks, new forms of risk are now here to haunt man. Lack of proper waste management systems, the increased use of genetically modified foods, and green house emissions are some of the risks that have to be dealt with (Ropeik Gray 1). Besides having positively impacted the society, the world of technology has come with its own share of perils which are now causing fear and anxiety in the society. Planned attacks by gangsters, climate change and moral decay are also part of the challenges that have to be tackled. Over the years, discussions about risk have led to plenty of disagreements both in the political and social arenas (Borodzicz 1). Today, risk is seen to affect all areas of the economy with no exception. Human activities such as industrialization and deforestation have been blamed for the devastating effects of climate change that are posing a major risk to the existence of humanity. The health sector has also not been left behind. Outbreaks ranging from HIV/AIDS to H1N1 are slowing down progress in key sectors of the economy. Despite all these happening, discussions on the topic of risk are still considered to be less developed (Borodzicz 1). Not so long ago, there existed very little connection between security and crime. With recent developments that have resulted in scores of people losing their lives, stakeholders are compelled to go back to the drawing board and come up with better strategies of handling security risk at all levels. This was accelerated by the 9/11 and the London railway terrorist attacks which also led to massive loss of lives (Zedner et al 200-14). Zedner also argues that since our lives are controlled by security to a great extent, managing security should also be a very importa nt undertaking for all (Zedner et al 200-14). Cultural changes have also been encountered as a result of technological transformations throughout the world. It has, however, been observed that various components of culture do not change at the same pace. Whenever a change happens in the material culture of a society for example, the non-material culture must also follow suit and change accordingly (Kendall 58).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Risk and Technological Advancements specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Understanding and Measuring Risk Despite the fact that one will encounter so many contradictions when trying to define what risk really is, a popular belief held by many is that risk is the probability of experiencing loss or injury of some sort. Risk is also defined as the uncertainty which exists about the end result of an event (Figlewski Levich 4). It is the assumption that something, usually bad, cou ld happen. To be complete, the definition of risk must include the presence of a hazard which is seen as the expected negative outcome of the risk (Ropeik Gray 4). Cohrssen and Covello also define risk as being the possibility that one will suffer from a hazard (7). Faced with risk, most of us begin to worry and make plans while thinking about what might probably be the end result of an event (Karen Marilyn 19). Studies have shown that due to globalization, many risks are shared by all throughout the world. While some of the risks are considered new there are others that have been in existence for a very long time (Ale, 1). Disease outbreaks for example have been a part of the society for ages and immensely threaten the existence of mankind. Although the move in technological advances has led to increased risk in different parts of the world, other observations very clearly show that the increase is quite high in the industrialized world (Burger 1). Bouchet, Clark and Groslambert a lso noted that the risks that are faced by different countries never took center stage for a very a long time until recently (ix). Based on experience and viewpoint, people will have different understandings of risk. Adams states that we all develop skills of dealing with risk right from childhood. Through experimentation, children come across so many situations as they begin to learn how to crawl and later walk and talk. Unaware of the risks involved and completely unsure of what to expect, they make decisions and move on (1). Confusion and differences in opinion between governments, industries, communities and campaign groups are considered to be a result of the way different people will attempt to explain what risk is (Adams 1). Our own individual perceptions about risk may also negatively influence us to make decisions that could be totally wrong. In most parts of Africa for example, many people consider the harsh realities of climate change to be a demonstration of God’s anger towards mankind whereas the truth is that changes in climate are mainly due to the destructive activities of man. Personal views will also dictate how different people will react to situations given the same conditions. If felling down trees in the forest for instance is perceived to bring about drought, the reaction by a farmer in the country side will completely differ from that of a person living in the city. While the farmer might see a threat to his or her livelihood, the city resident will probably not even be moved by the pronouncement. Ropeik and Gray also argue that the way we behave in the face of risk is determined by how we recognize and respond to dangerous situations (2).Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Arnoldi, people are exposed to so many risks that are little known to them. Arnoldi places the onus on scientists who through research have a key role to play in ensuring that lay people are made aware of the different risks that man is faced with (3). Based on the nature of risk under consideration, individuals have been seen to respond differently and researchers in various fields have also come up with a number of parameters seen to influence the way people will perceive risk (Cohrssen Covello 9). Although it is quite difficult to tell what is bound to happen in the future, there is an argument that financial risk as a result of uncertainty can be easily controlled. As opposed to the earlier economies, it is now easier to identify risk in newer economies (Crouhy, Galai Mark 1). Several approaches can be adopted when it comes to measuring risk. Karen and Marilyn argue that risk is measured based on the information passed to us either through the media or experts, on the possibility of risks occurring (19). Scientists on the other hand are found to give measurements that are informed by research they carry out. Das argues that without having an elaborate means of measurement, the management of risk cannot be effective achieved (505). The process of controlling risk in organizations therefore presumes that such a mechanism exists. A study by Ricci indicates that risk can be measured by considering the probability of an outcome of some specified magnitude (18). Among others, he explains that the components of risk management will include; identifying the hazard, assessing the level of exposure to risk, and risk management actions (19). Managing Risk Das defines risk management as the act of identifying and putting an actual figure on risk (505). In the recent past, the subject of risk management has gained a lot of importance and is considered to be very critical to sound financial management (Das 3). To a very large extent, the management of ris k will differ from one organization o another and this is determined by what the organization has chosen decide will be an acceptable level of risk. Risk management is recognized by many as the force driving the business world today (Crouhy, Galai Mark 1). A common trend these days, is to address risk through the help of specialized research work. Statistical approaches are now being supplemented by works of research in the economic sector (Luhmann Barrett). Bernstein argues that the capacity to manage risk and the desire to take risk and make decisions to forge ahead form the main foundation of a growing economy (3). According to Borge’s arguement, the main reason as to why people will embark on managing risk is not to merely find the reason for what happened in the past but to ensure a secure future (6). People are known to react differently in the face of surprises and this also applies to the management of risk in different areas. If one is considered a fatalist, he or she may assume a surrendered attitude and will simply agree to deal with things as they. A fatalist will go with the flow of events and will spend time worrying about what is to come. Fanatics on the other hand have a tendency to face the future with a lot of certainty and with a strong belief that things will turn out for them as they expect. Others, however, like to take a much more practical attitude when dealing with uncertain situations. According to scientists, for example, uncertainties in life are due to ignorance (Borge 7). A very good example is the belief held by most people in Africa about the biting effects of climate change. Most strongly believe that it is an act of God and lay no blame on human beings. An environmentalist on the other hand, well informed by his or her research work, will seek to explain the actual problem by pointing out that man’s activities have played a big role in messing up the environment. According to Cohrssen and Covello, people will m ake use of what is generated through the processes of identifying or assessing risk together with other available information to decide on the approach that should be taken to eliminate or reduce risk (8). Teaf, Yessekin and Khankhasaev argue that for effective evaluation of the environment, risk assessment, risk management and risk communication must all be taken into consideration (1). The ultimate goal of risk management is seen to be the protection of both public health and the environment. A variety of techniques may be used to achieve this (Teaf, Yessekin and Khankhasaev 6). A study by Linkov and Ramadan shows that there are two different outlooks that contribute to the management of risk. First, there is the economic concern that will prompt us to want to measure the expected utility instead of looking at the likely consequence. Later, we get to weigh both the risks and the probable benefits. The other viewpoint is the based on psychological considerations. This takes into ac count the fact that risk is multidimensional and it goes ahead to emphasize that we have to make use of tactics that will direct us to act in a different way than is expected by public (4). Theories about Risk There are several theories that exist regarding risk. Besides theories presented by Mary Douglas, Ulrich Beck, and Governmentality, which are seen as being dominant in the study about risk, other theories have also been fronted by the likes of Niklas Luhnmann and Anthony Giddens (Arnoldi 62). In collaboration with several others, Mary Douglas came up with what is referred to as the cultural theory of risk. Her work was inspired by the structures that exist in all cultures. She uses her background as an anthropologist to explain the concept of risk. According to Douglas, every culture has its own good and bad. Douglas also notes that while what is considered good or bad varies from culture to culture, clear differences of these two can be noticed in all cultures (Arnoldi 38). D ouglas’ theories are very much in line with how men and women will view risk. Many people seem to understand risk from what their culture teaches. The many customs that exist in Africa today can help to explain this concept clearly. Fear of the dead for example has forced quite a number of people to get involved in activities that are meant to â€Å"cleanse them†. Serious cultural fanatics will get affected when they do not do what their culture requires of them. In his theory, Beck first draws a distinction between industrial and society risks. He then goes on to argue that a wide range of risks such as climate change that are considered to be the result of technological advances are very vital when it comes to defining the risk society (Arnoldi 46). Here, Beck also points out the fact the damage may not be seen immediately and it may take a very long time for the effects to be felt. Foucault makes use of the term governmentality so as to reveal the changes in the nat ure of government (Arnoldi 53). Foucault was driven into action by the gradual development seen in the new way of governing. Arnoldi also argues that in line with Douglas’ study, risks are to be potential eternal dangers to the society. Under governmentality, risks provide a means to make the social environment, a field that will create room for governments to intervene (58). Looking at the above discussion on theories, we can conclude that while many people may relate quite well with Douglas’ cultural risk theory, the other two theories by Beck and Foucault may be a bit complex for the common man to understand. As people get to concentrate more on planning for the future, traditions as well as vital relationships that sustained the society in the past get eroded (Swift Callahan 22). Sources of Information about Risk There are a number of credible sources of information about the subject of risk. In the study undertaken by Ropeik and Gray, science is considered to be a major source of information about risk though coupled with a lot of uncertainty (8). In spite of the doubts that exist, history shows that the results of scientific research can be very reliable. Without the intensive work of research done by scientists, it would be a nightmare for people to determine what risks they face. Scientist’s activities help so much in opening people’s eyes to the effects of risk as brought about by technological advances. Though affected by some level of propaganda, the media is another reliable source of information about risk. The success of the media is greatly enhanced by the fact that most of the time, information is presented backed by real life situations and these drive their message home very well. Watching television for example, one is able to receive information about different occurrences as they actually happened. We get to see the so many dangers that face all of us such as road accidents, drought, armed robberies, terrorist attacks, and human trafficking, to name but a few. Through the media, for example, we are made aware of incidences taking placed all over the world including earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados and disease outbreaks among others. With this very important information being available, one can make then make decisions that will that help them stay away from any form of trouble unless it cannot be avoidable. Examples of Risky Undertakings and their Dangers to Humanity There are a number of activities that human beings engage in and these expose them to serious risks. As human beings go about their day to day business looking for means to survive, they are often faced with all forms of risk. While some of these risks are as a matter of choice and can therefore be avoided, there are others that have to be done for one to survive (Beck 19). In a case where one has to eat, there is no opting out of an activity because of the risk involved. In the olden days men will go out hunting for game me at oblivious of the fact that they might be attacked by ferocious animals (Ale 3). Again, all because of wanting to make ends meet, most people in the developing nations have engaged in mining of natural resources. By so doing, they have exposed themselves to serious risks and quite a number have lost lives. This situation is worsened by poverty and high levels of unemployment that leave people with no option but to overlook the dangers associate with these activities. We are all familiar with the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS outburst that has claimed millions of lives already. This is a major concern to many economies and governments are forced to spend millions of dollars to deal with the repercussions. Employers have also lost so many valuable employees to this scourge. Many parents have succumbed to death because of HIV/AIDS and this has seen the number of orphans across the globe swell. Given that many organizations are now offering expensive trainings to equip their emp loyees, the loss of a single employee is deemed to be very expensive. Even though stakeholders are working so hard to mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS, the fight against the pandemic is far from over. New infections are still being recorded and with the high level of poverty in the developing nations, people will tend to do anything just to survive. Perhaps the worst cases are those involving terrorists’ attacks. Globally, thousands of people have lost their lives through acts of terrorism. This has seen different nations turn to commercial policing so as to ensure that they will be able to get to the root of the problem. Hamilton argues that although watchmen were forced to join this band wagon, private policing turned out to be such a brilliant idea and was embraced by several countries (141). Similarly Britain and other parts of the European world have resorted to commercial forms of policing so as to deal with challenges that face them (Johnston 123 – 134). A study by Arnoldi shows the heavy use of pesticides in farming as one of the side effects of technology and using the pesticides exposes human beings to grave dangers (3). Conclusion Following from this discussion it is very clear that we are certainly living in a world that is more dangerous than before. Though technological advancements have resulted into improved ways of living, this is has been accompanied with major risks to humanity. The issue of climate change is a man made disaster that is slowly eating us up and threatens to disturb life in the long run. Industrial activities especially in the developed nations are creating huge deposits of green house emissions into the sky that are responsible of global warming. Criminals are now also able to plan and successful executed their wicked schemes to harm others making life almost impossible. In the words of Beck, we actually are living in a world where no one is truly in-charge. We are all tossed back and forth with uncertainties th at make it so hard to make decisions. Works Cited Adams, John. Risk. London: UCL Press, 1995. Print. Ale, Ben J. M. Risk: An Introduction: The Concepts of Risk, Danger and Chance. New York: Routledge, 2009. Print. Arnoldi, Jakob. Risk. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2009. Print. Beck, Ulrich. Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. London: Sage Publications, 1992. Print. Bernstein, Peter L. Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons, Inc., 1998. Print. Borge, Dan. The Book of Risk. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons, Inc., 2001. Print. Borodzicz, Edward. Risk, Crisis Security Management. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons, Inc., 2006. Print. Bouchet, Michel H., Clark, Ephraà ¯m and Groslambert, Bertrand. Country Risk Assessment: A Guide to Global Investment Strategy. West Sussex: John Wiley Sons Ltd, 2003. Print. Burger, Edward J. Risk. Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 1993. Print Cohrssen, John J. and Covello, Vincent T. Risk Analysis: A Guide to Principles and Meth ods for Analyzing Health and Environmental Risks. U.S: DIANE Publishing, 1999. Print. Crouhy,  Michel., Galai, Dan and Mark, Robert. The Essentials of Risk Management. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2006. Print. Das, Satyajit. Risk management, Volume 1. Singapore: John Wiley Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd, 2006. Print. Edwards, Peter J. and Bowen, Paul A. Risk Management in Project Organisations. Oxford: Elsevier, 2005. Print. Figlewski, Stephen and Levich, Richard M. Risk Management: The State of the Art. Massachusetts: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2002. Print. Hamilton, Sheilah E. Watching over Hong Kong: Private Policing 1841-1941. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2008. Print. Johnston, Les. Policing Britain: Risk, Security and Governance. U.K: Longman, 2000. Print. Karen, Swift and Marilyn, Callahan. At Risk: Social Justice in Child Welfare and Other Human Services. Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2009. Print. Kendall, Diana. Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials. New York : Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Linkov, Igor and Ramadan, Abou. B. Comparative Risk Assessment and Environmental Decision Making. Dordrecht: Kluwer academic Publishers, 2005. Print. Luhmann,  Niklas and Barrett, Rhodes. Risk: A Sociological Theory. New York: Walter de Gruyter Co., 1993. Print. Ricci, Paolo F. Environmental and Health Risk Assessment and Management: Principles and Practices. Dordrecht: Springer, 2006. Print. Ropeik, David and Gray, George M. Risk: A Practical Guide for Deciding What’s Really Safe and What’s Dangerous in the World Around You. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2002. Print. Swift, Karen and Callahan, Marilyn. At risk: social justice in child welfare and other human services. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009. Print. Teaf, Christopher M., Yessekin, Bulat. K., Khankhasaev, M. Kh. Risk Assessment as a Tool for Water Resources Decision-Making in Central Asia. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004. Print. Zedner, Lucia., H ope, Tim and Sparks, Richard. Crime, Risk and InSecurity. New York: Routledge, 2000. Print. This essay on Risk and Technological Advancements was written and submitted by user AlvinMaker to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

White Australian Policy

White Australian Policy Introduction Various countries of the world are endowed in terms of resources both natural and manmade. For this reason, there are countries that tend to be better off economically than others. This has seen many people migrate to other countries in search of greener pastures in terms of better employment opportunities and investment as opportunities. Due to the high number of foreign immigrants that countries receive, sometimes countries would come up with policies which would restrict the number of immigrants coming into the country.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on White Australian Policy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Australia at one time came up with such a policy which came to be referred to as the White Australian Policy. Under this policy those immigrants who applied to come into Australia from certain regions of the world were given preference more than other immigrants. This discussion seeks to establish the reason why the Australian governments adopted this policy in the 20th century. Background Information The White Australian Policy was put in place by the Australian government in the 20th century. Specifically, the year 1901 saw the legislature pass an Act that came to be known as the Immigrations Restrictions Act. The provisions of this legislation restricted the immigration of people from certain regions of the world. Further, this act provided that prohibited immigrants be deregistered from being members of the Common Wealth. Specifically, this Act restricted the immigration of all people who were considered to be of unbecoming or loathsome character, any person suffering from an infectious or contagious disease , insane persons as well as those who were likely to become a charge against any charitable or public organization. Other persons who had been restricted from migrating into Australia were those who had any criminal records, prostitutes and any person who had been con tracted to for purposes of manual labour in Australia. The main of this Act therefore was to prevent entry of people who were considered undesirable for the progress of the society in Australia. However even though the policy has since been abolished, many historians argue that Australians remain one of the largest racists groups in the world. There was yet another restriction which required that applicants who wanted to migrate to Australia needed to pass a certain dictation test and those who did not pass were barred entry into Australia. One unfair aspect of this test is that it would more often be conducted in a language in which the applicant did not understand. This made the likelihood of the applicant passing the test very minimal. This was a move that received great support from the bigger community in Australia. As a matter of fact, in the year 1919, the Prime Minister of Australia at the time is quoted as having said that the enactment and implementation of this legislatio n was one of the greatest achievements that Australia had.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Second World War During the Second World War, there was a lot of migration as people moved in search of safe places to hide from the war. However, Australia was all the more keen to ensure that people from other countries and especially those who were prohibited by the Immigrations Restrictions Act were not allowed entry into the soil of Australia. Despite the stringent measures that the Australian government had put in place, there are numerous refuges who were non white who gained entry into Australia. When the Second World War came to an end, some of the non-white immigrants who had entered Australia left on their own volition. However, some of the immigrants had since intermarried with Australians and therefore did not want to go back to their native countries. This brough t about a lot of friction between government officials and the non-white immigrants as the government considered these immigrants as having been illegal. The minister of immigration in Australians at the time, having read the mood of the non-white immigrants gave a notice of deportation to the immigrants. This sparked heavy protest from the immigrants which later turned out to be violent (Willard, 1967. p.234). Due to these protests, the government officials loosened their measures and the non-white immigrants were allowed to stay. This marked the beginning of abolition of the White Australian Policy which was not only unfair but discriminatory as well. Further Progress In the year 1957, the Australian government further loosened its measures by allowing any non-European immigrant who had been in Australia for a period of 15 years or more to be granted Australian citizenship (Windshucttle, 2004, p.23). This would later see the Australian government revise and amend the provisions of the Immigrations Restrictions Act which provided for a system that was simpler and made entry into Australia easy than it was previously. In addition, the dictation test which was one of the requirements for any applicant wishing to enter Australia was abolished. Under the provisions of the revised Act any applicant wishing to enter Australia needed not give details of their race as was the case previously. Instead, other factors such as the ability for an immigrant to settle and integrate with the indigenous community and provide value to Australia in terms of their services were considered. The period within which a non-European immigrant could be granted citizenship of Australia was further reduced from fifteen years to five years.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on White Australian Policy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Abolishment of the Policy In the year 1966, the government of Australia decided to do away wit h the White Australian policy having acknowledged that it was highly discriminative. This saw the number of non-European immigrants rise considerably. By the year 1973, the government of Australia had resolved on eliminating race as factor for migration. This was done by requiring that any immigrant to Australia, regardless of their origin be granted permanent citizenship of Austria after having stayed in Australia for a period of three years. Further, the government issued instructions to all posts overseas that race be totally and completely disregarded when considering applicants who would wish to immigrate to Australia. The Australian government also made a ratification of all the international treaties and agreements that were in regard to race and immigration. The Whitlam government was very instrumental in ensuring that non-European immigrants were no longer discriminated against in their quest to gain entry into Australia. However, the same government came up with yet anothe r policy which put a restriction on the general number of immigrants who would enter the country every year regardless of their race (Collins, 1962, p.34). This meant that their efforts to abolish the White Australian policy did not bear much fruit since the number of immigrants whether non-European or otherwise into Australia did not go up as expected. It was not until the year 197 when Fraser came into office that the stringent measures were now lifted and there was an increased number of immigrants from various parts of the world with race no longer being a consideration of admission. The Fraser government was committed into bringing immigration changes in Australia and in 1978, the government came up with anew framework which all the more ensured that no person would be denied entry into the soil of Australia based on their racial background. The government laid emphasis on attracting immigrants from other countries, not paying attention to their race but more importantly whethe r those people can bring any value to the Australia. Current Status Presently, Australia is one of the countries who immigrations laws are somewhat friendly (Collins, 1962, p.45). The issue of race has since been dropped and it is no longer a consideration that determined whether or not an applicant will be granted entry into Australia. Other factors that are not considered and are therefore not barriers to entry into Australia include religion, cultural background, religion, language and ethnicity. By the year 2010, Australia was estimated to have a total population of 22.7 million people with more than a quarter of this number being non-European immigrants. This goes to show that Australia has embraced other races into their country and this has paid off because the economy of this country has continued to take an upward trend despite the global recession that has been experienced over time. Australian now views the social and cultural diversity that it has as a source of wealth a nd economic progress.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion The issue if immigration is one that has remained contentious in many countries. This is because many countries would like as much as is possible to protect their culture, beliefs and practices and they argue allowing many people from outside may water down their culture. However Australia has proven over time that it is indeed possible to accommodate people from other cultures and races and still manage to maintain one’s culture. The White Australian Policy remains part of the Australian history mainly because it was highly discriminative. We however get to understand that such discriminatory and stereotype kind of classifications does not help in nay way and especially for country that is seeking to grow. Growth in a society and especially economical and sociological cannot be achieved in isolation. A society cannot hope to thrive, develop or progress in isolation at the exclusion of other societies. This is because there is no society that has got all the resour ces that it will require for development and there is always the need to engage other societies for combined efforts. Researches have shown that countries that allow immigration of people from other countries without having may restrictions have the advantage of fast economic growth due to the integration of various ideas and skills from different parts of the world. Australia is a good example and especially to those countries where discrimination based on race or any other kind of affiliation is still rife. Countries and especially those that are classified as peripheral countries or third countries must give immigration a serious consideration if they hope to catch up with the affluent countries. It is only by lifting such barriers that notable economic development will be noted and the standards of life of its citizenry will be promoted. References Collins, T. (1962). The white Australia policy. New York: Australian Catholic Truth Society Willard, M. (1967). History of the white Australia policy. London: Routledge. Windshucttle, K. (2004). The white Australia Policy. New York: Mcleay Press.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Opposition to the War of 1812 From Americans

Opposition to the War of 1812 From Americans When the United States declared war against Britain in June 1812, the vote on the declaration of war in the Congress was fairly close, reflecting how unpopular the war was to large segments of the American public. Though one of the main reasons for the war had to do with the rights of sailors on the high seas and the protection of American shipping, the senators and representatives from the maritine states of New England tended to vote against the war. Sentiment for war was perhaps strongest in the western states and territories, where a faction known as the War Hawks believed that the United States could invade present day Canada and seize territory from the British. The debate about the war had been going on for many months, with newspapers, which tended to be highly partisan in that era, proclaiming pro-war or anti-war positions. The declaration of war was signed by President James Madison on June 18, 1812, but for many that did not settle the matter. Opposition to the war continued. Newspapers blasted the Madison administration, and some state governments went so far as to essentially obstruct the war effort. In some cases opponents to the war engaged in protests, and in one noteworthy incident, a mob in Baltimore attacked a group which opposed the war. One of the victims of the mob violence in Baltimore, who suffered serious injuries from which he never fully recovered, was the father of Robert E. Lee. Newspapers Attacked the Madison Administration Move Toward War The War of 1812 began against a backdrop of intense political battling within the United States. The Federalists of New England were opposed to the idea of war, and the Jeffersonian Republicans, including President James Madison, were very suspicious of them. A huge controversy broke out when it was revealed that the Madison administration had paid a former British agent for information on Federalists and their suspected connections to the British government. The information provided by the spy, a shady character named John Henry, never amounted to anything that could be proven. But the bad feelings engendered by Madison and members of his administration influenced partisan newspapers early in 1812. Northeastern newspapers regularly denounced Madison as corrupt and venal. There was a strong suspicion among the Federalists that Madison and his political allies wanted to go to war with Britain to bring the United States closer to the France of Napoleon Bonaparte. Newspapers on the other side of the argument argued that the Federalists were an English party in the United States that wanted to splinter the nation and somehow return it to British rule. Debate over the war - even after it had been declared - dominated the summer of 1812. At a public gathering for the Fourth of July in New Hampshire, a young New England attorney, Daniel Webster, gave an oration which was quickly printed and circulated. Webster, who had not yet run for public office, denounced the war, but made a legal point: It is now the law of the land, and as such we are bound to regard it. State Governments Opposed the War Effort One of the arguments against the war was that the United States was simply not prepared, as it had a very small army. There was an assumption that state militias would bolster the regular forces, but as the war began the governors of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts refused to comply with the federal request for militia troops. The position of the New England state governors was that the president of the United States could only requisition the state militia to defend the nation in the event of an invasion, and no invasion of the country was imminent. The state legislature in New Jersey passed a resolution condemning the declaration of war, terming it inexpedient, ill-timed, and most dangerously impolitic, sacrificing at once countless blessings. The legislature in Pennsylvania took the opposite approach, and passed a resolution condemning the New England governors who were opposing the war effort. Other state governments issued resolutions taking sides. And it is clear that in the summer of 1812 the United States was going to war despite a large split in the country. A Mob in Baltimore Attacked Opponents of the War In Baltimore, a thriving seaport at the beginning of the war, public opinion generally tended to favor the declaration of war. In fact, privateers from Baltimore were already setting sail to raid British shipping in the summer of 1812, and the city would eventually become, two years later, the focus of a British attack. On June 20, 1812, two days after war was declared, a Baltimore newspaper, the Federal Republican, published a blistering editorial denouncing the war and the Madison administration. The article angered many citizens of the city, and two days later, on June 22, a mob descended on the newspapers office and destroyed its printing press. The publisher of the Federal Republican, Alexander C. Hanson, fled the city for Rockville, Maryland. But Hanson was determined to return and continue publishing his attacks on the federal government. With a group of supporters, including two notable veterans of the Revolutionary War, James Lingan and General Henry Lee (the father of Robert E. Lee), Hanson arrived back in Baltimore a month later, on July 26, 1812. Hanson and his associates moved into a brick house in the city. The men were armed, and they essentially fortified the house, fully expecting another visit from an angry mob. A group of boys gathered outside the house, shouting taunts and throwing stones. Guns, presumably loaded with blank cartridges, were fired from an upper floor of the house to disperse the growing crowd outside. The stone throwing became more intense, and windows of the house were shattered. The men in the house began shooting live ammunition, and a number of people in the street were wounded. A local doctor was killed by a musket ball. The mob was driven to a frenzy. Responding to the scene, the authorities negotiated the surrender of the men in the house. About 20 men were escorted to the local jail, where they were housed for their own protection. A mob assembled outside the jail on the night of July 28, 1812, forced its way inside, and attacked the prisoners. Most of the men were severely beaten, and James Lingan, an elderly veteran of the American Revolution, was killed, reportedly by being struck in the head with a hammer. General Henry Lee was beaten senseless, and his injuries probably contributed to his death several years later. Hanson, the publisher of the Federal Republican, survived, but was also severely beaten. One of Hansons associates, John Thompson, was beaten by the mob, dragged through the streets, and tarred and feathered. Lurid accounts of the Baltimore riot were printed in American newspapers. People were particularly shocked by the killing of James Lingam, who had been wounded while serving as an officer in the Revolutionary War and had been a friend of George Washington. Following the riot, tempers cooled in Baltimore. Alexander Hanson moved to Georgetown, on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., where he continued to publish a newspaper denouncing the war and mocking the government. Opposition to the war continued in some parts of the country. But over time the debate cooled off and more patriotic concerns, and a desire to defeat the British, took precedence. At the end of the war, Albert Gallatin, the nations treasury secretary, expressed a belief that the war had unified the nation in many ways, and had lessened a focus on purely local or regional interests. Of the American people at the end of the war, Gallatin wrote: They are more Americans; they feel and act more as a nation; and I hope that the permanency of the Union is thereby better secured. Regional differences, of course, would remain a permanent part of American life. Before the war had officially ended, legislators from the New England states gathered at the Hartford Convention and argued for changes in the U.S. Constitution. The members of the Hartford Convention were essentially federalists who had opposed the war. Some of them argued that states which had not wanted the war should split from the federal government. The talk of secession, more than four decades before the Civil War, did not lead to any substantial action. The official end of the War of 1812 with the Treaty of Ghent occurred and the ideas of the Hartford Convention faded away. Later events, events such as the Nullification Crisis, the prolonged debates about slavery in America, the secession crisis, and the Civil War  still pointed to regional splits in the nation. But Gallatins larger point, that the debate over the war ultimately bound the country together, had some validity.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 200

Summary - Essay Example Grouping together of the nodes forms an ad hoc network that exposes the system to errors. The allowance of each node to interfere with each others transmission causes hidden and revealed problems within a wireless network station. The solution for this problem is available using the IEE standard and Point Coordination. The wireless networks have more chances of undetected frame collisions at the MAC sub layer. Detecting the collision and retransmitting the lost frame is imperative practice in preventing the loss of data integrity. However, the wired (Ethernet) local data networks rarely experience data integrity issues. Therefore, collision control is unnecessary for the Ethernet and wired LANs. The wireless network faces transmission issues when signal problems occur due to signal-bounce. Consequently, this necessitates the need for the MAC layer to solve these challenges. The MAC sub-layer for wired segments does not need collision avoidance protocol despite not having much transmission capabilities as those in wireless LANs. The wireless LANs is prevalent than the wired ones as they have various benefits found at the MAC sub layer of the network

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Alcoholism in families Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alcoholism in families - Research Paper Example People from all walks of life are subject to its dangers and most importantly, those living close to the victims also suffer the consequences of uncontrolled alcoholism, which promotes antisocial behavior. This paper is a critical evaluation of alcoholism in the families. Alcoholism as discussed herein, is a condition which has the potential of creating havoc in relationships as well as families. For one, alcohol itself is a substance, which reduces understanding and judgment skills in a person, in some cases leading to poor emotional intelligence. Under such circumstances, it may be found out that people who abuse alcohol are more capable of engaging in unwarranted fights with their spouses out of simple arguments (Ketcham, 2001). However, the victims of such violence especially women tend to develop an understanding at the onset of such behavior, finding excuses to justify their husbands’ actions. In this context, they may be heard making excuses such as; it is only because he was under the influence of alcohol among others, but in the long run, the behavior develops into a habit, which may be difficult to tolerate. Research indicates that alcoholic couples are 3 times more capable of perpetrating spousal abuse as compared to non-drinking or occasional drinkers (Frederickson, 2009). Relationships are supposed to be based on love and if so, it is against the expected norms to hurt your spouse either while sober or under the influence of alcohol. Definitely, if such behavior persists, these relationships continue to deteriorate and eventually, divorce or separation becomes the only viable option. In addition, it has been noted that alcoholics are more prone to committing incest with their own children. According to research, it is observable that 30% of incestuous activities involving father and daughter are as a result of alcoholism. This is one of the worst experiences that a female parent can undergo and

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Contingency Theory of Leadership Essay Example for Free

Contingency Theory of Leadership Essay At my workplace we have sales goals that we have to meet and part of my job is to ensure that the staff is achieving their goals and if they are falling behind, I help them find ways to better their selling skills and recognize opportunities. In the table below, categorize different leadership approaches that could be used in the work environment you have described. Provide different suggestions for each of the four approaches to leadership. Directive approachSupportive approach The company has weekly product knowledge training so that the employees know about the products that they are selling. The employees are also rewarded incentives that relate directly to their goals and are aware of their job duties (Jones, 2007) and new procedures shared in our weekly meetings. The individual goals also relate to work schedules the full time employees goals are higher than the part-time employees. The supportive approach to leadership of this group the management is open and very approachable (Jones, 2007). The management also has goals to meet and are always willing to offer advice and additional training to employees. They also meet with employees individually and find out what motivates that specific employee because everyone is different. Participative approachAchievement-oriented approach The employees participate in creating individual goals for themselves (Jones, 2007) and for the branch. They create in-branch promotions and try to make sales fun. Employee suggestions for improvement are put into action and employees are commended for their work ethics and participation with branch promotions. The goals that are set for the employees are realistic, not outrageous (Jones, 2007). By observing the amount of branch traffic, and amount of customers that do not currently have a specific product we can set goals that are achievable.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

My Philosophy of Teaching Essay -- Philosophy of Education Teachers Es

My Philosophy of Teaching I didn’t grow up wanting to be a teacher. I went to college after high school and studied Journalism, International Studies, and Psychology. Teaching was not a career I ever thought about pursuing. Then, I had the opportunity to spend time in the classroom and the teacher pointed out to me that I was a natural. I have had extensive experience volunteering with young people through school and church activities. I coach a high school track team. It is through this involvement and interaction with these young people that it has become clear to me that I need to be a teacher. I have a great rapport with kids and teens. I like them, they like me, and there is a mutual respect. Finally, I know I want to teach! I want to incorporate teaching something positive, something meaningful and helpful into the required curriculum. I want to teach the classics in a non-classic way. I will teach my students to learn about themselves. I want to enable them to realize what they can achieve. I will strive to build character in my classroom. I want my students to learn, interpret, and express! I don’t want to dictate. I don’t want to stand over them and lecture. I want the learning/teaching method to be one of interaction and feedback. I want to constructively correct mistakes without being critical or judgmental. I want to teach my students to teach themselves so they will be able to think for themselves and... My Philosophy of Teaching Essay -- Philosophy of Education Teachers Es My Philosophy of Teaching I didn’t grow up wanting to be a teacher. I went to college after high school and studied Journalism, International Studies, and Psychology. Teaching was not a career I ever thought about pursuing. Then, I had the opportunity to spend time in the classroom and the teacher pointed out to me that I was a natural. I have had extensive experience volunteering with young people through school and church activities. I coach a high school track team. It is through this involvement and interaction with these young people that it has become clear to me that I need to be a teacher. I have a great rapport with kids and teens. I like them, they like me, and there is a mutual respect. Finally, I know I want to teach! I want to incorporate teaching something positive, something meaningful and helpful into the required curriculum. I want to teach the classics in a non-classic way. I will teach my students to learn about themselves. I want to enable them to realize what they can achieve. I will strive to build character in my classroom. I want my students to learn, interpret, and express! I don’t want to dictate. I don’t want to stand over them and lecture. I want the learning/teaching method to be one of interaction and feedback. I want to constructively correct mistakes without being critical or judgmental. I want to teach my students to teach themselves so they will be able to think for themselves and...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Abuse of the Executive Powers of the President Essay

In the United States our President has many powers that are granted to him when they are elected into office. They have the ability to change the budget, to either cut back on spending, or implement new programs to help their citizens. They can veto a bill that they think is not ready to be made law yet and send it back to congress for further evaluation. They can appoint Supreme Court Justices. They also are the Commander in Chief of all U.S. armies, and they even have the power to send troops over to foreign nations in times of hostility in some circumstances. There are many who believe that the powers of the president are sometimes abused, especially as the Commander in Chief. There have been several instances in our Nation’s history in which the President has been able to wiggle their way around the constitutional limitations that are given of the Commander in Chief. Even though the president is unable to actually declare war he can use his powers to advance a conflict. The article Congressional War Powers, The Commander in Chief and Senator John Mccain describes how this is achieved by stating â€Å"Technically only congress has the power to declare war but the President can act unilaterally to repel sudden attacks made on U.S. Soil† (Bowling, 2008, p. 1). Presidents use these executive powers to engage in a conflict that they believe needs to be settled in times of crisis. The Constitution has a system within-it that tries to grant separate but equal powers to all branches of government called checks and balances. Although this system of checks and balances is supposed to be followed, there are ways which certain branches of government can gain more power than others. Often the President is the one who abuses the system, and uses their executive powers for their own advantages. These powers granted to the President have been abused more and more throughout our Nation’s recent history and it needs to be limited to make sure that the leader of the United States is making decisions which are best for his citizens. Literature Review In the book Executive privilege, Presidential Power, secrecy and accountability Mark Rozel defines executive privilege and how it has been implemented over time. He focuses on several cases where executive privilege has been abused including the Nixon, George W. Bush, and Clinton administrations. He brings insight on how they took the power too far and  how the country felt about their actions. The article Conflicts between the commander in chief and Congress (2008) written by Jules Lobel focuses on the Bush administration, and how the president took his powers of commander in chief too far. According to the article the administration â€Å"ignores or greatly minimizes Congress’s Constitutional Powers to declare War† (2008, p. 391). This is a prime indicator that the president is gaining too much power. Another article, CONGRESSIONAL WAR POWERS, THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF AND SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, (2008) written by Jeremy L. Bowling, Richard D. Caldwell, Ryan C. Hendrickson, and John S. Morris, focuses on how the system of separation of powers was supposed to divide the powers of the government equally, but describes how the president has used his unilateral powers too much. The article also focuses on John McCain’s views about using and restricting the powers of commander in chief. Another article that focuses on the executive powers of the president is Controlling Executive Power in the War on Terrorism written by Mark Tushnet (2005). This article analyzes what the government’s response is to outbreaks of war. It describes how Congress and the president interact with one another during times of crisis to decide what should be done. It elaborates on the difficult struggle that the government faces during these times. Usually the president has final say of what to do during these times. Another article that focuses on a different way the president can gain too much power is The Most Dangerous Branch: Executive Power to Say What the Law Is written by Michael Stokes Paulsen (1994). This article goes into depth about just how much power the president has compared to the other branches of government. One of the main points it asserts is that the president has the power to interpret the law before executing it which can play a big role in how the country is ran. Discussion ` Our country’s Constitution was arranged in a way, and developed over the years to make sure that no branch of government would become more powerful than the others. It has been amended and changed throughout history so that it can adapt to the way that citizens’ views change. Although the Constitution is written in ink it does not mean that there is one way of interpreting the meanings of laws and amendments. The constitution grants Executive Power to the President but there are also  powers called the inherent powers which are other powers guaranteed to the President, including conducting foreign policy, making treaties, using executive privilege which is used to keep diplomatic and military secrets private. These powers can be very dangerous because they can be taken advantage of, and interpreted in a way that can give the president the upper hand over the two other branches of government. Michael Paulsen describes why the Executive Branch of government is the most dangerous by stating â€Å"The executive possesses Force, Will, and Judgment the power to interpret the law. He has the sole duty and prerogative to direct and control the manner in which the laws are executed† (1994, p. 219). If a person gets elected to president who is selfish or does not have good morals then these powers could prove to be very harmful to the nation’s well-being. There have been several instances in our nation’s history where the President has acted not in the best interest of the nation, but in the best interest of themselves and his supporters. This builds mistrust in citizens about the government, and makes them question whether they actually have as much influence in the government that is promised to them by the Constitution. A power that has been abused recently, and interpreted in a certain way that makes it easy to be in favor of the president is the power of commander in chief. The president is not able to declare war officially but he can sure be one of the causes for it. Even if the majority of the country feels that war should be avoided the president still has the power to send troops over to foreign nations if there is a threat to the national security of the country. The president then has to prove why their decision to send troops to foreign nations is justified. Even if citizens do not agree with him, as long as he proves that he is trying to protect the nation, he is able to engage in the conflict. One of the most recent displays of taking advantage of executive power is when the Bush administration sent troops to Afghanistan to fight the War on Terror. President Bush had told the citizens of the United states that there was suspicion that Afghanistan had weapons of mass destruction which justified him to send troops to check out the situation. According to Jules Lobel in the article Conflicts between the Commander in Chief and Congress â€Å"President Bush had the right to not only regulate and direct troops but also hold enemy combatants against their will  for interrogation† (2008, p.392). This was a nice way of letting citizens know that the Bush administration was willing to do anything, even torture to retrieve information from individuals who they suspected knew something. The administration also felt that it was necessary to begin wiretapping peoples’ phones in order to protect citizens. This outraged a lot of citizens that felt like their privacy was being violated, and the government was over stepping its boundaries. It is true that during times of war or conflict the president has the power as commander in chief to take necessary actions in order to keep the country safe, but in some circumstances that power is over used and can almost become an excuse to carry out laws and regulations without the approval of congress. This power has proven that there needs to be some limitations on what the president can or can not do during times of conflict. Another power which has shown throughout history to be abused by the president is executive privilege. This is the ability for the president to withhold information that they feel is necessary to keep secret for the good of the public. This is a useful tool to the president and it can be used to keep the public from panicking in times of crises, and also to protect citizens from criminals who are try to receive information. It can also be used to prevent legislative oversight on foreign policy, so that the president can cooperate with other nations as he pleases. It is necessary to justify the use of executive privilege, and there have been several circumstances where there was no proof to explain the action. The most controversial issue in our Nation’s history is when President Nixon attempted to use executive privilege to cover up the Watergate scandal. He tried to withhold information from congress to protect him, as well as his constituents from getting in trouble. He could not explain the need for secrecy of the situation. Mark Rozell explains in his book executive privilege that â€Å"confidentiality was the vehicle for the cover-up of the criminal acts and conspiracies by his aides† (2002, p.53). It also explains in the book how Nixon attempted to expand executive privilege to all executive branch officials (2002, p.65). If this were to happen then the executive branch would without a doubt become the most powerful branch of government because they could use executive privilege to trump almost  anything. The Watergate scandal had truly made citizens question the reliability and honesty of the federal government. This was the first time in American History where the president attempted to cheat the system solely for his own benefit. The disapproval rating of the national government at the time directly after the scandal had dropped dramatically, and legislators began to think how to limit executive powers of the president, but would not be able to affectively come up with a solution. The Clinton administration also refused to release to congressional investigators that the White House deemed subject to executive privilege†(Rozel 2002,p. 124). He was trying to cover up his personal affairs so that he would not look bad in the nation’s eyes, and although the court claimed that this use of executive privilege was improper, and he was impeached, he still remained to be in office. The power to interpret the power of executive privilege has simply gotten out of hand and there are some individuals who believe â€Å"the power to interpret the law, including the Constitution, is like any other power too important to vest in a single set of hands† (Paulsen 1994, p. 222). This is a power of the government that continues to be abused by the president and congress has tried to figure out a way to control this power, but has remained unsuccessful. Citizens may wonder why the other two branches are hesitant about limiting the president’s power to use executive privilege. One of the reasons is because as Lobel states â€Å"The constitutional concern with congressional interference with the President’s Command er in Chief power over warfare typically focuses on detailed congressional micromanagement of the conduct of war (2008, p. 401). It is an issue to take away the executive power of the president especially as commander in chief, because although congress might make a more affective decision to a situation in times of crises, the time it would take for senators and house representatives to agree on what to do would be too costly and timely that it would hardly be effective. Congress is just too big to come to a fast conclusion that the majority agrees upon. There have been several presidents, including Franklin Delanore Roosevelt, who used executive power to change policy that actually made a positive difference in society. Roosevelt portrayed his use of executive power when he made the New Deal. The executive power is an important factor in the political process but Its primary concern is what â€Å"Professors Bradley and Goldsmith call Executive  Branch unilateralism, a fear that Presidents acting on their own might make unsound decisions, engaging in too much (or too little) military action, intruding on liberties too much (or too little)†(Tushnet, 2005, p. 2674). Presidents have a lot of power, and they can choose to make decisions that are for the well-being of our country, but the decisions that they make on their own needs to be limited so that they do not make a decision that is unconstitutional or morally wrong. There have been many instances in our nation’s history where presidents have abused their power to implement their views on policer war, or to protect themselves. Some presidents have used their executive power to change America for the better, but recently this power is interpreted in such ways that can make the president more powerful than the other branches of government, especially during times of war or when there is a conflict on policy. Citizens should be able to decide whether the country should go to war or not, instead of outing that extremely dangerous power into the hands of one man. Yes it is true citizens elect the president but they can not tell how they are going to act once in office. Presidents use strategies to get elected so that once they are in office they can do what they actually believe should be done. There have been several attempted scandals and cover-ups from former presidents to keep them from getting in trouble and the executive power still remains to be misused. The president is the leader of the nation, and should act on behalf of all people, not just on behalf of himself and his constituents. The powers of the president need to be limited even more especially during times of crisis, so that there is not too much power placed in one pair of hands, and so that the views of all citizens can be heard.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Fight Club (Film) by David Fincher Essay

This confronting movie casts the brilliant Edward Norton and the extremely popular Brad Pitt as they team together to bring the public one of the greatest suspense movies of all time. Norton plays Jack, a middle-aged man, who isn’t sure what his purpose for living is anymore and Pitt plays Tyler Durden, a soap salesman, who has come to the same realization about life. Directed by David Fincher, written for the screen by Jim Uhls, and based on the acclaimed novel by Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club is a powerful film, which fuses the highly sensitive issues that haunt its frustrated and confused protagonist with the visual representations of his mental states. It all begins when Jack becomes so frustrated with his life that he just can’t take it any longer. For his entire life, the media has painted a glorious image of wealth for everyone and has made everyone believe that they would be rich and famous eventually, while in fact they weren’t. Flooding society with more useless products and making them slaves to their own needs’, Jack realizes that it is all just a joke. Under the realization of this, Jack searches for a way to find new excitement away from the material world. He starts to visit numerous support groups for cancer victims and other diseases. This is where he meets Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter), a middle-aged woman who is also going through the same thing as he is. Together these seem to be the only places for them to find real emotions, and to be able to express their own emotions at the same time. One day while on an airplane, Jack meets Tyler Durden. While talking with Tyler, Jack notices that they have the same exact suitcase along with many other things in common. Tyler gives Jack his business card and tells him to call if he ever needs anything. When Jack returns home, he finds that his entire apartment has been blown to pieces. With nowhere to go, he takes out Tyler’s business card and proceeds to call him. Tyler comes to Jack’s rescue and the two begin living together in an old run-down house. One night outside a bar, confused in their frustration of the world, they begin hitting each other for the pure excitement and adrenaline rush. After much thinking, Tyler has made up his mind about society and has created his own beliefs. He opposes all material wealth and lives for the moment, unafraid of pain or death. Slowly he teaches Jack these traits as well, as they now begin to build â€Å"Fight Club,† an underground association where equally frustrated men can take out their emotions by fighting with one another. Soon many Fight Clubs spring up across the country and Tyler is hailed as a celebrity among the members. With Fight Club’s popularity increasing, Tyler’s plans become much bigger and he establishes â€Å"Project Mayhem,† his plan to destroy the material world. He recruits an army of equally powered men and goes on a spree to destroy all signs of materialism he sees. While watching the mayhem Tyler has created, Jack becomes disturbed by the idiocy of the followers and the violent acts they are committing. He wants to put an end to the insanity, but without Tyler he can’t stop it, and Tyler is nowhere to be found. With Tyler now missing, Jack begins travelling from city to city in search of Tyler. When asking people if they know Tyler Durden, he is given the same answer over and over: â€Å"Yes sir, you’re Tyler Durden.† Jack finally comes to the conclusion that he and Tyler are the same person. Tyler is simply a figment of Jack’s imagination. Tyler is everything that Jack wishes he could be. He looks how he wants to look. He acts how he wants to act. He is Tyler Durden. This movie combines great action sequences, romance, and suspense all rolled up into one. The great casting of Edward Norton and Brad Pitt give the movie just the right amount of masculinity it needs. How the composer creates meaning The composer creates a chilling setting, which is familiar and stereotypically American with its high-tech devices, also with fast and crisp movement of camera angles to show some extraordinary effects. The composer also used lighting to create meaning. The lab in which Jack was sitting down which we witness in the fast and crisp movement of camera shots, had very dark and dull colours. The music also rolled along to help create this setting, which is very important within the film. The director David Fincher utilizes a number of techniques to present his ideas of change. The film opens with voice-over from our lead character Jack, played by Edward Norton. He hasn’t slept in months and it’s beginning to take a toll on his sanity. He finally finds release from his troubles by going to support groups for people with various diseases – testicular cancer, bowel disease, etc. – where he finds freedom in pretending he’s a survivor, that he has nothing to lose. Thus, it also represents a new foundation as a result suggesting a change in Jack’s lifestyle. Through the character Jack the composer is also able to create meaning. Here we see that through zoom and close-up camera angles the composer shows a change in the behaviour of Jack. It becomes evident that after bearing in mind explosion of his apartment, he becomes astound and through the facial expressions we see that he is discontented. The smile that was witnessed prior to this terrible tragedy has mislaid as a consequence symbolizing a change in his attitude and his perception of the slight civilization. The composer also creates meaning, through the use of Jacks lifestyle. In this motion picture the main character Jack, changes his lifestyle through self-destruction rather than self-development. The composer has done this to show that there is more than one way to change, that change does not always have to occur in a positive way. This is one of the most important themes running through the movie. Fight Club; a movie about the change within one mans life, Jack, with the help of his ‘friend’ Tyler, who is actually a creation of Jacks mind. Jack breaks away from all of societies conventions and this leads to the many changes in his life. Jacks changes are made all the more significant through the use of colours. Before Jack’s ‘enlightenment’ all the colours used are dull blue-greys. The camera angles are narrow and focused. This creates a tone of monotony and boredom. Later, the scenes become brighter and colours are powerfully contrasted. Many of the scenes take place at night with neon lights in the background with contrast with the bright red leather jacket worn by Tyler throughout much of the film to create an exciting, almost surreal element to the scene. The camera angles become wider, reflecting Jack’s broader perspective of life. A further structural device used by David Fincher is to allude to Jack’s earlier life. One example is when he receives a phone-call from the detective looking into the explosion of his house. Jack responds to his questions by discussing how much the things in his apartment meant to him, how they were part of his identity. When the phone-call is over he says, â€Å"I would like to thank the academy.† From this statement, it is obvious that he looks back on his former lifestyle with contempt. From this film we can see how difficult it can be for one to move to another door of perception when everything around them reinforces the accepted view of the world. It is easy to accept everything that is occurring and live in denial without changing. Jack would not have been able to escape from the media induced, corporate driven life that he led if his brain had not created Tyler Durden. In Fight Club we see there are many reasons for people to choose not to change. The risk may seem too high. It might be hard work. There is a loss of the security a person has when he or she is in familiar territory where everything is known to them. Even when the opportunity stares at them right in their faces they refuse to take it. In the movie, we see Jack struggling at first with quitting his â€Å"ikea-guy† life but is soon able to boldly step away from the illusions that held him. Explanation of how the text links to both a text from the Stimulus Booklet and the play Away Clearly, change brings consequences. These consequences can vary in importance and significance; they can be beneficial, detrimental or even impartial. Change, its impact on self and the resulting consequences, which it inevitably brings, is an issue explored by many composers in a variety of texts. Change is the process of being made different. Change can be caused by anything such as time, birth, death, people and fighting†¦ The concept of changing self and its significance to the individual is explored in a number of texts including the play â€Å"Away† written by Michael Gow, â€Å"Sky High† by Hannah Roberts (BOS Changing) and the film Fight Club by David Fincher. All these texts symbolise change in a variety of ways. To show the consequences of change composers have used a number of techniques in terms of language, imagery, contrast and repetition. This film Fight Club deals with the approach in which we transform ourselves. In this film Jack transforms his standard of living through self-destruction to assertion self-development. The director David Fincher has fulfilled this to exemplify that the things we own, actually end up owing us. The change occurs when Tyler opens the door for him to amend. Unfortunately, Tyler becomes too powerful. This shows the rituals of both sides. Allusions is a structural device used by the director Fincher to contrast the Jack-then to the Jack-now, constantly making references to his earlier life presented at the beginning of the film. An example of this is when Jack is living in the dilapidated house he often receives calls from a Detective Stern from the arson unit, inquiring about his destroyed condo or feeding him information about it (the police suspect he did it to claim insurance). Jack often replies by talking about how much the things in his condo meant to him and how they were a part of his identity. When the phone-call is over he says; â€Å"I would like to thank the academy†. From this statement it is obvious that he looked back on himself with contempt. The director shows that the choices that one makes during his or her life, defines the changes that would occur to them in the future. When one looks back at the decisions that they had to make, the difference before the choice was made and after becomes quite obvious. Another aspect of change presented in the film is that change is often cyclic. As we make one decision, we are soon required to make further decisions and it is a never-ending cycle until the day we die. Therefore one never stops changing until their death. From this film we can see how complex it can be for one to move to another door of perception when everything around them reinforces the accepted view of the world. It is easy to accept everything that is occurring and live in denial without changing. Jack would not have been able to escape from the media induced, corporate driven life that he led if his brain had not created Tyler Durden. In link to ‘Sky High’ by Hannah Robert’s it demonstrates that responsibilities force a person to change, and that the change is not always optimistic, other than it has to be embraced for a character to established, and that although there is a change it is most undoubtedly not an end, but rather a progression. This text has contributed a great deal to my understanding of change. It helps us to see how difficult it can be to change ones lifestyle and to change their view of the world when it is reinforced as being the accepted view of the world that we must adhere to, and sometimes it requires something as drastic as an imagined person to change that view. The other thing it has contributed is that there are many reasons for a person not to change, risk, too hard work or the loss of security in their new life, but once that change is made, the person’s old lifestyle seems contemptibly inadequate. In â€Å"Sky High† by Hannah Roberts, it is not another person, which outlines a change in self of the persona, but an object (a clothesline) that triggers a memory from the persona’s youth. Personification of the clothesline, and it’s relation to the author’s own change in self since her youth, is one technique incorporated by Roberts. When describing her and the clothesline in the first two paragraphs, we are given the phrases â€Å"silver skeletal arms† and â€Å"smooth, sweat damp hands†. Comparing this to â€Å"age-warped washing line† and â€Å"hands, beginning to accumulate†¦wrinkles† one can see the dramatic realisation of the changed persona. Another representation of the changing influence of the clothesline is the descriptions of the hanging clothes. Where as in her youth the clothesline was â€Å"festooned with socks and knickers and shirts like coloured flags in a secret code†, Roberts now â€Å"write(s) my own semaphore secrets in colourful t-shirts and mismatched sock†. This suggests that as a child, the author thought that the clothes were hung out in â€Å"secret code†. Now as an adult she realises the ordinariness of the practice. The â€Å"semaphore secrets† that she writes as an adult expose to the reader the question if these are messages of unhappiness. The narrator utilizes an analogy to illustrate how responsibilities and social conventions limit a person’s ability to follow urges. The writer wants to ‘fly’ as she did when she was young, but she is concerned that the conventions of her modern life will not allow her to do so. Remembering the minute details of the garden develops a nostalgic mood. This is so as a person remembers details such as these if they treasure the memories Sky high has contributed to my understanding of change by showing that responsibilities force a person to change, and that the change is not always positive, but it has to be embraced for a character to mature, and that although there is a change it is most definitely not an end, but rather a process. On the surface ‘Away’ by Michael Gow, may possibly appear like a simple narrative about three families who take off for a holiday. People are shown as going away, being pulled away, being washed away, walking away and so on. What is also stressed however is the act of recurring, regrowth and renewal that results from their ‘away’ experience. Away presents the concept of change as self-recognition and renewal through the portrayal of the key characters who journey from fear, isolation and delusion to an understanding and acceptance of themselves and their relationships with others. Away is a short though direct play, which deals with many variations of change, each of which is a change of character or personality, which occurs as a realization as the events in the play, get through to them. A perfect example is Gwen, a middle-aged mother with the need to control. Her resistance to change is of an attitude as her family suddenly becomes separate in reaction to her behaviour. The family is on a holiday and what was meant to be enjoyable, becomes a conflict which causes her daughter Meg to isolate herself from her. Gwen depicts this resistance to change with the importance of it. Simply compare changing toothbrush to changing personality, which will have a resisting effect. Michael Gow’s play is very theatrical. While much of the dialogue is realistic, drawing on the idiom of the day, the storm and the appearance of the fairies break away from realism. Gow draws on the conventions of comedy and tragedy as the play moves from the comic to the tragic. Many of the characters appear as stereotypes found in comedy- the nagging wife, the henpecked husband, the pompous teacher, – but as the play progresses these stereotypes are abandoned as the characters are confronted by the need for change. They become individuals capable of change. The composer exploit Language to provides a precious impending into the intelligences of the protagonists. Gwen’s continuous and tedious use of clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s creates her the parody of a middle-class housewife with high-class aspirations. In the final act, mime plays a vital role. It is the explicit lack of language here that provides the audience with a perceptive of the high level of self-awareness and imminent that is now shared by the protagonists. Perhaps the two most significant characters in ‘Away’ who experiences the most profound changes are Gwen and Coral. * Gwen is one of the most momentous protagonists in the play. She changes from being a stress ridden control freak of a mother and wife to coming to an understanding of life and the fact that humans are not in control. The plainest demonstration of this is the storm, which trashes her perfectly planned holiday. Note that in the stage directions, the fairies single Gwen out for particular attention in the storm. Gwen experiences an epiphany during the walk with Vic, presumably in reaction to the news that Tom is dying. She returns from the walk a changed woman, and it is she who stands and applauds Coral as she ‘walks’ in ‘Strange on the Shore’. * Coral has lost her grip on reality. At the beginning she is a woman pervading grief at the death of her only son in the Vietnam War. In attempting to respond to her husband (Roy’s) plea that she behaves ‘normally’, she enters a relationship with a young recently married man named (Rick). She than adopts the persona of the artist on the beach, and it is Tom who recognises her as the headmaster’s wife. She achieves some kind of acceptance of life and loss through her performance in ‘The Stranger on the Shore’. (â€Å"I’m walking, I’m walking† represents a return to life). The ‘walking’ becomes symbolic of Coral’s return to reality, her final acceptance of the death of her son who died in Vietnam. Tom is responsible for her ‘healing’. He determines Coral’s role in the play. In Act 5 scene 1 we see her reconciled with her husband Roy. These changes are represented dramatically in the pl ay. Her situation in ‘Away’ is symbolized by her role in the little play- when she walks at the end, she is retuning to life where she belongs. Opening on the last day of the school year in 1967 and closing on the first day of the next school year, the play spans only a few short weeks in the lives of its characters and yet their perspectives and understandings have changed radically over that time. Possibly the character who experiences the most philosophical change is Gwen. Through the intensity of the emotional conflict she encounters, she has had to acknowledge the inevitability of change in life and has adjusted her expectations accordingly. This change of perception over time can be contrasted to the reminiscing of Hannah Robert, in her story â€Å"Sky High†, Text 3 in the Board of Studies ‘Changing Booklet’. Where the older narrator looks back on a lighter, less burdened childhood. The rewarding repercussions of confronting change and of living for the present have been highlighted by the texts I have studied which in turn delineate the integral nature of change in the lives of people and their relationships.