Comparison Of Bram Stokers Dracula And Coppola`S Dracula

Dracula, for long has been taken as a character in literature which resembles itself closely with the fear factor. The theme speaks volumes about the Draculanian culture whereby the feared perspective is made visible in the form of different sub elements as well as depictions that accompany its dissimilar and varied movements, the battle actions and so on and so forth. Dracula is indeed the end of all characters that have represented the society with regards to evil and wickedness.However it would be best to put the same in the light of the supernatural mystery that has surrounded such characters. Horror fiction, gothic novel and invasion literature have spoken volumes about this character every now and then and since this forms up as an important piece of evil regime therefore it has its own right in the present as well as past scheme of things, which is literature in this case. The key text reveals this sense of gothic implementation with line like â€Å"My friend. — Welcom e to the Carpathians. I am anxiously expecting you. Sleep well tonight.At three tomorrow the diligence will start for Bukovina; a place on it is kept for you. † (Stoker, 1) Here, the language of this note depicts a sense of mystic approach as well as almost an instruction of a treasure hunt. This is a technique that is used for developing the supernatural incidents that are going to take place later in the novel. This indirect manner of approach is nothing but the prelude to the later mystical narrations. It can also be mentioned that Dracula in Stoker’s text is always a polished and sophisticated villain in every aspect of the terms.This is because polish in appearance and sophistication in approach was highly regarded as a great virtue during the author’s era and Stoker presented his villain in the mode of the era. On the on the other hand Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker's Dracula in 1992 presents Dracula as a fire spitting monster as a vampire. It ap pears that Coppola tried to translate the gothic structure of the novel into his movie and in the process exaggerated the concept of gothic vampire and turned Dracula into a regular Hollywood monster.It is possible that the director tried to emulate the flavor of the present era where the end result counts the most. Thus Coppola’s Dracula resembles an approach that is more effective as a killer than the original character. The first dialogue in the movie by Dracula appears to be very flat in comparison to the letter mentioned earlier. â€Å"Welcome to my home. Enter freely of your own will and leave some of the happiness you bring. † (Kuehl, 1) The dialogue here is very business like and to the point.There is no mysticism involved as in the original text. The simple reason behind this is that there is a difference of more that a century between the two productions and within this time it should be mentioned that the perspective of life has changed and there is a huge d ifference of the perceptions of people of the 1897 and that with the audience of 1992. Furthermore the mediums are different too. A movie is comparatively a faster medium than a text and thus time management is necessary.As a result it is important to keep each and ever aspect concise and to the point. However, it should also be mentioned that the original flavor of the text is missing in the movie by a distance. References: Stoker, Bram; Dracula; literature. org-The Online Literature Library; 2006; retrieved on 25. 06. 2007 from http://www. literature. org/authors/stoker-bram/dracula/chapter-01. html Kuehl, BJ; Bram Stoker's Dracula; HorrorLair. com; 1992; retrieved on 25. 06. 2007 from http://www. horrorlair. com/scripts/dracula_bram_stoker. html

Ptlls Level 3 Assignment

Write a concise summary (approximately 1’200 words) to demonstrate your understanding of your role and responsibilities as a teacher in relation to: ? Your responsibilities and those of others who have an effect on your work. ? Legislation – how might it impact on your area and context of teaching. ? Equality, diversity and inclusion – in what ways can you integrate these principles into your teaching. ? Internal and external assessment requirements- what requirements do you need to follow in this area. Keeping records – what records do you need to keep and why. Recommended word count 1’200 words†¦.. Tip. (Highlight your text click tools select word count) Assignment 2 – ANSWER: Your responsibilities and those of others who have an effect on your work As a teacher it is your responsibility to ensure the learners achieve the intended learning outcomes which should give them a fair opportunity of passing the course assessment criteria.The teachers role would normally include the following:- †¢Identifying the learner needs, completing an initial learner assessment prior to the course will give a better understanding of learner knowledge / experience; †¢Knowing the availability of any specific resources to assist in the learning process; †¢Identifying learner outcomes and liaising with key stakeholders / employers to discuss desired outcomes and the planning of varied activities to aid the learning process; †¢Ensuring suitable ccommodation / facilities are available, to provide the desired learning setting; †¢Ensuring adequate lesson plans are available for the programmes being delivered, and that the lesson plans are followed or adapted to ensure all learning outcomes are met; †¢Provide learner support as deemed necessary to achieve the learning outcomes; †¢Ensuring that all learners are not only included in the learning process, but actively participate; †¢Assess learners achie vements throughout the programme, giving feedback in a positive manner; †¢Assess learners achievements at the end of the programme, and recording those achievements; †¢Internal verification of colleagues assessment decisions and reviewing assessment records; †¢Review and evaluate feedback from learners and other stakeholders, in order to improve future delivery techniques and programme resources; †¢Maintain adequate records of assessment for traceability and quality assurance requirements, particularly with external organisations, such as awarding bodies; †¢Recognize your own limitations and seek further advice from colleagues or others who may have relevant experience and knowledge; †¢Promoting values in keeping with equality, diversity and inclusion, and lead by example; †¢Be professional in your relationship with others, maintain integrity, be respectful, consider appropriate language and tone of voice; †¢Maintain compliance with set polici es and procedures from both your organisation and external bodiesThe above roles and responsibilities can be best summed up in the five stage teaching and learning cycle:- initial assessment, planning and preparation, teaching, assessment, evaluation. This five stage cycle is a continuous process which will ensure teachers can improve and evolve the learning programmes and outcomes. The teachers role and responsibilities will vary greatly from organisation to organisation, so it is important to find out what your organisation requires before the learning programmes begin. Legislation – how might it impact on your area and context of teaching Legislation affects each and every one of us, some to a lesser or greater degree than others.As a teacher, there are not only policies and procedures to follow, but legislative requirements which have to be met. These include the following:- †¢Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 – the cornerstone of all safety legislation, th is act sets out the general duties which employers have towards employees and members of the public, and employees have to themselves and each other; †¢Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – main requirements are for employers to carry out risk assessment, and have access to competent safety advice; †¢Disability Discrimination Act 2005 – this legislation promotes civil rights for disabled people and protects them from discrimination.The Act requires public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people, and also gives rights to them in areas such as employment and education; †¢Data Protection Act 1998 – gives individuals the right to know what information is held about them, and those that processes personal information must comply with eight principles, which makes sure that personal information is fairly and lawfully processed; processed for limited purposes; adequate, relevant and not excessive; accurate and up to date; not kept for longer than is necessary; processed in line with your rights; secure; not transferred to other countries without adequate protection; †¢ Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988 – protects the rights of the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, recordings and broadcasts.Copyrighted material can only be copied with the copyright owner’s permission, which includes books, music, photographs, drawings, diagrams, etc; †¢Sex Discrimination Act 175 – this Act makes it unlawful to treat a woman or a man less favourably in employment, training and related matters, education and the provision of goods, facilities and services on the grounds of their gender or marriage; †¢Race Relations Act 1976 – this Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins in employment, training and related matters, education and the provision of goods, facilities and services; †¢Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999 – these regulations cover employment and vocational training only; the regulations extend the Sex Discrimination Act (1995) to cover discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment (as defined by the Act as ‘a process undertaken under medical supervision, for the purposes of reassigning a person’s sex by changing physiological or other characteristics of sex and includes any part of such a process); †¢Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 – places public authorities under a general duty to promote race equality. They must aim to eliminate unlawful discrimination, promote equality of opportunity, promote good relations between people of different racial groups; †¢Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2000 – (referred to as Part 4 of the DDA 1995) this Act relates to education.Education establishments have legal responsibilities not to treat d isabled learners less favourably for a reason related to their disability and to provide reasonable adjustments for these students; †¢Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003 – these regulations make it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of religion or belief held (or lack of religion or belief) in employment and vocational training, and also include protection against direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, victimisation and harassment. Equality, diversity and inclusion – in what ways can you integrate these principles into your teaching All teachers have a duty to promote equality and inclusion within their learning programmes, and recognise the diverse needs of their learners. Equality is about treating everyone fairly and being given the same opportunities, although it is not about treating everyone the same, but as individuals and ensuring their individual needs are met.Diversity is about recognising individuals and their difference s, and as a teacher you should respect those differences, and cultural backgrounds of learners, colleagues and the community as a whole. Inclusion is about participation by all, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to participate within the learning process. Including group sessions within the learning programme could help to promote participation within the learning session, and break down any stigmas or perceived barriers. Internal and external assessment requirements- what requirements do you need to follow in this area As a teacher you should be fully aware of the requirements and procedures in relation to both internal assessment and external assessment.With any assessment process, this must be fully implemented to ensure compliance with our own internal assurance procedures, and where difficulties arise, this should be brought to the attention of your colleague or senior management to discuss the issues, and implement any necessary amendments or inclusions. In regard to extern al assessment, this is normally undertaken by an individual from outside the organisation, eg. quality assurance advisor from an Awarding Body. Failure to comply with the requirements could cause your organisation to have sanctions raised against it, thus preventing future learning programmes being delivered. Keeping records – what records do you need to keep and why With any learning programme, records should be kept to provide evidence of learning outcomes.It is the teachers responsibility to find out what records need to be kept, who needs access or copies, and where the records are to be stored or sent. Types of records which need to be kept will include:- initial assessment / enrolment forms; registration forms (so you know who should be attending); attendance registers (in case of emergency / fire, or to validate course attendance for grants, etc); session plans (for planning future programmes); results / grades achieved (for qualification or certification requirements) ; feedback forms / evaluations (to provide information for possible course improvement and quality assurance and auditing purposes).

Background on Stress

As there is so many resources for employees to perform excellent in their jobs but there are also some factors that hinder their performance. These factors lead to their performance negatively. Newman and Behr (1979) defined job stress as ‘a situation wherein job-related factors interact with the worker to change his or her psychological and or psychological condition such that the person is forced to deviate from normal functioning. Some reasons for stress at the workplace could be; inability to meet the demand of the job, building and maintaining an amiable relationship with colleagues, management of subordinate staff, imparting knowledge to others and taking works from them, excessive work pressure to meet deadlines, inability to be creative, change of job, sexual harassment. These kind of work related stress results in poor performance by members of the organization. Attison (2002) says stress is a major factor in up to 80% of all work-related injuries and 40% of workplace turnovers. Despite tremendous advancement in science and technology and availability of various sources of luxury, majority of the workers in Ghana seem to be experiencing moderate to high degree of psychological stress in various spheres of their lives. Job related-stress is also a serious cause of mental health and health-related injuries. David and Cooper (1981) discovered that workplace stress has been increasingly quoted as the main cause of accidents, job dissatisfaction and other psychological illnesses like heart attack, alcoholism and hypertension. WORK RELATED STRESS Well-designed, organised and managed work is good for us but when insufficient attention to job design, work organisation and management has taken place, it can result in Work related stress. Work related stress develops because a person is unable to cope with the demands being placed on them. Stress, including work related stress, can be a significant cause of illness and is known to be linked with high levels of sickness absence, staff turnover and other issues such as more errors. Stress can hit anyone at any level of the business and recent research shows that work related stress is widespread and is not confined to particular sectors, jobs or industries. Background on Stress As there is so many resources for employees to perform excellent in their jobs but there are also some factors that hinder their performance. These factors lead to their performance negatively. Newman and Behr (1979) defined job stress as ‘a situation wherein job-related factors interact with the worker to change his or her psychological and or psychological condition such that the person is forced to deviate from normal functioning. Some reasons for stress at the workplace could be; inability to meet the demand of the job, building and maintaining an amiable relationship with colleagues, management of subordinate staff, imparting knowledge to others and taking works from them, excessive work pressure to meet deadlines, inability to be creative, change of job, sexual harassment. These kind of work related stress results in poor performance by members of the organization. Attison (2002) says stress is a major factor in up to 80% of all work-related injuries and 40% of workplace turnovers. Despite tremendous advancement in science and technology and availability of various sources of luxury, majority of the workers in Ghana seem to be experiencing moderate to high degree of psychological stress in various spheres of their lives. Job related-stress is also a serious cause of mental health and health-related injuries. David and Cooper (1981) discovered that workplace stress has been increasingly quoted as the main cause of accidents, job dissatisfaction and other psychological illnesses like heart attack, alcoholism and hypertension. WORK RELATED STRESS Well-designed, organised and managed work is good for us but when insufficient attention to job design, work organisation and management has taken place, it can result in Work related stress. Work related stress develops because a person is unable to cope with the demands being placed on them. Stress, including work related stress, can be a significant cause of illness and is known to be linked with high levels of sickness absence, staff turnover and other issues such as more errors. Stress can hit anyone at any level of the business and recent research shows that work related stress is widespread and is not confined to particular sectors, jobs or industries.

American History and Society Through Music Research Paper

American History and Society Through Music - Research Paper Example The District judge and the Court of Appeal seemed to think that the school was in its right. The Supreme Court did not agree and reversed the decision with Mr. Justice Fortas giving the opinion of the court and Justice White and Stewart concurring. The majority based their opinions on the idea that the students could not be expected to leave what rights they had at the doors of the school and were not in any manner causing a disturbance. Those in dissent argued that the constitution did not protect students from any disruptive form of symbolic speech and Justice Black stated â€Å"And I repeat that if the time has come when pupils of state-supported schools, kindergartens, grammar schools, or high schools, can defy and flout orders of school officials to keep their minds on their own schoolwork, it is the beginning of a new revolutionary era of permissiveness in this country fostered by the judiciary.† (Tinker v. Des MoinesIndependent Community School District). Though Tinker has been used in various cases after it, courts are now beginning to take a view aside from that which was presented in this case.

Diversity in Your Company or Organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Diversity in Your Company or Organization - Essay Example My organization is one of the many beginning to actively promote diversity education and awareness in the workplace. Ideally, every person should be treated equally when it comes to getting a job, advancing in their career, and being treated fairly in the workplace. Realistically, this is often not the case (Workplace Diversity for African, Hispanic (Latino), and Asian Americans, 2004). According to Gingrich, many times the "talents and skills of [diverse] persons often go unrecognized" (2000, p. 14). My organization makes it a point to recognize everyones abilities and talents across a variety of orientations and to give credit where it is due. We hire and promote people of all different races, cultures, backgrounds, sexual orientations, and people with special needs, as well as others who can contribute specific skills and talents to the organization. My company is proof that "diversity contributes to the bottom line by making it easier to retain good employees, lowering costs by d eveloping skills in-house, and developing a reputation that helps attract new employees" (Corporate Culture and Diversity, 2004). It is a privilege to be a part of a company that comes very close to truly defining the phrase melting pot, a locality in which a blending of races, peoples or cultures takes place (Random House Websters Dictionary, 1998). Although it is admirable that we, as an organization, are so aware of diversity in the workplace and continue promoting it, diversity is not always easy for every individual in the organization to appreciate. Yes, our employees do value and embrace the differences of those around them. However, it has become apparent to me in this organization that diversity can also have an adverse affect within an organization. I am finding that although we are a diverse group of people, we also tend to segregate

International Supply Chains Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Supply Chains - Essay Example More simply, it is the science (and art) of ensuring that the right products reach the right place in the right quantity at the right time to satisfy customer demand. It has also been defined as "the management of inventory in motion and at rest". (Source:http://www.ocs.ca/english/30_logistics.html). A supply chain is a network of facilities and distribution options that performs the functions of procurement of materials; transformation of this material into intermediate and finished products; and distribution of these finished products to customers. (Source: Ganeshan & Harrison - Introduction to Supply Chain Management) International Supply Chains are those supply chains that transcend national boundaries in their operations. Logistics and supply chain solutions help clients realize the many benefits of an improved supply chain. They include reducing distribution costs, improving customer service, speeding up sales process and improving customer loyalty. The United Nations Convention on International Multimodal Transport of Goods (Geneva, 24 May 1980) states that "International multimodal transport" means the carriage... The United Nations Convention on International Multimodal Transport of Goods (Geneva, 24 May 1980) states that "International multimodal transport" means the carriage of goods by at least two different modes of transport on the basis of a multimodal transport contract from a place in one country at which the goods are taken in charge by the multimodal transport operator to a place designated for delivery situated in a different country. The operations of pick-up and delivery of goods carried out in the performance of a unimodal transport contract, as defined in such contract, shall not be considered as international multimodal transport." In loosely coined terms of day-to-day industry usage, multi-modal simply represents a combination of truck, rail, water, and or air transport to haul everything from small to large items, from raw materials to finished goods, and from perishable to non-perishables. (Source from website ). Major transport growths tries to achieve a balance between providing accessibility to the markets, economic efficiency and reduce threat to the environment. Multimodal transport, that is using two or more transport modes for a trip between which a transfer is necessary, has been touted as a solution for the current transportation issues. This came into full force with the invention of the container in 1960's by Malcolm MacLean. McLean explained that while sitting at a dock waiting for cargo he trucked in to be reloaded onto a ship, he realized that rather than loading and unloading the truck, the truck itself (with some minor modifications) could be the container that is transported. (Source from website ). The improvement in

Technology in the school Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Technology in the school - Essay Example They have no time to think about the damaging consequences. An individual gives highest priority to the time-saving products, without pondering about its concerns on body, mind and soul. In this essay, apparently on a simple topic, Ed Bell sounds the warning bell about the consequences of showing disrespect to some of the natural ways of doing things and advises the necessity of avoiding mechanical movements. He makes the following statement: â€Å"Although technology has improved society in many ways, we use it indiscriminately, not distinguishing the good from the bad† (470).According to the author, technological advancement does not always contribute to the welfare of humankind. He lists the advantages and disadvantages of raking vs. blowing the leaves and in the process creates a new pattern of thinking, and throws questions about the tendency of the human being to challenge the functioning the nature in a thoughtless manner. (472) Beautiful gardens are built with care. When the roaring machines attack the greenery of the yard, it looks like the demons take over and are out to destroy nature. The author depicts the advantages of using leaf rakes versus blowing (using vacuums) Using rakes is considered as an antiquated method and the progressive individuals argue that leaf rakes need to be consigned to the annals of history. Undoubtedly the blower has some advantages like time saving, and the technical ability to remove leaves from close spaces and easy to use especially for individuals with disabilities. Blowers or vacuums also do the job of shredding the leaves and make available ready-to-use mulch. But the advantages of raking are many and it is a pleasant and not a noisy system. Ed Bell argues, â€Å"But even if it does take longer to rake than to blow, the extra time spent raking provides the exercise that we need. One look at the human body will tell you it is built for raking—it wants to rake!â⠂¬ (Mauk, et.al,

Vision of Democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Vision of Democracy - Essay Example ffort to create emphasis on the prevailing position of the country as the sole superpower and believes it has been slowly adopting totalitarian tendencies. This is as a consequence of the transformations that it has experienced in the process of military mobilization needed to fight the Axis powers and the subsequent campaigns to contain the Soviet Union while the Cold War continued. Wolin considers the egalitarianism of the US as excluding political involvement of the people and perceives it to be a managed democracy. He goes further to explain managed democracy as a political structure that legitimizes the governments through elections that are controlled whereby the electorate is disallowed from having a considerable effect on the policies that are embraced by the state through the continuous use of public relations approaches. Wolin compares the United States to the Nazi Government in one key manner without any inversion, which is the fundamental role that is associated by propaganda in the system. In Germany during the Nazi era, the creation of propaganda was a national affair but in the US, the greatly concerted media conglomerates develop it, which creates the impression of a free press. In the United States, opposition is permitted but the corporate media acts as a filter that allows people who have been limited by time to maintain their awareness of pub lic affairs, only to be bombarded with opinions that the corporate media considers as serious. Starting from the nineteenth century, there was a considerable shift in wealth and power from the owners of properties and merchants to corporations2. This change was augmented in the industrial revolution era when the corporations acquired more economic and political powers while most of the wealth was controlled by a few barons who utilized it for political leverage. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln gave the warning that corruption was highly likely to follow this increase in corporate powers. Productions in

Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 22

Music - Essay Example Arguably, no word can exactly explain the performance that was in waiting. The performers as well were of middle age which added more ecstasy and cheer in the environment. The first exhibit by the Fry Street was string quartet No. 6 composed by Felix Mendelssohn in the F minor. The initial combination of the instruments used depicted masterly, technical ability and prowess to crack musical chords and laying curls with music notes. In terms of rhythm, the different instruments combined in a regular rhythmic pattern while the beat was steadily and evenly maintained. The slow movement in the Allegro Vivace assai in the piece successfully outlined music conjunct as a major element vivid in the piece. Harmony was also evident which particularly came out clearly in the sad section of the writing. The second exhibit by the Fry Street quartet was the string quartet No. 5 composed in a minor by Danish Ludwig Beethoven. The major inclusion in the piece involves the exceptional performance of Molto Adagio (Schweitzer n.p). It was a chance to present some self-conscious display of more refined moments. The movements were quite intriguing triggering the curiosity and much attention of the majority of the audience. The notes were combined alternatively rising high at the beginning while reducing significantly as the lines ended. In addition, a steady beat was maintained throughout and conjunct was highly outlined. The two performance sets were similar in various ways particularly in rhythmic and harmonic application. The performance was successful in delivering the various music elements like music conjunct, harmony and themes congruence. It is vivid that a steady beat and a regular rhythmic pattern was maintained in both pieces and notes exquisitely placed. In addition, constant harmonies and discords were applied in both pieces. However,

Kaavyas so Not Happy Ending Essay Example for Free

Kaavyas so Not Happy Ending Essay In summarizing this article, be sure you focus on what Daum thinks rather than what Viswanathan did. This will let you use signal verbs more gracefully. Be sure you focus on the main ideas. The story of Viswanathans action is the evidence for the main point or claim or thesis, not the main point itself. If you are unfamiliar with signal phrases, be sure to review pages 556-557 in Everythings an Argument. Pages 567 to 571 provide you with examples of most in text citation formats. Look especially carefully at #1 on page 567, Author named in a signal phrase. Note that you dont have to use the authors name in parenthesis if you use a signal phrase. You do have to use a page number from a print source, but since this is online, you dont need anything. one sentence summary: Who does what to whom or what? Where? When? How? (by means of) Why? because (identify the reasons) Also remember this convention of academic writing: use the authors full name and identification the first time you mention the author: Famed physicist Albert Einstein explained that . . . Use ellipsis (three periods interspersed with spaces) if you leave out words. Use brackets [ ] if you add words. After the first mention, use only the authors last name; Einstein emphasized that . . . . Never use only the authors first name. Information about works cited pages starts on page 572. We would use #35 on page 578. You must have a works cited entry; if you dont your paper is considered plagiarized.

Examining The Guest By Albert Camus English Literature Essay

Examining The Guest By Albert Camus English Literature Essay The modern work I chose to examine was The Guest by Albert Camus. I chose this piece because I felt that it was easy to relate to the sense of isolation that was faced by the character Daru. The political theory and psychology in the piece were self evident as it played a big role on the actions of the character in his lonely state. In my opinion the title The Guest, suggests that there is more than one person that Daru doesnt know about. The main character Daru can be examined to be a self-righteous, trusting, full-hearted person. His caring for the prisoner and actions toward him made him feel like he was doing the right thing to help out a fellow human being. The political theory around this piece can be described as volatile in the sense that it assumes to the reader that a war is about to happen. Then Ill wait for the declaration of war! and there is talk of a forthcoming revolt. bring awareness of the actual political unrest among the two feuding parties, the Algerian French colonial government and the Algerian Arabs. I believe this feud is what places Darus post in such a remote environment. The idea that Daru doesnt know what exactly would be the reason for him having a gun would be further supported by the fact that his shotgun is in his trunk which means he obviously doesnt use it. When Balducci told him that he ought to have it near his bed because if there is an uprising no one is safe, were all in the same boat. I believe he is hinting towards the fact that I think he knows people are following him to retreave the prisoner. I feel that the severe political unrest will begin to happen after the end of the story. The psychological impact involved in Darus isolation was that he was caught up between the legal system that imposed itself on the Arabs family quarrel and his emotions to do right as a man. When Daru said every bit of this disgusts me, and first of all your fellow here. I believe he was fighting with his inner morals which to him were to do the right thing and to not turn the Arab over but in turn, set him free. He doesnt have any problem with his choice in refusing to turn him over and firmly stands by his decision. Instead of taking the prisoner off and setting him free, he wished that the Arab would just run away that way he would be alone with no decision to make. The statement that mans stupid crime revolted him, but to hand him over was contrary to honor supports this entirely. The statement, he could see nothing but the dark yet shining eyes and the animal mouth, in my opinion means that he didnt see the prisoner as a monster or a killer but just as a normal person incapable of murdering another human being. I believe that when Daru was feeding the prisoner and treating him like an actual human being the Arab developed some sort of Stockholm syndrome while in the custody of someone who I believe he grew to trust in a short amount of time. I think that when the prisoner asked Daru if he would come with them to the prison, he knew that his fellow Arabs were following him to get him back. I believe he was trying to protect Daru from what was going to happen. When Daru was walking the Arab south to the nomads where he would be safe, his heart grew heavy and I honestly dont think that Daru wanted him to leave since they formed a very strange and mysterious bond among men. When Daru returned to find the message you handed over our brother. You will pay for this. written on his black board I believe he was unsure why they would be after him considering that he just let their brother go, not only with food but also with money. He finds himself felling misunders tood and what I believe is frightended when he dosent see anyone in sight. The psychological impact in my opinion is greater on the concept of isolation more so than the political theory involed with the character and his struggles. I think the author did a good job dehumanizing the prisoner in an attempt to make Daru seem like he is still alone although someone is there. The imagery and detail also given make it easy to visualize just how alone and torn Daru actually is. I believe that the storys title should be changed from The Guest to The Unseen Guest just to make it play a little more to the psychological aspect of the piece. (words: 1024)

Biography of Hillary Clinton :: HIllary Clinton Politics Government Essays

Biography of Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham was born on October the 26th 1947 at Edgewater Hospital, in Chicago. Her parents Hugh and Dorothy married in 1942. When Hillary was still young she learnt to stand up for herself. She told her mom that Suzy was bullying her and her mom said "There's no room in this house for cowards. You'll have to stand up to her." Hillary later knocked Suzy to the ground and said "Mom, now I'm tough enough to play with the boys! " After this she became a natural leader " She wasn't just interested in having power, but to help people. She felt sorry for the Mexican migrant workers , and organised neighborhood sales to raise money for them. She was a vice president of her junior class. She spent four years at Wellesley High School. During the Vietnam war Hillary and her fellow student held a demonstration to stop the Americans bombing Vietnam. She majored in political science and also studied psychology. When she started at Wellesley she was a Republican but later became a Democrate. Hillary was a Grade A student always and went to Yale Law School, where she met William Jefferson Clinton. In the summer and fall of 1972 Bill and Hillary both moved to Texas to work for the Democratic presidential campaign of Senator George McGovern. In January 1974 she was part of the legal staff for the House Judiciary Committee. This was a very exciting time for her as they were investigating President Nixon's involvement in the Watergate scandal. After working in Washington DC , she decided to leave and go to Arkansas, where Bill was teaching at the University of Arkansas Law School. Her friends couldn't understand why she was throwing her life away to work in a dirt-poor state. But often her answer was simply. "I love him". In October 1975 Bill Clinton and Hillary got married. She continued to work as a lawyer and kept her family name of Rodham when she married. In 1980 they had a child named Chelsea. The first election at Arkansas in 1980 was not a triumph, and many people blamed it on Hillary with her thick glasses and baggy sweaters.

Comparing Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and Fences by August Wil

Comparing Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and Fences by August Wilson Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and Fences by August Wilson have similar themes of conflicts between fathers and sons, conflicts between husbands and wives, and the need to focus on a small unit of space in order to achieve success. In the process of developing these themes throughout the two plays, three similar symbolic elements are used including the insecure father figure, the "other woman," and the garden. The fathers in the two plays are comparable because they both have conflicts with their sons as a result of living in the past, and they die in the end. Willy, in Death of a Salesman, is never respected for his occupational status, so he places very high expectations on his son, Biff. Willy lives in the memory of past events to such a large extent that he cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, and he passes this trait onto Biff. Biff says, "How the hell did I ever get the idea I was a salesman there? I even believed myself that I'd been a salesman for him!...We've been talking in a dream for fifteen years. I was a shipping clerk" (1760). Willy's high demands of Biff cause Biff to experience the same difficulties of living in the present and the desire to live in a fantasy world. This conflict is only resolved in Biff's mind when he releases himself from his father's dominance and establishes his own identity. At his father's funeral, Biff has compassion for his father and remembers that "there were a lot of nice days;" his father did have good intentions but "had the wrong dreams" (1778). He realizes the futility of trying to live up to his father's unrealistic expectations, and Cory has the same realization in Fences. ... ...oy learns very late in life when he tries to build a fence around all that he holds valuable. He begins to build the fence only after confessing the truth to Rose; by then it is too late to protect his valuables because he has already lost his most precious one, his relationship with his wife. The similar symbols of the father figure, the "other woman," and the garden, in Death of a Salesman and Fences, are used to develop the similar themes of father-son conflicts, marital conflicts, and the need to leave one's mark of success on the world. The main difference is that while Willy plants seeds by himself to see them grow, Troy's garden is planted by Raynell, his "seed." By bringing Raynell into the world, Troy plants a seed that will grow to live out his dreams; the tragedy is that both Willy and Troy die before having a chance to see their seeds grow.

Business At Work Essay -- Business and Management Studies

Business At Work 1. Introduction 1.1 Aim The aim of this report is to understand the Business Environment and within organisation of Ford Motor Company (FMC), which includes the culture and management of the company. This report will also analyse and evaluate communication channels and quality control that FMC possess. Finally, conclusions will be drawn through the assessment of the process that is carried out by the company to meet their objectives, with recommendation of alternative approaches, which may enable FMC with further success in the future takings. 1.2 Report Structure The investigation will follow a structured analysis approach, illustrated in Appendix I. 2. Review of Ford Motor Company 2.1 Company Overview Ford Motor Company is a public limited company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Ford Motor Company is one of the world’s largest multinational automotive companies that manufactures and distribute automobiles in 200 markets across six continents employing more than 327,000 people worldwide. The company consists of eight core and affiliated brands (Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo) and automotive related services (Ford Credit and Hertz). In 1903, Ford Motor Company was established in Detroit by Henry Ford, when it sold its first vehicle, the Model A. The introduction of the Model T in 1908, along side the development of the assembly line, the birth of producing vehicles to the masses to sell in a low, affordable price. Since then, the company has continually expanded, being publicly listed in 1956 and acquiring a number of automobile and services companies in the process, illustrated below in chronological order: 1922 Lincoln & Mercury 1979 Mazda (33.4% stake hold) 1987 Aston Martin and Hertz 1990 Jaguar 1999 Volvo 2000 Land Rover When the company first started, it was a private limited company ran by a partnership of 12 people, a coal dealer, Alexander Malcolmson; the coal dealer’s business manager, James Couzens; a banker who trusted the coal dealer; two brothers who owned the machine ship that made engines; a carpenter; two lawyers; a clerk; the owner of a haberdashery store; a man who made windmills and air rifles. They started with only $28,000 in cash, some tolls and some blue prints.[1] As a private limited company T... ... the needs of customers and the need for improved air quality. Ford’s Action - Ford has voluntarily certified all of our gasoline pickups, SUVs and the Windstar minivan as low-emission vehicles (LEVs), years ahead of regulation. - Our LEV trucks are cleaner than many cars on the road today. - Ford offers more alternative-fuel vehicles than any other major automobile manufacturer. They include models that operate on compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol, and electricity. We are also focusing on a variety of advanced technologies, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and fuel cell vehicles, to significantly reduce emissions while not compromising utility.[6] --------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] Source: Ford 100 Years Anniversary Year Book [2] Source: www.ford.com [3] Source: Company Internal Website – www.marketstrategies.ford.com [4] Source: Jim Padilla’s â€Å"Building on Basics† Triangle (refer to Appendix II) [5] Source: Bill Ford Internal e-mail to FMC Employees (refer to Appendix III) [6] www.ford.com/en/company/about/publicPolicy/airQualityVehicleEmissions.htm

A View From the Bridge

‘A View From The Bridge’ is a play that was first staged in 1955. It was written by Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller was born into a Jewish family in New York in 1915, whose grandparents had come to America from Poland. When the family business failed, they moved to Brooklyn, where A View from the Bridge is set. There, Miller worked in a warehouse to earn money for his university fees. He began to write plays when he was in university and continued to write them after he graduated and became a journalist. In the play, loyalty dictates the events very strongly as because of Eddies mixed emotions for Catharine he chooses to be more loyal to her than to all of his family. Miller shows the importance of loyalty through Eddie telling Catharine the ‘Vinnie Bolzano’ story. Catharine’s reaction shows the audience that in Italy, family loyalty is the most important thing as Catharine is both shocked and horrified that Vinnie snitched on his own Uncle this is why she shockingly says ‘The kid snitched? . Miller uses this as an opportunity to tell the audience that the Italian American community is very loyal, which makes Eddie’s betrayal even more shocking. Because Vinnie snitched on his Uncle he could never show his face in public because every one despised and loathed him this is why Beatrice says ‘I never seen him again’. This also shows that the Italian American Community has a very ‘if you snitch on one of us, you snitch on all of us’ mentality. Another way that Arthur Miller portrays the importance of loyalty in the play is the references Eddie uses to Catharine’s Mother. this quote shows that Eddie tries to use the promise he made to Catharine’s Mother as an excuse for being so strict and this is why he says ‘I promised your Mother on her death bed’. This is why he doesn’t want her working in the dodgy part of town; where as it is because of the emotions he feels toward Catharine and he doesn’t want her to have another male figure in her life who could be more important than he is. One of the most important scenes in the play is the ‘Phone Call’ scene which shows Eddie changing his loyalties from his family and friends, to just Catharine. ‘Give me the number for the immigration bureau’ this shows Eddie doing what Vinnie Bolzano didand snitching on Marco and Rodolpho, he does this because of the mixed and confusing emotions he feels for Catharine. Miller also uses stage irections in the scene such as ‘A phone booth begins to glow on the opposite side of the stage; a faint, lonely blue’ I think that Miller uses the Lighting on the phone booth to show the audience the conflict going on in Eddie’s head; to loose every thing (his family and friends friendship, love, trust and loyalty) but keep Catharine for himself When the immigration officers arrive at the house, Eddie looses the respect and loyalty from his family. Beatrice realizes what Eddie has done when she says‘My God, what did you do? ’. She is completely shocked and horrified as Eddie was a loyal and family orientated man. Miller uses this quote to show the audience that Beatrice is astounded and aghast that Eddie has chosen Catherine over her, even though she is his wife. Marco is furious with the fact that Eddie has just ruined any chance of him getting an American citizenship, this now means that Marco wouldn’t be able to get a well paid job and support his family back in Italy. This is why he says ‘That one! He killed my children! That one stole the food from my children’ this is because although Eddie hasn’t directly murdered Marco’s family, his actions will lead to Marco getting deported and he wouldn’t be able to give his family money to buy food and they would consequently die. The audience would be shocked by what he is saying as he is insulting Eddie who Miller has made out to be the confused character who although he is doing something terrible he thinks that he is doing it for the right reasons, and the audience would therefore feel sorry for him. Miller uses the loyalty theme to show the weakness of men, Eddie betrays his family and community because of the mixed emotions he feels for Catharine

Natural Science: Volcanoes

The relentless motions of tectonic plates, the uplift and the erosion of mountain ranges, and the evolution of living organisms are processes which can only be fully appreciated across the deep time of geology.But some of the processes at work in our planet can manifest all too suddenly, changing the landscape and destroying lives on a very human timescale: volcanoes. Superimpose a map of active volcanoes on a world map showing the boundaries of the tectonic plates and their association is obvious.The ring of fire around the Pacific, for example, is clearly associated with the plate boundaries. But where is the molten rock that feeds them coming from? Why are volcanoes different from each other, with some producing gentle eruptions and regular trickles of molten lava, whilst others erupt in devastating explosions? And why are some volcanoes, such as those of Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific, far from any obvious plate boundary?The molten rockThe key to understanding volcanoes com es from understanding how rocks melt. For a start, they do not have to melt completely, so the bulk of the mantle remains solid even though it gives rise to a fluid, molten magma.That means that the melt does not have the same composition as the bulk of the mantle. As long as the so-called dihedral angles, the angles at which the mineral grains in mantle rock meet, are large enough, the rock behaves like a porous sponge and the melt can be squeezed out.Calculations show how it will tend to flow together and rise quite rapidly in a sort of wave, producing lava at the surface in the sort of quantities seen in typical eruptions (The University of Sydney, 2006).Melting does not necessarily involve increasing the temperature. It can result from decreasing the pressure. So a plume of hot, solid mantle material will begin to melt as it rises and the pressure upon it reduces. In the case of a mantle plume, that can happen at considerable depths (McKenzie, 1984, p. 717).Beneath the mid-ocean ridge system, the melting takes place at much shallower depths. Here there is little or no mantle lithosphere and the hot asthenosphere comes close to the surface.The lower pressures here can result in a larger proportion of the rock melting, perhaps 20 or 25%, supplying magma at about the right rate to sustain sea floor spreading and produce an ocean crust 7 kilometres thick. Most of the ocean ridge eruptions pass unnoticed as they take place more than 2,000 metres underwater as rapidly quenched pillow lavas (Basin Topography, 2006).But seismic studies have revealed magma chambers a few kilometres beneath the sea floor in parts of the ridges, particularly in the Pacific and Indian oceans, though there is also some evidence of magma chambers beneath the mid-Atlantic ridge. Where a mantle plume coincides with an ocean ridge system, as in the case of Iceland, more magma is generated and the ocean crust is thicker, in this case rising above the sea to form Iceland (Scarth, 1994, p.14- 17).HawaiiThe Big Island of Hawaii has welcoming people and friendly volcanoes. The town of Hilo is probably more at risk from tsunamis triggered by distant earthquakes than from the great 4,000-metre volcano of Mauna Loa that looms behind it.To the north and west lie the other Hawaiian islands and the Emperor seamount chain, tracing the long journey of the Pacific plate across the hot spot of an underlying mantle plume (Scarth, 1994, p.42). To the south of the Big Island of Hawaii is Loihi, the newest of the Hawaiian volcanoes.As yet it has not broken the surface of the Pacific, but it has already built a high mountain of basalt on the ocean floor and will almost certainly become an island above water before long (14). Because Hawaiian lava is very fluid, it can spread over a wide area and does not tend to form very steep slopes.Such volcanoes are sometimes known as shield volcanoes, and they can flood basalt over a wide area. Often, a particular flow will develop a tunnel around i t as the outer crust solidifies but the lava continues to flow inside. When the supply of lava ceases, the tunnel can drain and be left hollow (41-42).

Monde Nissin Corporation (MNC) Essay

Monde Nissin Corporation (MNC) has been incorporated in 1979 and has continuously provided Filipino consumers high quality products and has been a consistent top biscuit player in the market. For more than two decades, MNC has steadily and aggressively risen to be the Philippine’s leading food manufacturer and is carving its niche as one of the most competitive players in the global industry. From its first biscuit, MNC has evolved into a premier food firm. Our company has consistently been among the top corporations in the Philippines and is considered as one of the industry leaders in both noodles and biscuit product categories. Our brand names include Nissin, Monde, Sky Flakes, Fita amongst others for the biscuits category, and Lucky Me Instant Noodles, Lucky Me! Supreme Bowls and Lucky Me! Specials for the noodles category. For more than 3 decades now, Monde Nissin has steadily and aggressively risen to be the Philippines’ leading food manufacturer and is currently carving its niche as one of the most competitive players in the global industry. From its first biscuit, Monde Nissin Corporation has evolved into a premier Food Company which has been among the Philippines’ top 100 companies since year 2000. Monde Nissin products are continuously striving to become the market leaders in their respective categories. Currently, MNC has been producing biscuits and cookies and has a nationwide reach for its distribution channels from supermarkets down to the sari-sari store. To compete with the crackers product line, MNC through its sister company Monde M.Y. San Corporation is a major player in the crackers category. Monde M.Y San Corporation is a Filipino firm originating from an ice cream parlor situated in Escolta in 1935. Three Chinese brothers headed by Mar Yu†¦

Employees’ Perception of Selection Systems

Introduction This paper summarises the views of two authors on how job applicants or potential employees perceive selection procedures. Both articles focus on employees’ perceptions of selection methods. Article 1: â€Å"Applicants Perceptions of Selection Procedures and Decisions: A Critical Review and Agenda for the Future†. The first article is written by Ryan and Plolyhart (2000) and is titled â€Å"Applicants’ Perceptions of Selection Procedures and Decisions: A Critical Review and Agenda for the Future†. This article is motivated by the fact that low unemployment rates have increased the competition for employees, which has forced organisations to review the various components used in selecting job applicants and how job applicants’ perceptions of those procedures can affect the attractiveness of the organisation to potential employees. Another motivation for this study is the fact that there is lack of better research on applicant perspectives. Thirdly, the article notes that social justice theorists are looking for ways to apply social justice theory concepts to applicants’ perceptions of selection methods. Moreover, there is an increasing diversity in the workforce as well as racial differences in perception of selection procedures which can affect the manner in which j ob applicants perceive organisations and thus the attractiveness of those organisations to potential employees. The article notes that one of the main assumptions of most research in this area is that the manner in which job applicants perceive selection procedures and processes affects the manner in which the applicant views the organisation and thus the decision on whether to apply for a job vacancy to that organisation or not. The article also suggests that differences in perceptions between minority and majority groups on certain selection procedures can account for some of the differences in job performance that is often observed between these two groups. The article begins by reviewing the works of Schimittand Gilliland (1992) and Gilliland (1993). These studies develop a model which provides a link between between applicants’ perceptions of selection systems and situational factors and their subsequent â€Å"attitudes and behaviours† towards those organisations. The model postulates that applicants’ perceptions of the procedural justice system are influenced by situational characteristics. These characteristics include the type of test administered during the selection process, the human resource policy of the organisation and the behaviour of the human resource staff of the organisation. The overall fairness of the selection system is influenced by the degree to which the applicants’ perceptions of the procedural justice of the selection system meet the expectations of applicants. The framework further stipulates that applicants’ prior experiences with a selection system would affect the evaluatio n of the system. Distributive justice rules of equity, equality, and need have an impact on the perceptions of the distributive fairness of the final decision reached through the selection system. Distributive justice rules are in turn influenced by performance expectations and the salience of discrimination. In a nutshell, the framework concludes that there should be a relationship between outcomes such as â€Å"job application decisions, test motivation, self-esteem, self-efficacy, endorsement of the company’s products, job acceptance decisions, job satisfaction, and performance among others† and applicants’ perceptions of fairness of the selection process. After reviewing the framework, the authors then move on to provide a critical review of the empirical literature and evaluating how they conform to the framework. The review focuses on four key areas including: The perceptions that have been studied; The factors that determine applicants’ perceptions; The consequences of holding more positive or negative perceptions; and The theoretical frameworks that have been presented. With respect to the applicants’ perceptions that have been studied, the article notes that the most commonly researched perceptions include applicants’ feelings regarding degree to which the selection system is related to the job, feelings about the fairness of various aspects of the selection system and its associated outcomes, as well as feelings about test taking motivation. The authors provide a critical review in this area and conclude that a major concern with most of these studies is that their constructs are imprecise with respect to the manner in which they are defined as well as the variability with which they are operationalised. As a result, the authors conclude that a better conceptualisation of research on test behaviours and on fairness is required to improve understanding. The authors however, admit that the work of Chan et al (1998) to a certain extent provides a link between test attitudes and perception of fairness although the study focused only on two concepts from each line of research. According to the authors, lack of an improved integration of studies on test attitudes on fairness and test attitudes makes understanding difficult. For example, it is difficult to determine whether potential employees who are more anxious perceive procedures are more unfair as opposed to those who are less anxious. In addition, it is difficult to deter mine whether beliefs about testing have a higher impact on perceptions of fairness of a procedure than characteristics of the procedure and selection situation itself. The author notes that notes that most test-taking attitude measures are perceptions of oneself (including motivation, anxiety, etc) while justice-related perceptions typically focus on the fairness of the test used in making hiring or rejection decisions. The authors argue that there should be a relationship between applicants’ motivation and anxiety and the justice-related perceptions. The authors also suggest that it is important for other perceptions to be tested. Basically most of the studies under review focus on how the motivation or perceptions of applicants influence their perceptions of fairness. This approach neglects the impact of other perceptions of fairness that may be critical for the improvement of selection systems. Article 2: â€Å"Fairness Reactions to Selection Methods: An Italian Study†. This article is written by Bertolino and Steiner (2007). Like the first article, this article begins by reviewing the works of other authors who provide different conceptual frameworks on the relationship between applicants’ perceptions of fairness of selection systems and their attitudes and behaviours towards the organisations. This article cites the work of Schuler (1993) whose framework suggests that the reaction of applicants to a selection process is a function of the key characteristics of the selection techniques employed. In addition, the article reviews the work of Anderson and Ostroff (1997) who focus on the socialisation impact of selection methods. Like the first article, the second article also reviews the work of Gilliland (1993) who employ organisational justice theory to comprehend the reaction of applicants to selection systems. Unlike the first article, which is based solely on a critical review of empirical literature on the reaction of applicants to selection systems as well as the underlying models of selection systems, the second article is based on both primary and secondary information. It begins by reviewing literature, and then conducts and exploratory study on the reaction of applicants to selection systems using a sample of 137 Italian students. The study is motivated by the fact that despite the presence of evidence on selection systems, most of the studies have been conducted in other countries with no attention given to Italy. The article notes that cultural differences may play an important role in the manner in which applicants perceive selection systems and thus their reaction to those systems as well as their attitudes towards the organisation. Based on the four dimensions of culture proposed by Hofstede (1980, 1991) (individualism vs collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs femi ninity, and power distance), the article suggests that it is possible for selection systems to be avoided by these four dimensions. For example, the article reviews the work of Ryan et al. (1999) who show that uncertainty avoidance can affect the selection practices of many countries. In addition, the study reviews the work of Triandis (1990) who argue that people from countries with high uncertainty avoidance prefer predictability, knowing what others will do, and having clear instructions and expectations. This means that employees who work in countries with high uncertainty avoidance should be more inclined towards engaging in structuring activities, including the standardisation of practices. On the contrary, those in countries with low uncertainty avoidance should be less committed to formal structures and should be prepared to accept spontaneous changes in practices. The study employed a survey questionnaire to study the reaction of Italian student to selection systems. The questionnaire used in the study is the one developed by Steiner and Gilliland (1996) which presents 10 different selection methods used in the U.S or Europe. The questionnaire asked students to think about a job they would apply for upon completion of their course Using a within-subject analysis of variance (ANOVA) the ratings of process favourability was compared across 10 selection methods. The evidence suggests that there are significant differences across the 10 selection methods. The selection method that received the most favoured rating was â€Å"work-sample test†. Resumes, written ability tests, interviews and personal preferences had the second favourable rating. Personality tests and biographical information blanks received a neutral rating while honesty tests and personal contacts received negative ratings. The authors conclude that their results are similar to those obtained from other countries. In particular, they observe that employer’s right, opportunity to perform and face validity are the procedural dimensions that had a high correlation with process favourability for all four countries that were studied. The two articles are similar in that they both begin by providing a theoretical framework on selection methods. Both articles provide the same theory which shows that there is a relationship between applicants’ perceptions and their reactions to selection systems. However, the first article differs from the second one in that it is based solely on the review of secondary literature. The article does not arrive on any conclusions with respect applicants reactions to selection systems. Rather, it identifies weaknesses in the literature and provides recommended procedures for improvement in future studies. On the contrary, the second article employs primary data to study how employees’ perceptions of selection systems affect their reactions to those systems. It compares findings to previous studies and concludes that culture has no significant impact on employees’ reaction to selection systems in Western countries. The study observes that the findings from France, I taly and other Western countries are similar to those obtained in studies from the United States. This shows that the different cultural dimensions mentioned in Hofstede (1981, 1990) do not influence the manner in which employees perceive selection systems which means that it does not affect the manner in which the react to those systems. The foregoing suggests that other factors may be affecting employees’ perceptions rather than culture. Conclusions and Recommendations Based on the discussion of the two articles above, one can conclude that employees’ perception of selection procedures influences the manner in which they behave towards the organisation and the decision to accept or reject an offer to work for a particular company. These perceptions may even influence the applicants other interactions with the company such as deciding to buy or not to buy the company’s products. The main difference between the two articles is that one focuses on criticising research on selection systems while one focuses on understanding how employees perceive selection systems across countries and how those systems affect their reaction. Based on this conclusion, it is important for organisations to note that the manner in which they design their selection system can affect the perception of applicants and as such affect the attractiveness of vacancies to potential applicants. Selection systems can even influence the ability of a company to attract qu alified applicants. If employees have a negative perception about a particular company, they may not be motivated to apply for a vacancy in that company and this may make it difficult for the company to fill the vacancy with a qualified applicant. Consequently, employers should seek the most favourable selection systems so as to increase their ability to attract qualified applicants to their jobs. The first article shows that research on selection systems is limited. Therefore, this paper recommends that more research should be conducted on selection systems and how employees perceive those systems. By so doing one can provide better recommendations to employers to aid them in designing their selection systems. References Bertolino, M., Steiner, D. D. (2007) â€Å"Fairness Reactions to Selection Methods: An Italian study†, International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 15, Number 2 Ryan, A. N., Ployhart R. E. (2000) â€Å"Applicants Perceptions of Selection Procedures and Decisions: A Critical Review and Agenda for the Future†, Journal of Management, 26, 565-606

What steps need to be taken in order to reduce crime Essay

What steps need to be taken in order to reduce crime - Essay Example The type of successful law enforcement strategies relies on the form of criminal activity (Bouza 1993). For instance, violent offenders are not as knowledgeable and/or coherent about the repercussions of their behavior hence law enforcement is largely successful when it responds to criminal behavior by seeking imprisonment for repeat criminals. Second, public support is very important in the effort of the criminal justice system to reduce crime. Public support for penalizing crime-reduction strategies can be helpful in the application of law enforcement policies. The general public could also be an immediate or rich source of suggestions on how to effectively approach crime-control efforts. Third, several of the most potential solutions to crime involve public lands, such as public housing and streets. The consideration of the government in this domain can educate architects and rouse individual safety measures. Tort court cases, declaratory resolutions, and crime impact reports can additionally inform the general public and architects about applying architecture to reduce criminal activity (Bouza 1993). Other techniques, obtained from the criminal justice system and other considerations, present extra mechanisms for the government to improve crime-reduction policies. Reducing crime is the greatest challenge any criminal justice system faces. However, this challenge does not have to remain a challenge if proper research and implementation are carried out. Law enforcement strategies are the primary means available to deter or eliminate crime. But strong public support will ensure the smooth and effective execution of these law enforcement strategies. And apparently, although not mostly taken into account, architecture plays a crucial role in the successful implementation of crime-control

Managing under Uncertainty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing under Uncertainty - Essay Example The aim of this paper is to explore the formulation and implementation of a strategic approach to Human Resource Management (HRM), especially in times of uncertainty. HRM represents a principal element of an organization’s modernization agenda and is critical to the organization’s performance and productivity. The case offers a unique and unstructured situation in which the new CEO is expected to make a decision under uncertainty. The core problem in the case details low motivation among staff, high staff turnover, and increasing complaints regarding the delivery of the organization’s services and the urge to restore confidence in the system. The organization should invest in its employees and pursue the strengthening of their capabilities to deliver. The proposed human resource system must evolve to collect, develop, and deliver the expected competencies, notwithstanding the fact that the capability of the existing system to accomplish this is doubtful. The new CEO should also embark on creating a job design that allows flexibility of working and accommodates team-working and information provision. The cross cutting issue should be to guaranteeing an effective module, which is accommodative to the change process. The underlying aim of the human resource system is to oversee human resources concurrent  with the set organizational goals. Introduction The critical task facing Tim (the new CEO) centres on implementing a fresh organizational structure and human resource system that matches the organization stature. On top of the low pay to its staff, the club also experiences lack of a concise organizational structure. This is manifested by confusion stemming from directors who overstep their mandate and give work instructions that contradict those given by the immediate supervisors or managers. Moreover, there is substantial factional tension between staff at various operational departments coupled with reported incidences of bullying and di scrimination. The organization faces critical problems manifested by low staff morale and motivation, which impact on behaviour, efficiency, effectiveness, and role performance of most staff. The situation within the organization demands an overhaul of the human resource system pertaining to position descriptions, job specifications, systems and procedures guides, as well as human resource policies and operational policies, all of which are absent. Tim’s proposed solution lies in engaging the employees in the creation, development, and implementation of an all encompassing set of position descriptions, job specifications, system and procedure guides, and human resource policies and operational policies. The CEO believes that staff involvement in all of the processes will aid them to take ownership of their positions and subsequently the resultant operational policies. The inclusive programs are designed to aid the staff in deriving enhanced sense of reward from their future e mployment with the club. In addition, the adoption of competency based succession planning grounded in position descriptions, job specifications and systems and procedures guides avail staff with a tangible incentive to adhere to the new documentation and process as a mechanism designed to enhance their wages via internal promotions. Executives are  frequently  required to implement decisions so as to solve challenges or problems. Decision

Assignment on Anthropology Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

On Anthropology - Assignment Example When doing a research, these differences in culture can enable an anthropologist to determine the origin of certain beliefs, customs and values associated with some communities. In a daily life scenario, tourists travel from different parts in the world to experience different types of cultures different from theirs (Gezon, 2011). 3. What is emic Emic has been defined as the understanding of a certain culture from within that particular culture. In anthropological research, a researcher may decide to stay with the people he wants to know about to deeply understand culture from their perspective. In the daily occurrences anthropologists go to the extent of learning people’s language in order to learn more about their culture. For example, anthropologists interested in the Zulu culture may travel to South Africa and spend several months with the Zulu people. During this time, he can learn the Zulu language which enables him to learn their culture more from within. 4. Enculturati on Enculturation is defined as learning the basics of an established culture in order to establish what is acceptable and what is wrong in reference to that particular culture. This learning can be through gestures, words, speech and action. Enculturation is important in anthropological research as it enables anthropologists to be sensitive to people’s cultures when carrying out a research. Knowing what is required of them buy a particular community during research work prevents conflicts.Enculturalization is applicable in our day to life interactions. We meet people from different cultures when in line of duty. It makes us hold cultures that are not ours in high regard and not to demean other cultures (Brokerman, 2011). 5. Qualitative and quantitative research Qualitative research has been defined as the aspect of information gathering or data through behavior observations, emotional displays and non verbal communications. These are things that cannot be quantified or number ed. Contrarily, quantitative research involves investigations through systematic scientific research of quantities that can be measured. It comes up with scientific verifiable theories. In application to research, what a researcher investigates determines the method he adopts. He uses qualitative in immeasurable activities and quantitative method in investing things that can be quantified. For example in daily occurances, people might display varying levels of emotions when their culture is demeaned. Qualitative research may be used to establish their emotional reactions. On the other hand quantitative method may be used to establish the remnants of an almost extinct culture, for example the hunting and gathering San group of Southern Africa. Part B 1. Describe the importance of sustainability in today’s global economy Sustainability may be defined from different perspectives depending on the subject that is being talked about. The general definition may be the continuity of a behavior which is defined indefinitely.However; economic sustainability may be defined as supporting indefininitely economic production. This means that sustainability is long term (Parasecoli, 2008). 2. How has the concept of sustainability influenced the triple bottom line of fish farming Sustainability is not only important in today’s global economy but also essential for a number of reasons. Sustainability has led to noble innovation that has led to

Health Care Policies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Health Care Policies - Assignment Example Domestic violence act protects one against one from abuse. Domestic violence is behaviors that one has with the aim of achieving control of other partners. Domestic violence in a society can include several activities that require one to be protected from. Abuse can include physical attacks which can come through sexual relationships that are forced, harassment and verbal abuse with demeaning comments, threats, creating a disturbance at one's territory, spying on one and child abuse. When these activities occur in a place, there are actions and policies that can be used to take action for those that perfume the acts. Domestic violence can be controlled in different ways in different types of courts. In criminal courts, the state is able to arraign the abuser (Greer, 2009). Possible crimes that can be handled in these situations include murder, rape, kidnapping, assault and elder abuse. In civil courts, one is able to address the issues that occur due to harassment and money damages. In the court, one can be held responsible for personal injury and sexual harassment. Divorce and family courts are also used to protect from domestic violence. Court Order of Protection is a policy that has been put protects again domestic violence. The policy makes the special need of one that has been abused to be addressed. The policy is able to order the abuser to stay away from the one abused and prevent contact through phone email or mail (Greer, 2009). For the policy to be applied there must be proof that there was the intention of violence. These are legal rights that govern reproduction. Reproduction rights include the right to birth control, right to safe and legal abortion, freedom of contraception and sterilization and also the right to access reproductive health care of good quality. Reproductive rights also give one the opportunity to access education on matters that concern sex and the infections that occur.

Second Paper Assignment in English II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Second Paper Assignment in English II - Essay Example ’s Waltz† is narrated through the point of view and perspective of the boy and therefore the reader needs to listen for the voice of the poem behind the boy’s words. The tone suggests the mood of the narrator and the tone of a poem can be â€Å"serious, playful, exaggerated, understated, poignant, distanced, formal, informal, ironic, blunt or something other than these† (Schakel & Ridl 576). There can be a singular or multiple voices within the poem. The poem ‘My Papa’s Waltz† depicts a son’s memories of his father and the tone of the poem is equally important as that of the voice of the narrator. The complexity of the voice of the narrator of â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz† provides the poem variety of meanings and offers different readings to the poem. Many readers feel that the poem has a dark tone as the poem depicts â€Å"troubled relationship or dysfunctional home† (Schakel & Ridl 578). Unlike other poems in the chapter the poem addresses not the readers but the narrator’s own father and the ‘you’ in the poem stands for the boy’s father himself. The very first line of the poem suggests that the father is heavily drunk and his drunkenness is sufficient enough to â€Å"make a small boy dizzy†. Similarly, the frown on the mother’s face in the second stanza and words such as â€Å"battered† â€Å"beat†, and â€Å"dirt† adds to the dark tone of the poem and the reader can very well experience the desperate voice of the narrator. The simile employed in the third line of the poem-â€Å"I hung on like death† shows feelings of fear and insecurity in the voice of the narrator and the father becomes a formidable figure for the boy. The boy has no other alternativ es than succumb to the violent outbursts of his drunk father and even as an adult the narrator’s voice echoes the pain and suffering his drunken father’s actions caused him at his early childhood. However, there are many readers who feel that the poem has a joyful tone. As the title of the poem

Response Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Response Question - Essay Example a writing style which means that Sima Qian wrote as a group. Sima Qian observed the whole picture of the events in China, and wrote it from the standpoint of the group’s view. On the other hand Herodotus wrote it mostly from his view point, adding up details which he thought were necessary for the readers to read. What did the group think of what happened? What did the group think was important to write down? Why did they think it was important? These are questions that we should answer. The most amazing thing about these authors is that they never once met each other in person. Yet, for people who never met each other, never enjoyed each other’s company and never had a cup of coffee or tea over the dinner table together, their recollections and styles are vastly similar. The similarities become eminent to the readers by the different accounts of the writers that they give, and the brilliant ways in which they speak. Herodotus’ brilliant account of politics was f ascinating to me, as was Qian’s ability to go off on random mythical journeys. Many would say this was separate, but it is also identical as both writers could go off onto one stretch of writing style and stay there. Regardless of the similarities that the two writers share their writing styles are vastly different. However the fact remains that Sima Qian and Herodotus are great writers and perhaps some of the best writers in history. Their writing style shall be forever analyzed and young students and emerging writers will always try and strive for their great style. A major difference that the two authors have is the manner in which each writer presents his personal interpretation. As mentioned above Herodotus tends to go off on political tangents while Sima Qian tends to keep the political thoughts to a barely noticeable minimum. However Qian has no problem in exploring the mystical world of China, something Herodotus virtually leaves untouched. Qian wrote from what is kno wn as the group standpoint. He wanted everyone to receive his entire message, to see his whole picture, so to speak. It is a contrast to be sure from Herodotus, who wrote from his standpoint and more about what he thought, and wasn’t as worried about making sure that the entire group got the picture. However this does not means that readers of the text will not find Herodotus’ work compelling. The first thing I noticed about both authors, as I was reading their work, was how stunningly easy the work was to read. Many history books are dry and full of only factual writing. However in my opinion this time the writing from the history book seemed to come to life. Although I liked Herodotus’ approach slightly better because I am more of a political person than a mystical person, yet Qian’s work was also equally engaging. However I did think that Herodotus’ work was more intellectually stimulating perhaps because it had a more historical and more fact-b ased approach. Many books, especially books about this time period in history, are quite boring although I was glad to see that this one was very interesting. I found Herodotus’ work to be more enlightening than Qian’s, perhaps because I was able to relate to the style of writing that he used and it was slightly better than Qian’s. Sometimes it was hard to know who actually wrote what document as the book did not always specifically mention it, thus making an absolute and fair analysis and comparison challenging, to say the least. I personally could not have done all the research and

Routledge v McKay Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Routledge v McKay Case - Essay Example This case Routledge v McKay relates to the exchange of a motorbike and sidecar with another motorbike along with the payment of thirty pounds. The Douglas BSA motorbike and sidecar in question were actually manufactured in 1931 but had been reconditioned by a previous owner to indicate that they were a 1941 model. The documents of the motorbike showed that it had been registered on 9th September 1941. The motorbike and the sidecar had been sold on a number of occasions before but the issue of manufacturing date had not been looked into detail. The seller had told the buyer of the motorbike and sidecar on October 23rd that the year of manufacturing was 1941. The buyer went away for considering his options and returned on October 30th to finalise the purchase. The contract for the sale was drawn up in writing on October the 30th but it did not mention anything about the year of manufacturing. Moreover, the written agreement ended with the contractual term that paying thirty pounds mean t the end of the transaction. The buyer later found out that the motorbike had actually been manufactured in 1931 and not in 1941 as the documents expounded. The claimant (being the buyer) later went to court to appeal against possible fraud and warranty issues. The claimant’s stance was that the seller had defrauded him by telling him that the year of manufacturing was 1931. In addition, the claimant suggested that he had been told of the year of manufacturing although it was never mentioned on the written agreement and that this amounted to a contractual term. ... Reasoning of the Judges Denning L. J. If a vehicle is sold from one person to another, the date of manufacturing is typically based on the date listed in the documents of the vehicle. It is common for this date to be used for reference when transacting the vehicle again. If the first seller of the vehicle delivers a statement regarding the date of manufacturing, he can be held responsible since the vehicle originates from him. However, in later transactions the sellers of the vehicle have no option but to reference the vehicle’s documents. In such cases, the sellers of the vehicle may pass on the date of manufacturing listed on the documents to the buyer. In case that a dispute arises, the sellers and buyer in between the first seller and the last buyer will be considered to be affected by innocent misrepresentation. For the current case, claims of fraud against the original vendor were barred due to statute so no such claims were filed by any party. Evershed M. R. The written memorandum (or the contract) between the last seller and buyer was admitted to the court as evidence although it lacked the required stamp under Section 14 of the Stamp Act of 1891. The other judges agreed to this stance. The honourable judge cited the Heilbut, Symons & Co. v Buckleton3 case and referred to the speech made by Lord Moulton. It was contended that a written statement could for part of a collateral contract but each such contract would have to have its own character for legal recognition. With reference to the Heilbut, Symons & Co. v Buckleton case, it was held that innocent misrepresentation could only be tried under warranty if the evidence presented held any such contractual term. Mere representation alone could not be taken as cause enough to

Alcohol Abuse Essay Example for Free

Alcohol Abuse Essay Alcohol abuse is perhaps one of the biggest problems in the United States today. It is not only a personal problem that dramatically affects an individual’s lives, but moreover those that surround such a life. In the essay â€Å"Under the Influence† by Scott Russel Sanders, he expresses his emotions through a poem. â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz† by Theodore Roethke. â€Å"The whiskey on his breath could make a small boy dizzy; but hung on like death; such waltzing was not easy. † (258). This poem is one of many effective devices that Sanders uses to clearly and decisively convey to us the readers of how profound the effects of alcoholism are. Sanders reflects back to his childhood and explains his complex relationship with his alcoholic father and the after effects now that he is a grown up. One of Sanders memorable comments in his essay is when he states his father â€Å" He would not hide the green bottles in his tool box, would not sneak off to the barn with a lump under his coat, would not fall asleep in the daylight, would not roar and fume, would not drink himself to death, if only I were perfect† (255). What a strong point of view in a little boys mind; to think, â€Å"if only I were perfect† his father would not drink! Sanders tell us how our children experience the burden, of the effects of alcoholism. Sanders said, â€Å"Father ‘s drinking became the family secret. While growing up, we children never breathed a word of it beyond the four walls of our house† â€Å"I asked my mother if she ever spoke of his drinking to friends. ‘No, no, never’ she replied hastily. ‘I couldn’t bear for anyone to know’†(257). It must be very difficult for a family and, especially for a child not to be able to communicate their suffering to others. Sanders as a chills wasn’t able to be honest; he was force to live a lie. Another comment from Sanders was, â€Å" I hated also the Gallo brothers, Ernest and Julio, whose jovial faces shone from the labels of their wine†¦Ã¢â‚¬  †I meant to go out there and tell Ernest and Julio what they were doing to my father, and then, if they showed no mercy. I would kill them† (259) Sanders contrast the jovial faces on the wine label to the reality of his father’s fuming. character. Sanders closes with, â€Å"I still do- once a week, perhaps, a glass of wine, a can of beer, nothing stronger, nothing more. I listen for the turning of a key in my brain† (266). Sanders is comparing his drinking to his father’s drinking as an alcoholic. Unlike his father, Sanders is not an alcoholic and has the ability to control his drinking. Work Cited Sanders, Scott Russel. â€Å"Under the Influence† Fifty Great Essays Editor. Robert Diyanni. Pearson. 2011 Pages 258, 255, 257, 259.

Environmental problems Essay Example for Free

Environmental problems Essay There are numerous environmental problems facing our planet at the moment. Economic globalisation is causing destruction of rainforests in South America while boring a hole through the ozone layer, global warming occurs because of the increased emissions by transport and industries, melting of polar ice-caps is threatening low-lying coastal areas, damage of marine resources through overfishing is taking place, acid rain and pollution of soil and groundwater resources results from using chemicals and artificial fertilisers to boost crop output, incidence of hurricanes and other natural disasters is increasing. There is little consensus within both academic and lay circles as to whether the nature is able to cope with the environmental problems itself. In my opinion, ecosystems have a great potential of restoring the state of natural balance; however, the devastating influence of the humankind has significantly undermined this ability. At the dawn of the 21st century, environmental problems are looming large, and many processes are already irreversible. For instance, species that became extinct due to man’s activity could have been essential elements of certain food chains and habitants. The frequency of large-scale natural calamities, especially in the places that have been for a long time considered relatively safe, is a telling manifestation of the inability of nature to sustain its balanced state. Yet the film argues that today is exactly the day when the humanity can redeem its attitude to nature and prevent a global catastrophe. Therefore, the need for a different approach to the relations between the mankind and environment is necessary. It is imperative to carry on conservation and purification activities coupled with a persistent effort by both businesses and individuals to reduce (and, under the dream scenario, to stop) their environmentally damaging activities. Both individuals and corporations can make a considerable contribution to stopping (or at least slowing down) the degradation of the environment. In fact, many individuals seldom realize how their consumption patters are contributing to the aggravation of the situation. The culture of consumerism that constitutes the underlying philosophy of the West fuels unnecessary overproduction: reconsidering one’s consumption pattern can be the first step on the long way of saving the Earth. As Hertsgaard (2000) argues, the adoption of Western consumerist lifestyle by developing nations poses great dangers and has to be stopped before it firmly catches on. Such an approach implies not only reduction in consumption of non-essential goods and services but also buying from companies that are known to use environmentally-benign technologies in the process of production. The question as to who will suffer first, the Earth or the humans, is incorrect in its essence. Such thinking about the environment is the root cause of the imminent crisis. It is a fatal mistake to think that man is the king of nature. Indeed, our disconnection from the nature resulted in the great degree of alienation and ignorance. While human species is an inherent part of the Earth’s global ecosystems, men prefer to view themselves as ‘outsiders,’ superior to other species. Such approach brought about the overexploitation of the Earth’s resources, considerable environmental damage, and global warming. As Hertsgaard (2000) argues, in many countries, like in Sudan, environmental problems are inherently and explicitly linked to survival through the supply of food and drinking water. In China, pollution at factories equally harms humans and nature. The future of our planet in 50 years is solely dependent on the measures the humankind implements now to prevent the imminent crisis. Hertsgaard (2000) associates hopes with new environmentally friendly industries such as solar power. Given the changing attitudes towards environmental problems, growing awareness, and public policy commitment to betterment of our natural habitat, the outlook for the Earth is not as grim as some doomsayers think.

Neo Realism In Italian Cinema

Neo Realism In Italian Cinema In complete contrast to the Fascist cinema it superseded, Neo-Realism was committed to representing life as it is lived. With this in mind, analyse the reasons why Neo-Realism as a movement lasted only ten years. Please refer to at least two films. In contrast to the Fascist cinema that it superseded, Neo-Realism was committed to representing life as it is lived; its films are therefore characterised by narratives set amongst Italys poorest, examining the difficult economic and moral conditions experienced during World War Two and in the post-war years. The movement has therefore been labelled a moral and aesthetic cinema (lecture, Heath-Williams, A., 2009). This essay will discuss and examine the reasons why Italian Neo-Realism lasted just ten years, between 1942 and 1952 (Cook, P., 2007: 233). It will focus briefly on Fascist cinema and then examine Neo-Realism and some of its key films, notably those by Rossellini, De Sica and Visconti, and the subsequent moves by these directors away from Neo-Realism to more individual projects. It will then assess the variety of state and Church constraints imposed on Neo-Realism during its ten years, and will discuss changes in the tastes of contemporary audiences, to determine whether it was these changes that ultimately sounded the death-knell for the movement. Italian film production was virtually non-existent after World War One and cinemas were forced to show only foreign films, which was intolerable for the Fascist regime (filmreference.com, 2010). Following intervention by Mussolinis government the industry slowly revived throughout the 1930s, creating an Italian, rather than a specifically Fascist cinema (Cook, P., 2007: 233). Fascist filmmakers did make some films that have been rightly dismissed as propaganda, such as the short newsreels that were made to educate not entertain the public. However, of the seven hundred or so films produced by them, most were not actually propaganda films, but rather were entertaining, patriotic epics, such as Red Passport (dir. Brignone, 1935), which highlights an Italian peasants love for his country, as he returned home from abroad and fought and died for Italy in The Great War (Bondanella, P., 2009: 49). In complete contrast, the same film industry also produced White Telephone films a derogatory name coined by the Italian public (allmovie.com, 2010). These films are big-budget melodramatic productions frequently set in grand hotels, fancy nightclubs or on luxurious ocean-liners, with each film featuring a distinctive white telephone, which was viewed as a symbol of middle-class bourgeois wealth. They portray a false view of Italian life, as the existence led by most Italians was the exact opposite of that being shown onscreen. Indeed, within these films, the simple protagonists always found a simplistic resolution to their equally simplistic and insipid dilemmas (greencine.com, 2010), which was wholly unreflective of Italys reality. These films were intended to distract the Italian public from that reality and to recreate the box office success of the popular Hollywood narratives of the 1930s. Mussolini also encouraged the filming of grand, historical epics that were intended to ma ke Italians proud of their Roman history (greencine.com, 2010) again, another distraction from contemporary problems. Whilst Fascist cinema tended to produce decadent white telephone films, there were calls for filmmakers to develop a film realism that was authentically Italian (filmreference.com, 2010). With the outbreak of war in 1939 and the increasing breakdown of Italian society, a number of screenwriters also began to call for a cinema that resembled the Verismo or reality of 19th century Italian literature (Bordwell, D., Thompson, K., 2008: 459). Italian directors and writers were also influenced by French films of the 1930s and by Calligraphist films of the early 1940s, which were heavily reliant on the finest of detail (Bondanella, P., 2009: 52, 53). This use of fine detail and mise-en-scene would become a major aspect of the Neo-Realist movement. Although philosophical ideas formed the basis of the Neo-Realist movement, the main aim and true goal of the movement was to express societys issues in an entirely new and innovative way. Accordingly, Neo-Realist films may be seen as something o f a reaction against the white telephone dramas and superficial Hollywood imports of the 1930s (cinema-scope.com, 2010). Neo-Realism was therefore a rejection of Fascism and fantasy (criterion.com, 2007) but its realism was also born from absolute necessity. Indeed, the reasons for shooting on location and over-dubbing dialogue were purely practical, as Romes Cinecitta studios were heavily bombed by Allied forces and could not be utilised and sound equipment was of poor quality and in short supply (Bordwell, D., Thompson, K., 2008: 459). However, the use of exterior locations rather than studio sets lends the films a great deal of authenticity, because they show the actual physical destruction of the Italian landscape. This destruction as shown in various scenes of bombed-out shells of buildings throughout Rome, Open City (dir. Rossellini, 1945), and Germany, Year Zero (dir. Rossellini, 1947) could not easily be recreated in the studio. Similarly, in Obsession (dir. Visconti, 1943) the director uses the natural degradation of a typical farming community to set his film, and this too is difficult to re create in the studio. Filmmakers were also allowed much more freedom on location with sound and dialogue because everything could be carefully re-recorded later in the studio (Bordwell, D., Thompson, K., 2008: 459). This is evident in the scene from Obsession where the characters are walking back from a singing contest and are filmed chatting together from some distance away; their conversation is obviously over-dubbed, as it could not be recorded naturally during filming with the poor sound equipment available. The use of conversational speech and non-literary dialogue also lends Neo-Realist films an authentic air because it makes characters more realistic, to which audiences can relate. Neo-Realist filmmakers also use many non-professional actors for supporting roles, which adds realism and depth to their characters. Professional actors usually portray the principle characters but sometimes non-professionals are also utilised. The reason for the use of amateurs is because many professional actors perished during the Allied bombings or were exterminated by the Nazis (lecture, Heath-Williams, A., 2009). The use of non-professionals in principle roles gives the films added realism, especially in critical scenes. For example, when Vittorio De Sica was casting actors to play the main character in his iconic film Bicycle Thieves (dir. De Sica, 1948) he chose an ordinary factory worker to play him because, according to De Sica, everything about him was perfect (Bordwell, D., Thompson, K., 2008: 460) for the working class character he had envisioned. A professional actor would simply not have had the life experiences to draw upon to accurately portray him. Neo-Realist films are divided into two distinct categories, that is, Ideology and Style (facstaff.gpc.edu, 2010). Ideologically, Neo-Realist films portray Italy with a new, revitalised democratic spirit, strongly emphasising the value of ordinary, working class people. The films also show a compassionate viewpoint and refused to make superficial moral judgements (lecture, Heath-Williams, A., 2009). Many films are pre-occupied with Italys Fascist past and others deal with the difficult economic and moral conditions faced by Italians throughout the war and during its aftermath. There is one particular scene in Rome, Open City where a mob raids a bakery, stealing everything, including the weighing scales, which perfectly portrays the fear and desperation prevalent in contemporary Rome. Neo-Realist films also have a tendency to emphasise strong emotions rather than abstract ideas to convey their ideas, thereby inviting audiences to empathise with the plots and characters, whose experienc es mirror their own. Stylistically, Neo-Realist films avoid neatly plotted stories in favour of a loose and episodic structure, whilst mixing in a documentary-like visual style (facstaff.gpc.edu, 2010). Obsession is a prime example of the use of this loose structure, with the plot revealing itself like the chapters of a book. Its documentary-like style is shown through its use of real-time long shots, which convey the natural coming-and-goings of the characters, capturing life as it happens. This is perfectly illustrated by the infamous scene in Obsession where Giovanna eats a bowl of pasta and falls asleep at the table in her ramshackle kitchen, which confirms her exhaustion and carefully matches film-time with real-time. It is this style that gives Neo-Realist films their unique perspective, because real life is loose and episodic, it is not neatly plotted or clearly defined, sometimes literally nothing happens as in the pasta eating scene and it often ends unhappily or uncertainly. One of the first directors to focus the attention of international film critics onto Neo-Realism was Roberto Rossellini, a close friend of Mussolinis son, Vittorio. Despite his Fascist background, one of the most notable examples of Neo-Realism can be found in Rossellinis highly acclaimed film, Rome, Open City (lecture, Heath-Williams, A., 2009). The film is centred on the unlikely collaboration between Catholics and Communists fighting the Nazi occupation of Rome, shortly before the Americans liberated the city. Some footage was allegedly shot during the Nazi occupation and subsequent retreat out of Rome because of its accurate portrayal of society at the time. Indeed, Rossellini wanted to convey the cruel atmosphere that existed during the Nazi occupation, and the scene wherein Romes socio-political reality is vividly demonstrated, is when Pina is mercilessly gunned down by German soldiers as she chases the vehicle that takes her lover, Francesco, away. Perhaps, more importantly, f or a director with links to Mussolinis regime, the film with Romes resistance movement at its core has a very real anti-Fascist message. The box-office success of Rome, Open City hinted that a film revolution (ccat.sas.upenn.edu, 1996) was underway, and Rossellini remains true to Neo-Realism in his next two films, Paisan (dir. Rossellini, 1946) and Germany, Year Zero. Paisan is another example of Neo-Realisms use of an episodic structure, as its six sections loosely capturing the Allied defeat of Italy are edited together by authentic newsreel footage. The film further revolutionised filmmaking when Rossellini chose much of his cast from people who simply gathered around when his film crew set up in a town square (ccat.sas.upenn.edu, 1996). His next film, Germany, Year Zero, is set in the ruins of Berlin and shows a German viewpoint of the war and its aftermath. This film, however, was criticised by some Marxist Neo-Realists, who sensed something of a moralistic, less objective tone in this work and a distinct change of direction from Rome, Open City (archive.sensesofcinema.com). Indeed, Rossellini establishes his m oral perspective at the outset of the film when a brief written quotation and accompanying voice-over, appears to suggest that a society that strays from a decent, moral and religious path will undoubtedly plunge into chaos (Bondanella, P., 2009: 80). This is a damning indictment of Germany and its recent experiences under Hitler, but it strays a long way from Neo-Realism and its supposed reluctance to make moral judgements of this nature. Rossellini seems to suggest that German society may have broken down irretrievably because of Hitler, as Germany, Year Zero is full of relentless, bleak imagery, which illustrates its downfall, such as in the scene where desperate Berliners are reduced to eating a horse that has died in the street because they are starving (Bondanella, P., 2009: 81). In contrast, Rome, Open City differs in that Rossellini shows some vestige of hope for Italy, most notably in the scene where a group of young children even though they witness the execution of Don Pietro still find the courage to return to Rome and continue their resistance efforts. However, Rossellinis change of direction is more apparent in his films of the late 1940s and early 1950s as he moves from attempts to capture social realism to the investigation of more complex issues, such as marriage, emotional alienation, and personal despair (Bondanella, P., 2009: 130). Indeed, Rossellinis exploration of these subjects requires the exp ertise of professional actors rather than the gritty amateurs who worked on his Neo-Realist films, which is perhaps his most blatant change of style. Whilst Rossellini brought Neo-Realism to international attention, it was Vittorio De Sica who maintained its impetus (facstaff.gpc.edu, 2010). De Sica was an established film and theatre actor when he turned to filmmaking in 1939, but his films lacked any renown until he began to examine the harsh realities faced by Italians during the war (starpulse.com, 2010). Elements of Neo-Realism can therefore be found in The Children Are Watching Us (dir. De Sica, 1942) with its simple plot, social problems and use of children in key roles. However, it was during the post-war era that De Sica became one of the key figures of Neo-Realism with such classics as Shoeshine (dir. De Sica, 1946) a tragic account of the lives of two children during Americas occupation of Italy and Bicycle Thieves (biography.com, 2010). The latter is undoubtedly his greatest film and, in true Neo-Realist style, is acted mostly by non-professionals, is shot on location and deals with various social issues, including t he impact of long-term unemployment and familial relationships, in this case, between father and son. Shot on the streets of Rome, the films protagonist is Antonio, who finally secures work putting up film posters, but to keep the job he has to have his own bicycle; Antonio and his wife are therefore forced to pawn their bed sheets to secure one. The scene in the pawnshop is poignant, as the shop is overflowing with household goods that have been exchanged for money or alternative goods, which highlights Italys desperate poverty. However, the bike is stolen and the film deals with Antonio and his sons attempts to recover it (facstaff.gpc.edu, 2010). Antonio ultimately steals someone elses bicycle and is apprehended by angry locals, becoming the very person that drove him to where he is now a bicycle thief! There are clearly depths to which even desperate Italians must not descend. Bicycle Thieves successfully highlights Italys bleak situation during the post-war years, and it is this accurate, heartbreaking portrayal that makes it such an achievement. The film is not, however, witho ut controversy, as it exposes societys problems but does not offer solutions to them. Certainly Bicycle Thieves does not have a satisfying happy ending, so perhaps De Sica simply intends that society find its own solutions to the problems he reveals in Bicycle Thieves. His next Neo-Realist production was Miracle In Milan (dir. De Sica, 1951) a comic parable about the clash between Milans rich and poor followed a year later by Umberto D. (dir. De Sica, 1952), which is now accepted as a film masterpiece. However, Umberto D. was a contemporary box-office disaster (starpulse.com), as Italian audiences appeared to prefer Hollywood escapism to De Sicas themes of loneliness, poverty, suffering and the plight of the elderly in society. De Sica was therefore forced to return to more lightweight and commercial films, such as It Happened In The Park (dir. De Sica, 1953). When subsequent films also failed commercially, De Sicas career as a director stalled and, struggling to secure funding for further projects, he returned to acting and did not direct again until 1960 (starpulse.com). Neo-Realists struggled to find funding because the Italian film industry was effectively under state control by the early 1950s (Bordwell, D., Thompson, K., 2008: 460). Indeed, Giulio Andreotti, the Under-secretary of Public Entertainment, introduced a law that limited foreign imports and provided loans for domestic film production, as long as these films were not overtly critical of post-war Italy (Bondanella, P., 2009: 112). Unfortunately, Neo-Realist films clearly fell outside this strict funding criterion. A government committee was actually established to read prospective film scripts and to deny finance to openly political productions (matthewhunt.com). The Catholic Church also began to censor films according to their suitability for screening in its parish cinemas, which had been opened to combat the supposed menace of immorality and Communism as portrayed in Cinema Paradiso (dir. Tornatore, 1989) many years later. And, in 1949, the Vatican actually excommunicated Communist v oters, sympathizers, and their allies (Bondanella, P., 2009: 112), which made producing and watching Neo-Realism films extremely risky in an era when any form of social criticism seemingly equalled Communism. Similarly, as economic prosperity returned to post-war Italy, Neo-Realist films no longer felt as relevant and they started to become obsolete. Italians had recently lived through a very dark time in their history and did not appear to want it continually replayed on the big screen. Perhaps the realism of these films was just a little too accurate and a reminder of times sooner forgotten. Consequently, many Italians turned to the glamorous escapism of imported Hollywood productions and whilst Rome, Open City was the highest grossing domestic film of 1945 (cinema-scope.com, 2010) by 1952 Umberto D. was the aforementioned disaster at the Italian box-office. Indeed, historians date the end of the Neo-Realist movement with the public attacks onà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Umberto D. (Bordwell, D., Thompson, K., 2008: 461). The Neo-Realist movement therefore had to adapt and a modicum of escapist comedy was introduced to dilute the realism and make the films more socially acceptable. The resulting new film style is known as Pink Neo-Realism (matthewhunt.com) that eventually gave way to the distinctive Comedia AllItaliana (matthewhunt.com). The Neo-Realism movement was therefore effectively at an end. During the occupation years the message of the Neo-Realist movement led to a social revolution amongst Italys people and government. However, as Italys post-war resurgence gained strength this message faded, as audiences preferred to forget issues like mass unemployment, extreme poverty, social decay and politics. Realism therefore became the antithesis of social change and filmmakers and audiences ironically gravitated towards the types of films made by the Fascist cinema popular taste had come full circle. With hindsight, however, it is apparent that no other film movement has achieved such an accurate portrayal of real life and won such recognition as the Italian Neo-Realist movement. Its impact on contemporary filmmaking was enormous, establishing the reputations of its key directors and offering audiences some of the outstanding films of the post-war era. And while Italian Neo-Realism lasted just ten brief years, its influence was felt immediately amongst filmmakers of the 1950 s (Bordwell, D., Thompson, K., 2008: 461), and it is still felt amongst filmmakers of today. Bibliography Bondanella, P., 2009, A HeatHistory of Italian Cinema, New York: The Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd. Bondanella, P., 2007, Italian Cinema: From Neorealism To The Present, 3rd edition, New York: The Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd. Bordwell, D., Thompson, K., 2008, Film Art: An Introduction, 8th edition, New York: McGraw-Hill. Cook, P., 2007, The Cinema Book, 3rd edition, London: Palgrave Macmillan. Heath-Williams, A. (2009) Introduction to Italian Neorealism, FV2S13 [Lecture] Italian Cinema, Bridgend College, School of Creative Arts, Seminar Room, Queens Road Campus, 24th September. Heath-Williams, A. (2009) Neorealism: Wartime Resistance, FV2S13 [Lecture] Italian Cinema, Bridgend College, School of Creative Arts, Seminar Room, Queens Road Campus, 8th October. Web Resources Allmovie.com (2010) History of Italian Cinema [online] Available from: http://www.allmovie.com/essays/Italian-cinema-41 [23/06/10] Senses of Cinema (2010) Roberto Rossellini [online] Available from: http://archive.sesnseofcinema.com/contents/directors/02/rossellini.html [25/06/10] Film Drama (2009) Rome, Open City (Roma, Citta Aperta) [online] Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/cinema/features/rome-open-city.shtml [23/06/10] Biography.com (2010) Vittorio de Sica Biography [online] Available from: http://www.biography.com/articles/Vittorio-de-Sica-9272724 [25/06/10] University of Pennsylvania (1996) The Cinema Under Mussolini [online] Available from: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/italians/resources/Amiciprize/1996/mussolini.html [23/06/10] Cinema Scope (2010) Rome, Open City: Neorealism Wasnt Built in a Day [online] Available from: http://www.cinema-scope.com/cs24/spo_kaltsounakis_rome.htm [23/06/10] Criterion Collection Online Cinematheque (2007) Bicycle Thieves: A Passionate Commitment to the Real By Godfrey Cheshire [online] Available from: http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/467 [23/06/10] Facstaff.gcp.edu (2010) Film 1301, Notes 10, Italian Neorealism [online] Available from: http://facstaff.gcp.edu/njriggs/film1301/notes10.htm [3/07/10] Filmcritic.com (2007) Bicycle Thieves [online] Available from: http://www.filmcritic.com/reviews/1948/bicycle-thieves/ [23/06/10] Filmreference.com (2010) Cinema Under Fascism: The Advent of Sound and The Increase of National Production [online] Available from: http://www.filmreference.com/Independent-Film-Road-Movies/Italy-CINEMA-UNDER-FASCISM-THE-ADVENTOF-SOUND-AND-THE-INCREASE-OF-NATIONAL-PRODUCTION.html [23/06/10] Filmreference.com (2010) Historical Origins Of Italian Neorealism [online] Available from: http://filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Independent-Film-Road-Movies/Neorealism.html [23/06/10] Greencine.com (2010) Italian Neo-Realism by Megan Ratner [online] Available from: http://greencine.com/static/primers/neorealism1.jsp [24/6/10] Matthewhunt.com (2010) Neo-Realism [online] Available from: http://www.matthewhunt.com/cinema/worldcinema.html [30/06/10] The New York Times (2009) Open City (1945) [online] Available from: http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/36504/Open-City/overview [23/06/10] Starpulse.com (2010) Vittorio de Sica Biography [online] Available from: http://starpulse.com/Actors/De_Sica,_Vittorio/Biography [25/06/10]