Proxemics essays

Proxemics essays Spacial relations is a complex subject that can be interpreted in many different ways. A clear explanation of spatial relations is easily understood with the study of proxemics. So what is proxemics? Well the term proxemics came from E.T. Hall, a researcher in 1963. Proxemics is the study of the nature, degree, and effect of the spatial separation individuals naturally maintain (as in various social and interpersonal situations) and of how this separation relates to environmental and cultural factors. Proxemics is made up of featured spaces: fixed space, semi-fixed, and informal. Space around a person is set up into zones representing comfort and non-comfort. Fixed spaces are areas that are unmovable such as buildings and offices. Many simple things can change a comfortable zone in a fixed area such as color. The use of color can have a major impact on our comfort level. Restaurants, for example, focus on peoples comfort level with how they paint their buildings. Fast food such as McDonalds or Taco Bell cause people to rush in, eat fast, and leave without a nice place to sit down because of their bright colors. Bright colors are disturbing to the customers and even the workers. Other restaurants such as Ruby Tuesdays and Apple Bees stick with a nice color scheme that is both darker, mellow, and come off as a nice place to enjoy your food. Restaurants like these have a higher employee turnover than fast food in the food service industry. Semi-fixed spaces serves as movable areas such as furniture. Office desks can be organized to a persons comfort zone. Chairs and desks are just physical barriers but can be broken to protect personal space. As you might notice on a TV show or at a job interview, two chairs are usually always on an angle and no more than 1 Â ½ feet from the main desk. This set up helps keep a balance of dominance. A person at a desk compared to a person standing in front of him may feel l...

Profile of Charlton Heston, Gun Rights Movement Icon

Profile of Charlton Heston, Gun Rights Movement Icon As an actor, Charlton Heston appeared in some of the most notable films of his time. But he may best be remembered as the most visible president in the National Rifle Association’s history, guiding the gun lobbying group through a five-year period that saw gun rights take center stage in Washington, D.C. Along the way, his statements were responsible for igniting a phrase that would become a rallying cry for gun owners: â€Å"You can have my guns when you take them from my cold, dead hands.† Surprisingly, the man who hoisted a rifle above his head at the 2000 NRA Convention in defiance of the perceived anti-gun policies of Democrat presidential nominee Al Gore was once a staunch supporter of gun control legislation. Heston’s Support for Gun Control By the time President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Charlton Heston had become a household name, starring as Moses in the 1956 film The Ten Commandments and as Judah Ben Hur in 1959’s Ben Hur. Heston campaigned for Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election and became critical of lax gun laws in the aftermath of Kennedy’s assassination. He joined fellow Hollywood stars Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, and James Stewart in support of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the most restrictive piece of gun legislation in more than 30 years. Appearing on ABC’s The Joey Bishop Show two weeks after U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, Heston read from a prepared statement: â€Å"This bill is no mystery. Let’s be clear about it. Its purpose is simple and direct. It is not to deprive the sportsman of his hunting gun, the marksman of his target rifle, nor would it deny to any responsible citizen his constitutional right to own a firearm. It is to prevent the murder of Americans.† Later that year, actor-producer Tom Laughlin, chairman of the anti-gun group Ten Thousand Americans for Responsible Gun Control lamented in an edition of Film Television Daily that Hollywood stars had fallen from the gun control bandwagon, but listed Heston among a handful of diehard supporters who he said would stand by his side. Heston Changes Teams in the Gun Rights Debate Exactly when Heston changed his views on gun ownership is hard to pin down. In interviews after being elected president of the NRA, he was vague about his support of the 1968 Gun Control Act, saying only that he had made some â€Å"political mistakes.† Heston’s support for Republican politicians can be dated back as far as the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan. The two men shared many broad similarities: Hollywood A-Listers who supported Democrat Party policies early in their careers only to become stalwarts of the conservative movement. Reagan would later appoint Heston to co-chair a task force on arts and humanities. Over the next two decades, Heston became increasingly vocal in his support of conservative policies, in general, and on the Second Amendment, in particular. In 1997, Heston was elected to the NRA’s Board of Directors. One year later, he was elected president of the organization. Heston was vocally opposed to virtually any proposed measure of restricting gun ownership, from a mandatory five-day waiting period on handgun purchases to a limit of one gun purchase a month to mandatory trigger locks and the 1994 ban on assault weapons. â€Å"Teddy Roosevelt hunted in the last century with a semiautomatic rifle,† Heston once said in regards to proposals to ban semiautomatic firearms. â€Å"Most deer guns are semi-automatic. It’s become a demonized phrase. The media distorts that and the public ill understands it.† In 1997, he lambasted the National Press Club for the media’s role in the Assault Weapons Ban, saying reporters need to do their homework on semiautomatic weapons. In a speech to the club, he said: â€Å"For too long, you have swallowed manufactured statistics and fabricated technical support from anti-gun organizations that wouldnt know a semi-auto from a sharp stick. And it shows. You fall for it every time.† ‘From My Cold, Dead Hands’ During the height of the 2000 election season, Heston delivered a rousing speech at the NRA Convention in which he closed by invoking an old Second Amendment battle cry as he raised a vintage 1874 buffalo rifle over his head: â€Å"So, as we set out this year to defeat the divisive forces that would take freedom away, I want to say those fighting words for everyone within the sound of my voice to hear and to heed, and especially for you, (presidential candidate) Mr. (Al) Gore: From my cold, dead hands.’† The â€Å"cold, dead hands† saying did not originate with Heston. It had been around since the 1970s  when it was used as a slogan for literature and bumper stickers by gun rights activists. The slogan didn’t even originate with the NRA; it was first used by the Washington-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. But Heston’s usage of those five words in 2000 made them iconic. Gun owners across the nation began using the slogan as a rallying cry, saying, â€Å"You can have my guns when you take them from my cold, dead hands.† Heston is often incorrectly attributed with coining the phrase. When he resigned from the NRA presidency in 2003 due to his declining health, he again raised the rifle over his head and repeated, â€Å"From my cold, dead hands.† The Death of an Icon Heston was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998, an illness he defeated. But a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in 2003 would prove too much to overcome. He stepped down from his position as president of the NRA and died five years later, at the age of 84. At his death, he had appeared in more than 100 films. He and his wife, Lydia Clark, had been married 64 years. But Heston’s lasting legacy might be his five-year stint as president of the NRA. With the peak of his Hollywood career well behind him, Heston’s work with the NRA and his fierce pro-gun rights rhetoric earned him legendary status with a whole new generation.

About german Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

About german - Essay Example The efficiency is admirable because if something is worth doing the Germans do it right. The obedience to the laws is also commendable. Laws are not created for citizens to pick and choose. They are for the betterment of society. Germans seem to understand this concept. As for the nudity when sunbathing, swimming, or in the sauna, this is laudable due to the shamelessness in the human body. Whether a svelte teenager or a wrinkled old woman the Germans are comfortable with their body. Americans are sometimes efficient, but not across the whole population. The efficiency personality varies among Americans. The obedience to the law is not as important to Americans. It seems that Americans pick and choose laws that are fair. If a law does not appear to be fair an American will fight to change it. For example at a red light in an emergency, an American will run the light. Germans would not. Americans enjoy nudity only for the good looking woman. Men can take off their shirts, but full nudity is obscene to Americans. Women can show everything but the chest and other private areas. Old people that are nude make the Americans disgusted. Germans and Americans are just different in these three

JPMorgan Chase Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

JPMorgan Chase - Essay Example comparing with the laws existing or the existing banks’ policies and in case of any fraud, they take the financial institutions in court with enough evidence to prosecute. A valid contract has four major elements as explained by (Meiners, Ringleb and Edwards, 2014). The first of these elements is the offer and acceptance by both parties involved in the contract. An offer is made to the consumer who then accepts it. This is followed by intention to create legal relations which are carried out in order to ensure that the contract will be declared legally binding in which case both parties have to fulfill and abide by it. This is conducted with the presence of a witness orally or even with writing. After these two elements comes the considerations where the actual contract terms are discussed and negotiated. These include terms such as payments or any financial obligations involved or even the duration of the contract. Lastly is the signing of the contract and sealing the deal. The signing or completion of the deal through handshake should not be carried out under duress, undue influence or even under false statements which is what the fraudulent banks d o. Each party of the contract is supposed to honor their contract and not intentionally breach it as it will not only invalidate the contract but will destroy the relationship with the contracting party and this is not fair. Intentional tort actions according to (Meiners, Ringleb and Edwards, 2014) are the actions which are done by people will the desire or sole purpose to harm them. These actions are wrongful and are committed by these people consciously. The individual carrying out these wrongful actions that harm are fully aware of the consequences of his or her action as they are purposeful but does not to stop them from happening. On the other hand, negligence tort actions are those actions that are committed through the failure of individuals to be responsible enough and do the correct actions they were

Children Stay at Home for Entertainment Essay Example for Free

Children Stay at Home for Entertainment Essay The twenty first century held many changes for our life . This changes are different and multifarious . as well as this covered all aspects of life. The most effect was on the children that changed their life completely different rather than previous generation . Those children become spend a large amount of time inside their homes , playing computer games and watching television , rather than playing games and sport outside . This phenomenon is disturbing many people, therefore they ask what are the benefits , and what are the drawbacks in this case. This essay will talk about these views. To begin with ,there are two reasons may be most advantages for the children spend a large of time inside their home. Firstly , It is clear that children who spend more time at home for entertainment will be more safe from those who spend time outside, which may causes for them risk of theft or assault. Secondly , Children sit at home a long time help them to avoid many bad practices such as smoking or drug. On the other hand , there are many drawbacks in this instance , firstly , children who spend bulk of time inside their home, that means they will disappear from the sun for a long time, it may result in they have deficiency in vitamin D , which the sunlight is natural source for it , kids tend to stay indoor more days and play on their computers instead enjoying the fresh air . This mean their vitamin D levels are worse then previous years (S.Peace 2010)[1]. Consequently it lead to some diseases such as rickets , which this practice blamed for increasing numbers of children suffer from it . As well as these figures dismayed some scientists as well according to professor T Cheetham from Newcastle university[2] . Secondly, stay a long time in front of screen lead to fitness that the most common diseases among children. In conclusion can the children of new century enjoying with a new technologies , but they should not ignore the healthy practice which protect them from diseases . In fact I think the generation of this century is more lucky than their ancestors ,particularly if I compared him with our generation.

Identifying a Computers Parts :: Computer Science Electronics Essays Papers

Identifying a Computer's Parts Computer is no longer something new and magical to many people nowadays, because many families now have at least one computer in their homes. It is without doubt that there are thousands and millions of computer users in the country, but is it ever possible for all of them to explain how a computer works? No. Alright, can they even classify the components of a computer appropriately? Not quite. They may know how to describe the physical appearance of a computer and they will probably include two or three other terms as well, such as monitor, keyboard or a mouse. Nonetheless, classification of a computer should not be done this way. In fact, a computer can be broken down into three distinct categories, namely output, input and CPU. The term 'output' consists of all components that display words and graphics so that a person can see them. Many people can easily understand why the monitor is a form of output device since it is the screen that tells them what the computer is actually doing. Simply put, without a monitor, the computer itself is basically useless. Another form of output, which is rarely noticed by many computer users however, is the printer. Many people have probably used a printer before, but it is just that they never realize it is also a form of output. As opposed to 'output', 'input' consists of components that take in information from the users themselves so that the computer will know the tasks it is supposed to perform and accomplish. The keyboard is classified as a form of input because this is where the users enter commands and text. There are many other forms of input as well. Nonetheless, many people just don't realize them, or are too lazy to classify them. For instance, the mouse belongs to input, since it provides a floating pointer on the screen so that the users can access commands faster and easier. The scanner is another form of input, because it acts like a photocopier, except it scans the image and makes it onto the computer screen instead of onto a piece of paper. The CPU, Central Processing Unit is probably the most important category of the three. As the name implies, it is the soul of a computer, very much alike the human brain. For unknown reasons though, people often call the CPU a computer. This is absolutely incorrect. The word computer is merely a general term which must always include all the three categories in order to operate. Perhaps the constituents of a CPU itself should be mentioned.

Perfect Competition

Perfect Competition In  economic theory,  perfect competition  describes markets such that no participants are large enough to have the  market power  to set the price of a homogeneous product. Because the conditions for perfect competition are strict, there are few if any perfectly competitive markets. Still, buyers and sellers in some  auction-type markets, say for  commodities  or some financial assets, may approximate the concept. Perfect competition serves as a benchmark against which to measure real-life and  imperfectly competitive  markets.Generally, a perfectly competitive market exists when every participant is a â€Å"price taker†, and no participant influences the price of the product it buys or sells. Specific characteristics may include: * Infinite buyers and sellers  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ An infinite number of consumers with the willingness and ability to buy the product at a certain price, and infinite producers with the willingness and ability to supp ly the product at a certain price. * Zero entry and exit barriers  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ A lack of entry and exit barriers makes it extremely easy to enter or exit a perfectly competitive market. Perfect factor mobility  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ In the long run  factors of production  are perfectly mobile, allowing free long term adjustments to changing market conditions. * Perfect information  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ All consumers and producers are assumed to have perfect knowledge of price, utility, quality and production methods of products. * Zero transaction costs  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Buyers and sellers do not incur costs in making an exchange of goods in a perfectly competitive market. * Profit maximization  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Firms are assumed to sell where marginal costs meet marginal revenue, where the most profit is generated. Homogenous products  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ The qualities and characteristics of a market good or service do not vary between different suppliers. * Non-increasing returns to scale  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ The lack of increa sing returns to scale (or economies of scale) ensures that there will always be a sufficient number of firms in the industry. * Property rights  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Well defined property rights determine what may be sold, as well as what rights are conferred on the buyer. In the short run, perfectly-competitive markets are not  productively efficient  as output will not occur where marginal cost is equal to average cost (MC=AC).They are  allocatively efficient, as output will always occur where  marginal cost  is equal to  marginal revenue(MC=MR). In the long run, perfectly competitive markets are both allocatively and productively efficient. In perfect competition, any profit-maximizing producer faces a  market price  equal to its  marginal cost  (P=MC). This implies that a factor's price equals the factor's marginal revenue product. It allows for derivation of the supply curve on which the neoclassical approach is based. This is also the reason why â€Å"a monopoly doe s not have a supply curve†.The abandonment of price taking creates considerable difficulties for the demonstration of a general equilibrium except under other, very specific conditions such as that of monopolistic competition. By definition a perfectly competitive market is one in which no single firm has to influence either the equilibrium price of the market or the the total quantity supplied in the market. Thus, a firm operating in a competitive market has no incentive to supply at a price lower than market equilibrium price, as it can sell all it wants to supply at equilibrium.At the same time, the firm cannot sell at price higher than the market price, because it will be able find no buyers at that price, and its sales volume will drop down to zero. Thus, a firm operating in perfectly competitive market has to accept whatever is the market equilibrium price, and therefore it is called a price taker. In contrast, a monopoly firm is the only supplier in the market and there fore has full control over the market prices and total market supplies.Therefore, a firm operating in a monopoly market fixes its price in such a way that for the quantity demanded by customers at that market price the marginal revenue of the firm is equal to its marginal costs. In this way way it decides the market price as well as the total quantity if a commodity supplied in the market, and therefore it is called a price maker. Imperfect Competition In  economic theory,  imperfect competition  is the competitive situation in any market where the sellers in the market sell different/dissimilar of goods, (haterogenous) that does not meet the conditions of perfect competition.Forms of imperfect competition include: * Monopoly, in which there is only one seller of a good. * Oligopoly, in which there are few sellers of a good. * Monopolistic competition, in which there are many sellers producing highly differentiated goods. * Monopsony, in which there is only one buyer of a good . * Oligopsony, in which there are few buyers of a good. * Information asymmetry  when one competitor has the advantage of more or better information. There may also be imperfect competition due to a time lag in a market. An example is the â€Å"jobless recovery†.There are many growth opportunities available after a recession, but it takes time for employers to react, leading to high  unemployment. High unemployment decreases wages, which makes hiring more attractive, but it takes time for new jobs to be created. A type of  market that does not operate under the rigid rules of perfect competition. Perfect competition implies an industry or market in which no one supplier can influence prices, barriers to entry and exit are small, all suppliers offer the same goods, there are a large number of   suppliers and buyers, and information on pricing and process is readily available.Forms of imperfect competition include monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition, monopson y and oligopsony. Pure Competition Pure Competition  is a market situation where there is a large number of independent sellers offering identical products. Pure competition is a term for an industry where competition isstagnant and relatively non competitive. Companies within the pure competition category have little control of price or distribution of product. Advertising, market research, and product development play a very little role in these companies/industries.A  market  characterized by a large  number  of independent  sellers  of standardized  products, free  flow  of information, and  free entry  and  exit. Each seller is a â€Å"price taker† rather than a â€Å"price maker†. Also sometimes referred to as  perfect competition,  pure  competition  is a situation in which the market for a product is populated with so many consumers and producers that no one entity has the ability to influence the price of the product sufficien tly to cause a fluctuation.Within this type of market setting, sellers are considered to be price takers, indicating that they are not in a position to set the price for their products outside a certain range, given the fact that so many other producers are active within the market. At the same time, consumers have little influence over the prices offered by the producers, since there is no singular group of consumers that dominates the demand. In reality,  pure  competition  is more  theory  than actual fact.While there are rare situations in which a marketplace functions with  pure  competition  for a short period of time, the situation normally shifts as various factors change the stalemate created by a multiplicity of sellers and buyers. This is often due to the somewhat stringent set of factors that must be present in order for the  competition  to be considered perfect or  pure. There are several essential characteristics that define  pure  competitio n. One has to do with the balance of buyers to sellers.When there is an infinite number of buyers who are willing to purchase the products offered for sale by an infinite number of producers, at a certain price, the opportunity for anyone to take actions that shift the market price is extremely limited. The price remains more or less the same, and the same number of buyers purchase the products from the same range of producers. With  pure  competition, sellers can easily exit or enter the marketplace, without creating any undue influence on the price. Consumers continue to make purchases at the same rate, even if two companies leave the market and only one new one enters.The collective producers who are still in the market simply continue to produce enough products to meet consumer demand, without a shift in market price. Businesses engaged in a  pure  competition  market usually structure production so that they incur marginal costs at a level where they can earn the most profit. When the product line is homogeneous, this means the products produced are essentially the same as the product line produced by other  suppliers  in the marketplace. Assuming the costs are in line withmarginal revenue, the business can generate a consistent profit for as long as the condition of  pure  competition  is present in the market.

In what ways is the concept of gender useful in the study of ancient history?

In antiquity gender was a defining feature of life, we can note that it affected the way society was structured, specifically in the Athenian ‘polis', as well as public events, such as those associated with religious cults. Gender was also influential in politics, especially that of the Romans. Moreover, it is through gender that we can observe the general ancient view towards women, found throughout numerous literary sources and archaeological remains. Firstly, there is a strong link between gender and the Athenian ‘polis', which was commonly considered to be ‘male dominated'. 1 From an early age male and female youths were polarised, so that males were educated professionally, with a strong emphasis on completing sports at the ‘palaestrai' and ‘gymnasia', then they were sent away to complete their military service. In contrast, women were denied no more than basic schooling. However they were introduced into society through religious cults. It is through education that the classical Athenians erected a prominent division between the sexes, in order to prepare the youths for their roles in later life-men for leadership in state and military affairs, women for more subordinate roles. For example, archaeological evidence suggests that young men were groomed for prominent positions in the state, that is, pitchers have been found that illustrate boys celebrating the festival, ‘Anthesterion', ‘the flower month', by sampling wine and participating in crawling races. The former would have been a simplistic pre-taster for male youths of a ‘symposium', philosophical sessions intertwined with heavy drinking periods, exclusively for male citizens. The playwrights Plato and Aristophanes recognised their importance in the ‘polis', as it was for affluent male citizens. In Aristophanic comedies he frequently alludes to scenes of inebriation and obscenity mixed with intervals of learned opinions. The latter would have prepared the youths for athletic competitions. Keuls' suggests that it is through these activities young boys were instilled, ‘with the norms of competitiveness and male privilege'. 2 In comparison, Greek women were initiated into society through religious roles, specifically those associated with chastity, labour and submission. The cult of Athena was particularly important, in which a robe known as a ‘peplos' was dedicated to the goddess that had been especially woven for the occasion. It was then presented to her either by two or four noble girls, known as ‘arrhephoroi', ‘bearers of sacred objects'. Scenes from this cult can be found on sections of the Parthenon frieze (440BC-432BC), detailing events such as the folding of the ‘peplos' by the ‘Archon Basileus', chief magistrate, helped by a young child. This was a significant affair because the cult of Athena portrayed the characteristics sought desirable in each sex. That is, she represented the ‘male patriarchal ethos',3 through a wild war dance, the ‘pyrrhic dance', which was performed by armed dancers. This highlights, through the festival that males were associated with war and had a responsibility to protect the ‘polis'. On the other hand, Athena also represented the female ethos, by emphasising the necessity of hard work and chastity through the tasks of spinning and weaving, which were given prestigious status', through the ritual of the ‘peplos'. Athenian women were associated with passive tasks, illustrating their subordination to men within the ‘polis'. It is also significant that religious festivals structured the female hierarchy. We have already noted that it was only noble girls who could become ‘arrhephoroi', whereas in other cults, such as that of Artemis at Brauron, all girls could participate in the rituals. Just as the female hierarchy needed cult festivals to differentiate between the varying classes, the male hierarchy was determined by society-the ‘polis' and the military. For example, Xenophon, in the ‘Anabasis', highlights the importance and influence of the head of the army, the ‘hegemon', compared to less important positions in the military. That is, when a ‘manteis', a divine interpreter, attempts to slander Xenophon-in this case he is acting as the ‘hegemon'-by suggesting that he would have founded a new city without consulting his troops, Xenophon retorts: ‘Silanus gave me his answer on the most important point, namely, that the appearance of the victim was propitious. He had to since he was aware that I myself, because of always being present at sacrifices had some experience in these matters. ‘ 4 This illustrates, in general, that in warfare, sacrifices were undertaken or overseen by those in commanding positions, such as the ‘hegemon', because they influenced the state. Those in less significant positions in the military had a minimal influence in the running of the state. Thus, highlighting that the military and state were active influences in determining the male hierarchy. So far, we can note that education and cult festivals were influenced by gender, illustrating the importance of studying it in ancient history, as it gives us a fuller picture of ancient Greek society. Furthermore, the perception of the sexes can be seen to vary vastly, Xenophon highlights this in his ‘Oikonomikos', when he determines that men were built for war because their bodies could endure toil and hardship, whereas women were made for domestic work. 5 Another ancient scholar, Ischomachos, comments that the nature of men and women's mind also differ, as women are considered to be more susceptible to emotions and show a lack of restraint. Physical and psychological features influenced ancient Greek scholars into stereotyping the sexes and thus explaining why each gender sought different roles in society. In consideration to the cult of Athena, we can note that the study of mythology is also relevant to the concept of gender and its effects on society. That is, the ‘Panathenaic' procession was based on the myth of the origin of Ericthonius, who was associated with Athens. Hephaistos spilt semen on Athena's lap, which she wiped off with some wool, but consequently Ericthonius was born. The child was then given to Cecrops' daughters, but two of them, Herse and Aglauros, looked at the baby, despite Athena's warning that they should not. This myth emphasises the importance of women as child bearers and nurturers in society. The relevance of the wool can be associated with textile making, an occupation that was encouraged in young women. Likewise the cult of Artemis illustrated to women the importance of chastity, as the myth behind her cult warns them that promiscuity is an undesirable and unacceptable value. Artemis punishes her nymph, Kallisto, who had been raped by Zeus, by changing her into a bear, who is consequently hunted and killed by her own son. The Greeks used the myths as moral paradigms, warning women against unacceptable behaviour in the ‘polis'. Furthermore, Artemis was also concerned with childbirth, as clothes were dedicated to her at Brauron. Keuls' comments that this cult, ‘may have been the most effective way of instilling in females the ethos that male society required of them. ‘ 6 In comparison, if the cult of Artemis and Athena portrayed ideal female virtues that were affable for their role in the ‘polis', then the cult of Theseus represented ideal virtues for the Athenian male citizen. He was the archetypal male hero, as he saved Athens and slaughtered the Minotaur. In a social context, he had protected the ‘polis' and by militant means had killed a foreign being that threatened the well being of the state-actions that were expected of all male Athenians. Funerals were also a very significant event within the ‘polis' and the concept of gender greatly influenced its organisation. Women played a vital role in the ‘prothesis', the procession preceding the actual funeral, when the body was placed on a bier and was surrounded by mourners. It was the role of the women to lament- the more intense they seemed, the more honoured the dead appeared. Firstly, in connection with lamentation, we can note that women played an integral role in this procession, as they allowed men to keep up an austere appearance. This allowed the males to protect their masculine front, as they could refrain form outwardly expressing their grief. We have already observed, from ancient scholars, such as Xenophon, that only certain characteristics were deemed acceptable for men. Plaques and funeral vases illustrate the different roles performed during the ‘prothesis' by men and women. For example, a funeral pot of the late geometric period depicts men in processions of armed warriors or on horseback. 7 It is notable that they remain untearful, when compared to the numerous figurines of women in lamentable positions. The men honour the dead by highlighting the prestige of dying whilst in battle. Two ideals of mourning were set up to protect the social structure-women lament due to their lack of restraint of their emotions, emphasising their fragile characters, deeming them unfit for leadership. Whereas, men retain their dignity through their restraint and their passive role in the ‘prothesis'. Furthermore, funerals allowed aristocratic families to present their rank and power in society. Therefore, the lamentation was a reflection of the family's status. Hans Van Wees states that, ‘tears were a sign of respect to the dead†¦ ears of women played a part in the power struggle of men. ‘ 8 This illustrates that women had a significant role in the society of men, but one that was manipulated to benefit the running of the state. Moreover, the emotions of the women became so severe, as they behaved as a medium, that Solon had to institute legislations to curtail their display, as women had resorted to lacerating their arms and other forms of self-mutilation. The concept of gender is also very noteworthy in ancient literature, as men and women were perceived very differently in comparison to their perception in the ‘polis'. For example, during the Homeric era, it was not uncommon to observe heroes crying, a characteristic that would later be associated with the ‘fairer sex'. We first see Odysseus on Calypso's island, weeping in despair to return home to Ithaca. 9 Likewise, Homer frequently alludes to Odysseus's wife, Penelope, crying. For instance, we observe her crying for her lost husband when she retrieves his bow for the suitors' competition. 10 Both of the genders display similar characteristics, which Homer's audience obviously found acceptable in men. This emphasises that the gap between the genders widened with the progression of society and the founding of the structure of the ‘polis'. A further example that illustrates this point can come from the medium of tragedy, as the perception of male literary figures had conformed to the opinions of the ‘polis'. That is, male characters are portrayed as more restrained towards their emotions, in Aeschylus' ‘Agamemnon', the male king shows a considerable deal of restraint when Clytaemnestra offers him the sacred carpets to walk on. He states: ‘This-you treat me like a woman†¦ ive me the tributes of a man†¦ '11 Agamemnon displays his lack of excitement towards the frivolity of walking on ‘nice' tapestries that obviously would have appealed to a woman's nature. In the Homeric era, heroes appreciated niceties-Odysseus is bathed in perfume when he gets to Phaecia, there are constant allusions to Paris preening and primping himself and we are frequently reminded of his good looks. This illustrates the progression of the male status from the Heroic age to classical Athens. Briefly, we can note that Homeric heroes took an active grieving role in funerals. Achilles pours grimy dust on his face and beasts his breast, accompanied by his handmaidens; then Homer states that: ‘Antilochus mourned with him, letting the tears fall†¦ '12 Furthermore, this reiterates the different characteristics found in the male persona of the heroic age, rather than the age of the ‘polis'. However, we should also observe that the Homeric heroes were not completely without restraint, they just depicted less moderation than would have been acceptable for later Greeks. For example, the Trojans are commanded not to weep whilst collecting their dead bodies from the battlefield, which they do. They show a determined self-control, perhaps not as noted in the Homeric women, such as Odysseus' wife, Penelope. Furthermore, it is also through tragedy that we can note the progression of the perception of ancient women. In reference to Aeschylus' ‘Agamemnon', it has been observed that Clytaemnestra is portrayed with masculine attributes, as it is she who plots and kills her husband, with an axe in the bath. Her lover, Aegisthus, states to the chorus: ‘The treachery was the woman's work, clearly. '13 In the prologue, the watchman comments: ‘That woman -she manoeuvres like a man. '14 Firstly, Clytaemnestra has overstepped the divide that marked the different statuses of men and women in the ‘polis', on account of her masculine behaviour. Aeschylus, through tragedy, has illustrated that if women are not supervised within society, the social structure will collapse, as they are lead by their emotions. This would have highlighted the importance of the ‘kyrios', who acted as a guardian to Athenian women, to keep them in check within the ‘polis'. Moreover, this illustrates the common perception of women, as tragic heroines are often perceived as being manipulative, treacherous and unfaithful. This is emphasised by the character of Clytaemnestra, as well as Electra, who later persuades her brother, Orestes, to kill their mother, in Aeschylus' ‘Eumenides' and Euripides ‘Electra'. These characteristics illustrate that women are unworthy to lead the state, and highlights the insistence that they remain inferior to men within the social structure, maintaining their role in family matters. In Aristophanic comedies, such as ‘Lysistrata', women were also depicted as being drunkards and sex fiends, qualities that were associated with slaves. This is noteworthy, as slaves were considered not to be wholly free and without possessing any rights within the ‘polis', such as voting. Furthermore, slaves and women were also both low down in the social structure. Aristotle in his ‘Politics', stated that women were, ‘slaves by nature'. This demonstrates the lack of freedom that women possessed, highlighting their seclusion within classical Athens. The majority of the time, women were physically kept within the home-apart from when they participated in particular public events-to keep them subordinate, in a social context. Furthermore, according to Solon15, if a woman was in the company of men all the time, she would not want to get married. Thus she would be defying her role as a life giver and producer of heirs, and so she would be disrupting her status within the ‘polis'. In contrast, in the heroic age of Homer, women were given a considerable amount of freedom, for example, we see Helen with Priam, on the walls of Troy, pointing out to all the different Greek warriors. Moreover, Penelope, in the Odyssey, acts as the hostess at the banquet of the suitors, totally surrounded by men. We can see that the seclusion of women became more intense with the founding of the ‘polis', which brought along a greater need to categorise the genders. The concept of gender is also very significant when studying the politics of ancient Rome. Roman historians of the imperial era have recorded the great influence of women on particular male emperors. For example, the historian, Tacitus, in his ‘Annals', records the influence of Nero's mother, Agrippina the Younger, on his political career. It is she who initiates the poisoning of her husband, Claudius, and his son, Britannicus, so that Nero can usurp the power of the empire. Roman coins depict her bust, alongside that of her son's, displaying that she is ruling with him. It is significant that her role becomes less influential as Nero grows up and adopts more power. This is again illustrated through the medium of the coins, as we can note the gradual removal of her image from the obverse of the coins. The influence of his mother was so strong that he could only be freed from it, by attempting to murder her, through a collapsing boat. Thus, this demonstrates that imperial women dominated their male associates and played a leading role within in the running of the state. However, we should note that they still remained in the background, ruling behind their male relatives, as Rome was a male dominated state. Clark suggests that, ‘women might, then, have considerable influence and interests outside their home and families, but they were acting from within their families to affect a social system managed by men: their influence was not to be publicly acknowledged. '16 However, it has also been recorded that other imperial women had infiltrated the very male event of patronage. Octavia had acted or had interceded with male relatives as a patron, also, Messalina and Agrippina the Younger, were the patrons of Claudius' freedmen, such as Narcissus. This highlights the prestigious role of women in the empire. It is also significant that they were involved in particular public affairs, demonstrating that the social structure of Rome was gradually changing form being solely a male establishment, to a state outwardly influenced by both genders. Furthermore, Dio records that the senate honoured Livia with an arch as she had helped many senatorial children in times of need. 7 Likewise, the public recognition of Livia's role in the running of the state was acknowledged by the senate. However, it is important to note that the prominent role of women during the imperial period was not considerably favoured by all. Fischler comments that many men considered ‘a good emperor to have had wives and mothers that he could control and who never overstepped the boundaries set by convention'. 18 For example, Tiberius refused honours for his mother, Livia, because he did not want to seem to be influenced by her actions. Women may have been more prominent in the political sphere but it was not fully approved by the public opinion, which was aired by the majority of men. The significant role of women was fully acknowledged by Augustus, the first Roman emperor, who recognised the importance of women as figures of a new political regime. They represented the move from the Republican era to the Imperial era, as they were significant members of his dynasty. Fischler goes onto observe that ‘women were symbols of the imperial order. '19 The society of the Republic was less tolerant of the presence of women in the public eye. They had few rights within the state, such as, they were not allowed to vote or, as Valerius Maximus records, appear or act in courts20 and were generally under the ‘potestas of the ‘paterfamilias'. However, unlike the Greek ‘polis' women were not secluded from society, as they were allowed to own property and divorce their husbands. There were two types of marriage- that of ‘cum manu', in which the woman remained under her father's rule, as he even had the power to end her marriage; or that of ‘sine manu', in which women were allowed to own their own property an divorce their husbands. The former type of marriage was common in the early Republic and the latter, in the late Republic. This illustrates the progression of women's freedom in society and their further prominence in the public eye. The perception of gender and the way it affected the structure of society can be noted in forms of literature, such as satire. For example, Juvenal, who was writing either under the emperor, Trajan or Domitian, perceives the progression of women in the public sphere as a bad thing. That is, women had transgressed the divide between the genders, as they had adopted masculine roles in society, such as acting in political matters, demonstrated in Tacitus' portrayal of Agrippina. Furthermore Juvenal goes onto condemn the public sexuality of women and the growing effeminacy of men. In a social context. He highlights the breakdown of the social structure of the Roman society, that is, he considers the sexes to have changed roles and transgressed their divisions, which had given certain roles to men and to women in order to structure society. For example, he describes the ‘whore empress' coming home from the brothel to the Imperial palace. 21 Furthermore, his female persona attacks males for preferring homosexuality and states that overseas people are laughing at their effeminacy. 22 In contrast, he frequently extols the old virtues of chastity in women and praises the good old days, when men worked in fields and completed other masculine tasks23. Thus highlighting the change of roles in gender, on account of a changing society. In conclusion, we can argue that the concept of gender is extremely important when studying ancient history, as it played a significant role in defining the structure of society. The progression of society, both Greek and Roman, can also be marked by the changing perceptions of each gender, found in abundant literary sources and archaeological material. These sources of evidence make it possible to study gender, however we should also take into account, when using literature as evidence, some external influences. For example, when consulting tragedy or comedy. For the perception of Greek women, we should note that the playwrights exaggerated the characteristics of figures, for dramatic effects. That is to say, in the ‘polis', not all Greek women were alcoholics with a sex addiction, as portrayed in Aristophanic comedies. Likewise, from Juvenal's satires we cannot assume that all Roman women were promiscuous, due to the degeneration of their social structure. The ancient writers were assuming the ‘worst-case-scenarios', highlighting what would happen without a social structure in society. However, there is truth behind these pieces of literature, as the authors had to base their work on realism, so that their audiences could relate to their work. Furthermore, we should take into consideration the genre that the author was writing for, for example, Tacitus was considered to be a ‘silver age' writer, thus his writing would have portrayed characteristics of that type. Thus, his work is macabre and sombre; therefore his portrayals of his characters would reflect that style. Likewise, archaeological evidence should be considered with care, as depictions on pots and vases are left to our own personal interpretation.

Compare and contrast Nathaniel Hawthornes use of symbols in The Ministers Black Veil and The Birthmark.

Compare and contrast Nathaniel Hawthornes use of symbols in The Ministers Black Veil and The Birthmark. In both The Minister’s Black veil and The Birthmark, Hawthorne’s use symbolism of symbolism is conspicuous. In The Birthmark he says, â€Å"The crimson hand expressed the ineludible gripe in which mortality clutches the highest and purest of earthly mould†¦ symbol of his wifes liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death† (Hawthorne Para. 9). Hawthorne makes it clear that he is using birthmark as a symbol of ‘mortality’, ‘decay’ and susceptibility to sin.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and contrast Nathaniel Hawthornes use of symbols in The Ministers Black Veil and The Birthmark. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other side, in The Minister’s Black Veil, he says, â€Å"All through life the black veil had hung between him and the world. It had separated him from cheerful brotherhood and womans love†¦shade him from the sunshine of eternity ( Hawthorne Para. 12). The black veil here symbolizes the sin that the minister had committed with the dead mistress; that is, sex. Symbolism in these two stories touches on human failures and sinful nature. The birthmark is a sign of Georgina’s susceptibility to sin, sorrow, and mortality. As aforementioned, this birthmark shows Georgina’s indebtedness to sin and her eventual death. Men constantly found Georgian attractive because of her birthmark. Georgianas lovers were wont to say that†¦as being the visible mark of earthly imperfection (Hawthorne Para. 6). This statement makes it clear that the birthmark symbolized Georgina’s indebtedness to sin. She had ‘lovers’ and this is sinful. On the other side, the black veil worn by the minister is a symbol of his sins. Critics like Alan Poe say that, â€Å"Minister Hooper may have had an affair with the young lady who died at the beginning of the story. Coincidentally, this is the first day he wears the veil, and that a crime of dark dye, (having reference to the young lady) has been committed, is a point which only minds congenial with that of the author will perceive (Poe 188). Not even the dead maiden can stand the face of the minister for she would be â€Å"fearful of her glance (Hawthorne Para. 16). This means that there is connection between the black veil and the dead maiden and the most probably thing that could link the minister to the dead maiden is having sex which is sinful. Therefore, symbolism in these two stories stands for human indebtedness to sin. While symbolism in The Birthmark comes out clearly, in The Minister’s Black Veil, use of symbolism is ambiguous. Hawthorne makes it clear that Georgina’s birthmark is selected as a ‘symbol’ to show her indebtedness to sin.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, the s ymbolism of the black veil worn by the minister represents â€Å"symbol of symbols†. â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil introduced the notion that Hooper’s black veil functioned as a â€Å"symbol of symbols,† since its meaning could never be ultimately determined† (Carnochan 9). Therefore, the contrasting feature of symbolism as used in these two stories comes out clearly, by considering the preciseness of the meaning of the symbols used. Birthmark clearly represents Georgina’s indebtedness to sin; however, the black veil may mean anything depending on the view of the reader. Hawthorne’s use of symbolism comes out clearly in The Minister’s Black Veil and The Birthmark. Georgina’s birthmark is a sign of her obligation to sin; she had lovers who admired her because of the birthmark, which is sinful. Moreover, her husband points that the birthmark shows her earthly imperfection. The black veil worn by the minister symbolizes h is sins; he had an affair with the dead maiden. However, while the meaning of the birthmark comes out clearly, the black veil worn by the minister may mean, symbol of symbols†. The use of black veil as ‘symbol of symbols’ indicates ambiguity of the same; the only contrasting feature in the use of symbolism in these two stories. Carnochan, Winston. â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil: Symbol, Meaning, and the Context of Hawthorne’s Art.† New York; California University Press, 1969. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. â€Å"The Birthmark.† The Literature Network. 2010. Web. online-literature.com/london/125/ Hawthorne, Nathaniel. â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil.† The Literature Network. 2010. Web. online-literature.com/london/126/Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and contrast Nathaniel Hawthornes use of symbols in The Ministers Black Veil and The Birthmark. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Poe, Allan. â€Å"The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe: Nathaniel Hawthorne.† Griswold, Rufus. Ed. New York: Blakeman Mason, 1859.

Upmarket Fiction The Forgotten Middle Child of the Publishing World

Upmarket Fiction The Forgotten Middle Child of the Publishing World Upmarket Fiction: The Forgotten Middle Child of the Publishing World Calling something â€Å"commercial† can sound like an insult in some circles, as if it’s a trifling entertainment not worthy of the term â€Å"literature.† In other circles, the term â€Å"literary† results in a half-stifled yawn, and is considered pretentious. A question you might ask when you’re writing is, "Can a book be both literary and commercial?† The answer is yes: you've just described "upmarket fiction." Can a book be both literary and commercial? Yes: that's upmarket fiction. While this article won't settle any age-old commercial vs. literary debates, it will help you get a better grasp on how to distinguish both types of fiction - and, above all, it answer the question you’ve been wondering: what is upmarket fiction?A brief history of the novel - and how terms like â€Å"genre† and â€Å"literary† came to beIn the 17th and 18th centuries, the novel was considered a genre in itself. It was a relatively new form of narrative, a drawn-out prose detailing fictitious matters. As Joshua Rothman notes in The New Yorker: â€Å"When Catherine Morland, the heroine of Austen’s ‘Northanger Abbey,’ is rebuked for reading too many Gothic novels, the proposed alternative isn’t ‘literary fiction’ but non-fiction (a friend suggests she try history). ‘Northanger Abbey’ was written in 1799.† How did distinctions like commercial, literary, and upmarket come to be? Find out inside. 50 Book Marketing Ideas Every Author Needs to Know Read post Just like with choosing your degree, understanding the market from the outset of the process is crucial. If you’re hoping to make a career off of your novels, you need to study your market, your competitors, and to identify where your story will fit there. Why is it so important to be able to classify what kind of fiction you're writing? Find out here Even if your book is classified as commercial, that does not mean it has less merit as a piece of literature. Commercial and literary fiction both have their place: just like a spoon works better for ice cream and spaghetti requires a fork. This fiction is kind of like a spork, then: it can be used for either occasion.The classification is a sales tool - it’s important to know. In the end, if you can write a book that someone enjoys reading, that someone derives meaning from, that challenges someone to think, that helps someone unwind, that’s fun, or sad, or uplifting - in other words, if you can write a book that speaks to someone, then, well done. Not sure if your book is commercial, literary, or upmarket fiction? Take this quiz to find out http://bzfd.it/2xQofFP Are you still not 100% sure how to classify your novel? Take our quiz to find out!What are some of your favorite works of commercial, literary, or upmarket fiction? Share them with us in the comments below!

International Management Decision Making Assignment

International Management Decision Making - Assignment Example The market in which Tesco operates is a very competitive market. The retail grocery market in UK is home to hundreds of firms but the competition revolves around 4 major players in the market. These include Tesco, Asda, Sainsburry’s and Morrison’s. The overall firm concentration of these four firms is 76%. Thus, the nature of the market in which Tesco operates is an oligopoly. In an oligopoly market, a few larger firms dominate the market and the industry. The UK retail and super market has become increasingly concentrated in the last couple of year. With very few players in the industry, the market share of each of these players continues to rise. This is an oligopoly market and under the oligopoly theory these are the following basic characteristics that govern the market ; the competition is non-price based; there is intensive branding and brand loyalty; prices don’t fluctuate; the competitors are extremely interdependent on each other; the barriers to entry are strict; there is economies of scale ; a lot of focus on advertisements; every move by competitors is followed and looked at and the potential for a collusion. All these aforementioned characteristics prevail in the market in which Tesco operates. There the competition is not just about the product that is sold in the stores, but the overall experience that these super markets offer to their customer. Tesco’s market share as of December 2009 was 30.5%. In the last couple of year its market share has risen above 25%. The company lay it’s foundations on the basis of this idea : â€Å"Pile it high and sell it cheap†. Tesco started off from small service stores initially and then went on to expand its operations nationally and globally. In 1956, Tesco opened its first self service supermarket. During the 1960s, Tesco continued to expand and acquired various store chains. Tesco’s primary aim was to