The Socratic problem Essays - Ancient Greek Philosophers, Socrates

Forming an accurate picture of the historical Socrates and his philosophical viewpoints is problematic. This issue is known as the Socratic problem. Socrates did not write philosophical texts. The knowledge of the man, his life, and his philosophy is based on writings by his students and contemporaries. Foremost among them is Plato; however, works by Xenophon, Aristotle, and Aristophanes also provide important insights.[4] The difficulty of finding the ?real? Socrates arises because these works are often philosophical or dramatic texts rather than straightforward histories. Aside from Thucydides (who makes no mention of Socrates or philosophers in general) and Xenophon, there are in fact no straightforward histories contemporary with Socrates that dealt with his own time and place. A corollary of this is that sources that do mention Socrates do not necessarily claim to be historically accurate, and are often partisan (those who prosecuted and convicted Socrates have left no testament). Historians therefore face the challenge of reconciling the various texts that come from these men to create an accurate and consistent account of Socrates' life and work. The result of such an effort is not necessarily realistic, merely consistent. Plato is frequently viewed as the most informative source about Socrates' life and philosophy.[5] At the same time, however, many scholars believe that in some works Plato, being a literary artist, pushed his avowedly brightened-up version of "Socrates" far beyond anything the historical Socrates was likely to have done or said; and that Xenophon, being an historian, is a more reliable witness to the historical Socrates. Parsing which Socrates?the "real" one, or Plato's own mouthpiece?Plato is using at any given point is a matter of much debate. However, it is also clear from other writings, and historical artifacts that Socrates was not simply a character, or invention, of Plato. The testimony of Xenophon and Aristotle, alongside some of Aristophanes' work (especially The Clouds), can be usefully engaged in fleshing out our perception of Socrates beyond Plato's work.

Compare the style and sentiment expressed in Cider with Rosie and Silas Marner Essay Example

Compare the style and sentiment expressed in Cider with Rosie and Silas Marner Essay Example Compare the style and sentiment expressed in Cider with Rosie and Silas Marner Paper Compare the style and sentiment expressed in Cider with Rosie and Silas Marner Paper Essay Topic: Literature Laurie Lee wrote Cider with Rosie in 1959. As it is an autobiography, it was written in the period it happened, this being 1917 to the late 1920s. It was set in Slad, as this is where he was bought up. This is the more modern of the two books. Silas Marner on the other hand, was written at a much earlier time. It was published in 1861; the middle of the Victorian period, but the story takes place between 1795 and 1825. This book was set at an earlier date than it was written like Cider with Rosie, but for a different reason. The events in Silas Marner could not have happened at the time when the book was actually written. For example, when Silas Marner is wrongly accused of theft, his innocence is decided by the drawing of lots. The lots declared that Silas Marner was guilty. Page 11 If the book had been set at a more recent date when it was evident that the practice was no longer used, for example in George Eliots lifetime, there would be an anachronism. Therefore it was necessary for George Eliot to have set this book at an earlier date than it was written. Cider with Rosie is an autobiography and is therefore written in the first person about something that really happened, although some facts maybe distorted by time. His life is told in a fragmentary way. For example, there is a chapter purely about his mother, and then one on what he remembers about winter and summer. After that, he recalls an incident when he was taken ill and writes a chapter called Sick Boy. There is no real continuation or solid story line. It is written in episodes and so you get an overall outlook on what his life was like. In contrast, Silas Marner is a novel written in the third person and is fictional. The story of Silas Marner unfolds chronologically. There is a definite story line, which gives the book direction. We learn less about the main characters background and past and there are more characters playing substantial roles with deeper, more detailed characters. Cider with Rosie is based around a young boy called Laurie Lee. He is bought up in Slad, a country village, and this is his home unlike Silas, who was forced to move to a village which is not his home at first. He lives in a big family, although the father does not live at home, and is very much accepted as part of the community. This book vividly describes events that happened during Laurie Lees childhood. Cider with Rosie doesnt have a climax or any ironies. There isnt a main climax as the story is so fragmented. There are however, climaxes evident in individual sections of the book. For example, in the chapter Sick Boy the climax is when the Negress thinks that Laurie is dead and prepares him for the coffin. His mother has none of it and goes mad when she finds out from Dorothy. She goes to revive him. Poor boy, hes gone, crooned the Negress. Gone fled to the angels-thought Id wash him for the box-just didnt want to bother you, mum. Page 157 On the contrariety, Silas Marner is about a middle-aged weaver, Silas, who is wrongly accused of a robbery. He is suspended from the church and forced to leave his fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e and Lantern Yard. He goes to live a new life in a village called Raveloe where for many years he is thought of as an outcast. He no longer has trust in his religion and so doesnt go to the church. There is no God that governs the earth righteously, but a God of lies, that bears witness against the innocent. Page 11 As a way of dealing with his loneliness, he hoards his money and shuts himself off from the community. His money is stolen and he becomes miserable. He becomes a father through an act of kindness and his child brings him back in touch with the community. The story comes to a climax when Dunstans body is found in the drained pit along with Silas stolen money. Godfrey then decides to tell Nancy about Eppie and goes to try and persuade Eppie to live with them. It is ironic when Eppie refuses to live with them and says she sees Silas as her real father, because when it is possible for Godfrey to have Eppie, he disowned her, as he valued his relationship with Nancy more. However, when he couldnt have a child, he desperately wanted one. Cider with Rosie shows how children are so naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and get upset about the silliest of things but arent really bothered about things that really matter. When reading this book, it is evident that Laurie Lee writes about his life with real passion. He successfully communicates with the reader as we are able to relate to the childs views and it triggers off memories we also have of being a young child. Silas Marner is a fable and so contains many morals. The main point that George Eliot makes during this novel is that love is more important than money. George Eliot has the talent to make us have strong feelings and views towards each characters actions. It has that essential feeling of community and friendship which is seen as the main ingredient to happiness. This is particularly promoted in Dollys character. She is a very warm and lively person and through time, even though she knows nothing about her faith, draws Silas back to religion. Its niver too late to turn over a new leaf; and if youve niver had no church, theres no telling the good itll do you. Page 90 She often gives Silas help in looking after Eppie. You might shut her up once i the coal-hole theres one of em you must choose-ayther smacking or the coal-hole-else shell get so masterful therell be no holding her. Page 139 Dolly is such a simple but vital character. I feel her character is fully established although some may argue that she is a caricature. Eppie is more of a caricature than a character. She is part of the fairy tale within the novel and represents a feeling of happiness. She grows up through an ideal childhood and has a perfect personality. In Cider with Rosie, although other personalities are incorporated into the story, we dont really learn enough about their lives and they dont influence Laurie enough to really be classified as fully established characters. For example, Miss Flynn would be classed as a caricature as she is there to represent a free spirit. She is very unpredictable (she commits suicide for example) and does what she wants and lives life how she wants. She is very supernatural and is not too bothered what other people think of her. Ive been bad, Mrs. Er-for the things I must do. Its my mother again, you know. Ive been trying to keep her sick spirit from me. She dont let me alone at night. Page 100 This is in keeping with the main theme of the book, freedom. In Cider with Rosie I found that regular events were often elaborated and padded out to make the story interesting. This is successful, as Laurie Lee is very good at descriptions. It towered above me and all around me, each blade tattooed with tiger-skins of sunlight. It was knife-edged, dark, and a wicked green, thick as a forest and alive with grasshoppers that chirped and chattered and leapt through the air like monkeys. Page 9 This quote shows Laurie Lees descriptive writing skills and how he has managed to make a normal situation, in this case standing in a field, come alive and attractive to read. It also adds to the whole feeling of romance and naivety. George Eliot also has her way of making the story interesting. She is not quite so descriptive in her writing but instead the plot keeps you interested. The way in which she has inter-woven many different story lines but then in the end she has brought them all to the same conclusion, is very clever. For example, the story line of Silas and the loss of his gold is linked with the story line of Dunstans money problems. This is as Godfrey has a secret wife and child who are only known about by Dunstan who is therefore blackmailing Godfrey into giving him money. He ends up giving Dunstan his horse of which dies, forcing Dunstan to steal Silas gold. The story of Godfreys secret wife and child is linked back with Silas as he ends up bringing up the child, Eppie as his own when the mother, Molly, dies. All of the plots come to a conclusion when Dunstans body is found with Silas stolen money. Godfrey decides to tell Nancy about Eppie and goes to try and persuade her to live with him. Eppie refuses saying that she sees Silas as her real father. Silas remains happy, and Godfrey remains childless. Themes are evident in both books but more so in Silas Marner. In Silas Marner the main themes are money, faith and justice and injustice. Money is the most evident and important theme in the book. Silas was forced to live in Raveloe because money was stolen in Lantern Yard. Then, when he reaches Raveloe, he hoards his money made from weaving. Dunstan and Godfrey are always arguing about money, which leads to the theft of Silas gold. When Eppie appears in his house, he thinks her hair is his gold. Eppie then acts as a replacement of his gold but in a human form. This is what makes the theme of money so important. The fact that the main point made in the book is that love is more important than money. Faith in God and others is also an important part of this book. Silas looses his faith in God and human beings when he was falsely accused. For many years in Raveloe he shuts himself off from the community because of this. After the arrival of Eppie, and the encouragement of Dolly, Silas is slowly drawn back to religion and he regains his trust in the human race. There are themes of injustice and justice running through Silas Marner. For example, there is injustice when Silas is falsely accused of stealing the gold and William Dane is not caught. Also, when Silas has his gold stolen. (This does however, help him in the long run). There is justice when the man who stole Silas money, Dunstan, dies and his brothers daughter ends up being Silas daughter. In Cider with Rosie the main themes are freedom, happiness and youth. Money is not so significant in Cider with Rosie. Although the family is poor, they have always lived on the basis that they will be happy as long as they have people around them that they love. (The lesson taught in Silas Marner). There is a theme of faith in Cider with Rosie like in Silas Marner, but it is not very powerful. The sense of freedom is very evident in Cider with Rosie, which is mainly as the book is written in the eyes of a child. The themes of happiness and youth are the strongest in the book. Laurie is loved very much and lives an almost trouble-free childhood, as the majority of us do. That is what makes the books so appealing-the innocence of it all. Just like in Silas Marner when Silas is forced to leave Lantern Yard, there is injustice in Cider with Rosie. This is when a man who had returned from the war entered the local bar richly dressed and bought everyone drinks. On his return home, he was violently beaten up and robbed. He froze to death in the snow. The criminals were never punished for the crime. The language used in Silas Marner is far denser than in Cider with Rosie. The language in Cider with Rosie is very descriptive. By doing a comparison of the opening paragraphs in each book, I can get an idea of the style in which the books are written. To begin with, the two opening paragraphs were a completely different length. There are about 340 words in the opening paragraph of Silas Marner, whereas there are only 28 words in the opening paragraph to Cider with Rosie. This shows how Cider with Rosie is more concise and to the point than Silas Marner. It makes you want to read on as it makes you curious by giving you clues as to what will happen next. For example, the opening sentence is as follows. I was sat down from the carriers cart at the age of three; and there with a sense of bewilderment and terror my life in the village began. Page 9 This style of writing is continued throughout Cider with Rosie. Silas Marner has far more elongated passages and consists of far more complex ideas. The language used is very dense and takes more concentration to understand. This is the opening sentence of Silas Marner. In the days when the spinning-wheels hummed busily in the farmhouses-and even great ladies, clothed in silk and thread-lace, had their toy spinning-wheels of polished oak-there might be seen in districts far away among the lanes, or deep in the bosom of the hills, certain pallid undersized men, who by the side of the brawny country-folk looked like the remnants of the disinherited race. Page 1 You can tell the immediate different in the style. This sentence is far longer, uses a lot of punctuation and contains many old fashioned words such as thread-lace, bosom and remnants. The style in which the book is written influences the sentiment in both books. I feel that the style of language in which Silas Marner is written detracts from the warmth that at some points George Eliot is trying to project. This is because the language is so dense it can cause the book to feel a bit cold. To conclude, Cider with Rosie is a light-hearted book about freedom, youth and happiness. It is very descriptive and every day situations are elaborated in order to make them interesting. Silas Marner contains many complex ideas and story lines. It is a fable and the moral is that love is more important than money. These are both very different books, with different perceptions on life.

An analysis of the consumers consumption motives of luxury fashion Dissertation

An analysis of the consumers consumption motives of luxury fashion branding in China - Dissertation Example But, there is an exogenous variable known as economic recession which has decreased the demand of luxury goods across different nations of the globe and majority of the countries of the world are still struggling with sluggish economic growth. Now the fact is that during the time of economic prosperity, people may indulge themselves in luxury purchase but during the time of economic uncertainties, people view luxury purchasing in the ground of utilitarian principles. Hence, the timing was right to conduct research on luxury item purchase decision of Chinese customers. Important fact is that China is an emerging country which is showing constant GDP growth rate for last couple of years hence the research findings will help future luxury marketers to design brand strategy to lure Chinese customers. ... The researcher used convenience sampling in order to select respondents while validity of the research result was also being checked in context to evidences of secondary data. The researcher has stressed on qualitative analysis of data without using any statistical techniques in order to maintain integrity of the data. Majority of the respondents pointed out that they purchase luxury fashion brands for increasing social status among peer group while others pointed out that they believe luxury products offer unmatched quality to them. However, the researcher has not analyzed the data with combination of inferential and descriptive statistics which have significantly blurred the data interpretation in this paper and this is the major limitations in this research. Future researchers should stress on this limitations and analyze the research variables with the help of more comprehensive statistical techniques. Table of Contents Chapter I: INTRODUCTION 7 1.1 Background 7 1.2 Research Prob lem 9 1.3 Rationale of the Study 9 1.4 Research Aim and Objectives 10 1.5 Research Questions 10 1.6 Outline of the Study 11 Chapter II: LITERATURE REVIEW 11 2.1 Present Economic Scenario of China 11 2.2 Consumer Behaviour towards Luxury Fashion Products in China 12 2.3 Hofstede’s 5-D Model Using the Culture of China 14 2.4 Purchasing Power of Chinese 16 2.5 The Concept of Luxury 17 2.6 Luxury Fashion Brands 18 2.7 Dimensions of Luxury Fashion Brands 19 2.8 Asian Luxury Fashion Brand Market 20 2.9 Luxury Fashion Brand Market in China 21 2.10 Consumption Pattern in China 22 2.11 Role of Gender in Chinese Consumption Pattern 22 2.12 Role of Income in Chinese

Infancy and early childhood Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Infancy and early childhood Development - Essay Example Caregivers and the family play a very important role in infants’ emotional and cognitive development. This is because they infants get attached to those people around them who are responsive and provide them comfort. According to Evans and Erikson (1981, p.12), in the first stage of cognitive development in infants, trust versus mistrust, infants get close to and develop trust on their parents and the family members from whom they find reassurance. How the family interacts with an infant or a young child defines how he is going to make a schema of the world inside his mind. If the family is going to offer him warmth and dependable fondness, the child is going to develop a trustworthy relationship not only with the family but with whomever he will meet in his life; whereas, if the family provides him with insecurities and the child does not feel that his basic needs are being fulfilled, he will develop a sense of mistrust with the whole world. Thus, the active participation of family and how they meet the basic needs (that include food, clothing, comfort, affection) of the infant define if the child is going to trust others and feel them reliable or is going to mistrust others and feel them unreliable and undependable. If the family has been abusive toward the child, he will grow up to be abusive toward the world and will perceive the world as a dangerous place to live in.

Eiffel Tower or the Lady of Iron Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Eiffel Tower or the Lady of Iron - Essay Example In 1909, it was decided to dismantle the tower however the process never took place because the tower was being used for Radio transmission. The government of France decided to hold a monument contest. It was intended that the best monument will be displayed in the World Fair of 1889. The design for the Eiffel Tower by Gustave was unanimously selected out of 700 monument designs received. The construction on the Tower began in 1887, at first Parisians did not like the Eiffel Tower and considered it to be an eyesore. Most of them wanted the Tower to be dismantled, however, when the construction was completed, the tower became a prominent French symbol. French structural Engineer Gustave received the assistance of two other engineers Emile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlin during the construction. The architect who assisted Gustave in the construction was Stephen Sauvestre. The Tower was constructed by three hundred workers who joined 18,038 pieces of pure structural iron known as the ‘puddled iron’. During the construction, 2.5 million rivets were used to join the pieces of puddled iron together. The Eiffel Tower has an open frame supported by two platforms, thus during its construction, there was a danger of losing human lives. To minimize the danger level, Gustave ordered the use of movable staging, screens as well as guard-rails. Due to the precautionary measures were taken during the entire period of construction, only one man lost his life. The construction of the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889 and the inauguration ceremony was held on 31st March 1889. The Tower was officially opened on 9th May 1889. In 1889, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in France. However, now the tallest structure in France is Millau Viaduct and Eiffel Tower is the second tallest structure. The Tower has three floors and has a height of 324 meters or 1,063 feet. The heights of the three floors are 57 m, 115 m and276 m respectively. Eiffel Tower was not loved by all Parisians and it received much criticism during the time of its opening.

Social Impacts of Cruise Tourism

Social Impacts of Cruise Tourism The social impact of the cruise industry on the destination has a few positive effects. When cruise tourists arrive at ports of destination, interactions between local residents and cruise tourists benefits both parties. The cruise tourists can gain knowledge of the destinations lifestyle and culture. This is the same respect to the inhabitants. Locals can gain knowledge from people around the world. Residents can learn about lifestyles of their guest from around the world. However, a high interaction level between residents and cruise tourists has drawbacks by limiting the personal space of residents due to the high population of cruise tourists. Eventually, high interactions between cruise tourist and inhabitants would change their unique lifestyles. This brings the point of social damage in mind where social and cultural damage is one of the main arguments against tourism. In context of tourism, cruise tourists are evidently wealthier than locals from popular cruise destinations. This evidently creates social problems because it creates hierarchy which leads to tension between cruise tourists and locals. Furthermore, interactions between cruise tourists and residents show further negative impacts because new, unusual ideas brought in cruise tourists can make locals envious and would desire to copy the nature of tourists who seems so rich and stylish. Further social damage caused by the cruise industry can be supported by the idea of competition of space. This is triggered when large amounts of cruise tourists, usually two or three cruise ships arrive at small ports. When large amounts of cruise ships arrive, the number of cruise tourists ratio to locals is large. According to Espinal, 2005, Bahamas has 11 cruise guests to 1 local; Aruba has 8 cruise guests to 1 local; Antigua and Barbuda, 7 to 1; and Dominica, 5 to 1. However, this ratio is only true to small parts. Large cities such as Miami, Barcelona, and European countries differ. In fact, highly populated cities have the opposite effect, because cruise tourist numbers are rather small compared to on-land tourists or residents. The competition of space enhances through the fight for cruise ships by neighbouring ports to attract cruise ships for economic benefits. The fight continues between the cruise ship industry and the cargo shipping industry to gain port space. Another d ilemma of space continues between on land tourist and cruise tourists. When cruise tourist arrive at destinations, on land tourist are forced to wait in line for attractions such as monuments and museums, and they wonder why it is overcrowded at the beach. Finally, the idea of competition of space limits the transportation benefits, what hurts the transportation the most is when large amounts of cruise tourists arrive at destinations which cause volatile in the demand for taxis. Environmental Impact of the Cruise Industry The cruise industry is the fastest growing industry in the travel industry. With enormous growth in the number of passengers, the number of cruise ships at sea, and the increased variety of destinations, followed by bigger and more luxurious cruise ships to keep up with the increase of demand; the substantial growth in the industry follows with increasing impact on the environment. Like many hospitality and travel industries, the negative impacts on the environment outweigh the positive impacts. Even though the cruise industry is relatively small compared to the airline industry, cruise ships and their passengers generate more volume of waste and pollutant emissions while travelling and docked in port. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a one week voyage generates more than 50 tonnes of garbage. During that same week 3.785 million litres of waste water is produced. That is water that is harmful to the ocean life and cannot be dumped back into the ocean wi thout it being treated. Furthermore, 794,850 litres of sewage, 95,000 litres of oil contaminated water, and 568 litres of hazardous waste is produced. These numbers are multiplied by more than 200 cruise ships sailing the world 365 days a year. In comparison to other travel industries, a cruise ship such as Queen Mary 2 emits 0.43 kg of Carbon dioxide per passenger mile, compared to 0.257 kg for a long-haul flight (Climate Care). In comparison to on-land tourists, cruise ship passengers generate 3.5 kg of garbage while 0.8 kg of garbage is generated by on-land tourists. (http://www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism/sust-tourism/env-3main.htm). In addition to pollution, coral reefs are taking a significant damage. According to ocean planet, there are 109 countries with coral reefs. In 90 of them, reefs are being damaged by cruise ship anchors and sewage. It is said 70% of cruise destinations are in these biodiversity hot spots. However, it is not the amount of pollution and damages generated by cruise ships that most are concerned, but rather, the way cruise ships dispose their waste. Cruise ship waste disposal is highly unregulated, where waste can be dumped a few short miles off shore, which is later brought back to shore due to ocean currents. In the past, discharge from cruise ships exceeds the water quality standards set by National Authorities in relations to bacteria level, metals, and hydrocarbons and plastic. In most cases, there was no monitoring, no enforcements and no deprivation from local authorities if cruise ships violated the pollution standards. The cruise industry continues to promote itself as environmentally friendly, the truth is, there are many instances of cruise ships breaking the law. A single cruise company can accumulate hundreds of pollution violations, which have results in payments of millions of dollars in environmental fines. However, in some cases, environmental incidents h as been accidental, due to simple human and mechanical error, such as fuel discharge from cruise ship loading fuel at ports Since the increased harmful effects on the environment has come to light, cruse industries has done their part by improving their efforts in processing waste onboard. As technology increases, their ability to become more eco-friendly becomes a priority. Holland American Line has invested $1.5 million into a program called Seawater Scrubber Pilot. This program looks for opportunities to reduce engine emission on its ships. The Sea Water Scrubber system uses the natural chemistry of seawater to remove all sulphur oxide. The seawater is then treated to remove harmful components before dumping it overboard (world cruise industry review). Even though recycling and using green materials is only a small step, it makes a big difference. Take Crystal Cruises for example. They are introducing 100% recyclable coat hangers, which eliminates 9 billion wire and plastic hangers sent to landfills each year. They are also using washable and reusable garment bags instead of plastic laundry bags (world cruise industry review). On the major scale, most cruise ship companies are taking step to map out global routes where waste discharge will cause the least damage to delicate ecosystems. Other major efforts that some cruise ship companies are implementing are scheduling their arrival and departure time so cruise ships use less fuel while docking. Princess Cruises has invested $4.5 million to implement a cold-ironing program in Alaska. This is when ships plug into a ports electricity supply while docked in order to get hydroelectric power on board. This is the same concept as a hybrid car. The cost of equipping each ship is $500,000 where the benefits outweigh the costs. In California, 70% of cancer risk is due to the toxic air contaminants created by diesel. The biggest contribution to these toxins is cargo-handling equipment and the ships use of diesel engines while at port. With the use of the cold-ironing program, ships will not create this harmful pollutant that cause many envi ronmental problems. Companies are taking the next step to keep their ships as cool as possible to eliminate excessive stress on air conditioners in addition to maintaining speeds at fuel efficient speeds. Crystal cruises has begun auditing it ships lighting and energy consumption. They are saving more than 960,000 kW/h, which is equivalent to nearly 200 tonnes of fuel a year.

Dracula Essay -- essays research papers

Bram Stoker’s Dracula Lords of the darkness, Darkling Dancers, Nosferatu, Vrikolakas. And the list goes on like this. The vampire concept is thought by the most to be a myth that has crept into almost every culture. It has influenced many writers to write novels on them and many directors to shoot films on. Vampire myths go back way into the times of first recorded history. Many different legends are known about them varying from the Chinese belief of the glowing red eyed monsters with green or pink hair to the Greek Lamia who has the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a winged serpent and the Japanese belief in the vampire foxes. The most commonly known legend which is widely used in filming is the blood drinking man who can transform into a bat or mist, wearing a black cape with a suit and with fangs in his mouth. This significant type is the one that is been explained widely in the eastern European myths. This vampire preys on human victims which are chosen at random by biting and sucking bloo d from the veins in the side of the neck at night time. The prey also becomes a vampire and joins the world of the undead. These specific vampires are the ones who cannot stand the sunlight which will burn them and they usually sleep in a coffin during the daytime. It is believed that these vampires are most active during full moon. They are immortal and they can only be killed if a wooden stake is run through the heart or when they are beheaded. In the year of 1879 an Irish writer, Bram Stoker, unheard with his previous novels and short stories gets inspired on this and writes the most famous books of all times. Here we are at the close of 1998, looking back and seeing the over two hundred theatrical performances and movies made on it. What’s more is that it is the second best seller book after The Bible in Western communities. This cult figure created by the crazy Irishman has effected us in our actions or emotions in some way. Crudely every single person on earth must have heard his name. But why? Looking onto the novel, there is a perfect gothic look presented to us with its every aspect. Infact every single concept covered comes deep from mythology. It talks about blood and fire, death and love, good and bad, fantasy and magic. And the Count; who sometimes happens to be an atrocital monster, a romantic lover†¦ No doubt, these make the novel even... ...e. These women are both Dracula’s lovers and daughters. And this is an example of Freud’s Odysseia Complex which is the base of Sophokles’s Odysseus tale. In Dracula’s character we also see signs of fascism. At the very beginning of the story when he and Jonathan are having dinner, he gets angry with Jonathan because what he speaks about disturbs his thoughts on his background and he pulls his sword out. In addition, he is always in a fascist approach to the Turks and the Gipsies. With these aspects of his, Dracula follows a political opinion and with his style and manner reminds us of the Nazis. Keeping all of these in mind we can see why the story of Dracula is so attractive to us. The Dracula character being a cult figure is because of the fact that his character carries the sins and the emotions of the 20th century: killing, rape, incest, fascism†¦ On the other hand, despite all these Dracula did not forget his true love. Maybe everyone of us finds his/her darkness in the Count and that’s why many people sympathise with him. Whatever it is, the truth is that in the end Count Dracula dies but in real world he has promoted to immortality as a heroic and charismatic character.

Cross-cultural Communication and French Culture

Individual Assignment: â€Å"Euro Disneyland† 1. Using Hofstede’s four cultural dimensions as a point of reference, what are some of the main cultural differences between the United States and France? PDI: Power Distance IDV: Individualism MAS: Masculinity UAI: Uncertainty Avoidance PDI: Power Distance IDV: Individualism MAS: Masculinity UAI: Uncertainty Avoidance The main cultural differences when using the Hofstede dimensions are in the dimensions Power Distance and Uncertainty Avoidance. It is clear that French culture accepts and welcomes a relatively big power gap.This means that it is hirarchical country where power and the flow of information is determined much more by hierarchy then in America, where this gap is less accepted by people with less power. The other big difference is France’s hight level of uncertainty avaoidance. The French would like to control the future as much as possible, they are not risk takers. The Americans on the other hand have lo w uncertainty avoidance that makes them risk takers, this coppeled with extremely high indiviualism and very low power distance makes them very entrepreneurial.They act on their own and are less likely to accept the status quo when someone has more power then them. French culture also has low masculinity which means it’s a femini culture. This means that soft skills and the family are very important in France. This can be seen by France’s extensive social welfare systhem. 2. In what way has Trompenaars research helped explain cultural differences between the United States and France? Trompenaars research is based on 46000 managers from over 40 countries who answered questionnaires based on their experiences in many different cultures.Trompenaar and his colleague Charles Hampden-Turner (â€Å"The Seven Dimensions of Culture† 2012) created a model where national culture is determined by 7 dimensions. First an important dimension is the individualism – colle ctives dimension. Americans are very individualistic. In the French culture work, decision-making and power is attributed to the collective. This can also be also seen in the Achievement vs. Ascription dimension. In America individual achievement is valued highly. France’s culture is more â€Å"Ascription† based, that means that the title and status you were born into determines your social level more then individual contribution.This is called â€Å"reproduction sociale. † The research is valuable because the methology is fact based and quantitative. The 7 dimensions look at factors that are not deemed relevant by Hofstede and give a more in depth picture of cultural differences. 3. In managing its Euro Disneyland operations, what are three mistakes that the company made? The biggest mistake first and foremost was that Disney did not understand the needs and behaviour of the customer. The customer was severely misunderstood and that let to many operational and cultural mistakes.Only 40% of the customers were French, many were vacationing Americans and Japanese. The French people expected to be able to buy wine and Disney initially did not offer it. Large luxury hotels were built for people who were expected to spend a week in the parks, however Europeans see theme parks as daytrips. Mistakes were made when misjudging breakfast and lunch routines and dishes, witch lead to long lines and bad service. The second mistake was not being able to convince the French that Disneyland is not an American assault on French culture.The French society was hostile from early on. Public intellectuals called the park an assault on French culture and farmers blocked the entrance of the theme park on opening day. The third mistake was the high pricing of tickets and hotel nights. Europeans have more vacation days then Americans, with similar income levels that means that the French have less expendable income per vacation day then the Americans. Disneyland r eacted to the mistakes by changing the name to â€Å"Disneyland Paris† this created a stronger bond with the city and France.Then wine was sold and the dining experience was adapted to meet customer needs. Also day ticket and hotel nights were cut by a third. The result of the changes was an increase in visitors from 8. 8 million in 1994 to 11. 7 in 1996. Based on its experience, what are three lessons the company should have learned about how to deal with diversity? The biggest lesson that they should have learned is that cultural differences matter. It is not possible to take the exact same concept that is working in America and apply it in another cultural context and then expect the same outcomes.This is especially relevant when it comes to behaviour. The second lesson is trying to have a better understanding of who the customer is and what he wants before the launch. Extensive customer research has to be done. In the Euro Disney case many of the customers where not Frenc h and many of the French customers did not want or expect to eat the best French food in Disneyworld. They saw Disneyworld as American and therefor expected an American customer experience that included, self-service and American food.However they also expected wine, so research is needed to understand the subtleties, what French culture can be left out when offering an American experience and what cannot. The entry into a market has to be careful and transparent in order to get more local support. The discussions with the government and the local population should not only be about the tax benefit Disney can get, but heavily focused on the positive effects Disney can bring to a host nation. These advantages, such as jobs and increased tourism have to vehemently communicated to the public.The third lesson is to focus on opening new theme parks in emerging economies. Not only are there less attractions to compete with, Disneyland Paris is competing with the city of Paris for tourists , but also are they more open to western influences and products. Disney symbolises America. So sell America where there is demand for her, like China. Bibliography: graph (http://geert-hofstede. com/dimensions. html) ——————————————– [ 1 ]. http://geert-hofstede. com/france. html

Two Countries Possess Two Different Educational Sytems Essays

Two Countries Possess Two Different Educational Sytems Essays Two Countries Possess Two Different Educational Sytems Essay Two Countries Possess Two Different Educational Sytems Essay Is Another Country’s Educational System Better? Doubtlessly, different countries may have different educational systems but who knows which of them is better. I am an international student who came from Malaysia, a country which is located in Southeast Asia then came to the United States, a country which is far apart from my home country, to pursue a higher education. Many of my friends often ask me whether Malaysia or the United States is better but I could not answer them with certainty because I think each country is inimitable. Although the duration that I have been to the states is not long, I discovered that the education systems are distinct between my home country and the United States. Thus, each country has its own peculiarity as there are certain dissimilarities in the educational system in terms of rules and grading systems that exist between two nations. First of all, the contrast of regulations in educational system is one of the factors that lead the country into the current position in the world today. Undeniable, most of the schools in Asia, such as Malaysia, have tougher rules than in the United States. For example, school uniform and restrictions on hairs are mandatory for pupils during their student career. This motivation is because the government thinks that pupils will look more organized and professional as in the appearance. In the contrary, students in the United State are much more unrestrained as they are permitted to wear any type of clothing that they enjoy wearing. Both of the guidelines in each country are correct but the one which is using in my home country will affect the cogitation of the students because of the restriction on selection that they were accustomed to. Not only that, pupils have no rights and is not allowed to converse while the lecturer is instructing because it is considered as an interruption if you intent to speak to anyone. While in the United State, students always inquire the instructor regarding to the hesitation they have in mind immediately, unlike the students in my country. They are encouraged to exchange their own opinions with teachers. In short, the rules and regulations in both countries are different, but it is not up to us to make a judgment if one nation is superior over another because they are unique in their own way. Moreover, apart from school’s ordinances, these two places use different approaches in the assessment system. Unquestionably, most of the Asia countries focus on the examination more than the students’ participation in the class. For example, students can still receive an outstanding grade even if they do not submit their homework according to the schedule that the instructor, as long as they study for the examination. As a matter of fact, this system is not equitable for those pupils that participate in the class as they only achieve the equal result with the students that do not engage in the class. Furthermore, in one essay, it was stated that teachers nowadays focus on teaching the materials that were based on the test which can help students to achieve better scores, but would cause a decreasing level of knowledge for this generation’s students. On the other hand, the scoring system in America is a reverse version of my home country. It is unthinkable for students here to attain an â€Å"A† even when they score wonderful marks for all of their tests because the system here concentrate more on the participation of students, but not just the scores. Unlike Malaysia, lecturers in America help pupils to obtain and absorb knowledge which can benefit themselves in the rest of their lives. Hence, these two regions possess distinct grading systems, but is the reason why they are incomparable. In conclusion, the education system that each country is having now makes them unconventional; we could not decide whether it is wrong or right. Irrefutably, without doubt, some people would think that the system in America is better because of its current status in the world today but nobody can determine it. On the opposite side, the system in my home country, which is Malaysia, is more rigorous than where I am studying now. However, I could not tell which of them is better because both of them possess its own weaknesses and strengths. Even though we do not like some of the systems in education, we should adapt and acquire knowledge in the way it is formulated as. Every nation has a different educational system, but nobody can decide which of them is better.

Alpha Kappa Omega Batch ’81 Essay Essays

Alpha Kappa Omega Batch ’81 Essay Essays Alpha Kappa Omega Batch ’81 Essay Paper Alpha Kappa Omega Batch ’81 Essay Paper In the Batch ’81 ( MVP Pictures. 1982 ) by Mike de Leon used the school as microcosm of Philippine society under soldierly jurisprudence. Seven pupils are at the same time applied to be members of a fraternity. The Masterss asked them to make the rites of inductions. to prove their stableness in the determination to be frat brother through physical and psychological anguish. Repeatedly emphasized the demand for the neophyte curse to be faithful to her extremum of the ritual. Misconstruing as to hold a neophyte in a coaction of rival fraternity. there was a bloody conflict that killed two neophyte lives. In the last portion of the film. Sid Lucero ( Mark Gil ) the strongest applier. now runs induction ritual. In a scene. the maestro asked and if you do non reply the inquiry right they press its switch button and the neophyte will endure the current with Ronnie Roxas. Jr. . ( Ricky Sandico ) one of their co-workers. The inquiry. Is Soldierly Law good or bad for the state? . Notably one of the appliers is the instructor. Santi Santillan ( Noel Trinidad ) . Superior to his age he wants be a member. but he demonstrated more endurance and fortitude. If the reappraisal described him as an look and penetration of the movie. appears to affect the bending Academy values oppose Batch ’81. The high spots of Mike de Leon movie is the scene of contending between Omega and Sigma Alpha Omicron Kappa Sigma. Extreme force and bloody slaying of the content of the scene but no direct manifestation of dismaying item. De Leon attributed the Nazi perversion of the metropolis occupied by Germany during World War the legal fraternity force. In a presentation of pupils. accommodate the Alpha Kappa Omega of scenes. At the terminal of Batch ’81 was master SID. the neophyte who rabidly conform to the Torahs of Alpha Kappa Omega. He besides now makes the new batch of the neophyte. Obviously the point of Mike de Leon is that Heritage of the sadism of soldierly jurisprudence governments. and in the hereafter. go on the being of inhuman treatment and force being implanted in the people. Subject: To promote the pupils to be a neophyte members and demo the induction rites of different fraternities. Chemical reaction: In this film it shows how much obstruction you will meet when you join fraternities. The hurting will last everlastingly and I will non even seek to fall in in any of this fraternity. I felt sad and clemency to the people who joined in frats. Director: Mike De Leon Miguel Pamintuan de Leon is a celebrated Filipino movie manager. cameraman. scripwriter and movie manufacturer. His is besides known as Mike de Leon. He was born in Manila on May 24. 1947 to Manuel de Leon and Imelda Pamintuan. His involvement in filmmaking began when he pursued a master’s grade in Art History at the University of Heidelberg. Germany.

Nonverbal Communication Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nonverbal Communication Paper - Essay Example We use it almost in half of our communications daily subconsciously. We communicate nonverbally when ever we smile, gesture to come in, widen our eyes or clasp our face. We are unaware about it but use it to convey our emotions nonverbally. When speaking to an audience the speaker sends verbal as well as non verbal messages. The eye contact and gestures send messages of their own. â€Å"If the body language opposes with the words you are speaking the entire speech becomes worthless (Toastmasters int’l, 2011, p 3).† There are many biological factors on which the audience judges a person by many means other than the words being spoken. Facial expressions A person can unknowingly express a thousand words by facial expression. A smile or a frown express the extent of delight in the meeting nonverbally. As nonverbal gestures can vary throughout cultures but the smile, frown or a grunt are known to be the same globally. Gestures Intentional gestures such as waving or pointing or using the fingers to point out numbers are an important way to communicate nonverbally. Other gestures can vary according to regions. Paralinguistic This is another way to judge the speaker. The tone, loudness, pitches in the voice separates the actual tone being used otherwise. When the speaker uses loudness to emphasize on something it means enthusiasm and need for acknowledgement while a sullen voice would not be hesitant to point out the lack of interest by the speaker. Posture This apart from the speaker shows a lot about the listener. The body language shows exactly what is going on in the mind of the listeners, crossing the arms and legs would indicate as being in a defensive position while gazing at objects in the room around indicates that the listener has lost interest in the communication and is no longer attentive. Eye contact Maintaining eye contact is a symbol that means the speaker wants to be heard attentively. Blinking too often might send a message of feeling l ost and unsure about the situation. Every region or country has its own language, verbal and nonverbal. It is the traditions and culture that differentiates the nature of nonverbal communication. In America a handshake with a female or a male, means greeting the visitor warmly, while in eastern culture if a man shakes hand with a woman that may refer to harassment. â€Å"An American politician in his visit to a neighboring country once used gestures thinking to make a positive effect but actually emerged enraging the community (Hesselgrave & Culbertson, 1976).† In America people use gestures to convey their messages more than talking out loudly in public or when to pass on secrets. They usually make gestures with their hands and fingers or use facial expressions to communicate nonverbally. It is commonly notices in their films and other events of people using gestures when passing messages and not arousing curiosity of others around them. Also this is considered more appropri ate mode of communication between people who are present in extremely noisy places and are at a distance such as in concerts and clubs or huge gatherings where talking or shouting would seem pointless. â€Å"Sometimes young people have their own special gestures that only they and their friends understand.† (Gestures, n.d.). Some of the gestures might be used to communicate friendly messages while others may also be used

Prototyping in Graphic design Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Prototyping in Graphic design - Research Paper Example Graphic designers do not generate attributes and abstract relationships then derive the suitable object to consider. They instead always generate a design model and then find out its specifications. This paper looks at how design tools enable graphic designers to create functional prototypes of ever-present user interfaces. This scholarly compilation of modern essays applies quantifiable study to the graphic design practice. The whole book heartens designers to develop practices that are research-oriented which are more all-encompassing of audience input along with interdisciplinary proficiency. This is an educational book for any teacher of design. Buxton advises us to spotlight more on the blueprint of the design development than the product design. An efficient method to do this, he cites, is by â€Å"sketching† (demos, prototypes, sketches, simulations, models). Throughout this book he as well heartens teachers to incorporate into their classrooms additional scholarship, a history sense and a joint approach to the process of design. The book has provoking interviews along with genuine world examples. This is a useful guide to managing and forming a graphic design business. It is increasingly helpful for learners as many are trying to start on their careers at first as freelancers as a substitute of employees. This book outlines a greatly helpful timeframe of graphic design from 1890 to 2000. In essence, it is an efficient sketch of the history of graphic design, allowing learners to speedily put designers along with their work into chronological background. This collection of current essays and case studies initiates designers to research tools made particularly for graphic design. It covers â€Å"research through design, research into design and research for design.† Most of the research methodologies regard design as a segment of an integrated system. (11) Martin, Bella, and Bruce M. Hanington. Universal