Collective security during the interwar period Essay

The term ‘collective security’ can be defined as a security agreement in which all states cooperate directly, collectively, and and every state accepts that the security of one is in the concern of all. In other words, when one of the states part of this agreement violates the rights to freedom of other nations, all other member states will have to join forces to restore peace, penalizing the aggressor state. This model is based on participation and compulsoriness. An agressor state is about to meet a united opposition of the entire world community. The concept of collective security is based on the consent of all or the majority of states to act against any state that unlawfully violates peace. The main idea of collective security is the assumption that no state will want to change the power and order of world community, and if so, all other states will act together against the aggressor state in order to reestablish the global equilibrium. An ideal collective security organization assumes a very high degree of congruent interest among its members. 1 Interstate rivalry and power politics and effectively elliminated.2 As a legal form of states’ cooperation, a collective security system differs from any traditional alliance. The alliance is the way in which a state gets benefits in the event of a conflict after an agreement with another state or several states involved to a predetermined level to maintain their common interest. Alliances form because weak states band together against great powers in order to survive in an anarchic international system.3 The alliance pattern involves the decision to change or maintain the balance of power at local, regional or global level. In general, an alliance has on the other side another alliance with opposite purposes. It is, therefore, a structure of bloc against bloc. Arising from the need to find a way to avoid the outbreak of a new world war, collective security represented, in the interwar period, at least for some countries in Europe, almost the only option of foreign  policy that seemed viable to defend the national interests. The term ‘League of Nations’ (Society of Nations) existed since 1908, when Là ©on Bourgeois4 proposed a new system of organizing international relations. The idea was taken up and supported by groups and associations in France, Great Britain and United States of America, where presidents Roosevelt and Taft supported the formula of a security system in which aggressors automatically received economic and military sanctions from the international community. In June 1915, a League for strengthening peace, supported by Taft, was in favour for a Society of Nations based on collective security and strengthening international law. President Woodrow Wilson is the one who, on 27th of May 1916 marked for the first time, in concrete, institutional terms, the project of such an organization. In 1920, the League of Nations formally established, with the entry into force of the Covenant of the League of Nations, ratified by 42 states in 1919. The organization was meant to include all countries and to resist aggression in all parts of the globe.5 While all members participated in the General Assembly, the League Council was established to guide the operation of the organization. 6 The authority of the League was never seriously questioned, until the early 1930s, when a series of events proved its ineffectiveness. The League of Nations was concieved as a tool for maintaining international peace and security and for promoting interstate cooperation. The main mean by which the League was to ensure peacekeeping was a collective security system, at least in Europe, based on the principle ‘all for one’. According to this principle, all states should have been engaged in mutual guarantee of international peace and security. This concept was included in both League of Nations Covenant and peace treaties. The problem of creating a collective security system specifically concerned the small and medium states. With no ability of defending themselves in the face of possible aggression coming from great powers, the system of collective security was the only defending solution. Hence, the small and medium states were the most active in terms of supporting the Society of Nations’ efforts of peacekkeping. Their position towards this problem proved to be crucial both on the prospects of the forum in Geneva , as in peace prospects. The League of Nations represented a start in the process of democratization and evolution of international life, in the direction of establishing a new system in which  all states can find a place and role, a tribune for expressing their positions, under the aegis of general principles of international law. There were obtained achievements in different fields, of interstate cooperation, there were tested some mechanisms of peacekeeping, there were made efforts for promoting economic development in the spirit of interdependence, which was more and more obvious at an international level. Contrary to all these positive elements, the League of Nations was ultimately a failure and couldn’t fulfill its key objectives: prevent another war by creating a security system based on collective guarantees, resolving conflicts by peaceful means and eliminating economic crises by promoting openness in international trade relations, according to the requirements of globalization. The general crisis in 1929 – 1923 which had devastating effects on the economic, political and moral field and the rise of the totalitarian regimes opened the door for the World War II, which ended, at the same time, the attempt of a League of Nations in building a world of peace, security and prosperity. The League of Nations ceased to function with the beginning of World War II, although the formal decision to dissolve the League was adopted after the entry into force of the UN Charter on April 18, 1946. The United Nations, like the League, emerged in the wake of a devastating war.7 Romania in the League of Nations In order to better understand how the system of collective security works, I chose to talk about what meant to Romania the membership in the League of Nations and the benefits it enjoyed through this status. Romania, one of the 32 founding members of the League of Nations, contributed, under the aegis of this organization, at creating a general security system throughout Europe and especially in South Eastern Europe. Romania’s main purpose was keeping the territorial status-quo, which implicitly meant the integration of Greater Romania. Regarding the benefits of being part of the League, an advantage would be the prestige of being a member, as Nicolae Titulescu said: â€Å"Allow me to express my deep gratitude for the great honor you have done to my country and to me, personally, by handing, through your votes, the great dignity of being President of the 11th Assembly of League of  Nations†.8 The benefits arose from correlating the membership with the fact that Romani a had emerged victorious from the Great War, won enough territories to unite Romanians under one state and needed protection because these territories were an inportant target for the neighbours also. Aditionally, the League united the world’s most influential states and declared a forum for discussion in the spirit of arbitration, consensus and justice. Therefore, the member states were seen from the outside as being driven by the same values. Accepting Romania in the League of Nations meant the acknowledgement that it agreed with the principles of the organization. The League of Nation’s main goal was ensuring peace. From my point of view, all nations that were members of the League, believed in democracy and freedom, but the political leadership had not always reflected these ideals. When the political leadership tended to war, the only barriers were those related to methods and not to ideals. The benefit that Romania had being a member of League of Nations was one of prestige, because joining the organization meant a statement of principles that corresponded to those of the civilized world. Therefore, being a member of the League indicated that the state was inte grated in the world’s civilized nations and that’s what Romania wanted. Joining the League of Nations meant for the Romanian people the end of the period in which was threatened by the Great Powers and could not develop because of that. Once it joined the Society of Nations, Romania acceeded all the international organisms related to the League. Among these, the one that brought the most benefits to Romania was International Labour Organization. A very good study of that time’s ideas regarding the International Labour Organization was made by Grigore Trancu-IaÅŸi9, in a conference form, shown in ‘Romania’s foreign policy, 19 public lectures organized by the Romanian Social Institute’. The author identified the principles of this organization as needed to be urgently implemented by its members. The principles could be regarded as ‘left’, but were more like ideas that approached the society to social justice. The League recognized the idea that its supreme ideal was that peace cannot happen where there is no social justice. The International Labour Organization ensured bringing social justice through the prospect of working conditions. Romania, as a member of the Organization, registerd benefits in the social justice and had the right of decision over these measures. This paper aims to analyze what  collective security meant for the society in the inter-war period and, particularly, what meant to Romania and the effects of being in a collective security organization. Romania had multiple benefits generated by its membership in the League of Nations, even though this organization failed on its supreme mission. Romania’s benefits from being a member of the League related to international prestige, good relations with the neighbours, social justice and the most important, international power increase. Bibliography: MORGENTHAU, Hans J., International Affairs: The Ressurection of Neutrality in Europe†, The American Political Science Review, vol. 33, nr. 3; Politica ExternÄÆ' a Romà ¢niei – 19 prelegeri publice organizate de Institutul Social Romà ¢n, Institutul Social Romà ¢n, BucureÅŸti, 1926; SCUTARU, Ioan, Romà ¢nia ÅŸi Marile Puteri, editura FundaÃ… £iei „Romà ¢nia de Mà ¢ine†, Bucuresti, 1999; KUPCHAN, Charles A. and KUPCHAN Clifford A., Concerts, Collective Security and the Future of Europe, International Security, Vol. 16, No.1, Summer 1991; RISSE-KAPPEN, Thomas, Collective Identity in a Democratic Community: The case of NATO, 1996. MIROIU, Andrei, BalanÃ… £Ã„Æ' ÅŸi Hegemonie: Romà ¢nia à ®n politica mondialÄÆ', 1913 – 1989, Editura Tritonic, BucureÅŸti, 2005.

Yoshino covering

The Submissive Covering In reality, most people live through virtual fences as they feel social exclusion and racial covering arises. The fences have double standards either to protect the revered ones in protection, whereas, the common people are enclosed from society. The imagery of fence in Fences of Enclosure, Windows of Possibility and the Covering Hidden Assault Cover In our Civil Rights shows the theory of the way power structures restrict and control over society. All these fences are interconnected with racial covering in Covering The Hidden Assault on our CivilRights, where the minorities being excluded from virtual fences that restrict them from achieving mainstream. The representation of globalization is similar to white supremacy in the United States, the domination on less powered people. In this case, relating Klein term virtual fences will demonstrate how racial covering is affected by society with white supremacy Just as capitalism is built by the ones with huge reso urces. Lack of resources and racial pressure combine to create virtual fences on people who are not accepted and the search for window of possibility arises.Klein describes that the fences that protect public interest is disappearing fast. Similarly, the gap between the white and minorities is visible even on public television as virtual fences between different races. For example, when Hosting students say how they cannot imagine Asians appearing on TV, and goes says she cannot imagine any self-respecting minority could remain untroubled by the whiteness of television (Hosing, 306). It is showing the tendency of public TV not showing minorities and more likely the whites to be appeared.As invasion of the public by the private hectically put up new barriers, whether in schools, hospitals, workplaces, farms and communities, show commodity or necessity is becoming untouchable by common people Just like Asian Americans being less likely to be on public TV. The invading of the public by the private has reached into categories such as health and education, of course, but also ideas, genes, sees , now purchased, patented and fenced off, as well as traditional aboriginal remedies, plants, water and even human stem cells (197).Yes, and citizens are becoming more lack of resources and barred under many restrictions even on commodities. In both cases, it shows the bitter truth of virtual fence categorizing people in terms of race and resources, to dictate who is inside of power dynamics and who is not. One of Hosting students says that she will not mind how white television casts are and rather she will assimilate to the white norm or speak unaccented English. The productive way of getting over the barriers is to arouse the pride of authenticity as an individual feels the virtual fences of racial pressure.The window of possibility is created when Hosing speaks The Japanese believe they are a race apart, proclaiming their blood more pure than that of other peoples (299). Hosing explains how the other side of people can think differently, as well as remembering he was part of majority in mainland Japan. Hosing starts to show his Japanese pride and accept his heritage and says in Japan Hess part of majority too. The virtual fences in Klein writing relates to the racial covering mentioned by Hosing as people see the downside of either capitalism or globalization that puts bars around people or take away their rights, they conform to society.Virtual fences favor people with more accepted appearance and view someone's cultural aspect of racial identity as being different and furthermore, it elicits negative characteristic of a person, leading social exclusion. Klein says this as the fences of social exclusion can discard an entire industry, and they can also write off an entire country, as has happened to Argentina (197). The essential power of globalization has dark shadow over the world, disregarding common citizens who deposited their life savings.Th is claim clearly specifies how one country can be devastated by social exclusion. In comparison, Hosing mentions Yet if dating Janet represented assimilation in one sense, it was also its rejection. To date another Asian as to be raced apart. We would often be the only Asians in a social group (Hosing, 303). This fear comes from the worries about being fenced out of society and the racial barrier acts as locking out these people into their own barrier, groups of Asians, Hispanics and Blacks.Hosing mentions how another form of reaching windows of possibility is found as racial minorities try to breach the social contract of assimilation sometimes, Just like an African-American woman wearing cornrows. Racial covering can advance over categorical exclusion as written by Hosing, Times eave changed, and I suppose you could call it progress that a Chainman, too, may now aspire to whiteness (Hosing, 308). This also can open window of possibility as they challenge themselves to racially ass imilate to white people in order to be more conformed to society.Hosing questions how its worth asking when we will live in a society where Americans will feel central without feeling white and that we are far from that society. The virtual fences have great impact on individuals to feel socially excluded from one another, resulting racial covering to be socially accepted. Surprisingly, people are being barred from work for showing their diversity and federal Constitution and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It only protects race much more than orientation.Even at work, there's virtual fence as Hosing writes the unfairness of Title VII claims that English-only rules that require employees to speak English in the workplace (Hosing, 313). This states that the employers are being more required to be conformed to American society under their restriction. These policies have been another virtual fence on the basis of national origin. In imprison, globalization, which seems to b e decent title, misuses power over people by prevarication that co-opts only limited people controlling certain private companies that are open for certain types of people.Globalization is no longer organizing societies of the world, but as Klein explains the fences that surround the summits become metaphors for an economic model that exiles billions to poverty and exclusion (Klein, 199). This is when the activists were withstanding all the attacks from the police to confront the form of virtual fence. People fight back to open window of possibility on the social structure. Klein talks this behavior as following, their goal, which I began to explore in the final pieces in this book, is not to take power for themselves but to challenge power centralization on principle.Other kinds of windows are opening as well reclaim privatized spaces and assets for public use. (Klein, 200). They are both euphemism terms and the people misuse things are that are meant to be good to show their power over lower people. People sometimes take challenge on virtual fences to advance over exclusion and discrimination and confront at the stage. Hosing and Klein share many examples and that limited

Microbiology Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Microbiology - Lab Report Example respectively. Introduction: Bacteria are ubiquitous in nature. They are beneficial and harmful to the human beings and animals. Bacteria are present in the food. Probiotics supplements contain specific strains of bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria to increase the gut flora. Beneficial bacteria are present in the food and produce many important biological molecules. In the mozzarella cheese, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus are present. Camembert cheese contains lactococcus and penicillium species are present. (Waites et al. 2009). Bacteria can be differentiated based on the enzymes secreted by them. Some enzymes are secreted out by the micro organisms enabling simple biochemical tests. The major exo enzymes present in bacteria are amylases, caseinase, gelatinase (hydrolytic enzymes), oxidase and catalase. (Gunasekaran 2007). Since most of the exoenzymes are hydrolytic enzymes which break down complex substances into simpler molecules, they are us ed as identifiers for the bacteria. (Sharma 2007). Catalase converts hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water and oxidase oxidizes dichlorophenol indophenols from colorless to blue or red. (Benson 2001). The microorganisms present in the given samples can be isolated using the serial dilution technique and plated in the culture medium. The organisms are either gram positive or gram negative. The results obtained from the biochemical tests are used for the identification of the bacteria up to the genus level. (Reed et al. 2007). The number of bacteria present in the given sample is identified as the number of colony forming units. Colony forming units are then used to identify the number of bacteria present in the given diluted sample (Reed et al, 2007). The number of bacteria present in the given sample is calculated using the formula: Number of cells per gram = (Number of colonies (CFUs)) / (dilution x amount plated). The main objectives of this study are 1. Isolation of individual colonies from the given Probiotics, mozzarella cheese and camembert cheese samples. 2. Identification of the bacteria present in the given samples using the biochemical tests. Results: Table 1: food type and the morphological characteristics: Food type characteristics Probiotics 10-6 Circular, cream, raised and undulate Camembert 10-5 Pink, circular, convex and entire Camembert 10-4 Cream, punkiform , entire and convex Mozzarella 10-4 Brown, entire , circular Table 2: Colony count data Sample x10-3 x10-4 x10-5 x10-6 x10-7 probiotic - Greater than 300 Greater than 300 246 - Final count - 3 x 10^8 CFU / ml 3 x 10^9 CFU / ml 2.49 x 10^9 CFU / ml - Camembert 210 104 44 - - Final count 2.1 x 10^6 CFU /g 1.04 x 10^7 CFU / g 4.4 x 10^6 CFU / g - - Mozzarella 3 1 0 - - Final count 3 x 10^4 CFU / g 1x 10^5 CFU / g - - - Figure 1: The number of cells present in the given samples versus the dilution factor: Sample Colony characteristics Food characteristics Catalase Oxidase Gram stain String t est Agglutination Probiotics 10-6 Soured , acidic Circular, cream, raised and undulate x x Positive (blue colored rod shaped cells) v X ( no agglutination was formed ) Probiotics 10-5, Soured , acidic C

Reasearch project managment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reasearch project managment - Essay Example Furthermore, these commodities are leading causes of pollution since they undergo combustion prior to their use leading to the emission of greenhouse gases that pollute the atmosphere (EREC 2010). As apparent in recent findings, countries within the European Union continue to record an increase in the demand for energy generated from renewable sources. From the sample size used in the research, estimations indicate that an increase in energy consumption will be recorded in the next decade due to continuity in the growth of the population. Normally, the developed countries are the principal consumers for energy. This is attributable to their increased utilization of technology and items that use energy to run operations (EREC 2010). The categories of the energy, which are used in such countries, include electricity, solar, wind and fossil fuels. Scientifically, it will be important for nations to educate its citizens on the roles they can play in promoting the use of renewable sources. The research intended to establish the factors that influenced consumption of energy within the European Union basing on percentage figures. As apparent in the findings, there was an expectation that pollution would increase based on the demand for fuel and other sources of energy. Therefore, authorities should devise measures of curbing the negative environmental effects associated with energy consumption (EREC 2010). The use of energy commodities is advantageous; however, regulatory mechanisms should be adopted to limit the detrimental impacts that cause environmental pollution. The need for control mechanisms is partly attributable to the colossal sums that countries within the EU spend in meeting their energy needs. Research indicates that the gross national savings for the member countries should focus on electricity production. Concerns focusing on

KSAs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

KSAs - Essay Example In order to produce an accurate report within the assigned deadline, it became necessary for me to combine all of the sources of information and create one sole source for the student data, which would permit easy access of the data to the Director. The final outcome: By developing a more organized system of data maintenance, it simplified the process of analyzing and summarizing information for the report, which in turn decreased the amount of time needed to compile and complete the report by the assigned submission deadline. The increased time also ensured the accuracy of the report. At the University of Maryland in the Student Support Services office, I was the first point of contact for both students and parents interested in the Summer Transitional Program. This program is designed to assist first generation/low-income students in making the transition from high school to college through the completion of a six-week intensive academic course load. Students who were invited to apply to the program were those students who were denied fall admission by the university’s Undergraduate Admissions office. Following the release of the early decision letters by the admissions office, I immediately began fielding telephone calls and receiving visits by students, parents, teachers and high school counselors inquiring about the program application process, requirements, costs and other questions and concerns. I assisted these potential students by communicating the necessary information verbally on the telephone or in person, and/or in writing through the forms of a letter, or email. At the University of Maryland, the spring semester is a very busy time for the Student Support Services office. In addition to assisting the current students in the program, the office is also in the midst of accepting applications and formulating the first-year student cohort for the upcoming

Construction method statement and risk assessment Research Proposal

Construction method statement and risk assessment - Research Proposal Example The study will also measure the impact on river life. Steps can be taken to reduce negative impact by designing the diversion channel to incorporate features. 1. Installation of welfare and sanitary facilities for workers on site. Risk assessment at this stage: Assessment of risks including financial risks associated with a cost plus contract, ecological risks, and competency risks associated with improper / insufficient training. The sequence of execution for the project: Setting out of the channel according to the design, including the location of the foot over bridge, and access and surrounding development. Blocking of area around start and end of diversion on river bed by creating rock levy. That shall be extended later to block the river. 1. Excavation of the diversion channel to correct depth and dimensions. Pouring plain concrete at bottom of diversion channel, and spray concrete along sides. 2. 3. Reinforcement and shuttering for sides and bottom of channel. 4. Shuttering and formwork with correct alignment and levels. Poring of concrete into formwork, and vibration to reduce air pockets within poured concrete. 5. Pouring and installation of foot overbridge using a 4 bag mixer (assuming channel width of approximately 10m). Surrounding development including walkways, plantation and safety / guardrails. Installation of lighting as required. Installation of metal ladders and other safety features to diversion channel. Painting of levels on channel sides. Provision of monitoring office to oversee operation during defect liability period. Flow testing. Commissioning. Blocking of existing riverbed at both ends. Apart from Health and safety issues as enumerated above, working with or in water involves risks arising due to the following: Water stagnation or flow. Fluctuation in levels and flow rates, either seasonal or daily. Tides, in case of proximity to see. Weather changes, including rain in upriver catchment areas. Diseases. Other users of water including boats, people, structures. Impact on plant and animal life. Some other general measures to mitigate health and safety risks for the project are: Flood warning system and foghorn. Public address system. Constantly available means of escape and evacuation for workers on site. Access to weather information in real-time. Study of soil

Misuse of Emergency Services - Particularly Fire and EMS Essay

Misuse of Emergency Services - Particularly Fire and EMS - Essay Example This paper seeks to identify the reasons why people misuse emergency services, in this case the emergency medical services and fire emergency services. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) serves to provide emergency medical care to affected people. This is a system that is well coordinated, and includes response and emergency medical care, driven by different people and agencies. On the other hand, the fire and emergency services comprises highly trained personnel, who hold the responsibility of reducing loss of life and property, which is caused by fire, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks, among others. The personnel are trained in firefighting. These are also knowledgeable and competent in rescue techniques, and sometimes in emergency medical services, search and rescue, among other. There are various conditions that qualify use of emergency services. For instance, it is right to call emergency medical services when one’s life is in danger due to an illness. In addition, one may call emergency medical services when they are sick, and unable to transport themselves to hospital. Furthermore, in case of a traffic accident involving many casualties, one may call emergency medical services. On the other hand, emergency fire services are provided in cases involving fire. Although the cases where one might call emergency medical and fire services are clearly outlined, many people have continued to call these emergency services in irrelevant cases. Nonetheless, calling emergency services in cases where they do not apply is misusing emergency services. There are various reasons why people misuse emergency services. The major reason is that the emergency lines are toll free. This means that a person can call emergency services line without being charged. For this reason, many people call emergency services for nonsense reasons, since they know that it does not cost them anything.

US Macroeconomic policy 2006-2008 Research Paper

US Macroeconomic policy 2006-2008 - Research Paper Example With the global political situation ever changing, foreign policies fluctuation in split second, the economy has suffered too over the recent years. This paper describes the United States of America's macroeconomic polices in the recent years and their impact on the people. We shall consider the past three years and look at how the changing economic policies changed business interests and how they impact the overall economic situation of the state. In 2006 U.S economy was still suffering from the effects that the hurricanes such as Katrina had on the U.S. economy and because of their reverberations in 2006. The health of the national economy was facing threat, due to the severe beating that the infrastructure took-most notably the infrastructure for energy. For the preceding year and a half, energy prices had surged worldwide. When the storms hit at the end of August, economic activity had been quite robust for several years, supported by monetary accommodation and strong productivity growth. Real GDP had grown steadily at, or above, its potential or long-run sustainable pace, which is estimated at around three and a quarter percent. This pattern continued even during the third quarter-immediately following the hurricanes-when real GDP grew by just over four percent. In the fourth quarter, growth did drop sharply to about 1 percent. However, a good deal of this slowdown appears to have been due to several temporary factors, non e of which were related to the hurricanes. In 2006 the US economy was facing a great deal of un-certainty; the economy appears to be approaching a highly desirable glide path. First, real GDP growth currently appears to be quite strong, but there was good reason for it to slow to around its potential rate as the year progresses. Second, it appears that US economy operating in the vicinity of "full employment" with a variety of indicators giving only moderately different signals. The Fed raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points a total increase of 350 basis points. However, once the rate got to 4 percent, the issue of exactly how much accommodation actually remained in the economy became more of a judgment call. As a result, some further policy firming was needed to keep the risks to the attainment of both sustainable economic growth and price stability roughly in balance. The U.S. Economy and Policies in 2007 In 2007 the data showed payroll employment growing at a rather robust pace for all of last year. Moreover, the unemployment rate had declined by half a percentage point over the past year; this suggests a degree of tightness in the labor market, The decline started toward the end of 2005 and residential investment has fallen-in absolute terms-by a total of 13 percent. This sector alone which represents only a small fraction of U.S. real GDP-subtracted a hefty 1 percentage points from real GDP growth. Housing starts have followed a similar pattern, reaching a climax in January 2006 and then falling by roughly 40 percent through January of 2007. In addition to housing, weakness in

Personal and professional development Essay Example for Free

Personal and professional development Essay â€Å"The most successful nations in the future will be those which develop high quality, skilled and motivated workforces and make good use of them. † Government White Paper (1994) This object of this assignment is to identify what personal and professional development is, if there is any difference between personal and professional development and what opportunities there are, how this benefits both staff and Lancashire Care Foundation Trust (LCFT) as an organisation. I will consider how motivation affects people and their desire for development both personally and within the workplace Briefly I will be looking at qualifications: how these are obtained, utilised as a means to recognise stages of development and as evidence to demonstrate competencies of staff. As the theories show, people learn in many different ways and so I will discuss further 2 examples of these Behaviourism and Humanistic learning theories. Delving into experiential and reflective learning styles and strategies and how these link into the theories of how people learn and what resources are available to aid learning. How to plan for personal and professional development Personal development can be described as self-improvement, or development of skills and knowledge on a personal level not related to a specific job role but are personal goals. Adair and Allen categorise this as self-development and feel that these â€Å"Transferable skills are the key to improved prospects† (Adair and Allen 2003 p64). Improvement of these personal skills can be taken to any job and will be beneficial no matter which role is undertaken. In the same context, Wade (1996) suggests in addition to professional qualifications, employers also demand abilities that are considered as personal transferable skills such as communication, leadership, decision making and teamwork. Professional development is learning or enhancing necessary skills to carry out specific job functions effectively or improving practice and is aimed at the team/service/ organisational goals. This often defines where a role fits within an organisation or hierarchy and indicates promotion opportunities or employment prospects for career enhancement. Although viewed by many as separate agenda’s, Morrow states that she â€Å"does not believe there is a significant difference between personal development and professional development. Learning is learning. Personal development is professional development – what is learnt at home is taken to work and experience at work is implemented at home. † (Morrow, 2008). Whether personal or professional, development encourages staff to focus on their present circumstances, evaluate career progression and plan for the immediate and long term future. In order to put a strategy in place, current skills are identified, competencies and achievements recognised, goals clarified and then the difference between to the two assessed to outline the development required. Within the workplace, staff need to be motivated to achieve good results and engage with the development process. Abraham Maslow believed that people are motivated by a number of different needs and grouped them into 5 areas (see appendix 1 – Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need). Maslow (1943) theorised everyone is capable of moving up the levels in the hierarchy – once one need is satisfied, the next arises. Failure to meet each of the lower levels will prevent the ability to reach highest level of self-actualisation. It is quite true that man lives by bread alone — when there is no bread. But what happens to man’s desires when there is plenty of bread and when his belly is chronically filled? At once other (and â€Å"higher†) needs emerge and these, rather than physiological hungers, dominate the organism. And when these in turn are satisfied, again new (and still â€Å"higher†) needs emerge and so on. This is what we mean by saying that the basic human needs are organized into a hierarchy of relative prepotency. (Maslow, 1943, p. 375) Within the workplace the very basic ‘biological and physiological needs’ along with ‘safety needs’ are governed by law in the UK and so the higher three needs (Social, Esteem and Self Actualisation) may be realised through learning and development leading to increased motivation and confidence If invested in and developed, employees are more likely to feel their social needs are met by being part of a team are well regarded and appreciated for their skill set and therefore motivated to work harder to reciprocate which leads to higher production and efficiency. People are able to realise their abilities and potential, take on more responsibility or variety of tasks which improves versatility and prevents boredom leading to demotivation. Staff feel happier if they feel valued and are likely to stay within the organisation. Learning can be the result of many activities which can include formal classes and training sessions, on the job training and mentoring or self-study. Every time we encounter something new, there is an opportunity to learn and improve skills. As a result of increasing and honing skills and gaining qualifications, people tend to develop a greater sense of self-worth, dignity and well-being as they become more valuable to their employer and to society. These factors give a sense of satisfaction and motivation through improving performance, achieving personal and company goals which can also give them physical rewards such as increased remuneration and benefits. Qualifications are evidence of the level of knowledge gained and the competencies developed. The type of qualification i. e. Degree or NVQ dictates the characteristics and context of the learning and the learning outcomes are measured or assessed and qualifications awarded based on the results. The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) (2009) states that the 5 main purposes of qualifications are: †¢Recognise personal growth and engagement in learning †¢Prepare for further learning or training and/or develop knowledge and/or skills in a subject area †¢Prepare for employment †¢Confirm occupational competence and/or licence to practice †¢Updating and continuing professional development (CPD) Every post in LCFT has a profile of requirements to fulfil the role including which qualifications are required e. g. a midwife must be a qualified nurse and have a degree in Midwifery, a secretary must have RSA3 typing. Proof of qualifications obtained (certificates and professional registrations) must be shown prior to job offers to evidence the level of competency and skills of potential employees to fulfil the requirements of the job. Within LCFT, staff learning and development is viewed as being an integral part of fulfilling the needs of the business as well as the growth and motivation of staff. Within the organisation, Learning Needs Analysis’ (LNA) are carried out to ensure learning provision is in alignment with the business strategy and so that employees have the capabilities to deliver the organisation’s strategy. The root of the LNA is the gap analysis – an assessment of the gap between the knowledge, skills and attitudes currently possessed and the knowledge, skills and attitudes that are required to meet business objectives The core of training in LCFT is ‘Mandatory Training’ which is any training deemed necessary by law for safe and effective function in the NHS and then training and development to meet the business needs is then prioritised. Every member of staff in LCFT has an annual Personal Development Review which is updated every 3 months to adjust objectives and monitor progress. A Personal Development Plan is written as part of this process which outlines training requirements and skill enhancement for the following 12 months. Staff are required to continue their professional development to build their professional skills and competencies which then improves their performance at work. LCFT also provides training opportunities to support staff to develop and manage their career  benefitting LCFT by retaining staff with the aptitude and ability to meet the future organisational needs and adjust to the ever changing environment within the NHS. Management Development programmes are also in place to enable leaders to foster this learning environment and motivate staff to embed the learning culture within the organisation. This benefits the NHS as they are assured of the level of staff they are employing and helping t o sustain the future of their workforce. Staff feel they are valued and invested in which in turn leads to job satisfaction and potential career advancement. This all ultimately benefits service users and patients of the NHS in that it gives them confidence they are being treated by qualified staff and they received the best care possible by all employees from administrators to surgeons. Development and training comes in many different guises which benefit different learning preferences. On the job training may include acting up into a role, shadowing or being mentored which are very effective methods to develop skills or enrolling on an NVQ course which would be suited to kinaesthetic learners. Many training sessions for Mandatory Training within LCFT and most external courses follow a pedagogy approach utilising traditional learning methods using a classroom setting with a lead or tutor giving information with some interaction from attendees. This can be beneficial to all if the programme is tailored to every learning need including images, audio and hands on tasks and by having a person on hand to ask questions of and explain points although this is often time consuming and costly as staff have to travel to a central location to join a training session Due to the low costs involved and ease of adapting or amending training templates and resources, e-learning is now a favoured approach to training staff within the NHS. Whilst this is good for people who are visual learners and are office based within LCFT buildings, it can be very difficult for staff with no IT connectivity or only one PC between 10 people on a ward for example. E- learning is also very inadequate for staff who have a kinaesthetic learning style, especially for those with additional learning needs such as dyslexia. ? LO2 – How people learn Reece and Walker (2004) state that learning is about change brought about by developing a new skill and understanding something new. Many academics have studied learning theories such as Behaviourism or Humanistic Learning and use these models to explain the principles of how people adopt new skills and understanding. The methodology of how the learning is carried out is directly linked to the theory and so as hypothesised by Pavlov and Skinner, a person that tends to follow a Behaviouristic theory would learn by changing their behaviour in response to an external stimuli. This was proven when Nobel Prize winner Ivan Pavlov carried out ‘Classical Conditioning’ experiments by ringing a bell when giving food to a dog. The dog would salivate at the food but eventually the dog would respond in the same way to the bell ringing as it had been conditioned to expect food at the sound of the bell. In the adult learning context, psychologist Burrhus Skinner developed the ‘Operant Conditioning’ methodology by repeating actions and reinforcing or promoting the desired outcome and punishing or supressing negative outcomes. A pedagogy approach is required to deliver these conditioning methods but this often means there is little input from the learners themselves. Humanistic Learning theory recognises that all humans are inherently good and have unlimited potential for their own growth. Maslow believed that people learn from experience but are motivated by the need to reach their potential and self-realisation (as previously discussed. See also appendix 1 – Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need). Carl Rogers theory is based upon the same foundations as Maslow but believed that the basic motive for all humans is to fulfil their own potential and reach self-actualisation – to become who they would like to be. Both Rogers and Maslow endorse learning by experience and an andragogy teaching method which fosters student centred learning (as opposed to teacher centred learning) allowing the students to engage their own learning style and subsequently gain rewards by satisfying their own needs. This follows Kolb’s Learning Cycle (see Appendix 2) which states that after an event, experience should be reviewed, actions revised to produce new theories and then the theories should be tried and tested, The cycle then begins again by reviewing the testing etcetera. Gibbs Learning Cycle (see appendix 3) expands further on Kolb’s theories by encouraging further the human thought processes within these stages, to debrief on the activity and reflect on all the phases of an experience or activity and how the person feels at every stage I feel that I am a reflective learner but adhere to Kolb’s cycle rather than Gibbs as I am more practical and less emotional in my learning. In a classroom situation, I find an andragogy approach with open discussion and practical work or auditory and kinesthetic learning much more stimulating in the first instance but as I am a visual learner, I need this backed up by visual aids (notes or presentations) which I then use to reflect on the knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of the objectives. In conjunction with Kolb’s learning cycle, this supports the thoughts of Itin (1999) who states that experiential learning is the process of making meaning from direct experience to which Moon (2004) adds that reflective learning is a phase of learning resulting from the actions inherent to experiential learning. Dewey (1933) reasoned we have to regard reflection as implying purpose which is in line with Cognitive Theory but Moon (2004) suggests that although we reflect for a purpose, conclusions to complicated issues can just ‘pop up’ without our being conscious of their having been a reflective process – this is a subconscious event supporting Humanist theory. Experiential learning is based in humanistic theory but Behaviourists believe that it can be influenced by external stimuli which in turn changes behaviour. For highly motivated Humanist learners who are adept at self-directed study, the most readily available is the internet which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be accessed by computers, tablets, phone and even via gaming machines and TVs. It enables searching for information virtually and sometimes instantaneously from across the world but not all content found on the World Wide Web is from a reliable source and so may not be accurate. The library at college contains a wealth of validated information around the courses that are delivered there but the number of books is limited and so there may be waiting times for specific items to be returned. There are also restrictions on entering the library as opening hours are limited mainly to daytimes and even close earlier on Fridays which severely limits access to working pupils. Public libraries often do not stock academic books and a charge is often made to order books in which also incur waiting times for the books to arrive. There is also a Library within LCFT but it is many miles away from most workplaces, only open during office hours and generally stock books around clinical subjects. Within the workplace, colleagues are an excellent resource for learning as they can impart the knowledge gained from their own training and experience and are available during the working day Difficulties can arise though if new methodologies contradict what is favoured by the experienced colleague. Learning resources may be used as the basis as the foundation for some learning strategies – the way a learner identifies the best way to carry out a task. For those who chose reading as their strategy, the library and the internet are immensely advantageous but is also beneficial to many other strategies for finding out the initial information. Conclusion Learning and development for an organisation improves quality, skills, productivity and motivation which leads to a reduction in overheads and errors. This in turn increases profitability and stability for the organisation which enables them to become successful. An organisation needs to recognise its required outcomes alongside the needs of the workforce and develop them accordingly to ensure they retain staff with the aptitude and ability to meet those future needs. In the NHS, patient outcomes are a main focus of the delivery plan but this must be balanced by the financial implications brought by the cost delivery and so development of staff is the most beneficial and cost effective route to achieving this goal. When it comes to learning, there are no right or wrong answers to how people learn. People may follow a certain theory or use a specific learning strategy in the main but often it is a mixture of theories and strategies that produce the best outcomes and is often dictated by how the information is offered, whether online or classroom based and what resources are available to support the student. I have learned that when I am imparting information to a group I need to try and incorporate a variety of learning styles, allowing kinesthetic learners to interact with the subject matter, the audio learners to listen to information and the visual learners to view pertinent materials individual, On a personal level, I have discovered that I learn using a mixture of theories and styles but I am consistent with my strategies and instinctively know how I learn the best.?

Families in a Global Context Essay Example for Free

Families in a Global Context Essay In the context of the twenty-first century, the entire world is going through changes in almost every walk of life. There has been a fast development in the domains of education and technological advances especially with the arrival of inventions like computer, the Internet, and other communication devices based on extensive space exploration. Global trends are being referred to the world’s next culture, a state of life in which the entire world seems to share common values, ethics in all genres of life, and so forth. At large, new ideologies are emerging and old ones are being retried. This is impacting the structure of global life on the whole and countries both technologically advanced and developing (or not so technologically advanced) are facing new challenges to cope up with the emerging trends and ideologies. One such challenge present to the whole world is the changing family life and structure which is apparently noticeable in the developed as well as the developing countries of the world. This challenge is mainly credited to the wave of globalization. The present paper, henceforth, looks into this issue. It examines family structure in a technologically advanced country (i. e. , the United States of America for our case) and in a developing country (India in this instance), and then attempts to arrive at solid conclusions as in what ways the thrashing wave of globalization is impacting family life and/or structure of these countries. 1- Challenges Confronted by Indian Families India is one country in the world which is unique for its multiculturalism and expansion. The view of globalization by people from India, especially the Hindus, is that of is multi-faceted, that is to say, they see a number of implications from this emerging trend. The basic view of the Indian way of life is that of pluralism, cultural enrichment, and religious unity. As such these trends have long been rooted in the family structure of India. However, the trend of globalization has given different outlook to Indian families. They face a lot of challenges. The major trends in Indian lifestyles like spirituality and other religious matters are being shattered by the trend of globalization. The peaceful view of Indian people that they hold about other religions has been misused. As such, the tolerance of Indian people has caused a lot of shaking in the context of the twenty-first century. Their culture and traditions are being threatened by globalization, something that Indian people have yet to realize and stand to fight it. For example, with the advent of global business multinational companies, the entire nation is at risk because by global business, the essence of spirituality is at stakes since business has brought up the wave of materialism. Moreover, commercialism is changing human value system in Indian culture mainly because of popular culture (â€Å"junk food like coca cola, movies saturated with sex and violence, and an adulation of athletes and movie stars as the most desirable human types†). All this, in collective way, affecting the family structure of Indian life. Although there are a number of TV channels, the Indian people have yet to realize the actual stand for media and communication which tells of their simplicity and unwillingness to sense danger which is threatening their centuries-old cultural and customary lifestyle: â€Å"There has been little organized Hindu response to globalization†. Although social efforts to guard Indian lifestyle have been initiated (for example, the Swadhyaya movement), it will not incorrect to say that it is not enough on the face of the giant of globalization by the Indians are still not using media efficiently (Internet is the exception here) which simply gives rise to exotic channels, the culture propagated in these channels bringing to Indian life and family structure newer threats each day. (Frawley, p. 20, 2001) If we look at the demographics related to Indian family structure and growth, we will fairly see difference between the two times: the recent time when globalization has taken place in India; the time in the past when this trend was not present. According Niranjan et al. (2005), from 1961 to 1999, the average family size in India has dropped by 5. 4 percent. According to the authors, this is 1. 4 percent higher than the family size decline in China which straightforwardly suggests that Indian family structure is moving toward the trend of nuclear family structure, a by-product of globalization. Research by Niranjan et al. (2005) suggests some important key factors that were significantly present while keeping the family structure along with past traditions. Major predictors that have been found for joint family are ownership of land and economic status. Such families stay joint in contrast to those who don’t have ownership of land and higher economic status. Globalization, as such, has played a significant role in bringing means by which people can gain material comfort and thus tend to live in nuclear families. See in this way, it becomes clear that Indian family structure is facing great challenges on the verge of globalization. As globalization seems to bring in exotic trends and practices, both social and economical, Indian family structure is going through a change: something that is the essence of western lifestyle. Families in the United States of America According to Olsen (2007) states that though the Unites State of America has often been regarded as rudimentary, it is basically the â€Å"quintessential liberal ‘social safety net’ providing a relatively restricted range of social protections and services, meager income benefits, and few programs as a right of citizenship or residence† (p. 143). This suggests that family support in the United States of America, a technologically advanced and developed country, is not something to be satisfactory about. USA is the only country in the capitalist world of advanced countries that has never offered a universal family allowance program to its citizens. This country’s family policy, instead, relies on targeted, means-tested segments like Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) later replaced by the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). However, according to (2006), US family structuring faced a lot of pressure as it is up to the present on a number of fronts both internal and external. According to the author, the boom in economic status of US family system came up after World War II when Japanese and European manufacturing industries went thought a devastation of war: â€Å"Progressive taxation policies redistributed income from corporations and high earners to policies and public investments† benefited middle class families as well as the working class families. This was the time when globally US family structure was one of the highest enjoying part of social structure in the United States of America as well as the rest of the world (Polaski, p. 02, 2007). The US government initiated such programs as Medicare and Medicaid that benefited the family sustain a balanced lifestyle with standard of living was steadily moving on the upward curve. It was the time when global community saw a fast emerging middle class family structure in the United States of America that entertained higher livings standards. Then things started moving on the downslide as the Japanese and European manufacturing industries came to compete in the global market with the US, US spending on Vietnam War, and other such factors contributed to building economic pressure on the US family living standards that brought changes in the social networking and framework. With the emergence of globalization the US families, especially the middle class families, saw a decline in the living standards: â€Å"Globalization revealed and exacerbated, rather than created, the basic problems with the U. S. system† (Polaski, p. 03, 2007). Social safety became a problem particularly for the US social structure as in a number of areas like health insurance and portable pensions. The author cites a recent IMF study that states that although the share of labor from all the advanced countries of the world has declined globally in the last twenty years, European workers are still enjoying a bigger share of the wealth of their countries than the workers in the US. Although Europe also faces pressure by globalization, it does have safety net for the social structuring of their people. On the other hand, then United States of America is dangling with uncertainty. However, the author notes that there is some link with policy making of the advanced countries with those of the developing countries. In this regard the author gives an example of agricultural policy in the United States (and other advanced countries) that has indirect effect of farming activities of a developing country, say India or Pakistan in this case. What happens that, â€Å"The United States and other wealthy countries offer agricultural subsidies to their farmers that induce overproduction, with the surpluses sold below cost to the rest of the world. This causes prices for farm goods to fall in the developing world, lowering the incomes of already poor farmers or forcing them off the land† (Polaski, p. 03, 2007). Seen from this perspective, it is right to suggest that policies in advanced countries do make the developing countries and their people suffer from high to low challenges a number of them are not recoverable which means that solid policy making must start from the region of agricultural reforms and policy revision so that developing nations do not need to suffer more on the hands of wealthy countries. Both Countries Explored in the above line, what I have analyzed is that both these countries face challenges in the family structuring and economic domain. Indian family structure is tending toward independent nuclear family; whereas, US family structure is going through a change from higher to lower living standards. Both these countries have been affected by the trend of globalization in negative as well as positive ways. For the Unites States, globalization has brought more education, shift from manufacturing to service industry (Polaski, 2007); then for India, globalization has brought stability in a number of areas in which computer technology and skills related to it are worth mentioning here because today India is the only country in the whole world which has the highest number of computer technician that work both in the country and overseas contributing to the nation’s collective income. Frawley, p. 20, 2001). Now that the trend of globalization demands from them is that both the countries need to work together to make such policies as can benefit the family structure in both the countries along with economical and social stability. Conclusion Although it is right to state that globalization has benefited the whole world in one way or another, it is also right to remark that a number of things have struck the world from the negative side. For this case India is the most glaring example because with the advent of materialism, global business practices, popularity of Hollywood movies, and materialism the centuries-old joint family structure whole over India is fast declining at an alarming rate. Compared with the United States of American, it comes to our critical notice that family structure in these two countries have different problems from each other. One country has family system as joint; while the other country is essentially nuclear. One is less educated country with majority being poor; whereas USA is a highly affluent country whose people are literate on the global standards. The challenges these two countries face in globalization are also different. India needs to boost up its economy by developing its industry, human capital, industrial structure, and so forth; USA has to make such policies as do not harm countries like India. References Frawley, D. (2001). Hindu response to globalization. International Journal of Humanities and Peace 17 (1) 20+. Niranjan, S., Nair, S. , Roy, T. K. (2005). Socio-Demographic analysis of the size and structure of the family in India. Journal of Comparative Family Studies 36 (4) 623+. Olsen, G. M. (2007). Toward global welfare state convergence? : Family policy and health care in Sweden, Canada and the United States. Journal of Sociology Social Welfare 34 (2). 143+. Polaski, S. (2007). U. S. living standards in an ear of globalization. Accessed May 11, 2008 from: http://www. carnegieendowment. org/files/pb_53_polaski__us_living_standards_final. pdf

Female Form in the Art Deco Movement: Tamara de Lempicka

Female Form in the Art Deco Movement: Tamara de Lempicka Design for Passion: The female form in Art Deco The Art Deco style was the genre during the 1920s and 1930s affecting the decorative arts, fine arts and fashion (Lucie-Smith, 1996). Throughout this period it was moment for womens clothing fashions. The portraits of Polish-born Tamara de Lempicka elaborated on the trend as a painter of people mainly in the smart social circles in which she moved. She was penniless when she fled to Paris with her husband and daughter. It was then she resolved her talents of artistry would establish a successful career in Paris. To represent her painting style she elaborated on distinctive streamlined elegance with a sense of chic decadence, often compared to the cubism of Leger (sometime called Soft Cubism). She was better than anyone else at representing the Art Deco style in painting. Her works exhibited the true meaning of the Art Deco style and affiliated the passion for design that women had in their lifes turning point (de Lempicka, 1998). It can be said that she is probably the most famous painter of the art deco period. The painting style created by de Lempicka was as glamorous as her subject matter. Her instructor Andre Lhote did not realize the subtle syntheses of inspiration she portrayed. The use of a plastic metaphor which Tamara used time and again in her artistic output can be characterized by the haughty expression typical of a certain caste, or in her nudes which are allegories of lasciviousness. She used a trademark combination of soft, rounded forms set against architectural lines and shapes that reflected a new sophisticated urbanity to those she painted in highly mannered portraits. Her other main subjects included erotic nudes and still life of calla lilies. Her bold technique and palette rapidly won her acclaim as the quintessential Art Deco artist (Blondell, 2004). Art Deco design was above all modern that exemplified the boundless potential of a newly industrialized world. The characterizations of Art Deco include the use of materials such as sharkskin, zebra skin, zigzag and stepped forms, bold and sweeping curves, chevron patterns, and sunburst motif. The sunburst motif was used in such varied contexts as a ladys shoe. It was a mainstream in consumerism that was stressed in the great fashion magazines as Vogue and Harpers Bazaar to advertise the emergence of the New Woman in American society. It was argued that Art Deco functioned as a trademark for popular notions of femininity during a time when women were said to be the consumers of the average household. A genre of the time it appealed to women and was used as a selling point for cosmetics, clothing, home furnishings, jewelry, and art objects. The image that femininity would dominate the American imagination for the future inspired consumerism (Fischer, 2003). The corset was definitively eliminated making the flat and square dresses of the 1920s an ideal canvas to display motifs of the Art Deco period. Skirts were shortened and the female figure became formless and androgynous (sexless) the waistline dropped to the hips or simply ceased to exist. In the 1930s the waistline moved to its natural position. Nylon, satin, silk and crepe the most prevalent of materials used to make fine figure defining dresses. Fabric was cut diagonally to take advantage of its elasticity to show formation of what it covered. Skirts were made longer while the legs were allowed to be seen via long slits in the dresses and the shoulders were broadened by padded shoulder inserts (Lussier, 2003). In Portrait of a Young Girl in a Green Dress, Tamara explicitly demonstrates her visual of the fashion of the times, sleek and seductive (Lucie-Smith). Girl in Green with Gloves, probably her most famous painting epitomizes her style showing the fabric and hair combined into sharp lines and flowing curves with the entire form strongly dimensional yet remaining abstract and modern. The Art Deco of the 20s, with its geometric motifs and bright, bold colors superlative represents the best and purest forms of the decorative art period. Reaching its bold point between 1925 through 1935, the classical, symmetrical, rectilinear style of Art Deco, drew inspiration from other art movements such as Cubism, Futurism, and influence of the Bauhaus and became the dominant art form of Paris between 1920 through 1930. Tamara deLempicka was the artist who pursued the Arts Decoratifs style, derived from the Worlds fair held in 1925, formerly titled the Exposition Internationales des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes that showcased French luxury goods (Wikipedia, 2003). A 1925auto portrait, Tamara in the Green Bugatti was an oil painting on wood. Tamara was dressed in a bright yellow with black hat, matching the color of the vehicle. The painting came about when a magazine editor was overwhelmed by the drivers style. The driver, later was learned, to be de Lempicka herself. The editor had left a calling card on the windshield asking the yellow clad woman to contact her. Die Dame, Germanys leading fashion magazine, then commissioned a self portrait in the car for the magazines cover. The result was one of de Lemplickas best known works wherein she mixes cold, hard textures with luxurious, decadent sensual imagery. A point of interest on the matter was that Tamara NEVER owned a green Bugatti. The auto portrait was an icon of the era. The painting is said to represent the newly discovered freedom of women of the day (Paloma). Sexy, modern and unabashedly consumer-oriented was the new Art Deco style. Motifs were borrowed from Japan, Africa, ancient Egtyptian and Mayan cultures to create novel visual effects (Benton, 2003). French pochoir prints from the glorious Art Deco era presented womans fashion designs in their most original era. The clothing was revolutionary from designers such as Charles Worth, Jean Patou, Paul Poiret, Lucien Lelong and Joseph Paquin (Schiffer, 1998). Erte was an artist who received his fame by his drawings in Harpers Bazaars magazine for 22 yrs. His covers for the magazine shaped the entire modern tradition of fashion drawing. Erte (name derived from his initials R. T. Romaine de Tirtoff) also designed sets for plays and musicals most noted are the costumes and stage sets for the Folies-Bergere in Paris (Blum, 1976). He was perhaps the most appealing of artists at the time, called attention to the sleekness of style giving emphasis to lineal definition and bold color. (Fischer). The jewelry from the era exploded with color, drama of form and juxtaposition of texture and contour. Designs included buckles, clips, belts, mirrors, pendants, cigarette cases, rings, chains, necklaces, watchbands, brooches, studs and charms (Raulet, 2002). The aesthetic of Art Deco was most radical in the late 1920s at which female stars as Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford and Myrna Loy donned lavish Art Deco fashions. De Lempicka herself received acclaim for her aloof Garboesque beauty, her parties, and her love affairs. Her beauty and opinionated nature also increased her celebrity (de Lempicka). The style declined as a growing conservatism challenged the feminist advances of an earlier generation. The Art Deco woman was once an object of desire but she then regressed toward demeaning caricatures and pantomimes of unbridled sexuality (Fischer). To artists she (de Lempicka) appeared to be an upper-class dilettante, and to the nervous haute bourgeoisie she seemed arrogant and depraved, comments Laura Claridge. Her beauty and opinionated nature increased her celebrity as photographs of the period show a sleek woman whose lethargic-eyed mystique challenged that of Greta Garbo. De Lempicka was a very physical person. She often slept with the people she painted, or those who sat for her. They were both male and female. Her first lesbian affair was said to be with Ira Perrot who modeled for her and took her to Italy where she discovered paintings of Botticelli and Messina. It was the period of time in which she began to attend lesbian parties. Her creativeness went as far as the tastefully arrangement of food on the body of a nude woman. Thereafter, she would then slowly she eat her midnight meal (de Lempicka). The artist pursued older men as social companions, but slept with younger and more handsome men. She was often seen caressing a working-class boy one night and a woman the next. Her adventures inspired her artwork. An overview to her painting of Adam and Eve, her daughter Kizette states, The model walked across the room and picked up an apple from the bowl to satiate her hunger. Tamara then says: Stop! I have an inspiration. I have before me the vision of Adam and Eve. She then went out into the street and nearby saw a policeman on his beat. He was young and handsome. Monsieur, I am an artist and I need a model for my painting. She brought him into the studio and said you are Adam, here is your Eve completing her motivation. Among the unique aspects of her style is the overt lesbianism that informs it, especially in her female nudes, i.e. Two Friends, Spring, and The Girls. The implication of sexuality between the females is subtle yet obvious. Tamara Gorska de Lempicka was married first to Tadeusz Lempicki a Russion lawyer and socialite and then to Baron Raoul Huffner with whom she moved to America. Being a bisexual woman, de Lempickas works reflects a glorification of the female form and vignettes of female life. Seated Nude (1923) exploits her depiction of women in which she sets the tone of a powerful, curvy, and slab-faced image. Depicted during the Jazz Age de Lempickas art expel a riot of color combined with the sharpness of Cubism making them seem to explode from their frames and grab our attention (Charlish, 2004). The sexy, bedroom-eyed women in stylish dresses are rendered in haunting poses that seem to mirror her life through her art. The Orange Turban of which Tamara produced eight versions in her lifetime, shows the influence of the Dutch and Flemish masters that she absorbed while studying at the Louvre. Independent publisher Mani de Li of Modern Art A Skeptical View, opinions that Tamara succeeds in portraits that have an aim similar to Picassos failures with hers being more original, complete, better drawn, colored and composed. The paintings never contain those scratchy areas of flat schmiery ugliness and unfinish so common in even the best of Picassos, he contends. From the pages of womens magazines to the salons and counters of department stores to the set of design of Hollywood films, the Art Deco style was used to market modernity and elegance (Fischer). Tamara sold her portrait art to the rich aristocracy of Paris that fetched huge prices. She refused to comment on the fascism around her. It was between the wars, that she painted portraits of writers, entertainers, artists, scientists, industrialists, and many of Eastern Europes exiled nobility (Lucie-Smith). She had a choice to do carnival or festive art, and chose the festive (Boje, 2001). Peter Plagens, an art critic from Newsweek, referred to Tamara as practically forgotten with her production of almost soft porn. And he further stated that Tamara was the end product, not the producer of art that influences other artists (Claridge, 1999). After a threat of a Second World War, Tamara left Paris to go to Hollywood. There she became the Favorite Artist of the Hollywood Stars. The 1950s and 1960s phased out Deco Art until in a 1966 exhibition in Paris it resumed its interest. She had changed her style to abstract art in the 1960s. Her works were created then with a spatula with her output seemingly out of fashion. De Lempickas earlier works began to rise in the 1970s and by the 1990s she once again became a stylish icon. Feminisms emphasis on unearthing sidelined women had played a part in her revitalization as well. The liberation of gay women has made her the prophetic, in -house painter of lipstick lesbianism (Charlish). Today de Lempickas work still is connected to Hollywood with singer/actress Madonna and actor Jack Nicholson being the most avid contemporary collectors of her paintings. Her paintings were rediscovered by the world (Neret, Gilles, 1992). Tamara de Lempicka achieved her notoriety and fame several times during her lifetime and remains popular today for her highly sexualized art deco portraits. The qualities of decadence and hedonism that caused critics of the 1960s and 1970s to dismiss her work are those traits that now show new appreciation, comments Elizabeth Ashburn, Professor and Head of the School of Art in the College of Fine Arts at the University of South Wales, Austrailia. Tamara de Lempicka chose her teachers well. She learned the use of simple lines and a smooth finish from Maurice Denis, from who she had her first painting lesson at the Academe Ranson. She learned the neoclassical modification of cubism from Lhote in Paris. She learned the clear, glowing colors and imperious yet powerful interpretation of the female form and execution of the society portrait from Ingres (Charlish). When combined, the three distinct traits of her tutors were expelled though her own unique style in which she was able to bring across the passion of design. De Lempicka is the true demonstrator of the female form in Art Deco painting. The icon of Art Deco ceased her works after the death of her husband in 1962. She moved to Mexico and died in her sleep in 1980 only to leave behind her ashes strewn over the crater of Mt. Popocateptl along with her now valued works of art depicting one of the most fascinating periods of art history in which she displayed the liberty of the woman of her time. BIBLIOGRAPHY Benton, Tim, Benton, Charlotte Wood Ghislaine. 2003 Art Deco: 1910-1939. Bulfinch; 1st North edition. Sept. 17. ISBN:082122834X. Blondell, Alain Brugger, Ingirid. (2004) Tamara de Lempicka. Royal Academy Books. 168 pgs. ISBN: 1903973422. Blum, Stella. 1976 Designs by Erte. New York: Dover. Boje, D. M. 2001 Athletic Apparel Industry is Tamara-land. Tamara: Journal of Critical PostmodernOrganization Science. Vol. 1 (2), pp. 6-19. Charlish, Nicky.2004 Art Deco Icon: Tamara Lempicka. Culture Wars.RoyalAcademy, London. Claridge, Laura.1999 Tamara de Lempicka: A Life of Deco and Decadence. ClarksonPotter Publishers. 436 pgs., September 21. De Lempicka,Baroness Kizette and Philip, Charles. (1998) Passion by Design: The Artand Times of Tamara de Lempicka, Abberville Press. 192 pgs. ISBN:0789205033. Fischer, Lucy.2003 Designing Women: Art Deco, and the Female Form (Film and Culture). Columbia University Press. 352 pgs. ISBN: 0231125011. Lucie-Smith,Edward. 1996 Art Deco Painting, Phaidon Press, 160 pages, ISBN071482545X. Lussier, Suzanne.2003. All Tied-Up: The Corset in Contemporary Fashion. The Victoria and Albert Museum. Neret, Gilles. 1992.Tamara de Lempica Benedict. Taschen Verlag GrnbH. Kolan. Paloma Gallery. http://www.paloma.ca/gallery.html. Raulet, Sylvie.2002 Art Deco Jewelry. Thames Hudson. Schiffer. 1998. FrenchArt Deco Fashions: In Pochoir Prints from the 1920s. Schiffer Publishing .Feb. 1. 160 pages. ISBN: 0764304747. Wikipedia. 2003.The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Columbia University Press.

japanese religion :: essays research papers

Japan Religious and Philosophical Traditions   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The values described in the preceding section are derived from a number of religious and philosophical traditions, both indigenous and foreign. Taken together, these traditions may be considered the Japanese worldview, although the personal beliefs of an individual Japanese may incorporate some aspects and disregard others. The Japanese worldview is eclectic, contrasting with a Western view in which religion is exclusive and defines one's identity. Contemporary Japanese society is highly secular. Cause and effect relations are frequently based in scientific models, and illness and death are explained by modern medical theories. Yet the scientific view is but one of the options from which an individual may draw in interpreting life's experiences. The Japanese worldview is characterized also by a pragmatic approach to problem solving, in which the technique may be less important than the results. Thus a Japanese who is ill may simultaneously or sequentially seek the assistance of a medical doctor, obtain medication from a person trained in the Chinese herbal tradition, and visit a local shrine. Each of these actions is based on a different belief in causation of the illness: the physician may say that the illness is caused by a bacterial infection; the herbalist regards the body as being out of balance; and the basis of the shrine visit is the belief that the mind must be cleansed to heal the body. In the West, these explanations might be viewed as mutually exclusive, but the Japanese patient may hold all of these views simultaneously without a sense of discord. Similarly, a student studying for university entrance examinations knows that without extraordinary hard work, admission is impossible. Yet the student will probably a lso visit a special shrine to ask for the help of the spiritual world in ensuring success. The roots of the Japanese worldview can be traced to several traditions. Shinto, the only indigenous religion of Japan, provided the base.

The Portrayal of Gabriel Oak in Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Ha

In the novel Far from the Madding Crowd written by Thomas Hardy, I will be observing in detail the main character, Gabriel Oak, a young sheep farmer. I am going to determine how he is described as a heroic character in the first seven chapters. Gabriel Oak is portrayed to the reader as a heroic character in several different ways. In chapter one, there is no action or events. Alternatively, in the first paragraph, there is a description of Oak, which is mainly focused on his broad smile. His smile is compared using a simile, 'like the rays in a rudimentary sketch of the rising sun.' This immediately implies that he is a cheerful, good-natured character. Secondly, he is referred to with many different names. Farmer Oak illustrates his status, respect and authority. His Christian name, Gabriel has a reference towards the bible, as Gabriel was the good angel of God. Lastly, his surname, Oak, this may refer to wood as Oak is strong and durable which may represent his strength and durability. This is stressing the positive quality of Oak's character. The reader starts to get an encouraging image of Gabriel once reading the first two paragraphs. Farmer Oak's background is rather straightforward although he has had many jobs. He is conscientious and thorough as he cares greatly on how everything is presented and what people think of him. He was firstly a shepherd and then a bailiff before becoming a farmer. His father was a shepherd, so he had grown up on a farm learning the skills required from his dad. Moreover, the clothes Gabriel wore were not pretentious. I know this because on his working days he wore his clothes ... ...ently told everybody what had to be done to help and soon the fire was under control. Without Gabriel's good sense and bravery the fire would have been unmanageable. Oaks courage was admired by all of the spectators and many compliments soon spread through the crowd. Once Gabriel had found out that Bathsheba was in need of a shepherd, he was not too modest to ask her. He did not let what happened in the past effect his decision in asking her for a job and did not seem embarrassed. This shows his respect towards people and shows that he is a highly regarded man. All these positive qualities show that Gabriel Oak is a reputable man and is willing to help anyone, even if he does not know them. It shows that he is courageous and not a proud man. All of which portray to the reader that Gabriel Oak is a heroic character.

To What Extent Did the American Revolution?

DbKatie Gordon APUSH Mr. Vieira September 24, 2012 DBQ: To what extent did the American Revolution fundamentally change American society? In your answer, be sure to address the political, social and economic effects of the Revolution in the period from 1775 to 1800. After the American Revolution, Americans, who were free of British control, started to reevaluate politics, the economy and society. After breaking away from what they thought was a corrupt and evil government, Americans changed how they wanted to govern their society, even though they ultimately reverted to a more centralized government similar to Britain.The uneducated masses, as viewed by the elite, didn’t experience a lot of change though the ideals from the revolution still guided some to seek better financial opportunities. Women, slaves, and loyalist experienced a considerable amount of change in society as women experienced more freedoms, some slaves were set free, and loyalist left America. Overall, Americ a didn’t experience a lot of economic change, but it did experience, to varying degrees, political and social change. Politically speaking, the Americans did not want their government to resemble that of the British government.Which brings about the development of the Articles of Confederation. However, there were many holes in the Articles: there was no executive branch, the federal government could not implement taxes and overall the government did not have much centralized power. Everyone knew that a change needed to be supplemented and quick. This brings about the writing and ratification of the Constitution. In order to persuade states to ratify the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton wrote and circulated the Federalist Papers.James Madison also writes, â€Å"ambition must be made to counteract ambition† (Document I), insinuating the system of checks and balances that the Constitution insures. This active separation of power was pivotal in the ratification of the Con stitution, which contrasted the American government from the British government. Americans did not experience much change economically. The Philadelphia society for the promotion of agriculture in 1786, handed out a medal, which said, â€Å"venerate the plough† (Document F). This demonstrates how the elite were still â€Å"rewarding† the common people who weren’t financially better off than before the revolution.Similarly, in Shay’s Rebellion farmers led by the ex-military officer â€Å"[stopped] the courts of justice in several counties†¦crying out for a paper currency, [or] for an equal distribution of power† (Document G). A particular example of the downfall of American economy was Shay’s rebellion. This represented economic strife that the common people were enduring and ultimately rebelled. Two important socio-economic issues the founding fathers discussed were the rights of women and slavery. Women’s roles increased greatly during the revolution. While me were away fighting or running the country, women were at home running and defending the farm.This can be seen in the woodcut (Document A) and in Abigail Adam’s letters to Thomas Jefferson (Document G). Women had, for a time, the right to vote in New Jersey. The revolution also increased the education of women and encouraged them to be more involved in public life. However, all women were not content to go back to their household chores after the revolution as seen by Molly Wallace who says â€Å"if [taught] to read, why not speak? † (Document J), illustrating how some women wanted to further their domestic roles and play a larger role in society.Women were not ultimately granted the right to vote until many years later, but that foundation started during the American Revolution. The practice of slavery was common during the time period of the American Revolution in the colonies and in Europe. At the time, it was the primary economic eng ine in the south and Caribbean. American revolutionaries thought about the morals of slavery, but were unable to change much at this time. However, slavery could be banned in the Northwest Territories, where it wasn’t too important to that region’s economy.The Northwest Ordinance specifically says, â€Å"There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in said territory† (Document H). Although the revolution was not directly able to ban slavery, it cased the issue and allowed future generations to solve it. The revolution also enabled religious freedom to be written into the fabric of our nation. Many European nations had state religions of this time. Some of the first settlers to the colonies came in search of religious freedom. However, some of them instituted theocratic governments once here. But the revolution showed that America was a melting pot of ideas and people.They believed that our government should not sponsor one particular religion. Virgin ia enacted such a law in 1786. Politically Americans experienced some change by forging a new government even though they revised it in the end. Economically, the common people, who fought for better lifestyles, still lived under the heel of the elites. However a significant amount of change occurred for women, slaves and loyalist, although the loyalist position in changed in society in a very negative manner. In these ways American society experienced change in respect to political and social life, but not economically.

Lord of the Flies †Character Analysis: Piggy Essay

Examine the significance of the character Piggy in the novel â€Å"Lord of The Flies† consider his purpose, key role and relationship with the other boys at important points in the novel. To mimic men’s actions and lost of civility in times of war and need, William Golding, narrates a story in which all characters are boys, with the intention of taking the reader through the journey made by those who descend to savagery when facing certain conditions. This essay is going to explore and explain the symbolism behind one of the novel’s main characters and how his presence influences other characters’ actions and the way things turn out. Piggy is a Short and heavyset boy who wears spectacles and is disadvantaged by asthma. At first he appears to be a desperate childish boy by panicking over the rest of the world’s lack of information regarding his and the boys’ whereabouts, – while the others see this as an opportunity to be free and independent – which makes him seem like a dependable, desperate young boy. However, as the story unfolds we come to understand that his worrying at the beginning is related to his analytical way of thinking. And even though the other boys put him down due to his physical appearance, we come to learn how necessary he is on the island as a source of intelligence and insight. Due to his unfortunate looks and his nickname, the boys on the island refuse on sympathizing with Piggy and collectively make fun of him, making him an outcast – â€Å"The boys were a circle of sympathy with Piggy outside†. Bullied and brutalized by Jack, he maturely shields away the mocking and focuses on increasing their chances of being rescued and meanwhile living in an organized environment. However, as soon as his intellectual side starts to show, and his critical thinking becomes a crucial part in assembling a new community, – â€Å"I expect we’ll want to know all their names,† said the fat boy, â€Å"and make a list. We ought to have a meeting. † – he slowly begins being accepted. His clever ideas introduce important concepts to the rest of the boys. For example, the use of the conch: the power to speak and be heard given to whoever held it in hands. The way he thinks endears him especially to Ralph who starts to admire him. â€Å"Piggy rubbed his glasses slowly and thought. When he understood how far Ralph had gone towards accepting him he flushed pinkly with pride. †- Thankful for being accepted, Piggy shows loyalty and respect for Ralph. At a certain point, Ralph questions his leadership skills and compares himself to Piggy who stands up for him – â€Å"You said Ralph was chief and you don’t give him time to think. Then when he says something you rush off†. He protects Ralph and reminds the others that they all collectively chose him to be their leader. Once again, Piggy shows he hasn’t lost his values and instincts. Although he might not entirely fit in with the others, he manages to get his point across with Ralph’s help. His ideas frequently lead to innovation and his way of thinking is what gets them by the first stages of civilized survival. He represents democracy by presenting his ideals to the others and hoping to come to a mutual agreement on the way of executing things; and clings onto civility throughout the whole novel, by pointing out whenever one of the other boys take a step away from civilization. Underestimated by many at the beginning, Piggy’s role in the story carries a very important meaning and stands for great attributes found in men. The sensible understanding of reality shown by the character stands for the rational scientific side of civilization. His maturity differentiates him from the others – â€Å"With the martyred expression of a parent who has to keep up with the senseless ebullience of the children† – and becomes essential in avoiding savagery and barbaric behavior from the boys. His character is related to a great part of the symbolism used by Golding and has a very important role in preventing the descent from civilization to savagery, however, he sadly he witnesses the turnover. Piggy’s glasses represent many different ideas. The initial importance of the specs is that they represent the ability to make fire, which they hoped would provide the rescue they needed. Piggy’s glasses also signify Piggy’s ability to see literally and figuratively. Without them, he is helpless and blind. He is unable to serve as well as Ralph’s right-hand man and voice of logic. When Piggy is â€Å"blinded† it symbolizes the blindness of the Jack’s tribe to the evil to which they are succumbing. Piggy’s murder completes the boys’ lost of sight (figuratively speaking) and forces them into total darkness, which leads to the hunting of Ralph. When his glasses are broken and he tragically dies, so does what is left of order and civilization in the island. Of all the forms of symbolism present in the book, Piggy’s character carries a relation to many of them. To being with, his nickname isn’t only related to his physical structure, but it also suggests vulnerability, like the pigs on the island that rapidly become Jack’s targets. Another important symbolic element related to Piggy is the conch he and Ralph found at the start of the novel. They used it to call the boys and assemble them. After the conch is crashed along with his body, the boys divide themselves representing the loss of the civilized instinct once present in each and every boy. Piggy is significant in the novel not only because he is one of the main characters, but also because his purpose is directly related to the main theme of the story: civilization vs. savagery. Although he wasn’t able to make the concept of civilization permanent, he spends the whole novel trying to get his values across, and reminding the others of who they were and how they were expected to behave. His intelligence gives him the voice of sanity and reason.

Airbnb and Ebay Are Similar in That Both Companies

1. Airbnb and eBay are similar in that both companies run online marketplaces that ‘match’ buyers with sellers. How should Airbnb’s reputation system differ from that of eBay? Although both Airbnb and eBay provide online marketplaces to match buyers and sellers, Airbnb focuses on one specific area: online marketplace for accommodations whereas eBay runs online marketplaces in a much broader scope, from Fashion items electronics all the way to collectibles, in other words, the transactions happening on eBay everyday are related to almost every corner of our daily life.More specifically, Airbnb's customer base can be narrowed down to hosts (sellers) and guests (buyers) respectively while eBay serves everyone who performs online transactions. Also, in many cases eBay transactions occurred when the buyers purchased concrete merchandises from the sellers while Airbnb marketplaces are for virtual services accommodations. A lot of details can be put in place to describe concrete merchandises but it is much harder to do so for service like â€Å"virtual† commodities.The most direct impact of such differences regarding to the reputation system is that we need to take into account the special needs of Airbnb's special customer base in addition to what hold true to both eBay and Airbnb customers in general: people who perform online buying and selling. Some of the issues mentioned in the 2011 paper may have been fixed but the below statements are based on the description of 2011 paper for Airbnb. 1. When it comes to accommodations, we know the guest wants to know if the room the host posted satisfies his/her needs.Airbnb should provide a neutral system to rank the houses/apartments based on some standard criteria. The host can certainly brag about how good of the house is (e. g. location close to nearby grocery stores) but only those houses/apartments that satisfy the Airbnb standards can be â€Å"certified†. For example, in addition to t he number of positive/negative feedbacks a host received, Airbnb can also hire independent investigators to ensure the accommodations the hosts claim to provide do in fact have all the highlighted options available.This will increase the operational cost for Airbnb but will help the guests gain much greater confidence on the prospective accommodations. On the other hand, the hosts are also eager to make sure the guests will behave appropriately while they stay in the hosts' properties. In addition to the past records of stays that the guests have made in Airbnb, Airbnb can also work with partners (such as travel agencies, hotel chains, credit history investigation agencies) to get more information about the guests.Airbnb can also hold certain amount of money during the stay of the guest and release the money if the host confirms no damage happened or such. In fact, keeping the house/apartment in good condition should be one of the standard feedback items that the host can provide to the guest. 2. To make the reputation system works better, the feedback on both hosts and guests should be standardized (the feedback providers are certainly welcome to provide additional comments though) rather than free-formed so that more objective evaluation can be made. . An award and penalty process can be integrated into the reputation system so â€Å"good† hosts and guests will be awarded (e. g. paying less Airbnb fees or cash rewards) and â€Å"bad† ones will be penalized (e. g. paying more Airbnb fees all the way to terminate accounts). This additional incentive can help motivate both hosts and guests do better whenever they can. 4. Airbnb needs to provide a worry free evaluation process for both hosts and guests.Specifically, the hosts hesitate to give negative feedbacks to the guests as the guests may in turn provide negative feedbacks to the hosts as well. The same applies when the guests are providing feedbacks to the hosts. Some technical way can prevent this from happening. For example, a guest can only see the feedback from the host after the guest successfully submitted his/her feedback to the same host.In summary, instead of completing the transaction right after the buyer paid the money, the Airbnb transaction should last during the whole course from the time a guest submits the accommodation request to the time the feedbacks from both hosts and guests have been submitted and approved. Such long-living transaction essence should be reflected in the reputation system so that each stage of the transaction is well defined and well evaluated. The reputation system can become more reliable if the aforementioned steps are implemented.