Art History

Art History Introduction Art History is an important concept in today’s society especially since it is very resourceful in understanding our past culture, generating positive and useful ideas, and portraying different aspects of meaning among many other reasons (Chin). In this paper, as we try to elaborate the similarities and differences between ziggurats and Khafre’s pyramid of structures, it will be important to make an analysis of the two arts separately in order to have a broad overview of the structures which is discussed below.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Art History- Comparison essay between two figures. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Discussion Ziggurats were strong ancient structures which were built around 2050 BC in one of the most popular region of Mesopotamia valley (Architecturecourses.org). The wonderful structures whose images have been preserved up to date have taken the shapes of pyramid di splaying a creative art that is very attractive due to its beauty. The Ziggurat art is a monument which has been preserved up to date because it was constructed using very strong solid mud-bricks that were covered with a thick cover of burned bricks (Architecturecourses.org). The ziggurats structures were constructed to serve a multiple of cultural and religious practices in this region of Mesopotamia; in fact, the Ziggurat served as an administrative centre for the entire city due to its location (Architecturecourses.org). In addition to this, it also served as a religious place and it has been commonly known that the moon god known as nanna was dwelling here. For this reason, in the building there was an altar and shrine known as the bedchamber which was meant for the gods and was strictly placed at the ziggurat’s pinnacle (Architecturecourses.org). The Khafre’s pyramid is among the most prominent and the second largest pyramid of the ancient Egypt (Bayuk). This monu ment which is also known as the pyramid of Chefren, was constructed by pharaoh’s son who was known as Khafre between the years 2532-2558 B.C and was a constructed using beautiful limestone block making the monument to be very attractive (Bayuk). This pyramid has been preserved up to date and it has a wonderful design that makes it to look very unique in the way the top has been twisted. On the other hand, this pyramid also has an outstanding feature that makes it to be very perceptible; the color and texture of its top plus the unique design makes the pyramid to be very outstanding. The structure of the pyramid is horizontal in shape while its structure is made of very big stones at the bottom and small one at the top (Bayuk). The Khafre’s pyramid was built to be a multi-purpose and one of the major functions that it used to serve was that, it was used as a burial chamber (Bayuk). Inside the pyramid there are many compartments with each being designed to serve a differ ent function; towards the west on one of the passage sides, there is a burial chamber which was very distinct due to its outlook; it was also constructed using limestone beams in a rectangular shape measuring about 14m by 5m in size (Bayuk). On the other hand, inside the pyramids of the original structure, there were many other chambers within that served as stores. Mainly, there was one chamber close to the burial hall that was used for storage of burial equipment and other related materials while on one side also, there was another store but which was rather different from the others (Bayuk). This particular store was used for storing offerings that were to be used at different functions.Advertising Looking for essay on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are several instances in which the two monuments are similar; one of the major similarities between the two structures is that, both monuments are pyramid structures that were built in the early period. Although, these structures were accorded different names such as the â€Å"ziggurats† and â€Å"Khafre†, it is no doubt that they were still pyramids even still though they had different shapes; these two pyramids were both dedicated to serve their gods and had been designed to serve many other purposes during this early time of civilization. Additionally, the two monuments were a reflection of the culture and religious values of the people with each structure being designed in respect to the culture of the people around; the pyramid of the Khafre was constructed in manner that it could incorporate the cultural values of people of Egypt while the ziggurats monument was designed in a cultural artists way reflecting the cultural values of Mesopotamia people in the Iranian valley (Bayuk).Notably also is that, both structures had a secluded place for religious practices. A comparison table Pyramids of Khafre Nanna Ziggurat s -Foremost, the two monumental structures are located in different places with the pyramids of Khafre being located in the northern part of Africa in the great land of Egypt (Bayuk). -Secondly, there is the structural differences between these two structures in that, Khafre’s pyramid was a pyramid shaped structures that was build using the big and small limestone blocks in order to make the out look structure appear strong and beautiful as well. Another major difference is pronounced in the functions and purpose of the two structures. The pyramid of the Khafre was used to preserve the body of dead royal family members and other prominent people such as the king and queen; there were tombs for the kings and queen because the pyramids were seen as the gateway between the earthly life and the spiritual world according to the cultural beliefs of Egyptians and they also believed that if the body of the king was preserved here in this building, his spirit would rise and descent to the spiritual world (Bayuk). -While the Ziggurats are terraced pyramids which are located in the Middle East region of the Mesopotamia valley. On the other hand, the Ziggurats monuments are pyramids that were build using the bricks stones that were obtained through burning the bricks in a fire in order to make them fine and strong. -In contrast, the Ziggurats pyramids of the Mesopotamia valley in Iran were designed majorly to serve as temple for worshipping the gods in this region (Architecturecourses.org). However, just like the Khafre’s pyramids, the structures were also believed to be the gateway between the worldly life and the spiritual world but the different appeared in that, the Ziggurats structures were homes of the earthly gods who were adored very much Conclusion Through the study of this historical art, an individual is able to have a deeper and broad understanding relating to the structures of the ancient time. It is quite obvious that, the Nanna Ziggurat s and Khafre’s pyramid were wonderful structures that reflected a great work of art in the early time. Through a broad study of the two structures, it also obvious that, the two structures were similar in one way or the other; although they were also different in a number of numerous ways as already discussed. References Architecturecourses.org. â€Å"The Ziggurat at Ur†. 2010, Web. architecturecourses.org/ziggurat-ur Bayuk, A. â€Å"The Pyramid of Khafre†. 2002, Web. http://guardians.net/egypt/pyramids/Khafre/KhafrePyramid.htm Chin, J. â€Å"The Importance of History†. 2007. Web.

South African Apartheid-Era Identity Numbers

South African Apartheid-Era Identity Numbers The South African Identity Number of the 1970s and 80s enshrined the Apartheid era ideal of racial registration. It was brought in to effect by the 1950  Population Registration Act  which identified four different racial groups: White, Coloured, Bantu (Black) and others. Over the next two decades, the racial classification of both the Coloured and other groups were extended until by the early 80s there was a total of nine different racial groups being identified. Black Land Act Over the same period, the Apartheid government introduced legislation creating independent homelands for Blacks, effectively making them aliens in their own country. The initial legislation for this actually dated back to before the introduction of Apartheid- the 1913  Black (or Natives) Land Act, which had created reserves in the Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Natal provinces. The Cape province was excluded because Blacks still had a limited franchise (entrenched in the South Africa Act which created the  Union) and which required a two-thirds majority in parliament to remove. Seven percent of the land area of South Africa was dedicated to roughly 67% of the population. With the 1951  Bantu Authorities Act  the Apartheid government lead the way for the establishment of territorial authorities in the reserves. The 1963  Transkei Constitution Act  gave the first of the reserves self-government, and with the 1970  Bantu Homelands Citizenship Act  and 1971  Bantu Homelands Constitution Act  the process was finally legalised. QwaQwa was proclaimed the second self-governing territory in 1974 and two years later, through the Republic of Transkei Constitution Act, the first of the homelands became independent. Racial Categories By the early 80s, through the creation of independent homelands (or  Bantustans), Blacks were no longer considered true citizens of the Republic. The remaining citizens of South Africa were classified according to eight categories: White, Cape Colored, Malay, Griqua, Chinese, Indian, Other Asian, and Other Colored. The South African Identity Number was 13 digits long. The first six digits gave the birth date of the holder (year, month, and date). The next four digits acted as a serial number to distinguish people born on the same day, and to differentiate between the sexes: digits 0000 to 4999 were for females, 5000 to 9999 for males. The eleventh digit indicated whether the holder was ​an SA citizen (0) or not (1)- the latter for foreigners who had rights of residency. The penultimate digit recorded race, according to the above list- from Whites (0) to Other Coloured (7). The final digit of the ID number was an arithmetical control (like the last digit on ISBN numbers). Post-Apartheid The racial criteria for identity numbers was removed by the 1986  Identification Act  (which also repealed the 1952  Blacks (Abolition of Passes and Co-ordination of Documents) Act, otherwise known as the Pass Law) whilst the 1986  Restoration of South African Citizenship Act  returned citizenship rights to its Black population.

Circadian Rhythms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Circadian Rhythms - Essay Example Circadian rhythm takes place in wide variety of organisms apart from humans and are controlled by environmental and internal factors. Temperature and light are the common environmental factors. The circadian cycle is controlled by suprachiasmatic nucleus located in hypothalamus region of brain that influences the sleep-wake cycle by receiving signals from retina of eye about light and dark. The photoreceptor cells in retina transmit signals on light activation and deactivation via neurons of retinohypothalamic tract to the SCN, which are further transmitted to pineal gland via the superior cervical ganglion.  Circadian rhythm takes place in wide variety of organisms apart from humans and are controlled by environmental and internal factors. Temperature and light are the common environmental factors. The circadian cycle is controlled by suprachiasmatic nucleus located in hypothalamus region of brain that influences the sleep-wake cycle by receiving signals from retina of eye about l ight and dark. The photoreceptor cells in retina transmit signals on light activation and deactivation via neurons of retinohypothalamic tract to the SCN, which are further transmitted to pineal gland via the superior cervical ganglion.   The superior cervical ganglion releases noradrenaline into pineal cells during dark, which is followed by transformation of serotonin into melatonin. The SCN leads to the release of more melatonin hormone from pineal gland when the light levels are low that in-turn influences the brainstem mechanisms.

The Benefits and Challenges of Working Virtually Essay

The Benefits and Challenges of Working Virtually - Essay Example The paper "The Benefits and Challenges of Working Virtually" talks about the continued growth of the virtual workforce, there are challenges that both managers and employees may encounter. The popularity of the virtual workforce like the teleworker has grown at a significant rate, since the turn of the 21st century. The 1990 Clean Air Act and 1996 amendment brought awareness to reducing carbon dioxide and pollution and conserving fuel. The Teleworker Exchange Act of 2007 was signed into law. It states that a telework policy must be established by each federal executive agency to have 100% of the eligible federal workforce by 2005. A survey conducted by Crook of International Data Corporation (IDC) â€Å"on mobile enterprise claims that by 2015, more than one billion workers across the globe will be working remotely or as virtual workforce†. A virtual workforce is also known as a global workforce, distributed team, virtual employee or team, or geographically dispersed team. The term virtual workforce refers to geographically dispersed employees within a single organization, business unit or directorate; relying exclusively on information and communication technologies to communicate. These virtual employees are made up of individuals or groups of employees or subcontracts who function as a team on common projects around the global and across space and time. Time, distance, and advances in technology and communications has brought a change to the traditional employer and employee relationship.... Such changes include workplace environment, employees’, employers’, and culture. The global workforce, employee workplace flexibility, life balance, and the virtual work environment; an employee’s expectation, motivation, and working relationship are different (Hoefling, 2003, p.131). With the continued growth of the virtual workforce, there are challenges that both managers and employees may encounter. According to Werner, Schuler, & Jackson (2012) the benefits of a virtual workforce are significant; although not without challenges. Managers may find it increasingly difficult to keep virtual employees motivated, and employees may find it additionally difficult to stay motivated while working in an isolated and detached virtual environment (p. 57). Professional isolation concerns reflect the possibility that the virtual environment can change an employee’s opportunities for participation in traditional office interaction, such as physically attending meeti ng, face to face contact like chatting around the water cooler or coffee area or taking smoke breaks and walks (Cooper & Kurland, 2002, p. 512). Some employees enjoy and thrive in environments where they can interact with others employees. The virtual workforce is unique in that these employees are not like the traditional office employees, they live and work all around the world, and therefore time and space becomes their norm.According to (Lojeski& Reilly, 2010) â€Å"leaders know that to successful build critical mass among employees who are worlds apart geographically, culturally, and even spiritually, engendering healthy communities is key† (p.58). According to Hoefling (2003) â€Å"a company today

Vesta, The Roman Goddess of Heart and Fire Essay Example for Free

Vesta, The Roman Goddess of Heart and Fire Essay Vesta is the Goddess of Heart and Fire. Being one of the most popular gods/goddesses of Ancient Rome, she symbolizes â€Å"the continuity of the life of the State† (Johnston, par. 488). Being a people of deep religious feeling (Hamilton 45), the ancient Romans embraced gods and goddesses like Vesta into their everyday lives, as they gained in statute and dignity before the eyes of gods and men. Every ancient Roman family has the personification of Vesta in their home, as she is one of the family’s own gods and goddesses. Vesta is among the gods/goddesses who were â€Å"never worshipped in temples, but only in the home, where some of the food at each meal was offered to them† (Hamilton 45). For this reason, Vesta appears to be one of the most lived gods and goddesses of Rome, protecting the heart of the family in order to gain stability, prestige, and dignity. This paper revolves around Vesta, the Roman Goddess of Heart and Fire, and how the Vestal Virgins appear and relate to the ancient Roman state. After examining the dense issue of how Vesta and the Vestal Virgins appear and relate to the people, it shall be proposed that the appointing of Vestal Virgins do not indicate Ancient Rome’s affinity or high respect with the females in general. Instead, it proposes that females can have an opportunity of having the highest honor within the community if she is true to her duties and her chastity. This proposition is supported by the idea that: first, Vestal Virgins carry one of the heaviest responsibilities associated with their social position, and if they are true to it, then they get one of the highest honors; second, Vestal Virgins carry one of the heaviest sacrifices associated with their social position, and if they are true to it, then they get one of the highest honors; third, Vestal Virgins carry one of the heaviest punishments associated with their social position, but if they are true to it, then they get one of the highest honors. Main Text Vestal Virgins Carry One of the Heaviest Responsibilities Vestal Virgins were associated to possess strong spirits and powers in the ancient state of Rome. As priestess of the goddess Vesta, they carry one of the heaviest responsibilities, as they keep the ‘sacred fire’ in the altar aflame and lingering. As stated in the recent page, this act symbolizes â€Å"the continuity of life of the State† (Johnston, par. 488), and this makes it very necessary for the state and the village. Having to protect the ‘home fires’ of the people, Vestal Virgins keep homes stable and flourishing as well, as daughters of the households assist them in tending fires, and then gain stability and permanence. In the process, the virgins would have to be of noble origin. The College of the Vestal Virgins is composed of 18 members, with 6 members working at a time (Fowler, par. 3). Originally, only the upper class blood were traditionally allowed to be included in the college, but later on, it was approved that daughters of patriarchs and freedman were allowed to join the college (Fowler, par. 3). Handpicking physically ideal girls who were 6-10 years of age and had two living parents (Fowler, par. 3), they were sworn to celibacy to serve the first ten years of their Vestal life learning priesthood, the next ten years applying what they learned of priesthood, and the last ten years of priesthood teaching to the new Vestal Virgins what they have learned. Vesta and her Vestal Virgins carry the crucial role of keeping the family and state intact and thriving, though in a metaphorical way. Vestal Virgins Carry One of the Heaviest Sacrifices Vestal Virgins carry one of the heaviest sacrifices in the ancient state of Rome, as they lived their whole lives in total celibacy, chastity and purity. At the end of their term—which is exactly 30 years—these women were allowed to get married. However, as stated by Fowler (2006), â€Å"[m]any retired Vestals decided against marriage† (par. 4). This is because, according to the Roman tradition, wives were supposed to be under the dominion of their husbands. Having to live almost all of their lives getting prime seats in Roman theaters, attending luxurious dinners and parties, or having the permission to vote†¦ being under the power of a man would be very difficult; thus, they spend the rest of their lives being single. Another significant responsibility of Vestal Virgins appears during the celebration of Vesta—the feast called ‘Vestalia’, which is an â€Å"annual ritual in honor of their patron goddess, Vesta† (Fowler, par. 6). As stated by Fowler (2006), every June 7-15 of the year†¦ â€Å"[T]he doors of the Temple of Vesta opened to the mothers of the families of Rome who brought offerings of food to the goddess. The Virgins also prepared special food offerings at this time. This occasion was the only time of year that the doors of the temple were opened to the public. † (par. 6) In vowing for a powerful position for women in the Ancient Rome, such as being a Vestal Virgin, the religious and political rank carried with it heavy sacrifices and forfeits. Vestal Virgins Carry One of the Heaviest Punishments Lastly, Vestal Virgins carry one of the heaviest punishments in Ancient Rome. Aside from the forfeit and sacrifices that were mentioned above, the virgins carry a chastisement if they failed to comply with their responsibilities in keeping the fire of the family and state aflame. This spells death and disaster when the member breaks the vow of celibacy, with the execution being given by means of the following strategies: first, by being buried alive; second, by being thrown into the Tibet River; third, by being publicly whipped (Fowler, par. 5). Aside from her failure to keep her celibacy and chastity, another grave destruction for a Vestal Virgin is when she fails to keep the ceremonial fire inside the Temple of Vesta. It is, indeed, an appealing way of life, as dictated by Fowler (2006, par. 4)†¦ but the responsibilities are grave and the punishments are nothing but life threatening. Conclusion Vesta and her Vestal Virgins relates and serves to the families and state of Rome by doing the following: first, by keeping the sacred fire aflame and burning; second, by keeping the home fires stable and flourishing; third, by sacrificing to a life of chastity and celibacy; fourth and final, by keeping the feast of Vestalia alive within the state. However, as the life of Vestal Virgins reflect one that is full of responsibilities, sacrifices, and punishments†¦ it is evident that the appointing of Vestal Virgins does not indicate Ancient Rome’s affinity or high respect with the females in general. Instead, it proposes that females were given the chance to live a life that only the males were given privilege in the ancient world. If she remains true to her word, her chastity, and her responsibility, then she gains all the respect, dignity and power that only a few citizens were able to obtain. It is true that ancient women of Rome were more privileged in 700 B. C. , but still, life and existence are always at stake. It was 37 years after the founding of Rome that Romulus—one of its founders—was said to have disappeared in a thunderstorm (Bingley, par. 1). Having no king, Numa Pompilius was elected as king of the state, who then appointed priests, pontifices, flamines, the Salii†¦ and the Vestal Virgins who, since then, took charge of fire and water (Dio 3). Bibliography: Bingley. â€Å"Numa Pompilius. † 4 March 2004.Suite101. com. 13 May 2007 http://www. suite101. com/article. cfm/ancient_biographies/106541. Brelich, Angelo. â€Å"Vesta. † The Journal of Roman Studies 40. 12 (1992): 150-151. Burriss, Eli Edward. Taboo, Magic, Spirits: A Study of Primitive Elements in Roman Religion. New York, NY: Macmillan, 1931. Dio, Cassius. â€Å"Fragments of Book I. † Roman History. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Loeb Classical Library, 1914. Exovedate. com. â€Å"Timeline: Ancient Rome. † N. d. 13 May 2007 http://www. exovedate. com/ancient_timeline_one. html. Fowler, Robin. â€Å"Vestal Virgins of Rome: Privileged Keepers of Rome’s Home Fires. † Ancient History. 7 May 2006. Suit101. com. 13 May 2007 http://ancienthistory. suite101. com/article. cfm/vestalvirginsrome. Hamilton, Edith. â€Å"Part 1: The Gods, the Creation, and the Earliest Heroes. † Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Boston, New York: Warner Books, 1942. Johnston, Harold Whetstone. â€Å"Chapter 15: The Roman Religion. † The Private Life of the Romans. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1932.

Hamlet Essay -- essays research papers

The obscurity of human thought and sentiment inhibits the possibility of understanding an individual’s actions. The human mind is composed of its own due process, which, in certain individuals, might disable the ability to make decisions and act. In the play Hamlet the protagonist is marked by an indecisive nature. By analyzing every aspect of a possible action, Hamlet inevitably finds a reason not to act. His actions are untimely. The often procrastination of serious acts lead to an even more complicated situation. The complexities of the events which take place in the play do not always provide Hamlet with a possible clear decision. He is constantly faced with a challenging dilemma that adds to the intricacy of his life. Hamlet is overly conscious and unable to make a decision because of the uncertainty of the consequences that might follow. There is a constant threat that reaction these consequences will not be what he expects, possibly being detrimental to his cause. This deters him from attempting to execute any of his machinations. All these factor demonstrate that Hamlet does not suffer from a failure of will, but rather of an over analytical character that impedes him from taking any significant action. By constantly questioning every aspect of a possible action, Hamlet ultimately finds a reason no to act. He is constantly contemplating on the possibility of self-slaughter. This is evident in his soliloquies and disregard towards life. Hamlet expresses his sentiments, regarding the fact that his dear mother married his uncle only two months after the death of his father, by saying these lines: â€Å"O, that this too too sullied flesh would melt,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! †¦How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world!† ( I ii, 129-130, 133-134) This excerpt clearly demonstrates Hamlet’s belief that suicide is a possible and realistic option. His grief is so immense and his mother’s actions are so repugnant the life has no meaning for him. But Hamlet does not kill himself, he finds a reason not to; â€Å"Or that the Everlasting had not fixed -- His cannon ‘gainst self- slaughter!†( I ii, 131-32) he explains. Hamlet fears damnation, he will not kill himself because it is a mortal sin allowing no possibility for salvation. Hamlet also... ... 382-387) Hamlet is marked not by strength of will or even of passion but by refinement of thought and sentiment. His indecisive character presents an obstacle in the realization of his contrivances. By over analyzing any possible action he might take, Hamlet often finds a reason impeding from taking any significant action. When and if he took any of those actions they were too late. Hamlet finds himself making the â€Å"least worse† decision, due to the fact that there is no clear right decision to take. The intricacies of the plots add to Hamlet’s desperation and indecisiveness. Hamlet is real; one can identify with him. The uncertainty his of life provides no clear path, but rather a rugged and confusing road. Many times there is no right answer. He must use his discrimination to choose the best possibility. Hamlet, unfortunately, lacks this ability. The quintessence of Hamlet’ tragedy is basically expressed in these words (ironically belonging to Hamlet himself): â€Å"Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave that I, the son of a dear father murdered, prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, must like a whore unpack my heart with words†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ( II ii, 583-586)

Artificial Knowledge in the Truman Show Essay

In the movie â€Å"The Truman Show,† one epistemological problem that is being tackled is the problem of how man is able to become aware of things that he once had no idea about. Do we get to know things or do we acquire knowledge because of our mere experiences of things or does it involve something more than that? In order to have a better grasp of the question at hand, John Locke’s treatment of human knowledge and experience can provide us with a framework to begin with.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   John Locke’s conception of the tabula rasa tells us that in the beginning we do not essentially have any ideas and knowledge. It is through experience that we are able to acquire ideas and, hence, knowledge of the world we live in. As Locke will tell us, the mind is initially presumed to be like that of a white paper, void of all characteristics and without any ideas. Perhaps one way to interpret Locke’s assumption is that it is through our interaction with the world and with others that we begin to gain knowledge piece by piece from the time that we gain consciousness from childhood.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The movie â€Å"The Truman Show† is one which portrays the life of a man who appears to have been living in an artificial world all along—a television show. That is, everything around him is set-up, which includes the death of his father up to the time when he becomes an adult. All of his daily experience has been predetermined and that every other individual in that artificial society knows that Truman Burbank, the main character in the movie, is living in an artificial world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout the course of his life, Truman acquires knowledge through his daily interactions with those around him. Apparently, these many things which surround him are essentially imitations or close to being an exact copy of the things in the real world. Since Truman’s world is a world of artificiality, one may argue that the knowledge that he is able to acquire is knowledge which is artificial or an imitation of the real knowledge in the real world. In general, it can be pointed out that the knowledge of Truman is artificial and, hence, not real precisely because the world where he lives and the world which he acquires his knowledge from is not the real world but one which has been specifically constructed for the purpose of a television show.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With regard to the case of Truman, Locke will most likely tell us that even though Truman’s world is artificially constructed, Truman is nevertheless able to acquire knowledge which he makes use in his daily dealing with other people around him. But more to being able to acquire knowledge, it can be said that the knowledge that Truman is able to acquire is artificial. Living in an artificial world set-up for the primary purpose of creating a television show which is supposed to run throughout one’s lifetime, it is inevitable that what one knows are things which are solely based on what one has experienced in that artificial world. Indeed, it will be illogical to say that Truman’s knowledge is that of the real world simply because Truman hasn’t had any contact with the real world outside of his artificial society which might have given him real and true knowledge. As Truman becomes more and more acquainted with the artificial world he lives in, it is most likely the case that his awareness will reflect what he has been able to experience in his world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Moreover, Locke’s presupposition of the mind as initially devoid of any substance or of any ideas and that our minds would eventually have to acquire ideas through experience and interaction with the world explains the case of Truman growing up in an artificial world. Since Truman was born and grew up in the hypothetical world of Seahaven, Locke would presuppose that the knowledge of Truman as he grows would be strictly confined or limited to the knowledge that is available in that world. Hence, it would rather be quite impossible for Truman to arrive at any other knowledge other than the artificial ones in his artificial world. The ‘blank’ mind of Truman from his birth has been apparently filled and etched with artificial knowledge along his lifetime in that hypothetical realm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One interesting point, however, is the idea that even though for the people outside Seahaven, they may treat Truman’s knowledge as artificial while, on the other hand, the Truman may treat his knowledge as real knowledge because he is unaware of the external world that watches his every move. The basis for saying that Truman’s knowledge is artificial or is not real is that there is an external world which knows for a fact that Truman is living in an artificial society filled with people having artificial social connections and relationships. For the part of Truman, he may very well have no such idea and that all he may be aware of is that the way in which he understands his surrounding environment is as real as it can be.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   John Locke may very well argue that, indeed, the only way for Truman to acquire knowledge, whether artificial or real, is through his experiences. If Truman gets to experience artificial things around him, then it must be the case that he gets to have artificial knowledge using the external world as the basis for the reality of knowledge. Locke’s thought that the mind is able to acquire ideas through experience has with it a certain form of disadvantage. That is, if one is keen to experiencing artificial things in an artificial world, the greatest danger is that one will be having artificial knowledge. Thus, to live in an artificial world and to experience the things in it is to obtain artificial knowledge. In the real world, the same also holds true and that experience is crucial to the formation of human knowledge. Reference Schwoerer, L. G. (1990). Locke, Lockean Ideas, and the Glorious Revolution. Journal of the History of Ideas, 51(4), 531-548.   

Hemmingway’s Lady Brett Ashley

â€Å"A Woman’s Torn Asunder† The eighteenth century novelist Laurence Stern wrote, â€Å"no body, but he who has felt it, can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man’s mind torn asunder by two projects of equal strength, both obstinately pulling in a contrary direction at the same time. † Hemingway’s Lady Brett Ashley, a divorced socialite, experienced conflicting desires, prompting her to lead an unhappy and confused life. Brett desired to be a self-reliant woman who had complete control over her own life but others were required to meet her physical and emotional needs.Throughout the entire novel, Brett Ashley pushes people away when they get too close in order to insure her freedom and power. This conflict alone illuminates Hemingway’s idea that no one can be entirely independent, occasionally people have to let themselves become vulnerable and let others in. The two painful marriages Brett had already experienced force her in the controlling and independent mindset depicted in the novel; one spouse treated her terribly and the other died tragically. Lord Ashley, which Brett was in the process of divorcing in the story, treated her horribly.After the war he became crazy, slept with a gun underneath his pillow and threatened to kill her. Her other husband died dreadfully and painfully from dysentery, scaring her forever. Brett realized in order to never feel the pain and inferiority again she would never be able to depend on another man, nor could she get close enough to let him hurt her! But still, the want for love, physical satisfaction, and emotional fulfillment still lingered in her mind, creating her clashing outlook.Moving on from her prior marriages, Brett Ashley meets Jake Barnes, the protagonist in The Sun Also Rises. Although Brett loves Jake (as much as she could love anybody), she clearly manipulates him and uses him throughout the story. She plays upon his deep, obvious feelings for her to ga in sympathy, unconditional love, and emotional support while still keeping complete control over their relationship. With Jake, she is emotionally fulfilled and still feels independent because she knows she can be with someone else whenever she wants. But still, whenever she starts to feel stronger feelings or Jake, she separates herself and has sex with someone else. For example, when Jake confesses his love for her she dismisses him, and exclaims that he should hook her up with another man, Pedro Romero the beautiful bullfighter. She refuses to let herself recognize the true emotions she feels for Jake since that would make her defenseless. She also denies Jake because of his casualty of the war; Jake was left impotent. Because of this, Jake and Brett cannot be â€Å"lovers,† and all attempts at a sexually fulfilling relationship are futile.Brett is a passionate, lustful woman who is driven by physical pleasures, something that Jake cannot provide her with. She indulges in her passion for sex and control but still seeks true love, with emotional and physical fulfillment. Unconditional love involves putting another being’s needs before your own, and not always having control. Brett cannot fulfill her dreams of true love because of her equal need for control and independence. Again, proving Hemingway’s thought that no one can be completely self-sufficient and still fulfilled (physically and emotionally).

McLaren Group of Companies The WritePass Journal

McLaren Group of Companies Executive Summary McLaren Group of Companies and is estimated to value at  £40 million. The production of the MP4-12 C sports car is due to reach a grand 4000 by 2015 (McLaren, 2011). As the company has diversified into various markets, there were various obstacles and strategies that the company had to conquer and implement. This report will focus upon the strategy the McLaren group implemented in order to enter the mass car market, define the level of diversification that the McLaren group implements, and discuss the McLaren Group’s approach to diversification compared to the historical perspective discussed by Guld and Luchs (1993). Market Entry Barriers in Mass Car Market: There are several market entry barriers in the mass car market as competition is high and there are many highly renowned firms competing for market share. However, as the McLaren Group has attempted to penetrate the car manufacturing market, they had to conquer many obstacles and market entry barriers. The McLaren Group was already rather popular in related market segments to car manufacturing such as the production of the Formula One racing car and McLaren Racing team. Thus, the company had relevant market experience as well as a market reputation to enable the company to gain consumer confidence. This was one of the methods in which the company was able to conquer the market entry barriers prevalent in the mass car market (Melvin, 2006). However, the fact also remains that the McLaren Group is manufacturing cars catering to a niche market segment and are not focusing on catering to the mass market. McLaren Group has produced a highly expensive premium vehicle which is not for ordinary use but is used by racers, collectors, and/or the elite class who are interested in buying a premium vehicle. Thus, the target market that McLaren Group is focusing upon is not interested in options such as Ford, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, or other alternatives. Hence, these brands are not substitutes for the vehicles made by the McLaren group. The McLaren Group is more focused upon producing street cars and competing with brands such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, and others. The McLaren Group’s main point of focus is performance and quality and thus they are able to charge a premium price (Melvin, 2006). Accordingly, the McLaren group is catering to a niche market segment instead of catering to the mass market. Thus, they are better able to deal with the pressure from competitors and attract a certain segment of customers towards their cars. This significantly reduces the level of competition that the McLaren Group has to deal with (Melvin, 2006). Level of Diversification: The McLaren Group has a number of businesses in various market segments which have all been mentioned above. Some of the businesses are operating as subsidiaries of the main company while others are completely separate companies. However, when analyzing the level of diversification that the McLaren group incorporates into its portfolio mix, there are a number of considerations that must be made. First of all, it is important to note that previously large companies with many unrelated businesses were a source of high scrutiny in the past. Such businesses were highly criticized for being anti-competitive as they would expand into many areas of expertise and aim to force other competitors out of business. However, in recent times, such firms are accused of being uncompetitive as they do not add value across all of their businesses and are operating at a loss. Hence, in current times it is generally considered that diversified companies are not necessarily successful but may be highly unsuccessful if a high level of diversification is employed in the business (Goold Luchs, 1993). When considering the McLaren Group, it is evident that the company does have a portfolio mix which is diversified into various market segments such as electronics, technology, racing, catering, and car manufacturing. However, it is not completely evident that the McLaren Group has over- diversified into completely unrelated businesses and is not adding value to their business (Goold Luchs, 1993). The description of the subsidiary businesses mentions that businesses such as McLaren Applied Technologies, McLaren Electronics, and McLaren Marketing are all catering to the core business of McLaren Racing. While these businesses also apply their expertise in catering to the core business of McLaren Group, they have additional clients in the industry to which they cater to. Thus, they are benefitting their own business and gaining revenue from catering to other clients as well (Guuld Luchs, 1993). However, the McLaren Group is also diversified in a few markets such as in the catering market with their subsidiary Absolute Taste. While this business caters to the private catering needs of celebrities and serves food on private jets, this business is rather unrelated to the other subsidiaries of the McLaren Group which all cater to the electronic and technological needs of McLaren Racing. Hence, while all of the other subsidiaries of the group are related to cars and solutions related to the cars that the McLaren Group focuses upon, the business of Absolute Taste is not related to cars and is catering to a completely different area of business (Johnson et al, 2011). Accordingly, the level of diversification of the McLaren Group is complex as they are not completely catering to unrelated market segments but have some businesses which are not as closely linked or inter-linked with one another. The McLaren Group is regarded as a â€Å"small conglomerate† as a â€Å"conglomerate† refers to a company that operates in many unrelated businesses. Hence, it can be said that the McLaren Group does incorporate a medium level of diversification in their product portfolio (Johnson et al, 2007). Upon closer inspection, it can be concluded that the McLaren Group has opted to â€Å"stick to the knitting† as they have not diversified widely but have stuck to businesses they know best and where their expertise lies. However, the McLaren Gtoup does operate in different markets and requires different areas of expertise in its various businesses such as marketing, technical expertise, electronic expertise, and others. The expertise required in most of its businesses is related to cars although there are various types of skills required in each business. Nevertheless, most of the businesses in McLaren’s Group can be said to have stuck to the knitting and are not highly diversified as all are catering to the particular needs of cars. All of these businesses are interlinked except for Absolute Taste which is diverse from the other businesses of the McLaren Group (Johnson et al, 2011). It can also be said that the businesses of McLaren Group provide synergy with one another as they are all interrelated and provide skills and benefits to one another.   McLaren Electronics works on finding electrical solutions to McLaren Racing, while McLaren Marketing seeks to perform the marketing and promotion activities of McLaren Racing. Hence, all of the businesses add value to one another and provide a combination of skills and benefits to one another. While this is a difficult model to implement, the McLaren Group seems to be implementing it quite effectively as the subsidiary companies perform tasks for the core company and also for other clients. Moreover, in this manner, the company is focusing upon its core competencies and strengthening them by horizontally integrating with other related businesses in order to strengthen and provide for the core business (Johnson et al, 2007). Hence, in conclusion, McLaren Group’s level of diversification can be labeled as medium as they are diversified into business which are mainly related to cars and provide synergy with one another. Their separate business which is not directly linked with their core business is Absolute Taste which is a catering company. McLaren’s Approach to Diversification: Previously, large diverse firms were regarded as â€Å"conglomerates† and it was considered that these firms were up to† no good†Ã‚   as they branched out into different markets and sought to drive out competition by catering to several different market needs themselves. Such firms were considered to be too big for their own good and were not seen as socially responsible or healthy firms as they were anti-competitive. They were termed as anti-competitive because they did not give other businesses a chance to compete with them and monopolized the market themselves. As monopolies are not considered healthy for consumers, such firms were previously perceived negatively (Karlsen, 2011). However, the contemporary perspective towards such firms is completely the opposite of the historical perspective as these firms are regarded as being up to â€Å"no good† because they are not adding value to themselves or to their other businesses. Hence, such firms are now regarded as uncompetitive (Karlsen, 2011). Accordingly, McLaren Group’s strategy toward diversification is in line with the historical perspective of diversification as the diversification strategy seems to be anti-competitive. The group seeks economies of scale and other benefits by providing all additional services in line with their core business themselves. Hence, they do not seem to be allowing other businesses to provide services for them and seem to be attempting to cover all aspects regarding their car-related business themselves. They provide technical applications, marketing solutions, and electrical solutions for their racing team and the cars they produce. Hence, while catering to other clients as well, they use their own company to perform the tasks related to the car-related business (Karlsen, 2011). Conclusion: From the analysis conducted, it is evident that the McLaren Group is not as diverse as some other companies are but is operating in a synergized environment which has many interlinked businesses providing benefits to one another. Hence, the McLaren Group can be termed as a â€Å"small conglomerate† and is operating according to the historical perspective of diversification. References Goold, M. And Luchs, K. (1993) ‘Why diversify? Four decades of management thinking.† Academy of Management Executive. Vol. 7:3, pp.7-25 Johnson, G., Scholes, K. and Whittington, R. (2011). Fundamentals of Strategy. Prentice Hall Karlsen, O. (2011) â€Å"Racing Towards Sustainability: Formula One and Corporate Social Responsibility†. Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Student Thesis. McLaren (2011) McLaren Official Website. [online] Accessed on: March 16, 2013 Available at: mclaren.com/ Melvin, J. (2006) McLaren Technology Centre. Architectural Design. Vol. 76:1 pp.110-113

Hoedads Tool and the Cooperative

Hoedads Tool and the Cooperative Hoedads are wooden-handled, mattock-like hand tools used to plant bare-root trees by the thousands quickly and mainly used by experienced crews. They are designed for steep slopes, versus the dibble, a straight-bladed, metal-handled tool with a foot platform used to plant trees on flat ground. When comparing the use of the dibble and the hoedad, a USFS study in the Western Gulf Region of the United State (2004) shows that neither method is superior to the other. The study concluded that tree planting survival, first- and second-year height, groundline diameter, first-year root weight, and first and second-year growth was found to be the same. The hoedad does speed up planting when used by an experienced user with a strong back. The Hoedad Revolution This hoedad tree planting tool inspired a name given to tree planting cooperatives of environmentalist tree planters who planted millions of tree seedlings from 1968 to 1994. During this period, new-generation tree planters used the hoedad exclusively on hundreds of thousands of regenerated forest acres. The timber industry and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) provided both land and incentive monies during this period to encourage reforestation of cutover lands. It opened up opportunities for private contractors to enter the tree planting business. There was money to be made for someone who enjoyed the outdoors, was in good physical health and could plant 500 to 1000 trees per day on steep ground. Both the hoedad tool and tool users called hoedads  were of some influence on the forest practices of the USFS and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These spirited men and women managed  to change the stereotypical male forest worker image.  They questioned the practice of single-species reforestation and detested the wide use of herbicides and pesticides. They did extensive lobbying at national and state levels for increased funds for reforestation and promotion of sustainable forestry practices. Enter the Cooperative In addition to tree planting, these Hoedad cooperatives did precommercial thinning, firefighting, trail building, technical forestry, forest construction, resource inventory, and other forest-related labor. They grew in numbers  working in every state west of the Rockies and  Alaska  and living in the most remote areas in the mountains of the West. They later traveled through the Eastern US to planting job sites where programs like the Forest Incentives Program (FIP) were paying private forest owners to reforest and manage according to multiple-use principles. The most notable cooperative was  based in Eugene, Oregon.  Hoedads Reforestation Cooperative (HRC) was the largest of the co-ops, was established by a Peace Corp volunteer and thrived as a tree planting cooperative for over 30 years. These Independent tree planter contractors were able to make millions of dollars (and plant millions of trees) through these planter-owned cooperatives. HRC disbanded in 1994, largely because of a dramatic decline on federal lands in reforestation and other timber harvest associated forestry work. According to Roscoe Caron, a former tree planter and Hoedad president, HRC was also instrumental in breaking the males-only ethic of forest work, questioning the wisdom of monoculture reforestation and challenging the liberal use of herbicides. In celebration of the 30-year Hoedad reunion (in 2001), the Eugene Weekly and Lois Wadsworth compiled some of the most detailed information on Hoedads to date for the article Tree Planters: The Mighty Hoedads, Back for a 30-year Reunion, Recall Their Grand Experiment.

Constitutional Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Constitutional Government - Essay Example For example, federalism allows the national and local government to come together and formulate polices that may be used to regulate how the activities will be executed. However, during the policy making process the level of power and control between the national and local government is not equal, the national government may have more scope to exercise its authority and powers over the national government. A good example of a country that employs corporative federalism is the United States. The theory of federalism emerged after the Second World War and great depression that substantially affected the United State economy and the world at large (Schütze, 2009). The theory of cooperative federalism utilizes a comparison of the marble cake whereby, there is overlapping of responsibilities between the federal government and the state government. One of the major areas where there are such overlapping is on the area like education, security, finance to mention just but a few. For example, the state/local government was give given the mandate to determine the level of qualification among teachers as well as set standards for learners among different students. Any interference by the federal government on education affairs was faced with a lot of criticism by the affected parties. Under the theory of cooperative federalism the state had the powers and authority to supply funds to support education and security at the local level but was not suppose to interfere with administrative duties/responsibilities (Schütze, 2009). . On the contrary, the theory of dual federalism was established via the tenth constitutional amendment. The theory entails a system of governance where the national government is concern with foreign affairs while the state government are directly involved in managing and ruling citizens. Unlike cooperative federalism where authority and powers between the state and federal government are not