Brownson and Debs

Order and Anarchy, Freedom and Constraint essays

Order and Anarchy, Freedom and Constraint essays This movie is about a new and rebellious patient who is brought to a small mental institution where his actions endear the other patients to him and incur the wrath of the stern and repressive who runs their ward. I like One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest. From this movie, I could feel a kind of dignity, free spirit, rebellion, fear and hope. It is a story about rebellion over power and control, about how fear can make you to do what others tell you to do and how hope can change things around for you. The lead of the nurse, Nurse Ratched, presents power and fear. She is furious at McMurphy for defying her power and afraid of losing her control over all her patients. In the other hand, McMurphy, presents freedom and hope. He tries to teach the other patients how to live, by making them laugh, playing cards with them, wanting to watch baseball games on TV, organizing a fishing trip, bringing a prostitute to the ward and making a party in the hospital. One of what shock me most is Billys death. After the date with Candy, he has regained his confidence and cured his stammer. But he at last suicides, under the fear and force from Nurse Ratched. The other one is Chiefs escape. According to the Indian culture, one has a spirit which will separate from his flesh after death. Chief suffocated McMurphy, because he knows that McMurphy wouldnt want to live as a vegetable. So he kills him to let his spirit go with him, out of the nest. It seems that it is a victory for Nurse Ratched,. But indeed, McMurphy wins the battle. He has made Chief free and successfully resisted authority. ...

Recognition and Diagnosis of Dementia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Recognition and Diagnosis of Dementia - Essay Example Normal changes in elderly people are that they have slower thinking and problem-solving processes, may not pay close attention and concentrate like they used to, and have a harder time recalling people or events that occurred in their lives (White et al., 2014; Patient, 2014). Other typical issues are that they may take time trying to find the right word and have some signs of forgetfulness, but still have the same personalities and still remember important events and conversations.  Dementia, however, comes in a number of packages, with occasional overlays between two or more diagnosis. For example, in less common forms of dementia, there is Pick’s Disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Dementia, or Lewy Body Dementia. In a combination of Pick’s Disease, which tends to be more common in women, and Lewy Body Dementia, an elderly female can have hallucinations about things that are happening or she thinks are happen ing, and she can also become extremely fearful of someone when there was no cause for that thinking process (White et al., 2014).   Therefore, it is essential to have a diagnosis made so appropriate treatment can be started and the elderly can live a more healthy and happy life.  Families may see the first signs of dementia but not fully understand what it is (Jeffries & Agrawal, 2009). A primary care physician (PCP), however, may see the same symptoms and realize that tests need to be made to determine for sure what is happening. Yet, in a growing society of elderly people.

An innovative Leadership Development Programme (LPD) Coursework

An innovative Leadership Development Programme (LPD) - Coursework Example This was in line with the innovation to be practical and simple to grow into how leaders operated the business. The leadership in all the branches of GE has been included in the program. The leaders have learned how to transfer the opportunities and leadership ideas into initiatives that produce results. The launch of the new program focused on global growth in all the branches across the world. This required an assessment on what has been worked on and what is needed for improvement to achieve the expected results. LIG success had relevance and value that surpassed GE. Innovating can be taught to leaders and teams in organizations to achieve the expected outcome. For example, PwC US also launched a Genesis Park which is a development program that is unique and intensive. The program is designed to create business leaders of tomorrow. The programs help employees to integrate what they learn and how they operate in the daily activities. Govindarajan (2011) contends, â€Å"Most organizations achieve the expected outcomes by use of the new programs by developing innovations that include; keeping intact teams as one for development; leverage actionable programs; sharing best practices; create a common language; secure leadership support; and conduct extensive follow up†. Keeping intact teams as one for development; innovation requires teams to work together. This task seems easy but, it is one that differentiates many innovation programs. The leadership development programs at times fail to drive the real change expected as the leadership or managers do not go together in the course of the learning process. The effect of bringing the entire team together is significant. This helps the teams to build consensus more easily and quickly. In addition, the process fosters a greater commitment in applying the changes for the operations of the organization. Leverage actionable innovative leadership development programs;

Ethics in the 21st Century Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethics in the 21st Century - Research Paper Example ior shows ethics through the way a person performs in public, according to the Institute of Global Ethics in the article ‘Ethics and 21st century University’, it is stated that, ethical behavior requiresa person to be: Such are the basic ethics that each society teaches to every individual. Absence of such ethics and ethical behavior can result into problems. These ethics teaches an individual to behave in an appropriate way in the society. Ethics and its nature have been different in different time. Some of the basic social ethics have remained the same but with time as situations change the code of ethics also change. Ethics of 21st century is a result of such case. Ethics of 21st century has a lot of considerations. It is stated that in 21st century ethics is not an option but compulsion. Besides holding the characteristics of competence, experience and intelligence, people at every level need ethical values. Those values predict their future behavior and performance. Rushworth M. Kidder, (2001) states that the principle task of 21st century decade is the creation and nurturing of a value- based culture which means that the ethics of this century are morally strong and follow strict ethics, he was of the view that due to the large amount of time spends at work much of the nurturing takes place in the business environment. Today almost all the organizations are aware of the need for ethics. Organizations see ethics as a social responsibility which they follow as a social obligation. There is a need to follow ethics because it predicts their social and professional relations. In the article ‘Ethics for 21st century’ (UNESCO, 2001) this report is reported from the conference which was held in 2nd session discusses ethics and its role deeply. Ethics from different perspectives are discussed in the paper for example: These roles play a significant role for the analysis of ethics in different fields. It thus enhances the role of ethics in every field

The Impact Of Packaging Characteristics On Consumer Buying Marketing Essay

The Impact Of Packaging Characteristics On Consumer Buying Marketing Essay The role of packaging has changed over the years since primarily due to the changing lifestyles and needs of the consumers. Consumers in daily life are exposed to a very wide range of products having different packaging ranging from different product categories displayed in markets, supermarkets and any other place of shopping. Products can then be differentiated from the external packaging having different shapes, sizes, colors, labeling, etc. what is actually inside the package can only be judged through a creative and innovative packaging. Packaging is also a tool of marketing communication and plays a vital role in consumer brand preference. The topic under research will study the impact of packaging elements on consumer buying behavior of Pakistan. For this purpose seven packaging elements have been selected; packaging color, background image, font style, packaging material, design, innovation and printed information. The type of research is descriptive and quantitative approach has been used by designing questionnaires. The sample size is 200. The impact of package and its characteristics on consumers purchase decision can be revealed by analyzing an importance of its separate characteristics for consumers choice. This research into packaging has found that different packaging cues impact how a product is perceived. Moreover, there is a positive thinking and a trend about well-designed package shows high product quality. As a matter of fact, people are becoming more and more demanding; packaging has been gradually shown its important role in a way to serving consumers by providing information and delivering functions. INTRODUCTION Nowadays consumers have become more and more conscious about the packaging available to them from products. The role of packaging has changed over the years since primarily due to the changing lifestyles and needs of the consumers. Companies have started bring innovations in packaging since their beliefs over the years have changed that good and unique packaging can stimulate consumer buying behaviors. It has become the source of customers attraction towards products or services, increases the image of the brand and increases the perceptions of the consumer for the product (Rundh 2005). In marketing context packaging plays a very vital role in communicating the product to the consumers and ultimately increases consumers purchase decisions. According to Underwood, Klein Burke, (2001); Silayoi Speece, (2004) a good package communicates unique values about products, and also helps in differentiating the products from other products, hence helping the consumers in choosing the right pr oduct from a wide range of similar products, and as a result stimulates consumers buying behaviors (Wells, FarleyArmstrong,2007). Consumers in daily life are exposed to a very wide range of products having different packaging ranging from different product categories displayed in markets, supermarkets and any other place of shopping. Products can then be differentiated from the external packaging having different shapes, sizes, colors, labeling, etc. what is actually inside the package can only be judged through a creative and innovative packaging. Package becomes an ultimate selling proposition stimulating impulsive buying behaviour, increasing market share and reducing promotional costs. Thus package performs an important role in marketing communications and could be treated as one of the most important factors influencing consumers purchase decision. In this context, seeking to maximize the effectiveness of package in a buying place, the researches of package, its elements and their impact on consumers buying behaviour became a relevant issue. OVERVIEW Literature analysis on question under investigation has shown that there is no agreement on classification of package elements as well as on research methods of package impact on consumers purchase decision. Some of researchers try to investigate all possible elements of package and their impact on consumers purchase decision (Silayoi Speece, 2004; Silayoi Speece, 2007; Butkeviciene, Stravinskiene Rutelione, 2008), while others concentrates on separate elements of package and their impact on consumer buying behaviour (e.g., Vila Ampuero, 2007; Madden, Hewett Roth, 2000; Underwood et al., 2001; Bloch, 1995). Moreover some researchers investigate impact of package and its elements on consumers overall purchase decision (e.g., Underwood et al., 2001), while others on every stage of consumers decision making process (e.g., Butkeviciene et al., 2008). Particularly for fast moving consumer goods, such as food products, the packaging is one of the key product components that can provide a commercial advantage over competing products .Hence, the packaging is of significant commercial importance for the economical sustainability and growth of businesses. There is little value in arguing the need for less packaging while economic growth is predominantly driven by diversification of markets and subsequent product variations. Key challenges for future business growth and developments are: the ability to meet supply chain and market requirements in terms of distribution, efficiency, marketing power, consumer safety and convenience and environmental. Packaging attracts the consumers concentration to buy particular brand and increase brand image and influence towards consumers (Rundh, 2005). Packaging characteristics creates uniqueness in brand (Silayoi Speece, 2004). Packaging characteristics gives the ability to differentiate between the similar products and induces the clients for purchase (Wells, Farley, Armstrong, 2007). Packaging is also a tool of marketing communication and plays a vital role in consumer brand preference. The prime role of packaging is to give security to the brand against any possible damage may it be during transporting, storing or even warehousing (Gonzalez, Thorhsbury, Twede, 2007). Packaging characteristics is also a protection of keeping the brands secure by not being smudged by the consumers or either the cusumers being contaminated if in-contact with the packaging (Grundvag Ostli, 2009). Packaging characteristics also shows the quality judgments which largely influence the consumer in brand preference. Consumer frequently assumes that if packaging characteristics are viable it shows that brand is of high quality and helps in decision making of consumer. a) WHAT IS PACKAGING? The definitions of packaging vary and range from being simple and functionally focused to more extensive, holistic interpretations. Packaging can be defined quite simply as an extrinsic element of the product (Olson and Jacoby (1972)) an attribute that is related to the product but does not form part of the physical product itself. Packaging is the container for a product encompassing the physical appearance of the container and including the design, color, shape, labeling and materials used (Arens,1996). b) FUNCTIONS OF PACKAGING C:UsersFamilyDesktopgreener-packaging.jpg C:UsersFamilyDesktopimagesCAQGXAJQ.jpg Packaging and package labeling have several functions: Physical Protection Protection of the objects enclosed in the package from shock, vibration, compression, temperature, etc. Barrier Protection A barrier from oxygen, water vapor, dust, etc. Containment or Agglomeration Small objects are typically grouped together in one package for transport and handling efficiency. Alternatively, bulk Commodities (such as salt) can be divided into packages that are a more suitable Size for individual households Information transmission Information on how to use, transport, recycle, or Dispose of the package or product is often contained on the package or label Convenience features which add convenience in distribution, handling, display, Sale, opening, reclosing, use, and re-use. Marketing The packaging and labels can be used by marketers to encourage Potential buyers to purchase the product. Packaging may be looked at as several different types. For example a transport package or distribution package can be the shipping container used to ship, store, and handle the product or inner packages. Some identify a consumer package as one which is directed toward a consumer or household. Packaging may be discussed in relation to the type of product being packaged: medical device packaging, bulk chemical packaging, over-the-counter drug packaging, retail food packaging, military material packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, etc. c) ELEMENTS OF PACKAGING There are many different schemes for classification of elements of package in scientific literature. According to Smith Taylor (2004), there are six variables that must be taken into consideration by producer and designers when creating efficient package: form, size, colour, graphics, material and flavour. Similarly, Kotler (2003) distinguishes six elements that according to him must be evaluated when emploing packaging decisions: size, form, material, colour, text and brand. Vila Ampuero (2007) similar to Underwood (2003) distinguished two blocks of package elements: graphic elements (colour, typography, shapes used, and images) and structural elements (form, size of the containers, and materials. Rettie Brewer (2000) stressed out the importance of proper positioning of elements of package, dividing the elements into two groups: verbal (for example, brand slogans) and visual (visual apeal, picture, etc.) elements. In the similar way package elements were classified by Butkeviciene, Stravinskiene Rutelione (2008). Analysing consumers decision making process they distinguish between non-verbal elements of package (colour, form, size, imageries, graphics, materials and smell) and verbal elements of package (product name, brand, producer/ country, information, special offers, instruction of usage). Their classification includes brand as a verbal component, whereas Keller (2003), for example, considers packaging as one of the five elements of the brand, together with name, logo, graphic symbol, personality, and the slogans. Silayoi Speece (2004; 2007) divide package into two categories of elements: visual elements (graphics, colour, shape, and size) and informational elements (information provided and technology). According to Silayoi Speece (2004) visual elements are related with affective aspect of consumers decision making process, while informational elements are related with cognitive one. Summarising, two main blocks of packages elements could be identified: visual and verbal elements. Relying on literature analysed graphic, colour, size, form, and material are considered as visual elements, while product information, producer, country-of-origin and brand are considered as verbal ones. Packaging characteristics also shows the quality judgments which largely influence the consumer in brand preference. Consumer frequently assumes that if packaging characteristics are viable it shows that brand is of high quality and helps in decision making of consumer. LITERATURE REVIEW Numerous studies have investigated this question whether packaging elements has an impact on consumer buying behavior. Consumer intensions for buying and acquiring anything depend upon the extent of his desires to fulfill his needs. Consumers expect that the product they are purchasing will satisfy their needs and fulfill their expectations (Kupiec and Revell, 2001). Sometimes the consumers do not know what they actually want to satisfy their need, in such situation the consumers are confronted with variety of products and the decision to purchase depends upon what is being exposed and communicated to the consumers at the point-of purchase. Kupiec asserts that the packaging of a product is a significant aspect in consumer decision making process as it is the first encounter of the product which communicates the consumers whether they should buy the product (or not). It could be maintained that the package may be the only communication between a product and the final consumer in the store (Gonzalez et al., 2007, p.63). Kotler defines packaging as all the activities of designing and producing the container for a product. Well-designed packages can build brand equity and drive sales (Kotler, 2000). Moreover, he claimed that although the original purpose of packaging was to protect the product but now it is being considered as a powerful tool to grab the attention of consumers, depict the features of that product and make a sale (Kotler et.al 1998). According to Arun Kumar packaging can be defined as the wrapping material around a consumer item that serves to contain, identify, describe, protect, display, promote, and otherwise make the product marketable and keep it clean (Arun et.al 2007). He emphasized that packaging of a product could be considered as one of the most significant tool in communicating the essence of marketing a product, requiring more focus on the elements of packaging and analyzing the impact of those characteristics on consumer buying behavior. Rita Kuvykaite (2009) has done descriptive research on the relationship of packaging elements and consumer purchase decision. Rita observed that in nowadays competitive environment the role of package has changed due to increasing self-service and changing consumers lifestyle. Firms interest in package as a tool of sales promotion is growing increasingly. Package becomes an ultimate selling proposition stimulating impulsive buying behaviour, increasing market share and reducing promotional costs (Rita et.al 2009). According to Rundh (2007) package attracts consumers attention to particular brand, enhances its image, and influences consumers perceptions about product. Also package imparts unique value to products (Underwood, Klein Burke, 2001; Silayoi Speece, 2004), works as a tool for differentiation, i.e. helps consumers to choose the product from wide range of similar products, stimulates customers buying behavior (Wells, Farley Armstrong,2007). Thus package performs an important role in marketing communications and could be treated as one of the most important factors influencing consumers purchase of package, its elements and their impact on consumers buying behavior became a relevant issue. According to Charles, packaging have always served a practical function i.e. they hold contents together and protect goods as the move through the distribution channel to consumers. Today, however, packaging is also a container for promoting the product and making it easier and safer to use (Charles et.al). Pinyay Silayoi and Mark Speece have done a conjoint study among consumers for analysing the importance of packaging and the role of packaging as a vehicle for communication and building up brands. They suggest that the package standing out on the shelf affects the consumer decision process, and package design must insure that consumer response is favorable. The problem is made more complex by several conflicting trends in consumer decision-making (P. Silayoi, M. Speece, 2004). Holbrook and Moore contend that a consumer gets easily attracted by more complex and novel external characteristic packaging and visual graphic designs. Moreover, this leads consumers to a positive buying emotion and leads them to buy this attractive product (Holbrook and Moore, 1982). Ampeuro and Vila have done extensive research on consumer perception of product packaging. According to them, once consumers have perceived the product in their own way, they develop an attitude which will eventually affect consumers decision to procure that product ( Ampuero O, Vila, N. 2006) Wells Armstrong conclude from their research that packaging characteristics gives the ability to differentiate between the similar products and induces the clients for purchase (Wells, Farley, Armstrong, 2007). Kotler (2003) distinguishes six elements that according to him must be evaluated when employing packaging decisions: size, form, material, colour, text and brand. Mitul Deliya in his research highlights consumer attitude towards packaging of FMCG products. He affirmed that packaging has a huge role to play in the positioning of products. Package design shapes Consumers perceptions. Wansink (1996) showed that larger package sizes do accelerate usage volume when attention is drawn to unit prices. Folkes and Matta (2004) find that unusually shaped containers that attract attention are perceived to contain more product than containers that do not attract attention. Silavoi and Speece investigated the question that the packages overall features can underline the uniqueness and originality of the product. Quality judgments are largely influenced by product characteristics reflected by packaging, and these play a role in the formation of brand preferences. If the package communicates high quality, consumers frequently assume that the product is of high quality. If the package symbolizes low quality, consumers transfer this low quality perception to the product itself (Underwood et al., 2001; Silayoi and Speece, 2004). According to Tanuka Ghoshal, convenience and innovation and such characteristics in package design influence consumer attitude towards buying products. Manufacturers of food and other consumer packaged products spend large sums of money developing easy-to-open packages that are more convenient for quick meals or for easy dispensing, and visually appealing packages which appear to communicate more than mere information about the product inside Apart from the realm of consumer packaged goods, in which the packaging is visible at the time of purchase (and hence may play a role in the purchase decision process), we also see significant and creative innovations in packaging for situations in which the packaging is not visible before or at the time of purchase. The effect of color is the most obvious and well studied (Imran, 1999). Consumer perceptions of an acceptable color are associated with perceptions of other quality attributes, such as flavor and nutrition, and also with satisfaction levels. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION THEOREOTICAL FRAMEWORK PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION The abundance of scientific literature on this issue do not provide unanimous answer concerning impact of package elements on consumers buying behavior: diversity of the results in this area depends not only on research models constructed and methods employed, but on the context of the research too. All above mentioned confirms the necessity to investigate this issue in more detail. In the light of these problematic aspects, research problem could be formulated as following question: What is the impact of packaging characteristics on consumer purchase decision? PROBLEM SATEMENT The purpose of this research study is to investigate the impact of packaging characteristics on consumer buying behavior. Thus the problem statement for this research study is given as under: To find out the impact of packaging characteristics on consumer buying behavior RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The research was conducted to achieve the following research objectives: To investigate the role of packaging in Consumer Buying Behavior To determine the impact of packaging characteristics on consumer buying behavior To identify the most important characteristic of packaging that help to built brand equity To find out consumer perceptions about packaging SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY The topic under research will study the impact of packaging elements on consumer buying behavior of Pakistan. For this purpose seven packaging elements have been selected; packaging color, background image, font style, packaging material, design, innovation and printed information. According to Cruden (1989), over the years the, introduction of new packaging concepts have accelerated. This study will be of value in a number of ways. The topic of research is highly under researched and least research has been done regarding the impact of packaging elements on consumer buying behavior of Pakistan. This study will not only help the marketers in bringing innovations and creativeness into the packaging of products but will also provide the policy makers in implementing effective decisions in bringing changes and creative strategies in packaging. This study will contribute immensely through Quantitative research. THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK Theoretical frame-work focuses on the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The distinction between dependent and independent variables is as important in a comparative study as in a regression analysis. Dependent variable in case of a comparative study is the one which we aim to predict and independent variables here are the ones who are used to predict the dependent variable. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE Packaging color Background Image Packaging Material Font Style Design of wrapper Printed Information Innovation DEPENDANT VARIABLE Consumer Buying Behavior THEOREOTICAL FRAMEWORK Independent variable Packaging color Background image Packaging materialDependant variable Dependant variable Consumer Buying Behavior Font style Design of wrapper Printed Information Innovation Packaging color Color plays an important role in a potential customers decision making process, certain colors set different moods and can help to draw attention. One good example of successful use of color psychology is in the Apple iPod advertisements; they use simple tri tone color schemes of black, white and a bright background color. The bright background color is to give the advertisement a fun feel and the contrasting white on black is to focus attention. C:UsersFamilyDesktopimagesCACPIYHU.jpg Packaging Material Any material used especially to protect something- packing, wadding. Consumer can change its decision regarding Packaging material. High quality Packaging attract consumer then low quality Packaging. The first packages used the natural materials available at the time: Baskets of reeds, wineskins (Bota bags), wooden boxes, pottery vases, ceramic amphorae, wooden barrels, woven bags, etc. Processed materials were used to form packages as they were developed: for example, early glass and bronze vessels. The study of old packages is an important aspect of archaeology. Iron and tin plated steel were used to make cans in the early 19th century. Paperboard cartons and corrugated fiberboard boxes were first introduced in the late 19th century. Packaging advancements in the early 20th century included Bakelite closures on bottles, transparent cellophane over wraps and panels on cartons, increased processing efficiency and improved food safety. As additional materials such as aluminum and seve ral types of plastic were developed, they were incorporated into packages to improve performance and functionality. So packaging material have strong have with buying behavior. C:UsersFamilyDesktopghfgdhg.png Font Style The font style of Packaging grabs customer attraction. The up gradation of IT technology have support this feature. The successful companies have best practices of the font styles. They hire specialist in composing which create mind blowing and attractive font styles. The attractive package has innovative font style. So we can say that there is relation between font style and buying behavior Design of wrapper The overall design also plays a vital role in attracting the consumer. Mostly the children of 10-18 years are so sensitive to the design of wrapper. The companies try their best to create attractive design of packaging C:UsersFamilyDesktop69897540hg8.jpg Printed Information Container or wrapper of the product is serves a number of purposes like protection and description of the contents, theft deterrence, and product promotion. The labels on packages are important components of the overall marketing mix and can support advertising claims, establish brand identity, enhance name recognition, and optimize shelf space allocations. The consumer can change his decision on the basis of information printed on the packaging. Mostly in Merchandises and daily FMCG the consumer can perform evaluation on the basis of printed information. C:UsersFamilyDesktopf.jpg C:UsersFamilyDesktopyudj.png Innovation Innovative packaging may actually add value to the product if it meets a consumer need such as portion control, recyclability, tamper-proofing, child-proofing, easy-open, easy-store, easy-carry, and non breakability. Manufacturers today strive to have packaging that maintains the key equities of the brand, has stand out appeal on the retailers shelf, and is sustainable but with lower production costs. The customer can adopt product on the basis of its innovative packaging, which shows the relation between buying behavior and innovation of packaging C:UsersFamilyDesktopgreener-packaging.jpg C:UsersFamilyDesktopgh.png RESEARCH APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY RESEARCH METHODOLOGY TYPE OF RESEARCH The type of research conducted is descriptive research after taking into account the research problem, aim of paper and the requirements for information needed. Type of investigation is correlated because the variables already exist. RESEARCH DESIGN Quantitative research approach is implied in this study. For this purpose a self administered questionnaire was designed. Customer survey was conducted by sending questionnaires to randomly selected customers for collection of data for statistical analysis. The questionnaire covered the basic content to facilitate achieving goal of the study at its best. RESEARCH INSTRUMENT Questionnaires were used as an instrument for data collection and the data is collected in two ways: Personal survey in university and shopping malls and meet male and female respondents and by meeting to household women. By emailing the questionnaire to the respondents, they filled the questionnaire and then emailed back. The instrument is in the form of closed ended questionnaire. Answers were recorded in the Likert five point scales. Packaging Characteristics is measured as: Highly Important Important Neither Important nor Unimportant Unimportant Highly Unimportant DATA COLLECTION METHODS PRIMARY DATA The main tools used in this research for collecting primary data include questionnaires which were filled general public. SECONDARY DATA The main tools used for collecting secondary data for this research include published articles, journals and other sources available on the Internet. SAMPLE DESIGN SAMPLING UNIT For the purpose of data collection the site selected for this study includes general consumers from which the data has been gathered. The general public include both males and females; students and working people with different classes. The age distribution which is used for this research was in five ages slabs: 20 years or less 21 years to 25 years 26 years to 30 years 31 years to 40 years SAMPLING METHOD The sampling technique used in this study was convenience sampling method. SAMPLE SIZE The sample size taken in this research is n=200 i.e. total numbers of respondents was 200; both males and females with different classes. SAMPLING PROCEDURE The method of sampling was random sampling. ANALYSIS PROCEDURE After setting the sample size, site, the tool for data collection, various analyses were done using statistical data analysis package SPSS 14.0. BUDGET TIME SCHEDULE RESEARCH STAGES TIME COST Research proposal approval 1 week __ Secondary data approval 3 days __ Questionnaire development 1 week __ Questionnaire pretesting approval 2 weeks Rs.500 Questionnaire printing 1 day Rs. 700 Questionnaire filling 2 weeks __ Data processing and analysis 4 days __ Final report compilation 5 days Rs.700 Final report printing binding 3 days Rs. 1200 LIMITATIONS A few limitations narrowed the scope of this research: Sample size was large so it took me time to get the questionnaires filled. The  respondents  personal  bias  may  be  another  factor, which is uncontrollable Many respondents did not actively participate in the research. Respondents did not read the questions carefully. Experimental method of research could not be used due to budgetary and time constraints. DATA ANALYSIS AND HYPOTHESIS TESTING Q1) Packaging influences me to buy a particular product or brand? PURPOSE: The purpose of this question is to find how many people filling out this questionnaire are influenced by packaging of a product or brand Response Format: It is a Grid type question No. of respondents to answer this question: 200 No. of responses generated: 200 QUESTION1 NO OF RESPONDENTS PERCENTAGE Does packaging influence you to buy a particular product or brand? STRONGLY DISAGREE 14 7.0 DISAGREE 26 13.0 NEUTRAL 19 9.5 AGREE 117 58.5 STRONGLY AGREE 24 12.0 TOTAL 200 100.0 CONCLUSIONS: 12% of the respondents strongly agree to this point 58.5% of the respondents agree to this point 9.5% of the respondents are neutral 13% of the respondents disagree. 7% of the respondents strongly disagree HYPOTHESIS TEST OF QUESTION 1 Ho: à Ã¢â€š ¬ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥70% (70% or more respondents are influenced by packaging of a product or brand) H1: à Ã¢â€š ¬ DATA: n = 200 x = 70.5 à Ã‚  = x/n = 70.5/200 = 0.3525 Confidence interval=95% Level of significance  Ã‚ ¡ = 5% or 0.05 Tabulated Results: Z tabulated = Z Ã‚ ¡ = Z 0.05 = -1.64 (-Z in Left tailed test) Test Statistics: Critical Region: CR = Where,  Ã‚ ³p  Ã‚ ³p  Ã‚ ³p =  Ã‚ ³p = 3.24 And, Putting the above values in the formula: CR = CR = Z calculated = = 0.54 Zcal = 0.54 Conclusion: As CR = 0.54> -1.64 That means Z calculated > Ztabulated,  Ã…“we accept the claim that 70% or more o

Hybrid Vehicles Vs. Electric Vehicles Essay -- null

In this day and age, our world is being consumed by the rapid growth of the world’s population. From the beginnings of time with cave men thousands of years ago up until the Industrial Revolution, the number of people living on this planet never passed a billion, and was always growing at a slow pace. When the Industrial Revolution hit the population skyrocketed to over 7 billion people. The growth of population has not slowed down since then, and more technological advances are popping up everyday to help balance the rapid growth. The amount of people in the world is literally growing each and every day. As the population grows we put more demands on our planet to provide for the billions and billions of people inhabiting it. The world cannot change to provide for these large populations and huge demands, so we must start being more efficient to sustain ourselves. This means doing everything we can from producing food more efficiently to mining materials in a smarter and bet ter way. If we are not able to make simple changes to become more efficient we will over use our planet’s resources and create drastic issues in the future. One way people have been trying to cut back and be more efficient is through a recent technological development in the car industry. New vehicles have been created with more efficient uses of earth’s resources such as ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV) like hybrids, and zero emission vehicles (ZEV) like hydrogen fuel cell electrics. Major breakthroughs and development of these new generation of vehicles has immensely grown in the past twenty years. When the internal combustion engine was invented, there were a lot fewer people inhabiting the earth, oil supplies were seemingly endless, and air quality wa... ...p., 9 Apr. 2013. Web. 1 Apr. 2014 Buchanan, Mike. "$20 Million Investment To Create More Cost Effective EV Battery." Inside EVs. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. Donald L. Anglin, "Electric vehicle," in AccessScience,  ©McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008, http://www.accessscience.com "Energy.gov." Vehicle Technologies Office. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. Gilles, Tom. â€Å"Hybrid Vehicles.† Automotive Service. 4rd ed. Clifton Park: Delmar Cengage Learning, 2008. Print. "Providence Journal Environment Reporter Peter Lord, 60, Dies; Service Set."ReNewable Now: April 2012. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. Robert Farrington, Jeffrey Gonder, "Hybrid automotive power systems," in AccessScience,  ©McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008 Sharifi, Jim. "Auto Repair Costs Are on the Rise." Best Cars, Best Trucks and Best SUVs from U.S. News. U.S. News, 9 Apr. 2013. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.

Racism in Disney Movies

Anastasia Trus WRTG 3020 Professor Pat Sullivan 30 March 2010 Racism in Disney During the last several decades, the media has become a strong agent in directing and controlling social beliefs and behaviors. Children, by nature, can be particularly susceptible to the influencing powers of the media, opening an avenue where media created especially for children can indoctrinate entire generations. Disney movies, like all other media â€Å"are powerful vehicles for certain notions about our culture,† such as racism. Giroux 32). Racist scenes in Disney movies are often identified as simply being â€Å"symbols of the time† when the films were produced. Furthermore, Disney racism is often passed over as simple humor, or as a simple guide to children's understanding of cultures. These explanations of racism in the films are incomplete because they fail to take into account the fact that the primary audience members of Disney films are not old enough to see the movies as relics of a different time and place. This is not to say that Disney films indoctrinate children with racist tendencies; nevertheless, racist scenes in still-popular films cast a blanket of insensitivity over the subject of racism. Disney’s reputation of being racially insensitive has never been more evident than in the time leading up to the release of its latest movie Princess and the Frog. Nearly everything about this film has caused a storm of criticism both from the public and from people within the film industry itself. It is curious that people are so enraged and concerned with this movie, when they ignore potentially more offensive racist elements in other films. If one analyzes society’s response to Princess and the Frog as a single phenomenon, then it does seem a bit odd that a children’s film could start such a heated social debate; however, after taking into account Disney’s history with racism and racial insensitivity, it is not surprising at all that the first black Disney princess would be such a controversial figure. Bombarded with accusations of anti-Semitism and racism, in the 1940’s Walt Disney was an avid supporter of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, a â€Å"red-scare† anti-Semitic industry group that wanted to blacklist artists (Alan 12). Perhaps this is one of the reasons Disney’s past is filled with questionable cinematic material. Fantasia was released in 1940, the third theatrical full-length animation, as shown in Disney's canon of animated films. The original version of Disney's classic â€Å"Fantasia† (1940) features a character called Sunflower, a little black centaur handmaiden. Sunflower is an extremely insulting caricature, and a bluntly racist stereotype of the â€Å"servile grinning nigger† variety (Walker 22). In a featured scene during â€Å"The Pastoral Symphony† elegant white centaurs frolick through the woods and are waited on by Sunflower. She is noticeably smaller than the other centaurs—ostensibly because she is half-donkey instead of half-horse, but more likely to exaggerate her inferiority—and has a darker complexion. Her sole function in the film is to eagerly polish and shine the hooves of the tall, sexy Aryan centaur women who glare down their petite noses at this pathetic servant. Such scenes were later censored in the film due to the characters being considered â€Å"ethnically offensive during the civil rights movement† (Walker 26).? In addition to reinforcing the stereotype of blacks as inferior beings, the scene from the â€Å"Pastoral Symphony† also furthers racism by supporting segregation. Throughout the film the female Aryan centaurs pair up with the males of their â€Å"race,† leaving Sunflower alone and separated from the group. Rather than correcting the racism within the scene, Disney later chose to eliminate it from the film – as if it never happened. When the racial climate of America changed in the 60s, the portrayal of such insulting stereotypes in movies and television became politically incorrect, and Disney (fearing accusations of racism) deleted Sunflower from Fantasia for the theatrical re-release of the film. Her troubling presence was simply cropped out of the movie even though you can still see the Aryans she used to pamper. Eliminating Sunflower from the movie may have been intended as harmless and as an attempt to be politically correct; however, it is cinematic decisions such as this that contributed to Disney’s reputation of being insensitive to issues of race. It was insulting enough for Disney to include the smiling servant stereotype to begin with, but to make matters worse, they started denying Sunflower's existence with the Fantasia re-release in 1960. How does that possibly make things better? A few angered African American communities said, â€Å"No, you misunderstand. In our perfect, Fantasia world, Africans aren't servants. They don't fucking exist† (Weinman 64). A contemporary film critic said, â€Å"What's fun though is that Disney says they never had such a character! We're all delusional† (Brunette 123). Maybe it was â€Å"acceptable† in the past to portray characters that had such blatant racist features; nevertheless, it is strange to deny its existence to audiences who had already seen the original version. This is how we deal with our ugly past: we deny it, trivialize it, gloss over it with pretty distractions and wishful thinking. Doing so, we deny ourselves a glimpse of the compelling reality of naked history. The well-meaning rush to unmake evil deeds by hiding them from the critical eye of modern sensibilities does nothing to honor the people who lived and struggled in those different times (Walker 28). Sunflower’s existence may be news to younger generations of Disney fans, but she has been here all along, and her presence as well as her absence carry great significance, especially in the context of how viewers and critics respond to other potentially racist films. Dumbo, the fourth film in the Disney industry, was made in 1941 and produced by Walt Disney himself. It was originally designed as an economical feature to help generate income after the financial failure of Fantasia. The concerns people had against Disney being anti-Semitic and racist were sill strong, especially after Disney projected his own sense of alienation onto â€Å"others† in Hollywood, namely, Jews, blacks, and union workers. In retaliation against the studio entrepreneurs, who were predominantly Jewish, Disney refused to employ Jews in high-level positions at his studio or as actors in his live-action features. Not until 1969, two years after Disney's death, did a Jewish actor, Buddy Hackett, feature prominently in a Disney film, The Love Bug. Disney Studios also denied black workers even minimal opportunities, as technicians and support personnel. Because Walt Disney was an infamous racist, even for his time, it is not surprising that a film he produced himself would be racist as well. Dumbo is full of racist images and themes. Dumbo’s birth itself speaks to the foundations of racism when the other female elephants single Dumbo out because he looks different with his unusual ears. Considering the fact that â€Å"big-eared elephants are African,† it is especially racist that Dumbo, who is seen as different and even freakish would be associated with Africa (Lugo-Lugo 167). Because Dumbo is different from everyone else, he is ridiculed for it. Just because his ears are bigger than those of a normal elephant, he is ostracized from the rest of the group. He only has one friend (Timothy Mouse), who ironically is also socially shunned because elephants are generally supposed to be scared of mice. This could be seen as another form of racism where someone is ostracized because they are different. Furthermore, in the movie, when it is time to set up the circus in town, it is significant to take note of who performs the hard labor necessary to make the circus function. Not only are the circus animals themselves condemned to build their own chamber of humiliation, but there are also faceless black men working hard at this labor. The faces on these men are featureless, with no eyes, no mouths, and no noses – showing that they possess no individual identities, like a group of invisible men. This is characteristic of the time period because the 1940s were right before the Civil Rights Movement, and although slavery had been abolished, blacks were still segregated and considered as lesser people. The song they sing while working is very appalling: We work all day, we work all night We never learned to read or writeWe're happy-hearted roustabouts When other folks have gone to bed We slave until we're almost dead We're happy-hearted roustabouts We don't know when we get our payAnd when we do, we throw our pay away We get our pay when children say With happy hearts, It's circus day today. The lyrics of this song portray slaves working day and night doing backbreaking labor. However, it says nothing about the system doing something wrong because the slaves seem happy to do the work. The song even mentions that slaves are also satisfied with working for no pay. The lyrics suggest that money was not something they worry about. The lyrics are insulting to the workers, stating that they do not know when they will get paid, but it does not matter because once they do get paid they will just throw their money away. Furthermore, the lyrics construct and laud the image of the passive and content slave whose true payment and fulfillment is watching the joy of (white) children on circus day. Lyrics such as â€Å"we slave until we're almost dead† but, â€Å"we're happy-hearted† are utterly absurd and disgraceful. Slavery was a morally wrong institution and the fact that Disney condoned its practices in Dumbo is horrifying. Another overtly racist element in Dumbo is the characterization and function of the crows. Richard Schickel says, â€Å"There was one distasteful moment in the film. The crows who teach Dumbo to fly are too obviously Negro caricatures† (Shickel 113). Leonardo Maltint, after quoting Schickel, says that critics may be overreacting to the crows: â€Å"There has been considerable controversy over the Black Crow sequence in recent years, most of it unjustified. The crows are undeniably black, but they are black characters, not black stereotypes† (Maltin 56). Even though Maltint makes a valid point, he does not address the fact that the crows in the film are very specifically depicted as poor and uneducated. They also use slang words such as calling each other â€Å"brotha† and speak in southern accents with incorrect grammar. Any one of these characteristics could be ignored as having racial implications; however, by combining them into one character, it is very reasonable, indeed, almost necessary to interpret the crow as a black stereotype. The other big argument for the Black Crow sequence being interpreted as racist is that the leader of the group of crows, towards the end of the movie, is named Jim. Therefore, Jim the Crow can very well be construed as being a reference to the Jim Crow Laws, which were prevalent in the southern United States from 1876-1965 and promoted racism and racial segregation. The crows' racial identities as black are further implied when they perform their song in a jazz style complete with scat stylization. The song â€Å"When I  See an Elephant Fly† is part of the music style generally popular at the time in black communities. As the crows begin humiliating poor Dumbo, Timothy Mouse steps up to defend him with the following comments: â€Å"Suppose you was torn away from your mother when you was just a baby. Nobody to tuck you in at nights. No warm, soft, caressing trunk to snuzzle into. How would you like to be left out alone†¦ in a cold, cruel, heartless world? † What an ironic comment to make to a set of characters who represent African-Americans, who, at the time, would only have been a few generations removed from the time when black slaves were routinely torn away from their families. The mouse continues: â€Å"And why? I ask ya, why? Just because he's got those big ears, they call him a freak. † Finally, Timothy says, â€Å"And on top of that, they made him a clown! Interestingly, Timothy’s reference to the clown points to the time when the white power structure practiced minstrelsy by making clowns of the socially despised blacks. It is important to recognize that Dumbo is racist not because of any single scene or image, but because of the message produced when all the racist scenes and images are combined. Dumbo is a freak with big â€Å"African† ears who must be segregated from the others. Furthermore, the only role he can have in the circus is that of the clown. The crows also point to black stereotypes through color, dialogue, and even name. Finally, the blatant reference to slavery through the figures of the circus workers contributes to an overall feeling of racism in the film. In many ways, analyzing whether one scene is racist is not nearly as important as understanding that racist undertones are present and noticeable in Dumbo whether we as a society want them be or not. It is important to note that not all racism in Disney films is directed at African Americans. One of the most well recognized racist symbols perpetuated by Disney is the portrayal of the Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp (1955). Like stereotypical Asians, they are buck-toothed and have slanted eyes, and speak in ridiculously exaggerated accents that bear little, if any, resemblance to actual Thai speech patterns. Their features, along with the banging of a gong at the beginning of their song, could not make the Asian-specific racism any more obvious, â€Å"We are Siamese, if you please. We are Siamese if you don't please! We are former residents of Siam. There are no finer cats than we am. † Goldmark comments: One can hear the confidence and superiority in their voices. Those two cats don't care about anyone but themselves, lacking any kind of empathy. They are sociopaths, prepared to ruin Lady's life because it is fun and it serves them. They are portrayed as cunning and manipulative, giving the widespread idea that all Asians act superior, are cunning and manipulative. (Goldmark 115) In the film, the Siamese cats function not only as a racial stereotype but also as a stereotype of the upper classes in Oriental countries: â€Å"The cats prance around arrogantly in a Hollywood-invented style that is supposed to represent what the audience should assume are mannerisms of aristocratic Siamese or Chinese† (Romalov 46). The ambiguity in the exact ethnicity of the cats is significant because it demonstrates how Disney films tend to combine different ethnicities under the umbrella of one: â€Å"(Disney’s films, like many Hollywood films, often tended to lump ethnic groups together into a kind of undifferentiated mass-Asians, Chinese, Japanese, Siamese, for example Arab and East Indians as another example. ) The cats even roundly sing of their supposed heritage† (Romalov 46). This practice of ethnic â€Å"lumping† is even more obscene in Aladdin where Arabic and Indian cultures are intertwined and assumed to be one and the same. Like Lady and the Tramp, Aladdin attempted to include other races in the film that had not been included in other Disney movies of the past; unfortunately, we see many of the same racist undertones in Aladdin that are present in the film’s predecessors. Perhaps the most controversial and racist part in Aladdin (1992) is a set of lines in the opening song, â€Å"Arabian Nights. † It is one of the most contentious messages found in the film and begins the movie’s â€Å"depiction of Arab culture with a decidedly racist tone† (Giroux 104). An Arab merchant sings the lyrics: â€Å"Oh I come from a land/From a faraway place/Where the caravan camels roam. Where they cut off your ears/If they don’t like your face. /It’s barbaric, but hey, its home. † The message that is given right at the beginning of the film is that the Middle East is a desolate wasteland where the justice system runs on a simple limb-removal policy. The opening song alone s ets a tone that alienates the Arabic community from Western culture: â€Å"One would have to be very naive to believe that Hollywood would dare to use such a song if it did not see Arabs as belonging to an `other' or `alien' culture. Successive themes drive home the view that these creatures are suspicious, lazy, unethical, and violent outsiders. They' most definitely are not like ‘us’†(Shaheen 50). The lyrics to the opening song in Aladdin caused an uproar in Arab countries and the words were later changed to: â€Å"Where it’s flat and immense/ And the heat is intense. † Not only are the lyrics violent, but they are truly an example of the worst kind of racism. Disney distribution president Dick Cook was quoted as saying the change was made after meetings with members of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination League but that â€Å"it was something we did because we wanted to do it [†¦] In no way would we ever do anything [†¦] insensitive to anyone,† he said (Shaheem 52). Yousef Salem, a former spokesperson for the South Bay Islamic Association, characterizes the film in the following way: â€Å"All of the bad guys have beards and large, bulbous noses, sinister eyes and heavy accents, and they're wielding swords constantly. Aladdin doesn't have a big nose, he has a small nose. He doesn't have a beard or turban. He doesn't have an accent† (Shaheen 56). This portrayal of Arab characters gives people a negative perception of Arabs. Furthermore, the Arab characters are mean whereas those who speak clear English and appear to be Americanized are â€Å"socially accepted†, or the â€Å"heroes† of society. In the first few scenes of the movie we see an Arab merchant, with a thick accent, wearing a turban and who is trying to sell stereotypical middle-eastern products (a vase which contains â€Å"a combination of hookah and coffee maker,† which can also produce â€Å"a million fries†). In addition, the movie shows Jasmine almost loosing her hand for giving a poor little boy an apple from the market stand. That is not accurate for most Middle Easterners who strive to help the poor and the homeless – they would not attempt to cut someone’s hand off for giving an apple to a poor child. These instances show the racist way in which people from the East are portrayed as barbaric. The film could also be considered racist in that it portrays Arab culture as deeply oppressive of women and brutally violent. Princess Jasmine is trapped mercilessly inside her palace home, and the palace guards threaten to cut off her hand at one point in the film. She is also constantly controlled by the men who surround her. Finally, she is the only other woman we see in the film besides the belly dancers in the opening scenes. What does that say in regard to the significance of women in Disney? Of course, Disney does not intend to offend anyone – that would be bad business. Most people who watch the movies are probably caught up in the Disney magic and do not notice these things. Problematically, one way in which Disney creates the magic is by using stereotypes that people respond to without thinking. Aladdin looks â€Å"right† for a hero; Jafar looks â€Å"right† for a villain; Jasmine looks â€Å"right† for a trapped princess. We as consumers do not think about it, but the practices and images we internalize as being â€Å"right† are very dangerous for society. For example, it is especially concerning that the upper class in the film, the royal family, appears white. The Sultan, Jasmine, and Aladdin are all fair-skinned and do not speak with accents, suggesting that they are more â€Å"white† than the other characters in the film. This image perpetuates the white power structure in America, and most viewers are only aware of this on a subconscious level (Shaheem 54). This subconscious awareness of practices such as racism in the media is especially hazardous for our society because if an individual is not perceptive of when she internalizes social evils, than she cannot be perceptive of when she perpetuates them. Even still, the fact remains that regardless of whether we think about it, recognize or denounce it, racism and stereotyping takes place in many Disney films, including the classic 1994 film The Lion King. The first and perhaps most noticeable example of racism in The Lion King mirrors a stereotyping practice seen in Aladdin. Like Jaffar in Aladdin, Scar is arguably one of the darkest colored characters in The Lion King. While the other heroic lions are lighter skinned, Scar is the only one with dark fur and a jet-black mane, reinforcing the stereotype where the darker and more ethnic character is the villain (Twomey 1). Another obvious example of racism in Aladdin, is seen with the hyenas, who are portrayed as stupid and violent, and are comprised of a lower-class animal group that feeds upon the scraps and leftovers of the more dominant, strong, intelligent creatures. This dichotomy is then reinforced by the use of stereotypes, classifying these stupid, low-class hyenas through the use of African-American (Whoopi Goldberg as â€Å"Shenzi†) and Latino (Cheech Marin as â€Å"Banzai†) stereotypes. It has even been said that â€Å"despicable hyena storm troopers speak†¦ in racially coded accents that take on the nuances of the discourse of a decidedly urban, black, and Latino youth† (Byrne 62). The speech patterns and accents of the hyenas present quite a stark contrast compared to the American and British accents of the rest of the cast. The hyenas also serve as an interesting opposition to the thoughtful, strong, and intelligent characters of the rest of the film, who represent the upper class, indeed, mostly â€Å"white† culture. That is not to say all African-Americans are poorly depicted. James Earl Jones voices the role of the powerful and wise â€Å"Mufasa†, and Robert Guillaume voices â€Å"Rafiki,† the wise shaman. Yet even with two of the strongest main characters being voiced by African-Americans, it is hard not to notice the stereotyping Disney seems to be making about Black, Latino, and lower-class culture. It is significant to recognize that The Lion King does not stop with racial stereotypes, but also cruelly targets other underrepresented groups including women and homosexuals. According to the Associated Press, Carolyn Newberger of Harvard University complained in the Boston Globe that â€Å"the good-for-nothing hyenas are urban blacks; the arch-villain's gestures are effeminate, and he speaks in supposed gay cliches† (Twomey 33). The film also furthers gender stereotypes by displaying women as subservient and dependent upon the strength of males. The strong-spirited Nala can be viewed as a counter to this, but just as with the racial stereotyping, one strong female character does not undo the overall statement being made about the weakness of women. It is the combination of Disney’s insensitive treatment of stereotypes targeting not only non-whites, but also women, and other minorities in films such as Aladdin and The Lion King that can help explain the 21st century’s response to The Princess and the Frog. Both before and after The Princess and the Frog was released, many of the film’s critics were very vocal about racism in the movie. Nearly everyone who has an opinion about the film has something different to say – in sum, nearly everything about the film is racist and offensive to someone and needs to be changed. As a starting point in analyzing the public’s critical response to Princess and the Frog, it is important to address all the criticism surrounding the black princess’s name. Many argue that the princess’s original name, Maddy, is to close to he slave term â€Å"mammy†: â€Å"A voice actor’s tongue wouldn’t have to slip very much to say â€Å"mammy† while ordering Maddy to do a chore, and in such a context, the name â€Å"Maddy† seemed both deliberately inappropriately evocative and easy for the audience to mishear† (Kareem 1). Furthermore, others argue that Maddy’s position as chambermaid fo r a spoiled, white girl is demeaning. Just as Disney changed the name of its protagonist to â€Å"Tiana,† they have also changed her from being a maid to being a prospective owner of a restaurant. True it is traditional for fairy tale protagonists to begin their stories with having a low social status, but a black heroine who is a domestic could be legitimately read not as a fairy tale trope but as a reinforcement of real world racial denigration (Kareem 1). Some may claim that it would be historically accurate for a 1920’s black woman to be a maid, but Disney does not even necessarily care about historical accuracy when animating actual history. Another point of heated debate in the film centers on the fact that the black princess ends up with an arguably whiter prince, Naveen (or at least a prince who looks white and is voiced by a Brazilian actor who also looks white). Whatever Naveen's ethnicity is, in her article â€Å"The Word on the â€Å"Princess and the Frog,† Disney’s First Film With a Black Heroine,† Nandra Careem quotes Shannon Prince who raises some interesting points about the problems behind Disney’s choice not to make him African American: Some might argue that portraying interracial marriage in film is good – but why then weren't any of the white princesses given non-white princes to save them from white villains? And since Disney doesn't give white princesses non-white princes, isn't this interracial relationship at the expense of black boys who deserve a hero just as much as black girls deserve a heroine? (Kareem, 1) Prince is not the only critic to take issue with the difference in skin color between the prince and princess. Cultural critic Hensley Jameson comments, â€Å"The prince is lighter than she is. What’s that say about black men? Sure, Boris Kodjoe is fine, and we come in all shades, but to be truly black, a character can’t be any lighter than Denzel Washington (Kareem 1). Originally the prince was explicitly reported as being the jazz-loving monarch of a European country. By giving the prince an olive, but still white, complexion and a Brazilian accent, Disney gets to go forward with their original white hero yet make him ambiguous enough to not be unequivocally criticized as white at the same time. Tiana isn't the problem,† says Angela Bonner Helm at Black Voices: â€Å"Was there any particular reason why her love interest, Prince Naveen of Maldonia, couldn't be black, too? Though America has a â€Å"real-life black man in the highest office of the land with a black wife, Disney obviously doesn't think a black man is worth the title of prince† (Kareem 1). The plot of The Princess and the Frog also follows Disney’s pattern of making their ev il characters more â€Å"ethnic† and darker than their good characters. The central villain in the film is the voodoo master, who is also African American. Elaborating on the presence of voodoo in the film, Careem comments that Disney grossly misrepresented the purpose and reality of voodoo: â€Å"The foundation of voodoo is not charms but monotheistic faith, belief in saints and spirits, and a focus on moral values such as charity and respect for the elderly. People do perform rites for protection and defense, but suffice it to say that voodoo is not about being a magician or a fairy godmother† (Mathews 1). The fact that Disney uses uninformed voodoo stereotypes rather than accurate facts in the film furthers the racist undertones in the film. The final major point of criticism in the film is concerned with the fact that the first black Disney princess spends most of the time in the movie as a frog: â€Å"Why does the black princess have to be a frog the whole time? Are they saying black people should be green instead of black? † wonders Shirley Wilson, a waitress at Rob’s diner who plans to boycott the movie: â€Å"when I watched the film I felt disappointed to learn that the heroine spends a significant chunk of the movie not as a black princess at all but as a frog. After decades of waiting, would it be too much to actually see an hour and a half of a black princess on the screen? † (Matthews 1). Wilson’s response to The Princess and the Frog is especially significant because it demonstrates how many people, even on a non-academic level have serious concerns about issues of race in the film. When addressing the critical response to The Princess and the Frog, it is difficult to ignore the fact that even though it has been over half of a century since the first Disney films were released, racism is still a point of criticism, both in the older films and in the ones being produced today. Furthermore, despite the fact that The Princess and the Frog features the first black Disney Princess, critics are even more upset about racism in the film than they ever were before – even in the case of more overtly racist films. Many of the points raised about racism and racial stereotypes in the film are valid and interesting; nevertheless, one cannot help but notice that they overshadow many of the advances Disney has made in eliminating other equally offensive stereotypes in their films. For example, whereas other Disney films typically lack the mother figure completely and perhaps only reference the mother when explaining the past, The Princess and the Frog includes a mother who is present for the entire film. It may not be obvious to most viewers of The Princess and the Frog, but Disney takes a huge and important step in introducing a mother figure to their film – their past practice of eliminating the mother figure is arguably sexist and offensive to the female identity. Another important change Disney makes in Princess and the Frog centers on the fact that unlike other Disney princesses who dream about meeting a prince, Tiana has realistic dreams and expectations – she wants to be a restaurant owner and works very diligently to achieve her goal. Despite this significant statement about female power, however, most film critics will probably instead choose to focus on the fact that Tiana, as an African American, is limited to owning a restaurant rather than a Fortune 500 company. Works Cited: Alan, Spector J. Cultural Diversity and the US Media. Albany: State Univ. of New York, 1998. Print. Brunette, Libby. Stereotypes and Racism in Children's movies. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 2002 Byrne, Eleanor, and Martin McQuillan. Deconstructing Disney. London: Pluto, 1999. Print. Giroux, Henry A. â€Å"Are Disney Movies Good for Your Kids? † Rethinking Childhood 10. 2 (2000): 32-115. Print. Goldmark, Daniel. â€Å"Locating America: Revisiting Disney’s Lady and the Tramp. † Social Identities 14 (2008): 101-120. Print. Kareem, Nadra. â€Å"Nadra's Race Relations Blog. Rev. of Race Relations. Web Log post. About. com. 23 Nov. 2009. Web. 10 Mar. 2010. . Look Out New World, Here We Come? Race, Racialization, and Sexuality in Four Children's Animated Films by Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks. † Print. Lugo-Lugo, Carmen, and Mary Bloodsworth-Lugo. â€Å"Look Out New World, Here We Come? Race, Racialization, and Sexuality in Four Children's Animated Films by Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks. † Cultural Studies Critical Methodologies 9. 2 (2009): 166-78. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Mar. 2010. Maltin, Leonard. The Disney Films. New York: Disney Editions, 2000. Print. Matthews, Bill. â€Å"Disney's Black Princess Is the Most Racist Thing Ever. † The Peoples News. ThePeoplesNews, 2 June 2009. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. . Robin, Allan. â€Å"European Influences on Early Disney Feature Films. † A Reader in Animation Studies 25. 3 (1997): 42-46. Print. Romalov, Nancy. â€Å"Lady and the Tramps: The Cultural Work of Gypsies in Nancy Drew and Her Foremothers. † The Lion and the Unicorn 18. 1 (1994). Http://muse. jhu. edu/journals. 1 June 1994. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. Schickel, Richard. The Disney Version; the Life, Times, Art, and Commerce of Walt Disney. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1968. Print. Shaheen, Jack. â€Å"Aladdin Animated Racism. † Cineaste 20. 1 (1994): 49-52. Print. Twomey, Steve. â€Å"†The Lion King† a Roaring Success Despite Lambasting. † Washington Post 28 July 1994, 46th ed. , sec. B: 4-7. Print. Walker, Janet. â€Å"Disney's Policy? No Black People, Please. † Academic Search Premier. 23 July 1994. Web. 12 Mar. 2010. Weinman, Jamie. â€Å"Zip-a-dee-dee-doo-don't Mention It. † Maclean's 120. 18 (2007): 63-64. Print.

Politics and Morality essays

Politics and Morality essays Politics and Morality: Is There Enough Room for Both? Politics and morals are two of the most confusing terms that our world has to define. There are so many lingering questions about the two terms; especially when the idea of the terms being used together arises. Is it possible to have a system that uses both? Or from a different light, is it possible to have a system that does not use both? I would argue that morality plays an enormous role in politics and is the major principle that divides our world up into states. In the modern world it is impossible to have system that does not define itself with morals. Each state arranges a way of ruling itself, however, that rule is created by the many social collectivities that make up a state. Some of these nations share identities or origins or a list of other likenesses, however they all share some sort of commonness. That shared part of their lives helps them to create morals which in turn that nation uses to help define the rule for the state. If all states are based on morality, though, what is stopping one state from attacking another because it has violated some of its morals? Our world would be a constant battlefield if states where attacking states over moral righteousness. So how is a state to decide whether or not to go to war over an issue? And is it right for a state A to intervene in state Bs conflict based on state As morals? Questions such as these were some of the reasons that international bodies such as the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were founded. These bodies were to bring states together to come to a consensus on issues so that they would be resolved in a way that was best for the world as a whole. From a different light one might ask who is to make sure that the states are acting in a way that is best for the world and not forming alliances to get what is best for their state? And that reason alo...

Childhood Depression Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis, Depression

Childhood Depression Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis, Depression Childhood Depression Childhood Depression In recent years, we have heard of depression and the affects of the disorder, and what medications and theories help to prevent depression in adults. Many people are not aware that not only is depression diagnosed in adults, recently studies show that depression is diagnosed in adolescents. Not only adults become depressed. Children and teenagers also may have depression. Depression is defined as an illness when it persists. Childhood depression is one of the most overlooked disorders. Depression probably exists in about 5 percent of children in the general population. Children under stress, who experience loss, or who have, learning or conduct disorders are at a higher risk of depression. Studies show that depression is more likely to show up in boys than in girls. Depression in men and meal adolescents most of the time is over looked are misdiagnosed. Men for instance, have higher rates of drug abuse and violent behavior that do women or young female adolescents do, and some researchers belie that this behavior masks depression or anxiety (Canetto, 1992; Kessler al., 1994). Some Psychologists believe that the reason that young males are more likely to suffer from depression because of the stigmatism of being a male and being taught by adults that expressing there feelings are wrong. According to Carol Wade, Travis, Depression (Major Depression) is a disorder that is sever enough to disrupt a persons ordinary functioning (Physiology filth edition, 586). The diagnoses of depression might be the same for adults and adolescents, but the behavior of depressed children and teenagers differs from the behavior of depressed adults. Child and adolescent psychiatrists advise parents to be aware of signs in there youngsters such as persistent sadness, A major change in sleeping and eating patterns and increased activity or irritability. Depression is accompanied by physical changes as well. Frequent complaints of physical illness such as headaches and stomachaches A child who used to play often with friends may now spend most of the time alone and without interest. Things that were once fun now bring little joy to the depressed child. Then symptoms could trigger antisocial personality, a disorder characterized by antisocial behavior such as sealing, lying and sometimes violence: a lack of social emotions and impulsively. Children and adolescents and adolescents who are depressed may say they want to be dead or may talk about suicide. Depressed adolescents may abuse alcohol or other drugs as a way to feel better. Children and adolescents who cause trouble at home or at school may actually be depressed but not know it. Because the youngster may not always seem sad, parents and teachers may not realize, that troublesome behavior is a sign of depression. When asked directly, these children can sometimes state they are unhappy or sad. Children with depression are also slow to develop cognitive skills that could also trigger frustration in a depressed child. Child Depression being linked To Mothers Recent studies show that Mothers that suffer from depression could pass the disorder on to their children. Reports show that women that experience depression before conception or after birth could pass on there symptoms to there newborn. Mothers, who experience depression could pass on their behaviors to the kids, usually come from single parent households. Symptoms like verbal abuse, separation anxiety and panic attacks and substance abuse, are some of disorders that could coexist with depression in adolescents. Recent studies also show that mental disorders like depression could possibly be genetic Studies show that adults that suffered from depression would usually have one child that suffer from the same depression. Social explanations could explain some conditions of mothers that are depressed. The reason that more women are more likely to suffer from depression because women are more likely to be less successful and lack good relations. Bipolar Depression in Children In 15 years psychologist have studied that children can also suffer from bipolar disorder. Bipolar (formally known as manic depressant) disorder is one of the most difficult disorders to detect in young children. Bipolar disorder is the opposite of depression. Adolescents that experience symptoms of Bipolar disorder experience mania (a state of euphoria). Mania is an abnormally high state of exhilaration For example; adolescents that experience depression has low

Is the pessimistic views of nick sons justified Essay

Is the pessimistic views of nick sons justified - Essay Example The root of this issue centres from, among others, widespread problems inherent in the recruitment of workers in the industries. Existing HRM gaps within the industry have caused a myriad of human resource problems that have ultimately resulted in negative outcomes in labour turnover. Widespread labour problems in the industries is hugely attributable to issues such as poor working and pay conditions, which have long been considered as reasonable, but are now emerging as poor and impractical. The industries typically serve customers who take time out for recreation, which is often spent in travel, lodging, cruises, and amusement parks. In order to serve their customers’ needs effectively, these industries need to maintain a high level of variety of employees, from maintenance staff to customer service representatives. In addition, both industries require massive numbers of employees (Nickson 2013, p. 81). However, the reality of the industries reveals that the industriesâ€⠄¢ labour relations are not up to standard. Compared to other industries, a dwindling number of employees in the tourism and hospitality industries express the desire to continue working for their present employers. The causes of extensive labour turnover in the industries range from insufficient employee supervision and employees having inadequate responsibilities to the repetitiveness of most jobs. This speaks to extensive inefficiencies in the industries’ HRM, which have not only resulted in poor employee engagement, but widespread gaps in labour-related issues within the two industries (Nickson 2013, p. 6). For instance, in an endeavour to streamline their processes, most tourism and hospitality businesses hire additional employees, including seasonal staff, to ensure that each employee concentrates extensively on a single, minute task and executes it within minimal mistakes. Although this HRM strategy may prove effective in enhancing diverse aspects of the services provi ded by the industries’ employees it also enhances employee disengagement in their work. Employees typically require the opportunity to start at the bottom and climb the corporate ladder while also gaining experience. Therefore, repetitiveness is a major demoraliser. A lot is required from businesses in the tourism and hospitality industries to retain their employees. However, their HRM strategies are inefficient, and this contributes significantly to the industries’ unique issue with turnover. However, to be fair, the high labour turnover is not necessarily indicative of a problem with organisational strategies if this is the typical system in which the business operates. Nonetheless, labour turnover becomes a major problem when HR managers are constantly obligated to, without prior notice, rehire and train new employees for positions that the business deemed would be held for the long-term (Nickson 2013, p. 67). This is the problem that typifies the vast majority of t ourism and hospitality businesses. High labour turnover is particularly problematic in developed economies such as the UK where employees are able to acquire alternative employment when dissatisfied by the HR strategies of their present employers. Low pay The tourism and hospitality industries are some of the most successful and highly profitable industries in the economy. This would typically imply that the industries’ employees are highly paid in light of the high profit margins

Management Information System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management Information System - Essay Example Advantages presented by IOS systems Advantages of IOS include: it allows the flow of information in an automated manner between organizations so as to attain the desired supply-chain management system, thus enabling the development of a more competitive organization. Secondly, it forecasts the needs of the client and the delivery of services and products. Thirdly, IOS is helpful in better management of buyer-supplier relationships by incorporating the full depths of the tasks that are linked with the business processes company-wide. By engaging in these activities the organization is able to increase the production rate automatically; thereby, optimizing communication within all levels of a firm as well as between the supplier and the organization. As cited by Haag, Cummings and McCubbrey (26-27) to the other advantages of using IOS include: it reduces the risk in the organization; encourages global communication; overcoming the barriers that are associated with investment; benefits from the exchange of technology; it raises the levels of competitiveness; pursues economies of scale; it reduces the communication cots while at the same time extending the possibilities of coordination; and lastly, benefit from the exchange of technologies. ... The use of the internet in downstream manufacturer and customer brings a number of benefits, for instance, increased productivity, improved profits, and allows the organization to customize their customer services which will improve the overall value and competitive position. The use of the internet upstream of the supply chain leads to increased coordination, movement of goods from the supplier, and communication. Internet use allows the clients to order personalized products. It also makes it possible for the information to be readily available along the distribution chain. The challenges unique to inter-organizational systems On the other hand, the challenges associated with IOS include: data insecurity by intruders hacking into the organizations’ databases and having access to confidential information in relation to their operations. This would jeopardize the operations of the effected parties. The partners are usually concerned with if their competitors would have access to the information about the business dealings in the organization. Secondly, mismatch of skills for the people that are working in IOS enabled organization. The other challenge is inadequate technology infrastructure. Fourthly, the other challenge is that internal control systems and audit measures for IOS are usually not well developed. This is because it involves a lot of contractual procedures and legal aspect which need to be considered so as to evaluate the risk of information exposure and fraud. The other challenge according to Turban, Volino and Wood (87) found out that in spite of the clear benefits of the supply chain integration, its adoption is not widespread, and has even decreased in some organizations. IOS adoption usually take place as a response