Thursday, October 31, 2019

Enhancing the Patient Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Enhancing the Patient Experience - Essay Example Due to space imitation, the paper will focus only on the challenges that were experienced during the case study discussed, and not on the treatment. Different studies have revealed that person-centred care not only gives psychological satisfaction to patients, but also helps the nurses to gain psychological satisfaction in their job, as person-centred care not only makes easy their ‘job’, but also provides certain sense of spiritual meaning and depth to the process of caring. The Case Study The case study included in this paper is of a teenage female client who was recommended by her school for counseling and therapy. The physical examination of the client had revealed that the client was severely overweight and was suffering from obesity related problems. Her academic performance had gone down drastically in last six months, and she was becoming emotionally and psychologically distant from her peers and teachers. However, the decision to send her for counseling was take n when her parents approached the school regarding her performance and expressed worries over her behaviour problems. The method used to understand the client was personal interview. Six sessions of interview were conducted with the client. It was found that she was suffering from low self-esteem and insecurity. ... The client’s eating pattern was related to the emotional insecurity and unfulfilled needs. Hence, it was very necessary to adopt a person-centred approach to gain her confidence and faith. Person-centred approach is one of the most effective approaches in care. According to Ford and McCormack (2000), â€Å"in order to provide person-centred care, practitioners must acquire knowledge about the person which allows them to provide care and services that are compatible with individual’s values and which are, as such, highly valued† (Clarke, Hanson and Ross 2003, p.697). However, understanding the values of a person is not an easy task. There were many challenges that were experienced during the journey of the treatment process. Interestingly, the challenges started right from the beginning of the treatment as the first challenge was faced when I had to understand the core values of my client. Building mutual trust Communication between nurse and patient is an importa nt aspect of a successful treatment. However, communication is possible only when the patient trusts the nurse and believes that the details of his personal life will remain confidential. Hence, in order to encourage my client to open up emotionally, it was necessary for me to gain her trust. It was important to assure her that I was not going to judge her in any way, but understood her point of view completely. It has been observed that due to differing interpretation of illness and related conditions, the mutual trust between the nurse and the patient, which is necessary for good communication, cannot be developed (Sartain, Clarke and Heyman 2000, p. 913). Mutual trust can be enhanced by accessing and resolving the difference in patient’s and service provider’s interpretation of the medical

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Euthanasia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Euthanasia - Essay Example According to my survey, it is apparent that quite a number of people have little understanding of euthanasia and are adamant to embrace the practice. In an attempt to elucidate the opinion of the people and evaluate their propositions about euthanasia, a survey was done. The survey targeted twenty respondents who were required to answer fifteen questions based on the topic of euthanasia. To prevent any inconveniences to the respondents, the survey took approximately ten to fifteen minutes per respondent. The questions were framed in such a manner that one question led to a more deeper and specific question. The responses were brief, most of them having yes/no questions, while some required some brief explanations. No personal data was supposed to be provided in the survey forms in order to protect their confidentiality. The questions were brief, simple and clear so that the respondent clearly understands what the questions involved. Majority of the people interviewed have some basic understanding of euthanasia. Fourteen out of the twenty respondents could distinguish euthanasia and assisted suicide. The reasons given by the respondents about the differences were justifiable, a situation that demonstrated that they understood some aspects of the practice. The basis of assisted suicide as revealed by most of the respondents relates to a person wishing to die. In addition, it is not done to escape a painful and incurable situation. True to the fact that euthanasia is a controversial issue, most of the respondents believe that the practice is not ethically justifiable, nobody among the group stood for the ethical justification. However, lack of experience in having people who were willing to be euthanized among majority of the respondents revealed that, they didn’t really comprehend the magnitude of the situation facing these people. Only two among the twenty had an experience with an individual willing to be euthanized. Euthanasia is one of the practices th at are common in the media. A whooping majority, seventeen out of twenty respondents confessed having never heard or read about the practice in the media. This presents the situation as minor, because if it were a major issue many would have read about euthanasia in the print media and heard through the electronic media. Euthanasia does not appear to be one of the emerging issues neither is it a problem that has been given a lot of attention. However, the fact that a few individuals have heard and read about the practice is enough evidence to reveal that Euthanasia is not any strange around us. Death and pain are resented aspects according the findings of the survey. The majority of the people was of the opinion that life is extremely important and should be protected at all costs. A substantial majority of the people said they would prefer having a person who helps another in committing suicide be prosecuted. In addition, they would not support a death sentence for such an offender but they supported the argument of the legal system handling the case appropriately. However, considering the sensitivity of the cases presented, a majority are of the opinion that euthanasia should be made legal in some cases. This proves the understanding of the people about euthanasia and the opinion they have towards unbearable pain and

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Fern Hill: Literary Analysis

Fern Hill: Literary Analysis Time is a weary thing, but it is also a beautiful thing. It also slow, yet fast and moments and experiences sometimes are severely lacking in appreciation because of an inattentive and inpatient eye. All of the aforementioned are the hallmarks of youth, children and adolescents alike lean more to living in the present, not appreciating life as a whole. When this fact comes to light, it is often too late and all there is left to do is to reminisce and regret, miss and yearn for the days of yore. Unfortunately, this is what middle and old age frequently is. These topics are explored greatly in Fern Hill, it is filled with metaphors and biblical allusions, and the poem itself bears a striking resemblance to life itself. In the first stanza, the setting of Fern Hill is established and since it is the beginning of the poem; it mirrors the beginning of life: youth. Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs / About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green / The night above the dingle starry, Here, the tone is a rather happy and carefree tone, not unlike the majority of the poem. Alliteration is used rather well here, it gives the poem a rhythm and a sense of movement, and this echoes the progression of life. The house is personified as if it is singing, giving the speakers youth a merry feeling, he/she is happy and like the grass, he/she is still young and full of life. It is only the beginning. The word order is a bit odd for the third line, normally, it would be The starry night above the dingle, but here, the words are switched. This is used to give more rhythm to the line, it further contributes to the building motion of the poem. The next few lines continue to be joyful and happy, it personifies time as a being, God perhaps. Time let me hail and climb / Golden in the heydays of his eyes, / And honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple town In the first line, its as though Time is letting the young one be young and enjoy its youth, not out of obligation or what not, but out of kindness and compassion. Time understands that time is limited and that youthfulness doesnt last forever. This is further supported by the third line in which it is personified and is referred to as a he. Another possible reference to God, as God is kind and merciful; Time is here as well. Not only that, but Time seems to be also watching the young one, letting him be free and young. The youth is so great, that the speaker even refers to himself as a prince. It doesnt come off as callousness or as pride, just a genuine belief that he was mighty and powerful in the heydays of his youth. The youth is so great, that the speaker even refers to himself as a prince. It doesnt come off as callousness or as pride, just a genuine belief that he was mighty and powerful in the heydays of his youth. And once below a time I lordly had the trees and leaves / Trail with daises and barley / Down the rivers of the windfall light The word and gets repeated twice in the span of two lines, repetition is a key theme of Fern Hill and it is not only in its content. Time is like a sequence, and and achieves this similar effect as it piles one line with the other. Assonance is present with the words trees, leaves, daises, and barley. It has a rather nice sound, and when said aloud; has a distinctive flow. Not unlike the flow of time itself perhaps. The second stanza is overall, structurally similar to the first. As with the first stanza, there nine lines in the second stanza, this is not exclusive to the first two stanza. The whole poem is composed of six stanzas each containing nine lines. These numbers are not just arbitrarily in the poem for the sake of being in the poem, it is yet another biblical allusion. This specifically being; the Book of Genesis from the Bible. The world was created by God in six days, the seventh used for rest. This is not the only allusion to Genesis as there is another one further in the poem, the Farm could be like the Garden of Eden to the Speaker. Not only is it similar in structure, but in its content as well. And I was green and carefree, famous among the barns / About the happy yard and singing as the farm was home, / In the sun that is young once only, Just as the grass was green before, the speaker is also green, he is young. Assonance is present once again, being carefree, as aforementione d is one the many hallmarks of youth. The speaker could not give a care in the world, for he is young. However, he knows that youth only comes once, and that it doesnt last forever, this foreshadows the later parts of the poem. But, for now, just as the poem remains happy, he too is happy on the farm. Once more, time is personified and is being portrayed as kind and merciful. This reinforces the allusion to God, God is watching the young one and letting him be. Time let me play and be / Golden in the mercy of his means, / And green and golden I was huntsman and herdsman, the calves The words green and golden keep getting repeated again and again, and alliteration keeps getting used again and again, the speaker is young and prosperous, this is being reinforced so much because once youth is gone, it is gone for good. The speakersis remaining in the past for this long because thats how good his youth is. He is only this prosperous because of Time or God, he knows he is at the mercy of him, Time is benevolent, but regardless; he is still at Times very whim, just as every human is. The allusion to the Bible is no longer as subtle as before, not that it was that subtle to begin with, but now it is ever more blatant. Sang to my horn, the foxes on the hills barked clear and cold, / And the Sabbath rang slowly / In the pebbles of the holy streams. The speaker was in power because of his youth perhaps, seeing as though the foxes barked at the sound of his horn singing. An alliteration is used again to portray the foxes clear bark without much emotion. This is signaling the end of youth, it is slow, but the end is near. The Sabbath is day of rest, just as God was resting on the seventh day of creation, so too will the speaker, but instead of creation; he will be resting in old age. The streams near the farm seem to be sacred, again, with the Biblical allusion. The third stanza marks a shift in tone, in content and in structure. It is significantly different than the first two stanzas; like the parallel between youthfulness and old age. All the sun long it was running, it was lovely, the hay / Fields high as the house, the tunes from the chimneys, it was air / And playing, lovely and watery The day keeps on going, however, the descriptions are beginning to be not as specific as the ones from the first stanza, they are also beginning to be dreamlike, lucid almost. Fields as high as the house, music coming from the chimney, all strange descriptions. When they are referred to as air, this comes across as a metaphor for life, fluidity and tranquility; such is youth. The speaker remembers the youth well, quite fondly in fact. Now comes the transition from day into night, youth into old age. The descriptions become even stranger. And fire green as grass. / And nightly under the simple stars / As I rode to sleep the owls were bearing the night away, Green fire is unheard of, unnatural, but strangely enough, it is natural; because is starting to drift into sleep, into old age. Instead of the natural process of time passing through sleep, the owls seem to carry the night away instead. All very surreal. Now comes the climax of the surreal, of the dream. Very unnatural thing, the night is coming to a close, just as the wake is coming. All the moon long I heard blessed among stables, the nightjars / Flying with the ricks, and the horses / Flashing into the dark. Instead of all day long in the beginning of the stanza, it is now the opposite, all night long. The stables are blessed, are personified and seem to be alive. The ricks, which are stacks of hay, are flying with nightjars; insects. The night is ending soon, as well as this dream. And the horses just vanish into thin air, becoming part of the night, with this, night draws to a close, and day begins anew; a cycle of some sorts. Now the Biblical allusions come into full swing and are no longer just allusion but are direct references, the religious overtones are present throughout the poem. And then to awake, and the farm, like a wanderer white / With the dew, come back, the cock on his shoulder: it was all / Singing, it was Adam and maiden, Day has come once more, the farm is once again personified, however, this time; the farm may be Jesus. Jesus was known to wear white, white represents holiness, goodness, purity and all things sacred. But Jesus is mostly known to be a wanderer, spreading the word of God. The speaker loves the farm so much, that it is sacred and holy. Here is the good part, Adam and Eve come into the picture, the feeling that the farm is the Garden of Eden is ever so more blatant. Just as Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden following the act of committing the original sin, so too will the speaker be cast out of his farm, his Garden of Eden; youth. Albeit, not for any wrongdoin g, but because of the natural process. But wait, there is more! The sky gathered again / And the sun grew round that very day. /So it must have been after the birth of the simple light / The Genesis references do not end there, in the first line, it says that the sky gathered again. It just so happens that in the Book of Genesis, there is also a similar phrase: And God said, Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear. (Book of Genesis 1) The creation of the Universe is being mirrored by the return of day, old age. The sun grew round once more, just as when God said let there be light. Creation, Adam and Eve, and the Book of Genesis are all symbols for the cycle of life in this poem and life itself. That is not all, now the animals that God created unto Eden are being referenced. In the first, spinning place, the spellbound horses walking warm / Out of the whinnying green stable / On to the fields of praise. The first spinning place is a reference to Earth, a planet that so happens to spin, it also happens to be the first one. The horses are attracted to, or rather mystified by the farm, and are coming out of the whinnying green stable. The horses are not just horses, but all the animals of Gods creation; out of his own hand. The fields of praise, are obviously a substitute for Eden. However, the fields of praise is also the farm itself, in the beginning of the poem, the farm is the subject of praise, now, and the farm is now praise itself. Such is Gods holy creation. The end is nigh, literally and figuratively. The first line of this stanza is a callback to one of the lines from the very first stanza. And honoured among foxes and pheasants by the gay house / Under the new made clouds and happy as the heart was long, / In the sun born over and over, Instead of being honoured by wagons and material things part of the physical realm, the speaker is now honoured among animals of the House of God. The house is personified, giving the house joy, such is the House of God. Creation is recent as the clouds are newly made, old age is here, but happiness remains in the heart. With the sun being born over and over again, eternal is too God and his kingdom. However, not all is well. With old age, comes regret and reminiscing. I ran my heedless ways, / My wishes raced through the house high hay / nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, that time allows Because of the joys of youth, and the freedom that comes with it, heedlessness is also unfortunately part of youth as well. The speaker is starting to regret living life at such a fast pace and is noting that he is careless. Time only allows so much, and the time has come for the end. Time/ God is seemingly leading children into his grace through song, again, green and golden are repeated here. In all his tuneful turning so few and such good morning songs / Before the children green and golden / Follow him out of grace. The children symbolize the speakers youth, or perhaps humanitys youth as a whole. It is now time for golden years to draw to a close. Regret is still present, and is even more powerful than before. Youth is gone and old age is here to stay. Nothing I cared, in the lamb white days, that time would take me / Up to the swallow thronged loft by the shadow of my hand, / In the moon that is always rising, The sentiment of regret from before is repeated, the swallows, the loft and the hand shadow represents the speakers life, how time is carrying the speaker, but the speakers shadow is present and is ever present, looming even. Just as the sun represented youth and how it is short and temporary, the eternal rising of the moon represents old age and how old age will last much longer than youth. Even though if the speaker is sleeping, which he is not, he will hear his farm being taken way, his very youth being taken away. Nor that riding to sleep / I should hear him fly with the high fields / And wake to the farm forever fled from the childless land. The farm is still here, but it is not the same as before. It is childless, that is, without youth, it is here no longer, forever. The alliteration gives the line a swift and quick motion of this, almost as though a picture is being created. Similar to the old saying regarding youth and old age. Happy, that is what the poems tone is in the beginning. However, there is now dramatic shift in tone, it is now melancholic and regretful. The speaker is no longer swift and free-spirted, he is now chained to sadness and old age. Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means, / Time held me green and dying / Though I sang in my chains like the sea. The second line reflects life, like a newborn baby, even though it is alive, it also dying at the same time. The clock of death starts ticking the very moment the heart starts beating. Ironic and cruel, but that is life.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Multicultural Workplace Essay -- Occupational Issues

The modern American workplace has become culturally diverse as different immigrant communities increased in size. According to the US Department of Immigration, 148,426 immigrants received their residency in 2011 in New York. Because of the increased workplace diversity, businesses have to deal with a variety of cultural awareness and multiple language issues. These are very pressing issues in New York City, the â€Å"melting pot† of cultures from all over the world. Each workplace in New York City has at least one employee of a non-American background or a bilingual employee. While exploring the multinational workplace, which consisted of immigrants from a variety of countries, I was able to distinguish three distinctive themes. The first is immigrants’ self-consciousness of having an accent. The second is mixing two languages in speech. The third is the problem of building an effective multicultural team. Full-time employed adults spend at least 40% of their time at work and for many adults it accounts for 100% of their â€Å"public† life. Workplace has become a place of social interaction. Vicky Schultz described the importance of the workplace to individual’s growth in her work The Sanitized Workplace as the following: For most people, working isn’t just a way to earn a livelihood. It’s a way †¦ to make friends and form communities †¦ and to know themselves and others in a deep way. †¦ [Workplace] is also a source of citizenship, community, and self-understanding. From this perspective, for immigrants learning the language of the host country is a tool to develop a net of useful social contacts. Cristina Rodriguez states that in addition to its role in developing social bonds, the language use assists with preserving a multilingual en... ...ogy.uchicago.edu/people/faculty/LevAriKeysar.pdf 6. Rodriguez, Cristina. "Language Diversity in the Workplace." www.law.northwestern.edu. Northwestern University School of Law, 2006. Web. 6 May 2012. http://www.law.northwestern.edu/lawreview/v100/n4/1689/lr100n4rodriguez.pdf 7. Shultz, Vicky. The Sanitized Workplace. Yale L.J., 2003. 2069-70. Print. 8. Estlund, Cynthia. Working Together: How Workplace Bonds Strengthen a Diverse Democracy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2005. 256. Print. 9. Keogh, Jack. "International Teams: Beyond Cultural Difference." www.jackkeogh.com. Keogh and Associate Consulting, LLC, n.d. Web. 6 May 2012. http://www.jackkeogh.com/Multicultural team article by JK.pdf 10. "Masculinity." www.clearlycultural.com. ClearlyCultural.com, 2009. Web. 6 May 2012. http://www.clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions/masculinity/

Thursday, October 24, 2019

A Commentary on Isaiah Essay

A Commentary on Isaiah 6 Isaiah 6 is written with a mixture of prose and verse, detailing the calling, or commission, of Isaiah by the Lord God. Much of the verse is written in the style of a vision, detailing message to the people of Judea. The main theme running through Isaiah is the message of salvation, even the name of the prophet means ‘salvation of Yahweh’. The book is first of the ‘major prophets’, so called due to its greater length than the shorter ‘minor prophets’ or ‘twelve prophets’. In the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible and in all other English Bibles, the book follows on from the Song of Solomon or Song of Songs. However in the Hebrew Bible, it is seen after 2 Kings, which A. S. Herbert states is ‘a more natural order since this prophet [Isaiah] was deeply involved in the historical events of his day’ and gave a ‘distinctive interpretation of these events’ (1973:1). The genre of the book is mainly of a prophetic nature, with a mixture of oracles, prophesies and reports of the situation in Judah; however it does deviate from this, most notably in chapter 13, where it takes the form of a supposed psalm. This book is written at a time of great strife for the region of Israel. The region has split into two kingdoms, the Assyrian empire is closing in around them and the death of Jeroboam II of Israel (745 BC) and the death Uzziah of Judah (742) ended a time of peace, security and prosperity for both states. Soon after Jeroboams death, civil war broke out in Israel and in 721 BC the Assyrian armies completely subjugated the kingdom. So, we can see that Isaiah is writing in a time of great conflict and insecurity, which increased throughout his prophetic life, ending in the unavoidable conquering of the small Judean kingdom by the Assyrian empire. It is not easy to trace who Isaiah actually was and when he lived, however the general consensus is that he started his ministry around the death of King Uzziah in 742 BC, where he is thought to be around the age of 20. However, the date of his birth is unknown, along with the date of his death, which is thought to be cc. 680 BC, making the prophet well into his 70’s or 80’s before he stops his ministry. We can justify that he certainly ministered during the reign of four Judean kings, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, as found in Chapter 1 verse1 (Watts 1985:XXV). Clements, however, questions the validity of the first chapter in Isaiah as it seems certain that it has been ‘composed at a relatively late stage in the literary growth of the book’ (Clements 1980:8). It has been speculated that Isaiah may have been related to the royal blood line, most notably Manasseh, who, tradition dictates, martyred Isaiah by sawing him in two (Heb. 11:37). However, this is hardly convincing as many prophets where martyred by Kings and rulers and there is no real evidence to suggest any relationship between Isaiah and Manasseh other than that Isaiah may have still been ministering around the time of Manasseh’s reign. Another problem with dating this book is the question of the authorship. During the time that the books in both the Old and New Testaments were written, it was not uncommon for disciples and students of teachers and prophets to publish works in their tutors name, or to continue a teachers works. Therefore, it is unclear how many authors the book of Isaiah has. Both Watts and Clements maintain the view that Isaiah 40 – 66 are the works of followers of Isaiah during the exile and restoration periods, with Clements stating that the work of J. C. Doederlien in 1775, which argued the above point, has ‘come to be the prevalent consensus of scholarships’ (Clements 1980:2). The text will have been originally written in Hebrew, the oldest surviving copy being part of a collection found in the Qumran Caves, the dead sea scrolls, dating back to around 125 BC. Although there are not many major translation errors, we don’t have the original scroll from over 600 years earlier therefore there could be translation errors from the original to the great Isaiah scroll found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The setting for Isaiah Chapter six is provided by the Jerusalem temple, ‘looking through the entranceway into the main aula of the temple building’ (Clements 1980:71). A problem can be seen in verses nine and ten, the forewarning that the peoples hearts will harden in response to the teachings that Isaiah will put forward. Many, such as Fohrer and Wildberger, believe this to be from a later period of his prophesy, looking backwards in reflection, however in R. Kilian’s Bauteine Biblischer Theologie 1977, it is argued that this small section was written at the same time as the rest of the verse. Verse six can be split up into three parts; the first (verses 1 – 3) being the vision, the second (4 – 7) the cleansing and preparation of Isaiah for prophetic ministry and thirdly (8 – 11) the divine commission. It is thought that verse 12 – 13 are not part of the original, but addition, probably made in the sixth century BC. There is however, a debate over the date of the last verse (verse 13), with the idea of it being from the exilic age, to give hope in this rather somber and threat filled chapter. 6:1, In the year that King Uzziah died: Uzziah is described in the bible as an incredibly able and holy man, favored by God, ‘He did what was right in the sight of the lord’ and ‘as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper’. However, Uzziah insulted the Lord by burning incense at the alter, something that only the Priests could do and so He struck Uzziah down with tzaraat or leprosy, a term that at the time was for several skin diseases and so the precise meaning is uncertain. Because of this, for the last 11 years of Uzziahs reign, his Son Jotham acted as co-regent, then going on to reign for sixteen years after the death of his father. There is speculation that Jotham died a year or so before his father and that Uzziahs grandson, Ahaz took over the co-regency until his death, however, the first version of events seems to have the most universal consensus. I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Uzziah’s death, thought to be around the date 736 BC, would have been seen as the end of a golden age for the Judeans and a time of uncertainty due to the impending invasion of the Assyrians. It is at this time that the Lord reveals himself to Isaiah. This could be seen as God reminding the people that there is one King above all others and that even though their earthly king has died, there is still an eternal King watching over them. It is typical of most visions of God in the bible for Him to be seated, for example Job (26:9) and in revelation, the apostle John sees God sitting on His throne (4:1 – 11). His robe filled the temple: this could be seen as a display of power and might, as kings often wore long, expensive robes made from silks and gilt so show their worth. The fact that the Lords robe fills the temple could be again showing that there is an even mightier King than Uzziah. Seraphs were in attendance above Him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two the covered their feet and with two they flew: the word ‘seraph’ only occurs in Isaiah. While Clements translates the word as ‘burning one’, Herbert seems to feel that the designation of the word ‘seraphim’ only appears in Isaiah, but also in Numbers and Deuteronomy but as ‘serpent’ or ‘snakes’. This, he says, could then lead one to the conclusion that the large bronze serpent in the temple, as described in 2 Kings 18:4, may have stimulated the ‘visionary experience’ (Herbert 1973:58). Many other passages mention Cherubim, and while there is a debate about whether seraphim and cherubim are the same or not, seraphim translates as ‘burning ones’ and in Ezekiel 1:13, cherubim are described as ‘something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; the fire was bright and lightening issued from the fire. The significance of the six wings is most probably due to Exodus 33:20, ‘You cannot see my face; for no man shall see me and live’. Therefore the two wings covering their faces is to shield themselves from the glory of God so as not to incur the same fate as Lots wife when she gazes upon the might of God as He destroys Sodom and Gomorrah. Feet at this time were unclean and normally full of dust and are often used as a metaphor for humbling oneself throughout the bible and so covering their feet could be seen to be them humbling themselves before the lord. And one called to another and said: ‘holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory. ’ The threefold use of the word holy conveys the mystery and unapproachable qualities of the Most Holy. In Hebrew, repetition denote the intensity with which they are speaking, therefore having holy three times conveys to the reader the strength of feeling they have towards the Lord. The pivots on the threshold shook at the voices of those who called: suggests that the majesty and power of the seraphim’s voices shook the building. The translation of the Hebrew meaning pivot is uncertain. Many versions of this passage use hinges on doors or the door posts. Some even translate it as the whole foundations of the building are shaking due to the force of the adoration of God. One might read this verse and interpret it as an example of how much the Lord should be praised. We should aim to praise the Lord so much and with such energy that we shake the earth. It could also be Isaiah’s reaction to the voices that it shook him so violently that it felt as if the whole building shook with him. And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts! ’ We are back again to the unworthiness of human kind to gaze upon the Lords splendour, ‘You cannot see my face; for no man shall see me and live. ’ Herbert suggests that I am lost is because ‘Isaiah is reduced to the silence and stillness of death’ (Herbert 1973:59). For Herbert this is due to him being a creature of sin confronted with holy perfection, not just that of a disciple meeting the deity that created him. Unclean lips demonstrates that Isaiah is aware of the sinful nature not only of himself but of his fellow people, something that does not please the Lord and ‘unfitness to use his mouth in the service of God’ (Clements 1980:75). Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the alter with a pair of tongs. This section of the chapter is different to any other calling to minister for God. The prophets in the bible are always seen to endure trials and hardship before they enter Gods favour. Abraham was tasked with the slaughter of his son and perhaps the most well known trail is that of Job who had to undertake a huge ordeal before ‘the Lord gace Job twice ass much as he had before’ (Job 42:10). ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? ’: the us indicates that God is deliberating with the Holy council of seraphs surrounding Him, however it is also clear that Isaiah is meant to ‘overhear’, in a sense, so that he recognizes that only he (Isaiah) can answer that question by giving himself fully to the work of the Lord. The us could also be interpreted as an early mention or idea of the Trinity. The Jewish people are waiting for a messiah come from God and so it could be logical to suggest that until that messiah comes, He is with the Lord and there could already be a notion of the Holy Spirit in the way the breath moves over the water in creation. However it is more likely that God wanted Isaiah to give himself to god freely, giving Isaiah a choice as to whether he will go out and prophesy about the Lord, therefore using the question and the ruse of the Holy council to incite Isaiah to come forward. And I said, ‘Here am I; send me! ’: this response shows that Isaiah had a willingness to go and carry out the work Yahweh had for him. Although it seems like one single task to complete, I don’t think there can be any doubt that Isaiah knew this was him giving his whole life to the service of the Lord. Although up to this point Isaiah does not know what this task is, it can be derived that from the burning coal purging his lips it seems he is called to preach and prophesy to the people about Yahweh and that this cleansing has allowed the word of God to flow through his lips. And He said, ‘Go and say to this people: the reference to this people suggests that there is an element of ‘divine rejection’ (Clements 1980:76). Yahweh no longer sees the chosen people in a favourable light and is sending Isaiah to tell them. ‘Keep listening but do not comprehend’: there is, for Clements, a sense of irony in this section, ‘for the prophet undoubtedly did, very passionately and sincerely, want the people to hear and to understand’ (1980:77). Clements also suggest as Isaiah will have written this account some time after the vision occurred, it could be that he integrated how the message was received into the words that Yahweh spoke to him. However, due to the belief that God is in everything and everything comes from God, Isaiah would have been justified in doing this as he would know that the hardening of the hearts of the people towards his message is because of God. Then I said, ‘How long, O Lord’: throughout the Bible, how long is often the start of a lamentation. This cry out is not just asking how long the suffering will last, but a plea for God to end it quickly. Until cities lie waste without inhabitant is a reference to the devastation that war will bring about when the Assyrian empire seeks to expand further. The land is utterly desolate refers to Judah, where Isaiah ministers, however it may mean the whole of the promised land. Verses 12 – 13 are an addition by and editor, most probably one of the later Isaian disciples around the time of during the exile and restoration periods. Until the Lord sends everyone far away adds to this idea as it must refer to the Assyrian empire sending the Jews to captivity in Babylon. Even if a tenth part remains in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled. This passage is a complex one with much debate on what the Hebrew originally was and therefore how it should be translated into the Bible of today. The most widely regarded solution would be that the Hebrew bam should in fact be bamah which means ‘high place’. Therefore the noun for stump, which in Hebrew is massebe? would then mean ‘sacred pole’. ‘Thus ‘a sacred pole grows out from its place in a hill-shrine’ (Clement 1980:78) is the new sentence created. However this passage is translated, it is agreed that there is a very real element of threat present. Just as a stump is not left in the ground, but instead a hole drilled in the top and filled with fuel and burned, s o will the Jews suffer, even though they may feel they have suffered enough. The Holy Seed is its stump is almost certainly a later addition, post – exile, in order to give hope to those who were now under the Babylonian captivity. Herbert comments that this sentence is ‘absent from the Septuagint, but the Greek Modified [verse 12] to mean ‘and those who were left on the land were multiplied’, a similarly hopeful note’. (Herbert 1973:60). The addition of this last sentence gives hope as it suggests that even the stump of a felled tree may once again grow, meaning that some will survive and carry on the line of David.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Analysis of Asian American Essay

The United States has become the most diverse society on the face of the earth. For more than a century, most immigrants to the United States were Europeans—Germans, English, Italians, and so forth. However, according to â€Å"Globalization and Contemporary Immigration to the United States† by Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood, â€Å"non-European immigration to the United States began in the late 1960s and has accelerated at rapid speeds since the early 1990s after a long hiatus due to restricted immigration. † More than one million people a year migrate, mostly from Asia and Latin American- is transforming America into a multicultural society. At the same time, diversity became a distinguishing characteristic of contemporary Asian American. Cultural, social, economic and geopolitical factors have contributed to the diversity and also has brought new challenges for immigrants and their children to adapt themselves to the new environment. (Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood) There are four aspects about â€Å"the development of a coherent vision for future Asian American† as what Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood described. Firstly, variously national origins, which make impact on both the immigrant generation and the second and third generation in language and religions. Secondly, socioeconomic diversity brings about different kinds of mobility patterns. Thirdly, diverse settlement modes influence the development of Asian American community. Finally, â€Å"immigration complicates intergenerational relations and ethnic solidarity. † As what Min Zhou and J. V. Gatewood referred, â€Å"the Philippines, China/Taiwan, Korea, India, and Vietnam have been on the list of top-ten sending countries since 1980. †Even though there were different kinds of laws to restrict immigration from the â€Å"Asian-Pacific triangle†, Asian immigrants found other ways to become eligible citizen. For example, marrying white Americans. With the development of globe economy, the U. S. immigration policy had been changed. On the one hand, the United States sought cheaper labor and resources abroad to develop the globalization of its economy. â€Å"Since the 1980s, about on e-third of the engineers and medical personnel in the U. S. labor market have come from abroad-mostly from India, China, Taiwan and the Philippines. † (Min Zhou and J.V. Gatewood) Further, more and more Asian study abroad, therefore, many international students, namely, foreign students, had found permanent employment in America so that they could stay here. On the other hand, globalization had played a significant role in immigration. For one thing, developing countries’ economics and occupational structures were interposed by the U. S. investment. The U. S. imported the abroad material and then processed, finally, exported to those developing countries. For another thing, with the increase number of labor demand, rural-urban migration increased rapidly.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The persuasive techniques used by Michael Moore in three scenes from his film Bowling for Columbine Essay Example

The persuasive techniques used by Michael Moore in three scenes from his film Bowling for Columbine Essay Example The persuasive techniques used by Michael Moore in three scenes from his film Bowling for Columbine Paper The persuasive techniques used by Michael Moore in three scenes from his film Bowling for Columbine Paper Essay Topic: Film Persuasive Michael Moore produced the film Bowling for Columbine with the intention of persuading the viewers that gun laws are too relaxed in the United States. He believes that these laws have both contributed and added to, what he describes as a state of perpetual paranoia and a culture of fear amongst all of Americas citizens. Although Moore himself is not against guns since he is actually a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA). He does hold the opinion that the fear mongering and trepidation encouraged by both the media and politicians, intensifies the potential dangers of individual gun ownership, by reducing the nationwide threshold with regards to violence with firearms, and thus exposing many innocent people to violent attacks. Moore uses an array of persuasive techniques through the course of his polemic; with the most effective being irony and satirical humor, scene sequencing and sound effects and finally intelligent manipulation of background music. The first key scene A Wonderful World rebuts the conception that the US is a benevolent force around the world and that it does not use its military strength to physically impose and cause deliberate harm. In confrontation to this view, Moore is attempting to show that the USAs propensity for violence overseas contributes to the growing levels and intensities of violence in America. The scene is enclosed by sequences shot in Littleton, Colorado is compliant with Moores overall objective of the film: to expose Americas misguided love of guns and violence. The preceding scene to this key scene is typical of Moores persuasive style and is a polemic in its own right, the direct paradox between supplier and victim along with the juxtaposing music is another example of satirical humor. The preceding scene is of the Lockheed Martin spokesman: Lockheed Martin is Americas largest producer of inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM). The conversation between Moore and the spokesman is ironically positioned in front of an ICBM and the spokesmans words undermining Americas proclivity for violence especially before the scene at hand is another example of ironic scene sequencing and irony. The actual scene contains many emotive visuals, as it is a newsreel of many atrocities involving America in the previous fifty years. The effect of the posters displaying unity and the visuals allow us to humanely connect with the scene and the individuals as Moore allows the observer to come to their own conclusion on their stance. The irony of the Wonderful World song is another example of satirical humor and indirectly creates an eerily awkward tone, which magnifies the emotional impact on the observer, thus making the scene more effective. The subtitles throughout make the scene appear more official: as it makes us interpret the statements as facts in our minds which is just a human tendency, again adding to the effectiveness as it describes the monstrosities that the pictures display. However emotive language is used in the subtitles instead of actual facts as they are more interesting to the audience: Moore distorts factual evidence with his own opinions of events but this is almost undetectable due to the speed at which the slides are changing which is again limiting the audience chance, indirectly, to think independently. The vast flow of information throughout creates a negative impression of America as it shows the vastness of support for Moores motion, however it also allows very little time to actually think about the points he is making and any other in-depth attempts of analytical observation are barred by the repetitive sound of gunfire which is another persuasive technique. However, arguably the most affective technique in this scene is not what Moore includes but what he decides to selectively omit. The scene appears to show historical accounts of what America has done in the years previously, however history is the story of both sides and rather than give information on presidential leaders they are immediately classed as dictators, this is very effective as it makes no room for sub-conscious objections. The scene itself starts with a picture of a frail leader with the caption Mossadeq overthrown again this is opinionative suggesting that it was not Americas duty to intervene. Also the most emotive part of this scene is the visual itself as it depicts an old, frail man whilst the word overthrown is very strong and again indicative of unnecessary and disproportional violence. The following scene again uses emotive visuals and language as it shows the replacement that America subsequently installed. However the subtitles are biased in that they call Shah a dictator and display him and Iranian soldiers marching in a goosestep-esque fashion, essentially aligning the US with installing another Hitler into the Iranian system. Repetition of this emotive visuals and language continues when it shows democratically elected Arbenz overthrown, which is again political bias and selective omission as it disregards the information that he became a tyrannical dictator that murdered his people. The use of Statistics when describing the 200000 civilians killed seems duly informed, as there is no source. However it is emotive in that statistics are always perceived to be true. Even the statistics are used as a persuasive technique as they claim the casualties are civilians is more emotive as it connects with the audience it aligns with Moores message that America is ruthless in international conflicts. When the scene comes to Diem being assassinated is yet another example of selective omission as it fails to mention that this was at a time of extreme international tension after the second world war the red scare or the fear of communism was rife amongst the western world. However the portrayal of the corpse with the subtitle is again manipulative as it prevents the audience from coming up with an impartial decision, as it is impossible to regard a corpse as humane. Another important section of this scene was the element on The Vietnam war that still plays in the hearts and minds of many Americans today and would be very familiar to many Americans perhaps unlike all the other scenes scripted earlier in this scene. The limited use of statistics before this point emphasizes and stresses the disproportional use of force where 4 million people were killed. Again the word killed is very harsh and displays no remorse and reinforces Michael Moores view. The rest of the other scenes are repetitive in response as they again use emotive visuals and language as well as selective omission to make them more emotive. The pictures often display weak and powerless individuals being slain however information is selectively omitted to make these killings seem irrational but in many cases many of these situations required intervention and disregarded the human rights of the citizens. However Moore does stress that 4 American Nuns were killed in violence in El Salvador, this again harbors Moores motion that oversea violence is returning to America in the form of violent crimes, the fact that the victims were Americans would convince many Americans of irrationality especially with the innocence associated with nuns. Another particularly emotive element of this scene is when it claims the US trained Osama Bin Laden during the war between Afghanistan and Russia this would be very alarming to many Americans whilst it is another example where selective omission and irony are the basis of the argument. The contextual reference of this scene is that Bin Laden and other Afghans were fighting to stop the spread of Communism in the region which is why the US supported them and indeed not to train terrorists. A similar section of this scene is when it claims US funds Saddam again playing on the minds of the audience as contextual information is lacking for persuasive purposes. This then directly links into the points of the Iraq war which many Americans now question the motives for, whilst adding any further information about the deaths and casualties involved in the war angering the general population into Moores perspective. However the lasts two sections of the scene are the most important in that they are the US funds Taliban in aid the greatest irony thus far and the sum of the aid is a significant $245million and is likely to anger the general population who are fully aware of the nature of the Taliban. Especially with the nature of the aid being inferred by all as weapons. This is instrumental as it is integral to Michael Moores view that it is the US actions with regards to foreign affairs that have caused violence on the home-front. The final section is 911 footage, this is very satirical and is deeply imbedded in the hearts of Americans however due to the sequencing Moore essentially allows the blame for the attacks to fall back on the US both in the preceding scenes by funding the Taliban and training Bin Laden and this would be very emotive. Ironically the wonderful world song finishes just as the second plane strikes the shorter tower as the scene reaches its climax this is exceptionally persuasive as the real life footage changes the mood and tone to deeply remorseful ones. One of Moores primary techniques is the positioning of clips: he often edits in a manner to make a highly emotive scene next to one that is factual or another that is a complete paradox. Thus, manipulating the viewers emotions to make them more receptive to his argument. The films early sections are short and almost entirely humorous ridiculing the opposition in the face of arguments. Moore targets respected figures of authority and pro-gun groups and ridicules them with pre-prepared difficult questions. Moore uses a sarcastic and satirical approach serves to undermine the view that personal gun ownership is questionable and its function, hunting, has become a cover for the ever-growing sense of fear within society. This tactic which Moore utilises throughout the beginning and mid-section of the film, it is designed to create the impression that the reader is choosing to side with Michael Moore, however his techniques only allow for one line of thought. Through humor he allows you to side with him against his opposition, implicitly aligning yourself with his beliefs. The second scene based on the school shooting at Columbine High School marks a change in tone as the documentary takes a more serious tone. Much of Moores ability to persuade hinges on the emotional impact of seeing two cold-blooded teenage boys gunning down other children with automatic weapons and explosives is the cornerstone of Moores rhetoric: the implied question is that why does America allow things like this too keep happening? Following the Columbine massacre, the National Rifle Association (NRA) held a rally only a few days after, and Moore shows this in the film. Moore cleverly cuts extracts from previous speeches made by Charlton Heston from my cold dead hands and makes it seem as though he said it immediately after the Columbine massacre. This is very effective as it persuades the viewer that even an event such as the one at Columbine, has no effect on people and the way they view a gun despite the fact that it has just claimed 12 innocent lives. The use of powerful imagery is also very effective within this scene and Moore cleverly edits and selects the clips which will have the desired effect on the viewer. Moore selects the video footage in a way so that the action gets more dramatic and there is more panic as Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold undergo their butchery. This manipulates the viewer into thinking that the events had an even bigger effect on people and that it caused an extreme level of fear, worry and panic. The quality of the image is quite poor and this makes it seem even more realistic for the viewer. This, combined with the fact that they see the two students open fire, make the footage very harrowing and disturbing for the viewer and exaggerate the problem of gun crime in the US. In the footage, Moore highlights Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold by shining a light on them. This makes it easier for the viewer to see exactly what they are doing, but it also makes them look like angels of death. This illustrates how the criminals have so much power and have the ability to take the life of other people if they choose to. During the footage, Moore plays the audio of an emergency call which was made during the events which makes the footage seem even more realistic and it means that it has a bigger impact on the viewer as they can hear the emotion and fear in the voices of the victims. This persuades the viewer that gun laws are too lax, as firearms have caused people to be put in such a state of panic and fear and that is not something that is desired. Following the CCTV footage, Moore reads out some statistics about the massacre such as the fact that over 900 rounds of ammunition were fired and that all of the weapons and ammunition was legally purchased. This is incredibly shocking for the viewer to hear and it persuades them to think that there needs to be a change in the gun laws, because it cannot be this easy to purchase and use firearms and cause such carnage. Overall, this sequence has a very big impact on the viewer and is very effective at persuading them to think that the gun laws in the US need to be changed and made stricter so that such events cannot repeat themselves. The impression is cleverly created by Moore, who uses techniques such as powerful imagery of the massacre, the editing of Charlton Hestons speech, positioning within the film as well as audio from recorded emergency calls. All of these combine to create a profound effect on the reader and Moore is very successful in manipulating the mind of the reader by using such techniques. The final key sequence within this film is the Brief History of the United States cartoon. This is an animation which simplifies some of the key events throughout American history in an attempt to find out why the USA has such high rates of gun crime. The purpose of this sequence is to mock and point out the nature of American culture and the fact that live in a society of constant fear and this is why there are such high gun crime rates. In this sequence, Moore uses techniques such as statistics, positioning, audio and imagery to persuade the viewer that the reason for the high gun crime is the culture of fear that America live in. This cartoon is positioned at the end of the film and that is very effective at persuading the viewer because this cartoon deals with the reason for the high gun crime, i. e. the reason why for the Columbine massacre and 9/11 attacks and this means that the viewer will be more likely to agree with it as they have seen the effects of firearms. Prior to the cartoon, Moore shows the statistics about the number of deaths caused by guns in several countries and this shows the US to be far higher than other countries: Japan 39 and USA 11,127. Moore shows the high figures of the US just after the low figures of Japan and this huge difference highlights how lax the gun laws are in the US. This makes it more effective as it makes the US seem worse and the problem seem greater and therefore that there is a greater need for there to be a change in gun laws. Moore uses simple cartons and basic drawings throughout this illustration and this means that it is appropriate for people of all ages, and even young children, which highlights how the problem affects everyone and not just adults. The fact that the narrator of the cartoon is a bullet which is constantly smiling and friendly encourages people to use guns and they are not dangerous, even though they clearly are. The cartoon format which Moore chose for this sequence is very sarcastic and jovial, which illustrates how the issue is not being taken seriously enough and this persuades the viewer that there needs to be a change in attitude and laws in the US. Moore cleverly omits certain periods of American history in order to show the US in a bad light; Moore only shows the parts of history in which American have been violent and used guns and they never mentioned any of the good deeds which America has done. This is very effective as it manipulates the viewer into thinking that America is all bad, when that is not necessarily the case. This is effective at persuading the viewer as they believe that change has to be taken in order for America to stop committing such bad behaviours such as burning witches and slavery.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Bach and Handel essays

Bach and Handel essays Johann Sebastien Bach and George Frideric Handel are two of the most profound yet different composers of their time. Handel was born in 1685 into a family with very little musical background. With them being middle class, his family expected him to be a lawyer and make decent money, not become a musician (which then was considered to be low class or scum job). Music came so easily to Handel that he was able to go along with it anyway. At the young age of just eleven, he was already able to compose and give organ lessons. Around the age of eighteen he set out for job in Hamburg, Germany as a violinist with the salary of $1,500 a year. Handel traveled a lot forming his style as more international and variegated than Bachs. He was a master composer who had a dramatic sense and used more texture than Bach. Handel wrote thirty-nine Italian operas but they are not as well known as his Oratorios. One of his most famous pieces was the Messiah. It was two and a half hours long and only took him twenty-four days to compose it. Handel started to lose his eyesight while he was in London where he lived for fi fty years until he passed in 1759. Bach also born in 1685 only sixty minutes from Handel yet they never met and their styles differed greatly. Bach was born into a family with a musical background so things came more naturally and easy for him than for Handel. Bach had more of a local, unique style since he never traveled over a hundred miles away from his birthplace. Bach was expected to be a musician and with that he started out as a church organist at Amstadt, making only $80 a year compared to Handels $1,500 a year. Later, he worked as a court music director in Cothen, where most of his instrumental pieces were written. His style was very unique, as it shared the combination of polyphonic texture and rich harmony. Today, his pieces are used for their style with music students everywhere. Lastly, Bach was a Can...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Azerbaijan Essay Example for Free

Azerbaijan Essay The country was among the birthplaces of mankind and is located at the heart of ancient civilizations. Furthermore the country is known to be among the most progressive and secular Islamic societies. Aside from having been the first Muslim country to have operas, theater plays, and a democratic republic, Azerbaijan today is among the Muslim countries where support for secularism and tolerance is the highest. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world, was established in 1918, but was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920. Azerbaijan regained independence in 1991. The Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion but the majority of people adhere to the Shia branch of Islam, although Muslim identity tends to be based more on culture and ethnicity rather than religion and Azerbaijan remains as one of the most liberal majority-Muslim nations. The pre-Turkic Azerbaijani population spoke an Iranian language called the Old Azeri language, which was gradually replaced by a Turkic language, now known as the Azerbaijani language from the 11th century onward until it became completely extinct in the 16th century. To distinguish it from the Turkic Azerbaijani or Azeri language, this Iranian language, is designated as the Azeri language (or Old Azeri language), because the Turkic language and people are also designated as â€Å"Azeri† in the Persian language. Azerbaijan is in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, straddling Western Asia and Eastern Europe. It lies between latitudes 38 ° and 42 ° N, and longitudes 44 ° and 51 ° E. The total length of Azerbaijan’s land borders is 2,648 km (1,645 mi), of which 1007 kilometers are with Armenia, 756 kilometers with Iran, 480 kilometers with Georgia, 390 kilometers with Russia and 15 kilometers with Turkey. The coastline stretches for 800 km (497 mi), and the length of the widest area of the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea is 456 km (283 mi). The territory of Azerbaijan extends 400 km (249 mi) from north to south, and 500 km (311 mi) from west to east. Three physical features dominate Azerbaijan: the Caspian Sea, whose shoreline forms a natural boundary to the east; the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north; and the extensive flatlands at the country’s center. There are also three mountain ranges, the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, and the Talysh Mountains, together covering approximately 40 percent of the country. The main water sources are the surface waters. However, only 24 of the 8,350 rivers are greater than 100 km (62 mi) in length. All the rivers drain into the Caspian Sea in the east of the country. Since the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991, the Azerbaijani government has taken drastic measures to preserve the environment of Azerbaijan. But national protection of the environment started to truly improve after 2001 when the state budget increased due to new revenues provided by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Within four years protected areas doubled and now make up eight percent of the country’s territory. Since 2001 the government has set up seven large reserves and almost doubled the sector of the budget earmarked for environmental protection. Azerbaijan’s diverse landscape affects the ways air masses enter the country. The Greater Caucasus protects the country from direct influences of cold air masses coming from the north. That leads to the formation of subtropical climate on most foothills and plains of the country. Meanwhile, plains and foothills are characterized by high solar radiation rates. Rivers and lakes form the principal part of the water systems of Azerbaijan; they were formed over a long geological timeframe and changed significantly throughout that period. This is particularly evidenced by fragments of ancient rivers found throughout the country. The country’s water systems are continually changing under the influence of natural forces and human introduced industrial activities. Artificial rivers (canals) and ponds are a part of Azerbaijan’s water systems. From the water supply point, Azerbaijan is below the average in the world with approximately 100,000 m? year of water per km?. The first reports on the richness and diversity of animal life in Azerbaijan can be found in travel notes of Eastern travelers. Animal carvings on architectural monuments, ancient rocks and stones survived up to the present times. The first information on the animal kingdom of Azerbaijan was collected during the visits of naturalists to Azerbaijan in 17th century. Unlike fauna, the concept of animal kingdom covers not only the types of animals, but also the number of individual species. There are 106 species of mammals, 97 species of fish, 363 species of birds, 10 species of amphibians and 52 species of reptiles which have been recorded and classified in Azerbaijan. The national animal of Azerbaijan is the Karabakh horse, a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse endemic to Azerbaijan. The Karabakh horse has a reputation for its good temper, speed, elegance and intelligence. It is one of the oldest breeds, with ancestry dating to the ancient world. Azerbaijan’s vegetation consists of more than 4,500 species of higher plants. Due the unique climate in Azerbaijan, the vegetation is much richer in the number of species than the flora of the other republics of the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan is divided into 10 economic regions; 66 rayons and 77 cities of which 11 are under the direct authority of the republic. Also, Azerbaijan includes the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan. The President of Azerbaijan appoints the governors of these units, while the government of Nakhchivan is elected and approved by the parliament of Nakhchivan Self-ruling Republic. Tourism is an important part of the economy of Azerbaijan. The country’s large abundance of natural and cultural attractions make it an attractive destination of visitors. The country was a well-known tourist spot in the 1980s; yet, the Nagorno-Karabakh War during the 1990s crippled the tourist industry and damaged the image of Azerbaijan as a tourist destination. It was not until 2000s that the tourism industry began to recover, and the country has since experienced a high rate of growth in the number of tourist visits and overnight stays. In the recent years, Azerbaijan has also becoming a popular destination for religious, spa, and health care tourism. Around 95 percent of the populations are Muslims. 85% of the Muslims are Shia Muslims and 15% Sunni Muslims, and the Republic of Azerbaijan has the Second highest Shia population percentage after Iran. There are some other faiths practiced among the different ethnic groups within the country. By article 48 of its Constitution, Azerbaijan is a secular state and ensures religious freedom. Of the nation’s religious minorities, Christians are mostly Russian and Georgian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic (almost all Armenians live in the break-away region of Nagorno-Karabakh). The culture of Azerbaijan has developed as a result of many influences. Today, Western influences, including globalized consumer culture, are strong. National traditions are well preserved in the country. Some of the main elements of the Azerbaijani culture are: music, literature, folk dances and art, cuisine, architecture, cinematography and Novruz Bayram. The latter is the traditional celebration of the ancient New Year. Novruz is a family holiday. The traditional cuisine is famous for richness of vegetables and greens used seasonally in the dishes. Fresh herbs, including mint, dill, basil, parsley, tarragon, leeks, chives, thyme, marjoram, green onion, and watercress, are very popular and often accompany main dishes on the table. Climatic diversity and fertility of the land are reflected in the national dishes, which are based on fish from the Caspian Sea, local meat (mainly mutton and beef), and an abundance of seasonal vegetables and greens. Saffron-rice ploy is the flagship food in Azerbaijan and black tea is the national beverage. Azerbaijan–Turkey relations have always been strong with the two often being described as â€Å"one nation with two states† by the ex-president of Azerbaijan Abulfaz Elchibey due to a common culture and history, and the mutual intelligibility of Turkish and Azerbaijani. Turkey has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial integrity and realize its economic potential arising from the rich natural resources of the Caspian Sea. The countries share a short border, with the Aras River separating Turkey from the Nakhchivan exclave for just a few kilometers. Today, the relationship with Azerbaijan represents the â€Å"most important bilateral partnership† in current Turkish foreign policy while Azerbaijani foreign policy affirms its relationship with Turkey as one of its most enduring bilateral relationships, as evidenced in aligned political affairs, mutual cooperation in the areas of trade, commerce, finance, technology, academics, as well as the arts and sciences; the sharing of government and military intelligence, and joint combat operations and peace keeping missions carried out between Azerbaijani Armed Forces and Turkish Armed Forces. Azerbaijan. (2018, Oct 26).

Friday, October 18, 2019

Independent contracting DB1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Independent contracting DB1 - Essay Example In my case, I am the manager and also I have been given people to worker under me meaning that I will not be controlled by the company managers. The court also looks on finance, whether the company provides tools, pays for taxes and insurance for workers. An independent contractor does not benefit from pension, insurance and also he/she pays taxes. In my case, I will be responsible for paying my taxes, insurance and no pension plan. The court also looks in a relationship between the worker and the company. This includes whether the company compensates the worker for damages and the terms of the contract whether the contract is short or permanent (Bohlander and Snell, 2012). I am not an agent of the Gregs Goofy Gadgets because I will be working for the company together with the company workers, and an agent acts on behave of the company. An agent is not given title and in this case I will be a manager of the two employees. An agent also gets profit for the worker done but in this case I will only be earning $14.00 per hour (Bohlander and Snell, 2012). Based on the scenario’s facts I am a contractor and not an employee. Even in respect to courts definition, I can be classified as an independent contractor of the

The individual and the State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The individual and the State - Essay Example These configurations alternate between those put forward by two of the founding figures of Western political thought—Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau—who each offer different understandings of the relation between freedom and equality. No version is decisive, due in part to the problems with each account. With both Hobbes and Rousseau, we cannot understand their thoughts on freedom and equality without first recalling their different takes on the reality of lived experience, what Hobbes calls the state of nature. In Leviathan, Hobbes outlines a state of nature in which war and conflict are the natural way of things. Human beings, fundamentally insecure in their person, able to kill and be killed, cannot gain a sense of safety in the state of nature. Instead, the risks always remains that some individual, or group of individuals, will plot and carry out one's demise. Because of the intrinsic scarcity and uneven distribution of goods, people tend to use their capa city to kill each other to suit their own needs, as nature demands. As such the state of nature far too often induces a state of war, wherein the life of man is â€Å"solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short† (Hobbes). ... ality and freedom is essentially negative, which is to say that it is when man is most equal that he is most in danger, and thus constantly beset by impediments that impinge upon his freedom. In the state of nature, all are equally able to kill or be killed, to steal or to be stolen from, but such a situation is untenable, and reason demands that it be redressed and the situation improved. Some might contend that this state thus produces ultimate freedom, but Hobbes seems to think otherwise, since the risk of death and even the threat of danger impede one's ability to pursue their own objectives. It is for this reason that social compacts are produced, and common-wealths agreed to, even though they limit one's freedom. In Hobbes' thinking, freedom â€Å"signifieth (properly) the absence of Opposition† and a â€Å"Free-Man, is he, that in those things, which by his strength and wit he is able to do, is not hindered to do what he has a will to† (Hobbes). At the same time, the state that comes in to rectify these problems and produce a civil society does not actually generate new, more robust liberties. Instead, Hobbes argues that with the inequality of the state comes new forms of â€Å"oppositions.† He writes: â€Å"But as men, for the atteyning of peace, and conservation of themselves thereby, have made an Artificall Man, which we call a Common-wealth; so also have they made Artificiall Chains, called Civill Lawes, which they themselves, by mutuall covenants, have fastened at one end, to the lips if that Man, or Assembly, to whom they have given the Soveraigne Power...† (Hobbes). In a civil society, in a common-wealth, some are better off than others, and the society is thus less equal; the role of the state, if it is a just state, is to ensure those negative freedoms

Miss Celie Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Miss Celie - Assignment Example Celie’s hardships forced her to learn others’ values and beliefs. Ms. Celie’s bank was filled with a poor self image. The banking concept did not work with Ms. Celie, especially because she was abused and taught by others around her. When Shug, Mr. Johnson’s lover, came into Ms. Celie’s life, she began to teach Ms. Celie differently. Shug respected Ms. Celie after being around her for awhile. The two became confidants and lovers. Shug taught Ms. Celie that she was worth something. This allowed Ms. Celie to blossom. She opened her own shop after leaving Mr. Johnson. Ms. Celie even contacted her sister and children after Shug showed her letters Mr. Johnson had kept from her. Ms. Celie came back after her stepfather’s death to inherit her rightful estate. None of these things would have been possible without Shug teaching her self confidence and esteem. Shug treated the pupil with respect and taught Ms. Celie in her own individual way. Paulo Frieire’s idea of respecting each individual student instead of using the banking model is admirable, but impractical. Not every one comes from a loving or nurturing home. Some like, Ms. Celie, have hard lives. Too many people, educators included, are like Mr. Johnson, Pa, and others who treated Ms. Celie cruelly. The banking concept is the best method to teach children now, but Frieires ideas cannot be applied effectively to all

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Some Philosophy Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Some Philosophy Questions - Essay Example However, Meno’s next proposal is that, virtue has the capability of exercising power over people. Socrates opposes this proposal on two grounds: first, it not honorable for children or slaves themselves to exercise power over people, and secondly, presiding over people is only virtuous if at all it is done justly. This opinion influences Meno to immediately consider virtue as being justice. But he then gives in to Socrates that integrity is a kind of virtue but not virtue itself. Since Meno is more competence, he attempts to classify virtue again, this time suggesting that it concerned with longing for good things and obtaining the power to protect them but provided that one does so justly (Plato 33-37). However, his definition again stumbles upon the predicament of using â€Å"justice† in defining virtue. So because of him being very talkative, he even starts to contrast Socrates to an animal with the name torpedo fish, claiming that it numbs anything it touches. This disturbs Socrates responding that learning is not just finding out something new, but rather recollecting something that the essence had the information about before birth, and has forgotten since then. We see him trying to review the clear picture of what he meant, by calling one of Meno’s slave boys, drawing a square containing sides of two feet, and then ask the boy to make calculation of how lengthy would be the face of a square, if it happened to contain twice an area belonging to the one he had just drawn. After the boy gets a wrong answer, Socrates helps him to recognize the correct answer without essentially explaining anything that would force the boy into solving the problem on his own. If the boy reaches into a conclusion on his own with no direct teaching, then he must have been summoning up something he already knew. Socrates proposes two hypotheses on the subject of virtue, in order to totally convince Meno. The first verbalizes that, if integrity is a category of knowledge, then teaching is a key factor and second, if it exists anything good that isn’t knowledge, the possibility is that virtue is not a class of knowledge (Plato 59-63). He later concludes that virtue is wisdom either in general or parts and therefore it cannot be something that people are born with. He also says that virtue is not necessarily a product of knowledge but of factual belief. And that it is a topic of being capable of giving a report of what people knows, just like it is reviewed by the slave boy with the mathematical proof. Question two Descartes totally agrees that mind is completely different from body by establishing two motive factors, the religious and the scientific motive that makes his argument called real distinction. The religious motivation provides a rational starting point for a trust in the soul’s immortality. The scientific motivation emphasis that the nature of mind is absolutely distinctive as of that belonging to the body, hence paving way for Descartes’ description called the new mechanistic physics. The argument therefore shows that there could be possibility for one existing without the other. In religious motivation, Descartes’ purpose of reviewing that human intelligence or soul is really different from body is to refute the irreligious people. This is because they only believe in mathematics and that they would not

A fundamental objective of the Land Registration Act 2002 Essay

A fundamental objective of the Land Registration Act 2002 - Essay Example The Land Registration Act 2002 aims at allowing prospective buyers of land know the existence of any equitable interests that may be attached to the land1. The basic assumption of the law is that prospective buyers should not take the burden of verifying the adverse interests attached on the land, but should rely on the land register that reflects any equitable interests attached to the land2. The Act also eliminates most of overriding interests in land by ensuring the duty of disclosure and reasonable inspection of interests attached to land3. This paper will mainly focus on the main provisions of the Act that has ensured accurate and timely reflection of the status of title of land. The enactment of the act provided a new breakthrough in the land title registration and verification since it changed the mechanism of sale and purchase of registered land from paper based transactions to electronic transactions. The Act followed the three principles articulated by Thoedore Ruoff, a for mer Land registrar of England. The principles are ‘mirror principle, curtain principle and insurance principle. For unregistered land, the title of the land must be inspected under the old rules and seller must prove 15 years unbroken chain of the title from the root of the title. The purchaser has the duty to register his title to the register within the stipulated time, failure to which he or she will lose his legal estate in the land. The Land registry provides a description of the piece of land, the legal owner and any other interests that may affect the value and ownership of the land. ... The electronic network capturers all transactions related to the land including the registration of the title by the parties. The Act has laid down formalities relating to electronic conveyance such as time and date when the electronic dispositions should take effect. All the electronic signatures must be authenticated and such electronic documents must be signed by all involved parties. Section 4 (1) (g) of the Act requires registration on the creation of a protected first legal mortgage that is protected by the deposit of title deeds and also registration of leases with a term remaining of more than seven years. The Act also grants the land registrar powers to use transaction information on the network in order to monitor and disclose such appropriate information to other parties in electronic conveyance chain5. The Act also facilitates electronic settlement by granting the Land registrar the powers to form or assist in formation of a company or invest in a company with this system of electronic settlement. In the case of Abbey National Building society v, Cann, the main concern was the registration gap that occurs when an interest is created at the point of registration but before completion6. However, The House of Lords ruled that a party must have actual occupation of the land at the date of completion of registration of any interest to land in order to attain an overriding status to the land. In practical basis, the purchase of the land is not completed on the day the purchaser makes official search, but after few days has lapsed. Provided the purchaser lodges a registration within the stipulated period, he or she is not bound by notices or restrictions that may be made within the intervening period7. Section 7 (1)

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Miss Celie Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Miss Celie - Assignment Example Celie’s hardships forced her to learn others’ values and beliefs. Ms. Celie’s bank was filled with a poor self image. The banking concept did not work with Ms. Celie, especially because she was abused and taught by others around her. When Shug, Mr. Johnson’s lover, came into Ms. Celie’s life, she began to teach Ms. Celie differently. Shug respected Ms. Celie after being around her for awhile. The two became confidants and lovers. Shug taught Ms. Celie that she was worth something. This allowed Ms. Celie to blossom. She opened her own shop after leaving Mr. Johnson. Ms. Celie even contacted her sister and children after Shug showed her letters Mr. Johnson had kept from her. Ms. Celie came back after her stepfather’s death to inherit her rightful estate. None of these things would have been possible without Shug teaching her self confidence and esteem. Shug treated the pupil with respect and taught Ms. Celie in her own individual way. Paulo Frieire’s idea of respecting each individual student instead of using the banking model is admirable, but impractical. Not every one comes from a loving or nurturing home. Some like, Ms. Celie, have hard lives. Too many people, educators included, are like Mr. Johnson, Pa, and others who treated Ms. Celie cruelly. The banking concept is the best method to teach children now, but Frieires ideas cannot be applied effectively to all

A fundamental objective of the Land Registration Act 2002 Essay

A fundamental objective of the Land Registration Act 2002 - Essay Example The Land Registration Act 2002 aims at allowing prospective buyers of land know the existence of any equitable interests that may be attached to the land1. The basic assumption of the law is that prospective buyers should not take the burden of verifying the adverse interests attached on the land, but should rely on the land register that reflects any equitable interests attached to the land2. The Act also eliminates most of overriding interests in land by ensuring the duty of disclosure and reasonable inspection of interests attached to land3. This paper will mainly focus on the main provisions of the Act that has ensured accurate and timely reflection of the status of title of land. The enactment of the act provided a new breakthrough in the land title registration and verification since it changed the mechanism of sale and purchase of registered land from paper based transactions to electronic transactions. The Act followed the three principles articulated by Thoedore Ruoff, a for mer Land registrar of England. The principles are ‘mirror principle, curtain principle and insurance principle. For unregistered land, the title of the land must be inspected under the old rules and seller must prove 15 years unbroken chain of the title from the root of the title. The purchaser has the duty to register his title to the register within the stipulated time, failure to which he or she will lose his legal estate in the land. The Land registry provides a description of the piece of land, the legal owner and any other interests that may affect the value and ownership of the land. ... The electronic network capturers all transactions related to the land including the registration of the title by the parties. The Act has laid down formalities relating to electronic conveyance such as time and date when the electronic dispositions should take effect. All the electronic signatures must be authenticated and such electronic documents must be signed by all involved parties. Section 4 (1) (g) of the Act requires registration on the creation of a protected first legal mortgage that is protected by the deposit of title deeds and also registration of leases with a term remaining of more than seven years. The Act also grants the land registrar powers to use transaction information on the network in order to monitor and disclose such appropriate information to other parties in electronic conveyance chain5. The Act also facilitates electronic settlement by granting the Land registrar the powers to form or assist in formation of a company or invest in a company with this system of electronic settlement. In the case of Abbey National Building society v, Cann, the main concern was the registration gap that occurs when an interest is created at the point of registration but before completion6. However, The House of Lords ruled that a party must have actual occupation of the land at the date of completion of registration of any interest to land in order to attain an overriding status to the land. In practical basis, the purchase of the land is not completed on the day the purchaser makes official search, but after few days has lapsed. Provided the purchaser lodges a registration within the stipulated period, he or she is not bound by notices or restrictions that may be made within the intervening period7. Section 7 (1)

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Environmental Pressures Essay Example for Free

Environmental Pressures Essay All companies have moments of growth and decline. As companies age, change in the form of growth is brought about (Palmer, 2009, p.65). Companies look for the increases in revenue and ways to create more revenue. When money is being made growth happens, new jobs are created, expansions begin and technology is heightened. Last week Time Warner Cable announced that there will be a new CEO, as the current CEO, Glenn Britt will be retiring. The new CEO, Rob Marcus talked about the growth pressures concerning Time Warner Cable. Mr. Marcus emphasized the growth potential of selling data services to businesses, which is the fastest-growing sector of the cable industry. He also said Time Warner Cable is working to improve pricing and packaging and is hoping to retain customers by improving products like outdoor Wi-Fi. Identity Pressures Identity Pressures basically deals with the way a company brands themselves. Time Warner Cable brands themselves as a reputable and customer based oriented company. Time Warner Cable is dedicated to making their brand number one in the fields of cable, high speed data and telephony services. A commitment is given to customers to provide them with the best products and services they have to offer. Dish, satellite and ATT U-Verse attempt to compete, but when it comes to quality service, products and the commitment given to the consumers there is no better way to for the company’s identity to be missed. New Broom Pressures Time Warner Cable’s adds new members to the team that attempt to make changes bit it is not necessarily for the better. In the HR Department this past year a new VP was hired and due Environmental PressuresPage 3 to some of her background being shared before she arrived, people began looking for other jobs, all the supervisors that were in place when I was promoted a year and a half ago, have left the company in order not to work under her. There are many people that are not ready for change. Under the new VP, a lot of changes have taken place when the department all for the better of the department. Everything is a work in progress however, the  necessary changes that were needed have been implemented and work has become a great deal easier. Market Decline Pressures Time Warner and AOL were once partnered to together, it appeared that AOL was in a trend of continuous growth, however AOL began to suffer a decline in 2002 due to the pricing of broadband services being charged at $50.00 per month and consumers not wanting to pay that much for broadband services. A need for strategic changes by AOL, including partnering with cable companies and other options that move it away from overreliance on dial-up services, (Palmer, 2009). AOL eventually began providing free services there are still some customers that pay for AOL services plus the benefits they receive for using the technical department of AOL if needed. Hyper-competition Pressures Within my company, hyper-competition forced them to move quickly and audaciously to test their policies and theories. Time Warner Cable decided to change the way they did business when they branched out on their own from Time Warner Cable, Inc. Hyper-competitive can have dynamic and unpredictable environments which requires flexibility, innovation and a creative organization, which can easily adapt quickly to the changing rules of competition. Therefore, Time Warner Cable needed to change and management was pertinent to that change. What was Environmental PressuresPage 4 Challenging to management was how they would combine the need for long-term sustainability with continuous flexibility in terms of how the organization technology would change if at all. Time Warner Cable needed to develop a high degree of dynamic capabilities, which was the center of meeting the tensions of the capability and structural challenge. The organizational aspects and capabilities goes hand in hand as enabler and at the same time facilitate a successful emergent change process in hypercompetitive industries. Flexibility Flexibility can be a reason for changes in the competitive environment in an appropriate and timely way. Flexibility comes from managerial capabilities  (management challenge) and the responsiveness of the organization (organization design challenge).Flexibility requires a constructive discord between change and preservation. Strategic flexibility is an increasingly sought-after competitive element in today’s fast-paced and changing world. (Englehardt, 2002) Reputation and Credibility Pressures Time Warner Cable has pride in their reputation. A company’s reputation can be damaged at the drop of a dime. All it takes is an unsatisfied customer to speak negatively about a company or bring up a potential law suit against a company. Time Warner Cable has a team legal team staffed in house at Corporate however, all attempts are made on the lower levels to diffuse the situation before it gets that far. It a company’s reputation is ruined, there is serious backlash from it, the company loses customers, hence revenue, potential job loss can occur and worst of all the company doors can close. Reputation can be in formation of customer loyalty (Nguyen, 2001). Credibility is major, if consumer cannot count on a company to do what it is Environmental PressuresPage 5 they say they are going to do, consumers will go else and not mind paying a higher rate to get what they want. Customers want to know that the companies / organizations are trustworthy and they can count on them to be there and provide them with the services and products they want. Environmental and Organizational Pressures that exist Time Warner Cable has and does face environmental pressures on a daily basis. There is constant pressure to change strategies. Time Warner Cable is continuing to engage in new markets, corrections of internal issues are made. Basically everything is controllable it may take a little while but things are normally resolved in a 24-48 time period at the latest a 5 day period. One thing that Time Warner Cable has learned as a company is that with organizational change, there may or may not be an innovational change. Financial Perspective From a financial perspective concerning environmental and organizational pressures, things could go either way, we try to predict the way things will work out from a financial view point but the economy plays a major role. Consumers are becoming very careful with their spending. If thing begin to look bleak the finances go down. When the market is going well and profits are in the upswing then finance is great. Environmental and Organizational Pressures Impact The environmental and organizational pressures have impacted me personally as it affected my bonus this past year. I have received bonuses a great deal higher than what I received this year. I was slightly disappointed but still happy to receive a bonus all the same. Part of the bonus is based upon 80% what the company does and 20% is based upon performance. My performance was great, the company did well be not as well as in previous years. Environmental Pressures Page 6 Assessing how the organization has reacted to the organizational and environmental pressures Time Warner Cable’s reaction to organizational and environmental pressures are to regroup, see what we can change and do it better and how can we as an organization best serve our customers. By going back to the drawing board, great emphasis is placed on training, management strategizes on how to best retain current customer and how to gain new customers and customers and providing customers with the latest and greatest products, services and technology available. Time Warner is focusing on customer satisfaction. Reducing Environmental and Organizational Pressures One way Time Warner Cable can reduce their risk is by nurturing their responses when it becomes a little chaotic the pressure may appear to be small but it is all in the way the company decides to handle things. Reduction can be made concerning with organizational pressures by paying close attention to growth pressures. The potential growth of a company can helpful but it is necessary to hire smart. Strategies One strategy I would propose is for Time Warner Cable would be to listen to their customers and their employees. By listening to their customers better  offers and campaigns can be built in order to give them customers what they are asking for. Listening to the employees will help to bring about better services for their employees health and welfare. Environmental PressuresPage 7 Reference Charles S. Englehardt, Peter R. Simmons, (2002) Organizational flexibility for a changing world, Leadership Organization Development Journal, Vol. 23 Iss: 3, pp.113 121 Nha Nguyen, Gaston LeBlanc, (2001) Image and reputation of higher education institutions in students’ retention decisions, International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 15 Iss: 6, pp.303 – 311 Palmer, I., Dunford, R., Akin, G. (2009). Managing organizational change: A multiple perspectives approach (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Manifestation Of Sartres Conception Of Engaged Literature English Literature Essay

Manifestation Of Sartres Conception Of Engaged Literature English Literature Essay What is literature is an essay of Jean-Paul Sartre published for the first time in several parts in 1947, in his magazine les temps modernes. The essay is a manifestation of Sartres conception of engaged literature which he defends against its critics. In the essay, Sartre answers three questions: What is writing? Why write? For whom does one write? The first question that Sartre asks is ,What is writing? which is a pure inquiry into finding a clear definition of the act of writing. Sartre will first explain that writing is neither painting nor playing music. In fact, unlike the painter or the musician, who actually care only to present things as they are and give the spectators the absolute freedom to see what they want, the writer can guide his reader. Therefore, he does not present the things as being merely things but as signs. So, when Sartre makes this clear-cut distinction between literature and other forms of art, he can subsequently make another differentiation but within the realm of literature itself, between prose and verse. The latter distinction is very essential in Sartres reflection. I can sum up his distinction by this simple formula: prose uses words whereas verse or poetry serves words. Poetry considers words as a material, just as the painter considers colors or the musician the sounds. Additionally, the prose writer uses a different approach: For him, words are not objects but design objects. He is considered a speaker, and to speak means to act (to do something). In fact, while speaking, we are unveiling facts and while doing so we change them. With his distinction between prose and poetry, Sartre answers the fundamental question of the first chapter. Thus, according to him, to write is to reveal and to do so means to ensure that nobody ignores about the world which is exactly the same situation as with law which everyone should know as they become accountable for their acts. After having elaborated on the definition of writing, Sartre tackles its form. He insists that the style can be added to the essence and must never precede it. It is, he adds, the circumstances and the subject which the writer intends to treat that will push him to seek new means of expression, a new language, and not the other way around. Next, Sartre takes us back to the idea of engagement with which he has begun his book explaining that we cannot ask a painter or a musician to engage himself. Sartre concludes that the writer has to engage himself entirely in his works. One should write when he wants and when he chooses to do so. However, if we write when we decide to, we should now ask ourselves why we write. That is going to be the topic that will be discussed in the next chapter entitled: Why write? For Sartre, literature is a means of communication. Knowing that, we should then find out why one writes. The author begins the chapter by stating the origins of literature, one of the chief motives of artistic creation is certainly the need of feeling that we are essential to the world [1]. To explain this, lets ponder on this example: A man contemplates a landscape. By doing this, he unveils/reveals this scenery and establishes a relationship that would not exist if he were not there. In the meanwhile Man is profoundly conscious of the fact that he is not essential to the uncovered scenery. In fact, he only perceives it without taking part in the process of its creation. Man can also create, but then he will lose his revealing/unveiling function as the produced object reflects rules that he himself created and so will be subjective, for example a writer cannot read his writings from an external angle. The situation here is contrary to the scenerys one in that the creator becomes essential because without him, the object would have no existence, but he is unessential. He has assuredly gained the creation which was not when he was contemplating the landscape, but he has lost the perception. So far, the key to the problem is at the reading stage. A reading which will make a synthesis between the perception and the creation, because any literary work will not shine completely until read, It is the conjoint effort of author and reader which brings upon the scene that concrete and imaginary object which is the work of the mind. There is no art except for and by others [2]. In reading, the object is essential because it imposes its proper structures just like in the landscapes example I mentioned earlier, and the subject is also essential since it is required not only to reveal the object but to guarantee its existence, too. Furthermore, Sartre specifies that the literary object is not conveyed in the language but through it. That is why any literary work deserves to be read in order to make it complete, revealed and ultimately created. Hence the activity of the reader is linked to creation, which makes us reach a unique instance: The object is given as it is to its creator which makes him enjoy what he creates. After explaining the essence and meaning of writing and reading which are interrelated and complete each other, Sartre will proceed with the third question which is about the special relationship existing between the author and his reader. The former is in need of the latter to complete what he started. In fact, for Sartre, every literary work is an appeal and particularly an appeal for freedom of the reader so that the latter would be able to contribute to the making of the literary work. So there will be no work without readers. Here, it is noticeable that Sartres existentialist tendency is dominant as he places the word freedom at the core of the relationship between the author and the reader. What is more, there is an implicit agreement between the two to recognize the freedom of the other, and so the reader presupposes that the writer has realized his writing freely as any human being, otherwise the written work would be uninteresting and purely determinist. Parallelly, the auth or recognizes the freedom of his reader as it is a basic requirement for the completion of his work. For this reason, reading is defined as an act of practicing generosity: Each one devotes himself to the other in thorough freedom and being as much demanding as possible both vis-à  -vis the author or towards oneself. To sum up this process, I can say that the author has recovered the world by giving it to be seen as it is, but as if it had its source in human freedom [3] and not in the mere chance of things. As to the reader, he recovers and interiorizes this external world [or non ego, Sartres term] by transforming it into a compulsory task, The world is my task [4]. In fact, it is this process of interiorization which will cause the reader to feel what Sartre calls an esthetic joy, and it is only when this joy takes place that the work can be considered complete. So each one is a winner and is thus rewarded. But is that all? Of course not! Sartre thinks that this disclosure-creation process should also be an imaginary engagement in the action [5]. Afterwards, he moves on to criticize realism which pretends doing only contemplation, a word which contradicts action because when the author names something [Sartre takes injustice as an example], he creates it as well and invites his reader to do th e same, which makes the two sides responsible for it in the real world. After evoking responsibility, J.P Sartre goes back to his central idea, that of freedom, the writer, a free man addressing free men, has only one subject freedom [6]. This sounds a good answer to the question of the chapter: Why write? According to Sartre, writing is undoubtedly and profoundly linked to freedom; consequently one should take his chance fully by writing about critical areas like politics and democracy. To write is a way for seeking freedom; if one starts this process of writing either willingly or unwillingly, he is definitely engaged. Again Sartre launches the term engaged, so now the question would be to know the public for whom one writes so as to define where and how to engage. That is what Sartre is going to answer is his next chapter entitled, For whom does one write? In this chapter, the author will tackle the fundamental relationship between the writer and his public but this time from a historical perspective. Sartre proposes an answer to the chapters question. As a matter of fact, one writes for the universal reader, and the exigency of the writer is addressed to all men. [7] However, Sartre restrains this assertion by explaining that the writer has always had this ambition to be somehow immortal through overstepping the historic moment he lives into a high level, but Sartre insists that the writer should communicate with his contemporary fellow writers and also with those sharing the same culture with him. So to say, there is a certain degree of complicity and some shared values between them which makes of the latter communication, a very specific one. It is indeed a historic contact both because it is a part of history and also since it is engraved in it. Therefore, the writer has a role to play: a mediator; not only is he a Man, but a write r as well; a position that he chose. Again, Sartre uses his existentialist key-term: freedom, which is at the origin of this choice, but once this choice made, the society will invest on the author by putting barriers and frontiers in front of him by their demands and exigencies. This point brings us to question the importance of the relationship between the writer and his public. To illustrate this point Sartre introduces the example of the African American writer Richard Wright; a writer that had as an aspiration to defend the rights of the oppressed black Americans. There are mainly two points to stress on: the first is that Wright was addressing the cultivated Negroeshis compatriots, but at the same time he was addressing all men. Thus, by putting his name in history, the writer will achieve this much desired infinite leap. The second point is that his public was torn apart, Negroes on one side and whites on the other, which gives words a double meaning, one for the Negroes and one for the whites. From the aforementioned example, Sartre will develop his reflection upon the relationship between the writer and his public. As I have already explained, the writer reveals the society which makes the latter faced with an imperative choice: to assume itself or to change. That is why it is said that the writer has a parasitic function: he seeks to meet those who make him live by attracting their attention to situations they would rather not want to see. This conflict, which is at the very base of the position of the writer, can be explained as follows: on the one hand, we have the conservative forces or the real public of the writer but on the other hand, we have the progressivists or the virtual public. Sartre will subsequently present a brief history of the relations between the two forces: the real and the virtual. He starts from the Middle Ages, an era in which only the clerks knew to read and write and these two activities were considered as techniques just as those of any crafts man. What is more, the public was very restricted to clerks since they write for each other and the goal was not to change things but to maintain the order as it is. Next, Sartre moves to the 17th century which brought up the secularization of the writer [8] but this secularization did not mean a universalization since the public was very restricted, too. Additionally, the public was very active since everybody was reading because they knew to do so, but they were judging following precise values. People at that time had a dominant religious ideology guarded by the clerks, and which was soon doubled by a political ideology which had also its watchdogs. Nonetheless, there was a third category, one composed of writers who accept both these religious and the political facts because they are part of the context without being completely useful to them. They do not naturally question their mission; the latter is already traced contrary to todays writer. They are classical, that is to say they p rogress in a stable world where the quest is not to discover but to construct what is already known. The society or rather the elite demand that the writer reflects not what the society is but what the society thinks it is; art should be moralizing. Again, Sartre asserts that we can detect a liberating power within a given work since the latter has an effect, which is to free the human being from his passions. Sartre will afterwards tackle the 18th century turning of history in which the writer will refuse ideologies of the ruling classes, and then he will talk about the 19th centurys status of literature which is characterized by the ideology of destruction which will end up by the advent of surrealism. So literature is at a hard stage of alienation in which it is merely a means or a tool and not an aim in itself. Sartre sums up the present situation of the writer in three points: First, he is disgusted of the sign as he prefers disorder to composition and thus poetry to prose. Second, he considers literature a sample expression like all other expressions existing in life and thus he is not ready to sacrifice his life for literature. Third, the writer is going through a crisis of moral conscience because he can no longer define his role. So, Sartre proposes for the writer to act in order to survive and ultimately to create a state of equilibrium. Finally, Sartre draws the portrait of an i deal society without classes and in which the virtual public is in a rich relationship with the real public. This way the writer could speak to all his contemporaries so as to express their joys and angers. Literature would contain the whole human condition and would be anthropologist. It would be a pure utopia which would enable literature to be fulfilled in all its purity. This utopia can be very useful as an example, but it has its limits since it does not actually represent what was happening in Sartres time. To conclude his book, Sartre will be more concrete as he states the situation of the writer in his time (that is in 1947) and suggests some pieces of advice to his contemporary writers. Sartres contribution to literary theory is very important and what makes it so meaningful is the fact that Sartre is both a critic and a writer. His ideas about literature are very influenced by his existentialist-Marxist view of the world. Generally speaking, existentialism tries to make meaning in a chaotic and irrational world and Sartre argues that it is Man who makes himself, and as a major representative of existentialism, Sartre seeks to analyze literary works while emphasizing on the struggle to define meaning and identity in the face of alienation and isolation. Thus, in his book, Sartre sees literature as the product of the relation between the author and the society he lives in. As far as form is concerned, he prefers prose to verse and considers that the aim of prose is humanist or the sublime human existence and this idea goes hand in hand with his famous motto Existentialism is humanism. Also, for him, language is the strongest tool of communication and literature is the culminating stage of this communication. This view leads Sartre to embrace the idea of engagement of literature since literature is essentially a social product though written by individuals. Here, I personally feel attracted by this idea of commitment since a writer or an artist in general has a vital responsibility over his society, and even though sometimes readers may read works with no didactic or moral intention, it is undeniable that art is extremely purposeful. The evidence that shows that art has an influence on society is that it presents new values not only h elping to develop society, but shaping its behavior as well, for example we can draw many lessons from a plays characters that do not stop at purifying us but influences us by its content and result [Aid 1988] [9]. Moreover, I share this idea of Sartre raised mainly against the 19th century movement of art for arts sake and which views that the intrinsic value of art, and the only true art, is divorced from any didactic, moral or utilitarian function [10] and also against the bourgeois writer, who was more devoted to his craft than to his audience. Furthermore, considering the existentialist idea of Man in the world and since the writer is a Man, his real existence is a literary identity for him. That is to say, a writer defines himself by engaging willingly and consciously in intentional action. I think that Sartre is like Terry Eagleton [1983] in seeking a definition of literature. However, the latter does not consider literature as being merely imaginative, but as using language specifically, that is to say, as Jakobson believes: literature is a type of writing which exerts an organized violence on the ordinary discourse and condenses the ordinary language as the composition, sounds and rhythm of the words overtakes its lexical meaning. Thus, the language of literature aims at attracting attention to it. In addition, for the Russian Formalists, cited by Terry Eagleton in his introduction to literary theory [1983]: the literary work is neither a vessel for transporting ideas nor a reflection of the social reality but a physical truth since it is compounded of words and not subjects or emotions, Literary language is a set of deviations from a norm à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ a special kind of language, in contrast to the ordinary language we commonly use. [Eagleton 1983] [11] Here, it would be useful to notice that the formalists overlook to analyze the literary content and focus only on analyzing the form, and instead of considering the form as an expression of the content, they see it as a mere motive for it, and even though some formalists never deny the existing relationship between literature and society, they refute the idea that this relationship might be of some interest to the critic. Besides, If Sartre focuses on two main principles: engagement and freedom, Eagleton stresses on one major principle which is that literature by nature is a non-pragmatic discourse contrary to Sartres convictions, that is to say that literature is a language that indicates itself only. This view of Eagleton resembles the views of the Russian formalists about literature. As to the idea of alienation, Eagleton thinks that there is no writing which cannot be read as being alienated since readers can use their ability of interpretation, because ambiguity and confusion are present even in most logical discourses, so every text is open to interpretation. I can add to Eagletons contribution that life is full of instances of confusion, for example in cinema; most films plots are based upon the ambiguities and confusions linked to everyday language. This idea is also advanced by Wolfgang Iser (1978) ,in which he says that readers are free to interpret a text the way they want but they have to construct it in such a way that renders it internally consistent. An open work must become coherent, and the vagueness must be normalized. [12] To conclude, I would say that Sartres book was a manifestation of engaged literature in which he defines firmly the characters of the contemporary literature. However, his lucid reflections have raised many critiques from different scholars in different periods of time, but it still remains a good reference for anyone who seeks to answer questions related to the nature and function of literature. I should say that I share most of Sartres ideas especially those related to the nature and role of art and the relationship between the author and his reader. Literature has always had a function throughout history from Plato to our recent days either morally, educationally or socially, and any writer, anywhere, should know his responsibility over humanity and thus write purposefully. However, one can write for reasons which are not necessarily didactic, such as for delight and amusement of the reader. In any case, I think that a writer should combine both meaningful and amusing approaches i n his literary work, therefore literature can teach and delight [Sidney 1595] [13]