Marketing Strategy of Lv

21/12/2011 Marketing Strategy analysis of LVMH with a special focus on LV Industry overview: Louis Vuitton Malletier is commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton, sometimes shortened to LV, is French luxury fashion and leather goods’ company. The company was founded in 1854, and now is the cornerstone of LVMH and its main division carrying almost a quarter of the total group. LVMH is the world leader in the luxury industry. It was established in 1987 through the union of three brands: Louis Vuitton, Moet and Henessy. This union gave birth to a global group that, in addition to leather goods and spirits, brings together to the distribution, a big variety of brands in all segments of the luxury: perfumes, jewelry, watches and also champagne. Through its policy of brand development and expansion of its distribution network abroad (more than 2300 stores worldwide), LVMH has became, since its creation in 1987, a part of a strong growth: it is now the first capital in France and the thirteenth in the world, with 77000 employees of which 74% are based outside France and that share the same values of the groupe. Corporate strategy: A strategic segmentation: In the luxury sector, LVMH has invested in six different strategic business areas: wines and spirits, fashion and leather goods, perfumes and cosmetics, watches and jewelry, selective distribution and other activities. Louis Vuitton is trying to represent by its products, the most refined qualities of Western â€Å"Art de Vivre† around the world. The company is also trying to continue to be synonymous with both elegance and creativity in leather products, blending tradition and innovation through their products and kindling dream and fantasy. How Louis Vuitton attracts its costumers: Louis  Vuitton  is  a luxury brand  belonging to  LVMH which  is  the most  valued  brand  in  the world of luxury. Since 1854  this  has been succeeding with  its  luxury  luggage  first and  then with  fashion industry  (especially with collections  by Marc Jacobs). Louis  Vuitton  has introduced  many advertising campaigns,  but ten years of fashion communication have overshadowed the house. The company realized that customers were less sensitive to the values that were associated with the brand. Therefore the company wanted to put aside while the commercial communication by focusing on a more institutional in order to enhance the house and not just the products. Louis  Vuitton  then chose to move from product communication  to  corporate communications. The goal is  to communicate  the values and philosophy of  the brand and its  leitmotiv:  the trip. To create  a  close relationship with its  customers, the Internet  appears  to be the best means of communication  (interactivity, photos,  videos  Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. ) The fundamental value  that is conveyed  is the  trip. Today  the concept  has evolved in  travel  habits  (mass tourism, development of  low cost), becoming very usual and then there is no  more magic in the  travel or  escape. In this new  communication campaign  LV  seeks to use the concept of  journey  from  idea  to  idea of   physical  personal journey (passenger). Two of LV advertisements that are using the trip concept Main objectives of the company: Long term objectives: The group  aims to ensure the  sustainability of the company  by focusing  on  core brands  like the  capital  (pillars)  of the 5  areas of  LVMH. In addition,  LVMH  has  the opportunity to gain  market share, eclining  his offer  of  new niches  (accessories). It must continue to invest  for growth. Short term objectives: LVMH wants to achieve a rapid return to the strategic activities such as selling on the Internet like on â€Å"eLUXURY. com† These activities can be  reta ined in the  portfolio ones  because they  do not monopolize  considerable energy  over the long term  and  are a source of  direct profitability  (high margin). Analysis of the four Ps strategy: Product  : Louis Vuitton’s products are very distinguished by their â€Å"absolute quality† and very high price. The aim of LVMH is also to make people feel a big difference between any brand and a brand Louis Vuitton. Therefore a strong image is needed to achieve those aims. One of the big issues that touch LV products is counterfeiting which the company is trying hardly to fight against with enlightenment campaigns, distribution of warning notices to companies, registering the trademarks and designs and making some activities with the Union des Fabricants which is a public interest incorporated association that carries out trademark protection activities. The company is also working on prohibiting appraisal of authenticity by officially sanctioning stores that are alone able to verify whether an article is genuine or not, but also using the mass media to tell people about some details to take into account before appraising whether an LV good is genuine or not. By choosing not to make cheap goods at all, LV is also prohibiting second-line operations or what we call lower-cost alternatives. This can be sort of limitation to a greater expansion but a good choice to the company to stay in the luxury area. Another principle of LV product is that LV is an independent manufacture that is prohibiting outlet product production in order to control the brand value and making a real control on the prices. LV has also a special order service for customers that would like to buy customized and order-made products. Price: LV goods prices are very high, but their value is also of a very high level. The prices are widely accepted by women. The company is trying then to keep the trust the costumers have in its reliable pricing, especially by prohibiting exorbitant pricing, bargain sales, sales in value sets, surprise price changes, pricing in odd prices†¦ Place: LVMH has no boundary; its market is global, taking into account national or regional areas. The company has a geographical strategy that is built on the sentence: â€Å"Think global, act local†. The value of having a global market is to overcome the vagaries of economic conditions (fluctuations in exchange rates, etc. .. ), social (war, etc. .. and demographic issues (emerging Asian countries, etc. .. ). This allows them to meet the specific demands of the market better than in other possible way: for example, the Italians prefer sweet taste champagne that can be adapted to be the right product for them, with mixtures of wines and grapes varieties that are specific to champagne. On the other hand the internationalization of sales allows the company t o respond to many different behavioral changes of consumers. Moreover, LVMH is seeking to emerge new markets with very high potential such as China and India. LVMH benefits from the liberalization of world trade. Promotion: LV in comparison with most companies that use mass advertising, never advertise on television but only on magazines and newspapers with non aggressive sales ads, just images. The brand represents the discovery, travel, sophistication, elegance and creativity. When such words are associated with a company we understand that communication must be really special. Louis Vuitton does not use media such as radio and television media that are surely too popular. Louis Vuitton, because of the demands in women's magazines (Elle, Vogue, Madame Figaro ,†¦ , advertisements published in its journals always have a particular theme (urban, fables, seven deadly sins ,†¦ ). To promote its goods, Louis Vuitton prefers to also organize special events such as Concours d'Elegance car and the America's Cup (also known as Louis Vuitton Cup). The brand,  as  for other firms, is  using  the front  of  the stores  being b uilt for  advertising. For example  in New  York  can be seen  at a height of  over 20 meters  Jennifer  Lopez,  new ambassador  of  Vuitton's flagship products  carry  the brand. Vuitton  also  does not hesitate  to call on  great personalities  to represent  the company. The parades  are  also a good way to  make them known. The target  is not only the  public who  attended the  parade (a few hundred people), but  the people who  hear about  in the press and  other media. LV marketing strategy is also based on a special process of diversification: To stay number one in the luxury sector, LVMH group usually offers a similar product line to the 4 corners of the planet, but in different ways. LVMH is seeking to reach a new clientele that is willing to â€Å"splurge†. They have access to luxury by ancillary products already present in the product range; it requires no new skills or additional skills. This diversification marketing involves distinctive innovations both in the cut of clothes (packaging for perfumes) that the composition of handbags (new materials). All this requires a research and development performance, bringing together the best designers to get a head start as soon as possible and find the trend. Weaknesses of Louis Vuitton and propositions for better strategy: LV products are the most copied in the World, which is not the case of other luxury companies like Hermes for example. Indeed, Counterfeiting is a real problem for the segment of luxury products. The â€Å"extension† of the brand could contribute to the loss of image and prestige. To remedy this, Louis Vuitton is strongly committed to the fight against counterfeiting by establishing a specific team to sensitize the consumer and arrest the counterfeiters around the world and especially in countries where the phenomenon is more present like China. Also, the prices of LV products are not the same around the world: they are 50% higher in Asia and 25% higher in the U. S. In addition, foreigners that are residing outside European community can benefit from a tax refund. It is therefore more interesting for many foreigners to buy Louis Vuitton products in France, thus we have a great development of the traffic around this brand. Indeed, there are many consumers that buy LV products in France and then resale them to foreigners. Others collaborate with foreigners and accept to act as intermediaries for the purchase of these products, with taking a commission for this service. The resale of a product devalues its image as luxury item; the resoled product loses its charm and uniqueness: it becomes such a commodity and no longer a luxury product. To prevent this, LV has to develop more its computer control of sales. And since the luxury market is an area of a big concurrence, LVMH is always required to be distinguished from the others, to keep innovating its products, marketing, advertisements themes and in the same time defending its values†¦ And since it has became a worldwide known brand, may be to make some customization in production, sales and marketing for each culture, I would like to propose to make for come chosen countries special processes of production , sales and advertising that meet but also emerge from their culture†¦ References: * http://www. iasdr2009. org/ap/Papers/Orally%20Presented%20Papers/Design%20Management/Luxury%20Brand%20Strategy%20of%20Louis%20Vuitton. pdf * http://veronique. estienne. free. fr/doc/SLIDE. htm

Ancient Egypt vs. Canada Essay

Ancient Egyptians are very interesting people. They were very successful and very powerful. Life in ancient Egypt was not easy. They grew their own food and made their own clothes. They did as best they could with what they had. Life in Canada seems easy compared to ancient Egypt. Their cuisine, clothing, language, government, schooling and contributions to their society were different from ours. For my essay I have written about each of these and seen the differences and similarities between ancient Egypt and Canada. The Egyptians made their clothing from plant fibers, linen, and sometimes cotton. Because of the hot and sunny climate in Egypt, people had to wear thin lightweight clothes. The ancient Egyptians loved all forms of jewelry including necklaces, rings, anklets, and bracelets. Men usually dressed in short linen kilts, sometimes with a band of cloth over their shoulder. Women wore long fitted linen dresses. Ordinary Egyptians wore coarse linen while the richer Egyptians dre ssed in lighter finer cloth. Children did not wear clothes until the age of maturity, which was around twelve. Once they turned twelve they wore the same clothes as men and women. The ancient Egyptians were barefoot most of the time but wore sandals for special occasions or if their feet were getting sore. The clothing in Canada varies because of the weather. The temperature in Canada ranges from +40 degrees to -40 degrees. Some materials used to make clothes are wool, nylon, cotton, leather, and synthetic. In the summer, people wear light clothing made from cotton like shorts, t-shirts, runners or sandals. In the spring, it would be a bit cooler so more layers would be worn. In the winter, people wear insulated jackets or parkas. To keep our head and hands warm we would wear toques, mittens, gloves and scarves. We wear insulated boots or shoes in very cold weather. In the fall, people wear leather coats or lighter jackets. The difference between these two lifestyles is that the Anc ient Egyptians have one type of weather all year round while we have four different seasons. A similarity would be that we both wear light clothing in the summertime. Ancient Egyptian cuisine covers a span of over three thousand years. It has been assumed that the wealthy would have two to three meals a day. Food could be prepared by stewing, baking, boiling, grilling, frying or roasting. Spices were added for flavor. Foods such as meats were mostly preserved by salting, and raisins could be dried for long-term storage. Honey was the main sweetener but was expensive. Honey could be collected from the wild or from domesticated bees kept in pottery hives. Barley was grown to make bread and beer. The vegetables they ate were lettuce, celery, cucumber, gourds, turnips, peas, beans, olives and even papyrus. The most common fruit were dates. Other fruits included figs, grapes, raisins, palm nuts and certain species of berries. Meat came from domesticated animals, game and poultry. This included partridge, quail, pigeons, ducks and geese. The most important were sheep, cattle, goats and pigs. Poultry and fish were available. Canadian cuisine varies widel y from region to region. The traditional cuisine of Canada is closely related to British and American cuisine. The cuisine includes baked foods, wild game and gathered goods. Some examples of Canadian foods are roast beef with Yorkshire pudding (popular with Anglo-Canadians), pea soup from Quebec and toutins from Newfoundland. Wild game are still hunted and eaten by many Canadians. Seal meat is eaten, particularly in the Canadian North, the Maritimes and Newfoundland. Wild fowl like partridge and ptarmigan are also regularly hunted. People also eat seafood, which includes salmon, lobster, mussels, pickerel and halibut. We also consume fruits like blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, apples and bananas. Sweets like pies, cakes, cookies and pudding and other baked goods are eaten as dessert. The main beverages of Canadians are water, tea, coffee, juice, milk and alcoholic beverages. A comparison between these two cuisines would be that both Egyptians and Canadians eat the same gam e animals and meats, and we both have the same main beverages. A difference would be that Canada has multicultural foods while Egypt has only one cuisine. Ancient Egyptian Government was dominated by a single man, the Pharaoh. The position was inherited and was passed down to the eldest of the king’s chief wife. The people believed that the king was more than a man, however, but that he was a god. This gave him absolute control over the affairs of the Empire and its people. Ancient Egypt was also a theocracy, which meant that it was controlled by the clergy. The Pharaoh’s advisors and ministers were almost always priests, who were considered the only ones worthy and able to carry out the god-king’s commands. As in most religious ancient societies, priests had special status above the rest of the citizens, forming a kind of nobility. The governmental officials included the vizier (or the prime minister), the chief treasurer, the tax collector, the minister of public works, and the army commander. These officials were directly responsible to the Pharaoh. The land itself was divided up into provinces called nomes. Each nome had a governor, who was appointed by the Pharaoh and responsible to the vizier. Taxes were paid in goods and labor. Citizens were drafted into the army and into forced labor for periods of time to pay what was called a corvà ©e (the labor tax). Slaves, mercenaries, and draftees were often used in the army. It is believed, however, that Egyptian slaves were not used to construct sacred monuments such as the Pyramids. Egyptologists were led to this conclusion by recent findings of worker burial grounds near such monuments. The workers received proper Egyptian burials whereas slaves did not. The majority of Egyptian people were peasants who worked the land along the fertile Nile flood basin. These people had no voice in their government and accepted this fact because it was backed by their religion. This mingling of religion and government is probably what kept Egypt so powerful and centralized during its high points. In Canada, the government is controlled by the prime minister. He/she is the person likely to command the confidence of the elected House of Commons. The prime minister is the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons in an election. He/she is head of the executive branch of the Canadian federal government. The Canadian prime minister provides leadership and direction to the government. A difference between these two governments is that being a pharaoh is an inherited role whereas in Canada people elect their prime minister. A similarity would be that both are leaders of their entire country. Ancient Egyptians communicated through writing and language. The history of hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt is believed to date back as far as 3000 B.C. Ancient Egyptian writing uses more than 2,000 hieroglyphic characters. Each character represents a common object in Ancient Egypt. The Egyptian language is a Northern Afro-Asiatic language that is closed related to the Berber and Semitic languages. A multitude of languages are spoken in Canada, but English and French are the most common. About 67% speak English while 22% speak French. About 20% percent of Canadians have a language other than English or French as their first language. The top five languages in Canada are English, French, Chinese, Punjabi, and Spanish. A similarity would be that both countries have written and oral language. A difference would be that their writing is made by using pictures while we use letters. There were schools in ancient Egypt, but hardly anyone went to them. Girls were not allowed to go to school at all. They learned everything they needed to know at home from their mothers. Boys in wealthy families started school at the age of four. Before a child started school, his father decided what his career would be in the future. Children at school were only taught the subjects that would be useful in their career. Education in Canada is generally divided into elementary, secondary, and post-secondary. Education is compulsory up to age 16 in most provinces. You start school at the age of four or five and continue up to age eighteen. Major subjects in school are language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and physical education. The school systems of most provinces have twelve grades. One similarity would be that in both countries you start at age four or five. A difference would be that in Egypt you go to school for about five years whereas in Canada you attend for abou t thirteen years. Second, Egyptian parents choose careers for their sons. In Canada students choose their own careers. Third, both boys and girls go to school in Canada while only boys went to school in ancient Egypt. One of the ways Egyptians contributed to society was building better houses. The earliest inhabitants of Egypt lived in huts made from papyrus reeds. However, they soon discovered that the mud left behind after the yearly flooding of the Nile could be made into bricks, which could be used for building. Another contribution would be that the ancient Egyptians made dams. Before the dams were built, the Nile River flooded each year during the summer. These floods brought high water plus natural nutrients and minerals that continuously enriched the fertile soil along the river. As Egypt`s population grew and conditions changed, there became a need to control the flood waters to both protect and support farmland and economically important cotton fields. With the reservoir storage provided by these dams, the floods could be lessened and the water could be stored for later release. Pyramids marked the introduction of engineering and architecture. They represented a new way of building large r structures. Knowledge of astronomy was necessary to orient the pyramids to the cardinal points. Canadians contribute to their society in many ways. CANADARM, which was invented in Canada, is used in space exploration. Canada has also manufactured some communications satellites. The Blackberry cell phone was invented in our country and has become a big success in communication. Canadian technology has played an important role in the extraction of crude oil from the tar sands in Northern Alberta. I think that Canada contributed more to our common way of living because we have more freedom to think, experiment, and be creative. If you have freedom, you can learn new skills and contribute to society. Our educational system provides equal opportunity for males and females. I believe that Canada is more successful than Egypt because its immigration policy has allowed highly skilled people to move here and contribute to society. Immigrants bring new ideas to our country, which helps make Canada more successful.Overall, I think life in Canada is better because we now have the knowledge and technology, which helps us make our lives easier. However, I also believe that the Egyptians worked hard for what they had and deserve great credit to the huge success of their compelling and powerful country. By Christine Rehaluk

Categories of Evasion Techniques

Categories of Evasion Techniques Evasion techniques The term evasion technique groups all the methods used by malware to avoid detection, analysis, and understanding. The evasion techniques can be classified into three broad categories, namely, anti-security techniques, anti-sandbox techniques and anti-analyst techniques. Anti-security techniques These techniques are used to avoid detection by antimalware engines, firewalls, application containment, or other tools that protect the environment. Anti-sandbox techniques These techniques are used to detect automatic analysis and avoid engines that report on the behavior of malware. Detecting registry keys, files, or processes related to virtual environments lets malware know if it is running in a sandbox. Anti-analyst techniques These techniques are used to detect and fool malware analysts, for example, by spotting monitoring tools such as Process Explorer or Wireshark, as well as some process-monitoring tricks, packers, or obfuscation to avoid reverse engineering. Some advanced malware samples employ two or three of these techniques together. For example, malware can use a technique like RunPE (which runs another process of itself in memory) to evade antimalware software, a sandbox, or an analyst. Some malware detects a specific registry key related to a virtual environment, allowing the threat to evade an automatic sandbox as well as an analyst attempting to dynamically run the suspected malware binary in a virtual machine. It is important for security researchers to understand these evasion techniques to ensure that security technologies remain viable. Malware detection on mobile devices The basic differences between a PC and mobile device are constrained in terms of computation power, memory and limited battery resources. The targeted exploits of mobile malware are also significantly different from those on PC due to the differences in operating systems and hardware. For e.g. Majority of mobile devices are based on the ARM architecture. Hence, we need to provide due consideration when using the PC based methods for mobile devices. The detection method must use memory and computational resources efficiently and not drain the device battery. The detection method must be cost-efficient to update over the wireless network. There are two general ways of protecting the mobile device. One is to offer protection at the device level and the other is to offer protection at the network level by inspecting packets destined for the device. Device based protection detects and cleans malware including viruses, Trojans and spyware that are installed on the device whereas network based protection looks to detect and prevent intrusions in the network. Malware Analysis Classification All classification approaches taken in the literature can basically be categorized into two types: (i) based on features drawn from an unpacked static version of the executable file and (ii) based on dynamic features of the packed executable file. These approaches are further classified into signature based, behavior based, hybrid based and machine learning based approaches. Signature based approaches are simple and capable to operate online in real time. They detect only known malwares and are not useful for detecting new, unknown and stealthy malwares. They are less powerful with respect to evasion techniques (i.e) obfuscation transformations can easily defeat signature-based detection mechanisms. A signature matching algorithm is well suited for use in mobile device scanning due to its low memory requirements. Behavior based approaches are designed for analyzing the malwares dynamically, thereby allowing it to detect unknown malwares efficiently. They rely on system call sequences/graphs to model a malicious specification/pattern. Behavior-based methods and machine learning methods are dynamic approaches. Anomaly-based approaches, also known as profile-based approaches, profile the statistical features of normal traffic. Any deviation from the profile will be treated as suspicious. They detect previously unknown attacks, but they showed high false-positive ratios when the normal activities are diverse and unpredictable. Specification-based approaches are similar to anomaly detection, but they are based on manually developed specifications that capture legitimate (rather than previously seen) system behaviors. They avoid high false alarm rates caused by legitimate but unseen behavior in the anomaly detection approach. Their drawback lies in more time-consumption as they develop detailed specifications. Thus, one has to trade off specification development effort for increased false negatives (i.e., likelihood that some attacks may be missed). Heuristic approaches for detection in PCs include semantics-based, visualization-based, social network based, entropy based, cryptographic based, difference equation based, kernel based detection approaches. For detection in mobile, immune system-based, memory acquisition-based, suspicious API call patterns, differential fault analysis approach, Intercomponent communications are the approaches that comes under heuristic category. Much research has been conducted on developing automatic malware classification systems using data mining and machine-learning approaches. However, due to various stealth techniques designed by malware authors, most malwares remain undetectable. Organization This paper presents a detailed insight on malware analysis in both the Personal Computer (PC) domain and the mobile domain, based on literature survey done from 1987. First, the various forms of malware and the impact of malware in PC and mobile phones are discussed. Also, their prevalence in most used operating systems such as Windows (for PCs) and Android (for mobile) is focused. Second, the literature survey explaining the contemporary detection approaches are compared with the ancient approaches and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Finally, research questions and findings are discussed, giving key ideas for malware researchers to develop a more robust and efficient detection approach, to improve protection and reduce risks, applicable to real-world scenario.

Microsoft vs. Apple OS Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Microsoft vs. Apple OS - Research Paper Example Operating systems handles the details of the interaction between the user and the hardware. The operating systems are generally used in nearly all computing devices ranging from desktop computers to video games. There basically two prominent operating systems that exist for various functions and professionals; Microsoft windows and the Apple operating system. Depending on the function, the two operating systems exhibit some dissimilarity. For example, for architects and landscape architects, Microsoft windows has traditionally been one of the dominant operating system as it is compatible with a variety of programs relevant to the field such as the Autodesk AutoCAD (Cantrell & Michaels CHAP 1). The operating system OS X and Windows are two different types of operating systems that are created by Apple and the Microsoft companies respectively. The operating system OS X will run on Apple hardware only otherwise referred to as Mac computers, but Windows operating system will run on almos t any compatible hardware referred to as PC computers as well as those produced by Apple organization. Most people who prefer the Apple Mac computers operating on the apple OS X platform argue that Mac accessories are more reliable, that is, they are less prone to program crashing or unexpected shut-downs than PCs which operate on the Microsoft windows platform. However, this remains to a matter to be debated upon by proponents of both operating systems. According to a consumer report survey of laptop computers for the year 2008, two computer gadgets emerged out as the best laptop brands (Peterka pp17-19). These were Mac manufactured by Apple and the Lenovo which incidentally runs on the Microsoft windows operating system. But of the two, Lenovo had a better score than the former in terms of reliability. The Mac on the contrary also recorded a higher score than Lenovo in terms client service and satisfaction. Arguments have therefore erupted as to which operating system is more supe rior to the other. Microsoft windows operating system on the other hand, is a computer software developed by the Microsoft corporation. It is indeed among the leading personal computing platform. The organization’s nature of allowing for the licensing of its windows software products to some firms that have been in the computer manufacturing business, has been the key factor that has seen to Microsoft domination in the computer market. In most cases, Microsoft windows has work in hand in hand with other giant computer manufacturing firms such as HP, Toshiba, Dell and many others. They have availed some of their hardware to virtually all computer users owing to their high compatibility with a variety of computer sets (Silverman pp5-10). The ease of availability of Microsoft products has therefore means that the organization greatly benefits from economies of scale in a way that the cost of these products becomes less expensive. This consequently implies that Microsoft operatin g system based computer products are affordable and easily accessible when compared to the Apple Macs. The affordability of Microsoft products has also been associated with certain stumbling blocks. For instance, through Microsoft’s ever willingness to partner with virtually any party intending to do computer related business activities, the company is therefore usually obliged to carry out all that is within its premise to ascertain that their clients are able to get a Microsoft software that is compatible with the new hardware that the partner company is manufacturing. This might the cost the company a great deal in terms of constant updating of its products which may put the Microsoft Corporation at a shear point of bloating. Also, Microsoft operating system has won the favor of the majority of people owing to the fact that more often than not, it usually ensures that its even its newer operating system can still be compatible even with the older operating system. However, but just like other case, this has also

Auditing Project - Secret Shopper and Internal Controls Essay

Auditing Project - Secret Shopper and Internal Controls - Essay Example Literature Review - After so many high-profile corporate collapses, both government and business has emphasized again the use of internal controls to fight fraud which is one of the white collar crimes being committed in greater amounts and more frequency (Lindgren 1). Fraud is a deception carried out to make unlawful gains and todays fast-paced computerized world often makes detection very difficult. At any rate, the purpose of good internal controls is to prevent fraud from being committed in the first place by making its commission difficult and secondly, internal controls should be able to catch fraud sooner rather than later. When all the internal controls are properly implemented and enforced, detection is easily a matter of time. Specifically with regards to accounting and auditing, internal controls should achieve three things; namely: protecting an organizations assets and properties (both the tangible and intangible), make sure business information (especially financial dat a) is timely and accurate, and lastly, the company is in compliance with reportorial requirements, laws and regulations. The last objective, which is compliance, acquired greater significance in view of the passage of important legislation such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (1977) and equally important Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002). The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations or COSO stepped in to provide crucial guidelines when it comes to fraud, internal controls and financial reporting. Internal controls are five critical components like general corporate environment, risk assessment, information and communications, control activities and monitoring functions (Arens, Elder & Beasley, 321) that in turn impact on its corporate governance, enterprise risk management, business ethics, fraud, internal operational controls and financial reporting. The report therefore pertains to the five

Ch 5, 5, 7 (Questions and Answers) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ch 5, 5, 7 (Questions and Answers) - Essay Example Printed and electronic sources can be utilized for the research with electronic sources that are regularly updated giving accurate information. The internet has powerful search engines that can identify material to the specification of the researcher. A magazine that Specializes in flooring industry can be identified as long as the company’s information is on the internet. Public libraries can also be used to identify such companies. Q#5. Confronted by low sales, the president of Oaks International Inc. asks a research company to study the activities of the customer relation department in the corporation. What are some of the important reasons that this research project may fail to make an adequate contribution to the solution of management problems? A hotel has many divisions and the company should not limit the research agency to analysis of the customer relations department. All the departments in the hotel should be audited to give conclusive evidence. The problems may also be in various departments contributing to the general problem. Rectification of the sales department may solve part of the problem any may increase sales below the organizations potential. The research limitation to one department may yield biased results as the researchers are directed towards the problem. The company should hire the research company to evaluate the problem facing the company without pinpointing the source of the problem (Cooper & Schindler, 2010). To understand how hospitals prepare and train volunteers, the first step would be to identify some sample hospitals which to conduct research. After identifying these hospitals, the researcher should conduct a literature research by reading information from the internet and books on how the process of preparation and training of workers takes place. The researcher can then visit the sample hospitals and compare them with those from the literature

VIRTUAL WORLDS, VIDEO GAMES &GAMES Research Paper

VIRTUAL WORLDS, VIDEO GAMES &GAMES - Research Paper Example It does mean that a great number of relationships are built on false ideas about the other, the identity created in order to support an ideal that the user has defined. The following paper will take a look at the identity of the user in relationship to social identity theory and in the way in which gender is utilized as an aspect of play. The paper first explores the nature of the created identity through examining the development of the avatar. The gaming avatar is the virtualized visual element that represents the online created identity. This includes the aspect of gender which is explored through the choices that are made and the reasons behind those choices. Finally, sexuality and the representation of the created identity as a shield to the real identity are discussed. This creates a discussion about how the online created identity reflects and also does not reflect the real self through social identity theory and a variety of other theories that have an impact on the topic. The use of the examples of Second Life and World of Warcraft to provide for two different types of games will round out the exploration of this paper. The final discussio n will include ideas of gender, sexuality, and the created online identity in order to form an analysis of the phenomenon. The avatar gives the individual the opportunity to define themselves through choices that are consciously made rather than imposed. The individual can become whomever they choose in the context of the game while using the tools that are provided in order to create the sense of identity that is intended within the game environment. The online game identity is a pure creation in which only what a person chooses to show will be revealed. This is not to say that elements of the true self will not come through, but it does mean that there is a great deal of control through which the development of the identity can be

Qualifications of Meaning in Advertising Images Case Study

Qualifications of Meaning in Advertising Images - Case Study Example An investigation of the interactive process instigated by cultural activity can also be seen as a "reflection on the intellectual position of certain cultures." (The English Association, 1999, p.182) Western design and visual communication is regarded as having originated from concepts of global power held by mass media and communication industries. (The English Association, 1999, p.182) By referring to Michael Halliday's concept of representing patterns of experience, visually speaking, it is suggested that what images portray is deeply related to the medium of visuality itself, and therefore a culture that is "dominated by visual signs" will communicate a different reality to one in which language is the predominate medium. (The English Association, 1999, p.182) There is a relationship between the visual and verbal texts and "the visual component of a text is an independently organized and structured message-connected to the verbal text, but in no way dependent on it and similar the other way around." (The English Association, 1999, p.182) Vivienne Westwood's image is an advertisement which focuses on selling a perfume called 'Boudoir'. (www.viviennewestwood.com) The image used in this advertisement portrays a female who is draped by purple covers and her body structure suggests her sleeping on a sunset sky. (www.viviennewestwood.com) The predominate colors are soft purple, yellow and blue. According to Michael D. Harris: "Images and symbols can convey meaning centrifugally by using concrete, physical information to evoke understandings within the viewer". (Harris, 2003, p.253) Through the images conveyed in Westwood's advertisement, it can be argued that the u se of covers and soft colors symbolize calm, sensually stimulating atmosphere, in which the reader is able to understand its connection with her perfume called 'Boudoir', or bedroom in English. Similarly, the advertisement provides the audience with a visual stimulus that is linked to sexuality, which is in turn an emotional stimulus. (Web/Online) As Westwood's image is analyzed, it is easy to understand that the sexuality concept is largely emphasized with the woman figure floating on air, naked and wrapped in bed sheets. The sexual feelings sent out to the audience through a semi-naked female stresses the "nature" style of the product. (Web/Online) The colors yellow, blue and purple contrast the relatively smaller bottle of perfume situated on the far right corner of the advertisement. The basic principle of advertising "requires that an advertisement should SURNAME, 3 first draw attention and interest then desire and action". (Web/Online) Thus, the visual language being employed by Westwood's advertisement is one of a sexual nature. The significance of the image or what its connotation implies is one of a private and sensual feeling that can be attained through the use of the perfume. Moreover, the language used in the advertisement, which is seen in bold white upper-case font, is the title of the perfume, 'Boudoir'. The title itself works through its own means as well as within the picture. For example, 'Boudoir' is part of the French language for

Identity Perception in the Virtual World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Identity Perception in the Virtual World - Essay Example The above mentioned points are a few of the choices that face people when creating their own identity on the Internet or within cyber space. This is where the use of decision aids comes in as far as the following points are concerned: These are some of the features that describe the various ways in which an individual decides to express himself or herself and put across an identity or a face to an entity in the cyber world. In this essay, there will be a focus on describing exact scenarios so as to put across the realities of developing an identity within the human relation setting in cyber space. This identity will then be scrutinized on the above mentioned parameters which will be described in keeping with the evaluation and thinking aloud models that a person makes use of when using a decision aid in order to define himself or herself. This essay will put forward various arguable points that in turn will render authenticity to the identity. This is merely a rough draft with a vague framework of ideas that have helped in developing a point of view. This point of view will be further classified within the essay on the basis of the above mentioned models so as to ensure that there is clear demarcation of the various kinds of perceptions that revolve around this kind of an identity. This will also be covered with the use of parameters for description such as trials, tribulations and various other such facets of being an entity in the virtual realm. Identity Perception in the Virtual World With an increase in the phenomenon known as globalization and the wide use of technology as a complementary feature, human society has changed and the needs have increased manifold. Changes in the political, economical and cultural arena have challenged and effected alterations within various professions. The autonomy of professions has been under challenge because the market has tried to decrease it so to reduce their power and status. Also, trust has been replaced by target setting accountability as client-professional interactions have been limited in order for services and companies' profits to be increased. In this regard, the identity of a person has come to be influenced by various factors that involve the technical aspects within which people and organizations operate. This essay will describe a setting within which the identity issues of an individual will be perceived and put forth. Parameter for Study: Human Relation Setting In the human relation setting, it is imperative for the assessor to be at his or her most attentive best. Since this may not always be possible, there is a room for faulty perception especially in an arena like the cyber space where there is little real time interaction. Also, in case a personal bias of some sort creeps in towards a problem area encountered by the entity, there is scope for misguided judgments regarding identity perception to take place. This also makes the participant more

The quartering of british soldiers during the american revolution Essay

The quartering of british soldiers during the american revolution - Essay Example However as time passed by the revolution felt strong wind in its favor and that no doubt came from the common mass, without whom no revolution at any part of the world can experience a long lasting success. The erratic rules that were frequently imposed on the Americans by the British government, led by King George the third; combined with high level of taxes that were totally biased towards the Americans, initiated a slow burning furnace of hatred amidst the heart of many Americans. As referred by Ward â€Å"The quartering of troops on private property was one of the objectionable measures that contributed to the coming of the American Revolution.†1 The quartering act acted as a positive catalyst to hasten the outburst of the hatred of the American people that finally transformed into The Great American Revolution. The East Coast of America was the first to fall prey to the British Colonialism. In 1700s the mentioned place was colonized by the British and the period might wel l be marked as the initiation of an oppressive rule that was often erratic and clueless while governing those people whom it had colonized. The need of formation, implementation and monitoring of the law was indeed needed but with much more rationality that the British Government had shown. To maintain the domination on a foreign land and to look after the basic securities so that it should not fall in hand of the enemies; maintaining of troops is needed on that land. Maintaining a large troop will definitely seek the three basic needs of any human being, namely food cloth and shelter and all these involves a cost that has to be maintained from the government revenue. To solve this problem and to find a single solution to this double trouble the quartering act was thought of and implemented by the British Government. In brief the act required the people living in American Land to provide barracks, bedding, utensils, certain specific staple provisions as well as a daily quota of cide r and beer to the British troops implemented on American soil and all that at free of cost. Such an act must come with a prelude that acts as a veil on the eye of the commons and the Britons were masters in such act. During the French and the Indian war posting British troops in American land was indeed needed. Again it was obvious while those soldiers were looking after the safety of the colonists they should also provide shelter and food from their own account. This was a war time emergency and many Americans realized that. There was almost no resistance while quartering for British troops on American soil was passed for the first time during the Indian and French war. But it was expected as soon as these wars would be over the temporary law would also be abandoned. In sheer contrast the coming time witnessed the legalization of Quartering law for the first time in 17652. Again, quartering stressed the already tiring financial status of the colonial legislatures under further fina ncial burden3. However, the initial quartering act that was enacted in the month of

Security Objective Components Essay Example for Free

Security Objective Components Essay The component of the overall security objective that deserves the most attention in the environments mentioned in the article would be the personal security. Churches do not usually have any type of security at all because they are suppose to be a very safe place for a person to go. With churches having absolutely no type of security cameras or security personnel then they are left wide open for any type of attack, whether it be shootings, bombings, arson, vandalism, or even robbery. If churches were to install security camera to watch the outside grounds then they would be better protected because they could see if any kind of crime was going on, possibly be able to catch the people that committed those crimes, and maybe even prevent some of those people from even trying to commit crimes because they see the cameras. I do not think that security camera would prevent all crimes, but I think that it would help to detour the amount of crimes committed at churches and help to keep the innocent church goers safer while church is in service. I think that the component that would be less pertinent foe churches during a vulnerability assessment would be the information and paperwork of the church. I feel that if someone is going to go on a shooting rampage or try to set fire to a church that they are not going to be concerned about the information and documents that are within that church. If a person is troubled enough to perform such a heinous act like this then files and documents are going to be the last thing on their mind. If something like this were to happen and the church had security cameras and security personnel, to watch those camera, that they would be able to look for any kind of suspicious activity like this and try to avoid something like this from happening. This would also aid police in catching the person that did this if it were to happen because they would be able to review the security cameras and see exactly what happened. I think that some countermeasures that could be taken, other than security ca meras, would be to have a security guard on duty while the church is in service because this is a more likely time for something to happen. Another thing that could be done is to have the people that work at the church keep an eye on anyone who maybe going through some very hard personal situations just in case they start to present any suspicious or strange behavior. As sad as it is that anything like this could, would, or has happened in or at a church there is  not a way to completely, one hundred percent, avoid it. There are security measures that churches can take to aid in keeping the church, its employees, and people that attend that church safe like what I have previously mentioned. Another thing that the church could do would be to contact the local fire department, SWAT team, or bomb squad so that they know exactly what needs to be done if a situation like that ever were to present its self. This way they can keep as many people safe as possible. If a situation or events like what happened at these churches has occurred at malls, I think that the exact same security objectives would be important. Personal security is going to be the most important thing. At a mall it is likely that there are going to be a lot more people and a significantly larger area to be watched so it would be pertinent to make sure that there is a considerable amount of security cameras to cover all of the necessary areas and enough security personnel to watch those cameras and patrol the mall to look out for anything out of the ordinary. The same countermeasures that applied to the churches, I believe should be applicable for the shopping malls just on a larger scale. The most important thing is still going to be making sure that all of the innocent people and employees are kept as safe as possible. Another counter measure that a mall could take would be to have after hours security in addition to the day time security, this way they can still monitor for any odd or suspicious behavior because I believe that if someone was going to try something like setting off a bomb or starting a fire then they are going to look for the best possible place to do that and they might try to do that at night. There are many different security objectives that a place of business must take into consideration because there are dangerous people out there and no one can predict what and when something bad will happen.

Reward and punishment in Transactional Leadership

Reward and punishment in Transactional Leadership Transactional leadership is the reward and punishment thought social organizations. It is also the fundamental motivators of human behavior . It focuses on more of the personal side of the organizational the interactions, as well as vision, teamwork, values, development this things are the foundation of leadership. That help make up other styles of leadership. Transactional leadership was first described by Max Weber in 1947 and also by Bernard Bass in 1981. Transactional leadership theory developed by Weber and Bass later became part of a three style model . Bass believed each leader exhibited a style along a continuum and he later developed the Multifactor Leadership. The transactional leadership style developed by Bass is based on the hypothesis that followers are motivated through a system of rewards and punishment. The theory behind transformational leaders on the other hand is based on the hypothesis that leaders can exploit a need of the follower. These particular needs are no t based on quid pro quo transactions, but higher order needs. These needs are those of the total person and are closely aligned with the internal motivational factors of the follower. So at one end of the spectrum we have transactional leaders that are making many deals with those being led. On the other end of the spectrum weve got transformational leader that are looking to satisfy a greater need of an individual. The types of transactional leaders described by theorists include categories such as Opinion Leaders, Group Leaders, Governmental / Party Leaders, Legislative Leaders and Executive Leaders. If you think about these categories, you should have a greater appreciation for what makes the transactional leadership style tick. These are leaders we read about in the press all the time. They are constantly meeting new people, making deals (completing transactions) and moving on. In practice, there is sufficient truth in Behaviorism to sustain Transactional approaches. This is reinforced by the supply-and-demand situation of much employment, coupled with the effects of deeper needs, as in Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. When the demand for a skill outstrips the supply, then Transactional Leadership often is insufficient, and other approaches are more effective. When rewarding a subordinate, a transactional leader must create a clear structure of what is required of said worker when following orders. Alongside rewards, there should be a well understood formal system of discipline in place, although not always talked about. Often the transactional leader will work under the expectation that if something isnt broke, dont fix it. In other words, if a principle is operating to expectations, it doesnt warrant notice. Along with this is the expectation that anything above expectations merits praise and rewarding, and anything below expectations needs corrective action.. The type of leadership that is mostly found in the hospitality industry is transactional leadership, where as the manager is try to motivate the employees to be productive. When rewarding a subordinate (employee), a transactional leader must create a clear structure of what is required of said worker when following orders. Alongside rewards, there should be a well understood formal system of discipline in place, although not always talked about. The early stage of Transactional Leadership is in negotiating the contract whereby the subordinate (employee) is given a wage and other benefits by company. Burns studied Weber and reasoned that transactional leadership were like bureaucrats leadership. It is a since of power and control direct orders. Transactional leadership makes clear that what is required and expected from their subordinates. It also mentions that subordinates will get award if they follow the orders seriously. Sometimes punishments are not mentioned but they are understood. In the early stages of transactional leadership, subordinate is in the process of negotiating the contract. The contract specifies fixed salary and the benefits that will be given to the subordinate. Rewards are given to subordinates for applied effort. Some organization use incentives to encourage their subordinates for greater productivity. Transactional leadership is a way of increasing the performance of its subordinates by giving them r ewards. Transactional leadership is also called as true leadership style as it focuses on short term goals instead of long term goals. Transactional leadership has more of a telling style. Transactional leadership is based on the fact that reward or punishment is dependent on the performance. Even though researchers have highlighted its limitations, transactional leadership is still used by many employers. More and more companies are adopting transactional leadership to increase the performance of its employees. This approach is prevalent in real workplace. In Transactional leadership, when the leader assigns work to its subordinates, then it is the responsibility of the subordinate to see that the assigned task is finished on time. If the assigned task is not completed on time or if something then punishment is given for their failure. But if they accomplish the task in time then the subordinates are given reward for successfully completing the task. Subordinates are also given awa rd and praised for exceeding expectations. A subordinate whose performance is below expectation is punished and some action is taken to increase his or her performance. The main limitation of this leadership is that it assumes that people are largely motivated by simple rewards. Under transactional leadership, employees cant do much to improve job satisfaction. Transaction leadership has been ineffective in providing skilled employees to their organization. This style of leadership is least interested in changing the work environment. This leadership also assumes that when people agree to do a particular assignment, a part of that agreement is that they give up all authority to their boss. The leader holds control and power over the subordinates. The main goal of the employee is to obey the orders of their managers. The idea is that when a subordinate takes up a job, he or she agrees to obey their manager totally. The transaction is the money or any other award that the company pays to its subordinates for their compliance and effort. The relationship between the subordinate and the leader becomes transactional. In transactional leadership the leader has the right to punish his or her subordinates if their performance is not according to the predetermined standard. Leadership in organizations is important in shaping workers perceptions, responses to organizational change, and acceptance of innovations, such as evidence-based practices. Transformational leadership inspires and motivates followers, whereas transactional leadership is based more on reinforcement and exchanges. When the Transactional Leader allocates work to a subordinate, they are considered to be fully responsible for it, whether or not they have the resources or capability to carry it out. When things go wrong, then the subordinate is considered to be personally at fault, and is punished for their failure just as they are rewarded for succeeding. As a starting point, let us review our everyday life. In general, a relationship between two people is based on the level of exchange they have. Exchange need not be money or material; it can be anything. The more exchange they have the more stronger the relation. Your manager expects more productivity from you in order to give good rewards. In this way, if something is done to anyone based on the return then that relation is called as Transactional type. In politics, leaders announces benefits in their agenda in exchange to the vote from the citizens. In business, leaders announces rewards in turn to the productivity. These relation is all about requirements, conditions and rewards (or punishment). Leaders who show these kind of relationship are called transactional leadership. Within all of these theories, frameworks, and approaches to leadership, theres an underlying message that leaders need to have a variety of factors working in their favor. Effective leadership is not simply based on a set of attributes, behaviors, or influences. You must have a wide range of abilities and approaches that you can draw upon. How leaders behave impacts on their effectiveness. Researchers have realized, though, that many of these leadership behaviors are appropriate at different times. So, the best leaders are those who can use many different behavioral styles and use the right style for each situation. With this in mind, there are many different frameworks that have shaped our current understanding of leadership, and many of these have their place, just as long as theyre used appropriately. Transactional leadership was thought of by Max Weber. Weber was born in 1864 and died 1920. Weber was a bureaucracy and usually described as having believed that bureaucracy is the most efficient form of an organization . So, whether you manage a team at work, captain a sports team, or lead a major corporation, which approach is best? Consciously, or subconsciously, youll probably use some of the leadership styles in this article at some point. Understanding these styles and their impact can help you develop your own, personal leadership style and help you become a more effective leader The Leader subject to strict and systematic discipline and control in the conduct of the office. Claims to obedient based on rational values and rules and established agreement. The office holder restricted to impersonal official obligations and commands. Exercise authority. Each office holder office defined by Sphere of competence! Person does not owe Obedience to the individual, but to the Impersonal order! Rules regulate the conduct of an office! Complete separation of property belonging to the personal and to the organization! The leader subject to strict and systematic discipline and controlling the conduct office.

Asian Popular Culture In Globalization Contexts

Asian Popular Culture In Globalization Contexts Globalization is a process of cultural, economic, politics and religious integration all over the world. Globalization has brought about great changes on the ideologies, communication, and transportation. The Asian popular culture has also undergone great changes under the background of globalization. During the globalization process, the Asian popular culture has played an important and critical role. The Asian popular culture has exerted great influence on the world culture. The Chinese Kung Fu and the Japanese animation are the typical examples which have brought about great impact on the world popular culture. The case of the Chinese Kung Fu in the film industry and the Japanese animation images will be further studied in the following passages. Case 1 Chinese Kung Fu in the film industry In recent years, the Chinese Kung Fu films have been popular all over the world. Many Hollywood films contain the Chinese Kung Fu elements. The philosophy in the Kung Fu such as go with the nature has been wide spread (Royo, 2009). Learning Chinese Kung Fu has become a fashion among many foreigners. The images created by the Chinese Kung Fu actor Bruce Lee, Jacky Chan and Jet Lee have influenced people of several generations. The director Ang Lees film Chinese Kung Fu film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has won the 2000 Academy Award including the Best Foreign Language Film, Best Cinematography, Best Music, Original Score, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration. The 2008 animation Kung Fu Panda of DreamWorks has again fired a Chinese Kung Fu fashion. In the film, besides the martial arts and the Panda which are of strong Chinese characteristics, other Chinese elements have also been included, such as the chopsticks, Chinese costumes and Shifu(master). In this film, the Chinese philoso phies have also been involved. As a matter of fact, the Hollywood films which take Chinese historical stories as the main theme, or which involves Chinese elements are in a great number. The Chinese Kung Fu has already been rooted in the film audiences minds. Most western film goers believes that if the protagonist in the film has been equipped with Chinese Kung Fu, he is sure to beat his opponent no matter what impediment or unfavorable condition the protagonist is in (Belton, 1996). Due to the influence of the film industry, the Chinese Kung Fu has been widely spread all over the world and become popular. Many foreigners including the westerners as well as those in the Asian countries as well come to china to study Chinese martial arts or Kung Fu. The Shaolin Monastery becomes an ideal destination for the fans who love the martial arts of Bruce Lee or Jacky Chan. The Shaolin Monastery in the Henan Province in china is on the Songshan Mountain which is one of the four renowned moun tains in china. The Shaolin Monastery has a long tradition of martial arts and the monks in this monastery are all master hand in martial arts. The name of Shaolin Monastery has been spread by many films. Every year, the Shaolin Monastery receives thousands of foreign tourists who interested in the martial arts and the Kung Fu lovers who want to study martial arts. The monks of the Shaolin Monastery will put performance every year all over the world and their performance is enthusiastically welcomed by the foreign audience no matter they love Kung Fu or not. The Chinese Kung Fu gradually becomes a part of popular culture with the help of the film and the film itself has been popular enough. The Kung Fu has also becomes popular among the Chinese. Many elements in Chinese Kung Fu have been incorporated in peoples daily exercises to keep fit. Case analysis Chinese popular culture as the bridge between the eastern and western culture under the background of globalization From this case, the Chinese popular culture has played a role of bridging the western and eastern culture. Under the background of globalization, culture diversification is an inevitable trend under the background of globalization. The integration and infiltration of the alien culture and the local culture is an inevitable process for the development of the culture. No culture can develop and evolve through isolation and insulation with the outside world. Therefore, the Chinese popular has played the role of bridging the western and eastern culture through the popularization of the martial arts, a major part of the Chinese popular culture. This bridging process promotes the culture diversification as well as the development of various cultures. In the past, the western people have little knowledge about china and the Chinese has distorted knowledge about the western countries as well as some Asian countries. During the communication and exchanging with the foreign cultures, more fore igners become interested in knowing more about the unique culture of china which they had little knowledge. Due to more direct communication with the outside world, the Chinese know more about the foreign cultures. In the case of the Shaolin Monastery, on one hand, the foreigners come to china to seek the martial arts in their minds, on the other hand, the Shaolin Monastery organize monks to put performance in foreign countries to display the essence of the martial arts in their minds. The Shaolin martial arts therefore become an industry which will bring about profits to the Shaolin Monastery and can provide martial arts teaching service for the public particularly to the foreigners. There are many other labels in Asian popular cultures such as the Japanese animation and Judo, like the Chinese martial arts, they have all played the role of the bridging the different cultures. Case 2 Hello Kitty and Japan Hello Kitty is a world famous cartoon image which came out in 1974 in Japan. Hello Kitty can be regarded as the prime representation of the Japanese popular culture as well as the world popular culture. This simple cat image with bowknot on the head and with no mouth has become popular for almost 30 years all over the world. The image of Kitty can be seen on cup, notebook, cell-phone, toy, watch, computer and etc. Almost on most of the daily utensils, the image of Kitty can be seen. There are 22,000 products are labeled on the image of Kitty and sold to over 40 countries all over the world (Craig, 2000). In the year 2004, McDonald pushed a mini decorative pendent of Kitty. This pendent has become so popular that in Taiwan the lovers took this pendant as the symbol of their love. In Singapore, a commotion happened when people were queuing to buy the happy meal with the theme of Hello Kitty. Hello Kitty has brought about 50 million dollars profits to its copyright owners every year (Cr aig, 2000). Not only kids love Kitty, the adults even the old people loves Kitty. For a child, Kitty is a lovely toy; for an office lady, Kitty brings her back to her innocent childhood; for a father, Kitty gives him a chance to show his love and care for his children who loves Kitty very much. People of different age, taste, style, gender and wish are attracted by this lovely little cat. Unlike Garfield or Mickey Mouse which are backed by fascinating films and books, there are no stories, movies, TV series, books about Kitty but Kitty has become a cultural symbol for it successfully satisfied peoples desire for innocence. Not only Kitty is welcomed by the general public, Kitty and her family members, friends, boy friend are all welcomed by the people all over the world. Many people have a desire to collect a whole series of Kitty products. The scene that people wait in long queue just to buy the newly come out Kitty product can usually be seen. Kitty is not just a successful produc t; it becomes a lifestyle of some people. It reflects peoples inner motives, desires and emotion. It is a cultural product which arouses fierce discussion among scholars and politicians who are blamed to manipulating the image to realize the political purpose (Zoonen, 2004) . Case analysis Hello Kitty, urban syndromes and animation diplomacy The popular of Hello Kitty has two reasons. The first one is that with the acceleration of the industrialization and urbanization, people feel more alienated and lonely. The interpersonally relationship becomes more impersonal and cold. Under the urban culture of strong pressure, depression and competition, people tend to ease their pressure and gain care and love from lovely objects. Hello Kitty is a product which just fulfills the need of the vulnerable urban people with various urban syndromes. Hello Kitty can be regarded as the representation of the lovely culture which exists to ease peoples pressure and satisfy their longing for love under the background of globalization which makes the urban syndromes more severe. The second reason for the popular of Hello Kitty is that the Japanese government has made efforts to promote the Japan image and the soft power of Japan by promoting Hello Kitty and other renowned cartoon images. Thus the further and enduring popularity of Hello Kitt y has close relation to the governments efforts. The promotion of the Hello Kitty of the Japanese government is with the intention to promote Japanese culture and Japanese image all over the world. Some western media believe that Japans overseas image has close relation to the image of Hello Kitty. The fact attests to this saying for in May 2008, Hello Kitty becomes the tourism promotion ambassador of Japan (Desai, 2004). On March 19th, 2008, the Japanese Foreign Ministry held a special ambassador inauguration (Desai, 2004). The animation image Doraemon, a blue machine cat was appointed as the foreign ambassador of Japan which was an unprecedented event. Hello Kitty and Doraemon have both bore the responsibility of improving the image of Japan. This culture diplomacy taken by the Japanese government is regarded as animation diplomacy (Desai, 2004). The Japanese popular culture has been successfully used by the government to improve the countrys soft power under the background of glo balization. Japan has taken advantage of its popular culture to improve its influence on the world. The influence of the Asian popular culture on the flow of people The flow of people and the Asian popular culture is an interaction process. On one hand the Asian popular culture influences the flow of people and on the other hand the flow of people makes the Asian popular culture more diversified and spread in a wider range. As to the influence of the Asian popular culture on the flow of people, before discussing this issue, first of all, the categories of flow of people will be discussed. The flow of people can be divided into the flow within the country and the flow among different countries. The flow of people can be permanent or temporary. The Asian popular culture has exerted influence on both the four kinds of flow of people. Most people migrant with the hope that they will reach a better destination to live or settle down and the image of better destination to some extent is build on the popular culture. For the popular culture is the easiest access to understand the culture of another nation. The Asian popular culture has great impact on the temporary flow of people. The major part of the temporary flow of people is tourists. For example, with the popular of the Chinese Kung Fu film all over the world, people from various countries come to china to find out whether the Kung Fu in the film is real. Thus they go to the Shaolin Monastery to see the monks so as to satisfy their curiosity. Some frantic Kung Fu lovers even stay in Shaolin Monastery to study the martial arts. From large number of tourists from all over the world received by the Shaolin Monastery, it is easy to infer that the popular culture has exerted great impact on the temporary flow of people. In Japan, the situation is quite similar. Large numbers of tourists come to Japan just want to visit the Hello Kitty Museum or to buy the Doraemon products which can only be purchased in Japan. Moreover, within the same country, flow of people can still be caused by the popular culture. Most young people are willing to live in the part of the country where the po pular culture is thriving (McDonnell, 2000). Those young people may try to find a job or travel in those parts in the country, thus the flow of people becomes more frequently within the country. The influence of the Asian popular culture on the ideas The Asian popular culture has great influence on the ideas of people all over the world. A countrys image has close relation to the countrys popular culture. Take the Chinese popular culture as an example, the Kung Fu in the films seem incredible and mysterious to the foreigners particularly the westerner. Thus image of china in the westerners minds are usually mysterious. Besides, with the spread of the Chinese popular culture, the traditional Chinese philosophy is also spread to all over the world. The unique traditional Chinese culture which put emphasis on the harmony between human and nature has greatly influenced the westerners ideas. More westerners begin to learn the profoundness of the Asian culture and begin to have further study on the eastern culture by the help of the popular culture. The Asian popular culture plays the role of the media in spread the ideology of the Asian (Huat, 2004). Another example is Japan. Japan has made great efforts to establish sound national im age through promoting it popular culture. The cute Hello Kitty and other animation images make the image of Japan milder and friendly. The Japanese animation exerts great impact on the ideas of the teenagers all over the world particularly the teenagers in Asian countries. The teenagers will wear like the characters in the animation or wear the ornaments the characters in the animation wear (McDonnell, 2000). The success of the Japanese film Spirited Away has popularize the eastern philosophy all over the world. Its great impact on the ideas of people can be demonstrated by the recognition of this film from the international society. This film has won many prizes including Best Animated Feature in the 2001 Academy Award. The animator Hayao Miyazaki who directs this film is world-renowned and his other works are also welcomed by the people all over the world. Through his works, the Japanese and Asian culture and philosophy has been wide spread which makes the outside world knows more about Asian and Japan (Iwabuchi, 2002). Hayao Miyazakis work is the integration of the Asian ideology and ideologies from other parts of the world. This is a forceful demonstration that Asian popular culture has great impact on the ideas of people from all over the world. The influence of Asian popular culture on the trends In most Chinese Kung Fu films, the masters in the films usually wear the traditional Chinese garment (Tang suit) and the female characters usually wear cheongsam. With the spread of those Kung Fu film, the traditional Chinese garment and cheongsam become popular all over the world. The Chinese costume elements such as red embroidered peony can usually be seen in the Fashion Week in Milan. The fashion industry all over the world has integrated the traditional Chinese costume elements in the trends. The most wanted gifts of the foreign tourists in china are the traditional Chinese garment and cheongsam. The above example demonstrates that the popular culture has exerted even changed the trends and fashion. Moreover, the popularity of the Chinese Kung Fu films also promoted the trends of Chinese study. For a time, learning Chinese becomes a trend and fashion among the westerners. Another example is Japan animation. Not to mention the Hello Kitty that is a trend itself. The large sale an d peoples frantic purchasing of the Kitty products demonstrate the charm of Kitty. Kitty has changed the fashion industry which usually means slim models, glorious ornaments, luxurious brands and dazzling shows. Kitty ignites a new concept that loveliness and simplicity can also be a trend. The trend is as a matter of fact, the reflection of the mind set and metal state of the people (Tay, 2009). The Asian popular culture to some extent changes the mindset and metal state of the people. Moreover, the Korean TV series has also fired a trend in Asian countries, especially in china. The Chinese youngsters, teenagers and even housewives and office ladies become interested in the Korean culture such as costume and food (Chua Iwabuchi, 2008). Their ideas about the country Korean are mostly based on the TV series (Dator Seo, 2004). In conclusion, the popular culture has changes and influenced peoples ideas to a large extent. The influence of Asian popular culture on the cultural products Before discussing the influence of Asian popular culture on the cultural products, the concept and scope of the cultural products should be identified. The cultural products are the products which come out from the culture or are closely related to the culture. The typical cultural products are books, softwares, magazines, computer games, films, TV shows. Asian popular cultures influence on the films is obvious. The Judo, Kung Fu elements in the Hollywood films are welcomed by the foreigners. The computer games based on Kung Fu Panda and Japanese animation figures have been sold all over the world and welcomed by the teenager and computer game lovers. The Asian popular has brought about great profits to the cultural industry. The success of Kitty is another example which demonstrates the influence of the popular culture on the culture products. The Asian Kung Fu film and the Japanese animation are all examples that the popular culture has exerted great influence on the cultural produ cts (Malik, 2009). The western media and newspapers cover large amount reports on Asian culture and tradition and the one of their motivations is to satisfy the westerners curiosity about the eastern culture elements in the popular cultural products such as films and animation. The cultural products are no longer monopolized by the American MTV, MacDonalds and hip-hop. The cultural products have integrated more Asian elements due to the spread of the Asian popular culture which are welcomed under the diversified and internationalized world (Pieterse, 2009). Conclusion This essay has discussed the role of Asian popular culture under the background of globalization. The world under the background of globalization becomes more diversified. The Asian popular culture has adapted itself to the more diversified world and acts as the bridge between the western and eastern culture. In this essay, the cases of Chinese Kung Fu and Japanese Hello Kitty are discussed in detail. The above two can both be regarded as the typical representation of the Asian popular culture. During the process of globalization, the above two cultural labels have interacted with the world culture. They changes the world culture and at the same time be changed by the world culture. They are the promoter of the Asian popular culture and the world popular culture is no longer dominated by the Americans strong popular culture such as Starbuck and MTV. The migration of people, the change of peoples ideas, the various trends, and the cultural products are all greatly influenced by the po pular culture. The popular culture is a major part of a nations culture whose impact can never be ignored.

The Manitoba Land Question, 1870-1882 Essay examples -- Article Analys

In the article titled â€Å"The Manitoba Land Question, 1870-1882† Sprague argues that the federal government was largely responsible for failing to properly address Metis Land claims. Sprague believes the Canadian government purposefully mismanaged and controlled Metis land organization to further its agenda. He also argues that the Canadian government did not hold up its constitutional obligation as per the Manitoba Act. Lastly Sprague suggests that newly introduced laws opened doors for settlers and made it difficult for the Metis to remain cohesive. As a result Sprague suggests that these factors lead to the loss of Metis land and therefore ultimately contributed to their subsequent exodus from Manitoba. To begin Sprague argues that the Canadian Government disingenuously mismanaged Metis land organization. Sprague states that evidence of this can be seen in the Canadian government not allowing the Lieutenant Governor Adams G. Archibald to make changes to Section 31 and 32 of the Manitoba Act. Archibald proposed the government grant outlined in Section 31 should allocate each person of Aboriginal ancestry an allotment of â€Å"140 acres† (pg.75) of land. Archibald also suggested that the location of these allotments be in close proximity so as to â€Å"not disperse families throughout the province† (Pg. 75). Lastly Archibald proposed a suggestion in carrying out Section 32 which insured that land owned was not jeopardized during the process of confederacy. He recommended that Manitoba be recognized as an independent province such that affairs including land ownership would be dealt with on a provincial level. Therefore as Sprague argues Archibald’s words were not taken into consideration by both the governments of John A. Macdonald and Alexa... ... In conclusion, Sprague believes that a number of factors carried out by the Canadian government ultimately led to the exodus of the Metis from Manitoba. Firstly through the manipulation of Metis land organization, secondly through broken promises made by the Canadian Government, and lastly through newly introduced laws which dispersed the Metis. In class we are currently studying the arrival of Selkirk settlers into Manitoba; this article was interesting as it put topics discussed in class in much more perspective. This article would be best suited towards those in the area of law, history or government as it contains historical evidence. Through this article Sprague has done an excellent job of outlining the historical events that took place during the 1870-1882 periods more articles surrounding this topic should be written to uncover further injustices.

American Execptionlism on Country Music Essays -- US culture, histor

American Exceptionlism is basically the idea that we are different then other countries in the world. Which I believe is false because the U.S has these rules but there not really writing down rules there just like norms that American should have. There are certain attributes that a American should have there are things you should know as a American. Now what am I talking about it could be many things such as knowing who the president is in the big chair in D.C or having a huge truck that can drive up heels. Having the U.S flag out on Memorial Day. So many things can be things that make American. What I want to solely focus on is the idea that country music is what it is to be an American and accepted in the U.S. Now I know for myself I am not a big country music fan. I know the normal country music singers such as Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Rascal Flats and etc. Country music I believe is what makes an America America. Now back in the 19 century days being an American was being white and having property and being male. (Foner,) Now when you compare country music to that, most country singers are male and white. And to be a country singer it’s only right if you have large sums of land to own with a big house on it. It’s funny how these two ideas relate to each other in two different centuries. Being male and white can really get you ahead in society. Its idea that isn’t right but it’s the reality of our country. Country music sets the standards on what an American should be life. If you ever google country music the definition of it would say something like an American popular music in the south. (Definition) Key word in the definition AMERICAN and als o fiddles. Now all they had in the 1700’s was fiddles to play whe... ...c shouldn’t be seen as what America is like cause it’s not. The U.S is supposed to be the great American melting pot with diverse people and music and jobs and lives and homes and lifestyles. But no one is expressing this cause being different isn’t welcome and that it might be suspicious to other people because you are not doing what they’re doing. References Yahoo. (December 6, 2006). Country Music and Hip Hop: They're Not so Different After All. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/country-music-hip-hop-they-re-not-so-different- 127930.html?cat=33 D. (November 28, 2013). American Exceptionlism will fail the republic will fail and black men will succeed. Retrieved from http://hiphopandpolitics.com/2013/11/28/today-american- exceptionalism-will-fail-black-men-will-succeed/ Dictionary. Country music. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/country+music

Female Stereotypes and Stereotyping in The Big Sleep Essay -- sleep

Female Stereotypes and Stereotyping in The Big Sleep      Ã‚   "Small and delicately put together . . ." (5). "Tall and rangy, strong looking . . ." (17). Chandler's descriptions of Carmen and Vivian, respectively, highlight his use or misuse of the typical female stereotypes in, The Big Sleep. From the initial physical description that Chandler gives, the reader can quickly see that the women are complete opposites. Carmen lacks color and does not appear to be healthy while Vivian is "worth a stare" (17). Carmen has sharp predatory teeth while Vivian has, "hot black eyes" (17). Chandler characterizes Carmen as the petite, helpless female who needs protection. Vivian, on the other hand, is a physically impressive, powerful woman. The importance of the physical appearance of the women dwindles as the book progresses. It becomes clear that Chandler wrote a misogynistic novel as the mental abilities of the women become the focal point. Both women are cunning. Carmen, on the other hand, is "baby-like," (5). As Chandler reveals more about Carmen, we find that Carmen is a child trapped in a woman's body. When Marlowe finds Carmen naked in his bed, he addresses her like a child. In an effort to get her dressed, he asks, "Now will you dress like a nice little girl" (155). She reacts like a naughty child and refuses to get dressed until he threatens to throw her out on the street. Marlowe's contempt for Carmen is grounded in the fact that she is a woman who is able to manipulate him. Carmen knows what she wants and she does not know how to handle rejection. Vivian is characterized as a smart, sly, but not necessarily noble woman. In the end, it appears that Marlowe respects, but does not care for her. She is a... ...y simple words to describe Vivian, such as beautiful, long, and slim. The metaphor that he uses to describe her legs is amazing. He said that her legs and ankles had, "enough melodic line for a tone poem" (17). After all of the simple words, this metaphor is extremely effective. Chandler used enough descriptive words that even a person who had never seen a tone poem would understand a metaphor. Playing with descriptions of characters is the way that Chandler fits them into stereotypical roles as women who should be feared. Carmen is crazy and Vivian is a seductress who has the same mental abilities as Marlowe. His descriptions of the characters are detailed and they tell the reader just enough to allow her to fit the character into an inappropriate stereotypical group. Work Cited Chandler, Raymond. The Big Sleep. New York: Vintage Books, 1996.

Meaning of Life Meaning †Religion Essay

We walk around in the world and we as human beings look to find fulfillment and happiness in many things such as sports, friends, and boy/girlfriends and as young people when we get rejected by these things we act like we can’t go on with life. . But i challenge you to think about the meaning of â€Å"LIFE†. Well Life is a Gift of God, Abundance of receiving things. . In John 4 its speaks on living water and how Jesus uses both the physical and spiritual meaning of water when he speaks to the  Samaritan Woman, He refers to the spiritual side as living water. People in the world tend to you suicide or hurting themselves as a way out of situations but God gave us eternal life so that we may be humble servants unto him. . God never puts more on us than we can bear. . Life is important so we really need to know the meaning of it because it seems to be lost in today’s society. .I used to be bitter and sad before i had gotten saved. . I had a huge void that needed to be filled and nothing truly could fill it. . Except GOD.

Complexity of Poetry Essay

Poetry is a way for the reader to openly interpret a poem in almost any way they see fit. Because there is so much freedom of interpretation with poetry, there leaves a lot of room for discussion and opposition. Billy Collin’s poem, â€Å"Introduction to Poetry†, breaks down the basic ways for interpreting and understanding a poem. In summary, he explains that the reader cannot focus on trying to figure out one specific meaning of a poem, but instead, try to piece together small parts to understand a deeper meaning. Collin’s rules on how to interpret a poem can be applied to Hughes’s poem about a young student writing a poem for homework. Instead of looking at Hughes’s poem as a whole, the reader can better understand it by breaking it down and figuring out why each line is important and how it ties together with the poem as a whole. Understanding Collins rules to interpret a poem, help the reader decipher Hughes poem on a deeper, more academic level. Langston Hughes’s poem explains how a black, twenty two year old man and the rest of his white classmates are given an assignment to write a paper. The narrator, who is also the student, explains his thoughts about the assignment and how him being the only colored one in his class might be reflected on his grade on the assignment. At the beginning of the poem, he explains how he has to get to class everyday by traveling across some of the â€Å"better† parts of town. The student goes on to explain how even though he is colored, he likes the same things and has the same wants as everyone else. He states that he is no different than the rest of his class and that he too has knowledge to share. By stating this, the student is expressing to the reader how he thinks him and the instructor are equal. In the last few lines the student writes, â€Å"As I learn from you, / I guess you learn from me† (37-38). This explains how even though their skin color and age is different they are still able to learn from each other. The student has a somewhat optimistic and confident tone throughout the poem. He is aware of his capabilities and knows that he can be just as successful as anyone else. Billy Collins â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† explains how whenever people analyze a poem they do not try to find the true message of it. By writing, â€Å"But all they want to do / is tie the poem to a chair with rope / and torture a confession out of it,† explains how the majority of people are lazy and want everything handed to them effortlessly (12-14). This last stanza explains how some people look at poems from one point of view and expect the meaning of the poem to be written out for them. The author is stating that people should look at the poem from different angles just as one would look at the world from a color slide. He tries to explain to the reader that if one were to interpret the poem from a whole new approach, then they could find a deeper meaning than just the surface meaning. After reading Collins â€Å"Introduction to Poetry†, the reader should have a better sense of how to interpret Hughes’s poem. Throughout the first part of Hughes’s poem the reader may think all of the characters background information including his address, age, and hometown is pointless. After reading an entire stanza about this â€Å"pointless† information the reader may try to stop understanding the poem before they even finish it. If the reader uses Collins instructions about analyzing a poem, they may find that all of this â€Å"pointless† information is actually important and helps contribute to the characters feelings of insecurity. Collins poem explains that not all poems have one specific answer or meaning the writer is trying to get across. Keeping this idea in mind, the reader may realize that Hughes’s poem, in fact, does not state an answer or solution to the characters mixed feelings. Although both of these poems leave room the readers own special interpretation, there is a basic meaning and idea to each one. Both of these poems fit well together because Collin’s thoughts and ideas can be directly applied when reading Hughes’s poem. The poems are an effective example of how even though a poem may seem short and simple, there is usually a deeper and greater meaning beneath the surface.

Educational Attainment Essay

Educational attainment is primarily due to individual’s goal in life. Attitude likewise has life-transforming power (Harrel, 2003) which must be in equilibrium with aptitude. Though, motivations often are the challenges to excel and achieve one’s goal. The individual’s goal in life has been set with the consistent support and management of its parents. This subsequently bore fruition with the development of the attitude necessary towards self-motivation for greater achievements. The figure shows that over all, the Asian race marked an edge on the other races in terms of scholastic achievements. It is notable that the Whites’ fell within 85. anges on High School Graduate or more, while Asian has 87. 6. This means that the Asian has more focus on high school education than the Whites’. Its implication would be that the Asian’s prioritized education. It is also remarkable that in every educational attainment level the Asians’ led overwhelmingly in academic achievements. This is because they got an overall range of 68. 3 and followed by the Whites’ falling behind within 55. 2 ranges. Commonly, it is not the educational system that has to be modified, but, there must be a program to enhance parental awareness on the relative responsibilities towards children’s academic standing. Gleaning from the social patterns (Williams, 1976) of Asians, it is usual trait as a collective society (Lustig, 1996) for family parental concern towards children’s academic achievements. Widespread, parents would tell their children that the best thing that they could have as an inheritance is education. In addition to this, prevale nce of high ranking officials, rich and successful families in third world countries have had gained aggregate education from highly industrialized countries.

Four Poems by Derek Mahon Essay

Four Poems by Derek Mahon INTRODUCTION Derek Mahon belongs to the same generation of Northern Ireland poets as Seamus Heaney. But, whereas many of Heaney’s poems are rooted firmly in the rural landscape of Ulster where he grew up, Mahon’s poems reflect his childhood spent in Belfast. His familiar places were the streets of the city, the Harland and Wolff shipyard where his g-andfather and father worked, and the flax-spinning factory where his mother worked. Later on, Mahon would come to study at Trinity College Dublin and from there he spread his wings to travel and work in many different places, from France, Canada and America, to London and Kinsale in Co. Cork. , †¢Ã¢â‚¬ DAY TRIP TO DONEGAL† Tie shift, in both meaning and feeling, that :sxes place between the first and final lines of ~ s poem makes it memorable. The title :=e~s ordinary: Day Trip to Donegal suggests :- :~ :od days out at the seaside or even a school trip with classmates and teachers. ~–~ opening stanza is conversational in tone. I :– ,al at his seaside destination, the poet s n familiar surroundings. There were to be seen† and â€Å"as ever† the hills â€Å"a deeper green/Than anywhere in the : : – seems at this point that we are r: – r :: share a pleasant day at the seaside in Donegal with the poet. However, just as we . – rev. ~†~ comfortable with this expectation, -:::†¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ appears. We are disturbed by the 2. Deration in the final line and the image : ^reduces: â€Å"†¦ the grave/Grey of the sea Me grwnmer in that enclave. † – – : — : _s -â€Å"rial line of the opening stanza , a similar scenario in stanza two. The poet watches the fishing-boats arriving back at the pier with their catch. This familiar scene is often described in attractive terms by songwriters and painters. But here Mahon startles us in the second line by describing the catch as â€Å"A writhing glimmer offish†. The word â€Å"writhing† is very vivid. The fish are seen as suffering and this notion becomes more intense in the concluding lines of the stanza where he sees them â€Å"flopping about the deck/In attitudes of agony and heartbreak†. A story is told about Mahon as an only child who spent a lot of time alone. His imagination had free rein and in the bicycle shed in the garden at home the Mahons also kept coal. Apparently the boy Derek Mahon suffered guilt when he went to the shed to get his bicycle. He felt pity for the coal which was, to him, imprisoned in that dark, cold, shed. His compassion was evident even then; he felt sorry for the coal! In Day Trip to Donegal we see that the poet’s day is changed by the sight of the caught fish. He feels compassion for them in their dying moments. In stanza three the return journey to Belfast is described. This poem is poised between two worlds — the seaside one in rural Donegal and the urban one in Belfast. Have you noticed how Mahon chooses to describe his arrival back in Belfast? â€Å"We changed down into suburbs/Sunk in a sleep no gale-force wind disturbs. † There is a suggestion here of a â€Å"tamer† world than the wild gale-beaten one of Donegal. The phrase â€Å"changed down† refers to the gear-change of the car, but it also shows how the poet is struck by the difference between the rural and the urban worlds he has experienced on that particular day. The sleeping suburbs seem slow and quiet after the drama of the Donegal landscape. Exam ; Career Guide 241 I t/2 _i O Z LU LU h-U LU U Nightmare Stanza four picks up again on the disturbing imagery of stanza two. There is an intense feeling of terror here as the poet recalls his dream after his day out at the seaside. In his nightmare, the sea is seen as a powerful force of destruction. We can be chilled by his description of the sea performing its â€Å"immeasurable erosions† — â€Å"Spilling into the skull. † The combination of words here is powerful: â€Å"immeasurable erosions† and the alliteration of â€Å"spilling† and â€Å"skull†. The choice of the word â€Å"erosion† is worth noting here. It suggests eating away at something — the action of the sea on the coastline over many years. Why does the poet draw a parallel between himself and the eroding coastline, at the mercy of the infinite onslaught of the sea? Could this be an oblique reference to the political circumstances in which he lived in Northern Ireland? We remember that Donegal was described in stanza one as a â€Å"green enclave†. He has travelled there from Belfast — another political entity to which he returns after his day across the border. In the nightmare he is the helpless victim at the mercy of the relentless sea. It mutters â€Å"its threat† — the poet does not enjoy a peaceful sleep after his day-trip to Donegal. Instead he has a kind of nightmare, a surreal vision which is frightening and sinister. The nightmarish journey continues into the final stanza. Now the sea has become a metaphor for the poet’s own view of his life. He is alone and drifting, has not taken enough caution to prevent this danger and feels surrounded on all sides by the â€Å"vindictive wind and rain†, i. . , the malevolent forces that control his life and which cannot be placated. The poem ends on a note of hopelessness and despair. There is no promise of rescue. His predicament recalls that of the fish described in stanza two — â€Å"flopping about the deck/In attitudes of agony and heartbreak†. †¢ â€Å"ECCLESIASTES† The title of this poem situates it immediately in the context of relig ion — Ecclesiastes being the title of a book in the Old Testament, used frequently by preachers in their sermons. The context of the poem is the Ulster of the religious preachers and the churchmen which Mahon knew very well, being an Ulster Protestant by birth. The opening three lines of the poem are full of feeling. We notice the repetition of God and the rhythm created by â€Å"purist† and â€Å"puritan†, and â€Å"wiles and smiles†. Mahon is imagining himself as a member of the preaching classes and he tries in this poer-look closely at his identity as an Ulster Protestant. There is self-mockery in h s _s= of the phrase â€Å"purist little puritan†. The preacher is narrow minded (little) and rigid his attitudes — a â€Å"purist† puritan would be 3 extreme version of an ordinary puritan *^ would have been very strict in religious :. -†¢Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ moral matters. There is mockery and contempt as he describes the preache’ (Ecclesiastes) as â€Å"God-chosen† and â€Å"God-fearing†. He sees himself as occupying tr-e high moral ground while at the same t~-= basing his morality on fear rather than genuine conviction. The world inhabited by the Ecclesiastes (preachers) is a grim one. The images in ine 4 and 5 convey this most powerfully. The choice of the word â€Å"dank† (meaning da-x sr damp and cold) for the churches and the â€Å"tied up swings† on Sundays paint a joyless picture. Sunday was a particularly gloorny ~ in Protestant Ulster as it was strictly designated for prayer and church-going. Pleasure of any kind was frowned on. Marc then contrasts this life-denying way of lrvr>f with the real life of the world — – â€Å"the heat i the world†. He mentions how such a rigic code of behaviour allows those Churchmer to avoid the humanising interaction with women and the â€Å"bright eyes of children†. He continues with this train of thought in lines to 16. His tone is very critical. He sees tr-e preacher as using his public morality tc 2*c the real challenges of life — the call on eac of us â€Å"to understand and forgive†. The red bandana and stick and the ban? c referred to represent the antithesis of the preacher’s life. The red is a lively contrast n the â€Å"dork doors† mentioned before and the bandana and stick would be used on journe to brighter, livelier places than the dark r of Antrim which are washed by the cole â€Å"January rains†. This dark, cold place is the natural habitat of the preacher. He is following in the tradition of his forebears — â€Å"the heaped graves of your fathers†. Here he can â€Å"close one eye and be king†. This is an allusion to Erasmus, who once said: â€Å"In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is King†. Is this a reference to the closed mm and the bigotry of Mahon’s Ulster? The preacher can lord it over the ordinary peoc whose â€Å"heavy washing flaps† in the housing estates. They are credulous. But Mahon’s preacher has nothing to offer them. The ft imagery of the poem is filled with contemp 42 Exam ; Career Guide cts the preacher â€Å"stiff with rhetoric† forth to the captive audience yet lothing whatever to offer them — ng nothing under the sun†. eamus Heaney writes about Ulster :es in the memory of The Forge, in scape of Bogland, The Harvest Bow and Mahon, on the other hand, has a vision of Ulster — and he shares >n with us in Ecclesiastes. It is a place ;tants and Puritans and Preachers. He :dges that this is part of his own oo, and we find that he has a very ew of the narrow, life-denying f the culture which formed him. IT SHOULD BE† m, the mindset of another type of explored. This time it is that of the jrderer — who kills another man ie sees as a just cause. When ;ntions the Moon in the Yellow ire reminded of the Irish Civil War. :hat name was written by Denis ;et in 1927. Its story is of a man e who tried to blow up a generator ydroelectric station which was and was a symbol of the progress Irish Free State. Blake was shot by ;gt;f the Free State called Lanigan. The = officer of the Free State is the ir in this poem, as he justifies his nd even takes pride in it. : of Murder titeous tone is struck at the