Dimensions and starbucks

In order to clarify and understand how five dimensions of situational influences affect buyer behavior, this essay is going to answer three questions. First of all, physical surrounding and social factors will be demonstrated by providing some definitions and relevant instances. Secondly, case study will be analyzed based on three factors such as social surrounding, task definition and temporal perspective.Finally, Struck cafe would be chosen as an example to analyze how they has developed their promotion, place and product related to physical factor. Question 1 Firstly, as can be known, situational influences are basically five factors that affect customers when they want to make buying decision. One of the most visible features that may have a direct impact on their decisions is physical surrounding like store location, interior decoration, music, smell, temperature and amount of choice provided.This factor would be used as a tactic to attract customers or keep them stay longer in stores. For example, these days, Coles and Woolworth have had almost same price and promotion for their customers so most people have chosen to shop in en of these because that is simply the nearest supermarket from their house. In addition, how companies decorate their shops, what kind of music they play and which fragrance they choose to use in their stores or products play a prominent role to approach their potential clients.According to Bell (1975)g's study, there is a relationship between store's atmosphere and purchasing outcome that means the more enjoyable atmosphere the store have, the more money their customers are apparently willing to spend (as cited in Manic and Radars, 2006). Moreover, when they spend more time to stay inside, it may lead to a chance that they would buy enplaned goods.Furthermore, in 2000, the American Wine Council demonstrated that their most wine consumers were female who prefer having sweeter taste and smell and that is one of the reasons why many c ompanies such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon produce sweet wine more than dry one (as cited in Brewer, Salina & Miller, 2011). In general, as can be understood that physical surrounding includes the mostly tangible elements that could be used to influence people's buying behavior in a straight line.Secondly, there is one of the most unavoidable impacts that many buyers are usually affected when they make up their mind on archiving a product especially a valuable things such as phone, car, house, etc. Is social surroundings. Culture, family, reference group and social class are the elements, which would be insisted in this situation. In this case, the majority of customers possibly give their decision to buy a product based on the suggestion from their relationship around them. In 2006, Chuan et. Al stated that â€Å"Shopping in company increases purchasing outcomes† in their research.It can be considered that clients who come with friends or group tend to spend more mon ey and buy more items than who go alone (as cited in Manic & Radars, 2006). According to Genevieve (2006), since there are plenty of benefits that social influence are brought, many companies choose to launch their advertisements at the time that they probably know that time for family viewers such as Walt Disney or group of friends like football game. That would lead to a successful effect, which they would like to approach their potential customers.In short, social surrounding is a significant factor, which seems to help businesses achieving a greater consumption if they may implement it appropriately. Question 2 It is the intention of this question to identify and briefly analyze three key of educational influences related to specific case study when Kate has to make a final decision to buy a smartened for her boyfriend, John's birthday. First of all, when she has a demand to purchase a gift in her boyfriend's birthday occasion that is task definition.That is the reason why she n ot only spends a lot of time to find the information for this purchasing but also emphasizes on the feature and brand of smartened that her boyfriend would like to own particularly. In the other words, she prioritize his demands at the first. Additionally, it is easy to understand why she asked his friend and the sale consultant for enforcing her desirable decision. In this circumstance, it is quite clear to realize how social factor affects customer behavior. There are two social surroundings in this case: membership groups and aspirations groups.In this case study, Kate would be influenced by advise of John's friend who is in membership group and knew John's personality and character very well. His recommendation for Phone 5 would have the most vital impact on Skate's decision because of his better knowledge over her boyfriend's interests and preferences as mentioned in case study. However, Kate would be confused to give the final selection, for she also consider the option Samsun g galaxy SO from professional sale consultant who is in aspiration groups and may have much better experiences in smartened.Therefore with the purpose of solving this issue, she has to consider the third situational influence – temporal perspectives which would probably enforce her so as to fugue out the most suitable present for her boyfriend due to his fast approaching birthday. In Genitive's book (2006), he indicates, â€Å"Time pressures and technology have combined to produce a rapid growth in high quality'. Thus, it seems to be related to Skate's problem when she has to determine as soon as possible.That would cause the issue that the less time she has, the faster decision she has to make. In brief, as following this case study, it is possible to recognize that social factor predominantly affects how customers behave in general and Skate's in particular. Also, this is the main reason making her hesitated to reach the final selection. Question 3 As stated in the introdu ction, in this section, Struck would be chosen as an example to demonstrate how a business implies social surroundings and succeeds inChina for making marketing strategy by following three of four stages in UP – place, product, promotion. Struck, which is known as one of the most famous and valuable brands in the world, have opened first outlet in China since 2007 and will have extended to 1,500 stores by 201 5 (China Observer, 2011). Hence, which reasons have made them survive and success in China, where is well known as an initial traditional maintained country, will be described sketchily relating to social features in this bellowed part. First of all, with the aim of approaching Chinese marketStruck has settled store system in many virtual locations where there are crowded pedestrian places as usual as they did in America but with Chinese style's decoration for making their customers feel convenient. Picture 1: Struck in China (n. D. ) As can be seen in the above picture, that is the general decoration of Struck in China. Furthermore, Struck has especially allocated one of their stores in the Forbidden City (in the picture bellow) where is the most respectful and traditional symbol for Chinese history.It is one of the noticeable tactics that Struck wants to access China's market through Chinese cultural architectonic. In addition, with mainly target customers who are the growing middle class they have set their own image to become fashionable and trendy (McKee & Lawmaking, 2009). In this case, their potential customers would like to come in, have a seat, talking with friends and have a Struck cup of coffee. That means they have adapted themselves by using reference groups in social surroundings.Picture 2: Struck in The Forbidden City (n. D. ) Secondly, According to Wang (2012), there is an important strategy in product placement that Struck introduced their beverages using Chinese popular local ingredients like green tea. This strategy has helped St ruck to overcome the upcoming trouble which western cafe would threaten Chinese traditional drink – tea. That means they have tried being a Struck by Chinese and American cultural combination and avoiding totally implementing typical American concept into Chinese market.Finally, as mentioned previously, since Struck has been running a cafe system to make them become a trend, the most effective promotion for them is mouth to mouth. As long as the development of globalization included China, the monger generation tends to follow the new trend and experience the western culture. By recognizing what is happening in the world, Struck has given their customers â€Å"Struck – Experience† (Wang, 2012). That is how they has confronted with China's market and made it possible and the most second largest market behind original market – America.In conclusion, the five dimensions of situational influences play a vital role in marketing strategy to attract and deal wit h how customers behave to make their buying decision.

International studies Essay

1. Business and Economics WEEK 4: Theories of International Trade and Investment 2. Mercantilism is a bankrupt theory that has no place in the modern world. Discuss. 3.   Mercantilism – a country should maintain a trade surplus, even if that means that imports are limited by government intervention. Bankrupt theory because: – Inconsistent with the general notion of globalization. †¢ Eventually, a country will find it difficult to export if it imposes oppressive quotas and tariffs on its imports. – Consumers in the mercantilist country suffer. †¢ Denied access to either â€Å"cheaper† or more â€Å"sophisticated† goods from other countries. 4. Is free trade fair? Discuss. 5. Trade theory suggests that specialization and free trade benefits all countries. However, a case can be made in some situations for imposing trade barriers. E.g.: – Infant industry argument – National security 6.What are the potential costs of adopting a free trade regime? Do you think governments should do anything to reduce these costs? What? 7. Job loss Government should: –provide retraining programs OR –Do nothing, it will all come out in the wash 8. THE RISE OF BANGLADESH’S TEXTILE TRADE (PG. 206) CLOSING CASE: 9. Why was the shift to a free trade regime in the textile industry good for Bangladesh? 10. Until 2005, Bangladesh’s opportunities in the developed nations were governed by a quota system. Introduction of free trade policies enabled Bangladesh to increase its exports. Competitive advantage in the production of textiles. – low cost, productive labour force. – strong network of supporting industries. Also, attracted Western importers looking to diversify their supplier base. 11. Who benefits when retailers in the United States source textiles from low wage countries such as Bangladesh? Who might lose? Do the gains outweigh the losses? 12. BANGLADESH low cost, lower price ï‚ §competitive advantage US Higher price – fewer garments purchased locally Possible job loss 13. What international trade theory, or theories, best explain the rise of Bangladesh as a textile exporting powerhouse? 14. Exporting powerhouse: – Relatively low wages. – Investments in boosting productivity levels. – Network of supporting industries.   Theory of comparative advantage ï‚ § Porter’s theory of competitive advantage 15. How secure is Bangladesh’s textile industry from foreign competition? What  factors could ultimately lead to a decline? 16. Bangladesh is attractive due to: – low cost garments – the opportunity for importers to diversify their supply base (Importers do not want to solely rely on China and see – Importers do not want to solely rely on China and see Bangladesh as an attractive alternative to hedge risks.   However, their infrastructure could prove to be problematic for its exporters. – If importers find that infrastructure problems disrupt their supplies, they could begin to look for new source countries. – Bangladesh should make the necessary investments to avoid any disruptions in the industry. 17. THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK NEXT WEEK:

Engagement Letter Essay

The memo verifies the agreement of the purpose of the engagement and the quality and constraints of the services the firm offers. Talbot Auditing Firm will review the financial statements of Apollo Shoes at the end of the year. Talbot auditing firm will review the accounts such as the operations records, retained earnings, and cash flow accounts. An audit’s goal is to form an opinion about the fairness of the accounting records in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The audit will be performed according to auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. The firm will perform tests of the accounting records and other procedures essential in stating an opinion. If the opinion is not unqualified, the firm will give reasons. If the firm cannot complete the audit, they might not give out a report on the engagement. The firm will test the existence of inventory, and confirm receivables and payables and other assets and liabilities by letters to a few customers, creditors, and financial institutions. The auditor will ask for a letter of representation from the company’s attorney. The attorney might bill Apollo Shoes for replying to the query. When the firm concludes the audit, the firm may ask for written statements about the financial statements and other issues. The auditor will carry out the audit to know if the records are free of material misstatement. The auditor’s intention is to give reasonable, not absolute assurance. The auditor will not provide a thorough assessment of each transaction so a risk of material errors, fraud, and illegal acts might exist and go unnoticed by the auditor. The firm may terminate the services for nonpayment and consider the engagement completed upon a written request of termination even though the auditor fails to complete a report. Apollo Shoes will pay for extended time and out-of-pocket cost through date of termination. If you agree to the above conditions of this engagement, sign the letter at the bottom. Please return the signed letter and keep a copy for company records. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions.

Credit Rationing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Credit Rationing - Essay Example The extent of this level depends entirely on the perceived risks in the bank's lending or investment activities. This limitation sometimes leads to credit rationing, which is a situation where a bank refuses credit to a borrower at an interest rate set by the bank itself, because of unavailability of sufficient free capital. To understand the pressures on the capital free for lending available to the bank, we need to understand the limitations placed on it by the central bank in the particular country in order to control its activities. One of the limitations on the bank is the statutory requirement that it should submit a defined percentage of certain kinds of the deposits it receives, into the central bank as reserves at zero interest, in vault cash or deposits. These requirements represent a cost to the bank, as they earn no revenue,and are not in the bank's control.These reserves are used in the day-to-day implementation of monetary policy by the Central Bank. The percentage deduction from each deposit may go towards the maintenance of the entire banking system, but it reduces the amount of capital left to the bank for lending or investments. Another requirement is for the bank to maintain an amount of liquid assets for itself as reserve against specified deposit liabilities, for instance, to pay depositors in case they wish to make a withdrawal, or a certain amount that is due to them at the expiration of a designated saving activity. This further reduces the balance capital for investments, and these liquid assets languish in the bank without working to earn an interest. Higher the statutory reserve and liquid asset requirements, lower the amount of cash available to the bank to extend in terms of credit. In some countries, the statutory reserve ratio is high, resulting in less available amount of credit given out to the borrowers.Thus rationing the credit is the only option left to the bank, in order to maintain the capital adequacy requirements. In the periods where the demand for credit is high, because of a booming market or low interest rates, it may be suggested that the bank increase its interest rates, instead of rationing credits at previous rates. But this could result in bad credit, because the creditworthy individuals move off to cheaper options, following the conditions of adverse selection and the borrowers willing to pay the high rates are those who have very little to lose, or are willing to give up their collateral in exchange for the loan amount. In this case, the bank may be also stepping into a situation of moral hazard where the motives of these borrowers are suspect. To avoid these, banks try to give loans at affordable interests to those with a perceived low credit risk and ration it in the case of all others. But this does not always protect them from acquiring bad loans, or non-performing assets. An asset or loan becomes 'non-performing' or bad when it has not been serviced, or in other words, the interest and/or instalment of principal has remained 'past due' or unpaid for more than the stipulated period, 90

The Last Flight of Space Shuttle Challenger Essay

The Last Flight of Space Shuttle Challenger - Essay Example This turned out to be the first blunder that led to the tragic incident. It happened to be the 10th mission for the Challenger Orbiter, while it was the 25th mission for the Space Transportation Systems (STS) and this proved a great challenge when considering the complexity of modern federal bureaucracy and relying on private contractors. The unfortunate Challenger seemed to take off normally, but after flying for about 73 seconds, the Mission Control did not receive any signal from it. Instead, just soon after the Challenger’s final radio signal, a blinding flash of light was seen by the people in the Mission Control room. This massive flash was actually the huge explosion and 2 destruction of the Orbiter and its fuel tanks, and its Solid Rocket Boosters that were blown into the air with the impact and hurtled down into residential areas. (Charles, T. pg. 110) The tragic disaster of the Space Shuttle Challenger, was considered to be the worst ever disaster that the United Sta tes space program experienced, because it had left all seven crew members dead including Christa McAuliffe, who was the â€Å"First Teacher in Space.† This financial loss of almost $ 2 billion left the world in a state of shock and made America lose their trust in NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Investigations on the disaster of Space Shuttle Challenger were carried out by the Presidential Commission who drew up the causes which were responsible. One of the chief findings of the Commission was that the pressure seal that joins the right solid Rocket Motor in the aft field had failed, causing the disaster. The faulty design was susceptible to many other factors which were unacceptable. These factors include – the quality and character of the material, physical wear and tear and the ‘reaction of the joint to dynamic loading.’ (Charles, T. pg.111) Besides finding out the technical fault, the Commission found that the process of decision m aking was to blame for the catastrophe, which could have easily been avoided if more caution was executed. Michael T. Charles’s study findings, further points to the lapse in the organizational setting which include such phenomena as pressured decision making, Congressional 3 funding, lucrative business contracts, the bureau- political discrepancies within and among NASA, including military and many other agencies of the government who are in competition for space dollars. Charles T. (pg. 111) points out that even though NASA, a governmental agency who has the responsibility of the development and management of this Space Shuttle Program and has such a good reputation, yet it became a part of the tragedy because the different departments are quite dependant on each other and therefore wrong interactions between them would have inevitably lead to the disaster. In addition, NASA is in collaboration with other private firm contracts to lend their support in the developing and de signing of the STS. However, the contract of constructing the Solid Rock Boosters was given to a company called ‘The Morton Thiokol Corporation where the flaw which caused the disaster was found. Managerial responsibility was another drawback pointed out by the Commission, which also contributed to the mishap. A team of managers was placed in charge for different parts of the

Career Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Career Response - Essay Example The talk was very short but had very detailed information. It talked about the culture of welcoming visitors. It only took 16.19 minutes to provide a wealth of information that had an intuitive influence on choosing the career on hotel management. The information given on the Tedtalk was very objective. The culture of welcoming was the main message based on her experience she went through. It started with how Smith got herself in a small home where she was given a very warm and hospitable welcome. Then the way she developed interest in the hospitality industry is very endearing and full of inspiration. In her explanation, she was very captivating on explaining how to be warm to visitors and being happy even when frustrated. Happiness is the culture that employee in hospitality should pass down to the customer. The presentation was well inculcated with a brief history of the industry of hospitality. Another interesting aspect of the talk was the use of statistics. It increased the believability of the talk. A very endearing statistic used was that 70% of American workers are not unhappy disengaged or disinterested with their jobs. It made the entire talk very appealing and invoked the interest of joining the field since I felt I will be joining the 70% of the happy American work force in the hotel management. The Tedtalk had power of igniting dormant ambitions of anyone to the field of hospitality. I have personally learned a lot from the talk. First how the culture of care has a profound effect on the industry of hospitality. The hotel management take more of caring and being happy to the customer and every chance to be endearing to customers. Secondly, I have learned being kind in every one because everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. As an aspiring manager, I will be kind to any employee even if he or she is misbehaving because they could be

What was the most important factor behind Saladin's series of Essay

What was the most important factor behind Saladin's series of successes - Essay Example Saladin was one of the important warriors in the history of Islamic world who has great influence on the West also. Due to his successes in crusades, Saladin has remained one of the important historical figures for West to study and explore specially the reasons and key factors behind his success. He was a Kurdish Muslim who became the first Ayyubid ruler of Egypt and Syria and also the major force behind the recapturing of the Jerusalem from the European crusaders. It was mostly because of this reason that he is a very well known figure in Islamic history and is considered as one of those individuals who could muster the courage and strength to recapture Jerusalem. (Hamblin)1 A closer analysis of his successes however, would reveal many important facets of his rise to the power and glory. His success against the crusaders in Jerusalem is mostly attributed to the internal conflict between the Crusader States. Further, his own ambitions to create an alternative Ayyubid dynasty in Arab world and use of Jihad as a tool to gain military power are other important reasons which could be considered as the key reasons behind his rise to the success. The lack of interest by the Franks as well as the failure of the agreements with the Byzantines can also be considered as the different factors which provided Saladin a perfect environment to establish his own authority and might. This paper will attempt to discuss the key success factors behind the success of Saladin and his rise to the power Saladin’s rise to Power It is important to discuss briefly as to how Saladin actually rose to the power in Arab world and became the force which actually defeated the Crusader States. Saladin’s father, Ayyub, was in military services for the Turkish Military Leader Zangi who was controlling Aleppo and Mosul. At the early age, Saladin joined his father and uncle in the army at Aleppo which was at that time controlled by Zangi’s son Nur al-Din who also emerged as on e of the strongest personality within Muslim world to successfully challenge the threat posed by the Crusaders. (Davenport)2 Saladin’s real chance for success came when Nur al-Din sent army to Egypt when the Fatimid Empire in Egypt was weakening due to the internal conflicts as well as the constant invasions from the Frankish States. It was during this campaign that Saladin’s uncle, Shirkuh, leader of Army, died and Saladin started to take control. He was first appointed as the Vizier in Egypt and than subsequently overtook the Egyptian government in the name of Nur al-Din. (Lane-Poole). 3This episode is also considered as the starting point of the rising conflicts between Nur al-Din and Saladin and on the death of Nur al-Din, Saladin went on to capture the Syria from the heirs of Nur al-Din also. (Meri and Bacharach)4 This brief recapture of Saladin’s rise to the power indicates that he actually attempted to take advantage of the internal conflicts which were e xisting within Muslim dynasties at that time. Fatimid Empire weakened not only due to the internal strife within the empire but from the constant invasions and threats posed by the Frankish States. This not only weakened the State but also allowed alternative forces like Saladin to take make their move to the throne. It is also important to note that Saladin’s rise to become the Vizier of Egypt was also based upon the fact he was Sunni Muslim and due to his age and family background, he was preferred over others as it was considered that he was too weak to pose a significant challenge. His rise to this position is also considered as a political maneuvering by the existing regime to undermine other stronger forces within the Muslim Empire. It was during his tenure as a Vizier in Egypt that Saladin started to use religion as one of his weapons to start consolidating his power. (Azzam)5 It is also important to note that Nur al-Din also emerged as one of the strongest forces agai nst the Crusader States and also help widening the conflict between the Crusader Stat

Legalizing Marijuana Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Legalizing Marijuana - Research Paper Example It is also believed that India was one of the few countries which pioneered the consumption of this plant as a tool for recreation and relaxation. The Sadhus and the Gurus who practiced the art of spiritual elevation found this plant to be extremely useful for their purpose. They gained a lot from its usage whereby it was considered to be a holy drug. Earlier texts of Hinduism dictate that Marijuana was used by the Hindu Gods to evolve and to relax at the same time. (ElSohly, Mahmoud) Ancient Hindu text Soma Veda refers to Marijuana as the â€Å"food of the thinking mind.† Indians call it Ganja. It has served millions of people over a period of time and has been acclaimed as a life saving drug. However, there are side effects of this plant and if consumed by the innocent it may drive one to an extremely negative frame of mind. Marijuana comes from the plant known as Cannabis Sativa. The major psychoactive compound in the plant is known as THC, and this is the element which is responsible for the psychoactive effects in the human mind. The female plant of Cannabis Sativa is consumed by people as it is said to be more potent with THC than the male plant. (Rudgley, Richard) Marijuana has been used for medicinal as well as recreational purposes. Marijuana influences the human body and mind in many different ways. It has the power of changing the mood to the perception of the human mind for a particular object. It enhances hunger when consumed and can lead to weight loss among those who consume it. It relaxes the muscles and also helps the mind calm down after the THC molecules hit the ‘cannabinoid’ receptors which are present in the human mind. The situation for the usage of Marijuana remains static as most of the countries have banned the recreational use of this drug, however, it is allowed in those countries to be used for medicinal purposes. (Gettman, Jon) For those who have tried and are not prejudiced towards it, it is

Self assessment in MEMO style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Self assessment in MEMO style - Essay Example I am also an honest person, and I believe to win the trust of the organizations managers and employees. I am also friendly in nature and would easily create a good rapport with other staffs (Stanton, 2009). Considering my weakness, I am always time conscious and would carry out a job hurriedly without considering the consequences. I also easily believe and trust the unknown person, hence can easily be convinced to do something without realization of the consequences. I am also a straightforward person and would not tolerate anything bad done by the employees or employers despite the rank. I am also somehow emotional and sensitive; I can easily be annoyed to an extent that I lose control of myself (Stanton, 2009). In the carrying out of the plan for improvement, my first step is to come up with a list of all my weakness and strengths. This would allow me to form comparison and see if any strength can cancel out any weakness and also to see if the strengths overpower the weaknesses. The second step is to analyze the environment of the workplace to see if it is favorable for my weaknesses and strengths. This will give me a hint on whether to take or reject the job. I will finally look if there is a room for change in the organization, of which if not a reject the job. In my conclusion, strengths and weakness in communication are things that exist in the daily life. An individual should never allow the strengths to overpower the weaknesses. I believe in change provided I am given a chance to work on my weaknesses. I believe in adjusting myself to the working environment despite the weaknesses I

Public Service Broadcasting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Public Service Broadcasting - Essay Example This essay stresses that globalisation has entailed a larger involvement of private enterprises in global media, both in the western democracies as well as in emerging economies like China. Private involvement necessarily results in a higher concentration in the media industry, thereby the media representing a narrow class interest and not that of portraying the national interest. This paper makes a conclusion that television journalists have taken to the production of analytical documentary making with a great vigor particularly in the modern period of globalization and political uncertainties. As a result, the rigid framework of PSBs that typically catered to national political interests cannot be followed. Greater openness and freedom on content have provided journalists to test uncharted waters. In the process, the researchers for the documentary went back in history to understand the link between the current incidents and the past record of the US military establishments in fueling illusions. Such bold statements, equating the War on Terror with the Cold War, could not perhaps be possible to be voiced on the BBC a decade back, when the television in the UK was more controlled and functioning like a duopoly hence following PSB guidelines was easier. The opening up of television, the multi-channel framework and the entry of cable television has altered the ballgame entirely. There has been a tendency of trivializing content on television to grab eyeballs in the both the government controlled as well as private channels. Yet, these documentaries have attracted much controversy and criticism from within the industry. There are accused of staging events and faking images, often camouflaged as the reality.

Charging Time Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Charging Time - Assignment Example Thus, Kevin’s independent moral duty is not compromised by taking the audit work home (Martocchio and Laio 222). At the same time, the consequence of losing clients is nullified by the fact that Kevin chooses not to charge the firm or the client for his time (Martocchio and Laio 222). Thus, Kevin should take the work home and not charge it to the job. If I were Kevin, it would be prudent to first increase my rate of audit work in order to cut on the time I use. The reason being, it will indicate an acceptance and a change in attitude to my work. Secondly, I would then work overtime and not charge the firm or client for this time. Doing so would prevent complacency by taking the remaining work with me home and ensure that all the day’s work is complete before I leave. On meeting 30 days later, I would explain my position to Bo and Moe as one in which I have taken action and made tremendous improvements in cutting down the time used in the audits. Hence, I deserve to remain in my position as I took their concerns positively and effected measures as evidenced by my

My Ambition in Life Essay Example for Free

My Ambition in Life Essay We are all familiar with the proverb ‘Hitch your wagon to a star.’ The logic behind it is simple. If we do not aspire for something great, we shall not strive for it and consequently lead a life of ignominy. The autobiographies of all great men reveal, that each of them very early in childhood had a dream, a vision of what they intended to do or become. This is distinctively apart from daydreaming, for in the words of William Shakespeare â€Å"Ambition should be made of sterner stuff’. Thus it is not suffice to only dream, but one must relentlessly strive to achieve and realise this dream. I too have a dream, an ambition of becoming a doctor. This is so because it is a noble profession, that also commands a lot of respect in the society. The white coat and the stethoscope mesmerizes me, right since my childhood. The look of concern, sense of empathy and the feeling of confidence that the doctor inspires in a patient, mitigates his suffering. He is looked upon as a messiah by the sick and the infirm. No matter how big or powerful a man might be, he invariably does fall sick and has to seek the doctor’s help. There are many other professions that offer more money, power and glamour, but none commands the respect and the dignity of a doctor. All these are but transitory things, that are there today and gone tomorrow, but the status and service of a doctor does not diminish. On the other hand, if he practices his profession nobly, it increases and multiplies with the passage of time. The road to realising my dream is not easy, nor do I expect it to be so. I would have to pass the competitive premedical examination, before I could gain entry to a medical college. I have begun preparation for the same in earnest and with God’s grace I do hope to clear the test. I would like to specialise in Cardiac diseases after completing my MBBS. This is a fatal ailment that has afflicted us and is on the rise. It has now started afflicting even young people and this country would need many cardiologists to take care of them. This is my dream which I do hope will come true. I shall leave no stone unturned to turn my ambition into reality, for I firmly believe that our triumphs and defeats are in us. H.W. Longfellow rightly echoes these sentiments when he says â€Å"Not in the clamour of crowded streets not in the shouts of plaudits of the throng. But in ourselves are triumphs and defeats.†

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome In Stories English Literature Essay

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome In Stories English Literature Essay Post traumatic stress syndrome is a mental disorder that arises from exposure to a traumatic, awfully frightening or life threatening experience happening either to oneself or to a close friend, relative or colleague. The symptoms of this disorder are manifested a while after the experience. The symptoms include reliving the experience, avoidance and hyper arousal. One can re-experience the trauma through flash backs, nightmares, anxiety and frightening thoughts. Avoidance involves keeping away from places, objects or events that remind one of the experience. A person may sink into depression. There is also a loss of interest in activities that once seemed enjoyable. The individual in question also experiences emotional numbness. In hyper arousal, the person gets tense, is easily upset and over-sensitive. The person is also hyper watchful. For diagnosis to be made, the symptoms must have lasted for at least a month. The onset of these symptoms is also delayed by weeks or months. Even though this disorder has been in existence for a long time, it was formally diagnosed in 1980. It has been given other names such as shell shock, stress syndrome, traumatic war neurosis and battle fatigue. In the First World War, the victims of this disorder were said to suffer from gross stress reaction and surviving soldiers of the Vietnam War were said to suffer from post Vietnam Syndrome. With the above background on Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, one can clearly state that the disorder cannot be dissociated from surviving troops of a major war. For the soldiers who survive a war and its traumatic experience, there is no escaping the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and in most cases, life is never the same again. This statement can be evidentially supported by the three war stories given. In the first story, the narrator is the brother of a soldier who survived the Vietnam War. As stated above, the troops in this were said to have Post Vietnam Syndrome (Medicinenet.com, 2010). The narrator reminisces the good times he shared with his brother before he joined the army and was sent off to war. The brother, Henry returns a totally changed person but not for the better. In the second story, Krebs is a soldier who returns from war long after the war heroes have been celebrated. Much as he tries hard to live a normal life, no one understands him and he seems to be living in a world of his own. The third story is narrated by a former war veteran who talks about his experiences with his fellow soldiers in the war. He talks about how a true war story is not moral but full of atrocities. He however says that the truth of a war story is someones experience and is judged by the listener. Story One: The Red Convertible In the first story, Henry is a guy full of life and enjoying it to the fullest. He shares a warm relationship with his brother Lyman the narrator. He is also very friendly and can make conversation even with strangers. On their summer tour, he invites a girl he had not met to ride with them so they could take her home and they end up spending a substantial amount of time at the girls home. He is also funny and makes people laugh like when he carries the long haired girl on his shoulders so that he can have a feel of having long pretty hair. He is adventurous, which is clearly shown when he and his brother spend the whole summer driving across the country. Henry is also depicted as being very enthusiastic and lively. He is spontaneous and not afraid of taking risks. Together with his brother, he spends his pay checks impulse buying a car even after he has been laid off. During their summer tour, Henry is depicted by his brother as having a carefree attitude. This is shown in the way he relaxes under a tree napping peacefully with no cares in the world and enjoying the moment while it lasts. Henry then joins the army immediately after the summer trip. He is sent off into the Vietnam War and it takes about three years for him to return home. By the time he returns home, he is a completely different person. The narrator indicates that the change is not for the better. He also says that even though the war is over in the governments mind. It is going to be long before it is over in Henrys meaning that the war experience will be engraved in his mind for a long time. Lyman also goes on to say that it is going to be hard to expect his brother to change for the better. Research shows that war veterans who develop Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome have difficulty re-entering the society after war and having normal relationships. They bear invisible wounds and battle with their emotions. The shame they fight with causes them to isolate themselves. They are unable to talk about their war experiences with anyone. A significant number will commit suicide when they lose the battle within themselves (Sederer, 2010). In this story, we see Henry struggling to fit into the society once more. As is the case with most war veterans, he struggles to have normal relationships with his family and friends and doesnt talk about his war experiences. As one veteran says, war stuff is stuff you cannot talk about in the civilian world, that is so detached from the war (Simon). Avoidance (Medicinenet.com, 2010), a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome sets heavily on Henrys life after the war. In addition to not talking about his experiences in the war and avoiding the subject altogether, he also avoids close relationships for example the cordial relationship he shared with his brother before the war. He loses interest in the red convertible that he once liked very much which worries his brother. Nothing seems to matter anymore and according to his brother he was such a loner. He seems emotionally numb and when he laughs, he seems like he is crying. He is also no longer the jolly person he was, always cracking jokes and as his brother says, you cannot get him to laugh. Henry also becomes very quiet. He also cannot sit still and is ever moving up and down. This is in contrast to his relaxed carefree self before when he would sit down whole afternoons without moving. He seems to always be on the lookout for something and was always tense, sometimes gripping the armrest of his chair with all his force as if afraid that if he let go he could crash. This indicates hyper arousal a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. You can tell that Henry is reliving his experiences when he bites through his lip. Blood flows down and he does not even notice it. It soaks his bread but he continues eating it which is probably a scene that he lived through in the war. He also kept wearing the clothes he had come back in. When he sets about to repair the red convertible, he works nonstop to the point of his brother thinking he will freeze himself to death with the work, an indicator that he still remembers the hard days at war. At one point, Lyman can feel the struggle that his brother is going through. Despite all that he tries to be normal and to fit into the society once more. There are times that he seems better and acts normal. Post Traumatic Stress has however got the better of him and no matter how hard he tries, he finds that a war veteran does not get over his experiences and become normal that easily. He does not live in the same world as other civilians and soon enough, he becomes one of the statistics in the record of war Veterans who survive the war ordeal but lose their inner battle to suicide (Sederer, 2010). Story Two: Soldiers Home In this story, Ernest Hemmingway tells a story of Harold Krebs a soldier who returns home after fighting five major battles. On his return, Krebs tries hard to fit into the society. It does not help things that he returns long after the heroes have been celebrated. Before the onset of symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Krebs is seen as a sociable person. On his return, he goes to the poolroom to try and reconnect with people. He also somehow never stops liking his sister as stated, He liked her. She was his favourite sister. This indicates that he shared cordial relations with the sister and still liked her. There is also an indicator that Krebs was ambitious as indicated when his mother speaks to him concerning his fathers worries; He thinks you have lost your ambition. He however seems to have been very detached from his father. When Krebs comes back, he initially wants to talk about his experiences in the war. However, no one gives a listening ear and his stories do not seem interesting enough compared to the atrocities that people had heard from other veterans. Soon enough he is forced to lie in order to get people to listen to him. Clearly he is having difficulties re-entering the society after war and fitting in. This is aggravated by the fact that he did not receive a heros welcome. According to a Vietnam veteran, soldiers were likely to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome when they are not welcomed back home as was the case with most Vietnam veterans (Wellness Directory of Minnesota, 2006). Krebs badly wants to resume his normal life but no one understands him and he seems like he is living in a world of his own. Even when he tells lies, the stories are still not interesting enough. The society that is supposed to help him deal with his experiences and cope with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome fails on its part. One researcher says that after returning home, A combat veteran needs time, support and understanding of other people (Wilson, 2009), and have an opportunity to talk about and, eventually, to feel the emotions associated with (Wilson, 2009) the trauma. As is the case with an Iraq war veteran (Simon), Krebs true war story is incomprehensible by the people around him. Krebs is pushed by the society he is living in into assuming that nothing happened and he has to go through avoidance to face the situation. Avoidance sets in in full gear in Krebs life and his once normal relationships fall apart (Medicinenet.com, 2010). The once sociable Krebs now decides to seek refuge in solitude at the library. This is clearly observed in victims of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome as is noted by one medical doctor (Sederer, 2010). In his words, he says that the shame they soldiers go through in the battlefield has them isolate themselves. Krebs also avoids intimacy, romantic relationships and any other thing that would make his simple lifestyle of avoidance any complicated. This is characteristic of the sufferers of PTSD. He does not want to come out of his shell and face anything that would complicate his life further. He starts living in fear of facing reality. He tolerates his mother but he does not love for. He wishes anyone would understand the world he is living in and the fact that he does not love anyone. He has undergone emotional numbness and also lost interest in things that he had previously liked (Medicinenet.com, 2010). To avoid being pushed further, he promises to go and look for a job. In relation to fellow soldiers, Krebs seems to think they understand him more. However, when he talks to them, he relives his experience at the war which was scary and is forced to face reality. This makes him guilt laden and all the things he did nauseate him. He feels guilty that he survived and shame for all the things he did in the war. Story Three: How to tell a true war story This story is told by a soldier who is trying to find out the mystery behind a war story in relation to reality. He talks about his fellow soldiers in combat and the stories they tell while trying to tell a war story in order to be understood. In the story, there is Bob Kiley whose best friend and fellow soldier Curt Lemon is killed and Mitchell Sanders who is seeking to be listened to and understood. The soldiers in this setting are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Rat Kiley is struggling to stay in touch with his feelings when his best friend dies. He is emotional and humane and despite the war experience, he still has a very vulnerable part of him. According to the narrator, a true war story is never moral otherwise it wont be believed. Consequently when Rat writes an emotional and moral letter to his friends sister, she never replies. The frustration of not being understood leads to him being insensitive and emotionally numb, a case seen in PTSD (Wilson, 2009). A little later, Rat is talking dirty and calling the sister a dumb cooze. He has a lot of anger which according to a war veteran is a symptom of PTSD and is misdirected. Rat unleashes this anger by mutilating a baby buffalo as the other soldiers look on without saying much. They clearly understand what he is going through. According to the narrator, war is a mysterious experience. It is rarely about acts of heroisms and more about anger and inability to deal with terrible and awkward experiences effectively. A war story only makes sense to the narrator and only the listener can judge the truth of the story. Its also about what is real to the story teller whether they die or live after the incident. The narrator portrays the challenges of a soldier in the battle for example, when Mitchell is telling a story; he really wants to be believed. He keeps asking, Understand me. Even though he tries to act as though he tries to act as though he does not care whether he is believed, the narrator can tell from his sadness that he wants to be believed. The narrator also expresses symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He relives the experiences he has been through and has the images engraved in his mind twenty years later. He can remember the last moments of Curt lemon and how he looked like. He can also remember getting Curt Lemons body parts of the tree; I remember the white bone of an arm. He tells the story in a very indifferent way portraying emotional numbness (Medicinenet.com). He ends the story by talking about the true picture of war as the memories and the unique experience a soldier goes through which involves being afraid and is nothing close to heroic acts. He echoes the words of a former veteran who says that what is learnt in combat is never forgotten (Wellness Directory of Minnesota, 2006) The other soldiers also portray their share of PTSD symptoms through the weird experiences and the noises they hear that lead them to doing things that even their commander would not understand. All in all, the soldiers understand each other because they have been through similar experiences but their experiences are beyond civilian comprehension. Conclusion Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is an experience all too familiar with most war veterans. Their suffering is however incomprehensible to most civilians and their experiences are not understood by civilians. At the end of a war, the soldiers may receive a heroic welcome but due to the bizarre experiences they go through, their lives are never the same again and it takes a lot for them to fit back into the society.

The Peace of Westphalia, 1648

The Peace of Westphalia, 1648 In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia signalled the end of a decades old European conflict. It is difficult to decipher the true meaning of the Peace of Westphalia because it represented the end of a war which ended in a way which was different from where it began. Religious confrontation morphed into a struggle and opportunity to advance state strategic interests. However, Leo Gross, Andreas Osiander, and Derek Croxton each make varying arguments on the effects of the Peace of Westphalia. In The Peace of Westphalia, 1648-1948, Leo Gross contends that the Peace of Westphalia is significant because it consecrated the principle of toleration by establishing the equality between Protestant and Catholic states and by providing some safeguards for religious minorities.  [1]  Thus, he states the Peace of Westphalia was the starting point for the development of modern international law.  [2]  Essentially, no one country would have a right (divine or other) to have power over another, as each states was acknowledged as sovereign. However, although this would be nice in theory, history has shown that Europe bled itself dry because of conflicts in the centuries following the Peace of Westphalia. Gross states that the Peace of Westphalia marked mans abandonment of the idea of hierarchical structure of society and his opinion for a new system characterized by the coexistence of a multiplicity of states, each sovereign within its territory, equal to one another, and free fr om any external earthly authority.  [3]  This statement is fundamentally flawed, although perhaps in theory, each state was equal they were absolutely not equal. It would be foolish to treat all states following the Peace of Westphalia as equally sovereign. For example he German states gained the right to ally themselves with states outside of the Holy Roman Empire, but the Swiss and the Dutch gained de facto sovereignty. Gross strengthens his argument when he acknowledges precedents set by previous treaties; however his constant romanticization of the Peace of Westphalia harms his argument, as it seems he focuses on his nostalgic viewpoint of the Peace of Westphalia.  [4]  Because no formal declaration of sovereignty existed at the time of the Peace of Westphalia, the parties involved found it individually beneficial to advance their national strategic interests, by enhancing state power. For example, Frances cardinal Richelieu was a brilliant realist strategist. Even thoug h the Austria and Spain were Catholic powers, he believed that Frances national interest could be advanced by opposing these two powers. France even continued to fight Spain while seeking a separate peace with Austria. Moreover, Grosss argument contains a glaring post hoc ergo. Gross states that we should search not so much in the text of the treaties themselves as in their implications, in the broad conceptions on which they rest and the developments to which they provided impetus.  [5]  The fallacy is that Gross claims that because the Peace of Westphalia was before our modern conception of sovereignty, it does not necessarily follow that the Peace of Westphalia alone created our modern conception of sovereignty. There were many more factors at play. Grosss argument is too straightforward as it assumes that all actors following the war were fundamentally equal. In Sovereignty, International Relations, and the Westphalian Myth, Andreas Osiander contends that The Peace of Westphalia is a product of nineteenth and twentieth century fixation on the concept of sovereignty. I conclude by discussing how what I call the ideology of sovereignty has hampered the development of IR theory  [6]  According to Osiander the (Thirty Years) war continued because the Swedish and French crowns wanted to enhance their positions in Europe.  [7]  He comes to a conclusion that if the war war not fought to ward off a threat to the independence of other European actors posed by the Hasburg dynasty, then the tradition of the 1648 peace cannot be right either  [8]  Nineteenth and twentieth century historians readily espoused the view somehow that the Danes, Dutch, French, and Swedes were really defending themselves while also selflessly helping others to ward off oppression  [9]  He claims this is why the Peace of Westphalia is often seen as an anti-he gemonial order.  [10]  He directly accuses Leo Gross as spreading this false view. Osiander claims that many subsequent literature on this view, assume Grosss views to be self evident and implied in the treaty. Osiner strengthens his argument when he quotes another scholar who agree with him, Stephen Krassner. Osiander claims that history has viewed the Hasburgs as the villains of the Thirty Years War, and that the original crisis did not break out because the Hasburgs were powerful, but because they were weak.  [11]  Andreas Osiander views the Peace of Westphalia through the viewpoint of a postmodernist. He is challenging our previous knowledge of the Peace of Westphalia, and underlying assumptions held by previous scholars. He is purposely reversing traditional notions of historical interpretations such as the belief of the Hasburg dynasty as the villains of the Thirty Years War. Osiander is correct to warn there may be a harm of placing our values, our beliefs, onto histo rical events. Osianders argument is important as it forces us to re-examine commonly held beliefs about the Peace of Westphalia and its significance. Moreover he claims that Sovereignty as currently understood does not go back to the seventeenth century; that even then and nevertheless, relations among autonomous actors were perfectly possible without waiting for the concept to be invented; that the degree of autonomy of the actors might very.  [12]  He strengthens his argument when he acknowledges that the relationships between the actors involved in the Peace of Westphalia were very complex. In The Peace of Westphalia of 1648 and the Origins of Sovereignty, Derek Croxton doubts as whole, that sovereignty was a main principle of the Peace of Westphalia. Croxtons main argument is that de facto sovereign states existed at a time when few statesmen had anything like the modern conception of sovereign equality as the founding notion of the international system.  [13]  Croxton acknowledges that the main difficulty of the origins of sovereignty lies not in rulers which claims themselves to be sovereign but other leaders who acknowledge that sovereignty.  [14]  He accurately points out that papal authority was already in decline, the Peace of Westphalia just quickened the pace of the decline.  [15]  Croxton states that many scholars claim that sovereignty was dispersed to kings and princes in the Holy Roman Empire following its defeat in the Thirty Years war. However, he bluntly and correctly notes that the Holy Roman Empire lasted for another 158 years  [16]  an d that although the estates were given new rights, including the right to make alliances with outside powers and a territorial right of dominions, the rights demonstrate the limits to their sovereignty rather than its triumph superiority within their own.  [17]  Moreover, Croxton claims that The idea of sovereignty was not new in the 1640s; the question was whether sovereignty should be multipolar.  [18]  This view correctly challenges the assumption that the Peace of Westphalia was a groundbreaking event, even though it did make changes to the international system of politics. Throughout the readings, it is apparent that the relationship between the European states was very complicated, intricate, and included interrelationships based upon numerous factors. These factors could include a balance of religious, imperial, interstate and intrastate relationships. The Peace of Westphalia promoted the division of power, but ironically it also created a new balance of power among the European states. The The Peace of Westphalia promoted more moderation on behalf of all states, as whenever a power tried to dominate Europe (i.e. Napoleonic France or Hitlers Germany), there emerged a coalition of opposing forces to restore the balance of power. The balance of power did not avoid crisis, but it did create an equilibrium in which no one state had the ability to completely dominate the others.

Normandy Essay example -- essays research papers fc

The battle of Normandy was the major turning point in the Second World War. It was a very well planned out attack of the Allies on western France against the Germans. Many people know a little about the day, but few know about the long planning, strategy, and results for both sides. At the end of November, Roosevelt and Churchill journeyed to Tehran for their first meeting with Stalin. The president and the Prime Minister had already approved, under the code name Overlord, a plan for a cross-channel attack. Roosevelt wholeheartedly favored executing Overlord as early in 1944 as the weather permitted. Chief Meteorologist for Eisenhower said, â€Å"By the time the conference was due to start we could not expect to have a complete set of surface level and upper air charts but a handful of reports from one or two critical areas west and south-west of Ireland, if consistent among themselves, would decide the issue- the terrifying issue whether Overlord would be definitely postponed for at least 24 hours or go irrevocably forward to the assault on the coasts of France at dawn next mourning†(Stagg 100-101). At Tehran, Churchill argued for giving priority to Italy and possible new offensives in the Balkans or southern France, but he was outvoted by Roosevelt and Stalin. Overlord was set for May 1944. After the meeting, the CCS recalled Eisenhower from the Mediterranean and gave him command of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF), which was to organize and carry o...

North and Central Florida Springs Essay example -- Geology

Introduction Groundwater is the largest and most available usable source of drinking water in the state. There is a vast and mysterious system of caves and natural springs in North Central Florida. The cave system within the aquifer is one of the most amazing parts. The caves are remarkable in many ways. They are among the deepest and longest in the world, let alone the U.S. Another amazing aspect of the system is the purity of the water. The springs collectively produce billions of gallons of crystal clear water per day. The whole system stems from the Florida Aquifer that rests under the entire state. When most people think of Florida, they think of the weather and the beaches, but its the springs and the whole water system of the Florida Aquifer that makes the State so lush. The springs are an invaluable resource and natural wonder of the state. Combined, the system of 320 known springs produces nearly 8 billion gallons of water per day, more than the state currently uses (alt hough at present population growth, this remains to be seen). The springs of North Florida have always been a wonder. From the days of the Spanish Conquistadors searching for the "fountain of youth" to the millions of tourists that come to visit the springs today they have intrigued and amazed. With crystal clear waters feeding rivers that can disappear as quickly as they appeared the springs truly are an amazing sight. It was always thought that these springs were an unlimited resource, but scientists have discovered that man's influence can harm these spring. The Biscayne Aquifer in South Florida are already showing signs of a reduced flow due to the overpopulation of the area. The whole system is very fragile and we must all be ... ...d protect the water. There are grass roots organizations trying to help their areas and organizations like NSWA, but we need some cohesive concerted group effort if anything is going to get done. Individuals need to do their part to help preserve and protect the natural springs and the whole water system. The NSWA continues its lobbying of the FDA in its fight with the bottlers that use boreholes. Other groups are also helping and if they work together they may yet save one of our states most important resources. Although groups like the NSWA and Save Our Springs, Inc. have won small battles and stalled the advances of some companies, they are facing a booming 3 billion dollar industry with its own powerful lobbyists. The battle is far from over to protect our springs and everyone should be made aware of their obligation to help protect this invaluable resource. North and Central Florida Springs Essay example -- Geology Introduction Groundwater is the largest and most available usable source of drinking water in the state. There is a vast and mysterious system of caves and natural springs in North Central Florida. The cave system within the aquifer is one of the most amazing parts. The caves are remarkable in many ways. They are among the deepest and longest in the world, let alone the U.S. Another amazing aspect of the system is the purity of the water. The springs collectively produce billions of gallons of crystal clear water per day. The whole system stems from the Florida Aquifer that rests under the entire state. When most people think of Florida, they think of the weather and the beaches, but its the springs and the whole water system of the Florida Aquifer that makes the State so lush. The springs are an invaluable resource and natural wonder of the state. Combined, the system of 320 known springs produces nearly 8 billion gallons of water per day, more than the state currently uses (alt hough at present population growth, this remains to be seen). The springs of North Florida have always been a wonder. From the days of the Spanish Conquistadors searching for the "fountain of youth" to the millions of tourists that come to visit the springs today they have intrigued and amazed. With crystal clear waters feeding rivers that can disappear as quickly as they appeared the springs truly are an amazing sight. It was always thought that these springs were an unlimited resource, but scientists have discovered that man's influence can harm these spring. The Biscayne Aquifer in South Florida are already showing signs of a reduced flow due to the overpopulation of the area. The whole system is very fragile and we must all be ... ...d protect the water. There are grass roots organizations trying to help their areas and organizations like NSWA, but we need some cohesive concerted group effort if anything is going to get done. Individuals need to do their part to help preserve and protect the natural springs and the whole water system. The NSWA continues its lobbying of the FDA in its fight with the bottlers that use boreholes. Other groups are also helping and if they work together they may yet save one of our states most important resources. Although groups like the NSWA and Save Our Springs, Inc. have won small battles and stalled the advances of some companies, they are facing a booming 3 billion dollar industry with its own powerful lobbyists. The battle is far from over to protect our springs and everyone should be made aware of their obligation to help protect this invaluable resource.

Charles Dickens engender sympathy Essay

How does Charles Dickens engender sympathy for his protagonist Pip in this extract from ‘Great Expectations’? In this essay on ‘Great Expectations’, I am going to explore how the experiences of the main character Pip, create sympathy from the reader for him and how Dickens has put this across. Charles Dickens has written a gripping novel, set in his time and he has created sympathy for Pip in many different ways throughout the text. A first example of this is when Pip visits Miss Havisham’s house and meets Estella. ‘She called me â€Å"boy† so often and with a carelessness that was far from complimentary7, this shows that the way Estella spoke to Pip and that, instead of addressing him by his name, she just called him boy as if he was not worthy of his name, and he could sense that she did not really like him because of the way she said this, as indicated in the quote. This makes the reader feel sorry for Pip as Estella was very rude to him and unwelcoming, and nobody would really like to be in his position. So as well as being uncomfortable at the way Estella treats him, Pip also feels uncomfortable with his new surroundings as he has grown up with Joe and his Sister in poor, working class conditions at a Blacksmith’s forge, whereas Satis House is very different. It is rich and grand but also scary for Pip. ‘The first thing I noticed was that the passages were all dark’, this shows that Pip must have been quite frightened because of the darkness, and he was in a strange place but it is even worse that it is the first thing he noticed about the house. Pip was frightened of his surroundings as they were gothic and dark and very different, but the fact that he did know anyone at all must have also been a challenging experience. ‘At last we came to the door of a room and she said, â€Å"Go in/’ I answered more in shyness than politeness, â€Å"After you miss. † To this she returned: â€Å"Don’t be ridiculous boy; I am not going in. † And scornfully walked away, and what was worse took the candle with her. ‘ This was very uncomfortable and I was half afraid/ This long quote, from the extract shows a lot, first of all that he was very shy and uncomfortable in everyway at where he was and that he didn’t know anyone and he was also afraid. When he entered Miss Havisham’s room he was afraid again because of the very strange surroundings he entered into. ‘No glimpse of daylight was to be seen in it! ‘ this shows that it was very unusual and he was quite frightened and also when he saw Miss Havisham, ‘the strangest lady I have ever seen or shall ever see/ As well as being very strange, Pip also noticed that she was extremely rich, ‘some bright jewels sparkled on her neck and her hands, and some other jewels lay sparkling on the table/ Pip was not used to seeing such finery or such unusual surroundings so all of this makes the reader feel very sympathetic towards him. Miss Havisham’s mental state could also be a coarse for concern as, since her fianci left her on their wedding day and broke her heart she went a bit mad and stopped all of the clocks in the house and, by never touching anything in her room she tried literally to stop time at the prosiest second her heart was broken. ‘Her watch had stopped at twenty minutes to nine’ and she says to Pip ‘†What do I touch? † â€Å"Your heart. † â€Å"Broken! â€Å"‘ This experience must have been very frightening and unsettling for a young naive boy who was not used to being in the presence of such an eccentric and slightly mad old lady. Not just the fact that Miss Havisham was strange and so were her surroundings she also spoke to Pip and ordered him in a very strange and suspicious/manner. ‘†I sometimes have sick fancies† â€Å"and I have a sick fancy that I want to see some play. There, there! † â€Å"Play, play, play! â€Å"‘ This order seems rather strange for an old woman to have a fancy to see a young boy play but also the repetitive way in which she commands him to ‘†Play, play, play! â€Å"‘ She says this three times and Pip does not really know what to do so he therefore feels very awkward. After the harsh words from Estella and meeting Miss Havisham, Pip starts to feel the realisation of his low social status. ‘ This boy, why he is a common labouring boy, these words from Estella hurt Pip deeply but he did not show his true emotions until he was alone. ‘As I cried, I kicked the wall and took a hard twist at my hair; so bitter where my feelings! ‘ Dickens has displayed this very well as you can also feel a connection with him, because it is written in first person narration I, so you feel like Pip is actually talking to you, and you could imagine if you were in Pip’s position you, yourself would feel very frightened and uncomfortable so you end up feeling sorry and sympathetic for him.

The Bluest Eye-Theme of Vision

Toni Morrison’s highly acclaimed debut work, The Bluest Eye, is one of unquestionable beauty and intricately woven prose. As a fictional writer, Morrison avails herself of her literary faculties, using her mastery of description in order to convey an unusually lucid picture to the reader. The five senses seem to envelop a great deal of description in the novel, most notably that of sight. As has been discovered by virtue of studying the brain’s neural and cognitive machinery, vision occupies large regions of the brain.Although in a more abstract sense, vision’s disproportionate influence on the narrative and the story’s characters is greatly manifested in The Bluest Eye. One powerful way in which vision dictates many aspects of the novel is through the concept of aesthetic beauty. Throughout the novel, Morrison paints a detailed depiction of how African-Americans, especially young, amenable girls, are subject to the conventional indoctrination of beauty.So ciety has taught them to equate white with beautiful, and to go to considerable lengths to â€Å"whiten† themselves, such as in the case of women like Geraldine, who is described as sugar-brown in skin tone: â€Å"†¦they never cover the entire mouth for fear of lips too thick, and they worry, worry, worry about the edges of their hair† (83). Geraldine even goes as far as to inculcate this physical selfloathing in her own son, Junior: â€Å"†¦his hair was cut as close to his scalp as possible to avoid any suggestion of wool, the part was etched into his hair by the barber† (87).Any manifestations of stereotypical racial features, such as full lips and â€Å"wool-textured† hair are carefully concealed in an effort to adhere to the white ideal of what is beautiful. In the town of Lorain, Ohio, subliminal and implicit messages emphasizing whiteness as superior are found everywhere, and seemingly impossible to ignore. The quintessential white baby do ll given to Claudia as a present, romanticism of Shirley Temple, the exaltation of the light-skinned Maureen, idealization of white female actresses in movies, and Pauline’s nurturing of the little white girl are a few examples of the ways in which hese hypnotic images invade the vulnerable consciousness’ of the African-American women and young girls in the story. Adult women, having matured into consummate self-loathers, detesting the bodies in which they were born, express their hatred by taking it out on their own children: Mrs. Breedlove adopts the conviction that her daughter is ugly, and Geraldine curses Pecola’s blackness. The idea that ugliness is in fact a state of mind is presented early on in the book when illustrating the Breedlove family: â€Å"Mrs. Breedlove, Sammy Breedlove, and Pecola Breedlove—wore their ugliness† (38).This sentence provides an implication that the Breedlove’s ugliness was a result of deliberate choice. The narrator then continues on, observing, â€Å"You looked at them and wondered why they were so ugly; you looked closely and could not find the source† (39). In saying this, one can elicit that the members of the Breedlove family are not inherently ugly, rather they are driven to believe that they are and that they deserve to be, convincing those that look upon them that they are ugly. The Breedlove’s sense of physical insecurity emanates outwardly, and causes others to see them in the way they want to be seen.For one reason or another, being viewed with contempt for their appearance benefits them in some way. For Mrs. Breedlove, her ugliness is used for purposes of â€Å"martyrdom,† for Sammy, it is used to inflict â€Å"pain,† and for Pecola, it is used as a â€Å"mask† to hide behind. In the vein of vision, a recurring motif that is discernable in The Bluest Eye is seeing versus being seen. Many characters in the novel, most frequently, Pecola, ex press feelings of being disregarded and invisible when interacting or in the vicinity of white people.In the passage about the Breedlove’s living situation, they are described as living in â€Å"anonymous† misery. The fact that they paradoxically live in anonymity despite being exposed to passersby on the street, introduces this prevailing theme. Conceivably one of the most memorable scenes that addresses this subject is when Mrs. Breedlove recounts giving birth. In referring to the doctors, she says, â€Å"They never said nothing to me. Only one looked at me. Looked at my face, I mean. I looked right back at him. He dropped his eyes and turned red. He knowed, I reckon, that maybe I weren’t no horse foaling† (125).By refusing to make eye contact with her and acknowledge her, the doctors, in a way, dehumanize her. She sees them, but they do not see her. They treat her as though she is an animal, rather than a sentient human being, and although uneducated, Mrs. Breedlove is perceptive enough to notice this. She believes that if they were to lock eyes with her, they would realize something unpleasant: that she is no different from the white patients. With regard to invisibility, the early scene with Pecola in the candy shop also seems to be particularly telling.In speaking of Mr. Yacobowski, it says, â€Å"†¦he senses that he need not waste the effort of a glance. He does not see her, because for him there is nothing to see. How can a fifty-two-year-old white immigrant store-keeper†¦ see a little black girl? (48). What can be gathered from this is that the man, to some degree, has made a conscious choice not to look at her, not because he is physically incapable of doing so, but because he considers someone of her skin color insignificant, and not worth the energy necessary for acknowledgment.This theme underscores the difference between how one sees and how one is seen, also differentiates between superficial sight and real insight. Pecola’s desire for blue eyes is undoubtedly essential to examine when considering the power and impact of vision in the novel. Pecola is consumed with the thought of having blue eyes because she believes that they would be the simple panacea for everything that is unpleasant in her life. She is convinced that they will alter the way she is seen by others, and therefore the way that she sees the world around her.To Pecola, blue eyes and happiness, are inextricably linked. In a way, too, they represent her own blindness, since she attains them at the expense of her sanity. In addition, she has the understanding that if she had â€Å"beautiful† eyes, people would not think it right to do ugly things in front of her or to her: â€Å"Maybe they’d say, ‘Why, look at pretty-eyed Pecola. We mustn’t do bad things in front of those pretty eyes’† (46). She believes that the cruelty she is exposed to is somehow intertwined with how she is seen.Her insight is confirmed when Maureen steps in while being teased by the boys at school. Upon arrival, it seems that Maureen’s beautiful gaze causes the boys not to want to act badly. One character in The Bluest Eye that stands out against the rest as being one of the few individuals who can see clearly, and through an unadulterated lens is Claudia. Her clarity of vision is in part due to the fact that it is not marred by pain, like Pecola’s is. In the beginning of her narrative, she talks about how she has not yet reached the stage in adolescence where love turns to self-hatred.She is different from others girls her age because she does not strive to emulate them, at the loss of her well-being. When she receives the doll, she describes her impulse to dismember it: â€Å"I had only one desire: to dismember it. To see what it was made, to discover the dearness, to find the beauty, the desirability that had escaped me, but apparently only me† (20). In her childlike naiveness, she does not realize that the beauty everyone praises the dolls for does not come from within, but instead, is on the surface. She wants to take apart the doll in the hopes that she will unearth the inner secret to its beauty.At least at this point, she is unaware of what society has narrow-mindedly deemed beautiful. Near the end of the story, when she and her sister are talking about Pecola’s pregnancy, she imagines the unborn baby as beautiful in its blackness, indicating that she does not embody the impressionable mindset typical of other women in the book. The Bluest Eye is one of the most profound examples in modern literature that attests to the ability of vision in impacting the way in which people perceive the world and are perceived by others.The novel repeatedly brings to attention the malleability of human sight, and its vulnerability to distortion through the lens of hatred, love, bigotry, and racism. Even in the title of Morrison’s wor k, one can learn a substantial amount about the intrinsic role vision plays in the story. The word ‘eye’ in the title is singular rather than plural, suggesting the negative implications on the individual by society’s white tunnel vision in relation to concepts of beauty and approval. In addition, the double meaning of ‘eye’ and ‘I’ strongly emphasizes the significance of vision in the grand scheme of the novel.

Sergei Prokofiev

Ashley Owens Professor Lleweylln Music Appreciation 13 November 2012 Sergei Prokofiev How does music make us feel? Not what do we feel when we listen to music but more specifically, what is it about Music that triggers our human emotions? What effect did hearing those sad country songs on the radio during my morning drive to school have on the rest of my day? Why does upbeat hip hop music always make me nod my head with the beat? Why does a song like â€Å"Go rest high on that mountain† by Vince Gill always make me cry?Music is a large part of most of our everyday lives. Sergei Prokofiev understood that considering the feelings and emotions of the listener was vital in the production of music, and demonstrates in â€Å"Peter and the Wolf† how musical properties can persuade us emotionally. The road to Prokofiev’s growth to being one of the most unique composers of his time started in Sontsovka, Ukraine in the year 1891. His mother was a pianist and his first pian o teacher. Prokofiev began writing piano pieces at age five and by age nine had written his first opera.He studied at the St. Petersburg conservatory starting at ten years of age from 1904 to 1914. Prokofiev performed as a virtuoso starting in 1910 and began making a living in music. At his graduation recital he played his own first concerto. In 1915 during World War I he composed Scythian Suite and his first classical Symphony in 1917 (David Nice). In 1918 Prokofiev moved from Russia to the United States in search for greater artistic perspectives. After mixed experiences he moved to Paris in 1922 and finally returned home to Russia to be with his family in 1936.One of his first compositions upon returning home was Peter and the Wolf. Written in April of 1936, Peter and the Wolf were written as an introduction for children to the orchestra and were narrated by Prokofiev himself at the children’s theatre in Moscow. The story takes place in a meadow near young Peter’s h ouse. After watching the wolf swallow the duck, the young boy devises a plan with help of the bird, to capture the wolf and take him to the zoo. Each particular character in the story is represented by a musical instrument performed in the piece.The bird is played by the flute, high in pitch and quick in tempo. The duck is played by an oboe, slow in tempo and giving him a clumsy feel. The clarinet represents the cat, sneaky and methodical. Grandpa is represented by a bassoon deep in pitch giving him comedic properties. The wolf is played by a French horn which gives off a hominess and dark presence. The hunters are played by the Timpani and drums mimicking the sound of their guns as they try to shoot the wolf. Finally Peter is played by a mix of string instruments, Violin, Viola, String Bass, and Cello.Peter and the wolf show us how musical properties can persuade us emotionally. That we associate certain sounds with being happy or determined like Peter and the string instruments. W hile other sounds can be associated with sadness or generate fear like the wolf and the French horns. It is both the story, the composition of the music, and its ability to attach to parts of the story, that makes Peter and the Wolf so intriguing and timeless. These qualities also make it fun and enjoyable for multi age groups.The story itself quickly has us intently supporting our hero Peter as he is visiting animals in the nearby meadow. It builds a rapport with the core characters making us feel involved in the story, making us care for the bird as he narrowly escapes the clutches of the sly cat, and at the same time casting Peter as the hero in this story. It shows us the down fall of the duck, when he is swallowed by the wolf, pulling us in on the real danger there in the meadow. The climax comes when Peter, with help of the bird, capture the wolf and save the meadows animals from harm.True to his role of the hero Peter then stops the hunters from shooting the wolf and insists that he be taken to the zoo. The story seems to end on a happy note but leaves several questions unanswered and places for the story to continue. Questions like what happened on the way to the zoo, and would the duck ever escape from the belly of the wolf. The story is open-ended and allows us to form our own conclusions. The tune of Peter and the Wolf may be easily recognizable to some, since it is famous for its Disney interpretation and used regularly in classrooms for teaching.Personally I associate the style of orchestra with older cartoons in which a great deal of them were without much dialog and were backed by classical music, as was Looney Tunes – Pigs in a Polka which contained Brahms Hungarian Dances #5,7,6 and 17. It can be easily argued that Prokofiev is indirectly responsible for all of them, as his Peter and the Wolf were really the first of its kind. Over ten years after its original creation, an animated adaption was created by Walt Disney and released on Aug ust 15th 1946 introduced as part of its Make mine Music collection of shorts.Aside from narration by Sterling Holloway the cartoon is true to the original piece in that the characters are represented in sound by their respective musical instruments. The short animation does a great job of lining up the music with the art really bringing the characters and the music together. However trying to make the cartoon more child friendly the story is slightly altered and added to. During the introduction some of the characters are given names, â€Å"Sasha† the bird, â€Å"Sonia† the duck, and â€Å"Ivan† the cat.At the end of the Disney version we find that the duck was not really eaten by the wolf but instead had hid in a tree trunk and is happily reunited with Peter and the other pets once the wolf is captured. Since then Peter and the Wolf has been remade several times in various ways most recently in 2008 by Suzie Templeton. Having the music fit into the animations m akes it very easy for children of all ages to associate the sounds separately and really enjoy the story. Prokofiev’s music was sophisticated that almost a century later we are still using it to teach our children and entertain us all. Prokofiev was one of the great composers of the 20th century; arguably the greatest. I think the case for Prokofiev’s supreme greatness rests upon the likely premise that no other composer of the 20th century enriched the musical repertoire in as many different forms as did Prokofiev, and did so at such a consistently high level of quality and lyrical beauty† (Turlish). Though he is famous for only very few pieces of his work, the power of those pieces remains nearly unparalleled even to this day. Many artist credit Prokofiev for artistic inspiration in their creations.Unfortunately Sergei Prokofiev was in many ways a man out of time. He was product of 19th century music that had his own way of writing and composing. For many who l ived in the era this made him misunderstood and not taken seriously as a composer. In a recent interview, Barbara Nissman said, â€Å"he was such a natural talent, he followed his nose. Nobody ever dictated to him how to write and he wasn’t a member of any school of thought or academic theory. His music went where he thought it was supposed to go. You couldn’t put him in a box. Some people thought he was conservative but others thought he was way too out there.I think his unique approach to the instrument – his sense of originality – frightened a lot of people, especially the critics who had no idea which box to put him in. † Music, even if forgotten or put into the back of our subconscious for a long period of time can often trigger a memory or a feeling we had the first time we had heard it. Maybe an important time in our lives that we lived out while the radio was playing, we may or may not have even known it was there. However at any point we m ay stumble across that song on the radio, waiting in line at the bus station, or shopping at the local grocery store.For however brief a moment it allows us or forces us depending on how you look at it, to go back in time a memory and recall it with enhanced clarity. Sergei Prokofiev realized these things and implemented this epiphany into his music, which to me seems more than obvious in the classic piece Peter and the Wolf. For years to come both children and adults may associate the hominess sound of the French horn with the frightening wolf, they may hear a flute and be over taken by their first memory of watching the classical Disney short, where they were, or who they were with.Through concentrated listening we can learn to separate musical properties of any piece. However attaching those pieces to a character or a feeling is something that Sergei did way before his time. Prokofiev has touched so many lives, and through his music changed the landscape of how we all perceive it . Works Cited Turlish, Bruce. Kith. Org. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. Nice, David. Prokofiev: From Russia to the West, 1891-1935. Columbus. MT. Yale University Press Publication. 18 Oct. 2012. Print Nissman, Barbara. Adventures. In. Music. Biz. Web. 18 Oct. 2012

The Four Ps of Creativity

An Analyse of a Significant Creative and Innovative Thinker in Terms of the Four Ps A concept labelled as the ‘Four Ps’ has been used to help understand the influential factors around creative beings and how these factors influence their final creative products. According to Mel Rhodes in his book An Analysis of Creativity (1961) these Four Ps; person, place, process and product are the underlying factors of creativity itself. By understanding how the 4 Ps work we are able to venturing into the life of a creative thinker and conduct and analysis of there creativity. In this case we will look at a German media artist, Tom Tykwer who has constructed a variety of unique films due to his high level of creativity. This creativity has been shaped by the Four Ps or in other words, his individual characteristics, the environment he is surrounded by and the particular processes he under took in order to create his productions. In this analysis we will begin with the first P, Person. The personal attributes of someone influences ideas and how these ideas are produced into being. Determination, imagination and curiosity are all personal attributes found in a creative artist (Sternberg 1988). Born in 1965 (The Auteurs 2010), Tom Tykwer always had a strong passion for filmmaking, making his first films at the age of eleven. His friends where unfortunately vaguely interested in his products (Haase 2007) yet this did not stop him from creating. After High School Tykwer failed to receive a place in almost all of the film schools in Europe (Haase 2007) though his determination to make films did not allow this fall back to prevent him from achieve his ambitions. Tykwer merely created his own film studio in which he could create at his own accord. The act reflects Tykwer’s ability to think of alternative situations which is a highly regarded creative personality trait (Sternberg 1988). When Tykwer was a child the first film he viewed was Peter Pan (Haase 2007). The possibility of a parallel world struck Tykwer as fascinating and became his first inspiration in film making. Peter Pan sparked an imaginative streak in Tykwer which entranced him for almost 30 years. His imagination is what defines his earlier films, such as Lola Rennt and True, two movies which expanded the realms of reality through innovative techniques and unique narrative structure. In regards to curiosity every single one of Tykwer’s movies, short and long, reflect a high level of experimentation and risks to portray his own personal feelings and willingness to manipulate media to create magnificent effects. Another key feature about Tykwer is that he calls upon varies types of film genres. He claimed, ‘I like everything that speaks to me loudly, and that gives me a vision. I don’t care about the genre’ (Tom Tykwer 2010a). This is reflected in all his productions as he uses a mixture of crime and thrill (_Perfume_) romance (_Truth__)_ and action (_The International) _ to portray his ideas. His desire to not stick to just one style of film demonstrates a large amount of curiosity and desire to experiment with ideas and cinematic styles. Tykwer demonstrated a high level of curiosity for film at an early age, something along with imagination and determination is an essential aspect to creativity. The second P, place, also has a profound impact on creativity. Place includes the environment which a person is surrounded by and the influence this has upon someone’s creative ability. The German director was brought up surrounded by a modern and artistic culture. The fall of the Berlin wall in 1990 was a significant cultural movement in Germany (The Guardian 2010), further enhancing modernisation, innovation and artistic products which expressed revolution and a movement to new approaches to life. Berlin was fuming with a large variety of artistic expression inspired by the strong political change. Movement such as feminism became popular, something which is reflected in Tykwer’s film with the constant use of a female main character. For example, Deadly Maria 1993, Winter Sleeper 1997 and Run Lola Run 1999. Working as a projectionist at a Berlin Art Cinema Movement, allowed him to be continually exposed to a variety of artistic films (Tykwer 2010a). Here Tykwer met the first person that was too help him develop his film career, an independent film maker in the late eighties called Rosa von Praunheim (Cowie 2010a). This man strongly influenced Tykwer’s approach to film making and Tykwer’s first film displayed many of the stylistic and thematic trademarks that his other movies now contain. It was after this that Tykwer created his own film company, X Filme (Tykwer 2010b) and was able to keep his own artistic licence. Many directors who allow funding from more mainstream production companies tend to lose artistic licence. Artistic licence is simply the amount of say the director has within the creation of their film. Tykwer felt strongly about keeping his films very personal giving him the label of an Auteur (Clarke 2006). The belief that directors should have complete artistic control is what separates him from other directors/filmmakers. Tykwer created what he wanted too, not what others did. This promoted his creativity immensely as his imagination is able to run wild. Environment is known to change throughout someone’s life constantly. A brief overview of artist Brice Marden in Imagination First: Unlocking the Power of Possibility by authors Eric Liu and Scott Noppe-Brandon (2009) reflects the importance of how specific surroundings affect creativity. Marden was a minimalist painter (Liu and Noppe-Brandon 2009) with a very distinctive technique. This technique was modified greatly when the artist decided to travel through Asia. He picked up specific cultural techniques which he saw to be fascinating and from then on allowed them to define his works of art. In relation to Tom Tykwer, Germany was his first cultural influence upon his productions allowing his products to reflect the strong cultural movement at the time. In the last few years, Tykwer has developed a more American approach to film making, something which can be reflected in his latest movie The International as he is surrounded by a strong American influence. Tykwer has removed himself from his independent film company, X-Filme, and has allowed more commercial industries to take hold of him. The International and _Perfume: A Story of a Murderer _separated themselves from Tykwer’s other films as their narratives are linear and contain a more acceptable style of cinematic photograph and realism. This shows that the director has lost a part of his own artistic licence as he has teamed up with Commercial film producers (Internet Date Base 2010a; Internet Data Base 2010b). Here we can see how the surrounding environment of someone can both excel or hinder creative ability. The third P, Process is the particular actions taken in order for a creative product to come to life. In media this has a very practical sense and is to do with the measures taken to overcome obstacles that restrict a creative thought coming to life. Process consists mostly of the production and post-production phases of media, such as filming and editing. Independent films, due to their lack of popularity are given less money compared to mass-produced films. For example, the limited budget of Run Lola Run influenced its editing, the way in which it was filmed and how it was filmed. Tykwer received a budget of only $2 million (Cowie 2010b). In comparison the Blockbuster The Dark Knight had an estimated budget of $185 million (Whitaker 2010). Special effects such as CGI are used in the Blockbuster in large quantities as well as High Definition film and hundreds of extras. In Lola the case was different and alternative techniques where required in order to overcome the budget restrictions. The lack of money permitted Tykwer to only 200 extras. This created difficulties particularly during the first two minutes of the movie. The title ‘_Lola Rennt’ _is spelt out by extras, each letter being filmed separately then contrasted together in post-production. ) In Matthew May’s In Pursuit of Elegance (May 2009) he talks about the innovative creation of Ronnie Stuiver , who designed a water pump with a merry-go-round which is ‘powered by play’ (May 2009, 173) in order to entertain the children of South Africa as they watch their mothers retain water from the water hole. May uses Stuiver as an examp le to explain that we can overcome specific obstacles in our surroundings if we can observe and are determined (May 2009, 174). Like Tykwer, Stuiver expands his ideas and overcomes restrictions (May 2009, 174). In South Africa, villagers would have to wait for the wind in order for their pumps to work, Stuiver created an alternative which not only overcame the problem, but also entertained. This ability to overcome specific obstacles yet still up hold a level of entertainment for an audience is essential in movie making. Tykwer over looks his budget and manages to create exceptional alternatives in order for his productions to come to life, reflecting his amazing creativity. As stated in Cropley’s Fostering Creativity, ‘Creativity involves systematic and purposeful thinking not blind generation of novelty. (Cropely 2009, 68) Finally the fourth P, product. Product involves the final outcome and result of each creative production (Scritchfield 1999). There are three main characteristics in regards to product, these being ‘novelty, resolution and synthesis’ (Besemer and O’Quin 1987). Novelty being the uniqueness of the product, resolution includes the products response to the challenge it was created for and synthesis includes whether the product is used for something other than what it was created for (Scritchfield 1999). In regards to novelty (Scritchfield 1999), all of Tykwer’s productions have been made with innovative techniques and styles to reflect both person and place. His films have captured audience around the world due to their originality. When if comes to resolution, Tykwer’s films where created to express his own ideas and thoughts about the surrounding world. The ability to work in his own film studio for the majority of his films has permitted this task to be very successful. Lastly, synthesis applies strongly to all of Tykwer’s products. Each has an added value of entertainment and an ability to promote curiosity due to their avant-garde feel. The Four P’s are closely intertwined, each influencing each other incredibly, operating simultaneously. Person, place and process all determine the outcome of a creative product in any area of expertise. In regards to media art, as demonstrated by Tom Tykwer’s analysis, it is the personality of a director, their environment and processes which influence their techniques and ideas reflected within their production. In conclusion, creativity is not something that is simply just there. It is influenced by a series of surrounding factors which determine why, what and how something is created. The Four P’s are an excellent way to determine what creativity is and how it is developed. REFERENCE LIST Besemer S. P and O’Quin, K. 1987. Creative product analysis: Testing a model by developing a judging instrument. In Frontiers of Creativity research: Beyond the basic_s, ed. _S. G. 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