Antigone Creon Pride vs. Power free essay sample

According to Aristotle, the most important factor in a Greek tragedy is the plot. The plot must tell the actions of characters from beginning to end. Though, without the characters, the plot has nowhere to go. In Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone, each character has a distinct personality and strong beliefs. The heroine, Antigone, has some of the strongest beliefs of them all. Antigone is willing to sacrifice her own life and well being to honor her fallen brother, Polyneices. Polyneices was killed in battle by her other brother Eteocles. Antigone’s uncle and king of Thebes, Creon, wishes to honor only Eteocles’ body with a burial and wants Polyneices’ corpse to be â€Å"carrion for the birds and dogs to tear† (Lines 229-231). Antigone and Creon obviously clash in their principles throughout the story but both think that they have the correct moralities to teach to the people of Thebes. Creon believes that the people of Thebes should honor him and his power as King. We will write a custom essay sample on Antigone Creon: Pride vs. Power or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Antigone, alternatively, allows her morality to do the talking. She thinks that Polyneices should be given a proper burial as Eteocles was given. Their individual pride is what actually results in the downfall of each character. The two strong-willed personalities cannot exist in harmony. Antigone believes that one should honor the gods and do what is right, even if that comes at the expense of personal danger or undermining the sovereign of Thebes. Creon, on the other hand, believes the people of Thebes should honor political sovereignty and obey his decisions. The difference between the two characters’ morality directly affects the people of Thebes. The people of Thebes are torn between respecting Creon because he is their sovereign or respecting Antigone for following the wishes of the gods and respect the dead. This creates immediate conflict between the two characters. As the protagonist, Sophocles makes Antigone’s ideas more sensible so the reader can relate to the main character easier. In my opinion, most people would not agree with Creon’s decision and sway towards Antigone’s side in regards to what should be done with Polyneices body. In most literature, there is a main character. Good or bad, we tend to connect with the main character and his or her actions. As in present day, stories we see on the news depict the perspective of the main person related to the story. This is the same with Antigone. The more the reader understands and morally or spiritually connects to the main character and their individual morals, the more they can decide which side they wish to take. This is the dilemma the people of Thebes must face. Some believe that Antigone is correct in burying her brother’s body. Others fear the wrath of the king and respect his power. Although the ancient Greeks were heavy believers in glory and the repercussions of their actions, they still respect the king’s decisions and his power. Antigone, however, believes in doing what is right rather than what is law. She believes the gods would decide her fate in the afterlife anyway. The gods demand that the mortals worship them but they also believe that they should respect one another and everyone deserves glory. Dramatic events followed Antigone’s family through the generations. Oedipus, Antigone’s father, begged for exile upon learning he had unknowingly slept with his mother, Jocasta. Jocasta takes her own life and Oedipus gauges his eyes out and begs Creon for exile or death. Antigone did not want another one of her family members to suffer embarrassment. The account of her family’s trials and tribulations follows her family. She did not want another member of her family to be dishonored. The story of Antigone begins with the aftermath of a fatal battle between Antigone’s two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, where the two had fought to the death. The two brothers fought over the reign of Thebes but now, the two lay dead in the street. Creon orders Eteocles’ body to be buried and â€Å"crowned with a hero’s honors† (line 220). Polyneices, although he is Creon’s nephew, is passionately hated by Creon and thus, his remains are ordered to not be â€Å"dignified† (line 228) with a burial. Antigone is disgusted that Creon has put a claim on Polyneices body and begins contemplating burying her brother against Creon’s requests not to. She confronts her sister, Ismene, in order to ask for help. Ismene is quite apprehensive and Antigone pursues to take matters in to her own hands and bury Polyneices where his body lays even though Creon had put a death punishment on anyone who defied his wishes. She does this to show the people of Thebes and Creon that no one except a god can deem a human honorable or dishonorable. This is when the people of Thebes decide whether Antigone should have honored King Creon’s law or did the right thing by burying her brother and establishing glory in her family. This storyline provides insight to how each of the characters think and feel about the situations at hand. It gives every side of the story and gives the reader an option to create his or her own opinions on morality and the actions of the characters. Although Antigone’s actions appear more masculine than the actions of other females in Thebes, she represents a strong female character. This is very rare in Greek literature. She wants Polyneices to be given the same glory as Eteocles and believes it is not up to Creon to decide who is and who is not honorable. She makes her own decisions and sticks by those decisions with great confidence and poise. She knows that if she buries Polyneices, that Creon will put her to death. When Creon and Antigone verbally confront the issue of Polyneices’ illegal burial, Antigone states, â€Å"Of course I did it. It wasn’t Zeus, not in the least, who made this proclamation-not to me. † In stating this, she is blatantly defying Creon because she does not believe he has the right to put a claim on her brother’s body since he is not a god. Antigone is the fiancee of Creon’s son, Haemon, which escalates the decision of punishment of Antigone’s actions. Antigone’s yearn for honor and glory is shown in lines 85-86 as she states, â€Å"I will bury him myself. And even if I die in the act, that death will be a glory. † This quotation directly shows Antigone’s insatiable hunger for glory and doing what is morally right. She wants the people of Thebes to do what the gods deem morally acceptable instead of just succumbing to the beliefs of the king. Antigone wants to teach the people of Thebes that a king cannot decide honor and pride. It is to be decided by the gods and religious morals. Although Antigone’s actions of burying her brother’s body without regards to the law is honorable, her pride is her downfall as she is to be exiled in a cave to die. This is where some of the people of Thebes begin to question Creon’s decision and his motives for keeping Polyneices’ corpse unburied. King Creon views his decisions and opinions as comparable to those of the gods. He believes that his wishes are to be met by the people of Thebes as much as they would for the wishes of the gods. That mortals, such as himself, can make creeds of what is right or wrong. Creon orders that Eteocles be buried as a hero but he passionately expresses that Polyneices was an enemy of the city and to be â€Å"left unburied, his corpse carrion for the birds and dogs to tear, an obscenity for the citizens to behold! † (Lines 229-231) As the reader, this is most definitely one of the most gruesome and disgusting sentences I had ever read. It is repulsing to think about a body being left to the dogs like that. It is apparent that one human being can put claim on a dead corpse just so that he can make show his â€Å"power† to his city. The hatred possessed by Creon toward Polyneices is beyond rage but this proclamation is made to show the city of Thebes the power that he possesses and set a precedent of those who defy him. The Leader in Antigone represents the people of Thebes. After Creon addresses the city of his wishes to keep Polyneices unburied and the punishment to whomever defies him, the Leader seems to humor Creon a bit. The Leader states, â€Å"If this is your pleasure, Creon, treating our city’s enemy and our friend this way . . . â€Å". (line 236) The fact that the Leader uses the term â€Å"pleasure† begs the reader to question the sincerity of the Leader’s statement. Pleasure is more personal and cuts in to the personal enjoyment by Creon whereas, if the Leader had used the term â€Å"demand† or â€Å"law†, it would have had more a serious connotation. Quotations by the Leader are important because it represents the views of the people of Thebes as a whole. These are the people being subjected to the pride of Antigone and Creon. The Leader also foreshadows during the play. The Leader questions that the situation could â€Å"possibly be the work of the gods† (line 316). Creon responds, â€Å"You say – why it’s intolerable – say the gods could have the slightest concern for the corpse? † (line 319-320) This could be a hint that there could be interference by the gods in the future due to Creon’s actions. Not only do the Ancient Greeks believe that the gods have certain responsibilities in the lives of mortals but they are also responsible for the repercussions of actions. Foreshadowing within the piece of literature gives small hints along the way of how things are going to pan out. When Antigone disobeys Creon, he punishes her by not directly ordering her to be killed, but she is put in a remote cave to perish. Creon does not make this decision upon thinking about the consequences of his actions. When speaking to his son, Haemon, Creon states, â€Å"Spit her out, like a mortal enemy – let the girl go. Let her find a husband down among the dead. † (line 728-729) This cannot be a statement seen respectable by the gods. As part of another consequence for Creon’s actions, Thebes’s seer, Tiresias, visits Creon bringing a prophecy that since he was responsible for the death of Antigone and â€Å"keeping a dead body here in the bright air, unburied, unsung, unhallowed by the rites† (lines 1190-1191), that he must surrender one â€Å"born of his own loins† (line 1185). Shortly after this prophecy was delivered, Haemon, has taken his own life and due to that, his wife, Eurydice, had also died by her own hand. Creon is now a broken man due to his own pride. The two strong personalities of Antigone and Creon cannot coexist together in Thebes. Creon is the king and Antigone does not have the power that Creon possesses. She is unable to legally state her own decree as it will be seen as insubordinate and she will be punished. Unfortunately, the people of Thebes are afraid to disobey Creon. In modern days, different personalities can endure society. For instance, while reading Antigone, I could not help but compare the situation of Creon claiming Polyneices’ body with the 2011 capture of terrorist Osama Bin Laden. When Osama Bin Laden was captured and killed in his Pakistan hideaway on May 2, 2011,the United States of America quickly apprehended the body to make a political statement. As like Creon, the possession of Osama Bin Laden’s body gave Barack Obama the power to do what he wished with the body. Unlike Creon, Obama laid Osama Bin Laden to rest in the Arabian Sea. This establishment of power can also be shown in the death and execution of dictator Benito Mussolini. In April 1945, Mussolini and his mistress were executed and their bodies were dumped in an Italian piazza where enraged Italians took their turns spitting, kicking and shooting at the bodies. (Unknown,1) This was a political statement of power over a fallen dictator. In this case, the civilians were the ones who dishonored the body. In modern days, Antigone and Creon could exist but there would be the same struggle of values. Although these two characters evoke different religious and moral values, they are also quite similar in their desire to stand their ground for their own pride. Antigone and Creon both want glory and honor. Creon wants to be respected and quite possibly even feared by the people of Thebes so that he can rule over all and be the greatest king Thebes had ever seen. Conversely, Antigone just wants to do what is right by the gods and her family. She wants to give her brother the proper burial that everyone deserves. She does not believe Creon has the authority to claim a corpse for his own pleasure. Antigone and Creon are two characters whose values are pit against each other. Unfortunately, the pride both hold to their values causes their tragic demise. Although Antigone challenges the power of Creon, she is still the tragic heroine in the end.

Biography of Kublai Khan, Ruler of Mongolia and China

Biography of Kublai Khan, Ruler of Mongolia and China Kublai Khan (September 23, 1215–February 18, 1294) was a Mongol emperor who founded the Yuan Dynasty in China. He was the most famous grandson of the great conqueror Genghis Khan, expanding his grandfathers empire and ruling the vast territory. He was the first non-Han emperor to conquer all of China. Fast Fact: Kublai Khan Known For:  Mongol Emperor, conqueror of southern China, founder of the Yuan dynasty in ChinaAlso Known As:  Kubla, KhubilaiBorn:  September 23, 1215 in MongoliaParents: Tolui and SorkhotaniDied:  February 18, 1294 in Khanbaliq (modern-day Beijing, China)Education: UnknownSpouse(s): Tegulen, Chabi of the Khonigirad, Nambui  Children: Dorji, Zhenjin, Manggala, Nomukhan, Khutugh-beki, and many others Early Life Although Kublai Khan was the grandson of Genghis Khan, very little is known about his childhood. We do know that Kublai was born in 1215 to Tolui (the youngest son of Genghis) and his wife Sorkhotani, a Nestorian Christian princess of the Kereyid Confederacy. Kublai was the couples fourth son. Sorkhotani was famously ambitious for her sons  and raised them to be leaders of the Mongol Empire, despite their alcoholic and fairly ineffectual father. Sorkhotanis political savvy was legendary; Rashid al-Din of Persia noted that she was extremely intelligent and able and towered above all the women in the world. With their mothers support and influence, Kublai and his brothers would go on to take control of the Mongol world from their uncles and cousins. Kublais brothers included Mongke, later also Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, and Hulagu, Khan of the Ilkhanate in the Middle East who crushed the Assassins but was fought to a standstill at Ayn Jalut by the Egyptian Mamluks. From an early age, Kublai proved adept at traditional Mongol pursuits. At 9, he had his first recorded hunting success and he would relish hunting for the rest of his life. He also excelled at conquest, the other Mongolian sport of the day. Gathering Power In 1236, Kublais uncle Ogedei Khan granted the young man a fiefdom of 10,000 households in Hebei Province, northern China. Kublai did not administer the region directly, allowing his Mongol agents a free hand. They imposed such high taxes on the Chinese peasants that many fled their land. At last, Kublai took a direct interest and halted abuses, so that the population grew once more. When Kublais brother Mongke became Great Khan in 1251, he named Kublai Viceroy of Northern China. Two years later, Kublai struck deep into southwest China, in what would be a three-year campaign to pacify Yunnan, the Sichuan region, and the Kingdom of Dali. In a sign of his growing attachment to China and Chinese customs, Kublai ordered his advisors to select a site for a new capital based on feng shui. They chose a spot on the frontier between Chinas agricultural lands and the Mongolian steppe; Kublais new northern capital was called Shang-tu (Upper Capital), which Europeans later interpreted as Xanadu. Kublai was at war in Sichuan once again in 1259, when he learned that his brother Mongke had died. Kublai did not immediately withdraw from Sichuan upon Mongke Khans death, leaving his younger brother Arik Boke time to gather troops and convene a kuriltai, or selecting council, in Karakhoram, the Mongol capital. The kuriltai named Arik Boke as the new Great Khan, but Kublai and his brother Hulagu disputed the result and held their own kuriltai, which named Kublai the Great Khan. This dispute touched off a civil war. Kublai, the Great Khan Kublais troops destroyed the Mongol capital at Karakhoram, but Arik Bokes army continued fighting. It was not until August 21, 1264, that Arik Boke finally surrendered to his older brother at Shang-tu. As Great Khan, Kublai Khan had direct control over the Mongol homeland and Mongol possessions in China. He was also the head of the larger Mongol Empire, with a measure of authority over the leaders of the Golden Horde in Russia, the Ilkhanates in the Middle East, and the other hordes. Although Kublai exerted power over much of Eurasia, opponents to Mongol rule still held out in nearby southern China. He needed to conquer this region once and for all and unite the land. Conquest of Song China In a program to win Chinese allegiance, Kublai Khan converted to Buddhism, moved his main capital from Shang-du to Dadu (modern-day Beijing), and named his dynasty in China Dai Yuan in 1271. Naturally, this prompted charges that he was abandoning his Mongol heritage and sparked riots in Karakhoram. Nevertheless, this tactic was successful. In 1276, most of the Song imperial family formally surrendered to Kublai Khan, yielding their royal seal to him, but this was not the end of resistance. Led by the Empress Dowager, loyalists continued to fight until 1279, when the Battle of Yamen marked the final conquest of Song China. As Mongol forces surrounded the palace, a Song official jumped into the ocean carrying the 8-year-old Chinese emperor, and both drowned. Kublai Khan as Yuan Emperor Kublai Khan came to power through strength of arms, but his reign also featured advancements in political organization and the arts and sciences. The first Yuan Emperor organized his bureaucracy based on the traditional Mongol ordu or court system, but also adopted many aspects of Chinese administrative practice. It was a shrewd decision since he had only tens of thousands of Mongols with him, and they had to rule millions of Chinese. Kublai Khan also employed large numbers of Chinese officials and advisors. New artistic styles flourished as Kublai Khan sponsored a melding of Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism. He also issued paper currency that was good throughout China and was backed by gold reserves. The emperor patronized astronomers and clockmakers  and hired a monk to create a written language for some of Western Chinas non-literate languages. Visit of Marco Polo From a European perspective, one of the most important events in Kublai Khans reign was the 20-year sojourn in China by Marco Polo, along with his father and uncle. To the Mongols, however, this interaction was simply an amusing footnote. Marcos father and uncle had previously visited Kublai Khan  and were returning in 1271 to deliver a letter from the Pope and some oil from Jerusalem to the Mongol ruler. The Venetian merchants brought along the 16-year-old Marco, who was gifted in languages. After an overland journey of three and a half years, the Polos reached Shang-du. Marco likely served as a court functionary of some sort. Although the family asked permission to return to Venice several times over the years, Kublai Khan denied their requests. Finally, in 1292, they were allowed to return along with the wedding cortege of a Mongol princess, who was sent to Persia to marry one of the Ilkhans. The wedding party sailed the Indian Ocean trade routes, a voyage that took two years and introduced Marco Polo to what is now Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India. Marco Polos vivid descriptions of his Asian travels, as told to a friend, inspired many other Europeans to seek wealth and exotic experiences in the Far East. However, it is important not to overstate his influence; trade along the Silk Road was in full flow long before his travelogue was published. Kublai Khans Invasions and Blunders Although he ruled the worlds richest empire in Yuan China, as well as the second-largest land empire ever, Kublai Khan was not content. He grew obsessed with further conquest in East and Southeast Asia. Kublais land-based attacks on Burma, Annam (northern Vietnam), Sakhalin, and Champa (southern Vietnam) were all nominally successful. Each of these countries became tributary states of Yuan China, but the tribute they submitted did not even begin to pay for the cost of conquering them. Even more ill-advised were Kublai Khans sea-borne invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281, as well as the 1293 invasion of Java (now in Indonesia). The defeats of these armadas seemed to some of Kublai Khans subjects as a sign that he had lost the Mandate of Heaven. Death In 1281, Kublai Khans favorite wife and close companion Chabi died. This sad event was followed in 1285 by the death of Zhenjin, the Great Khans oldest son and heir apparent. With these losses, the Kublai Khan began to withdraw from the  administration of his empire. Kublai Khan tried to drown his sorrow with alcohol and luxurious food. He grew quite obese and developed gout. After a long decline, he died on February 18, 1294. He was buried in secret burial grounds in Mongolia. Kublai Khans Legacy The Great Khan was succeeded by his grandson Temur Khan, the son of Zhenjin. Kublais daughter Khutugh-beki married King Chungnyeol of Goryeo and became Queen of Korea as well. In Europe, Khans empire prompted wild flights of fancy from the time of  Marco Polos  expedition. His name may be most remembered in western countries today from the poem Kubla Khan, written by Samuel Coleridge in 1797. More importantly, Kublai Khans reign had an enormous impact on Asian history. He is regarded as one of the greatest rulers in history. He had reunited China after centuries of division and strife and ruled with shrewdness. Although the Yuan Dynasty lasted only until 1368, it served as a precedent for the later ethnic-Manchu Qing Dynasty. Sources Polo, Marco, Hugh Murray Giovanni Battista Baldelli Boni. The Travels of Marco Polo, New York: Harper Brothers, 1845.Rossabi, Morris. Khubilai Khan: His Life and Times, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988.

Review of litterature Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Review of litterature - Term Paper Example Public health seeks to address health concerns for human populations. It addresses the collectivity of individual persons within a society to make up the entire society that is then referred to as the public. In this context, epidemiology deals with the prevention and control of disease for the benefit of the human population or the public for that matter (Savitz, Poole & Miller, 1999). Essentially, this definition dictates the application of epidemiology in addressing public heath matter. This is to say, the scope of epidemiology in the public health context is limited to the cause and effect relationship of disease variables that pose health risks to the public. Epidemiology as process is integrated in research work to come up with up to date information about disease trends and prevalence in the public domain. In this line, epidemiology becomes a research technique that aids the process of addressing public health concerns. It is important to point out that public health does not only deal with addressing existing and emerging public health issues, but also alleviating risk factors that are likely to result in public health issues (Kelsey, et al., 1996). In this respect, epidemiology guides the activities and practices of epidemiologists and other involved stakeholders. Epidemiology is also regarded as scientific field that generates knowledge bases that are significantly utilized in public health domains. The generated knowledge base is due for application in evaluating and analyzing epidemiologic evidence in a context within or without science. Amid this, criticisms mount on epidemiology as scholars work to link epidemiology to an applied aspect of public health. However, the common denominator is that epidemiology has a substantial role to play in enhancing public health prospects. Research into epidemiology and all its influencing variables essentially lead to

Brief summery about Q-Media company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brief summery about Q-Media company - Essay Example The aim is to connect brands with the consumers in a unique way. This is achieved using multi-channel set of services (Bayt, 2014). The company also enjoys a strong association with Qatar regulatory authorities. This can be seen through collaborative initiatives on the developmental agenda. For a period the company has been in existence, it has acted as a reliable partner to the state through development of Qatar. Moreover, the company has led to a remarkable improvement of outdoor media in terms of reach, diversity, and quality (Q.Media, 2014).This is reflected in the development of Qatar. Most of the transactions of the company occur between the states. As a result, the company can be said to involve to business to government (B2G). For example, the company enjoys a close working relationship with regulatory authorities in Qatar. Some of those the company is involved with the transaction includes Doha municipality and major transportation companies such as Mowasalat (Q.Media, 2014). The products offered by the company are in line with the needs of the state. Moreover, the companies work with the state in organizing events. For example, it was recently involved with the Qatar tourism authority to organize Qatar motor show (GL-Events, 2012). Q.media offers services to diverse people. It offers opportunities to anyone with advertising campaigns. However, the company enjoys valuable clients such as government organizations and authorities. Some of those includes NGOs, banks, corporate, airlines, and advertising agencies. The company has various divisions that offer services. The first one is q.media outdoor. This provides outdoor advertising in Doha and Qatar (Bayt, 2014). The other product is q.media Decaux. This is an initiative between q.media and JCDecaux (Bayt, 2014). It is a major advertising company world wide and acts as a global leader in outdoor adverting. The other is q.media events. The role is to

China and GCC relations Thesis Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

China and GCC relations - Thesis Proposal Example On an industry level, these needs pave the way for a new and improved breed of Chinese energy companies which are no longer characterized by low-cost and substandard quality only but by upgraded technological, financial and labor capabilities. According to Grunor (150) the China-GCC trade and transactions have increased notable in the past two decades with the Chinese exports increasing by seven-fold and the GCC increasing by five-fold. On the other hand, the member states of GCC are making efforts to improve and stabilize their economies by look for global partners to sell their products. Since the terrorist attack in the US in the year 2001, there has been a shift of attention from the west to other regions of the world. According to Brauch et al. (342) the September 11 attack affected the global trading trends with the Arab countries put under scrutiny and isolation. The Arab countries opted to move to other parts of the world to advance their economic endeavors. The research paper aims to examine the different avenues that China relates with the GCC and its member states. The objective of the research is to examine the relations between China and GCC. According to Gransow (63) the relationship between China and the Arab countries has not been put into allot of research and this can be associated to limited research work in this regions. In that manner, the research will try answer the following questions; To attain the objectives of the study, the study deployed qualitative analysis research method and inclusion of other data collection method to acquire data from both primary and secondary sources. The research will also deploy the use of quantitative analysis research method to some extent. This is because the research will focus on analyzing the economic activities and relations. According to Tolmie (218) research based on measuring extensive of figures and growth needs to deployed quantitative method.

The Host Of Community Perception Towards Tourism Development Tourism Essay

The Host Of Community Perception Towards Tourism Development Tourism Essay Over the past few years, Grand-Baie witnessed an increase in tourism development and the number of international tourists. Though tourism development plays an important role in enhancing economies, tourism development may conflict with the regions conservative traditions and culture. The purpose of this research is to identify the attitudes and perceptions of residents of Grand Baie towards tourism development based on socio-cultural aspect by: (1) applying Ap Cromptons (1998), (2) measuring social or cultural environments, and the residents acceptance of visitors, (3) by identifying resident attitudes based upon demographic factor. Respondents were selected using a random sampling technique to complete a survey instrument. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, independent t-tests and One way Annova were used to describe data and to better understand resident attitudes. Survey findings reveal that resident attitudes differed according to respondents age, length of residence, and ethnicity, particularly with respect to perceptions of change in local services and natural environment. Acknowledgements A project of this magnitude is not an individual endeavor. Consequently, I dedicate this mini dissertation to the many individuals who provided support, encouragement and assistance for its realization. A very special gratitude goes to my team members, Mr. Shaktisham Soobhow and Miss Anousha Keetaruth for their support and input. I would also like to thank my lecturer, Associate Professor Ramesh Durbarry, Head of School of Sustainable Development and Tourism , for his helpful input and guidance which helped me every step of the way and enabled me to fulfill my assignment requirements Last but not the least; we are grateful to our parents and friends for their support and understanding and also the team working at the Resource Centre of University of Technology for extending their help. Table of content List of tables Table 3.1: Types of Dataà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 16 Table 4.1 Respondent Profile Table: 4.2 Host Community Perception based on a Socio-Cultural Aspect Table 4.3: One Way Anova Table: 4.4 One Way Anova Table 4.5 Host Community Perception Towards a Positive Socio-Cultural impact INTRODUCTION 1.0 Tourism in Mauritius Mauritius has become a well known tourism destination the world over with arrivals rising from 103,000 in 1977 to 915,000 in 2010 for the first trimester. Since the mid 1990s Mauritius more precisely the northern part of the island has experienced a remarkable growth in tourist numbers with international arrivals doubling. It is estimated that this trend is having a significant impact upon host communities in Grand-Baie. Given the fact that tourism development can flourish in an area only with the support of the host community, it is thought that the perception of the host community toward tourism development and impacts serve as crucially important inputs in identifying the strategic and managerial priorities of the tourism sector. The host community remains one of the most important tools for the promotion and continuous development of the tourism industry in Mauritius. Tourists have direct and constant contacts with the host community and it is the attitude of the host that will determine whether tourism development can be implemented or whether it is successful. Without the host community participation, any tourism development that will be implemented will not be a flourishing one. 1.1 Problem Statement It is very important to explore host community perception towards tourism because tourists have direct and constant contact with host community. Besides, the measurement of the host communitys perceptions of tourism development plays a vital role in the future success of a destination (Sheldon and Abenoja, 2001). The benefits received from tourism development may not always be plausible if the negative impacts, such as crime and traffic congestion, outweigh the economic benefits (Chen, 2000). hosts perceptions toward tourism development are critical to sustain the growth of community tourism businesses. If the level of hosts loyalty to tourism development is high, the potential conflicts between hosts and tourism establishments should be avoided. Host perception towards tourism development in Grand-Baie Mauritius is a very crucial because the tourism industry there is growing at a rapid pace with the development in that region. Since hosts are there to stay, as such their perception are fundamental to the smooth pace of tourism development. 1.2 Objectives of the Study The aim of the study is to analyse host community perceptions on the tourism development based on socio-cultural in the region of Grand-Baie in Mauritius. Therefore, the objectives of the study are to analyse the different components of host community perceptions towards tourism development based on Socio-cultural aspects; Evaluate the socio-cultural impacts of tourism development on host community Measure the demographic perception of the Host Community on the tourism development. 2.0 Literature review 2.0 Introduction Tourism is a product that relies totally upon simultaneous production and consumption. The implication of this for the destinations host community is that it will come into contact with an alien population during the production process. This contact can be beneficial or detrimental to the host community depending upon the difference in cultures and the nature of the contact. Tourism can develop and grow when host community has a positive attitude toward it and when they see their role in the process of the tourism development. At the point when a tourism destination is born, the quality if the life of the local hosts goes through radical changes, which are not necessarily negative. Literature suggests that tourism development has created both positive and negative impacts on host communities. The most complex problems that accompany tourism development, reside in the relationship between local host and tourist. Furthermore, there are limits of tourism growth that are closely associated with the place capacity and with the quality of life in the local community. The most complex problems that accompany tourism development, reside in the relationship between tourists and local host and also the impacts on their society and culutre. 2.1 Tourism Development Tourism development is an expression that encompasses not only destinations, origins, motivations and impacts, but also the complex linkage that exist between all the people and institutions of that interconnecting, global supply and demand system ( Pearce, 1989). In general, tourism development within a host community often impacts the community both in negative and positive ways. Residents attitudes will be positive if they can use tourism resources such as recreational facilities or if they perceive that tourism development will protect or preserve the environment ( Lankford et al, 2003). Conversely attitudes towards tourism were found to be negative if residents perceived the impacts as negative, or if the resources within a host community diminish as a result of tourist activity ( Lankford et al.,2003; Perdue et al., 1990). The host community perception toward tourism will be affected due to impacts. 2.3 Host community According to Sherlock (1999), it is difficult to define the term community precisely; nevertheless, the word can be used to refer to a group of people who exist in one particular location. Aramberri (2001) suggests that host societies are in fact communities, made of one piece. For Williams and Lawson (2001) community is defined as a group of people who share common goals or opinions. Host Community is particular is defined by Mathieson and Wall (1982) as the Inhabitants of the destination area. Similarly, Swarbrooke (1999) defines it as all those who live within a tourist destination.. In the light of the previous definition, it can be concluded that a host community consists of all those people in the destination, whether they are homogeneous or heterogeneous and regardless of whether the impacts of tourism are beneficial or otherwise.. However, the host is community is often the last to be notified of tourism development (Thyne and Lawson,2001) and quite often they are not given a chance or encouraged to give their opinioin on tourism issues. 2.4 Relationship Between Host Community and Guest A good relationship between local hosts and tourist is essential for the long term development of tourism destination. ( Ap and Crompton, 1998). The relationship between host community and tourists is mainly affected by the socio-cultural impacts that are caused due to tourism development (Smith, 1995). Smith (1989) conclude that contacts between tourist and host community if different cultural background take the form of direct face to face encounters between tourists and host of different cultural groups. The interaction between hosts and international guests raises another issue linked to cultural tolerance. As argued by Bochner (1982), the mutual understanding between cultures can create an opportunity for acquaintance leading towards enhanced understanding and tolerance and, consequently, reduce prejudice, conflict and tension between hosts and tourists. This type of contact is experienced by tourists when they travel from home culture to a host culture by hosts when they serve tourists from a foreign culture. That is, both tourist and the host community participate in exploring each others culture. 2.4.1 Doxeys Irridex Model In 1975, Doxey devised a theoretical model in which it states that an increase in numbers of tourists and a more developed tourism industry at the destination results in irritation in the host community. In this case the perception of host community vary from euphoria ( a feeling of happiness or comfort) to apathy when locals start losing interest in tourism; to annoyance after the number of tourists and the unfavorable impacts have increased ; and finally antagonism ( a generation of hostile reactions against tourism) (Cordero 2008). Although Doxeys model is a useful approach towards identifying the four stages of tourism evolution at a destination, it has been criticized for its limitation by Wall and Mathieson (2006) because it is a unidirectional model intended to represent the entire nature of the host community. 2.5 Host community perception towards tourism development Research has been conducted for the convenience of tourists, while local community perceptions and attitudes towards the industry have been given less of a priority (Murphy 1985). Butler (1980) claimed that there is a correlation between the development of tourism and the attitude of the domestic people towards the tourists. Positive attitude is gradually replaced by the negative attitude as the time passes. Studying host community attitudes and the antecedents of resident reaction can help both residents and planners (Williams and Lawson 2001).Williams and Lawson argued that it was possible to select those developments that can minimize negative impacts and maximize support for the industry. By doing so, on one hand the quality of life of residents can be maintained or enhanced; and, on the other hand, the negative impacts of tourism in the community will be reduced. 2.6 Tourism Impacts Researchers in the early years of the twenty first century list an impressive range of both positive and negative impacts on the host community as a result of tourism development (Fredline and Faulkner, 2000; Upchurch and Teivane, 2000; Gursoy et al., 2002; Besculides et al., 2002). The study of impacts from tourism on local communities takes in a range of literature that includes both the positive and negative effects of hosting tourists to a community. However, researchers agree that a necessary condition of successful tourism development strategy is the inclusion of residents of the entire community if tourism investment is to yield substantial returns (Allen et al., 1988, 1993; Jurowski Uysal, 1997; Long et al ., 1990; Snepenger Johnson, 1991). 2.6.1 Socio-cultural Impacts Tourism is a socio-cultural event for both the guest and host (Murphy, 1985) and the contact between host and tourists can be beneficial or detrimental to the host community depending upon the difference in cultures and the nature of the contact .Tourism development also affects the social, cultural and environmental aspects within a destination. Socio-cultural impacts are concerned with the ways in which tourism is contributing to changes in value systems, individual behaviour, family relationships, collective lifestyles, moral conduct, creative expressions, traditional ceremonies and community organization (Pizam Milman, 1984, cited in Haralambopoulos Pizam, 1996, p.503). Tourism development increases and promotes cultural exchange between tourists and residents. Tourism can also be a force to preserve and revitalize the cultural identity and traditional practices of host communities and act as a source of income to protect heritage sites (Easterling, 2004). However, the cultural changes caused by tourism threatens to destroy traditional cultures and societies (Brunt Courtney 199, p 495) and to others it represented an opportunity for peace, understanding and greater knowledge (Brunt Courtney 1999, p.495). 2.7 Factors Influencing Host community perception towards tourism development To understand the antecedents of host communities perception towards tourism development, extensive literature has attempted to examine the influences of socio-demographics on attitudes, such gender ( Ritchie 1988; Weaver Lawton 2001), age (Brougham Butler 1981; Fredline Faulkner 2000; Madrigal 1995; weaver Lawton 2001), length of residency ( Allen et al 1988), Education ( Weaver Lawton 2001). Those tested variables are classified as the intrinsic dimension which includes residents demographic attributes. 2.7.1 Demographic Factors The use of socioeconomic factors (Harill, 2004) like income, ethnicity and length of residency to explain host community perception has been widely used. These variables are included simply as standard point of survey instrument. 2.7.2 Gender Regarding gender, it was found that woman were more opposed to tourism development than men due to perceived negative impacts, such as increase in traffic, noise and crime although acknowledging positive benefits, including community facilities and regional economic benefits. In a study in California, (Harrill and Potts, 2003) also found gender to be a significant predictor of tourisms perceived economic benefits, with more women than men negatively disposed toward tourism development. 2.7.3 Education It was found that more educated people having more positive views of tourism (Weaver, 2001). Hosts who have a tourism education background were more in favor of tourism because of the economic and social improvements. In the context of Samos, Greece Haralambopoulos and Pizam (1996) indicated that well-educated people were more correlated with positive tourism attitudes. 2.7.4 Age Age has also been explored as a factor in host community perception toward tourism development and received more attention as the baby boomers retire and seek tourist destination in which to work and have vacation. Older hosts are generally as favourably inclined toward tourism development as young resident (Tomljenovic and Faulkner, 1999). In addition, older hosts are more tolerant of international tourists and less concerned about tourisms adverse environmental impacts. However, a study of Kusadasi, Turkey revealed that older hosts had more negative perceptions than youngsters. 2.7.5 Length of Residency Length of residency (Girard and Gartner, 1993) found that for those host who has a second home in the tourism development community appreciate the availability of goods and services from increased tourism, but long term host community who stay permanently in the community do not want to see any increased in tourism development. Thus, long term host had a less favorable perception of tourism than did short term hosts. 2.8 Summary This chapter provided reviews of literature relevant to the present study. The review provided the basis of the entire research design. Furthermore, the review results would be brought into the Discussion chapter to compare the findings of the present study with the existing literature. 3. Methodology 3.0 Introduction This chapter provides the methodology of the survey envisaged on host community perception towards tourism development based on socio-cultural aspect. In this vein, it represents the crux of the study. It offers a framework about how the research was carried out and elaborates on the questionnaire design and enumerates several limitations pertaining to the survey. 3.1 Research Design For this research both primary and secondary data were used. Table 3.1: Types of Data Primary Research Secondary Research Questionnaire Books Academic Journals The research method used to collect and analyse the primary data was based upon a quantitative approach. This is so because it made it possible for the respondent that is the host community to express their feeling and perception towards tourism development. For this purpose, a questionnaire was designed and distributed to the targeted population. 3.2 Sampling Frame This study was conducted in the Northern region of Mauritius that is in Grand-Baie which is one of the major tourist destinations. As such, the targeted population for this study comprised of hosts community of Grand-Baie. This is so because tourism development in Grand-Baie has reached the maturity stage (Butler Destination Life Cycle). There is a high concentration of tourism development in this northern village compare to the other region. 60 questionnaires were used for the survey. 3.3 Questionnaire Design The questionnaire was prepared following a review of existing literature dealing with hosts perception toward tourism development based on socio-cultural aspect. For this particular study, the scales from Ap and Crompton (1998) as well as Lankford and Howard (1994) were adopted and modified. An interviewee completed questionnaire was designed and it consists of 38 questions. The questionnaire was categorized into section A, B and C, where A and B were measured using likert Scale and C the respondent profile background. (Refer to Appendix A) 3.4 Hypothesis Testing The following hypotheses were tested: H1: Tourism Development has an impact on Socio-Cultural aspect H2: Residents Perception towards cooperation between local people and tourism development differs across gender and level of education. H3: the level of hostility towards tourists differs across length of residency and occupation. 3.5 Pilot Survey To judge the validity of the questionnaire a pilot survey of 10 questionnaires were undertaken with host community to check whether there is a proper and broad flow of questioning. The number of questions were reduced and also the rephrasing of sentence. 3.6 Data Collection An informal interview was chosen as a method of data collection with the host community. Questionnaires were distributed door to door using a random sampling procedure. Interviews were conducted during the day so as to obtain a more representative sample within households. during the week day. The overall data collection lasted for 1 day, with a total of 53 questionnaires completed, which result in 88.33% response rate. 3.7 Data Analysis A number of statistical procedures were carried out for this study using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The socio-demographic factors like education, occupation, level of education and gender were used as independent variables and the 32 Likert scale statements as the dependent variables. One-way ANOVA and descriptive analysis were used. 3.8 Limitation of Study Normally, no survey can experience a perfect evolution. Similarly, the present one had to undergo certain constraints and was subject to various limitations as exhibited below. Host people were busy working. They didnt want to expressed themselves as they felt embarrassed 3.9 Conclusion This chapter provides a thorough explanation of how data was collected, processed and analysed for the methods of data collection. It gives further details on the purpose of the research and describes how the questionnaire was designed. Lastly, the sampling frame as well as the limitations of the research was discussed. 4. Results and Findings 4.0 Introduction This chapter discusses the findings of the questionnaire survey. It not only deals with the individual analysis of each question, but also compares one question in relation to others and tries to establish a link between the results found. 4.1 Profile of the Respondents Demographic information about the respondents is provided in Table 4.1. Males account for a larger share of the respondents, which is 50%, following 38% for female. More respondents were married, with a percentage of 53.33, and 28.33% were single. The majority, 35.33% were employed or working in the tourism sector, 23.33%. Most of the respondents of Grand-Baie work in hotels nearby their house but also many of them worked for themselves. More than one half of the respondents, 65.33%, lived in Grand-Baie for more than 15 years. Around 52.33% reported that they have studied till School Certificate . Table 4.1 Respondent Profile Number % Gender Male 30 50 Female 23 38.33 Marital Status Married 32 53.33 Single 17 28.33 Divorced 2 3.33 Widowed 2 3.33 Occupation Student 5 8.33 Employed 21 35.33 Retired 1 2.33 Own Business 12 20.33 Tourism Sector 14 23.33 Education CPE 8 13.33 SC 31 52.33 HSC 10 17.33 Undergraduate 3 5.33 Graduate 1 2.33 Length of Residency Less than 5 years 2 3.33 5-10 11 18.33 11-15 1 2.33 More than 15 years 39 65.33 Total questionnaire 53 88.33 4.2 Host community perception based on a Socio-Cultural Aspect Table 4.2 illustrates the overall results of the descriptive analysis of section A and B of the questionnaire, which in turn show that there is a significant variation (according to the Mean and SD values) between the perceptions of the respondents towards socio-cultural aspect according to the degree of exposure. The domestic people show a very positive attitude towards the increasing number of tourists in the region at the beginning because they have high expectations from the tourist in long term basis. Furthermore, from the table itself, the mean is ranged from 4.81 to 2.57. Demonstrating that the host community highly accepts the presence of tourists in their area although the level of tourist has increased for the recent years. The results clearly shows that the presence of tourist in Grand-Baie help for the conservation of prestigious monument and also the awareness of the culture. The host community of Grand-Baie stated that their tradition are not being affected at all, as shown in the statement 5. The analysis shows that the tourism development does not make enough effort for the tourist to be aware of the host community culture. Moreover, another reason why the host community perception is low is that the tourism development is much more profit making. Table: 4.2 Host Community Perception based on a Socio-Cultural Aspect Factors N Mean Std. Deviation 1A Residents accept the presence of tourists 53 4.81 0.441 2 There is awareness and recognition of the culture and heritage 53 4.28 0.744 3 Historical buildings are restored and protected 53 3.89 1.155 4 There is cooperation between local people and tourism development 53 3.96 1.270 5 Traditions of the local is affected 53 2.91 1.458 6 Local people changes their way of living 53 3.47 1.422 7 There is a variety of entertainment in the community 53 3.49 1.120 8 Tourism increases the level of education in Grand-Baie 53 3.60 1.166 9 Tourism encourages some immoral behavior of some people of the locality 53 2.57 1.352 10 Earnings from tourism lure children in your community to leave school at an early age 53 2.75 1.580 11 Tourism is the reason of some younger`s misbehavior 53 2.98 1.337 12 Tourist make the effort to understand your culture and society 53 4.28 0.632 13 Tourism development give the opportunity to put your culture on display 53 3.89 1.050 14B Do you welcome the fact that tourist comes in your region 53 4.70 0.696 15 Is tourism only a way of profit making or much more 53 4.36 1.058 16 Due to the number increasing number of tourist arrival in your region can you still support the impacts 53 3.34 1.159 17 Do you feel that there is a feeling of hostility towards tourist due to those impacts by the local community actually 53 3.28 1.215 4.3 There is cooperation between local people and tourism development Table 4.3 shows the p-value as well as the F value obtained through an ANOVA analysis for both the Gender and Education Level. This analysis shows that there is a difference in the level of perception that varies according to the gender since the p-value is less than 0.05 (= 0.017) which confirms the statement that there is a difference in the level of perception between male and female. In order, to determine where the difference lays a Tukey Test was carried out (Refer to Appendix B). According to the Post Hoc Test Table (Appendix B), where men disagree with the fact that there is cooperation between local people and tourism development, we found that women strongly agree with the perception that there is cooperation between local people and tourism development which is contrary to what Harill and Potts, (2003) study found. This is so because the p=value is less than 0.05 (= 0.045). The reasons for the level of perception between male and female may vary for different reasons. First of all, Female may view tourism development in a more positively way as with tourism development many women may find it beneficial for them because they are able to find a job easily or benefit indirectly with small businesses such as craft. However, the perception do not differs across Education since the p-value is greater than 0.05 (= 0.741). This can conclude that irrespective of the level of education the level of perception is the same. According to the study of Weaver (2001) which states that the educated people mainly those who have a tourism education background are in favor of tourism development. However, the study made in Grand-Baie demonstrates that the level of education of host community do not has an impact on the level of perception. The reason for this may be because whether a host community is educated or not he or she may find employment due to the tourism development taking place in his locality. Table 4.3 : One Way Anova Factor Item Demographic Variable F Sig There is cooperation between local people and tourism development Gender 3.327 0.017 Education 0.493 0.741 4.4 There is a feeling of hostility towards tourist due to those impacts Table 4.4 shows the p-value as well as the F value obtained through an ANOVA analysis for both the Length of Residency and Occupation. This shows that there is a difference in the level of perception that varies according to the length of residency of the host in Grand-Baie since the p-value is less than 0.05 (= 0.031). In other words which mean that there is a difference in the level of perception of those living in the region of Grand- Baie. In order to determine where the difference lies a Tukey Test was carried out (Refer to Appendix B). Referring to the Post Hoc Test Table (Appendix B), where those living in Grand-Baie whether living over there for a long time or short time, it has been found that they do not express a feeling of hostility vis-à  -vis the tourist due to the impacts that tourism industry in the region brings in. This is so because the p=value is less than 0.05 (= 0.016). However, the perception do not differs across Occupation since the p-value is greater than 0.05 (= 0.952). This can conclude that irrespective of the work being done by the host community, the level of perception is the same. In other words, this demonstrates that the level of Occupation do not has an impact upon the perception of host community. Reason why it is so is because whether they are employed or unemployed or working in the tourism sector, the host find tourism as beneficial for them directly or indirectly. Table: 4.4 One Way Anova Factor Item Demographic Variable F Sig There is a feeling of hostility towards tourist due to those impacts Length of Residency 2.909 0.031 Occupation 0.171 0.952 4.5 Host Community Perception towards a Positive Socio-Cultural Impact Table 4.5 illustrates the different perception of the host community towards the different aspect. The host community of Grand-Baie has a relatively high positive perception towards the presence of tourist in the region as it benefit from different point of view. This is so because the tourist make an effort to learn the culture of the host community and a

Pride in Young Goodman Brown and The Ministers Black Veil Essay

Pride in Young Goodman Brown and The Minister's Black Veil      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many of Hawthorne's characters wrap themselves in a pride of intellect. The characters become victims of their pride and consequently suffer.   Goodman Brown, from "Young Goodman Brown" and Hooper, from "The Minister's Black Veil" are two characters that suffer from a pride of intellect.   Their pride causes them similar problems and they end up living similar lives, although they came from different backgrounds.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hooper and Goodman Brown both become isolated from society.   Hooper had a revelation, and he feels that he truly understands human nature and sin. However, he believes that he is above everybody else because he has this understanding.   This is what causes the major separation between Hooper and society.   After Hooper dawns the veil he can no longer function or act as a normal person, because of this feeling of superiority.   His perception of an ultimate human isolation leaves him the man most isolated in what Hawthorne describes as that saddest of all prisons, his own heart . . . "(The Minister's Black Veil,228).   The veil affects all parts of his life, his fiance leaves him and he can no longer relate to his congregation the same way. "As a result of wearing the veil, Hooper becomes a man apart, isolated from love and sympathy, suspected and even feared by his congregation"(Minister's Black Veil, 228). Goodman Brown suffers the same fate because he also has a feeling of superiority over the rest of the village.   He attains this feeling after he sees all the people that he though were good and pure participating in satanic rituals in the fore... ...de.    Works Cited and Consulted Benoit, Raymond.   "'Young Goodman Brown': The Second Time Around."   The Nathaniel Hawthorne Review 19 (Spring 1993): 18-21. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Complete Short Stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York: Doubleday and Co., Inc.,1959. James, Henry. Hawthorne. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997. Kaul, A. N., Ed..   "HAWTHORNE: A Collection of Critical Essays." Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1966. Martin, Terence. Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York: Twayne Publishers Inc., 1965. Morris, Lloyd., "THE REBELLIOUS PURITAN: Portrait of Mr. Hawthorne." Port Washington: Kennikat Press. Van Doren, Mark., Ed. "The Best of Hawthorne." New York: The Ronald Press Company. 1951. Wagenknecht, Edward. Nathaniel Hawthorne - The Man, His Tales and Romances. New York: Continuum Publishing Co., 1989.

The Defination of Music

Music. I spend more than two hours playing, singing, or listening to music everday. Almost everything I do involves music. I love it; it can lift my spirits, or tell me a story. But, what is music? Is it something you can dance to? Something that is played or sung? Is it something that has balance, or sounds pleasant? What is music? It is defined as â€Å"An art form consisting of sequences of sounds in time, including tones of definite pitch organized melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically. † To me, music means expression. When I was six years old, I acquired my first CD player.I didn’t get any CD’s with it, so I used my parents. One CD that I picked up was by Mindy McCready. I didn’t understand what the songs were about, but I knew I really enjoyed the â€Å"beat† of the songs, the instruments in each piece, and the sound of her voice. I would always be singing my own words to her songs and I wanted to learn how to make music like she did. Sh e influenced me in a way I didn’t understand at the time, but I knew I wanted to know more about the way her songs worked. I wanted to know how to make something that sounded similar to her songs, and how to make it my own.That CD is what made me fall in love with the concept of, and the idea itself, known as music. In third grade, only two years after I realized how much I liked music, I started piano lessons with the keyboard player from my church. His name was Larry, he was a great inspiration to me. Larry asked me on my first lesson if learning piano was something I really wanted to do, or if it was just something my parents were having me do. I told him, much more seriously than a third grader should be able to, it was something I needed to do to be able to more clearly understand music; and that I was looking forward to every lesson we would have.One week later, on my next lesson, I stared to learn my scales. Normally, it takes students months to learn and memorize all of the scales, but it took me only a few weeks. I was much more musically gifted then anyone realized and I quickly took on many other instruments. From third to seventh grade, I learned how to play the piano, guitar, bass, saxophone, french horn, trumpet, clarinet, and flute. I also took choir, training my voice to be the best it could be. The way I could express myself differently through every one of these instruments, made everyday a joyous adventure.I used the instruments as an outlet; when I was happy, the music would be loud and bouncy. Yet when I was upset, the music would be mournful, slow, and quiet. I conveyed my feelings through the music. The more I learned about music, the more open I became with choices. Before I became a â€Å"band geek†, I was quiet and refined. I didn’t talk to many people and I didn’t have any intention on changing that. After I joined two bands though, my life changed drastically. Both classes would result in a â€Å"differe nt me†.When I would play music in my jazz band, I would leave the class excited and ready to try new things. When I would go to symphony, my choices would be more thought out, longer, and with more depth to them. Every piece I played would change my day; depending on how much I enjoyed the piece, and who I was playing it with. The people in band are a big reason why I love music. If you’re sitting alone in a room, playing a keyboard, you are not going to be having nearly as much fun, or being as artistic with your musical choices, then if your with a few of your best friends, all who play instruments or sing.An instance of this is from a year ago, when I had a mentor in symphonic band. He was an amazing saxophone player who loved people. I was his second in command, and for being that, he taught me a few of his tricks on how he became such a beloved musician and person. He showed me how to play music with more expression in singular notes instead of looking at the piece as a whole. He helped me on improvisation and on making a piece personal. He also showed me how to fine tune a musical piece; how to make the different parts work together harmoniously, and how to then play it correctly.He was a great inspiration to me and I am sad he graduated, but overjoyed I had the opportunity to be taught by such a talented musician for our time. After learning so much from such a great mentor, I began to question how my music could be improved and how I could express myself better. I knew about harmony and melody, and how to balance them; I knew about all the different instruments in different kinds of bands. Yet, I wanted to push my boundaries and become a better instrumentalist.A great musician once said, â€Å"Then let us all do what is right, strive with all our might toward the unattainable, develop as fully as we can [with] the gifts God has given us, and never stop learning† (Beethoven). To me, this means you shouldn’t stop when you think you’re at your best. Always push forward, creating your own limits and don’t fall into society’s expectations. This is how I viewed music; it was something I could never put a limit on and striving for perfection was the only way to be successful with it. To this day, I try my best with music, I make it my own, and I love to play it.There is nothing else like it, for music is everywhere; all people know some type of music, and it affects every person in a different way. I enjoy music greatly, and hope I will be able to continue learning about it for the rest of my life. The expression used to create music is an unexplainable talent that anyone could utilize, and without it, the days of life would be dull and boring. The way I view it, and as my band director tells me daily, music equals life. SAU Library, + Beethoven, the Music and the Life. + by Lewis Lockwood. Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (December 16, 2002) + October 1st 2011

How does Shakespeare present tension Essay

      The contrast in speech also applies to the language of the spirits of the Island which are shown to be quite delicate and poetic â€Å"wild waves whist†, Shakespeare uses alliteration of the letter ‘w’ to slows the pace of the speech and produces sounds that makes Ariel seem less human or earth-bound but instead of the air or the waves. In contrast to the way Prospero treats Caliban, Prospero treats Ariel with affection, â€Å"my dainty Ariel†. Shakespeare uses the emphasis on the word â€Å"my† to suggest that Prospero is fonder of the possession of Ariel than Ariel himself. If the Island can be taken as a metaphor for humanity versus nature then the differences in the way Caliban and Ariel are treated by Prospero defines humanity’s ambitions and fears. Prospero treats Ariel with love because he is an asset to him, â€Å"fine apparition, my quant Ariel†, and because of the power that Prospero gains through that control that makes him appear almost God-like. Humans control the elements to gain a level of direction in their lives, to make sense of the meaninglessness of life. It is this direction that leads Prospero to believe and aspire to be like God because it strangles the connection between him and the repulsive beings of nature he has power over, such as Caliban. Equality leads to lack of control and it is Caliban’s adamant rebellion to be seen inferior that sickens Prospero. In the Tempest, Caliban represents people’s natural state and when Prospero oppresses Caliban, Shakespeare is creating an image of civilisation repressing their natural selves and concluding that the tensions between civilisation and nature only exist because of the way civilisation resents it’s natural state. When Gonzalo speaks of his golden age he is explaining a world where nature and civilisation could exist as one without the tensions that are so apparent in the rest of the play. Gonzalo would have â€Å"use of service, none†, â€Å"no occupation† but rather live innocently with nature bringing â€Å"forth of its own kind, all foison†¦ † Shakespeare uses the structure of the speech, interrupted continuously by Antonio and Sebastian, to perhaps mock the idea and highlight its faults. The idea itself comes from a French philosopher who describes how the Europeans corrupted America with its advanced influence. Through Sebastian and Antonio, Shakespeare is undermining his words and this implies that his own opinion could be that nature and civilisation can never both exist without the differences or hostility between the two. I believe Shakespeare presents the tensions between Civilisation and Nature not as to highlight their difference, but rather to highlight the tension that is created by society’s denial in their similarities. Perhaps the repulsion of Caliban is seen as a rejection of each of the more civilised characters untamed selves, their more ‘sophisticated’ selves portrayed as wit, cunning or power. By this, I could say that Shakespeare is presenting Caliban as the only true character in the whole play, though coarse and unrefined he is evidently not a master of politics or scheming, such as the characters of Antonio and Sebastian, which has been learnt through the highest classes of civilised society. In this, Shakespeare is saying that both nature and civilisation are equal, the only difference being that nature is not in a state of self denial. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE The Tempest section.

The Relevancy of Marxism in Modern Latin America

The Relevancy of Marxism in Modern Latin America Free Online Research Papers Although capitalism has taken root throughout the world, even in socialist and communist countries like Venezuela and China, Marxism remains today an important ideological force in Latin America more than anywhere else. This paper argues that in Latin America, there exists a strong movement to peacefully reform the economic, political and social structure in the area, consistent with Marx’s â€Å"theory of the state†. The allure of Marxism appears, at least in part, to be a reaction to negative ramifications resulting from capitalist globalization, such as the methods of production in developing countries. The idea of Marxism is not necessarily important for political leaders in communist and socialist countries, but more so for the working classes which make possible the production of goods by multinational corporations; the very people who suffer from low wages and class struggles. Judging by 20th Century Latin American history, Marxism has no doubt established itself as an important ideological force in revolutionary movement. Cuba (1959-1991), Chile (1970-73), Grenada (1979-83), Nicaragua (1979-90), El Salvador (1980-1991) , and Venezuela (1992-Present) are all cases in which revolutionary change occurred with Marxist and Socialist ideals in mind. During most of those events, however, the effects of globalization were not wholly realized by the people of Latin America and the respective end results were not what Marx had in mind when writing the Communist Manifesto. The economic and political climate is much different today than it was for most of the 20th century. Today, socialist states retain the social structure which Marx criticized: there is a class of workers and there is a class of owners. Countries like Sweden and Norway are only considered ‘socialist states’ because those countries utilize vast government-controlled welfare programs. Even though countries like Venezuela and China use almost all revenues from nationalized business to fund social programs , political and business leaders hold all of the power, which creates class struggles. Marxist ideals are most relevant to the developing parts of Latin America because of its populist appeal. Capitalism is indubitably responsible for economic growth in Latin America , just as it has been in the industrialized nations; however, the fundamental unfairness in how the economic growth is distributed in these developing countries contributes to the frustration of working classes. Looking at the Gini Index, a measure of income distribution, most Latin American countries rate around or well above 50 on a scale of 0-100, where 0 represents total equality . Whereas industrialized nations control capital investment, the developing nations rely on this investment for growth, and the governments in Latin America have a record of lax legislation in order to appeal to multinational corporations’ investments. Such a situation contributes to the ‘alienation’ of a worker. Workers in Latin America produce goods which they almost never benefit from and receive compensation for that work which is worth considerably less than the good produced. Data from the Quarterly Journal of Economics in May 2006 states: â€Å"The distribution for Brazil is displayed in Figure IIe. The rightmost part of the distribution shifts a lot more than its lower end, which reflects an increasing level of inequality. This is a phenomenon that we tend to observe in all Latin America. The reduction in poverty rates in Brazil seems to have been small, and to have occurred mostly during the 1970s. In fact, the lower end of the distribution appears to shift to the left between 1980 and 1990, which indicates an increase in poverty during the â€Å"lost decade† of the 1980s. Little progress has been made during the 1990s.† Multinational corporations exploit the workers’ desperate situations by gaining control of their work and work lives, and the workers of Latin America have realized that their situation hasn’t gotten any better. The situation presented is problematic for more reasons, because the conditions in which workers are placed are reminiscent of what Marx saw in Europe in the mid 19th century. Workers are subject to â€Å"that quantum of the means of subsistence which is absolutely requisite to keep the laborer in bare existence as a laborer† (Marx, Engels, 1848). Workers earn just enough to get by, impoverished, and they continue to lack the capital to build their own enterprise. The work itself is also characterized by monotony and alienation; says Marx, â€Å"He becomes an appendage of the machine, and is only the†¦most monotonous†¦that is required of him. Hence, the cost of a workman is restricted†¦to the means of subsistence that he requires for his maintenance.† It is important to realize that Marx admires the successes of capitalism in broadening the horizons of material and cultural opportunity, and that his aim of revolution is not a communist or socialist state. He says in the Manifesto, â€Å"[The Bourgeoisie] must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connections everywhere. The bourgeoisie has†¦given a cosmopolitan character to production and consumption in every country.† Marx’s objections rather are directed at class divisions, and how history is defined by class struggles; the bourgeoisie have subjugated the working classes in a terrible manner. Marx’s objective is to overthrow the bourgeois supremacy and establish the political power of the proletariat. In the case of Latin America, the goal of the working class is to overthrow multinational corporations, nationalize critical markets, and establish a society in which the government- under the will of the people- rules all and divides the ec onomic spoils as it sees fit. Perhaps the least radical and violent method of reformation is the implementation of a worker cooperative movement. The rise of the worker cooperative in Latin America is the most basic and important example of how and why Marxism is relevant to the people of that region. Branko Horvat, a Marxist scholar, argues that the â€Å"basic form of socialism is self-management† and outlines the basic characteristics of self-managed groups: 1. Participation in decision making is direct on all matters affecting the work unit 2. The decision making process itself and the decisions reached are transparent 3. Because of the continuous face-to-face nature of the group, the unjustified and permanent imposition of the will of the majority is unlikely 4. Because of (1) and (3), the possibilities for the manipulation of opinion are limited. Worker Cooperatives meet all of these criteria, since they are based on common ownership of a company and democratic decision making. Since the standard of living, infrastructure, education and advanced skill sets in Latin America are much lower than in developed countries, the working classes must still rely on manufacturing and exports in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This means that capitalism, or the free trade of goods and services, is still the best option since it is beyond reason to think that any country could achieve self-sustainability the way Stalinist Russia tried to achieve. The worker cooperative achieves the productive goals of the free market while still avoiding the negative implications of worker vs. owner capitalism. Trent Craddock and Sarah Kennedy, Canadian researchers of worker cooperatives, state that â€Å"since December of 2001, the government of Argentina has been very supportive of worker co-operatives and has recognized that worker co-ops are able to sustain employment and production.† The instance here is an example of workers peacefully moving to gain control of industries in which they collectively make decisions and have part ownership in their company. Grassroots Economic Organizing (GEO) is an organization started in the United States which promotes and helps organize worker cooperatives in the Latin American region. Worker cooperatives also avoid the negative implications of Marx’s â€Å"alienation† and â€Å"globalization†. The workers in this case will own a part of their company and thus benefit from the sale of the relative product, rather than being paid a wage not consistent with their product’s value, in the case of private ownership. The workers democratically make decisions, which ensure that their labor is not subject to the dominant bourgeoisie and that since their method of work is decided by them, it is most likely not going to be monotonous and degrading. As explained above, â€Å"alienation† exists when all of these factors are present in a person’s work life. Worker cooperatives do not fit into the idea of â€Å"globalization† since foreign companies are not providing and controlling investment to run these companies. There are multiple instances of Latin Americans overthrowing private interests, but almost none are consistent with Marx’s vision, insofar that every time a government has attempted a Marxist state, factors still exist which destroy the ultimate goal of Marxism, which is to empower the working class. A more specific example provides insight into the problems of collectivization. In Cochambaba, Bolivia, the people managed to drive out a corporation which attempted to privatize the water supply . Rather than achieving a society in which everyone enjoyed access to water, the system returned to a poorly government-run system where sixty percent of households are connected to a water supply and pay as much ten times what they would have to a private company . The net effect of nationalizing the water supply is critical in considering the legitimacy of Marxism as it used and exploited in today’s social struggles. When a country nationalizes markets, it cuts itself off from the benefits of privatization, and for a society trying to sustain for the long term, for the immediate benefit of nationalization and social programs could result in that country one day finding itself without the accumulated capital it needs to grow. In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez nationalized the oil industry- much like populist leaders in Ecuador and Bolivia- because he thought that too much of the revenue generated from the industry went to private, foreign interests . As the Tina Rosenberg states in The New York Times, â€Å"When Venezuela’s oil was in private hands, the government collected 80 cents of every dollar of oil exported. With nationalization the figure dropped, and by the early 1990s, the government was collecting roughly half that amount.† This troubling figure is due to the fact that Chavez ignores the need for more oil exploration and diverts almost all of the funds to social programs and his own secret funds and agendas. These examples of failures in national interests don’t lie on the same premises as worker cooperatives. The executions of these industrial reformations were made by an oligarchy, and either society hardly reflects true Marxism. Yet these failures must remain an important lesson to worker cooperatives, and how growth and expansion is necessary to sustain a company. There are factors working against the Marxist movements in Latin America as well. In Nicaragua, during the revolutionary movement against the Somoza regime, the hierarchy in the Catholic Church acted in the counterrevolutionary interests and supported the bourgeois cause . Catholicism is an important cultural aspect in almost all of Latin Americans’ lives, and it is likely that business and authoritative interests will work against common ownership and democratic thought. This does not, however, discount the legitimacy or importance of a Marxist movement. The situation of the majority of the Latin American working class currently fits into the extreme of what Marx criticized in his writings: alienation of the worker from his or her product; that worker’s life being dominated by monotonous and dismal work; and also the forcing of the worker into a vicious cycle of subsistence and survival. This picture is also characterized by foreign investment controlling these unwanted factors. It is important to realize that because of these factors, Marxism will play a role in peaceful worker movements, consistent with his â€Å"theory of the state†, in order to gain common ownership and decision making rights in a broad range of industries in Latin America. Bailey, Ronald. Water is a Human Right. Reason Magazine. 17 Aug. 2005. 4 Nov. 2007 . Berman, Marshall. Unchained Melody. The Nation (1998). 8 Nov. 2007 . Berman, Marshall. Unchained Melody. The Nation (1998). 8 Nov. 2007 . Craddock, Trent, and Sarah Kennedy, comps. Analysis of International Trends in Worker Co-Operatives. 2003. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 10 Nov. 2007 . Harris, Richard L. Marxism, Socialism, and Democracy in Latin America. 8th ed. Boulder: Westview P, 1992. 140-145. Knopf, Alfred A. Marxism in Latin America. Toronto: Georgetown University, 1968. Kozloff, Nikolas. Hugo Chavez. New York City: Palgrave MacMillan, 2006. Kozloff, Nikolas. Hugo Chavez. New York City: Palgrave MacMillan, 2006. Love, Nancy, ed. Dogmas and Dreams. 3rd ed. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly P, 2006. 236-275. Mandle, Jay R. Marxist Analyses and Capitalist Development in the Third World. Theory and Society os 9 (1980): 1-12. SpringerLink. Vancouver. 6 Nov. 2007. Keyword: Marxism. Petras, James, and Chronis Polychroniou. Marxism Today: Essays on Capitalism, Socialism and Strategies for Social Change. Capitalist Transformation: the Relevance of and Challenges to Marxism. 5 Nov. 2007 . Rosenberg, Tina. Perils of Petrocracy. The New York Times. 3 Nov. 2007. 12 Nov. 2007 . Sala-I-Martin, Xavier, comp. The Quarterly Journal of Economics. May 2006. Columbia University. 12 Nov. 2007 . Schultz, Jim. Water Fallout. In These Times. 15 May 2000. 12 Nov. 2007 . The World Factbook. Distribution of Family Income-the Gini Index. 1 Nov. 2007. Central Intelligence Agency. 12 Nov. 2007 . 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Interactional theory in Gandhi Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Interactional theory in Gandhi - Research Paper Example To understand his life, Attenborough (1982) produced and directed Gandhi. This paper analyzes the film using Watzlawick, Beavin, and Jackson’s (1967) Interactional Theory on communication. It aims to show that this theory helps explain Gandhi’s effectiveness as a persuasive communication expert and social transformation leader. Gandhi demonstrates an interactional view of communication because Gandhi used non-violent, non-cooperative, and peaceful communication strategies, which have been successful in attaining individual and social changes because he continuously reframed punctuations regarding the causes and resolutions to conflict. Gandhi depicts the rise of Gandhi, from being a lawyer of racial injustice in South Africa to a transformational leader in India. Attenborough (1982) showed how Gandhi started his non-violent approach to conflict management, when he realized the intensity and extent of racial discrimination against Indians in South Africa. With his friend and supporter, the rich Indian businessman Kinnoch, they and their thousands of supporters defied the Pass Law and other oppressive policies, until they changed legislation into one that improved racial equality. Gandhi returned to India, which was in a historical transition from colonial ownership to independence. Gandhi aroused the formation of nationalist organizations and used the media to gain publicity and to spread his non-violent, non-cooperative, and peaceful approach to the demand for independence from Great Britain. Interactional Theory views relationships as â€Å"patterns of interaction† (Watzlawick et al., 1967, p. 2), where every member participates in the cybernetic environment, while interacting with other systems to control their environment too. Gandhi is an effective communicator because he does not undermine the value of the press in enhancing public awareness and changing individual and social beliefs. The first rally in South Africa indicates how Gandh i saw the media as a partner in documenting non-violent actions, so that more people would join him and for the British Empire to realize the power of their numbers. Gandhi wants journalists to cover their peaceful protests because it can unite the nation. He told the reporter Walker that he â€Å"cannot unite a community† without a paper (Attenborough, 1982). He then used the media, including his own paper, to promote his views on non-violent and non-cooperative action toward resolving various conflicts. Gandhi knows the importance of connected systems to achieve widespread social changes. Interactional Theory has five axioms and the first aims to show how complex systems operate by stating that people â€Å"cannot not communicate,† so everything that is said and done is a message. Watzlawick et al. (1967) stressed: â€Å"Activity or inactivity, words or silence all have message value: they influence others and these others, in turn, cannot not respond to these commu nications and are thus themselves communicating† (p. 1). The pragmatic approach to language emphasizes the effects of actions on communication behaviors (Wayne, 1990, p.603). Gandhi shows the importance of every aspect of communication to express his strategies and to persuade people to follow his methods. His main emphasis is that violent, non-cooperative, and peaceful communication strategies can be used to attain social

Food Biotechnology - The Production and Growth of Vegetables and Fruit Assignment

Food Biotechnology - The Production and Growth of Vegetables and Fruits - Assignment Example This also means that customers will not to have to use a lot of funds for food because the cost of producing is less (Liles, 2011). Using biotechnology in both the production and growth of vegetables and fruits has allowed scientists to modify the way fruits and vegetables ripen. Normally, vegetables and fruits continue to mature after harvesting (Liles, 2011). Therefore, they must be rushed to the marketplace and sold fast while they are fresh. Genetically produced fruits and vegetables can be collected when ripe. After they are harvested, the ripening process stops. This gives the fruits and vegetables a longer shelf life than the organically produced fruits (Liles, 2011). These genetic modifications also boost a plants resistance to pests, disease, herbicides, insecticides or even severe weather conditions. Genetic manufacturing has also altered a plant's dietetic makeup, making it richer in various minerals or vitamins than organically produced fruits. In spite of harvesting countless of genetically produced plants, experts still do not have a comprehensible understanding of how these genetic modifications affect the human body in the long run. This is because these food kinds of stuff have been accessible since the early 90’s (Liles, 2011). Monsanto, the main GM seed developer in the globe and the institute that offers most research answers to the FDA, argues that the GM seed is undamaging to humans. Nevertheless, some experts have found that GM plants have, in reality, alter the lifespan of humans. The GM plants have also caused diseases to insects and also altered their cognitive abilities, which feed on these plants. Another disadvantage is that the genes might be transmitted to other crops that they are not planned to go in and lead to difficulties since the transmission of the genes would not be recognized (Liles, 2011).  Consumers might get an allergic response to the food when they eat food that is contaminated wit h the bacteria or gene transmitted via cross-pollination unintentionally.