Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Operating Systems and Networking Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Working Systems and Networking - Coursework Example the accompanying fields: opcode: 8 bits ra: 6 bits rb: 6 bits rc: 6 bits rd: 6 bits where ra, rb, rc, determine three info registers and rd indicates one goal register. On the off chance that there is a solitary register document to store the distinguishing pieces of proof all things considered, what number of registers could there be in that register record? 1.3. A processor has 24 registers, utilizes 8-piece prompt, and has 36 distinct guidelines (relating to 36 activity codes) in its guidance set. These 36 guidelines are characterized into 4 sorts as recorded underneath: Expect that the ISA necessitates that all guidelines be different of 8 bits (1 byte) long, and the activity codes (opcodes) are fixed length. Answer the accompanying inquiries and record the count steps included. Type C: 6 bits of the activity code, 5 bits for the source register, 8 bits of the quick, and 5 bits of the goal register. This aggregates to 19 bits. These are gathered together again to 24 bits. 24 bits are identical to 3 bytes. In this way 3 bytes are required to encode type c guidance. The pipelining graph is utilized to show the execution of an arrangement or a grouping of guidelines of procedures of a PC. In the chart, the succession of guidelines is demonstrated vertically; that is from the top to the base. Concerning the clock cycles, they are frequently appeared in the level; that is from the left to one side. Every single guidance is partitioned into its segment stages. There are 3 guidelines. Assume a non-pipelining processor took 50 Nano seconds to process one guidance, and afterward it would take 3 * 50 = 150 Nano seconds to finish all the directions. Anyway when pipelining is utilized, we rather have 4 section pipeline with a clock cycle that takes in any event 10 Nano seconds around. 2.2. Assume we have a marginally increasingly complex program with information reliance and branches. Accept that on account of fanning, the guidance following a branch is constantly executed. Note that a contingent branch
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Man's Search for meaning by Viktor Frankl Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Man's Search for significance by Viktor Frankl - Essay Example The experience of Viktor in the Nazi camp instructed him that the principle drive in life is trust. Life is driven chiefly by trust and not delight. Gloom in people is a method of telling the world that something isn't right and needs to change (Viktor E Frankl 20). Melancholy causes people to get mindful of their mortality and it will change their general point of view towards life. There are various difficulties throughout everyday life and the way that various people handle it gives a profound significance to life. Viktor contended that people need to pick their own demeanor in any condition and pick the correct way. Viktor saw that people consolidate a specific humility and resilience of individual shortcoming. The blend of unobtrusiveness and resilience accompanies a propensity of severe judgment of ethics (Viktor E Frankl 29). Viktor outlines that life has obligations and people need to locate the correct response to the issues of life. The significance of life is to locate the primary reason that makes it worth living. He outlines that the conceivable outcomes of gaining the significance of life through individual enduring is
Monday, August 10, 2020
Symptoms of OCD in Toddlers
Symptoms of OCD in Toddlers OCD Living With OCD Print How to Recognize Signs of OCD in Toddlers By Owen Kelly, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 23, 2020 Westend61 / Getty Images More in OCD Living With OCD Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Types Related Conditions Although we often think of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as an illness that affects mostly adults, between 0.25-4% of children will develop OCD.?? The average age of onset is approximately 10 years of age,?? although children as young as 5 or 6 may be diagnosed with the illness. Though children can start showing symptoms of OCD around age 3, it is extremely rare. Why It May Seem Like Your Toddler Has OCD Many toddlers like to sort objects by color, shape, size or texture. At this age, they are growing and changing rapidly and engaging in this sort of behavior can help them make sense of their limited world. It also shows cognitive development as they learn to make distinctions between characteristics and group items by their similarity. This stage of development is very normal and positive. Youll know this behavior is problematic if it begins to impact your toddler negatively. Sorting and organizing should be a positive part of play, so if it becomes an obsession and/or something your toddler begins to rely on to stop her fear or anxiety, and most especially if its affecting her normal activities, its time to get help. Toddlers with OCD are sticklers for rules and order and need certain steps to be followed in a certain way. They may become very upset if a step is skipped or something is out of order and they likely seem very anxious a lot of the time. Tips for Coping as a Parent of a Child With OCD While there is no doubt that parenting children with OCD can be a challenge, there are ways to cope. Getting informed about OCD, particularly as it is experienced by children, is the essential first step that every parent of a child with OCD should undertake to become an effective advocate for their child. Some key facts: Children with OCD often have less insight into their obsessions than adults and may not yet have the capacity to understand the irrational nature of their thoughts.The content of a childâs obsessions can be different from that of adults. For example, it is not uncommon for children with OCD to have specific obsessions related to the death of their parents. The rituals or compulsions of children also may be more likely to involve or be centered around family members.In most cases, the current recommended treatment for childhood-onset OCD is a combination of individual or group cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT),?? and when severe enough, medications that augment levels of the neurochemical serotonin such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs are used cautiously in children and adolescents as there has been some suggestion that they may increase the risk of suicide in this age group.??About 5% of children with OCD have the PANDAS or autoimmune subtype.?? The PANDA S form of OCD has a few key characteristics, such as the rapid onset of symptoms, that helps doctors distinguish it from more typical forms of childhood OCD. The PANDAS form of OCD may entail some differences in treatment, too.?? Learning more about your childâs OCD will help to reduce your own stress levels and make it easier to carry through with at-home exposure exercises. Why It Is Important to Get Involved With Your Childs OCD Treatment Research suggests that parental involvement is a strong predictor of cognitive-behavioral treatment success.?? Given the developmental cognitive limitations of children, the explanation of abstract concepts needs to be done in a way that is appropriate for the age of the child. Parents can be an invaluable resource in helping the therapist to develop ways of presenting material that will resonate with and make sense to the child. On a day-to-day basis, parents can help remind young children that it is their OCD that is the âbad guyâ who is responsible for their symptoms, and they and their parents and family are the âgood guys.â Such a technique can help reduce the chances a child will feel blame or shame for having OCD. Above all, work on fostering a strong partnership with the various professionals involved in your childâs care. Donât be afraid to ask questions and ask about resources that you can take home to better absorb new information in small bits. How to Engage Your Partner and/or Family Each of us has different comfort levels when dealing with the emotional difficulties of others, even when it concerns our own family or children. If you are having trouble engaging your partner in becoming educated about your childâs OCD or helping out with at-home exposure exercises, talk about it, dont sweep it under the rug. Often a partnerâs reluctance to help out simply reflects their own anxiety about the situation and does not mean they donât want to help the child. If you are the single parent of a child with OCD, look into available resources within your community. A good starting point can be a support group where people share tips for coping with a child who has OCD. In addition to your partner, the rest of the family must be involved and aware of what treatment entails, especially exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP).?? It is not unusual for both adults and children with OCD to ask others to participate in their compulsions and family members often oblige so as to reduce their loved oneâs anxiety, especially when it is a child. For treatment to work, compulsions need to stop and family members must be aware of this. Donât Give up Hope Finally, it is important to never give up hope. There are many different treatments available and if the first strategy doesnât work there are often many other options available. Sometimes it is simply a matter of finding the right therapist or the right combination of medication and psychotherapy. With the right treatment, many children are able to find relief from their symptoms.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
USS Monitor in the American Civil War
One of the first ironclads constructed for the US Navy, the origins of USS Monitor began with changes in naval ordnance during the 1820s. Early in that decade, French artillery officer Henri-Joseph Paixhans developed a mechanism that allowed for shells to be fired with flat trajectory, high-powered naval guns. Trials using the old ship-of-the-line Pacificateur (80 guns) in 1824 showed that exploding shells could inflict significant damage on traditional wooden hulls. Refined over the next decade, shell-firing guns based on Paixhans design were common in the worlds leading navies by the 1840s. Rise of the Ironclad Recognizing wooden ships vulnerability to shells, Americans Robert L. and Edwin A. Stevens began the design of an armored floating battery in 1844. Forced to re-evaluate the design due to rapid advances in shell technology, the project came to a halt a year later when Robert Stevens fell ill. Though resurrected in 1854, the Stevens vessel never came to fruition. During this same period, the French successfully experimented with armored floating batteries during the Crimean War (1853-1856). Based on these results, the French Navy launched the worlds first ocean-going ironclad, La Gloire, in 1859. This was followed by the Royal Navys HMS Warrior (40) a year later. Union Ironclads With the start of the Civil War, the US Navy convened an Ironclad Board in August 1861 to assess potential designs for armored warships. Calling for proposals for iron-clad steam vessels of war, the board sought vessels capable of operating in the shallow waters along the American coast. The board was further spurred to action due to reports that the Confederacy was seeking to convert the captured remains of USS Merrimack (40) into an ironclad. The board ultimately selected three designs to be constructed: USS Galena (6), USSà Monitor (2), and USS New Ironsides (18) Monitor was designed by Swedish-born inventor John Ericsson who had previously had a falling out with the Navy in the wake of the 1844 USS Princeton disaster which had killed six people including Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur and Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Gilmer. Though he had not intended to submit a design, Ericsson became involved whenà Cornelius S. Bushnell consulted him regarding the Galena project. In the course of the meetings, Ericsson showed Bushnell his own concept for an ironclad and was encouraged to submit his revolutionary design. Design Consisting of a revolving turret mounted on a low armored deck, the design was likened to a cheese box on a raft. Possessing a low freeboard, only the ships turret, stacks, and small armored pilot house projected above the hull. This almost non-existent profile made the ship very difficult to hit, though it also meant that it performed badly on the open sea and was prone to swamping. Highly impressed by Ericssons innovative design, Bushnell traveled to Washington and convinced the Navy Department to authorize its construction. The contract for the ship was given to Ericsson and work began in New York. Construction Subcontracting the construction of the hull to Continental Iron Works in Brooklyn, Ericsson ordered the ships engines from Delamater Co. and the turret from Novelty Iron Works, both of New York City. Working at a frenetic pace, Monitor was ready for launch within 100 days of being laid down. Entering the water on January 30, 1862, workers began finishing and fitting out the ships interior spaces. On February 25 work was completed and Monitor commissioned with Lieutenant John L. Worden in command. Sailing from New York two days later, the ship was forced to return after its steering gear failed. USS Monitor - General Nation: United StatesBuilder: Continental Iron Works, Brooklyn, NYLaid Down: October 1861Launched: January 30, 1862Commissioned: February 25, 1862 Fate: Lost at sea, December 31, 1862 Specifications Type: Monitor-class ironcladDisplacement: 987 tonsLength: 172 ft.Beam: 41 ft. 6 in.Draft: 10 ft. 6 in.Complement: 59Speed: 8 knots Armament 2 x XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbores Operational History Following repairs, Monitor departed New York on March 6, this time under tow, with orders to proceed to Hampton Roads. On March 8, the newly completed Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia steamed down the Elizabeth River and struck at the Union squadron at Hampton Roads. Unable to pierce Virginias armor, the wooden Union ships were helpless and the Confederate succeeded in sinking the sloop of war USS Cumberland and frigate USS Congress. As darkness fell, Virginia withdrew with the intention of returning the next day to finish off the remaining Union ships. That night Monitor arrived and took up a defensive position. Returning the next morning, Virginia encountered Monitor as it approached USS Minnesota. Opening fire, the two ships began the worlds first battle between ironclad warships. Pounding each other for over four hours, neither was able to inflict significant damage on the other. Though Monitors heavier guns were able to crack Virginias armor, the Confederates scored a hit on their adversarys pilot house temporarily blinding Worden. Unable to defeat Monitor, Virginia withdrew leaving Hampton Roads in Union hands. For the rest of the spring, Monitor remained, guarding against another attack by Virginia. During this time, Virginia attempted to engage Monitor on several occasions but was refused as Monitor was under presidential orders to avoid battle unless absolutely required. This was due to President Abraham Lincolns fear that the ship would be lost allowing Virginia to take control of the Chesapeake Bay. On May 11, after Union troops captured Norfolk, the Confederates burned Virginia. Its nemesis removed, Monitor began participating in regular operations, including reconnaissance of the James River to Drurys Bluff on May 15. After supporting Major General George McClellans Peninsula Campaign in the summer, Monitor participated in the Union blockade at Hampton Roads that fall. In December, the ship received orders to proceed south to aid in operations against Wilmington, NC. Departing under tow by USS Rhode Island, Monitor cleared the Virginia Capes on December 29. Two nights later, it began to take water as it encountered a storm and high waves off Cape Hatteras. Foundering, Monitor sank along with sixteen of its crew. Though in service for less than a year, it profoundly influenced warship design and several similar ships were built for the Union Navy. In 1973, the wreck was discovered sixteen miles southeast of Cape Hatteras. Two years later it was designated a national marine sanctuary. At this time, some artifacts, such as the ships propeller, were removed from the wreck. In 2001, recovery efforts began to salvage the ships steam engine. The next year, Monitors innovative turret was raised. These have all been taken to the Mariners Museum in Newport News, VA for preservation and display.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Kpop Influence Essay - 587 Words
The Korean pop music, commonly referred to as K-pop (it being an abbreviation of the term Korean pop), has actually become a greater part of the Korean pop. The K-pops popularity has been notably attributed to individualism and also talent. It is also worth noting that the music has been having a wide diversity through the collaboration with different musicians. K-pop has been however termed as being widely manufactured. In the recent years, the Korean entertainment companies are now heavily depending on the YouTube as a key medium for the purpose of spreading of the Korean culture. K-pop music has actually been, and is increasingly music for charlatans. There always been a place for those who are unable to neither play instrument norâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦In order for one to well comprehend whether the Korean pop music is really mature or not, there are various aspects one ought to consider. First it is apparent that the Korean music industry is actually aging and not just the alleged sense of number increment. A number of idols that seems endless have had a constant debuting, giving singers in other genres no single chance to at least reach for the spotlight before its disappearance. Those who are the industry representatives universally agree that the very industry happens to be in a desperate need for quick and urgent measures. The industrys immaturity has led to many agreeing that the apparent possibility of success as pertains to todays current market with what is being referred to as normal music is just 0%. Allegations put forward to support the fact is that for example the idol groups of the first generation the likes of H.O.T, Sechskies, Fin.K.L and also the S.E.S were all termed as a shock and actually unconventional as they were mere high scholars, an average of 17-19 years old. Over the years, the concept has gone through many transformations and now includes the junior school students who apparently are younger than 15 years. Involvement of such young people in the industry makes it lack the sense of maturity even in the eyes of the rest of theShow MoreRelatedKpop influence filipino teenagers1780 Words à |à 8 Pagesinfluenced their fandom. Statement of the Problem This study intends to determine the Influence of Korean music (K-Pop) to Flipino Teenagers. Specifically, this research intends to answer the following questions: Why do Filipino Teenagers like K-Pop? Why does Filipino Teenagers get addicted to K-Pop? How does Korean Music (K-Pop) influence Filipino Teenagers? How can Music Authorities influence Filipino Teenagers to patronize OPM? Objectives of the Study This Research intends toRead MoreWinter Wave : The Korean Wave And The Korean Wave936 Words à |à 4 Pageswith gangsters, and etc. while rapping, and singing. Most international fans are attracted to this song with its catchphrase of ââ¬Å"oppa gangnam styleâ⬠with the iconic dancing that involves crossing arms and with alternating leg hops. The most direct influence of ââ¬Å"Gangnam Styleâ⬠could be seen on YouTube. ââ¬Å"Gangnam Styleâ⬠was released on July 15, 2012 and ââ¬Å"..the viewpoints of Korean music vidoes increased threefold from 2012 to 2013â⬠(Jung and Li). ââ¬Å"Gangnam Styleâ⬠was what initiated the interest in KoreanRead MoreKpop Versus American Pop1938 Words à |à 8 Pagesselling out concerts like this? Is it Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift? Actually try none, of them, the artist who are selling out these concerts in major countries around the globe are actually part of a growing phenomenon called Kpop which is short for Korean pop. Now I know what your thinking thereââ¬â¢s no way this could be true, oh but it is. Take for example South Korean rapper PSY, recently released a music video for his song called ââ¬Å"Gangnam Styleâ⬠this song and music video areRead MoreI Am An American Born Asian Male Teenager1900 Words à |à 8 Pagesthe cool, len ient kind. I donââ¬â¢t fit under neither types and as a result, I became self-conscious of the way I act, not to also mention my overweight body. I didnââ¬â¢t know how to be myself while conforming to the stereotypes. Thatââ¬â¢s when I discovered Kpop, or Korean Pop Culture. I immersed myself into the music, the dramas, and even the food. I found a second home, even if it was through my computer. These korean stars were talented, funny, and most of all ââ¬Å"cool.â⬠They had an aura around them that IRead MoreKorean Pop6843 Words à |à 28 Pagesbecome first in disseminating information, providing communication, moreover, in catering entertainment. Mass media provides entertainment; best examples of which are through watching television shows and surfing the internet. These things greatly influence its target audience to the extent that some already live by it, these people are called fanatics. [1] faâ⬠¢natâ⬠¢ic nounââ¬Æ'/fÃâ¢ÃËnatik/ââ¬Æ' fanatics, plural A person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal, esp. for an extreme religious or political causeRead MoreNorth Korea And South Korea3228 Words à |à 13 Pageswing and became a capitalist country. Following Americaââ¬â¢s footsteps, South Korea started to westernize its music and culture all together. After South Koreaââ¬â¢s stock market crashed in October 1997, they started to focus their economic revenue on their kpop music, thus making it more western, appealing to an American audience. While Americans can embrace the K-wave, they should also be mindful of the political and economic motivations of South Korea. In addition to enjoying the K-wave, Americans needRead MoreKorean Pop Music And Its Effects1979 Words à |à 8 PagesFor the past 4-5 years I have listened to Korean pop music as my main source of music. Over this time, a lot of changes have happened in the Kpop community but the most outstanding change was how much more popular Korean music has become worldw ide. Kpop has been around since the 90ââ¬â¢s but has recently become much more popular globally with thanks to the internet and social media. Globalisation and its effects have been amplified extremely by the Internet which has facilitated communications betweenRead MorePinoy Youthââ¬â¢s Preference for Kpop (Korean Pop) Music: How Does It Affect Their Taste for Opm (Original Pilipino Music)?4877 Words à |à 20 PagesPinoy Youthââ¬â¢s Preference for KPOP (Korean Pop) music: How does it affect their taste for OPM (Original Pilipino Music)? CHAPTER IV RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This particular research study aims to determine the Pinoy Youthââ¬â¢s Preference for Korean Pop Music and how does it affect their taste for Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Regarding this, the researchers will seek to know whether factors like rhythm and music composition of Korean Popular Music really affect the Pinoy teenagersââ¬â¢ preference towards OriginalRead MoreANIME ADDICTION2849 Words à |à 12 Pagescommunication network or simply what we call internet, where all information that a fan need can be found. History of Kpop or Korean pop. I. History of Kpop or Korean Pop Every word or thing exist in this world has its own history or background which tells us how that certain word or thing started to exist. The study of the history of Kpop or Korean Pop shows details how they started, who influence them and how they became popular or rise up. A. 20th Century he history of Korean Popular music can be tracedRead MoreHistory And Emergence Of Hip Hop1832 Words à |à 8 Pagesà includingà Psyà inà whichà oneà ofà hisà musicà becameà aà globalà phenomenon.à Moreover,à aà newà genreà calledà Kpopà alsoà emergedà duringà theà 1990 sà upà toà present.à Today,à Theà melodiesà ofà Koreanà musicà areà quiteà similarà toà theà moodà ofà earlyà 2000 sà rhythmà andà bluesà musicà fromà America.à Reflectionsà ofà Africanà Americanà musicà areà quiteà prominentà dueà toà Korea sà westernà influenceà andà theà Unitedà State sà heavyà influenceà ofà Negroà spiritualsà derivingà inà theà 1800sà duringà slaveryà ofà whichà youà stillà seeà inà musicà today.à St
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The factory farms normally hold a large number of animals Free Essays
Factory farming can be perceived as an enterprising activity that is aimed at increasing the animalsââ¬â¢ productivity at the lowest costà possible so as to increase the profit margins while meeting the huge market demands. The factory farms normally hold a large number of animals, and mostly cows, pigs, chickens and also turkeys indoors, and the purpose of holding these animals is to produce milk, meat and eggs at the cost effective production level. A wide range of artificial applications are practiced in order to improve the animalsââ¬â¢ health and production and they includeà the application of growth hormones, vitamin supplements and also the use of antimicrobial agents. We will write a custom essay sample on The factory farms normally hold a large number of animals or any similar topic only for you Order Now Due to the large number of animals within a small area, their movements and actions are restricted as these movements and actions are considered to be unnecessary, as the main objective of the farm is to increase productivity which will definitely imply high profits. The breeding of these animals while in factory farms is controlled by limiting the animals to the production of certain breeds which are likely to be productive depending on the manipulated genetically compositions. The paper emphases on the various practices in the factory farms on animals and their impact on the animals, the environment and also the effect on humanity as the consumers of these products. The paper ends by giving the possible measure that can be put in place to correct evils of factory farms if any as identified in the following arguments. The treatment of animals in factory farms can be perceived as being unfair if the animals are to be regarded as living things which are liable to respond to irritations and other stimuli. The animals that are held in the factory farms are treated unfairly at the expense of the farm owners trying to maximize their profits, hence treating animals like just production units. The animals in factory farmsà which are held for the production of meat, eggs and milk are subjected to animal abuse, genetic compositions are alterations to produce the desired breeds with high productivity levels, they are over crowded and confined in cages which restricts their movements and certain behavioral actions, they are subjected to cruel mutilation, they are handled in a harsh manner, neglected, and they are slaughtered in an inhumane manner (Seitz 216). All the above mentioned unfair treatment of the animals in factory farms has been occurring and is certain to continue increasing as the demand for the products from these animals increase. This scenario of animal abuse has been enabled by the fact that there is no federalà legal protection for these animals like in the case of dogs and cats where these acts are likely to be illegal, which portrays the biasness in the application of law (Francione Watson 145). The farm animals are equivalent to dogs and cats who are cherished as champions as they less sensitive, intelligent and responsive to pain than the dogs and cats thus they need a fair treatment. The animals that are kept in cages, are deprived their freedom to move and also the liberty to exercise, and rather their energies are preserved so as to increase their productivity (Armstrong and Botzler 180). The animals are fed with drugs with an aim of fattening them faster and getting genetically manipulated to grow faster, produce a lot of milk than they can produce naturally and also the laying of eggs made quicker and the quality of eggs ensured. This treatment of the factory farm animal is unfair because it is likely to impose stress on the animals making them to develop some behaviors which are not natural because they are over strained to meet a given production level which is high above the natural level, thus over capacity utilization. This situation also posses the risk of loosing the indigenous breeds due to the genetic manipulation, which eliminates the indigenous traits in animals. There is also a risk of a certain species of animal going into extinction as the genetically modified animals are meant for some specific purposes like the production of meat, egg or milk, while ignoring to consider the future existence of these animals because these genetically modifications are meant to meet the immediate need for profit maximization and not considering the possibilities for the animals to ensure generational progress, without forgetting side effects inherent in the manipulations which might come up later in the future generations including the infertility of the animals (Kistler 90). How to cite The factory farms normally hold a large number of animals, Papers
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Marketing & Management of Apple
Question: Describe about the Marketing Management of Apple? Answer: Introduction The marketing function has emerged as an important support function for large organizations like Apple Inc. Macs, which are designed by Apple, are considered the best computers in personal computers in the world, with OS X, iWork, iLife and professional software as the series of operating software and supporting software for the computer. Apple is also leading in the digital music revolution with iTunesonline and iPods that are consistently being upgraded as per customer requirements. Also, the mobile market was too reinvented by Apple with the revolutionary products like iPhone and AppStore (Carew, 2012). They have also been a pioneer in the mobile tablet market with its iPad. Apple vision statement Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings Section 1: Understanding the concepts and process of marketing Elements of Marketing Process Product IPhone differentiates it product by combining an iPod, mobile phone and Internet communication device in a single unique product as a value proposition (Maria, 2012). Features like desktop class emails, searching, maps and web browsing are some of the features compatible both with Mac and Windows based personal computer, which is based upon Multi-Touch interface that company provides. Automatic sync is provided from users iTunes libraries and with the bookmarks, contacts and email accounts. iTunes stores (Carly, 2012) are provided for the user to download video and audio files in an iPhone. Also, the company allows the third party to sell their products along with their own stores exclusively selling the product. Apple focuses on quality and fundamental parts, which is why it provides splendid features releasing not so many versions of the phone. Apple also provides its own operating system and other applications made in house. Price In an industry where profit margins are low, and the industry is facing huge competition with multiple players trying to wage a price war, Apple is one of the few who offer products, which are different from the already existing products. Apple focuses on quality and fundamental parts, which is why it provides splendid features releasing not so many versions of the phone. Apple also provides its own operating system and other applications made in house. Promotion Users training, smart advertising, and customer instructions are some of the tools that are being used by the company for its promotional activity. Apple focuses on its relationship with the customer, using word of mouth as its main promotional activity apart from advertisements it creates to touch customer life. Apple focuses on customer retention more rather that market penetration to acquire more customers through offers, discounts, free shipping, etc. Place Apple focuses on providing the right product to the right customer in required quantity and at the right place. In most of the countries, Apple stores can be found except for some third world countries like UK and Europe where the demand is less. The country list as per the Apple support bylaws is very limited and covers region like Asia Pacific as their main market with Australia and New Zealand covering most of the customer needs. Physical Layout Manufacturing dominated the economy in the past need not required physical layouts to be very important for the customers as they never went inside a factory ever. But now times have changed making physical layouts more important than ever. Apple has been a pioneer in this section as well. They ensure that proper merchandising is in place, retail shops having the required product with equally trained employees to help customers understand key offerings of the company, clothing stores with Apples merchandise are some of the areas Apple focuses on. Provision of customer service Modern service industry considers customer service a key essential part with many companies now realizing its power. Better face-to-face interactions, telephonic support services have helped Apple increase the customer loyalty towards the company. The company is always ready to serve the customers who are not satisfied with Apple products. For example, Steve Jobs announced earlier that it would provide a credit of $100 to every customer in iTunes if they feel they have bought the phone at a higher price and are not happy with the product. Processes There are different processes associated with customer service that helps make marketing activity a success (Colin, 2013). Processes for handling orders, processes for handling customer complaints, processes for handling identifying key needs and requirements of a customer to name a few are very important. Customer law (Apple support) provides 1 year Warranty and AppleCare Protection plan benefits to every customer. Benefits and Costs of Marketing orientation Apple Inc. follows both Product oriented and marketing (David, 2012) oriented strategy. It is difficult to differentiate which strategy it majorly focuses on. It is considered product oriented because it focuses on the quality of the product it offers to the customers and uses innovation (Alan, 2012) as a prime tool to penetrate new market segments. Competitive advantage is the prime motive and Apple uses it to ensure that its product is offering more value proposition (Sameer, 2012) than the other competitors products in the market. Apple do not launch many versions of its products but ensures that the product it offer to its customer each time has valuable features and different value proposition (Son, 2015) than its competitors. It can be considered Marketing oriented because if its wide use of marketing research to ensure continuous improvement and development of its products. It also uses innovation not just to ensure better quality but also to launch new products, which may att ract new customers. Apple has always been a customer-oriented company, which is why they ensure that the customer gets the best product through use of extensive innovation. There are different benefits and cost associated with this kind of strategy. Building customer Value (Albajes, 2012) Through market-oriented approach customer loyalty can be increased thus helping the company to increase repeat sales from the existing customers. Also, the threat from customers is also reduced as the customer is satisfied with the quality and value companys (Billy, 2013) products offer. Responding to Demands Using extensive use of marketing research Apple in the past has successful understood the requirements of the customer, which is why they have been successful in cutting down cost by eliminating products, which have less or no demand and incur a loss to the firm? This helps the company to reduce guessing and forecasting trends and patterns about customer requirement and work on only those features that the customer wants. Increasing value (Steve, 2012) increasing cost Increasing the value of the product also increases the costs that are to be incurred by the company to make that product. For example, by giving warranties and support as per the customer demand can increase the cost of maintenance staff and training to be provided to the support staff. These are some of the many costs that are to be incurred by the company. Extensive and Expensive Research For a successful (Roger, 2014) marketing oriented strategy, extensive research is required which needs a lot of resources to be deployed. This eventually helps the company to know the requirements of the customers but also increases the hiring cost for these market research activities. The costs of the research rely on the fact that how much of in-depth research is required by the company. Section 2: Understanding and using the concepts of Segmentation, targeting and positioning Macro and Micro Environmental Factors Micro environmental factors are the factors that affect the internal environment of the company directly or indirectly having both positive and negative effects on the key operations (Baldwin, 2015) of the company. Following is the SWOT analysis of Apple that clearly tells about the micro environmental factor of the company. Macro-environmental factors are the factors that affect the external environment of the company directly or indirectly having both positive and negative effects on the brand reputation of the company. Strengths Weakness Brand Reputation Customer Loyalty Innovation in the market Financial Performance Strong marketing and advertising team Product Recalls Relatively higher price Patent infringements/ patent series Opportunity Threats Market share growth in Asia/Pacific region High end accessories and support software to service-oriented countries like BRICS Gross margin pressure Competition Google entering the market with NEXUS Political Political influence is a very crucial part to measure macro-environmental factor of Apple as 52% (Sultan, 2012) of the products sold by Apple in 2010 were outside United States due to political crisis between the USA and other countries. Economic The global economic crisis seems to be one of the most crucial problems that has in past affected the sales and revenues of the company. Currency fluctuation due to global turmoil has greatly affected the companys sales. Social Apple has always considered customers as their most important asset and has always developed their products as per customers social cultural activities. Designs are developed as per the global needs and requirements with Apple focusing upon key services like iCloud and iTunes. Technology Innovation and RD have always been key processes that are always in line with the customer requirements. Apple has always been regarded as one of the most innovative technology (Juliana, 2013) gathering company, which can be seen in its key offering it provides to its customers. Segmentation for any company can mainly be divided into following variables. Demographic variables such as Age, Religion, Family Size, Race, Education, Occupation, Ethnicity, Gender, Income, Family life cycle and Social Class Geographic Variables such as Population, City, Density, Urban, Region, Size, Suburban, Market, Climate and rural Psychographic Variables such a Motives, Personality attributes and Lifestyles Behavioristic Variables such as End-use, Volume usage, Brand loyalty, Benefit expectations and Price sensitivity Apple iPhone majorly targets the people within the age group of 18 to 40 years with a major focus on people who are interested in buying new technology. Apple also tries to target more males than females due to their high interest in games; applications and features such as The Internet enabled devices, which are mostly being used by the male population as compared to the female one. Students belonging to a high class or higher middle class are the ones buying Apple products due to the prices of the product and high-end features the product provides. The products of Apple are firstly sold in the USA, Some parts of Europe and UK because of the competition and better infrastructure they give to the company. Apple always says that products it makes are more of an experience than an electronic device. Apple is a company, which primarily targets the customers who are concerned with design, style, and simplicity of the product. Innovation is one of the key operations at Apple through which the company can target these people. All Apple products have an interactive user interface with both style and ease of use. Apple uses many segments and targets them for successful selling of their products. Matt Asay says that Apple offers its customer to decide how and where they want to use their products. Apple targets Teenagers, business professionals, college students, young children and kids and adults for marketing their product. Forbes considers Apple one of the unique marketers. Apple has invested a lot in observing different patterns and had worked extensively on market research to understand the requirements of the customers. How buyer behavior affects marketing situation in different buying situation Understanding buyer behavior has become indeed one of the most important things for any company whether it is a local technology company or multinational technology company like Apple. Tools such as questionnaires and other market research tools help the company understand different buyer behavior and act accordingly. Two different situations in which buyer behavior affects marketing situation are- Social Media Campaigns: This platform has become one of the most influential methods for marketing campaigns and to know the acceptance of the product to be launched. Launching a new product and a great response to the product online can help the company understand the acceptance of the product and also in the marketing of the product. Pricing: Offering special discounts or promotional offers to bring loyal customers to the store and even some new customer to try companys products. By analyzing how much money customers are happy to spend, how often customer spend and the type of product they are willing to buy help the company in better pricing of the product. Positioning as per Kotler can be defined as perspective of a consumer mind on what he thinks about the brand. Apple positions its products in the mind of people as high premium products having a high degree of innovation through extensive use of research and development and targets people having good lifestyle buying luxury items. Apples products are premium products with high price and exclusive features at the same time over other competitors products. Apples image and reputation has enabled the company to quote products at such prices and users buying the products without any query. Apple has changed the way people look at electronic items being used daily. Apple helps user experience the product through exclusive features it provides through innovation. Apple has ensured that no one can copy its products through many patents it has for every unique feature it provides to its customer for which it quotes such high prices. Section 3: Understanding the individual items of the extended marketing mix Competitive Advantage Apple products are developed to sustain competitive advantage to compete in such dynamic and low-profit margin industry in which most companies are facing problems. Apple over years has ensured that customers using Apple can easily differentiate the product and wide variety of features that are provided to the customers. The competitive advantage that the product provides to the customers is. Protective ecosystem: Unlike other companies, Apple has its own operating system named iOS which has helped the company differentiate its products from those who are using a common platform like Android, Windows etc. During a survey done in the USA by Simonlycontracts.co.uk, it was found that 78% of the iPhone users thought that they couldnt imagine using any other phone and 59% said that they do not want to change because of the brand loyalty they have. Other companies have to compete with each other as Android is open source and anyone can make their own devices as per there requirements and sell at a lower price. Brand Appeal: Apple is one of the few technology brands, which are considered a luxury brand. During a survey done by Hurun Research Institute, it was reported that Apple is considered most luxury brand in China in 2014 beating brands like Prada, Louis Vuitton, etc. ITunes and Digital Asset Management: Apple is not just an electronic company but also a digital asset management company through extensive control over iTunes. Apple through use of this manages credit card information of almost 100 million customers, which shows the extent of loyalty, and trust customers have over the company. Distribution providing customer convenience Distribution channel related decisions should be based upon the expectation regarding where the customers are most likely to buy the product. The aim of any business is to reduce the overall distribution cost keeping them at low as possible. This would include inventory, storage, and transportation. Marketing management is used to decide the intensive, exclusive or selective network of distribution, depending upon the kind of product to be sold. Right choice regarding these factors along with appropriate wholesaler or dealer helps create competitive leverage, which Apple has successfully achieved. Apple has created a brand image of the luxury item for which people dont mind visiting places far off to visit exclusive stores of the company. In an interview, Tim Cook once said that companys objective was never to sell a low cost phone but to sell a great phone that enables the user to have a great experience. They just do it while figuring it out at a lower price than its competitors. Four pillars upon which Steve Jobs strategized the companys objectives are (1) focusing on the higher end (2) offering a small number of products (3) making people starve for company products by creating a halo effect (4) giving priority to profit share over market share. Apple focuses on four pillars stated above to offer product, which is best in class and provides user interactive features, which enables the user to do things which other companys product do not. Promotional activities Apple has always worked to achieve better high end products enabling it to be the best out in the market. Users training, smart advertising, and customer instructions are some of the tools that are being used by the company for its promotional activity. Apple focuses on its relationship with the customer, using word of mouth as its main promotional activity apart from advertisements it creates to touch customer life. Apple focuses on customer retention more rather that market penetration to acquire more customers through offers, discounts, free shipping, etc. This helps the company to insure that companys objectives are in line with the promotional activities that are being done by the company to focus upon the current customers and new potential ones. Additional elements of extended marketing mix Manufacturing dominated the economy in the past need not required physical layouts to be very important for the customers as they never went inside a factory ever. But now times have changed making physical layouts more important than ever. Apple has been a pioneer in this section as well. They ensure that proper merchandising is in place, retail shops having the required product with equally trained employees to help customers understand key offerings of the company, clothing stores with Apples merchandise are some of the areas Apple focuses on. Modern service industry considers customer service a key essential part with many companies now realizing its power. Better face-to-face interactions, telephonic support services have helped Apple increase the customer loyalty towards the company. The company is always ready to serve the customers who are not satisfied with Apple products. For example, Steve Jobs announced earlier that it would provide a credit of $100 to every customer in i Tunes if they feel they have bought the phone at a higher price and are not happy with the product. There are different processes associated with customer service that helps make marketing activity a success. Processes for handling orders, processes for handling customer complaints, processes for handling identifying key needs and requirements of customers to name a few are very important. Customer law (Apple support) provides one-year Warranty, and AppleCare Protection Plan benefits to every customer. Section 4: Understand and use marketing mix in different context Marketing mixes for two different segment in consumer market In context of Apple, marketing mix should be extensively planned so as to ensure future success and remain one of the market leaders in the industry they play in. They have to ensure continuous work on the four key market mix such as Product, Place, Promotion, and Price. Product: - Mac, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch and softwares are main products that Apple is continuously working upon to dominate in consumer (Galmarinia, 2013) electronic section. But to ensure continuous growth, Apple need to continuously develop new products like Apple Smart vehicle like Google just launched as its product development intensive growth strategy. Promotion: - Premium image and quality of the product are the two things that are continuously focused upon by the companys advertising team. Marketing mix of Apple includes Advertising, Public Relations, Sales Promotion and Personal Selling. Apple has mastered this element of marketing mix very well and needed to ensure that it holds it till the end. Place: - Apples distribution strategy is very well constructed. It plans well to provide the right product to the right segment of customer at right place. Right choice regarding these factors along with appropriate wholesaler or dealer helps create competitive leverage, which Apple has successfully achieved. Apple has created a brand image of luxury item for which people dont mind visiting places far off to visit exclusive stores of the company. Price: - Apple focuses on four pillars stated below to offer product, which is best in class and provides user interactive features, which enables the user to do things, which other companys product do not. Four pillars upon which Steve Jobs strategized the companys objectives are (1) focusing on the higher end (2) offering a small number of products (3) making people starve for company products by creating a halo effect (4) giving priority to profit share over market share. Difference in marketing product and services to businesses rather than consumer market In todays market one needs to understand the particular market they are serving to be successful. Markets can be either of the two Consumer market or business market. Using two questions one can understand which market one is serving. Why is one purchasing? And who is buying the goods? Are the two questions? Sales and purchases to different businesses, market intermediaries and government by the company of either goods or services are considered a business market. On the other hand when sales and purchase are done to consumers for their own use of either goods or services is called consumer market. Marketing strategies for both the market are different by needs, wants, and behavioral patterns. In the business market, more than one decision maker is present with different people handling different aspects of buying decision. One can be an engineer; one can be purchasing manager and more. Difference of international market from domestic market Marketing can be considered an effective and efficient management of the key resources at hand and their utilization to meet the customer demands and companys objectives. It should have successful planning, conceptualizing, execution, promotion, pricing, and distribution of products. Domestic Marketing When companys products are being sold within a local financial market, it is called domestic marketing. Only one set of competition is dealt with here making it a more convenient choice. No language barriers or cultural constraints exist and understanding the consumer pattern is much easier. Thus, it helps the decision making and help developing strategies. International Market When one sells companys products and services to different countries, it is called international marketing. It is a much more complex as compared to domestic marketing and requires huge capital investment. Also, laws and regulations are to be adhered to which adds different restrictions to the business. Many languages are there and different cultures are there because of which decision-making becomes very difficult. References Alan Simon, Chloe Bartle, 2012, Chapter 18, Service Science Research, Strategy and Innovation Baldwin, R. and Lopez-Gonzalez, J. (2015), Supply-chain Trade: A Portrait of Global Patterns and Several Testable Hypotheses. World Economy, 38: 16821721. doi: 10.1111/twec.12189 Billy George , 2013, Apple Value Chain analysis, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/en/e-book/270202/apple-value-chain-analysis Carew, R., Florkowski, W. J. and Smith, E. G. (2012), Hedonic Analysis of Apple Attributes in Metropolitan Markets of Western Canada. Agribusiness, 28: 293309. doi: 10.1002/agr.21302 Carly Shuler, 2012, "iLearn II: An Analysis of the Education Category on Apples App Store" Colin Haslam, Nick Tsitsianis, Tord Anderssonb, Ya Ping Yin, 2013, "Apple's financial success: The precariousness of power exercised in global value chains", Accounting Forum, Volume 37, Issue 4, December 2013, Pages 268279 David Lingelbach, Anthony Patino, Dennis A. Pitta, (2012) "The emergence of marketing in Millennial new ventures", Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 29 Iss: 2, pp.136 - 145 Juliana Y. Tsai, T.S. Raghu, Benjamin B.M. Shao, 2013, "Information systems and technology sourcing strategies of e-Retailers for value chain enablement", Journal of Operations Management, Volume 31, Issue 6, September 2013, Pages 345362 M.V. Galmarinia, R. Symoneauxc, S. Cholletd, M.C. Zamoraa, 2013, "Understanding apple consumers expectations in terms of likes and dislikes. Use of comment analysis in a cross-cultural study", Appetite, Volume 62, 1 March 2013, Pages 2736 Maria A.O. Dos Santos, Gran Svensson, Carmen Padin, 2013, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal R. Albajes, C. Cantero-Martnez, T. Capell , P. Christou, A. Farre, J. Galceran, F. Lpez-Gatius, S. Marin, O. Martn-Belloso and 13 more, 2013, "Building bridges: an integrated strategy for sustainable food production throughout the value chain" Roger Barnes, 2014, "4 Big Reasons Why Apple is a Logistics Success", CDS Blog, https://web.cds-worldwide.com/blog/4-big-reasons-why-apple-is-a-logistics-success Sameer Kumara, Steve Teichmana Tobias Timpernagela, 2012, "A green supply chain is a requirement for profitability", International Journal of Production Research, Volume 50, Issue 5, 2012 Son, Insung; Lee, Hankyung; Kim, Jinsu. International Information Institute (Tokyo). Information18.6(B) (Jun 2015): 2627-2634. "Preannouncement and Release Effects on Apple's Supply Chain" Steve Banker, 2012, The Apple Supply Chain: The Best in the World?, https://logisticsviewpoints.com/2012/07/02/the-apple-supply-chain-the-best-in-the-world/ Sultan N. Turhan, zalp Vayvay. (2012) Vendor managed inventory via SOA in healthcare supply chain management. International Journal of Business Information Systems 9:4, 451-464, Online publication date: 20-Mar-2015. Sunghae Jun, Sang Sung Park, (2013) "Examining technological innovation of Apple using patent analysis", Industrial Management Data Systems, Vol. 113 Iss: 6, pp.890 - 907 University Alliance, 2014, "Apple's Process Improvements Make it a Global Supply Chain Leader", University of San Francisco, https://www.usanfranonline.com/resources/supply-chain-management/apples-process-improvements-make-it-a-global-supply-chain-leader/# Walter Isaacson, 2012, "The Real Leadership Lessons of Steve Jobs", Harvard Business Review, https://hbr.org/2012/04/the-real-leadership-lessons-of-steve-jobs Will Mitchell , (2014) "Why Apples product magic continues to amaze skills of the worlds #1 value chain integrator", Strategy Leadership, Vol. 42 Iss: 6, pp.17 - 28
Monday, March 23, 2020
Friday, March 6, 2020
1 Essays - Ancient Athenians, Ancient Greeks, Philaidae, Free Essays
1 Essays - Ancient Athenians, Ancient Greeks, Philaidae, Free Essays Reflective essay Student's name Institution affiliation Instructor's name Course date of submission Thucydides Thucydides was a Greek philosopher and an author of the Peloponnesian war, there i s an aspect of war. In his work the "Peloponnesian war" Thucydides have highlighted some aspects that are critical even in modern world concerning effects of war and its impact on human race Morley, N. D. G. (2018) . His work rotates on the impacts of the war and the negative effects that resulted from the war. The aspect of war is vividly portrayed in Thucydides work. A lot of people lost their lives in the Peloponnesian war, this is also witnessed in modern world. In his work he tries to show how this war created great rift between Athens and Sparta. Thucydides say, "beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it . This clearly shows the impact that Peloponnesian war had (Wu, 2018) . Another feature that is evident in Thucydides work is use of direct prose, he achie ved this through compelling numerous sources into a single persuasive voice. The aspect of revenge is also apparent in his work, after the outbreak of the Peloponnesian war there was increased political instability thus forcing Athens and Sparta to revenge against each other. Thucydides says, " At the time, Athens was a high sea power with a democratic political system and innovative leadership that made it a formidable force.'' Many lives were lost during this time, thus making Thucydides work to show vividly the effects of war (Tsakmakis, and Tamiolaki, 2013) . Machiavelli Power and Control Machiavelli was an Italian philosopher, one aspect of his work is on power and control. According to Machiavelli's his view of politics, philosophy, and the human person would enable a prince who adopted them to acquire power and keep it for a substantial period. Machiavelli was a realist rather than a moralist (Lucchese, 2017) . His perception of human beings was as they are and not as they should be. Subsequently, he recognized that human beings are predisposed not to follow the advice that philosophers give. Machiavelli, therefore, chose to provide people with practical information rather than idealistic advice. Machiavelli's description of politics and human behavior was it was as opposed to a visionar y perspective ( Nederman, and Bogiaris, 2018 ). Machiavelli's philosophy was therefore feasible on the basis that is identified the flaws in human character that made them unable to take general advice. His advice was formulated on the knowledge that practicalit y was essential for information to be useful to human beings. Machiavelli's strategy would be feasible at this time because it was necessary for the state to be in control of its subjects by giving them incentives such as peaceful coexistence and protection to remain part of the country. Machiavelli's philosophy would create enduring political philosophy because it would be built on visionary leadership that appreciates and understands the importance of the power of leadership (Hoipkemier, 2018) . Machiavelli's political philosophy observes that the leader in the state and the state is the leader. The leader, therefore, has to be visionary and needs to be on the same level as the state for the leadership to be effective. The virtues, vision, and mission of the leader will set a precedent for the state to follow. An enduring political state will, therefore, require leadership that recognizes the role of leadership in directing the state towards stability and prosperity . References Wu, C. X. (2018). The Thucydides' Trap, Rationalist Theories of War, and China-US Relations. Rationalist Theories of War, and China-US Relations (August 23, 2018) . Nederman, C. J., Bogiaris, G. (2018). Niccolo Machiavelli. In The History of Evil in the Early Modern Age (pp. 63-78). Routledge. Hoipkemier, M. (2018). Machiavelli and the Double Politics of Ambition. Political Studies , 66 (1), 245-260. Lucchese, F. D. (2017). Machiavelli and constituent power: The revolutionary foundation of modern political thought. European Journal of Political Theory , 16 (1), 3-23. Morley, N. D. G. (2018). Thucydides: origins of realism ?. Edinburgh University Press. Tsakmakis, A., Tamiolaki, M. (Eds.).
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Warfarin Therapy Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Warfarin Therapy Issues - Essay Example HAS-BLED is made up of the first letters to health issues that the schema addresses: Hypertension, Abnormal kidney and/or liver function, Stroke, Bleeding, Labile INR, Elderly, and Drugs and/or alcohol. Lip discovered during the research that the combined usage of both CHADS2 and HAS-BLED tools could have prevented many of the bleeding issues found in previous cases. The results of the combined testing would have shown that in the case of your mother, Lip would have known which other drugs on the market, would work better for her needs. This would be the true value of evidence-based practice.In using the search question ââ¬Å"how does warfarin therapy compared to other newer anticoagulants affect bleeding risks in older people in US,â⬠another study was brought up that reflected a doctorââ¬â¢s experience with newer drugs, dabigatran and rivaroxaban, that differ in many ways from warfarin, although dabigatran has some history of stomach distress. As the author suggests, docto rs need to be mindful of the pharmacokinetics and action mechanisms of the drugs when considering whether to prescribe them to patients. The article is a well-researched overview of how he made his discoveries and applications and also has a full list of resources that would also be helpful for your research to obtain more data. The two resources referenced here provide a good starting point for your future research regarding your motherââ¬â¢s condition and how to create search terms as well (Melnyk&Fineout-Overholt, 2011).
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Abortion and personhood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Abortion and personhood - Essay Example Although highly controversial, the Roe decision, specifically, and the abortion debate, in general, continues to be one of the most significant issues, both from a theological and a moral perspective. When examining the use of the concept of personhood from an ethical standpoint, Gibson2 points out traditionally the debate surrounding abortion is, in actuality, a debate over whether a woman has the right to maintain control over her own body. Although there is little disagreement that women are afforded the right to choose, the right to privacy, the right to control their bodies and the right to self-determination, these distinctions become less clear when a woman wishes to execute these rights at the expense of a fetus. At this point, pro-life proponents would argue that the rights of the fetus outweigh those of the host (i.e. the pregnant female). Herein, lays the problem of basing the morality of abortion on personhood. According to Gibson when this is done there are three theoretical frameworks that are present each of which acknowledge and define personhood as occurring at different stages of fetal development. These three varying positions as to when personhood is present a nd translated into rights are the basic camps of the abortion debate. The first is that personhood and therefore the right to life is present at conception. The second, as argued by Aquinas, is that the right to life is present at some point after conception, but before birth. Lastly, the third position holds that the fetus does not possess any right to life, therefore personhood, until birth. Gibson notes that although these various camps of pro-choice versus pro-life differ as to their belief systems, both from a moral and theological standpoint, they all base these positions on the notion, directly or indirectly on personhood which, in effect, focuses not on the right of the woman but on the moral status of
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Online Politeness Strategies Used By Malaysians Cultural Studies Essay
Online Politeness Strategies Used By Malaysians Cultural Studies Essay This study aims to investigate the politeness and the related strategies used by Malaysian chatters in the conversations of online setting. Chat room messages are spontaneous and instantly visible, making it similar to the daily natural-occurring discourse. For this study, Yahoo chat rooms have been chosen to evaluate the pattern of politeness strategies used by most Malaysians. This study examines 20 written conversations or messages in Yahoo chat rooms. The data were collected by logging in into Yahoo Messenger, and into one of the many chat rooms that has been featured. The conversation or messages written by the Malaysian chatters in the chat rooms were then copied and saved. The data were then analyzed by referring to Brown and Levinsons theory of politeness strategy (1987). Based on Brown and Levinsons model of politeness strategy (1987), the politeness strategies used in daily conversations to reduce Face Threatening Acts (FTAs) are grouped into four main strategies which are Bald on Record, Positive Politeness, Negative Politeness, and Off-the-Record. The results of the analysis show that positive politeness strategy is most widely used by Malaysian chatters in the Yahoo chat rooms. It may happen because the conversation is in the form of sharing where chatters reveal stories about themselves or state their opinion about something. Most chatter interacts with each other to share their experiences or stories among themselves. In this case, S satisfies Hs positive face by giving gift, not only in the form of thing, but human-relation that wants to be liked, admired, care about, understood, listened to, etc. Therefore, it is proved that even in this faceless community, people still want to be liked and admired. They also want to share and be able to understand each others feelings and thoughts even when they are not communicating face-to-face. 1.0. Introduction à à à à à à à à à à à A chat room is part of a Web site, or part of the online services such as the Yahoo chat rooms, that provides a venue for communities of users around the world with a common interest to communicate in real time. It is indeed a common fact that each human has the need to communicate with others. Communication is defined as a process by which we assign and convey meanings in an attempt to create shared understanding, considering that both the speaker and hearer should hold to general rules or principles and thereby use certain strategies. An often used strategy to achieve this is known as politeness (Renkema, 1993). à à à à à à à à à à à Leech (1983) defines politeness as a form of behavior that establishes and maintains comity, that is, the ability of participants in a social interaction to engage in interaction in an atmosphere of relative harmony. Brown and Levinson (1987) suggest politeness as a compensation action taken to counter-balance the disruptive effect of face-threatening acts (FTAs). In addition, they also describe Face Threatening Acts as acts that infringe on the hearers need to maintain his/her self-esteem and be respected (Brown and Levinson, 1987). à à à à à à à à à à à According to Brown and Levinson, politeness strategies are developed in order to save the hearers face. Face refers to a speakers sense of linguistic and social identity, which is defined as the public self-image that every member (of the society) wants to claim for himself (Brown and Levinson, 1987). à à à à à à à à à à à à However, this linguistic aspect occurs in the verbal communication of the real conversation not only in the real world but also in the cyber world. Nowadays, since technology has developed rapidly, people can communicate with others using many kinds of media. One of the technologies used widely by the society of the world is the internet. The internet is a system that has revolutionized visual, oral, written communications and methods of commerce by allowing various computer networks around the world to interconnect. Therefore, it is now possible for people to communicate visually, orally, and in written form by using their Personal Computer and Internet modem. à à à à à à à à à à à To communicate in the written form via the internet, people can use the facilities which are called e-mail and chat. Chat or chatting via the internet is a real-time communication between two or more users via computer and the users are popularly-known as chatters. Most networks and online services offer a chat feature. One of the common and popular internet facilities for chatting is the Yahoo Messenger chat room. Yahoo Messenger is one of the internet free facilities which can be accessed by many internet users that have a Yahoo account. On-line chat-channels or rooms in Yahoo Messenger have become a popular environment for meeting new people and for general conversations. These chat-channels are comparable to real-life situations where participants interact at the same time spontaneously and often in the same spatial environment. The same conversational rules are adhered to both in chat-channel conversations and in face-to-face interaction. However, some specific features of chat-channel conversation, such as the politeness strategies, might be different from those we meet outside the cyberspace, where a face-to-face interaction would occur. Thus, this study aims to explain the politeness strategies used by Malaysian chatters in Yahoo Messenger chat rooms through observation and analysis. 2.0. Literature Review. At the same time as supporting renewed interest in Grices Cooperative Principles (1975), the issue of politeness has become one of the most active areas of research in language use (Chen, 2001). Studies from Brown Levinson (1978, 1987) and Scollon and Scollon (1995) have aroused increased attention in the study of politeness. The face theory proposed by Brown and Levinson (1978, 1987) serves as the most influential theory on politeness. It plays a leading role in the study of speech acts (Ji, 2000; Hobbs, 2003). Brown Levinsons face theory contains three basic notions: face, face threatening acts (FTAs) and politeness strategies. 2.1. Politeness Politeness is an aspect of pragmatics in that its use in language is determined by an external context. This external context is the context of communication, which is determined by the social status of the participants. Politeness is a system used by the speaker in order to keep up to the addressees expectations. According to Grundy (1995: 135) the determiners of the need to use politeness strategies are distance, power and imposition. Imposition covers every action (including speech acts) which threatens the addressees autonomy and freedom of action and usually is conveyed in the form of an order. On the other hand, power is evaluated in terms of numerous factors such as position in society and age whereas distance implies the evaluation of the others place in the world, degree of familiarity and/or solidarity towards the addressee. The politeness systems theory advocated by Scollon and Scollon (1995) is also noteworthy in this field. They observe three politeness systems which are the deference politeness system, the solidarity politeness system and the hierarchical politeness system. The distinction of the three systems is mainly based on whether there exists power difference (+P or -P) and on the social distance between the interlocutors (+D or -D). The deference politeness system is one in which participants are considered to be equals or near equals but treat each other at a distance (e.g. classmates). In a solidarity politeness system, the speakers may feel neither power difference (-P) nor social distance (-D) between them (e.g. friends). The hierarchical politeness system may be widely recognized among companies, government and educational organizations, in which the speakers resort to different politeness strategies. 2.3. Face Threatening Acts (FTAs) Every utterance is potentially a face threatening act (FTA), either to the negative face or to the positive face. Therefore, people need to employ politeness strategies to redress the FTA. According to Brown and Levinson, Face Threatening Acts (FTAs) are acts that infringe on the hearers need to maintain his/her self esteem. If we do or are about to threaten someones positive or negative face, but do not mean it, we need to minimize it by applying politeness strategies. There are four polite strategies; Bald on Record, Positive Politeness, Negative Politeness, and Off-the-Record (as suggested by Brown and Levinson, 1987). 2.4. Politeness Strategy According to Brown and Levinson (1987), politeness strategies are developed to save the hearers face. Face refers to the respect that an individual has for him or herself, and maintaining that self-esteem in public or in private situations. Their notions of face is derived from that of Goffman (1967, as cited in Brown and Levinson 1987) and from the English folk term, which is related to notions of being embarrassed or humiliated, or losing face. Brown and Levinson stated that there are two types of face in an interaction which are positive and negative face. A persons positive face is the need to be accepted, even liked, by others, to be treated by members of the same group, and to know that his or her wants are shared by others. Whereas a persons negative face is the need to be independent, to have freedom of action and not to be imposed on by others (Yule, 1996).à à In the bald on record strategy, the speaker provides no effort to minimize threats to the other persons face. The prime reason for its usage is that whenever a speaker (S) wants to do the FTA with maximum efficiency more than he wants to satisfy the hearers (Hs) face, even to any degree, he will chose bald on record strategy (Brown and Levinson, 1987: 95). There are, however, different kinds of bald on record usage in different circumstances, because S can have different motives for his or her wanting to do the FTA with maximum efficiency. It is divided into two classes which are cases of non-minimization of FTA and cases of FTA-oriented bald on record usage. On the other hand, in cases of FTA-oriented bald on record, the use of this strategy is more oriented to the face. In other words, it is used where face involves mutual orientation, so that each participant attempts to predict what the other participant is attempting to foresee. For in certain circumstances it is reasonable for S to assume that H will be especially worried with Hs potential violation or Ss maintaining. There are three functional categories or areas where we expect the pre-emptive invitations to occur in all languages (which are potential to FTA): The positive politeness strategy is usually seen in groups of friends, or where people in the given social situation know each other fairly well. It usually tries to minimize the distance between them by expressing friendliness and solid interest in the hearers need to be respected. The only feature that distinguishes positive politeness compensation from normal everyday intimate language behavior is an element of exaggeration. There are fifteen sub-strategies that are used in positive politeness strategies: Negative politeness is defined as a redressive action addressed to the addressees negative face: his want to have his freedom of action unobstructed and his attention unrestricted (Brown and Levinson, 1987). Negative politeness strategy recognizes the hearers face, but it also recognizes that the speaker is in some way forcing on them. Some of the sub-strategies of negative politeness are: According to Brown and Levinson (1987), a communicative act is done off-record if it is done in such a way that it is not possible to attribute only one clear communicative intention to the act. Thus, if a speaker wants to do an FTA, but wants to avoid the responsibility for doing it, he can do it off-record and leave it up the addressee to decide how to interpret it. Some sub-strategies of off-record: The research design of this study was descriptive qualitative. The data or the information were reported and described as the way they were, therefore any content of the information were not changed for the sake of the originality of the data required. The technique used, as in most descriptive research, was the observation technique, since it could exactly describe how the chatters responded directly to other chatters in the chat room. After being connected to the internet, a yahoo messenger window was opened. After approximately two hours of chatting with friends and strangers, all the written conversations were then copied and saved. Next, the data were printed out and analyzed. A document analysis was used because the data were in the form of written or visual material. While collecting the data, interpreting and analyzing them also took place. The data were classified according to the FTA contained in it. In this case, it was about what kind of politeness strategy used by the chatters, whether they were bald on record, positive politeness, negative politeness, or off-record based on Brown and Levinsons theory. After that, the data were described more specifically according to the chosen strategy. From table 2, it can be seen that in the chatting conversation, Malaysian chatters used many variations of Positive Politeness strategy. Based on the results of this study, it is clear that Give gifts to H is frequently used by the chatters (23.6%). It may happen because the conversation is in the form of sharing where chatters reveal stories about themselves or state their opinion about something. Most chatter interacts with each other to share their experiences or stories among themselves. In this case, S satisfies Hs positive face by giving gift, not only in the form of thing, but human-relation that wants to be liked, admired, care about, understood, listened to, etc. Therefore, it is proved that even in this faceless community, people still want to be liked and admired. They also want to share and be able to understand each others feelings and thoughts even when they are not communicating face-to-face. As shown in Table 1, Bald on Record politeness strategy is the second most applied strategy by Malaysian chatters in Yahoo chat room. Malaysian chatters used this strategy mostly by giving sympathetic advice or warning (48.3%) (Table 3). In line with Positive Politeness strategy, it may happen due to the form of the conversation that is sharing problems and ideas. It is common fact that chatters logged into the cyberworld to release their tense whilst sharing what they felt about certain things with others. Bald on record strategy also is usually used among speakers that have close/intimate relation with each other (i.e. siblings, friends). Apart from this result, the current study also has found that among two group of people (strangers and friends), friends tend to use more bald on record when communicating among themselves (among all 40 chatters,26 friends used bald on record compared to only 3 strangers using bald on record). This is because they do not feel the need to minimize the threat to the Hs face believing that both S and H understand that they do not mean to embarrass each other purposely. According to the result by the current study, it is clear that the negative politeness strategy is not much used by the Malaysian chatters in their interaction with each other. The negative politeness strategy is only been used for a total 13 times by the chatters. The negative strategy mostly used by Malaysian chatters is by impersonalizing S and H (38.4%). It is rather common to impersonalize when the social distance between S and H is vast. In Malaysian it is considered polite when we use the negative politeness strategy, which explains why we apologize a dozen times to our lecturer before asking them a question. We Malaysian tend to address our superior with their title (i.e. maam, Dr, Professor, etc). In the chat room context, when we are communicating with a stranger or someone who is at a higher level in the social hierarchy (or a higher level status, language proficiency) we will mostly resort to this strategy in order to be polite because it is the norm in Malaysia. A speaker uses off-record strategy when he/she wants to avoid the responsibility of doing an FTA. When a speaker uses off-record strategy, he/she leaves the FTA up to the addressee to decide how to interpret it since here the speaker must say something in general (less information) or different from what he means (Brown and Levinson 1987: 211) Off the Record Frequency Percentage (%) Give Association Clues 1 50 Be vague 1 50 Over -generalize Use saying total 2 100 Table 5: distribution of the variation of Off the Record Strategy No. Chatters and dialogues Chosen strategy 1. YT: Im about to explode. All this whle I tot shes comin!!!! Wtff HF: ooooooà ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦. Someones really mad. KP: I noeeee,,,y did she canceled her concert? =( Off the Record (be vague) Examples of Off the record strategy in a conversation As shown in Table 5, off-record strategy is very rarely used by Malaysian chatters. Based on the results of the current study, Malaysian chatters only used off the record strategy for a total of 2 times only. Malaysian used this strategy by giving association clues and being vague towards the topic of conversation. 5.0. Conclusions From the findings, it is discovered that politeness strategies are also applied in computer-mediated communication, as presented by Malaysian chatters in Yahoo chat room. Politeness is used to maintain the social value of the community, including in virtual-community. The chatters used the strategy of politeness when they communicate in the computer-mediated communication (CMC) to reduce the FTA in saying something. The findings show that positive politeness strategy is the most frequently used strategy by Malaysian chatters in Yahoo chat room. Most chatters use this strategy while considering other chatters feeling or face. It is also used to gain and show respect towards each other. It may happen due to the setting of the conversation and the social distance between the chatters which clearly is very close. Thus, this result is parallel with if the chatters were to have a face-to-face conversation with each other. Because of their closeness with each other, they tend to use polite strategy in order to be liked, understand and accepted among themselves. Thus, this result supports Brown and Levinsons theory which says that polite strategy contains statements of friendship, compliments and etc. à à à à à à à à à à à Bald on record is also quite widely used by Malaysian chatters in the CMC because most of the chatters know each other mutually; hence they have a very close relation with each other. According to Brown and Levinsons theory, people that used this strategy are likely to be friends or having any intimate relation with one another. This explains the phenomena where mutual friends interact through chat rooms in order to share their thoughts and feelings when they are not able to meet each other in person (due to time and other constraints). It also the belief that people sound less polite in CMC can be attributed to production costs: It takes more time to type hedges and indirect requests in fast-paced CMC, and so people use balder, shorter forms (Brennan and Ohaeri, 1999). à à à à à à à à à à à Negative politeness strategy is generally used by Malaysian chatters when they want to ask other chatters to do something and to show that the interlocutor recognizes the addressees want to have his freedom of action unobstructed. A rather different phenomenon from what happen in the real world is that sometimes Malaysian chatters minimize the imposition of the FTA by writing smiley sign (e.g. ðŸâ¢â or =), ðŸËâ° etc.) or grinning expression (e.g. hehehe). It happens since the chatters in the CMC cannot see each others face. à à à à à à à à à à à Off-the-record strategy of politeness is the least used by Malaysian chatters in Yahoo chat room. This might happen considering the social distance between the chatters. As explained earlier, Malaysians tend to vague when communicating with strangers or those who are of a higher ranking in social hierarchy. This is because the speaker wants to remove the potential to be imposing. 5.1. Limitations of study This study shows its limitations in several ways. Firstly, the study only investigates the chat room discourse between interlocutors of college-going ages. Thus the language used by chatters might be influenced by their age. Therefore, this finding may not apply to situations where interlocutors are of different (older) age and unequal social status (lecturers, parents, etc). Furthermore, the subjects are limited to a relatively small group of college students (the chat room was joined by only 40 people). So the result can only reflect the speech of a small group of people in a limited region. More research can be conducted on more subjects to test and complement the findings of this present study. 5.2. Future study It may be very interesting to investigate the politeness phenomenon of the subjects having different ages, unequal social status and different social relationships A future research can be done to analyze the politeness strategy used by people in e-mails. Furthermore, a study of the politeness strategy used by men and women can be compared in terms of the writing styles for both men and women and relate it with the effect of the strategy used. This is possible since gender difference is also one of the factors in the politeness applied. à à à à à à à à à à à Future research can also be done by conducting a similar research studying the private messages in Yahoo chat rooms. Here, the politeness strategies used by the chatters can be observed when they communicate privately (e.g. what kind of politeness strategy will they choose to answer a personal question). A cross-cultural study which compares the politeness strategy used by Malaysian and English chatters in the private messages may also be done in the future. It is since in each culture, people have different values in communicating; thus it will influence the politeness employed in the same context.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
ââ¬ÅCatcher in the Ryeââ¬Â: Not a Bildungsroman Essay
Bildungsroman: a coming-of-age novel. Many critics and readers alike have argued that JD Salingers Catcher in the Rye is a superb example of a bildungsroman. The novel is a narration by Holden Caulfield, a troubled and mentally unstable sixteen year-old that has just been expelled from his fourth prep school. Holden, who is undergoing treatment in a mental institution, recounts the story of his mental breakdown and the events leading up to it. He concludes the story with brief hints at his recovery. Though one assumes that Holden is receiving and responding to treatment, his attitude and tone are unchanged throughout the novel. If the protagonist has not matured since story began, how can Catcher in the Rye be considered a bildungsroman?The novel opens with Holden carelessly tossing around the fact that he has been expelled from Pencey Prep (page 2). Though Holden has previously been kicked out of three other prestigious schools, he is completely apathetic about the situation. He has no drive; no concern or outlook for his future whatsoever. Even after everything that Holden experiences throughout Catcher in the Rye, his attitude is unchanged at the conclusion: and what school Im supposed to go to next fall, after I get out of here, but I dont feel like it. I really dont. That stuff doesnt interest me too much right now (page 213). That statement unequivocally proves that Holden has not matured at all. Contemptuous, bitter, judgmental: take your pick. Each word describes Holden to a tee; not just in the beginning, but throughout the entire narration. Holden is constantly judging everyone he comes into contact with. He speaks about Mr. Spencer (page 10), a professor at Pencey Prep, in the same patronizing tone that he describes a particular psychoanalyst with (page 213). Though the events take place several months apart, Holdens attitude is consistent. He continues to have a cynical, patronizing, and overall pessimistic outlook on people and life in general. If Holden is just as immature and mentally undeveloped at the end of the novel as he was at the beginning, how can one argue that he has come of age? Having a mental breakdown and needing treatment for said breakdown may very well be considered a rite of passage. However, to be considered a coming of age story, Holden would need to be changed for the better because of hisà rite of passage. One can clearly tell from his consistency in tone, attitude, and maturity level (or lack thereof) that Holden has not changed in the least. Though many critics and readers alike have claimed Catcher in the Rye to be an excellent bildungsroman, there is certainly a strong argument to be made against this claim. ââ¬Å"Catcher in the Ryeâ⬠By JD Salinger (1951)Pamela Hunt Steinle (2000). In Cold Fear: The Catcher in the Rye Censorship Controversies and Postwar American Character. Ohio State University Press.
Friday, January 10, 2020
History Of Popular Culture
In Early Modern Europe festivals were the setting for heroes and their stories, to be celebrated by the populace. They posed a change from their everyday life. In those days people lived in remembrance of one festival and in expectance of the next. Different kinds of festivals were celebrated in different ways. There were festivals that marked an individual occasion and werenââ¬â¢t part of the festival calendar, like family festivals such as weddings and christenings. Some took place at the same time every year and ere for everyone, like community festivals like the different saintsââ¬â¢ days. Pilgrimages took place all year round. Annuals festivals like Christmas and Midsummer always took place on the same day every year. In those days the average village in Western Europe celebrated at least 17 festivals annually, not counting family occasions and saintsââ¬â¢ days. Some festivals, such as Carnival, lasted several days or sometimes even several weeks. In the Netherlands Carnival started every year at the 11th of November (St. Martin) and culminated in a big festival of ââ¬ËDranck, pleijsier ende vrouwenââ¬â¢ (Drink, fun and women) at the end of the Carnival eriod, preceding the period of Lent. Festivals were meant to take the minds of the people off their everyday life, off the hard times and their work. Everyday life in Early Modern Europe was filled with rituals, both religious and secular. Songs and stories played an important role in their lives, although they sometimes adjusted the details of the legends and stories to fit the way they thought a certain festival should take place. Popular culture was mixed with ecclesiastical culture in many ways. The story of St. John the Baptist is a good example of this. The ancient ritual f bathing and lighting fires during Midsummerââ¬â¢s Eve was a remnant of a ritual from the pre-Christian period. Fire and water, symbols of purification, could be seen as the tools of St. John the Baptist, and therefore a combination of the two elements of popular and ecclesiastical culture was obvious. It looks as if the Medieval Church took over the festival and made it theirs. The same thing happened to the Midwinter Festival, which became linked with the birth of Christ, on 25 December. There are many more examples to be found, such as the connection between St. Martin and geese caused by the fact that the St. Martins Day (11 November) coincided with the period during which the people used to kill their geese in the period preceding the Christian period. Carnival plays a special role in popular culture in Early Modern Europe. It is a great example of a festival of images and texts. It was a popular festival, taking on different forms in different regions of Europe. Aside from regional variations, these differences were also caused by factors such as the climate, the political situation and the economical situation in an area. On a whole Carnival started in late December or early January and reached ts peak upon approaching Lent. The actual feast, taking place at the end of the festive period, could take days and would usually involve large quantities of food and drinks. The festival took place in the open air in the centre of a town or city. Within a region, the way Carnival was celebrated varied from town to town. The festival was a play, with the streets as a stage and the people as actors and spectators. They often depicted everyday life scenes and made fun of them. Informal events took place throughout the Carnival period. There was massive eating and drinking, as a way of ââ¬â¢stocking upââ¬â¢ for Lent. People sang and danced in the streets, using the special songs of Carnival, and people wore masks and fancy-dress. There was verbal aggression, insults were exchanged and satirical verses were sung. More formally structures events were concentrated in the last days of the Carnival period. These events took places in the central squares and were often organised by clubs or fraternities. The main theme during Carnival was usually ââ¬ËThe World Upside Downââ¬â¢. Situations got turned around. It was an enactment of the world turned upside down. Men dressed up as women, women dressed up as men, the rich traded places with the poor, etc. There was physical reversal: people standing on their heads, horses going backwards and fishes flying. There was reversal of relationships between man and beast: the horse shoeing the master or the fish eating the fisherman. The other reversal was that of relationships between men: servants giving orders to their masters or men feeding children while their wives worked the fields. Many events centred on the figure of ââ¬ËCarnivalââ¬â¢, often depicted as a fat man, cheerful and surrounded by food. The figure of ââ¬ËLentââ¬â¢, for contrast, often took the form of a thin, old woman, dressed in black and hung with fish. These depictions varied in form and name in the different regions in Europe. A recurring element was the performance of a play, usually a farce. Mock battles were also a favourite pass-time during the Carnival period. Carnival usually ended with the defeat of ââ¬ËCarnivalââ¬â¢ by ââ¬ËLentââ¬â¢. This could happen in the form of the mock trial and execution of ââ¬ËCarnivalââ¬â¢, (Bologna, Italy, 16th century), the beheading of a pig (Venice, Italy), or the burial of a sardine (Madrid, Spain). So what was the meaning of Carnival in Early Modern Europe? Was it merely an excuse for the populace to go crazy or did Carnival have a deeper eaning hidden behind the facade of food, violence and sex? Carnival was a holiday, a game. It was a time of ecstasy and liberation. The form was determined by three major themes: food, sex and violence. It was the time of indulgence, of abundance. It was also a time of intense sexual activity ââ¬â tables of the seasonal movement of conceptions in 18th century France show a peak around February. Carnival was also a festival of aggression, destruction and desecration. It was the ideal time to insult or pester people who had wronged someone, often in the form of a mock battle of a football match. A time for paying off old grudges. Serious violence was not avoided and in most areas the rates of serious crimes and killings went up during Carnival. It was also a time of opposition, in more than one way. It opposed the ecclesiastical ritual of Lent. Lent was a period of fasting and abstinence of all things enjoyed by the people, not just food and drink but also sex and recreation. The elements that were taken out of life during Lent were emphasised during Carnival. All that was portrayed by the figures of ââ¬ËCarnivalââ¬â¢ and ââ¬ËLentââ¬â¢ (fat versus thin). Carnival was polysemous, meaning different things to different people in ifferent areas. In different regions, different heroes were celebrated. Sometimes elements were taken over from other regions. Carnival did not have the same importance all over Europe. In the north of Europe (Britain, Scandinavia) it was less important than in the rest of Europe. This was probably partly due to the climate which discouraged an elaborate street festival at that time of the year. In these regions, people preferred to elaborate the festivities during the Midsummer festival (St. Johnââ¬â¢s Eve). Two reasons for this are the pagan survivals that were stronger in these regions, partly because they were solated from the rest of Europe due to geographical obstacles, causing a lesser ecclesiastical influence, and the climatic situation as mentioned above. Carnival was a festival in extremis, but elements of Carnival can be found in every festival that was celebrated in Early Modern Europe. During the harvest season, all over Europe festivals and rituals were held. The harvest was celebrated, again, with elaborate drinking and eating, although in a more moderate way than the Carnival celebrations. All these festival had one thing in common: they offered the people an escape from their everyday life and a way to express themselves. It offered the people a way to vent their resentments and some form of entertainment. Festivals were an escape from their struggle to earn a living. They were something to look forward to and were a celebration of the community and a display of its ability to put on a good show. It is said that the mocking of outsiders (the neighbouring village or Jews) and animals might be seen as a dramatic expression of community solidarity. Some rituals might be seen as a form of social control, in a sense that it was a means for a community to express their discontent with certain embers of the community (charivari). The ritual of public punishment can be seen in this light, as it was used to deter people from committing crimes. Professor Max Gluckman used the African popular culture to explain the social function of the ritual of reversal of roles as it happened during rituals as Carnival. Similar rituals still occur in certain regions in Africa. Gluckman explains this ritual as an emphasis of certain rules and taboos through lifting them for a certain period of time. The apparent protests against the social order were intended to preserve and even to trengthen the established order. As a counter example Gluckman states that: ââ¬Å"? in regions where the social order is seriously questioned, ââ¬Ërites of protestââ¬â¢ do not occur. â⬠Riots and rebellions frequently took place during major festivals. Rebels and rioters employed rituals and symbols to legitimise their actions. Inhibitions against expressing hostility towards the authorities or individuals were weakened by the excitement of the festival and the consumption of large quantities of alcohol. If those factors were combined with discontent over a bad harvest, tax increases or other calamities, this ituation could get out of control. It could prove a good opportunity for people excluded from power to try and enforce certain changes. It is hardly surprising that members of the upper classes often suggested that particular festivals ought to be abolished. They felt threatened by the populace who during festivals tried to revolt against the ruling classes and change the economical situation they were in. The reform of popular festivals was instigated by the will of some of the ââ¬Ëeducatedââ¬â¢ to change the attitudes and values of the rest of the population (â⬠to improve themâ⬠). This reformation took on different forms in different regions and it took place at different moments in time. There were also differences in the practices that were being reformed. Catholics and Protestants opposed to different elements of popular festivals and they did so for different reasons. Even within the Protestant movement, the views towards reformation of festivals and popular rituals varied. Missionaries on both sides worked in Europe to install their religious values in the local people. Reformers on both sides objected in particular to certain elements in popular religion. Festivals were part of popular religion or were at least disguised as an element of popular religion. The festival of Martinmas (11 November) was a good example of this. What were the objections of the authorities against these elements of popular culture in general and popular religion in particular? There were two essential religious objections. Firstly, the majority of festivals were seen as remnants of ancient paganism. Secondly, the festivals offered the people an occasion to over-indulge in immoral or offensive behaviour, at many occasions attacking the establishment (both ecclesiastical and civil). The first objection meant that reformers disliked many of the popular customs because they contained traces of ancient customs dating from pre-Christian times. Protestant reformers went very far in their objections, even denouncing a number of Catholic rituals as being pre-Christian survivals, considering the saints as successors of pagan gods and heroes, taking over their curative and protective functions. Magic was also considered a pagan remnant: the Protestants accused the Catholics of practising a pagan ritual by claiming that certain holy places held magical powers and could cure people. The reformers denounced the rituals they didnââ¬â¢t find fitting as being irreverent and blasphemous. Carnival and the charivaris were considered ââ¬Å"the work of the devilâ⬠, because it made a mockery of certain godly elements the Church held sacred. The reformers thought people who didnââ¬â¢t honour God in their way to be heathen, doomed to spend their afterlife in eternal damnation. Flamboyance was to be chased out of all religious aspects of culture, and, where possible, out of all other aspects of life, according to the Protestant doctrine. In some areas, gesturing during church services was banned, as was laughter. All these things were seen as irreverent, making a mockery of religion. All these changes were introduced in order to create a sharper separation between the ââ¬â¢sacredââ¬â¢ and the ââ¬Ëprofaneââ¬â¢. The ecclesiastical authorities were out to destroy the traditional familiarity with the sacred because ââ¬Å"familiarity breeds irreverence. The objection against popular recreations stemmed from the idea that they were ââ¬Ëvanitiesââ¬â¢, displeasing God because they were a waste of time and money and distracted people from going to church. This objection was shared by both the ecclesiastical and civil authorities. The latter mainly bjected because it distracted the populace from their work, which in turn affected the revenues of the leading upper classes, or from other activities that were benefiting the rich, reasons that would vary per region. Catholic and Protestant reformers were not equally hostile to popular culture, nor were they hostile for quite the same reasons. Protestant reformers were more radical, denouncing festivals as relics of popery and looking to abolish feast-days as well as the feast that came with it, because they considered the saints that were celebrated during these festivals as remnants of a pre-Christian era. Many of these Protestant reformers were equally radical in their attacks on holy images, which they considered ââ¬Ëidolsââ¬â¢. During the end of the 16th and the first half of the 17th century Dutch churches were pillaged by Protestants trying to destroy all religious relics and images (de Beeldenstorm). Catholic reformers were more modified in their actions; they tried to reach a certain modification of popular religious culture, even trying to adapt certain elements to the Catholic way of worshipping and incorporating popular elements into their religion. They insisted that some times were holier than others, and they id object to the extend to which the holy days were celebrated with food and drink. Some argued that it was impossible to obey the rites of Lent with proper reverence and devotion if they had indulged in Carnival just before. Catholic reformers also installed rules in order to regulate certain popular festivals and rituals, such as a prohibition on dressing up as a member of the clergy during Carnival or a prohibition on dancing or performing plays in churches or churchyards. Contrary to the Protestant reformers however, the Catholic reformers did not set out to abolish estivals and rituals completely. Civil authorities had their own reasons to object to popular festivals in Early Modern Europe. Apart from taking the people away from work or other obligations, the authorities feared that during the time of a festival, the abundance of alcohol could stir up the feelings of discontent the people had been hiding all throughout the year. Misery and alcohol could create a dangerous mix that would give people the courage they needed to rebel against authorities. This was a good reason for the authorities to try and stop, or at least control, popular festivals.
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