Political Views on Social Inequality

Social inequality is prominent within our American society today. It affects and usually deteriorates the potential success of different classes of people living in America. With major issues like this present within in our society, there are many people who think that they have solutions. These groups of people can be classified into certain categories that Americans would label as Conservatives, Liberalists and Radicals. Each group has specific ideals and beliefs that they hold on to. They apply their values and beliefs into proposing probable solutions to society’s issues. When is comes to social inequality, each of these groups have many probable solutions to racial, gender and wealth inequality. Racial inequality has to deal with the affected success of different races due to societies influence, policies, and rules. Gender inequality is the failure to treat males and females as equal individuals of society. Wealth inequality is the lack of distribution of assets among the many people in America. Conservatives are stereotyped to be majority of rich white males, so it may seem like social inequality is a low agenda for them. In reality, it’s an issue that is just as important. Nevertheless people think that â€Å"conservatives are racists† because they do not think its necessary to make rash decisions and changes to society. Conservatives believe social inequality is caused by shortcomings of society. Their solution to racial inequality is not as elaborate because they feel as though there is not a big enough problem to fix in that area. Yet, if there is going to be change, it must be very cautious and subtle. For gender inequality, conservatives believe that humans were not born perfect and not everyone is capable of doing whatever they want. So when it comes to gender inequality, they do not full heartedly fight for the feminist movement because it is their belief that if men are excelling more in society, then its meant to be like that. As for wealth inequality their solution to that is to the have the market in control with low taxing so it is more like an aristocracy. In order to address wealth inequality, Conservative individuals would try to help unemployed individuals go back to school for higher education. They may encourage ways to make them more approachable and prepared for better careers. Other than that they will not go through long strides like libertarians or radicals. They want their concentration to be on family religion, morals and tradition. Libertarians want to see slight change in how our government works. They are not extremists like radicals, but they are a little more comprisable. They seek reform in order to fight against social inequality. Libertarians and Radicals make it more obvious than conservatives that social inequality is a major issue. Libertarians want power to the people that live in the country just as radicals do. When it comes to wealth inequality they want there to be a smaller discrepancy between rich and poor. That means increasing minimum wage and taxing people that are rich. Radical can either choose to be on extreme ends. Either they can be really conservative or really libertarian. They just want to go above and beyond in every decision and movement being made. It sounds like they are Libertarian because they want to see change in the government, but they seek more drastic changes. In terms of gender inequality, feminists in this group feel like the country is letting men overpower women. Therefore radical’s solutions to these problems would be protests aiming to change government completely with a different system, which does not seem feasible. Overall, people who are conservative, liberal, or radical seem to come from certain backgrounds. Those who seem to have good income would rather be taxed less and promote conservative views. Yet those who may receive welfare and need financial help may favor libertarian views of wealth equality. When it comes to racial and gender equality the rich go towards liberal and the poor go towards conservative views. This is not true for everyone, but it’s a general trend that seems to be true. Therefore, radicals are not as common. Conservatives and Libertarians are more feasible but many side with different points of each group of people.

“Mariner’s Sin, Punishment, Redemption and His Penance”

â€Å"Mariner’s Sin, punishment, redemption and his penance† â€Å"If men could learn from history, what lessons it might teach us. But passion and party blind our eyes, and the light which experience gives us is a lantern on the stern, which shines only on the waves behind us. †Ã‚  This is one of the famous quotes by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834). In his one of the magnificent work, â€Å"The Rime of the ancient Mariner†, Coleridge has been able to prove his quote mentioned above. The decision made by the young and excited Mariner to kill the albatross helping them and the consequences which was faced by the entire sailing crew.Mariner, the main character not only was sorry for what he did, he also went through a series of transformation making him understand his sin. He then suffered all his life searching for redemption. Mariner was all around the places to redeem his sin. Not only he suffered attacks from his haunted past, he had to let everyone know about his deed just to feel relaxed. Mariner killed someone who helped the entire crew survive the icebergs they were in after the storm stroked them. The albatross who flew with the boat, was decided to be a help from the god himself, resulting in all the sailors trying to pet the bird.As all the crew possessed positive aura when the iceberg cracked and they again were in the open sea covered with fog. Something evil consumed mariner heart and he killed the bird with his crossbow. The entire member was cursing him for his deed at first, but when the fog started clearing out everybody was praising the Mariner. Entire crew who was turning away from Mariner for what he did was now agreeing on the sin committed. This now makes all the crew full of sin, which was not be in their favor. Soon their situation turned worse, the breeze stopped, and they were in the middle of the ocean without any movement.Without any water, â€Å"Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink. † suddenly entire crew was begging for water. It’s a human nature to be happy and sad depending on the situation he puts himself in. When there are good things happening then they all forget about the harm it can cause. Coleridge proved the human nature on this poem. When the sin was committed, one tends to agree with it, until it has any negative effect. When god started wrath upon them, entire crew turned to Mariner to curse him again for what he did.In ones normal life, one always tries their best to blame someone for the sin they have helped in. God will always punish the one who have committed sin as like in the poem. As the entire crew was involved in the crime, soon they start to get punished. They start to see the wrath from the god in form of different unnatural ways in the grip of nature. The sun was getting really hot. â€Å"Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down†¦ † â€Å"All in a hot and copper sky, The bloody sun at noon. †Ã‚  Hot and dry, and without water the sailors were in dire need of help.Even putting the albatross’s cross around the mariner did not help anything. They could see the slimy and gross creature with legs making entire crew suspicious about their future. After the passing of the mysterious ghost ship, all the members start dying one by one. As if the sin committed by the mariner, was all the reason for the death. The Ancient Mariner is punished mentally by the spiritual world. The Mariner feels responsible for his crews suffering (along with the Mariners own suffering) as the penalty for killing the albatross.The Mariner is punished by being forced to watch his crew be released and knowing he must suffer further (he must suffer alone):  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The souls did from their bodies fly, They fled to bliss or woe! And every soul, it passed me by, Like the whizz of my cross-bow. † The Ancient Mariners physical and mental punishment continues and he becomes the living dead. The Mariner is force d to feel constant pain and has the constant urge to tell others (who he knows must hear his story) his story in order to momentarily relieve his pain: â€Å"That agony returns: And till my ghastly tale is told, this hurt within me burns. God plays in mysterious ways. Although Mariner is getting punished as his colleagues are dying one by one and all he can do is just look at them cursing him. To make mariner responsible for their misfortune they hung an albatross cross around the neck so that the mariner will see that every time and feel the pain and agony felt by the entire crew before dying. Mariner was getting punished also he possessed the guilt, but still god was testing him. Even in the worst situation ever faced by the mariner, god had a plan from which he could escape his guilt.The mariner's own sense of guilt is enhanced through the consequences he faces in the physical world, as a result of the powers of the metaphysical world. That is the powers of the spirits in the po em, allow for severe contrasts in the physical world, which in relation to the mariner's sense of guilt, are reflective of his own unsettled mind. â€Å".. More horrible than that†¦ I saw that curse, and yet I could not die. †He was in great pain. Soon the mariner was in a condition of a living dead person. He was alive, but for no good.Soon he realizes he needs help from the god, but the presence of the negative aura makes that impossible. â€Å"I looked to heaven, and tried to pray; But or ever a prayer had gusht, A wicked whisper came, and made my heart as dry as dust† Soon that night when he again sees the slimy creatures, he finds those creatures to be really wonderful and a part of god’s creation. He then understands every creature in this world is equally loved by their creature i. e. god. After realizing that his necklace of albatross fell and he was able to pray to god. The selfsame moment I could pray; And from my neck so free The Albatross fell o ff, and sank Like lead into the sea. † With the help from god, he could hear the curious and knowledgeable voice; he has to do a lot of penance in the future. Waking up after he fainted, he found it was raining; slowly he regained consciousness, and finds that his curse has been lifted, his entire crew members were alive filled with good souls and it was making the boat to move. â€Å"Then like a pawing horse let go, she made a sudden bound; It flung the blood into my head, and I fell down in a swound. When he reached towards his home, he was approached by the pilot and his young crewmate, also accompanied by the hermit. The hermit might have been sent by the help of god for the information about the penance to be done by the mariner all his life. The boat on which mariner was lying started to get fall in the ocean like the albatross fell when it was shot. Amazingly mariner was still floating on the ocean. When they make back to the shore, Mariner immediately starts asing for redemption.As the mariner closely associates the hermit with religion, to act like a priest, upon seeing the man, the mariner believes it is he who will free him from sin. â€Å"It is the hermit good! / He singeth loud his godly hymns that he makes in the wood . He’ll shrieve my soul he’ll wash away the Albatross’ blood†. The mariner intends for the hermit to wash away the albatross’ blood, and thus, his, sins. The hermit does allow this to happen –  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Oh shrieve me, shrieve me holy man! The hermit crossed his brow. ‘Say quick’, quoth he, ‘I bid thee say — what manner of man art thou?   The mariner is gripped with a compulsion to tell his story to the hermit. This is how the hermit offers the mariner redemption. As soon as he tells the story to hermit he feels really good. He is then told to tell his story to people who need to hear his tale to get off the pain that persists until he tell the story.  "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner† teach us to love all the creation of the god. Submission to god is the only option for all people to enjoy their life. It is really foolish to take an instant decision and face the consequences for ever.Only people, who love God’s creation i. e. men, birds, and animal and everything created by god, can pray well and gain a place in heaven. The poem also encourages people to be faithful to god. Redemption and somewhat penance may be the only way for anyone to get rid of his sins. It is up to us to decide what action are sins and what are not. There will be objects and situation which will make it harder for one to decide, but correctly analyzing and choosing ones action is the only way not to do any sin, which is far better than to penance all over one’s life like the mariner in the poem.Citation: -Stillinger/Lynch. Samuel Taylor Coleridge. â€Å"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. † The Norton anthology of English Literature. New York. 2006. Print -â€Å"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner†. Wikipedia. Ed. Web -Shmoop Editorial Team. â€Å"The Rime of Ancient Mariner†. Shmoop. com Shmoop University, Inc. , 11/4/2012. http://www. shmoop. com/rime-of-ancient-mariner/summary. html. – SparkNotes Editors. â€Å"The rime of the Ancient Mariner. † SparkNotes. com. SparkNotes LLC. 2006. http://www. sparknotes. com/poetry/coleridge/section1. rhtml

Nike marketing from 1964 until today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nike marketing from 1964 until today - Essay Example There are about 44000 people working in Nike Inc. globally. The chain of stores that Nike runs are named as Niketown (www.nikeinc.com, 2012). It has contracts with about 700 suppliers and contractors outside the USA. There are about 45 offices of Nike situated in countries other than USA. Majority of its manufacturing factories are placed and operated in Asian countries such as China, Indonesia, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Philippines (www.nikeinc.com, 2012). Business Products The main products offered by Nike worldwide are sport shoes such as track running shoes, clothing’s like jersey jackets, shorts, base layers. Accessories and equipment may include All of these are complementary products and are offered alike at all the available chain of stores under Nike Brand name (www.nikeinc.com, 2012). These items can be broadly divided into three main products sportswear shoes, and clothing line items and associated accessories and equipment (www.nikei nc.com, 2012). Marketing Trends of Nike Incorporation Nike is the stunning outcome of two athletes, an athletic trainer at the University of Oregon (Bill Bowerman), the other was runner and accounting student semi-bottom (Phil Knight) who had the idea of importing Japanese athletic shoes but was not too expensive and technically efficient enough. They joined in 1965 and Jeff Johnson becomes the first vendor-company representative who explored the athletic stadiums in the country to promote their shoes. But soon, Bowerman wanted to make his own shoes. Therefore Nike’s operations and promotions were actually initiated in 1972. In 1972, the king of sport shoes Adidas was German. Nike came as leisure sports and started booming but the market was still untapped. Nike became the predecessor of offshoring. At the time, the concept was new in the field of textile. Now followed by the majority of its competitors, but this innovation enabled it to secure a monopoly rents through market dominance undeniable over the years. Nike never had factory and remained true to its economic principles departure: subcontracting in developing countries for a maximum profit. The Nike logo (named by Swoosh) is very simple and immediately recognisable. It caused a great deal in brand awareness and had often been borrowed. In the years 70/80s, marketing was dominated by what the lifestyle appellate. Brands had an ideal world in which the consumer was projected willingly. Nike reused this principle but added specific values. Nike values included freedom, spontaneity, overshoot, Individualism, struggle, desire to go further, to reach its limits, willingness to extract rules and formal side of the flange sports (Nike claims an institutional aspect of the sport and the influence of federations sediment yet in many disciplines). All these values are derived from the original sports brand, namely the "running" (The race), individualistic sports where the concept of passing is central. Mo reover, one of the models of the brand is the athlete Steve Prefontaine (runneur bottom half) who played a good part in the values that were dear to the brand. Nike was going to change this whole vision of sport culture. And this vision was that of the American sports model that can be called as, the cult of performance. The important fact for Nike was not to participate but to win, that goes perfectly against the European sports model, which in turn, emphasizes sportsmanship, fair play and promotes a sport at the collective

What made Franklin D. Roosevelt such a powerful leader and one of the Essay

What made Franklin D. Roosevelt such a powerful leader and one of the most highly regarded presidents in American history - Essay Example Because of his strong advocacy, the love of freedom is still alive in America today (InfoUSA 1). As a great leader, Franklin Roosevelt devoted his effort to the service of his country. In as much as critics may highlight instances of failure during his presidency, Roosevelt has a legacy as a strong leader in the country’s history. People generally accept that F. D. Roosevelt remains one of the greatest leaders in the world. He served as the 32nd President of the country. Roosevelt was born in New York. His leadership guided the United States and helped it during hard moments. He has been considered a central political figure throughout the world, as well. Roosevelt laid a solid foundation of leadership as a president during his early age. He was bright during his young age and graduated from Harvard University. â€Å"Roosevelt became very active with the school newspaper.† When he undertook studies at Harvard, he spent most of his time in publishing the school newspaper. After he graduated from Harvard, â€Å"Franklin D. Roosevelt joined Columbia Law School.† Various experiences and knowledge helped him win the Senate seat later (Rosenberg 1). As a great leader, Roosevelt made a number of improvements in society. One of the most significant and remarkable things he did, and probably the most successful one, was that he led the United States recovery from the Great Depression (Rosen 130). The Great Depression was an economic decline in the United States. â€Å"Banks in all 48 states had either closed or had placed restrictions on how much money depositors could withdraw.† Most banks were bankrupted during the Great Depression; thus, people could not take their money. Additionally, unemployment rose and people lost their jobs overnight. People suffered during this period. As economic distress increased in the United States, Franklin Roosevelt was elected to be a new president instead of President Hoover in order to save

The Guilford Four Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Guilford Four - Term Paper Example The intensity of the ensuing aggression culminated into the deployment of the British Army in Ireland. The IRA (Irish Republican Army) was one of the most violent military parties that fought for Ireland’s independence. In the early 1970s, the group started challenging British troops in Ireland. With time, the group’s violence developed into massive bombing campaigns aimed at public utility, civilian, as well as military targets. When the British, in the effort to control the increasing aggression, introduced incarceration without trial in the year 1971 August, corroboration for the IRA increased. There arose many cases of injustices in the British legal system when dealing with Irish-related cases – wrong imprisonment of innocent Irish victims by the British government increased significantly (Fitzduff and O’Hagan, 2000). This paper delves into the Guilford episode, an incident that had to do with drug-induced and coerced confessions, fabricated and suppr essed evidence, and a society under siege dashing into judgment. The Guilford episode saw the arrest and false conviction of four innocent people following the bombing of the Guildford and Woolwich English pubs, which English soldiers liked frequenting while off duty. The suspects were henceforth referred to as the Guilford Four. The bombing led to the death of seven people and forty-two others were sustained injuries (Howard, 1992). The paper also explores the political and cultural climate that was present in both England and Ireland at the time of the bombing, and talks about English attitudes towards the Irish. Introduction The case of the Guilford Four presents a good example of an injustice in an Irish-related case that took place on 22 October 1975, when Paddy Armstrong, Paul Hill, Carole Richardson, and Gerry Conlon, four young people from Northern Ireland were convicted for the 5 October 1974 bombings of Guilford and Woolwich on behalf of the Irish Republican Army. The bomb s went off in pubs in Guilford and Woolwich that British soldiers liked to visit while off duty, killing seven people and injuring forty-two others. This was the reason as to why they were selected as targets by the IRA. In other words, this terrorist attack was part of a bombing campaign and a wave of violent attacks that the Irish Republican Army committed against Great Britain in the 1970s (Bihler, 2009). The political and cultural climate that was present in both England and Ireland at the time of the bombing The Guilford and Woolwich bombings occurred at a time when IRA had taken a horrible toll on Britain – in the first ten months of the year 1974; Britain had experienced ninety-nine bombings with injuries amounting to approximately one hundred and forty five people and fatalities/deaths amounting to nineteen people. Spaced out as the bombings were, the deaths and injuries might have been at a tolerable level, but on 21 November 1974, all this changed with the Guilford and Woolwich bombings. In retaliation to the two bombings, Britain convulsed with anger – angry mobs assailed innocent Irish residents in Birmingham streets and in London, they firebombed Irish businesses. Innocent Irish people became scapegoats for the atrocities of the IRA and the attempts of public officials to appeal for calm and stop the bombings in the streets were futile (Howard, 1992). A sampling of headlines as well as sub-headlines from October through

Response to Intervention instead of Special Education Screening Research Paper

Response to Intervention instead of Special Education Screening - Research Paper Example Lack of Consistent Measurement/Standards b. Lack of Training on Measurement Tools Associated with RTI c. Difficulty in Using RTI across Large Numbers d. Local vs. National Standards IV. Current Variations of RTI Use a. RTI to Replace Regular SPED Screening b. RTI in Conjunction with SPED screening c. No RTI V. Recommendations for Future Methodology a. More Standardized Criteria for RTI Results b. RTI Use for Entire Population c. Continue SPED Screening d. Implement a Shared Approach Using both Tools/Systems Response to Intervention instead of Special Education Screening I. Introduction Description of RTI Response to Intervention, commonly referred to RTI in the education discipline is a form of academic intervention and a multilayered approach that provides services to students by specifically providing the type of education that suit their level of academic need through the corresponding level of instruction. It is a new model in education used in the United States which specificall y functions as a special education identification method (Harlacher, Nelson Walker & Sanford, 2010, p.30). RTI is composed of different levels of instructional supports within which the students are assigned on the basis of the results gathered from screening and progress monitoring data. There are variations to the structure of RTI model but the most common example is the three-tiered model. Tier 1 is composed of scientifically based curriculum with differentiation in terms of instructions to be able to prevent possible learning difficulties

Documentary Credit Transaction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Documentary Credit Transaction - Essay Example The economic activities have accelerated in the current century, the economic opportunities have been explored, and wealth proportion has expanded instead of getting more concentrated. The trade partners therefore adopted a policy of variance, aimed at adaptability towards economic progression. The economic expansion and rapid circulation of wealth intensified the activities of the banking sector, and for the procurement of its share, the trade partners broadened the horizon of its banking facilities. The requirements and the expectations of the consumers revolutionized, and for this purpose the banking sector was compelled to adopt and introduce set of revised and modified scheme which primarily focused on lending services, the deposition activities although gained a massive momentum, but the contribution in this regard was mainly from the wealthy people, the lending services were sought by the industries, corporate world and the major portion of society. Initially the banking insti tute was reluctant to adopt the concept of accountability and transparency, but once the population of the consumers rose, and the banking institute developed linkages with different clients, the bank was forced to ensure that accountability and transparency is practiced in all its form. The economic expansion did not only broaden the horizon for the trade partners, rather the other banking institutes also strengthen and received an equal opportunity for procurement of contracts and opportunities. The trade partners therefore had to intensify the implementation of the plan in the wake of economic expansion, and rising competition. The trade partners developed an strategy, previously when the economic activities were sluggish, the bank focused on the areas where the community sought financial assistance and safeguard for the deposition of their money and other valuables, lately when the technological revolution improved the qualitative and the quantitative standards of living, the ba nk adopted an entirely different strategy to overcome the needs of the customers, not by offering to them what they require, but by offering to the customers all which they should inherit in this period of technological development, so that the improved quality standards can be availed by the customers. The bank focused from routine operation to an arena of innovation, where the need was never felt but generated to apprise the customers about the qualitative enhancement of life, through different financial schemes (Robert, 2007). Documentary Credit Transaction: Significance The globalization has expanded the network of credit transactions. There were days when the credit transactions were confined within geographical terrains, but the global trade has conceived the concept of international banking. The exchange of economic and trade relations have essentially required the development of the units which shall support and protect the credit transactions. The concept of international banking system evolved with special provisions which secured the

Evaluate the impact of media such as video games, film and TV on the Essay - 1

Evaluate the impact of media such as video games, film and TV on the behaviour of teenagers - Essay Example This makes it important to study deeply the influence of media on behaviours of teenagers. There is a lot of research in this field where some studies conclude its negative effects and some conclude presenting the pluses. Most of the studies suggest that the more the teens spent time in front of screen more likely it is that they get exposed to the information that is not useful. Spending more time viewing TV is also harmful to the health of teens as it is known to lead to sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy eat and sleep patterns, and obesity (Council on Communications and Media 2011). Besides the effects on health, over-exposure to media is also known to affect the behaviors of the teenagers. This essay explores the effect of media on the behavior of teens. Starting with discussion on the adverse effects of media on teens, the essay will outline the positive aspects, that is, the counter-argument and refutation to each counter-argument before presenting conclusions. There are several studies that suggest negative effects of media on behaviors of teenagers. Anderson et al (2003) stated that it is now a proven fact that media violence results in transmitting aggressive and violent behavior in youth in both short as well as long term contexts. Researchers concluded that being exposed to media that is full of violent attitudes and behaviors is sure to lead adolescents adopt similar behaviors. This also leads to bullying weak students in school and trying to involve in activities that are considered ‘cool’ among a group. Teens usually adopt such behavior for social acceptance and media has a very important role of play in this classification of social acceptance and ‘cool dude’ attitude. In another study, Huesmann and Taylor (2006) suggested similar findings; they also found that media violence contributes to violent

Case Analysis, Turnaround of JC Penny Assignment

Case Analysis, Turnaround of JC Penny - Assignment Example With the rapidly changing customer lifestyle and preference, the retailer can look into modifying its offerings like including more low-priced items in its merchandise. JCPenney can also take advantage of globalization by opening new stores in rapidly developing economies. 1. Pursue relationship marketing. Relationship marketing is now becoming essential in recognition of the lifetime value that repeat transactions from a single customer can bring. Relationship marketing will help JCPenney by cultivating customer loyalty, lowering transaction costs, and more targeted marketing. However, this new strategy will be bringing in more costs; will necessitate the introduction of a new corporate culture; and training of human resource. 3. Improve pricing. Since customers are searching for trendy yet high value products, JCPenney should improve its pricing. Improved pricing will attract more customers, heighten demand, and gain their loyalty. However, price cuts might harm the company by reducing margins and erode company's image. This case analysis recommends that the best strategy that JCPenney can pursue is relationship marketing. The company can implement this through its database of customers.

Egypt’s pyramid Essay Example for Free

Egypt’s pyramid Essay Egypt one of the earliest civilization is a nation embellish with rich culture and tradition, the pyramids being is a witness to their grandeur. Egypt’s pyramid is one of their pride; it depicts the power and glory of those ancient rulers and their influence. The pyramids’ brilliance is known to every individual but little of us knew how the pyramids were erected, what form of tools where used, how did they conduct the calculations considering that every angle of the triangle is perpendicular with each other, and what does the earliest pyramids look like. The Egyptian pyramid certainly has origin, how did they polish such wondrous creation and why pyramids vary in sizes. What is the underlying principle in building such tomb. Several studies were conducted in unleashing this pyramids enigma, yet some still was a mystery. The Pyramids of Egypt is distinct from among the wonders of the world. It has its certain characteristics, incomparable in magnitude, not only that it is the oldest man made creation from among the wonders of the world it conceals numerous historical records, the pyramid being is the door to unlock the secrets of Egypt’s antiquity. We have already uncovered some few material things on Egypt’s long forgotten past, but that is only a part of the larger feature of Egypt. The pyramids have in it some several encryptions which convey us about their tradition and belief in magical spells and hymns written in hieroglyphics form. It depicts the journey of the pharaohs in the afterlife. This compilation of hieroglyphics is called the Pyramid Texts. Aside from the ancient texts carved within the walls of the pyramids, pyramids also vary from each other on the physical aspect, such as its structure, its height and designs. The Pyramid of Cheops and Cephren is one significant example. We have witnessed in the records of history how ancient people revere much the final resting place of their loved ones. Similarly, in Egypt the pyramids are one of the most important objects conveying their belief in the afterlife. The pyramids that we used to have now only belongs to the greatest ruler of Egypt hence the Great Pyramids of Egypt, none of the pyramids ever survived that belong to other least rulers during the ancient time. Not only that the pyramids gain attraction on its concealed past, through the pyramids, some scientists dig the scientific engineering used at the time when the pyramid was built. It is genuine worked made by a brilliant mind. These are among the content of this paper. Based from previous researches, we will have to draw a general conclusion that will help address this problem. Body The Pyramids. Unlike many other temples that served as a house for the living, the pyramid serves as the eternal resting place of Egyptian kings and queens’ body and also a place for religious activity. According to ancient Egyptian belief, the pyramid where the mummy was placed provides for the monarch to pass the afterlife. The ruler’s body was carefully treated and wrapped to preserve it as a mummy. To pray for the soul of the dead ruler, the priests in nearby temples performed religious rituals in order to nourish the spirit, it is believed that the when the ruler died, the spirit remains to the body right after death. The Pyramid Texts were written in the walls of the pyramid to safeguard the soul during its journey. In the Egyptian Old Kingdom, most kings and queens draft for a design of their tomb usually with complicated structure made up of large stone and blocks. Yet probably because the materials were too costly, the size and quality of built pyramids decreased. In the Middle Kingdom, the Egyptians build pyramids out of mud brick. In the tradition, all pyramids were aligned to the cardinal directions which refer to the north-south and east-west location. Most pyramids were found in the desert plateaus on the west bank of the Nile River where the sun sets. According to belief, the dead monarch’s spirit will left the body and shall travel through the sky with the sun each day. When the sun will set in the west, the spirit will now settle into their tomb to renew their selves. Step Pyramid at Saqqara. Before the pyramids, the pharaohs were buried in tombs called the mastabas. It is a big, roofed, square building with walls that sloped gently inward. In the center of the building, a deep shaft was cut to which the burial chamber is located. There they stored the pharaohs’ significant possessions. In building the mastabas (â€Å"bench), the pharaoh needed much worker to work for his project. When there is dearth of workers, he sent out word to all his governors from different provinces. The governors in turn will send the word to every town and village and farmers from all over Egypt in order to come and work for the pharaoh’s project. The earliest known pyramid is the pyramid of King Djoser (Zoser) of the third dynasty. It was build with a giant steps like six mastabas stacked one on the top of the other looking like a rectangular wedding cake with six layers. Other pharaoh’s after him design their own pyramids trying to furnish a better pyramid than that of Djoser. Djoser Step Pyramid architecture was Imhotep. He commissioned a court official to design and build him a unique burial tomb. Accordingly, the building of the pyramid required two things which had never been done before: â€Å"the first was provided by a pacified and united country while for the second a unique human genius was required,† (Mendelssohn, 1979). Imhotep has advantage to this. Although he is not of royal blood, his official title as a purely self-made man was â€Å"Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt, First after the King of Upper Egypt, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary Nobleman, High Priest of the Heliopolis, Builder, Sculptor and Maker of Vases in Chief†, and he was an engineer before the word ever existed (Thomas, 2005). Imhotep brilliancy was praised by many intelligent minds during his time. He developed and controlled the logistics and persuades a group of thousands of men into a well-organized workforce capable of producing suppose to be the world’s tallest pyramid by a factor of twenty. Imhotep has long solved the problems such as the balance of the lateral forces in the gigantic pyramidal weight while pressing down on a square base. To address the problem, his masons slanted the inner stones of Zoser’s pyramid towards the apex to help balance it out. This designed is considered as grossly overlooked with the introduction of Meidum pyramid. (Ibid. ). Nevertheless, Imhotep’s step pyramid was the first stone structure in the history and is the oldest surviving pyramid today. Several nature factors affect the pyramids’ brilliance, but none of it had overcome the clarity of mind of Imhotep. The fact that his structure stand today is a clear indication that he had overcome nature’s changing environment. Yet Imhotep brilliancy is almost trivial, we had little information on his intelligence and none of the records ever survived in justification of his eminence. Meidum Pyramid. The Meidum pyramid was introduced in the year 2600 BC. It is in the shape of tetrahedron. It started as a step pyramid with inward leaning walls and eight levels. The pyramid construction at Meidum became unsuccessful because there is probably lacking in the design of the pyramid. The interior support of the pyramid partially was collapsed and massive rubble mounds were found beneath the base of the pyramid. Bent Pyramid. After the failure of the Meidum Pyramid, King Sneferu, the father of Khufu started designing his pyramid. He actually started with the Meidum pyramid but for unknown reasons he moved his burial chamber north to Dashur, at the Giza Plateau with a different design. The foundation of the pyramid was a big flat area of limestone bedrock. Also as an advantage, in the nearby area there was a limestone quarry, a place where they could cut two to three ton limestone block to be used in building the pyramid. His pyramid was made of stone blocks leaning inward. In constructing the base of the pyramid, the stone cutters leveled the foundation of the pyramid providing indications as to where the pyramid would be located. The sun and the stars serve as their guiding point to align the pyramid facing exactly towards the four cardinals, the north, south, east and west. They aimed at leveling the sides of the pyramid equal to all angles. Each of the side using modern measurements is 755 feet and 8 inches long; the length is less than two inches of the four sides. However, during the construction of the pyramid, the weight of the upper portion started to inflate causing the pyramid to be not in proportion. It had slowly sink; the weight and angle of the stones where much heavier than in its base. To address the problem, the builders put up an outer supporting wall cutting off the 60 degrees angle to 55 degrees. The upper portion is only 43 degrees. This is where the pyramid got his name, the Bent Pyramid. During the construction, the architects tried to polish their work by applying what they have learned in building the bent pyramid. They must have laid down horizontal layers of larger stone and blocks. In order to vindicate their erroneous design, they construct again another giant pyramid for Sneferu called the North Pyramid. Sneferu returned to Meidum and refined the Meidum pyramid by adding outer level using new approach in constructing it. Sneferu’s new technique somehow became successful. His new technique became the foundation of the 4th dynasty pyramids and the Great Pyramid at Giza. Indeed, something did. Imhotep’s buttresses, while always at the base step pyramid of other true pyramids, were not extended to include the buttressing of the structurally significant outer casing. Pyramids built later than Meidum demonstrate this slanting of the outer casing. (Thomas, 2005) Khufu’s Pyramid. The proliferation of pyramid gradually decline in the 5th dynasty when irregularities seem to pervade in the whole kingdom of Egypt. Perhaps, one significant attribute of the so called chaotic period in Egypt called the First Intermediate Period is crossing the alley of yore to the Middle Period where new techniques and materials were applied. Parallel to it, when the building of pyramid was once restored, the pyramids’ beauty was converted into gross physical appearance to lucidity. Khufu, son of King Sneferu becomes pharaoh. To build a legacy on the surface of the Earth, he set out to design the largest pyramid. Sneferu’s three pyramids laid new important techniques in maintaining Khufu’s pyramid throughout the time. That is to build a pyramid with a solid stone foundation. In onset of the pyramid’s construction, Khufu ordered his governors to seek workers out of forty-two towns of Egypt. He require ten working men or boys each town to accomplish his ambitious pyramid. During Khufu’s reign, there are some speculations that massive slave workers were forced to work in building the pyramid. However in Herodotus account, the workers were not compelled to work for the pyramid. In contrary to his statement, he said however that there is dearth of workers, thus some forcible action is impliedly conducted. There was no account yet being surfaced to warrant the situation. Accordingly, most of the men were proud to work for Khufu; there is so much honor in building the eternal home of the god-king. Men formed into 20-30 teams and also have given their teams a name such as â€Å"Khufu is Bright†. Evidences lie in the hidden parts of the pyramids where modern archaeologists have found them. The construction of the pyramid began. The base forms a nearly perfect square having 19-cm. This huge square is almost exactly leveled out. In the core of the pyramid, it probably has a hill of unexcavated rubble making it difficult to determine the exact number of blocks. According to research, the Great Pyramid’s blocks are estimated to 2. 3 millions of blocks having an average weight of 2. 5 metric tons. Hundreds of men worked for quarrying, moving, setting and sculpting the huge amount of stone used to build the Great Pyramid. A total of 25, 000 men and women worked in the construction site for a couple of years. According to one account, there were no slaves who worked in finishing the project. Most probably were farmers, architects, masons, metal workers and carpenters. The architects of Khufu selected a site in Giza on surface of bedrock not sand which will provide a steady foundation. The workers lower the stones in a horizontal level, on one top of the other. The stone used in the interior area was out of quarried blocks in the south of the construction site. The exterior part which is finely finished was out of white limestone quarried across the Nile River. To transport the materials, the workers have to cut the limestone and transported by a river barge to Giza. The rest of the materials were used in building edifices in Cairo. Dating from the earlier failure of the architects, they had failed to recognize the symmetry of the stones placed on top of the other. Khufu’s pyramid however applied the rule on symmetry. Workers have marked all the blocks indicating the angle of the pyramid wall and trimmed the surfaces so that all blocks will fit together. On the sides of the pyramid, workers built large ramps to help drag their materials to the sides of the structure. Those ramps being used were probably of desert clay mixed with water tighten by limestone debris leftover from the construction work. The final exterior phase f the pyramid is the installation of the pyramidion or the cap stone of the pyramid. In order to reveal the full majestic view of the pyramid, workers must dismantle the ramps on the surface of the pyramid. Thereafter, the pyramid had displayed its real beauty. For the interior part of the pyramid, it is compose of complex chambers where a series of passages will lead to master chamber where the body of the King shall be placed. The pyramid’s entrance is about 17 m intended to be used during Khufu’s funeral. The entrance of the pyramid will likely lead you to the Descending Passage and shall reach the Subterranean Chamber. The Descending Chamber is intersected with the Ascending Passage. The Ascending Passage is the conduit to Queen’s Chamber as so called by the Arabs. But according to some archaeologists, this is where the king statue is located representing his ka, his spirit. The Ascending Passage intersects with the Grand Gallery which housed some large stones used to plug passages after the king’s funeral. At the upper end of the Grand Gallery intersects to the King’s Chamber, a simple rectangular room covered entirely with red granite. Now, what remains is the granite sarcophagus of King Khufu buried near the western wall. Some portion of pyramids’ myriad passage was still mysterious. There are some pyramids that have satellite pyramids and queens’ pyramid. The satellite pyramid’s function is still unknown. Some argued that it must have contained the ka of the king. The queens’ pyramid was smaller version of the kings pyramid intended to be a burial site for the king’s principal wives. The two Great Pyramids beside Khufu’s pyramid belongs to Khafre and Menkaure, Khufu’s son and grandson. Other Great Pyramids. Other pyramids built with the same technique to that of the Khufu’s pyramid is the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure. In the later years, the building of great pyramids began to decline when Egypt’s resources began to deplete. Several smaller pyramids were design by later rulers however in different location. There are also some smaller pyramids that serve as a burial site for queens and secondary wives of the kings. Later pyramids constructed were the pyramid of Djedefre at Abu Rawash, the pyramid of Sahure at Abu Sir, the pyramid of Neferirkare Kakai at Abu Sir, the pyramid of Nyuserre Ini ate Abu Sir, the pyramid of Amenemhet I at Lisht, the pyramid of Senusret I and Senusret II at Lisht and the pyramid of Amenemhet III ate Hawara.

Examining The Historical Development Of Criminology Criminology Essay

Examining The Historical Development Of Criminology Criminology Essay Although it there is some debate on the historical development of criminology, there is agreement that by the beginning of the 1960s there was a recognisable academic discipline in the form of modern criminology in Britain (Tierney, 2006). Nic Groombrigde (2001: 202) defined pathology as an unhealthy deviation from the norm which is located in the individual at the level of genes, hormones or psyche. Ultimately this implies criminality is the result of abnormality; i.e. that which is not normal. Criminologists have come up with various theories as to why people commit crime and recommended responses, and this essay will explore whether criminality is pathological with reference to variants of classical, positivist and social constructionist theories. Classical criminology believes the offender is free-willed, rational and normal, whereas positivist approaches suggests the offender is determined, and pathological. Social constructionist theories suggest the offender is a product of cu ltural and political influences. The main difference between the three theories is whether or not individuals are rational decision makers or not, i.e. if they are pathological or not. In the eighteenth century classical criminology emerged as a response to the cruel forms of punishment that dominated. It was centrally concerned with creating a reformed, efficient system of justice that would better regulate social order in industrial society (Tierney, 2006: 50). Two main writers who helped to achieve this were Cesare de Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham. Beccaria wanted punishment to be certain, in order to deter people from committing criminal acts. He also believed that if one was punished quickly they would associate crime with punishment, and that the punishment should be severe enough to deter future criminal behaviour (Newburn, 2007: 116). Benthams work involved the pleasure-pain principle, so any pleasure to be gained from crime should be outweighed by the pain inflicted in punishment. Classical theory is based on the assumption of free will (i.e. not pathology), with criminal activity being the result of rational choice of the individual; who is acting on a cost -benefit analysis. The aim of punishment was to make it proportionate to crime in order to deter people from committing criminal acts. At this stage in criminology, the emphasis was on the criminal act rather than the individual committing it, so there was no differentiation between the criminal and the non-criminal. Classical theory has impacted modern criminology massively, with the idea of punishment being proportionate to the criminal act still being used by modern criminal justice systems. It also helped capital punishment be abolished, and heightened the awareness for the need for prisons. However, a major criticism of classicism is the fact that it is normative rather than empirical; based on values rather than evidence. It also assumes criminal activity is the result of rational thought, therefore it suggests children should be treated in the same way as adults, and does not make exceptions for those who are mentally ill or those with learning difficulties (Tierney, 2006). In contrast to classical criminology, the positivist approach focuses on features within the individual that cause criminal activity; i.e. criminality is pathological (Newburn, 2007: 114). It emerged in the late nineteenth century and claimed to promote the scientific study of society, replacing opinion with empirical evidence and science (Treadwell, 2006: 34). Treadwell (2006) also believes positivism in criminology wanted to predict and explain future patterns of social behaviour using secondary data (statistical). It sees crime as pre-determined (and therefore uncontrollable) rather than expressions of free will. Positivism spans biological, psychological and sociological attempts to explain the causes of crime. One key writer in biological positivism is Cesare Lombroso who suggested a criminal was not made by society but rather born that way (i.e. criminality is pathological). Lombroso even went as far as to say that deviation in head size could be an indicator of criminality a n idea now discredited (Newburn, 2007). If biological theories are considered along with psychological and sociological theories, then they can help explain criminality. However, on its own, it lacks scientific evidence, and can lead to eugenics; proposing the removal of those who are inferior (e.g. Nazi Germany targeting the disabled, homosexuals (Treadwell, 2006). In psychological positivism, Hans Eysenck was a key thinker, who believed it was possible to chart human personality on three scales: extroversion, neuroticism and psychoticsm. Exaggeration of traits would lead to anti-social behaviour (Treadwell, 2006). Psychological positivism considers psychology as an explanation for criminality which includes an individuals reasoning, personality, memory, intelligence etc. Biological and psychological positivism are useful for the government because they draw attention away from social conditions (Newburn, 2007). Sociological positivism explains criminality with reference to social circumstances and factors external to the individual, so moves away from pathology. One example of sociological theory is strain by Robert Merton (1938). He looked at why crime was more prevalent in lower class areas, and found inequality between goals in society (e.g. wealth) and the means to achieve them (e.g. education needed for wealth was not available to everyone). Merton suggested this motivation to achieve goals led to frustration and a motive for criminal activity. Treatment in positivism should be immediate and should fit the needs of the offender. Whereas classical theory looks at the offense, and positivism focuses on the offender, social constructionist theory looks at the social reaction to deviance. This theory does not suggest pathology is the reason for criminal acts, rather that individuals are responding to being labelled due to political and cultural influences (similar to sociological positivism). The theory suggests criminals are created by those with the power to label behaviour as offensive. Emile Durkheim (1895) sums this up by saying that what confers a criminal character is not the intrinsic quality of a given act but that definition which the collective conscience lends them. The object of study is to question why some acts are labelled criminal, while others are not. There is also the question of why some people are more prone to being labelled than others, and the consequences of labelling. Thomas (1928: 572) stated that if we define situations as real, they are real in their consequences. Labelling theory e merged in the late 1930s due to the work of Frank Tannenbaum on juvenile delinquents; where he concluded that delinquents are good children committing bad acts, who are then labelled as bad and continue in that manner (Newburn, 2007). Another aspect of labelling theory is Mertons self fulfilling prophecy which he described as; in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behaviour which makes the originally false conception come true (1968: 477). Edwin Lemert distinguished between two types of deviance; primary and secondary. He stated that primary deviance occurs in a variety of social cultural and psychological contexts, and only has minimal implications for the psychic structure of an individual whereas secondary deviance is behaviour created as a defence to problems created by societal reaction to primary deviance (Lemert, 1967: 17). Associated to this idea is that of deviancy amplification which is the idea that ideas that deviancy can be distorted in tr ansmission, and can lead to exaggeration of societal reaction (Newburn, 2007). This reaction has been termed moral panic, and is summed up by Stan Cohen in Folk Devils and Moral Panics. In this case, society reacted to the dress of the mods and rockers, which in turn segregated them from society; resulting in deviance. This view is helpful in determining the response to criminal activity. Punishment should involve diversion away from negative labelling to positive labelling. Reintegrative shaming should be applied, which John Braithwaite defined as reintegrating the offender back into the community through words or gestures of forgiveness (1989: 101). A modern example of politics in labelling theory is the recent sacking of David Nutt on the thirtieth of October 2009. He was fired because of a paper he released stating alcohol abuse is more harmful than cannabis taking. Cannabis is an example of deviant behaviour being labelled, and as classification of the drug is always changing, so are the labels of deviant behaviour. Labelling theory has had implications in the criminal justice system. Emphasis has been put on providing young juveniles with social workers, who aim to limit the process of entanglement in the criminal justice system (Newburn, 2007: 221). One limitation of the theory is the fact it is not easily tested empirically. There is also the view that labelling can be counter productive with the fear of being labelled being a deterrent to committing criminal acts. This is evidenced by the fact that minor punishments are effective for first time offenders (Jones, 2003: 195) An example of where you could use classical, positivist and social constructionist theories to analyse criminal behaviour is the increase in youth knife crime. In 2008 BBC News reported thirty youths were stabbed in London alone. A classical approach would blame the lack of deterrents for the increase in carrying weapons; people are unafraid and the majority get away with it. They would suggest punishing proportionate to the crime. Psychologival positivists would suggest the macho status is appealing; the mob mentality. Biological positivists would suggest that the impulse to carry a knife is predetermined in biology, and so educating youths in school would be vital. Sociological positivism would blame the environment, with the poorest being at most risk. The labelling theory would suggest deviancy amplification is at play; with a moral panic created about youths. As they are consequently segregated, they carry knifes to fit in with other youths because they are the only group they a ssociated with. The three theories can be used together to help build a bigger picture into why people commit crime. Although the positivists would argue that criminality is pathological, there is also evidence from classicism and social constructionist theories that suggest criminality is the result of different factors, e.g. labelling. It is important to look at individual differences when assessing criminality, and to make the best judgements, a modern criminologist would be advised to consider all three of the approaches because although they all have their limitations, they also have great advantages for the criminal justice system. According to Groombridge (2001), administrative criminology has sought to side-step the issue of pathology within the individual or society but replaces it with the fear or risk of others pathology, which is to be managed. This could explain the dependence on security measures (e.g. CCTV) in todays society; to watch others behaviour and devise suitable punishments according to the crime.

Victorian Essentials Learning Standards Essay -- Education

Victorian Essentials Learning Standards (VELS) is a learning strand purposed to develop problem solvers out of learners (VCAA, 2009). Focusing on ways to communicate, comprehend and envision both ideas as well as information. With all intent of developing independent leaner’s, who can think for themselves as well as be creative when it call for it. On the other hand, Principles of Learning and Teaching (PoLTS) helps the teacher review lessons and assess whether learning has taken place, in so doing determining whether the set learning objectives were met, if not how could the learning be better improved to make up for it (DEECD, 2011). It has six principles with component parts. LESSON 1: WRITING. Lesson 1 is a writing lesson. It is intended to enable learners develop and or improve their communication skills through storytelling. In the process, aid them appreciate their abilities to express themselves variously other than through just speech. The indeed intended learning out comes, which were to tell a story and communicate through text and images were achieved. It actually superseded all expectations. Learners were so engrossed in the exercise it was a pain to have to break the process at the end of the lesson. Not only was the entire lesson interactive, learners hardly needed any supervision after being shown what was required of them to accomplish. There was a lot of free expression and their involvement was total, even from the usually shy students. Moving around among them to supervise what they were doing showed they had caught on well with the lesson. Every one of them was excited to show off what they had been able to achieve and all were proud of their results. By virtue of the fact the learners were able to tell t... ...aching. Retrieved June 3, 2012, from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/teachingprinciples/default.htm ERIC Digest, ED407938 1997-00-00 Concept Mapping: A Graphical System for Understanding the Relationship between Concepts. Retrieved June 3, 2012, from www.eric.ed.gov Jonassen, D. H., Carr, C.& Yueh, H. P. (1998) Computers as Mindtools for Engaging Learners in Critical Thinking. TechTrends, v43 n2 p24-32 Sarama, J. & Clements, D. H. (2006) Mathematics, Young Students, and Computers: Software, Teaching Strategies and Professional Development. University at Buffalo, State University of New York. 2006, Vol. 9, No. 2, 112-134 VCAA. (2009). Teaching, learning and assessment advice. Retrieved June 3, 2012, from http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/support/teaching.html VELS. (2008) Interdisciplinary Learning Strand: Information and Communications Technologies

Business trip :: essays research papers

It is highly recommended that company officials visit the countries to examine the markets where they are considering selling their products before any transaction occurs a company can familiarize itself with cultural nuances which may impact the design, packaging or advertising of the product. Moreover, traveling abroad allows one to locate and cultivate new customers, as well as improve relationships and communication with current foreign representatives and associates Typically, a successful business trip requires months of planning Proper Documentation Visas: Visas are required by many countries and cannot be obtained through the Office of Passport Services. They are provided by the foreign country's embassy or consulate in the United States for a small fee. The traveler must have a current U.S. passport to obtain a visa; many cases, a recent photo is required. The traveler should allow several weeks to obtain visas, especially if traveling to developing nations. It is important to note that some foreign countries require visas for business travel but not tourist travel. Therefore, when company representatives request visas from a consulate or embassy, they should notify the authorities that they will be conducting business. Business people should check visa requirements each time they travel to a ccountry because regulations change periodically. Contact an Export Assistance Center to learn about documentation requirements for the countries where you will be traveling. Vaccinations: Requirements for vaccinations differ by country. While there may not be any restrictions on direct travel to and from the United States, there may be restrictions if individuals travel indirectly, by stopping over in one country before reaching their final destination. Vaccinations against typhus, typhoid, and other diseases are advisable even though they are not required. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) maintains a fax-back system and a homepage to advise travelers of current and accurate country and region conditions. To receive a document dial 888-232-3299 and follow the prompts. The CDC internet address is http://www.cdc.gov. Foreign Customs: Since foreign customs regulations vary widely with each country, travelers are advised to learn in advance the regulations that apply to each country that will be visited. If allowances for cigarettes, liquor, currency, and certain other items, are not taken into account, they can be impounded at national borders. Business travelers that plan to carry product samples with them may be required to pay import duties. In some countries, duties and extensive customs procedures on sample products may be avoided by obtaining an ATA Carnet.

Essay example --

It was one of the greatest battles in Greek history, the battle of Achilles with Hector (Homer. Iliad. 22) and Cycnus (Ovid. Metamorphoses. 14); these two different versions of the Trojan War had both similarities and differences. As we can notice from these two books, there are similarities of character in Homer’s version of Achilles and Ovid’s version Achilles. Furthermore, the similarity of both Trojan heroes having the same enemy in both versions of The Trojan War. On the other hand, the difference between these two battles of Achilles is the character and how both Trojan heroes performed during the battle with Achilles. In addition, the main reason initiates battle of Achilles is different when he fights with Hector and Cycnus; additionally, how Achilles treats their corpse after he kills them, were not the same in both battles. Furthermore, the setting and timing of the battle between Achilles and the two Trojan heroes are distinct from one to another. According to Homer, Hector was the greatest and most famous mortal heroes in the history of Troy, who has protected Troy from many wars and have been treated as the guardian of his father, Priam kingdom. On the other hand, in Ovid version of The Trojan War, there are two great Trojan warriors, Hector and Cycnus, son of Poseidon, the latter is invulnerable warrior and have killed 1000 Greeks troop at the Trojan beach easily when the Greeks first landed on the beach. The character of Achilles, son of Peleus, in both battles has some similarities which are the violent, arrogant and uncontrollable like a beast. Achilles trusted his skill to fight and shows his arrogant character can be found in Iliad, â€Å"Achilles shook his head at his soldiers: He would not allow anyone to shoot A... ... year of the war. In general, the battle of Achilles with Hector and Cycnus had some similarities and differences. Both of the Trojan heroes are loyal to their country and both are Troy greatest warriors. Other than that, both versions of Achilles poses the arrogant and beast characteristic. However, the characters and attitudes of Hector and Cycnus in the battle with Achilles are completely different, where Hector fears and hesitate to battle with Achilles while Cycnus confidently faces the battle with Achilles. In addition, the main reason of battles is different which lead to different treatment of Achilles to their corpse, where Hector corpse was badly treated by Achilles rage for the revenge of Patroclus death. Last but not least, the setting of both battles Trojan heroes is completely different, even-thought they were fighting with the same enemy, Achilles.

War Poetry Wilfred Owen

War Poetry I have studied two poems, ‘Dulce et decorum est' and ‘The Sentry' both by the poet Wilfred Owen. The first one I will study is ‘Dulce et Decorum est'. The first thing Owen does is to give us a vivid description of what is happening, he tells us that he and his men are marching away from the trenches, and the way Owen describes his men gives us a clear picture of what they have been through. â€Å"Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, knock-kneed, coughing like hags† They had been in the trenches, terrible places, with bullets and shells flying constantly overhead, explosions all around, the constant fear of death.These men were leaving the hell of the front, they were going to rest. But they still have a long way to go before they are safe, they are still within the range of artillery. Despite of this, they march on â€Å"towards their distant rest†, they are walking in deep mud, which covered most of the battlefield, and for this reaso n, there are some of the men have no boots on, but still they â€Å"limp on, blood shod†. They are described as being â€Å"drunk with fatigue†, they are exhausted, but still, they march on. Then suddenly, the call â€Å"Gas!Gas! Quick boys! â€Å", a gas shell had dropped nearby. Gas was the most brutal of weapons used in the war, it burned the skin, the eyes, and when breathed in, it burnt the lungs, which the body then filled with water, bringing on a slow agonising death for the unfortunate victim. The soldiers' reaction to this attack is described as â€Å"an ecstasy of fumbling†, which is a great way of describing what is happening, the men are trying desperately to get out their gas masks before they are engulfed by the cloud.

The Depth In Agnes Martin

Simple, subdued, serene – will be the adventurous description of the various insights on the totality of what Agnes Martin shared with the world of art.   Simple, subdued, serene – will also be the summarized description of what Agnes Martin’s many critics say of her work.   And, simple, subdued, serene – will be the captive element of what the reviews said of the Agnes Martin documentary â€Å"With My Back to the World†.Treading from abstract expressionism to minimalism, all of Agnes Martin’s life, works and story – as captured in â€Å"With My Back to the World; and, as per the perspective of its director, Mary Lance; and, as per all the insights, critiques, reviews and commentaries – are but a symphony of illustrations and expressions as to how the delightful artist treated, educated and revealed to the world the mystique of life.Unanimously acknowledging the preferred solitude and reclusion of the great artist, they rec ognized Agnes Martin to have nevertheless proven the presence of soulfulness and intensity in her chosen art form, despite of living in silence.The interesting fact though is that in the profundity of her silence vis-à  -vis the silence of her profundity, Agnes Martin allowed Mary Lance to interview her and shoot the documentary film while Agnes Martin is working and right there in her New Mexico studio.Together with the documentary â€Å"With My Back to the World†; together with all her works; together with the designation of ARTnews Magazine in 2002 as one of the world’s top ten livings artists – the lines and hues of Agnes Martin therefore became the canopy from where we view the spirit of Taosim that inspired her as she reveal her creativity and philosophy.AGNES MARTIN – HER LIFE TO THE BEHOLDER:Born on March 22, 1912 in Makin, Saskatchewan, Canada – Agnes Martin nevertheless grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia.   They were four siblings in the family, but her father died when she was only 2 years old.   From thenon, Agnes’ mother steadfastly stood by her resolve to raise her brood by her self.   Such aura of strength and independence etched in the mind of the growing Agnes.In 1931 she moved to the United States and attended The Western Washington College of Education in Bellingham; the Teachers College of the Columbia University in New York and the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.   She has earned her Bachelors degree in 1942 and her Masters Degree in 1952.   She acquired her American citizenship in 1950.She was an art teacher in University of New Mexico and other public schools in Washington and Delaware from 1947 to 1948 and in Eastern Oregon College in 1952 to 1953.   With the paintings Agnes Martin accumulated, Betty Parsons Gallery offered to handle her work if she moves to New York City.It was in 1958 that Agnes Martin was given her first solo exhibition in the said gallery.   It wa s a period when abstract expressionism is at its height as an art form and likewise the seeming dawn of minimalism is soon going to be witnessed.In the Coenties Slip in Lower Manhattan where she lived, Agnes Martin huddled with artists like Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Indiana, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Jack Youngerman.Agnes Martin, took a break from painting from 1967 to 1974 as she ventured into filmmaking.   It was in 1976 that she produced the film â€Å"Gabriel†.  Ã‚   The subject of the film is a boy who incessantly went to explore the world in his own quiet ways.Thereafter she resumed her painting wherein her exhibitions were held various museums in the succeeding years, like – in the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pace Gallery, New York; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam;Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Harwood Museum of Art at the University of New Mexico.   There are also other international art galleries that have invited and showcased the works of Agnes Martin.Agnes Martin was inducted in 1989 as a member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in New York.   She received the Gold Lion Award at the Venice Biennale in 1997 for her lifetime achievement and contribution in contemporary art.   The National Endowment for Arts granted in 1998 to Agnes Martin the National Medal of Arts.In 1997, the highlight of her achievement was the establishment of the Agnes Martin Gallery in New Mexico, where her work is showcased.   Otherwise, Sotheby and other auction houses do trade in great value the works of this great, enigmatic artist.AGNES MARTIN – HER WORKS TO THE CONNOISSEUR:Among buyers, users, collectors, critiques – all connoisseurs discern and judge in a balanced mix of subjectivity, relativity, objectivity and economics.   Value for value there is thin line in visual arts that does not only rest on what is seen – there must be something â€Å"beyon d†.The utter simplicity and directness of the creation of Agnes Martin, within the perfection of horizontal and vertical lines in her grids and as per the hues she applied with her own brand of discernment, have all been acknowledged as very expressive and moving.â€Å"The Taos artist’s grids, some of them traced in lines of graphite, so faint they seem to be emerging from or disappearing into a mist†¦..Martin’s†¦.[is] an art of invisibility.   It’s tempting to ready a ‘beyond’ into them†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Lee, 1998)You therefore view the work with great challenge and enthusiasm.   You have to really get close to the painting.   You dissect every pattern and color.   You try to find the hints and clues.   You feel mystified.   You search for the meaning.It is because Agnes Martin invites a â€Å"relationship† with the viewer of her art.   She wants a direct and distinctive communication between her art and he r viewer.   Then, you will see the beauty, the finesse, the simplicity of just the perfect, varied lines.   â€Å"†¦.what they give back in their simplicity and richness, is indescribably moving.†Ã‚   (Lee, 1998)Agnes Martin’s painting convinces that there is a palpable person and a palpable thought that is put into the work.   Subtly, there are little and misty wobbles and breaks in the hues and lines – they tease and try to see if you are paying attention to details.The purpose of imperfection is to achieve perfection.   It challenges perception of what is between and/or the difference between real and ideal.Indeed her works produced in a span of 60 odd years is visionary and timeless.   Despite the temperament of her artistic times that traversed between minimalism to abstract expressionism, Agnes Martin humbly demurs from being classified as a spearhead, neither the bridge between the two art forms.The transition in the art form of Agnes Marti n is akin to her transition in learning and knowing and realizing everything about her and her surroundings and the society she lived with.Even in the eventual solitude she chose, Agnes Martin is still conscious of what being in a community of man is all about.   Her earlier ventures were in still life and portrait painting.   Therefore, she went along the tide of the prevailing abstract expressionism in the 1940’s to the early 1950’s.

Manage health and social care practice Essay

Outcome based practice refers to the actual impacts, effects and or end results of services / interventions on an individual’s life. Its effectiveness is not measured by numbers/figures or financial strategies it is measured by the positive outcome that is achieved. It isn’t about what is required to be done but what is actually achieved as the result that matters. Outcome based practice is centred on results for people in the following areas: gains in health, mobility and skills, prevention of deterioration, increases in confidence, engagement and feeling they are in control and finally changes in behaviour. It is assessed and planned starting with the end result / goal and then planning how the goal is to be achieved. Outcome based practice is about investing rather than funding or purchasing and leads to a very different kind of relationship with programme or service providers. It means that providers have autonomy and are expected to innovate the objectives and plans etc. It doesn’t just require the input of one or two people, all team members are valued and are required to contribute to the achievement of outcomes. All outcomes will be measured as part of service/programme evaluation. There are different ways to approach outcome based practice following different models or systems and frameworks, including: Outcomes into Practice initiated by the Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU) in the University of York, a Results Based Accountability model, the Logic Model and Outcomes Management. Outcomes into Practice (SPRU): is very much service oriented and is mainly used for adults and older people’s services, for carers and people with learning disabilities. It is user-centred and promotes value of users determining their own outcomes. It provides autonomy and flexibility for service providers ensuring that they are responding to the ever changing needs and preference of their service users. This model / framework identifies three categories of outcomes: process, change and maintenance. It has both positive and negative features and is very useful for: all involved are focusing on achieving the same identified outcomes, involving service users in decisions about their own care and ensuring that they have control, finding out what works for all involved, enabling staff to use their initiative and feel valued. Some of  the disadvantages to this process include: the actual measuring of outcomes and although ‘bite-sized’ outcomes contribute to more strategic goals the higher outcomes are difficult to plan and be effective. Results-Based Accountability: this is extremely well worked out system and adopts an â€Å"ends (results) to means approach. It also presents itself as simple and easily implemented with a ‘talk to action’ method. This system is able to discriminate between Population Accountability and Performance Accountability. Performance accountability is based on three key questions: How much did we do? How well did we do it? And is anyone better off as a result?. It requires a need for baseline assessments / predictions in order to monitor and evaluate. The advantages to this process includes: it being adaptable to different services and interventions, it provides very strategic outcomes and in the UK is being used for Every Child Matters outcomes and actually measuring outcomes is more achievable. Some of the disadvantages to this method include: funding issues, commissioning relationships as organisations appear to be quite insular when implementing outcomes, individual outcomes/person-centred working and although the actual concept is simple the detail is complex. Logic model adopts a visual description of interventions and or programmes. It provides a way of understanding the connections between resources (inputs), activities, intended outcomes and the impact of outcomes. This method allows for short term, medium term and long term impact of outcomes to be planned and monitored, a bit like a ‘road map’ towards the outcome required. Although this method is not very precise but it does portray a picture to stakeholders about the aspects they think are important. Advantages to this process include: it helps systemise and organise a programme, it provides a useful primary planning tool, it illustrates the concept and strategy of programme for stakeholders and other organisations, evaluation of outcomes is fairly easy and straightforward and it can be easily augmented to fit differing situations. Disadvantages to this process include: planning and management of ongoing interventions and service provision. Outcome Management assumes a â€Å"results matter† style and this provides the driving force behind it. This means that goals need to be quantified on the outset as ‘what gets measured gets done’. This method also  provides a performance measuring tool and milestones provide opportunities to take stock and make adjustment. This process challenges conventional thinking and provide the opportunity for job descriptions to provide a pathway to enthusiasm and energy rather than just being about compliance. This method takes on an evaluation is important, but learning is even more important outlook and believes that the way forward is to invest in order to get results. Advantages to this process include: it is very supportive of innovation, challenges conventional ways of doing things making people â€Å"think outside of the box† and is used a lot in substance abuse programmes where results are easy to measure. Disadvantages to this measure include: more complex outcomes are more difficult to plan, assess and monitor and individual focus can be lost. Outcome based practice is proving to a very valued and evidence based practice which suggests that positive outcomes are more likely to be achieved when this process is followed. Legislation and frameworks also encourage the process as a â€Å"best practice† method and evidence strongly backs this up. No matter how small or big a goal it, when adapted using the outcome based process the individual and their care team are all away of the end result which they want to achieve there for the outcome is much more likely to be achieved than if for an example 1 person has set a goal without foll owing this process and involving the individual and key people in their lives. Read more:  Manage health and social care practice to ensure positive outcomes for individuals

Objective Reality Cannot Exist Without Subjective Reality Essay

The topic of Meta-Ethics pertaining to whether moral values are objective or subjective, and whether or not as a society we should be able to intervene on another society if we do not believe what they are doing is morally ethical, is quite a large topic. How can we come up with a solid answer as to whether or not there are universal human values, and whether certain things should be considered right for everyone are very difficult questions to answer, we must be wary as to not insult different cultures, religions and societies. It has been concluded that an objective reality cannot exist without a subjective reality, in order to reach this conclusion, we must first consider that morality is wholly subjective, if this is so, we cannot call anything wrong, what we believe is right or wrong is simply an individual’s opinion on a subject. As an example, if someone killed several children from an elementary school, if morality is subjective, all anyone is able to say is that from an individual perspective it was wrong, from the perspective of the killer it may have been (in their opinion) the highest moral good. However, if reality is objective, then we can say that what the killer did was wrong. If one believes that killing is something that is truly wrong, then you believe in objective moral value, and in that case one must ask; how far do objective morals stretch, and where do they come from? If one believes that the wrongfulness of killing is simply a matter of perspective, then one should ask; why does society have the right to tell me what to do if morality is merely a matter of perspective? We cannot truthfully choose one way to look at the world, because the world is not black and white, there are many grey areas and many exceptions people would have to their beliefs, because of this we cannot have an objective reality without a subjective reality. Let us look at the cultural differences on morality, if a North American  (male) citizen is asked the question â€Å"Should women have the same rights as men?† the answer would more than likely be yes, if however this question was asked to a Saudi Arabian (male) citizen, the answer would more than likely be no. Whose opinion is correct? The North American would say their opinion is, and the Saudi Arabian would say their opinion is. In this situation, do we as North Americans have the right to impose our views on another society when we believe their views are wrong? The only reason one could justify imposing their societies views on another society is if that society is giving a different gender, race, or person’s with a different sexuality the same rights. In this example it would be that Saudi Arabia does not give women the same rights as men. In this situation human rights and equality are involved, and another society should interfere in order to help the individuals who do not have the equal rights. As North Americans we could say that this is not our problem, and that because it is not our culture or society, we have no right to interfere. Saudi Arabia would most likely agree, we have no right to interfere, and that it is there culture, society and religion, thus it is up to them to decide how to live, but simply put in the case of human rights, it is not a matter of society; culture, or religion, human rights are a universal issue and as people, we cannot let other people be treated as less than us. â€Å"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.† (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 1) Simply put, the only articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that should be kept and enforced are those pertaining to human rights, equality and freedom. Any other articles included should be disregarded, and laws should be decided by country. It is very important that we begin to enforce the human rights and equality articles to each country because these are the most important to the human race as a whole, we must advance our societies, and our people together, and societies with more advanced living and understand should willingly help societies that have not yet made it there. We as people should feel incredibly sad, and motivated to help when we see other people who are not being treated as equals, anyone of us could be in that situation, and we should be grateful we are not. We must do all  we can as a society to help those in need. It is crucial that all countries begin to work together in order to help those who are not being treated with the rights they deser ve.

Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 19

Final - Essay Example The main aim of the imperialist policies in the British Empire was to assist in the acquisition of many foreign territories. These territories would therefore provide raw materials and the market for the British manufacturers. They also established trade monopolies that would ensure that their export exceeds imports. They believed this would provide foreign income to expand and maintain the empire. After successful wars with the French, Spanish and the Dutch in the seventeenth century, Britain was successful in acquiring most territories in the Caribbean, St Lawrence basin in Canada, parts of Africa for slavery acquisition and the coast of the North America. They developed interest in India and the British government took over the East India Company. Britains control extended to neighbors of India, including Burma and Afghanistan. After the end of the Napoleonic wars in1815, Britain became more powerful. At this time, they acquired Dutch South Africa but were challenged in India due to the eastern and southern expansion of the Russian empire. During this period, the traditional rivals of Britain had been diminished in power and size and so Britain remained the leading empire in Europe. However, the old mercantile empire weakened due to certain factors during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Some of the factors were freeing in slaves held in another part of the empire and colonial associations for greater commercial and political independence. British Empire had several motives in penetration in India. The British investors ventured into certain parts of India in search of opportunities that had significant profits. British intellectuals, including Christian missionaries facilitated the movement that sought to bring western technological innovations and intellectuals to Indians. The Christian missionaries translated the bible

The Prison System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Prison System - Essay Example Likewise, State and federal prison authorities had jurisdiction over 1,613,740 prisoners at yearend 2009: 1,405,622 under state jurisdiction and 208,118 under federal jurisdiction. These surveys were conducted by the BJS to determine the total correctional population of the penitentiaries in the U.S. This includes all persons incarcerated, either in prison or jail, or supervised in the community either on probation or parole. Several different data collections are applied to calculate approximately this population, including the National Prisoner Statistics Program, Annual Survey of Jails, Annual Probation Survey and Annual Parole Survey. The basic count of the correctional population is updated annually in the Correctional Populations in the United States series. Established as possessing the biggest correctional system in the world the United States of America has a hierarchy of correctional centers. The United States justice system consists of governmental mechanism for adjudicati ng and processing those who are accused and convicted of numerous crimes. These crimes range from blue-collar crimes up to murder. According to Steve Schoenherr from the University of San Diego, the Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia was recognized as the first penitentiary in America in 1770. Around the 17th to date, the American prison system has completely changed, keeping but a few of the constant principles. Gil (2009) explained that the purpose of the American prison system serves as a last and in most cases immediate resort to secure society from those who have committed minor to major crimes. Regardless if the effect of a person's criminal act is immediate or indirect to society people are still subject to the punishment of the law of this country. The prison system of the United States has clearly changed from its first debut in the late 1700's. The mission of the prison system in the United States then was to keep society safe from those who were found guilty of crimes in a court of law by confining them in full control of the government. Whether state or federal agencies have control of the accused the principles remain the same. State and federal agencies are charged with keeping the accused in confinement until the judicial system deems necessary according for the seriousness of the crime. The impact of the great penitentiary rivalry on our current prison system includes two systems, he Pennsylvania System and the Auburn System (Gil, 2009). The Pennsylvania System was supported by the notion of keeping all who were committed to prison behind bars and separated from all other prisoners. Silence and continuous lock down was the theme within this idea. The environment was completely introverted, cold and tough for a person to outlive. This system was allowed or many years later proved not to be effective. The Auburn System was considered less expensive it believed in the use of labor which would self sustain all of the facilities as well as the priso n population. These systems were later proven noneffective forms of punishment. Today, our government as well as society seeks ways to rehabilitate offenders (Gil, 2009). Consequently, the emergence of the private sector in imprisonment has been the product of several factors. The demand for prisons and jails has been growing as a result of tougher sentencing laws and the war on drugs (Viano, n.d.). Given the major costs of this

Comparing and contrasting poems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comparing and contrasting poems - Essay Example On the other hand, Claude McKay was born in another century, in 1890. He was a Jamaican who immigrated to America at the age of twenty three. Claude McKay is famous for his more of a renegade style that talks about liberation and equality for the oppressed minorities of America. While Morales’ poem instigates your mind to realize and acknowledge the ethnic and racial diversity in America, McKay’s poem truly brings forth the Harlem Renaissance where he embraces and denounces America at the same time. Hence, both poems are similar because of the immigrant blood both poets possess, yet different in the way they deal with this. The form of â€Å"Child of the Americas† and â€Å"America† by Morales and McKay respectively, differs. â€Å"Child of the Americas† has a very ambiguous form that also depicts the confusion of the poet. The first stanza is composed of eight lines while the following two are of six lines each. The poem ends with a single, sure line that comes after a couplet. â€Å"America,† on the other hand, is written in the format of a sonnet with three quatrains and a concluding couplet. Both poets although squabbling with the entity that is America, are proud of who they are. Their American identity as a colored person is something they cherish and acknowledge. While Morales speaks â€Å"English with passion,† McKay loves â€Å"this cultured hell.† McKay opines that although life in America is tough especially when one has to face segregation on the basis of race, he still loves this country because it makes him grow tough and resilient. And although it is a huge country compared to his smallness or the minority of his race, but still it makes him strong enough to be a rebel and stand up to its oppression. Morales and McKay are similar in their poetic expression: Morales has used the impersonation technique to symbolize different ethnicities as an American whereas Claude McKay has personified America as almost equivalent to a

Bereavement care Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Bereavement care - Assignment Example In the wake of the same, different cultures carry out different ritual acts in alleviating the effects of a loss and creation of resilience. Rituals play a great deal of functions in the life of a person subjected to the given tragedy. Medically, the rituals act as therapeutic step. There are several rituals depending on the society that is concerned with the issue. One of them is the funeral of a deceased person. Funeral as a ritual is carried out differently in the different societies. For instance, in the western world, there is usually a high sense of cultural differences and these would to a large extend be dictated by the specific culture. Funeral home visits with a casket among the western nations; a catholic wake as well as a Shiva among the Jews is some of the rituals. What function do these serve? There are rituals that are also part of other rituals. A funeral service is a greater ritual that is carried by most groups in the world. One of the roles of a funeral and its sub -rituals is that it creates admissibility and appreciation in the hands of the bereaved. Many people according to Bonnano have had to appreciate the fact that so many mourners can turn up to witness the burial of someone in the society. Finality of the death is therefore appreciated and realized at that instance. Burial or cremation is also a ritual that must be carried out to a dead person. Burials witness a lot of activities. These activities just like the whole funeral process are supposed to create an acceptable situation of the reality of the matter (Cecilia & Thomson, 2005). In the western societies for instance, most of the actions are leveled towards creation of acceptance in the victims who suffer from denials instead of carrying out unwarranted practices. Therefore, all the rituals and behaviors are supposed to create a transition and actually the witness of a behavior is usually an indication that the transition is being successfully implemented. Different societies defin e the expected behavior in a funeral differently. The basis of the behavior is based on the traditional and historical facts that have been followed over the generations (Bonanno, 2009). A great deal of knowledge about emotions is a strong issue when it comes to dealing with resilience at any stage. Much of the western world would therefore have a very personalized approach to issues of resilience than the other parts of the world. Therefore, there is no conditioned definition of the expected behavior in a society but it is based on the type of culture that has been cultivated over the generations. Bonanno’s View of Resiliency and Grief Grieving as a way related to resilience is a process in the recovery process. Grieving is suffering due to any reason that would take resilience to recover back to normalcy. Grief is an emotion that is strong and overwhelming mostly caused by an unfortunate happening. During grieving, there is a high sense of symptomatic experiences that go wi th the situation and is highly dependent on the strength of the loss incurred. The victims experience a lot of numbness and there’s a total removal from the daily life. This daily life includes social life and therefore, there is support that is required to make sure that the victim recovers completely. The response of the experts to the situation of grieving

How East-Asian Martial Films Have Influenced Hollywood Cinema Literature review

How East-Asian Martial Films Have Influenced Hollywood Cinema - Literature review Example This genre has been known to incorporate richly detailed choreographed action scenes with high-flying kicks and martial art techniques. When it was first seen in Asia, it was far-removed from the American film genre and style. However, it soon became a common feature in the Hong Kong film industry (Michallet-Romero, 2003). While trying to preserve the traditional stories of Chinese heroes, Hong Kong film directors translated martial arts techniques into film and in the process influenced the Hollywood film industry. The Wuxia tales in Chinese history were representations of male and female sword masters who represented much heroism in their actions (Garnet, 1999). These tales of heroism were developed in an era dominated by Confucianism and the teachings of this religion. Confucius was very much focused on loyalty, obedience, and on fulfilling one’s duty to one’s family. The father was considered the head of the household and as such total respect was owed him by the re st of the family (Morgan, 2001). Confucius also advocated the belief that those who were stronger must protect the weak, the aged, and those who were unable to defend themselves. Confucius also supported the ideal leader, ordering his warriors to live their lives with dignity and with valour. From these teachings grew wuxia literature. This literature was also enriched by the stories of the Buddhist religious leader Siddartha Gautama (Michallet-Romero, 2003). Buddha’s teachings incorporated philosophical beliefs to the wuxia tales and also advocated the idea of alleviating the sufferings of man. Physical disciplines were later associated with Buddhism and Confucianism and these movements were meant to enhance a person’s chi, which is considered to be the life force of all beings (Michallet-Romero, 2003). ... iplines were later associated with Buddhism and Confucianism and these movements were meant to enhance a person’s chi, which is considered to be the life force of all beings (Michallet-Romero, 2003). From these movements Kung Fu would soon evolve. The Wuxia tales presented the image of the hero – either male or female – as one who is able to wield a sword skilfully, travelling to distant lands and carrying out heroic deeds in defence of the powerless and the weak. These heroes were often known to travel alone, exemplifying their strong skills in martial arts and sword play (Desser, 2002). The relationship of master and student within these stories were also apparent. The wuxia tales also presented the virtues of justice, valour, and sacrifice for the greater good of the people. The protagonists were also usually of common lineage and with skill and training gained much prestige (Birrell, 1999). This protagonist was very much different from the protagonists portra yed in Western stories where the heroes were often of noble blood. Wuxia folklore eventually made its way into the common and the noble people of China and these stories were retold with slight changes in their characterizations, making them darker and flawed and somehow representing a danger to those who were weak. Due to these changes in their characterization, the heroes were often made to confront their dark side as well (Birrell, 1999). Eventually however, this wuxian hero would be able to redeem himself by favouring the original teachings of Buddhism and Confucianism, harnessing enough chi to make the ultimate sacrifice for the people. These wuxia tales became popular forms of literature in China and they became common themes among travelling groups of actors in China. When the Peking Opera was