Prezi Reflection

Prezi Reflection and Review The entire process of creating and presenting the Prezi was a huge collaborative learning experience for me. Time management was one of the greatest challenges we faced throughout the creation process. As a group, we had to find non-clashing time slots in our schedules in order to meet and design a layout for our project. After brainstorming and designating four major areas of interest for each team member through texts and emails, we made an appointment at the CommLab. One of the English professors helped us with learning the Prezi interface and facilitated the designing of the structure for our Prezi.The toughest challenge our group faced was to maintain coherence throughout our project. This was intrinsically difficult because our group focused on the diversity of reality and thus we went into very unique branches of thought such as Fundamental Science, Politics, Art, etc. Later on, Professor Harkey gave us valuable feedback as to how to orient our visu al structure in order to achieve maximum engagement and coherence. Everything started to fall in place when we created a linked Prezi which allowed all four of us to access and edit the group’s Prezi simultaneously and independently at our own convenience.I would say this is one of Prezi’s greatest advantages over other presentation softwares. It was incredible for me to log onto our Prezi presentation at say 11:30 p. m. and see my teammates adding content. I could literally see the Prezi grow radially building up with more connections between major areas of interest. It was tough not to get sucked into one of my partner’s chain of thought as he or she was dynamically appending the presentation. However, these distractions proved to be beneficial when we began texting each other while observing each other’s contribution.Creativity manifested itself in the minor changes we made while we were working on the presentation together. Technology seemed to overpo wer obstacles such as distance and time and it gave us a feeling of control. It created a hyperreality by almost convincing us that we were working in the same room together. Our group was assigned to review group Foxtrot. The major question they tried to answer in their presentation was â€Å"what is realness with reference to the real world? † In terms of their organization, they followed a very simple structure comprised of concentric circles.This made it easy for the audience to follow along in a sequential manner but I feel they slightly underutilized Prezi’s capabilities. For each subtopic, they were able to present a well justified argument in their view. I felt they could have enriched their presentation in this aspect by justifying their claims through more perspectives. One good example of the multimodal approach can be found in their presentation. They first used a video with text alone showing the dialogue from the movie, The Matrix. Then, they played the a ctual piece containing that dialogue.Thus, it was an instance where they mixed oral, visual, and non-verbal modes quite fluently. The unique aspect about their presentation that distinguishes them is the fact that they relied on verbal communication relatively more than any other group in our class. Thus, one is inclined to believe that their presentation is brief when viewing their Prezi independently although that is not the reality. The very act of focusing their presentation orally to create a discussive environment shows a good deal of Rhetorical Awareness. They could have achieved a better sense of balance in this regard by distributing the time each member spoke equally.Overall, they did well in all these different areas of evaluation. They especially did well when you take into account that their presentation was broken into two pieces due to time constraints and they were one member short during the presentation. I can clearly see that the entire Prezi assignment has helped both of our groups attain some clarity on the different issues that â€Å"realness† brings up. It has also given us a better understanding of how different modes can be used to create different responses in the audience with the same content. The Prezi assignment like I said before has truly been a great learning experience.

Principles of developing adults Essay

Malcolm Knowles renowned for his work on adult learning (andragogy) identified the following principles of developing adults: * Adults need to be provided with a rationale as to why the learning is taking place * Adults need to be encouraged to be self-directive and responsible for their learning * Adults can fully contribute and participate in the learning process (collective wealth of experience enables them to do this) * Adults wish to learn if they can see a practical point to it * If adults believe the learning can enhance performance they will embrace the learning * Adults respond better to intrinsic motivators (increased knowledge and self-esteem) Preparing and designing learning and development events/interventions are vital in order to ensuring: * The development intervention has a clear purpose * Aims and objectives are clearly covered * The needs and learning styles of the learners are taken into account * Aims and objectives are integrated to organisational needs * The development intervention is motivating and engaging for individuals * There is active commitment from the participants to learning * That the resources and materials are complimentary to overall aims and objectives and ensure that the intervention is engaging and accessible * Sensitivity to all participants’ cultural, religious and other needs * An assessment of what has been developed is put in place * The interventions/outcomes are fully evaluated Clearly planned and designed events will help towards the advancement of: * Individual, team and organisational aims and objectives * Skills, knowledge and behaviours * Higher participant satisfaction with the intervention, which could encourage further engagement in the learning process * The likelihood that further development will be proposed However, no matter how effective the organisation of the event is and how much the promotional material tries to engage the learners, consideration needs to be taken into account of the organisational and individual barriers to learning when planning the process. Barriers (both organisational and individual) can include: * Lack of necessary resources and materials * Learning and development interventions previously not delivering on promises * Lack of positive communication and involvement to engage and motivate individuals of the benefits * Fear of learning and development * Fear of competence * Previous (negative) experiences of learning and development * Lack of foresight with regards to the benefits of learning and development * ‘We have tried this before and it did not work syndrome’ * ‘The learning does not fit in with my particular learning stylesnydrome’ * ‘Leave me alone, I am doing well syndrome’ The above should be taken seriously by organisations as these can have a negative impact on the organisation enhancing its skills, knowledge and behaviours and hence its overall performance. Continuous communication with staff, where they are actively involved in the design and preparation of the process can go some way to alleviating these difficulties. An effective performance management process that focuses on developing employee capabilities will provide a further mechanism for their input, whilst potentially increasing their confidence and abilities to involve themselves in the process. The active involvement of individuals may overcome many of the barriers, including negative previous experiences (probably in school) where learners may not have been treated like responsible adults (see information on adult learning below). There are a number of models and theories that can help identify how the needs of learners can be put into practice. * Instrumental learning theory – improving efficiency and effectiveness on the job once basic standards have been achieved * Cognitive learning theory – utilising information to acquire knowledge and put into context * Affective learning theory – development of attitudes and/or feelings to a particular area * Reinforcement theory – focus on behaviouralism in that the belief is that individuals can be conditioned and will change their behaviour based on a response to events or stimuli (e.g. a pay rise, threat of a warning * Social learning theory – enhancement of learning through social interaction and the sharing of knowledge, ideas and solutions * Experiential learning theory – more self-directed where individuals learn from their experience and importantly reflect on how they can develop and apply their learning further The type of learning is dependent on the context and the motivation and determination of the individual. Although an appreciation of learning theories is important to determine how people learn, an appreciation of different learning styles can enable organisations to undertake a more focused approach to developing L&D interventions. Kolb’s learning cycle – focuses on how individuals can utilise concrete experiences to help inform new developmental choices. To be truly effective, a learner should develop a mix of observation, reflection, direct involvement and analytical insight. Honey and Mumford Learning styles questionnaire – identified four distinct (although arguably mutually inclusive learning styles) that individuals may relate to in terms of preferences of learning. It is important for HR/L&D professionals to both identify how they adapt development to meet learners’ needs and enable individuals to explore learning methods they may not be totally comfortable with, yet will aid their total development. Bernice McCarthy’s 4MAT – identifies four styles of learning based on four questions/areas: (1) reasons for wanting to learn; (2) what learners like to know; (3) knowing how things work; (4) learners finding solutions for themselves. These will identify learners’ motivation for learning and how to design learning and development interventions to accommodate these. Bloom’s Domains for Learning – divides learning into three domains (categories): (1) Cognitive – knowledge/facts; (2) psychomotor – practical skills; (3) affective – attitudes/beliefs Sylvia Down’s MUD (memory, understanding and doing) – (1) memory – knowledge/facts; (2) understanding – concepts/abstract ideas; (3) doing – practical skills Legislative requirements In terms of preparing and designing, a number of key legislative requirements need to be taken into account, not only to adhere to the law, but more importantly to ensure a safe, comfortable environment is in place where people can flourish. Additionally, detailed record keeping could provide vital information for future decision making and performance enhancement. Key legislative requirements include: * Health and safety – ensuring a safe environment that is accessible for all * Equality legislation – ensuring accessibility and the reduction of discrimination * Data Protection – ensuring data is processed fairly, used only for a specific purpose and stored safely * Telecommunications and communication – particularly pertinent if delivery involves e-learning, blended and distance learning * Regulation – regulatory bodies may require detailed records to be kept for auditing purposes

Tower of terror

Darkness swooped over me as the doors to death became closer. The pool of blood in which I lay was sticky and viscous almost as if gluing me to the floor. I could no longer move! Panic, fear, loneliness, pain and anger simultaneously engulfed me in streams of thought I could no longer process. What happened? How did I get here? Then it all came rushing back. â€Å"Hey Alisha wait for me!† I turned around to see my best-friend gasping as she ran behind me shouting, sweaty, red and panting with her red curly hair, bouncing as much as ever. â€Å"Hi Tanya†, I muffled as I gave my best friend a big hug. Since I started going out with Max I had rarely spent time with her. The truth is I missed her, but was totally fascinated by the new boy in town, Max. I had met him a month ago and it seemed like we were dating for years, he was an easy-going down-to-earth kind of guy, intellectual and also carried himself with a hint of mysteriousness. Most strikingly were his Spanish/Italian looks, tanned skin, which always glowed, long brown hair and the most dreamy green eyes which almost all the girls in the school had fallen for. Although he looked like he had emerged right out of the 70's, he was cuter and smarter than most of the guys in Mill Valley. He was almost too good to be true but I was not complaining, although Tanya was! â€Å"Hello stranger, so you do remember me!† Tanya said with the slightest of sarcasm followed by a big smile. â€Å"I'm really sorry I†¦I. Tanya†¦you know†¦I†, I stuttered profusely, I did not know what to say, only but a month earlier I was hanging out with her, shopping, cinemas, sleep-overs, but now we had this distance, which although I wanted to, I could not fill. â€Å"Hey I know I'm not a good kisser like Max and not half as good-looking, but hey girl I miss ya†. â€Å"I know, I know, OK what do you say we go for some ice-cream now and catch up? It's on me!† I locked my arms into hers and gave a little tug. â€Å"Are you not meeting Max?† â€Å"Max who? No girl I'll ring him and let him know†. There it was my last meeting with Tanya, we talked and talked I told her about Max and she told me about her long days without me. She was truly a drama queen. We had already had three mango and kiwi sundaes, between us and were starting on the fourth. I had just realized how much I really had missed sitting, talking and laughing with Tanya, why had I never canceled on Max before? â€Å"Are you listening to me? Alisha, Alisha snap out of it?† Tanya was clicking her fingers in my face. I finally blinked and smiled, â€Å"Tanya I love ya gal† â€Å"Back at ya sweetie, anyway before you went in to you little day-dream I was telling you, why don't we have a sleep-over today, it'll be like old times, I bought that Brad Pitt flick, so we can just hang out what do you s†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Tanya stopped in mid-sentence her smile fading as she looked up and then at my puzzling face. â€Å"Sounds good†¦what's wrong? Tanya you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Hey babes, is this seat taken?† Max said as he slid into the seat beside me, taking my hand. â€Å"Hi Tanya, long time no see† â€Å"Hey†¦Hey Max† Tanya was always wary and almost frightened of Max, she gave a quick fake smile to him and then looked at me almost in defeat. â€Å"So what you girls been talking about? Not too much about me, I hope, anyway Aisha?† He turned to me, and instantly I was under the casts of his eyes, I wished I could hold him forever. â€Å"Hmm? Yeh?† I gulped, why did I always turn into a puddle of nerves whenever he looked at me? Why? And why was he here? I had told him I was spending the evening with Tanya, he had been disappointed but said he would live for a few hours without me! â€Å"Ok so you both wondering why I'm here, right? Alisha if you have forgotten I had something planned for you today in celebration of our one month anniversary, so I have come to kidnap you!† I looked at Max and then at Tanya, she was obviously gutted and tried to hide it as best as she could, although some tears had formed she blinked them away. â€Å"That's so sweet, Alisha, you have to go, don't worry we can do this some other time, and Max you have to stop taking her away from me† Although Tanya was half joking, her last comment was said with a bit of hurt. â€Å"I'm really sorry Tanya, I totally forgot, I promise we'll get together soon, I'll call you!† I winked at her as Max took my hand and we got up to leave. It was only after we walked out of the ice-cream parlor, I realised it was supposed to be me treating, and I had left her with the bill. I wave guilt passed me until I realised where we were walking towards. â€Å"Where†¦.where†¦where are we going?† I stammered as I saw the Trangriester Tower looming on front of me. â€Å"To your destiny honey, you'll see†, I held on to Max as tight as ever, not understanding what he meant, and felt alone and scared as the hairs on my neck stood up at the sight of the dark crooked tower. As we reached the big wooden door, I felt my hear skip a beat, what could be pleasant about this place? And what was this surprise? I knew if Tanya were here she would have took my hand and ran back to the safety of the lightened street of the town. The door creaked open just like in the movies when some stupid kids enter a haunted house. I screamed, startled, I saw a pale but very pretty girl with long straight blonde hair and big blue eyes staring right back at me. It only took a moment to realize it was my reflection in the mirror. â€Å"Max, Max where are you?† I shouted as I noticed that the warmth of his presence had left and I was standing alone in the landing of the tower. Almost as if in response, the big door slammed shut eliminating any light from outside except for the small circle windows near the stairs. I pulled the door again and again it was locked. I was beginning to wish I were with Tanya watching the Brad Pitt movie, where was Max. â€Å"Elizabeth†¦Elizabeth†¦Elizabeth† a coarse almost silent whisper was coming from upstairs, it sounded like Max, but why would he be whispering and who was Elizabeth? I walked up the stairs, which also creaked with every step I took. â€Å"R†¦Ra†¦Max this is not funny, come on lets get out of here†. I was going to kill him for this; this was just not my idea of a joke. Then out of nowhere a figure emerged in front of me. It was Max, yet his eyes were not the beautiful green that one would loose themselves in, but were almost a bloody red. â€Å"Elizabeth it's the 13th of August†¦. the day you left me, do you remember? You stole my life; you took everything and left me dying in this tower. You are a heartless witch you must die, my soul needs to rest†¦you must die† Max had an old knife which he directed right back at me. This must be a dream. What was happening? â€Å"I†¦I†¦Max†¦. I'm not Elizabeth what is wrong with you? It's me†¦what are you talking about?† â€Å"STOP LYING† Max shrieked, â€Å"Your blonde hair and blue eyes, I remember Elizabeth I remember†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and then suddenly I felt a surge of pain in my chest where he had stabbed me again and again and then he stopped. â€Å"You're not Elizabeth, I'm sorry†¦I have to find Elizabeth† then he walked away, my blue contacts had fallen out in the rush of the struggle, and now cold and scared I lay in the pool of my own blood dying, for what, I did not know. How could I have trusted him, confused and scared I lay there, I reached out to someone, but it was no one†¦No one!

The Passions of Andrew jackson by Andrew Burstin Essay

The Passions of Andrew jackson by Andrew Burstin - Essay Example There are two popular models that are used to describe early childhood behavior. They are â€Å"nature,† which assumes a genetic predisposition to a behavior, and â€Å"nurture,† which predicts that the child’s environment predominantly dictates behavior. The authors of this study take both factors into account by creating three study groups. These groups consisted of a control group, where paternal alcohol abuse was non-existent; a recovered group, where paternal alcohol abuse was in remission; and the target group in which the father abused or was dependent upon alcohol consumption. In an attempt to account for environmental factors, the authors located a family for the target group, and then found demographically similar families that fit the criteria for the control and the recovered groups. This ensured that all of the participants were comparable in ethnicity, neighborhood, income, etc. In all, their samples amounted to a total of 267 families. Each of the three groups was similar in sample size and composition. Using computer-based interviews, the authors interviewed each family once a year for three years. Both parents and children were asked to answer several questions relating to alcohol use and specific behaviors that were of importance to the development of the hypothesis. For example, the fathers were asked questions relevant to their level of alcohol dependence during the prior three months. They were questioned on their awareness of their children’s activities. The adolescents were asked to self-report criteria based upon a combination of items from the Child Behavior Checklist and the Youth Self Report. The results of this study did not support the hypothesis that fluctuations in paternal alcohol use correlates with a higher incidence of adolescent behavior problems. The authors list several reasons to explain the outcome of this study. One of the most obvious is the frequency of the

Who are we to play God Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Who are we to play God - Dissertation Example The wonders of the universe and the miracle of life are becoming more known to our civilization now, more so than at any other point in human history. Developments in scientific reasoning and testing have allowed us to determine the underlying theory of many concepts. Technology has made this more efficient and facilitated some of the discoveries that have been made. In particular, one of the fields, which have been called into question due to a combination of religion, ethics, and politics, is in the field of biological engineering and manipulation.This is due to our high technological advancement in being able to accomplish meticulous processes as well as understanding the theory underlying complex biological processes. Stem cell research has been of high debate in this topic. Progressive society dictates that this is a normal step in treating medical disorders and learning more about how to manipulate biological mechanisms, however at what point does the progressive nature of scie nce override our morality and ethics? Although stem cell research has the possibility of sparking a new revolution in biomedical research, it is still important to recognize that there is a line where science and ethics meet, acknowledging that it is not a line that needs to be crossed. Stem cell research is a look into the future where diseases will be eradicated and a new biological science will develop, however there is controversy dealing with: the pros of research, the negative stigmata and ethical concerns of research, and the future of stem cell research as far as the benefits it can bring. Stem cells are a specific form of cell, which can be encoded to perform almost any function of a cell in the human body. They are hard to harvest due to the fact that as adults, there are very limited quantities of stem cells in the body because they have already differentiated, that is changed into the cell they were needed to function as. For scientists, finding an adequate supply of ste m cells was vital in order to keep the research alive therefore they turned to embryos. Embryos have extremely high counts of stem cells, especially in the early stages. This is due to the fact that as an embryo, the growth is occurring at an accelerated rate. Differentiation of different layers and the formation of all the different organ systems in the body requires a large supply of stem cells in order to serve their function in each of the different systems. The one drawback to the method of harvesting stem cells from human embryos is that usually the infant will not survive or there will be permanent biological damage, which could influence the biological development of the infant in a maladaptive way. Therefore, researchers turned to abortion clinics in order to use aborted fetuses to harvest these cells. This is why the topic of stem cell research is so closely tied to that of the debate of Roe vs. Wade, the argument of prochoice and prolife. Stem cell research in the United States has been extremely restricted by the government. There are only specific institutions and sites where this research can be conducted; federal funding of these projects is also limited. This stigma on stem cell research is having repercussions in the medical and biological research fields. Some scientists devote their life work to that of stem cell research, but are unable to pursue the research adequately here in the United States. Therefore, they leave the United States in order to pursue their research in countries where there are not as many restrictions on stem cell research. As a result, there is an increasingly dangerous hemorrhage in the scientific community as they leave to study in other countries. In addition, private companies have tried to take advantage of this situation by providing funding in these biomedical applications to keep scientists here (Brainard 22-25). However, there are movements in legislature, both state and federal, which are pushing for fewer li mitations in stem cell researc

Freedom of Speech and Internet Privacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Freedom of Speech and Internet Privacy - Essay Example Given that each human being has a democratic right to free speech, Internet Privacy is an important consideration. This becomes especially important since cyberspace is an area that one does not have tangible control of, and one cannot ascertain whether s/he is being spied on. However, in view of the terror threats in this day and age, intelligence agencies have been given considerable authority to invade various areas of cyberspace. Therefore, though people may have the right to free speech, and rights to Internet Privacy, there is a border that needs to be defined. While Internet Privacy refers to one's personal information being transferred, stored or exchanged to carryout business or personal activities, and are not meant for disclosing to the public, Freedom of speech is one's right to speak out publicly, but responsibly. People tend to forget what freedom of speech is; they sometimes mistake it for speaking out irresponsibly. It is important for one to take his or her right to free speech seriously and responsibly in order to use it for what it is worth. In today's world, one needs to give this right more consideration. This is because there are many people who fear terrorist attacks; if they just get a hint of hate speech that another person might utter as an expression of frustration, they could inform concerned authorities. On the Internet, there are many people who express their views on open forums as well as in private ones. Community groups like Myspace.com, Msn My space, Facebook, etc. are ones where different kinds of people converge to vent their dismay at many conditions, such as the war in Iraq, and other severe issues. Most individuals are harmless and only express their views. However, intelligence agencies take these threats seriously and try to trace them out (Markoff, 2006). This is where many Internet users get offended, and feel their right to free speech is being smothered or interfered with. Debate over the extent that intelligence agencies go through to obtain information from different forums is ongoing. This is expected to continue for a longer period with the prevailing global political and military conditions. Privacy with Online Activity: It is obvious that privacy needs to be protected as much as possible, as one's civil liberties should not be disrupted. If one's privacy is not protected in the manner it should be, there can be no guarantee about anything online. It would also mean that privacy and security is only limited to the physical space that people live in and cannot be extended to cyber space. Cyberspace needs to be treated as an extension of the very space we live and trade within (Speed & Ellis, 2001, 238-240). The differences between existence in one's physical space and cyber space have been disputed for a while; many are skeptical about the extent of control that authorities have in cyber space, as they feel that their privacy is being undermined. This is legitimate to a great extent because of the fact that there is control over programs that are not visible and sometimes not even detectible (Speed & Ellis, 2001, 238-240). However, when one makes vital transfers of information, signing them digitally enables a receiver of such information at another point to have confidence in what a user has sent. The receiver automatically

Business Communication and ICT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Communication and ICT - Essay Example More so, non-verbal communication enhances ideas and concepts of verbal communication through the application of gestures, body language, tone of voice, and facial expression among other aspects such as symbols, pictures, and icons. However, non-verbal communication relies on personal presentation, audience awareness, and body language. Types of Non-Verbal Communication Non-verbal communications include the haptics, artifacts, and kinesics, which have been used to enhance verbal communications from an individual level to business dealings (Wood, 2010). Haptics is the physical communication that is meant to communicate particular information at a personal level with specific aspects of the body. Physical communication includes the use of aspects such as facial expression, body movements, and gestures that often accompany verbal communication. Haptics is often evident in the social scene where more intimate and close relationships and communications are established. The distance betwee n individuals conversing determines the level of haptics communications alongside cultural aspects regarding interpersonal norms (Wood, 2010, p.131).   Body posture in this case is the speaker’s body position, which may correspond with communication expectations and intention in a particular context. Physical communication often conveys symbolic messages with regards to the orator’s intentions and attitude concerning the message being communicated (Wood, 2010). Facial expressions on the other hand are dynamic features and sources of emotional communication that often communicate the speaker’s intentions, attitudes, and emotions. In addition, facial expression includes eye movement as a key aspect of facial behavior and displays with regards to eye contact frequency, stare, and glances. Glance, eye contact frequency, and stare may convey a wide range of information, emotions, and intentions of the speaker himself. This is in consideration of the fact that facia l expressions vary continuously during oral communication, and they are therefore monitored and interpreted constantly by the message recipient (Wood, 2010). Artifacts are non-verbal forms of communication based on environmental, cultural, and social artifacts for message conveyance and understanding. The environment generally refers to the physical place where communication takes place while artifacts are environmental objects that provide some form of communication stimulus. The environment of communication and environmental stimulus are basically the concepts of nonverbal communication that affect the changes regarding how people communicate non-verbally. Appropriate non-verbal communication is dependent of the artifacts and the environment in which communication takes place, with regards to giving clues of non-verbal behavior. Environmental factors include aspects such as climate, which influences the non-verbal behavior of individuals and even native residents of a particular c limate (Wood, 2011) Kinesics non-verbal communication on the other hand is the general body language interpretation and message conveyance. Kinesics non-verbal communication relates to movements of particular parts of the body or the body as a whole with respect to the gestures that individuals choose to put in place when conveying particular information. The manner in which the body is held generally constitutes posture and body gestures,

Leadership photo narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leadership photo narrative - Essay Example She couldn’t wait to get there. Lana was excited, confident of meeting expectations and thereby earning the love and respect of her new colleagues. Lana had been offered a job as a computer technician in a prestigious firm that prided themselves on employing and empowering the differently abled. They subscribed to the school of thought that believed in person-centric planning for the required service and support systems for their employees with disabilities and consulted with a highly acknowledged team of Human Services professionals. Life seemed to have so much to offer that lovely morning that Lana had quite forgotten the hard time she had had just some time ago when boarding the bus. Looking at Lana’s bright and happy face and twinkling eyes, no one could have suspected how severely challenged the young woman was. Her peculiar condition made every physical action a little battle in itself. Some strange muscular dysfunction made her a contradictory combination of a sharp and agile mind in a physically challenged body that labored to obey simple signals from her brain. What a struggle every step she took was! Only she knew how much courage it took to go on doggedly determined to achieve her objective- sometimes as commonplace as climbing the rather high steps of the bus. However, Lana had been lucky to have a great family and caregivers. Her parents and siblings together with her teachers at the special school she had recently graduated from had helped her become what she was today. Lana was a trained information technology or IT professional. At her computer and on the internet, she was a wizard and that was exactly what had got her this job in the city. But Lana had learned much more than merely computer skills. She had learned to accept a stranger’s helping hand appreciating his or her genuine concern instead of feeling humiliated. She had learned to ignore the pitying glances of others better-abled than she. Above all she had

Questions and comments on graph and starbucks Essay

Questions and comments on graph and starbucks - Essay Example Euro will definitely make it difficult for European economies to compete in the global market due to comparatively low prices offered by non-European economies. Starbucks’ understanding towards the increase in exchange rate for Euro vs Dollars has saved it from making an investment, which would have resulted in lower revenues earning; however, the other issue of tax avoidance is a considerable one, which not only focuses on the taxation policies but also increases the political risk associated with such practices. The fact that the actions of the company can affect the political risk has to be considered, which will definitely be another setback for the operations of the company in the European market (Kapil). The management of Starbucks shall be concerned about the risks associated with foreign currency translations, which may affect the profitability of the company and thereby deviate unfavourably from projected figures. In this regard, the fact that the company has started using forward contracts to cover risks associated with foreign currency translation is a positive step. The fact that there is a risk associated with such practice is still acceptable while keeping in view the greater risk associated with losses incurred in foreign currency translations

Individual Project Budget Essay Example for Free

Individual Project Budget Essay This week we are looking forward to successful two day training with your staff. The objective is to successfully convert the United States Army Medical Department from EMR to AHLTA. There are trainers that are set in place to ensure that the staff receives their full attention and that they also feel comfortable with the software. The outcome of this would be to have the ability to easily communicate electronically regarding patients and is up to date with today’s advanced technology which will allow the compliance with government standards as well as high reimbursement for every office. While being trained the staff should feel very comfortable when working with the software and to ensure that this happens a questionnaire is given for feedback. In order to get prepared for the training class, there is an updated list of things that are on the schedule that are to be reviewed with the staff. I there are any changes that come about they should be made as soon as possible. In order to make sure that the meeting will offer a successful transition, communication is very important for all offices so stakeholders are alert and ready for the upcoming dealings. In order to get everything settled their will be daily meeting that will be set up via the web and at a landline location for those that are able to attend. Schedules for each provider and their staff should eventually be shortened to accommodate training and mandatory attendance should be enforced. A checklist will be provided for each office with the necessary materials needed for the conversion and information regarding government policies. Tentative Schedule * Employees will arrive in Atlanta (Hartsfield Inter. Airport) @ approximately 8:00am * Shuttle will bring all employees to Hyatt (we have a contract with this hotel) * Employees will be served continental breakfast before the training @ 9:00am on both days * Translators are available for those that request it * Conference rooms are on the first floor Training on both days will end at approximately 4:30pm * Lunch will be serviced, Dinner is not in the budget room service and taxi service are available @ employees expense * Trainers will watch every user to make sure that they fill comfortable and a short quiz will be given on the second day to ensure this course is understood and if not then further training can be offered * Shuttle buses will be available the morning after the last training class to transport employees to Atlanta (Hartsfield Inter.  Airport). There are different times being offered, please make sure that each employee is aware of the departure times so they arrive one or two hours before their plane is set to leave The company’s plans are that each employee has a successful training class as well as a comfortable and relaxing environment. Once the two day training ends a questionnaire/survey will be mailed out for feedback. These forms are completely anonyms if you chose to take it. Thank you in advance for your corporation in this matter. For your review a preliminary budget for the 2 day training classes is provided. The budget and the schedule are subject to change. They are in the excel format using the Grantt chart.

Causes of Film Cult Status: Donnie Darko

Causes of Film Cult Status: Donnie Darko Film Donnie Darko Abstract The following dissertation developed out of an enthusiastic interest in â€Å"Cult† film fandom and, in particular, Donnie Darko (Kelly: 2001). The desire to study the film in depth through a case study into its fandom came from my own curiosity and ambition to decipher and understand the level of fandom that surrounds the film, and how that formulated. Through reviewing and studying other academics work in the field and their own theories on cult films it acknowledged the diverse work when trying to find a solid definition and the complexities that follow the term â€Å"cult†. The research was used as the core of my study whilst examining Donnie Darko throughout the dissertation, using the work as not only a definition for cult but also theories on reception and fandom. .. By looking at the pre release of the film itself and the critical reception that followed an interesting debate is revealed: Was Donnie Darko created to become a â€Å"Cult† film? By conducting a study into the critical and fan reception of Donnie Darko it became apparent of the impact this had on the film’s cult status and also of how the cult fandom communities communicate and operate with each other in the form of dedicated fan web sites and fan message boards. By taking into consideration the various components of Donnie Darko, pre release, distribution, fan and critical reception, the conclusion of how much Donnie Darko can be represented as a Cult film can be found. It is plain to see what impact the internet had on the success of its reception with fans and revivals for re-releases, all of which point to the film being deliberately manufactured to adhere to cult sensibilities. Introduction In contemporary film and media there has always been an interest in fan studies and audience reception but there has been limited work on the specific genre of cult fandom and cult films. The research that is already available on the subject of cult films is inconclusive and does not share a common definition of what cult film is. I believe that it is possible to make a structured framework of what makes a film cult from existing research but there is insufficient study in respect of how cult films can be seen to be deliberately made. It is my hypothesis that film makers now have the knowledge to be able to construct and manipulate their films into gaining a cult audience, and that by researching this it will inform future academic discourse in the area of cult film. This piece of work will endeavour to map out the techniques used to create a cult film and thereby gain a cult audience and from this it will be possible to determine whether or not cult films are a carefully constructed and marketed text. In this dissertation, which takes the form of a case study, the 2001 Richard Kelly film Donnie Darko will be analysed in terms of how it has achieved the perceived status of being branded a cult film. The aim of this will be to define what a cult film is, and what attributes constitute a cult film, whilst looking at levels of fandom and considering whether or not cult is more ordinary than first perceived. The first section of this paper will discuss existing definitions of what cult films are, and also the problems faced when defining them. Having arrived at a solid definition of what a cult film is it will be used as the reference point when considering cult film in terms with Donnie Darko for the rest of the paper. A film’s cult status is not dependant on textual aspects alone and, in the final section of the paper, I will take a look at the reception of Donnie Darko amongst critics and general fans; this is, arguably, the most essential element to consider in terms of understanding how the status of cult film was conferred upon Donnie Darko. By referring to academic journals and contemporary reviews of the film in commercial film magazines and on websites it will be possible to arrive at an idea of how the critics formed the cult idea. Lacking a formal outlet, fan reception is harder to analyse, but by surveying fan communities online in the form of a dedicated fansite and one specifically created forum for Donnie Darko fans, it will be possible to analyse the fandom surrounding the film. Also, through analysis of focus groups of self proclaimed Donnie Darko fans, it will, through their discourse and opinions, be possible to map how cult fans react and use the text, in order to find out whether the film was constructed for this purpose. Literature Review – What Is Cult? When studying Cult Film it is first important to arrive at a robust definition of the term in order to provide clarity throughout this study. â€Å"Cult Film† is a phrase that is often used, in the context of certain films, by film reviewers, critics and the film fans alike, but arriving at an academic definition of what the terms exactly means, and the attributes a film must be seen to have to conform to a notion of a cult framework, is a difficult task. Many theorists have proposed their own notions and definitions of what makes a film cult, each formulating a different variation of what they see as essential to the make-up of a cult film. Some suggest that a â€Å"cult film† is created through its overall consumption, whilst others attribute prominence to other elements that feature within the text themselves. In their work in the area of cult film Jancovich, Stringer, Willis and Reboll also recognise that the term cult has many different meanings and connotations, asserting that â€Å"(Cult) would include entries from such seemingly disparate subgenres as â€Å"bad film†, splatterpunk, â€Å"mondo† films, and sword and sandal epics, Elvis flicks† (Sconce 1995 cited in Jancovich et al 2003:1) the list goes on but the point they are trying to make is that an overwhelmingly large group of films could potentially be considered as cult. In their work they do not set out to completely define the exact characteristics of any specific movies, describing cult films as an â€Å"essentially eclectic category† (Jancovich et al 2003:1) the work also goes on to propose that there is no one single signifier or characteristic that is occupied by every cult film but that they are formed by the viewers and critics via a â€Å"subcultural ideology† (Jancovich:2003:1), and that, in terms of film, this ideology is formed when the audience or even the film maker choose to view the films in opposition to what is thought to be mainstream cinema. An example of this would be Hollywood cinema stories that have a beginning, middle and an end whilst following a set path which leads to a resolved and happy ending in most cases. Jancovich goes on to also describe how film fans claim the title of being a cult fan by suggesting that there are two separate groups. The first set of fans that are ones that can be seen to â€Å"revere specific films as works of true artistic and political independence† (Jancovich et al: 2003:2). Examples of such works would include Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange (1971) and more recently Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994), these films although having gained much popularity can be perceived as being quite obscure and different. These differences are aesthetically pleasing for certain viewers that consider it cult. The other group of fans he describes are fans that watch films that can be viewed and celebrated for the simple fact that they have not adhered to mainstream cinema, these films, in a lot of cases, do not even have recognisable quality in terms of story or acting but are again enjoyed due to the over-the-top and often clichà ©d acting and effects. An example of this would be Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead Trilogy in the 1980’s, which included over the top gory scenes and also clichà ©d catchphrases such as when the main character Ash (Bruce Campbell) is confronted by a demon who tells him that he will â€Å"swallow his soul† before Ash replies â€Å"Swallow this† kills the demon with a shotgun blast. Such celebration and viewings of these films, known as cult fandom, came from a direct opposition to main box office Hollywood hits and certain areas of movie fans seemed to crave these over-the-top and unusual films more than the epic blockbuster. This market for alternative films was not left unnoticed by film exhibitors and the emergence of art screenings began to emerge or, as Jancovich put it, they â€Å"turned to wealthy specialist audiences through the creation of art cinemas† (Jancovich et al 2003:3). The creation of such picture houses channeled the fans of these alternative films together and became their first forum to engage with each other. This can be considered a critical step in cult fandom emerging and is pertinent in terms of this study as it can be seen to correspond with the online forums that are now widely available for fans to discuss their passions. A phenomenon which is discussed in detail below. Jancovich et al goes on to touch on the spate of technological advances that have recently begun to have a bearing on whether films gain the status of cult. For example new media outlets such as digital television, art cinemas, VHS, DVDs and most recently the internet that allow higher distribution of films, regardless of the film’s success in the mainstream cinemas. This technological revolution of distribution is described by Jancovich as â€Å"a powerful market force† (Jancovich et al 2003:4). Such a market force means that films that completely failed at the box office and have been written off by critics can nevertheless go on to gain a loyal fan base simply through buzz generated by fans telling each other about the films. A phenomenon which has become increasingly prevalent with the rise of the internet fan bases. Jancovich et al acknowledge a number of problems with the new rise in technology, the first of which being that the wide array of possible ways for the films to be seen now â€Å"threatens distinction and exclusivity†(Jancovich et al 2003) something which cult movies and their fans depend on. This is a particularly interesting notion, as it suggests that although the available media outlets allow fans a base on which to share their film interests on, it can also mean that film makers can market carefully constructed films, which adhere to all the attributes that have made many other cult films successful, directly in order to tap into a specific, pre-identified cult audience. There are examples of films being made for the specific purpose of gaining a cult status or a highly niche audience to form a cult, this warps the notion of what cult film is due to the deliberate attempt to create a fan base rather than one being spontaneously generated. This can lead to films appearing to have the textual elements of a cult film but not have the same following of that of a cult film but, rather, that of a failed mainstream film. A fan base which is essential to the idea of cult. An example of a failed cult film would be I Heart Huckabees (Russel:2004) its confusing, multi level narrative and overall unusualness, whilst seeking a cult market, has not generated any significant fan support, so cannot be considered cult as loyal fan base is a reoccurring element in any cult definition. One film that might been seen to be a successful manufacturing of a cult was The Blair Witch Project, using alternative technology, with the use of the handheld cameras, not seen before in modern Hollywood. This film can be also said to be the first film to properly use the internet as a tool for advertising their film, through a cult medium. h Be that as it may, it is not to say that any film with a fan base will be considered cult. Films such as Star Wars (Lucas) which has perhaps the biggest, obsessive fan base of any film could be perceived as being far too popular in the mainstream to be even considered as cult. This is one of the many difficulties in investigating what a cult film is but despite of this it is still essential to investigate films on many levels to identify and confirm a films cult status.The reception of a film after its release represents perhaps the biggest part in the creation of a cult film and this happens through two groups – The Fans and The Critics. First of all the viewing public play a major part in the cult success of a film and only through fandom can a film achieve a true cult status. Cult films could be labeled through critics calling it so in a review, this can cause a domino effect and influence fans to begin acknowledging the film as having cult status, due to the academic labeling of cult. Critical approval though is not as concrete evidence of a films status, as the slating of a film by a critic could in turn create a higher cult following for that film.Harper and Mendik in their work have put forward a number of characteristics of films that are considered cult after analyzing a number of cult films. They point towards futuristic ideas, the paranormal, scattered and complex narratives, gory violence and events that cannot be explained, this are seen to be essential to being able to put films into a cult category (Harper Mendik 2000:8 to10). This work along with Jancovich et al’s approaches cult film as a type of counter culture. An alternative culture to Hollywood and its principles and practices in terms of film and also counter to the norms of the rest of western society. Although there are many differing views on what a cult film is, this is the definition that will be used and acknowledged throughout the rest of the study and is the template for what will be considered â€Å"Cult†. The definition above is not complete however as , although it does describe what elements the film has to have for the reader of the text to describe it as cult, it does not entirely show what cult fandom is, and as a result it is essential to read the text as what Barry Grant describes as the â€Å"supertext†. What is meant by the â€Å"supertext† is that more than just the text is studied and in relation to cult film its distribution, consumption and reception all play a pivotal role in its cult definition or as Grant himself describes â€Å"Because cult films, by common definition involve some intense devotion on the part of their audience† (Grant 2000:14) It is Grant’s view that the supertext, in the form of a cult film can transport the viewer away from their own reality by using a certain text to escape from their norms as Grant states in his work on The Rocky Horror Picture Show in which he contends that â€Å"it is a fundamentally ambiguous text that can comfortably accommodate opposed readings. Because of its well-known phenomenon of audience participation, the move also is perhaps the clearest demonstration of the cult films supertextual significance† (Grant 2000:19). This view ties in with audience reception theory and the Uses and Gratifications model to be exact. Throughout this study fans’ behavior will be looked at in relation to the Uses and Gratifications (UG) which is a body of approaches underpinned by the basic idea that people use texts and the media to gain specific gratifications out of them or as Blumler and Katz state It presents the use of media in terms of the gratification of social or psychological needs of the individual (Blumler Katz 1974). In their work on UG Jay G Blumler and Elihu Katz put forward four sub-sections when considering in what areas the audience were gaining gratification from media texts; these include surveillance, personal relationships, personal identity and diversion. The element that relates closest to the work on cult film and in particular Grant’s work is the Diversion section, which is described as a media text which allows the user an escape from reality. Also the section on personal identity is relevant to this study as it is described as a person creating their own identity from things they find attractive in the media. These two sub-sections will be considered when studying fans that use Donnie Darko as it demonstrates the cult fan’s relationship to the text as being active and is the closest media theory to the work already studied on cult film. Finally, in considering the phenomenon of online fandom, it is worth noting Matt Hills work on newsgroups which describes online fandom as something separate and new from offline fandom, or as Matt Hills states â€Å"The mediation of ‘new media’ must be addressed rather than treated as an invisible term within the romanticised ‘new’. (Hills 2002:172). This particular study was useful to me in that it was the first to open my eyes into the usefulness of the data online when studying fans. Here Henry Jenkins explains the wealth of data that can be accessed â€Å"the computer net groups allow us to observe self-defined and ongoing interpretive community.. {Whose} discussions occur without direct control or intervention by the researcher, yet in a form that is legitimately open to public scrutiny and analysis† (Jenkins 1995 cited in Hills 2002: 174). I found this quote particularly useful when deciding on methodology and despite having already decided on focus group research to research fans face–to-face it became apparent that the internet also would have a wealth of data to be analysed without any interference from academics, making the data more valid.Overall what I can take from the literature review is the following definition of cult that will be used as a template for the study of Donnie Darko. Having studied many different theories, it is the following template that will be used when considering fans in relation to the film â€Å"A cult film is characterised by its active and lively communal following. Highly committed and rebellious in their appreciation, cult audiences are frequently at odds with cultural conventions.Cult films transgress common notions of good and bad taste, and they challenge genre conventions and coherent storytelling. Among the techniques cult films us are intertextual references, gore, loose ends in storylines, or the creation of a sense of nostalgia† (Cultographies: Cult Definition: Web: Accessed 10/03/08) As it is this definition, combined with the Jancovich’s theory that cult films can be deliberately made in a marketing attempt to gain a cult following, that will be used in relation to fans using Donnie Darko as a supertext to see how film makers can now manipulate a fan base, using new media technology as a base. Project Aims The aim of this study will be to follow the case study of Donnie Darko, it being a contemporary example of a cult film, and map out its reception as a cult film from its early cinema release to the reception of both fans and critics alike of subsequent releases of further editions of the film. By mapping out the film in this way it will become clearer not only how it adheres to the cult formula but also how cult is established or even in some cases manipulated. By studying fans of the film in relation to Grant’s work on the supertext it becomes clear how the film makers have influenced the level of fandom involved and also perhaps most importantly the fans’ contribution. Methodology To maximise the potential for results that hold quality and validity throughout my case study of Donnie Darko a number of different methods are used to gain the evidence I need to conclude this study. The purpose of focus groups in this study is to question fans of Donnie Darko on their level of fanaticism and also to find out how they were influenced by the film to become such a fan. The constitution of the focus groups is derived from personal networks, family and other university goers. My target population has no class, race or gender requirements, targeting the fanatical fans of Donnie Darko and as the film itself when it was released was targeted at teens and tweens the source group is taken from university students and their peer group. Focus groups were determined to be the optimum methodology, representing a practical and relatively inexpensive way to do research due to lack of a budget; the participants can be sought out and assembled quickly. The insights that are needed to make are immediately available, the insights in this case is what makes the film so important to their lives and the reasons behind them buying into the Donnie Darko cult.The benefits of using a focus group rather than just a survey revolve around the degree of interviewing flexibility as; during the focus groups it is possible to play clips from different films and to be able to study body language and interactions between the fans in relation to the enjoyment of different elements of cult films. Arthur Asa Berger describes the usefulness of this particular technique â€Å"The aim of the discussion is not to build a consensus, but just the opposite- to find out what each member of the focus group thinks about the topic under discussion, to elicit from each person in the group his or her descriptions of behavior of interest.†(Berger 1991:91)The contents of the transcripts obtained from these focus groups are then read through and analysed using content analysis trying to draw distinction between a cult films being deliberately manufactured The attendees of the focus groups included five fans of the film that I had considered to be deeply involved with their fandom in regards to Donnie Darko. They were obtained by the sending of emails, Attached at Appendix B, to all students of Bath Spa University, asking them if they consider themselves fans of Donnie Darko and if they did if they would like to take part in a research project that would not take up much of their time. Their anonymity was also assured, as their gender was neither at issue nor who they were. Many replies were received,32 in all, and a response was sent back outlining the intentions of the study, how the findings would be used and what would be required of those willing to participate Potential participants were also sent a set of questions designed to test their level of fandom. These questions were derived from the largest Donnie Darko fan list (website) on the internet and required the respondent to possess a degree of knowledge necessary to being considered a â€Å"true† fan of Donnie Darko. The replies that were considered to most correspond with a high degree of fandom were subsequently selected to take part in the study. During the focus group session a number of set questions, Attached at Appendix A, were asked that were considered essential to my study. These questions were used as they facilitate an analysis of how the film makers attracted this cult market and what elements inspired the fans. The reasoning behind using the interview technique mixed with the focus group rather than questionnaire is that the interviews enabled participants to answer in their own words and language structure in favour of a mark out of 10 on a questionnaire sheet. This affords the findings a richer meaning as well as allowing for the clarification of certain meanings or, as Berger puts it, â€Å"The depth interview, on the other hand, is highly focused. It is conducted to get at matters such as hidden feelings or attitudes and beliefs that respondents may not be aware of or that are only dimly in their consciousness† (Berger 1991:57) The responses that are sought in order to prove the hypothesis that cult films are manufactured to directly gain a cult fan base are ones that relate to the film in terms of the definition of cult previously stated for example enjoyment of the loose plot or the sense of nostalgia that film brings to the viewer. Critical Reception Donnie Darko is firm cult fan favorite and has been named in numerous cult film list including coming 9th in Film Four’s 50 films to see before you die (channel 4: web). The film, set in 1988, takes place in a small town in the USA which is about to witness the end of the world. Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a troubled youth who is plagued by visions of a giant rabbit named Frank who warns him of the worlds impending doom. Along with his girlfriend Gretchen (Jena Malone), and other people that help him along the way, he must try to understand the strange happenings at home, at school and his life. It is a struggle against time and life as he gets led closer to the end of the world. Donnie Darko was the debut film of director and writer Richard Kelly. It premiered at 2001 film festivals, generating a high level of â€Å"buzz† and picking up a number of awards; most notably the grand jury prize at the renowned Sundance Film Festival. The film generated a lot of hype arising from this festival buzz, and this hype in turn damaged the commercial success of the film. Film distributors were put off by the film’s multi-genre format and, arriving around the time of the terrorist acts of 9/11, the scenes of plane crashes at the start and end of the film, as one commentator states â€Å"Donnie Darko, a story of death and crashing jets, flopped in the US, not least because it came out just after 9/11† (Danny Leigh: 2004: Web). Because of this the film was considered a box office flop, only being able to amass $110,494(source IMDB) in its first weekend as it was only shown on 58 screens in the whole of the United States and, subsequently, only given a f ew weeks run, it was in danger of slipping off the radar. Under these situations, the press and critics may not have given Donnie Darko the attention and acclaim that is arguably deserved. At the time of release Richard Kelly had not explained that the film was open to interpretation and reviewers seemed at odds with the film, especially with what the film was trying to say or if indeed that the audience was required to create their own meaning. Searching for reviews of Donnie Darko it becomes apparent that few critics were agreed on the films agenda. The British Film Institute’s magazine Sight and Sound wrote that â€Å"(Donnie Darko is) about seemingly inconsequential but secretly connected details, and divine forces that compel characters to actions they dont understand† (Felperin 2002 web) Others do not share this view, with one reviewer deciding that Donnie Darko is merely a general teen movie and that â€Å"Donnie Darko may be the Everest of adolescent angst movies. A smart, emotionally troubled suburban teen wrestles with the usual stuff identity issues, bullies, well-meaning but clueless parents and various school absurdities† (W. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle 2001) and some clearly articulating their confusion, asking â€Å"Is it a horror film? A black comic parable of Generation X angst? A teen drama with a psycho edge? If not, what the hell is it? Looking in my notebook, I see I have scribbled: David Lynch, The X Files, Prozac Nation, My So-Called Life, Ghost World†¦.none of these quite nails the genre, and perhaps more importantly the tone of this very strange movie.† (Bradshaw: 2002 Guardian: Web) The confusion that was exhibited by the film critics can be attributed to the multifaceted and multi genre format that can be seen in most cult films. Donnie Darko’s mix of sci-fi, horror and comedy is reminiscent of other recent cult films such as Starship Troopers and Critters and apparent in reviews of an older cult favourite The Evil Dead which state that â€Å"The influence of The Three Stooges on its comical creative trio of director Raimi, producer Robert Tapert, and lead actor Bruce Campbell gives the film a playful but unsettling feeling† (Glanville 2001: BBC: Web). It is this unusual mix that gives cult films an ingredient that mainstream Hollywood lacks, cult films can be seen to go against these ideologies and critics did not miss this within Donnie Darko from the outset, claiming that â€Å"The product of first-time writer-director Richard Kellys fertile imagination, Donnie Darko is one part 1980s Hollywood teen movie, one part sci-fi flick, with a dollop of David Lynch and a twist of Catcher in the Rye. If you were cynical you might call that cocktail the instant cult classic† (Slater 2002: BBC Web). With reviews such as this the Donnie Darko cult begins to take shape in the public consciousness whilst the fact that the film seems to have been designed as a cult is also recognised by the reviewers. After the critics have their say it is down to the fans to make what they want of the film and whether or not the reviewers have a direct influence on the fans when calling films cult is another issue, but they can be seen reacting to Donnie Darko as they had with numerous cult films to go before it. By looking at Donnie Darko, we are looking at the most contemporary film to become such a cult success and much of the onus has been pointed towards the increase in new media technology and in particular the internet. The internet has enabled large groups of fans in fan communities that can easily support, critique and help each other to come to understand films, especially Donnie Darko. Not only can fans talk to each other about the film, the interest in film can be seen world wide and the buzz created helps spread the word and in turn influencing many sales on DVD â€Å"Following the success at the Pioneer, midnight screenings popped up across the country, fueling domestic DVD sales to more than $10 million† (Burnett: 2004 indiewire Web) these sales have since gradually increased in America and gaining a huge following in the U.K. In much the same way as the critics were split and at odds with each other, the audience also lacked consensus, with some arguing that the plot holes and the general mystery around the film should be celebrated for making the film special and those who did not subscribe to this concept and expected the film to be resolved for them. Such oppositions in taste between fans and critics alike creates the perfect grounds for a cult to form and to be celebrated, this becomes clearer when studying the fan communities themselves. Study Phase 2 Returning to the internet, as represent the primary vehicle and forum for fans to communicate with each other, often in the form of dedicated fan sites. Such sites are created by individual wishing to share their fandom of the film with others and seeking to explain Donnie Darko in their own way. Perhaps the main source of discourse between fans takes place on interactive message boards, an online version of the ‘book club’ model for example. By analysing and describing the audience reception to Donnie Darko, it gives us additional insight into the level and type of fandom that is associated with cult films. More now than ever before, due to technological advances, fans are able to discuss and interpret their views on the film, and even doubters of the film can read the views of fans and be drawn into the mystery of the film. Such debates not only invoke discussion but allow the fans to obtain pleasure from the text and becoming more literate in it. The internet discussion rooms help breed the cult in more ways than the discussion itself. The debates between fans lead on to other events such as the viewing of the film again, evaluating and developing new ideas obtained from reading other fan theories. Subsequent development of their own new ideas to share with other fans is encouraged, not only adding value to their own reading of the text but also boosting the pleasure of the community as a whole. It can be argued that such close inspection and dismantling of the text, leads to the film being used in a way that was not the intention of its author, Richard Kelly, but it is this hardcore following of fans online that have created the success for Donnie Darko and without their keen following and debates the film would not be ascribed cult status. Here it may be pertinent to refer back to the idea of the supertext as we can identify the fans’ reception as showing the commitment and passion required to form the cult of Donnie Darko using the internet as the foundation for the fans personal but maybe imagined affiliation with the film. When searching the internet, on a search engine, typing in â€Å"Donnie Darko Fansite† brings up thousands and thousands of pages and, after reading through many of them, it seeme

Behind The Big Screen Amc Entertainment Marketing Essay

Behind The Big Screen Amc Entertainment Marketing Essay Most companies tend to use technology in order to make improvements and excel in order to gain profit. A lot of places also function completely through technological means. IT is great to use as an advantage as long as everything is kept up to date, and meets the companys needs. It assists with budgeting and operating performance, as well as creates new opportunities with products and services. Without technology, it is hard to keep up with the modern times as most things are now happening electronically. One such company that makes great use of it is AMC Entertainment, which is a very popular movie provider. AMC provides entertainment to the masses through show times at its multiple theatres throughout the US and Canada. Constant work is put into making sure that the best products and services are being offered to customers everywhere. All chains of command work in making sure that everything provided is the most optimal in order to beat all competitors. In order to stay ahead, it is important to analyze strengths and weaknesses, and to acknowledge threats and the opportunities that may lie ahead. Information technology has a certain level of impact on strategy as well, and since it plays a big role with AMC, it therein plays a major role with strategy. AMC has been working hard since the beginning, making sure to constantly advance and stay ahead of competitors. With a rich history of advanced technology from AMC Entertainment, American Multi-Cinema (AMC) has been an industry leader in entertainment. From the first suburban multiplex theatre to the first megaplex theatre, AMC has continued its long tradition of guest service and innovation through products and services that make the entertainment experience more satisfying for millions of guests year in and year out. AMC has over 299 theatres with 4,528 screens in 30 states including the District of Columbia, and four countries outside the United States. Their headquarters are based in Kansas City, Missouri, where it first started in the 1920s. Currently, AMC employs 16,800 employees, in which 800 are employed full-time and 16,000 are employed part-time. AMC recorded revenues of $2,265.5 million dollars during the financial year which ended in April 2, 2009 or FY 2009; there was decrease of 2.9% over FY2008. (Datamonitor 2010) AMC is listed on the FORTUNE 1000 as one of the largest companies in Kansas City. AMC offers guests who arrive for morning screenings the opportunity to see any first-run movie before noon as well as special ticket prices on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays even on holidays. AMC also started the industrys first Guest Loyalty program. This program offers a free membership and rewards customers every time customers go to a movie at any AMC theaters. Another program AMC provides is their Silence is Golden program. This is a proactive national program aimed at providing a distraction-free entertainment environment for all AMC customers inside the auditorium. AMCs Guest First program empowers employees to use the companys philosophy to service customers and to take care of all the customers the best they can. In 2002, AMC introduced the first National Gift Card program, providing a new and exciting way to enjoy the diverse selection of specialty films at many locations across the country, 365 days a year. Although AMC has merged with businesses and other major companies, such as MovieTickets.com and Loews Theatres, it still has many competitors. Among these competitors are the Regal Entertainment Group, Cineplex, National Amusements, and Cinemark Holdings, Inc. Regal Entertainment Group is the number one leader in domestic motion picture exhibition, making AMC come behind (Regal Entertainment Group, 2010). Regal has 6,745 screens in 546 theatres, offering more screens per theatre than the average. They stay ahead by continuing to acquire other theatre groups, which in turn puts more theatres in the states making it possible to increase revenue. Cinemark Holdings Inc is third in the industry and has placed theatres in different countries as well as the U.S, which provides it with one advantage. Cinemark has 423 theatres and 4,884 screens in Latin American and the U.S. (Cinemark, 2010). This includes theatres in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, and even locations in Taiwan. Cin eplex is a small competitor with AMC as it is a formation of two popular theatres in Canada, its home base, and merged with Loews, which AMC acquired in 2006. Also among AMCs competitors is National Amusements Inc, which is included among the top ten successful theatre companies. Although it is smaller, National is the parent company of both Viacom and CBS Corporation, which have great profit considering these companies include Paramount Communications, MTV Networks, Blockbuster Video, among others (Answers Corporation, 2010). In order to stay ahead and venture forth, it is important for AMC to have great leadership. AMC is a company with 16,800 employees, not including those in higher level employment, and AMC works off of a hierarchical structure (AMC Entertainment, 2010). A hierarchy consists of a group of individuals in charge, and then has those underneath at varying levels. Each level is responsible for handling those duties that are designated to them for the position they are in. AMC has employees in corporate, management, and also as associates in the theatres. With so many theatres throughout the US, it is important to hire management and associates that are able to handle the performance of each, although major responsibility is still directed towards corporate. AMC provides each level of employment with the ability to have appropriate degree of control in order to efficiently run each location. It provides employees with bonuses based on performance, as well as great benefits offering incentives to increasing customer satisfaction, therefore increasing sales. Employees are diverse in background, as well as skills, in order to provide innovation contributing to the success of AMC theatres. Each associate is important in maintaining the day to day tasks associated with operating every facility. The hierarchical structure is further presented by the fact that there is a Board of Directors, CEO, the management the theatre managers go through to get to the corporate headquarters, theatre managers themselves, and then the associates at the theatres as well. It is important that each level contributes to the functioning and success of AMC Entertainment. In order to make sure that AMC is prosperous, it is important to analyze strengths and weaknesses so as to see what should be worked on or pushed further. SWOT analysis is defined as a tool that identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organization. Specifically, SWOT is a basic, straightforward model that assesses what an organization can and cannot do as well as its potential opportunities and threats. The method of a SWOT analysis is to take the information from an environmental analysis and separate it into internal strengths and weaknesses, and external issues, opportunities and threats. Once this is completed, a SWOT analysis determines what may assist the firm in accomplishing its objectives, and what obstacles must be overcome or minimized to achieve desired results. (www.Dictionary.com). This past year, AMC has capitalized from their strengths by opening 33 theatres with 476 new screens and have acquired 118 theatres with 1,395 screens. AMC also made a $665 million dollar major investment in improving its theatres from 2005 through 2009. As of April 2009, AMC has operated or held interests in 307 theatres with 4,612 screens, out of which 13 theatres are located outside the US (Datamonitor, 2010). From this, AMC theaters capabilities have enabled them to reach a broader customer base, which have contribute to its revenues. AMC recently purchase the bulk of the Kerasotes theatres creating a theatrical experience that spans over 200 years of business between them. Combining their joint experiences and their matching geographic will allow AMC to maintain the reputation for excellence in guest service that is an integral part of the companys culture. With the AMC experience, you will enjoy new value pricing programs, even more concession choices and cutting edge technolog y that will enhance your movie experience. A weakness that continues to hamper AMC is its lack of exploring international countries such as Canada, the UK, France, and China, leaving AMC to depend on the US market for most of its revenues. By relying on this, it has left AMC with a high debt that burden combined with operating and net losses will make it difficult to meet the increasing interest expenses. Growth in movie industry continues to grow every day. Recently, AMC has seen the opportunity to team up with RealD. RealD is a 3-Dimensional (3D) feature that enables AMC theatres to enhance the customer satisfaction and provide customers with a 3D film experience. Entering into a partnership with RealD, adds 1,500 RealD 3D screens to its theatres throughout the US and Canada. AMC also signed an agreement with Sony Electronics to put install 4K digital cinema projection systems across all its theatres. This upgrade allows AMC theatres to project digital cinema and allows all AMC theatres to serve its customers better. AMC was cited for being non compliant with the ADA, (American Disabilities Act). The Disabilities Act was passed to make accommodations for individuals with disabilities and that new construction or alterations made to commercial facilities conform to accessibility guidelines unless structurally impracticable for new construction or technically infeasible for alterations (Datamonitor 2010). Any further non-compliance issues from the ADA that AMC would face will result in additional expenses to the company which will negatively impact its brand image and operating results. Companies have business models in order to help make decisions that will benefit stakeholders (Applegate, Austin, Soule, 2009). It is important to analyze strategy and capabilities used to accomplish it. Since IT is used with many businesses, it is important to look at the impact it has on both. AMC Entertainment primarily uses technology in order to maintain business. It is important to stay ahead in order to provide great customer satisfaction so customers do not choose other competitors. If AMC kept its technology the same, then customers would be less likely to see movies at AMC theatres, especially with the increasing costs of attending. Why go to a theatre that provides mediocre service and limited concessions? It is important for AMC to include IT in business strategy, in order to maintain revenue and popularity. AMC uses technology primarily in order to advance as it is needed for theatres to remain functioning. Part of strategy, besides acquiring other smaller theatres for new locations, is staying up to date with what wants to be experienced by movie goers. With advancements in technology, the human population has become accustomed to flashes and bright lights, expecting every movie to contain both. Computer animated movies and the very recently popular 3D movies, have created a great importance on image enhancement and sound quality. AMCs core strategy is high in that it aims to increase revenue through updates, new software, and investment put into digital projector systems. The older 35 mm film no longer provides the same excitement as it once did. Along with a clean environment and better concessions, AMC has made sure to create a better viewing experience through precise color and bigger images. Digital projector systems provide color as being more natural in that each mirror is used to depict one pixel moving back and forth reflecting primary colors (Whatis.com, 2005). As mentioned previously, AMC is working with Sony and IMAX to implement these systems into all theatres. Loews is a subsidiary of Sony, and AMC acquired Loews in 2006, having Sony and AMC work together in order to improve technology, especially with sound. Sony is known for its manufacturing of electronics, such as audio and video, and also the information technology it offers. Since it is a leading provider of these products and services it is obvious that the cost is high, it is also apparent, that with this especially, AMC Entertainment is not wary when taking a risk and spending a great deal of money, i.e. $665 million dollars, in order to make improvements. These risks of investment are taken in order to stay competitive and increase revenue, which it has done from $400 million in 1991 to $2.4 billion in 2008 (AMC, 2010). AMC also spends the money in order to merge with different companies o r own part of some, such as MovieTickets.com and Fandango. MovieTickets.com and Fandango were partly acquired in order to increase the customer experience to a satisfactory level. The process of seeing what movies were available and purchasing tickets for those movies became easy and convenient. No longer would customers have to wait in extraordinarily long lines, now they can quickly buy tickets in the convenience of home. This is what is focused on when working on the core capabilities. The process became easier for customers and it was more efficient, and saved time. In this the core capabilities were low as there was a cost to buying a part of these companies, so cost was not necessarily reduced, risk and uncertainty were high, and this was a business opportunity that did end up becoming successful. In viewing the IT impact map below, we see that core capabilities are low and strategy is high. AMC Entertainment merges with companies in order to be innovative and receive and implement ideas from different sources in order to improve proce sses. Cost is noted but when determining the growth that can come from spending, risks are taken. Focus is put on efficiency and rising revenue in order to stay up to date with technology. Money is spent on software and updates, as well as the Digital Manager, in order to maintain a functioning system and stay ahead. Most companies tend to use technology in order to make improvements and excel in order to gain profit. A lot of places also function completely through technological means. IT is great to use as an advantage as long as everything is kept up to date and meets the companys needs. It assists with budgeting and operating performance as well as creating new opportunities with products and services. Without technology, it is hard to keep up with the modern times as most things are now happening electronically. As stated before, AMC is listed on the FORTUNE 1000 largest companies in Kansas City. AMC has provided entertainment to people through show times at its multiple theatres throughout the US and Canada with over 299 theatres with 4,528 screens in 30 states including the District of Columbia. They also have theatres in four countries outside the United States. Their headquarters are based in Kansas City, Missouri, which was first started in the 1920s. Constant work is put into making sure that the best products and services are being offered to customers everywhere. IN 2009, AMC purchase the bulk of the Kerasotes theatres which between them have a combined 200 years of experience. Combining their joint experiences and their matching geographic allows AMC to maintain the reputation for excellence in guest service which is an integral part of the companys culture. All chains of command work in making sure that everything provided is the most optimal in order to beat all competitors. In order to stay ahead, AMC has put into action many new programs that will enhance any one s movie experience. Information technology has a certain level of impact on strategy as well, and since it plays a big role with AMC, it therein plays a major role with strategy. AMC has been working hard since the beginning by making sure to constantly advance and stay ahead of their competitors.

I Love Those Lips, But Those Lips Belong to Another :: Personal Narrative, essay about myself

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Recently I came across two arches. They were alive and in constant motion. First they told me life might get interesting. Then they showed me that life was going to get really good. Then after leaving me with an odd sense of power, they said bye, now life is sad. Its movements resembled that of a shape-shifter: causing the creation of circles, ellipses, and a mixture of feelings. These were the actions of a pair of lips belonging to a vision of beauty.    When I first saw them they were in their top form. They gave me a smile. The execution of the smile forced the bottom arch to push from the top corners upwards on to the upper arch. Consequentially, they caused my lips to do the same. The intensity was light but was still able to cause the words "nice to meet you" to float into my mind and back into hers. The smile, though light, wasn't like the ones that are often in response to a frivolous or corny joke, accompanied by a lack of energy. It was a creation of a divine entity: maybe God, maybe a god, or maybe a master painter. They were almost frozen together, the lower mimicking the slow rise of the upper one, gaining strength from the power of my stare. The smile became larger. Was I the only one who noticed?    It was musical and soothing. The smile was her rhythmic way of singing "Smile, darn ya smile"i. There could be nothing more uplifting than Sammy Davis Jr. telling you the "...world is a great world after all..." with his foot tapping action in the background. I guess she did not mean this world because her smile was causing my temporary lapse into another. This was how she planned to make my "...life worth while." She, like Sammy, knew that there was a great attachment between the smile and joy. That smile was going to tell the world that nothing could hold you back, the world would halt just to admire the stride of confidence. That smile knew a lot. It was able to impart a wonderful concept without any words or any movements. Now rich with new knowledge I realized that she could have given me no greater gift.    I was amazed by the dynamic evolution of the arches in what seemed to be hours.

Economic Impact Analysis on a High-Speed Railway System for Central Flo

Economic Impact Analysis on a High-Speed Railway System for Central Florida Introduction High-speed railway (HRL) systems have been used primarily over in such countries as Japan since 1964 and France since 1984. Recently the United States has generated interest in the high-speed railway as well. The proposed system would stretch from Miami through Orlando and end in the St. Petersburg/Tampa area. With bullet trains operating at top speeds of 220 miles an hour, the express travel time from downtown Miami to Orlando would take approximately 2.5 hours. Intercity travelers (trips between metropolitan regions) along with longer-distance commuters would enjoy the benefits of a system designed to connect with existing rail, air, and highway systems. The strategy behind the high-speed railway system would be to relieve highway congestion, air traffic congestion, and help reduce the necessity of expansion of highways and air systems (which is limited due to the inability to build new air space). Also, with this type of system (this system works on magnetic levitation), you would have a significant reduction in air pollution that would result as high-speed captures a large portion of the intercity travel market from automobiles and airlines.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Context Tampa  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The chosen locations for the high-speed railway will be three different cities, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa/St.Petersburg area. The economic and industrial structures for Tampa has created more than 22,000 jobs May 2004, ranking the area #1 in Florida and among the best in the nation for job growth. Job gains in the region were largely in professional and business services. Florida is creating jobs faster than any other state in the nation, adding 171,800 jobs from May 2003 to May 2004. Tampa/Hillsborough County with its dynamic and positive business climate is one of the leading business locations in the world. As the economic hub of Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay region, Tampa enjoys ongoing and remarkable job growth, affordable business and living costs, an able and abundant workforce, excellent educational opportunities, and unmatched weather and amenities. Service, retail, finance, insurance, and real estate sectors lead regional industry. Bioscience and other high-tech industries are expanding, thanks in part to research at university and college campuses throughout the area. Manu... ...rkforce. Reference: 1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Keating, O. (2004). Are High Speed Trains are the best form of transport for Consumers and Society? Retrieved April 16, 2005, from http://www.o-keating.com/hsr/best.htm 2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  City Overviews (2004). Socio-economic overview. Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.carterusa.com/cityoverview/co_orlando1.html 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Highlights of the economic and business growth in the Tampa Bay region (2004). Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.tampabay.org/admin/editor/upload/PRN_July2004.pdf 4  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lynch, T (2004). Florida High Speed Ground Transportation Economic Benefit and Cost Impact Study. Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.floridabullettrain.com/content/economics.pdf 5  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cox, W. (1997). Evaluation of the FDOT-FOX Miami, Orlando, Tampa High Speed Rail Proposal. Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.hotpolitics.com/hispeedrail.htm 6  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Economic Development of Tampa Bay (2004). Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.tampachamber.com/economic_development.asp 7  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  High Speed Line Study (2004). Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_railways_032564.pdf Economic Impact Analysis on a High-Speed Railway System for Central Flo Economic Impact Analysis on a High-Speed Railway System for Central Florida Introduction High-speed railway (HRL) systems have been used primarily over in such countries as Japan since 1964 and France since 1984. Recently the United States has generated interest in the high-speed railway as well. The proposed system would stretch from Miami through Orlando and end in the St. Petersburg/Tampa area. With bullet trains operating at top speeds of 220 miles an hour, the express travel time from downtown Miami to Orlando would take approximately 2.5 hours. Intercity travelers (trips between metropolitan regions) along with longer-distance commuters would enjoy the benefits of a system designed to connect with existing rail, air, and highway systems. The strategy behind the high-speed railway system would be to relieve highway congestion, air traffic congestion, and help reduce the necessity of expansion of highways and air systems (which is limited due to the inability to build new air space). Also, with this type of system (this system works on magnetic levitation), you would have a significant reduction in air pollution that would result as high-speed captures a large portion of the intercity travel market from automobiles and airlines.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Context Tampa  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The chosen locations for the high-speed railway will be three different cities, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa/St.Petersburg area. The economic and industrial structures for Tampa has created more than 22,000 jobs May 2004, ranking the area #1 in Florida and among the best in the nation for job growth. Job gains in the region were largely in professional and business services. Florida is creating jobs faster than any other state in the nation, adding 171,800 jobs from May 2003 to May 2004. Tampa/Hillsborough County with its dynamic and positive business climate is one of the leading business locations in the world. As the economic hub of Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay region, Tampa enjoys ongoing and remarkable job growth, affordable business and living costs, an able and abundant workforce, excellent educational opportunities, and unmatched weather and amenities. Service, retail, finance, insurance, and real estate sectors lead regional industry. Bioscience and other high-tech industries are expanding, thanks in part to research at university and college campuses throughout the area. Manu... ...rkforce. Reference: 1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Keating, O. (2004). Are High Speed Trains are the best form of transport for Consumers and Society? Retrieved April 16, 2005, from http://www.o-keating.com/hsr/best.htm 2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  City Overviews (2004). Socio-economic overview. Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.carterusa.com/cityoverview/co_orlando1.html 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Highlights of the economic and business growth in the Tampa Bay region (2004). Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.tampabay.org/admin/editor/upload/PRN_July2004.pdf 4  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lynch, T (2004). Florida High Speed Ground Transportation Economic Benefit and Cost Impact Study. Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.floridabullettrain.com/content/economics.pdf 5  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cox, W. (1997). Evaluation of the FDOT-FOX Miami, Orlando, Tampa High Speed Rail Proposal. Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.hotpolitics.com/hispeedrail.htm 6  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Economic Development of Tampa Bay (2004). Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.tampachamber.com/economic_development.asp 7  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  High Speed Line Study (2004). Retrieved on April 16, 2005, from http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_railways_032564.pdf

Jonathon Swift: A Modest Proposal Essay

Jonathon Swift: A Modest Proposal Jonathon Swift’s A Modest Proposal is a parody on the economic situation of the society in which he attempts to â€Å"find out a fair, cheap and easy method† (Swift) for the children in poverty to be put to good use for good of Ireland. This is seen right away in the full title of the pamphlet, â€Å"A Modern Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from Being a Burden to their Parents, or the County, and for Making them Beneficial to the Publick.† The reader begins to realize that Swift does not actually wish to implement these ideas of a baby being â€Å"a most delicious nourishing, and wholesome food† (Swift) once this extreme idea is proposed. Through this extreme proposal of cannibalism and breeding children to solve poverty and overpopulation, he makes the reader vulnerable while also eager to find out more. As entertaining as this text is, it is more than just a comic. Swift wishes to relay a much deeper meaning to the reader. In Robert Phiddian’s article, Have You Eaten Yet., Phiddian recognizes â€Å"the moral-political argument being carried out by means of parody.† (Phiddian) The moral issue, here, is poverty and the political issue is population, yet rarely do these issues remain as clear and separate as intended. Look more:  satire essay examples essay While Swift initially makes the reader chuckle several times throughout the text, he is venting about the societal ills that go unnoticed daily. He is aggravated by the hypocrisy of the wealthy trying to help the poor by coming up with such outlandish ideas that they think will supposedly solve poverty. Poverty is inevitable in a free market therefore with the money that the poor would receive â€Å"may be liable to distress and help pay their Landlord’s rent.† (Swift) Swift wants the reader to realize that no matter how great the ideas of the wealthy are, their motivation is to make a buck from these plans that they devise in their parlors over a cup of tea. â€Å"There is nothing higher than selfish greed within the terms of economic discourse† as Phiddian points out. Even in society today, there are always those people that wish to solve the issue of poverty, but can’t seem to realize that these implications are not easily resolved and are part of socie ty. Swift had compassion for the Irish people and felt for them in their severe  state, but he also shows disgust with the people of Ireland for not even trying on their own behalf. Prior to Swift writing A Modest Proposal he had written several sermons, which provide a background into the state of Ireland and how the people ended up in this predicament. â€Å"The members of this class are being called to their responsibilities and reminded of the guilt they share for the condition of their country.† (Phiddian) Swift leaves no stone unturned in the text and does not excuse any party from the awful state that Ireland is in at this point in time. Swift manages to target most of the groups in Ireland including the politicians, aristocracy, and even the poor. These and outside causes like that of England are included in the parody. Essentially, Swift trying to get the reader to understand that not one person can solve the problems of poverty and overpopulation. In fact, it is part of society and has been for centuries. The struggles are apparent before Swifts time and even now. He is able to address two sets of readers in a sense; one of his time and one of the future, our time. â€Å"While people continue to starve and to live in abject poverty, an analogy exists between Swift’s readers’ situation and our own.† (Phiddian) The reader is able to identify with the subject and the point that Swift is trying to make of the societal ills of the time through this â€Å"moral-political argument.† (Phiddian) in turn see that behind the gore and obscene ideas that he has come up with, there is a voice that needs to be heard. What would normally be a boring economic update or a political argument over what the country needs to do has been transformed by Swift into a masterpiece that peeks the interest of those other than the politicians. He is able to catch our attention as a reader by many surprises and then able to make us think critically about policies, values, and society as a whole in general. Reference Page Robert Phiddian Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 Vol. 36, No. 3, Restoration andEighteenth Century (Summer, 1996), pp. 603-621 Published by: Rice University