Saturday, August 31, 2019

Sexism & Bigotry

Divas N. Quinine's Professor G. Pier Sexism and Bigotry. August 26, 2013 By definition the term sexism meaner prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex; in restricted Job opportunities; especially, such discrimination directed against women. As well a bigot is a person who is intolerant of any ideas other than his or her own, especially on religion, politics, or race. As I researched for this paper in the Museum of Tolerance in N. Y. , I learned that the human mind makes 11 assumptions about a person in the first 7 seconds of meeting them.We must be aware of this in order to take a positive action rather than a negative approach based on false assumptions. Is it fair to say that everyone is a sexist and/or a bigot? I will be blunt enough to affirm that hypothesis, bases on the fact that our borrow values and our social construct drive us in that direction. As Mr.. Anthony Porter verbally expresses in his lecture â€Å"A Call to Men† we must break from the so called â€Å"MAN BOX† and teach boys and men that not being part of the mainstream male dominant society is perfectly correct.The power that an mage holds has depicted many things in American culture during the 20th and 21st centuries; such as propaganda, stereotyping, and the demutualization of minority groups. In the same form, the power of words, which can lift a person, has brought down ethnic groups all over the world. Words have power; they can inspire, incite, can be hateful, can terrify, can be destructive and intimidating, as well as have consequences†¦ In the museum, I observed a propaganda poster from 1917 that stated: â€Å"Gee!! I wish I were a man, I'd join the Navy.Be a man and do it – United States Navy recruiting station (artist Howard Chandler Christy 1917). The poster showing a young woman in a Navy uniform during World War l. † As I read and saw the visual I was livid not only about the sexism, but also about the exploitation of woman through the painting as sexual objects†¦ How is it that we live in a world where in some countries it is a crime to be born a female? We live in a time where one out of three women is victimized by men (father, brothers, uncles, husband, or boyfriend).They experiment domestic abuse, traditional abuse, rape, and are trafficked†¦ In some cultures if a woman is proven to eve committed adultery she will be murdered or maimed (honor killings). These crimes are committed against women in the name of religion. A man will take sexual control over a woman by sexual organ mutilation or female circumcisions; which is practiced without any medical training and is commonly performed in countries like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.This procedure is done lacking anesthesia and bring infections, shock, and death due to hemorrhage. In Kenya a women's advocacy group has developed the term â€Å"Circumcision through Words† in order to prevent the female mutilations. Seven million women are trafficked annually for sexual slavery, the Russian mafia high risk of contraction Stud's, rape, drug addiction (and abuse to cope), torture, and rape†¦ This is a seven billion dollar a year â€Å"business and to my surprise, in some countries it is perfectly legal to sell a female into any type of slavery.In the Unites States a female is victimized by men every two minutes ranging in age from sixteen to nineteen years of age and less than 5 of the victims report their assault. One to three million women is battered annually and one to four will be murdered by their husband or significant life partner. This sexist and abusive behavior must be detained and we as an aware society must inculcate to our boys and men that a woman is not a sexual object or the pun of sexual anecdotes. It is easy to write off bigotry to extremists, but how do you stop it from occurring?In my opinion, we can stop bigotry through tolerance. With the discipline to ho ld back and learn to co-exist, to respect thy fellow human and to pursue in harmony our goals as a positive society. In my walk through the museum I came upon a section entitled Globalize. Com which features touch screen computer terminals that have unmasked the danger of a one sided story; the story of hatred. The proliferation of hate through the internet is greater than I thought, in fact it showed me how extremely saturated it actually is.The Karri Cultural Institute or KICK is an Iranian institution with an on-line fifty-seven page book, which claims that the Holocaust genocide was a lie. The Fate Kids is a HAMS site which published a comic strip in which â€Å"EVIL ZIONISTS† made beautiful toys that were actually bombs that were used to kill innocent Palestinians; they also used this comic strip to recruit children to come Jihad. People such as Doll Hitler, Stalin, the K. K. K founders 0. Calvin Jones, Frank O.McCoy, John B. Kennedy, John C. Lester, James R. Crower, and Richard R. Reed), and Osama Bin Laden have been extremist bigots who have committed genocide than being tolerant of others. We must assume responsibility and take a stand against bigotry, initiate a Diversity and Tolerance group in our community, remember to always dialogue not scream, to commit to assist meetings, empower, support and above all educate people on what it meaner to be a bigot and how can we help to stop it.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Diversion Essay for Possession of Alcohol

How a Criminal Recacord Affects Ones Future A criminal record at any age could severely affect one’s life and future. For example one can lose their job and any opportunities that may present themselves. A criminal offense depending on how serious the charge is they may lose their right to vote for good. If the offender is a minor any opportunities for future education and scholarships are virtually out the window. I understand that what I did could determine the quality of the rest of my life. It could affect my family that I could possibly start in the future; it could destroy my reputation and the trust of my parents.Teenagers can easily fall in with the wrong crowd which is usually why they will start behaving irrationally. The peer pressure and influence of ones self-esteem issues can get one involved with things that one would not usually consider doing ever. As a senior in high school one may think that he or she can party, drink under the age of 21, and other substance s because it is their last year before college and they can smell the freedom. What they are not aware of, like me, that no matter what time in their academic career he or she can get into serious trouble.Getting caught as a minor while applying for college, scholarships, grants, athletic commitments, or military service. Can jeopardize the bright future that they have just a few short months away. At any time a college, job, or scholarship can be revoked. I was stupid and sophomoric to think that I was immune to any of the consequences involved with illegal activities at my age. Also everything I had going for me was put in danger. If there was anything I could say to advise one of my peers that believed he or she could party and drink alcohol under the age would be that it’s not worth it.And that he or she should would be remise if they did not just wait till they were 21. Even if they made it to college, heading down this path becomes increasingly risky because they are no w a legal adult and subject to more serious punishment. A criminal record should best be avoided at any cost, even if it means that you sacrifice all the supposedly â€Å"good times† that other possible offenders believe that they are having. It just not worth the risk. Your whole life is ahead of you; why not wait until you are of legal age.

Tiger Brands Limited Essay

Tiger Brands Limited, a Top 40 JSE Limited company whose footprint extends across the African continent and beyond, is one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of FMCG products in Southern Africa, and has been for several decades. Tiger Brands has been built over several decades through the acquisition and clustering of businesses which own leading food, home and personal care brands. It’s success is grown and maintained through the perpetual renovation and innovation of its brands, while its approach to expansion, acquisitions and joint ventures has given traction to a distribution network that now spans more than 22 African countries. The Group focus is on the core business of FMCG categories that spread synergy across the value chain – which a broad basket of categories spans food, home and personal care as well as baby products. The wide range of brands are underpinned by comprehensive research and meaningful insights into each of the markets in which Tiger Brands operates. Tiger Brands is without question a world–class operation – and will continue to hold and grow its position through constant investment in every asset of the business, be it in people, brands, technology, efficiency, quality or sustainability.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Write an outline and critical assessment for financial article 3 Essay

Write an outline and critical assessment for financial article 3 - Essay Example General theory is fundamentally about the factors which determine level of employment. His theory integrated the concepts revolution of economy and public policy. It insisted on making probable changes in the structure of payment, investment and profit to bring a long term difference in the economy, especially, the budget policy to prevent repetition of depression and to stabilise national economy. Keynes was accustomed of international environment of economy. Therefore, he proposed general theory by assuming a closed economy. His theory was easily adaptable and realistic in approach. The theory offered flexibility to the diverse economic cases of foreign trade and in case of transactions of capital. 3. In liquidity preferences, the minor probable savers need to be satisfied with the rate of interest to increase the aspiration of saving in a narrow zone. Thus, it in turn shifts the profit in all status of people when one wants liquidity; the ample hoarders provide a mean of increase in satisfied liquidity. Wealth is the reason for remoter preoccupation. Thus, it is acquired to produce potential results in an indefinite time. Therefore, it is an unsuitable subject for classical economical method. It would have worked, if the conventional structure of economy had a rapid system of consumption in the shortest possible time after the production. Modification in the economical plan is must, if growth of wealth for an indefinite delayed period is a vital factor for sustenance. However, Keynes has emphasized that the modification becomes necessary when the quantity of participation of wealth accumulation increases (Keynes, 1937). Keynes also proposed that high incomes tend to generate savings in ample amount. If one attains full employment objective consequently, level of savings will be on a satisfactory level then. Thus, aggregated demand enables substantial

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The Difference between two Socialism Countries China and North Korea Essay

The Difference between two Socialism Countries China and North Korea - Essay Example This is different from the capitalist system of economy where goods and services are manufactured to generate profit and accumulation of profit, rather than based on their value and usage. They both advocate that the means of production be owned by people, either through government agencies or directly. Socialism also believes that income and wealth should be equally shared among the people. A socialist economy provides collective ownership, either through worker cooperative or through a state-controlled agency or might be owned by the society as a whole. It discourages private ownership. Goods and services are manufactured for their usefulness with the objective of eliminating the need for a demand based market for goods to be sold at a profit (Lee, Hy-Sang, et al. pg 77). The significant part of the Chinese economy is still government controlled, however, the number of government programs have reduced significantly. For example, universal health care is being discontinued. Foreign policy of China continues to be pro-socialist, but essentially, it has become a free market economy. In essence, it no longer remains an economy that is pure socialist. North Korea is the world’s most totalitarian state and it is a prominent socialist t economy. Just like Cuba, North Korea has an economy that is almost entirely controlled by the state. In North Korea there is no stock exchange either. Around mid-1975, North Korea was more productive and better educated than China (going by international trade per capita). However, the country has unpleasant misfortune of being the only developed and educated society in history of man to have faced mass famine – and at the time of peace at that. Interestingly, North Korea’s problem of has not been resolved. If the socialism economy that is tightly controlled in the country could have been a success, the country would probably not have worsened to this level. Mao had declared in October 1949, the People’s

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Cold War Consensus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cold War Consensus - Essay Example This led to the capture of the invaders. Kennedy also approved the assassination of Fidel Castro and other key Cuban political leaders. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Kennedy never considered the option of doing nothing, he considered full scale invasion of Cuba on short notice as not feasible and air strikes as impossible (Goldfield et al. 803). Kennedy, rather, demanded removal of the missiles and imposed a blockade for the arrival of more missiles. The missiles were removal but on condition that US does not invade Cuba (Goldfield et al. 805). US pledge not to invade Cuba and also promised to remove missiles from Turkey. Kennedy responded to the Berlin issue by increasing military spending and considering attack on West Berlin as an attack on the US. This he demonstrated by adding $3.25 billion to the defense budget and recruiting 200,000 troops to the military. He initially ignores the building of the Berlin Wall as long as free access from West to East Berlin continued. Ken nedy, indeed, preferred the â€Å"wall† to war (Goldfield et al. 803). However, he shows his commitment to supporting West Berliners by sending in convoy, V.P. Johnson and other military personnel, through West Germany. Kennedy exploited US entanglement in South Vietnam to assert US’s firm commitment to containment.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Women Colleges Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Women Colleges - Coursework Example Originally steeped towards providing education in the liberal arts (Kiss, 2006), these colleges offer educational opportunities that equal that offered to boys in the men’s colleges. Women’s colleges, especially southern women colleges, were attended mostly by white women; however, black women’s colleges sprang up in the post-Civil War years that significantly contributed to the advancement of the educational opportunities of the black women (Guy-Sheftall, 1982). For instance, Bennett College, an originally co-ed institution, was converted into a liberal art college for black women. Unlike it precursors, the seminaries, which were restricted to women from the upper class, the mid- and late- 19 century women’s colleges were opened to women from the middle classes (Harwarth, Maline, & DeBra, 1999). Indeed, women from the middle class were able to afford a decorous education probably due to increase in philanthropic gestures from donors. The liberation of wom en from their traditional role in the post World War II years led to a corresponding increased in the role of women in the academia and in government (Harwarth, Maline, & DeBra, 1999).

Sunday, August 25, 2019

How will The London 2012 Olympic Games affect the U.K. economy Essay

How will The London 2012 Olympic Games affect the U.K. economy - Essay Example The United Kingdom economy has been among the best performing economies in the world for a long time. During the period that lasted from 1990 to 2008, the U.K. economy comfortably managed a 2.3% GDP growth factor. However, in recent times, the economic state of the United Kingdom has been performing poorly (House of Commons, 2009:33). This has elicited doubt among critics that the economy may be taking a down ward turn, and that the United Kingdom may be facing imminent recession. Recent research has revealed that the United Kingdom did not manage to gain substantial growth in 2011. Records collected from the research show that the U.K. financial system only managed a skimpy 0.8% development in 2011. In calculation, the main reason behind the growth was the 0.2% plunge that happened towards the end of the year (Fussey, 2011: 79). This has driven researchers to scheme a very small band of escalation to happen in 2012, amounting to about 0.4%. The analysts forecast that the financial s ystem will undergo a double decline before it starts budding back to its former circumstances. However, the wealth faces a latent growth aid in the form of the 2012 Olympics. London is set to host the 2012 Olympic Games, an event that possesses the potential to favor the U.K. economy greatly, and on an optimistic note in terms of direct and indirect revenue (House of Commons, 2009:47).... The battle took place at the crest of a mountain that shadowed a gorge in the southwestern region of Greece. Zeus managed to conquer over his father in the battle. As a result, the Greece citizens put up a shrine and built an enormous statuette in the gorge in a bid o honor him. The name of the gorge was Olympia. Soon after, the citizens began conducting religious ceremonies with the main agenda being the reverent worship and adoration of Zeus. This was in an attempt to try to gain Zeus’ famed strength and athletic capabilities. Folklore has it that these ceremonies led to the idea of starting the Olympic Games. Though the actual date when the first Olympic event took place is still in doubt, the first recorded event took place in 776 BC. The games consisted of only one occasion, the 190-meter race, which a chef, Coroebus, won. This marked the initial Olympiad. The Olympiad was the name given to the four-year duration by which the Greek citizens traced their history (Guttman, 2003:198). As time went by, athletic contests gained so much significance to the Greek people that the occasions now tended to influence a peaceful nature on the military states. For example, Sparta was famous for its strict military rule and intensive battle training of its population. It reached a point where the Sparta administration would patiently wait for the successful completion of the games’ events before engaging in battle with rival states. Soon after, other cities imitated this unwritten rule. The initial consecutive thirteen games offered only one event, which was the one-stade run (Young, 2004:129). However, as time passed, the then administration gradually

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Analysis of the Pepsis and Bacardi Limons Advertisement Essay

Analysis of the Pepsis and Bacardi Limons Advertisement - Essay Example This "Analysis of the Pepsi’s and Bacardi Limon’s Advertisement" essay outlines differences between two drinks' ads. The first advertisement carefully projects the image of Pepsi as a fun drink that all members and all age groups enjoy. The men hold Pepsi bottles, as also the girls. The pepsi bottles in the picnic box further heighten the impression that it’s a drink meant for outings and is even better than beer. Another significant detail is the Pepsi icon in the shape of a ball, where the text states: â€Å"it’s the cola†, further reinforced by the football nearby on the picnic table, which further heightens the impression that this is a drink associated with fun and games. The heart shaped carving on the tree with â€Å"Pepsi and BBQ† engraved within it is a useful little detail that implies Pepsi is made for such outdoor occasions. The second advertisement is set in a bar/disco/party setting, which conveys an impression that the drink be longs in a more adult, sensual setting. The words in the advertisement convey the mood: â€Å"Mischievous, mixable, magical†. This is substantiated by the image of the sexy woman reflected in the glass of the man who holds it, implying that it’s the drink that has brought her into the palm of his hand – a magical experience. The use of mirrors, the shiny clean bar, the sparkling crystal bottles and glasses, all contribute to the impression of a magical kind of dating environment, where the drink appears to be the prop that aids the man in capturing the woman he desires.

Friday, August 23, 2019

CONTRACT LAW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

CONTRACT LAW - Essay Example This however is the general rule with the courts being willing to enforce the same in certain situations. This was laid down in the case of Nordenfelt v Maxim Nordenfelt( (1894) AC 535 by Lord Macnaughten who stated that â€Å"The public have an interest in every person’s carrying on his trade freely; so has the individual. All interference with the individual liberty of action in trading, and all restraints of trade themselves, if there is nothing more, are contrary to public policy and therefore void. That is the general rule. But there are exceptions; restraints of trade and interference with individual liberty of action may be justified by the special circumstances of a particular case. It is a sufficient justification, and indeed the only justification, if the restraint is reasonable- reasonable, that is, in reference to the interests of the parties concerned and reasonable in reference to the interests of the public, so framed and so guarded as to afford adequate protec tion to the party in whose favour it is imposed, while, at the same time is in no way injurious to the public...† It is in this light therefore that Dr. Smith’s contract of employment needs to viewed. Prima facie section 10 of her employment contract is void and her bosses at BUPA will not be able to rely on it. If however, they can prove that they fall within one of the exceptions that the court has laid down they will be able to successfully rely on the said action and prevent Dr. Smith from starting her new job. For Dr. Smith’s bosses to succeed it is not enough that they show that the clause is reasonable between the parties. They must also prove that the clause is reasonable in the public interest. It is noteworthy that The burden of showing that a covenant is in the interests of the parties lies with the employer. The onus of proving that it is contrary to the public interest lies with the employee: Kores Manufacturing Company Limited v Kolok Manufacturing Company Limited [1959] (CA) Ch D 109.2 We will look at the first aspect in detail over the next few paragraphs. In deciding whether or not the section 10 of the employment contract in question is reasonable between the parties the courts will look at (a) whether the clause protects a legitimate interest of the employer and (b) is whether or not the clause is reasonable in terms of subject matter, locality and duration. When looking at whether a restraint of trade clause protects the legitimate interest of the employer the court has looked to see if the employer has â€Å" some proprietary right, whether in the nature of a trade connection or in the nature of trade secrets for the protection of which such a restraint is†¦reasonably necessary†.3 The courts have further said however that an employer is not entitled to protect himself against the use of the â€Å"personal skill and knowledge† acquired by the employee in the course of the employer’s business. Su ch skills belong to the employee and he is free to exploit them in the market place.4 In the Dr. Smith’s case the BUPA bosses will succeed in their action if they are able to show that they would

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Progress Era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Progress Era - Essay Example The laborers were subjected to unfair payments, most of them were not able to own or even operate businesses, acquire material and properties or even upgrade to better housing standards. Due to the progressive movement ideologies, people were able to identify that the prevailing poor economic conditions of the country were motivated by the high levels of poverty in the country. (George Wanshington university 1999)Since the poverty had stricken various people, the progressives wanted to turnaround the poverty levels so that more people would be able to fend for themselves and that would lead to the progress of the country as a whole. The progressives also expressed issue to do with escalating cases of child labor in the country. The country experiences increased cases of child labor due to the increased industrialization. The poor conditions in the country also contributed in a big way to the increased child labor. (Putman 2000) Most people were not able to adequately fend for their families, thus, minor citizens would be employed in the manufacturing industries to help their parents provide for them. There were various issues concerning the child employment in the country, in a census conducted in 1890, close to one million children who were aged between ten and fifteen years worked in America. In the 1910 census, there were more than 2 million which indicated an increase from the previous census. (Davis 2003)During the time, it was even more serious since children as young as five and six were employed in companies to work for as long as eighteen hours every day. This was sore to the progressives who looked fo rward to a child labor reform which would eventually relieve the country of the high levels of child labor in the country. As seen from the above, it is clear that the progressive reformers were convicted that the

Race Determining Music Preference Essay Example for Free

Race Determining Music Preference Essay Music in the United States is a reflection of the nation’s multi-ethnic population with regard to its diverse array of styles. The most famous of these genres include; rock n roll, country, rhythm blues, jazz, hip-hop. The developments of most of the genres of music began during the civil war period. During this time the roots of such popular forms like blues, gospel, jazz, as well as country took shape. In the early 20th century there forms of music emerged as the core of American popular music and later underwent evolution to such styles as rhythm and blues, rock and roll and hip-hop (Daniel Gilbert Perret, (2005). Music integrates South American social and cultural identity, entailing social class, race and ethnicity among many others. The link and co relationship between is perhaps the to potent of all the factors within the United States than any other. Race seems to the most potent determiner of musical mean within America. The evolution of the Afro American musical identity as a result of disparate sources form Africa as well as Europe has consistently been the main theme within the music domain and history in the United States. During the mid 1800s, the Afro American had developed a district folk tradition that was well-recognized and very wide spread. African American techniques, their instrumentation as well as images were integrated and became part of what was then known mainstream music. Via spirituals, slave songs as well as minstrel shows. Through jazz, rhythm and blues, and blues and later on through rock n roll, soul a swell as hip-hop. Even through all these genres were accepted and adapted by all races within the United States they were developed from an afro American styles as well as idioms before eventually setting to become very common in consumption as well as performance that had no racial boundary. Differently, country music was driven from the European and an African context as well as Hawaiian and Native American. The untied states due to her diverse culture and her propensity to taking in influences form across the globe and building characteristically new methods through which artists can culturally express themselves. Even though many aspects of the American aspects of the American music is traceable back to certain specific origins it is usually inherently difficult to put claim on any respective original culture as the source of any musical element, because of the even evolving American music through transplanting as well as techniques of hybridizations, instruments and genres (Blush, Steven (2001). Very distinctly American music stems form the cross-cultural hybridization through a very close interaction. For instance, during slavery mixed persons form various tribes in very closely enclosed living quarter resulted in a shared musical tradition that was done through an extended hybridization. The process which music was being transplanted between various cultures within the United States brought with it various implications. For example, the revival of folk during the mid 1900s appropriated the music of different village person, partially to enhance particular political causes. The use of Afro American techniques as well as images, instruments during performances by white Americans have been on the rise since the mid 1800s. The music industry in the United States has been very active with her attempts to make popular white performers of African American music due to their palatability to mainstream as well as middle class American. From this process such many stars like Benny Goodman, Eminem as well as Elvis Presley have emerged in various genres of music. The nature of folk music within the united is as varied as the nature of her multi-ethical culture. Generally, the Native Americans have each played their variety of folk music, which has basically been spiritual. In its development stage spirituals was basically expressions of religious faith, and was a common song by slaves on southern plantations. It however, spread out of the south in the late 1800s. Its diversification increased with emergence of fekleg in the early 1900s as well as the rise of the singing preachers from which the gospel type of music originated (Chase, Gilbert (2000). Blues on the other hand is conglomeration of African folk songs, shouts as well as field hollers. It emerged form the rural south during 1900-1910. It was characterized in its use of the blue scale with a flatted/in determinate third. The various ethnic communities that have migrated to the untied have managed to keep alive the folk traditions of the culture and usually providing a characteristically American styles with foreign flair. The European musical tradition was imported to the United States with the advent of the first colonialists. This classical traditional music is deeply rooted within the traditions of the European art, as well as concern music. Majorly of American tried to work entirely with their music centered on the European models until the 1800s. By early 1900s, many American composers started incorporating such disparate elements into their musical art, from the jazz and blues to the Native American music. Big corporations that produce in both small and large scale largely dominate the music industry in the untied states. Often, these companies do not appeal to large audiences, as such small companies have sprung up to fill the void left. They produce in various styles with ranging variety that appeal to very large audiences. These small firms are normally built on the foundation of a core fun base that may happen to be strategically located in one region. The largest make music industry is that centered on Latin music. This kind of music has greatly impacted on the popular American music and was a very essential component in the development of jazz music. In view of this it is sufficient to conclude that to a greater extent race has a bearing on the preference of the type of music one performs or listens to this is born out of the fact that part of a child’s development stage, the cognitive part begins to encode the mothers language from the womb until he or she reaches the external environment (Daniel G. 2005). Thus, even if there are many Americans who have crossed the racial lines as has music still the culture is a determinant the choice of music.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The Depiction of Women in Indian Cinema

The Depiction of Women in Indian Cinema Introduction Indian Women have excelled in every field and have engraved their names in many parts of the universe, but there still seems to be a long route ahead before she attains equal status in the minds of Indian men. ‘Most agricultural civilizations downgraded the status and potential of women, at least according to modern Western standards and to the implicit standards of hunting-and-gathering societies. Agricultural civilizations were characteristically patriarchal; that is, they were run by men and based on the assumption that men directed political, economic, and cultural life. Furthermore, as agricultural civilizations developed over time and became more prosperous and more elaborately organized, the status of women deteriorated from its initial level. (http://history-world.org/Civilization,%20women_in_patriarchal_societies.htm) In a well-defined patriarchal society like India, even the cinematic world deems to project women as in factual life. This is a good thing as films have mass appeal and at least some if not all carry out a message to the public and try to create awareness. There is a myth that women are characterized in films to prop up the male role rather than characterize them as the one who keeps the narrative structure sinuous. Women are insinuated in films as bearing the burden of sexual objectification that male roles cannot. Hence, they become the bearer, and not the maker of meaning says Laura Mulvey (Mulvey 834). Most Indian women live a silent life with enormous amount of sacrifices and retain their frustration within themselves for the sake of societal pressure. Women in Indian cinema are born with certain assumptions ranging from cult movies to celluloid blockbusters like Sholay to more recent Fashion that employ themselves as in severe gender issues. They are portrayed either as damsels in distress or demented feminists or simple belly-shaking glam dolls whose sole ambition is to attract the attention of the male gender. In many Indian films it is a common trend to insert ‘item numbers which bear no rational connection to the film in anyways but with an assumption that the film is easily associated. As Bindu Nair(2009:53)says, ‘Sometimes the one song ends up making the film a hit, such as ‘Chamma Chamma from the film China gate. Occasionally, do we see a female being the protagonist of a film than merely being objects of sexual desire. In some cases there appears to be a clash between ‘modern feminism and ‘traditional values. Indian cinema often acts like an emotional register and is very resourceful while reading the characterization of ‘Women. I would like to line up the film Paroma and closely pay attention to the way in which a traditional Hindu wife is deprived of her freedom and is confined by the emotional bonding with the family. It appears to be impossible to gather together a woman character as anything beyond the two incarnates Madonna and Whore. Women in India were not expected to express their feelings or to develop their personalities rather get accustomed to their individual subjugation and succumb to the same. To use a women character in a film is to represent a traditional figure as a symbolic image but many a times it is a mere wishful desire. For the present discussion I have chosen the character Paroma as the centre subject, it being a film directed by a female auteur Aparna Sen. The central character in the film Paroma is a middle class Bengali housewife who is played by Raki Gulzar. This film makes a very strong statement about the perception women have on their own body juxtaposed with a mans perception about her. The word Paroma in the ancient Indo-Aryan language which is Sanskrit means ‘the supreme or ‘the very best. In Hindu religion it is used as a prefix to show admiration or reverence. In this film it takes a very long time to bring out her individuality almost to the second half of the film. The film embarks upon the title credits rolling over a Hindu Goddess Kali symbolizing the bestower of liberation. Goddess Kali is an image of the vengeful mother-goddess. Her name Paroma which roughly translates as ‘the ultimate woman in this film is subsumed by the many relational identities associated with her in the family. She is called by different names in the family such as bhabi (sister-in-law), kaki (aunt), mami (aunt), ma (mother) and bahu (daughter-in-law). This marks the beginning of her identity -the given name Paroma being hidden and lost in the different roles she plays within the family. Paromas mother-in-law, we can say the doyen of the family makes a mention to a group of women that she is alive only because her daughter-in-law (Paroma) takes very good care of her and this establishes the fact that Paroma is indeed of very great importance to the family. There is a point being made when the foreign -returned photographers assistant Sarah, tries to understand if Paroma has an identity of her own and this is made sense to her and explained by the patronizing males in the family. But Rahul Rai initiates her identity when he refuses to cast her as Bhabi or Kaki even though Paroma suggests he addresses her either as Bhabi or kaki as he wished indicating her parameters and hinting that she would be safe within these roles which act as barriers for a woman and prohibiting any trespassers within the boundaries of decorum. It is a custom in many Indian families where the female head has to serve hot food to their family and if this is not done they take up the blame for bei ng a terrible house-wife. A scene where Paromas children return from school screaming â€Å"Ma, ma have you not prepared cold coffee for us?† is quite interesting as one can see the duties of a mother in a close-knit Hindu family and yet her limitations are countless when it comes to doing her own things at leisure. For example, Paroma never finds the time to play the traditional instrument Sitar. Her education had an abrupt end and her interest in sitar and poetry fades out because of her responsibilities as a Hindu house-wife. No one in the family pays much attention to what a woman wants in life. Very rarely do we see members of the family obtain the permission or suggestion from Paroma on what is to be done. This is evident as Paromas husband asks his mother if she has any problem in Paroma modeling for their guest Rahul. As the head of the family Paromas mother-in-law agrees and internally suggests its the least they can do to entertain their valuable guest. The scene that preludes her children returning from school is an interesting one where Rahul tries to stare at Paroma taking miniscule bites into a chili in utmost curiosity as if it was a strange personal act where we as audience see a close up of it from the directors angle. The shot is as though Rahul looks at this act through his camera lens. And interesting thing to note is that this lunch scene has no background score weaved into it. The lunch scene starts with the cooing of the cuckoo birds and there is a dead silence which builds up the moment. Women tend to frame themselves and get a grip on what is generally the acceptable norm by the society and in this case a patriarchal one. The male gaze tends to specify the degree of importance a woman has in the society by means of provoking a female to take more interest in her own self. The camera angles as well as the camera movements used by the cinematographer takes the audience to a new world. When a female character takes up a central part of the screen the camera never prowls at a woman. But when she is performing an action the camera always has a tendency to creep around her body voyeuristically. This all adds up to turning a woman into a spectacle. For example, In Chandni bar directed by Madhur Bhandarkar whose fixation for every movie is ‘real has many scenes set up in a dance bar where women are scanned top to bottom by the men in the bar. The natural contours of the body are made distorted by unnatural ways of dressing to emphasize certain body proportions and for this very reason they are shot from a low angle or a high angle to reveal cleavage. The men in Indian cinema either projected as ‘romantic heroes or the ‘bad guy are indubitably majestic on screen space unlike our female characters that always tend to lead a surrendered life even on screen. As Vrinda Mathur (2009: 66) says, ‘The male characters of Indian cinema, i.e. the heroes(those knights in shining armour) and the villains (those over-energetic sharks) move around the space of the movie like players in a deadly choreographed game of chess with the women characters as sacrificial pawns. It is quite apparent from the beginning that Rahul the photographer has a particular interest in capturing beauty. One can stand by this point from the way he captures Goddess Kali on the day of the religious function which is the opening scene of the film. By this one can confirm that he has interest in aesthetically appealing subjects. Many of his subjects seem to be centered on female oriented issues. We can justify this fact by encompassing his interest to capture the â€Å"Indian house wife†. He proposes to pay peculiar attention to Paroma from the beginning stating that she is a very beautiful traditional Indian woman. As the film grips along, his fascination turns to personal from being a professional admirer of her beauty. In reciprocation to that we see Paroma indulging and getting a sense of sexual undercurrent and falling for the same. She tries to halt the modeling sessions but due to mere persistence from the family she does so to accommodate the guest in every po ssible way. As the modeling sessions go on she is made to realize her radiance and elegance by Rahuls gaze. Although she seems hesitant and apprehensive like for instance she covers her saree over her ankle in the first modeling session. But eventually she tends to react amicably to Rahuls desires. Rahul makes her realize her value and teaches her to see the world from a different perspective. This is symbolically shown when Rahul suggests to Paroma to see her own city from a high angle where one gets a birds eye view of the same. As Anshoo Sharma (2009: 111) rightly says: ‘It is very symbolic when he says -learn to live life dangerously, because it is only when one is ready to experiment and take chances that there is a possibility of gaining something valuable in the process. And in a womans case that ‘something is realization of oneself as a separate entity complete and whole and not a mere extension of the rib of Adam. The films that focus on women protagonists showcase their search for self through their bodies. This is quite outstanding in the film Chandni bar. Mumtaz character played by Tabu the protagonist is forcefully sent by her maternal uncle to be a show girl in a dance bar. Her major source of income was from performing in the dance bar. She would maximum need to groove her body to the music and there would be scores of men willing to shed their money on her for the very own reason voyeuristic desires. This womans body is given the penultimate magnitude in many of the films we see. And in these films the act tends to start with a rebellious nature and the instrument being their body. As Jasbir Jain (2009: 121) has observed, Rebel women are portrayed with ridicule and comedy. Rebelliousness need not always be conclusive or even approved within the narrative structure. At times it may be part of the discourse on modernity and perceived as a potential threat to patriarchy through the values of education/westernization/independence. In a scene from Mirch Masala (1985) the protagonist Smitha Patil directs the tax collector to drink water from the other side of the river. She says: (This side is where human drink and the other side is where the animals drink) This can be an indirect statement made to the tax collector referring him to being a ruthless animal. Although the other women tend to run away at the sight of them approaching Smitha Patil stands still reflecting her character instantly that nothing can demoralize her. Having said much about rebelliousness and insubordination, it sometimes plays the part of a discourse taken towards modernity in a sense that it threatens the patriarchal structure. This can be called to mark the beginning of a revolutionary period that breaks the stereotypical and conventional thoughts of a society. A female protagonist who is shown to be wronged in the society and due to this suffers a great deal in life. In other words, she is said to be victimized who endure the consequences. If one notices it is always the female who bears the brunt of all the misfortunes. Possibly owing this to their beauty and morality they are able to capture the hearts of the men. But this seems to be taken for granted by the men. Now, having discussed about how women are portrayed and the penalties they pay in return are a myriad when it comes to how men are showcased. Although to digress a little from the centre of discussion, it would be interesting to see how men would react if there was a reverse of these situations. But what really happens in this case is that the men do not like to be treated as anything below their dignity even if it was unintentional. As Anshoo Sharma (2009: 114) has rightly said, ‘They vent their anger, shun the women, and make them feel guilty. They are never shown to be in a compromising position -groveling or pleading with their women. From this we can conclude saying there are varying degrees of norms set for men and women in this patriarchal structure. This is otherwise called double standards of the male outlook being more evident. Paromas husband who is away on a business trip to Mumbai tends to sweet talk his secretary to fulfill his desires. What would be interesting to note at this point is that this particular scene goes unnoticed throughout the film. Other than his secretary no one knows the true story and no one would even come to know because the secretary is about to get married. In that case the secretary is not going to reveal this incident hoping to maintain her dignity and not ruin her chances of getting married. In the shot after the secretary leaves, he abuses her and slams the door. There is stark contrast in the way this matter is subdued as compared to what happens to Paroma eventually. One may argue that Paroma also had the freedom to keep up to her appointments with Rahul as her husband was away. Husbands do not necessarily offer the right kind of attention that is needed. Though this is an example of adulterated behavior by Paroma, her husband is not better in this stance. Much later Paroma is being ostracized by the family for the very reason that Rahul sends her a copy of the life magazine where her photograph is explicitly put up with his signature. This entirely shocks the family and creates a massive pandemonium. She is completely isolated from the family and her mother-in-law falls sick. Paromas husband unreasonably blames her for his mother falling ill and simultaneously tells her that he would teach the kids and that he does not want his kids to be taught by a whore. After Rahul has left to Greece her interest in house-hold work lacks interest. A woman, who is so devoted and energetic to the family needs once upon a time, completely does her share of chores listlessly. An observant husband asks her if she is keeping well, distressed reciprocates her absent-minded stupor. After the husband is aware of the photograph he condemns her and makes up his mind to shift to the guest room. In countering that Paroma confronts him and questions him if he has never committed mistakes in his life? And a point blank response No! says it all. One scene shows her husband frantically searching for a pair of cufflinks and scatters the draws and cupboards. Paroma who is silently watching gives a hand once her husband asks her maid to look for it. Paroma picks it up from the right draw and is diffident whether to hand it to him or leave it on the table. We see Paroma in her initial behavior as in early part of the film. Is this saying that she is attempting to get things back to normal? As Shoma A. Chatterji (2002: 76) aptly says, ‘The fact that she knows precisely where things around the house, is a pointer to the desperation a committed housewife like Paroma can be pushed to. It also proves her vulnerability. The irony is that the chores she did with such love and affection can be done with equal efficiency by Kamala, the maid, minus of course, the love and the affection Paroma put into them. Paroma is deemed to be portraying an equal status of a maid in this illustration. However it will be termed as an un-paid servant. Is this the kind of image that women would like to see on screen? Paroma being a strong character should be standing up for herself. Even though her routing was a little unusual to vast majority, this is Paromas point of view. The rupture created between Paroma and her extended family exposes the cruelty of patriarchal insistence and poses a threat to the male dominated society. The image of a mother she carries takes a toll when she puts her relationship before her motherhood. This does not necessarily mean she is insensitive to her childrens feelings. Every human requires a companion and in this case her determinants are surrounded by feelings of pleasure. As Shoma A. Chatterji (2002: 77) says, â€Å"Hinduism and the patriarchy it functions within, insists on placing the mother on a pedestal, which is natural and logical extension of the worship of the Mother Goddess to include the family unit. The pedestal is conveniently used by the patriarchal family to reduce the same mother to silence, absence and marginality, politically constructed to seemingly connote to the woman concerned.† As the narrative progresses, we embark upon something close to a peak. Paroma is disheartened with the way her attempt to reconcile things with family was treated unfavorably that she takes a drastic decision to end her life. She is admitted to a hospital and is diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage where the doctor says her hair needs to be shorn off for the purpose of an x-ray. On hearing this Paromas daughter sobs at her mothers hair being shaven off. One can notice a sense of hesitation from the members of the family as soon as they are informed that the surgery would do Paroma some good. Does this signify their hesitation to her as a person back into the family or just vacillation to the surgery? If it is evident that a surgery will save Paroma from more harm and why would anyone have double thoughts about this. It is clear that the family is in a dilemma to accept Paroma after such an incident and worried if the society would brand them as we know they would. To speak for majority of the families in India societal pressure plays a huge role in any decision the family makes. This is doubled up if the family has many girls in the family. If any decision that is taken has to reflect on the society then where is the question of living life to the fullest. One can understand if there is debate with regard to being responsible but not to the extent where the society rules ones life. This indicates a new beginning to Paroma or an end to all the discomfiture after all. As Mini Nanda (2009: 174) says, ‘Tonsuring of her hair seems to be a process of sloughing off her past, the pain and the humiliation as well as thrusting a widowhood on her. Paroma stays rigid that she will not speak any of her family members. She requests for a diary and a pen and begins to empty her feelings into the book. This self-defining act could also be looked at as a prolongation to the letters she used to write Rahul. She mentions the daily activities that happen in her nursing room. Paromas friend Sheila gets her a paper cutting of a write about Rahul, which Paroma chooses to let go standing near her window. This could be a mark made to erase the smallest trail of her past and to start a new beginning with vigor. Paroma has a conversation with her friend Sheila where she asks Sheila to get her a job as a sales assistant. When her family and the Doctor insist she goes through psychotherapy, she boldly says she has no guilt feeling inside her for her to go through any therapy. We see a fresh air of confidence swing past Paromas character. One can notice the diary writing to have started in the end of the film. Thereby stating the initiative Paroma has taken to express her feeling. Paroma for the first time voices her opinion to her family members about her ideas to work as a sales assistant. Even after each one trying hard to persuade Paroma to go through the therapy, so that her life could flow in the direction as before she stands up for her self. This act is again refreshing from the Paroma earlier on in the film and the rejuvenated Paroma. The climax has us all thinking metamorphic derivations. We see Paroma spill the beans to her shocked family about her new plans of taking up a job. And then her husbands reaction is worth noting at this point as it comes as a shocker to him. He is taken by surprise at Paromas decision and asks what people would think if his wife worked as a sales assistant for a very menial pay. In spite of all the pushing and probing from the family Paroma stands stable no matter what her family brands her as. She pans left to notice the plant sitting by the window sill and the name flashes across her mind ‘Woh Patte! Calendula kaise? Haan Euphobia contenopholia Krishnapallavi!? (Those leaves! Not Calendula! Yes, Euphobia contenopholia) There by telling us that she has definitely come out stronger than before by finding her inner-self and may be more. As Anshoo Sharma (2009: 117) says: ‘In conclusion one can say that like phoenix she rises from her ashes stronger, more capable. It is the rebirth of Durga , the Paroma who has realized her ‘Shakthi but in a new form, a different context. References: Bindoo Nair (2009) ‘The Female bodies and the Male Gaze: Laura Mulvey and Indian Cinema in Jasbir Jain and Sudha Rai (ed.) Films and Feminism, Jaipur, Rawat Publication. Vrinda Mathur (2009) ‘Women in Indian Cinema: Fictional Constructs, in Jasbir Jain and Sudha Rai (ed.) Films and Feminism, Jaipur, Rawat Publication. Anshoo Sharma (2009) ‘Crossing the Boundaries: Woman in search of Self, in Jasbir Jain and Sudha Rai (ed.) Films and Feminism, Jaipur, Rawat Publication. Shoma A. Chatterji (2002) The Cinema of Aparna Sen, Calcutta: Parumitha Publication. Mini Nanda (2009) ‘Symbolism and Space in Aparna Sens Paroma and Deepa Mehtas Fire, in Jasbir Jain and Sudha Rai (ed.) Films and Feminism, Jaipur, Rawat Publication. Mulvey L. (2975) ‘Visual Pleasure and narrative cinema, Screen, 16, 3, Autumn

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Theories Of Implicit And Explicit Knowledge English Language Essay

Theories Of Implicit And Explicit Knowledge English Language Essay The distinction between implicit and explicit knowledge is of great significance for language teaching. The theoretical models emerging from SLA research have taken up differing stances on the interface between implicit and explicit knowledge in the L2 learning process. With reference to these stances, two points of particular interest to L2 classroom instruction are: which type of knowledge contributes more effectively to learning and which type of teaching, explicit or implicit, provides more assistance to the L2 learning process. This paper discusses some of the influential theories of implicit and explicit knowledge; how the two types of knowledge contribute to learning; and the impact of theory on classroom instructional methodologies. Although both types of knowledge can refer to different aspects of language, this paper focuses particularly on grammar for two reasons: firstly due to space limitations, and secondly because of its importance to language pedagogy. The paper starts by defining the two types of knowledge and providing an overview of what the corresponding learning and teaching aspects of this knowledge entail. The theories that are then discussed have been grouped according to their stance on how the two types of knowledge interface. Along with a brief description of the theories I will also look at their implications on classroom instruction. The paper concludes by reviewing form focused instruction, which is a good example of how ideas emanating from theory have influenced teaching approaches by integrating the artificiality of learning into a more natural process. 2. Defining the implicit/explict dichotomy 2.1 Implicit knowledge, learning and instruction Implicit knowledge is commonly associated with a learners linguistic competence (Ellis, 2005a). Literature on psychology and SLA research uses several overlapping terms to refer to this knowledge, for example, unconscious knowledge, intuitive knowledge/awareness, epilinguistic behaviour, spontaneous/ automated knowledge, or procedural knowledge/rules/memory. Bialystok (1981) offers the following description of implicit knowledge: The general form in which information is represented allows us to know things intuitively without being aware of the formal properties of that knowledge. For example, we know a great deal about language that defies mental examination, but the knowledge is demonstrated by our ability to produce correct, coherent utterances. Implicit knowledge underlies the fluent language skills usually associated with native speakers (Hulstijn, 2007), who have an ability to notice grammatical errors without necessarily being able to explain the rules causing them. Ellis (1994) suggests that this knowledge can be broken down into two sub-categories: formulaic knowledge consisting of pre-fabricated chunks of language; and rule-based which consists of general and abstract structures which have been internalised. Both these sub-categories are stored unconsciously and only become apparent when the language is produced in communication (ibid). Within the brain, implicit knowledge is not restricted to one specific area, but is spread over different regions of the neocortex (Paradis, 1994). Implicit learning is the forming of implicit knowledge, and is a natural process of acquiring new knowledge unknowingly, and in such way that the knowledge is difficult to verbalise (Ellis, 1994). For example, a learner may unwittingly learn a grammatical rule while working on a meaning focused activity, or notice a structural pattern during a short-term memory task. This learning takes place automatically whenever information is processed receptively, and once the process is initiated, the learner cannot choose not to encode the input (Hulstijn, 2007). Classroom instruction is considered implicit if rules are not presented and learners are not required to attend to forms (Norris and Ortega, 2000). Examples of implicit instruction include high frequency input, interaction, and recasts (Spada, 2010). Grammatical and lexical resources are a means to an end, and considering the general consensus that development of implicit linguistic knowledge results in language acquisition, the ultimate aim of classroom instruction should be to facilitate this development (Ellis, 2005b). Even though there is still disagreement on how implicit knowledge is acquired, it is generally accepted that communicative activities play an essential role in the process; therefore communicative tasks could be an effective instructional tool when the language learning focus is on implicit knowledge (ibid). 2.2 Explicit Knowledge, learning and instruction Explicit knowledge refers to different aspects of language, including grammatical, phonological, lexical, pragmatic and socio-cultural (Ellis, 2005a). As with implicit knowledge, several overlapping terms have been used to refer to L2 explicit knowledge, for example, language/metalinguistic awareness, analysed knowledge, conscious knowledge, declarative knowledge, learned knowledge, or metagrammar. Ellis (2004: 244) gives an extended definition of explicit knowledge as: Explicit L2 knowledge is the declarative and often anomalous knowledge of the phonological, lexical, grammatical, and sociocritical features of an L2 together with the metalanguage for labelling this knowledge. It is held consistently and is learnable and verbalisable. It is typically accessed through controlled processing when L2 learners experience some kind of linguistic difficulty in the use of the L2. Learners vary in the breadth and depth of their L2 explicit knowledge. Explicit learning is a conscious, deliberate process of structuring explicit, verbalisable knowledge, which can take place while learning concepts/rules in the classroom or it may be initiated independently (Hulstijn, 2007), for example, when a learner refers to a grammar book to find the past participle of a particular verb. This type of learning requires a degree of cognitive development, therefore it is unlikely to take place in early childhood (ibid). Explicit knowledge is said to reside, or at least processed in a specific area of the brain (the medial temporal lobe, including the hippocampus), which is separate to the areas where implicit knowledge is stored (Ullman, 2001). Norris and Ortega suggest that explicit instruction exists along a continuum, from instruction which is more to that which is less explicit (Norris and Ortega, 2000). A deductive approach to classroom instruction is an example of a more explicit from of instruction, where rules are explained before a structure is presented in context. An example of a less explicit form is inductive instruction, here learners are asked to attend to and make metalinguistic generalisations on a form which has already been presented in context (ibid). 3. The implicit/explicit interface The contradictory claims regarding the dichotomy of implicit and explicit knowledge have focused mainly on how these two types of knowledge interface. The interface hypothesis presents three positions which argue the extent to which explicit knowledge is involved in L2 acquisition. 3.1 The non-interface position At a certain age children stop using their language to communicate and begin to look at it reflectively (Tunman and Herriman, 1984). Childrens use of explicit knowledge is considered to exhibit different levels of consciousness depending on their literacy skills, whereas their acquisition or use of implicit knowledge shows little variation (Ellis, 2004). This implies therefore, that knowledge which initiates conscious or explicit linguistic behaviour is distinct from that unconscious or implicit knowledge which characterises natural language use. Krashen (1982), Paradis (1994) and Schwartz (1993) claim that acquired and explicitly learned L2 knowledge does not interface, arguing that the former is responsible for language fluency, and the latter is only useful to monitor communicative output. Paradis (1994) also rejects the possibility of explicit knowledge converting directly into implicit knowledge, or vice versa. He suggests that since these two types of knowledge exist in neuroanatomically distinct memory systems, they can interact but transfer of knowledge from one to the other is unlikely (ibid). Krashen (1982) argues that formal teaching of grammar is unnecessary as it has no effect on language acquisition, and explicit L2 knowledge may never actually convert to implicit knowledge. In addition he suggests learners have little ability to learn grammar. Similarly, Truscott (1996) adds that the only benefits of formal grammar instruction are in preparing learners for assessment which look to measure explicit metalinguistic knowledge rather than communicative ability. In his input hypothesis Krashen states that like L1, L2 acquisition is also a natural process which occurs implicitly while a learner is exposed to comprehensible L2 input (Krashen, 1982). If learners are motivated, they will naturally follow an in-built syllabus to develop their inter-language, and using an intuitive process of trial and error, eventually acquire the L2 (Ibid). Krashens theory was the inspiration behind the natural and communicative approaches to language teaching. Counter to Krashens claims, evidence from research has shown that despite immersion in the L2, learners continue to make grammatical errors. A study by Harley and Swain (1984), for example, showed that immersion students relying purely on comprehensible input were unable to achieve high levels of language proficiency. Effect of L1 transfer is a possible reason why implicit learning processes are less effective for L2 (Ellis, 2008). Unlike a newborn infant, the L2 learners neocortex is already configured and optimised for the L1 (ibid). L2 processing and automatisation therefore occur non-optimally, as they have to rely on implicit L1 representations (ibid). A weaker form of the non-interface position suggests a possibility of implicit knowledge being transferred to explicit knowledge through conscious reflection and analysis of implicitly generated output (for example, Bialystok, 1982). Similarly, Ellis (1994) also argues for a seperateness of the two types of knowledge, he proposes a connectionist account of implicit knowledge as a complex interconnected network which is neurologically detached from explicit language knowledge. However, he suggests that the two types of knowledge may be derived from each other and that they can interact during language use (ibid: 235). 3.2 The interface position The non-interface position has been attacked both theoretically and empirically by other SLA researchers, who have addressed the role played by explicit knowledge in language acquisition. Sharwood Smith (2004), for example, uses the interface hypothesis to argue that explicit knowledge can be gained from implicit knowledge, and similarly explicit knowledge can be transformed to implicit knowledge using: contextualised communicative practice, repeated use and corrective feedback. Taking a strong interface position, the skill building theory (DeKeyser, 2003) suggests that a procedularised form of explicit knowledge is functionally equivalent to implicit knowledge when learners are given plenty of opportunities to engage in meaningful communicative practice. This practice is an essential step in proceduralising the target language for spontaneous use; hence it is important that learners are motivated to engage in this process through non-threatening feedback (Faerch, 1986). Many studies have provided empirical evidence to justify the role of explicit grammar teaching. Ellis (1994), for example, has shown that explicit language instruction leads to faster learning, and that adhering to an implicit focus on meaning fails to provide high levels of competence. However, for grammar instruction to be effective, some researchers have found that a careful selection and sequencing of rules is essential, as well as a determination of the learners linguistic readiness to accept a new grammatical item (Ellis, 1994; Fotos, 1994). The grammar translation and cognitive approaches, which were popular in the 1960s and 70s are typical examples of explicit teaching methods. These methods were influenced by the belief that an explicit knowledge of grammatical rules precedes their use (Ellis, 2008). The PPP model is another instructional approach taking an interface stance. PPP emphasis a focus on form, and stipulates that a language feature should be: explicitly presented, then practiced and finally produced in order to procedularise the feature. Swan (2005) sees PPP as a useful approach for presenting and practicing language structures under semi-controlled conditions. However, PPP is now widely seen as lacking a firm basis in SLA theory, its linearity and behaviourist nature fails to take into consideration the stages of developmental readiness that a learner goes through (Ellis, 2003); and its systematic instructional approach is unlikely to lead to acquisition of the language feature taught (Skehan, 1996). 3.3 The weak interface position A weak interface position proposed by some theorists, suggests the possibility of transferring knowledge between the implicit/explicit systems. Two popular processing models from cognitive psychology which take a weak-interface position are McLaughlins (1987) information processing model, and Andersons (1983) ACT model. The information-processing model proposes that complex behaviour evolves from simple modular processes that can be isolated and analysed independently (McLaughlin, 1987). Within this framework L2 learners use controlled processing, requiring a lot of attentional control to generate language sequences, which are then stored in short-term memory (ibid). Through repeated activation, these sequences become automatic and are transferred to long-term memory, where they can be accessed with minimal attentional control (ibid). Based on a similar viewpoint, the ACT model (Anderson, 1983), suggests that declarative knowledge (knowing that something is the case) leads to procedural knowledge (knowing how to do something). Three types of memory are defined in this framework: a working memory (similar to short-term memory), and two types of long-term memory, declarative and procedural. Anderson maintains that during learning, declarative knowledge becomes procedural and automatised, and that both types of knowledge are stored differently (ibid). A learner might start of by studying a rule (for example, Use a and an when the following word starts with a consonant or vowel, respectively), but every time a phrase containing this rule is produced or received, the phrase is stored as an instance in memory (Logan, 1988). Increasing encounters with these instances raises their activation levels to such an extent that eventually retrieving a stored instance will be quicker than applying the rule (ibid). Other versions of the weak interface position also support a possibility of knowledge transfer but set restrictions on when and how this transfer can take place. Pienemann (1989), for example, argues that learners cannot transmit knowledge between the two systems until they are ready to acquire the linguistic form. Ellis (1994) claims that explicitly teaching declarative rules can have a top-down impact on perception, leading to saliency of the taught language features. Learners are then able to notice the feature during input, and by comparing it with their output can consciously notice the gap (ibid). Explicit knowledge in this case acts as a stimulus in activating conscious awareness and the subsequent storage in long-term memory (Ellis, 2005b). The significance of explicit knowledge in this case is not so much as a contributor to acquisition, but as a detector of specific language features in the input. Ellis suggests consciousness raising (CR) as a way of setting a linguistic focus to tasks, and encouraging learner autonomy by requiring learners to derive explicit grammar rules independently (Ellis 2005b). CR raising tasks can be inductive or deductive, in the former learners are expected to induce an explicit representation of a rule, whereas in the latter the rule is provided at the beginning of the task (Ellis et al., 2003). The main aims of CR tasks are to involve learners in goal-orientated communication and to encourage the development of explicit knowledge (ibid). 4. Form focused instruction (FFI) FFI consists of a number of approaches to teaching that advocate a focus on both meaning and form (for example, Doughty and Williams, 1998; Lightbown and Spada, 1990). The distinction between the various types of FFI is that some are implicit in nature, and others are more explicit. Ellis (2001) defines FFI as a type of instruction which includes any planned or incidental instructional activity that is intended to induce language learners to pay attention to linguistic form. Long (1991) distinguishes between two types of FFI: focus on formS (FonFs) and focus on form (FonF). The former involves teaching discrete grammar points according to a synthetic syllabus leading to a preselected linguistic target (ibid). FonFs is regarded as an explicit form of FFI (Housen and Pierrard, 2005) and is more in line with the interface position. A typical example of a FonFs approach is the PPP model. FonF on the other hand is a more implicit form of FFI (ibid), and aims to overtly draw the students attention to linguistic elements as they arise incidentally in lessons whose overriding focus is on meaning or communication (Long, 1991: 45). FonF is based on the idea that first and second language acquisition are similar in that they both rely on exposure to comprehensible input from natural interaction (ibid). However it also takes into account important differences: that learners cannot acquire many of the grammatical aspects of language through exposure alone, and that this needs to be balanced by providing a focus on grammatical as well as communicative aspects of the second language (ibid). The instructional activities associated with the FonF approach involve a mixture of implicit and explicit techniques, for example: input enhancement where a target form is highlighted for awareness; and a structure-based task (Fotos, 2005) which requires the completion of a meaningful task u sing the target form, before the latter is explicitly taught and practiced further. Long (1991) contends that FonF instruction may be more effective than a focus on meaning (FonM) or a FonFs approach, because it is more consistent with the findings of SLA research. From a psycholinguistic perspective a FonF teaching in the classroom is justified for three main reasons: FonM may be useful in developing oral fluency, however it fails to provide high levels of linguistic or sociolinguistic competence (Ellis et al., 2003). The FonM approach is based on Krashens (1981) hypothesis which states that all that is needed to acquire a language is extensive exposure to rich comprehensible L2 input. However, while researching literature comparing instructed with uninstructed learning (FonM), Long (1991) found that instructed learning was much more effective in achieving high proficiency levels. A FonFs approach is based on the idea that classroom L2 learning is derived from cognitive processes and therefore involves the learning of a skill (Ellis et al., 2003). However empirical evidence (for example Pienemann, 1989) suggests that a FonFs approach does not guarantee that learners will develop the ability to restructure their interlanguage. Studies have shown that classroom learning follows a sequentially similar acquisition process as natural learning (Ellis et al., 2003). However, in the classroom learners may follow an inbuilt syllabus, allowing them to benefit or acquire only those aspects of FFI for which they are linguistically ready (ibid). Therefore deciding on which language feature learners are ready to acquire may pose a difficulty for FonFs instruction. A FonF instruction draws attention to the target form through a contextually meaningful communication, allowing the learners to develop their fluency and accuracy (Ellis et al., 2003). FonF is pedagogically efficient in that it can focus specifically on those language features that either need clarification or are problematic at a contextually relevant moment (ibid). FonF also gives an opportunity to learners to receive feedback in a meaningful context, allowing them to notice the gap between their interlanguage and the negative evidence provided by the feedback (ibid). Johnson (1996), in his skills building theory suggests that feedback is most useful for learners when it is presented in real operating conditions. Corrective feedback exposes learners to the correct form and encourages them to produce it themselves; leading to a possible acquisition of these forms (Ellis et al., 2003). The above discussion supports the efficacy of FonF instruction; however the effectiveness of this method in some EFL contexts is doubted. In educational contexts where teachers are obliged to follow a tightly controlled syllabus, or where class size does not permit individual feedback, a FonF instructional approach may be difficult to implement (Poole, 2005). What this suggests is that pedagogical implications of SLA studies on implicit and explicit knowledge need to be related to different learning and teaching contexts. 5. Conclusion This paper discussed some of the prominent theories that have emerged from SLA research on implicit and explicit knowledge. As well as defining the two types of knowledge, their impact on the learning process and instructional practices were also highlighted. A look at focus on form instruction showed how the ideas from different theoretical viewpoints have merged to give a teaching approach which balances both implicit and explicit learning. Although research has shown that traditional explicit grammar instruction is unlikely to lead to the implicit knowledge needed for proficiency in a language, there is still a lot of controversy regarding the best alternative (Ellis, 2006). The conflicting views on the overall role of implicit and explicit knowledge in SLA point to the complexity of the issue and suggest that a thorough understanding is still evolving. Ellis (2008) suggests that because consciousness and linguistic knowledge are so difficult to conceptualise and operationalise, improving our insight in these areas is a major challenge. In order to help gain a deeper understanding, future research needs to collaborate with developments in other disciplines such as cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience (Doughty and Long, 2003).

Monday, August 19, 2019

A Comparison Between ?Traveling through the dark? and ?A Noiseless, Pa

A Comparison Between â€Å"Traveling through the dark† and â€Å"A Noiseless, Patient Spider† William Stafford’s "Traveling through the dark" is beautifully written poem that expresses one of life’s most challenging aspects. It is the story of a man’s solitary struggle to deal with a tragic event that he encounters. Driving down a narrow mountain road, â€Å"Traveling through the dark,† the narrator of the poem encounters a deer. This line might fool the reader into believing the poem has a happy theme however, the first word of the second line reverses this belief. The deer is actually â€Å"dead on the edge of the Wilson River Road† (2, 911). The traveler decides to send the deer over the edge of the canyon, because â€Å"to swerve might make more dead† (4, 911). This line indicates that if he fails or â€Å"swerves† in his decision, the deer could cause an accident on the narrow road that might cost more lives. The narrator proceeds with his unfortunate task. He approaches the deer and observes that it is a recent killing. He drags her off to the side of the road, noting that she is â€Å"large in the belly† (8, 911). The narrator soon discovers that the deer is pregnant, and that her fawn is still alive. At this moment he hesitates, distraught over the decision he knows he must make. Faced by the implications of this decision, the narrator considers his surroundings: his car stares ahead into the darkness with its lowered parking lights, purring its steady engine; he stands â€Å"in the glare of the warm exhaust turning red,† (15, 912) and can â€Å"hear the wilderness listen† (16, 911). All of these describe the anxiety he feels about his responsibility. The personified car is expectantly awaiting his decision, eager to get moving again. The wilderness takes on human abilities also, silently witnessing the outcome it knows must be, but wishing it was otherwise. As the narrator ponders all of this, the taillights of the car illuminate him in their red light. This is reflective of the heightened emotions he is experiencing, but also brings to mind the bloody fate of the deer and her unborn fawn. The narrator thinks â€Å"hard for us all† (17,912) and proceeds with the task he had committed to since the beginning. He pushes the deer and her unb orn fawn over the edge into the river. There is much more to â€Å"Traveling through the dark† than its literal story. The ... ... wishes to underline this point by making the thread that the spider will use to launch itself into the air drawn out to an extreme. The spider is tireless in its quest, and so too is the soul. The soul, like the spider, is flinging out a "gossamer thread to catch somewhere" (10, 810). And like the spider, the soul is willing and able to wait until the moment shall arrive that is just right to begin its travels. However, like the spider's fragile silk, this bridge is also frail and prone to breakage from a careless act or an unheeding nature. So, in spite of the careful and deliberate act of flinging out a filament to catch on some unknown "sphere", it is possible that the soul may never reach its destination. For Whitman, that is both the excitement and the scariness of it all. Perhaps he is communicating to the reader the idea that though one may never get to where one is going, still, the journey is very important. Although by the language and the elements within these two poems seem very different, the interpretation suggests that they both discuss man’s journey through life. The physical in one, and the spiritual in the other.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Fertility Drugs Essays -- Research Papers Pregnancy Conception Papers

Fertility Drugs Most men and women are raised thinking that eventually they will marry and have children. What happens when a couple gets married and wants to have a child and finds out that after several times of having unprotected sex there is no pregnancy? The finger is usually pointed at the woman but in some cases it can be due to the man. In a woman's case, the problem is usually that she is not ovulating normally and in a man's case he might have low sperm count. These are the problems that are most heard of but there are other factors that can cause infertility. An anxious couple quickly turns to science to try and find a solution to their problem. Although taking fertility drugs is the "solution", it can be quite strenuous for the couple. The couple has to submit to an emotional roller coaster , possible financial hardship, and a love life that sounds more like supply and demand. Some couples get so tied up with conceiving a child that they do not enjoy what they're doing but rather do it o n demand. "Their marriages are sometimes threatened to the point of divorce."(p.16, Carr) "there is a definite relationship between infertility and stability and happiness in marriagemore than one-half of the couples who seek divorce are childless and the majority of infertile couples eventually apply for divorce."(p.16, Carr) When a couple is trying to conceive they will often have feelings of frustration and discouragement. As we see, making the decision of seeking help using fertility drugs requires that both parties be supportive of each other and really work together to achieve their goal. "Between 15 and 25 percent of all couples in the United States are infertile. If you've had unprotected sex for more than 12 months (if... ...rinologist). (www.infertility.about.com) For an application, list of requirements, or basic information about the organization you can visit http://www.fertilityfoundation.org Although this paper is long it does not provide nearly all the information available about infertility. This paper can be seen as tool. There's no doubt in my mind that taking fertility drugs is a very big decision. What I learned from this research is that many eager parents put their own health at risk in order to have a baby. Overall, success depends on each case individually and on the severity of your condition and age. Bibliography About, The Human Internet. http://www.infertility.about.com . (17 May 2001) Baby Center, Cradle and all. http://www.babycenter.com . (17 May 2001) Carr, Delta Genevieve. Fertile and Infertile Marriages. Xerox University Microfilms: USA, 1975.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Conceptualizing a New Product or Service Division of an Existing Business Essay

The success of an organization depends on the strategic plan. In the plan, it will define the mission, vision, ad value statements. The strategic plan is designed to assist the organization with its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The SWOT analysis will help develop a strong strategic plan and map out the direction to follow to achieve an organizational vision and goal. The purpose of this paper is to cover the mission, vision and core value of De Von’s Printing. Define the guiding principles and strategic direction. Then introduce and identify the customer’s needs and how it achieves competitive advantage. Mission De Von’s is classified as a full service printing provider for standard and custom invitation, web design, and web support. The company’s clientele are individuals and organizations of any size or nature. The services offered to the clientele ranges from standard to custom. De Von’s center its dedication and customer appreciation around the skills of displaying the most outstanding customer service to each customer that the company serve. The company’s mission statement is to provide the customer with the highest quality product and service in a timely manner, and provide each customer with a competitive price. We will be honest, give professional advice and provide friendly customer service. Our goal will be to meet and exceed full expectation. The mission statement is a written declaration of an organization’s core purpose and focus that normally remains unchanged over time. Properly crafted mission statements (1) serve as filters to separate what is important from what is not, (2) clearly state which markets will be served and how, and (3) communicate a sense of  intended direction to the entire organization (â€Å"Mission Statement†, 2014). Vision De Von’s vision statement is to be a leader in the Printing industry. The way the company will display and honor the statement is to use innovative work practice with a self-improvement of the culture, to evaluate the new technology that will add value, and being socially responsible. We commit to our principles, product and service, ad clientele. The vision statement is an aspirational description of what an organization would like to achieve or accomplish in the mid-term or long-term future. It is intended to serves as a clear guide for choosing current and future courses of action (â€Å"Vision Statement†, 2014). Core Value The company’s core values are to discipline and respect the commitment that was developed, ownership to the goals, and take accountability and responsibility for our actions, uphold the trust, sensitivity, and professional conduct, and have a quality orientation and purpose of excellence. The core values are a company’s ethical and moral compass and decision making foundation. They are the ideals and ethics that management holds dear. They drive decision making in that they are constantly referred to in the decision making process. That is, when in a tough spot, the answer needs, first and foremost, to be consistent with the company values. They are generally for both internal and external consumption. They tell those in the company how things are done and those outside the company why they want to be associated with this company. Corporate values are best when they are few in number but high in meaning and lived daily (â€Å"Mission, Vision, and Value†, 2013). Guiding Principles The company’s core value is developed around the certainty that the standard and custom printing is a way to produce quality invitations for the clients. This makes it easier for those that do not wont cheap printing and looking for a professional look. De Von’s Printing guiding business principles are committed to follow is: a. Listen and communicate b. Leadership c. Courtesy and respectful d. Exceed customer expectation e. Excellence f. Share knowledge g. Simple process h. Team work i. Participate and contribute to activities The company has beliefs that the custom printing will target a huge segment of clients, who are in need of quality printing. The management team wants to serve a competitive price depending on the design. Organization’s Strategic Direction De Von’s objectives for the future are to achieve the goals in the strategic plan to expand on the growth for the company. Once the achievement has been accomplished, the management team would review the profit made and look at other opportunities in the printing industry such as screen printing. De Von’s future goal is to add to the partnership network with the competitors such as Paramount Printing. The executive and management team has discussed the advancement plan of the objectives. The objectives would include connect with web designers and screen printing organizations, communicate, and advertise the new service. Produce a partnership with local competitors by advertising workshops or seminars, and use a recruitment method to reach out to master printers. Use social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to advertise and promote the product and service. The strategic plan solely depends on the mission, vision, and core values. The mission statement identifies the company and who it supports; the clientele, employees, and investors. The mission statement recognizes the proficiency within the industry. The clients realize that De Von’s Printing is committed with customer satisfaction, focus, and outstanding abilities. The vision statement summaries how the company wants to succeed by providing outstanding products and service to the clients. De Von’s vision is to become one of the popular printing companies in the area and through the United States. This shows that the company is committed to accomplishing and achieving excellence to the clients, staff and investors. It also shows that the ownership has motivation to be the best it can be and be loyal to  the goals for the company to expand. The core values of De Von’s Printing are correspondingly as impertative as the mission and vision statement of the organization’s strategic plan. Lastly, the value of integrity shows that cl ients and employees can trust the company to do what is right for not only clients, employees, and shareholders, but for the community and society as well. The Customer Needs and Achieved Competitive Advantages De Von’s top priority is to be able to meet the customer’s needs. The company has developed a strong communication method. This method has allowed the management team to utilize his or her listening skills. Once the communication and listening plan was put in place, they were able to understand what the clients were looking for in a product and services. There are three steps the team would need to follow in order to bring satisfaction to the clients. The steps would be Listen, Process, and Deliver. The team took the steps and developed a plan. The first step is Listen. Team A took the information from the clients and was able to understand what he or she was trying to achieve. Team B had the Process step. They reviewed the multiple solutions that were available and then were able to decide the best one for each individual or organization. In the Process step, the team used the advanced solution instead of the cheaper one. The last step is the deliver. This step Team C set a method for the clients to follow through, and establish a way for the client to meet the request of the customers by providing on time service, and a committed competitive price. De Von’s focus is to remain in an advance stage of bring competitive with the competitors. The management team and executive leaders have put in place ways to stay competitive in the Printing Industry. An incentive and training program was put in place to provide positive resources for the employees. Conclusion De Von’s Printing has a strong method of maintaining a positive strategic plan. The mission, vision, and values were properly evaluated and developed with a smooth path of organization. The mission statement identifies the company and who it supports; the clientele, employees, and investors. The vision statement gives a view of where the company has set out for the future and in what direction they plan to be. The core values are a guide  that helps the company to meet the goals that are set. De Von’s management team has realized that their biggest competitive advantage will be the clientele and the employees. . Reference â€Å"Mission Statement†, (2014). Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/mission-statement.html#ixzz35ZMkiGFn â€Å"Vision Statement†, (2014). Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/vision-statement.html#ixzz35aW3DgZb â€Å"Mission, Vision, and Value statement†, (2013). Retrieved from http://www.bellevuechamber.org/links/pdf/mission_vision_and_values_template.pdf

Friday, August 16, 2019

The Kiss: Brancusi and Rodin

Auguste Rodin was a French artist most famous for his sculpting. He was born in 1840 and survived into the Twentieth century, dying in November of 1917.   He possessed and innate ability to sculpt in clay, creating dynamic movement in roughly pock marked human figures with a high degree of realism. His work was not well received initially though he came into vogue rather quickly.He was schooled in a traditional manner on the Ecole de Beaux Arte in Paris but in his work he was in the vanguard of the movement toward modern sculpture (Wikipedia.org Rodin).   Constantin Brancusi was born in Romania in 1876 and died in 1957. His sculptures were simple, reflecting his background as a stonemason in his native land. Having run away from home at an early age to escape the abuse of his father and brothers, he impressed an employer with his carving ability and the man financed his secondary education at a crafts school where he graduated with honors. He then attended the Bucharest School of Fine Arts (Wikipedia.org Brancusi).Brancusi made his way to Paris, the center of the world of art at that time, and made the acquaintance of fellow artists and intellectuals (Franck & Liebow). For two years he labored in the workshop of   Antonin Mercie of the Paris Ecole des Beaux Arte. At that point he was invited to work with the master, Auguste Rodin. Brancusi recognized the genius of Rodin but apparently felt smothered by the essence of the great sculptor and left after a few months. He was quoted as saying that, â€Å"Nothing can grow under big trees,† (Wikipedia.org Brancusi) Rodin was, at his core, a naturalist, and as consumed with the emotion and character he found in the model as he was in faithfully rendering an exact likeness.He also, it was said, believed, more so than other sculptors, that a human’s character is revealed in his physical features. His theory was that every portion of the sculpted work had a part to play in communicating the feeling, po wer and inner strength of the work. The grip of the toes, for instance, in his Thinker, is depicted to show the intensity with which the subject is going about his task. â€Å"What makes my Thinker think is that he thinks not only with his brain, with his knitted brow, his distended nostrils and compressed lips, but with every muscle of his arms, back, and legs, with his clenched fist and gripping toes† (quoted in Wikipedia.org Rodin)   he said.While most of Paris’ sculptors were working in clay and having their work cast in bronze, Brancusi most often labored as a carver and utilized the direct method of creating his sculpture. He removed the superfluous material and was left with his creation. In the case of his original The Kiss, (there are several versions), as the old saw goes, he simple cut off everything that did not look like a pair of kissers. Carved in limestone, it measures 23† x 13  ¾ â€Å" x 10  ¾Ã¢â‚¬ . It is a highly stylized depiction of a man and woman face to face, their arms entwined, their lips pressed together and their bodies touching.The work gives the impression that the two are so engrossed and joined in love and sensuality that they have become one. Rodin’s   version of the same subject is likewise carved directly into stone, in this case, marble, though there exist many replicas of the work in bronze, cast from Rodin’s original carving. The original title was Francesca da Rimini and depicted a scene from Dante’s Inferno. It represents an Italian noblewoman who falls in love with her husband’s younger brother. The couple are nude and embracing, with their lips close, each to the other, but not actually touching, so the kiss is not consummated.Both works by these two contemporary masters, working in the same city, are of the same subject and both are carved directly into stone. Here the similarity between the two ends. Rodin’s powerful style is seen in the work and   t here is no question as to what he means to say. The sensuality of the Rodin work is manifest in the texture of the piece and the rendition of muscle and bone. There is a tension in the work that is palpable. Brancusi’s Kiss is simple and direct. It is highly stylized and cubistic in its conception.There is more than a hint of the primitive in the statue. The two artists chose to handle form in a drastically different manner while addressing the same theme. Rodin’s work and even its original title suggest sensuality, passion and perhaps even outright sin. Brancusi’s Kiss is more suggestive of love than of passion (Art 101). It is static and has no movement to it.   The two humans depicted in Brancusi’s work are bonded as if they are one unit, suggesting a stability and deeper emotional unity than that conveyed by RodinThe two artists have, as would have likely pleased Robert Frost, taken different roads. It is not certain which of the two men chose the o ne less traveled but there are differences that make it obvious that they diverge. As to which is the better work, that is not possible to determine, for art, like much of life, is subjective and largely up to individual taste.But Rodin’s work is more academic and conventional where Brancusi’s work is more primal and addresses a basic emotion in the heart and soul of humanity in perhaps a more direct manner. It is possible to dismiss Brancusi’s work at first glance, saying that a child could have done it, while Rodin’s piece has a realism that would belie such a thought.There are those critics who suggest that the Emperor is indeed nude and the Brancusi work is a joke foisted on the art public much like the attitude many take toward the works of Picasso. Rodin’s work became acceptable after a period of adjustment and the public began to understand what he meant to convey. Brancusi’s work is similar in that aspect, and more acceptable as the public gets past their original assessment. Still, both pieces are from the hand of a master who has chosen his own method of bringing his vision to the world.Works Cited.Franck, D. and Liebow, C. Bohemian Paris: Picasso, Modigliani, MatisseAnd the Birth of Modern Art   New York: Grove Press 2001Wikipedia.org   Auguste Rodin 2007 Retrieved 6-7-07 from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Rodin  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantin_Brancusi#_note-brainjuice             Â