Saturday, November 30, 2019

Strategic Retail Management Essay Example

Strategic Retail Management Paper People need a lot of things from their basic things to their luxuries and wants. They turn to the sellers of the merchandise that they need. These sellers may be small retail business owners or big ones such as a department store. Retailing is an important feature of the economy in distributing goods and services from the producers to the people who need them. Retailers usually purchase large amounts of goods from producers, manufacturers or from wholesalers. A quick glance at the supply chain from the production factories would reveal that retailers are at the bottom rung of the chain. Retail stores or shops are usually located where the people are. If people will have to travel long distances just to go to retailers, their business will not grow. Since retail shops are where people go to for their basic needs, they usually develop a connection with their favorite shops. Not a few develop loyalty to the shops they frequently go to. The Retail Environment There are different kinds of retail environments that people may go to. Traditionally sellers and buyers converge on markets. Markets, however, have been supplanted by the rise of malls and big supermarkets. Some retail environments may be in the form of stores where an attendant gets what the customer wants. There are also self-service shops where the customers just get what they want and then pay at the cashier. In stores and shops, however, what can be noted is that the traffic of people never stops. There is interaction most of the time. The retail environment is a place where the economic relationships of people can be highlighted. Yet, such relationships are not only economic, both buyers and sellers may also develop social connections through the retail environment (Berman Evans, 2006). We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Retail Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Retail Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Retail Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Morale and Motivation at the Retail Environment The morale and motivation of the workers in a retail environment is very important to its operations. A motivated workforce will mean that they will also transfer that motivation to the customers that will visit the shop. In order to facilitate this, the workers at the retail shop should enjoy certain benefits and privileges. In this regard, the retail environment should have clear role perceptions, motivation from the manager or owner, and ability, which can be enhanced through training (Weitz, Sujan, and Sujan, 1986). If the management of the retail shop can ensure the motivation of its workers, this would redound to better customer service to the consumers. In a study conducted by Kim, Kang and Kim (2005), they discovered that there are several dimensions of retail shopping motivation from consumers, especially those who are older. They can either consume service, value and food or they can engage in shopping for diversion and leisurely appreciation of aesthetics. Through the model created by these researchers, they found out that people who are lonely and in need of social interaction tend to go to malls and retail shops. Through their experience at the retail shops, their loneliness can be lessened. In this regard, the workers of a shop can make buyers happier by helping them in value consumption and provide them good services (Kim, Kang Kim, 2005). Such kind of motivational spirit would work well if the workers themselves have motivation and if they have high morale. In times of sadness and loneliness, then the workers at the retail shop could also help people become more cheerful. Retailing Trends for Small Businesses One of the most interesting developments in retail management is in two areas, both of them involving technology deeply. Supply chain management is now increasingly integrated with computer applications that enable store owners to manage their inventories more effectively. The technology is also becoming more affordable so even small businesses can afford it. With the availability of online applications, retail management has become more technologically dependent (Krafft Mantrala, 2005). Another important development in retailing is the increasing popularity of the Internet as the place to shop. With credit cards and online payment schemes, more and more people, especially the busy ones, are depending on the Internet and their credit cards for their purchases. If it is any indication, the success of Ebay and other online shopping sites have also led to the emergence of a new kind of entrepreneurs and retailers who are using the Internet in marketing their products. Whatever their products are, they are now able to reach out to a wide segment of buyers not only in their immediate vicinity but also to the whole world (Krafft Mantrala, 2005). This internationalization of retail management has an important impact on the operations of businesses as well as in their business model. With the integration of the Internet as an effective marketing arm, it supplements the traditional marketing media being used by retailers. The internet also helps small retail businesses to get in touch with their customers more quickly and instantaneously. In doing so, they can easily get feedback from them and act on such feedback right away. As such, the marketing aspect of retailing, the interfacing with customers, and the gathering of feedback becomes easier because of the Internet and other online applications. With the internalization of retailing, however, businesses need to think more creatively about their strategy in reaching out to their target market. Another important thing to think about is how to motivate and raise the morale of the customers similar to what they experience when they go to retail centers or to malls. Obviously, retailers also need to take into account the value added needs of the customers that would contribute to a better experience to them when they are shopping online or on site. Apparel shopping on the Internet has been growing in the past few years yet there are hesitations on the part of shoppers to buy clothing over the Internet. This is because of the perceived risks in buying items there. For one, buyers do not get the same visual and texture sensation when they shop on a store. They cannot try on an item of clothing shown online. Given this limitations, retailing through commerce should appeal to other aspects of the buyer experience (Park Stoel, 2002). The Future of Retail Retail management will not be relegated to the dustbins of history. Although economic recession may facilitate the rise and fall of different means of product distribution and retail management but as long as people need goods and services, retailing will remain as a key feature of the country’s economy. Yet the future of the retail industry is worth looking at. Dawson (2000) identified six major challenges to retail management. These challenges have to be addressed in order for retailers to thrive in their industry. The first one is about the challenges of growing and â€Å"bigness†. Big supermarkets and retail chains are on the rise and these industry giants are undermining the small-time players. As such, small and medium businesses should think of creative ways to survive the intense competition. Secondly, brands are highly arbitrary, always in flux and subject to constant change. Choosing which brands to market and distribute may be a crucial issue for retailers. Another challenge would be the over-capacity of the space for retailing. This would refer to the need for careful management of space and buildings of retailers to ensure that both aesthetics and functionality are ensured. In addition to this, changes in the products and services being marketed tend to be abrupt and turbulent. Even the tastes and preferences of consumers can easily change. Retailers therefore should be quick to understand the dynamics of the market so they can prepare for difficulties and problems along the way. The past decade has seen the rise of outsourcing and offshoring in the discussion of business models, processes and services. The challenge that retailers need to address in this area is achieving the balance between internalization and outsourcing of functions. Outsourcing may be an option for businesses but if overdone, it could easily be a source of fragmentation in the business and the loss of trade secrets. Lastly, retailing through e-commerce is yet to prove itself as effective. In order to deal with these challenges, Dawson (2000) recommends several areas that retailers need to look at. One is making the retail firm relevant to the times and to the changing preferences of consumers. There should also be an effective assessment of the risks that the retail firm faces. Another important aspect is to remodel the organization, establish an effective means of gathering knowledge, which will help in development the corporate culture of the firm. Competition is definitely a big issue in retailing. As such, effective strategies should be devised to deal with globalization and competition from large scale companies such as Wal-Mart (Dawson, 2000). Conclusion Retailing will remain as a very important feature of the country’s economy. Actual retailing helps customers with their needs for various products and services. Retailing also gives consumers value added. Through the act of being at the retailer’s shop or store, the loneliness and sadness of certain people can be alleviated. This is not something that people can easily enjoy in huge shopping complexes and warehouses. In spite of big challenges in the retail industry, there are still those that manage to survive. There are also those, however, that cannot cope with the difficulties of the industry and are forced to close or to seek for ways to mitigate their losses. Wendy’s Hamburger has experienced losses in the last two years or so. Some of its stores are no longer visited by customers. Big franchises of the hamburger chain also closed down. Some of the most notable ones are those that are in Australia. Likewise, fifty Wendy’s locations were closed in the United States just recently. This trend could be attributed to intense competition from other hamburger retail chains most notably, McDonalds. More importantly, though, the chain was not able to create a brand name for itself similar to BigMac or Whopper (Wolf, 2007). Retailers can learn valuable lesson from this. Branding is very important in facing the intense and uncertain competition in the world of retailing. Retail management is a difficult business but if the trends in the market can be anticipated, then the right action can be done to make the business thrive.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

A Cry For Racial Justice Example

A Cry For Racial Justice Example A Cry For Racial Justice – Term Paper Example A cry for racial justice While in Birmingham jail, King alleges that his actions to protest against racial discrimination in American society has been termed as untimely and unwise. He asserts that the move to mobilize people to rally against the white is because they have refused to negotiate with them in order to resolve the issues they are presenting. The white people always referred to African Americans as Negros. King argues that it is vital to create tension in the mind of people that will assist men to rise from the dark depths of racism and prejudice to attain reasonable heights of brotherhoods and understanding. In order to show how racial prejudice was prevalent in the American society, King in his letter talks about Rosa Parks who was sitting in the back of the bus in a section of the colored people. She refused to surrender the seat to a white man who was standing. As a result, she was arrested and fined. In response, African American people under the leadership of a youn g pastor from Dexter Avenue Church organized a boycott in the Montgomery bus station. The Civil rights movement in America began to be active in order to protest against such acts in search for justice. Further, the civil rights movement was strengthened in 163 when Martin Luther King gave his â€Å"I have a dream speech† in which he strongly condemned racial injustices in the American society. African Americans were challenged to gain black power that would enable them to revolt against the system and establish their own system so that they can stay as men. The African Americans have to establish their own black culture in order to erase the lies that the white man has fed in their mind since they were born. Due to the demand for black power, the civil rights movement in the US in 1960s had made gains in that legal discrimination in the South had been eliminated. However, legal victories did not mean easy access to jobs, high standards of living, education, or end of racia l segregation. The end of 1960s were years of protests and polarization in that bodies such as SNCC and the student league r industrial democracy were formed to fight against racial discrimination. Discussion questionsi. What were the major challenges that the black community in American society experienced?ii. How were the violence and discrimination against the black community?iii. What names were given to the African Americans in the American society?iv. Were the criticisms against King’s call for racial justice justifiable?

Friday, November 22, 2019

Career Of Pedro Almodovar Film Studies Essay

Career Of Pedro Almodovar Film Studies Essay Pedro Almodovar is undeniably one of the great film auteur’s of our age, having defined decade’s worth of Spanish national cinema. As stated by Isabel Cadalso â€Å"By the time Franco’s death released Spain’s seething subculture, Almodovar was at the centre of it.† (Cadalso)His combination of witty, flamboyant and daring scripts, brilliant performative actors and the vibrant setting of Spanish culture in Madrid always manage provide an in depth insight into the turbulent lives of his characters. â€Å"Madrid has figured prominently in Pedro Almodovar’s cinema, gradually coming into focus as the implicit protagonist of nearly every work. In these films, the city is regularly images as a cultural force, producing forms of expression and action that challenge traditional values by tearing down and rebuilding the moral institutions of Spanish life: the family, the church and the law.† (D’Lugo)There are always many layers to Almodov ar’s films, particularly in the setting and social context, usually being Madrid. Throughout his career we can see how they have developed with the changing political climate of Spain as well as his maturing age, with his films being particularly different from the 80’s to the 90’s and onwards. Madrid is a metaphorical subtext in his films in many different ways, be it relating to characters, situations they are in or the political climate. As stated in A Punk called Pedro â€Å"Madrid functions as a ‘character’, breaking down boundaries between the public and the private arenas. Madrid provides a framework for the new interactions between social behaviours and ‘becomes the site of a radical series of social desires.† (Toribio) Madrid is a place for Almodovar’s character’s where â€Å"They are able to seek kindred spirits in an atmosphere that†¦ is socially liberating and the impetus for new artistic creativity.† (Toribio) As the city it changes, adapts and explains much of the action that is not in Almodovar’s films. Early in Almodovar’s career, he directed two fantastic, yet very different films; Labyrinth of Passion and Matador. These films were both critically acclaimed and duly noted for their vibrant display of Madrid as setting and as a representation of the new Spanish culture. As written in Pedro Almodovar: A Spanish Perspective during the 1980’s†Spain was experiencing a fascinating period of giddy and radical changes. It was a country thousands of miles away from the distorted portrait Franco had shown to the rest of the world, a portrait that fit only within the hypocritical moral values of a dictatorship.† (Cadalso)It was during this period that Almodovar thrived and these two films were made. â€Å"Madrid is the realistic, almost unaltered decor in which Pepi, Luci, Bom and Labyrinth of Passion were filmed and in which the characters could mo ve more freely, reflecting the experience of a generation of Spaniards, like Almodovar himself, who could only quench their thirst for creativity in the large urban areas: cityscapes in these early films tend to emphasize the concept of physical movement and social mobility underscored the very word, Movida, ‘movement.'† (Toribio) We can see in Labyrinth of Passion the colourful new wave of Spanish culture, so vibrant and different to anything previously known to Spain. A prime example of this is in El Rastro a Sunday street market of Madrid, which â€Å"was an important showcase for all subcultures, but significantly for the movida, because of its unsanctioned and vaguely transgressive status. It was used as a meeting place and some stalls displayed their fanzines, records of emergent punk groups etc. For this reason it is an apt setting for Labyrinth of Passion (1982), especially the opening scene where it becomes Sexilia’s ‘shopping area’ for sex partners.† (Toribio)We see the completely different society to that of what we would have seen under the Francoist regime, there is liberty and freedom, life and passion, which had not been experienced before, culminating in a paradise of difference. As kinder states â€Å"The tortuously complex plot follows the tangled passions of an ensemble of young Madrilà ¨nes trying to escape the crippling influences of repressive fathers in order to pursue their own pleasure.† (Kinder) The subtext of Madrid is telling us how â€Å"†¦The Castilian director unfolded his passions amid a society that had just started to enjoy its own freedom. His uncontrolled and colourful films found a receptive audience in a population that was eager for spontaneity and light, for new stimuli that could again bring joy to the living. The Mediterranean spirit of freedom had been squeezed for four decades, and suddenly there was Almodovar, who dared to show on screen all the passion that previ ously had been politically impossible for Spanish society or its arts to express.† (Cadalso)We see as Sexilia moves through the city how there are many kindred spirits reciprocating the feeling and the buzz, yet there are also occasionally â€Å"non-movida city people, dressed in drab colours and expressionless, provide a background against which Sexilia, in her colourful attire, is distanced from the Spain they conjure up.† (Toribio)This heightens her difference from traditional Spain and the old regime. â€Å"In hiding the city’s shortcomings Almodovar was able to reveal the mood of the country once more as it progressed through the initial euphoria of democracy into disenchantment.† (Toribio) This shows how Maria fits into the Madrid setting and population easily with the new mentality and expressionism present in the place and her peers.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Political Environment Case Study Analysis Research Paper

Political Environment Case Study Analysis - Research Paper Example It encourages a series of revenge by the wrong doer to the society and thus crime is not stopped (Honderich, 1969). I would, therefore, try to show the sense in my program and its benefit in the long run when the inmates are incorporated in the society as rehabilitated. This way, the governor may understand it and convince, through his political power, his followers who might be tempted to be against the current program. This will be easier for him since the project has already won the hearts of the citizens. The programs for providing educational, vocational and treatment opportunities have not only gained national attention, but have led to the reduction of recidivism by 30 percent. My department will attempt to convince the governor that, this way, he will gain his political mileage even if it means associating the program with him. 2. Is there any room to negotiate with the governor? As a trade-off, would you offer to put in place some programs that are known to be tough on inmat es? If so, what kind? There is room to negotiate with the governor since the programs cannot be implemented without his support. The difference, between the governor’s ideology and the ideology behind the programs being implemented, is that the governor wants retributive justice while the program is working on restorative justice. In restorative justice, the main concern is making the victim whole and reintegrating the offender into the society through education, vocational training and humane treatment (Duff & Garland, 1994). This way, the offender is treated like other citizens and is given a chance to rehabilitate and understand the effect his offense has done to the victim. This approach does not satisfy legal principles, but the victim takes an active role in the process while offenders repair the harm they have done by being rehabilitated (Konow, 2003). Effort will be made to convince the society on the effectiveness of the preferred theory of justice. Therefore, enough mechanism will be put in place to ensure correct protocols are used to approach the politician. This way, there will be no need of a trade off by reintroducing tough programs for the inmate. This is because; these tough programs will not work well with restorative justice approach, which is meant to treat inmates as leniently as possible when it comes to punishment. Since the program has some ends to achieve, they will desire, just like the offenders to do so â€Å"through cooperation with others on mutually acceptable terms† (Rawls, 1999, p. 266). 3. Before dismantling your policies and programs, would you attempt to see how much internal and external support you have for them? If yes, whom would you contact and how? Incase the worse get to be worst, and the program requires to be dismantled, we will give a chance to public opinion. Since the program in place has already won some support from the public, it will be significant to assess the internal and external support. Th is will be done with the hope that the governor will be convinced, and if he is a democrat, he will go by public opinion. For this case, I will contact institutions like media and others which conduct opinion polls to assess the public opinion on the programs.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Product strategy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Product strategy - Case Study Example The following discussion seeks to implement the beverage, grocery, and baking industry pricing practices. The industry firms embark on a process of innovating and producing products that will achieve the desired responses. The IBIS World research report indicates that the companies present in the industry embark on customer-value oriented strategies in order to acquire their long-term goals and objectives (Stark, 2007). For example, Coca-Cola and Pepsi companies engage in the production of soft drinks in flavors best favored by different consumer groups. However, the companies embark on the use of credible pricing strategies in reflection to the market’s consumer needs. Notably, soft drinks manufacturers and grocery wholesalers engage in price-penetration strategy to ensure that their market segments grow competitively. The research study indicates that Coca Cola’s growth rate is overwhelming compared to its competitor, Pepsi that currently stands at a -1.7% (Ibis World Reports, 2014). On the other hand, retail and wholesale chains that grow, produce, and sale groceries an d baked products reveal similar pricing practices. For instance, Wal-Mart and ASDA retail stores have acquired profitable market segments and subsequent growth rates from the market due to the use of price-penetration strategies (Levin, & Kalal, 2003). The companies present in the food industry seems to implement similar objectives. For example, the companies realize that growth and diversification of investments remain a beneficial strategy since it enables businesses to enjoy economies of scale (Ibis World Reports, 2014). Asda Retail chains engage in market-penetration strategies and the use of low prices to increase their consumer-value responses. It is evident that the companies practice the use of high quality production practices to sell at medium prices to the customers (Levin, & Kalal, 2003). The

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Priestleys purpose Essay Example for Free

Priestleys purpose Essay Unlike Gerald, Priestley describes Eric in the opening stage directions as not quite at ease. He has been expensively educated, and yet he is a disappointment to Birling: he and Gerald joke behind his back (p.10), and his father patronises him (p.12). He is kept out of the information about his fathers possible knighthood, and when he really needed help he felt his father was not the kind of father a chap could go to when hes in trouble (p. 54). His drinking is an open secret within the family (though Mrs Birling chooses not to admit it to herself), and suggests that he lacks self-discipline. This is borne out by the behaviour that is revealed in the course of the play: he forced himself into the girls lodgings despite her protests, drunk and in that state when a chap easily turns nasty (p.52), has made her pregnant, and has stolen money from his father. But he also has an honesty that others lack. He is the only one to respond spontaneously to details of the girls death (p.11), and when he is forced to admit how he behaved towards her he has a strong sense of guilt because the consequences of what he did are so serious. We also believe him when he tells Birling that he would have let the girl stay at the factory (p.16) but Eric throughout the play is shown to be naive, even if his heart is often in the right place. (Stealing Birlings money, even though a crime in law, might be another example of this.) He does not have the realistic outlook necessary to make a success of his life. He is also shown to be immature, regarding the girl as a good sport (p.52), although she treated him as a child. Like every character accused by the Inspector, he is shown to be a hypocrite he is disgusted by the fat old tarts round the town (p.52), yet by this stage in her life, the girl is also a prostitute, though it is not clear whether Eric realises this.  He appears to have learnt very little from his privileged education, yet he has been impressed by the Inspector. At the end, like Sheila, he refuses to pretend things are like they were before, and is frightened by the fact that the older generation appear not to have learnt anything. He wants his parents to admit their mistakes as freely as he has admitted his. Though he is not a particularly pleasant character, we may feel that he is sincerely ashamed of his behaviour and is capable of changing for the better. Sheila  Priestley describes Sheila in the opening stage directions as a pretty girl and very pleased with life later, however, her prettiness is revealed as vanity and her happiness is shown to be selfish, bought at the price of the girls job.  Her first reaction to the news of the girls death is superficial she seems upset that it has spoiled her evening and Ive been so happy tonight (p.17), and is interested only in whether she was young and pretty. But, unlike her parents, she quickly comes to see her as an individual: these girls arent cheap labour theyre people (p.19), she tells Birling. She becomes agitated (p.20) as she realizes her own part in the girls death, and like Gerald later in the play runs out of the room. However, unlike her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, she returns to accept her guilt rather than to find a way round it. We sense at the start of the play that there is an unresolved tension in her relationship with Gerald; they are actually very different people. But it is Sheila who grows up in the course of the play: at the start she is playful and attention-seeking; at the end, she is thoughtful and reflective. By contrast, Gerald is revealed to be a moral coward, unable to accept the wrongness of his behaviour and taking comfort from the fact that no-one seems to have died after all. Like Birling, she readily admits to having met the girl. But her father admits this because he is unable to see that he has done anything wrong; Sheila, on the other hand, admits this because she is genuinely ashamed (p.23) and is trying to tell the truth (p.23). Of all the characters, hers is the only confession that does her credit Mrs Birling is first obstructive then defiant, and Gerald and Eric both confess at a point when they know they have been already found out. She is guilty of the sins of pride and envy she complained about the girl because she thought she was laughing at her, and because she was a very pretty girl too I couldnt be sorry for her (p.24). Although she asks how could I know what would happen afterwards (p.24), she does not try to escape from the blame. Priestley uses her as an example of someone who is vain and thoughtless, but not heartless: she is genuine when she says if I could help her now I would (p.24). But he intends the audience to learn the lesson that good intentions are no good if they come too late; Sheilas predicament is a warning to us.  Sheila herself warns both Gerald and Mrs Birling not to try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl (p.30). Once she has admitted her own guilt, her rà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½le in the rest of the play is to show others the importance of admitting the truth. She becomes disillusioned and hurt by what she learns about the rest of her family particularly Gerald, whom she now addresses bitterly (p.33) and with sharp sarcasm and irony (p.38) but when he has finally told the truth, she respects him rathermore than Ive ever done before (p.40). Facing up to our faults, Priestley suggests through Sheila, is painful, but not to do so makes things worse in the long run, as she says. This is part of Priestleys purpose in the play: to make us feel the urgency of rethinking the responsibility we bear towards our fellow men before it is too late.  Sheila emphasizes the importance of everyone learning from the Inspectors visit. She and Eric are the only characters who are not concerned whether Goole was a real Inspector she says it doesnt make any real difference (p.59), because she acknowledges her behaviour was morally wrong, whether or not it was legally wrong and whether or not it actually resulted in a girls death. By the end of the play, she has begun to have some understanding of what the Inspector is doing, so that she is able to see the world, and her responsibility, according to his values instead of those of her family. This is why she can see the trap her mothers arrogance is creating, and why she tries to stop her mother from exposing and condemning the childs father. It is only she and Eric, the two youngest and more impressionable characters (p.30) who, in Priestleys eyes, have profited sufficiently from the lessons on stage in front of them not to repeat their mistakes a second time as he hopes the audience will have too

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Beowulf The Epic Hero :: essays research papers

Beowulf the Epic Hero What does it mean to be a hero? Like anything else in this world, the definition of the word hero can be argued. Some may say that a hero can be passive, that is if he or she refrains from doing a certain action it makes them heroic. Others would argue that to be truly heroic the character must never turn tail and always face the obstacle head on even though he or she may die in the process. So is Beowulf a hero? Yes, Beowulf is a great epic hero, but his greatness comes only from his sword and not from his mind. In order to be a hero in an epic poem there were certain qualities you had to possess. First of all you had to be a male. It is rare to see any woman in epic poems taking on the role as hero. Women were usually only minor characters who are often not even named. Second of all you had to be a man of noble birth. Meaning that the hero had to be either a king, prince, knight or some other high-ranking person in society. Beowulf satisfies all of these requirements. He is the nephew of the king of the Geats, and son of a great warrior. As was common in literature up until recently, Beowulf’s mother was not named as well as Grendel’s mother. The slave character was not named too, which in my mind would indicate that women had little more status than slaves or property during the times of the Vikings. Fittingly enough, Beowulf’s sword even got a name, for it is by his sword that he earns his eternal fame and glory. However, besides the fact that Beowulf was of noble lineage and that he was a great warrior, he has some other noble qualities. On the plus side for Beowulf we can say that he was a pious warrior. Although he was from being a modest warrior, for he was anything but modest when it came to his great deeds of valor on the battlefield, he did credit Jesus for every success he has come across. This is not really a revolutionary idea for epic heroes, as we see the heroes of the Iliad, Odyssey, and the Aenied constantly praying to the gods for glory on the battlefield. The main difference is that they are pagans, and Beowulf is a Christian, which does not even really make sense because he was a Viking warrior and the Vikings were not Christians.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Vocal awareness

Language and vocal awareness Language Is a key element to be explored In drama. An Important characteristic of dramatic language Is the way it indicates the mood of a scene. It does this, by Incorporating stage directions Into the dialogue. We can often tell the mood of a character by the language that is used. For example the repetitions of the noun ‘Laurence' suggest that Beverly was annoyed with the fact that Laurence wasn't doing what she asked him to do. The way in which a play is written can inform us of the time period, the setting and it also helps to give each individual character an identity.Dramatic language is also able to indicate how actors should be grouped together upon the stage, for example the character of Beverly as a host of the dinner party she has to be up and serving drinks to make sure her guests are comfortable and satisfied. Altogether language helps the actors/actress to convey a naturalistic performance. The technique I found particularly useful whe n exploring my character has been language. This technique really developed my characterization as well as improved my knowledge and understanding of my character Beverly as she uses a range variety of punctuation.An example of this Is with the rhetorical question ‘dya know what I mean' this may suggest that Beverly Is the sort of person that Ilkes to be understood. Secondly, Beverly also uses a lot of question marks: ‘Dya get something to eat? ‘Dya get those larger? as the play was written in 1977 and the traditional role of women's changed in the 1 920's can suggest that Beverly abuses the freedom of not having to follow the traditional role of a women (cook and clean and providing) although she doesn't work but she still doesn't cook (that's why Laurence eats a lot of fast-food).We used an exercise in class where we walked around the room reading our monologues aloud and when we got to a punctuation marking such as a full stop or question mark we had to turn 90 degrees and then carry on. This told us where all the breaks where In the monologue and by doing this helped us get a better understanding of where the tension was In the piece. For example my character was Beverly; she's a very demanding character so the first scene starts off with lots of explanation marks: ‘Laurence! ‘ ‘No! this tells me that my character is quite angry and he tension would be high in this part of the monologue. As we continuously repeated this exercise which included the turning around and round (bearing in mind Beverly is the host of the party so she has to do a lot of talking, this was a disadvantage for me) which made me feel dizzy and as if the room was spinning around. This was relevant to my role because the whole dizzy effect can be used to portray a naturalistic performance as In the play Beverly drinks a lot so the dizziness can be a result of the alcohol.This can change her use in language as she is drunk. Vocal Awareness using my mon ologue piece I had to vocalise the vowels the consonants and the consonant only. My character was Beverly, I had to read act 1 scene 1 on all of Beverlys line reading only the consonant without pronouncing the vowels. This exercise seemed a bit weird at first as but I then realised that the character of demanding as she's always asking him to do things and she's always nagging constantly, she doesn't keep to the rural traditional wife law of having children, cooking and cleaning and expect Laurence to always eat takeaway and ‘pizza'.This technique really helped me to learn more about my character also using this technique helped me noticed that my character uses a lot of â€Å"Irnc† which kind of sounds like the word ‘drink this is significant as in the play Beverly continuously offers her guests drink Sue in particular as she declined most time but was forced by Beverly to have some more this also links with Beverleys super objective which is to keep her guest oc cupied and comfortable by offering them drinks as her way of being a good host as she's always trying to make a good impression.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

McDonald’s and Crespiano’s Restaurants Essay

McDonald’s and KFC’s are two famous restaurants in Doha city. But even though they both serve delicious chicken meals in the same town, they don’t have anything else in common. They have differences in aspects of service speed, meals’ prices, and types of customers. McDonald’s serves meals at high speed as the staff who work there use computers in taking orders, radio headsets to communicate, and automatic timers to help with cooking. Unlikely, Crespiano’s is not as quick as McDonald’s because Crespiano’s staff number is less than McDonald’s. In addition, Crespiano’s system in taking orders is a manual system, no computers used, there is only one person who works as a cashier and takes orders in handwriting. In terms of meals’ prices, McDonald’s meals, are very expensive due to the fact that McDonald’s serves Pepsi and chips with every meal, while Crespiano’s meals are cheaper as they are served without these extras. However, Crispiano’s offers its customers a free home delivery. Unlike McDonald’s, Crespiano’s customers are of the local residents who live nearby the restaurant only because there is one main branch of Crispiano’s in the whole city. On the other hand, McDonald’s has more than one branch all over the city so it serves a bigger number of people and different types of customers. In conclusion, McDonald’s and Crespiano’s serve delicious meals. While they both have a different style in handling their business, customers have an opportunity to choose which style is preferable for them.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Assess the role of religion and festivals in Spartan society essays

Assess the role of religion and festivals in Spartan society essays "Based on a study of both ancient and modern sources, assess the role of religion and festivals in Spartan society" In Spartan society, religion and festivals played a pivotal part of everyday life for both men and women. The very system by which they lived, decreed in the Great Rhetra, was "Delphic-oracle-given", delivered by the celebrated Lycurgus. The Spartans, famed for their military-based lifestyle, were in fact dependant on military divination to advise them whether or not to go into war - if the signs were not right then even an essential military engagement may be delayed or abandoned totally. Similarly, they sometimes missed or did not fully participate in certain battles if there was a religious festival on at the same time. Another significant element of Spartan life - unions between young Spartan boys still in training and adult Spartan warriors - has been attributed to the relationship between the mythological Apollo and the adolescent boy Hyacinthus. Religion and festivals were also noteworthy aspects when it came to the lives of women; they relied upon the gods for fertility, bea uty and health. Thus, we can deduce that religion and festivals played a very important role in Spartan society, affecting their society politically, militarily and even shaping their values, attitudes and outlooks on life. The ancient Spartans life was governed by the oracle brought from Delphi, by Lycurgus. This oracle, known as the "Great Rhetra" detailed the laws of Sparta, in a place where there were no written laws. Paul Cartledge, in his book, The Spartans ¹, states that, "myth, religion and politics coalesced to produce the first glimmerings of a political history ... of the Spartan polis or state". He is saying that religion and politics in ancient Sparta are so tightly linked that it is impossible to consider one aspect without addressing the other at the same time. In fact, the very founder of the Spartan way of life, Lycurgus, ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Receiver Paper -- Ted Youth Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Receiver Paper -- Ted Youth Speech - Essay Example â€Å"Leading Miami† was formed with the main objective of teaching the local youths in Miami about the values of leaderships, empathy, and self realization. According to Koenig, active leadership presents the best solution towards changing the way young people engage in civic activities in the city. He said that he believed leadership is the best avenue to changing the state of low civic activities not only in Miami but across the world as well. Koenig’s speech was a rallying call to the youths in Miami to take action towards changing Miami for better. The greatest lesson that the speech carried was on leadership and how it can be used to drive personal and communities ambitions to higher levels of achievement. Philip Koenig was very articulate about the subject of leadership. He said that teaching about leadership was a great opportunity for the youths in Miami to â€Å"create change within a broad spectrum on all sides.† He further gave examples of some of the world’s greatest leaders like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi who took active role in civic activities. He said that empathy was the greatest personal value behind the passions of Mandela and Gandhi in leading to change the world for better place. Koenig was speaking to a group of mostly the youths that had assembled for the TEDx speech presentation in Miami in November 2013. Members of the auditorium had assembled to exchange experiences and also learn from others, what it would mean to change Miami to statuses of cities like Minneapolis a very active civic life. Speaker after speaker was a youth perhaps to authentic the fact that the speech presentations on the day was as forum for the youths of Miami. The audience was also representative of the American multiracial diversities. Speakers were also from different racial backgrounds. Philip entered the stage just moments after an African-American youth had just finished making his presentation. The occasion was specificall y dedicated to youths of Miami to learn about what they could do to change their city for a better place. The rallying call that Philip made was for the youth to rise above the below average ratings of their city and compete with the likes of Minneapolis where civic engagement by the populace was way above. The audience applauded the speaker in appreciation after he finished his presentation. Koenig was an effective speaker and being a member of the audience, I found him very articulate in presenting his views. His major objectives were to call upon the youth to take an active role in engaging in civic activities. He also wanted to tell the youths to inculcate the spirit of empathy in them as they learn of leadership skills and self development. On the other hand, the speaker wanted the audience to know of various ways through which they could engage actively in civic activities in the city. The speaker created an impression that he is an authority worth listening to early in the sp eech. He stated that he has been running â€Å"Leading Miami†, an organization that has been in the forefront of educating and inculcating leadership values in the youths of Miami. He thus came forth as someone that has been in the fore when it comes to civic activities in the city of Miami. The speaker also employed the use of emotional appeal to capture the audience’s emotions. He said that taking part in civic activiti

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Garabology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Garabology - Essay Example This is my weekly routine before I go to the supermarket for shopping foodstuffs. A rough estimate of this waste equated to $12 which is about eight percent the grocery bill I handle every week. Another inclination on the same is the waste of textiles. I realized that my family would throw away several clothes every week and sometimes it included shoes, beddings and curtains. I realized that I threw away at least one cloth every week and that makes my expenditure on the same rise even though am comfortable with the same. There has also been waste associated with paper. This originates mainly from the used paper towels, packaging material, cut-outs of magazines and newspapers. I realized with the kind of artwork my younger sister is in to, we throw away such waste amounting to about 4 kg per week. This is regardless of other biodegradable substances she uses when drawing or painting. Polythene materials and plastic such as packaging material also form part of the materials that are thrown away. Since I do most of the grocery shopping during the weekend and most of the stuff I buy is packed using this material, it came to my attention that this was the main reason why I do collect a lot of polythene material for disposal every week. Glass can also be accounted as waste though it is not consistent. This may include breakage of cups or tumblers. My parents always complain how we are poor eaters and they would always try and tell us stories referencing to their days. They would at least not take one meal out of the typical three in a day because of the economic status of their parents at the time. This kind of garbage insinuates the idea that the family has more than enough to eat and spare. This is despite the fact the family does not maximize these products. This may portray the household as either a middle class or a high class family because the children therein are able to dispose at least