Was John D. Rockefeller A Robber Baron Essays - Rockefeller Family

Was John D. Rockefeller A Robber Baron? PART ONE - Issue #2: Was John D. Rockefeller a Robber Baron? A robber baron was someone who employed any means necessary to enrich themselves at the expense of their competitors. Did John D. Rockefeller fall into that category or was he one of the captains of industry, whose shrewd and innovative leadership brought order out of industrial chaos and generated great fortunes that enriched the public welfare through the workings of various philanthropic agencies that these leaders established? In the early 1860s Rockefeller was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, who came to epitomize both the success and excess of corporate capitalism. His company was based in northwestern Pennsylvania. A major question historians have disagreed on has been whether or not John D. Rockefeller was a so-called robber baron. Matthew Josephson agreed that Rockefeller was indeed a robber baron. In the book Taking Sides, He claims that Rockefeller was a deceptive and conspiratorial businessman, whose fortune was built by secret agreements and wrung concessions from Americas leading railroad companies (Taking Sides 25). When John D. Rockefeller merged with the railroad companies, he had gained control of a strategic transportation route that no other companies would be able to use. Rockefeller would then be able to force the hand on the railroads and was granted a rebate on his shipments of oil. This was a kind of secret agreement between the two industries. None of the competition knew what the rates were for the rebates or the rates that Rockefeller was paying the railroad. This made it hard for the competition to keep up with the Standard Oil Company. The consequences led to many oil companies getting bought out by Rockefeller secretly. All in all, 25 companies surrendered to Rockefellers relentless expansion, which was 20% of the oil industry in America. John D. Rockefeller and his comrades had stolen a long march on their 3 opponents, their tactics shaped themselves already as giant industrialists of the future conquering the pigmies. Josephson said, Entrenched at the narrows of the mighty river of petroleum, they could no more be dislodged than those other barons, who had planted their castles along the Rhine(Taking Sides 35). Ralph W. Hidey and Muriel E. Hidey disagreed with Josephson. In the book Taking Sides, They believe that John D. Rockefeller and his associates created and applied a system for operating a large integrated industrial enterprise, which was one of the earliest representatives of Big Business. He contributed to the development of American petroleum industry and through it to the growth of the economy. The Hideys believed that Rockefellers greatest contribution, beyond the concept of Standard Oil combination itself, was the persuasion of strong men to join the alliance and to work together effectively in its management. Oil policies went deep into the personalities and early experiences of Rockefeller and his colleagues. They had heightened uncertainty and speculation about their activities by their secrecy in building the alliance and by their evasive and legal testimony on the witness stand. There tended to be aroused antagonism because the very newness and size dominance, and efficiency of the combination. The antagonism also ran as far as the absorption of Rockefellers competitors in adversity and its search for the lowest possible railroad rates. The Standard Oil Company has done great work in the sense that oil refining has been simply reduced to a business and transportation. The Standard Oil Company brought a measure of order to a formerly confused industry. Anton Chaitkin agreed that John D. Rockefeller was indeed a robber baron of his time. In Treason of America, he disputes his argument by stating that in the 1860s Rockefeller ruthlessly consolidated oil refineries and oil-carrying railroads so as to create a giant trust known as Standard Oil. This trust controlled nearly all the oil in America. The monopolization of oil was very difficult to maintain for Rockefeller because many reformists were making allegations to right the wrongs of Standard Oil. Twice, the company was taken to the Supreme Court and dissolved. Rockefeller was vilified in the press and in popular literature as perhaps no other figure in American history has been vilified (Chiatkin 327). However, there appeared to be other reformers that came

Overview of My Cultural Identity Essays

Overview of My Cultural Identity Essays Overview of My Cultural Identity Essay Overview of My Cultural Identity Essay My parents were born and raised on the tiny islands of Tonga located in the South Pacific. My father worked alongside his father for most of his early life fishing and tending to the family farm before and after school. My mother lived in the city. She was a bright student and had many opportunities to excel during her middle and high school years. I was born and raised in Oakland, CA. Oakland is home to a large Tongan community and most of my early life was spent in this tight knit circle. My earliest memory of Oakland will always remain with me and is a reminder of how Oakland was then, and how it is even today. On our way to school one morning there was a commotion in the street as we walked towards the school. Two men began to fight and I remember each of them drawing knives and one of them stabbing the other as he laid lifeless in the street. This was my introduction to the environment I would be raised. Even today I am still proud to call Oakland, CA my home. I was raised in a very religious, strict and cultural home. My father was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, better known as the Mormon church during his first year of high school. To him, it became an even better decision when he found out school tuition would be less expensive. My mother was born and raised in the church. We attended church regularly, had family prayers daily, and many of the activities in our home were family oriented. The Tongan language was used in our home and English was only spoken outside of our home at school or at work. My mother tells me I had a difficult time the first few years of school becoming used to the English language. Family connections in the Tongan culture are very important. Cultural practices that were common during the early years of Tongan culture still exist today in the islands and in any part of the world you find us. I interacted with distant relatives as if we were brothers and sisters on a

Concept and components of business cycles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Concept and components of business cycles - Essay Example Whenever talks are made concerning the economic or business fluctuations, notions of aggregate economic income or output is anticipated. This is because, while business cycles are expressed in terms of fluctuations in GDP, there is usually an accompaniment by labor unemployment rate fluctuations too (Parkin, 2012). However, economists have often noted that there is variation in the lengths of a complete business cycle, as the duration may range from between two to twelve years, but averagely six years. Business cycles are significant in the sense that they highlight the economic relationships that exists in the economy. For instance, while growth in the economy will fall and rise with cycles, it generates a long-term trend line for growth. Economic growth above the trend line would result in a fall in the unemployment rate. Based on Okun’s Law, a 1% rise in GDP above the trend line would result in a 0.5% decline in the employment (Parkin & Bade, 2001). A business cycle is often comprised of four main stages that form its components. These are the recession (trough), contraction, recovery and expansion, and growth (peak). Even though the concept of the business cycle is used in relation to the larger economy, its phases can be applied to several sections of the business or a particular industry. The expansion and recovery phase relates to the period in which the business is rising, and consumer confidence is growing in the economy. As such, companies seize the opportunity to expand, and incomes and spending rates increase. This period is often associated with significant aggregate increase in factors such as total income, output, trade and employment rates. It persists for approximately six months, and is characterized by a widespread expansion of economic units/sectors in the economy. An extended period of this phase results in a boom in which the

Global Organizational Environment Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Global Organizational Environment - Article Example This is a reflective essay which summarises my learning experience gained through the entire model describing each of the sessions undertaken by me all through the course. One aspect has been chosen in each of the sessions’ and an academic journal has been selected which helped me to have a further detailed knowledge about the topics covered in each of the sessions. Session 1: Organizational form and purpose The first session of the module was meant to have an understanding about the various types of business concerns operating in different parts of the world and how they are governed. This session was a great learning experience for me that helped me to have a wide knowledge about different types of organisations, their primary motives or purposes, the concepts of corporate governance and stakeholders and the various ethical issues concerned with the business activities followed by the organizations. The concept of corporate governance and the problems related to the agency t heory was an interesting topic discussed in this session. Agency theory is one of the corporate governance theories which have marked significant importance in the recent years. Jensen and Meckling (1976) are commonly associated with the term agency theory as found in most of the existing literature. The journal named â€Å"A Survey of Corporate Governance† by Shleifer and Vishny (1997) helped me to know more about the issues related to corporate governance systems followed by different business organisations worldwide. It also helped to have knowledge about the concept of ownership concentration found in business concerns. Enron can be cited as one of the many examples related to an organisation which restored to unethical accounting practices because of the existing agency problems associated with the company. It is recorded as one of the major accounting scandals which have ultimately led to the downfall of Enron (Arnold, & Lange, 2004). Session 2: Transnational business a nd its role in contemporary society This session was aimed at having knowledge about the various roles played by transnational companies (TNCs) and how they have contributed to global trade. This session helped me to learn about the impacts of TNCs on the global trading environment, different types of internationalisation strategies followed by organisations, costs and benefits associated with free trade mechanism, and role of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and World Trade Organisation (WTO). Different types of internationalisation strategies followed by TNCs and other global organisations were of particular interest to me. Internationalisation is a process which is followed by organisations to expand their business outside their national boundaries and it can be achieved through various strategies followed by different firms. The journal named "Internationalization strategies for services" by Gronroos (1999) speaks about five types of internationalisation strategies that are followed by service organisations with their motives to establish their business abroad. Those internationalisat

An act of kindness you did for someone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An act of kindness you did for someone - Essay Example I myself wanted to keep a dog but my mother would never allow. She said that animals have germs and keeping them is not very hygienic for us. However, this was one chance for me to keep a pet and see if they are really that unhygienic to keep or difficult to manage the mess they create. So I took the chance and told my friend that she could leave Nin with me while she was away. My friend became very happy to hear this and said that it was a big load off her shoulder. She thanked me a lot. She said that now she could leave peacefully and content that her cat would be taken care of in her absence. When I brought Nin home, it was a shock for my mother. My mother is very conscious about maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in everything. While that is a good habit, but it gets a little irritating for others for whom the standards of cleanliness and hygiene are a little different from hers. It was not easy for me to convince my mother that I would be extremely careful with the cat and would regularly clean up any mess that Nin created. Still, my mother was not satisfied till the time she saw that it was not that difficult to keep a pet. I used to bathe Nin in a tub of luke warm water on alternate days, and would dry her with an air-blower. I bought Nin some very fine pet-cookies from the store from my own pocket money, and made sure that she had sufficient supply of cookies and milk. I also used to leave a little meat on the bones from my own meals to share it with Nin. This was all I could do with the pocket money I had at that time. In the evening, I used to take Nin out so that she could play. When my friend returned, she was extremely happy to find that Nin was doing well. She noticed that Nin had gained a few extra pounds. She was very grateful to me to have taken care of Nin so well. To see her smile was a very precious moment of my life, and reassured me that I

Cross Cultural Marketing Communications

Cross Cultural Marketing Communications EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report addresses a project that elaborates Cross Cultural Marketing Communications with reference to Global perspective. It also includes an extensive study done on HSBC Pakistan enabling readers to closely understand the Think Global Act Local. A major programme of market research was carried out to assess the same. The main aim of this study was to explore the factors and considerations which give rise to local strategies development in marketing communications. In order to achieve the above mentioned primary secondary both researches were carried out. In primary research qualitative research was carried out which includes interviewing marketing officials of HSBC bank. The data collected was analysed closely to produce valuable findings. The research revealed that it is extremely important to have knowledge of local cultures and customs when entering in global business. The research identified substantial factors which matters while entering in a different cultured place. This confirmed that a general service like banking can also be moulded for customers in such a way that they will give preference to a service which cares about their local values. INTRODUCTION Of all the business trends spilling over from the 20th to 21st centuries, that of globalization is the one most likely not to be labelled as a fad after several years. The emergence of the global marketplace inevitably advances, bringing with it revolutionary change in the ways that many organizations do business. Harvards Theodore Levitt said more than a generation ago that the purpose of any business was to first attract, and then keep, a customer; globalization brings a wide range of possibilities to the process of attracting those customers. In the process of attracting customers in international markets it of course is necessary for businesses to enter those nations where the markets exist. We can talk all around the cultural differences that exist among the worlds people, but the bottom line is that people with different cultural backgrounds have different perspectives. The purpose here is to evaluate the statement. The language of comparative management seeks to represent the management systems of the other. It pretends to be an objective representation of those systems, but it can only talk about them in a language informed by its own localized and historically situated ontologies, epistemologies and moralities (Westwood, 2001, 242). And to examine the case of HSBC Worlds Local Bank the practices of HSBC will be explored in context with the local culture of Pakistan and what changes were made in their Marketing and Advertising program exclusively for Pakistan, as Pakistan is one of important and emerging countries of Asia. Since cross-cultural marketing is of great importance in this era of globalization many researches have been carried out in this field. Previous researches have not provided sufficient explanation for the cultural factors and practices of HSBC Bank Pakistan. This paper attempts to fill the gap by finding and studying the local practices of HSBC bank and how did they manage to cater the needs of local public. This paper starts examining the importance of cross cultural marketing efforts and the differences found in inter cultural markets. In chapter two consumers and the perception process is discussed with reference to cross cultural aspects. There are several issues which are to be explored in cross cultural marketing which will be discussed in chapter three. The case of HSBC bank and its claim of being worlds local bank will be explored in chapter 4. At the end of this paper recommendations and conclusion will be given based on the research and literature review. CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND 1.1 Cross cultural marketing and its importance Futurists, marketing gurus, demographers, even social scientists generally agree that virtually all research, but especially marketing research, depends on the population involved, specifically the consumer. Books on the weekly best sellers list and the most popular television programs provide directional signals to the future. Trend expert and futurist, Faith Popcorn regularly asks her clients whether or not they know what their customers ate for breakfast, how many kids they have, what are they thinking about and what their the three biggest concerns in life. If the answer is no, you dont know how to sell to them, Popcorn (1996) says. To understand consumers, you have to know what they are eating, how they are living and how they are shopping. Listening to the customer, understanding what he or she is all about, will help you future fit your company (pp. 7D). Generalities, Popcorn says, are what ultimately gives most companies grief. Mass market is overthe future is about individualization, she explains. We have entered a time of one-on-one or customized marketing (7D). It is simple commonsense to realize that such must also be the case in the process of cross-cultural marketing. To make assumptions about a particular target audience or market is flirting with marketing disaster. This is of even greater importance when the marketing is taking place across cultural barriers that might include language barriers, socio-economic status, religious beliefs, or other forms of restrictions that neglect to include the important component of who people are and what are the circumstances that have made them the way they are. The smart marketing professional fully researches and plans for cultural differences. Without that knowledge or without the understanding associated with such knowledge, the likelihood of a successful marketing campaign or product launch become increasingly more discouraging. No single aspect of product and service customization is more important, or more obvious, than that of the unique differences encapsulated within the cultural differences and particular influences based on larger issues associated with the society in which the consumer is born, raised, and educated. Certainly, a consumers preferences are developed in light of his or her opinions and experiences that are then influenced by the realm in which that consumers own personality and preferences are shaped. It is always important to remember, especially when looking at the larger product development framework that encompasses marketing that purchases are not necessarily about the item or service purchased. Of far greater interest to the consumer are the costs, the utility, and the popularity of any given item and not necessarily in that order. Shopping and consumption have become tied up with far more factors than need, utility, or amusement. Complicated issues such as sexuality, status, and self-esteem are connected to the purchases of everything from cars to handbags. Regardless of whether such a statement is accurate for any single individual or particular group of individual .It is a fact of life in retailing, in marketing, in all aspects of human interaction for most consumers, especially those most influenced by the commercialism of Western societies. As people across the globe gain better understanding of one another, it seems especially arrogant of an organization launching a marketing campaign without thorough research into the markets characteristics and features. It is obvious why the best companies are often those with the best access to the best information. The Information Age has drawn the world together, in at least one way. The fact that people around the industrialized world are well-aware of the products and services that are desirable and exist in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, those selling the products, whether those are industrial machines or womens lingerie are less aware of their consumers than the consumer is of then. As long as that lack of equilibrium is in place, the marketer faces an uphill battle. According to Ryan (1996), all too often, consumer research has been preoccupied with empirical issues and neglects the experiential perspective of consumers as individuals influenced by their cultures, upbringing, and lifestyle. This reflects a fundamental difficulty in consumer research that them leads to a lack of understanding of the context of the consumers cultural bias, preference, and understanding. The marketing specialist must always ask who or what is the consumer? However, the marketer must also be well aware of what factors have made the consumer think and act in the way he or she does. Without such an understanding of cultural issues, a product or service enters a market with a definite disadvantage. Malhotra, Agarwal and Peterson (1996) also warn that methodological issues have had the historical tendency of restricting the most positive and forward-thinking progress of cross-cultural marketing research. Cross-cultural research is best addressed through specialized analytical methods such as structural equation modelling and conjoint analysis. New methods, however, should be based on validated theories to benefit cross-cultural research. Researchers are encouraged to develop new methods and theories that are based on the cultural circumstances they are dealing with, as well as the information that makes such cultural concerns different or in need of modification from any other marketing process. The persuasiveness of any communication can be increased much more easily and dramatically by paying attention to the content (and the relation of that content to the dependent target variable) than by manipulation of credibility, attractiveness, fear, self-esteem, distraction, or any of the other myriad factors that have captured the attention of researchers in the area of marketing communication. Keeping these factors in mind, specific, qualitative research methodology must be employed in order to assure that the unique concerns of this equally unique culturally specific demographic are addressed. Recognizing that such a segment of the population requires a multi-faceted approach in terms of any meaningful research, the first baseline data should be gathered from a cross-national diffusion analysis since basic cross-national or cross-cultural diffusion analysis plays an integral role in determining the success of newly-introduced products in the market. According to Kumar, Ganesh, Echambadi (1998), evaluating cross-national/cultural factors does not only help firms determine market trends but also help them ascertain the period of time by which products are adopted in different parts of the country. However, it is safe to say that three key factors for successful cross-cultural business will always play a part in that atmosphere: recognition of the other partys difference, the need to remain culturally neutral, and respect for the cultural norms and/or behaviours regardless of potential emotional stress and discomfort. Marketing strategies must be sensitized according to the cultural norms and taboos of other societies, while considering their cultures languages, work schedules, tastes, religious beliefs and lifestyles. In most parts of Latin America, for example, social relationships must be established before the process of engaging in business. 1.2 Inter cultural marketing differences Every society as a cultural heritage that prescribes certain broad patterns of behaviour. These patterns extend to such diverse areas as sexual roles, dress, food habits, recreation, patterns of authority, status symbols, artefacts, attitudes, motivation, and use of space and meaning of language. We are accustomed to the practices and configurations of our own culture and, when deprived of them, are often unable to deal effectively with our environment. (Kenneth Runyon). Alvin Toffler refers the phenomenon of culture shock as the psychological effect of suddenly finding ourselves without our accustomed cultural support. Customs and culture can be even stronger than laws. When advertising to children age 12 or over was approved in Germany, local customs were so strong that companies risked customers revolt by continuing to advertise. (W Wells, Burnett J Moraity S) Every society has different set of cultures which companies and organizations have to keep in mind while developing their marketing and advertising strategies. Companies that are starting to do business in the Middle East have to learn new selling methods because the region is so devoutly religious. There are major restrictions on how women are presented in advertising. Many Asian cultures emphasize relationships and context. To be effective, the advertising message must recognize these cultural differences. (W Wells, Burnett J Moraity S) Values in a society continually change and are sometimes dichotomous. For example, as the median age of the population increases (the aging of baby boom generation), modifications in values are readily evident. While being tolerant of sexuality and other more liberal concepts, millions of Americans are, at the same time, returning to more traditional values and embracing some form of religion or spirituality. After decades of materialism and self-indulgence, many baby boomers are searching for meaning. Even younger members of society are changing. Many have embraced greater levels of temperance in terms of drugs, alcohol and sex. The restructuring of values in society presents three challenges for marketing experts. The first is to monitor for changes so that the company is aware of what is happening in the society. The second is to create products and services compatible with changing values. The third is to design marketing messages that reflect and build on the value target markets and individual customers hold. (Kenneth Clow Donald Baack). CHAPTER 2: CONSUMERS PERSPECTIVE 2.1 Consumer behaviour to cross cultural marketing The development of any product or service will be dependant on the behavioural attitudes of the buy consumers. These may influence the development, demand change or impact on the way in which marketing takes place. The development of many different products and services can be seen to demonstrate these changes. The way in which a purchase decision is made can be seen to encompass the different attitudes of a purchaser, and as such it will impact on the way the product is perceived and the need for companies to satisfy consumer needs or appeal to their desires. Research into this area has identified that the process that goes on in this black box is usually undertaken in one of two ways. This may be by the category-based evaluation or piecemeal processing (Hadjimarcou et al, 1999). Category based decision making is a method of evaluating a product (Hadjimarcou et al, 1999). For example a consumer may be in a supermarket considering which brand of coffee to buy. The category based process will involve the consumer will make use of the existing knowledge or memories that they already have regarding the product (Hadjimarcou et al, 1999). They may remember that a particular brand of coffee was associated with fair Trade, or received a good review in a food and drink magazine. It is worth noting that this will also reflect political changes and different fashions or trends. Advertising plays a part in this process as it gives the consumer a knowledge or perception of the product prior to the consumer arriving at the supermarket (Kahn, 1998). Even though this may not be remembered consciously the consumer may have this clue or memory stimulated when they see the packaging of a make, or make the association (Hadjimarcou et al, 1999). The advertising may be to associate with the product the company name or the brand. One example of the way advertising may be used is that of Chevron, who probably spent five times the cost of its environmental initiatives on publicity (Dadd and Carothers 1993,483), many of which were legal requirements. Other companies, such as Body Shop (Bartlett C, 1991), or Ben and Jerrys (Zinkhan and Carlson, 1995), have embraced environmentalism more sincerely approaching it in differing ways and as such create a more positive image that may be remembered when making a purchase decision. These have been as a result of the increase public awareness of the need for care of the environment, which has been propagated by non governmental organisations as well as the government. This shows how consumer states and behaviour change the way products are developed. If we consider the Bodyshop as an example, although the reputation was one of environmental policies and good practice, it was developed this way due to a perceived gap in the market, not out of an altruistic concern for the way business took place. Therefore, business follows the consumer demands. Likewise, Chevron cynically used the steps it was legally obliged to take to give an impression of an environmental business in order to increase its reputation and increase sales. There are also other trends that we can see take place, one only has to look in a UK supermarket during a dispute with France to see the way that the impression given by French products and the association with the dispute will decrease the demand for them. Here we see that there is also a strong indication that stereotyping may play a role in the consumer choices (Hadjimarcou et al, 1999). This may be seen as a strange kind or justice, after all the advertising companies have been stereotyping consumers for long enough. The second process is the piecemeal process, this may be seen as a more thoughtful approach, but it is still prone to influence form consumer behaviour (Hadjimarcou et al, 1999). In this process the consumer takes into account the different characteristics of the different products (Hadjimarcou et al, 1999). Our consumer looking for coffee may therefore look to see if it is decaffeinated, what the flavour strength and type is described as and possibly even the usefulness of the jar after the coffee is used. Today it is popular for a shopper to look to buy tuna with a dolphin friendly label indicating that dolphins were not harmed in the catching of the fish. The increased awareness of environmental factors has informed the consumers and increased the demand (Kotler, 2003). The same may be said of many other product, hence the increased appearance of low fat foods and low sugar foods, emblazoned with labels to tell the consumer that they have the characteristics which the consumer may find as desirable. The same is also true of health food, increased government and health advertising has emphasised the role of diet and health, as such there has been increased demand for products that are high in fibre, free of artificial preservatives and natural. The development of new ranges have also reflected changed consumer behaviour. A good example of this is the luxury food sold in supermarkets. These were once small lines with only a little interest shown in them. However, when the economy suffered a surprising event took place that indicated these were not ordinary goods but giffen goods. Normal goods will see sales drop when either their price rises or there is a decrease in disposable income and the relative price can be seen as increasing (Nellis and Parker, 2000). When the economy took a downward trend these good increased in sales, with demand for a better selection. The pattern was seen as a result of a reduction in visits by the consumers to a restaurant, this was seen as an acceptable substitute, good quality food, already prepared, but cheaper as it was bought and then cooked at home. This was a piecemeal decision as in many cases the prices were compared either form memory and the purchase was considered, The change in behaviour also instigated new ranged and developments of increased provision of these luxury brands. For example in the UK, each supermarket now has its own luxury brand, such as Tesco with their finest range. The aspect of price will also be seen as part of the process, this may be due to the perception of the brand as an expensive or cheap brand (stereotyping), as will the image of the product gained from the packaging and the advertising (Kahn, 1998). This was also a part of the rise of the luxury food market. The need for information and the way this is acted upon can also influence markets. A good example of this may be seen as the Dyson vacuum cleaner. This was the first vacuum cleaner to be patented with a bagless system. Turned down by major companies such as Electrolux the company started up producing the vacuums in a shoestring, with straightforward advertising the took pace by way of an explanation of what the product was. This become a popular product, so much so that competitors, such as Hoover broke the patent to start supplying similar products due to the change in consumer tastes and their demand for this type of vacuum after understanding exactly what it was and how it worked. These different decision methods may be seen as not mutually exclusive, they may interact with each other, and the decision maybe based on both, especially if the purchase is a large single purchase such as a television or a washing machine. However, they also embody the different behavioural attitudes of the consumer which manifest n the different purchase decisions. It is only when understanding this complex interaction of values beliefs and trends that a company can develop products that will sell and market them in the right way to the right target audience. The change is often seen as driven by new products, but the real change can be seen in the way that the consumer behaves, after all, if a new product is developed, but does not succeed it will not impact on the overall market, whereas changing attitudes will force change in the suppliers. 2.2 Perception based on cultural backgrounds Perception is important in communication because perception affects the way we understand events, others and ourselves. Our perceptions are unique because of physiological factors, past experiences, culture and co-culture, and present feelings and circumstances. Two computer programmers, each of the same race and from similar socioeconomic backgrounds, are likely to communicate with each other differently than if either was addressing a member of another culture or presenting a project report to a committee overseeing a project of which the programmers work was a part. Communication can be complicated when those involved are merely from different regions of the United States. When they are from totally different countries, then often it is wise to adopt highly formal speech and manner so as not to inadvertently offend the other party. We have found in recent years just how far the East is from the West in so many respects, including the manner in which different cultures go about conducting business. Following are examples from Germany and Japan. German fortunes have risen and fallen throughout the 20th century, but Germany remains the wealthiest and most highly populated of all the European nations. Despite its former political divisions, Germany consistently has been known for more than a century for its precision engineering. Whether the product is Daimler or BMW cars, photographic equipment or Siemens Medical equipment and applications, German engineering has been and remains an envy of much of the Western world. Germanys approach to engineering is not to reserve expertise only for the most promising or profitable industries, but to steep all of German industry in excellence. This tradition extends to textile machinery as well; Germany both imports and exports such machinery, commonly regarded as some of the best available in the entire world. Business travellers would do well to equate the precision of German engineering to the manner in which Germans prefer to conduct their business transactions. They are precise in information and punctuality, and a business meeting is just that. It is not a social occasion; the issue of small talk is one foreign to them. Whereas zeroing in on the point of a meeting would be bad form in Japan or China, it is expected in Germany (Sabath, 1999). Morrison, Conaway and Borden (1994) urge business people to remember that Germanys superlative engineering is not instantaneous, but is the product of a long, laborious process that literally can go on for years. The German reputation for quality is based (in part) on slow, methodical planning. Every aspect of the deal you propose will be pored over by many executives. Do not anticipate being able to speed up this process. This slowness extends through all business affairs. Germans believe that it takes time to do a job properly (Morrison, Conaway and Borden, 1994; p. 130). There is a vast difference between the business culture of todays Japan and that which first set Detroit on its ear in the early 1970s. Then, quality was paramount, and Japanese businessmen were inscrutable. They spoke of quality, honour and courtesy, and they required any foreign business entity wishing to do business with them to convert to their approach, or at least adopt their approach in soliciting them. Japans business culture is in a state of flux at the current time. Traditional values still hold great influence, but they are gradually being shoved aside by the realities of the state of Japans economy. Some things apparently never change, however. Managers in Japan think that if people dont know about something, then the best thing to do is cover it up, says Shuji Oida, a specialist in crisis management with Cosmo Public Relations in Tokyo (Butler and Hadfield, 2000; p. 36). Despite all of these changes, however, the traditional Asian perspective still is paramount in Japan. As stated earlier, the Japanese regard silence as a useful tool and not a reason for any discomfort. Perhaps the most problematic aspect of the Japanese personality is the reluctance to be negative at all. The statement, Ill consider it may well be a no in disguise (Morrison, Conaway and Borden, 1994). The Asian character persists in Japan of course, though Japanese business is much more Western than in the past. Connections are important, as is relative rank. Traditions seem to fall away with each passing year in the US, but other areas of the world are far more committed to their own traditions. Whether springing from their long histories or their own views of their systems superiority makes little difference. The fact of globalization is a stable one, and it will be necessary for anyone hoping to be successful to be fully aware of culturally-based differences in perceptions and how they colour communications between people. CHAPTER 3: ISSUES IN CROSS CULTURAL MARKETING 3.1 Language in cross cultural advertising The second model of international adverting emphasizes the cultural differences among nations. This school of thought recognizes that people worldwide share certain thoughts, but it also stresses the fact that these needs are met differently from culture to culture although the same emotions are basic to all humanity; the degree to which these emotions are expressed publicly varies. The camaraderie typical in an Australian business office are frowned on in Germany, where co-workers often do not use first names. The ways in which we categorize information and the values we attach to people depend on the things and settings in which we were raised.( William, Jhon Sandra) How do cultural differences relate to advertising? According to the high-context/low-context theory, although the function of advertising is the same throughout the world, the mission of its message varies in different cultural settings. The major distinction is because of high context cultures, in which the meaning of a message can be understood in a specific context, and low context cultures, in which the message can be understood as an independent entity. (William, Jhon Sandra) This model helps explain the difficulties of advertising in other languages. The difference between Japanese and English are instructive. English is a low-context language. English words have very clearly defined meanings that are not highly dependent on the words preceding them. In Japanese, however, a word can have multiple meanings. Listeners will not understand the exact meaning of a word unless they clearly understand the following sentence that is the context in which words is used. (William, Jhon Sandra) Advertising message constructed by writers from high context cultures might be different to understand in low context cultures because they may offer too much detail to come to the point clearly. In contrast, messages authored by writers from low context are less difficult to understand in high context because they omit essential context details. (William, Jhon Sandra) Discussing the Japanese way of advertising, Takashi Michioka, president of DYR agency of Young Rubicam and Dentso, put it this way: in Japan, differences among products, does not consist of explaining this words the point of difference is competing products as in America. Differentiation is achieved by bringing out the appeal in the commercial- the way they talk, the music, the scenery-rather than emphasizing the unique features and dissimilarities of the product itself. (William, Jhon Sandra) Companies that want to understand how consumers think and make decisions about products conduct sophisticated consumer behaviour research, to identify their consumers, why they buy, what they buy and how they buy. (William, Jhon Sandra) It also is a visual road map for this chapter. We first explore the target market and then examine social, cultural, and physiological influences on the consumer behavior. 3.2 Communication style in cross cultural advertising The influence of culture on communication is well documented by researchers in many disciplines. One of the most difficult challenges for international marketers is communicating to people of diverse cultures. Cultural differences may exist not only between nations but also within a nation itself. Such cultural and micro cultural differences present a formidable challenge to international marketing and advertising practitioners because the value systems, attitudes, perceptions and communication of individuals and groups are all culturally shaped or influenced (Samover Porter, 1991; Tan, 1986). As research indicates, advertising, a form of social communication, is also influenced by various elements of the originating culture (e.g., Frith Wesson, 1991 ; Hong et al., 1987; Mueller, 1987; Rice Lu, 1988; Tanseyetal., 1990). On the other hand, cultural values may determine the differential meanings that people derive from advertising messages (Cundiff Hilger, 1984; Hornik, 1980; McCracken, 1986; Onkvisit Shaw, 1983). Advertising may also shape or affect the values of its consumers over time (Ewen Ewen, 1982; Ferguson et al., 1990; Pol lay, 1986, 1987). In his research reports, Pollay stated that advertising was a distorted mirror in that it reflects only certain underlying values and lifestyles. He also noted that advertising was a distorting mirror as well, because it strengthened those values by providing reinforcement, and p. 108). It is well documented in many disciplines (e.g., sociology, cultural anthropology, mass communication, marketing, cultural studies, semiotics) that advertising reflects and reinforces many of the social values, norms and stereotypes of its audiences (Coser et al., 1987; Holbrook, 1987; McQuail, 1994; Mueller, 1987; Vestergaard Schroder, 1985). Two well-known semiotic researchers, Fiske and Hartley (1978,1980) noted that advertising does not represent the researchers pointed out that advertising insists on an idealized goal of achieving personal happiness, success and security, and it does this by first depicting a world-o

The Death Penalty Essay -- essays research papers fc

Capital punishment has been a cause for debate for many years, and people continue to disagree on the topic. There are many reasons why the death penalty should be used, but the three most important are that it deters potential murderers from committing crimes, it saves our government money in the long run, and most importantly, it guarantees that these convicted murderers will not kill again. Why does the United States need capital punishment? The main purpose of the death penalty is to protect the rights of other Americans to live. In his book, The Law, Federic Bastiat writes, â€Å"humans have inalienable rights that existed outside of and before government. These rights are life, liberty, and property. The only legitimate purpose of government is to protect these rights. When one person infringes on another’s rights, he must be punished. To do this, the punishment must be harsh enough to deter potential criminals†(Bastiat). This punishment is of the harshest form, b ut it is necessary to maintain order. Is capital punishment in fact a deterrent? Studies show that it most definitely is. In fact, of the fourteen states that have at one time or another abolished the death penalty, murder has increased by seven percent. Likewise, a study by Stephen K. Layton at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill showed that each execution in the United States deters an average of eighteen murders(Lowe). If the death penalty were in-acted in a swifter manner, it would most likely deter ...

Banksy-Graffiti Art Essay

The life of the street artist is, by necessity, one of anonymity. In many of the world’s cities, the most noticeable and breathtaking pieces of art aren’t created by world-renowned talents. They are created by the unknown street artist under cover of darkness. We never see them and they are known only by their tagging pseudonyms. Banksy is a British graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter. It has been said, Banksy â€Å"was born in 1974 and raised in Bristol, England. The son of a photocopier technician, he trained as a butcher but became graffiti artist. Style Banksy began as a freehand graffiti artist in 1990–1994 as one of Bristol’s DryBreadZ Crew (DBZ). He was inspired by local artists and his work was part of the larger Bristol underground scene. From the start he used stencils as elements of his freehand pieces, too. By 2000 he had turned to the art of stencilling after realising how much less time it took to complete a piece. He claims he changed to stenciling while he was hiding from the police under a rubbish lorry, when he noticed the stenciled serial number. Banksy’s stencils feature striking and humorous images occasionally combined with slogans. Subjects often include rats, apes, policemen, soldiers, children, and the elderly. Asked about his technique, Banksy said: I use whatever it takes. Sometimes that just means drawing a moustache on a girl’s face on some billboard, sometimes that means sweating for days over an intricate drawing. Efficiency is the key. Stencils are traditionally hand drawn or printed onto sheets of acetate or card, before being cut out by hand. Because of the secretive nature of Banksy’s work and identity, it is uncertain what techniques he uses to generate the images in his stencils, though it is assumed he uses computers for some images due to the photocopy nature of much of his work. He mentions in his book, Wall and Piece, that as he was starting to do graffiti, he was always too slow and was either caught or could never finish the art in one sitting. So he devised a series of intricate stencils to minimize time and overlapping of the colour. Banksy once characterised graffiti as a form of underclass â€Å"revenge†, or guerilla warfare that allows an individual to snatch away power, territory and glory from a bigger and better equipped enemy. Banksy sees a social class component to this struggle, remarking â€Å"If you don’t own a train company then you go and paint on one instead. † Banksy’s work has also shown a desire to mock centralized power, hoping that his work will show the public that although power does exist and works against you, that power is not terribly efficient and it can and should be deceived. Banksy’s works have dealt with an array of political and social themes, including anti-War, anti-capitalism, anti-fascism, anti-imperialism, anti-authoritarianism, anarchism, nihilism, and existentialism. Additionally, the components of the human condition that his works commonly critique are greed, poverty, hypocrisy, boredom, despair, absurdity, and alienation. Although Banksy’s works usually rely on visual imagery and iconography to put forth his message, he has made several politically related comments in his various books.

Laura Melveys Male Gaze

Laura Melveys Male Gaze The development of the film industry took an interesting turn after the 1950 especially regarding the development of the female character due to the changes in life style and the way women viewed themselves. The empowered feminine character started appearing in film noir, genre of crime thriller films heavily laden with seduction and erotic undertones (Muller 2006).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Laura Melvey’s Male Gaze specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More She played an active role in both the development of the genre and the development of the storylines and the plot. As such many movies producers started focusing on the female character and developed her to fit as one of, if not the key character in film noir. Thus, femme fatale (the fatal woman) was born and would dominate films and stage plays for decades. Femme fatale has been an interesting study by film and literature critics who have come up with interes ting views regarding this phenomenal character. Doane (1991) in her criticism of this character explains that even though femme fatale is seen as a literary image in films, she is an important figure of the representation of truth. She is a symbol of the real woman and their place in the society, whose real self is revealed through the sexual image, which portrays the differences between men and women. Doane further explains that she is the â€Å"representation of the antithesis of the maternal† (1991 p 2). This means that she symbolizes a woman who cannot reproduce either biologically or socially. Film site (2011) adds that this character was a manipulative figure capable of making vulnerable male character compromise greats of odds. She was a vengeful and sadistic anti heroine whose life always ended up in tragedy. One of the greatest criticism of femme fatalism Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema by Mulvey Laura has come under intense criticism from the film critics and t he author herself. Mulvey (1976) uses Freud’s psychoanalytical approach in describing the role of femme fatale charades in film noir. The society is such that it is structured in a patriarchal manner: the male is all powerful while the female is an image of male sexual fantasies. The fatal woman is thus an object that for both the satisfaction of the male character in he film as well as the male audience. The films â€Å"Out of the Past† and â€Å"Gilda† give the reader an opportunity to weight myulveys assumptions about femme fatale. Mulveys argument hold a lot of truth about the nature of the femme fatale and her roles in the development of the film industry, while the criticism by the author herself and other film critics has added useful insights into the subject. Slide share (2011) explains that Mulvey is the originator of the idea of the male gaze developed the idea of the male gaze in her work Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. The concept of the male gaze explains the idea of gazing in three ways: the way men look at women, the way women see themselves and the way the women sees and relates to other women. This concept of the male gaze is feministic and borrows heavily from Freud’s psychoanalytical approach.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sexual fulfillment and desire is the object of motivation and controls the images of the characters in a play to fulfill the desires of the male character. The female character only sees herself as a castrated woman (without a penis) and thus can only be useful in fulfilling a mans sexual desires. As such, she is the symbol of phallocentrism, powerless in a society that is overtly male dominated (Mulvey 1975). Such phallus nature portrays the woman as an object of domination and oppression not only by the male in the film and audience but also a representation of the powerl ess woman in a patriarchal society. She is aware of her lack of a penis and can only â€Å"exist in relation to her castration and cannot transcend it† (1975, 343). Thus, a woman cannot find real meaning other than in the enjoyment of the fact that she is castrated. However, Mulvey (1975) explains that it is within the paradox of the phallic nature that a woman finds her true meaning : the lack of penis is the cause of the phallus status while the desire to make the best out of the situation is what makes a woman derive meaning of life. Such phallocentrism is the signification of a woman’s suffering. The femme fatale in the film Gilda is not without suffering. When Gilda’s husband Mundson â€Å"dies† Johnny, her ex lover and protector, marries her not out of love but for his faith in Mundson. Johnny subjects Gilda to psychological as wells as physical suffering (Dirks 2011; Spiderbaby 2010). Gilda thus portrays the suffering that women have to go through in an overtly and an unapologetically patriarchal society. Such patriarchal tendencies fulfills the desires of the man at the expense of the woman are also exhibit in the film â€Å"Out of the Past.† Kathie is not a woman in freedom. She is constantly running away from her past (a man). In her earlier life she had shot and seriously injured Whit her lover and stole quite a hefty amount of money. Whit wants her back plus the money, a portrayal of how subordinated women are to men (Ebert 2010). Spiderbabay (2010) also explains that Kathie suffers betrayal from a man, her lover Jeff, when he leads her to the police so as to buy his freedom, as such using a woman to achieve his personal wishes to freedom. The biggest crime in the film is â€Å"not murder or stealing the money but betrayal† (Morris 2011) As Mulvey (1975) notes, the phallocentric approach (where women are aware of the weaknesses they are exposed to as a result of their penile deficiency) only reduces the wom an to an object of desire for men. The fatal woman in a film or stage play is thus propped in such a way that the male can have a proper gaze at her and fulfill his sexual desire. She is crafted in way that only portrays her sexual prowess and her power to seduce men, both the film characters and the audience.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Laura Melvey’s Male Gaze specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This desire is usually fulfilled by gazing at women characters. The male gaze is enhanced by several camera techniques, which focus on certain parts of the woman body. The focus is intended to drive the attention of the male towards that particular part of the body. Not any part of the female body is subject to focus. The camera only focuses on the various body part and behavioral traits that arouse and fulfill sexual desire in the male characters and the male audience. As such, the objectification of the woman is further achieved through compartmentalization of her body into sexual and non sexual parts (Barnes n.d.). Such trait is seen through the main character Gilda in the movie going by the same title. Gilda is a flirt who plays mid games with both the male characters and the male audience in an erotic and seductive way. The male gaze is directed at her provocative flirtation and seduction techniques. Gilda intentionally flirts with other men to make Johnny jealous (Dirks 2011). At one time in the film, Gilda does a striptease in on stage, in full view of the patrons at the club. This is a sexually provocative action that the cameras focus on to enhance the male gaze and fulfill the sexual desire of the male. Such acts have an effect both to the male audience as well as to the male characters in the film such as Johnny who in rage slaps Gilda for performing indecent acts in public. Later and out of the effect of that act Johnny confesses his love to Gilda (Spiderbaby 2010). Thus the two f ilms have exemplifies Mulveys theory that a woman is an objects subject to a males gaze for his sexual fulfillment. In further defining the male gaze mulvey explains that the man is the one who bears the ‘look’ while the woman only bears the image. As such ‘the pleasure of looking is divided into two: the active male gaze, and the passive female gaze (1975, p. 346). The active male gaze is the dominant gaze while the female has to be figured and structured appropriately to enhance her to-be-looked-at-ness. To-be-looked-at-ness is a very strong visual sexual symbol and is displayed through a series of erotic acts such as striptease [as exemplified by Gilda (Spiderbaby 2010)]. This kind of erotism makes a woman an indispensable character and spectacle in film noir. As such, femme fatale becomes an alien intrusion into the plot and thus a deviation from the normal script and storyline. Morris (2011) explains that Kathie is part of the lethal triangle that also includ es Jeff and her former lover Whit.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The story line is initially focused on recovering Whit’s $ 40000 stolen by his ex lover Kathie. However, Whit hire Jeff, an ex sleuth and the two, jefff and Kathie, fall in love and start an affair. Kathie and her new lover have to live on the run, running away from Whit who still wants to recover his money. This love affair thus becomes a considerable deviation from the sleuth work that the film was initially built on. It this becomes a story of Whits fatal obsession with Kathie, which finally makes the film, looses the initial theme (Mills 2007). The film Gilda also exemplifies Mulveys assertion that femme fatales are an erotic diversion from the films main story line. The film has a Mafioso inclination and the main character Mundson, is the owner of a casino and has connection to the underground mafia world. Mudson introduces Gilda as his wife and because of his lack of trust for her, asks Johnny, her former romantic partner, the roles of keeping an eye on her. Thus is the beginning of a love triangle as Johnny and Gilda rekindle their romantic flame. This is the point that love, romance and seduction take over and the film looses connection with the mafia world. Even though Mundson fakes his death to dissociate himself with the mafia his faked death is literary more significant to the love triangle. Mulvey (1975) adds that such diversion by the femme fatale from the main course off the story line does not make her significantly important as a person, rather t is what she provokes in the male character and audience that matters (347). Therefore, it is the sexual objectification of the woman and the gratification of the male character and the male audience by gazing at the sex object signified in a woman on stage that matters. The fatal woman has no importance in herself either to the film or to the audience. It is what she represents that counts. The male character is not subject to sexual objectification and as such is the important figure that cont rols desires and erotic nature of the woman. The male characters in the film are able to identify with what the audience is feels about the and thus part of its search and realization of sexual fulfillment. As such the male ceases to be an object of sexual desire but the power that controls the desire. Femme fatales sexually explicit behavior is thus as a result of such power by the man to control the way she behaves. The audience thus sees this power to control sexual desire through the woman (Mulvey 1975). However, the film Gilda put this notion under the perils of validity test. Gilda the main character is a dangerous and seductive woman who performs seductive acts such as flirting with other men and strip teasing so as to make Johnny her secret lover jealous. This evokes a very strong sense of attraction in Johnny towards Gilda (Spiderbabay 2010). Therefore instead of Johnny controlling the sexual desired as Mulvey suggests, he becomes the victim of such desire in which its powe r lies with femme fatale, rather than him. Film noir focuses on sexualisation of the female character, the symbolization of femme fatale as the object of sexual fulfillment to the male character and audience, thus masculining the audience (Mulvey 1975). This means that the film is only useful to men and this article does not tale care of the spectator who has tendencies towards both male and female sexuality. However in â€Å"Afterthought to Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema† Mulvey (1983) argues that the original intention was to celebrate the masculine culture of the spectator but this kind of spectator includes both men and women. It is possible to have women who are not particularly keen on having a sexual identify on the screen. This change of stance in the masculinisation of the female character is as a result of the fact that things have moved on and the way a woman carries herself has drastically changed (Mulvey 1985). Skjerdal,(1997) agrees with this new line of t hought and further adds that the masculinisation of the audience and the objectification of the female character in film noir is leaves the woman without any identify as it only describes her in relations to a mans desire. This also means that the woman is just a â€Å"bearer of meaning but not its maker† (Despotopoulou, 2004). However, the film Gilda gives the viewer an opportunity to contend this view. Gilda the main character posses an overwhelming power of seduction over the male character in the film. So powerful is her power of seduction that she chooses and owns the men who seduces her. Thus Gilda is a woman â€Å"knows her power over men and that she is the real definition of intoxicating sassiness† (Stevens 2009). Such power over men thus proves that the fatal woman is not just an embodiment of the male’s sexual desire but has made deliberate effort to develop her sexual identity, a tool she uses to her own advantage. Thus this film put Mulvey’s idea of lack of identity of femme fatale at great peril. Laura Mulvey’s Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema† offers some insight into the mysterious and almost mystical character of femme fatale. It supposes that this mysterious character is the creation of men for their own benefit. She is an object of sexual fulfillment. The male gazes at her and thus gains much sexual gratification. Such approach ha borrowed heavily from Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytical approach. It denies the woman the power to make her own identity. A political tool portrays the manner in which the way the society is structured to be dominated by men. However it does not answer to all questions as it does not take care of the part of the audience that has homosexual orientation (Rucas 2003). The idea does not also address the place of the female character and audience who is not a forced object of sexual symbolism but who likes and enjoys to be looked at. As such, weaknesses are ignored and need attention. Reference List Barnes, E., n.d. Laura Mulveys male gaze: Looking at film through the eyes of a man [Online] Available at freewebs.com/elizabethbarnes/index.htm   Despotopoulou, A., 2004. Fanny’s gaze and the construction of feminine space in  mansfield park† Modern Language Review ed. 99: 569-583. Dirks, T., 2011. Gilda (1946) [Online] Available at. filmsite.org/gild.html Doane, M., 1991. Femmes fatales: feminism, film theory psychoanalysis. New York: Routledge Ebert, R., 2004. Out of the Past (1947) [Online] Available at http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040718/REVIEWS08/407180301/1023 Mills, M., 2007. Out of the past. Online] Available at moderntimes.com/past/. Morris, G., 2011. High Gallows Jacques Tourneurs Out of the Past. [Online] Available at brightlightsfilm.com/29/outofthepast.html Mulvey, L., 1985. Changes, Discourse. pp 11 30. Muller, E., 2006. Film Noir. Green Cine podcast. [Online] Available at greencine.c om/static/primers/noir.jsp Mulvey, L., 1985. Afterthoughts on ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema,’† Feminist Film Theory. Sue Thoruham (ed.), NY: New York University Press, pp.31-40 [Online] Available at scribd.com/doc/17220483/Afterthoughts-on- Visual-Pleasure-and-Narrative-Cinema Mulvey, L., 1975. Visual pleasure and narrative cinema. Durham and Kellner Media and cultural studies ed., Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Rucas, P., 2003. The male gaze, homosexualization, and James Bond Films [Online] Available at angelfire.com/film/articles/bond.htm. Skjerdal, T., 1997. Laura Mulvey against the grain: a critical assessment of the  psychoanalytic feminist approach to film. Centre for Cultural and Media Studies, University of Natal ed. [Online] Available at. oocities.org/capitolhill/2152/mulvey.htm Slide share, 2011. The male gaze Laura Mulvey Presentation Transcript [Online] Available at slideshare.net/fleckneymike/the-male-gaze-laura-mulvey   Spiderbaby, L., 2010. Evil as admirable: the femme fatale in the eyes of the  contemporary female spectator. [Online] Available at   http://sbhonesty.blogspot.com/2010/11/evil-as-admirable-femme-fatale-in-eyes.html Stevens , S., 2009. Embrace your inner Goddess [Online] Available at http://goddesspower978.wordpress.com/tag/seductress/

Brian Nichols †Atlanta Courthouse Killer

Brian Nichols – Atlanta Courthouse Killer On March 11, 2005, Nichols was on trial for rape at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta when he overpowered a female deputy, took her gun, and went into the courtroom where he trial was being held and shot the judge and a court reporter. Nichols is also charged with killing a sheriffs deputy who tried to stop his escape from the courthouse and shooting a federal agent at his home a few miles from the courthouse.Nichols escape set off one of the largest manhunts in Georgia history, which ended after he took Ashley Smith hostage in her apartment and she convinced him to let her leave and then called 9-1-1. Case Developments Brian Nichols Avoids Death Penalty Dec. 12, 2008 Brian Nichols, the convicted Atlanta Courthouse killer, avoided the death penalty when a jury deciding his fate deadlocked after four days of deliberation. The jury was split 9-3 in favor of giving Nichols the death penalty rather than life in prison. Atlanta Courthouse Killer Found GuiltyNov. 7, 2008After deliberating for 12 hours, a jury found the Atlanta Courthouse killer guilty of murder and dozens of other charges in connection with his deadly escape from the Fulton County Courthouse on March 11, 2005. Brian Nichols was found guilty of all 54 charges after pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. Previous Developments Ashley Smith Testifies Against Brian NicholsOct. 6, 2008 The woman who talked accused Atlanta Courthouse killer Brian Nichols into surrendering to police testified at his trial that she appealed to his religious beliefs while she was held captive by him in her apartment. Atlanta Courthouse Shooting Trial UnderwaySept. 22, 2008After years of delays and nine weeks to select a jury of eight women and four men, the trial of accused Atlanta Courthouse shooter Brian Nichols got underway under high security Monday. Nichols has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for killing a judge, court reporter and sheriffs deputy at the Fulton County Courthouse and a federal agent later that day. Atlanta Courthouse Shooting Trial Finally BeginsJuly 10, 2008Jury selection has finally begun in the Atlanta Courthouse Shooting a day after Brian Nichols pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to 54 counts, including the murders of four people. More than 600 witnesses are scheduled to testify in the high-profile trial which could last for months. Mental Exam Ordered for Brian NicholsJune 12, 2008A judge has ruled that prosecutors can have their own psychological expert examine Brian Nichols, who plans to claim he was insane when he shot his way out of an Atlanta courthouse in 2005. Nichols Wants New Judge RemovedApril 23, 2008Brian Nichols defense team claims the judge should recuse himself because he was a friend of one of the victims. Judge Keeps Jury Pool in Brian Nichols CaseApril 11, 2008The new judge in the Atlanta Courthouse Shooting case has ruled that the jury selection process will begin again in July where it left off before being interrupted by the controversy over the funding for the defense. Superior Court Judge Jim Bodiford issued a ruling that jury selection would continue July 10 from the original jury pool of 3,500. Courthouse Shooting Judge Steps DownJan. 30, 2008The controversial judge in the Atlanta Courthouse shooting trial of Brian Nichols has stepped down after a magazine article quoted him saying, everyone in the world knows he did it. County to Help Fund Brian Nichols DefenseJan. 15, 2008The death penalty trial of accused Atlanta Courthouse killer Brian Nichols could begin again as early as mid-March after the Fulton County Commission voted to spend $125,000 to help in his defense by paying for a psychiatric evaluation. Brian Nichols Murder Trial Delayed AgainNov. 16, 2007For the fifth time, the murder trial of accused Atlanta Courthouse Killer Brian Nichols has been delayed due to a lack of funds for his defense. Sticking to his guns despite growing criticism, Judge Hilton Fuller ruled that he will not start the trial until there is more money provided to Nichols defense team. DA Tries to Force Start of Nichols TrialNov. 2, 2007The Fulton County district attorney has filed a complaint with the Georgia Supreme Court in an effort to force the judge in the Atlanta Courthouse Shootings case to resume jury selection. Atlanta Courthouse Shooting Trial to BeginOct. 15, 2007Security will be tight at the Fulton County courthouse this week as the trial of Brian Nichols begins in the same building he is accused of shooting his way out of almost three years ago. Lack of Money May Delay Brian Nichols TrialFeb. 12, 2007The trial of Brian Nichols in the Atlanta courthouse shooting case may be delayed because the agency in charge of paying his court-appointed attorneys is out of money. Atlanta Courthouse Shooting Trial BeginsJan. 11, 2007Although there is absolutely no doubt about the guilt of the defendant, a long, drawn out and expensive trial is scheduled to begin in the same courthouse that also happens to be the scene of the crime. Brian Nichols Trial Delay RejectedDec. 22, 2006Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller has rejected another defense motion that would have delayed the start of the trial of Brian Nichols. Atlanta Courthouse Shooting Trial to Be Moved?Jan 30, 2006Attorneys for Brian Nichols have asked that his trial be moved to another courthouse, because the current one is the crime scene. Hostage Ashley Smith Gave Nichols MethSept. 28, 2005Ashley Smith, the woman who helped authorities capture Atlanta Courthouse killer Brian Nichols, says in her new book Unlikely Angel that she talked with him about her faith and gave him methamphetamine during her seven-hour hostage ordeal. Previous developments in the Atlanta Courthouse Shooting case: Two Arrested for Murder of Ashley Smiths HusbandJune 23, 2005Four years after Daniel (Mack) Smith was stabbed to death at an August, Georgia apartment complex, two men have been indicted and arrested for the stabbing death of the husband of Ashley Smith, the woman who convinced the Atlanta courthouse killer to turn himself into police. Death Penalty Sought for NicholsMay 5, 2005The Fulton County district attorney will seek the death penalty for the man accused of shooting his way out of an Atlanta courthouse, leaving four people dead and setting off the largest manhunt in Georgia history. Ashley Smith Collects $70,000 RewardMarch 24, 2005Ashley Smith was given $70,000 in reward money for helping authorities capture courthouse shooter Brian Nichols. Hostage: God Brought Him to My DoorMarch 14, 2005Ashley Smith, the 26-year-old hostage who notified police that the Atlanta Courthouse Killer wanted to turned himself in, read to Brian Nichols from The Purpose Driven Life, shared her personal faith, and prayed with him for more than seven hours in her Duluth, Georgia apartment. Courthouse Killer Waves White Flag to SurrenderMarch 12, 2005Brian Nichols, the man who killed three people in a Fulton County Courtroom Friday, waved a white flag to surrender to authorities after they surrounded a Metro Atlanta Area apartment that belonged to a woman who managed to call 911. Courthouse Killer Gives Cops the SlipMarch 11, 2005The manhunt for an Atlanta man who killed three people at the Fulton County Courthouse Friday morning became a lot more complicated when the vehicle the suspect was thought to be driving was found 14 hours later on a lower deck of the same parking from which it was supposedly stolen.

Marketing Report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Marketing Report - Research Paper Example By the fifth year, the company should have gained 27,500 customers (5500 *11), resulting in a total of about 77,500 clients. 2. Gain a 15% market share in the STEM toy segment for CircuitTree by 2020. At the moment, Mega Brands has an 8% market share in the STEM category, while Lego has a 5% market share in the same category; this totals to 13% for the two leading brands. Other smaller brands have a total market share of 16%, meaning 71% of the market is still unexploited. A 15% market share means that Voltree will have 76,819 (0.15*512129) customers by 2020. This is closer to its target of a 77,500 customer base within 5 years. 3. Retain 50% of customers gained within the first five years of operation. Currently, CircuitTree is Voltree’s only product, yet STEM toys market data shows that parents between the ages of 25 and 34 perform multiple purchases every year. However, the probability of a parent buying more than one game is 0.5%, because half of them are likely to acquire other games in their next purchase. CircuitTree supports learning and entertainment in a sustainable and balanced manner. Technical and educational practitioners who understand the correlation between entertainment and learning developed the product after intensive research. The Core Product is what consumers pay for. In this case, entertainment and learning are combined into one product: a game that will improve children’s academic potential but still keep them animated. This element comprises the actual physical or virtual features of CircuitTree. The product is imaginative, inspiring, and incorporates high-quality design and styling. It also comes with latest software updates that support long-term usage. The branding, packaging and labeling aspects of CircuitTree are congruent with the company’s strategic objectives. For example, the packaging (both primary and secondary) is environmentally friendly while the labeling is explicit and multilingual to

Police in New Orleans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Police in New Orleans - Essay Example In 2002 and 2003, the state reported highest number of homicide cases. The law enforcement agencies are criticized for their failure to protect and safeguard the lives and properties of the citizens. Poverty is considered to be the major reason behind the involvement of the police into corrupt practices, the official poverty rate of the state is 28%, more than 25% of the residents of New Orleans, which include large number of police officials, earn less than $20,000. The Katrina episode brought the inefficiency and incompetence of the police officials evident, in the Times Picayune edition it was reported that, "Neighbors in the area near Hickory and Short Streets Uptown said a body has been floating nearby in five feet of water since the unidentified man was shot five times on Monday. Neighbors said the shooting was reported, but police and other officials apparently have been unable to respond" (Nicole Gelinas, 2005). The New Orleans police was previously considered to competent force, in mid 1990s the former commissioner Richard Pennington struggled hard and was successful in reducing the crime rate. However, since Pennington's departure, the crime rates have risen significantly. The New Orleans police department is considered as corrupt, brutal and an incompetent institution and the Katrina episode turned the situation worst. The police have been involved in differe... The investigations concluded that more than 12 officers were involved in the alleged practices of their involvement in looting. More than 250 police officers i.e. 15 percent of the police force faced disciplinary motions against them for their unreported absence during and post Katrina disaster (Associated Press). The police department was reportedly accused of violence and brutality, and the senior police officials personally involved themselves for the clarity and investigation of the allegations. In one of the cases, an officer's wife lodged complain for being physical tortured by three police officers, who penetrated into her house without any warrant. The police authority launched the investigation instantly, and three officers were suspended with immediate notification. According to Police Supt. Warren Riley, 'We take our integrity very, very seriously'(Hampton, 2005). There were certain other accusations, in many of the crimes the police officials were caught red-handed. In one of the cases the police officials interrogated 12 officials for looting a market. The accused were traced through the installed security camera. The senior police officials were frank enough to confirm the allegations, and promised 'swift and decisive' actions against the accused, the senior officials reported th at, 'There is zero tolerance for misconduct or unprofessional attitude by any member of this department'. (Hampton, 2005) The police authorities did take considerable remedial measures to combat the allegations of corruptions. The police department revised their infrastructure, and the federal government provided the required resources for the up gradation of the services. The police department adopted