Proposal for a Animation Dissertation Essay Example

Proposal for a Animation Dissertation Essay Three initial ideas for dissertation. 1. Analogue film and its imprint on the digital era. This thesis for a dissertation would have set about to analyse the relationship between analogue and digital filmmaking and the differences in these practices since the rise of the latter’s popularity and usability. The paper would have evaluated digital filmmaking practices and the new range of techniques that modern technology has brought about, giving reference to the rise of importance in editing since the development of red-one and the response to this of various filmmakers, Lars Von Trier etc. New aesthetics would have also been explored, looking at films such as Inland Empire (Lynch, 2006) and Trash Humpers (Kornine, 2009) and the ways in which contemporary films utilise imperfections of the digital medium to create new aesthetics in opposition to that of the cultured visuals of Hollywood cinematics. The essay would also have devoted a chapter to Marshall McLuhan’s theories of the postmodern effect of globalisation through the Internet and how new media has changed the face of film and the way practitioners can operate within visual culture. . Auteurism – career momentum that outlasts the diminishment of practitioner’s talents. This dissertation would have explored the effect on a director that being branded an auteur can have. The paper would have formed a discussion on how being branded an auteur early in a filmmakers career can end up inadvertently damaging their product. The dissertation would have utilised case studies on directors such as Michel Gondry, Wes Anderson and M. We will write a custom essay sample on Proposal for a Animation Dissertation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Proposal for a Animation Dissertation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Proposal for a Animation Dissertation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Night Shyamalan to form the basis for an argument on the view that the directors films are so highly praised for aspects of cinematography and narrative that, in later projects, revert to conforming to what they believe audiences expect of them and begin to display a distinct impression of ‘style over substance’. It would go on to suggest, backed up by aforementioned case studies, that directors can have the tendency to become lost within their own visuals and thematic traits and loose sight of what got them branded as n auteur in the first instance. This idea was formed through watching M. Night Shyamalan in chronological order and forming an opinion that he has utilised the ‘twist’ ending to such an extent that it no longer shocks an audience and creates the effect that garnered him so much critical acclaim after the release of The Sixth Sense (1999). Stemming from this realisation the paper would study other auteur branded director’s films and form ed an opinion on whether the tag of an auteur can damage a practitioners brand. . Hasta la vista†¦ movie – the effect of ‘geek culture’ on the modern day movie experience This paper would have studied the effect of geek culture on the modern day viewing experience when anticipating and watching an upcoming film. The paper would have drawn on statements made by Marshall McLuhan about the rise in usability of the internet and new media and how this has affected the way in which modern day audiences participate in the movie going experience. The dissertation would have utilised examples such as the modern trailer, blogs, the film website, critics reviews and events such as film and comic book conventions to introduce the thesis that curiosity and commentary on films through these mediums destroy the feeling of ambiguity experienced by cinema goers who previously could enter a film not knowing a thing about the film they were about to watch, and how this is an era that now lies well within the past. It would analyse the modern day climate in which a person can read a magazine and scour the Internet for 30 minutes and have already found out the main events, listened to the soundtrack and know every stylistic trait of a film before viewing it. The paper would have presented this view but also attempted to present an unbiased argument by stating that it is because of this ‘geek culture’ and its positive promotion on the Internet that many modern day films are produced and received so successfully. As reference for this argument a case study would be conducted into the promotion of film through viral videos, and a further case study would be conducted into the forthcoming film Tron: Legacy (2010) and how the internet may have facilitated its production. Word Count: 701 Abstract This study addresses the viability of auteurism in the contemporary moving image industries and the significance of this in relation to whether or not an animator can be considered a genuine auteur within the wider context of general artistic practice. The purpose is to provide an up to date and comprehensive, analytical framing of auteur theory and enhance the arguments laid down by critics, thinkers and theorists on both the psychoanalysis concerned with the consideration of the ‘original’ self in a postmodern society and whether the collaborative, creative nature of the animation industry lends itself to the term auteur. The dissertation will provide a social, historical and theoretical study of a number of discourses concerned with the animation industry, examining distinguishable personalities within the medium and formulating a thesis on arguments limiting auteur theory to the status of â€Å"high art† whilst questioning the genealogical construction of understanding surrounding the bourgeois construct of authorship. The paper sets about to provide an unbiased argument on the authentic nature of auteurism within contemporary perceptions of animated cinema, it attempts to present two sides to arguments that concern the author and audiences of a ‘text’ and their role within a process of cognitive perception. It will instigate discussion on aspects of auteurism by presenting case studies on Pixar and they ways in which the corporation operates in contrast to non-western animators such as Hayao Miyazaki and The Brothers Quay. The central argument is concentrated on an animator’s ability to experiment and diversify, create new perspectives on the interrelations between the highbrow and the popular, aesthetics and ideology. Word Count: 263 Methodologies Report This paper is a theoretical and historical study of the animation industry, how it has grown and blossomed from the advent of Joseph Plateau’s Phenakistoscope in 1832 and the early animated films of Reynaud And Melies in the late 1800’s, through to the modern day industry dominated by the market conditioning animation studios such a Pixar and Disney. Alongside this contextual background the relativity of auteur theory will be discussed in relation to its possible existence in a contemporary business that competes against contemporaries often seen to exist on a plane artistically above that of the mainstream animation industry. This question of authorship within the animation practice has been widely disputed and contended by a range of commentators throughout its short history and this study will serve to provide a conclusive framing of the topic. The first problem with thinking about animation and its broad stable of directors as a base for authorship can be traced back to its association with ‘high art’ and the origin of the word auteur in conjunction with media studies, Cahiers du Cinema. During the 1950’s, a period in which French film enjoyed widespread artistic acclaim, this influential film journal, written by, among others, Jean Luc Goddard, Francois Truffaut and Jacques Rivette, attempted to emphasise the role which a filmmaker assumes in the direction of their film and the significant way in which they acquired a distinguishable signature style from production to production. This became further associated with terms such as camera-stylo or metteur en scene. The Cahiers du Cinema insisted that if a director was to become recognised as displaying the traits of an auteur he must be recognised as contributing a signatory licence across a series of films, that clearly defined both aesthetic and thematic trends and offered a conclusive view of the elementary principles of an ‘art form’. Problems arose with the theories concerning auterist film practice in the late 1960’s almost a decade after the Cahiers had coined the phrase during the French renaissance. The collaborative and procedure orientated nature of making a film was called into question and â€Å"became subordinate to the critical parameters that determined film as a directors medium and as the significant voice of the film† (Wells, 2002 p. 72). Notable screenwriters such as Nicholas Kazan and Ernest Lehman have voiced their discontent with the notion of the director as the singular contributor to the stylistic and thematic contents of a film. Supporting this, since the late 60’s, few film historians have onoured the notion of a director as a singular contributing factor within a film and note other practitioners – the screenwriter, cinematographer and producer – to having mounted a substantial challenge to the directors claim to the romantic concept of the author. It is obviously true that the animation director’s influence can have a large effect upon the films artistic direction but it is interesting to consider whether or not they alone hold the pen or camera-stylo, as it were. Inevitably because of the range of opinions that exist within the subject of auteur theory especially considering the spectator and the sociological connotations that are implied by the author and audience existing alongside the text and inhabiting it (Barthes, 1982) it is hard to provide a definitive account of authorship in animation practise and the discussion of this theory remains challenging within media studies. The addition of thinking about the animation director as an auteur further complicates the debate of authorship. It can be said that in one frame of mind the animation industry perfectly echoes that of filmmaking practice in relation to production process and artistic conditioning implied through this range of processes. On the other, it further complicates the argument concerning the ability of the filmmaker to work within an arguably even larger creative environment or completely alone. It has been argued (Wells, 2002 p. 73-74) that this allows animation to be seen as one of the most auteurist of art forms and that’s its methods of production, especially when considered to be at its most collaborative, insist upon the strict intervention of a singular voice that acts as an authorial presence. Frustratingly few animation directors have been praised as auteurs within the medium, with their identities often becoming swallowed up by corporate image, in the case of animation houses such as Pixar and Disney, being debased with the appeal of consigning it simply to a petty form of narrative or, again, falling victim to the acceptance of the mutually reliant process of production. Connected to this is the concept that animation has been, and will always be, produced for a predominantly immature audience and that auteur theory cannot be applied to a film practice that concerns itself with providing articles for such a demographic. This has become a tired argument as there a huge variety of ways in which a director can be described to be an auteur. Drawing arguments from a wide variety of sources and assisted by specific case studies it is this dissertations aim to provide a vocabulary for how the animation auteur can be addressed. It is this papers intention to, utilising a variety of modes and methods, signal the opinions of scholars that have campaigned for the existence of a recognisable auteur within the media industries and then go on to transplant these theories into that of the modern day animation industry. The essay will touch on contemporary titans of the animation world such as Disney and Pixar whilst also giving special consideration for the foundations that have been laid by the historical forbearers in crafting a profitable industry in which today’s practitioners of mainstream animation operate. Alongside the mainstream, consideration will be given to the independent or ‘experimental’ animator, working outside the confines of an industry that, it has been suggested, limits they way in which a director can remain in control of the artistic and thematic outputs of their film. Special consideration will be given to the eastern European animators such as Jan Svankmajer, The Brothers Quay and Yuiry Norstein and the ways in which we can regard them as auteurs through the methods of production in which they practice their ‘art’. It will also analyse how the work of Hayao Miyazaki is differentiated from that of its western counterparts not only through its visual and thematic styles but also through the sociological boundaries in which it is released. Thought will be given to a society, and the pschoanalysis that accompanies it, in which audiences flock to the cinemas to see the newest releases from a highly recognised and respected animation house, but also, a director that is considered to be a genuine auteur and one of the artistic powerhouses of contemporary Asian cinema. Following this, my final chapter will concern itself with the major discourses in animation today. It will utilise a case study instigating investigation into the way in which the modern animation houses conduct their modes of production and whether or not this can be seen as adding to or detracting from the auteur model laid down by Cahiers du Cinema. The theoretical background for this paper will cover many areas of film history and criticism and point to key areas in which the auteur theory has come under contention, drawing on key sources it will analyse their relevance within the contemporary animation industry and provide current case studies of animation auteurs and production houses to provide a coherent context for the theories that it attains to underpin. The dissertation will cover well-known critics ranging from Cahiers du Cinema to modern day articles from film journals such as Sight Sound and The Online Animation Journal. The writings of these authors will be used to give context for some of the statements that are made concerning auteur theory and to assist in cultural references to animated movies and cinematic movements from the last 130 years. The paper will also reference the work of cultural theorists such as Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault, whose work has been invaluable in the affirmation of what constitutes a genuine author and the ways in which we can view them in a modern day society. The dissertation aims to provide a spread of criticism from a wide range of historical periods during the 20th century, and, as the essay is concerned with the shift within the understanding of an auteur and its place in the industry of today, it was considered to be important to include opinions from more than the contemporary to demonstrate the shift that has occurred in our understanding of the director as an author. Alongside a wide range of scholarly sources directly concerned with film criticism that have been implemented the essay attempts to utilise areas of psychoanalysis and cognitive deconstructions to attain some idea of how sociological boundaries have been built up concerning the idea of the individual self, especially situated within a creative industry and within the confines of a post modern society. The study borrows and reconstitutes ideas and theories from such well-known thinkers as Sigmund Freud, Jacques Derrida and Richard Harland. Although not directly connected with the world of cinema the ideas put forth by these thinkers have greatly influenced the way in which proportions of society think of the ‘unified self’ and the case for ‘original thought’. It was important to consider dialogue provided by theorists working outside of the filmic world as it has allowed the paper to gain a more conclusive view of aspects that can affect auteur theory more concerned with the workings of an audiences conscious thought, rather than that of cinematography and narrative alone. During the course of this essay the proposed theories will be analysed through a variety of method and, as mentioned, the sources come from a wide range of authors to provide many different opinions on auteur theory. These include; cultural theorists, directors, film critics and psychologists. In addition to the wide spread of authors that have been used the material has been drawn from a variety of qualitative and quantitative ources that comprise of scholarly books, newspaper articles, film journals, blogs, online critics circles, websites providing information on box office receipts, films and other visual resources. These methods have been undertaken to avoid the time consuming necessity of providing a source of self-produced data such as interviews or focus groups conducted with individual interviewees and focus groups. The data provided through this wide range of sources should compensate for a lack of self produced data and give a clear indication of the criticism and ideas that exist across a wide range of society. The main critical ideas that are analysed and enforced within this essay is an affirmative opinion that auteur theory is alive and well within the modern day film industry and that this also translates through into the contemporary animation industry. The essay sets about to deconstruct misconceptions concerning the negative reception that auteur theory receives from both cinematic and cultural theorists, and whilst the focus of the essay is very much on the promotion of the auteur director and the analysis of the cultural surroundings in which he operates the paper is careful to provide a balanced view of the topic by framing the question with both positive and negative responses. In summary, the main critical ideas to be analysed will be animation aesthetic and message as well as the existence of the auteur within the film analysing both his, or her, impact on the messages, narrative and aesthetic of the their work from film to film. It reviews the sociological structures that we are surrounded with and brought up through that allow, or disallow us, to consider the director as a true author, taking into consideration industry, modes of production, aesthetics, messages, fluency, consistency and cultural impact and finally the shift in style of animation throughout the years and how it should be considered an equally important and valuable cultural artefact as that of the live action cinema. Word Count: 1980

Materialism in America essays

Materialism in America essays We are all materialistic, to one extent or another; but what are our motives when we pursue our materialism? Are we working towards happiness in our lives? Are we letting materialism become the most important part of our lives? Are there any emotional aspects of too much materialism? Through the American philosophy we learn that America is and has always been obsessed with material possessions. What is materialism? Materialism is the tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values. Lets face the facts; materialism is a major part of the world we live in, this is shown in the quote, "Materialism is fundamentally a doctrine concerning the character of the concrete natural world we inhabit" (Campbell). This explains that materialism is very important in the world we live in; so important that it is considered a doctrine of one's character. Keith Campbell shows that the more extreme materialistic individuals believe that the entire world is material when he says, "Extreme materialism asserts the real world is spaciotemporal and consists of material and nothing else" (Campbell). The world is nothing but an empty space consisting of material objects. Materialism is very important in the world we live in, and history shows that it always has been. Materialism has always been an important aspect in America's history, dating all the way back from the 18th century to the modern era. During the 18th century, the Age of Enlightenment sparked up. The Enlightenment was Mankind's final coming of age, the emancipation of the human consciousness from an immature state of ignorance and error and the idea of materialism became very intriguing. The quote that best shows this would be, "One important movement in American philosophy during the 18th century was the importance of materialism, or the belief that all essential reality and phenomena are caused by physical matter" ("American Philosophy...

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

Discussion Topic - Essay Example If you havent already memorized them, they are: Objective, Offensive, and Mass, Economy of Force, Maneuver, Unity of Command, Security, Surprise and Simplicity. To what extent, if any, do Chinese views follow or depart from the modern principles, and why?   Your opinions are welcome, but back them up with evidence. Sun-Tzu was talking about strategy as contained in his book The Art of War. The writing that says â€Å"the army is established by deceit, moves for advantage, and changes through segmenting and reuniting† must not be taken literally. Sun-Tzu was talking metaphorically. By deceit, he meant the confidentiality and secrecy character of a military organization. A military organization’s objective is to win war wars not to be honest. Divulging one’s military capability blunts its capacity for offensive. One must not be â€Å"truthful† or â€Å"candid† about the status of its military otherwise the enemy would plan against it and could easily defeat it. By â€Å"moves for advantage, and changes through segmenting and reuniting† just meant that a military organization adapts to a situation or its maneuverability by regrouping and when he mentioned â€Å"its speed is like the wind, its slowness like the forest; its invasion and plundering like a f ire; unmoving it is like the mountains. It is as difficult to know as the darkness; in movement it is like thunder", Sun-Tzu merely described the offensive capability of a military organization through a unified command. These Chinese views about military tactics and strategies may sound ancient but is still actually present in today’s military tactics. Sun-Tzu just talked the language of his day but he actually talked about â€Å"classified nature of the military†, regrouping, organization, timing of attack and speedy response of military action. Much of military strategy and tactics today   are derived from the principles of Sun-Tzu

Shaw Flooring Company Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Shaw Flooring Company Analysis - Essay Example Main products of Shaw Flooring involve carpets, area rugs, ceramic tiles, hard wood flooring, laminate flooring, and hard wood laminate flooring. Along with this other related products such as floor coverings of hard wood and vinyl also manufactured by them. Designing and manufacturing of both commercial and residential carpet products are carried on within the company's owned facilities. The raw material used for the carpet products are mainly tufted nylon yarn. For making carpet samples separate division are formed in the organization. The carpet sampling division provides service to its customers. By formulating samples of their own it becomes more cost-effective for the firm. For the distribution of finished products direct retail marketing is adopted by the company. This direct sales strategy helps them to get successful growth with higher market share than competitors. Adoption of new technology of continuous dying ranges act as competitive advantage for the company. Most of the production processes are carried on within the company's own plants. This makes the production process more cost effective. Characteristics such as innovation, leadership, product performance, quality, service, and value achieved by the company also act as competitive advantage for them in the carpet industry. ... Recycling of used products and scraps and wastes for further production is another strategy of Shaw flooring. When doing the recycling process quality control techniques are also implemented. Shaw's carpet recycled product, EcoWorx is the only one in that category which provides a guarantee of return back of carpet tile up at the end of its life. The wastage is utilized for producing energy and this provides them low cost energy for all of their process. Together with this environmentally better removal of wastage is also attained by them. These act as competitive advantages of the firm in the industry. (Shaw Industries). 3. Quality Management: For the implementation of quality control, Six Sigma total quality management system is adopted by the company. A certified Six Sigma Manager is appointed by the company and he is responsible for specifying improvement in the production efficiency of the manufacturing process by applying his Six Sigma skills and tools. He is required to issue reports to Plant Manager regarding the improvement process within the company's facilities. A Quality Assurance Manager is also appointed and he is responsible for the overall product quality within the company's manufacturing facility. He is also charged with discharging customers' claims and develops and implements quality improvement tools within the firm. He is required to report to the Plant Manager about the proper working of the production department. The Super wiser of the company is also charged with ensuring the quality and production standards within their shift. (Career Opportunities). 4. Process Design: Tufting process is used by the company for the production of carpets. The transformation process of carpet

Habitat Conservation Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Habitat Conservation Plan - Essay Example Habitat conservation plans work for the betterment of endangered species. These plans serve as a lifeline for the species which are extinct or are on the verge of extinction. Endangerment of species is a rising problem due to which many habitat conservation plans have surfaced in the past few years. These plans work in accordance with the scientific data available which the scientists bring to their full use. When the plans for conservation of habitat are made ground rules are set. These include assessing the status of a species which is endangered, predicting the project effects and outcomes, mitigating for those effected, and monitoring the final results (Harding, 2001).The plans that are made make full use of the scientific data available on the species of animals or plants that are at the risk of extinction. The basic rule that these plans follow are initiation of mitigation measures against the local threats that the species face. The main problem that these plans face is that t he number of endangered species is high but the budget the government puts aside for these conservation plans is less. The article brings reflects upon the fact that due to urbanization, industrialization and commercialization various species of animals and plants are on the verge of extinction. Their habitats are being exchanged for the use of humans. Due to these problems ecologists and scientists have accelerated their collaborations on making plans for the conservation of habitats.

Representation Of The American Dream Film Studies Essay

Representation Of The American Dream Film Studies Essay Independence Day is a film directed by Roland Emmerich WHAT HAPPENED RELEASED in 1996, which shows the planet under an alien attack, where the U.S. is the center of the problem and the country that saves the world. In relation to this film several elements can be analyzed belonging to the American culture. One of the most significant is The American Dream. An ideal of American culture that is based on democracy and equality and aims to maintain the welfare of society, in order to achieve the fulfillment of the dreams of its members. Based on this, the question that this paper attempts to answer is: To what extent the movie Independence Day directed by Roland Emmerich reflects the American dream? In this paper is exposed how there is a relationship between The American Dream as a cultural element that represents an American ideal and the script of the film, where elements, the film presents such as leadership, equality in terms of race, gender and social context, and the image of a perfect democracy REPRESENT THIS FEATURE. So we can see IN THIS WAY that the film represents to a great extent and very clearly the American Dream, because it reaffirms the central role of American culture on a global context by exposing the values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹of the American Dream as the country defends the planet from the Alien attack, it also brings these values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹to a global context as it takes the independence Day as a celebration of global importance, and showing America as a country where the dreams of an entire nation and its members are fulfilled. Word count: 262 INTRODUCTION Nowadays The United States is one of the most influential countries in the global context, taking into account its economic and military power. However its importance worldwide is also due to their culture, a culture that has strongly expanded in the Western Hemisphere by spreading a set of customs, traditions and ideals. Among the strongest and representative ideals of American culture is what is known as The American Dream, a concept that has transcended through history and has strongly consolidated American culture by showing that in this country people can achieve an ideal lifestyle where all of its members fulfill their dreams in a country that enforces their rights and welfare. Taking this into account it is important to analyze how these ideals are represented and displayed as part of American culture by focusing on a specific cultural artifact, in this case the film Independence Day directed by Roland Emmerich released on 1996. Roland Emmerich is a German film director, screenwriter and producer known by his science fiction productions which usually show humanity under catastrophic and risky situations. That is why on Independence Day a catastrophic context can be seen a context in which Planet Earth is under an Alien attack and places The United States in the center of the tragedy and as a country that puts all of its efforts to save the planet. The aim of this paper is to show: To what extent the film Independence Day directed by Roland Emmerich reflects the American Dream. For this IT IS NECESSARY TO analyze the concept of The American Dream as part of their culture in relation to the elements that the film shows, an analysis of the script by showing the different situations and characters, and an analysis of the symbols used throughout the film. THE AMERICAN DREAM AS REPRESENTATION OF THEIR CULTURE The concept of the American Dream was introduced by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic America, where he talks about this concept as a social ideal representative of American culture, which seeks equality in terms of opportunities and a comfortable lifestyle for everyone, based on a proper use of democracy to achieve it. The American dream is the cultural expression of North American identity and, even if it was occasionally transformed into the American nightmare, it remains one of the most motivating forces of American civilization and a still viable token of American exceptionalism. (Stiuliuc, 2011). According to this, Diana Stiuliuc in her text The American Dream as the Cultural Expression of North American Identity claims that the American Dream despite the different interpretations that may have, will always refer to the American culture as a unique factor that represents the American national identity. Taking these definitions into account we can see how this concepts fi t the American culture, because it is based on democracy and equality, concepts that were consolidated as part of that culture since they were mentioned in the American constitution and the declaration of Independence. On the other hand, referring to Ferdinand Lasalle who said on his book On the essence of constitutions (YEAR) that culture is related with public consciousness, we can consider a relationship between the Constitution and culture. It means that the constitution has to reflect the aspects of society that are determined by their customs, their morality, their ideas about good and evil and in general all kind of aspects that represent the members of a society, in order to make people identify with the constitution and actually obey the laws. According to this and focusing in the movie, it is significant to stand out some concepts that clearly reflect The American Dream because they are based on democracy and equality, the concept of The United States as a country with a perfect democracy, a multicultural country and a global leader. ANALYSIS OF THE SCRIPT Throughout the film America is depicted in many ways as a model of democracy. Several ideas present in the classic documents mentioned appear as concepts in the films plot, there are mainly four ideas represented in the film, they are: America depicted as a progressive country, America depicted as a land in which goals can be fulfilled with enough effort, America as a country in which peace and the due processes are a priority, and America as a country which authority comes from the consent of the governed. America is shown as a progressive country in terms of its political structure, as the movie shows how the country is worried about social progress and welfare. One of the main characters in the film is the President who takes on many roles depending on the situations he faces throughout the film; one of these roles is that of a young yet wise politician. In the film America is shown as a land in which youth is not a hindrance in terms of wisdom. This is shown at the beginning of the film when the Presidents communication director Constance Halbrook, another important character, shows the news to the President arguing that people are attacking not his policies but his age. Other types of progressive thinking are shown throughout the movie such as the presence of debate and protest among the citizens. The President is shown as a human being despite his role as a hero, if he is not defeated at the end of the film, it is due to his prowess as a politician and soldier instead of a set of special abilities inherent to himself. Protestors are shown when US police and military forces take place close to the Alien ships. And debate is implied in occasional TV broadcasts shown as secondary plot devices. America is depicted as a land in which dreams can be fulfilled throughout the entire film. Almost each character starts his or her journey with a certain frustration, David failed as a scientist, Constance failed in her previous relationship with David, Steven could not get a job in NASA and Jasmine struggles with keeping her family together. At the end of the film after each character is forced to grow and has to put huge efforts in developing their skills or going through great risk, is able to accomplish his or her goals, David and Steve succeed in their attack to the alien ship, Constance and Jasmine are able to put their families together. America is also shown as a peaceful country that wont attack unless it is attacked first. After Alien ships are positioned over each major city in the United States the President gives the order to approach them in a peaceful way by having a group of helicopters get close to one of the space ships and broadcast a welcome message. Following an offensive by the Aliens the President gives the order of a counterattack. Also it is implied at several moments that America is a country that respects the supremacy of others, it is only after the United States supremacy is threatened that open war begins. This is closely related to the idea mentioned before that America is a country in which authority comes from the consent of the governed. Most scenes in the movie show scenarios of political life, TV debates, the Oval Office, the White House and so on, democracy is a central theme to the movie. A very representative moment of this idea is when the President decides to prepare a nuclear attack just after receiving a message from the Aliens that describes their method; Aliens are compared to locusts, their essence is that of the exact opposite to the freedom of a democratic government. Some of the mentioned ideas have a parallel in classic documents. The fifth amendment of the United States constitution mentions due process as one of the main components of justice in the United States; this thinking is re-enacted several times during the film. Nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. (U.S constitution. Amendment. 5). The Declaration Of Independence states that the source of authority of each country should be the consent of the governed and not the authoritarian rule of a monarch, and that idea is reflected in the movie as it shows the concerns of the president anytime he is making a decision that may or may not benefit people. Another notorious idea is the representation of America as a multicultural country. Different genders and ethnicities are shown in the movie occupying different important roles, as it is an idea of equality that reaffirms The American Dream. Scientists are shown as people from Caucasian, Asian and African-American descent as well as one of the main characters, David, who is clearly of Jewish descent. Women have important roles during the film too, Constance and Margaret, the First Lady, are shown as brave and dedicated women among the world of politics, and Jasmine is shown as a strong woman and mother willing to do what it takes in order to survive and protect her family. It is important to mention about this element of the film what Hanson said on her work American Dream in the 21st Century an idea that shows a close relationship between the film and the American Dream. The American Dream represents a state of mind that is an enduring optimism given to a people who might be tempted to succumb to the travails of adversity, but who, instead, repeatedly rise from the ashes to continue to build a great nation. (Hanson, White, 2011). Soldiers that are one of the main components of the plot are also from different ethnic backgrounds. There is representation of Caucasians, African-Americans and Latinos, each person is compelled to fight for the independence of the United States regardless of their ethnic background or occupation as is mainly shown with Russell a farmer who is considered crazy and drunk during most of the film but turns into a hero by the end. Both the 15th and 19th amendments to the United States constitution defend gender and race diversity by protecting the right to vote of people from all genders and ethnicities. This idea is an essential part of The American Dream and their culture, and is therefore represented in the film repeatedly. Aside from that, it is important to mention how the military forces of the United States of America are shown throughout the film. Military forces are important since they are the first institution of the American government to appear in the film after the aliens have appeared and have been identified, they are the first group to face the threat and set research and analysis into motion. They are also the first ones to establish a defensive stance towards the invaders. This is shown in the movie since a Pentagon official who discovers the Aliens presence takes as first measure the action of summoning the Secretary of Defense. A very prominent idea shown in the film is the American position in regards of conflict against enemies. It is very important to stand out their role as negotiators and a peaceful society at the beginning of the film, they initially will not attack unless they are attacked. In the film, the first approach to the aliens by the American government is a peaceful one. After this peaceful attempt goes terribly wrong and the aliens attack, the army is given the green light to retaliate. This response as we mentioned before was of course more than ready. This peaceful feature of the American society has as well parallels in the official documents. In the Declaration Of Independence, it is stated that the King of England had attacked first by placing troops in American territory even in times of peace. It also says that America will stay in peace with all its allies and friends but will be in war with any enemy. Doing an analysis of the main characters points of view we can see that they always keep an attitude of braveness and enthusiasm. First of all we can see how the President always keeps a brave image and is never afraid or intimidated by the Aliens; he is always present at every moment, refusing any invitation to a shelter and doing everything possible for his country. This idea is reinforced when he decides to be a member of the final offensive fighting like any other soldier. Another element depicted in the film that reinforces this idea of America as a peaceful and caring country yet ready to battle, is how solidarity is an essential characteristic of all characters personality. This idea is prominently shown once again in the President. He is constantly shown as a loving family man. He appears for the first time during the film while receiving a call from his wife and being with his daughter. He stays with his daughter throughout the entire film and has his wife in mind. On the other hand, David is shown as a character attached to moral integrity, an environmentalist always concerned about taking care of the planet and the greater good. He is because of that the first one to go against the decision of launching a nuclear assault. Another recurrent theme in the film is the characterization of the United States as a technological super power. Scientists are during the story more than support characters, they are heroes. Since the beginning of the film scientific facilities are shown. In fact the first character to appear in the film is a scientist. The film goes back and forth between political and scientific scenarios in which all characters interact. America displays power in the film through politics, the army and technology. All these three scenarios are closely intertwined and together form what makes the United States a super power in the film. As mentioned, science appears in the film very early. The first image is a shot of the American flag placed on the moon showing one of the biggest achievements of humanity in terms of space exploration. Then it continues by depicting a scene of a Hi-tech facility in which scientists discover for the first time the presence of the Alien invaders. The importance of science in the movie not only as a tool of survival but as an icon of American pride is reinforced every time that characters face an obstacle in terms of technology. Very early in the film a member of the military is aggravated when an employee of the Pentagon admits that they are confused about what is going on. Another feature of the film related to the depiction of technology is the way that other countries technology is represented. Iraq and Russia are shown as countries in ruins after the alien attack, the Russian satellite is shown as old and is immediately destroyed, it is implied that the only network the Aliens use is the American one. David is therefore the most important character in the film in terms of technology. His personal journey goes from being a scientist who failed professionally despite his studies and intelligence to being the one who discovers the alien communication system and the one who learns how to destroy their defenses. David is the genius who represents the true power of America which is not the brute display of force but the use of knowledge, technology and progress. It is because of him that the world has to follow Americas lead during battle. Another very prominent representation of America in the film is that of the country being shown as a brave and resilient nation. Americans are shown as heroes who overcome adversity no matter how strong their opponents may be, always willing to defend themselves and their people, American scientists, politicians and soldiers seem to be utterly resilient and indestructible. That characteristic though is not shown as the starting point of the film, in fact, Americas most powerful cities are destroyed and all of their military efforts are rendered useless before the attack is successful displaying a story of heroes who had to sacrifice everything in order to win and who to be able to defend their freedom had to rely on their braveness only. Indeed America is shown as the Land of The Free and the Home of The Brave many times during the movie. The figures of the President and the First Lady are examples of courage, unwilling to hide, both decide to stay with the people of America during the alien attacks even after they are offered protection. The First Ladys sacrifice is therefore the ultimate display of braveness and will to resist against the oppressors. Even right before her death she is shown as a warrior who has set her mind on the only goal of defending her country even at the point of surrendering her life, she says she trusts her husbands capabilities in winning the battle turning her death into the moving force of the Presidents determination to win. The President is then the most important figure of braveness and resilience. Not only he is challenged in terms of his job he is also personally attacked and has his family destroyed before he can stand against the aliens. This mixture of professional and personal obligation comes together in his role as a soldier. The President is also a soldier with special abilities in the fields of air combat, he personally leads the final battle against the aliens, because of this reason he is fundamental to Americas victory, he embodies the might of the State, the braveness of Americans and the peoples will to resist and thrive through great efforts. Other main characters are symbols of courage and resilience. Russell is the everyman who even after being described as a bad father and mediocre man saves the day by showing that nothing else is more important than serving his country and fulfilling his duties as an American soldier, the President grants him the status of hero, because of this reason Russell receives the approval of his family and in spite of his previous failure he turns into a hero because of his braveness and willing to sacrifice. Steven is also the soldier who is willing to lose everything if it is for his country and his loved ones. His motivations are fulfilling his dream of being an astronaut, serving his country and protecting the family he wants to form with Jasmine. He puts himself at great risk by being a part of the stealth mission to destroy the enemy defense and does it without any hesitation. The same goes for David who as a member of this mission risks everything in name of the things he believes in, he is shown as an environmentalist who would do anything in order to save his country. Jasmine on the other hand shows another type of resistance. She is the one that as a main character represents the people of America. The everyday fighter, the passionate mother, she can only resist by doing what every civilian can do, being brave and trusting her state leaders. This is another prominent feature of the film. People are shown as hopeless yet brave citizens, they dont have the strength to fight against the aliens but do so by putting their trust in their government. The American civilians have anyway a common characteristic with the military and government their weakness that turns into braveness and finally victory. Then war is not between two equally powerful opponents, humans are obviously outnumbered and overpowered. Their machines and weapons are shown as tiny next to the huge weaponry of the aliens, even the final weapon against their defenses is tiny, a computer virus, showing that intelligence, courage and sacrifice are worth more than raw force. USE OF SYMBOLS One of the most prominent symbols shown in the movie is the speech given by the President to the soldiers prior to the battle against the aliens, where not only are displayed patriotic ideals but also America is depicted as a country that fully represents the promises of the American dream. One of the main symbolic references is the declaration of the 4th of July as a worldwide celebration extending the idea of The United States national independence to the entire world declaring that way that the ideals of the American revolution and its independence values are applicable to the entire world and should therefore be celebrated by all nations since they represent what is good for every nation. This reference to the 4th of July, which is of course a main idea in the film considering its relevance in relation to the title, places America as the leader of the world. The United States government and its military institutions are the ones to begin and lead the attack against the alien threat; the mentioned speech keeps a strong moral and military rhetoric style. The response from the listeners of the speech is highly emotional as they are all willing to defend these universal values in a clear reference to The American Dream. On the other hand we can talk about the symbols displayed visually. Throughout the film different places are shown and many are representative of American culture. Mainly, government buildings like the Pentagon or the White House and national monuments like the Statue of Liberty are shown, also the skylines of New York City and the city of Los Angeles are repeatedly featured. These symbols are a representation of the main aspects of American culture in relation to The American Dream; government buildings represent the power of the United States, its importance in keeping peace and order, as they show the importance of democracy. Cities like New York or Los Angeles are not only the main economic centers of the country but the most renowned touristic destinations in America. CONCLUSIONS Finally it can be seen how the concept of the American Dream has a very important role in everything related to the American culture, from it, the bases for a great amount of social ideals that represent and promote American culture and identity have been formed. The American Dream attempts to fulfill all ideals of equality and common well-being a nation where the dreams of all its members can become a reality depending on the extent to which they belong to the American society. It is very interesting also to analyze how these concepts go back to classic texts like the Declaration Of Independence and the Constitution of the United States since the importance of creating a global country had already been stated. Taking this into account, it can be seen how this film includes clear references reaffirming the cultural importance of the American Dream in a global context by showing how this nation has the capacity of being a world leader and keeping a society together. In the film, the concepts that depict the United States as a country with a perfect government system can be seen. America achieves through democracy a society that has equal rights for everyone regardless of ethnicity, gender and social differences but most of the film depicts America as a country able to keep a society in harmony where collective objectives and individual dreams are fulfilled. Finally, in terms of the inquiry that guides this paper, it can be seen that the film greatly represents the American Dream. Even from the title which refers to an American holiday but places it on a global context we can see how this film shows American values as the answer the world needs to be able to survive the invasion. We can see in the film how the United States is tested and destroyed just so it can reaffirm itself as a powerful nation in all its aspects, mainly culturally, showing the importance of the American Dream at a national and international level. Word count: 3974

Monument backers go to court :: essays research papers

MONTGOMERY, Ala., Aug. 25 — About 100 demonstrators prayed outside the Alabama Judicial Building on Monday as attorneys went to court to stop a federal judge’s order to remove a 5,300-pound stone representation of the Ten Commandments from the building’s rotunda. ATTORNEYS for a Christian talk show host and a pastor asked U.S. District Judge William Steele for an injunction to block the monument’s removal, arguing that taking it away would violate the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion. The action named as defendants the eight associate justices of the state Supreme Court, who last week overruled Chief Justice Roy Moore and directed that the federal court order be followed, said one of the attorneys, Jim Zeigler. Steele — who was the first judge to order that the monument be removed — scheduled a hearing for Wednesday. Minutes after the lawsuit was announced, police blocked off the front of the building with metal barricades. The building’s superintendent, Graham George, said they were erected to prevent protesters from leaning dangerously against the large windows and glass doors, where they have gathered for the last week. Many of the monument supporters spent the night in sleeping bags on a plaza outside the building and nearby steps, and one scaled latticework on the side of the building and spent the night on a ledge. The unidentified man climbed down after daybreak. Demonstrators have said they know the monument, installed two years ago by Moore, could be moved Monday or Tuesday. Federal courts have held that the monument violates the U.S. Constitution’s ban on government promotion of a religious doctrine. Moore, who contends that it is his duty to acknowledge God in the public rotunda of the Judicial Building, was suspended last week by a state judicial ethics panel for disobeying the order by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson to move the monument. Moore told supporters at the Judicial Building that he would fight to keep the monument in the rotunda even though he had been suspended. He has pledged to argue his case to the U.S. Supreme Court â€Å"I have acknowledged God as the moral foundation of our law. It’s my duty,† Moore said. â€Å"Should I keep back my opinions at such a time as this in fear of giving offense? I should consider myself guilty of treason and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven.† Whenever workers come to remove the monument, supporters of Moore intend to keep it from going anywhere by locking hands and dropping to their knees.

Organisations culture Essay

1.Executive summary In this paper I look at how organisations develop ‘culture’ and how this culture can be created, manipulated and changed my management. I also look at what other factors can change and affect a companies’ culture. The paper will take the following format. A definition of culture and the problems associated with its definition. I then look at how organisationl culture develops, with an explanation of the levels of cultural analysis, a look at the various different types of culture, and the role of the leader/manager in creating the organisations culture. How culture can be changed and the skills and actions needed by management to successfully implement a cultural change. I then finish with a conclusion. 2.Defining organisational culture What is organisational culture? This it has been found, is not an easy question to answer. The concept of culture has its roots in anthropology, the study of human affairs. In this context, culture has been used to designate two different things. A tribe or a social group is studied as a ‘culture’ that produces and may have cultural artefacts. The second use of the term refers to aspects within a given culture, such as customs, rituals, knowledge and so on. (Sackman, S, 1991). In the context of organisational culture it is largely the second approach that is studied. Although people may not be aware consciously of culture, it still has a persuasive influence over their behaviour and actions. (Mullins, L, 2002). This statement explains that although we may not have the knowledge that we belong to a certain cultural group it will still have an impact on our behaviour and in an organisational sense, our working lives. The culture concept began to affect organisational thinking in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Although is it evident in ideas from a number of earlier writers, for example Bernard (1938) and Jacques (1952). If we look at a number of different of organisations it is clear to see that ‘things are done differently’. This idea applies to all organisations, even in similar companies that are operating in the same industry. Tesco provides  much the same service as Sainsburys, but on close inspection we would be able to see the differences in which the two companies operate. It is more difficult however to describe how things are ‘done differently’, or why the company ‘feels’ different. A major problem with the concept of culture is the degree to which individuals, organisations or entire communities display characteristics which are consistent within it. (Martin, J, 2001). Do all British people display characteristics that are consistent with British culture? It is clear that although there are many similarities in the behaviour of people within a defined culture, that individual differences provide some variety. The same must also be assumed in the context of organisational culture. Another problem with finding a definition for organisational culture is the sheer number of definitions that already exist. Kroeber and Kluckhorn list more than 250 definitions of culture, that include components such as ideas, concepts, ideologies values, attitudes, goals, norms, learned behaviours, symbols, rites, rituals, customs, myths, habits or artefacts such as tools and other material representations. (Sackman, S, 1991). This inevitably leads to confusion amongst researchers as to a universal definition of organisational culture. The term ‘the way we do things around here’ (Deal and Kennedy, 1988) is often accepted as an operational definition of organisational culture. However this offers little in terms of the content of culture. Kilman et al. (1985) suggests ‘culture is the reflects the ideologies, shared philosophies, values beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, expectations, and norms of an organisation’ 3.Levels of culture Now we have looked at a definition of organisational culture we should look deeper into what develops and makes up an organisations culture. According to Schein (1985), organisational culture is made up of three levels. Visible organisational structures and processes (Hard to decipher) Strategies, goals, philosophies (Espoused justification) Unconscious, taken for granted beliefs, habits of perception, thought thought and feeling (Ultimate source of values and action) The Levels of Organizational Culture, Schein, E (1985) Artefacts These form the surface level of culture. They include all the things that a person sees, hears and has contact with. In an organisation it would be the architecture of the environment such as the management hierarchy, its technology, its creations and products and its style in terms of manners of address both up and down the hierarchy, dress codes and formal procedures. Schein identifies the most important point of this level being that artefacts are easy to identify but hard to decipher. Two organisations may well have the same system in operation but they can mean different things in terms of the culture of the organisation. Schein puts his point into an example by saying both the Egyptians and Mayas built large pyramids, but they were tombs in one culture and temples in the other. This point is contradicted by Gagliardi (1990) who says ‘ones own response to physical artefacts such as buildings and other office layouts can lead to the identification of major images and root metaphors that reflect the deepest levels of culture’. This is supported by my own experience. I have worked in a supermarket, an  organisation with a tall management hierarchy. Many of the artefacts of the organisation gave the impression of a very formal culture. A strict uniformed dress code was in place, with management wearing different colours from subordinates, and formal forms of address being used. The company was also largely bureaucratic with countless forms to be filled out a large numbers of standard procedures in place. One person however may look at a very informal organisation and class it as inefficient and unproductive, while another may class it as innovative and free from unnecessary bureaucracy, this depends on the individuals previous preconceptions about the artefacts that are present. Values Values are usually one persons beliefs about a given situation. If a manager believes that at a certain time of the year his/her company should run at a lower capacity due to demand etc. This is attributed to his personal values. Only once these values are acted on, successfully implemented and accepted by the organisation do they become transformed into underlying assumptions. From a marketing perspective, some of these values may remain conscious and may be explicitly stated in a company’s mission statement as the â€Å"dominant values of the organisation† (Deal and Kennedy, 1982). Only values that are concrete that can be physically and socially validated, they are confirmed by the group’s experiences, go through his transformation process. Underlying assumptions If a solution to a problem works frequently then it is often accepted as a rule for solving the given problem. The power of culture comes forth because these assumptions are shared within the group and are therefore mutually reinforced. These assumptions can often cause problems when someone new, with a different set of underlying assumptions from a previous culture, joins the organisation. As humans we like stability. Any decision which challenges or questions an underlying assumption, such as changing a costing method, or a method of production, will likely lead to anxiety and defensiveness within the organisation. A skill required by managers wishing to change aspects of an organisations culture is to recognise this connection, to get to the deeper levels of culture, and to deal with the anxiety that results when these assumptions are changed. The three stages are linked constantly together. ‘Basic assumptions are treated as the essence- what culture really is; and values and behaviours are treated as observed manifestations of the culture essence.’ (Mullins, 2002). We are able to see now how culture is developed in term of ‘values’ being acted upon and accepted by the organisation, these values being transformed into ‘underlying assumptions’ and the artefacts of the organisation being formed by the interpretation of these underlying assumptions. 4.Types of organisational culture Handy (1993) identifies four types of organisational culture. Power culture Power cultures revolve around a focal person or small group, this person or group has absolute power throughout the entire organisation. It is often found in small entrepreneurial companies, and relies largely on trust and communication. It is normally non-bureaucratic with few formal procedures. The success of the organisation depends largely on the skill of the focal person or group. Role culture Role cultures are often largely bureaucratic, it is often described as a small number of senior managers resting on the strong pillars of the various functions of the organisation. Each person has a specified role within a function of the organisation which in turn has a specified role within  organisation as a whole. These roles are expected to be adhered to and it is rare for an individual or function to deviate into different areas of the business. Predictability and stability are two main themes within this type of culture. This type of culture often develops in large companies with large numbers of staff and a tall management hierarchy. Companies with this type of culture tend to have steady objectives and operate in largely predictive markets. Again this relates back my own experience as this type of culture is largely prevalent in supermarket chains. Task culture Task cultures recognise the objectives and goals of the organisation as being paramount. Handy describes this as a ‘net’ or ‘matrix’ culture. Power is often shared by a team of experts who are highly manoeuvrable to suit the needs of the organisation. It largely found in team or project based organisations such as consultancy firms or engineers. Person Culture Person cultures are largely individual orientated. Any structure is solely suited to aid the individuals within the organisation. There is no specific power structure with individuals having complete power over their own operations. Examples of this would be barristers chambers, architects, business consultants, individuals that have come together to share resources such as office space and admin support. Some people are more suited to different types of cultures than others. Where one person will be happy working in an organisation with a task culture, he/she may feel constricted and undervalued in a role culture environment. Another person may be the opposite and may feel secure within a largely role orientated company. An important skill for managers is being able firstly to identify the type of culture his/her organisation is operating in and then to hire the correct people for that culture, this helps in reducing any anxiety caused by  changes to underlying assumptions previously discussed. There are many other models of the types of organisational culture available to the researcher. Writings by Deal and Kennedy on the generic cultures, Ouchi’s type Z companies, and several more. The focus of this paper however is on the development and change of culture and this will be explored in the following sections. 5. Factors affecting the development of culture The role of the founder ‘Organisations do not form accidentally or spontaneously. They are â€Å"created† because one or more individuals perceive that the coordinated and concerted action of a number of people can accomplish something that an individual cannot’ (Frost,p et al. 1991) At the beginning of an organisations life the founder often has complete control over the organisation. He/she will make most of not all of the important decisions over all areas of the organisations operations. ‘Because they had the original idea, founders will typically have their own notion, based on their own cultural history and personality of how to get the idea fulfilled. (Schein, 1985). Since the founder started the group it is natural to assume that he/she also impose their thoughts, values and assumptions on the group. As new members enter the group the founders assumption will be changed and modified to suit the new organisation, but will always have the biggest impact on what becomes the organisational culture. This has large implications for the future of the organisation. If the company was founded by an informal, easy going type of person then this is the type of organisational culture that is likely to develop. Similarly if the organisation is founded by a formal, autocratic person, the company will likely develop this kind of organisational culture. This will continue to form the organisations culture and have a large influence on the actions of the company even if new leaders are brought in to the organisation. The assumptions of the founder will already be deep routed and form the basis of  the culture. Size Size affects an organisation because of the formality that is often required in larger companies. A large company with many levels of management and a large number of functions or even businesses cannot realistically operate on an informal level. This has implications for the culture of the organisation. Technology If the company uses highly technological systems and procedures in its operations ie pharmaceuticals, the cultural emphasis will be on the technical skills of its employees. A company in the service sector may have a cultural slant towards customer service. Goals and objectives What the organisation wants to achieve will also affect culture. An organisation that wishes to become a market leader may inherit cultural values that reflect that attitude, i.e. company image focused, or have a heavy marketing orientation. Environment There are many environmental factors that can affect an organisations culture, stakeholders, competitors, government etc. etc. How a company chooses to interact with each of these environmental forces will determine how the organisations culture develops. People The preferred style of work amongst both senior management and employees has a large effect on the organisations culture. If senior management attempt to implement a culture that is unacceptable to employees a reaction will  follow, industrial action, low motivation, poor productivity etc. Likewise if employees attempt to force management into following their own culture then a negative reaction will also result. i.e. relocation or the replacement of workers. (Section taken from Martin, J, Organizational Behaviour, 2001) Senior management need to realise the factors that affect an organisations culture and attempt to you analyse the likely impact major business decisions may have. Failure to do may have negative consequences for the culture and hence the success of the company. 6.Cultural change, the role of management â€Å"There is some considerable debate as to whether changing something as deep-seated as corporate culture is possible’ Writers with this view usually focus on the deeper levels of culture, the underlying assumptions. Turner (1986) supports this view by suggesting that it would not be possible to manipulate it accurately because it becomes such an integral part of the organisations fabric. Because these are taken for granted assumptions about organisational life, members cannot envision any other way of operating. Those advocating corporate culture usually focus on the surface elements of culture, the artefacts. These are more easily changed than the deeper routed assumptions. Some writers have argued that unless the deeper assumptions are changed that the company will revert back to old ways of operating. Despite these arguments there is wide consensus that cultural change should only be attempted as a last resort and after other avenues have been sought. (Cummings, Worley, 1993) A primary task of management is to control the activity of employees to best serve defined organizational interests. They can achieve this control using formalized rules (bureaucratic mechanisms), economic rewards and sanctions or values and norms about how the work is to be done (â€Å"clan† or cultural  mechanisms) (Wilkins and Ouchi, 1983; cited by Sinclair, A, 1993). This statement reflects the common view that organisational culture needs to be aligned with organisational strategy if the company is to be successful. Many companies have now realised the importance of developing strategies harmonious with the organisations culture. Sometimes however culture needs to be changed, if circumstances require an organisation to follow a particular strategic route or a significant change affects the organisation i.e. market forces, government action, rapid growth etc. then the culture will have to be adjusted to suit the strategy and external environment. Managers require many skills in order to successfully change an organisations culture. It is a lengthy process that is full of danger. Staff need to be reassured and convinced that the new culture will work, otherwise defence mechanisms and the problems discussed earlier may begin show. The following guidelines to changing culture have been cited in (Cummings, T, Worley, C, Organization development and change, 1993) 1.Clear strategic vision- the firm needs to have a clear view of its operational strategy if culture is to be changed. Managers need to know where the company is now and where it is planning on going. 2.Top-management commitment- cultural change must be managed from the top of the organisation. Senior managers need to be committed to the new culture. They must have the staying to see the changes through. 3.Symbolic leadership- executives must communicate the new culture through their own actions. Their behaviour needs to symbolise the behaviours and actions that are being sought in the entire organisation. In an example given in the text, the CEO of Dana Corporation Rene McPherson threw the companies multi-volume policy manuals into a waste paper basket during a meeting and replaced them with a one page set of principles. 4.Supporting organisational change- the culture change must also be supported by changes in the organisational structure and operations, ‘the artefacts’ as have already been discussed. They can get people aware of the behaviours required in the new culture for the organisation to be successful. 5.Selection and socialization of newcomers and termination of deviants. One of the most important methods in changing an organisations culture is hiring the right people. This is particularly prominent in management positions where the manager has influence over the behaviour of subordinates. 6.Ethical and legal sensibility- sometimes when culture change happens some employees feel they are being hard done by, maybe due to a change in roles, due a promise made during the transition that has been fulfilled. This may lead to legal battles and or resignations from the company. These steps demonstrate some of the ways that managers can influence and successfully change an organisations culture. There is of course no universal solution to changing or influencing culture, all companies are different and individual approaches are more than likely necessary for cultural change to be successful. An example of cultural change is given in (Martin, J, Organizational Behaviour, 2001). In this case study of a motor car dealership in the UK, the newly appointed managing director wanted to change the company culture. The existing culture was largely autocratic with instructions coming down the hierarchy and staff carrying out these instructions. She wanted to change the culture so that the company has a more had team based approach with decision making at team level and initiative being used at all levels of the organisation. To do this she had to use drastic tactics such as showing staff a video of disappointed customers and even accepting a loss in revenue while the changes were being made. Along with this approach she introduced many changed such as more staff training, revision of pay schemes, continuous improvement groups, multi-functional teams etc. After three years the culture change was deemed complete and she could turn her hand to the future of the company. This case study highlights the often drastic measures and level of commitment that is required by managers to introduce a culture change to an organisation. 7.Conclusion It is relatively clear that organisational culture exists and that it plays a huge part in an organisations actions and the behaviour of its employees. Very few writers now argue with this point. I have discussed how culture develops in an organisation and the different levels and types of culture that emerge. Referring back to the second part of the original question, we have seen how managers can influence and attempt to change an organisations culture and the various problems that are encountered in this process. Although there are debates as to whether an organisations culture can or cannot be changed it would seem that there is a mid-point between the two arguments. There are examples of successful culture changes and I have given one in the text. It is clear that if properly organised and implemented a cultural change can be achieved. However we cannot assume that the culture has been changed all together. If the underlying assumptions are as strong as Schein and other writers claim then these will always affect the company culture in some shape or form. If the new culture is not carefully controlled could reappear. To conclude I would say, although cultural can be changed to suit the environment and organisational strategy, that managers should be cautious take into account the underlying principles that govern the organisational culture. 8.References Martin, J, (2001), Organizational Behaviour, 2nd edn, Thomson Learning Mullins, L, (2002), Management and Organisational Behaviour, 2nd edn, Financial Times, Prentice Hall Schein, E, (1992), Organizational Culture and Leadership, 2nd edn, Jossey-Bass Inc. Cummings, T and Worley, C, (1993), Organization Development and Change, 5th edn , West Publishing Company Sackman, S, (1991), Cultural knowledge in Organizations Exploring the Collective Mind, Sage Publications Frost, P et al. (1991), Reframing Organizational Culture, Sage Publications Sinclair, A, (1993), Approaches to organisational culture and ethics, Journal of Business Ethics, Dordrecht: Jan 1993. Vol. 12, Iss. 1; pg. 63, 11 pgs Wilson, A (2001), Understanding organisational culture and the implications for corporatemarketing, European Journal of Marketing, Bradford, Vol. 35, Iss. 3/4; pg. 353

Christmas in America and Russia

Christmas in America and Russia Free Online Research Papers The article (Celebrate! Holidays In The U.S.A. Christmas Day tells us about how Americans celebrate Christmas holidays and what it means to them. Christmas in America is a very important holiday, especially for children who usually await the 25 of December with great excitement. Kids hang sock all around the house and Santa Claus comes down the chimney in the night and leaves presents and candy in them. On December 24, Christmas Eve, people have Christmas dinner which includes turkey potatoes, pie and lots of deserts. Christmas, while remaining one of the main Christian holidays in Russia, is celebrated on the 7th of January by the Russian Orthodox calendar, but not on the 25th of December. Traditionally, these the girls were telling fortunes, sang mysterious songs, children listened to Christmas fairy tales, frightening stories. Fortune-telling is is still very popular among young ladies as well as in old times both in cities and in the country. The most popular kind of fortune-telling involves the future husband appearing in the mirror. But still, nowadays the 7th of January is more of a religious holiday than a national one and isn’t usually even celebrated by non religious people. There is much more similarity between Catholic Christmas and New Year in Russia. Russians celebrate New Year twice: on the 1st of January, according to the New style calendar, and on the 14th of January, Old style. But the main fun is on the 31st of December. Usually Russians give each other presents on New Years and celebrate all night long, having champagne, the â€Å"Olivie† salad and the TV on with all the different New Year shows along with many singers and TV stars. There is also â€Å"Ded Moroz†, the Russian Santa Claus. But he, unlike Santa, does not use the chimney and does’t usually visit people’s homes in the night. He comes – along with his granddaughter Snegurochka to special parties called â€Å"Iolka† (Christmas tree) which can be held in schools, kinder gardens or just organize in some other places like theatres, so people cam just buy tickets and take their children to see Ded Moroz. All in all we can say, that Christmas is celebrated very differently in Russia and America. Both of the countries have their long going traditions, but, nevertheless, both countries have lots of magical fun and get lots of presents during the winter holidays, no matter how they are called and when exactly they are celebrated. Research Papers on Christmas in America and RussiaLifes What IfsAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHip-Hop is ArtThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenPETSTEL analysis of IndiaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

Great Circlesâ€Definition and Examples in Geography

Great Circless in Geography A great circle is defined as any circle drawn on a globe (or another sphere) with a center that includes the center of the globe. Thus, a great circle divides the globe into two equal halves. Since they must follow the circumference of the Earth to divide it, great circles are about 40,000 kilometers (24,854 miles) in length along meridians. At the equator, though, a great circle is a little bit longer as the Earth is not a perfect sphere. In addition, great circles represent the shortest distance between two points anywhere on the Earths surface. Because of this, great circles have been important in navigation for hundreds of years but their presence was discovered by ancient mathematicians. Global Locations of Great Circles Great circles are easilye based on the lines of latitude and longitude. Each line of longitude, or meridian, is the same length and represents half of a great circle. This is because each meridian has a corresponding line on the opposite side of the Earth. When combined, they cut the globe into equal halves, representing a great circle. For example, the Prime Meridian at 0Â ° is half of a great circle. On the opposite side of the globe is the International Date Line at 180Â °. It too represents half of a great circle. When the two are combined, they create a full great circle which cuts the Earth into equal halves. The only line of latitude, or parallel, characterized as a great circle is the equator because it passes through the exact center of the Earth and divides it in half. Lines of latitude north and south of the equator are not great circles because their length decreases as they move toward the poles and they do not pass through Earths center. As such, these parallels are considered small circles. Navigating with Great Circles The most famous use of great circles in geography is for navigation because they represent the shortest distance between two points on a sphere. Due to the earths rotation, sailors and pilots using great circle routes must constantly adjust their route as the heading changes over long distances. The only places on Earth where the heading does not change is on the equator or when traveling due north or south. Because of these adjustments, great circle routes are broken up into shorter lines called Rhumb lines which show the constant compass direction needed for the route being traveled. The Rhumb lines also cross all meridians at the same angle, making them useful for breaking up great circles in navigation. Appearance on Maps To determine great circle routes for navigation or other knowledge, the gnomic map projection is often used. This is the projection of choice because on these maps the arc of a great circle is depicted as a straight line. These straight lines are then often plotted on a map with the Mercator projection for use in navigation because it follows true compass directions and is, therefore, useful in such a setting. It is important to note though that when long distance routes following great circles are drawn on Mercator maps, they look curved and longer than straight lines along the same routes. In reality, though, the longer looking, the curved line is actually shorter because it is on the great circle route. Common Uses of Great Circles Today Today, great circle routes are still used for long distance travel because they are the most efficient way to move across the globe. They are most commonly used by ships and aircraft where wind and water currents are not a significant factor though because currents like the jet stream are often more efficient for long distance travel than following the great circle. For example in the northern hemisphere, planes traveling west normally follow a great circle route that moves into the Arctic to avoid having to travel in the jet stream when going the opposite direction as its flow. When traveling east, however, it is more efficient for these planes to use the jet stream as opposed to the great circle route. Whatever their use, though, great circle routes have been an important part of navigation and geography for hundreds of years and knowledge of them is essential for long distance travel across the globe.

Building Relationships Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Building Relationships - Essay Example Since it is our mission to provide the best foundation for life-long learning of the students, the school will provide premiere services and exhaust all efforts to ensure that the best environment can be offered to children. It is very important that parents are aware of their health benefits as well as their rights and responsibilities. The school can be of good help to those families that are not well educated with their health care coverage and the laws governing this benefit. This health information can be made available to parents or families of the students by conducting an annual seminar regarding designed to educate families on their rights and responsibilities. Health care coverage plan such as HMO, PPO and PO plan are available for families. Thus it is important that school has good relationship with hospitals, clinics and health agencies that can provide and educate parents about their health benefits. Available hospitals, clinics and agencies within the area are the follo wing: ___________________________. The delivery of educational service of the school must also include the equitable opportunities to students with disabilities. As this school is committed to providing the best education to children without any preferences and discrimination to education, the assistance to children with disabilities must be made available to families and parents of the student by including the services to educational handbook and annual report by the school to the parents. As a second home of the students, the school can provide a really good help to children suffering from domestic violence. The school can offer important benefits â€Å"including safety, predictability, a sense of normalcy, adult and peer support, meals, basic medical and mental health services and extracurricular activities† (Domestic Violence, p.1, n.d.). This help and information can be made known to families and students by including this information to bulletin boards especially in the guidance counsellor’s office. What should be emphasized upon extending this to the students and families is the maintenance of confidentiality of these cases. The school must establish relationship with agencies in the community that handles domestic violence survivors and their children (Domestic Violence, p.3, n.d.). Available agencies in the community that handles domestic violence and relevant cases are _____________________. A healthy school environment is important because it is where children learn and do their best to acquire the needed knowledge for their success in the future. The school is responsible in offering the opportunities for the children to build individual and collective confidence through their daily confidence (Jane-Llopis, & Braddick, 2008). According to Jane-Llopis and Braddick (2008), â€Å"mental health is a basic human right, and is fundamental to all human and social progress. It is a prerequisite to a happy and fulfilled life for individual ci tizens, for effectively functioning families and for societal cohesion.† As Bettina Schwarzmayer, President of European Youth Forum, quoted â€Å"Mental health lies at the heart of a young person’s social, professional and personal development yet youth is particularly vulnerable to mental health problems. Education plays a paramount role in building the foun ­dation of the mental health and well being of youth.†

Creating a Motivating Environment in the Workplace Research Paper

Creating a Motivating Environment in the Workplace - Research Paper Example Understanding what drives positive attitudes, energies and dedication to meeting organizational goals is at the very foundation of motivation and consists of personality, fear responses, and personal demand for empowerment in key environments. The method of creating a more motivational environment depends on the individualist values held by the employee related to these ideas or emotions. Understanding the psychology Wang & Erdheim (2007, pp.1494) describe the elements of the big five personality traits that include neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness and openness to new experiences. Sociability is measured in extraversion, emotional stability is associated with neuroticism, conscientiousness supported by concepts of goal-attainment and dependability (Wang & Erdheim). Each concept is associated with internal dynamics of personality that relate to whether or not an individual adjusts effectively or is responsive to external stimuli. Herzberg (1968, p.2) describes motivation from the perception of a pet and its master. â€Å"The dog wants the biscuit, but it is I who want it to move. I am the one who is motivated, and the dog is the one who moves†. Herzberg describes motivations in terms of incentives or promotions as a means to drive productivity, however the responses that are formulated against this extrinsic reward style are borne of personality factors and indivi dual beliefs associated with reward. Of the big five personality dimensions offered, agreeableness is represented by â€Å"emotional support needs, caring, and nurturance† (Erdheim & Wang, p.1495). This is why externally-driven incentive rewards inspire higher levels of performance as they build on self-confidence and other foundational needs associated with security and belonging. The consequences or outcomes of this motivation are unique depending on the ambitions or goals of the organizational environment or leadership. According to Margaret Wheatley (1997, p.1), â€Å"organizations of all kinds are cluttered with control mechanisms that paralyze employees and leaders alike†¦these mechanisms seem to derive from our fear (or) our fear of one another†. Control systems are associated with typical models of management such as the Theory X management style that believes individuals need to be motivated with a strong voice or a harsh hand. Though regulated by certain government restrictions on control behavior, authoritarian posturing achieves results. The question is not whether it is derived from extrinsically-driven incentives or motivations, it is whether or not the employee is responsive based on their individual needs or personality structures. A manager with high levels of controls exhibits a sense of fear that is associated with loss (or fear of loss) such as formal reprimands for losing one’s position and therefore prompts new actions after rationalizing the impact on lifestyle. When a manager is able to control others through stricter policies and activities, there is no sense of empowerment or the production of a mutually-rewarding cultural or job-related environment. â€Å"Psychologically empowered workers are necessary to maintain the experiential process of learning and innovation† (Doll, 2010, p.54). So, there is a disparity between different management