Psychoanalytic Perspectives of the Oedipus Mythology Essay

Patricide and incest form the thesis and message that Sophocles began with the creation of Oedipus the King. In the plays that followed, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone, Sophocles expounded upon what would become one of the most profound archetypes in psychoanalysis. To best interpret the Oedipus trilogy, a look will be taken into the construction of the plays themselves, followed by an interpretation of the plays’ parallels and the inception of the Oedipus Complex based upon a psychoanalytic perspective. To begin with, Sophocles wrote what became known as the Oedipus trilogy over a period of more than forty years which indicates the profound immersion that he plainly had in the Oedipus saga. Each play is a self-contained chronicle representing his dramatic theme of redemption from the sin of patricide and incest, and yet, the arch between the three Theban plays highlights the message that Sophocles refused to relieve himself from, and which consumed nearly his entire life. While this may seem of little importance to reading the Oedipus trilogy itself, Sophocles did not write them in the order represented in nearly every anthology. As David Grene notes, â€Å"as far as the legend is concerned, the story runs in sequence: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone† (p. i). Their order of conception, instead, went: Antigone, Oedipus the King, and then Oedipus at Colonus (p. i), which presents a few inaccuracies within the story itself (mainly with the character and actions of Creon, Jocasta’s brother). From this birth order, â€Å"the series, therefore, cannot have formed a [true or literal] trilogy†¦beyond the fact that each of the three plays deals with the situation in the Oedipodean family history, there is no unity of theme or treatment between them† (Watling). Moreover, â€Å"except for the obvious links of fact connecting them, each constitutes a fresh approach to a distinct and self-contained problem† (13). Roughly, this means that while most anthologies present the three Theban plays in a chronological order for the character Oedipus, the fact remains that each could be read without knowledge of the others and the same theme and message would be received—which, based upon Sophocles’ life-long obsession with the story, must have been his justification for the story that kept evolving. The reasoning behind the order and placement of the plays within anthologies is sound, however, because, while the stories may be self-contained, the arch of Oedipus is the link that literally turns the plays into a trilogy. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus, as prophecy had predicted, kills his father, King Laius, and marries his mother, Queen Jocasta, bearing at least four children in the process who, in the play Antigone, are revealed as Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles, and Polyneices. After learning of his horrible actions, Oedipus exiles himself as he had proclaimed would be the fate of the brute capable of murdering King Laius, and subsequently blinds himself in the hopes of finding redemption for his unforgivable sins. While Oedipus at Colonus is the second play in the anthologies, it is the literal ending for Oedipus. He is taken to the city of Colonus by his loving daughters, Antigone and Ismene, because, as he had learned from the oracle in Oedipus the King, he was meant to find his final resting place there. Moments before his end, Oedipus realizes that his sins of patricide and incest weren’t truly sinful because he committed the acts out of ignorance alone, and it is in this moment, and despite everything he has faced in his quest for redemption that Zeus absolves Oedipus of his sins and he passes, with peace, into the afterlife. In Antigone, Oedipus is little more than a plot reference to get the play started. His only mention is in the opening lines and is that, following his self-imposed exile from the city of Thebes in Oedipus the King, Oedipus had made a prediction that his sons would be arrogant enough to fight over his throne and kill each other. Thus the play begins with the deaths of Eteocles and Polyneices. The play itself follows the actions of Antigone and her husband Creon, who is the cause for much speculation from most scholars due to his not-so advanced age. As the timeline goes, Creon is Jocasta’s brother and would have been Oedipus’ senior by many years or, at the very least, would have been as old as Oedipus himself. As Antigone is Oedipus’ daughter, and Creon is said to be â€Å"a vigorous middle-aged father of a youthful son† (Watling, 13), scholars debate as to the accuracy of Sophocles’ character creation and question as to his motives in retelling the story in as many forms as he did, with an outstanding flaw. Creon’s deviation notwithstanding, it is the minor and insignificant role of Oedipus in the play Antigone that marks the main reason that most anthologies place Antigone last in the order of the Oedipus mythology, even though the timeline would, as Sophocles thought in writing them, place Oedipus at Colonus last, due to the play’s depiction of the last days of Oedipus’ life. This, in itself, is significant in understanding the psychological aspects of the Oedipus trilogy. Now, while readers will never know the true meaning behind the order of the Oedipus mythology, the fact remains that Sophocles wrote within an archetype and character arch with the intentions of presenting his dramatic theme—and it took three tries to get it out as he desired. What he created, however, demonstrates a truth about the self-discovery of the individual and the path to redemption that marks a significant aspect of the growth of the human being. To best define this journey, a psychoanalytic perspective will now be taken into Sophocles’ main theme and message. From an analysis of his work, Sophocles â€Å"shares [a] concern with finding truth in a world of appearances and is influenced, even if indirectly, by the new theories about language: the problem of the relation of words to reality, and the power of words to deceive, to win unjust causes, and to confuse moral issues† (Segal, 7). More, the plays are â€Å"almost certainly a response to events of [his] period. An unexpected, supernatural-seeming disaster suddenly sweeps away brilliant hopes; confidence in human reason and calculation is shattered, and greatness swiftly turns into misery† (9). Sophocles saw the rise and fall of powerful nations, and it makes sense that he would take what he had seen and created his rendition of events that had transpired in a literary form that he could show the world. And it is from this basis that scholars have debated over the purpose and parallels behind the two main cities present within the plays of Sophocles. Often, the city of Athens is compared to a man’s relationship with himself, whereas the city of Thebes represents the conflict between man and his father. Indeed, â€Å"the figure of Oedipus [is] a distillation of Athens at the height of its power, energy, daring, intellectual curiosity, and confidence in human reason† (Segal, 11). As the historical context of the city of Athens was surely an influence in Sophocles’ making of the Oedipus trilogy, a direct parallel from the destruction of Athens to the destruction of Oedipus the powerful leader can be drawn. More, â€Å"it is even possible that Oedipus’ search for who he really is reflects something of a communal identity crisis in a city that had undergone a massive transformation in a short time and had refashioned itself from a rather quiet, traditional aristocracy and tyranny in the sixth century into a radical, intellectualized democracy and a powerful empire† (Segal, 11). This parallel, of Oedipus to the grand city of Athens, does much to lend weight to Sophocles’ theme of destiny and the gods marking a path for man. For, as Athens rose in power, so too, it fell because it committed sins and transgressions to great to find redemption from along the way. As for the city of Thebes, there lies a direct correlation to Sigmund Freud’s theory of conflict between man and his father which represents a direct parallel to Oedipus’ exile from the city of his king-making. Freud suggested that â€Å"the play fascinates us so much†¦not because it dramatizes ‘the contrast between destiny and human will,’ but because ‘there must be something which makes a voice within us ready to recognize the compelling force of destiny’† (Segal, 59). From this theory, Freud defined that the â€Å"‘destiny’ is the universal necessity to which all of us (or at least all males) are subject—namely, the wishes that remain from our buried animal nature to kill the father and possess the mother† (59). And it is this destiny upon which Sophocles created his foundation and archetype. As a basis for his theory, Freud determined that the oracle was a direct parallel to the subconscious mind, citing that â€Å"this disguising of Oedipus’ unconscious desires in the form of an oracle from the gods not only lets the unconscious become visible but also accounts for the feeling of guilt that we have about these unconscious desires, even though we are not guilty of any crime† (Segal 59-60). Even more, Freud speculated that â€Å"Oedipus’ eagerness to punish himself, with no attempt at self-defense, corresponds to the inner conviction of guilt that stems from these unconscious desires† (60). Because Oedipus immediately set out to punish himself and find redemption for his actions, despite the fact that he did them in ignorance, then, suggests that in his subconscious, Oedipus did indeed have desires to kill his father and physically and sexually possess his mother. For, as Freud theorized, in his actions following his revelation, Oedipus confessed his own guilt. If, perhaps, Oedipus had sought to defend himself on the basis that he didn’t know his father and certainly had no affections for his mother, having grown up the adoptive son of another, the theme may then have been interpreted differently. However, as Freud was so certain, there is much to be said about the actions of Oedipus in correlation to the guilt he felt. The subconscious mind had a profound impact on Oedipus, even though he knew nothing of the birth parents he was prophesized to destroy. For Freud, the archetypal constructs of the Oedipus mythology was so absolute that he dubbed it the â€Å"‘Oedipus Complex’†¦[which] denotes each person’s attitudes and behavior in his or her most intimate family relationships, especially to mother and father†¦[and, to mature into a normal adult, the child] must somehow come to terms with the residue of repressed infantile hatred and desire for his or her parents† (Segal, 60). The Oedipus Complex, in modern psychology, is applied to the study of actions in relation to the subconscious desires that exist in every child. Even more, Freud’s theory has become common in the vernacular of psychology to the extent that scholars use the term, perhaps, without even grasping the full meaning behind the cleverly, yet aptly, named psychosis. The Oedipus Complex is based upon two main ideals: that of the matriarchal relationship to the child and the patriarchal relationship. The two are separated by this relationship and define the growth and development of the child. Moreover, â€Å"matriarchal culture is characterized by the emphasis on ties of blood, ties to the soil and the passive acceptance of all natural phenomena†¦[while a] patriarchal society in contrast is characterized by respect for man-made law, by the predominance of rational thought and by the effort to change natural phenomena by man† (Armens, viii). To better define the difference, â€Å"in the matriarchal concept all men are equal since they are all the children of mothers and each one a child of Mother Earth. A mother loves her children all alike and without (limiting) conditions†¦the aim of life is the happiness of man and there is nothing more important or dignified than human existence and life† (viii). In this, to draw a parallel back to Oedipus, the child has (whether he realizes or understands it) a desire to be with the woman who created him because of her earth-mother nature. The desire of every man is to be with a woman who understands everything and will love unconditionally—and that figure, from the start of life, happens to be the mother. However, â€Å"the patriarchal system, on the other hand, recognizes obedience to authority as its main virtue. The principle of equality is replaced by a hierarchical order in society and state, ruled by an authority just as the family is dominated by the father† (Armens, viii). It is because of this very concept that boys contain within them (whether known to the conscious mind or not) the desire to overthrow their father and become the leader of the hierarchy. More, men, by their very nature, contain the desire to become like their fathers, to achieve the power that they may possess, to be the biggest, strongest, fastest titan in the industry. With a full understanding of the Oedipus Complex, a final parallel can be drawn to the path of self-discovery that Oedipus’ entire life is consumed with. As Sophocles had directed, Oedipus â€Å"dramatizes the lonely path of self-discovery† (Segal, 13). And it is in this path that the true nature of Oedipus is revealed. For, the path that he must take is a perilous expedition, not only through the ascent of age, but in the self discovery that every man must achieve to live a fulfilling and successful life. However, it is on this path that Oedipus also meets the very destiny that his parents had hoped to terminate with their preemptive strike. In this, Oedipus is the â€Å"paradoxical combination of knowledge, power, and weakness† (13). He is strong as a king and husband, yet, when he learns the truth of his actions, he crumbles into a despair so deep that it consumes his entire life—and it isn’t a short one. Unequivocally, Sophocles began his thesis with the creation of Oedipus the King and introduced what would become one of the most profound archetypes in psychoanalysis. Throughout the trilogy, the archetypes that Sophocles presents â€Å"[become] a profound meditation on the questions of guilt and responsibility, the order (or disorder) of our world, and the nature of man† (Segal, 12). More, â€Å"the play stands with the Book of Job, Hamlet, and King Lear as one of Western literature’s most searching examinations of the problem of suffering† (12). In looking at the events that transpired throughout the three Theban plays, Sophocles’ main theme that, in any life, destiny and fate will create a man’s destiny; more, the gods have the divine right to tamper with a man’s destiny in the hopes that he will, one day, find redemption from his sins, is rendered by the Oedipus arch throughout the plays. Overall, the three Theban plays, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone, form the trilogy that founded the most profound archetype in literature and psychoanalysis. Sophocles created the character of Oedipus to highlight his theme of self-discovery and the path to redemption, making it clear that Oedipus, despite his ignorance, would repent until his final moments for his unforgivable sins. However, it is in those final moments that Oedipus finds true absolution and redemption for the subconscious guilt that placed the fantasy of patricide and incest into his desires. And, based upon a psychoanalytic perspective, the theory behind the Oedipus Complex renders the message and main theme of Sophocles’ Oedipus mythology. Works Cited. Armens, Sven. Archetypes of the Family in Literature. Seattle: University of Washington, 1966. Grene, David and Richmond Lattimore, Trns. The Complete Greek Tragedies, Vol II, Sophocles. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1959. Segal, Charles. Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1993. Watling, E. F. , Trns. The Theban Plays. Maryland: Penguin Books, 1947.

A visit to a bird sanctuary Essay

People often go to visit places of their interest like zoo , hill-stations, sea-shores etc. but our teacher one day made a plan to visit a Bird Sanctuary . It sounded quite thrilling to us because it was a very unusual type of visit . Of late I have been participating in the different nature related activities , quizzes, nature trails, poster competitions , walks , programmes etc. so I got selected for the visit . I was overjoyed and felt on top of the world as it was going to be a completely different experience for us . On 5th November ,2012 at 7 am we were to meet at the school premises from where it was over to our teacher . About after forty minutes drive we were at the â€Å"CHINTAMANI KAR BIRD SANCTUARY† in Narendrapur , Kolkata .It Is one of the most oldest Bird sanctuaries in Kolkata and situated away from the hustle and bustle of the city . As we entered the sanctuary the pristine greenery of the place made us speechless because in cities only we can see the highrise s,malls,multiplexes and lots of vehicles running everywhere . The huge trees , the dense foliage and the silence thrilled us all. We were filled with inquisitiveness and the strong desire to explore . Slowly we were escorted into the sanctuary and then it was never before . Beautiful trees , creepers , canopies, different variety of Butterflies , Moths, Birds ,Squirrels and other beauties of nature greeted us . As we headed inside , we got the glimpses of a Black Drongo , some Red – Vented Bulbuls , a Black –Headed Oreol ,Purple Heron , Common Sparrows , Cormorants etc. Our teacher spotted the common Kingfisher targeting his breakfast delights . The interior of the sanctuary resembled dense forest . After exploring the sanctuary we realised how beautiful nature is and what I had been missing .There was also a small lake which was centrally located . There in the lake were Lesser Whistling Ducks , Pochards and other aquatic birds. Soon it was time to return . We came back to school with the fond memories of the visit . The visit to the sanctuary was not only a new experience for us but also very enriching . Some experiences are like waves which come and pass by but some leave an indelible mark on our minds and my experience of the visit is one of them. I would like to thank our school for providing us such good opportunities and hope to have some more like this in near future.

Motivation Factors at Tesco Essay

The history of labour relations in the UK is a story of the gradual empowerment of the working classes. The system of industrial relations in the United Kingdom (UK) is traditionally characterised by voluntary relations between the social partners, with a minimal level of interference from the state. In the context of very early industrialisation and a liberal political culture in which the state seldom intervened in the affairs of private actors, trade unions gradually consolidated their membership and power base throughout the 19th century. Various legislative developments also allowed trade unions the right to organise workers and engage in industrial action. In 1868, the UK Trades Union Congress (TUC), the confederal umbrella body for UK trade unions, was formed. The 1871 Trade Union Act recognised trade unions as legal entities as corporations and granted them the right to strike. Subsequently, the 1875 Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act allowed the right to peaceful picketing, while the 1906 Trade Disputes Act allowed UK trade unions to engage in industrial action without the threat of being sued for damages. In addition to this body of legislation, a minimal level of legal regulation that stipulated basic health and safety conditions in workplaces was also built up during the 19th century. The economic context throughout this time was also favourable to the development of trade unionism. Owing to the pace of industrialisation and the existence of substantial colonial markets for UK industry, the 19th century and early 20th century were characterised by extensive economic growth. This economic climate facilitated the development of a system in which some of the fruits of economic development could be designated for collectively bargained wage increases. In terms of the role of the law, collective bargaining was far more important than the influence of legal regulation. For employers and trade unions, the role of statute law was to support and extend collective bargaining rather than to comprehensively regulate the system. Notably, the law provided trade unions with a series of ‘immunities’ from UK common law. These immunities covered the right of trade unions to engage in industrial action with employers, which would otherwise have been illegal under UK common law. The membership of UK trade unions grew markedly in the post-war years. The era also represented the golden age of British ‘pluralism’, where the role of trade unions in securing industrial peace and efficiency was emphasised. In the private and public sectors, sectoral level collective agreements were also typically reached that covered whole industries. By the late 1960s, however, concerns emerged about the efficacy of a system in which shop floor industrial unrest appeared to be rising. This led to the Donovan Commission, a government commission that attempted to investigate the causes of workplace disputes. Industrial conflict grew markedly in the 1970s, partly as a result of the economic crisis that affected western countries after the 1973 ‘oil shock’. The era was characterised by trade union militancy and high levels of industrial action, and attempts by successive left-wing and right-wing governments to regulate the system largely met with failure. The period culminated in the 1978–1979 ‘winter of discontent’, where public sector trade unions engaged in regular and lengthy industrial action over the incumbent Labour government’s policy of public sector pay restraint. A conservative government, led by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was elected in 1979 on an anti-trade union, neo-liberal platform. Successive governments of this political stripe pursued a legislative programme that placed legal restrictions on trade unions’ ability to engage in industrial action, and that privatised many areas of the public sector, while managing the public sector in an anti-union fashion. During this period, trade union membership also declined markedly, and the majority of sectoral collective agreements in the private sector were dismantled as companies abandoned them. A ‘New Labour’ government, led by Prime Minister Tony Blair, was elected in 1997, offering a moderately conciliatory approach to the trade unions. The cornerstone of the Blair government’s approach to employment relations was the use of legal individual employment rights to protect workers. Most notably, a national minimum wage was introduced. Many of these legal rights emanated from the level of European Union, and the post-1997 period saw a marked increase in the influence of legal regulation in the employment relationship. Nonetheless, trade union membership continued to decline, and in 2008 trade union density stood at 28%. As of 2009, the UK system of industrial relations would appear to exhibit a mixture of  characteristics. While the old tradition of the state not intervening in relations between the social partners is still manifest in the non-legally binding nature of collective agreements and in the fact that trade unions and employer organisations have little statutory involvement in public policy and little recourse to bipartite or tripartite forums at the national level, legally established employment rights would now appear to be a permanent feature of the UK system. The global 2008 economic crisis has particularly affected the UK. Unemployment rates have increased markedly, and several financial institutions have had to be rescued by the UK government. As of 2009, the effect of the crisis on the development of the UK system of industrial relations is unclear. Trade unions have responded to the crisis by calling for greater government intervention to support employment levels. At the same time, collective agreements have been concluded by the UK social partners at company level with the aim of reducing working time in order to preserve employment levels (UK0811029I). However, as of 2009, it is too early to identify any concrete trends. Main actors Trade unions Trade union density has fallen markedly in the UK since a peak of 56.3% in 1980. Despite occasional small rises in membership since 1997, statistics over the past decade would suggest that union density has reached one of its lowest levels at just under 30%. A large difference in trade union density rates is evident between the private and public sectors. As of 2008, trade union density in the private sector was 16.1%, while it reached 59% in the public sector (Department for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform, 2008). Trade unions in the UK are organised both horizontally and vertically, with some organising particular occupations, such as teachers; others organise in particular industries, while a few operate in particular companies. The sole trade union confederation in the UK is the TUC. There are 6, 471,030 members in TUC affiliated unions, down from a peak of 12,172,508 members in 1980. However, the TUC does not conclude or have the power to conclude collective agreements at any level. In response to declining membership figures, UK trade unions have engaged in many mergers in recent years. In 2008, there were 167 trade unions in the UK – this was down from 238 unions in 1998 and 326 in 1988. In 2007, the UK trade unions Amicus and the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) merged to form Unite the Union (Unite). This is the UK’s largest union, with a membership of about 1,900,000 workers. The largest public sector trade union is Unison, which has a membership of 1,344,000 persons and organises workers in all areas of the public sector. Employer organisations The TUC is paralleled on the employers’ side by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Like the TUC, the CBI has no mandate to collectively bargain and bind its affiliates. In general, the CBI represents large companies in the private sector and is regarded by the government as its main interlocutor with business. Its members comprise individual companies (currently about 3,000) and trade associations (around 150). Owing to the largely decentralised nature of employment relations in the UK, the role of employer organisations in the country’s industrial relations is not overtly prominent. Their role in collective bargaining declined notably during the 1980s, when many existing national sectoral level agreements ceased to function and companies began to negotiate with trade unions at lower levels. Some organisations have disbanded, while others have stopped trying to regulate employment conditions. Current employer organisations that do engage in social and employment affairs are the Engineering Employers’ Federation (EEF) and the Local Government Association (LGA). Employer organisation density in the UK is approximately 40%. Industrial relations Collective bargaining In the UK, the dominant level for the setting of pay and working time is the company or plant level in the private sector. In areas of the public sector – and in a small section of the private sector – sectoral level agreements are concluded. There are no national intersectoral agreements in the UK, nor  is there any tradition of this, aside from a very brief period in the 1970s. In 2008, the coverage rate of collective agreements in the UK was 34.6%. There is a large discrepancy between figures for the public and private sectors, with collective bargaining coverage for the public sector reaching 72% in 2008, compared with 20% for the private sector (Department for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform, 2008). Compared with other west European countries, the UK is notable for the disorganised nature of its levels of collective bargaining and the lack of legal backing and promotion that collective agreements are subject to. In line with the UK voluntarist tradition, collective agreements are voluntary instruments that are ‘binding in honour only’. However, the terms of collective agreements are normally incorporated into individual contracts of employment that are then legally enforceable. Collective agreements are subsequently never extended by legislation, and there are no voluntary mechanisms for the extension of collective agreements. Moreover, no formal mechanisms exist for the coordination of wage bargaining levels in the UK. However, in practice, trade unions in different companies and sectors often share information with one another, and agreements in certain companies and sectors often act as informal ‘benchmarks’ for negotiators in other areas. Collective bargaining in the UK has become far more decentralised since the 1970s and 1980s. In this period, many companies in the private sector left sectoral agreements and, in the public sector, collective bargaining also became more decentralised. According to one study (Visser, 2004), the degree of bargaining centralisation in the UK stands at just 13%. Other issues in collective agreements Collective agreements on issues besides pay and working time are not widespread. While vocational education and training is strong in some professional and technical sectors, it has been historically weak in others. Recent attempts have been made to regularise vocational training through National Vocational Qualifications, and these have been supplemented by further moves to establish lifelong learning routes – especially through the  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœuniversity for industry’ initiative. However, much of the provision of skills training is decentralised to the newly formed Sector Skills Councils (SSC). Currently, there are 25 SSCs in the UK; all of the councils are employer-led, independent organisations, each covering a specific area of the UK. Industrial conflict The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) is the main body involved in conciliation and arbitration in the UK. It is an autonomous, tripartite body established by statute and its task is to improve industrial relations. The largest part of ACAS’s work is individual conciliation. The amount of individual litigations and employment tribunal cases has increased considerably within the UK in the past decade or so. Arbitration is a relatively small part of its work, mainly because it has no powers to arbitrate without the consent of both sides. Arbitration is neither compulsory nor legally binding. The latest available official statistics show that, in a 12-month period to October 2008, some 147 work stoppages were recorded, in which 677,000 workers took part and 837,700 working days were lost. This marked a decline from the figures for the 12 months until October 2007, where 210 stoppages were recorded, involving 878,000 workers and resulting in 989,000 lost working days. These figures are also historically very low. In 1988, for example, there were 781 stoppages recorded, in which 790,000 workers were involved and 3,702,000 working days were lost. The figures for this year also represent a typical year for this period. The general decline in labour disputes in the UK is likely to be attributable to falling trade union density rates, and to the anti-union laws of the 1980s and 1990s. In 2008, large industrial actions occurred in the UK public sector over the government’s policy on public sector pay restraint. More complete statistics are available for 2007 regarding the sectors involved in strikes. In 2007, of the 142 stoppages recorded, 55 occurred in the transport, storage and communication sector, while 21 took place in the education sector, and 20  were recorded in public administration, defence and the compulsory social security sector, making these the three sectors most affected by strikes during the year. These sectors were also the most adversely affected in terms of working days lost and workers involved (Office for National Statistics, 2008a). Tripartite concertation Owing to the UK voluntarist tradition, policy concertation has been uncommon, and there are currently few formal mechanisms or forums for tripartite concertation in this country. From 1962, a tripartite National Economic Development Council existed, in which the government and UK social partners discussed economic policy; however, this was abolished in 1992. In the late 1970s, consultation between government, employers and trade unions was also growing in importance. However, the Thatcher government, which was elected in 1979, sought to eradicate any forms of corporatism. Since then, tripartism or corporatism has not been re-introduced on a comprehensive or formal basis. However, the UK social partners are regularly consulted by the public authorities on the direction of public policy in the country on an ad hoc basis; they are also represented in a series of committees that are of a tripartite nature. For example, the social partners are represented on the Low Pay Commission (LPC), an independent UK body that issues recommendations for increases in the national minimum wage. The LPC board consists of nine members – three trade union representatives, three employers and three labour market relations experts. At the sectoral level, the UK social partners are involved in the aforementioned SSCs, which seek to improve the skills of workers in the UK. Workplace representation Traditionally, there have been no statutory works councils in the UK. In line with the voluntarist tradition, workplace representation was solely achieved through trade union presence in the workplace and was not enshrined through the law. As previously mentioned, a considerable decline in trade union presence and power has occurred in the UK over the last 25 years. In 2008,  46.6% of workplaces had some sort of trade union representation (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, 2008). The EU information and consultation Directive of 2002 (Directive 2002/14/EC) was implemented in the UK in 2004 as the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations. The regulations lay down statutory procedures for workplace representation, and stipulate that workplaces with 50 or more employees must have a body for the information and consultation of employees in place. Employee rights Employee rights are enforced in the UK through a variety of mechanisms. Firstly, employees have access to employment tribunals that determine whether the rights of employees have been infringed. Trade unions are responsible for the monitoring of collective agreements, and the right of trade unions to engage in strike action is decided by the UK civil courts. Health and safety conditions in workplaces are monitored by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), while compliance with the national minimum wage is monitored by the country’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) department. Pay and working time developments Minimum wage A national minimum wage has been in place in the UK since 1997. The rate is set by the LPC, which advises the government on low pay and recommends appropriate rates. The current minimum wage in the UK – as set in October 2008 – for adults aged 22 years or older is GBP 5.52 (about â‚ ¬6.38 as at 7 July 2009) an hour. For workers aged between 18 and 21 years, the minimum wage is GBP 4.77 (â‚ ¬5.52) an hour. The minimum hourly wage for all workers under 18 years of age – who are, in addition, no longer of compulsory school age – is GBP 3.53 (â‚ ¬4.08). Some workers undertaking apprenticeships or accredited training may not be considered eligible to receive the national minimum wage for a certain period of time, which varies according to their age and length of time in employment. Other categories of workers who are exempt include au pairs, share fishermen, members of the clergy, those in the armed forces, prisoners and some people working in family businesses.  Moreover, the rate payable under the national minimum wage can, in all cases, be reduced where accommodation is provided to the worker. Pay developments In April 2008, the average gross annual earnings in the UK were GBP 25,100. In April 2007, the equivalent figure was GBP 24,020 (Income Data Services, 2008). An increase of 4.5% was therefore recorded. In November 2008, the percentage annual rise in collectively agreed average weekly earnings was 3.8%. In November 2007, this figure amounted to 3.4% (Labour Research Department, 2009). In terms of gender, the average gender pay gap in the UK in 2008 was 12.8%. This gap is measured in the UK on the basis of median hourly earnings, excluding overtime. In 2008, median hourly earnings excluding overtime for men was GBP 12.50, and for women GBP 10.91. Between 2007 and 2008, the gender pay gap in the UK rose by 0.3 percentage points from 12.5% to 12.8%. However, the gender pay gap stood at 17.4% in 1998, so the figure has substantially fallen over the last decade.

Organizational Development & Human Resources Term Paper

Organizational Development & Human Resources - Term Paper Example As such, the topics which will be analyzed relate to performance evaluations, successful management, treatment of difficult situations, and issues relating to recruiting and compensation. The first concept that this student would like to discuss relates to the issue of performance evaluations. Whereas the performance evaluation is an oft dreaded part of many jobs, the key concepts that were learned within the class helped this student to approach the issue with a new mindset. The fact of the matter is that performance reviews are not in and of themselves a negative; rather, employees have been conditioned to think so due to a number of factors. The first and most prescient of these, as has been demonstrated within class, is the fact that the performance review process is often ignored up until the very last minute. In this way, the employee oftentimes has positively no indication of how their performance has been gauged for the entirety of the period in question. Accordingly, what th is affects is a situation in which dread is the primary emotion with which the employee greets the process (Muller 2009). However, as the readings and course work have demonstrated, a far superior model whereby to engage employee and/or shareholder buy in within such a process is to make the entire performance review process something that is straightforward, clearly enumerated, and transparent. In this way, the element of the unknown is removed as the employee is able to engage with the employer (and vice versa) as a means of understanding the extent to which obligations, goals, and metrics were met during the period in question. Rather than seeking to fundamentally redefine the performance review process, the best model of improvement is contingent upon all parties involved keeping clear lines of communication open throughout the period so that when the review comes up, no clarifications will be necessitated. The role of management within a given firm or organization is a topic th at has encouraged a great many professionals and writers to expound upon better and more sophisticated models. Yet, as has been learned within this particular class, there is not a definitive definition of correct management; rather, there is a litany of examples of incorrect management. Such is the case due to the fact that the field of management and managerial practice is so broad and nuanced as a result of the host of different personalities that different managers bring to the process. Moreover, the fact that there are clearly discernible incorrect management practices is more helpful in guiding and directing the practitioner towards methods and applications that would minimize these incorrect practices and steer the process back towards a more appropriate direction. By means of understanding this, the reader/researcher and/or student can and should understand that although a litany of best practices are existent within the realm of management, the best method of directing the proper application thereof within the current workplace is to ensure that the smaller subset of negative management practices are avoided at all costs. These include but are not limited to: micromanagement, hands off approaches, the development of non-professional employee-boss relationships, unhealthy power dynamics, and many, many others. As a way of being mindful and understanding

Women and Science in the southern African Development Region (SADC) Essay

Women and Science in the southern African Development Region (SADC) - Essay Example Then it discusses how UNESCO and SADC are working constantly to promote women of Southern African regions to get educated with scientific knowledge and play a role in scientific development like other women from developed countries. Women and Science in the southern African Development Region (SADC) Previously, it was very firm believe, especially in Asian countries, that women are inferior to men. They have to look after the daily chores while man is the sole earner and he is the one responsible for every major thing. As time evolved, the perception remained same with man now being an executive and women a secretary, or same in every field. The revolution and change of perception took place by the end of 18th century, when women started contributing in medicine, physics, geography and other fields and this period was referred as ‘the enlightment’. When Salon culture in Europe was changing, there were times when political, economical and social views discussed had opinio ns of women too (Sheffield, 2006) Even now that women graduates are more in number than male, the representation of women in business fields and especially scientific fields is very low. There are two reasons for such low representation. First, women already have too much to cater to that they can’t get into fields that need a lot of work and research. Secondly, even if they want to get in, they don’t get decent post. Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. She won the similar title, a second noble prize in 1911 for her work on radiation. For those women who don’t follow their passion and end up living the usual lifestyle, she says: â€Å"I have frequently been questioned, especially by women, of how I could reconcile family life with a scientific career. Well, it has not been easy. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.† While Carl Friedrich Gauss, famous for his Gaussian m ethod and other mathematical applications, talks about women not getting reputable posts in scientific field and motivates them by saying: â€Å"The enchanting charms of this sublime science reveal only to those who have the courage to go deeply into it. But when a woman, who because of her sex and our prejudices encounters infinitely more obstacles that a man in familiarizing herself with complicated problems, succeeds nevertheless in surmounting these obstacles and penetrating the most obscure parts of them, without doubt she must have the noblest courage, quite extraordinary talents and superior genius.† (Ogilvie, 2004) Since 18th century, many women have followed their passion in developing and extending the scientific borders. 19th century was an amateur period with few noticeable names while 20th century included significant work by Marie Curie and Lise Meitner (discovery of nuclear fission). There work set basics for further research. Inclusion of women in scientific f ield was further made possible by efforts of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization) and by SADC (Southern African Development Community) which will be discussed below. (Marelene F. Rayner-Canham, 1997). UNESCO's Recommendations about "Women and Science" Although women have excelled in business fields, there still remain many where they are not given equal rights such as aerospace and flying, engineering and scientific research. Science is a field full of ideas and innovation and leaving this highly capable gender behind means losing high potential and ideas that can change the world. Therefore, gender equality and representation of women in scientific field is very important. Although different countries are giving attention to this issue, UNESCO formally organized the World Science Conference in 1999

Clinical Supervision Importance in Practices Nursing Essay

Clinical Supervision Importance in Practices Nursing - Essay Example As nurses, we play a big role which ensures those patients are cared for and receives quality medical health care. Clinical supervision provides the possibility of bringing about change in this process. The objective of this paper is to provide a reflection of my own performance as a clinical supervisor to a peer colleague and recommend a future developmental need that I might have worked as a clinical supervisor. My reflective report will be based on John Driscoll’s model of structured reflection. I will use the model as a guide to assist me reflects upon significant events in my most recent clinical supervision. I decided to choose this model since I found it most relevant to my reflective style. The model provided me with a good guideline of potential questions, such as the what? So what? and now what? which influenced my flow of thought without having to map out the entire reflective process. In the reflective report, I will provide a descriptive account of events at my wo rkplace, analysis of the behavior and emotional context and conclude with a feasible action plan summarizing my future developmental needs as a clinical supervisor might be met. In conformity with the NMC code of conduct, confidentiality will be maintained throughout the essay. What is clinical supervision? Research reveals that clinical supervision is an aspect that affects all practicing nurses. However, it has often been regarded as something new, since its application began in the early 1990s with the support of Nursing and Midwifery. Since then, the concept has evolved and is being adopted in all the fields of healthcare and its allied world such as psychiatry, physiotherapy, and counseling (Jones 2003, 224-228). Brunero and Stein-Parbury (2010, p.87) defines clinical supervision as the processes of professional support and learning where nurses are assisted in developing their practice through regular discussion time with knowledgeable and experienced colleagues. Fowler (1996, p.27) notes that during clinical supervision, nurses engage in reflection processes in order to be able to identify and meet their need for professional development. According to Van Ooijen 2000, p.14-16) the purpose of clinical supervision is to improve nursing practice and as such needs to be focused on nurse-patient interaction. Canham & Bennet (2008, p. 63) support this arguing that the essence of clinical supervision is the support and the development of the nurse.

Law - Law of Tort Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Law - Law of Tort - Essay Example The law is also concerned with the option of transferring blame. This implies that using the law blames can be transferred to another person or party. Tort law therefore provides remedies to an individual or a party for losses suffered due unreasonable actions of another person or party. There are two categories of tort laws and they are concerned with suits that are aimed at protecting an individual’s privacy against any violation. Negligence and intentional are the two basic categories or torts and they signify the main tort claims made in most civil courts (Yeats, Giliker & Luckham, 2005). From the given scenario, Charles a freelance photographer sneaks into Bertram compound without his knowledge and proceed to takes his nude photograph. Charles was able to gain access to the highly restricted compound through Desdemona’s assistance. Later a market researcher named Alex tries to have an interview with Bertram in his house without his content. Bertram denies him a cha nce for an interview based on the warning sign at his drive. In particular, the sign states that any trespasser will be prosecuted. Bertram go ahead and caries the market researcher to the drive although he had proved his identity. According occupier’s liability act of 1984, Alex Charles and Desdemona, violated Bertram’s right to privacy on the other hand Bertram violated Alex’s rights by carrying him forcefully. ... Firstly, Bertram is a billionaire who believes that he should have a private life free from any intruder. He has gone to an extent of placing a sign at his drive indicating that all trespassers will be prosecuted. As an ordinary person, Bertram is entitled to privacy according to the law and therefore any trespassing is a violation of his rights (Yeats, Giliker, Luckham, 2005). Secondly, his house is a private property and therefore he has the right to allow accept or reject visitors accordingly. Concerning the two unauthorized visitors to Bertram’s compound, Charles has a more serious case to answer according to tort law. Although he is a journalist, he needed endorsement before gaining access to Bertram’s compound. In addition, Charles took unauthorized photographs in two separate occasions and this proves that his acts were intentional. Charles not only intentionally took unauthorized photograph of Bertram and his compound but he took nude photographs of the complain ant. These activities are intentional and therefore Bertram has legal claims according to the tort law. Basing on those arguments Bertram can proceed to make a legal suit against the trespassers; however, he should make his claims with caution in order to attract the relevant remedies. He has to be aware of the possible claims that Charles can present in the courtroom in defence of his action. Charles can base his counterclaims on the requirements of his career as a journalist. From this basis, Charles can claim that as a journalist, his work serves the public and therefore he needs to cover events that are of public interest. He can therefore claim that the highly restricted Bertram’s compound is of public interest and therefore he should have some legal protections against any legal suit that

Able Tool Corporation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Able Tool Corporation - Case Study Example Since its incorporation the company’s mission statement is that of a genuine commitment to on-time delivery, quality pricing, excellent service and reliability. The company is dedicated to give its customers the best price and timely delivery. In 1987, the company relocated to Ohio. In 1990, Able Tool Company bought the Gilman Company of Ohio in order to broaden its capabilities. The ability of the firm to serve a wide variety of customers is what has seen this company through this volatile industry and a un- predictable market. The PEPT (Portable Electric Power Tools) Industry that able corporation operates is collectively affected by economic variables like general taxation interest rates as well as inflationary variables. General economic indicators such as interest, foreign exchange and inflation rates have always affected the power tool market since these variables greatly affect disposable income that is a very crucial determining factor for the construction and or renov ation of houses or residential estates. Due to high interest rates in the United States, the housing market has continued to decline since 2004, this has greatly affected the power tool market as well as the general cost of houses rising by about 2.8% annually. Apart from the interest rates, foreign exchange rates also affect the operations of the companies in this industry including companies like Milwaukee Electricity Company. Exchange rates affect the sales of the industry since a substantial proportion of these companies sales are in overseas markets. The explicit and underlying costs of housing starts are very crucial to the advancement of this industry. Currently due to high interest rates compounded by high costs of mortgages for the last four years, the demand for portable electric power tools has been on the decline. To compound this situation due to increasing inflation the industry has had to increase moderately the price of their products. According to market analysts, this has led to the increased cost of setting up residential and commercial properties. This in turn has shied of prospective investors in the industry. This in turn has caused some of the industry players to relocate their firms especially in Asia where the cost of production is cheap. By doing this these firms have been able to import back the same products into the American market at a more cheap price. The increased cost of environmental protection, especially through the sale of pollution rights, has led to increased operational costs within the industry that have further caused them to increase their commodity prices. Concerns of air pollution, water pollution and land contamination have been highly emphasized by western countries to a point that many industry players have been forced to relocate to India and china, where environmental protection policies have not been highly emphasized. Incases where the parent company does not relocate, most commonly the firms have relocated production plants either to Asia or Latin America. CONCLUSION: The portable electric power tools industry has been faced with many challenges. However, due to a booming world economy buoyed by among others a more than 5% economic growth rate in many newly industrialized countries, the industry has been able to source new markets especially in china. REFERENCES: www.abletool.com www.free-press-release.com/news/200704/1177416298.html www.ibisworld.com.au/industry/default.aspx www.strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inimr-ri3.nsf/en/gr-92637e.html

Equinox Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Equinox Company - Essay Example This implies that a firm must be accountable for the negative effects of its operations on its stakeholders. A reporting entity is an organization that collects analyses and gives a report pertaining to the financial information. Equinox Company is a corporation dealing with stipulation of credit ratings for various companies for the purpose of financial analysis and assessment. It was started in the year 1899, and it has served over four hundred companies. It is situated in Atlanta in Georgia. This company has played a major role in the corporate world by securing jobs for more than seven thousand employees. This company is committed to safeguarding the environment from pollution from its own economic activities. This company is known to incorporate its stockholders in decision making process. This gives the community a chance to give credible contribution with regard to the company’s social responsibility. Activities of Equinox Company Ltd The activities of this company are many given its competitive advantage as a reporting entity. The entity provides credit reports to customers on demand. This enables various consumers to access financial aid by use of their financial credit status. Moreover, this serves a sales and marketing technique because a financially stable enterprise is considered favorable. It also carries out investigations on errand companies on request by state agencies and criminal investigation agencies. They give assurance to potential investors of some companies with an aim of encouraging investment in these entities. Provision of credit ratings of companies that are subject to syndicates in order to obtain concrete facts with regard to the liability of these companies. It contributes in the market liberalization as it reveals to the public some crucial information with regard to the credit worthiness of many companies hence enabling consumers to make informed decisions. It also performs audit for companies on ad hoc basis. This gives the stakeholders of the companies concerned an assurance of the safety of their resources. Equinox Company also provides reports to Insurance companies on demand. This helps the insurance companies to make informed decisions before accepting to cover risks of its prospective clients. It also sells credit reports in its possession to many industries of diverse types of businesses. It also sells sophisticated software for effective and efficient credit rating of a client. This entity provides population data to the demographic department. This enhances quick financial decision making with regard to the available resources. It provides non-financial data to its clients. This enables it to have a wide customer base hence high level of annual revenue. Furthermore, the company provides theft and fraud prevention products which help in keeping the levels of criminal activities in the business enterprises. Equinox Company corporate Social Responsibility It provides all the people with a si ngle free credit file which helps in the personal financial analysis and assessment. This sparks investments in various projects because a high portion of the population is aware of their financial abilities. The firm practices strategic corporate social responsibility which enables it to identify specific social concerns to be solved. The management of the company always incorporates the input of all stakeholders in decision making. This provides an opportunity to the members of the society to give substantial feedback with regard to corporate social responsibility. Investors have cited the corporate social responsiveness of the company as the major competitive advantage. This initiative has been hailed as a source of motivation and sense of belonging

Macroeconomics In Healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Macroeconomics In Healthcare - Essay Example It is estimated that the global community currently provides roughly $2 billion per year to health in the poorest countries. For the poorest economies, spending does appear to make a difference. Gro Harlem Bruntland, Director General of the World Health Organization, believes that â€Å"health has a central role in the world economy. Yet, few finance officials and development economists have so far explored the potential importance of health investment as an instrument for reducing poverty† (Ivinson551). Improved health is potentially advantageous to poor economies. Increased life expectancy can lead to increased productivity and economic stability for many poor families, assuming that opportunities for work and education are readily available. However, in some of the poorest economies, opportunity for increased income from work is very limited. In some areas, basic infrastructure such as roads, utilities and means for production does not exist. Often political corruption prev ents those who are healthy and physically able to work for many years from realizing their true income potential. Even relocation to areas with more work opportunities are difficult with limited income and few safe roads. In those areas, it is a combination of increased spending on health care, increased development of infrastructure and acitivities which remove or reduce corruption that must take place simultaneously for the poorest economies to benefit overall. Improved health care alone will not bring about much change in economic conditions.

Republic Plato Essay Example for Free

Republic Plato Essay A noble lie is necessary for smooth and peaceful governance. In Republic, Plato offers a wide account that seeks to justify the use of lies among the societal elite. Using the example of a stratified society that is made up of rulers, auxiliaries, and farmers, Plato emphasizes that a society needs these clear strata for a peaceful co-existence. However, this stratification needs to be solidified and justified by a pack of lies which he calls, The Noble Lie. For instance, the people need to be assured that these strata are not as a result of forces within their control but it is the will of God that demands so. It is the will of God that intervenes during birth; so that some people are born with gold entrenched in their souls, others with silver, and others with iron. Apparently, those born with gold make the rulers’ class while the silvers are the auxiliaries and those born with iron are the farmers’. It was believed that if the rulers sired children with silver or even iron they would definitely relinquish their rulers’ status and take the auxiliaries or the framers status depending on the metal in their souls. The same case applied to those in the auxiliary and farmers’ category that were with gold – they would be promoted to the rulers’ class. To mitigate such scenarios, it was also believed that people from different metal classes should not intermarry – marriage was strictly within the same classes (Pangle, 1988). Fundamentally, the noble lie is comparatively similar with the contemporary religion given that they all aim at piecing the society together so as to avoid unnecessary wrangles. Religion, like the noble lie seeks to instill a sense of confidence and trust in the supreme deity who is conventionally believed to be responsible for all issues affecting human kind. Though the myth is a work of fiction from a fertile mind, it succeeds in hammering home its message. The noble message is that human beings cannot be morally and socially equal; some will be rulers while others will be the servants to the rulers. Perhaps Plato’s decision to use noble lie was informed by his conviction that not many people in the society are capable of making good leaders, given that good leaders are expected to make smart decisions. Apparently, those smart decisions need to be laced with â€Å"necessary lies† capable of holding the society together even in the thick of temptations (Pangle, 1988). A good example of noble lies applied in contemporary governance matters is the Iraqi invasion by the western world led by the United States and United Kingdom. Ideally, both President Bush and Prime Minister Blair administrations used the noble lie(s) to drum support from the public that indeed an Iraqi invasion was justified. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Americans developed a feeling that terrorism needed to be fought even no matter the consequences. On the other hand, the British public like very many others at the time, particularly non-Muslims had great fears on Saddam developing weapons of mass destruction. These situations provided the best opportunities for the Bush and Blair Governments. For instance, it was very easy for the Bush administration to tie up a few truths (fighting terrorism) with the big lie, that Saddam Hussein was giving refuge to terrorists to justify an invasion. On the other hand, Blair had an easy time convincing the British public that invading Iraq would rid Saddam Hussein of the deadly weapons of mass destruction. Both lies were indeed â€Å"noble† given that they were based on the notion that a toppled Saddam Hussein leadership would create a peaceful world to live in (Postel, 2003). The main reasoning behind Plato’s conception of a stratified society is that a society needed all categories of people for it to be productive. Leaders provided ideas responsible for holding the society together while the auxiliaries provided the critical guarding services to critical personalities and places, with the farmers providing the menial labor for various activities. To him, the lie did not matter or even loose morality given that people believed that their â€Å"God† was responsible for putting a different metal in each individual’s soul and bloodstreams before s/he was born. If the people believed, just as religion demands of them in God then the society will be more governable in a â€Å"just† manner (Mason, 2004). Similar sentiments are shared by Pfaff (2003), when he argues â€Å"that the essential truths about society and history should be held by an elite, and withheld from others who lack the fortitude to deal with truth. Society, Strauss thought, needs consoling lies. † Ideally, this was a conviction based on the notion that the auxiliaries and farmers alike were not fit to enjoy explicit freedom or even capable of cushioning the potential shocks in the event they were told the â€Å"truths. † Or even as Urdaibay (1) asserts, There are different kinds of truths for different kinds of people. There are truths appropriate for children; truths that are appropriate for students; truths that are appropriate for educated adults; and truths that are appropriate for highly educated adults, and the notion that there should be one set of truths available to everyone is a modern democratic fallacy [that] †¦ doesnt work. After all, Plato reasoned that any attempts to tell them the truth would be an exercise in futility as they would not understand the gist of any truths given that their iron coated souls and bloodstreams undermined their potential for grasping truthful things – they could only understand lies which were laced with some elements of nobility. It is only to assert that if they realize the truth behind the laws of nature that are taught to them that, â€Å"the right of the superior to rule over the inferior, the master over the slave, the husband over the wife, and the wise few over the vulgar many† they will definitely revolt against the set social norms and order (Mason 2004). In fact, those rulers should be those people who know and acknowledge that there is no morality or ethics, and that oppression should be applied among the masses to ensure no one challenged the big lie. Strauss galvanizes this argument by asserting that, people should not told about such fundamental truths and that selective teaching should be encouraged in order to keep the masses within the limits of noble lie(s). And that the masses need not be taught beyond what they ought to know (Postel 2003). Work Cited Mason, John, G. Leo Strauss and the Noble Lie: The Neo-Cons at War. Available at: http://www. logosjournal. com/mason. htm/ accessed on July 24, 2010. Pangle, Thomas, Ed. The laws of Plato by Plato. University of Chicago Press, 1988. Pfaff, William. â€Å"The Long Reach of Leo Strauss,† Op-Ed, International Herald Tribune, May 15, 2003. Postel, Danny. Noble lies and perpetual war: Leo Strauss, the neo-cons, and Iraq, October 16, 2003. Available at: http://www. opendemocracy. net/debates/ accessed on July 24, 2010. Urdaibay, Alan. Atheism Central for Secondary Schools, 1999. Available at; http://www. eclispe. co. uk/thoughts/noblelie. htm/ accessed on July 24, 2010.

The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Discuss the importance of London in the novel Essay Example for Free

The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Discuss the importance of London in the novel Essay In this novel there are several themes, however the theme of London is one of which is key importance and significance. London is the setting of the story, and to an extent it is the foundation or basis from which the rest of the story evolves. The focus of the story is on the duality of Jekyll and Hyde. Jekyll represents the everyday rational thinking, well-mannered, respectable middle class citizen. However, Hyde represents and symbolises the inner side to most humans, he is the evil inside of Jekyll. I noticed that there were hints to this at various stages in the novel, however I believe a key one is on page 31 where it says, Now that the evil influence had been withdrawn, a new life began for Dr Jekyll. This phrase gives emphasis to the facts the Jekyll is also Hyde, but at the same time showing their differences. Even though they are physically the same person they are two separate entities. This is a connective to the theme of London as this city is one of which has respect both internally and externally of Britain, in the Victorian day and age. This refers to the figure of reputable Dr Jekyll. None the less London also has the element of being a ruff, dangerous and gloomy city that symbolises the evilness of Mr Hyde. Due to the fact that Jekyll is seen to be respectable, well liked and warming we never really look for the Hyde beneath his surface. Hence we do not try to find the evil in something, which seems so indefinably good. Again this is relative to London because when people visit London they go to the nice, indulging places and do not see the grim side of things. London is used as a foundation to the novel as is enables readers to feel a sense of emotion, tension and tone. This builds up the atmosphere and we get a feel for the mood and characters feelings as a result, for example on page 23 it says, The dismal quarter of Soho seen under these changing glimpses like a district of some city in a nightmare. This gives the reader a chilling affect and allows them to almost feel as though they are present. This is a reflection on the dark and grim side of this huge city. A quote which shows Dr Jekyll had a reasonably good standard of living comes from page 16, Round the corner from the bystreet, there was a square of ancient handsome houses a little further on it continues at the door of this, which wore a great air of wealth and comfort. This builds up Jekylls profile before we are even introduced to him as a character and puts into our minds that this is a man who is known only for good. From this we can see that you are partly judged and viewed on your assets and the location in which you live. Another reason why London is so essential to the reader is given a profile partly due to the way the environment looks. For example; the difference in the appearance of buildings in London helps to create an idea of what a specific place is like. I.e. the Victorian London with two very different sides. This once again relates back to the idea that London symbolises the characters of Jekyll and Hyde. Jekyll is supposedly has decent looks whilst Hyde is defined as being pale and dwarfish, he gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation (16). Hence this shows how the duality of humans can also be reflected by a location, in this instance I refer to Jekyll and Hyde in London. I believe that the author Robert Louis Stevenson used London as the setting of the story for a couple of reasons. I think that the first reason is that Stevenson was aware of Victorian London and what it was like. The second reason is because Stevenson knew that many people could relate to London as it is widely visited and talked about. This in affect is a writers tool, which helps to draw the reader into the novel. It also helps because it means that the writer does not have to set the scene himself, it has already been done. Settings help to identify what the story is about, along with the way in which it is written. Overall I believe that London is a key element to this tremendous novel, and if the story was based on any other city I do not believe that it would have had the same impact on the readers. In conclusion London is the spine to this book, which helps emphatically because it gives a good base for the theme of duality, which another key part of the novel.

Pablo Neruda: Stylistic Elements and Literary Devices

Pablo Neruda: Stylistic Elements and Literary Devices Language A: English; Written assignment essay – Pablo Neruda’s poems â€Å"How has Pablo Neruda used stylistic elements and literary devices in his poems?† Deriving his name from a Czech Republican poet named Jan Neruda, the Chilean poet with a Spanish background, Neftali Ricardo Reyes’ life was always kaleidoscopic. His life was subjected to a multitude of colours like the Spanish Civil war, being a ‘Consul General’ in Mexico, communism and exile. From being a prolific poet to donning a prominent political persona, he mustered awards like the International Peace Prize (1950) and even the Nobel Prize in Literature (1971). Born in 1904, time set him up perfectly to be part of the surrealistic art movement of the early 20th century. As his poetic career went, he predominantly wrote poems that featured intimacy and endearment, evident history and open political agendas. Quite interestingly, it is said that he even symbolized the colour of ink that he used to write in. As it goes, he manoeuvred the mighty pen that put to use green coloured ink as he was of the opinion that the colour stood for hope and desire. From an analytical point of view, it may seem that a load of meaning may have been lost during the time of translation of all his, Pablo’s, poems because all were composed in his mother-tongue, Spanish. Although, there are many of them in which Neruda has encompassed numerous stylistic elements and literary devices which appended figurative language, sound techniques and structure, and this makes it logical even having gone through the Spanish-English translation. When taken into account holistically, Pablo Neruda’s poems present him as the ever-present voice and using his talent of rigorous personification, he speaks as a seer in all of them. This is because he mostly speaks in first-person, that is, â€Å"I†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Moving on, the structures of his works and the language he portrays them in are affected greatly by his vivid life. At age thirteen, despite his father’s dissent, Pablo was encouraged by Gabriela Mistral (also a Nobel Prize in Literature awardee) to publish his first work â€Å"Entusiasmo y perseverancia† (Enthusiasm and perseverance). He continued then on under a pseudonym. After having completed his college, and studying French, he wrote entire sets of poems, the most celebrated of which is ‘Veinte Poemas de Amor y una Cancià ³n Desesperada’ (Twenty love poems and a song of despair). To continue describing his life anymore would be a futile exercise as I will deviate from my primary top ic. From my understanding, I think a part of Pablo Neruda’s unexcelled success as a romantic poet could be attributed to his utilitarian stylistic elements and literary devices. The very first of which is imagery. His use of imagery has associated significant facets of nature to his personal poetic experience and this gives the reader something interesting. More than experiences, it is his emotions that talk volumes. The fact that he found and embraced his creativity in many of his poems, progressing in time, is one that engages a reader even further. Another explanation could be that his fixated inclusion of personification along with imagery, in parts of ‘Veinte Poemas de Amor y una Cancià ³n Desesperada’ presented the majesty of the human figure and the splendor that is possessed by the female human body. These can be found in the lines, â€Å"Body of a woman, white hills, white thighs, you look like a world, lying in surrender†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . If we throw light on another poem, â€Å"If You Forget Me† is an example where Pablo utilized an impressive diction to help the reader comprehend the words he structured in his unique format. His unique format basically is a format-free structure and therefore, is a free verse. Despite the inconsistent pattern of the poem, elements of rhyme can affirmatively be found. This is evident in the lines, â€Å"But if each day, each hour, you feel that you are destined for me with implacable sweetness, if each day a flower†. When we move on to Pablo’s acclimation to being a more sensual poet, he has strategically placed numerous metaphors in his twenty poems from the aforementioned set. A random example of a metaphor could be, â€Å"es tan corto el amor† from the twentieth poem in ‘Veinte Poemas de Amor’. It is Spanish for â€Å"love is so short† and the essence of this, at its core, is the â€Å"love is time† allegory. As we go ahead, a reader would notice that in the course of his twenty love poems, Neruda has effectively realized the need of repetition via the reiteration of common metaphors. Maybe because all his twenty poems (and the others) hold interconnected themes of love, nature, etc. Repetition is also an influential literary device when reading â€Å"Tonight I Can Write The Saddest Lines†. Neftali devoted his life to writing about love and intimacy, additionally, he married thrice. This suggests that the man stayed in love for most of his time, though the topic that his love-conquests met closure or not is totally something apart. He repeats the titular lines thrice (up until the 11th line only) and this, one can assume, expresses his sense of loneliness and solitude and the fact that perchance he will never ever have back that one woman (many women, actually) he loved and cared for with all his heart. These emotions are apparent in the lines, â€Å"Tonight I can write the saddest lines. To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her. To hear the immense night, still more immense without her. And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture†. Picking up from where I wrote of ‘If You Forget Me’, symbolism and personification play a humungous role abiding by which Pablo benevolently grants many vivid things basic human characteristics. This encompasses the aspect of personification quite illustratively when he talks of â€Å"aromas, light and metals† as the things that carried (reminded him of) him to his love. Along with this, Neruda so diligently symbolized him being intimate with the love of his life even when he inhaled his last, that it efficiently coloured the mood and atmosphere of the poem, permitting the reader to ponder upon the same. Coming back to square one, I strongly feel that all his decisions (Pablo’s) as a poet, when employing each and every literary device and stylistic element that he has, have stalwartly built him a reputation that has been, is and will be successful enough in keeping readers beseeching the magic that his motifs and themes have created and presented the curious reader with. In general terms, Pablo does not usually have a plot or even a consistent structure for that matter. Nevertheless, this does not necessarily mean that a conventional reader would be subject to ennui. Pablo has made sure that the polychromatic and vibrant mix of stylistic elements and literary devices such as personification, symbolism, imagery, repetition, etc., that he incorporates every time keeps the reader zealous. I think Neftali is unique in his way of painting emotions, love and loss especially, and this is something that he should always be commended for.

The Devil in Young Goodman Brown And Rappaccinis Daughter :: comparison compare contrast essays

The Devil in Young Goodman Brown And Rappacini's Daughter In Puritan Massachusetts the key word was suspicion. In order to be accepted, by the community, you had to be a member of the "elect," destined for a spot in the eternity of heaven. In order to be member of this elite group of "selected" individuals you had to be free of sin and evil. It goes without saying, that you could never be caught conjuring the devil, as is illustrated by the horrors of the infamous Salem witch trials. In Young Goodman Brown, and Rappacini's Daughter Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays two different ways of soliciting or being solicited by the devil. The final scenes in both of these stories although similar in nature, are actually conflicting in essence, and show the two adverse ways in which people and evil can become one. In Young Goodman Brown, the protagonist, Goodman Brown goes off on a typical search for the devil. The devil is associated with darkness and terror, a creature only to be sought after while enveloped in the darkness of the night. As Goodman Brown himself replies to Faith's longing for him to wait until morning to embark on his journey, "My journey needst be done twixt now and sunrise" (611). Goodman Brown knows exactly what he is going to look for, he is searching for evil. He goes to the forest to do his deed and "he had taken a dreary road darkened by all the gloomiest trees of the forest" to get there(611). Goodman Brown is willingly seeking the devil, and Hawthorne is throwing in all the stereotypes. This entire search for the devil is portrayed as being very ugly. What then is pretty? In Young Goodman Brown beauty equals inherent goodness, or Faith. Young Goodman Brown separates from this righteousness, for evil. From the beginning, he was leaving, at least for the time being, Faith behind. "And Faith, as the wife was aptly named, thrust her own pretty head into the street, letting the wind play with the soft ribbons of her cap" (610). The beauty of faith and her pink ribbons are left behind, his intentions are obvious. In Rappacini's Daughter Giovanni does none of this. He never went out searching

Educating Rita - Love Story :: Free Essay Writer

Educating Rita - Love Story To answer the question whether or not Willy Russell actually wrote a love story as he intended to do, I consider certain aspects. I find two totally different main characters in Frank and Rita and therefore will be dealing with completely different ways of behaviour and reaction. By interpreting their statements and actions it might be possible to find some kind of conclusion. To begin with it is possible to say that Educating Rita does not seem to be a love story in a common sense. Nevertheless there are signs that Frank becomes more and more interested in Rita and her fate. She has got a refreshing effect on him, which is caused by her naivety, enthusiasm and very own way of talking about and experiencing literature. In act 1, scene 2 he tells her how much he wished she had walked in twenty years before. Especially at the beginning of their acquaintance Rita is used to telling him almost everything about her life, very much so about private matters. But as she becomes more "educated" and changes her feelings towards literature, which becomes less important for her, Frank almost starts insisting on knowing everything about her situation. In scene 8 she is late for the lesson, because she has just been thrown out by her husband, and Frank is very much concerned about her and her situation. But Rita is much more concerned about her Macbeth essay and is rather interested in Frank ´s opinion on it than in anything else. What she expects from Frank is criticism and support, whereas he wants to be allowed in taking part in her life. This scene already shows how different their intentions are. Other signs of Frank ´s feelings towards Rita are given in scene 2 of act . She has been late for the lesson and Frank realizes that she changed her way of talking, is trying to talk and act in a more sophisticated manner. He is shocked by this development. There is also a touch of jealousy in this scene. Rita has been telling him about her conversation with other students particularly with one of them named Tyson/Tiger. Frank: "Is there any point in working towards an examination if you are going to fall in love. (...) All right, but please stop burbling on about Mr Tyson." Another time he is deeply hurt when he finds out that Rita had changed her job without having told him anything about it (Act 2, Scene 4).

Media Stereotyping of Men and Women Essay -- Gender Roles in the Media

After watching television and flipping though ads and articles in several magazines, the stereotyping of men and women is so apparent but at the same time society is so blind to it. In society parents teach their children gender roles at a very early age. Gender roles refers to the attitudes, behavior, and activities that are socially defined as appropriate for each sex learned through the socialization process. Males are traditionally expected to show aggressiveness and toughness, and females are expected to be passive and nurturing. For example, little girls play with baby dolls and play "house" and little boys play with toy guns and play "cops and robbers." Mass media are powerful factors that influence society's beliefs, attitudes, and the values they have of themselves and others as well as the world. If a male is seen in media doing "feminine" things, such as shopping or cleaning he is seen as weak, and women who are seen doing "masculine" things such as car repair and management positions she is seen as callous and cruel. Even though media still pretends that men and women in society are equal, it isn't the case. Women are still seen as homemakers and men are still seen as professional, successful and independent. After watching an hour of television, several commercials and some programs, women are seen in makeup and all personal hygiene commercials, even male products feature women. The message here is that if a male shaves with our products lots of women wil...

The Last of the Mohicans

Is racism a choice or not?   The novel `The Last of the Mohicans,` by James Fenimore Cooper, did provide evidences of racism as practice not only by Americans but also by other cultures which suggests a strong indication on the possible roots of racism. This paper therefore attempts to dramatize this new found reality that may not be known or accepted by many.   The three part thesis of the paper is stated in the following propositions: (1) the racism has its roots in nature and it must be having been part of human nature. (2) That racism has been practiced due to natives wanting to preserve their cultures, and (3) that racism is strongly felt in gender mix. Since the Native Americans are forced to live with their colonizers, refusal to intermarry with the European colonizers must have been a natural thing to do. Hence what is ever is happening as racism in the United States must be traced back to this great of American history. To dwell therefore on the belief that discrimination is a well-planned reaction to other cultures may seem to find litter support as it not natural to hate or discriminate other people. There must be a prior experience in the past that has entered the subconscious level.   Not surprisingly therefore one could read in the American literature stories and novels that my have the colors or some racial problem. But the racial reactions was not chosen voluntarily as intended reaction but a subconscious reaction become something hurtful that has happened in the past. The issue of apparently prohibited a sexual racial mixture between cultures is depicted in the novel The Last of the Mohicans by Fenimore Cooper's. The word ‘miscegenation', which the shortened word for the sexual racial mixture has taken its meaning from two parts ‘miscere' and ‘genus'   is apparently used in the at the end of the nineteenth century, and the word was actually   found mainly in the analysis of previous literary works. In appreciating therefore the reality to a profound and realistic portrayal of gender and racial relations between Native Americans and white people in the period of Indian and French Wars in his novel, author Cooper made an introduction of his own vision of early native Americans taking the position that miscegenation should be prohibited. It may be argued that the existing political and social issues are indeed influenced by the attitude of white people towards Native Americans in the past.  Ã‚   To be specific about it one may check that the at the end of the seventeenth century there were indeed some American states to have passed specific laws that were aimed at prohibiting sexual racial mixture and this may inferred to have deprived people of different races, with the exception of the white population but not without the undeniable repercussion as far as the American political rights particularly violation to the principles of equality. On taking the contrary view miscegenation may lessen the differences between two races but people then or may even this could aggravate these distinctions because people would be detached and removed from their customary background and by forbidding them from integration into the new environment. This could observed by the fact America's vision as seen by some is large measure of what the country’s have projected as a model   about a future-realizable condition, instead of using the past to look the situation using reason.   With this seeming mismatch, America may have been involved in complex racial tensions and conflicts which appeared to be directed Native Americans. This same reason was also evident in Cooper’s rejection of sexual mixture in the book. In his portrayal of gender relations and miscegenation in the novels, Cooper may be opening the minds of those who know the real background or origin of racism as a social phenomenon.  Ã‚   Not many people will disagree that the US the country that brought a into living together as community of people   from different races   if one will observe that such may have even started from the   period of colonization. Since colonization may only be a desire to influence other cultures. But as soon as the process of interaction was started it, history has recorded about colonizers making constant attempts to destroy beliefs of Native Americans both from the cultural and religious aspects. The most immediate reaction however was for the indigenous population with America to want preservation of their cultural identity which normally is conflicting to the principles of white people. It is proper at this point to produce evidence from the text why Cooper has shown rejection of sexual mixture between races.   In his narration, Fenimore Cooper has described the people or character in the novel with mixed and unmixed blood. One of the characters in the novel is Hawkeye, who despite the fact of being culturally connected with both white people and Indians, he is portrayed by author as a person â€Å"without a cross†[1] The author may have the same treatment of Alice Munro who is described as â€Å"surprisingly fair†[2]. For another character by the name of Chingachgook, the author has presented as an unmixed Mohican. Cooper has created characters belonging to the other race like Cora, the elder sister of Alice, who may be described to of mixed race, who played the role of protecting even at the cost of her own life.   Cora was indeed presented as coming from â€Å"that unfortunate class who are so basely enslaved to administer to the wants of a luxurious people†[3] from the race of West Indians, who cannot marry a person from the South. It may be concluded then that Cooper did portrayed a story of racism in the US dating back to period of colonization as the book revealed women characters being prohibited to many from other race and therefore an indication of lack of freedom and equality when it comes to issues of choosing their marital partners. Cooper portrayed a judgment for women who ignored racial prejudices and assigned their societal-dictated roles, by either being rejected by society or having to die as they are opposing to sexual mixture. In the novel, one could conclude in their minds how the author Cooper has chosen to exterminate ignorer of racial prejudices such Cora and Magua if only to prevent an incompatible marriage. Work Cited: Cooper, J `The Last of the Mohicans, ` St. Martin's Press, New York, 1984 [1] Cooper, 1984 p.4. [2] Cooper, 1984 p.378 [3] Cooper, 1984 p.310

Just about every aspect of sport which we find exciting today was present at the chariot races of ancient Rome Essay

I agree with this statement to an extent, some aspects of chariot racing are similar to that of today’s modern sport. In Ancient Rome’s chariot races there were four teams, red, white, green and blue. Every roman would support a team, and stay loyal to it. These teams became the focus of support among spectators. The Romans were always very loyal to which ever team they supported. Fights would sometimes breakout due to the supporting of different teams. There are lots of aspects that made these chariot races exciting for the Romans. By supporting a team they could feel more involved. Competitors from the same team / stable might work together / pull stunts and gang up on other teams to gain popularity, make the race more exciting. This is just like nowadays, in football, rugby, cricket and many more of our modern day sports resemble the Romans approach to their teams and their support for them. Most men nowadays support a football team and stay loyal and supporting that team. Going to a football match is a really exciting experience, everyone supporting the same team will be feeling in a similar way, the atmosphere and feeling that you are all there together supporting your team, taking part is a very exciting experience and one that both us and the Romans share. The anxiety of waiting what’s going to happen, is he going to push him off the track? Is he going to die? The excitement when someone does a trick. Is he going to score? Will they be able to score in time? Will he get the penalty? Will he get sent off? It unified people of all sorts of social ranks, and encourages them to socialise just like we have nowadays. Betting also would have been and exciting experience for the Romans, just like us and any human being they were money driven. So the prospect of wining some money would have been a very exciting experience, they could have won a lot of money. Just like nowadays when we place a bet on a team or a horse to win a race / match, it then gets us more involved in the match / race, we want the person / team who we have backed up to win so we win money in return, so you get very excited when maybe your charioteer does a very clever stunt and nocks someone of the track / they are battling it out for first position you almost feel as if you are taking part in the race. The structural features of the circus maximus would have also made it exciting for the Romans the seating meant that they could integrate with women, which they would not get to do often, there are several sources explaining the excitement the men had in checking the women out. Nowadays that would not really affect our excitement on the sport as we are much more integrated through daily life than the Romans would have been. Therefore these don’t really increase the enjoyment of our sport nowadays. The ‘spina’ would have also made the race very exciting for the Romans, especially the ‘metea’ or turning posts, these would have tested even the best charioteers to their limits, when the charioteers reached the metea they would try and cut in as close as possible to the metea as possible, this could have resulted in a very bad injury or death very easily, if they wear pushed into the metea or turned to closely into the metea, as the charioteers approached the metea the crowd would start to cheer more especially when stunts and tricks were pulled on other charioteers. The Romans also enjoyed the egg markers and dolphin markers; these would have shown them at what lap they were in the race, obviously it would have been important for the Romans to have been able to keep track of how many laps the charioteers were on. Every time a marker went down / up this would have signified it being closer to the end of the race, I think this would have made it more exciting for them because it is that time aspect for them, when time is applied to something it often means pressure, whether it be they only have so long to score a goal or to knock their component of the track / make them win. With every lap it would have made it more exciting for the Romans, as there would be less and less charioteers each time and the race would be getting more violent / heated. Although nowadays although we do have score boards to help us to keep up score I would not say it adds that much to the excitement , only really the time aspect that they have so long left to score / win this game. In the chariot racing most of the competitors would have been slaves, and of a low social status, they would get sold to other teams and made to compete in races. In a way the charioteers had their own status within charioteering – they had dual status’ if they were good charioteers they would start from nothing a built their way up the charioteers rank, and become well known every time a charioteer won in a race they would receive a percentage of the winnings the rest would go to the stables, they would receive quite a high pay.. This is sort of similar to what we have nowadays for example a footballer might start from nothing and is all of a sudden he is launched into a high status / idolised. In a way the footballers are owned like a slave would be the club / manager owns them and they are sold onto other teams. Just like the charioteers they also receive very high pays. This aspect of charioteering / modern day sport would have made it exciting because you could get to see well known really good charioteers, maybe that you idolised; it’s just like nowadays meeting a really famous footballer like David beck ham something that an average person would find really exciting, because they are iconic figures that people look up to, and you want to see them perform. With chariot racing there is a real danger aspect it seemed the Romans would do anything to try and make their sport more dangerous and exciting, teaching the charioteers to bash into each other, the crowd would cheer loudly if someone was Have a battle with another charioteer / killed them, the Romans were very blood thirsty. The got thrills out of seeing people hurt and pushing each other close to the edge. Nowadays I don’t think we share the Romans passion quite so much for fighting and death/ blood, although for instance in motor racing when the cars are racing and perhaps giving each other nudges I think we do find it exciting we like to see how far we can push things, and if some one crashed and it was quite a big one every one would sort of be talking about it – did you see that crash? Without realising we get a sort of buss out of it. I think now looking closely and examining this statement I do agree with it , most of the points I have brung up are connected to chariot racing we share that thrill and excitement the same as the Romans do maybe we just don’t realise it as much / it is a bit more toned down.

Mp4 Matlab

College of Engineering ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING NDC Compound, *Anonas* St. Sta. Mesa, Manila {draw:line} Research Work with Defense Submitted By: Group 3 – Alpha Signal Rho BSECE IV-1 Leader : SANTOS, Ralph Rhyan G. Members: BELANO, Gracielle D. ESPINOSA, Joey Q. HERNANDEZ, Jan Roldan B. MATIC, Millicent G. RIVO, Sarah Ezekiel M. VILLENA, Kane Dave R Engr. Gerhard P. Tan Instructor Introduction It is known that our fast-paced emerging technology has been able to give us anything that we wish. Concerning the field of Digital Signal Processing, our latest technology has been able to give birth to many new forms of media file format both in audio and video. A few number of groups tried to produce different media file formats that would be of their greatest preferences but a certain group known as the Moving Picture Experts Group with the combined help of different professionals all around the world were able to create several media file formats that are of great use and in many ways universal. These said formats were then treated as the standards and then were implemented and it was used worldwide. After being assigned a certain file format per group, the certain multimedia file format that will be discussed by our group in this paper is the MP4 file or the file extension format known as . mp4. It is known that the . mp4 file format is the multimedia file container format for the MPEG-4 so some topics about MPEG-4 will also be discussed. Also, we will feature its history, applications, advantages and disadvantages and as well as the future for this certain file format. Different issues surrounding the main topic will be tackled as well and will be explained with the full extent of our capabilities. This research work was designed for students like us to gain new knowledge and discover the fundamentals behind the different technological advancements that we are already enjoying. It could be taken in account that all of our group members participated and did their part in constructing this research paper. History MPEG-4 part 12, which is known as ISO Base Media File Format, was originally the 1st version of the file format for MPEG-4. It was based upon Apple’s QuickTime container format. Afterwards, this part was then revised and thus giving birth to the MPEG-4 part 14 which is the MP4 file format. This occurred in the year 2003 wherein the difference between the two is the Part 1 or the System Standard. The first version then became the basis for many other file formats that were released afterwards. Theories and Principles What is MP4? {draw:frame} IV. Interact with the audiovisual scene generated at the receiver’s end. MPEG-4 Standards The basic components of streaming media are encoders, servers and players. The encoder compresses the video and distributes the compressed video to players that decode and render it. For interoperability the overlapping areas in Figure 2 need standardization, that is file formats, protocols and codecs. The MPEG-4 standard covers it all. {draw:frame} Figure 2 – Streaming media components More recent parts added into MPEG-4 are: †¢ Part 9: Reference Hardware Description†, Phase 1 Hardware Accelerators, Phase 2 Optimized Reference Software integration through Virtual Socket †¢ Part 10: Advanced Video Coding (as discussed below) †¢ Part 11: Scene description (to be split off from part 1) †¢ Part 12: ISO Media File Format. †¢ Part 13 : IPMP Extensions. †¢ Part 14 : MP4 File Format (based on part 12). †¢ Part 15 : AVC File Format (also based on part 12). †¢ Part 16 : AFX (Animation Framework eXtensions) and MuW (Multi-user Worlds). Part 17 : Timed text subtitle format †¢ Part 18 : Font Compression and Streaming †¢ Part 19 : Synthesized Texture Stream †¢ Part 20 : Lightweight Application Screen Representation (LASeR) †¢ Part 21 : MPEG-J Graphical Framework eXtension (GFX) †¢ Part 22 : Open Font Format Specificat ion (OFFS) based on OpenType †¢ Part 23 : Symbolic Music Representation (SMR) {draw:frame} Figure 3: Classification of MPEG-4 Toolset {draw:frame} Figure 4: The parts of MPEG-4, the arrows represent flow of bits Because of its universality and flexibility, the MPEG-4 could be applied almost everything. Of course, since there are media files that do not make use of all the tools provided by the MPEG-4, it resulted in the creation of different profiles. Such profiles are classified according to the tools that they make use of. In general, the different file formats that could contain the MPEG-4 system are as follows: . m4a – media container for raw audio only .m4v – media container for raw video only .mp4 – media container for audio, video and still images . 3gp & . 3g2 – media container used in cellular phones Data Streams †¢ Still images (e. g. as a fixed background); †¢ Video objects (e. . a talking person – without the background; †¢ 2–D and 3-D objects such as those used for animations; Audio objects (e. g. the voice associated with that person, background music) Every single one of these media objects present when gathering them in MPEG-4 are stored individually into what we refer to as â€Å"data streams†. In MPEG -4, every object is tightly coupled with a stream: such binding is made by the means of the Object Descriptor Framework which links an object to an actual stream. This design seems obvious for video objects that rely on a compressed video stream. It has been pushed a bit further: the scene description and the description of object descriptors are themselves streams. In other words, the presentation itself is a stream which updates the scene graph and relies on a dynamic set of descriptors, which allow referencing the actual media streams. These design principles can be summarized in the following figure, which gives a visualization of a scene. {draw:frame} Figure 5: An MPEG-4 scene aggregating different media streams Different objects can be encoded and transmitted separately to the decoder in their own elementary streams. The composition only takes places after decoding instead of before encoding. This applies to both visual objects and audio alike. In order to do the composition, MPEG-4 includes a special scene description language, called BIFS, for binary Format for Scenes. Atoms After the streams are collected, they are then stored into object – oriented structures called â€Å"atoms†. These atoms are what primarily compose an MP4 file. The type field is usually four printable characters. Atom structured files are used in a number of applications, and it is possible to form multi-purpose files which contain the atoms required by more than one specification. Examples include not only the ISO Base File Format family described here, but also the JPEG 2000 file format family, which for the most part is a still-image file format. {draw:frame} Figure 6: Complex File with External Media Data In the MP4 file format, determining how to decode a track involves two decisions. First, what kind of track is it: audio, visual, and so on? And then, precisely how are the samples are coded? The first decision is made by examining the handler type; along with the handler type, there is a type-specific header atom within the track structures for each kind of track. draw:frame} Figure 7: MP4 Handler type and Header atom type {draw:frame} Figure 8: Relation between different objects Application Television Broadcasting MPEG-4 offers well enough compression for transmitting hundreds of channels and satellite TV cable that consumers expect applicable even in high definition televisions. Broadcast applications can take advantage of the MPEG-4 standard to offer h igh-quality interactive content delivered over traditional TV networks or cable TV networks. Mobile Communication and Entertainment MPEG-4 handsets are established for the purpose of having two-way video calls or watch video programming over 3G networks. The MPEG-4 standard allows video streaming of very low bit rate content over all types of networks. It makes provisions for streaming in error-prone environments. These qualities are crucial when streaming rich content to wireless devices. Internet Streaming MPEG-4 has several characteristics that make it the ideal standard for streaming rich media over the internet. For the narrowband Internet, applications can use content compressed at low rates. For broadband Internet, applications can use the same content encoded at higher bit rates. The interactive nature of MPEG-4 means that MPEG-4 content can be used in advanced multimedia applications. And because MPEG-4 allows for scalability, the same content can be streamed to different devices over heterogeneous networks. Portable Gaming Distance Learning and Training One of the keys to distance learning and training is the ability to transmit over different networking infrastructures and interactivity. In a corporate training scenario, MPEG-4 content can be broadcasted via satellite to company branches in remote locations and over the LAN to employees at headquarters. Digital Still Cameras and Convergence Devices Most digital cameras now include movie modes for capture of short video sequences and with the new affordability of high-capacity flash memory, it is possible to build camera-like Mobile Content Convergence Devices that include the functions of a camera, camcorder and music player in one device. Given its compression efficiency, multi-platform support and its freedom from platform bundling requirements, MPEG-4 is an ideal fit for these devices. Satellite Radio MPEG-4’s audio codec have been employed in several systems for satellite radio and multimedia broadcasting. Security Video surveillances are modern means of security employment. Often, the devices used must limit the video resolution and frame rate to provide a reasonable recording time, and mostly require proprietary video players or some plug-ins to view the stored content. Recording using MPEG-4 enables and provides full resolution and desired frame rates. Also, MPEG-4 coding reduces storage cost. Its interoperability also allows users to combine equipment from different manufacturers in their systems and still be able to export a certain video in a universally readable format. MATLAB SIMULATION Since we know that from the principle of MPEG-4, each media object present in the scene while it is taken will be conveyed into its own elementary stream. These media objects could be an audio, video or a still image. The first thing to do is record first an analog signal with the use of the matlab tool known as daqscope. daqscope A window showing an example oscilloscope will be shown. It will look like the picture below. By pressing the arrow button, the recording of an analog signal will begin. The generated signal will depend on the sounds that will be acquired from a recording device such as a computer microphone. After recording on both channels, you can then close the window. The recorded signal will be treated as â€Å"winsound0†. addchannel(ai,1:2); set(ai,'SampleRate',44100) set(ai,'SamplesPerTrigger',44100) tart(ai) wait(ai,2) data = getdata(ai); plot(data) The example analog signal that we made look like the next figure. {draw:frame} video = mmread(‘mymovie. mpg',1:100); This command would then generate the first 100 frames of the video that we have chosen. In our example we used a sample video from the MATLAB folder known as vipmen we converted it first to an mpg file then renamed it into mymovie. The figure below shows some sample frames. {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} I = imread(‘mymovie. pg'); I = im2double(I); T = dctmtx(8); B = blkproc(I,[8 8],'P1xP2†²,T,T'); B2 = blkproc(B,[8 8],'P1. *x',mask); I2 = blkproc(B2,[8 8],'P1xP2†²,T',T); imshow(I), figure, imshow(I2) Advantages and Disadvantages The main advantage of the MP4 file format is its interoperability. Since mpeg-4 contains many different tools for different programs for different purposes, it stood up and showed its universality and multi-functionality which we think is the most basic pre-requisite for a media file format to be of great importance. Also, because of that same reason, MP4 is common and would work across different types of players from different manufacturers. It became natural for us to make use of it. Another advantage is that there is no additional infrastructure investment needed for its development unlike mpeg-2 that required billions of dollar to be developed, the MPEG-4 used the pre-existing knowledge and altered it to its preference. The greatest disadvantage would be the licensing terms and the content fee of the MP4 file format. This could be a hindrance for companies that would be using it in a large scale. It could be the reason to slow down the adoption of MP4 for broadcasting in IP networks. Another is with the ever known piracy problem since it relies on data encryption. Also, the download time in a broadband connection, which is much longer than the time consumed when downloading regular files, having the fact that MP4’s are still generally large files. Emerging Technology References: Principles of Digital Audio by Ken C. Pohlmann Principles of Multimedia by Ranjan Parekh MPEG-4 Whitepaper, www. medialab. sonera. fl http://my. opera. com/ebest24/blog/2006/11/11/general-mp4-information http://www. coolutils. com/Formats/MP4 http://www. zimbio. com/QuickTime/articles/4/History+MP4+Technology+Apple http://www. chiariglione. org/mpeg/standards/mpeg-4/mpeg-4. htm http://www. ncsu. edu/it/multimedia/mpeg4. html http://www. mpegif. org/resources/mpeg4userfaq. php