Oedipus The King Essays (1083 words) - Oedipus The King, Oedipus

Oedipus the King Oedipus the King The events in Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, show an underlying relationship of man's free will existing within the cosmic order or fate which the Greeks believed guided the universe in a harmonious purpose. Man was free to choose and was ultimately held responsible for his own actions. Both the concept of fate and free will played an itregal part in Oedipus' destruction. Although he was a victim of fate, he was not controlled by it. Oedipus was destined from birth to someday marry his mother and to murder his father. This prophecy, as warned by the oracle of Apollo at Delphi was unconditional and inevitably would come to pass, no matter what he may have done to avoid it. His past actions were determined by fate, but what he did in Thebes, he did so of his own will. From the beginning of this tragedy, Oedipus took many actions leading to his own downfall. Oedipus could have waited for the plague to end, but out of compassion for his suffering people, he had Creon go to Delphi. When he learned of Apollo's word, he could have calmly investigated the murder of the former King Laius, but in his hastiness, he passionately curses the murderer, and in so, unknowingly curses himself. "Upon the murderer I invoke this curse- whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many- may he wear out his life in misery or doom! If with my knowledge he lives at my hearth, I pray that I myself may feel my curse." (pg. 438; lines 266-271) In order for Sophecles' Greek audience to relate to the tragic figure, he had to have some type of flaws or an error of ways. This brought the character down to a human level, invoking in them the fear that "it could happen to them." And Oedipus certainly is not one without flaws. His pride, ingnorance, insolence and disbelief in the gods, and unrelenting quest for the truth ultimately contributed to his destuction. When Oedipus was told (after threatening Teiresias), that he was responsible for the murder of Laius, he became enraged and calls the old oracle a liar. He ran away from his home, Corinth, in hopes of outsmarting the gods divine will. Like his father, Oedipus also sought ways to escape the horrible destiny told by the oracle of Apollo. The chorus warns us of man's need to have reverence for the gods, and the dangers of too much pride. "If a man walks with haughtiness of hand or word and gives no heed to Justice and the shrines of Gods despises- may an evil doom smite him for his ill- starred pride of heart!- if he reaps gains without justice and will not hold from impiety and his fingers itch for untouchable things. When such things are done, what man shall contrive to shield his soul from the shafts of the God?" (pg. 452; 975-984) Oedipus' unyielding desire to uncover the truth about Laius' murder and the mystery surrounding his own birth, led him to the tragic realization of his horrific deeds. Teiresias, Jocasta and the herdsman tried to stop him from pursuing the truth. Take for example a part of the last conversation between Jocasta and Oedipus. After realizing that the prophecy had came true, Jacasta begs him to just let the mystery go unsolved for once. "I beg you- do not hunt this out- I beg you, if you have any care for your own life. What I am suffering is enough." (pg. 461; 1158-1161) Oedipus replies, "I will not be persuaded to let chance of finding out the whole thing clearly." (pg. 461; 1166-1167) He is unable to stop his quest for the truth, even under his wife's pleading. For it is in his own vain that he must solve the final riddle, the riddle of his own life. Upon discovery of the truth of his birth from the herdsman, Oedipus cries, "I who first saw the light bred of a match accursed, and accursed in my living with them, cursed in my killing." (pg. 465; 1300-1303) Oedipus knew that his fate had indeed come to pass and feels cursed by it. The chorus then sings an ode on the sorrow of life and the tragic fate to which even the most honored, like Oedipus are ultimately subject. "What man, what man on earth wins more happiness than a seeming and after that turning away? Oedipus you are my pattern of this, Oedipus you and your fate! Luckless

ENV SCI essays

ENV SCI essays Now the population of the world has reached 6 billion in 2000. And it is estimated to have 10.5~11 billion of population until the population of the world will stabilize. This means that the world will need to provide food, shelter, cloth for the addition of 5 billion people. But this is not the only problem. This additional population will worsen the condition of the land, and will shorten the natural resource rapidly. Also the health of the population will be a big issue. Due to the decline of the population growth , sustainable development of children started. Recently AID is one of the most popular disease in the world. It reduces the life expectency about 15 to 47 years. And thinking about the year when there will be 5 billion more people in this world, we won't know which disease will kill how many people. Increase of the population does not only have the negative effects to the world. It also give us new opportunity. First increase in the population will provide the world more intelligent people, and these people will help to solve the problems of the over populated world. And when people get crowded they will search for a better condition to live in and this might help the people to find a new land to live in or a new resource to use. Also they will try to prevent so many people from dying by the same disease which will yeild to a development in medicine which will improve the life of the people. Poverty is not a good phenomenon for the citizens of the world, especially when the standard of life is improving. Majority of the low income people locate in Asia, and Africa. There incomes are less than a dollar per day. There is another problem, inequality among the people. This inequality is a obstacle to a sustainable development. Most of the reason of this inequality is because of the economic gap between the countries rather than the within the countries. Because of the poverty and the inequality the world is suffering. Ho...

Branches of Philosophy

Most academic subjects have a philosophy, for example the philosophy of science, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of logic, the philosophy of law, and the philosophy of history. In addition, a range of academic subjects have emerged to deal with areas which would have historically been the subject of philosophy. These include psychology, anthropology and science. [edit] Western philosophy Main article: Western philosophy [edit] History Main article: History of Western philosophy The introduction of the terms philosopher and philosophy has been ascribed to the Greek thinker Pythagoras (see Diogenes Laertius: De vita et moribus philosophorum, I, 12; Cicero: Tusculanae disputationes, V, 8-9). The ascription is based on a passage in a lost work of Herakleides Pontikos, a disciple of Aristotle. It is considered to be part of the widespread legends of Pythagoras of this time. Philosopher replaced the word sophist (from sophoi), which was used to describe wise men, teachers of rhetoric, who were important in Athenian democracy. The history of philosophy is customarily divided into six periods: Ancient philosophy, Medieval philosophy, Renaissance philosophy, Early and Late Modern philosophy and Contemporary philosophy. [edit] Ancient philosophy (c. 600 B. C. –c. A. D. 500) |[pic] |Constructs such as ibid. , op. cit. and loc. cit. are discouraged by Wikipedias style guide for footnotes as they are | | |easily broken. Please improve this article by replacing them with named references (quick guide), or an abbreviated | | |title. | [pic] [pic] Aristotle Main article: Ancient philosophy [pic] [pic] Plato Ancient philosophy is the philosophy of the Graeco-Roman world from the sixth century [circa 585] B. C. to the fourth century A. D. It is usually divided into three periods: the pre-Socratic period, the periods of Plato and Aristotle, and the post-Aristotelian (or Hellenistic) period. Sometimes a fourth period is added that includes the Christian and Neo-Platonist philosophers. The most important of the ancient philosophers (in terms of subsequent influence) are Plato and Aristotle[7]. The themes of ancient philosophy are: understanding the fundamental causes and principles of the universe; explaining it in an economical and uniform way; the epistemological problem of reconciling the diversity and change of the natural universe, with the possibility of obtaining fixed and certain knowledge about it; questions about things which cannot be perceived by the senses, such as numbers, elements, universals, and gods; the analysis of patterns of reasoning and argument; the nature of the good life and the importance of understanding and knowledge in order to pursue it; the explication of the concept of justice, and its relation to various political systems[8]. In this period the crucial features of the philosophical method were established: a critical approach to received or established views, and the appeal to reason and argumentation. [pic] [pic] St. Thomas Aquinas [edit] Medieval philosophy (c. A. D. 500–c. 1350) Main article: Medieval philosophy Medieval philosophy is the philosophy of Western Europe and the Middle East during what is now known as the medieval era or the Middle Ages, roughly extending from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance. Medieval philosophy is defined partly by the rediscovery and further development of classical Greek and Hellenistic philosophy, and partly by the need to address theological problems and to integrate sacred doctrine (in Islam, Judaism and Christianity) with secular learning. Some problems discussed throughout this period are the relation of faith to reason, the existence and unity of God, the object of theology and metaphysics, the problems of knowledge, of universals, and of individuation.

Humanism and the Arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Humanism and the Arts - Essay Example Discussion All academic circles today acknowledge humanities as a separate academic discipline or field of study. However, humanists of the late fifteenth century are responsible for the development of the same. As mentioned earlier in the paper, that they named it as studia humanitatis that included grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, and ethics or moral philosophy. Quite understandably, the idea of having such as an outline of subjects was twofold. Firstly, the goal was to make the students with exceptional, graceful, and elegant orators and writers (Gay, 2001). Secondly, the idea was to make sure that people realize the importance of moral values, their collective responsibility towards the society and acknowledge their power of reasoning so that they can outclass their supernatural religious dogma, contribute for the betterment of their societies and can persuade others to do the same (Kelley, 1991). In addition, it is very interesting to compare scholasticism, the idea that pervaded in much of the pre-Renaissance European society, with humanism, which to a considerable extent, became successful in replacing it. Actually, humanism was a response to the inefficiencies, loopholes, and failures of scholasticism. Firstly, scholasticism failed to give the taste of practical experience to its followers and relied heavily on abstract thoughts. As mentioned earlier, humanists proposed that physical and moral development is also important with intellectual development (Grassi, 1988).

Training and development is said to be beneficial for both firms and Research Paper

Training and development is said to be beneficial for both firms and employees. Why then are some organisations and individuals reluctant to invest in training - Research Paper Example he essay will develop into an analysis of various factors that characterise training and development such as human resources development as well as mentoring and coaching. This section will also attempt to investigate why other organisations and individuals are reluctant to invest in this noble initiative that is beneficial to both parties involved. A conclusion will be drawn at the end on the basis of the main ideas that are going to be raised in the main part of the discussion which is centred on training and development. During the contemporary period, it can be noted that organisations operate in a dynamic environment which is characterised by different changes. In most cases, these changes are necessitated by various factors which include the following: economic, political, social as well as cultural and demographic among others (Schultz et al 2003). In order for the organisation to remain viable as well keep pace with the changes taking place in the environment, it is imperative for them to put measures that the employees are developed and trained to know the changes that may take place in their operations so as to be prepared to face the consequences that may affect their day to day dispensation of duties. Workers’ skills ought to be upgraded to meet the dictates of the constantly changing environment in which they will be operating. It is imperative to provide basic training to the employees so that they are equipped with the required knowledge to undertake the challenging tasks that can arise as a result of change in the operations of the organisation that can be encountered. Basically, employee training is job related learning that is provided by the employers for their employers and the aim is improvement of the employees’ skills, knowledge and attitude so that they can perform their duties according to the set standards (Swanepoel et al 1998). More often than not, successful training begins with the needs assessment to determine which employees

My Country India Essay Example for Free

My Country India Essay India, officially the Republic of India (Bharat Ganrajya), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1. 2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China,Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Burma and Bangladesh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, Indias Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia. Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also helped shape the regions diverse culture. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom from the mid-19th century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi. The Indian economy is the worlds tenth-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the fastest-growing major economies; it is considered a newly industrialised country. However, it continues to face the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, corruption, malnutrition, inadequate public healthcare, and terrorism. A nuclear weapons stateand a regional power, it has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks seventh in military expenditure among nations. India is a federal constitutional republic governed under a parliamentary system consisting of 28 states and 7 union territories. India is a pluralistic, multilingual, andmulti-ethnic society. It is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats. India comprises the bulk of the Indian subcontinent and lies atop the minor Indian tectonic plate, which in turn belongs to the Indo-Australian Plate. Indias defining geological processes commenced 75 million years ago when the Indian subcontinent, then part of the southern supercontinent tGondwana, began a north-eastward drift across the then-unformed Indian Ocean that lasted fifty million years. The subcontinents subsequent collision with, and subduction under, the Eurasian Plate bore aloft the planets highest mountains, the Himalayas. They abut India in the north and thenorth-east. In the former seabed immediately south of the emerging Himalayas, plate movement created a vast trough that has gradually filled with river-borne sediment; it now forms the Indo-Gangetic Plain. To the west lies the Thar Desert, which is cut off by the Aravalli Range. The original Indian plate survives as peninsular India, which is the oldest and geologically most stable part of India; it extends as far north as the Satpura and Vindhya ranges in central India. These parallel chains run from the Arabian Sea coast in Gujarat in the west to the coal-rich Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand in the east. To the south, the remaining peninsular landmass, the Deccan Plateau, is flanked on the west and east by coastal ranges known as the Western and Eastern Ghats;[114] the plateau contains the nations oldest rock formations, some of them over one billion years old. Constituted in such fashion, India lies to the north of the equator between 6Â ° 44 and 35Â ° 30 north latitude and 68Â ° 7 and 97Â ° 25 east longitude. The Kedar Range of the Greater Himalayas rises behind Kedarnath Temple, which is one of the twelve jyotirlinga shrines. Indias coastline measures 7,517 kilometres (4,700 mi) in length; of this distance, 5,423 kilometres (3,400 mi) belong to peninsular India and 2,094 kilometres (1,300 mi) to the Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep island chains. According to the Indian naval hydrographic charts, the mainland coastline consists of the following: 43% sandy beaches; 11% rocky shores, including cliffs; and 46% mudflats or marshy shores. Major Himalayan-origin rivers that substantially flow through India include the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, both of which drain into the Bay of Bengal. Important tributaries of the Ganges include the Yamuna and the Kosi; the latters extremely low gradient often leads to severe floods and course changes. Major peninsular rivers, whose steeper gradients prevent their waters from flooding, include the Godavari, the Mahanadi, the Kaveri, and the Krishna, which also drain into the Bay of Bengal; and the Narmada and the Tapti, which drain into the Arabian Sea. Coastal features include the marshy Rann of Kutch of western India and the alluvial Sundarbans delta of eastern India; the latter is shared with Bangladesh. India has two archipelagos: the Lakshadweep, coral atolls off Indias south-western coast; and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a volcanic chain in the Andaman Sea. The Indian climate is strongly influenced by the Himalayas and the Thar Desert, both of which drive the economically and culturally pivotal summer and wintermonsoons. The Himalayas prevent cold Central Asian katabatic winds from blowing in, keeping the bulk of the Indian subcontinent warmer than most locations at similar latitudes. The Thar Desert plays a crucial role in attracting the moisture-laden south-west summer monsoon winds that, between June and October, provide the majority of Indias rainfall. Four major climatic groupings predominate in India: tropical wet, tropical dry, subtropical humid, and montane. Indian cultural history spans more than 4,500 years. During the Vedic period (c. 700–500 BCE), the foundations of Hindu philosophy, mythology, and literature were laid, and many beliefs and practices which still exist today, such as dharma, karma, yoga, and mok? ha, were established. India is notable for its religious diversity, with Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, and Jainism among the nations major religions. The predominant religion, Hinduism, has been shaped by various historical schools of thought, including those of t he Upanishads, the Yoga Sutras, the Bhakti movement, and by Buddhist philosophy. Much of Indian architecture, including the Taj Mahal, other works of Mughal architecture, and South Indian architecture, blends ancient local traditions with imported styles. Vernacular architecture is also highly regional in it flavours. Vastu shastra, literally science of construction or architecture and ascribed to Mamuni Mayan, explores how the laws of nature affect human dwellings; it employs precise geometry and directional alignments to reflect perceived cosmic constructs. As applied in Hindu emple architecture, it is influenced by the Shilpa Shastras, a series of foundational texts whose basic mythological form is the Vastu-Purusha mandala, a square that embodied the absolute. The Taj Mahal, built inAgra between 1631 and 1648 by orders of Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, has been described in the UNESCO World Heritage List as the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the worlds heritage. Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture, developed by the British in the late 19th century, drew on Indo-Islamic architecture.

Rebecca :: Essays Papers

Rebecca Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863 to William and Mary Ford. He was the first of six children. He grew up in a rich farming household in Dearborn, Michigan. He enjoyed a typical childhood, spending his days in a one-room schoolhouse and doing farm chores. Ever since he was young, he showed an interest for the mechanical aspect of things, and how they worked and functioned. He used to take things apart and put them back together to get an idea of the inner workings of basic mechanical tools (Nevins, 47 - 50). In 1879, at a young age of 16, he left his home to travel to the near by city of Detroit to work as an apprentice for a machinist. He occasionally returned home to work on the farm. He remained an apprentice for three years and then returned to Dearborn. During the next few years, Henry divided his time between operating and repairing steam engines, finding occasional work in Detroit factories, and working on his fathers broken down farm equipment, as well as lending an unwilling hand with other farm work. Henry got married to Clara Bryant in 1888 Henry supported himself and his wife by running a sawmill (Collier, 145 - 152). In 1891, Henry became an engineer with the Edison Illumination Company. This was an important event in his life because it signified that he had made a conscious career move into industrial pursuits. He was promoted to Chief Engineer in 1893. This gave him enough time and money to devote attention to his personal experiments on internal combustion engines (Lacey 13 - 14). The high point of this research came with the completion of his own self-propelled vehicle, the Quadricycle. This bike had four wire wheels and was steered with a tiller, like a boat. It had two forward speeds, and no reverse. Although this was not the first self-propelled vehicle, it set Henry Ford as one of the major pioneers whom helped this nation become one of motorists (Head 22 - 24). Ford decided that he wanted to become an automobile manufacturer. After two unsuccessful tries, Ford motor company was finally incorporated in 1903 with Henry Ford as the Vice President and Chief Engineer. When the company first started it was only producing a few cars a day at the Ford factory on Mack Avenue in Detroit. A group of two or three men would work on one car from components made to order by other companies (Lewis 99 - 100)

Critique on Happiness and Analysis Essay

In Karl Giberson’s article â€Å"The Ends of Happiness† (2006), from the Science & Spirit magazine, he raises the topic of happiness, where he claims that people are now pursuing the means to happiness as an end to itself and have missed the point of life. Although Giberson(2006) has made some valid arguments in claiming that people pursue wealth as a means to happiness, his arguments are largely undermined due to a lack of reliable evidences. Giberson’s (2006) claims are not unfounded, as human beings tend to set their goals on material success. For them, monetary success is their definition of happiness. This idea is illustrated by the statement â€Å"The means have become an end for many of us†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (para. 11). He goes on to say that many others â€Å"can’t seek happiness directly† (para. 7). His thoughts align well with society’s widely accepted view that â€Å"without family and friends it is hard to find happiness, for these are essential partners in living and doing well†(para. 9). As such, Giberson (2006) implies that happiness comes from the various experiences and journeys which we go through in life, such as quality time spent with people around us. However, Giberson (2006) makes an unsuccessful attempt in persuading his readers to adopt his beliefs by merely referencing to Aristotle’s philosophy of â€Å"living well and doing well† (para. 8). Throughout the article, Giberson (2006) constantly refers to his own opinions and experiences. For example, he reminisces that â€Å"in reflecting on the accumulated memories of happy times †¦ [he finds himself] agreeing with Aristotle† (para. 12). Thereafter, he mentions that he â€Å"coached [his] children’s sports teams †¦ and lov(ed) it† (para. 13). This demonstrates that his views are greatly influenced by emotions rather than facts. Although the use of anecdotes sparks interest and engages his readers effectively, his excessive usage of this communication technique makes his arguments seem unsupported and weak. As a result of his heavy reliance on his own opinions, it has led to a hasty generalisation in his argument as seen through his claim that â€Å"America †¦ is not a nation pursuing happiness† (para. 11). Due to a lack of expert opinion and statistical data, his claim remains unpersuasive and has little credibility. Hence, Giberson’s(2006) article lacks concrete support and fails to make a compelling argument. Although Giberson (2006) provides a good point of view on how people are becoming too focused on wealth in the pursuit of happiness, he makes sweeping statements that lacks credibility. He can provide a more concrete argument by using a wider range of reliable sources. This will greatly strengthen Giberson’s (2006) argument and lend credibility to his claim. It would help greatly if he had supporting opinions of other academic writers who follow his train of thought. In essence, his article did indeed establish his thesis that people are pursuing the means to happiness as an end to itself, but had unfortunately failed to compellingly persuade his audience. Reference: Giberson, K. (2006, March/April). The Ends of Happiness. Retrieved on 21 Jan 2013 from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=4e0e6d4c-0091-45b9-be30-fd892a301bf9%40sessionmgr10&vid=3&hid=2

Entourage: A Modern Portrait of Issues of the Hollywood Dream

The TV show â€Å"Entourage,† produced by HBO, shows the life of four friends who are catapulted into fame and fortune following the success of Vincent Chase. From the alleys of New York, they find themselves in a lifestyle filled with cars and women. The story recalls the challenges and successes of these four comrades, plus their manager, who takes on the jungle of Hollywood and attempts to maintain the bond that they grew up with. This show has indeed captured the attention of audiences, both from the lower and upper strata of the social hierarchy.One can argue that the appeal indeed of Entourage is universal as it attracts audiences from all types and kinds of social background. The secret of this TV series is simply, for it cleverly employs psychological crafting that balances preferences and expectations of people with varied backgrounds. In fact, it plays on the interest and fantasies of the viewers to create a world that defies not only the borders of morality and gend er, but more importantly the borders between social classes, as portrayed by the differences between the ‘simple’ world of some of the main characters and the Hollywood World of Vincent Chase.The Hollywood World vs. the ‘Ordinary’ World In the show, Vincent Chase represents the ultimate Hollywood dream: having a successful career, rich, famous, easy living, simply a celebrity. Here, his Hollywood World is portrayed as something tangible and yet hard to reach for ordinary people, or at least for those who are not as famous and as rich as he is. Commodities are not a problem in this kind of life. Even women and cars, two of the most precious commodities nowadays, are perceived as affordable goods that can be easily purchased every night and can be effortlessly thrown away the next morning.In addition, social gatherings seem to be a disease in the Hollywood World, merely infecting not only celebrities but all those who have the money and the access to the neve r-ending parties on bars and restaurants. It is ironic though, since celebrities most of the times have hectic schedules that do not allow them to party anymore either because they have no free time at all or they are too tired to do so. Nevertheless, in Entourage, Vince Chase and his friends are often living their lives to the fullest by attending as much gatherings as they want.These kinds of scenarios were mainly the bait of the show to attract its viewers. Apart from the ability of the show to relate to its viewers, its dynamic and even tempting projection of the good life is something truly fantastical, and often used as bait for viewers to have then hook to a show that portrays the life they desire. For example, Vincent’s character, as being portrayed in the story, was a sure hook for the audience whose main desire is to know or to get even just a glimpse of his Hollywood World. Not all TV shows promise this kind of excitement.This show caters the primary need of the au dience to ‘sneak in’ to the kind of world that probably most of them have dreamed of once at some point in their lives. It does not matter if in reality they really cannot achieve this Hollywood dream of becoming a Hollywood celebrity; what is more important for them is that they have the means to at least know and be exposed with the Hollywood World. However, the show does not portray all the time this one-day-millionaire-kind of living by Vincent Chase and his friends. It is actually one of the many good things about the show.Hollywood World is not projected as something perfect. It also has the downsides and the loops. For example, the main characters also experience money problems. There was an instance in the 2nd season when Eric, Vince’s best friend and sometimes-manager reminded him that they have already run out of funds- that they are ‘dead broke’. They had to then resort to selling their posh mansion as consequence of financing the movie Me dellian, which is the dream movie of Vince. Even in the midst of fame, they seem to be unable to save and accumulate, because of a very extravagant lifestyle.This characteristic of the show clearly manifests its knowledge about the differences in the lives of an ordinary person and a celebrity like Vincent Chase. However, the show is also conscious about the similarities of the two—that they are both human beings living in the same planet with the same needs and wants and emotions. The show portrayed the life of Vincent Chase as far different from the lives of others, but it never fails to remind its audience that Vincent Chase, just like all of them, is a man with no extraordinary powers like a superhero.He also feels pain sometimes, he can be hurt and wounded, he can be fooled and downed, he can be the same as the rest. What: Demonstration As was aforementioned, one of the greatest strengths of the show is its capacity to portray to its audience the ups and the downs of the Hollywood World. Entourage also emphasizes the idea that the Hollywood World has also its negative side. Whether made intentionally or not, the characters of Drama and Turtle serve as the neutralizers for the grandiosity of Hollywood World being portrayed in the show.Their characters are examples that indeed life in Hollywood is not always a good life. For example, Drama, the brother of Vincent who is foreshadowed eventually by the success of the latter, shows that he can also be a normal, ordinary person even if he is also living the Hollywood World. In the show, he is the cook and the fitness consultant of his half- brother Vincent. Although a celebrity himself, Drama is able to show to the audience how difficult it was to maintain a living in LA. He has to earn more by accepting small commercial offers and movie projects.Sometimes, he has to receive ‘charitable’ works fro his younger brother. There are also times he has to use the status of Vincent to get some proje cts for himself. Being a celebrity is something that should in fact be earned, and not a definite consequence of having money. This star treatment or celebrity status is something that cannot be instantly purchased or bought by any rich person. In the show, Vincent and Drama both have to work hard in order to sustain their statuses, be it financial or social.On the other hand, the main role of Turtle in the show is basically to drive the car of Vincent and to manage the issues of the mansion. In the show, Turtle although at times is parasitic to Vincent, is one of the most loyal and closest to the star. He is actually the supplier of marijuana for the all of them. Again, through the character of Turtle in the show, Entourage has set an irony for the Hollywood World. In the case of Turtle, it is his job that describes that Hollywood is not only for the rich or for the famous ones. It has something to do with ‘connection’.Turtle is not rich and famous and yet he manages t o live the life he basically wanted, simply because he is a friend of a rich, famous celebrity. This two aspects portrayed in the characters of Drama and Turtle lead to one conclusion—that the Hollywood World can be achieved through hard work or through ‘parasitic connections’, or through the use of both. How: Complication It can be noted that the show is promoting unknowingly to its audience a consumerist way of thinking. Exposing to the rich way living, the audience will most likely to be a dreamer of the Hollywood life which they might not afford to have.It is common indeed for the audience to find such interest in shows that features seemingly unreachable things, which is definitely evident in the show, as it boasts parties and lifestyle that is reserved for the moneyed. Adelman notes that Vince Chase and his four friends are constantly surrounded by different things that prove their affluence like fine-dining, the very constant and normal use of marijuana, e ndless supply of beautiful women, and a very active social life to boast all worldly possessions.Adelman also mentions that most of the locations are those that are not accessible to the ordinary person. The TV series presents to the audience a dream life that keeps them interested and wishful. As a result, the audience might produce this thinking that happiness can only be found through social gatherings, weeds, women, cars, mansions, and all sorts of commercialized things. In addition, The show Entourage builds of the American Dream – or what we believe to be the American Dream, which keeps on echoing the theme of the show: that all can succeed.Yet it is quite ironical that the show portrays success as something that can be attained through simple means – like being a movie star, even without employment or hard work. This shows the paradox of the American Dream, where instant fame and fortune is the motivation of many people. The series would play on that desire and dream of the audience, who would then see that these ordinary guys can achieve their dream life. The element of having characters from humble beginnings is a factor that is also considerable, as it establishes a kind of relationship and connection to the audience.Their background is very typical indeed, and they grew up together and went to Hollywood to pursue their dream. This is the dream of all Americans, and it is interesting for them to see that these characters are able to attain their dream for them. With this lurking idea of consumerism being projected in the show, Entourage still is being realistic with its story. For example, the problem with money shows that even a celebrity like Vince Chase experiences money problems like the ordinary person – something that most Americans encounter today with their credit lifestyle.This culture of finances reflects the attitude of Americans, who lives on credit and therefore constantly in the edge in their respective financial st andings. Yet this dilemma is in itself a paradoxical one, as the financial problem of the celebrity is shallow indeed, as it was merely due to the want of financing a film. Furthermore, the captured audience of the show Entourage is largely males, which again establishes the argument that the show is actually promoting sexism.The show clearly identifies to the male viewers, as it continually depicts a lifestyle that is desired by the male: the harem of women, the constant gambling, weed, and parties, the supply of cars and gadgets. These are things that portray a difference in the lifestyle of the male audience as it pictures their own dream lifestyle. Yet aside from this differentiation, the identification factor is strong, as the characters encounters problems and dilemmas experienced by the normal male.The love life for example of Vince Chase is one that is the dream of any male, while the other characters have their respective attitudes and eventually outcomes in their own love life. The problems of friendship, family, and finances are also something that guys can identify and relate with. The popularity of the show among females is similarly increasing, and it is because of class and gender estrangement that they do, as some would argue. The shows appeal to the women is that they would be able to enter the â€Å"man's head†, which is essentially a result of gender difference.Women can identify to the objectification of the female, and can relate with how women are treated as objects. The offer of a look at the male psyche can serve as motivation for women to hence watch the show. Apart from the elaboration of identification and difference of gender as reasons for the show's popularity and appeal, another very notable explanation is that theme and context of the show itself, which is Hollywood. Entourage is appealing to the viewer because it gives them a peak at something that they find glamorous and attractive.The movie industry and its celebrities have always fascinated and mesmerized the American audience, and Entourage gives this audience a view of the celebrity lifestyle. It acquaints the viewer with what occurs behind the camera, and the countless challenges that publicists, producers, and actors themselves have to go through. As the industry is exposed in the series, it is portrayed to not be as glamorous as the audience imagines it. Why: ImplicationThe success of television shows like Entourage would at the end of the day be dependent on how it capable it is to attract and sustain the interest of the audience. The rationale for the popularity of reality shows is that it is in theory â€Å"real†. Yet these supposed realities are increasing becoming unreal and concocted, which is why the audience is continually searching for shows and series that they can relate with. The show Entourage reaches out to the audience, plays on their consciousness and desires, to keep attention to the series.However, Entourage is also portraying the image of the Hollywood dream in the psyche of the audience. It might be unintentional but the audience is actually forming in their minds the idea or thinking that Hollywood is indeed the best place on Earth. That it is the sole place where they can find all sort of things that will caters to all their desires and needs. The audience should be intelligent enough not to be easily affected with this kind of manipulations that are now being used by TV producers and media practitioners in attracting and gaining audience.

Gods and Goddesses of Norse Mythology

Gods and Goddesses of Norse Mythology When Ymir lived long agoWas no sand or sea, no surging waves.Nowhere was there earth nor heaven above.Bur a grinning gap and grass nowhere.- Và ¶lusp-The Song of the Sybil Although we know a little from observations made by Tacitus and Caesar, most of what we know of Norse mythology comes from Christian times, beginning with the Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson (c.1179-1241). Not only does this mean the myths and legends were written after the period when they were routinely believed, but Snorri, as is to be expected, occasionally intrudes his non-pagan, Christian worldview. Types of Gods The Norse gods are divided into 2 major groups, the Aesir and Vanir, plus the giants, who came first. Some believe the Vanir gods represent an older pantheon of the indigenous people whom the invading Indo-Europeans encountered. In the end, the Aesir, the newcomers, overcame and assimilated the Vanir. Georges Dumezil (1898-1986) thought the pantheon reflected the typical pattern of Indo-European gods where different divine factions hold different societal functions: military,religious, andeconomic. Tyr is the warrior god; Odin and Thor divide the functions of the religious and secular leaders and the Vanir are the producers. Norse Gods and Goddesses - VanirNjà ¶rdFreyrFreyjaNannaSkadeSvipdag or HermoNorse Gods and Goddesses - AesirOdinFriggThorTyrLokiHeimdallUllSifBragiIdunBalderVeViliVidarHà ¶dMirmirForsetiAegirRanHel The Gods Home Norse gods dont live on Mt. Olympus, but their abode is separate from that of humans. The world is a circular disk, in the center of which is a concentric circle surrounded by sea. This central portion is Midgard (Mià °garà °r), the home of mankind. Across the sea is the home of the giants, Jotunheim, also known as Utgard. The gods home lies above Midgard in Asgard (sgarà °r). Hel lies below Midgard in Niflheim. Snorri Sturluson says Asgard is in the middle of Midgard because, in his Christianization of the myths, he believed the gods were only ancient kings worshiped after the fact as gods. Other accounts place Asgard across a rainbow bridge from Midgard. 9 Worlds of Norse Mythology The Gods Death The Norse gods are not immortal in the normal sense. In the end, they and the world will be destroyed because of the actions of the evil or mischievous god Loki who, for now, endures Promethean  chains. Loki is the son or brother of Odin, but only through adoption. In reality, he is a giant (Jotnar), one of the sworn enemies of the Aesir. It is the Jotnar who will find the gods at Ragnarok and bring about the end of the world. Norse Mythology Resources Individual Norse Gods and Goddesses Next page  Ã‚  Creation of the World   Page 1,  2

Show how the state's role in providing welfare and assistance changed Essay

Show how the state's role in providing welfare and assistance changed between 1834 and 1911 and offer reasons for this development - Essay Example The Poor Laws of 1597 and 1601 passed in haste at the end of the Elizabethan era went on to form the basis of social welfare provision for over two hundred years (Hobsbawm, 1962, p. 300). These limited yet frequently required measures were administered with the priority of only assisting the paupers, the old, the unemployed, and the underemployed who were considered to be genuine (Schama, 2002, p. 420). Anybody that the Poor Law administrators believed to be undesearving of assistance had to find work, rely on the charity of others, turn to crime, or face starvation (Hobsbawm, 1975 p. 80). Sometimes to escape poverty in Britain, and to avoid the workhouse people emigrated to British colonies such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand to build a better live for themselves. The state was content to promote emigration because it strengthened control over colonies whilst reducing the number of poor people in Britain seeking welfare and assistance (Ferguson, 2003 p. 75) The politicians responsible for drafting and then passing the Poor Law Amendment Act in 1834 had the express objective of decreasing the cost of social welfare provision instead of broadening the scale not to mention the scope of the government’s involvement in society (Hobsbawm, 1962, p. 301). The Poor Law Amendment Act provided relief for the poorest and the less fortunate members of society but it came at a price for those people. It came at a price because the state in 1834 right through the rest of the 19th century aimed to tightly limit its role in providing welfare and assistance (Hobsbawm, 1987, p. 40). The restriction of state welfare and assistance measures to only the most desperate cases reflected the strong hold of classical liberal thought that the state should only intervene in economic affairs on a very limited basis (Eatwell & Wright, 2003 p.

Firm Growth and Competitive Advantage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Firm Growth and Competitive Advantage - Essay Example Firm growth may refer to a company’s rate of increase in a broad form of the economy with the ability to increase revenues that are helpful to the industry for a period of time. One time surge in form of revenues cannot be considered as the growth of a firm as this firm growth has to be demonstrated over long periods of time Whenever the discussion about firm growth is started, attention is drawn to major issues such as the theoretical research besides empirical research on the growth of the said firm. The said research further points out that expected rates of growth are quite independent, according to the Gibrat’s Law, from the size of the firm. Different factors have been proved to determine the dynamics of a firm. Firms should, therefore, play a major role in taking a forward step towards growth. More recent studies have pointed out that for the industrial revolution to be facilitated, then learning more about firm growth should be given the center stage for better results. Firms should, therefore, invest more in these learning activities that have a long-lasting effect on the organization’s well being. Ericson and Pakes’s model further states that just staying in the business also proved to provide the firm with relevant information on what exactly they are capable of during their inactive moments. Given the amount is seen from empirical work, the major point of concern should, therefore, be in dealing with some of the problems that arise from the selection of samples and the subsequent processes of censoring these samples after exiting of the firms.