Moby Dick Analysis Essay Example

Moby Dick Analysis Paper Literary Analysis of Moby Dick by Herman Melville Introduction The narrator in the beginning, Ishmael, announces his intent of becoming a whaler, and thus the story begins. Ishmael signs on to the Pequod under Captain Ahab, to hunt the legendary white whale, Moby Dick. After leaving the port in Nantucket, Ahab’s smuggled-on crew of harpooners emerge, one of which is valued for his prophetic abilities. The Pequod meets the Jeroboam, and doom is predicted for all that hunt Moby Dick. During another whale hunt, the slave boy Pip is left for dead, and goes insane, becoming the insane jester of the ship. Ahab meets a fellow victim of Moby Dick, and has a harpoon forged, baptizing it with the blood of the ship’s three harpooners. Feldallah predicts Ahab’s death by hemp rope, Ahab dismisses it, thinking he won’t die at sea. Ahab continues to push forward, and the first mate Starbuck, considers murdering Ahab in his sleep, but doesn’t. Pip is now Ahab’s constant companion. The Pequod meets two other whaling ships, being warned off Moby Dick’s trail each time and ignored. The whale is sighted, ships lowered, and Ahab’s ship is destroyed, and the second day Feldallah is killed. We will write a custom essay sample on Moby Dick Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Moby Dick Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Moby Dick Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer On the third and final day of the chase Moby Dick rams the Pequod, sinking it, and taking Ahab with it. The crew in the whaling boats are killed in the vortex created by the sinking ship and Moby Dick, and are pulled under to their deaths. Ishmael alone survives, having caught hold of the coffin life-buoy from the Pequod. This book really made me think about humanity and how easily it is damaged, and for that, I enjoyed it. Herman Melville and his times Herman Melville was born in New York City on August 1, 1819, the son of a wealthy merchant family, which later lost its money. Melville received the best education his father could afford, at the New York Male School. Melville possessed a roving disposition, and desired to support himself, independent of his family. He worked as a cabin boy on a New York ship bound for Liverpool, and after returning, wrote Redburn, based on his experiences while workingas professor at the Albany Academy. After three years as a professor, he embarked on a year and a half long whaling voyage. He deserted the ship and lived among cannibals, an experience on which he based Typee. He escaped with an Australian trader, and was imprisoned in Tahiti before returning to the U. S. These experiences were the inspiration for Moby Dick. After serving as a seaman in the U. S. navy, he married Elizabeth Shaw, and had four children. He lived for 13 years after marrying her, during which he wrote Moby Dick. The novel was originally not accepted, but the greatness of the novel was realized during the Melville Revival in the 1920s. Melville’s works fell on many unwelcoming ears; The ‘London Athenaeum’ reviewed it as being [A]n ill-compounded mixture of romance and matter-of-fact. The idea of a connected and collected story has obviously visited and abandoned its writer again and again in the course of composition. The style of his tale is in places disfigured by mad (rather than bad) English; and its catastrophe is hastily, weakly, and obscurely managed. Characters Ahab is a obsessed soul, much like the heroes of old Greek and Shakespeare. Ahab’s one fatal flaw is his obsession with the whale that took his leg, and the removal of the embodiment of evil from the world. Ahab’s obsession is best shown when he tells the captain of the Rachel â€Å"I will not do it [help him search for his lost son]. Even now I lose time. Good bye, good bye. God bless ye, man, and may I forgive myself, but I must go. † (579) As the captain of the Pequod, Ahab had the opportunity to save several fellow humans lives, and could not, or at least would not, because of his obsession with Moby Dick. He is sad man, as seen when Starbuck â€Å"saw the old man; saw him, how he heavily leaned over the side; and he seemed to hear in his own true heart the measureless sobbing that stole out of the centre of the serenity around. (590) Ahab realizes he is obsessed, but chooses to push on, feeling that he is responsible for freeing the ocean of this evil. Ahab is thoughtful in a sad manner, but also proud and egotistical, believing only he is capable of taking on Moby Dick. Ahab is a good human being, despite the detriments that are presented because of his physical and psychological scars. He wishes he could help Captain Gardiner find his lost son, but feels that it is his ultimate duty to pursue Moby Di ck and kill him, removing his evil from the world. While it seems that he is being coldhearted and leaving the son of Captain Gardiner to die, he is truly doing what is right for the good of the world. In his own mind, he has been charged with this monumental task, and can not allow the evil to threaten anyone else. This obsession is only reinforced when he meets the captain of the Jeroboam, who lost an arm to Moby Dick. Ahab sincerely believes that the best thing he can do is remove Moby Dick from existence, and so focuses on this goal of ultimate good, that he becomes blind to the damage he is doing, and the danger he is placing his crew in. Ahab functions as the driving force of the novel, bring up action and moral deliberation. Starbuck is the first mate of the ship, and serves as a foil of sorts to Ahab, a philosophical comparison to Ahab’s megalomaniac choices and personality. Starbuck, unlike Ahab, has family, and is a religious man. He is sober and conservative, and relies on his faith to determine what he should do and how to do it. He often tells Ahab that no good will come of his single-minded pursuit of the whale, arguing that the crew, in particular his own, safe return to family is the most important thing. Tis my Mary, my Mary herself! the boy’s hand on the hill! † (592). Starbuck is once again using his family and the impact that his death would have on them to try and convince Ahab that it would be better to let go of his obsession with Moby Dick. Flask simply enjoys the thrill of the hunt and takes pride in killing whales. He serves to show the other side of Ahab to the extreme. Flask is a short, stout, ruddy young fellow, very pugnacious concerning whales, who somehow seemed to think that the great Leviathans had personally and hereditarily affronted him (129). Flask shows how an obsession can consume the individual, to the point where they not only live and breathe that obsession, but fail to see that it is a bad thing that they are obsessed, instead enjoying it. Ahab knew that he was obsessed, to the point where he was beginning to lose himself. Flask, on the other hand, shows how that obsession can become a way of life, and how inhumane the obsessed individual can become. Point of View The novel is split into three main parts, the introduction and lead-up, the main story, and the epilogue. The first part is written in first person, with Ishmael as the narrator. It is reminiscent, written in past tense, as it occurred â€Å"some years ago† (3). Ishmael seems to be somewhat autobiographical, in that Melville worked on a whaling ship for 18 months before being seperated from it. The way in which Ishmael is introduced gives the reader the impression that they are reading an autobiography, which in point of fact, they kind of are. Melville opens the book by making it clear that he had experienced parts of the story. â€Å"Call me Ishmael. Some years ago nevermind how long precisely having little or no money in my purse (3). We know that Melville experienced the same conditions, and joined a whaling ship under those conditions, as he makes Ishmael. This makes it clear that Ishmael is an autobiographical representation of Melville’s experiences, if a little exaggerated. The second part forms the rest of the novel, and is in third person, with the exception of a few chapters, such as 44, that are written in second person. This part is written in both past and present tenses, leading the reader to the conclusion that it was abandoned and come back to many times. In this part the narrator is omniscient, so â€Å"these chapters sometimes, but not always, contain information that Ishmael can’t logically know, and yet, they still seem to use his voice or tone (Team). The Epilogue is written in first person again, bringing Ishmael back from oblivion. It is written much the same as the first part, in a reminiscent manner and with a personalization that leads the reader to believe that Melville is using Ishmael as an autobiographical outlet. Setting The novel is set on the oceans. As Ishmael put it, you could look over the side of the Pequod and see nothing but water; considerable horizon though, and there’s a squall coming up (16. 37). The Pequod sails over three oceans, and meets many other ships. However, the setting is always at open sea. This creates the atmosphere and feeling of singularity and loneliness, heavy with fear, doubt, and anger, because when sailing, the ocean appears to stretch on forever, leaving one feeling small and insignificant, which can instill fear into that individual. On top of this, there is the ever present nervous tension that whalers experience, knowing hey could easily die while chasing a whale. Form, structure, and plot Moby Dick is organized into 135 chapters and an epilogue, all of which follow a basic chronological order of events, although within the chapters themselves there are repeated references to past events, some of which were never seen in the novel because they occurred before Ishmael introduced himself an d began the voyage that forms the story. There are also multiple allusions to the Bible, Shakespeare, and other well-known literary works of that time in the majority of the chapters. The novel is obviously written with the use of stream of consciousness, a literary device that presents the thoughts and feelings of a character as they occur. This is a good thing, as far as drawing the reader into the story, but it also reveals that Melville abandoned the work and returned to it, multiple times. These gaps, which are often created in works that employ the stream of consciousness that are written in spurts, can be extremely noticeable and create confusion for its readers. This confusion is entirely unnecessary for the reader to experience, however, because the plot is fairly simple and straightforward. Melville’s story appears complicated, but it is rather simple when one overcomes the confusion that is created by stream-of-consciousness writing. There is no initial conflict, although we know that the entire chain of events was set into motion by the loss of Ahab’s leg to Moby Dick. The action rises almost imperceptibly until the chase of Moby Dick begins, and the action climaxes with the sinking of the Pequod. Style and diction Herman Melville makes his ideas come alive by writing in stream of consciousness, and the use of words associated with sailing and whaling, and vivid imagery. There is a lot of dialect use to allow the reader to get the full mental picture of the people in the novel. In consequence, the language comes off as flowery: â€Å"a sweet an unctuous duty! †¦ and spiralize† (455). The language of this novel is often rough around the edges, but not to the point of being lewd. The choice of words and dialect for each character is such that you can infer, with some accuracy, the social status and region that that particular character is supposed to be from. Their education, however, is more difficult to assume. Although Ahab’s language is not the best, we assume him to be educated to a higher level than other characters, such as Flask. This is due to the subject and content of his speeches, that we assume him to have a superior education. Themes (at least 3, at least 2 critical reviews of the novel which reinforce selections) There are four major themes in Moby Dick, defiance, friendship, duty, and death. Defiance is best shown by looking at Ahab, who is constantly trying to defy God, or the rules of nature, or the so-called â€Å"evil authority† of Moby Dick. After Starbuck tells Ahab that it is blasphemous to seek revenge on a brute such a a whale, when it was only following instinct and protecting itself, Ahab responds that he would â€Å"strike the sun if it insulted me† (178). Ahab continues on to explain how Moby Dick represents an authority with power over Ahab that must be removed. Ahab’s refusal to accept this authority is constant throughout the novel, showing the theme of defiance. â€Å"It [the novel] is about one man’s maniacal obsession with vengeance. It’s about finding an object on which to pin all your anger and fear and rage, not only about your own suffering, but also about the suffering of all mankind. It’s about the inability to understand that you can’t punish the natural world, and that Nature isn’t specifically malicious, just impersonally brutal. It’s about the way that the desire for revenge can eat away at you until it becomes something inhabiting your body, something separate from your own personality. † (Team). Ahab’s refusal to understand that nature is not responsible for the bad things that happen to one, and that that person has to put it behind them, and give up on revenge, is perhaps his biggest act of defiance. The second theme, friendship, is primarily found when looking at Ishmael and Queequeg, who meet under awkward circumstances while sharing a bed at the Spouter Inn. Their friendship starts of on rocky straits, after Queequeg threatens Ishmael’s life. However, having similar backgrounds, they begin talking and come to accept each other. â€Å"They smoke together, and are clasped in each other’s arms. The friendship is finally sealed when Ishmael offers a sacrifice to Queequeg’s little doll, Gogo† (Selby 37). Friendship and camaraderie are felt by all members of the crew, as described in the scene about the crew’s actions when dealing with whale blubber. Duty is shown in both Starbuck and Ahab. Starbuck is a religious man, and feels duty to both God, and his family. Ahab feels duty to find and kill the white whale. The entire crew has allotted duties, as shown when the first â€Å"Nantucket sailor, who objected to them, sings a song of a practical character, descriptive of the work expected of whalemen, which is indicative of duty† (Gleim 143). Unfortunately for the entire crew, Ahab is the captain, and so his duty is the one that is the first duty fulfilled. While Starbuck and Ahab often clash over which duty is the right one, and which one is to be fulfilled, Starbuck’s wiser choices are pushed aside because of Ahab’s superior rank, leading to death of the entire crew. Death is also a constant theme for the duration of the novel. The inn-keeper at the beginning of the novel is named Coffin, and in the end the only surviving piece of the Pequod is the coffin lifebuoy. While death is not the most prominent, or thought about theme, it is also fairly obvious. Throughout the novel both whales and whalers die, and in the end everyone buy Ishmael dies. This theme is fairly easy to see when thought about. Conclusion This novel is definitely a classic in my opinion. It has managed to outlast many generations, and is still esteemed as a great novel and reflection on humanity, obsession, and death. I would say that, while this novel is one of my favorites, it is definitely not my favorite. East of Eden, by John Steinbeck, would be my favorite. But Moby Dick definitely comes in as a close second. I enjoy novels that make the reader think about humanity, and reflect on his or her own individuality, flaws, and possible ways to improve oneself. Moby Dick most certainly does that. Bibliography Shmoop Editorial Team. Moby-Dick Narrator:. Shmoop. com. Shmoop University, Inc. , 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 13 Dec 2010. Nick Selby. â€Å"Herman Melville, Moby Dick. † Columbia University Press, 1999 William S. Gleim. â€Å"The Meaning of Moby Dick. † Kessinger Publishing, 2006

How useful is the term avant-garde in explaining the development of art in Europe between

How useful is the term avant-garde in explaining the development of art in Europe between 1900-1939? Between 1900-1939 there were many different movements in art mainly due to two reasons, modernisation and the First World War. The term avant-garde does not have one single meaning and has become synonymous with the evolving modern movement of art. Although art for arts sake is a term not often used positively today this modernist sense of the avant-garde relates to that tradition insofar as art is not seen to require any external justification ethical or political for its products . However looking at the term in historical context the term has a different provenance. The term was used for the first time in the 1830s not in a debate concerning art but in the early socialist tradition as left-wing intellectuals and politicians tried to think through concepts of progress and freedom in emerging modern societies . In his book Opinions litteraires, philosophiques et industrielles Henri de Saint Simon the French Utopian Socialist philosopher used for the first time the term av ant-garde in the relation to art. Saint-Simon constructed an imaginary debate between an artist, a savant (a scie!ntific or technical intellectual) and an industrialist. The artist proposes that he, the savant and the industrialist should join forces and ensure social progress rather than relying on ruling classes to exercise leadership in society. We, the artists, will serve as the avant-garde: for amongst all the arms at our disposal, the power of the Arts is the swiftest and most expeditious. When we wish to spread new ideas amongst men, we use, in turn, the lyre, ode or song, story or novel; we inscribe those ideas on marble or canvas, and we popularise them in poetry them in poetry and in song.... If today our role seems limited or...

Affects of the cycle of poverty on children in Victorian England Research Paper

Affects of the cycle of poverty on children in Victorian England - Research Paper Example In the play viewers come across the topic of confrontation between working class and bourgeoisie. In order to understand the depth of these processes it is necessary to resort to Marxist criticism. Thus, Marxist approach is based on the idea that it is necessary to equate different social classes, or in other words – to empower lower class. Working class is considered to be on the bottom of the society, while the authorities are referred to as those who control all the aspects of social life. Marxist criticism refuses from such a position. According to its principles, the control over economic, financial, and cultural life should first and foremost belong to working class. Viewers may observe characters of the play attempting to rebel against social realities. Thus, social inequality is one of the most acute and challenging issues of the Victorian era. Toby Ragg, Todd’s apprentice, and Sweeney Todd himself may be seen as representatives of the lower class, while Judge Turnip represents the ruling class. It is possible to see that lower class is morally opposed to the higher class. Thus, Judge Turnip represents evil. It is difficult to say that Toby represents goodness, though partially he does. This is just an innocent child who becomes a victim of circumstances. Toby is too weak to resist the flow of life. His biography may illustrate this. This is an orphan, hired by Mrs. Lovett  after his previous employer was murdered by Todd. Very soon the boy becomes deeply attached to Mrs. Lovett – he accepts her as his surrogate mother. Todd’s business is flourishing, which means that Toby is not hungry and has a roof over his head. A lot of children of the Victorian era could be envious with him. However, his life changes soon. Todd and Mrs. Lovett start hunting for him as he discovers their secret. Toby is shocked and astonished with atrocities Todd has

Subcontracting strategy for future SBM offshore projects and its Dissertation

Subcontracting strategy for future SBM offshore projects and its implemetntation - Dissertation Example Subcontractors have increasingly become important players in enhancing the productivity and economic strategies of a company. However, not much empirical studies have been done on these issues. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the process of subcontracting and find options for optimizing the value chain in the oil & gas industry by reviewing and analyzing previously written literature on the chosen topic for the research. In the literature review section, the concepts of subcontracting, risk management, contracts, project management, supply chain management, value chain and transaction cost theory are discussed. A single case study was applied in this thesis. The company chosen for the case study is SBM Offshore and is located in Netherlands. To carry out the research, a qualitative research approach was implemented. Primary data was collected through semi structured interviews. In addition to this, secondary data from different sources such as articles, journals, boo ks and company resources were used to construct or build the theoretical frame of reference for the thesis. The subcontracting philosophy should stipulate that the scope of the work to be subcontracted will be determined by risk assessment and performance of subcontracting companies. Also, contract requirements will meet regulatory compliance of safety and performance along with meeting the company’s standards. Table of Contents Acknowledgements 2 Abstract 3 List of Tables 6 List of Figures 6 CHAPTER ONE 1 1.0 Introduction 1 1.2 Background of the Study 2 1.3 Statement of the Problem 3 1.4 Purpose of the report 3 1.5 Introduction to SBM Offshore 4 1.6 Overview of Operations 4 1.7 Project Aims and Objectives 5 1.8 Project Objectives 5 CHAPTER TWO 7 2.0 Literature Review 7 2.1 Project Management 7 2.2 Subcontracting 8 2.3 Contracts 8 2.3 Risk Management 9 2.4 Theoretical and Conceptual Framework 11 2.4.1 Transaction cost analysis (TCA) 11 2.4.2 Supply chain management theory 14 2.4.3 Porter’s value chain 15 CHAPTER THREE 17 3.0 Research Methodology 17 3.1 Research Design 17 3.3 Research Strategy 18 3.4 Case study Approach 18 3.5 Population 19 3.6 Data Collection and Instrumentation 19 3.7 Data Analysis 20 3.8 Ethical Considerations 21 3.9 Limitations and De-limitations 22 CHAPTER FOUR 23 4.0 Data Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation 23 4.1 Quantitative Study 24 4.1.0 Participant Demographics 24 4.1.1 Subcontracted work 25 4.2 Case Study Analysis 26 4.3 Subcontracting Scope of Work 28 4.3.1 Structural topsides 29 4.3.2 Piping 30 4.3.3 Electrical 30 4.3.4 Instrumentation 30 4.4 Subcontracting Strategies 30 4.4.1 Lump sum or reimbursable contract 31 4.4.2 Subcontract strategy 31 4.4.3 Scope control 32 CHAPTER FIVE 35 5.0 Conclusion 35 References 36 Appendix I – Engineering deliverables by design phase 41 List of Tables Table 1: Demographics of the study participants....................

Ballet Don Quixote Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ballet Don Quixote - Essay Example Th first Russin production ws producd by Chrls Didlot in two cts in St Ptrsburg in 1808, nd in 1809 vrsion ws mountd in nglnd by Jms Hrvy D'gvill. Pul Tglioni (brothr of bllrin Mri Tglioni) prsntd vrsion in Brlin in 1839 nd his uncl Slvtor Tglioni st production t th Ttro Rgio, Turin during th 1843/44 sson. lthough ll ths rly bllt vrsions of th story wr bsd on th first pisods of Crvnts story thy vrid grtly in styl nd th mtril thy chos to includ. Th first tim tht th mor comic pisods, tht rvolvd round Quitri (Kitri), Bsilio nd Cmcho (Gmch) wr usd succssfully ws in th Pris Opr production of 1801 with chorogrphy by Louis Milon. It ws titld Ls Nocs d Gmch. Th rol of Bsilio ws dncd by ugust Vstris. Th librtto tht ws followd by ugust Bournonvill in 1837 for his 3 ct Don Quixot t Cmcho's Wdding in Copnhgn for this production bcm populr nd it ws chorogrphd to mlng of music by Giocchino Rossini, tinn Mhul, Gspr Spontini, Jn Schnitzhoffr nd mor, rrngd by Otto Zinck. Milon's librtto ws lso usd by Brnrdo Vstris for his 1844/45 production t L Scl, but most notbly it ws th inspirtion for Mrius Ptip's vrsion for th Bolshoi Thtr in 1869. Ptip's vrsion of Don Quixot, to th music of Minkus who ws commissiond to writ dditionl music for nw fifth ct consisting of thr scns into which th court of Duk nd Duchss ws introducd ws to bcom th stndrd bllt vrsion of th tl. Ltr on Don Quixot ws introducd in Moscow, nd this xplins lot. Th 19th cntury critics lvishd pris on th prmir, clling th nw bllt " vision of rsplndnc, splndor nd luxury throughout" - in thtricl crnivl ur, torrid Spnish moods, pripthis of plot nd crtinly, th flming dncs, by which Ptip in th brk of his crr clbrts victory ovr his jlous comptitors. In 1900 th bllt xprincs rnissnc whn lxndr Gorsky crts his own vrsion for th Mriinsky Thtr in St Ptrsburg. Th honstly positiv plot of Lo Minkus' bllt Don Quixot in 1869 is difficult to compr with Crvnts' novl, which cn b clld th grtst stir on humn nthusism. Th chrctrs of th sddst of th knights nd his fithful squir r dpictd in too gnrl stroks. Both bllt composrs - th chif Kpllmistr of th Moscow Bolshoi Thtr, th outstnding violinist nd uthor of 16 bllts Lo Minkus nd th Chif of th Impril bllt, n dvnturr nd wndrr, th lgndry chorogrphr Mrius Ptip - vn did not try to sk sthticlly idlistic dpth in Crvnts' litrry work. Thir prtnrship is missing logicl progrss of plot. Th succss nd nduring ttrction of th bllt Don Quixot lis in th lmnt of dnc. dnc phrs cn somtims ovrlp its ssocitd music. " Sinc thn, Don Quixot hs continud to b forgd in mny chorogrphic nd musicl vrsions. Th Octobr Rvolution of 1917 incrsd trror nd slughtrs cross Russi. In its wk, Nichols Srgyv fld to th Wst. H could only tk wht ws ssntil: food, clothing nd th chorogrphy to th clssic bllts. fw yrs ltr, thnks to Srgyv, Wstrn udincs got s th full lngth vrsion of Don Quixot for th first tim. It ws not wht thy xpctd. Th Spnish pnch nd fir is no doubt wht involvd chorogrphr Mrius Ptip to th proprty in th first plc. nd it's ttrctd just bout vry dncr sinc. Ordinrily, this typ of dncing isn't tht much of posr for dncr - but in Don Quixot, thr's n ddd twist. Ptip's chorogrphy isn't ntirly fithful to th idiom. It's mor lik 'brokn Spnish.' Ptip's bility

Dixons Takeover of Elkjøp

Dixons Takeover of Elkjà ¸p The agreed takeover of Elkjà ¸p by Dixons Contents (Jump to) Abstract Chapter 2 – Literature Review Chapter 3 Sources of Data Chapter 4 Research Design, and Statistical Analysis Chapter 5 Conclusion Bibliography Abstract The roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors, Chief Operating Officer, or Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and the remainder of upper management of a listed company, as stated by Jayne Mammatt, Senior Manager at Ernst and Young, â€Å"†¦ have become increasingly onerous in recent years† (Ernst Young, 2006). The key purpose of the Board of Directors is â€Å"†¦ to ensure the †¦Ã¢â‚¬  prosperity of a company by â€Å"†¦ directing the company’s affairs whilst meeting the appropriate interests of its shareholders †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (BREFI group, 2006). The role of the Board of Directors is to (BREFI group, 2006): Establish vision, mission and values, Set strategy and structure, Delegate to management, and Exercise accountability to shareholders and be responsible to relevant stakeholders. The preceding statement bears particular relevance concerning the subject of the acquisition of Elkjà ¸p by Dixons and whether said acquisition will result in a gain in shareholder wealth. The question posed as to the fact that there is evidence that domestic acquisitions do not lead to shareholder wealth gains is borne out in studies conducted by Doukas and Travlos (1988, pp. 1161-1175) and Markides and Ittner (1994, pp. 343-366). Thus, in the case of the acquisition of Elkjà ¸p by Dixons the question to be examined is, if there is any reason to suppose that a cross-border acquisition would be different in terms of leading to shareholder wealth gains? Dixons is one of the largest retailers of electronic products in the Europe, operating in over 12 countries (DSG International plc, 2006a). The company, Dixons Group plc, is presently known as DSG International (UK Business Park, 1999), however it shall be referred to as Dixons in this examination. The company operates in the following sectors under a number of brand names which the company has acquired or set up operations under its own brand (DSG International plc, 2006b): Electricals Currys Electro World Elkjà ¸p Kotsovolos Partmaster Direct UniEuro DSG Insurance Services Computing DSG Business Services Genesis PC City PC World PC World Business The TechGuys e-commerce Dixons.co.uk Pixmania.com The company earned  £7,072,000,000 during 1005 – 2006 and generated  £317,600,000 in profits before tax (DSG International plc, 2006). Elkjà ¸p ASA is the largest wholesale and retail seller of electronic equipment in the Nordic Region with outlets located in Norway, Sweden and Denmark (Business.com, 2006) generating approximately  £475 million in sales in 1999 (Dixons Group plc, 2000/02, p. 3). Dixons has been an acquisition minded company, utilizing this technique to expand into new markets as well as broaden its base of operations in the same mode as Wal-Mart which utilizes the buy in approach to enter markets as opposed to setting up new operations from scratch. The foregoing is evidenced by its acquisition of ASDA in the United Kingdom and planned acquisition of Taiwanese retail Trust-Mart in China (Barboza and Barbaro, 2006). In 1999 Dixons acquired the Norwegian electrical retailer Elkjà ¸p for  £444 million to establish a significant foothold in the markets o f Denmark, Norway and Sweden, as well as a platform for the launch of other branded stores in its portfolio (UK Business Park, 1999). The expansion represents a long standing policy of the company which has acquired (UK Business Park, 1999): 1996, DN Computer Services, a mail order computer company for  £9.7 million 1998, Byte, a computer retailing business acquired from Specialist Computer Holdings for  £7 million to add its 16 outlets to the chain of 50 PC World stores 1999, a chain of 39 electronic retail stores from Seeboard for  £20 million 1998, a stake in with Planet Online to aid in Internet computer sales 1999, an investment in U.S. based Telepost Holdings for  £6 million to expand its Internet based business services 1999, acquisition of Elkjà ¸p for  £444 million 2000, acquisition of Ei System Computer in Spain for  £16 million to add 12 stores to its business line 2000, a 15% stake in Greek electronics retailer P. Kotsovolos for  £44 million 2001, the acquisition of the Danish company SuperRadio, a chain of electronics superstores 2001, the acquisition of a 24% stake in the Italian electrical retailer UniEuro for  £64 million, 2002, the acquisition of Direct Telephone Services, a mobile phone provider for  £31 million 2002, the acquisition of the remaining shares of UniEuro’s 88 stores for an additional  £231 million 2004, the acquisition of WHSU, known as Micro Warehouse, to expand its PC World operations 2005, Dixons changed its name to DSG International The indicated deals point to the management strategy of expansion through acquisition as a long term business plan, of which Elkjà ¸p was another link in that process. This examination shall seek to examine the statement as to whether the instance of the cross border acquisition of Elkjà ¸p by Dixons has lead to a gain in shareholder wealth in light of the statement that there is a sufficient body of evidence in domestic acquisitions that such transactions do not, in most instances, lead to gains in this area. The foregoing question shall be examined through research conducted into the pre and post merger standings of Dixons, as well as other indicators of shareholder values as represented by stock prices, assets, and revenue growth. As stated by Broxterman and Murad (1999, p. 3) the objective and concern of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer and upper management staff is to â€Å"†¦ increase shareholder value†. They state that this is measurable through the following means (Broxterman and Murad (1999, p. 3): Return on Capital Invested, or EVA (Economic Value Added) This term has become a popular metric that measures the trend of an improvement or a decline in shareholder value, and in the instance of public companies this is reflected in the stock price. Accordingly, an increase in shareholder value moves stock prices upward, whereas a decline in this metric sends them downward. Groves (2006) states that in simple terms, a company increases shareholder value through either a reduction in â€Å"†¦ its cost base whilst maintaining revenue †¦Ã¢â‚¬  and or through increasing â€Å"†¦ its revenue whilst maintaining or reducing its cost base†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Bierman (2006, pp. 1-2) makes the same argument, stating that â€Å"Business corporations attempt to make profits and increase the value of the stockholder’s position†. These theories apply to acquisition activity as well, as these transactions represent a facet of corporate strategy to expand their operations and to increase their profit Rappaport, 1997, pp. 14-29). Such can also result, increased profits, from economies of scale, which is the reduction of duplicate operations that thus lowers costs in administration, warehousing, manufacturing, delivery, supply chains and allied functions. Utilizing the foregoing as a guide, research into these aspects will provide definitive in formation to equate whether an acquisition has met these conditions as indicated above. Dixons’ management strategies have functioned in much the same manner as the fabled John F. Welch, Jr., the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Electric during their storied years in that â€Å"Who knows what they’ll buy or sell next?† (Higgins, 2000, p. 10). This illustration has been utilized because between 1987 and 1988 General Electric’s â€Å"†¦ return on shareholders equity increased from 17.6 percent in 1986 to 18.5 percent in 1987 and to 19.4 percent in 1888 †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Higgins, 2000, p. 9). Furthermore â€Å"†¦ the company’s balance sheet and cash flow remained strong during this period †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Higgins, 2000, p. 9). Despite the foregoing the company’s share price did not reflect this performance as a result of the â€Å"†¦ perception of outsiders †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Higgins, 2000, p. 9). The foresight of Welsh and General Electric was acknowledged nearly a decade later when Noel Tichy, a corporate analyst said â€Å"The two greatest corporate leaders of this century are Alfred Sloan of General Motors and Jack Welsh of GE† (Higgins, 2000, p. 10). The preceding represents the spirit of the examination of Dixons, in that their acquisition minded strategy is seemingly challenged in the same manner. Chapter 2 – Literature Review In researching the subject as to whether there is any reason to believe that the cross border acquisition, as represented by Dixons of Elkjà ¸p, should or does represent a difference between domestic acquisitions which by and large have proven not to lead to an increase in shareholder wealth, there is evidence to prove such is not necessarily the case. Jarrel and Poulsen (1889, pp. 12-19) support the analysis that domestic acquisitions do not generally lead to shareholder increases in their analysis as reported in â€Å"The Returns to Acquiring Firms in Tender Offers: Evidence from Three Decades.†, as does Loder and Martin (1990, pp. 17-33) in â€Å"Corporate Acquisitions by Listed Firms: The Experience of a Comprehensive Sample†. Doukas and Travlos (1988, pp. 1161-1175) in â€Å"The Effects of Corporate Multinationalism on Shareholders’ Wealth†, Markides and Ittner’s (1994, pp. 343-366) Shareholder Benefits from Corporate International Diversifica tion:† as well as Yeung and Morck (1992, pp. 41-56) in â€Å"Internationalization: An Event Study Test† point to evidence that companies in comparison achieved better result from international acquisitions. The preceding authors explain the improved results concerning gains as being a factor of market synergies. A review of the Annual Reports of Dixons and Elkjà ¸p for the periods between 1999 through 2005-2006 represented a key source of direct information concerning the earnings of the firms which in term could be correlated against the stock prices for said periods. As stated by Higgins (2000, p. 9) in his book â€Å"Best Practices in Global Investor Relations: The Creation of Shareholder Value†, the activity registered by stock prices might not accurately reflect the performance of the company, however, the preceding analogy referred to the inception of diversified merger and acquisition strategy in the 1980’s by Jack Welsh of General Electric, whose principle are understood now. Chapter 3 – Sources of Data In equating whether Dixons management strategy in the acquisition of Elkjà ¸p has added to shareholder value, the analysis of a number of sources shall be utilized to bring forth data to enable a determination to be reached. Past history as represented in the Annual Reports for both companies represents the most relevant data concerning revenues, profit and related data. Internet sources present the opportunity to examine stock prices from a present day and historical basis to correlate against the revenue result achieved in various years to reach a determination of the preceding in generating shareholder wealth. The utilization of books and journal articles represent sources that will aid in reviewing theory as well as foundational and theoretical information on shareholder wealth as well as the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors and upper management in this regard. Internet sources represent the means to seek information not only on theoretical aspects as mentioned previously, but information on company activities as reported in various newspapers and press releases. The combinations of these sources will permit a balanced view as to equating the examination of the question, thus all shall be utilized. Chapter 4 – Research Design, and Statistical Analysis The design of the research is to present the factual accounting and stock share price data as the conclusive means via which to reach a determination as to if the acquisition of Elkjà ¸p by Dixons has or has not resulted in gains to shareholder wealth. This approach has been taken as a result of studies and information as provided by Doukas and Travlos (1988, pp. 1161-1175) and Markides and Ittner (1994, pp. 343-366) on international acquisitions, as well as the internet source of BREFI (2006) that outlined the roll of the Board of Directors, along with Broxterman and Murad’s (1999, p. 3) insights into ‘return on capital invested, or EVA (Economic Value Added). The summary of financial activity with respect to Dixon’s acquisition of Elkjà ¸p is contained in the following Table: Table 1 – Dixons Acquisition of Elkjà ¸p Financial Summary 1998 through 2006 (in  £millions) (Dixons Annual Reports, 1999 through 2005/06) The foregoing statistical figures have been compiled in keeping with the stated aims and objectives of this examination as well as to present the actual results of operations. This Table effectively indicates that Dixons share prices have increased since its acquisition of Elkjà ¸p, as have revenues. Chapter 5 Conclusion Dixons acquisition of Elkjob represents one of a string of acquisitions performed by the company since 1999. Elkjà ¸p’s revenues during the period 2004/05 were  £1,003m (Dixons, 2004/05) with 2005/06 sales registering in excess of 1,500m (contentmanager.net, 2006). Considering that Dixsons paid  £444 for Elkjà ¸p in 1999, the earnings clearly indicate that Dixons has received more than its money’s worth in return. The stock price and revenues figures clearly prove that in this instance Elkjà ¸p’s as well as Dixons shareholders have benefited from this acquisition, as well as the other acquisitions and company actions since 1999. Given that Economic Value Added, as stated by Broxterman and Murad (1999, p. 3) is the key determinant of shareholder vale, Dixons has demonstrated that their concern for shareholder value has been met. The dramatic gains made by the company are a result of its overall approach to management of the firm’s resources, as well as continued expansion and growth. These principles have boded well for Elkjà ¸p’s shareholders, as well as Dixons. Bibliography Barboza, D., Barbaro, M. (2006) Wal-Mart said to be acquiring chain in China. 16 October 2006. The New York Times Bierman, H. (2006) Increasing Shareholder Value. Springer Publications BREFI group (2006) The Board of Directors – roles and responsibilities. Retrieved ion 22 November 2006 from http://www.brefigroup.co.uk/resources/board_roles.html Broxterman, W., Murad, D. (1999) Enhancing Shareholder Value. 23 September 1999. FEICA 1999 Conference, Lucerne, Switzerland Business.com (2006) Elkjà ¸p Asa. Retrieved on 22 November 2006 from http://www.business.com/directory/retail_and_consumer_services/consumer_electronics/Elkjà ¸p_asa/profile/ CNN Money (1999) Freeserve IPO: Get on line. Retrieved 25 November 2006 from http://money.cnn.com/1999/07/23/europe/freeserve/ CNN Money (2000) Wanadoo buys Freeserve. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://money.cnn.com/2000/12/06/europe/wanadoo_freeserve/index.htm Contentmanager.net (2006) Intershop Successful in Scandinavia. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://www.contentmanager.net/magazine/news_h13704_intershop_successful_in_scandinavia.html Dixons Group plc (2000/01) Annual Report Accounts. Retrieved on 22 November 2006 from http://www.dsgiplc.com/Uploads/{2d89b6c1-29a2-4221-a5de-d6aff784de21}/annual report 2000_2001.pdf Dixon (2003) Annual Report. Retrieved on 23 November 2006 from http://images.dixons.com/corporate_new/images/annual_reports/Annual03_04/Elkjà ¸p.htm Dixons (2004/05) Annual Report. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://www.dsgiplc.com/Uploads/{2fbeed95-0410-4b7c-b306-d433c8d5424b}/Annual report 2004 05.pdf Doukas, J., Travlos, N. (1988) The Effects of Corporate Multinationlism on Shareholders’ Wealth: Evidence from International Acquisitions. Vol. 43. Journal of Finance DSG International plc (2006) Annual Report and Accounts 2005/06. Retrieved on 22 November 2006 from http://www.dsgiplc.com/Uploads/{b1ce5112-673c-45f2-a4cd-989bab7feda2}/fv ar0506.pdf DGS international plc (2006) Our Brands. Retrieved on 22 November 2006 from http://www.dsgiplc.com/Layout.aspx?CatID=9c8bcdca-948a-44e5-b7a7-60bd761d7017ID=7df99862-91cb-490d-ad89-38ac1764e880 DSG international plc (2006a) Our History. Retrieved on 22 November 2006 from http://www.dsgiplc.com/layout.aspx?ID=6568d063-24f8-4c3d-a7b7-6aa675e64775CatID=86e81cbe-a91d-4490-8726-5d37e765e6c2 Ernest Young (2006) Ernst Young Launches Company Director’s Handbook. 24 March 2004. Retrieved on 22 November 2006 from http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf/South_Africa/Governance__Sustainability_-_Company_Directors Google (2006) DSG International plc. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://google.com/finance?cid=3785532 Groves, J. (2006) Maximizing Shareholder Value. Retrieved on 24 November 2006 from http://www.captive.com/service/marsh/shareholder_value.html Higgins, R. (2000) Best Practices in Global Investor Relations: The Creation of Shareholder Value. Quorum Books Jarrell, G., Poulsen, A. (1989) The Returns to Acquiring Firms in Tender Offers: Evidence from Three Decades. Vol. 18. Financial Management Loderer, C., Martin, K. (1990) Corporate Acquisitions by Listed Firms: The Experience of a Comprehensive Sample. Vol. 19. Financial Management Markides, C., Ittner, C. (1994) Shareholder Benefits from Corporate International Diversification:: Evidence from U.S. International Acquisitions. Vol. 25, Issue 2. Journal of International Business Studies Rappaport, A. (1997) Creating Shareholder Value: A Guide for Managers and Investors. Free Press UK Business Park (1999) Dixons. Retrieved on 23 November 2006 from http://www.ukbusinesspark.co.uk/dixonsaa.htm VNU Network (2006) EB Beats Dixons to make bid for Game. Retrieved on 25 November 2006 from http://www.vnunet.com/articles/print/2005144 Yeung, B., Morck, R. (1992) Internationalization: An Event Study Test. August 1992. Journal of International Economics

Volpone :: volpone

Volpone  Ã‚   Volpone was first brought out at the Globe Theatre in 1605 and printed in quarto in 1607, after having been acted with great applause at both Universities, and was republished by Jonson in 1616 without alterations or additions. Volpone is undoubtedly the finest comedy in the English language outside the works of Shakespeare. Daring and forcible in conception, brilliant and faultless in execution, its extraordinary merits have excited the enthusiasm of all critics. The great French historian of English literature, Henri Taine, has devoted to it some of the most splendid pages of his famous work. â€Å"Volpone,† he exclaims, Å“uvre sublime, la plus vive peinture des mÅ“urs du sià ¨cle, oà ¹ s’à ©tale la pleine beautà © des convoitises mà ©chantes, oà ¹ la luxure, la cruautà ©, l’amour de l’or, l’impudeur de vice, dà ©ploient une poesie sinistre et splendide, digne d’une bacchanale du Titien. In none other of his plays, not even in The Alchemist, in Bartholomew Fair, or in The Silent Woman, is Ben Jonson’s prodigious intellect and ardent satirical genius so perfectly revealed as in Volpone. The whole of Juvenal’s satires are not more full of scorn and indignation than this one play, and the portraits which the Latin poet has given us of the letchers, dotards, pimps and parasites of Rome, are not drawn with a more passionate virulence than the English dramatist has displayed in the portrayal of the Venetian magnifico, his creatures and his gulls. Like Le Misanthrope, Le Festin de Pierre, like L’Avare, Volpone might more fitly be styled a tragedy, for the pitiless unmasking of the fox at the conclusion of the play is terrible rather than sufficient. Volpone is a splendid sinner and compels our admiration by the fineness and very excess of his wickedness. We are scarcely shocked by his lust, so magnificent is the vehemence of his passion, and we marvel a nd are aghast rather than disgusted at his cunning and audacity. As Mr. Swinburne observes, â€Å"there is something throughout of the lion as well as the fox in this original and incomparable figure.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Volpone’s capacity for pleasure is even greater than his capacity for crime, and Ben Jonson has added to these two salient characteristics a third, which is equally dominant in the Italian—the passion for the theatre. Disguise, costume, and the attitude have an irresistible attraction for him, the blood of the mime is in his veins.

Kant on the Nature of Genius

Kant was an 18th century German philosopher whose work initiated dramatic changes in the fields of epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, and teleology. Like many Enlightenment thinkers, he held our mental faculty of reason invests the world we experience with structure. In his works on aesthetics and teleology, he argued that it is our faculty of judgment that enables us to have experience of beauty and grasp those experiences as part of an ordered, natural world with purpose.In the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, genius is the ability to independently arrive at and understand concepts that would normally have to be taught by another person. An essential character of â€Å"genius† for Kant is originality, or a talent for producing ideas which can be described as non-imitative. In the Critique of Judgment (1790) Kant defines genius as an artist capable of articulating truths or understanding in an imaginative, and uniquely creative way [1]. The articulation of the truths or understanding involves both a judgment by a viewer and the methodology by which it is created, and that specific criteria for both must be present for the designation of â€Å"genius†.   Kant assumes that the cognition involved in judging art is similar to the cognition involved in judging natural beauty.Thus, while two objects may have aesthetic beauty but the way they are created imparts the object with â€Å"soul†.   Kant argues that art can be tasteful (that is, agree with aesthetic judgment) and yet be ‘soulless' – lacking that certain something that would make it more than just an artificial version of a beautiful natural object.   He further claims that what provides soul in fine art is an aesthetic idea that unlike rational ideas can’t be adequately exhibited sensibly.A genius generates aesthetic ideas, exhibits them tastefully, in a way that is universal and capable of being shared. While observing the work of art the viewer should experience the same state of mind the artist had while creating it.â€Å"The power of communicating one’s state of mind, even though only in respect of the cognitive faculties, carries a pleasure with it, as we can easily show from the natural propension of man towards sociability (empirical and psychological). But this is not enough for our design. The pleasure that we feel is, in a judgement of taste, necessarily imputed by us to every one else; as if, when we call a thing beautiful, it is to be regarded as a characteristic of the object which is determined in it according to concepts; though beauty, without a reference to the feeling of the subject, is nothing by itself.† (Kant Section 9, pp 1)One analogy that has been made is that to make a chair, one must know, in advance what a chair is, and create it with the intention of creating it.   In this respect Kant assumes that the creation of art is an exercise of will.   This is a convenient definition because it allows him to also distinguish art from nature because he assumes there is no prior notion or will behind the activity nature. This leads to a dilemma in whether one can call some forms of modern art a reflection of genius, if those works are created randomly, or allowed to self shape based on the physical properties of matter such as glass or ceramics.Another dilemma it raises stems from our definition of who has will or intention. For humans it is clear that the intention to express a thought or feeling through the creation of a physical art is an act of will, but do other animals have will is a matter of metaphysics rather than philosophy. According to Kant’s definition it would be difficult to know for sure if art painted by cats [2] or other non-mammals [3] would qualify, since for Kant non humans are part of the natural world and not endowed with will. Yet, as all of us know who own pets, animals have both distinct personalities and wills.For Kant, art also means somet hing different from science, since it is a skill or practical ability that is more than just an understanding of awareness of something.   He also distinguishes from a labor or craft which has a vested interest or purpose in having the product itself. This also limits who can be a genius since any art that has a function separate from the function of being observed and understood for the idea it expresses, must not be real art, and its creator not a genius but a craftsman. This definition seems anachronistic since in many fine art museum there are displayed fragments of pottery or metalwork that are considered art today yet when they were produced, were produced by craftsman so that they could be used by ordinary people who were not concerned with the deeper meaning of what that plate may have represented.It would seem that the ability of the craftsman to mix metals or use new firing techniques to achieve a texture or impression of strength not found when traditional materials wer e used is expressing a form of genius. His idea was to create an object, regardless of its popular usage, that was different from the ones before that, when viewed by the recipient or purchaser gave them the impression that this new object, such as a sword, was better, stronger, more reliable or more facile. Thus according to Kan’s first definition of art, the expression of a concept by exercise of will is fulfilled. It would seem then that the use of the object later has no relevance on whether or not the object is art, and as a consequence no bearing on whether its producer is a genius.Kant spends much effort to categories arts into mechanical and aesthetic, agreeable and fine art. What it is defines the state of mind of the creator when producing it, and therefore creates the criteria of whether the final product actually reflects the thought or will of the person creating it.   Kant introduces yet another rule to this confusing definition by stating that it should not b e obvious (which would be in poor taste) what the intentions actually were.   Thus it would seem that for an art to be truly genius it should convey a message of concept, somewhat unclearly so that no one is 100% sure what the creator’s intentions were.   Thus the less obvious a message (though no message is also bad) the more likely the creator is to be a genius.According to Kant genius is the talent (natural endowment) that makes it possible to produce art which is an object that has no predefined definite rules or concepts for producing or judging it in a way that satisfies aesthetic judgment that is more than a functional object, or a representation of something natural. To make things art must have elements of originality for it to be a characteristic of genius. This means also that fine art properly is never an imitation of previous art or nature, though it may ‘follow' or be ‘inspired by' previous art and nature. To be radically original is difficult, b ecause all human production is in some form an imitation or a trained action through other artistic influences, schools, and culture.Kant's approach to art emphasizes our interest in it rather than the artwork in itself. The artwork is beautiful insofar as it instigates an intellectual activity termed reflective judgment. For Kant, the viewing of art rouses us to an intellectual involvement with the world in which the very sense of order by which the whole world can be articulated as a whole and be kept in balance is brought to light.   Reflective judgment does not determine whether something exists or not. It also does not determine what specific qualities a particular object might actually possess. Such judgments are cognitive and belong to the field of science. Reflective judgment judges whether something is beautiful. Beauty is never experienced as a determinate thing. We do not experience beauty directly, although it is always implicated in our experiences of the world. Beaut y is a feeling induced by our sense of an ordering, a valuing, at work in the world that lies beyond any explicit demonstration.   The ability of the artist to generate such thought in the observer is thus deemed genius.There is a dilemma with this point of view, since what generates such thoughts for an individual is that individual’s experience. So one is left to wonder is the genius in the artist who created an object that could elicit that experience, or is it in the observer who is open to allowing that experience to occur in themselves? Thus if I look at a painting such as American Cubist Stuart Davis (1894-1964), Report from Rockport, 1940, and feel no understanding or connection, is it my lack of genius or his? If I feel a negative response is that a sufficient criteria of genius?Kant indirectly makes the artificial requirement that for something to reflect genius, it must be liked by the observer, not disliked. This is evident in his effort to define taste as invol ving the judgment that a thing is beautiful. Taste is a subjective judgment in which an object is referred by our imagination to our subjective selves, to the feeling of pleasure or displeasure that the object arouses in us. The representation of the object rather than the object itself is what is at issue in this judgment–not the building itself but its manner of being formed would be the matter of an aesthetic judgment. Though perception is always colored by experience, and is necessarily subjective, it is commonly taken that that which is not aesthetically satisfying in some fashion cannot be art. However, â€Å"good† art is not always or even regularly aesthetically appealing to a majority of viewers.In other words, an artist's prime motivation need not be the pursuit of the aesthetic. Also, art often depicts terrible images made for social, moral, or thought-provoking reasons. For example, Francisco Goya's painting depicting the Spanish shootings of 3rd of May 180 8, is a graphic depiction of a firing squad executing several pleading civilians. Yet at the same time, the horrific imagery demonstrates Goya's keen artistic ability in composition and execution and his fitting social and political outrage.Kant defines several aspects that lead to the formation of an individual’s taste. The first is quality which is supposed to be an objective evaluation of the object being considered. This means that a science of art appreciation has to be developed to define good from bad art in a way that is agreeable to everyone since it follows some pre-set rules, as w ell as generating a psychologically positive impact.â€Å"†¦ when [a man] puts a thing on a pedestal and calls it beautiful, he demands the same delight from others. He judges not merely for himself, but for all men, and then speaks of beauty as if it were a property of things. Thus he says that the thing is beautiful; and it is not as if he counts on others agreeing with him in his judgment of liking owing to his having found them in such agreement on a number of occasions, but he demands this agreement of them. He blames them if they judge differently, and denies them taste, which he still requires of them as something they ought to have; and to this extent it is not open to men to say: Every one has his own taste. This would be equivalent to saying that there is no such thing as taste, i.e. no aesthetic judgment capable of making a rightful claim upon the assent of all men.† (Kant, p. 52; see also pp. 136-139.)Another aspect of taste is quantity of positive appreciation (which means many people have to agree).   This judgment cannot, however, be proven. We can only ask others to look again with more attention to some aspects in hopes that can be induced to see something that eluded them in the first place. Thus genius of the artist grows with the contemplation of the observers, again indicating that it is as much attributable to the viewer as it is to the producer. A third criteria of taste is the purposeness of an object, or that it should have a reason for being there, greater than just the artists desired to memorialize the object.   Finally the last aspect of taste is the feeling of satisfaction in the object by the observer.To summarize, according to Kant, art encourages an intuitive understanding, was created with the intention of evoking such an understanding or an attempt at such an understanding in the audience, has no other purpose or function, may communicate on many different levels of appreciation, leads to many different interpretations, or reflections, demonstrates a high level of ability or fluency, and creates an appealing or aesthetically satisfying structures or forms upon an original set of unrelated, passive constituents.   This definition leads to a vagueness and subjectivity to art appreciation that varies from person to person, and an uncertainty who is most responsible the artist or the observer.De spite the attempt to attribute genius to the creator of the artistic object, all the definitions suggested to help the observed form a value judgment externally define what is artistic, or beautiful. Thus it would seem that for an artist to be truly appreciated and considered, he has to conform to the opinions of non artists, and tailor his work to stimulate their positive responses within the rule network they created.   This is undoubtedly responsible for statements like â€Å" he was ahead of his time† and why truly innovative artists are seldom appreciated during their lifetime.  [1] Critique of Judgment. Trans., James Creed Meredith. (Oxford: Clarendon, 1988)[2] Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics Heather Busch, Burton Silver, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley CA, 1994.[3] Museum of Non-Primate Art. http://www.monpa.com

George Orwell and Arthur Miller essays

George Orwell and Arthur Miller essays Arthur Miller and George Orwells writings are perceptive of Biblical views concerning social flaws and political corruption. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is based on the McCarthy trials, which caused the errors of the society to be revealed. These trials were a difficult time in America. Many innocent people were persecuted because they did not conform to the harshness of society. In Animal Farm, George Orwell figuratively uses symbolism to display the dominating politics in Russia at that time. Animal Farm is filled with examples of political corruption. One example is when the animals over throw the owner of the farm so they can set up their own government. They wish to set up a communist government. Napoleon and Snowball, the competing leaders of Animal Farm, both fight for the controlling position, but Snowball proves to be less powerful and falls under the rule of Napoleon. Within this government are many flaws. A communist government is one that has only one absolute ruler. A problem naturally occurs in society when one person is allowed too much power. In Animal Farm, Napoleon makes himself the sole ruler. Orwell displays Napoleon so well that the reader understands his character on a literal level (Meyers 131). The satiric allegory Orwell uses to subtlely describe communist Russia is evident in every detail (Meyers 133). At the beginning of the book, Major gives a speech expository of orthodox Marxism. Napoleon represents Stalin and Snowball symbolizes Trotsky, beca use of their opposite personalities and beliefs (Meyers 136). The major events in Russias history described in Animal Farm are Stalins forced collectivization, the Great Purge Trials, and the diplomacy with Germany that ended with Hitlers invasion in 1941 (Meyers 139). Napoleon is deceived when Frederick gives him forged bank notes, which represent the Hitler-Stalin non-aggression pact of August 1939 (Meyers 141). The conf ...

The bauhaus related fashion Essays

The bauhaus related fashion Essays The bauhaus related fashion Essay The bauhaus related fashion Essay Bauhaus thrived as a revolutionary, Inspired and unique School breaking down the perceived class barriers between craftsmen and fine artists. Founded in 191 9 by Architect Walter Groping, Bauhaus modernized the Art Industry and Education, influencing all aspects of design today. As fashion, like art, progresses in cycles, inspiring and influencing each other through the creation of their designs, it would have been an ideal for Bauhaus and its collective education. The communal teaching of design basics to all iris year students meant all disciplines adopted a visionary approach to composition integrating simplicity, functionality and bare boned structure. The Wassail Chair Is an Iconic example of Bauhaus aesthetic, completely reducing the classic club chair to Its fundamental form whilst retaining comfort and style. Inspired by the tubular steel framing of his bicycle, Marcel Brewer created the Wassail chair to be seamless. Engaged with the transparency of the form, Brewer created a mere structural outline of what then was considered the standard, contributing immensely o the Bauhaus aesthetic we know today. In Fashion we see the same structural aesthetic in pieces like La File DOs One Bra. The singular steel undermine sculpts the body leaving only the bare necessities of the common bra, focusing on its foundation. Using minimal detailing in the cups, opting for a soft mesh, the bra focuses on the structure; the monomers and straps. Both Brewer and La File DO keep color to the minimum, using black or plain monochromatic schemes to further accentuate the framework of the designs. Instead took the opposite direction. By completely striping back all decoration, even reducing color back to primary and shades, they created a new take on architecture. Using geometric blocks and unconventional materials they constructed simple yet intriguing designs. The same can be said for modern fashion. Structured outfits in block colors are always popular as they provide a sleek and sophisticated look, such as with 3. 1 Phillip Limbs SIS 14 collection. As Bauhaus students used geometric boxes to create interesting shapes for buildings, Limp does the same for women. The square boxed white Jacket although seemingly plain creates an incredibly smooth and angular silhouette, the oversized structure building off her body emulating perfectly the white cubic buildings most associated with the Bauhaus aesthetic. During the first year of Bauhaus education, Color Theory was intensely studied. Josef Teen, teacher of said subject and inventor of the 12-hue color wheel believed Color is life; for a world without color appears to us as dead. Colors are primordial ideas, the children of light. The psychology and audience perception of lour developed at Bauhaus is still an extremely relevant source to all designers today, helping designers portray different emotion through color and hue. Whilst at Bauhaus, Teen developed a series of seven methodologies for coordinating color using hue. One methodology in particular, saturation, was adopted into so me of the most famous artworks to come out of Bauhaus such as Josef Albert Homage to the Square in which Albert created the exact same square filled with consistently smaller squares and changed the feeling of each art work using only hue and saturation of the color. This saturation is best shown in an exercise from Paul Kales color class depicting the different shades of red moving down the scale. In Channels S/S 14 collection we also see the emotional effect of saturating colors. On the pure white canvas of flowing capes and summer dresses Karl Laagered paints graduating swatches, each color swiftly moving from dark to barely there light, while the dress graduates from dark forest greens to soft pastels. Paintbrushes and pallets adorn the models hands as they walk and the youth and creativity of the collection shines through instantly. Bauhaus considered typography to be another kind of building, literally studying the structure of letters and characters, the flexibility each character held and the visual effect they had on the audience. The Bauhaus font otherwise known as the Universal font was a meticulously sculpted style that was simple, clean and modern. The rise of typography heralded the rise of graphic advertising, a strategy that would quickly be picked up by most if not all design disciplines, none so ferociously as recognizable but intrinsically valuable for bearing their particular typeface as part of heir branding. In fashion, Typography is used as a hook for customer engagement, often aimed at teenage girls. Typography is the quickest way to get your demographic to relate to your brand. Although not considered a typically high-class trait in fashion, brands like Mission, DENY and Jeremy Scott have taken up the typography trend successfully with their graphic fonts plastered over Jumpers, dresses and anything you can print on. Although nearly one century old, Bauhaus continues to influence many aspects of design.

Lupus Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Lupus - Research Paper Example The immune system of a person suffering from lupus cannot differentiate between normal body tissues and antigens. As a result of this, the immune system directs antibodies to normal tissues thinking that they are foreign materials. Due to this, there is swelling and pain felt by the person suffering from this disease. With advanced medical technology, different types of lupus have been identified by doctors. However the most common one is SLE or systemic lupus erythematosus. There are also others known as discoid, neonatal and drug-induced. Symptoms It is important to note that lupus is very variable. That is it is common for one to have the disease and not experience all the symptoms that other people feel. At the same time, every patient has their own feelings meaning that there are rare occasions when two or more patients experience similar symptoms. Severity also varies in individuals. Some patients experience symptoms that are severe and might last for a long time while others e xperience symptoms that are less severe and last for a few minutes but keep reoccurring. Sometimes, the patients expect to experience the severe pains that most textbooks describe but that never occurs. Some of the initial symptoms include (Basingtoke, 2011): 1. Lethargy, fatigue and weakness 2. Rashes in the skin. However, this occurs in very few cases. One in every five. 3. Swelling and pain of the join. This is experienced by almost half of the patients. Meaning that it is a very common symptom for patients with the lupus disease. 4. Fever; almost every patient experience this and it keeps occurring Diagnosis Since the symptoms of this disease vary, diagnosis of the disease is very difficult. The symptoms keep changing and in some cases, they become similar to symptoms of other diseases. For one to be confirmed as having this disease, several tests have to be performed. Urine and blood tests are however compulsory. The patient also has to be given a physical examination to know h ow fit they are. The laboratory tests include; 1. Complete blood count. This is the most common test for the disease. The number of white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells are counted and their ratio known. The results have to be analyzed properly since anemia also has almost similar results from the same test. 2. Sedimentation of erythrocytes rate. In this test, blood sample is taken and kept in a test tube from where the rate at which the red blood cells settle at the bottom of the test tube is measured. This test is very crucial since it determines the type of disease that one has. 3. Urinalysis. This is where the urine of the patient is analyzed to check the amount of proteins and red blood cells in the urine. Treatment Just like the difference in symptoms, the treatment of lupus is also different. Before administering any treatment, the doctor or physician has to analyze the signs and symptoms of the disease that the patient has shown and detriment the correct procedur e to use for treatment. As the signs keep changing, the nurse has to ensure that the patient changes the medication that they are using. This means that the nurse has to be able to closely monitor the changes that the patient is undergoing through and report this to the doctor who should change medication if necessary. Some of the treatments available include; 1. NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). This kind of medication is available over the counter. Some

Strategic Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Strategic Marketing - Essay Example The success of Primm Valley Casino Resorts, located at least 35 miles from its bigger cousin Las Vegas in Nevada County is proof that there is indeed truth in the value of segmentation- and that targeting the large Hispanic segment in America is a safe bet that has worked. FACTORS THAT HAVE MADE THIS STRATEGY SUCCESSFUL Primm Valley Casino Resorts is located at least 35 miles south of Las Vegas in Nevada. With this prime location within driving distance, it is surprising that Primm Valley has even managed to court business- but it has and to a substantial degree is evident from the money that is earned on busy weekends. Behind the success of Primm Valley is the concentration on the needs of the large Hispanic population that dominates this and surrounding areas. Hispanics love to travel in groups and many of these groups of friends, neighbors and relatives meet at the resorts or come together to have a chance at the tables, slot machines, dine, drink and have a good time. What greets them here is the sights and sounds of their own language and culture, as the atmosphere is full of Spanish speaking males and females having a good time. Even the waiters and bartenders are Spanish. The signs are in Spanish too, as well as the instructions on every corner. No need to know English here-what a relief! Finally one can enjoy an evening Spanish style. Look, there are even Spanish singers to entertain the crowds in this wonderful language. It is like bringing Spain to America (Medina, 2011). PRINCIPLES AND IDEAS THAT EXPLAIN THIS SUCCESS A little analysis will show that market segmentation, targeting and positioning is behind this success. The resort has capitalized on the needs of the Hispanic market, made the entire process language friendly and also brought in Hispanic singers and entertainers. Segmentation refers to deciphering, analyzing and catering to the needs of a particular segment of the population, in this case the Hispanics. Population censuses have indicate d that this is the biggest and fastest growing segment of the US population in the last two elections, so no wonder a good many Hispanics flock the casinos. Besides, there is no sound sweeter than the sound of your own native language, no matter where in the world you are. At the resort, people are served by Hispanic waiters and even the signs at the tables and slot machines are in Spanish. The slot machines are quite a favorite with the Spanish. Being a society that loves to work in groups, Spanish people are influenced by others in their group and also like to follow the lead of others who are having fun in shared activities. Eva Mendes, Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher and Jennifer Lopez would likely be some of the stars they look up to and want to emulate. By targeting the opinion leaders in the Spanish community, the management of Primm Valley Casino Resorts stands a good chance of continuing to get good business. LESSONS IN TARGETING A NEW MARKET The case study of Primm Valley Resor ts is a good example of how to segment and target a new market. Quite obviously the builders and marketers for the resort project had the Hispanic population in their sights as they created the casino and resort areas. While there is a concern that going to the casino regularly would turn some of them into gambling addicts, Latinos know that help is available and take the risk in stride. The management of the resorts thus needs to target proper reference groups. There may be people with different opinions in Hispanic society. The dis-associative group would prefer to shun the resorts altogether, stating that it would lead to the gambling habit, or maybe that it is