Gothic conventions Essay Example

Gothic conventions Essay Example Gothic conventions Essay Gothic conventions Essay Gothic conventions consist of writing that would scare and excite the reader. Gothic writing was popular during the late 18th, early 19th century. Gothic features include supernatural forces, medieval castles, dungeons and darkness. The type of language is very melodramatic in its style of stereotyped characters. Gothic characters typically include spectres, monsters, demons, corpses, skeletons, evil aristocrats, vampires and Dracula. A Goth is one of a German tribe who invaded Eastern and Western Europe. They are normally barbarous, foul and uncouth. Gothic conventions usually involve journeys, quests, strange creatures and sinister buildings. Gothic novels are created to frighten their readers. In Gothic productions imagination and emotional effects exceed reason. Dracula was first published in 1897, other versions have adapted from the original. The main characters in Dracula include Jonathan Harker, Mina and Van Helsing. Throughout the story, Bram Stoker uses Draculas abilities, actions and appearance to create suspense for the reader. The novel opens with an extract from Jonathan Harkers journal relating to his journey. In the journal Jonathan Harker expresses his feelings; these include his worries and fears as he travels to Castle Dracula. Bram Stoker uses strange customs and sights to generate anxiety in Jonathan Harkers journal to the reader. : I did not sleep well, though my bed was comfortable enough, for I had all sorts of queer dreams, this creates fear to the reader because it explains there was weird existence during the sleep because it caused discomfort that was not visible. Sometimes we saw little tows or castles on the top of steep hills such as we see in old missals; sometimes we ran by rivers and streams which seemed from the wide stony margin on each side of them to be subject to great floods Jonathan Harker describes the strange sights and interpretations of his journey which can create suspense for the reader. The strangest figures we saw were the Slovaks, who were more barbarian than the rest, with their big cowboy hats, great baggy dirty-white trousers, white linen shirts, and enormous heavy leather belts, nearly a foot wide, all studded over with brass nails. A very descriptive view of the Slovaks, gives the reader a clear understanding of what Harker saw during the journey. When Jonathan Harker arrives at his destination he is greeted curiously by the innkeeper, He and his wife, the old lady who received me, looked at each other in a frightened sort of way. Harker discovers the innkeeper has an odd relationship with Dracula, When I asked him if he knew Count Dracula, and could tell me anything of his castle, both he and his wife crossed themselves, and, saying that they knew nothing at all, simply refused to speak further. This creates suspense for the reader by implying the innkeeper knew Dracula but was frightened to admit it as he may not be allowed to or may know something secreted. Later in the novel, Bram Stoker describes Draculas abilities to create suspense as they are beyond nature. This vampire which is amongst us is of himself so strong in person as twenty men, this specifies how strong and threatening Dracula can be. He is of cunning more than mortal, for his cunning be the growth of ages, Bram Stoker uses a comparison with mortals to be more accurate for the readers understanding, Stoker also uses a particular type of language that is complex to an extent to create tension. He is brute, and more than brute, he is devil in callous, and the heart of him is not; he can, within limitations, appear at will when, and where Bram Stoker explains Draculas abilities in great detail using comparisons and metaphors to excite the reader regarding Draculas abilities. Strange creatures defy logic, therefore are most likely to be scary or beyond nature. In the novel, Bram Stoker uses Draculas abilities to create disturbance towards the reader. He uses language to make a vivid picture. Gothic conventions usually include sinister buildings to produce suspense in the atmosphere. An example of this can be found of Draculas crypt. A crypt is an obvious location to set action related to death and suspense. The crypt is not a place the living normally spend time in, it is a place where the dead are at home. Bram Stoker sets the scene for Draculas crypt by using dark language to explain the atmosphere, the whole place was thick with dust gives the sense that the place is old and has been isolated for a long time. The floor seemed inches deep explains the extent of how long the place has been remote. The walls were fluffy and heavy dust, and in the corners were masses of spiders webs, whereon the dust had gathered till they looked like old tattered rags as the weight had torn them partly down, Bram Stoker uses very descriptive language to illustrate the atmosphere, Stoker uses similes to make the image more clear to the reader consequently creating a more mysterious understanding. Bram Stoker creates tense situations which cause the reader to feel to feel insecure. He creates tense situations by using descriptive language to express the atmosphere. The language he uses involves elements of mysterious and creepy surroundings, through these frowning walls and dark window openings it was not likely that my voice could penetrate. The reader shares a sense of fear with Jonathan because Stoker uses the first person narration to make the reader feel involved.

Five Ages of Man in Greek Mythology According to Hesiod

Five Ages of Man in Greek Mythology According to Hesiod The classic Greek Five Ages of Man came from an 8th century BCE poem written by a shepherd named Hesiod, who along with Homer became one of the earliest of Greek epic poets. He likely based his work on an unidentified older legend, possibly from Mesopotamia or Egypt. An Epic Inspiration Hesiod was a farmer from the Boeotian region of Greece who was out tending his sheep one day when he met the Nine Muses. The Nine Muses were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory), divine beings who inspired creators of all kinds, including poets, speakers, and artists. By convention, the Muses were always invoked at the beginning of an epic poem. On this day, the Muses inspired Hesiod to write the 800-line epic poem called Works and Days. In it, Hesiod tells a Greek creation story that traces the lineage of mankind through five successive ages or races including the Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, the Heroic Age, and the present (to Hesiod) Iron Age. The Golden Age The Golden Age was the mythical first period of man. The people of the Golden Age were formed by or for the Titan Cronus, whom the Romans called Saturn. Mortals lived like gods, never knowing sorrow or toil; when they died, it as if they were falling asleep. No one worked or grew unhappy. Spring never ended. It is even described as a period in which people aged backward. When they died, they became daimones  (a Greek word only later converted to demons) who roamed the earth. When Zeus overcame the Titans, the Golden Age ended. According to the poet Pindar (517–438 BCE), to the Greek mind gold has an allegorical significance, meaning the radiance of light, good fortune, blessedness, and all the fairest and the best. In Babylonia, gold was the metal of the sun. Silver and Bronze Ages During Hesiods Silver Age, the Olympian god Zeus was in charge. Zeus caused this generation of man to be created as vastly inferior to the gods in appearance and wisdom. He divided the year into four seasons. Man had to work- plant grain and seek shelter- but a child could play for 100 years before growing up. The people wouldnt honor the gods, so Zeus caused them to be destroyed. When they died, they became blessed spirits of the underworld. In Mesopotamia, silver was the metal of the moon. Silver is softer with a dimmer luster than gold. Hesiods Third Age was of bronze. Zeus created men from ash trees- a hard wood used in spears. The men of the Bronze Age were terrible and strong and warlike. Their armor and houses were made of bronze; and they did not eat bread, living mainly on meat. In Greek and older myths, bronze was connected to weapons, war, and warfare, and their armor and houses were made of bronze. It was this generation of men that was destroyed by the flood in the days of Prometheus son Deucalion and Pyrrha. When the bronze men died, they went to the Underworld.  Copper (chalkos) and a component of bronze is the metal of Ishtar in Babylon. The Age of Heroes and the Iron Age For the fourth age, Hesiod dropped the metallurgical metaphor and instead called it the Age of Heroes. The Age of Heroes was a historical period to Hesiod, referring to the Mycenaean age and the stories told by Hesiods fellow poet Homer. The Age of Heroes was a better and more just time when the men called Henitheoi were demigods, strong, brave, and heroic. many were destroyed by the great wars of Greek legend. After death, some went to the Underworld; others to the Islands of the Blessed ones. The fifth age was the Iron Age, Hesiods name for his own time, and in it, all modern men were created by Zeus as evil and selfish, burdened with weariness and sorrow. All manner of evils came into being during this age. Piety and other virtues disappeared and most of the gods who were left on Earth abandoned it. Hesiod predicted that Zeus would destroy this race some day. Iron is the hardest metal and the most troublesome to work. Hesiods Message The Five Ages of Man is a long passage of continuous degeneration, tracing the lives of men as descending from a state of primitive innocence to evil, with a single exception for the Age of Heroes. Some scholars have noted that Hesiod wove the mythic and the realistic together, creating a blended story based on an ancient tale that could be referenced and learned from. Sources: Ganz T. 1996. Early Greek Myth. Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore.Griffiths JG. 1956. Archaeology and Hesiods Five Ages. Journal of the History of Ideas 17(1):109–119.

The period of time when most egyptians came to u.s Essay

The period of time when most egyptians came to u.s - Essay Example Ten years after the war, a high population of Egyptian professionals of educated elites left their country. A great number of the immigrants who left Egypt between 1967 and 1977 settled in countries with positive legislations that could support supported them. Skilled employees also went to America during this period. Currently the number of Egyptians staying in America is an approximate number ranging from one to two million. One of the factors that favored the migration of the Egyptians to the U.S was the Immigration and Nationality act, passed in 1965. The legislation privileged the migration of professionals and skilled employees to the country, with emphasis on scientists. Most of the immigrants from Egypt settled in various places including New Jersey, Florida and Texas among other southern states mainly occupied by blacks. The southern states were favorable for the Egyptians to occupy because of the temperatures. It is noteworthy that most Egyptians would like to gain permanent residence in America. The role of resolution 242 in creating stability in Egypt, presided by the UN (Cortas, 2009) and Lord Caradon, Britain was

Grievances and Arbitration Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Grievances and Arbitration - Article Example The author suggests that in case arbitration failed to reach a mutual understanding with teachers, there is a possibility to receive similar grievances from collective. Furthermore grievance on insufficient salaries can evoke a chain of bargaining. The main idea of the article is that in case grievance procedure fails there is a chance to settle a conflict with the help of arbitration. The perception of the grievance procedure by teachers as fair and just underlines both trusts to management and the board of education. Grievance procedures become widely-known and labor relations can be more transparent and violations of labor contracts can be settled through grievance or arbitration procedures. Grievance procedure is considered by Roger Prosise author as an option for justice. A violation of teachers’ contracts was filed to the educational board in order to reach a resolution. Mutual understanding through grievance procedure failed and the case was sent to arbitration. Furthermore alongside with Chapter 6 â€Å"Grievance and arbitration† from the book by Sloan, the article by Roger Prosise â€Å"Introduction to Grievance and Arbitration† expresses the main idea that grievance procedures underline democracy of the working process. Thus in the article, an emphasis is made on the fact that teachers’ expectations about sufficient salaries are reflected in the example of the grievance procedure, which was settled in arbitration. The grievance and arbitration processes discussed in the article by Roger Prosise deals with the insufficient salaries awarding for teachers with rich bilingual experience but short length of teaching experience. The author su cceeded and after grievance procedure and arbitration processes teachers got fair salaries for their teaching. Nevertheless, the conflict wasn’t easy to settle and only arbitration bore fruits and teachers got salaries they deserved.

Sample Questions and Answers Essay Example for Free

Sample Questions and Answers Essay This is tricky not to waffle or give unrelated information. You need to aim to address your capability, commitment and cultural fit, here is a sample answer: ‘Good morning, my name is James Smith.* I am a qualified accountant with six years post qualified experience gained within the pharmaceutical industry. I worked with Glaxo Smith Klein* as an assistant accountant and I have spent the past 4 years working with Pfizer* where my most recent role was as project accountant. I managed the project finance team of 8 staff and I’m proud to say that I recently implemented a new financial management system saving the company over  £500,000 in year one. I have a reputation for my attention to detail and delivering within strict deadlines and enjoy working with financial data. Going forward I want to work in a challenging finance role within the same industry and your organization is one in which I believe I could settle down and make a real contribution.’ How long have you been looking for a job †¦. The interviewer may be concerned that there is something wrong with you that other employers have picked up on! Here is a sample answer: ‘After I was made redundant from my last job, I took the opportunity to take some time out to examine my career goals and where I was going with my life. I have just begun my search in the last few weeks. I have a definite goal in mind and have been selective about the positions I consider. Your company and this position are of great interest to me.’ How did you prepare for this job interview †¦. The interviewer is gauging if you are interested enough to do some research or are you going to wing it. Here is a sample answer: ‘When I was told about this position by Hamlin Knight I was immediately interested. I checked out the company website and mission statement, looked at the bios of company founders and executives and was impressed. Once I had the interview appointment I looked at some industry press and I’m sure I’ll find out a lot more in today’s meeting.’ What is your salary expectation for this job †¦. The interviewer is trying to find out if they can afford you, or if they can get you for less than budgeted. Here is a sample answer: ‘I’ll need more information about the job and the responsibilities involved before we can begin to discuss salary. Can you give me an idea of the range budgeted for this position?’ How do you keep current and informed about your job and the industries that you have worked in †¦.. The interviewer is trying to ascertain if once you get the job you will continue to learn and grow, stay challenged and motivated. Here is a sample answer: ‘I pride myself on my ability to stay on top of what is happening in my industry. I do a lot of reading – the business section of the newspapers and industry magazines. I belong to a couple of professional organizations and network with colleagues from these. I take seminars or training whenever they are of interest or offer new information or technology.’ Tell me about a time when you had to plan and coordinate a project from start to finish †¦. This is a behavioural questions, your interviewer is trying to seek an example of specific past behaviour. Here is a sample answer: ‘I headed up a project which involved customer service personnel and technicians. I organized a meeting to get everyone together to brainstorm and get their input. From this meeting I drew up a plan, taking the best of the ideas. I organized teams, balancing the mixture of technical and non-technical people. We had a deadline to meet, so I did periodic checks with the teams, After 3 weeks we were exceeding expectations and were able to begin implementation of the plan. It was a great team effort and a big success. I was commended by management for my leadership, but I was most proud of the team spirit and cooperation which it took to pull it off.’ What kinds of people do you have difficulties working with †¦. Your interviewer is trying to see if you are flexible and can work in a diverse environment. Here is a sample answer: ‘In my last 3 roles I have worked with men and women from very diverse backgrounds and cultures. The only time I had difficulty was with people who were dishonest about work issues. I worked with one woman who was taking credit for work that her team accomplished. I had an opportunity to talk with her one day and explained how she was affecting morale. She became very upset that others saw her that way and said she was unaware of her behaviour or the reactions of others. Her behaviour changed after our talk. What I learnt from that experience is that sometimes what we perceive about others is not always the case if we check it out.’ We expect managers to work more than 8 hours a day, do you have a problem with that †¦. The interviewer is trying to see if you are a ‘workaholic’ or a person that requires balance. Here is a sample answer: ‘I have no problem working long hours. I have worked 12 or 14 hour days. What I have found works for me is to work smarter, not necessarily longer. My goal is to get the job done, whatever it takes, in the most efficient manner.’ When have you been most satisfied in your career †¦. The interviewer is trying to ascertain what motivates/de-motivates you. Here is a sample answer: ‘The job before the one I am currently at was my most rewarding experience for me. I worked in a wonderful team environment. There was a lot of camaraderie. I worked with a team of four people and we did some really original thinking. It is that kind of environment that I want to be involved in again.’ Why do you want this job †¦. The interviewer is trying to see if you are using a shotgun approach to your job search or do you really know what you want. Here is a sample answer: ‘I’ve been very careful about the companies where I have applied. When Hamlin Knight told me about this position, I knew I had found what I was looking for. What I can bring to this job is my 7 years of experience and knowledge of the industry, plus my ability to communicate and build customer relationships. That, along with my flexibility and organizational skills makes me a perfect match for this position. I see some challenges ahead of me here and that’s what I thrive on. I have what you need, you have what I want.’ We are ready to make an offer, are you ready to accept today †¦. Your interviewer doesn’t want you to go away and change your mind. Here is a sample answer: ‘Based on my research and the information I have gathered during the interview process, I feel I am in a position to consider an offer. I do, however, have a personal policy that I give myself at least 24 hours to make major life decisions. I could let you know by tomorrow.’ There is no way to accurately predict the questions that you will be asked by an interviewer, but you can be ready and prepared by thinking about the factors that might concern an employer before the interview

Television and Media - Relationship between Society and the Media :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Relationship between Society and the Media As Americans we take pride in our liberating government. But, it is essential to ask how much we, the general public, know about our democracy. Because of the representative structure of our government, it is in our best interest to remain as knowledgeable as possible about political affairs so that we can play an active role in our democracy by voting for candidates and issues. The media, which includes print, television, and the internet, is our primary link to political events and issues. (For the purposes of this essay only print and television will be considered.) Therefore, in order to assess the success of our democracy it is necessary to assess the soundness of our media. We are lucky enough to have a media, in theory, free from government influences because of our rights to freedom of press and freedom of speech, but we are still subject to the media’s interpretation and presentation of politics, as is the danger when depending on any source for information. So, we mu st address how the media informs us; how successful it is at doing so; and how we should respond to it. This essay will show, unfortunately, that our democracy is not as healthy as it potentially could be because of television and print’s inadequate coverage of politics and the public’s resultant frustration and lack of knowledge. The reason this occurs is not because the media is trying to restrict our role in the government, but because it has other agendas to consider, such as producing maximum profits. Also, the media can take its obligatory role, often referred to as the â€Å"fourth estate,† to an extreme. John McManus, a former newspaper reporter and current professor at Santa Clara University researching the social responsibility of news media, specifically uses this term in his book Market-Driven Journalism: Let the Citizen Beware? to explain the media’s ideal role as the fourth branch of the government. The media is meant to participate in our system of checks and balances and check the government to ensure that it does not withhold too much power from the people. However, this can pose a problem if the media tries too hard to keep a check on the government and ends up transcending its role as the fourth estate and becoming cynical of the government. These market-driven characteristics and overzealous tendencies are conveyed in the media’s choice and presentation of language.

The Bourne Identity

‘The Borne Identity’, released in the year 2002, is a fascinating action-thriller flick. The movie borrows plot elements, characters and the title from a popular spy novel written by Robert Ludlum during the Cold War era. The movie is about a CIA operative who loses his memory and sets outs on a quest to reclaim his identity. He also faces the twin challenge of surviving his own doubts about his past and escaping from assassins hired by his own agency to hunt him down. The plotline is quite strong, if not unique, and has enough juice to keep the viewer interested till the very end.The movie offers a healthy dose of fight and chase sequences to the keep viewer engrossed amidst thrilling character development, brisk pacing and solid acting. Movie Synopsis This Universal Pictures production was directed by Doug Liman, while Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne in the lead role. The main character Bourne is found shot and half-dead in a beach and rescued by fishermen. He has no memory of his past, as he suffers from severe amnesia. The only clue that he uncovers immediately is the account number and address of a Swiss bank, beaming out of a â€Å"miniaturized laser pointer from his hip† (Younkin 2).He desperately feels the urge to figure out his past and reclaim his identity. He begins a quest for reviving his identity by first going to Switzerland to look for answers and then follows the path laid by newly uncovered clues. In Switzerland, Bourne finds a gun and a lot of multiple currency money in his bank safety deposit. He also finds it bizarre that he possesses multiple fake passports under his name. Bourne is also surprised to learn about his exceedingly good martial art skills when confronted with a situation to fight for his life. When he tries to seek the aid of the US Embassy, more trouble awaits him.These revelations make him uncomfortable as it brings upon the suspicion that he might have a dark past. At one point, he realizes that he has to wither accept the possibility of him being a bad individual or wander confused about his true identity for the rest of his life. Matt Damon effectively conveys feelings of paranoia when his character Bourne is overwhelmed by this internal conflict. At this juncture, Bourne meets a woman named Marie played by Franka Potente. She is in a crunch need for money and he needs immediate transportation to flee away to this next destination France.Hence, they both agree to help out each other, as Marie strikes a deal with Bourne to transport him to Paris in exchange for $20,000 in cash. And, eventually Potente’s character turns out to be the hero’s love interest. In Paris, Bourne escapes all the assassination attempts planned against him by the CIA. Meanwhile, Marie goes flees away to safety on Bourne’s insistence. When Bourne visits the Treadstone Head Quarters, he gets back his memory about him being a CIA spy and assassin. He destroys the Treadstone operation and r eunites with Marie in a remote Greek island. CharactersClive Owen plays the role of an assassin sent by the CIA to kill Bourne since he failed in his mission of killing an African leader who threatens to expose the CIA secrets. Owen’s character, the professor, is a polished, cold, trench coat assassin who is in ruthless pursuit of Bourne. Owen nails the part to the tee with his emotionless expressions. Chris Cooper plays the role of the shady CIA officer Conklin who plans out top secret operations and makes ethically objectionable decisions behind closed doors. His character is also quite animated and annoyingly funny at times.Julia Stiles gives a decent performance with her robotic expressions, playing a minor part of an analyst named Nicolette. Critique Movie critic Craig Younkin calls Bourne Identity a â€Å"film about a character trying to rebuild† and emphasizes the importance of steady character building in this movie (Younkin 1). Mike Clark of USA Today feels th at Damon’s portrayal of Bourne is much more convincing than Richard Chamberlain’s performance in the 1988 TV version of the same movie(2). He also suggests that Demon’s being younger and his charming looks did not deter the credibility of the character.BBC’s Neil Smith also speaks highly of Damon’s portrayal of Bourne and compares his character to the likes of â€Å"classic spies like Harry Palmer and George Smiley† (2). However, he harshly criticizes the movie for not completely harnessing the acting prowess of Potente who showed great potential in the popular movie ‘Run Lola Run’. However, Charles Taylor of Salon. com considers Potente as the â€Å"movie's biggest human factor† (5). He perceives Potente’s character Marie as humane since she â€Å"watches frozen and scared† when Bourne is busy fighting with assassins, thereby providing â€Å"tenderness in the midst of violence† (Taylor 4).Rob Gonsalv es of eFilm Critic points out that Matt Damon’s natural appearance characterized by a â€Å"mixture of hard and soft features† makes him look â€Å"both defined and blank† (2). He perceives Bourne’s character as someone whose â€Å"mind forgot who he is but his body remembers very well† (2). Gonsalves feels this Damon’s attributes and acting work well for Bourne’s character that has no memory of his personal life, but still is proficient in certain survival skills such as speaking different languages and martial arts.He also compares this movie to the critically acclaimed thriller Memento, since the lead characters in both films suffer from the same condition while striving hard to uncover their identity and past. Margaret McGurk of the Cincinnati Enquirer is all praise for the director Liman, as she suggests that the movie’s â€Å"urgent pace helps play down some of the awkward plot holes† (8). She feels that that plot in most movies in this genre do tend to be lacking at times, since the primary focus is on the main character and only little time is left for explaining plotlines in detail.McGurk also appreciates the director for smartly muting the background score at the right time. Liman also receives praise from Top critic Colin Covert of the Star Tribune for his realistic style and paying â€Å"precise attention to detail†, especially in the car chase scene staged in Paris (6). Movie critic Jeremy Heilman of MovieMartyr. com points that the film’s weakness lies in the â€Å"lack of a strong villain† character and the absence of a concrete reason behind CIA’s desire to get rid of Bourne (3). He also feels that the films seems incomplete as a â€Å"number of plot threads remain untied† (Heilman 3).The movie’s main character is well developed and the storyline of the movie left enough room to make decent sequels, in the form of ‘The Bourne Supremacy ’ and ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’. Editing Technique The classical Hollywood editing approach is geared to toward achieving continuity by adopting editing techniques such as matching shots, cutting for reaction and cutting on action. However, the editors of the movie break out from convention, by capturing action on the fly and cutting for movement. This enables the audience to view action sequences exactly from Bourne’s shoes.The end results of this technique can be quite confusing and unsettling to the viewer, since there is always an element of uncertainty. Unlike usual action flicks, this movie’s editing does not ignore the consequences of the main character’s actions on other characters, thereby adding a touch of realism. In a way, this movie is not only entertaining but also makes the audience relate to the consequence of violence. Lighting and Cinematography The lighting and colors are quite dark to be reflective of the nature of the subjec t being handled in the movie.The movie follows quite a contemporary style of storytelling in this genre. The opening scene of the movie starts with a unique shot where we see Bourne’s body from underneath, through the water. The movie’s action sequences were shot and edited in way to provide a sense of realism, usually experienced in documentaries. The film is visually appealing as it showcases scenic locations in Zurich, Prague and Paris. The final scene set in the Greek island of Mykonos is testament to the movie’s refined visual treatment. ConclusionOne has to remember that this movie came out in 2002, just a few months after the tragic events of 9/11 when the CIA’s operational methods came under the microscope. Hence, it is natural for the audience to expect an element of relevance to real-world events. Applying political connotations to this movie would have only worsened the socio-political climate. According to A. O. Scott of the New York Times, th is movie is just a work of fiction and has nothing to do with current or past world happenings, thereby providing â€Å"something of a relief† (6).He further says Ludlum’s work is purely a fictional thriller, and does not intend on stimulating ethical dilemmas or posing questions over troubling geopolitical issues (Scott 6). Although the movie is not a typical action flick filled to the brim with action sequences and special effects, it does succeed in providing heart-pounding action to the viewer. Works Cited Page Covert, Colin. 24 March 2007. â€Å"Bourne Identity is a scorching thriller†. Star Tribune. (June 13 2002). 24 March 2007. Clark, Mike. â€Å"Bourne plays old-school spy game†.USA Today. (14 June 2002). 24 March 2007. Gonsalves, Rob. â€Å"The Bourne Identity†. eFilmCritic. 24 March 2007. Heilman, Jeremy. â€Å"The Bourne Identity (Doug Liman) 2002†. 24 March 2007. McGurk, Margaret. â€Å"Bourne to Thrill†. Cincinnati E nquirer. (14 June 2002). 24 March 2007. Scott, A. , O. â€Å"He Knows a Lot, Just Not His Name†.New York Times. (14 June 2002). 24 March 2007. Smith, Neil. â€Å"The Bourne Identity†. British Broadcasting Corporation. (September 2002). 24 March 2007. Taylor, Charles. â€Å"The Bourne Identity†. Salon. (14 June 2002). 24 March 2007. Younkin, Craig. â€Å"Reviews; The Bourne Identity†. MovieFreak. 24 March 2007.

Importance of Verbal vs. Non Verbal in Cross Cultural Communication

Is verbal communication more important or non-verbal in cross-cultural communication? This debate has ignited the scholars all over the globe. Many theories and studies have been conductive to find their relative importance. Words are used to express whatever one wants to say but they can have different meaning and connotation across various languages, countries and cultures and therefore can be misleading. On the other hand body movements, expressions and gestures have generally the same connotations across cultures but can also contrasting meanings.This paper will attempt to prove it through scholarly articles, authentic research and examples. In order to understand the topic and elaborate on the essay, first some key words shall be defined: Culture is defined as everything which is socially learned and shared by the members of a society. Everything in this definition includes a vast range of topics such as knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, values, ideas and many other c apabilities (Horton & Hunt, 2004).According to Lustig and Koester (1993), communication is defined as ‘symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual process in which people create shared meanings’. Therefore cross cultural communication or inter culture communication refers to sharing of ideas, values etc. amongst people from various cultures. This means that people from different cultures seek to understand what others communicate and what their messages signify (Reisinger, 2009). On the other hand, intra-cultural communication refers to sharing and understanding of messages of people within a culture.Verbal communication is the use of spoken words to convey a message whereas non-verbal communication as the movement and use of the body parts to express a message. Verbal Communication leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation: Verbal communication generally leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Mostly every culture has a different language, dialect, accent and jargon. Therefore, cultures differing in language will tend to make different sounds while speaking and sequencing of words will also vary (Reisinger, 2009).For example, Australians pronounce the word ‘chips’ as chip i. e. exactly how it is spelt (from an Australian perspective) , however in comparison , natives of New Zealand pronounce chips as heard by an Australian as ‘chaps’. The word ‘chaps’ has a different meaning to an Australian, compared to a New Zealander and thus will lead to inappropriate communication. Also one idea or product may be described by different words across different cultures. For example what Britishers call chips, the Americans call French fries (Reisinger, 2009).Employing translation experts in international communication is a common practice but there are many words that when translated to another language loses their real meaning (Browaeys, 2008). For example the sentence ‘My name is Lars, I live on the second floor’ when translated to German is ‘Mein Name ist, ich leben im zweiten Stock Lars’ which when translated back to English is ‘My name is, I lives in the second stick Lars’. This shows that due to translation many words can lost their meaning and communication would not be effective.Also sometimes people can easily translate one language from the other but they do not understand the true meaning of the word used. For example, Japanese seldom use the word ‘no’ in their conversations but use ‘yes’ (hai) a lot in their conversations. Here using of ‘yes’ means that they’ve heard what has been said rather than agreeing with what has been said (Knotts & Hartman, 1991). The same words can also have different meanings in different cultures (Reisinger 2009). For example, an American electronics firm marketed a photocopy machine in Chile with the name ‘Roto’.It was learned afterwards that ‘Roto’ means broken in Spanish (Ferraro 2010). Literature is filled with examples of global organizations with international communication blunders. The example discussed above highlights that translator knew the language but then even unintended messages were communicated to the local people. The grammatical and translation rules were followed but then even blunders were made. According to Ferraro (2010), in order to effectively communicate in international environment, there is no solution other than to learn the language.Complexities of Non-Verbal Communication: According to a study, only seven percent of communicated meaning is from verbal communication, the rest is from non verbal communication. This factor highlights the importance of using non-verbal cues in successful communication (Shick, 2000). Many facial expressions such as anger, fear, happiness etc. are universal. Therefore many people believe that non-verbal cues are excellent source of communicating int ernationally. The facial expressions must be same but the cause of these expressions may vary from culture to culture.Also many gestures and body movements have different meanings across different cultures (chapter 14). For example, in France firm handshakes are considered to be impolite whereas in Brazil handshakes are firm and exuberant. In order to give emphasis, Italians and Israelis use hand gestures a lot whereas Chinese do not use gestures at all (Shick, 2000). Silence is also a form of non verbal communication (Shick, 2000). In some cultures using verbal communication is more important than using non-verbal communication. Western cultures use direct words and explicit meaning that show true intentions and desires.While in East Asian countries such as Japan, Korea and China, an indirect style of verbal communication is used and they instead resort to non-verbal signal. Asians emphasize silence over words whereas Americans believe words are very important. Western cultures pla ces due emphasis on choosing words appropriately whereas in eastern culture people believe that silence is a form of communication. They communicate by saying as less as possible and at times nothing as well. The meaning is in silence or saying as little as possible (Reisinger 2009).Culture variations exist regarding ‘touching’ in personal interaction. In Middle East and Latin America people prefer high physical contact while people in Northern Europe and America prefer low physical contact. Culture also differs as to where people can be touched. For example in China and many western countries, shaking hands among opposite gender is a norm whereas in Muslim countries it is not (Reisinger, 2009). Therefore in inter cultural communication it is important to understand the meaning of each gesture before using it. The same gesture can have very contrasting meanings across cultures.For example, pulling one’s eyelid with forefinger in France means, ‘I don’ t believe you’ whereas in Italy it means ‘I’m keeping an eye on you’. Conclusion: Verbal and non verbal both have their pros and cons. The positives of one can translate into the negatives of the other. Therefore, excellence in both verbal and non verbal communication is required foe effective cross cultural communication. In this era of globalization, no business can sacrifice on inappropriate communication. Even if one universal language is used throughout cultures then even dialects and accents would vary which will lead to misinterpretation.

Tourism Industry of Malaysia Essay Example

Tourism Industry of Malaysia Essay Example Tourism Industry of Malaysia Essay Tourism Industry of Malaysia Essay Tourism Industry of Malaysia (Background) The early 70s spelt the beginning of a `new era`. The old Tourism Department of 1959 was then upgraded into the Tourism Development Corporation. The formation of the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) in 1972 and placing it under the purview of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI) for strategic planning and focus charted a new era in the history of the tourism industry. That was the same year Malaysia Airlines was formed (1972). It was the dawn of a new beginning and both TDC and MAS were tasked to put Malaysia on the world tourist map. Since then, the Malaysian economy remains relatively robust with manufacturing and tourism taking the lead. Today, the tourism industry has experienced a rapid growth and gained an importance in the Malaysian economy. It is the second largest foreign exchange earner, after manufacturing. This is in line with the government’s objective to accelerate the domestic private sector and stimulate the services sector to spearhead economic growth. Tourism’s Contribution Receipts In the context of tourism receipts, the contribution from this sector has been very encouraging. For instance, the Malaysian economy registered RM17. 40 billion in receipts from 10. 22 million visitors in 2000 (just a year after implementing the three-pronged action). This constituted a 28. 9 per cent increase between 1999 and 2000. With the exception of 2003 (SARS Gulf War), this upward trend continued until today. From the tourism receipts (tourism revenue) contribution, there exists a steady growth. For example, tourism receipts increased from RM17. 40 billion in 2000 to RM24. 20 billion a year later and then increased further to RM25. 80 billion (2002), RM29. billion (2004) and RM32. 00 billion in 2005. Last year Malaysia received RM36. 3 billion (USD10. 4 billion) in tourism receipts. The top 10 markets in 2006 were Singapore (9,656,251 arrivals), Thailand (1,891,921 arrivals), Indonesia (1,217,024 arrivals), Brunei (784,446 arrivals), China (439,294 arrivals), Japan (354,213 arrivals), India (279,046 arrivals), Australia (277,125 arrivals), United Kingdom (252,035 arrival s) and the Philippines (211,123 arrivals). Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Malaysias services sector is the largest sector in the economy, contributing 52. % to GDP and 48. 6% to total employment in 2000. The government views the services sector as a catalyst for growth Last year, the national GDP was at RM1,098. 3 billion or USD 313. 8 billion (constant 1987 prices) with a growth of 5. 9 % of which RM36. 3 billion or USD 10. 3 billion came from the tourism sector thus making it as the second economic contributor for 2006. The Services Sector accounts about 54 % of the national GDP. Jobs / Employment Out of the total national workforce, 51% (2005) were in the services sector. This translates into almost 5. million out of the 10. 73 million of the national workforce being employed either directly or indirectly in the tourism sector, be it in hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, airlines, transportation etc†¦By providing job opportunities, the tourism sector has played a role in keeping unemployment down to a low at 3. 5% (2 005/2006). Retail Sector With the introduction of the MEGA SALE Carnival in 1999, the economy received a boost from the retail sector. The Malaysian tourism authority has undertaken efforts to position Malaysia as a leading international shopping destination. The Mega Sales Carnivals were held on a nationwide basis were successful in attracting more shoppers. Each Mega Sale has managed to attract additional half a million foreign visitors and day-trippers from theneighbouring countries, on top of the normal tourist arrivals. The effort facilitated the growth in tourism expenditure and consumer demand, which enhanced the growth of retail trade. For instance, in 2003, the retail sector made up just over 13% of Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employed about 730,000 workers, or 7% of the total workforce. Then in 2005, the retail sector made a 10. 2 % growth in sales over the same period in 2004. Its relations to other sectors of the economy, such as wholesaling, advertisement and promotions, info technology and logistics, ensure it that it has a pivotal role to play. Education tourism The increase in the number of institutions of higher learning and twinning programmes with foreign universities provided the foundation for the growth in education tourism. Currently, over 50,000 foreign students registered with institutions of higher learning in the country. There are additional spins-offs as parents of foreign students took the opportunity to spend their holidays at tourist attractions when visiting their children. Education tourism has become popular as reflected by the demand for tours to visit schools to enable students from other countries to gain knowledge of the school education system as well as experience the Malaysian school atmosphere, which is unique with the social interaction of the various ethnic groups besides contributing to the national economy. Medical and Health Sector Since it was introduced in 1999, the medical and health tourism has contributed handsomely to the national economy. Last year (2006), a total of 296,687 health tourists visited Malaysia yielding revenue totalling RM203. 66 million (USD32. 8 million). Malaysia My Second Home Malaysia My Second Home Programme is promoted by the Government of Malaysia to allow people from all over the world who fulfil certain criteria, to stay in Malaysia as long as possible on a social visit pass with a multiple entry visa. The Social Visit Pass is initially for a period of ten (10) years (depending on the validity of the applicants’ passport) and is renewable. The programme has managed to attract more than 10,000 foreigners since it was introduced in 1996 to date. Last year alone there were 1,728 people registered under the programme, which has various flexible conditions, and was introduced to enable foreigners with a high income to stay in the country for at least five years or for a longer period of time. VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2007 This year, Malaysia’s focus will be on the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007, was is aimed at aggressively promoting Malaysia, increasing 4 tourist arrivals, as well as encouraging domestic tourism among Malaysians. Coincidentally, 2007 is also the year of Malaysia’s 50th independence. As such, the Visit Malaysia Year campaign is a timely event to celebrate Malaysia’s golden jubilee. It is an occasion to rejoice and to share with the world the unique qualities and virtues that have shaped Malaysia to be the country that it is today. The VMY 2007 campaign is expected to raise the awareness of foreign tourists to enable them to plan their holidays in Malaysia. For VMY 2007, the country has set a target to attract 20. 1 million tourists. Overall, there are over 240 events, of which, 50 being major eventsand 5 as international mega events. All these events are presented in `One Golden Celebration`. A celebration that brings Malaysia to the world, and the world to Malaysia. The first event of the year was the Visit Malaysia Year Grand Launch on 6 January by the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia in the presence 500 international media and trade representatives from all over the world. Highlight of the Grand Launch was the unveiling of the Eye on Malaysia, which is a 60-metre Ferris wheel followed by the Flora Fest Parade, a spectacular display of floats dressed in all kinds of flowers found in Malaysia. The other mega events include the Malaysian International Aerospace Adventure, the International Fireworks Display, the Malaysian International Tattoo and the KL International Buskers Festival. Conclusion: The tourism industry has come along way since its inception in 1959 with only a Tourism Department back then. Today, after 50 years and half of a century later, the industry has moved with such celerity to become the second income spinner to the national economy whilst experiencing tremendous growth from year to year. The string of awards and accolades awarded to Malaysia bears testimony to this fact. Malaysia was voted as one of the top five most popular outbound destinations in 2006 out of 100 countries in a poll organised by Guangzhou Daily, the biggest South 5 China newspaper which has a daily circulation of 1. 8million. Malaysia received two awards at the tourism film competition Das goldene Stadttor (The Golden City Gate) during the world’s largest tourism exhibition, ITB, in March 2007. The tropical nature paradise won the gold award for the â€Å"Malaysia Now† global online campaign and a silver award for its 60-second TV commercial themed â€Å"The Time is No w, The Place is Malaysia. † Malaysia was also named the â€Å"Best Tourism Destination 2006† by the American business travel magazine Global Traveller in the beginning of the year. In early May 2007, Malaysia was awarded as the `Best Summer Destination` for United Arab Emirates residents by Asfaar Magazine.

Definition and Examples of Language Varieties

Definition and Examples of Language Varieties In  sociolinguistics, language variety- also called  lect- is a general term for any distinctive form of a language or linguistic expression. Linguists commonly use language variety (or simply variety) as a cover term for any of the overlapping subcategories of a language, including dialect,  register,  jargon, and  idiolect. Background To understand the meaning of language varieties, its important to consider how lects differ from  standard English. Even what constitutes standard English is a topic of hot debate among linguists. Standard English  is a  controversial term  for a form of the English language that is written and spoken by educated users.  For some linguists, standard English is a synonym for  good  or  correct  English  usage. Others use the term to refer to a specific geographical  dialect  of English or a dialect favored by the most powerful and prestigious social group. Varieties of language develop for a number of reasons: differences can come about for geographical reasons; people who live in different geographic areas often develop distinct dialects- variations of standard English. Those who belong to a specific group, often academic or professional, tend to adopt jargon that is known to and understood by only members of that select group. Even individuals develop idiolects, their own specific ways of speaking. Dialect The word  dialect- which contains lect within the term- derives from the Greek words  dia- meaning   across, between and  legein  speak.  A  dialect  is a regional or social  variety  of a  language  distinguished by pronunciation,  grammar, and/or  vocabulary. The term  dialect  is often used to characterize a way of speaking that differs from the  standard  variety of the language. Sarah Thomason of the  Linguistic Society of America  notes: All dialects start with the same system, and their partly independent histories leave different parts of the parent system intact. This gives rise to some of the most persistent myths about language, such as the claim that the people of Appalachia speak pure Elizabethan English. Certain dialects have gained negative connotations in the U.S. as well as in other countries. Indeed, the term  dialect  prejudice  refers to discrimination based on a persons  dialect  or way of  speaking.  Dialect prejudice is a type of  linguicism- discrimination based on dialect. In their article Applied Social Dialectology, published in Sociolinguistics: An International Handbook of the Science of  Language and Society, Carolyn Temple and Donna Christian observe: ...dialect prejudice is  endemic in public life, widely tolerated, and institutionalized in social enterprises that affect almost everyone, such as education and the media. There is limited knowledge about and little regard for    linguistic  study showing that all varieties of a language display systematicity and that the   elevated  social position of standard varieties has no scientific linguistic basis. Due to this kind of dialectic prejudice, Suzanne Romaine, in Language in Society, notes: Many linguists now prefer the term  variety  or  lect  to avoid the sometimes  pejorative  connotations that the term dialect has. Register Register is defined as the  way a speaker uses language differently in different circumstances. Think about the words you choose, your tone of voice, even your body language. You probably behave very differently chatting with a friend than you would at a formal dinner party or during a job interview. These variations in formality,  also called stylistic variation, are known as registers in linguistics. They are determined by such factors as social occasion,  context,  purpose, and  audience. Registers are marked by a variety of specialized vocabulary and turns of phrases, colloquialisms, the use of  jargon, and a difference in intonation and pace. Registers are used in all forms of communication, including written, spoken, and signed. Depending on grammar, syntax, and tone, the register may be extremely rigid or very intimate. You dont even need to use an actual word to communicate effectively. A huff of exasperation during a debate or a grin while signing hello speaks volumes. Jargon Jargon  refers to the specialized  language  of a professional or occupational group. Such language is often meaningless to outsiders. American poet  David Lehman  has described jargon as the verbal sleight of hand that makes the old hat seem newly fashionable; it gives an air of novelty and specious profundity to ideas that, if stated directly, would seem superficial, stale, frivolous, or false. George Packer describes jargon in a similar vein in a 2016 article in the New Yorker magazine: â€Å"Professional jargon- on Wall Street, in humanities departments, in government offices- can be a fence raised to keep out the uninitiated and permit those within it to persist in the belief that what they do is too hard, too complex, to be questioned. Jargon acts not only to   euphemize  but to license, setting insiders against outsiders and giving the flimsiest notions a scientific aura.†Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ Pam Fitzpatrick, a senior research director at Gartner, a Stamford, Connecticut-based research and advisory firm specializing in high tech, writing on  LinkedIn,  puts it more bluntly: Jargon is waste. Wasted breath, wasted energy. It absorbs time and space but does nothing to further our goal of persuading people to help us solve complex problems. In other words, jargon is a faux method of creating a sort of dialect that only those on this inside group can understand. Jargon has social implications similar to dialect  prejudice but in reverse: It is a way of making those who understand this particular variety of language more erudite and learned; those who are members of the group that understands the particular jargon are considered smart, while those on the outside are simply not bright enough to comprehend this kind of language. Types of Lects In addition to the distinctions discussed previously, different types of lects also echo the types of language varieties: Regional dialect: A variety spoken in a particular region.Sociolect: Also known as a  social dialect, a  variety of language  (or register) used by a socioeconomic class, a profession, an age group, or any  other social group.Ethnolect: A lect spoken by a specific ethnic group. For example, Ebonics, the vernacular  spoken by  some African-Americans, is a type of ethnolect, notes  e2f,  a language-translation firm.Idiolect:  According to e2f, the language  or languages spoken by each individual. For example, if you are multilingual and can speak in different registers and styles, your idiolect comprises several languages, each with multiple registers and styles. In the end, language varieties come down to judgments, often illogical, that are, according to Edward Finegan in Language: Its Structure and Use: ...imported from outside the realm of language and represent attitudes to particular varieties or to forms of expression within particular varieties. The language varieties, or lects, that people speak often serve as the basis for judgment, and even exclusion, from certain social groups, professions, and business organizations. As you study language varieties, keep in mind that they are often based on judgments one group is making in regard to another.

Media Ethics (Philosophy) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Media Ethics (Philosophy) - Essay Example And with this haunting one’s mind, there is basically nowhere to better start looking for the answer but in the very institution that is created for these dynamic exchanges – media. Recognizing the vast influence and the major role that mass media plays in he lives of people, Noam Chomsky’s definition of mass media strikes at the very heart of what it is all about. He claims that â€Å"the mass media serve as the system for communicating messages and symbols to the general populace. It is their function to amuse, entertain, and inform, and to inculcate individuals with the values, beliefs and codes of behavior that will integrate them into the institutional structures of the larger society.†1 If the very nature of mass media is what Chomsky describes it to be, it is but fitting for us to reevaluate the value of mass media, as we now know it. Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky in their book Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media claim that mass media is never really objective and fair in its account of what is happening around us, around the world. Rather, mass media since the start of the late modern period and made more significant after the end of World War II has been an institution that caters to the demands and whims of the capitalists owners and major stock holders in the field. Thus, tainting the noble start of media – to inform people. Chomsky is in fact claiming that media is in effect a tool that is being used for propaganda by the superstructure that dominates the society. And this is made possible because the â€Å"raw material of news must pass through successive filters, leaving only the cleansed residue fit to print. They fix the premises of discourse and interpretation, and the definition of what is newsworthy in the first place, and they explain the basis and operations of what amount to propaganda campaign.†2 And one of these filters is â€Å"anticommunism† as