Saturday, November 30, 2019
The Exhibit Twilight Visions at the International Center of Photography
The medium of photography in the post World War I period was almost too deliciously convenient a vehicle for certain proponents of the Dadaists and the Surrealists. Cameras had been, since their invention, been shrinking to a manageable and portable size. The newly graspable medium offered these iconoclastic visionaries a range of possibilities for creating art that were available in no other way.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Exhibit Twilight Visions at the International Center of Photography specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Through photography, the Dadaists could freely exercise the randomness, transgressiveness, immediacy, and populist tendencies they espoused. The Surrealists could snatch from around them scenes of impossibility and disturbing wonder, while showing bodies and settings with stark reality. Is it any wonder, then, that photography, Paris, Surrealism, and Dadaism are terms which go together ? The ability of photography to capture scenes of the moment allowed for an uncompromising observation of the world as it was, with all its warts, and was thus very appealing to a group which gloried in calling a spade a spade. After all, in the words of Tristan Tzara,â€Å"beauty is dead†(Tzara 249). Photography could catch the unwary subject in the midst of petty deception and hypocrisy. A photographer could make art from the flotsam and jetsam of the streets, whether human or object. A photograph was almost like performance art, involving the subject and the artist in an ephemeral, spontaneous, one-time-only event, very much in line with Tzara’s thinking (Tzara 253)[1]. Additionally, photography avoided entirely the hated tyranny of the art academy (Tzara 250). Further, the cumbersome process of using models, undergoing days or weeks of sittings, was avoidable when using photography. Rather than requiring a studio and years of training in drafting and painting, pho tography could be undertaken with only a modest closet for atelier. Additionally, in that less litigious age did not even require the consent of the subject to create a portrait. Furthermore, by placing the relatively inexpensive means of production of art in the hands of almost everyone, photography was enormously egalitarian and could theoretically be adopted by the masses for their own artistic expression, which was a goal of Dadaism (Darwent)[2]. What a perfect fit with the philosophy of the Dadaists! At the same time, photography had the enormous advantage that pictures could be modified from their recording of strict reality. They could, for example, be altered by changing lenses or using mirrors, as in Distortions (1933-1934) by Andre Kertesz, a Hungarian born expatriate who made Paris his home (Andre Kertesz). Photographs may also be modified chemically during processing, by changing the exposure or by retouching, to create entirely fantastic and appealingly dreamlike effect s.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Entirely surreal images could be produced out of a darkroom, even at the hands of a person who had no drafting or painting skills [3]. Such dreamlike effects were much valued by the Surrealists. Andre Breton wonders in his Surrealist Manifesto whether dreams are not equal in significance to waking life (Breton 434-437). He also has great respect for madness, and for hallucinations. In fact he regards hallucinations as pleasant enough to seduce the madman to remain in that condition (Breton 433). All these states of being can distort perception in the same way that a distorted photograph modifies reality. How appealing it must have been to know that one could print on paper the contents of one’s dreams, as Breton could readily have accomplished with his simple but striking personal dream image of a man being cut in two by a window (Breton 436-437). The exhibit Twilight Visions at the International Center of Photography shows a range of photos from the practitioners of this medium in the 1920’s and 30’s. One notable example, Brassai, the nom de shutter of Hungarian born Gyula Halasz, specialized in images of a very anti-establishment cast of â€Å"prostitutes, pimps, madams, transvestites, apaches, and assorted cold-eyed pleasure seekers†(Brassai). Brassai’s photo of the Angry Couple at the Bal Musette (1932), suspends the quarreling and not terribly elegant couple in suspended animation between moments of blame and insult. The unsparing picture certainly exemplifies the Dadaist view of Tristan Tzara in his Dada Manifesto, 1918; demonstrating â€Å"no pity†(Tzara). This depressing but basically realistic photo contrasts nicely with another Brassai, Bal Musette (1932) that combines the low-life grittiness of two bored prostitutes (or at least ladies of easy virtue) hugging a cheerfu l young man, with the hallucinatory surprise of finding in the mirror the image of a much older man and his companions. It is almost as if the viewer were seeing the young man’s dissolute future. Another piece, Girl Playing Snooker (1933), possesses all the dignity of an odalisque or any portrait of John Singer Sargent, but was of course snapped in a dark bistro of an undoubted prostitute. Brassai’s gaze, like that of the young woman in the photo, is â€Å"straightforward as a hammer†(Brassai). This portrait of a nameless pool hustler delivers a Dadaist poke in the eye of traditional formal portraiture. The can-can dancers move blurrily in Ilse Bing’s picture, French Cancan Dancers, Moulin Rouge, Paris (1931). Bing was unusual among this group of photographers, In that she had actually had some art and design-related training (Ilse Bing Biography).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Exhibit Twilight Visions at the International Ce nter of Photography specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In spite of the blurring of this photo, it is a vivid image, and it is interesting to compare this with the many images of the demi-monde of the dance hall from the Impressionists. No color is in the photo, of course, and we are able to see the faces full on, unlike many backstage views by the previous generation of artists. How odd it is to confirm that the Impressionists actually were accurate in portraying the cancan performers as entirely composed, disinterested and almost expressionless. The word jaded might have been invented for these faces. Perhaps, as Breton suggests, for these women, â€Å"existence is elsewhere†(Breton 439). Breton would probably have encouraged these dancers to absent themselves as much as they could from the real world, since he affirmed that Surrealism was such a potent way of dealing with daily problems (Breton)[4]. Dadaism and Surrealism embr aced photography with enthusiasm, and created some remarkable works in the medium. They recorded the realities of street life and the underclass, and their dreams and nightmares as well. They used all the unique features of the medium to look at grit and turn it into fantasy. Bibliography â€Å"Andre Kerteszâ€Å", 2010. Explore Photography. Web. Brassai, 2010. Web. Breton, Andre. â€Å"The First Manifesto of Surrealism.†Art in Theory: 1900-1999: An Anthology of Changing Ideas. Ed. Charles, and Woodll, Paiul Harrison. Oxford: Blackwell, 432-439.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Darwent, Charles. Well-chosen works show how De Stijl – ‘The Style’ – movement led to a revolution in European art that still resonates today: Van Doesburg the International Avant-Garde, Tate Modern, London. 2010. Web. â€Å"Ilse Bing Biography.†2010. Victoria and Albert Museum. Web. Tzara, Tristan. â€Å"Dada Manifesto.†Art in Theory: 1900-1999: An Anthology of Changing Ideas. Ed. Charles, and Wood, Paul Harrison. Oxford: Blackwell, 248-253. Footnotes Tzara expresses it thus: â€Å"Dada: absolute and unquestionable faith in every god that is the immediate product of spontaneity†(Tzara). Along with overturning everything that constituted order, the Dadaists believed that art had the power to uplift the oppressed and demoralized, and to accomplish this the art had to be accessible to them (Darwent). Kertesz certainly had little professional art training (Andre Kertesz). Breton contends of Surrealism that â€Å"It tends to ruin, on ce and for all, all other psychic mechanisms and to substitute itself for them in solving all the principal problems of life†(Breton). This essay on The Exhibit Twilight Visions at the International Center of Photography was written and submitted by user Organa to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Unit 3 Group Project Essay
Unit 3 Group Project Essay Unit 3 Group Project Essay Title: Do Advertisements Really Cheat? You Decide! Author: Leah Amber Lopez Contact Email: leahlopez2010@live.com Story: The story I am about to tell you is by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Brazil, and it focuses on the World Trade Center. The caption is â€Å"Let US†, which is basically a re-enactment of September 11, 2001; however, the ad has a large number of airplanes and jets. This ad shows several airplanes and jets pointing towards the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. This same ad has already been created by DDB, and also made into a commercial. Each ad depicts how the tsunami that hit Eastern Asia killed over one hundred times more individuals than that of the September 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers. In my opinion, this shows the lack of morals and ethics of the Brazilians. To go along with this, it has been proven that the WWF was aware of this ad, and they approved it. The ad was actually printed out one time in a local newspaper. The honest reason that this ad was printed in the local newspaper was to see if it would qualify to win any types of awards. I know, th is must be upsetting to you, as I know it is for me. The ad actually did become eligible for one award in New York, but the name of the award show, I honestly do not know. In my opinion, WWF, which enjoys an international reputation, should have known better than to approve of this type of advertisement. An ad of this type only makes them look bad, and makes its viewers wonder what their true intentions were. The true goal of an ad campaign is to position a brand in such a way that it pleases management and consumers. In the case with the WWF, they should have exhausted ad campaigns to position their brands as sensitive, ethical, and above any doubts; however, in this case, the WWF positions their image in a fashion that would definitely cast doubts
Friday, November 22, 2019
Clichés Dont Belong in Professional Writing
Clichà ©s Dont Belong in Professional Writing Clichà ©s Don’t Belong in Professional Writing Clichà ©s Don’t Belong in Professional Writing By Mary Some of the common clichà © phrases that we find ourselves using every day do not belong in professional writing. This has become abundantly clear to me as it has become more commonplace for me to work with international clients. As an American, I am familiar with the intended meaning of a number of common sayings that really don’t make much sense when interpreted literally or translated into another language. I was writing an e-mail message to a client in another country, and I found myself typing something to the effect of making sure we were â€Å"on the same page.†I stopped and look at what I wrote, and realized that what I wrote wasn’t really what I meant. The next day, I found myself writing an e-mail to a co-worker that said that I wasn’t â€Å"at the top of my game†that day. Hmm †¦ another phrase that really doesn’t make sense if you don’t know the implied meaning. Someone not familiar with American vernacular would not be likely to understand these phrases. Even if my clients and business associates do know what I mean when I use clichà ©d phrases like these, they might find it not professional. Look at the phrases that you use when you write and see if they make sense when translated literally. If they don’t, replace them with language that is clear and direct, with no room for misunderstanding. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Business Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Mostly Small But Expressive InterjectionsConfused Words #3: Lose, Loose, LossWhen to Spell Out Numbers
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
The Canterbury Television (CTV) Building Incident-Case Analysis Assignment
The Canterbury Television (CTV) Building Incident-Case Analysis - Assignment Example One such earthquake occurred on 22nd February 2011 in New Zealand causing 184 deaths with property worth billions of dollars being destroyed. This happened when an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit Christchurch. The fact that only the Canterbury Television (CTV) Building collapsed following the earthquake have raised a lot of questions regarding the design and construction of the building. Investigations have since shown that the collapse occurred due to poor design and construction, several parties drawing blame for the collapse of the building. Several role players have been blamed for the collapse of CTV building which has affected several stakeholders. Many of the role players in the building double up as stakeholders. The main role players in the building include David Harding, Alun Wilke Associates, Alan Reay Consultants Ltd., Alan Reay, Gerald Schirtcliff, Bill Jones, David Coatsworth, CCC, and different inspectors. Other stakeholders include tenants, the build ing owner, shareholders of the company that owned CTV building, staff members working for CTV building tenants, and members of public. It is worth noting that some of the management issues that emerge from the CTV building event are corruption, favoritism and lack of professionalism. It is recommended that all role players and stakeholders in the construction industry should take their work/roles seriously to avoid similar incidences. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 The Key Role-Players and Stakeholders 5 Management and organizational factors associated with the incident
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Ethcis of Stem Cell Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Ethcis of Stem Cell - Research Paper Example Anderson looks at the ethics and religious points of view on the subject. He describes how different religions have different views as to when life begins. Some Hindus for instance take the stance that life begins at 3 months after conception. Other individuals would differentiate between an embryo concieved in a human relationship and this laboratory act of creation. Ideas have altered over time. Thomas Aquinus for instance held the view, put forward earlier by Aristotle, that life began 40 days after conception.. Anderson goes on to point out that there are a number of different ideas involved. First , purely biological life which begins at conception. Secondly animation, i.e the point at which an embryo begins to move independently. Thirdly what he describes as ‘ensoulment’ i.e. the theological point at which an embryo can considered to have a soul. He also discusses such things as value - does an adult invalid have more ‘value’ than a few cells in a pert rie dish? Anderson points out the Roman Catholic Church’s stance which is that government’s have an obligation to protect the vulnerable. Surely this obligation should extend to the severely ill as well as those groups of laboratory bred cells? Duffy, D., ( 2002) Background and Legal Issues Related to Stem Cell Research, Congressional Research Service, Almanac of Policy Issues, Duffy claims that human embryonic stem cells (HESC) from embryos in their earliest stage of development are believed to be capable to transform themselves into differing body cell types than any adult stem cells. Research has therefore centered upon the potential that these cells have for the treatment to treat or mitigate the effects of various diseases as well as generating tissues which could be used to replace faulty cells or even organs. Duffy describes various sources for such cells. These are one week old blastocysts created via in vitrio fertilization; embryos of from 5 to 9 weeks obtained through elective abortion processes; embryos created in vitro purely for research purposes; embryos created by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) i.e. cloning; and finally adult stem cells such as those from bone marrow ore the umbilical cord.. Because the harvesting of such ‘master ‘cells involves the destruction of human embryos it has met much opposition by those who feel i t is unjustified slaughter of potential human beings. It must however be pointed out that these are embryos bred in a laboratory and which whould never have come into existance otherwise, so this is very different from an abortion done perhaps only for reasons of social convenience. In 2002 , according to Duffy, the American Government announced that, with a number of restrictions, federal funds would be made available for stem cell research, but this would be with established strains.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Poverty In United States Essay Example for Free
Poverty In United States Essay United States of America being among   the richest and most developed nations one would expect poverty to be a vocabulary that only exist in the national policies of third world countries.            By comparison Americans can be described as wealthy but there are some pockets of poverty in this vast and rich nation This paper attempts to explore poverty situation in United States highlighting its causes and characteristics, digging deeper to understand which group of people consist the poor.            A report released in 2002 shows that there were 35 million poor Americans, this represented roughly 10% of the population, and this figure has been rising Presently 12% of Americans are living below the poverty line.            By definition poverty is described as that condition where one is unable to meet the basic need in life, that’s one, can not afford a well balanced meal, decent housing and clothing. Poverty in United States is somehow different from the one experienced in least developed nations where living on less than a dollar qualifies one as poor. The poor in America constitute people who depend on state welfare since they are unable to provide for themselves, every year people fall in and out of poverty.  In a period of 10 years 40% of American fall in and out of poverty, this is attributed to fall of their income, when one of the family member moves out, among other situations (Fisher, G.M., 2003)            Some groups of people are more prone to poverty than others. This depends on their economic social or cultural position they occupy in the society. There are those who are unemployed meaning they do not engage in any income generating activity. Crime on one hand is a result of poverty or it can breed poverty. Poor tend to engage into criminal activity or they are driven into it by poverty. Apprehended criminals in correction centers rarely engage in economic activity while victims of crime e.g. thefts have to replace the stolen property eating on their savings. (Zweig, Michael, 2004)            Households headed by women on average tend to be poor in comparison to those with both spouses. In this type of a family woman is the sole bread winner. Most of her income goes towards provision of basic needs with less or no savings therefore making it difficult for this family to rise beyond poverty line (Martin N.,2008).            The size of the family affects family income, large families have more mouths to feed, more household bills to clear, huge spending in insurance, education and healthcare. If this type of family income is not enough they will for ever be trapped in poverty cycle.            Other groups that are likely to be poor are the unskilled, the less educated substance abusers immigrants and children.            Causes of poverty in America are several they range from economical, cultural, and geographical to social. . Distribution of resources largely affects people ability to produce. This also determines employment opportunities available which by and large dictates people incomes. States endowed with resources will have low poverty rates than those with little or unexploited resources. (Adams, J.Q, Pearlie S.A, 2001)            Economic condition which is not favorable will result to increased poverty rate, recessions leads to rise in inflation which means people pay more for the same goods they were buying but their income remains constant, and this means savings are curtailed. For example recession in 1982 led to rise in poverty rates from 12% to 15%             Education equips Americans with skills that enable them to gain employment or venture into business. On average Americans with a college diploma have access to high paying jobs compared to the less educated. To a greater extent educational level determine ones income, less educated are likely to earn less making it impossible for them to afford a decent living. On the same line education level dictates opportunities available to an individual. Unskilled labor attracts low pay making unskilled laborers more prone to poverty than their skilled counterparts.            Rural and urban settings provide greater disparities as far as living standards are concerned. Americans living in urban areas have higher incomes when compared to their rural countrymen. There are more opportunities in urban areas due to high population with disposable income and better infrastructure. In rural areas opportunities are few and are limited to primary production e.g. agriculture, mining e.t.c.This means income generation activities and employment opportunities are fewer and only attract the less skilled            Regionally, most of the southern states have higher poverty rates especially the rural areas .This is due to few employment opportunities and historical background.            Children are more prone to be poor than any other age group. According to the information released from population survey by census bureau in 2004, 21% 0f children were considered as poor. A greater disparity is seen when it comes to racial lines, almost half of African Americans and 40% of Latino kids are trapped in poverty circles. (Harrington, M.,1962).            Immigrants are great victims of poverty .Those with low education earn their living in low paying jobs. Illegal immigrants are even more disadvantaged as they can not gain any meaningful employment, therefore remaining in poverty circles for a long time            In conclusion, poverty in United States is dynamic, one may be in and out of poverty throughout their lives. Though there are conflicts as to who is poor, there is a common understanding that those who live on an income that is below what an average American earn is living below poverty . What constitutes poverty in United States may be middle class in some parts of the world especially in least developed nations. Poverty is a limiting factor in the society as it denies some Americans decent lives curtailing their freedom to enjoy lives. Policies need to be implemented to lower the poverty rates so as to rid United States of poverty. Reference Adams, J.Q.; Pearlie Strother-Adams, 2001. Dealing with Diversity. Chicago, IL: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. . Harrington, Michael ,1962 The Other America. Macmillan. Fisher, G.M. ,2003 The Development of the Orshansky Poverty Thresholds. Macmillan Zweig, Michael ,2004 Whats Class Got to do With It, American Society in the Twenty-first Century. ILR Press. Martin N. ,2008. Social Inequality: Patterns and Processes, 4th ed.. Boston: McGraw-Hill
Thursday, November 14, 2019
A Comparative Analysis of “Cry Freedom†and “Island in the Sun†Essay
Racism and racial segregation are forms of discrimination based traditionally on unmerited economic, social and political orders. These principles transform and re-invent and continue to manifest themselves in modern societies causing severe mental scars and perpetuating deep inequality and poverty. Colonialism in the British Caribbean illustrated by the film â€Å"Island in the Sun†which is chronologically first, and Post Colonialism in Africa illustrated by â€Å"Cry Freedom†have similarities and stark differences. Both films are used to portray society’s social-political issues. From the marginalization of black people socially, politically and economically to the notable use of laws that exploit, ostracize and impede the advancement of blacks while dividing them in the process. The films are set apart by their notable differences, in â€Å"Cry Freedom†, apartheid laws which were developed after the 20th century were codified which set legal barriers of white domination and racial separation. Racial discrimination was systemized and banned marriages between blacks and whites, and sanctioned certain jobs for whites only. â€Å"Island in the Sun†, on the other hand attempts to trade unionize the workforce to help blacks to become empowered because up to that point blacks could not work in certain areas. While both films reflect different time periods they simultaneously reflect the clutch of colonial mindsets on mental realities within The Bahamas. In â€Å"Island in the Sun†we see the Caribbean in the 1950s, historically during this time there was ‘de jure’ racial segregation between the two diverse groups – blacks and whites. What black people could and could not do was very present in this film. Here we see the character David Boyhe a mixed-ra... ...uld result in a movement whose final triumph would be majority rule and the dismantling of the system of apartheid that inhibited Bahamian blacks socially, politically and economically (Martin and Storr 21). Works Cited Barlas, Robert. The Bahamas. TarryTown: marshall cavendish Benchmark, 2000. Bethel, Nicolette. "Engendering the Bahamas." College of The Bahamas Research Journal XIII (2003). â€Å"Cry Freedom†. Dir. Richard Attenborough. Perf. Denzel Washington. 1987. Martin, Nona. "I’se a Man. Political Awakening and the 1942 Riot in the Bahamas." Journal of Caribbean History, 41 (1&2) (2008): 3. McCartney, Donald M. Bahamian Culture and Factors Which Impact Upon It. Pittsburg: Dorrance Publishing Co, inc, 2004. Wolpe, Harold. "‘Capitalism and cheap labour-power in South Africa: From segregation to apartheid'." Economy and Society 1(4) (1972): 425-456.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Is the Job in Fast-Food Restaurant Exploitative Essay
Exploitation is a term to describe person that are being mistreated. Karl Marx used it to explain the relationship between the capitalists and workers. It is claim that the value of a product is depended by how much labor has paid on it such as time, energy or ideas. Therefore the price of a product minus the cost and energy to produce a product or other sufficient usages should be equal to what a worker can earn. However, as the workers own nothing but their labor, they could only sell their labor to capitalists who own all other kinds of resources. Marx defined the value that capitalists take away from the workers as surplus value. It should be fair between â€Å"sellers†and â€Å"buyers†, but the capitalists refuse to pay a suitable amount of reward. In order to gain more profit, the capitalists would try as hard as they can to increase the surplus value, and lead to exploitation. In the paragraph below, I will first start with reason why Hong Kong fast food workers being exploited. Second I will focus on the current situation of exploitations in Hong Kong fast food restaurant. In addition, I will express my opinion on the implantation of minimum wage. It could only improve the situation of workers but could not solve the problem of exploitation. Reason for being exploited Workers in fast food shop is being exploited mainly because of the supply of workers is far more than the demand of job opportunities. In general, the jobs in fast food restaurant are independent to the education level. It is because most of the job opportunities in fast food restaurants are being simplified and divided clearly. With the aid of machines, almost everyone could do the job well; no specific skills are needed in fast food restaurants. Therefore this kind of jobs will depend much more on social skills such as communicate with customers, meaning that this kind of jobs is widely open to different types of people. In 2007, there are approximately 32,100 fast food restaurant employee, compare with unemployment workers of age group between 20 to 50, which is over 100,000 in 2007. It is obvious that the supply of potential workers is far more than the job opportunities. Since the workers lack of bargaining power, it means capitalists could heavily exploit and extract the surplus value from workers. In order to earn a living or at least subsidies the family, workers have no choice but to accept the offer from capitalists. Exploitation in Hong Kong fast food restaurant There are two sectors for capitalists to exploit the labors, first is low wage and long working hour , another would be on cutting employee welfare, and these two kinds of exploitations are common in fast food restaurant. It is terrified that the first aspect, low wage and long working hour, is a kind of norm in fast food industry. In before minimum wage launched, the average wage of fast food restaurant workers is extremely low, most of the fast food restaurant offer the workers with less than $20 per hour. Besides pay for a low wage to workers, long working hour and mechanized steps in the fast food industry also reflect exploitation on the workers. As the capitalists treat labor as a product, they want to use this product to gain profit as much and fast as it can. On one hand they reduce the wage of workers, on the other hand the want to increase the rate of getting reward. They therefore encourage their workers to work overtime. Since the wages are too low that workers can not even earn a living for their family, they must need to work longer to fulfill the needs. The research conducted by HKCTU in 2006 showed that the maximum working hour for fast food shop workers may up to 10 hours per day, but still they not earn enough for their family. Overtime working had already been proved that would lead to greater chance of getting heart attack. Capitalists sacrifice the lives of their workers to gain profits, which is created by workers. Exploitation can also be found on welfare. If there is a contract relationship between employer and employee, both of them should be protected by laws. However, the laws in Hong Kong show that it is unbalance. The laws protect the employer more than that of employee and it also leads to exploitation. There are some cases that the capitalists avoid to pay for the employee welfare that a workers should have by using loopholes in the laws. The current labor laws stated that for all employees that continuously working for 4 weeks and each of the weeks working for not less than 18 hours, he or she will be protected by the law and can enjoy the employee welfare. However, this law comes with a lot of loopholes that let the capitalists have room to avoid paying employee welfare, like force the workers stop working every 3 weeks. It becomes a characteristic in fast food industry because of its unbalance between supply and demand. The working hours of this kind of â€Å"short-term†workers may equal to long-term workers, but the worker will never receive the benefits form the welfare. This make the whole thing legal and the exploitation may continue. Some extreme cases even show that capitalists may act illegally to exploit the employee welfare. In 2009, the motorbike couriers from McDonald were discovered that they had forced to be self-employ, meaning that they do not have any paid holiday, insurance or any other employee welfare. It is rather on the edge but since the current labor laws is not strict enough to protect the employee and rather or not the company is abusing the self-employ scheme is hard to be proved, the problem still remain unsolvable. Implantation of minimum wage The minimum wage law could reduce the level of exploitation, but capitalists could develop new methods to exploit the workers. According the findings of HKCTU, the wage of fast food restaurant workers after the launched of minimum wage has been increased for 20% to 50%. It is also glad that some of the fast food restaurants such as Cafe de Coral and Fairwood paid for the dinning hours and provide paid holidays to their workers which are previously do not. They are good news for the workers, but when comparing to the current situation, it could only solve part of the problem of low wage, but the law still not protecting the welfare of workers, current labor laws still rely on â€Å"4-18 scheme†. In addition, in order to maintain the profits to balance the increase in wage, some of the fast food restaurants implant new machines to their fast food restaurants. It increases the rate of trading, meanings the rate of getting reward increase. Although the capitalists claim that the new machines will not cause any dismiss of workers, new machines further simplified the process in fast food restaurants. Lower the skills level for fast food restaurant jobs indicate that the bargaining power of workers will not increase but further slide down. The set up of minimum wage provide an index for capitalists to exploit. Now they can not reduce the wage of workers, but instead they exploit the workers with brand new ways. The form of exploitation has been change but does not mean that exploitation has disappeared. Conclusion In Hong Kong, the supply of labor is far more than the demand, causes the powerless situation of workers. In order to earn for their families, they could only be exploited. Minimum wage improves the current situation of labor, but could not solve the problem. The only way that balance the relationship between capitalist and workers, may rely on create new laws. If we need to solve the problem, the implant of minimum wage is the first step only.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Essay on Eating Locally
Why We Should Eat Locally It isn’t any secret that the United States is in a state of relatively bad health, but most Americans aren’t entirely aware of the overall global and personal impact of the way we eat. By corporatizing the distribution of almost all of our food resources, we are increasingly contributing to global destruction with every food item we purchase. Barbara Kingsolver, American author and expert in biology, asserts, â€Å"Each food item in a typical U. S. meal has traveled an average of 1,500 miles. If every U. S. itizen ate just one meal a week composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country's oil consumption by over 1. 1 million barrels of oil every week. †The impact of our eating habits is astounding. The way we distribute food lends itself to the destruction of our planet and resources, the widening gap between the rich and poor, uncertainty about food quality, and most importantly the health of ou r citizens. By consuming more local foods, we can stimulate our communities, conserve energy and achieve better health for our country as a whole.The safety of what we eat is the number one concern among those who worry about factory-produced food. In order to produce as much product as possible, factory animals are pumped full of hormones and antibiotics. Likewise, our fruits and vegetables are genetically modified and sprayed with insecticides. These chemicals have detrimental effects on our health and are ruining our food for no reason other than corporate profit. The only way to avoid our exposure to these things is to either buy organic food or buy it locally. Organic foods are the most rapidly growing segment of our food industry, doubling in growth every few years (Ikerd).Unfortunately, Organic food from supermarkets is just another big business which contributes to eliminating earth resources and often misleads consumers with its claims. If more people began eating locally, we would decrease the resources we use for transportation and completely eliminate our uncertainty about where our food comes from and what’s in it. Another reason to support local farms is that it would stimulate local economies and increase our personal responsibility in the world. Instead of shipping our jobs off to corporate farms, we could create jobs in our own ackyard. Not only would we be able to create jobs, but overall sustainability in our local communities. Today, farmers only get about 20% of the money for their products because the rest is spent on transportation and packaging (Muren). If we ate locally, farmers would begin to earn the true value of their products and eliminate the need for a middle man. John Ikerd, professor of Agriculture at the University of Missouri, argues that people who buy their food from local farms are also more likely to shop locally for other items, further stimulating local economy.Like all changes, the industrialization of our food came about one farmer at a time. In the same way, the road to change begins with each individual consumer (Ikerd). If Americans begin purchasing their fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products from local farms, our country can move toward better overall health, economic sustainability, and decrease our contribution to the destruction of the planet. If we want to begin solving the biggest problems in our society, a good way to start would be to focus on and perfect how we obtain of one of our most basic needs, food.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Andrew Jackson and The Indian Removal Act essays
Andrew Jackson and The Indian Removal Act essays Andrew Jackson's lack of positive actions and policies ultimately forced the westward migration of the "five civilized" Native American tribes, the Creeks, Chickasaws, Seminoles, Cherokees and Choctaws. Jackson's failure to enforce his early promise that the migration of the Native American tribes would be voluntary was a major factor in the success of the forced migration, as were Jackson's repeated failures to ensure that treaties with Native Americans were kept and that land deals with Native Americans were not fraudulent. In addition, other legislation like the Indian Trade and Intercourse Act of 1834 resulted in more migration out of the area, by reducing native rights and sovereignty. Further, Jackson's role in forwarding the forced migrations was likely motivated by a desire for profit and land, political concerns, and racism. In The Long, Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians, Anthony Wallace describes the forced removal of thousands of Native Americans from the American east to an area west of the Mississippi River through the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The author focuses on how the policies of Andrew Jackson impacted the relocation, who as a newly elected president faced a caucus that was deeply divided over the relocation of the Native Americans. Ultimately, Jackson became on of the most vocal and active of the proponents of the forced removal of the Native Americans. A professor of history and anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, Wallace is clearly qualified to write this history. He has written a number of books, including the Bancroft prize-winning Rockdale The Indian Removal Act of 1830 resulted in the forced removal of the five "civilized tribes" that lived in the geographical area east of the Mississippi River. The move displaced large numbers of the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes, but also affected a number of other tribe...
Monday, November 4, 2019
Causes of Prejudice
Prejudice is an opinion that is not based on actual evidence or experience. In â€Å"Causes of Prejudice,†Vincent Parillo describes the psychological and sociological reasons of prejudice. Among these causes, frustration is defined to produce a prejudicial attitude towards others. Parillo explains in his work that throughout history, minority groups have been used as scapegoats to take the blame for certain events. He clarifies that scapegoating is the act of blaming others for an incident that is not their fault. This idea is also visible in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, in the part where a lawyer named Atticus tries to prove an African American innocent who has been falsely charged with raping a white woman. Therefore, both Parillo’s â€Å"Causes of Prejudice†and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird support that frustration is a cause of prejudice because of an increase in aggression towards a scapegoat. To begin with, frustration is caused by relative deprivation, which is the lack of resources in an individual’s environment when compared to others. This results in aggression towards a scapegoat in order to relieve this tension. â€Å"Frustrated people may easily strike out against the perceived cause of their frustration. However, this reaction may not be possible because the true source of the frustration is often too nebulous to be identified or too powerful to act against†(Parillo 583). His view is also seen in To Kill a Mockingbird, when Mayella Ewell claims Tom Robinson has raped her. Atticus tries to prove to the jury that Tom Robinson in fact did not rape Mayella and that she, a white woman, kissed Tom, a black man. Mayella is an Ewell; a very poor family in the town of Maycomb and therefore she has to live through tough conditions which include living behind the garbage dump, barely having any money to support her dad and seven siblings, as well as being beaten by her own father. Most importantly, she is frustrated that she always feels dissatisfied with her life since she was never able to experience any happiness by being isolated from the rest of the world. Therefore, she tries to at least kiss a black man to feel some sense of happiness. When she realizes it is condemned by society, her frustration increases partly because society is not allowing her to have a small amount of happiness, and so she shows her aggression by blaming Tom Robinson for raping her. In addition, aggression resulted from frustration is pinpointed towards scapegoats because they share similar characteristics of being vulnerable to blame. â€Å"The group must be (1) highly visible in physical appearance or observable customs and ac ¬tions; (2) not strong enough to strike back; (3) situated within easy access of the dominant group . . .†(Parillo 584). To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in southern Alabama in the 1930’s. This was the time period where prejudice against African Americans was present. Segregation was present because having white skin was seen to be better than having black skin. This simple difference in skin color resulted in an unfair treatment of African Americans. Separate bathrooms, drinking fountains, churches, and schools resulted for African Americans and whites. Also, since whites felt that the blacks were inferior to them, they tended to assume all blacks were unintelligent. When Mayella copes with her frustration of being isolated from the rest of the world by blaming Tom Robinson, the court looks at his skin color instead of the evidence given for this case. Even though Atticus provides plenty of evidence that proves that it was impossible for Tom to commit the rape of Mayella, Tom is still found guilty because even if Mayella is part of the lower class of Maycomb, she is still a white woman, making her superior to Tom Robinson. It is evident that frustration plays an important role in determining prejudicial attitudes. Both the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and â€Å"Causes of Prejudice†by Vincent Parillo, agree that frustration is caused by relative deprivation and when aggression forms, the blame is placed on scapegoats. These scapegoats share similar characteristics which allow them to be vulnerable to the blame that falls upon them.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Principle of Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1
Principle of Management - Essay Example etent leader conducts internal analyses, reviews the external market and competitive environments and also considers the current state of human capital in the employee population. This report highlights a series of specific tasks which can lead to the identification of problems in the construction business unit as well as the tasks necessary to move the business forward and build profit and a better retention model. The issues which are leading to rather flat growth and improvement must be identified in order to give the construction unit a competitive edge in its industry. Competitors have managed to perform better in relation to profit increases and maintaining a contented workforce who are not as apt to seek other job opportunities. This means that the construction industry, as a whole, provides opportunities for advancement in areas of profit and turnover if these issues can be successfully identified. The first task necessary in this goal is to conduct an analysis of the company’s strengths and weaknesses in areas of human resources, the internal use of finances, marketing, and job design. This can be accomplished using the SWOT analysis template, designed to review the internal and external business environment in order to give the manager a snapshot of what is occurring at the business and employee level. â€Å"SWOT analysis remains a major strategic tool for listing the strengths and weaknesses of the organisational unit and can translate them into value†(Coman and Ronen, 2009, p.5677). For example, it is necessary to review all functional and inter-related departments to essentially audit how they are interacting at the interpersonal and business levels. Administrative groups may not be providing the necessary support or encouragement needed for lower-level employees within the organisation, thus reducing morale. The SWOT analysis would identify poorly-function ing business units as a weakness and give the manager a guideline by which to make internal
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