MLA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

MLA - Essay Example ). The figures above are used not to merely denote the size of the company and the amount of working capital it has, but represents an organization that means business, spells business and does it efficiently. They have been in the forefront of creating ‘The Human Network Effect’ which is the main theme all their advertisements are based on. One of the most interesting features of the company lies in its strategy to acquire other companies to add to its existing talent pool of software engineers. ‘Cisco is intentionally influencing knowledge flows through its management of IT.’ (Managing knowledge for sustained competitive advantage, Jackson. Susan, p 70). Being a company that reported a growth in sales over 50% annually in a timeframe of five consecutive years, this is truly a power to be reckoned with. This resultant growth is only due to its employees. It is because of the employees, hired in the best interests of the company who drove the sale’s m achinery and gave it immense profits that multiplied over the years. But, things have changed since the last few years. The global recession has not only dashed the hopes and wealth of large business enterprises, but also created a sense of intense fear and insecurity in the minds of good workers and employees. In this scenario, the training imparted to employees becomes all the more important because it defines their future roles and shapes their goals when they join the company. Though, currently, this kind of emotional distress seems to be an ongoing problem with most of the business establishments, Cisco needs to be treated differently because of the quality of the workforce it needs to maintain. This is main the reason why Cisco cannot avoid not having a training budget. Training employees is important to make them productive and contribute towards efficient and profitable performance in the long run. It can also act as a retention strategy and ensure that the best and more pro ductive

An Introduction to Genre Theory Essay Example for Free

An Introduction to Genre Theory Essay An Introduction to Genre Theory Daniel Chandler 1. The problem of definition A number of perennial doubts plague genre theory. Are genres really out there in the world, or are they merely the constructions of analysts? Is there a finite taxonomy of genres or are they in principle infinite? Are genres timeless Platonic essences or ephemeral, time-bound entities? Are genres culturebound or transcultural? Should genre analysis be descriptive or proscriptive? (Stam 2000, 14) The word genre comes from the French (and originally Latin) word for kind or class. The term is  widely used in rhetoric, literary theory, media theory, and more recently linguistics, to refer to a distinctive type of text*. Robert Allen notes that for most of its 2,000 years, genre study has been primarily nominological and typological in function. That is to say, it has taken as its principal task the division of the world of literature into types and the naming of those types much as the botanist divides the realm of flora into varieties of plants (Allen 1989, 44). As will be seen, however, the analogy with biological classification into genus and species misleadingly suggests a scientific process. Since classical times literary works have been classified as belonging to general types which were variously defined. In literature the broadest division is between poetry, prose and drama, within which there are further divisions, such as tragedy and comedy within the category of drama. Shakespeare referred satirically to classifications such as tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comicalhistorical-pastoral (Hamlet II ii). In The Anatomy of Criticism the formalist literary theorist Northrop Frye (1957) presented certain universal genres and modes  as the key to organizing the entire literary corpus. Contemporary media genres tend to relate more to specific forms than to the universals of tragedy and comedy. Nowadays, films are routinely classified (e. g. in television listings magazines) as thrillers, westerns and so on genres with which every adult in modern society is familiar. So too with television genres such as game shows and sitcoms. Whilst we have names for countless genres in many media, some theorists have argued that there are also many genres (and sub-genres) for which we have no names (Fowler 1989, 216; Wales 1989, 206). Carolyn Miller  suggests that the number of genres in any society depends on the complexity and diversity of society (Miller 1984, in Freedman Medway 1994a, 36). The classification and hierarchical taxonomy of genres is not a neutral and objective procedure. There are no undisputed maps of the system of genres within any medium (though literature may perhaps lay some claim to a loose consensus). Furthermore, there is often considerable theoretical disagreement about the definition of specific genres. A genre is ultimately an abstract conception rather than something that exists empirically in the world,  notes Jane Feuer (1992, 144). One theorists genre may be anothers sub-genre or even super-genre (and indeed what is technique, style, mode, formula or thematic grouping to one may be treated as a genre by another). Themes, at least, seem inadequate as a basis for defining genres since, as David Bordwell notes, any theme may appear in any genre (Bordwell 1989, 147). He asks: Are animation and documentary films genres or modes? Is the filmed play or comedy performance a genre? If tragedy and comedy are genres, perhaps then domestic tragedy or slapstick is a formula. In  passing, he offers a useful inventory of categories used in film criticism, many of which have been accorded the status of genres by various commentators: Grouping by period or country (American films of the 1930s), by director or star or producer or writer or studio, by technical process (Cinemascope films), by cycle (the fallen women films), by series (the 007 movies), by style (German Expressionism), by structure (narrative), by ideology (Reaganite cinema), by venue (drive-in movies), by purpose (home movies), by audience (teenpix), by subject or theme (family film, paranoid-politics movies). (Bordwell 1989, 148) Another film theorist, Robert Stam, also refers to common ways of categorizing films: While some genres are based on story content (the war film), other are borrowed from literature (comedy, melodrama) or from other media (the musical). Some are performer-based (the Astaire-Rogers films) or budget-based (blockbusters), while others are based on artistic status (the art film), racial identity (Black cinema), locat[ion] (the Western) or sexual orientation (Queer cinema). (Stam 2000, 14). Bordwell concludes that one could argue that no set of necessary and sufficient conditions can  mark off genres from other sorts of groupings in ways that all experts or ordinary film-goers would find An Introduction to Genre Theory acceptable (Bordwell 1989, 147). Practitioners and the general public make use of their own genre labels (de facto genres) quite apart from those of academic theorists. We might therefore ask ourselves Whose genre is it anyway? Still further problems with definitional approaches will become apparent in due course. Defining genres may not initially seem particularly problematic but it should already be apparent that it is a theoretical minefield. Robert Stam identifies four key problems with generic labels (in relation to film): extension (the breadth or narrowness of labels); normativism (having preconceived ideas of criteria for genre membership); monolithic definitions (as if an item belonged to only one genre); biologism (a kind of essentialism in which genres are seen as evolving through a standardized life cycle) (Stam 2000, 128129). Conventional definitions of genres tend to be based on the notion that they constitute particular conventions of content (such as themes or settings) and/or form (including structure and style) which  are shared by the texts which are regarded as belonging to them. Alternative characterizations will be discussed in due course. The attempt to define particular genres in terms of necessary and sufficient textual properties is sometimes seen as theoretically attractive but it poses many difficulties. For instance, in the case of films, some seem to be aligned with one genre in content and another genre in form. The film theorist Robert Stam argues that subject matter is the weakest criterion for generic grouping because it fails to take into account how the subject is treated (Stam 2000, 14). Outlining a fundamental problem of  genre identification in relation to films, Andrew Tudor notes the empiricist dilemma: To take a genre such as the western, analyze it, and list its principal characteristics, is to beg the question that we must first isolate the body of films which are westerns. But they can only be isolated on the basis of the principal characteristics which can only be discovered from the films themselves after they have been isolated. (Cited in Gledhill 1985, 59) It is seldom hard to find texts which are exceptions to any given definition of a particular genre. There are no rigid rules of inclusion and exclusion (Gledhill 1985, 60). Genres are not discrete systems, consisting of a fixed number of listable items (ibid. , 64). It is difficult to make clear-cut distinctions between one genre and another: genres overlap, and there are mixed genres (such as comedy-thrillers). 2 Specific genres tend to be easy to recognize intuitively but difficult (if not impossible) to define. Particular features which are characteristic of a genre are not normally unique to it; it is their relative prominence, combination and functions which are distinctive (Neale 1980, 22-3). It is easy to underplay the differences within a genre. Steve Neale declares  that genres are instances of repetition and difference (Neale 1980, 48). He adds that difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre (ibid. , 50): mere repetition would not attract an audience. Tzvetan Todorov argued that any instance of a genre will be necessarily different (cited in Gledhill 1985, 60). John Hartley notes that the addition of just one film to the Western genre changes that genre as a whole even though the Western in question may display few of the recognized conventions, styles or subject matters traditionally associated with its genre (OSullivan et al. 1994). The issue of difference also  highlights the fact that some genres are looser more open-ended in their conventions or more permeable in their boundaries than others. Texts often exhibit the conventions of more than one genre. John Hartley notes that the same text can belong to different genres in different countries or times (OSullivan et al. 1994, 129). Hybrid genres abound (at least outside theoretical frameworks). Van Leeuwen suggests that the multiple purposes of journalism often lead to generically heterogeneous texts (cited in Fairclough 1995, 88). Norman Fairclough suggests that mixed-genre texts are far from uncommon in the mass media (Fairclough 1995, 89). Some media may encourage more generic diversity: Nicholas Abercrombie notes that since television comes at the audience as a flow of programmes, all with different generic conventions, means that it is more difficult to sustain the purity of the genre in the viewing experience (Abercrombie 1996, 45; his emphasis). Furthermore, in any medium the generic classification of certain texts may be uncertain or subject to dispute. Contemporary theorists tend to describe genres in terms of family resemblances among texts (a notion derived from the philosopher Wittgenstein) rather than definitionally (Swales 1990, 49). An individual text within a genre rarely if ever has all of the characteristic features of the genre (Fowler 1989, 215). The family resemblance approaches involves the theorist illustrating similarities between some of the texts within a genre. However, the family resemblance approach has been criticized on the basis that no choice of a text for illustrative purposes is innocent (David Lodge, cited in Swales 1990, 50), and that such theories can make any text seem to resemble any other one (Swales 1990, 51). In addition to the definitional and family resemblance approach, there is  An Introduction to Genre Theory another approach to describing genres which is based on the psycholinguistic concept of prototypicality. According to this approach, some texts would be widely regarded as being more typical members of a genre than others. According to this approach certain features would identify the extent to which an exemplar is prototypical of a particular genre (Swales 1990, 52). Genres can therefore be seen as fuzzy categories which cannot be defined by necessary and sufficient conditions. How we define a genre depends on our purposes;  the adequacy of our definition in terms of social science at least must surely be related to the light that the exploration sheds on the phenomenon. For instance (and this is a key concern of mine), if we are studying the way in which genre frames the readers interpretation of a text then we would do well to focus on how readers identify genres rather than on theoretical distinctions. Defining genres may be problematic, but even if theorists were to abandon the concept, in everyday life people would continue to categorize texts. John Swales does note that a discourse communitys nomenclature for genres is an  important source of insight (Swales 1990, 54), though like many academic theorists he later adds that such genre names typically need further validation (ibid. , 58). Some genre names would be likely to be more widely-used than others: it would be interesting to investigate the areas of popular consensus and dissensus in relation to the everyday labeling of mass media genres. For Robert Hodge and Gunther Kress, genres only exist in so far as a social group declares and enforces the rules that constitute them (Hodge Kress 1988, 7), though it is debatable to  what extent most of us would be able to formulate explicit rules for the textual genres we use routinely: much of our genre knowledge is likely to be tacit. In relation to film, Andrew Tudor argued that genre is what we collectively believe it to be (though this begs the question about who we are). Robert Allen comments wryly that Tudor even hints that in order to establish what audiences expect a western to be like we might have to ask them (Allen 1989, 47). Swales also alludes to people having repertoires of genres (Swales 1990, 58), which I would argue would also be likely to repay  investigation. However, as David Buckingham notes, there has hardly been any empirical research on the ways in which real audiences might understand genre, or use this understanding in making sense of specific texts (Buckingham 1993, 137). Steve Neale stresses that genres are not systems: they are processes of systematization (Neale 1980, 51; my emphasis; cf. Neale 1995, 463). Traditionally, genres (particularly literary genres) tended to be regarded 3 as fixed forms, but contemporary theory emphasizes that both their forms and functions are dynamic. David Buckingham argues that genre is not simply given by the culture: rather, it is in a constant process of negotiation and change (Buckingham 1993, 137). Nicholas Abercrombie suggests that the boundaries between genres are shifting and becoming more permeable (Abercrombie 1996, 45); Abercrombie is concerned with modern television, which he suggests seems to be engaged in a steady dismantling of genre (ibid. ) which can be attributed in part to economic pressures to pursue new audiences. One may acknowledge the dynamic fluidity of genres without positing the final demise of genre as an interpretive framework. As the generic corpus ceaselessly expands, genres (and the relationships between them) change over time; the conventions of each genre shift, new genres and sub-genres emerge and others are discontinued (though note that certain genres seem particularly long-lasting). Tzvetan Todorov argued that a new genre is always the transformation of one or several old genres (cited in Swales 1990, 36). Each new work within a genre has the potential to influence changes within the genre or perhaps the emergence of new sub-genres (which may later blossom into fully-fledged genres). However, such a perspective tends to highlight the role of authorial experimentation in changing genres and their conventions, whereas it is important to recognize not only the social nature of text production but especially the role of economic and technological factors as well as changing audience preferences. The interaction between genres and media can be seen as one of the forces which contributes to changing genres. Some genres are more powerful than others: they differ in the status which is attributed to them by those who produce texts within them and by their audiences. As Tony Thwaites et al. put it, in the interaction and conflicts among genres we can see the connections between textuality and power (Thwaites et al. 1994, 104). The key genres in institutions which are primary definers (such as news reports in the mass media) help to establish the frameworks within which issues are defined. But genre hierarchies also shift over time, with individual genres constantly gaining and losing different groups of users and relative status. Idealist theoretical approaches to genre which seek to categorize ideal types in terms of essential textual characteristics are ahistorical. As a result of  their dynamic nature as processes, Neale argues that definitions of genre are always historically relative, and therefore historically specific (Neale 1995, 464). Similarly, Boris Tomashevsky insists that no firm logical classification of genres is possible. Their de- An Introduction to Genre Theory marcation is always historical, that is to say, it is correct only for a specific moment of history (cited in Bordwell 1989, 147). Some genres are defined only retrospectively, being unrecognized as such by the original producers and audiences. Genres need to be studied as historical phenomena; a popular focus in  film studies, for instance, has been the evolution of conventions within a genre. Current genres go through phases or cycles of popularity (such as the cycle of disaster films in the 1970s), sometimes becoming dormant for a period rather than disappearing. On-going genres and their conventions themselves change over time. Reviewing evolutionary change in some popular film genres, Andrew Tudor concludes that it has three main characteristics: First, in that innovations are added to an existent corpus rather than replacing redundant elements, it is cumulative. Second, in that  these innovations must be basically consistent with what is already present, it is conservative. Third, in that these processes lead to the crystallization of specialist sub-genres, it involves differentiation. (Tudor 1974, 225-6) Tudor himself is cautious about adopting the biological analogy of evolution, with its implication that only those genres which are well-adapted to their functions survive. Christine Gledhill also notes the danger of essentialism in selecting definitive classic examples towards which earlier examples evolve and after which others decline (Gledhill 1985, 59). The cycles and transformations of genres can nevertheless be seen as a response to political, social and economic conditions. Referring to film, Andrew Tudor notes that a genre defines a moral and social world (Tudor 1974, 180). Indeed, a genre in any medium can be seen as embodying certain values and ideological assumptions. Again in the context of the cinema Susan Hayward argues that genre conventions change according to the ideological climate of the time, contrasting John Wayne westerns with Clint Eastwood as the problematic hero or anti-hero (Hayward 1996, 50). Leo Baudry (cited in Hayward 1996, 162) sees film genres as a barometer of the social and cultural concerns of cinema audiences; Robert Lichter et al. (1991) illustrate how televisual genres reflect the values of the programme-makers. Some commentators see mass media genres from a particular era as reflecting values which were dominant at the time. Ira Konigsberg, for instance, suggests that texts within genres embody the moral values of a culture (Konigsberg 1987, 144-5). And John Fiske asserts that generic conventions embody the crucial ideological concerns of the time in which they are popular 4 (Fiske 1987, 110). However, Steve Neale stresses that genres may also help to shape such values (Neale 1980, 16). Thwaites et al. see the relationship as reciprocal: a genre develops according to social conditions; transformations in genre and texts can influence and reinforce social conditions (Thwaites et al. 1994, 100). Some Marxist commentators see genre as an instrument of social control which reproduces the dominant ideology. Within this perspective, the genre positions the audience in order to naturalize the ideologies which are embedded in the text (Feuer 1992, 145). Bernadette Casey comments that recently, structuralists and feminist theorists, among others, have focused on the way in which generically defined structures may operate to construct particular ideologies and values, and to encourage reassuring and conservative interpretations of a given text (Casey 193, 312). However, reader-oriented commentators have stressed that people are capable of reading against the grain. Thomas and Vivian Sobchack note that in the past popular film-makers, intent on telling a story, were not always aware of the covert psychological and social  subtext of their own films, but add that modern film-makers and their audiences are now more keenly aware of the myth-making accomplished by film genres (Sobchack Sobchack 1980, 245). Genre can reflect a function which in relation to television Horace Newcombe and Paul Hirsch referred to as a cultural forum, in which industry and audience negotiate shared beliefs and values, helping to maintain the social order and assisting it in adapting to change (Feuer 1992, 145). Certainly, genres are far from being ideologically neutral. Sonia Livingstone argues, indeed, that different genres are concerned to establish different world views (Livingstone 1990, 155). Related to the ideological dimension of genres is one modern redefinition in terms of purposes. In relation to writing, Carolyn Miller argues that a rhetorically sound definition of genre must be centered not on the substance or form of discourse but on the action it is used to accomplish (Carolyn Miller 1984, in Freedman Medway 1994a, 24). Following this lead, John Swales declares that the principal criterial feature that turns a collection of communicative  events into a genre is some shared set of communicative purposes (Swales 1990, 46). In relation to the mass media it can be fruitful to consider in relation to genre the purposes not only of the producers of texts but also of those who interpret them (which need not be assumed always to match). A consensus about the primary purposes of some genres (such as news bulletins) and of their readers is probably easier to establish than in relation to others (such as westerns), where the very term purpose sounds too in- An Introduction to Genre Theory strumental. However, uses and gratifications researchers have already conducted investigations into the various functions that the mass media seem to serve for people, and ethnographic studies have offered fruitful insights into this dimension. Miller argues that both in writing and reading within genres we learn purposes appropriate to the genre; in relation to the mass media it could be argued that particular genres develop, frame and legitimate particular concerns, questions and pleasures. Related redefinitions of genre focus more broadly on the relationship between the makers and audiences  of texts (a rhetorical dimension). To varying extents, the formal features of genres establish the relationship between producers and interpreters. Indeed, in relation to mass media texts Andrew Tolson redefines genre as a category which mediates between industry and audience (Tolson 1996, 92). Note that such approaches undermine the definition of genres as purely textual types, which excludes any reference even to intended audiences. A basic model underlying contemporary media theory is a triangular relationship between the text, its producers and its interpreters. From the perspective of many recent commentators, genres first and foremost provide frameworks within which texts are produced and interpreted. Semiotically, a genre can be seen as a shared code between the producers and interpreters of texts included within it. Alastair Fowler goes so far as to suggest that communication is impossible without the agreed codes of genre (Fowler 1989, 216). Within genres, texts embody authorial attempts to position readers using particular modes of address. Gunther Kress observes that: Every genre positions those who participate in  a text of that kind: as interviewer or interviewee, as listener or storyteller, as a reader or a writer, as a person interested in political matters, as someone to be instructed or as someone who instructs; each of these positionings implies different possibilities for response and for action. Each written text provides a reading position for readers, a position constructed by the writer for the ideal reader of the text. (Kress 1988, 107) Thus, embedded within texts are assumptions about the ideal reader, including their attitudes towards the subject matter and often their class, age, gender and ethnicity. Gunther Kress defines a genre as a kind of text that derives its form from the structure of a (frequently repeated) social occasion, with its characteristic participants and their purposes (Kress 1988, 183). An interpretative emphasis on genre as opposed 5 to individual texts can help to remind us of the social nature of the production and interpretation of texts. In relation to film, many modern commentators refer to the commercial and industrial significance of genres. Denis McQuail argues that: The genre may be considered as a practical  device for helping any mass medium to produce consistently and efficiently and to relate its production to the expectations of its customers. Since it is also a practical device for enabling individual media users to plan their choices, it can be considered as a mechanism for ordering the relations between the two main parties to mass communication. (McQuail 1987, 200) Steve Neale observes that genres exist within the context of a set of economic relations and practices, though he adds that genres are not the product of economic factors as such. The conditions provided by the capitalist economy account neither for the existence of the particular genres that have hitherto been produced, nor for the existence of the conventions that constitute them (Neale 1980, 51-2). Economic factors may account for the perpetuation of a profitable genre. Nicholas Abercrombie notes that television producers set out to exploit genre conventions It makes sound economic sense. Sets, properties and costumes can be used over and over again. Teams of stars, writers, directors and technicians can be built up, giving economies of scale (Abercrombie 1996, 43). He adds that genres permit the creation and maintenance of a loyal audience which becomes used to seeing programmes within a genre (ibid. ). Genres can be seen as a means of controlling demand (Neale 1980, 55). The relative stability of genres enables producers to predict audience expectations. Christine Gledhill notes that differences between genres meant different audiences could be identified and catered to This made it easier to standardize and stabilise production (Gledhill 1985, 58). In relation to the mass media, genre is part of the process of targeting different market sectors. Traditionally, literary and film critics in particular have regarded generic texts (by which they mean formulaic texts) as inferior to those which they contend are produced outside a generic framework. Indeed, film theorists frequently refer to popular films as genre films in contrast to non-formula films. Elitist critics reject the generic fiction of the mass media because they are commercial products of popular culture rather than high art. Many harbor the Romantic ideology of the primacy of authorial originality and vision, emphasizing individual style  and artistic self-expression. In this tradition the An Introduction to Genre Theory artist (in any medium) is seen as breaking the mould of convention. For the Italian aesthetician Benedetto Croce (1866-1952), an artistic work was always unique and there could be no artistic genres. More recently, some literary and film theorists have accorded more importance to genre, counteracting the ideology of authorial primacy (or auteurism, as it is known in relation to the emphasis on the director in film). Contemporary theorists tend to emphasize the importance of the semiotic notion of intertextuality: of seeing individual texts in relation to others. Katie Wales notes that genre is an intertextual concept (Wales 1989, 259). John Hartley suggests that we need to understand genre as a property of the relations between texts (OSullivan et al. 1994, 128). And as Tony Thwaites et al. put it, each text is influenced by the generic rules in the way it is put together; the generic rules are reinforced by each text (Thwaites et al. 1994, 100). Roland Barthes (1975) argued that it is in relation to other texts within a genre rather than in relation to lived experience that we make sense of certain  events within a text. There are analogies here with schema theory in psychology, which proposes that we have mental scripts which help us to interpret 6 familiar events in everyday life. John Fiske offers this striking example: A representation of a car chase only makes sense in relation to all the others we have seen after all, we are unlikely to have experienced one in reality, and if we did, we would, according to this model, make sense of it by turning it into another text, which we would also understand intertextually, in terms of what we have seen so often on our screens. There is then a cultural knowledge of the concept car chase that any one text is a prospectus for, and that it used by the viewer to decode it, and by the producer to encode it. (Fiske 1987, 115) In contrast to those of a traditionalist literary bent who tend to present artistic texts as nongeneric, it could be argued that it is impossible to produce texts which bear no relationship whatsoever to established genres. Indeed, Jacques Derrida proposed that a text cannot belong to no genre, it cannot be without a genre. Every text participates in one or several genres, there is no genre-less text  (Derrida 1981, 61). Note *In these notes, words such as text, reader and writer are sometimes used as general terms relating to texts (and so on) in whatever medium is being discussed: no privileging of the written word (graphocentrism) is intended. Whilst it is hard to find an alternative for the word texts, terms such as makers and interpreters are sometimes used here as terms non-specific to particular media instead of the terms writers and readers. 2. Working within genres John Hartley argues that genres are agents of ideological closure they limit the meaning-potential  of a given text (OSullivan et al. 1994, 128). Robert Hodge and Gunther Kress define genres as typical forms of texts which link kinds of producer, consumer, topic, medium, manner and occasion, adding that they control the behavior of producers of such texts, and the expectations of potential consumers (Hodge Kress 1988, 7). Genres can be seen as constituting a kind of tacit contract between authors and readers. From the traditional Romantic perspective, genres are seen as constraining and inhibiting authorial creativity. However, contemporary theorists, even  within literary studies, typically reject this view (e. g. Fowler 1982: 31). Gledhill notes that one perspective on this issue is that some of those who write within a genre work in creative tension with the conventions, attempting a personal inflection of them (Gledhill 1985: 63). From the point of view of the producers of texts within a genre, an advantage of genres is that they can rely on readers already having knowledge and expectations about works within a genre. Fowler comments that the system of generic expectations amounts to a code, by the use of which  (or by departure from which) composition becomes more economical (Fowler 1989: 215). Genres can thus be seen as a kind of shorthand serving to increase the efficiency of communication. They may even function as a means of preventing a text from dissolving into individualism and incomprehensibility (Gledhill 1985: 63). And whilst writing within a genre involves making use of certain given conventions, every work within a genre also involves the invention of some new elements. An Introduction to Genre Theory As for reading within genres, some argue that knowledge of genre conventions leads to passive  consumption of generic texts; others argue that making sense of texts within genres is an active process of constructing meaning (Knight 1994). Genre provides an important frame of reference which helps readers to identify, select and interpret texts. Indeed, in relation to advertisements, Varda Langholz Leymore argues that the sense which viewers make of any single text depends on how it relates to the genre as a whole (Langholz Leymore 1975, ix). Key psychological functions of genre are likely to include those shared by categorization generally such as reducing complexity.

moralant Moral Law vs. Civil Law in in Sophocles Antigone :: Antigone essays

Moral Law vs. Civil Law in Antigone In the case of Antigone versus the state, she chose to follow moral law, or God's law if you will. Ultimately she felt that His law was right, and the civil government had no right to say who does and who does not have the right to a proper burial. People make decisions everyday in accordance with God's laws or the governments laws. They make a choice between the two, and they go with it. It's decided upon according to what they believe is right. Antigone based her decisions solely on her beliefs that she felt within her heart. She followed through with her actions, prepared to face the consequences, knowing what they would be. This shows that Antigone is courageous and passionate in her beliefs. She felt that the law of the land was unjust and she couldn't let the soul of her brother suffer because of injustice. Many citizens backer her up on her decision. Creon's son, Haemon, even told his father what they thought. He said, "The people feel sorry for Antigone. They say it isn't equitable that she must die." God spoke to her and she acted upon the support of a loved one. She did what she did knowing would smile upon her and the dead would welcome her. Creon is what the civil law is. Polynices, the unburied, brother of Antigone, fought against Thebes, making him undeserving of a grave according to Creon. All that Polynices was doing was following his own morals. He believed in the other side, whatever that may have been, and he gave his life for it. Creon, being closed minded, lashed out before taking the time to weight the circumstances, and being so hasty in his decision suffered an even greater consequence than that of Antigone, in the end. He refused to listen even after Teiresias warned him by saying, "The sun won't run its course for many days before you have to repay a corpse of your own..." Antigone performed God's will, and Creon tried to stand in the way, thinking of himself as more powerful. In the end though, it showed that morality would prevail over all else, proving that's what in your heart is what matters the most. What ever punishment Creon received, he deserved. Teiresias told him that what he was doing was wrong, "One body you have locked in a tomb. Another that rightly should be in the underworld you have forcibly retained here on earth. Because of this, the Furies have been waiting to pay you back in your own coin.

Tesla: Internal Combustion Engine and Electric Vehicle

Situation Analysis Tesla Motors incorporated is recognized as a leader in quality innovation for its electric powertrain engineering, performance and battery technology. Tesla was founded in 2003 with a conceptual thought of a fully electric, lithium ion powered vehicle that is eco-friendly, aesthetic appealing and a premier performance competitor. Their business plan was simple and had three steps. First, develop a high-end performance sports car to prove that electric vehicle (EV) were both cool and feasible and also can product economically.Second, develop luxury sedan/SUV that would compete with high-end brands like Mercedes, Audi and BMW. Third, mass produce low cost electric vehicles to compete in general category. In 2004, the company raised initial venture capital, while designing their first vehicle, the â€Å"Roadster†, later that year. Initially, the company was primarily funded my Elon Musk and other venture capital investors. The pooled funds fell short of the cap ital needed to fund the manufacturing facility and the latest Model S project. In 2009 Daimler bought preferred stock in Tesla for $50M and in 2010 Toyota invested $50M and Panasonic $30M in stock options.Three months after the Model S unveiling the Department of Energy announced in Jan 2010 that it would loan Tesla $465 million to bring the sedan to market as part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, other major manufacturer received substantially higher loan amounts, Ford was awarded $5. 9 billion, and Nissan got $1. 6 billion . In 2010 company acquired New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI) factory in Fremont, California, which was developed as joint manufacturing facility between GM and Toyota. It’s a 5. 5 million square feet plant and contains plastics molding factory, two paint facilities, 1. miles of assembly lines, and a 50-megawatt power plant . Tesla Motors Company is trying to transform the future of electric cars by providing new mea ning to fully electric vehicles as not just only eco-friendly but also attractive and fun to drive. Most other companies tried and introduced all electric vehicles in late last century but none was able to mass produce it economically. Tesla Motors has sold over 2300 Roadster across the world, delivered its first Model S in June 2012 and is currently building its electric sedan at a rate of 80 per week rate (Sep 2012).This vehicle completely set itself apart from its competitor with its efficiency, performance and technology breakthroughs. The company plans is to build 5,000 by the end of 2012 and increase its production to 20,000 cars in 2013. Being a small and startup player in electric auto industry, Tesla Motors has freedom to build the sales model from ground zero that’s very untraditional. Forget traditional dealerships, their Tesla’s main sales locations are in malls and their cars are delivered directly to customers. 2. 1 Market Summary Why electric vehicle?Ris ing gasoline prices, depleting oil reserves, growing pollution, increasing environment awareness, is creating the market for clean and efficient vehicles. There’s no doubt in my mind that in near future this will become the preferred mode of transportation across the world. Currently EV technology is at its infancy but commitment from government and manufacturer will soon take it to next level by building the infrastructure for next generation vehicles. 2. 1. 1 Market Demographics a)Geographics Tesla Motors is a California based company that currently operates in Northa America, Europe, and Japan.All sales are handled through its headquarters in North America, with brokerage service centers located in major metropolitan areas, such as Paris, London, Munich and Tokyo. Tesla has a minute number of stores, when compared to other automobile competitors. A large portion of Tesla’s sales are handled online, which minimializes costs, and adds to the company’s overall e fficiency. Shopping malls, in upscale city centers, in addition to affluent regions of the country that with have a high technological demandappreciate the latest technological developments, are among a few other key points the company considers when entering a new market.With gas prices continuing to move upwards, Tesla’s sale centers will most likely spreadfan to less populated regions as the demand for more economically efficient vehicle increases. b)Demographics Targeted customers are educated affluentrich males who are early adopters in their 30s, 40s, and 50s+ who are in market for performance sports car with pricing range $50,000 and up . c)Psychographics Environmentally conscious customers who want great performance car with zero tailpipe emission manufactured and assembled in U. S. d)BehaviorsModel S will provide customers the option who want alternative to traditional gasoline engine sports performance car with next generation technology. 2. 1. 2 Market Needs Electr ic Vehicle (EVs) technology presents a ready, viable and clear way to reduce our emissions. also tTheir design is very simple compared to other conventional gasoline power automobiles as they don’t need traditional drive shafts and gear box to transform the power from engine to wheel. EVs have electric motor directly coupled to drive wheels, which is powered by rechargeable battery packs.EVs have some key advantages over internal combustion engines . †¢Electric vehicle efficiency is 3. 75 times that of internal combustion engine. †¢Eco-friendly as no tailpipe gases output. †¢Very smooth operation due lack of gear box. †¢Quiet driving experience. 2. 1. 3 Market Trends In 2011, the total sales of electric vehicles reached 18,000, with the help of GM’s Volt and Nissan’s Leaf. When comparing the 2011 U. S. total sales for each electric vehicle manufacturer, with the 2012 sales forecast, the growth potential looks quite impressive.Expectations are assumed to increase upwards to 300% year over year . According to â€Å"Global & United States Electric Vehicles Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2017† the electric vehicle market will witness phenomenal growth in the near future . In 2011 total global revenue from this market was close to 54 Billion USD, showing some promise for environmentally friendly vehicles. For the most part, consumers are cautious when a unique product is introduced to the market. As more electric cars are introduced, consumer confidence will rise, assuming the quality is still maintained.Tesla has a worldwide presence, which means economies, foreign and abroad, need be taken into consideration. The 2013 worldwide trend for auto manufacturing will be incorporating efficiency and connectivity in current and new vehicle models. Electric vehicle design and creation came in third on the auto industries radar. The economic conditions worldwide pose some risk to the automotive industry. When looking at GDP for developed market, aggregately, it has been on a declining more then increasing since 2006.With the contraction, comes a fiscal squeeze to the consumers’ disposable income. In tangentConsequently, inessential items, such as performance electric vehicles, are put lower on consumer demand list. This section should include some information in all the subcategories listed. Demographic trends: Babyboomers have more disposable income than Gen X and Gen Y. There are lots of sources of that. Technological: Include some information about expensive technological innovations consumers have accepted such as iPads, LCD TVs, etc. While many people in the U.S. are suffering from the effects of the recession, others are able to buy expensive technologies for their personal enjoyment. Cultural: Increase in environmental awareness. Lots of articles about that. Regulatory: Tax breaks for electric cars. Economic: Not everyone has been equally affected by the recession. The increase in the co st of gasoline provides an incentive to choose more fuel efficient vehicles. 2. 1. 4 Market Growth All major automakers are preparing to launch electric and hybrid vehicle in wide-range of categories in next five years.The market for electric vehicle will be very competitive and depend upon economy and primarily on gasoline price. Model S fills a void in current luxury market for electric vehicle as currently there’s no real competitive product out in market to compete that could match its performance, style and efficiency. Overall cost of ownership will definitely draw buyers from similar priced gasoline models from BMW, Mercedes and Audi. Model S looks out to be a successful product as company has sold out Model S production orders for 2012 year.Projected market growth for next 4 years. Source: CSM Auto and J. P. Morgan 2. 2 Competition Tesla Model S is designed to position as high-tech luxury sedan car that deliver the sports performance without compromising it efficiency while maintaining zero tailpipe emission. Model S will also challenge the traditional dealership sales model as its based upon Apple retail approach that position the company as independent and innovative. Tesla will compete with all other EVs, hybrid and also gasoline vehicles in automobile market.Overall in current luxury market its competitors will be Audi, BMW and Mercedes. While Tesla has no direct competitors at this time, some prestigious automakers have achieved remarkable levels of fuel efficiency. You need to look at some of the German car makes such as BMW and Audi. You should also see what electric cars are being planned for the future. 2. 3 SWOT 2. 3. 1 Strength’s Tesla is currently one of the only high performance electric vehicles on the market, with exception to the Fisker Karma, allowing for the company to be first in line for consumers as well as investors.Being that it is the first of its kind; the company has attracted a number of young, talented engineers , a highly qualified CEO, and a number of interested third parties. With a Department of Energy loan, helping subsidize its facility, and orders piling up, the company is not short on market orders. Tesla has already established a worldwide presence with dealerships located in many of the major cities. The product itself is fully customizable, allowing each individual consumer to have a hand in the overall process at a price that rivals other premier sports vehicles such as Porsche, Mercedes and BMW. 2. . 2 Weakness’s The company itself is young and thus holds some immaturity in the automobile market today. It has 24 locations in North America and an additional 14 worldwide . It plans to open an additional 10 stores this coming year with costs estimated at $500,000- $1,000,000 depending on the market. One key disadvantage to the automobile maker is its unreliable cash flow. The current roadster model is too expensive for the average consumer, and in the current economic envir onment sales are essential. With additional capital flowing into store construction, future earnings could be affected downward.The low availability of electric charging stations. 2. 3. 3 Opportunities The Model S is the next generation of Tesla Motors incorporated. The lower price point, starting at $49,900, is much more attractive to the average consumer. The Model S has opened additional doors for Tesla; on March of 2012, Athlon Leasing signed an agreement to purchase 150 vehicles for its inventory across Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Once acquired, 50% of Athlon’s Model S inventories were immediately put on hold by their consumers .Consumers today are more aware of their individual carbon footprint and are thus in search of a more sustainable option when it comes to vehicles. With future technology being smaller, faster and cheaper, we can expect the charge rate for the lithium-ion technology to improve, becoming more attractive to your dista nt commuter and or additional energy sources to be invented. As of now, there is a 300 mile cap on the new Model S. Assuming our economy continues to rely on foreign oil supply and not up our efforts in North America; the price of gasoline is expected to climb above and beyond inflation. INSERT GRAPH) As the cost of owning a hybrid, and or full combustion vehicle trends upward due to the gasoline variable, you’ll see a shift from these vehicles to full electric due to the foregone opportunity. Tesla is also looking to develop additional models at lower price points. They have and SUV, the Model X, which isn’t cheaper, but on the right track to consumer needs with expanding their inventory. Lastly, Tesla Motors incorporated not only looks to be branded by as an auto manufacturer, but also as a resource to other industry leaders.It currently supplies electric powertrains to other automakers, including Toyota for its RAV4 Electric. It is also working with SolarCity, anoth er company Musk has invested in, to supply batteries to back up WalMart’s solar panels at 90 stores . 2. 3. 4Threats Other companies will be Tesla’s biggest threat. With consumer demand continuing to grow for a low cost, fully electric vehicle option, it’s only a matter of time before major auto manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, Nissan, and Toyota enter the market. With visible market share already present, this poses a huge threat to Tesla’s continued demand and thus bottom line.The comparable expected production from these major automakers will be more expensive than average gasoline fueled vehicles, but all less than the Model S. Elon Musk stated, â€Å"We can show that it's technologically possible to other manufacturers. If Tesla doesn’t make it I hope we have nonetheless served that purpose. I don't want to sound dour but it's definitely going to be a tough six months. † In addition, there are some possible downsides to using a fully electric vehicle. One, being if the Model S is left uncharged for greater than 11 weeks and the battery itself is rendered useless.Not covered under warranty, this could pose some issues for major rental arenas such as airports, who do not have the charging capacity for their entire inventory. Once the battery is discharged, it is rendered useless and would need to be replaced in order for the vehicle to be fully operational. The costs to maintenance in replacing the lithium ion battery can be upwards to $40,000 per vehicle . Two, manufacturing and labor costs, inefficient production and high prices for parts, could shy investor and consumers from the company as a whole.On that note, TSLA shares fell 9. 78%, after possible sale rumors surfaced, and ill production numbers hit for the third quarter 2012 for Tesla Motors incorporated. With this lowered guidance, expected gross margins could be impacted negatively due to the Model S delivery limitations. A total of 2,700 to 3,2 50 units are expected to be produced, down from the previous expectation of 5,000. Consumers may find the inefficient use of capital a point of weakness in the young company, and thus hold off on purchases until Tesla maturity is rendered.

Group Dynamics And Groupthink In A Management Environment

Groupthink is a prevalent process in many organizations and businesses. This paper will examine the definition of groupthink as it relates to management decisions compared with similar group performance factors and situations leading to the thoughts and processes of business decision making, group dynamics and interpersonal operations within the group from both a business standpoint and a psychological standpoint. These standpoints will evaluate the effects of dominance, cohesion, anxiety and group norms leading to either effective or defective group process and group decision making. As with all group dynamics there are many factors involved such as race, gender, religion, political and cultural views. The paper will examine the interactions involved within a group and examine how groupthink is often allowed to be the overall choice made by the group. The author will also examine the difference in definitions form the Janis (I. L. Janis, 1982) model and the Management text book definition (Bateman, Snell, 2011) to gather a sound definition for business purposes. GROUPTHINK IN ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT Organizations and managers must make critical decisions on a daily basis. As business is such a highly complex environment spanning both national and global markets decision making must be thought of in a larger field of view taking into account many factors such as bias, culture and customer attitude to name a few. No one person generally has all the knowledge or experience to tackle every conceivable issue that may arise or need to be considered. A good manager or leader knows that they alone are not the only one to solve the problem and thus look to others to help with the puzzle needing to be solved. There is a substantial need to gain broad spectrum opinion and ideas in business today which leads effective managers to seek and develop effective groups to provide that broad spectrum and increase idea flow from different perspectives. The â€Å"Brain-Storming† in business today is much more complicated and involves large numbers of variable factors that can best be resolved by the group process allowing for varied input and expertise information to be injected into the final decision making process. This does not always define an effective group or process as we will see throughout this paper. Decision Making Management must make decisions in different ways to handle different problems on a daily basis. Many of these decisions are programmed decisions based on past experience and working knowledge based on procedures already in place. These programmed decisions are normally simple in nature and are more of an automatic response versus having to think of or develop a new solution. As we know, things are not always as easy as we may wish and in business, with its ever changing nature, problems and issues arise that require the manager to be creative and adapt new thinking and new solutions to properly make an effective decision. This nonprogrammed decision making process involves the manager weighing the good with the bad and attempting to identify all the unknown variables. It is at this stage that an effective manager or leader knows to review his limitations and seek guidance from others with the knowledge to provide information needed to develop and informed and effective decision. The adage â€Å"knowledge is power† comes to mind and the manager, leader seeks out those who can assist in providing that knowledge to lower risks and gain a better reward. The effective manager, leader will practice stages of the decision making process, as they normally might, in identifying the problem and generating alternative solutions. In the process of attempting to generate solutions the manager would best be served by obtaining that knowledge of others to compensate their own. This is where they may decide to form a group and begin the group process to ultimately solve the problem and make the best decision possible. Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing In the decision to form a group to aid in difficult decision making there are several key items management must consider in selecting members of the group and being aware of possible negative effects of the group members involved. One of the first items to be considered is the size of the group needed and what skills or knowledge is required and what skills or knowledge each member may provide. The smaller group may require less group maintenance but provide less needed input. A larger group may provide more information but require a higher degree of group maintenance thus rendering them less effective. Management may choose to seek well known members or possibly new members. Newer members may provide new ideas and concepts while more well-known members could tend to adhere to the current policy and procedures and not be as creative and more satisficing. Group make-up must also avoid dominance type personalities to allow for a more free flow of ideas and creativity thus reducing group anxiety. Group management must be foremost in the mind of the manager to best achieve the goals and allowing for the best decision to be made. Knowing each person in the group individuals personality can be critical to proper selection but as with all people each are different and demonstrate different personalities in different situations. Group management must be maintained and observed to avoid conflicts based on personality and not creativity. Short of management being trained in psychology a group of members is selected based on management’s best knowledge and understanding of each individual member. Forming is the stage of group dynamics where the members first come together and normally demonstrate polite and positive attitudes to one another, as in any greeting situation, and is usually short in time. The next stage of development in the group is often difficult and delicate as members try to determine their role and place within the group. Storming identifies this stage by the way in which the members may question the validity or purpose of the group, including those within, and challenge or attempt to assert authority within the group. They may also feel overwhelmed by the task at hand and not yet understand their purpose of being there. It is not uncommon for groups at this stage to fail or cause some members to feel undervalued. When all, or most, of the difficulties are settled to member’s satisfaction the group moves forward with an understanding of their place within the group. Norming is the stage where the group comes together to identify the common goal and progress with the understanding and social acceptance of the group members as a whole. Forward progress and the ability to share in the group vision or goal being established, next stage, performing, is achieved. The group now functions well together and their work begins to bare the fruit of their labor. Process and structure have been established and work continues to achieve the main objective as group members satisfaction has increased. Managing Group Dynamics in Decision Making As we now have a better understanding of group dynamics in their basic form we realize that management must remain vigilant in all of the stages but certainly the performing stage the most. It is at the performing stage where most can go wrong and where complacency is most likely to occur. Group members are now comfortable in their role, leaders in the group have been well established and the work of the group may continue as if on autopilot. This may lead the group to fall into the trap of familiarity and allow the status-quo. Other factors may emerge from leaders or members within the group such as dominance and familiar cohesion where members chose to avoid disagreement and merely agree to consensus. Groupthink Phenomenon Should the group be allowed to fall into this trap it would be clear that management has failed to recognize the problem thereby allowing the creativity and effectiveness of the group to become ineffective. This phenomenon was described by Irving Janis (1972, 1982) as faulty decision making in a group when members do not consider all alternatives and desire unanimity at the expense of quality. There are several variations to the groupthink model such as â€Å"The term groupthink is appropriate only when the concurrence seeking emerges prematurely, thus curtailing thinking and discussion, and increasing the likelihood of poor decision outcomes (Longley and Pruitt, 1980). This variation does not always hold true in all cases. Based on groupthink in juries it is also evident that the information has been discussed and thought of critically but the jury member (group member) gave in more to peer (group) pressure from either the authoritative jury foreman, jury members or merely the desire to agree for their own personal benefit, such as the desire to end their sequestration if involved in a lengthy case. Groupthink Variations Janis (1972, 1982, 1989) defined groupthink as the extreme concu rrence sought by decision-making groups. Groupthink is most likely to occur when a group experiences antecedent conditions such as high cohesion, insulation from experts, limited methodological search and appraisal procedures, directive leadership, and high stress combined with low self-esteem and little hope of finding a better solution than that favored by the leader or influential group members. Such conditions lead to symptoms of groupthink such as illusions of invulnerability, collective rationalization, belief in the inherent morality of the group, stereotypes of outgroups, pressure on dissenters, self-censor-ship, illusions of unanimity, and self-appointed mindguards† (Turner, Pratkanis, Probasco, Leve,1992). Causal factors in groupthink seem to not fit only one model such as Janis describe. There are varied reasons group members seek concurrence unanimity in decision making, emotion, anxiety and coercion are some of only many reminding us that in managerial decisions we must remain mindful of the group members involved and maintain an active role in managing both the group and the decisions that come from within the group. If a manager is effective at management they will be better able to recognize the possible factors within the group before a faulty or ineffective decision can be made. Conclusion In examination of the decision making method we can see that there is a much larger degree to utilizing the group method requiring the manager to not only manage the personnel but also manage the group. A thorough knowledge of group dynamics is most important when selecting group members which can be difficult at times when expecting group performance based solely on an individual’s subject knowledge with little to no understanding of their interpersonal skills. The manager must be willing to accept risks certainly, if they expect to gain the best possible solution with the most creativity available. But the effective manager must also invest time and observe the group at different stages and evaluate member selection within each stage to ensure the proper choice made is still the best fit. The effective manager must be alert for telltale signs of conflict within the group and be prepared at all stages to make replacements available to include the group leader or dominant members within the group. Managing personnel on a factory floor and managing decision making groups are two very different levels which require a far greater knowledge and understanding on the manager’s part. If a manager is not able to recognize interpersonal skills and weaknesses then there is little chance they can effectively manage a group and expect positive results from that group nor would they recognize the proper decision to be valid or invalid. In the business world of today that could make the difference between being successful or going out of business. As was stated early on, managers are not expected to be psychologists but a truly effective manager will have and know the basics to understanding human behavior to remain an effective manager.

Gatsby1 essays

Gatsby1 essays Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her; If you can bounce high, bounce for her too, Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover, Jay Gatsby went through most of his life striving for a new beginning, a chance to start over and succeed. He forced that aspect of life, into his own, by changing his identity. He was James Gatz a man who's unknown soul was left to linger in the past. Now he is Jay Gatsby. Gatsby does not realize that life can be difficult. You can not just move on and pretend that the past never happened. If you do not face the real and original you, you will never find success or happiness in the way you wish to live your present life. All through Gatsby's life he looked to the green light on the dock across the bay for hope and reassurance. He needed to know that his dream was still as bright as it was the day he met Daisy. Gatsby lived for an American dream. "The truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself. He was a son of God - a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that." (Pg.104) Gatsby created himself to be his own hero, through the eyes of a seventeen year old boy. He began to wear that gold hat and rise in society with money, friends, and a love life he dreamed of returning. "You see I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad thing that happened to me." (Pg.71-72) Gatsby smothered himself in popularity to try and block out the memory of the man he was before his change. He has been grieving for a love that he lost when drafted to the war. His only hope left is a green light across the bay which seems to shine through the unhappiness in Gatsby's life. Daisy, as pure and sweet as the flower itself, is the only thing left that is needed for him to complete his dream. "He wanted nothing le ...

Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th U.S. President

Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837–June 24, 1908) was a New York lawyer who went on to become governor of New York and then president of the United States. He remains the only American president to serve two non-consecutive terms in office (1885–1889 and 1893–1897). A Democrat, Cleveland supported fiscal conservatism and fought against the cronyism and corruption of his time. Fast Facts: Grover Cleveland Known For: 22nd and 24th president of the United StatesAlso Known As: Stephen Grover ClevelandBorn: March 18, 1837 in Caldwell, New JerseyParents: Richard Falley Cleveland, Ann NealDied: June 24, 1908  in Princeton, New JerseyEducation: Fayetteville Academy and the Clinton Liberal AcademyAwards and Honors:  Namesake for numerous parks, roads, schools; likeness on a U.S. postage stampSpouse: Frances FolsomChildren: Ruth,  Esther, Marion,  Richard, Francis Grover, Oscar (illegitimate)Notable Quote: â€Å"A cause worth fighting for is worth fighting for to the end.† Early Life Cleveland was born on March 18, 1837, in Caldwell, New Jersey. He was one of  nine offspring of Ann Neal and Richard Falley Cleveland, a Presbyterian minister who died when Grover was 16. He started attending school at the age of 11, but when his father died in 1853, Cleveland left school to work and support his family. He moved to Buffalo, New York in 1855 to live and work with his uncle. He also studied law there on his own. Despite the fact that he never attended college, Cleveland was admitted to the bar in 1859 at age 22. Career Before the Presidency Cleveland went into law practice and became an active member of the Democratic Party in New York. He was the sheriff of Erie County, New York from 1871–1873 and gained a reputation for fighting against corruption. His political career then led him to become the mayor of Buffalo in 1882. In this role, he exposed graft, lowered the costs of transportation, and vetoed pork barrel allocations of funds. His reputation as an urban reformer appealed to the Democratic Party, which tapped him to become governor of New York from 1883–1885. Marriage and Children On June 2, 1886, Cleveland married Frances Folsom at the White House during his first presidential term. He was 49 and she was 21. Together they had three daughters and two sons.  His daughter Esther was the only child of a president born in the White House. Cleveland was alleged to have had a child by a premarital affair with Maria Halpin. He was unsure of the childs paternity but accepted responsibility. Election of 1884 In 1884, Cleveland was nominated by the Democrats to run for president. Thomas Hendricks was chosen as his running mate. Their opponent was James Blaine. The campaign was one largely of personal attacks rather than substantive issues. Cleveland narrowly won the election with 49% of the popular vote while gaining 219 of the possible 401 electoral votes. First Term: March 4, 1885–March 3, 1889 During his first administration, Cleveland championed several important acts: The Presidential Succession Act passed in 1886 and provided that, upon the death or resignation of both the president and vice president, the line of succession would go through the cabinet in chronological order of creation of the cabinet positions.In 1887, the  Interstate Commerce  Act passed and created the Interstate Commerce Commission. This bodys job was to regulate interstate railroad rates. It was the first federal regulatory agency.In 1887, the Dawes Severalty Act passed and granted citizenship and title to reservation land for  Native Americans  who were willing to renounce their tribal allegiance. Election of 1892 Cleveland won the nomination again in 1892 despite New Yorks opposition through the political machine known as Tammany Hall. Along with his running mate Adlai Stevenson, Cleveland ran against the incumbent President Benjamin Harrison, who defeated Cleveland four years prior. James Weaver ran as a third-party candidate. In the end, Cleveland won with 277 out of a possible 444 electoral votes. Second Term: March 4, 1893–March 3, 1897 Economic events and challenges became a major focus of Clevelands historic second presidency. In 1893, Cleveland forced the withdrawal of a treaty that would have annexed Hawaii because he felt the United States was wrong in helping with the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani. In 1893, an  economic depression  began called the Panic of 1893. Thousands of businesses went under and riots broke out. However, the government did little to help because it was not seen as constitutionally allowed. A strong believer in the gold standard, Cleveland called Congress into session to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. According to this act, silver was purchased by the government and was redeemable in notes for either silver or gold. Clevelands belief that this was responsible for reducing the gold reserves was not popular with many in the  Democratic Party. In 1894, the  Pullman Strike  occurred. The  Pullman Palace Car Company  had reduced wages and the workers walked out under the leadership of  Eugene V. Debs. When violence broke out, Cleveland ordered federal troops in and arrested Debs, thus ending the strike. Death Cleveland retired from active political life in 1897 and moved to Princeton, New Jersey. He became a lecturer and member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton University. Cleveland died on June 24, 1908, of heart failure. Legacy Cleveland is considered by historians to have been one of Americas better presidents. During his time in office, he helped usher in the beginning of federal regulation of commerce. Further, he fought against what he saw as private abuses of federal money. He was known for acting upon his own conscience despite opposition within his party. Sources The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. â€Å"Grover Cleveland.†Ã‚  Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 14 Mar. 2019.Editors, History.com. â€Å"Grover Cleveland.†Ã‚  History.com, AE Television Networks, 27 Oct. 2009.â€Å"Grover Cleveland: Life Before the Presidency.†Ã‚  Miller Center, 18 July 2017.

History of LEGO -- Everyones Favorite Building Blocks

History of LEGO Everyone's Favorite Building Blocks The small, colorful bricks that encourage a childs imagination with their multitude of building possibilities have spawned two movies and Legoland theme parks. But more than that, these simple building blocks keep children as young as 5 engaged in creating castles, towns and space stations and anything else their creative minds can think of. This is the epitome of the educational toy wrapped up in fun. These attributes have made LEGO an icon in the toy world. Beginnings The company that makes these famous interlocking bricks started as a small shop in Billund, Denmark. The company was established in 1932 by master carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, who was aided by his 12-year-old son Godtfred Kirk Christiansen. It made wooden toys, stepladders, and ironing boards. It wasnt until two years later that the business took the name of LEGO, which came from the Danish words LEg GOdt, meaning play well. Over the next several years, the company grew exponentially. From just a handful of employees in the early years, LEGO had grown to 50 employees by 1948. The product line had grown as well, with the addition of a LEGO duck, clothes hangers, a Numskull Jack on the goat, a plastic ball for babies and some wooden blocks. In 1947, the company made a huge purchase that was to transform the company and make it world-famous and a household name. In that year, LEGO bought a plastic injection-molding machine, which could mass produce plastic toys. By 1949, LEGO was using this machine to produce about 200 different kinds of toys, which included automatic binding bricks, a plastic fish and a plastic sailor. The automatic binding bricks were the predecessors of the LEGO toys of today. Birth of the LEGO Brick In 1953, the automatic binding bricks were renamed LEGO bricks. In 1957, the interlocking principle of LEGO bricks was born, and in 1958, the stud-and-coupling system was patented, which adds significant stability to built pieces. And this  transformed them into the LEGO bricks we know today. Also in 1958, Ole Kirk Christiansen passed away and his son Godtfred became head of the LEGO company. By the early 1960s, LEGO had gone international, with sales in Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, and Lebanon. Over the next decade, LEGO toys were available in more countries, and they came to the United States in 1973. LEGO Sets In 1964, for the first time, consumers could buy LEGO sets, which included all the parts and instructions to build a particular model. In 1969, the DUPLO series, bigger blocks for smaller hands, was introduced for the 5-and-under set. LEGO later introduced themed lines of LEGO. They include town (1978), castle (1978), space (1979), pirates (1989), Western (1996), Star Wars (1999) and Harry Potter (2001). Figures with movable arms and legs were introduced in 1978. By 2015, LEGO toys were sold in more than 140 countries. Since the middle of the 20th century, these small plastic bricks have sparked the imagination of children around the world, and LEGO sets have a strong hold on their place at the top of the list of the worlds most popular toys.

Organisational Design and Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organisational Design and Culture - Essay Example On the basis of management structure and its complexity, Mintzberg has broadly categorised Organisational Design into the following five levels- Simple Organisation, Machine Bureaucracy, Professional Bureaucracy and Adhocracy. The internationally renowned author of business and management books, Mintzberg has also recognized the different classes of work patterns-Process or Occupation where all employees reported directly to a single executive; Purpose or Division where employees work in units and thus report to their respective unit heads and Matrix where both of the above mentioned kinds co-exist. Depending upon the requirements and managerial levels of an organisation, the appropriate kind of Organisational Design can be selected. Several healthcare institutions have adopted these Organisational Design patterns to affect an overhaul in the debilitated healthcare industry. In addition to the mounting healthcare costs, the industry is also troubled by its failure to meet the growing expectations and demands of the patients. In an era of rampant media growth, the patient is more informed about his medical rights and treatment options. This body of knowledge encourages him to stipulate enhanced and superior treatment. As McMurphy and Vujicic state "The patient-provider relationship is in flux. Consumers desire greater autonomy and participation in their healthcare decisions." ( 2000). But the global health industry has not been able to adapt to these changes completely. In an attempt to refurbish the redundant and obsolete hospital managerial procedures, the healthcare organisations formulated the "patient focussed care" approach. Whole healthcare community embraced this approach, which was aimed at providing superior services to patients and spruces the costs. Under this approach, certain new protocols were established and the various hospital procedures were simplified. Apart from resulting in a decline in the duration of stay of patients, this methodology has also resulted in higher patient satisfaction. Different medical institutes have adopted different routes to follow this approach. The Beth Israel Medical Centre, New York was the first institution to adopt this approach on the East Coast. This 934-bed urban institute decided to focus on Therapeutic Recreation and set up a "Planetree Unit". Every room in this luxurious unit was equipped with its own refrigerator, a television set, and an audio speaker near the patient's pillow- all in an attempt to fasten the process of healing. The hospital is still in the process of self-examination and thus the outcome of this methodology isn't clear as yet. The Medical Center, Pennsylvania decided to employ a more technical scheme. This 470- bed community, which employs 1900 professionals created eighth in-patient focussed care centers. A sincere attempt was made to make these centers fairly autonomous and independent. They had several pharmacies, labs and X-ray areas all to themselves. They also possessed independent housekeeping and patient admission services. These steps were undertaken to minimise

Modern State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Modern State - Essay Example The concept and framework of the modern state is difficult to define because it involves a combination of historical, economic, political and cultural factors. Historical mythologies and memories are shared, traditional routes of pilgrimage have united the nations of the continent in common religious bonds throughout history, and now they all share the same market (Morphet 517). It is possible to single out the following distinctive features of the modern state: high level of nationalism and multiculturalism, liberal institutions and importance of national culture, integrity and cooperation on the global level. Collective identity and individual freedom are the main characteristics of the modern state 9Richard Stillman II 23). The state is inevitably involved in recognizing and reproducing particular ethno-cultural groups, and so the politicization of cultural identities is, to some extent, inevitable. Modernization liberates people from fixed social roles and traditional identities, and fosters an ideal of autonomous individuality that encourages individuals to prefer choice and mobility over traditional ascriptive identities (Rubin 65). Modernization theorists argued that this ideal of autonomous individuality conflicts with a deep attachment to one's cultural group, particularly in the case of smaller nations or national minorities (Morphet 517). These smaller groups face strong economic and political pressures to assimilate into larger nations, and theorists assumed that the members of these groups would accept this process, rather than fight to maintain their cultural identity at the price of economic well-being or social mobility. To resist assimilation would require an irrational attachment to an 'ascriptive group' identity that was inconsistent with the modern ideal of autonomous individuality (Rubin 75). So there are many ways that government decisions play a crucial role in sustaining national cultures. This is not to say that governments can only promote one societal culture. So nationalist movements by national minorities are not rejecting the dynamic of modernization and nation-building. The modern state accepts the idea that a modern economy and democratic community requires a diffused common culture (Rubin 64). They are simply arguing that they form their own distinct economy and society within the boundaries of the large state. They are arguing that some countries are not nation-states, but are multination states, containing two or more national societies. In this case, "democracy has two aspects, authorial and editorial; democracy is authorial so far as it gives the collective people direct or indirect control of government; democracy is editorial so far as it gives people, whether in a collective or plural identity, the capacity to challenge government decisions; and as a feature of the plural people editorial democracy may be representative, reactive or regulative in character" (Pettit 527). Many liberal states do not make nationalism per se, but they introduce common use of the term nation and are clearly dedicated to a modern and unified administration, church-state reform, modern education and a liberal constitutional system. For instance, this is based on a general

Canadian & US Immigration and Discriminition Essay

Canadian & US Immigration and Discriminition - Essay Example Therefore, around the globe many people eyes on the developed countries as a staircase towards their dreams. They believe that being in a developed state will provide them with proper job opportunities and a reward that is equivalent to their efforts. This partly may be true, but the first step of immigration is a big hindrance and may itself be a discouraging factor. Developed countries like United States and Canada have their own policies of immigration. Some may be beneficial for the immigrants while some poses a challenge to their existence. These negative aspects of these two countries immigration policies can be attributed to the fact that most developed nations are not very receptive to immigrants. A lot of discrimination exists on the bases of original nationality of the immigrants and various other factors. The paper will highlight and compare the difference in these policies and how they might discriminate on various bases. History of immigration in Canada and America: Both Canada and America are major recipients of immigrants from all over the world. As the statistics show that both of them accepted over 12 million immigrants between the period of 1960 to 1980 (Borjas 1991). This was a result of various changes in the policies implemented by the governments in the early 1960s. Before this period both the countries had a policy to issue only very few visas based on the nationality of the applicant. For example in the United States national origin quota system influenced the immigration policy prior to 1965 amendments. There was a definitive discrimination as Asian were only allocated a very low percentages of the total available quota. Most of these accepted immigrants were from European countries, Germany and Russia. Now we know that the source of immigration is an important factor that can determine the skills of the workers. This is partially due to the fact that cultural and social aspects of any country mould an individual’s talent. A sing le cultural immigration, therefore, caused a decline in the diversities of skills present in both countries. After 1960 both United States and Canada started to accept immigrants from diverse nations. US evolved a policy that allocated visa permits to those immigrants with relational ties to the residents of US. Whereas Canada initiated issuing visas on the basis of applicants observable socioeconomic characteristics (Borjas 1991). So overall these transmutation in the policies of both countries attracted workers with diversity of technical skills that aid in the economic development of these countries. US and Canadian immigration policy 1960 to 1980: The amendments made in 1965 in United States immigration policies abolished the national origin quota system and introduced a more versatile approach in allocation of the visas to the immigrants. These amendments influenced immigration system for the next two decades. Total number of visa allocation was increased to 270,000 and no more than 20,000 can be issued to the origin of a specific country. This is was totally in contrast to the earlier policies where most percentage of the visas was allocated to only few specific countries. Moreover, about 80 percent of those total visas were given to those with close relational ties with the US resident. This in particular was an important amendment because it

Edgar Allan Poe's Story and Death Theme Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Edgar Allan Poe's Story and Death Theme - Essay Example The prince later throws in a party in which he invites several guests and decorates his rooms. During the party, a strange visitor makes entry into the palace dressed in a manner similar to a corpse. When the prince confronts him, the prince dies. Later everyone dies as the Red Death makes entry into the castle (Poe 10). From the story, death makes a significant manifestation. In the story ‘The Cask of Amontillado,’ the narrator narrates of occurrences that took place fifty years, and no one has come to realize the actual happenings to date. In the story, one Fortunato hurts the narrator, who plots revenge for Fortunato’s actions against him. The narrator brings out some wine, which he hid in the graveyard and gives it to Fortunato until he is drunk, and constantly talks of Amontillado, the wine, though the narrator leads him to a hole in some part of the wall, where Fortunato is chained, and the hole filled with bricks. Fortunato begs for mercy from the narrator who later fills the hole with the last brick, leaving Fortunato for death, an occurrence not known to anyone until now (Poe 10). The narrator is Montresor. In the story ‘The Masque of the Red Death,’ death is portrayed in both an irony and a theme. As a theme, death comes out as an inescapable occurrence from which nobody can run. When the prince locks his gates, it happens in an urge of preventing death from reaching his territories. However, when he organizes a banquet, the unexpected happens when death comes and kills all in attendance. Ironically, death comes in at the least expected time after the prince has made all the possible aspects in keeping it out of the castle, killing all in attendance. Similarly, in the story ‘The Cask of Amontillado,’ Poe brings about some element of death by showing the power of the dead over the living. The dead come back to life, from where

Drones Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Drones - Research Paper Example Moreover, they are inexpensive relative to conventional aircraft, and they are remote controlled, thereby eliminating peril to the flight crew. However, despite these benefits, drones continue to generate much debate among the public. Much of this debate revolves around concerns of privacy and safety. This paper contends that there ought to be no fear over the good use of drones. Drones have the potential to collect weather data from the farthest reaches of the atmosphere (Cutlip 7). These parts are difficult to reach using conventional weather instruments. The data thus collected could be integrated into models for predicting weather, thereby increasing the reliability and accuracy of weather forecasts. More accurate weather prediction would be useful in helping farmers that rely on rain-fed agriculture better plan their farming activities. This would come in handy at time when global warming has altered global and local weather patterns and rendered planning for farming activities difficult. Over the years, universities and research centers across the country have been exploring ways in which drones can be used to gather meteorological data. However, it was not until recently that drones started to be in collecting and interpreting weather data. Besides agriculture, improved weather prediction have other benefits. For instance, had it been available to them, the authorities and the University of Alaska would have used meteorological drones to predict that the winter storm of 2011 was going to be more severe than those usually experienced. Then the 3,500 residents of Nome would have been advised to replenish their supplies of fuel to last them the entire season. Then, they would not have had to endure the cold for several weeks as they waited for the relief fuel to arrive from Russia. Even so, the usefulness of this information would have largely depended on how well the authorities and researchers disseminated it. Improved

Edgar Allan Poe's Story and Death Theme Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Edgar Allan Poe's Story and Death Theme - Essay Example The prince later throws in a party in which he invites several guests and decorates his rooms. During the party, a strange visitor makes entry into the palace dressed in a manner similar to a corpse. When the prince confronts him, the prince dies. Later everyone dies as the Red Death makes entry into the castle (Poe 10). From the story, death makes a significant manifestation. In the story ‘The Cask of Amontillado,’ the narrator narrates of occurrences that took place fifty years, and no one has come to realize the actual happenings to date. In the story, one Fortunato hurts the narrator, who plots revenge for Fortunato’s actions against him. The narrator brings out some wine, which he hid in the graveyard and gives it to Fortunato until he is drunk, and constantly talks of Amontillado, the wine, though the narrator leads him to a hole in some part of the wall, where Fortunato is chained, and the hole filled with bricks. Fortunato begs for mercy from the narrator who later fills the hole with the last brick, leaving Fortunato for death, an occurrence not known to anyone until now (Poe 10). The narrator is Montresor. In the story ‘The Masque of the Red Death,’ death is portrayed in both an irony and a theme. As a theme, death comes out as an inescapable occurrence from which nobody can run. When the prince locks his gates, it happens in an urge of preventing death from reaching his territories. However, when he organizes a banquet, the unexpected happens when death comes and kills all in attendance. Ironically, death comes in at the least expected time after the prince has made all the possible aspects in keeping it out of the castle, killing all in attendance. Similarly, in the story ‘The Cask of Amontillado,’ Poe brings about some element of death by showing the power of the dead over the living. The dead come back to life, from where

Statistical Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Statistical Analysis - Assignment Example Nonetheless, they noted that despite the disadvantages, the internet services have a series of advantages including the internet’s unprecedented benefits in education, entertainment, commerce, and social interaction. Notably, the negative effects of the internet have created immense opportunities for crime commissions. This form of information technology has made offenders to commit crimes some of which have no monetary costs while others are less never recognized or detected. Comparing different forms of crimes, Wang and Huang used the traditional economic motivated crimes that include larcenies, burglaries, and bank robberies among others, by the online fraudsters (Wang, and Huang, 2011). They noted that the online fraudsters are unlikely to be encountered directly with the law enforcers and witness since the crime does not create any animosity or do not involve direct encounters with the affected persons or entities. Therefore, the authors aimed at examining the identity of the theft from the analytical angle with their focus on the elaborate versatilities of this contemporary criminal (Wang, and Huang, 2011). Notably, Wang and Huang first discussed the mode of identifying their sample set. The sample in case was the human beings. After the identification of the samples, they defined and provided the typology of the crime based on the United States legislation of theft identity. Applying different definitions, Wang and Huang determined series of online crime that included phishing, hacking, pretexting, skimming (this is there is legitimate transactions using credit or debit cards especially in retail shops), and changing the address (Wang, and Huang, 2011). The change of address was found to involve changing the identity that may involve the criminal’s personal information or obtains the victim’s personal information thereby tampering with the same towards committing crime with the same. The Wang and Huang’s research on cyber crim e was mainly qualitative; therefore, they only concentrated on the quality of the sample towards the identified crime (Kritzer, 1996). Therefore, they did not provide any statistics to explain the trend of their findings. It is worth noting that Wang and Huang were only concerned with the effect of this crime to the contemporary world markets especially about progressing, managing and transferring money through the internet (Indulska, Dirk, and Recker, 2012). According to them, despite the internet means of managing and transferring money and information is convenient, the involved parties must be concerned with internet or online frauds that they described as inescapable. For instance, they concluded that, â€Å"Collectively, cyberspace has become such an attractive place where suitable targets like personal information increase in value while effective guardians typically fall behind. Anti-fraud efforts must be accelerated and orchestrated proficiently to make online scams diffic ult for offenders (Wang, and Huang, 2011).† Article Two â€Å"The (in) significance of the genocidal behavior to the discipline of criminology† is a criminology research work that was conducted by George S. Yacouban, Jr. of the department of criminology and criminal justice (Yacouban, 2000). Despite their devotion to the discipline of criminology, Yacouban reports that the International Criminal law’

Studying the Philosophical Thoughts Essay Example for Free

Studying the Philosophical Thoughts Essay 1. Generalizing the conditions which form the philosophical thoughts of Chuang Tzu. Regarding the socio-economic conditions: Chuang Tzu lived in the Warring States Period. This period witnessed the increasing popularity of iron tools marked a revolutionary innovation of production tools and the development of social productive. Agriculture, industry and economy also developed during the Warring States Period. Feudal relations of production gradually formed, consequently when the Warring States period started, it marked the end of mode at the slavery which following a pattern of the Orient. The era of Warring States is trouble times. The great transformation of all aspects in this period has left many stamps which affect every fields of life and set out the philosophical problems for the time. Regarding the premise thoughts: Chuang Tzu lived in a period corresponding to the philosophical summit of Chinese thought — the Hundred Schools of Thought. It is also known as the Golden Age of Chinese philosophy because a broad range of thoughts and ideas were developed and discussed freely. Living in the most developed period of the Chinese philosophy, Chuang Tzu can know all the philosophies in The Warring States, except Han Fei’s theory. Living during the chaos, the philosophical thoughts of Chuang Tzu inevitably influenced by the History of Chinese’s thoughts at this time. Short introduction about Chuang Tzu and Nan Hua Zhen Jing Chuang Tzu came from the Town of Meng (in modern Anhui) in Song Dynasty, living in the time of King Hui of Liang and Kinh Xuan of Qi (late 4th century BCE). He is the typical philosopher for Daojia, one of the greatest philosophers in History of Ancient – Middle Age Chinese Philosophy. Chuang Tzu is considered to follow Lao Tzu’s doctrine of Dao, making it develop more bright and popular. He is a minor official in the town. However, he gave up his appointment and lived recluse for the rest of his life at Nan Hua Mountain in the state of Song. In this place, he wrote Nan Hua Zhen Jing. Nan Hua Zhen Jing (also known as The book of Chuang Tzu) is only work of Chuang Tzu that today we still know. This work was lost several time, recovered and then lost again. So it has some inevitable errors. This work, in its current shape consisting of 33 chapters, is traditionally divided into three parts: the first, known as the Inner Chapters, consists of the first seven chapters; the second, known as the Outer Chapters, consist of the next 15 chapters; the last, known as the Mixed Chapters, consist of the remaining 11 chapters. Chuang Tzu was renowned for his brilliant wordplay and use of parables to put forward his philosophical thoughts. Nan Hua Zhen Jing was translated into Vietnamese. The popular translators of Nan Hua Zhen Jing in Vietnam are Thu Giang – Duy Can Nguyen, Hien Le Nguyen, Tong Nhuong, Ton Nhan Nguyen. In my report, I read and quoted the translation of Hien Le Nguyen. 2. Some philosophical thoughts of Chuang Tzu in Nan Hua Zhen Jing World outlook of Chuang Tzu: The inheritance and development of Lao Tzu’s doctrine in the concept Dao. Chuang Tzu advocated that the primary sources of whole world is nothing. He found that everything in this world has the common origin which is called Dao, even though they have many differences. In Chuang Tzu’s conceptions, Dao is formless, unknown, empty, and it is beyond space, time, life and death. Dao is â€Å"non-material† so that no one gave it birth and it derived from itself. That means Dao had before heaven and earth. So Dao is the origin of universe. Chuang Tzu said that Dao constantly changes. Everything in this world always moves and transforms, and we don’t know where they start, how they end. However, they change follow the set of strict rules and have the natural power. Everything contains Dao as their nature. All are transformed by Dao of their own to suit different circumstances. This is the core of Chuang Tzu’s conception about Dao which represents the development of Lao Tzu’s doctrine to a new level. Epistemology of Chuang Tzu: Relativism. For knowledge, like Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu didn’t respect intellectual. He considers that intellectual knowledge is redundant because it will bring troubles. Chuang Tzu said: â€Å"There are limits in our lives, but there are no limits to knowledge. Using the limited thing to catch up with the unlimited thing can only bring troubles. Someone who already thinks they’re knowledgeable is really in trouble. † (Chapter 3, â€Å"Opinions on Nurturing Life†). Thus, he doesn’t encourage people to accumulate knowledge and opposes to argue with words. For Chuang Tzu, Dao is the supreme principle. He emphasized the absolute movement and ignored the stabilization. Chuang Tzu pushed the conception about relativity of Chuang Tzu into relativism. He advocated that there are no right and wrong, wealthy and poverty; no intellect, no arguments. Outlook on life of Chuang Tzu: Happiness is absolute freedom and absolute equality. *According to Chuang Tzu, the first of all happiness is lived freely follow natural essence, reaching the carefree roaming in this life. Philosophical thoughts of Chuang Tzu show us that wealthy or poverty, right or wrong, big or small, etc have no meaning at all. It is important that you have a happy life, reach to the carefree roaming, don’t you? Chuang Tzu mentioned that if we want to get the absolute freedom, we will have to live follow our natural essences. To do this, we need to expand our vision, do not set up obstacles for yourself. The carefree roaming requires human life keep pace with all things in the world from the heart, eyes and breath to action rather than antagonistic, requiring as sovereign of the universe. Happiness can really get in this world is encumbered with nothing inside. It sounds simple but is very difficult. It requires us to open eyes to perceive Dao everywhere, and everyone is encouraged to expand their mind by their experiences. We often spend a lifetime to explore the outside world, so we are losing the power to recognize the inner strength of ourselves. To reach the carefree roaming, we need to follow the natural essence, come back to the natural, rustic, carefree, liberated life. *The second is known how to make all things equal. Chuang Tzu said that to achieve the absolute Dao, the first step is that people need to remove their conceptions about right and wrong, considering the difference between things in this world is relative, in other words, it makes all things be equal. *Conception of Chuang Tzu about the true man and the true society. For Chuang Tzu, A true person has to be a carefree person. He said: â€Å"What is a true person? The true person of ancient times wasnt opposed to the idea of being different than the rest of society, didnt try to be macho, and didnt plan for a lucrative career. Someone like that could move from one situation to another with no regret, and measure up her self worth without becoming smugly self-satisfied. Someone like that could climb to dizzying heights without trembling in fear, enter water without feeling wet, and enter fire without feeling the heat. This kind of perception enables one to ascend on the tails of Dao. The true person of ancient times could sleep without dreaming, could awaken without anxiety, could eat food without relishing in it, and could completely fill her lungs when breathing. A true person breathed all the way down to her heels, while other peoples breath only filled the top of their lungs. Those who bend over in submission seem to spew forth words from their mouths like vomit. Those who harbor old desires deeply within them leave only a shallow space for the heavens to maneuver. The true person of ancient times wasnt aware of expressing joy in life, nor of feeling aversion to death. He didnt feel a need to be gracious when he left, nor did he feel a need to be aloof when he entered. He could leave as swiftly as he arrived, and there was nothing more to it. He didnt forget where he began, but didnt question where hed end up. He celebrated what was received, and recaptured what had been forgotten. This is called not using the mind to contribute to Dao, and not using people to assist the heavens. Thats what was called a true person. † (Chapter 6, â€Å"The Great and Most Honored Master†) Chuang Tzu said the world â€Å"does no need governing; in fact it should not be governed†, and, â€Å"Good order results spontaneously when things are let alone. † Murray Rothbard called him â€Å"perhaps the world’s first anarchist†. * Nan Hoa Zhen Jing of Chuang Tzu has high value philosophy and value artist. In this book, Inner Chapter is contained the most of his philosophical thoughts such as world outlook, epistemology, outlook on life, etc. It showed us that Chuang Tzu’s thoughts thought is not much, but deep, profound and mysterious.