Sunday, February 2, 2020

The Influence of Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

The Influence of Family - Essay Example This influence is often reflected in the childhood and adult life of the child. According to various researches, it has been proved that, children always associate themselves with the problems of the parent and worry about these issues even if they are not part of the problem. This is a regular experience faced by families which have divorced. This is the main reason why individuals ask themselves if the family can influence the way they think, act and feel in the society. It is true that the family plays a significant role in the way individuals behave in the family and society. Every concept an individual adopts are learned from the family. For instance, everything a child learns is always influenced from his or her parenthood and how they reacted to their parents. Parents are good people to emulate as they are familiar with what life entails. This is due to their life experiences. They are essential in teaching their children what they have learned, how they should act, think and feel about the modern society. However, some parents are not good role models to their children. As in the case of Cary, whose life will be discussed in the papers’ body, her mother was never a role model. Her mother was full of hatred and brought her up in a manner that she never liked. As such, she vowed to bring her children up in a manner that was completely different from her mothers. However, Cary’s mother case contradicts the claim that mothers are the primary caregivers. Mothers are considered as the primary care givers and consequently being viewed as the most influential to the child’s life. However, recent psychoanalytical studies have shown that fathers have a major role to play in influencing the behaviors and thinking of their children. The parent’s behavior can be explained from their past experiences or prominent figures in the society which they look up to and desire their children to emulate. Young maternal age is usually associated to with harsh and abusive parenting (Smithbattle 521) which can be explained by the fact that most young mothers are mostly poor and at risk of social isolation. They also go through depression and stress making them harsh and abusive parenting. However, these are not usually the only factors affecting the influence that a parent has to his children. Some parents may have prominent figures in the society who they want their children to grow up to emulate and they therefore train them to be like to people. Griffin also brings out the fact that a parent’s control over the family can have an influence on the child’s life (Griffin 302). A child whose parents exercise full control of every aspect at home grows to learn what ask and what not to ask. In exercising so much control in the family, children may not feel good while within the family and when faced by a problem they withdraw to cry alone as seen in Laura’s family (Griffin 307). Apart from the influence one gets from the family, the society plays a great role in influencing a person’s behavior. Moreover, after getting to a certain age, one starts becoming self aware and it is at this time that they start erasing whatever they do not need and developing their desired qualities. The essay on the loss of a creature by Percy tries to expound on the influence of the past knowledge and experiences to the sightseer in their visit to the tourist sites. According to Percy (2), precedent experiences and awareness determines the nature of leisure and enjoyment in any vacation. The prospects of the visit have a role to play in assessing and evaluating the intensity of satisfaction in any tour. Sightsee that satisfies the goal and objective of the vacationer

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategies and Benefit

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategies and Benefit 1.0 Chapter 2 Literature Review A literature review of research was carried out to put light into the definition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as this differs from country to country and different authors have modelled different definition for CSR. This makes the study of CSR more complex. Also factors influencing the strategic issues of CSR are also reviewed. Electronic database is used such as emerald to select appropriate   articles. This   review of literature is worked out on published research on CSR, CSR strategies and benefits. The first focal point is on the definition of CSR, then the strategies of CSR in business was reviewed and the benefits associated with the strategic management of CSR. The main aim of this review is to sum up the studies in relation to the integration of CSR in its core business to gain advantage to the target group that receive the CSR and also to the business in the long run to place the business at a competitive advantage. Findings on environment have also been taken into consideration. 1.1 2.1 Theoretical Review 1.1.1 Models, Concepts, Frameworks In the book ‘Corporate Social Responsibility by Crowther D and Aras G, 2008, Milton Friedman (1970) stated that â€Å"there is one and only one social responsibility of business- to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud† So we can understand that according to Friedmans 1970 theory the sole responsibility of the business is to capitalise profit. According to Friedman (1970 cited in   Galbreath 2009, p.111   ), it is the firm responsibility to meet the economic needs and that only leads to the welfare of the society and it is the role of the government, service organizations, educational institution to meet the societal welfare. Galbreath, (2009) cited that after the publication of the thesis of Friedman, (1970)  Ã‚   there was much research on the social responsibilities of the firm. Galbreath, (2009) states that ‘In the late 1970s, Carroll (1979) offered one of the first and perhaps still the most widely accepted conceptualisations of CSR (Matten and Crane, 2005). In Galbreath (2009), Carrolls (1979) model conceptualises the responsibilities of the firm as: the economic responsibility to generate profits; the legal responsibility to comply by local, state, federal, and relevant international laws; the ethical responsibility to meet other social expectations, not written as law (e.g. avoiding harm or social injury, respecting moral rights of individuals, doing what is right, just, fair); and the discretionary responsibility to meet additional behaviours and activities that society finds desirable (e.g. philanthropic initiatives such as contributing   money to various kinds of social or cultural enterprises). The last concept applies to the Mauritian context where NGOs are engaged in the philanthropic activities. They are funded by firms making profit and 1% of the profit after tax is given to the NGOs to look at the vulnerable groups in Mauritius , the other 1% goes to the contribution of programs offered by government, (NEF, 2008). NEF,2008 cited that the economics needs of the firm are met to comply with CSR. The firm has to contribute 2% of its profit after tax in the CSR fund. If the firms make no profit then there is no contribution to CSR. This brings to the circular Mauritian model In Mauritius, the government uses the profit for the welfare of the society. 1.1.2 Activities not meeting the criteria of CSR in Mauritius The following activities do not fall under the definition of CSR IN Mauritius, NEF (2008): Contribution for religious activities Contribution to activities discriminating on the basis of race, place of origin, political opinion, colour or creed. Contribution to Trade Unions Sponsorship for marketing purposes Contribution for political parties Shareholders and Senior Staff benefits (schemes benefiting staff and/ or their family members and shareholders holding more than 5% of shareholding) Staff welfare cost (including e.g. current and future staff training costs), Activities which are against public safety and national interest. In Galbreath (2009), Friedmans (1970) social responsibilities, stakeholder theory and corporate social responsibility, Carroll (1979) are normative: they give a description of what the dos and donts of the firm in terms of their societal responsibilities (Rodriguez et al., 2002) Katamba D and Gisch-Boie (2008) made a study with regards to CSR in Uganda a developing country. They stated that CSR is a new concept in Uganda and the study was carried out to know the perceptions of CSR, approaches and needs of companies in the matter of CSR.   The CSR defined by company managers in Uganda as stated by Katamba D and Gisch-Boie (2008)   are â€Å"when companies consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stkaholders as well as the environment.† â€Å"how companies manage their business processes to produce on overall positive impact on society.† â€Å"considering all stakeholders while making business decisions that manage stakeholders relationships â€Å"giving back to society and cementing the bond of the company to society through demonstrating the caring heart of the company† Katamba D and Gisch-Boie (2008) made the observations that large companies in Uganda do not have a CSR strategy and they cannot satisfy all the requests of communities and NGOs. The Government of Mauritius has catered for the approved programmes relating to socio economic development, Health, leisure and sport, environment, education and training and catastrophe, (NEF, 2008). The NEF has an important role to play to drive firms to CSR strategies. The Government of Mauritius stated in NEF (2008)   has set up a guiding principle with the general purpose of   directing registered companies to give 2% of their book profit to programmes contributing to the social and environmental development of the country. NEF (2008) stated the objectives of the fund   to: Support firms to administer their own agenda, resulting in the triple reporting aspect, that is, the economic, social and environmental development. Ease the involvement of the companies to sustain existing Approved National Programmes applied by Companies, national agencies or NGOs support a serviceable society to NGOs working with the approved national development program 1.2 Empirical Review 1.2.1 Applied Studies and Findings Research gaps In Sidsel Grimstad (2011) pp. 73-74, Shrivastava and Hart (1994) suggested green politics will be among the powerful forces of economic, social, and political change,   businesses and managerial theory have to change them drastically to hold environmental distress. In the same paper In Sidsel Grimstad (2011) pp. 73-74, stated that after more than ten years, Kallio and Nordberg (2006)   there are still questions that have not been answered regarding firms and their link with the natural environment. These questions are : â€Å" what is the organisations relationship with the natural environment? Why does integration of concerns for the natural environment happen within organisations? Where does it happen? Who does it happen to? How does it happen? What are the consequences of an integration of the organisation and the natural environment? â€Å" (Sidsel Grimstad 2011 stated by Kallio and Nordberg   (2006 )) They also found that while considerable empirical research had been done, there were few development of theory conbining organizational and management theories with natural environment. Sidsel Grimstad (2011) stated that few research has been carried out to assess how prolonged actions affects firms or clusters competitiveness and the way natural environment is bonded to the involved firms of organisations (businesses, government, non-profit, or others)   day to day activities (Gladwin et al., 1995; Kallio and Nordberg, 2006). Little has been done to judge against framework, local formal and informal institutions while looking at business-driven environmental action (Gjà ¸lberg, 2009; Halme et al., 2009; Hart, 1995 cited in Sidsel Grimstad (2011) ) Sidsel Grimstad (2011) found from the above literature review comes up many knowledge gap. He states that more study   examining how firms operates and implements environmental action, the insight of environmental action, the reason they are doing it, what they see as main factors for the environment and business to mutually develop and benefit each other, the way they carry out environmental action, the way they organize and the short and long term consequences for the environment and society.   Sidsel Grimstad (2011),More concept is required the forming of   the relationships between the natural environment business organizations and competitive advantage. Sidsel Grimstad (2011) cited that â€Å" More comparative research is required analysing how businesses deal with environmental issues within different contexts and different national institutional frameworks.† Sidsel Grimstad (2011)   cited that â€Å"When faced with serious environmental issues, it would be expected that the way/mode and means a business, a business cluster or society will respond to the environmental challenge will differ according to the countrys formal and informal institutions.† Sidsel Grimstad (2011) stated that these matters would be more outstanding in areas where the natural environment and landscape encompasses basis for tourism as an additional strategy for earning income for businesses based on agriculture. Sidsel Grimstad (2011) also found that â€Å".. it would be expected that agriculture based tourism businesses would have a vested interest in going beyond compliance with the environmental regulatory systems. In addition such clusters would also perceive the natural landscape as a prerequisite for value-adding for their tourism businesses in the future and are therefore worth taking care of.† Sidsel Grimstad (2011) found that the two countries chosen, Norway and Australia have clearly different situations and organizational frameworks when dealing with environmental management in rural areas. He chose two business-driven green initiatives have been identified and there are still on-going research. Sidsel Grimstad (2011)   cited that re â€Å"They are self-defined or self-organised clusters, in as such they do not follow administrative or geographical borders, but rather are based on a common business focus agriculture-based tourism in a geographical area where the borders have been defined by the business community itself through formal organisations such as local chambers of commerce.† He also stated that they hold the definition of clusters given by Porter (1998), that describes these geographic clusters of interrelated firms and institutions in a specific field. Sidsel Grimstad (2011) also stated that the clusters include both suppliers of provider of inputs, services, and education( universities, training), and later stage of businesses centered on customers that both compete and work together. In Australia the associating organisation is a Chamber of Commerce in a wine tourism region, and in Norway is a farming of apple and tourism region, a shareholding firm has been set up with the objective of promoting continuing improvement in the area, (Sidsel Grimstad 2011). In Norway, the area in agriculture has received much subsidy to cater for both self-sufficiency in essential foods and secondly in sustaining the rural population. the subsidies in agriculture have been drastically reduced in the last decade, but they have been turned towards subsidies for farm-based ecological protection and preservation. These have led to new ventures in tourism sector for a new value-adding strategy. The above extract is from (Sidsel Grimstad 2011). Sidsel Grimstad 2011 also found in his study that traditional farming has been drifted towards   a mix of farming and agri-tourism, preceded by the principles of geo-tourism. In Sidsel Grimstad ( 2011) the definition of   Geo-tourism is given by â€Å" tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents (National Geographic Society, 2009).† Sidsel Grimstad ( 2011) stated that small agricultutal sector tourism clusters have been founded by the concepts of   geo-tourism that they call landscape parks that are natural and cultural regions described by the natural landscape and by the identification of local population.   The development of home agro and tourism have to undertaken in an sensitive way Taking care of the environment that must be attractive to both local people and the tourist (Sidsel Grimstad, 2011). From the above extract this leads to the creating of strategies to look after the issues of sustaining and preserving environment. Mauritius being a tourism industry can give importance to the environmental programs for maintaining and preserving it keeping in mind the problems that are the world is facing towards natural ecological change. 1.3 2.3 Case Studies Added on17/04/11 Volker Turk (2003) has worked in a paper e-business and CSR- the business case for the new economy. The paper looked at the major significance   for corporations working in the ICT and e-business sector concerning environmental and social issues. Volker Tà ¼rk (2003) developed an essential finding from the research that is e-business is not entirely virtual but it is related to the use of natural resources. Volker Tà ¼rk (2003), identified key factors influencing the ecological consequences of environmental ICTs and e-application. He identified them as â€Å"Monitoring the environmental impacts of ICT and e-business, greening the hardware, shifting to e-services, enabling transport efficiencies, raising awareness and changing habits, recognize and extent the (digital) responsibility, acknowledge the technologies limitations and risks, Improve sustainability and accountability along supply-chains. social responsibilities are different from social issues but closely linked (Galbreath 2009).   The society have expectations on the firm and these are social responsibilities. These responsibilities are related to factors. These are social issues. These factors can have an effect on the ability of the firm to meet objectives , and can also affect the social responsibilities. This view has been supported in the work of Galbreath (2009). ELABORATE HERE Galbreath (2009) states that ‘In this sense, these definitions help to describe what the â€Å"firm side† of the social contract (Donaldson and Dunfee, 1994, 1999) between business and society consists of. On one hand, the â€Å"formal† social contract defines a firms explicit responsibilities, including generating returns for shareholders, obeying laws and regulations, creating jobs, paying taxes, and honouring private contracts. On the other hand, the â€Å"semiformal† social contract reflects societys implicit expectations. Here, societys unspoken expectations of firms include responsibilities such as adherence to global labour and environmental standards (e.g. SA 8000, AA 1000, ISO 14031) that are not required by law, triple bottom-line reporting, following industry norms and codes of conduct, fulfilling brand promises and contributing philanthropically to the community. Scholars have looked at the social issues concept, mainly through the life-cycle approach (cited in Galbreath (2009), Lamertz et al., 2003). Although several definitions exist, a widely accepted definition in the life-cycle tradition describes social issues as: ‘Social problems that may exist objectively but become â€Å"issues† requiring managerial attention when they are defined as being problematic to society or an institution within society by a group of actors or stakeholders capable of influencing either governmental action or company policy (Mahon and Waddock, 1992, p. 20; emphasis added). Galbreath (2009) expressed this view. The definition implies that social problems exist at the societal level (but not necessarily at the organizational level)   and these problems are   elevated to the â€Å"status† of a social issue by the actions of various actors, including stakeholders. However, such a definition does not address how these social problems and issues might be an opportunity for the firm and thus, is problematic with respect to the concept of strategy. Galbreath (2001) cited that ‘some firms signal that CSR is a fundamental purpose mission of their existence. As part of its mission, The Body Shop makes cosmetics that do not hurt animals. Here, The Body Shop has addressed a social issue animal cruelty through the very core of their business: developing the highest quality, innovative, effective and safe cosmetic products. A bank with a heart The Mauritian bank, Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) is involved in ‘Corporate Social Responsibility to serve the communities by not only by financing of projects but also to build and sustain schemes for social, environmental and economic welfare of the community. The MCB Group contributes 2% of its bok profits annually to the MCP Forward Foundation . This extract is from MCB Ltd,2010. Another example of Corporate Social Responsibility in a   Mauritian company is the IBL Children (Schumpeter, 1934; Nelson and Winter, 1982; Jacobson, 1992) economic growth can be attained through innovation.   (Schumpeter, 1934; Jacobson, 1992; Hill and Deeds, 1996; Chan Kim and Mauborgne, 2004)   presented the views below. Innovation can be an opportunity to meet social needs and deal with social issues instead of considering them as a threat. The knowledge acquired from the target markets, target customer needs and the unmet social needs and/or social issues directly from the market, can be used to explore the opportunity to reach new markets and gain competitive advantage. This can be done by introducing new customer offerings, developing new processes or creating new market segments. Gabreath , 2009 cited that Corporate managers admit that CSR is a vital reflection for motivating achievement. But they acknowledge to be under pressure to anticipate about the uncertainty of unmet social needs or social matters that will affect their business or how to develop strategies to cater for these problems (Galbreath, 2009) . Galbreath, 2009 said in his findings that much has been on paper to recommend that CSR is important for competitive success, but efforts have been prevalent on conceptual and theoretical advancements and empirical tests between CSR and firm accomplishment. Galbreath, 2009 came to the conclusion that this causes a breach regarding CSR and strategy. Galbreath, 2009 cited ‘If an assumption is made that CSR is important to competitiveness, and if strategy serves as a foundation for a business firms creation, while establishing its position in the market, its competitiveness and its on-going existence, then placing CSR within the context of strategy seems vital. Galbreath, 2009 first implication was that CSR should not be regarded only in terms of   the duties organizations have toward society or to whom they are accountable. Galbreath, 2009 cited that ‘Normatively postulating, for example, that firms have an economic responsibility to generate profits or a legal responsibility to obey appropriate laws or that firms have a responsibility to meet the needs of various stakeholder groups (and who those groups are) does not describe how they can do so in a strategic manner. Galbreath, 2009 suggested that to know CSR strategically, unmet social desires and social matters   and also the firms responsibilities toward society, these have to be considered individually. This is essential to tackle CSR more accurately within the underlying elements of strategy (Galbreath,2009). Galbreath, 2009 implies and questions ‘to what degree does CSR have to be built into strategy before it can be considered â€Å"strategic†? ‘ During its existence, the firm has to frequently face with   different opportunities and threats and decisions are made to deal with them (Galbreath, 2009). According to Galbreath, 2009 there are six-dimensions of strategy firm mission; strategic issues; markets; customer needs; resources; and competitive advantage. Galbreath, 2009 says that at any stage one facet of strategy of the six-dimensions might be more vital than others. In Galbreath, 2009 for some scholars ‘strategic CSR deals with contributing slack resources (profit spending) to the needs of society and community that are related to objectives and strategy of the organisation such as philanthropy, sponsorships and cause-related marketing (Mullen, 1997; Lantos, 2002; Porter and Kramer, 2002). Galbreath, 2009 observed that strategically, this is a limited view and is mainly related to the discretionary (philanthropic) component of Carrolls (1979) theory of CSR. Galbreath, 2009 demonstrated in his paper that CSR is not an organizational occurrence strategically limited to a restricted aspect within the organization. He states that while taking corporate responsibilities, unmet social desires and social matters into account, synergies develop that are essential for several dimensions of strategy.   In Galbreath, 2009 he stated an example;    ‘while the economic responsibility to produce profits constitutes part of the firms formal social contract, by exploring unmet social needs and social issues through strategy dimensions such as markets served, customer needs and resources required to compete, a firm not only can address social opportunities that generate profits (thereby meeting its economic responsibility to shareholders), but can offer societal benefits as well (Burke and Logsdon, 1996; Husted and Salazar, 2006). Galbreath (2009) found from his study that CSR cannot only be philanthropic or an obligation towards ethics, that is code of conduct; CSR can be carried out within six elements of corporate strategy,   adding up to good organisation practice,   profitable to the economy and to the wellbeing of society (Galbreath 2009). Galbreath 2009,   concluded that firms contribute economically to the society and profits making is a social responsibility (Carroll, 1979; Henderson, 2005). But in the present ambience, social matters are cropping up on firms to the extent that CSR seems to be the new battlefield for competitive achievement (Porter and Kramer, 2006 cited in Galbreath 2009). According to the guidelines, NEF, 2008 it can be extracted that the Government of Mauritius is mainly dealing with vulnerable groups as philanthropic activities to eradicate poverty rather than using CSR as an competive edge for the business. But for business perspectives in Mauritius, firms can deal with the CSR activities dealt as per the government program but at the same time build a strong long term competitive advantage by building good reputation for the company and at the same time deal with societal issues. Galbreath, 2009 concluded that if the statement is true then firms do not have to meet the interest of shareholders but also of society at large. Galbreath (2009) sated that â€Å" strategy takes on significant meaning not only with respect to fulfilling social responsibilities and the development of firms, but also with respect to the development and sustainability of society/nations (Raimond, 1996; Rodriguez et al., 2002).† Galbreath, (2009) made an interesting conclusion: companies who have a broader understanding of their social responsibilities and who starts to   investigate further on how they can build CSR into strategy at a more competitive edge in the future benefiting the shareholders and also the society at large. Galbrath (2009), to deal with CSR more strategically, the paper made an argument that organizations should consider six strategy dimensions: â€Å"firm mission†, â€Å" strategic issues†, â€Å"markets†, † customer needs†, â€Å" resources† and â€Å" competitive advantage.† Galbreath (2009) stated that strategy is about recognising matters that have an influence on a organisations capacity to attain its mission, so goods/services can be given to achieve markets needs providing through valuable resource construction to build and maintain competitive advantage. When CSR is thought about in these aspects it provides a way to methodically delve into means where social responsibilities can be constructed into strategy (Galbreath, 2009). If CSR is not done this way, companies  Ã‚   take the risk of defining CSR as â€Å"codes of ethics†, triple bottom line reports and public relations campaigns, (Galbreath 2009).Galbreath(2009) cited that â€Å"Such approaches are too limited, too defensive and are too disconnected from strategy. Nur Diana Hidayati, (2011) , showed in the case study that there is elevated dedication from the four companies she studied to catty out CSR programs and company moral values. The companies attempt to deal with the triple bottom line issues,(Nur Diana Hidayati,2011).   Nur Diana Hidayati, (2011, p104), found in the case study that ‘ two consumer goods companies (Unilever Indonesia and Sari Husada) and one manufacturing company (Astra International) conduct CSR programs that are both related and unrelated to their core businesses while a mining company (Aneka Tambang) tends to conduct CSR programs that are unrelated to its core business. The other finding from the case study is that both programs related to CSR and not related to CSR are   ways for the companies to go for ‘sustainable development, Nur Diana Hidayati, (2011, p104), This leads to carry out a study in the Mauritian context of the competitive advantage placed while incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility as a strategic management in the business. Anonymous, nd from the Emerald Group Publishing stated that it is difficult to manage Corportae Social Responsibility issue if the firm you are running a firm of huge size. Senior management are more conscious that the firm is presumed to put forward some kind of advantages to the wider world, (Anonymous, nd). ‘newspaper articles, academic papers, the activities of their peers and the public all tell them so. ‘ Many executives of firms are anxious that their firm is not looked as making contributions morally to the society and   to the environment as their day to day activities then they can lose their reputation and customers, (anonymous, 2008). Lance Moir ‘the basic idea of corporate social responsibility is that business and society are interwoven rather than distinct entities. Business depends on society to run and it is using natural resources may be at the detriment of the environment. Though it is contributing to the economic development of the country or society, it has other duties to fulfil to contribute part of what it has gained during the business process   by providing Corporate Social Responsibility. Holmes (1976), in a study of executive attitudes to social responsibility, finds that the strongest response was that in addition to making a profit, business should help to solve social problems whether or not business helps to create those problems even if there is probably no short-run or long-run profit potential. This applies to the Mauritian context where the contribution is enforced by 2% contribution after profit although it is given as tax. But how far the business person is agreeable to this is to be studied through the research questionnaire. Proponents of CSR claim that it is in the enlightened self-interest of business to undertake various forms of CSR. The forms of business benefit that might accrue would include enhanced reputation and greater employee loyalty and retention. We can identify this approach in some of the current approaches by business. So, the introductory section of the recent report by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development on Corporate Social Responsibility (WBCSD, 1999) used phrases such as business benefits, could destroy shareholder value, control risks, identify market opportunities, improving reputation and maintaining public support. CSR Europes approach is that business benefits from being more socially responsible and that this can help to build sales, the workforce and trust in the company as a whole. The objective is to build sustainable growth for business in a responsible manner. Frederick (1994) identifies the development in the understanding of CSR up to 1970 as an examination of corporations obligation to work for social betterment and refers to this as CSR1. However, around 1970 he notes a move to corporate social responsiveness, which he calls CSR2. Frederick (1994), identifies corporate social responsiveness as the capacity of a corporation to respond to social pressures. (Moir L. 2001) In effect the move from CSR1 to CSR2 reflects a move from a philosophical approach to one that focuses on managerial action.    Lately, Frederick (1986) has developed this analysis to include a more ethical base to managerial decision taking in the form of corporate social rectitude and terms this CSR3. In this development, Frederick claims that the study of business and society needs an ethical anchor to permit a systematic critique of businesss impact upon human consciousness, human community and human continuity. Frederick (1986), asserts that whilst CSR1 was normative, it was hesitant and that CSR2 led to non-normative enquiry. Thus the requirement for a moral basis provides a normative foundation for managers to take decisions in the area of CSR. As part of a normative manifesto, he proposes that the The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (1999) defines CSR as: â€Å"the ethical behavior of a company towards society . . . management acting responsibly in its relationships with other stakeholders who have a legitimate interest in the business, and CSR is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large.† Examples cited in Moir L, 2002 are from individual companies in the area of CSR reinforcing stakeholder analysis: Johnson Johnson: â€Å"the companys responsibilities to be fair and honest, trustworthy and respectful, in dealing with all our constituents (Johnson Johnson, 2000). Volkswagen (2000): â€Å"adopt a position which builds both shareholder value and workholder value in order to deliver sustainable growth for the future. Shell: â€Å"We all need to assess the impact our business makes on society and ensure that we balance the economic, environmental and social aspects of everything we do† (Moody-Stuart, 1999).   Apart from the triple bottom line, I think business should feel responsible and contribute to the social growth and go beyond the expectation of society   and integrate CSR in the way business is

Friday, January 17, 2020

How Romanticism and Photography Shaped Western Modernitymodern

â€Å"Western modernity was shaped by cross-currents between Europe and North America in the 19th century and in the beginning of the 20th century. † Neoclassicism was a movement which focused on the rediscovery of Ancient Greek and Roman values and style (and called Greek revival in the United States[1]). It was a defining trait of the Enlightenment age and of its reasoning-based political and artistic thinking and saw its apogee during the Napoleonic era.Starting in the 19th century, this movement was opposed by the Romantics, who ended the strict rules of neoclassicism and made the expression of their emotions and feelings the basis for their art, may it be poetry, literature, painting or music. The English romantic poet William Wordsworth called romantic poetry â€Å"the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings recollected in tranquility†[2]. Compared to the neoclassicists, romantics such as Edgar Allan Poe or Victor Hugo were â€Å"modern†.They anticipated mentality changes in the Western world. Parts of western modernity were shaped by interactions and cross currents between Europe and the United States during the 19th and 20th century. These centuries were characterised by a break from the established rules and the artistic past and were times of new technologies as well as increasing interaction between the two sides of the Northern Atlantic. Such Euro-American relations, may they be artistic, cultural and even political have never died out.To understand our Western modernity, this paper shall examine two different aspects of these artistic cross-currents. Firstly, the romantic current played an important role in all the arts, ranging from poetry to architecture. Finally, the appearance of the documentary art of photography has in many aspects shaped modernity and even later led to the invention of motion picture and cinema[3]. Firstly, the Romantic Movement that swarmed across Europe and North America starting in the 19th century helped to shape western modernity.The Romantics broke away from the neoclassicism and the Enlightenment era and, as Samuel Taylor Coleridge puts it, Romanticism is the expression of â€Å"intellectual intuition†, and combines reason and emotion to find Truth and Beauty. The movement focused on individualism and even egocentrism, the importance of the â€Å"self†; the concept of â€Å"author-as-hero† was particularly popular. Romantics also elevated human and divine imagination and inspiration, revered nature and ts mysteries and authors often opposed an ideal view of reality to the sense of loss and melancholy, as Baudelaire does in the section â€Å"Spleen and Ideal† of â€Å"Les Fleurs du Mal†, his poetry volume. In short, they believed in beauty for beauty's sake and art for art's sake. This was modernity. Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Baudelaire are the epitome of the relations and cross-currents between North America and Europe shaped modernity, as Charles Baudelaire often translated Poe' work from English and made it accessible to French readers.Edgar Allan Poe was a famous American romanticism writer who lived in the first half of the 19th century. He surely deserved William Butler Yeats’s praise for being â€Å"always and for all lands a great lyric poet† as he was one of the earliest short story writers and often considered as the inventor of modern crime fiction and the modern character of the detective, a self-referential character. Poe clearly revolutionized and therefore modernized literature and western modernity greatly inherits from his work. He had a well-know taste for writing ghoulish and mysterious stories.In â€Å"The Man of the Crowd†, a short story he wrote in 1840 for example, an unknown narrator follows a mysterious old man throughout the crowds and bazaars of London. This story emphasizes how the â€Å"wanderer† or â€Å"stroller† can walk through the crowded city whi le still maintaining an outside view: he does not buy anything and does not even notice the narrator. The story opposes the individual to the rest of the people, seen as one group: â€Å"the crowd†. Charles Baudelaire translated this story to French in â€Å"L'homme des foules†. For Baudelaire, the flaneur becomes important to understand urban modernity as he â€Å"walks the city to experience it†.This image of an outsider is also mixed with the image of the dandy, and Baudelaire is known to be somewhere between the two, as his peculiar habits testified. Baudelaire defines modernity as the â€Å"ephemeral, the fugitive, the contingent, the half of art whose other half is the eternal and the immutable† in â€Å"The Painter of Modern Life†, which he writes about Constantin Guys without revealing his name. For Baudelaire, Guys is the painter of modern life because he is not only a flaneur, he is also able â€Å"to distil the eternal from the transito ry†.Guys, who wanted to remained unnamed in Baudelaire's review, was a an army man with no artistic education who started with drawings specialized in war but later also represented modern urban life in London and Paris such as popular celebrations or simply street scenes[4]. Constantin Guys never signed or exposed his paintings and was only recognized in his time by Baudelaire and a circle of friends of which the prominent photograph Nadar. He painted and drew from memory and Baudelaire writes in â€Å"The Painter of Modern Life† that â€Å"Monsieur G. ever ceases to drink the fantastic reality of life; his eyes and his memory are full of it. â€Å"[5] â€Å"Ou il faudrait ne voir que le Beau, notre public ne cherche que le Vrai†, writes Baudelaire in  «Le public moderne et la photographie ». Modernity for Poe, Baudelaire and the Romantics in general is finding and creating beauty for the sake of beauty. Baudelaire did not appreciate the first photographs that were made of him such as the one by Etienne Carjat shown below. In his critique of the Salon de 1859, he blames the new industry of photography for the decline of French spirit.In â€Å"Le public modern et la photographie†, Baudelaire writes that the ignorant modern crowds believe that what is identical to nature is art and that they wrongly believe that therefore photography is â€Å"l’art absolu†. â€Å"Les insenses! †. Even though photography was the refuge of bad painters and was first considered industry and not art at first, it is nowadays considered by many both an art and a way of documenting life and events as in all newspapers and magazines, especially the ones that focus on nature, journalism or even fashion photography. [pic][pic] Baudelaire by Carjat.Carosse, drawing by Guys One of the first kinds of photography, the daguerreotype process was named after its French inventor Frenchman, Louis Daguerre. In 1839, it was eulogized in the Fren ch academies of Sciences and of Fine Arts by Francois Arago because he found it useful for astronomy. Using such processes, the French photographer Nadar, friend of Guys and Baudelaire who lived and had his studio on the rue Saint-Lazare in Paris, had the opportunity to photograph many figures of the French arts and journalism scene such as Gustave Dore or Alexandre Dumas.Until the 1870s defined the modern photographic portrait: thanks to an astute use of lights, his portraits were more life-like than the ones by other photographers. He used no decor, a â€Å"neutral background† and â€Å"clothes that served simply to bring out the sitter's outline†[6]. The telegraph inventor Samuel Morse brought the daguerreotype to the United States after meeting Daguerre in Paris in 1839. Such cross-Atlantic contact was already common in the 19th century and even Poe spent time on both sides of the ocean.Because photographic techniques kept on improving and modernizing, picture look ed more and more lifelike and representative of reality. Photography was most notably used during the American Secession War from 1861 to 1865. Photography was not only used by upper-class citizens in daily bourgeois life but also as documentary photography. The great characters as well as horrible events of the civil war were for instance immortalized, partly for the sake of information and truth. As shown below, Gardner’s pictures of the war have integrated the American historical heritage.It was the avant-garde of modern mass media: in 1933, the first photograph was transferred on a newspaper, revolutionizing forever modern newspapers. [pic][pic] Alexander Gardner's photographs in Antietam, USA, September 1862 But modern photography was also well elevated to the statute of fine art in the life time of the internationally recognized photographer and gallery director Alfred Stieglitz (1864-1946): he is considered â€Å"a crusader for modernism†[7]. Stieglitz worked pa instakingly and succeeded in legitimizing the fine art of photography.He became of Expressionist leaning and started to replace naturalism in his art with exaggeration and the expression of â€Å"intense, subjective emotion†[8] as his piece shown below, Equivalent suggests. , once again proving his pioneering role in the perception of modernity. [pic][pic] The Terminal by Alfred Stieglitz (1892)Equivalent by Stieglitz (1926) Western modernity was shaped by the cross currents across the Atlantic in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially the Romantic Movement of which Poe and somehow his follower Baudelaire were part of.Poe and Baudelaire pioneered western modernity as they have for the self-reflecting character of the flaneur and by for example noticing Constantin Guys and his modern urban dweller drawings. Thanks to the invention and rise of photography during the end of the 19th century painting was liberated from the need to represent accurately and modern painting was tri ggered by a wave of creativity in the beginning of the 20th century. Photography also contributed to shaping western modernity, especially by documenting the Civil War that ravaged North America and by the creation of portraits of intellectuals in France.The invention of photography also eventually led to cinema, which became increasingly popular and accessible throughout the 20th century to become the seventh art and for some companies a very profitable industry. Photography is also one of the ways journalists make us see what is too far from us, such as modern day events like the Arab revolutions. In short, photography, starting with, among others, Daguerre, Nadar, Gardner and later Stieglitz became a full part of western modernity both in industry and fine art.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

The Horrors of the Jewish Holocaust - 530 Words

Imagine the skin burning off of a human being, imagine an innocent child walking into a room thinking they are going to finally get to take a shower but die from gas, imagine being frozen almost to death, then being warmed up by a dead body, imagine being put into a burning hot bath repeatedly until you died from the shock, and imagine being torn from your family, home, and the people that you loved. Most all Jewish people in that time had to live through that. There were very few that were lucky enough to have escaped. They were even luckier if they were helped out of camps by other Jewish people and brought home to their families. Now just imagine if all of the Jewish people fought back. Opposing views claim that the Jewish people during the Holocaust should not have fought back; nevertheless, fighting back would have been very dangerous. Admittedly fighting back could have caused a lot more problems for the Jewish people. Because Hitler liked everything to go his way, he may have gotten really angry and killed every one of the Jews. Hitler could have taken all of their food away all at once and just let all of them die from starvation. Another reason the Jewish people wouldnt have fought back was that they did not want to draw attention to themselves if they were not already in a concentration camp. Although fighting back was very dangerous however just being in the camps was very dangerous. The Jewish people should have fought back for their rights, beliefs,Show MoreRelatedThe Horrors of the Jewish Holocaust690 Words   |  3 Pageson whether to be Jewish or Non-Jewish, to either be Jewish and fight back or to go with the flow, and to be Non-Jewish and fight back or go with the flow? Being non-jewish and going with the flow would be the smart choice, if survival is the goal. In that time period being Jewish was awful. Being Jewish basically meant you were an outcast. During the Holocaust it would have been better to not be Jewish and to stay out of the way, or go with the flow. Even though being Non-Jewish and not fightingRead MoreGod and Evil: Can They Co-exist? Essay854 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the Holocaust, the Nazi’s murdered an estimated 6 million Jews, which was about two thirds of the entire European Jewish population. To put this in perspective, the amount of Jews that were murdered during the Holocaust is about the same size as the population of Denmark. The Holocaust is a part of Jewish history that can never be forgotten, and the Jews who fell subject to this inhuman act will never be forgotten either. The Holocaust has changed Jewish culture forever, and has become theRead MoreThe Horror Of The Holocaust859 Words   |  4 PagesThe Holocaust was perhaps the darkest event in the twentieth century. This genocide resulted in the death of six million Jews -not counting the death of soldiers from World War II. Although many Jews died during the Holocaust, some survived and spoke about their struggles and experiences. Art Spiegelman, an American cartoonist, interviewed his father, Vladek Spiegelman, a Holocaust survivor. After collecting information from the interviews with his father, Spiegelman, created Maus, a comic book novelRead More Examine the practical and the morale constraints upon Jewish Resistance during the Holocaust.1659 Words   |  7 Pages Jewish resistance throughout the holocaust has caused much debate among academics historians, and even governments. Historians conclude that resistance was practical and morally constrained throughout the Second World War, for a variety of reasons. Historians such as Rab Bennett, Michael Marrus, Richard L Rubenstein, and John K Roth all have written in detail about the constraints placed upon Jewish resistance throughout this period. Each of these explanations will be examined throughout this paperRead MoreJewish Literature And The Holocaust899 Words   |  4 PagesHolocaust literature is one of the emerging field in literature during the second half of the twentieth century. Several Holocaust survivors wrote about the atrocities they witnessed and their experiences during the incarceration. The word â€Å"Holocaust† encompasses images of death, horror, and inhumanity. Although many survivors find it difficult to talk aabout their experience, some of the took an oath to use their pen to protest against such horrible genocide and to make sure that this would neverRead MoreRoberto Benigni’s Life is Beautiful Essay712 Words   |  3 PagesThe Film Life is Beautiful In the movie Life Is Beautiful, a Jewish man and his family are put into a concentration camp during the Holocaust. The movie gives an inside look at the horrors the Jews were faced with during the Holocaust. ?Life Is Beautiful? should be incorporated into a unit on the Holocaust in schools because it shows everything the Jews were faced with, it handles expressing the horrors of the Holocaust without being too graphic, and it would help students get a more personalRead More Children of the Holocaust Essay983 Words   |  4 Pageshistorical precedent for it.† (Lukas, 13 Kindle) About 1.5 million children were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust—one million being killed because they were Jews (ushmm.org) The Germans had a clearly defined goal of killing the Jewish children so that there would be no remnants of their race to reproduce, resulting in extinction. Not only were the children that were victimized in the Holocaust persecuted and murdered, but they were a ll stripped of their childhood. Children were not allowed to beRead MoreComparing the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Life Is Beautiful910 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Analyse, evaluate and compare the techniques used to dim the horror of the real life events discussed in the novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and the film Life is Beautiful.† The Holocaust was a distressing time in history and is not a story everyone can absorb. Both the book, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas written by John Boyne and the film, Life is Beautiful, directed by Robert Benigni, are based upon the real life events of the Holocaust but with a difference. They made clever use of differentRead MoreShooting Stars by Carol Ann Duffy Critical Essay1635 Words   |  7 Pageswritten by Carol Ann Duffy. She adopts the persona of a female Jew speaking out from beyond the grave about her terrifying ordeal before she died in the Holocaust. A powerful impression is left on the reader after reading Duffy’s dramatic monologue and visual descriptions of her ordeal and immense suffering. She urges the reader to remember what the Jewish victims were forced to go through, and begs us not to turn our back and forget. ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------Read More Schindler’s List, directed by Steven Spielberg and The Pianist, Directed by Roman Polanski1003 Words   |  5 PagesPianist, Directed by Roman Polanski The holocaust is seen as a time of horror, filled with brutal, inhuman actions carried out by the Nazi party. Schindler’s List, directed by Steven Spielberg, is one of the most realistic movies to show the gruesome shock of the concentration camps and torture of Jews. Spielberg captured the true essences of what pain was during World War Two. In 2002, Roman Polanski came out with The Pianist, a movie that focuses on a Jewish man’s struggles outside the walls of a

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Psychological Disorder Analysis - 1486 Words

Psychological Disorder Analysis PSY/270 July 18, 2010 Aubrey Noble Psychological Disorder Analysis Psychological disorders can be very debilitating for those who suffer from them. Psychological disorders affect a person’s ability to function normally in their daily lives. In the following case study, you will be introduces to Marla, a Hispanic female who is suffering from an undiagnosed mental disorder. There are many different possible causes that are leading to Marla’s symptoms. A clinical interview will be performed in order to determine a correct diagnosis. Marla appears to suffer from Dysthymic disorder. I will discuss the origin of dysthymic disorder based on the socio-cultural viewpoint. Now that we have†¦show more content†¦Do you have any recurring dreams that affect how you feel when you wake up in the mornings? Marla: I don’t think so. I just have problems with being able to sleep. I just can’t seem to get comfortable and my mind seems to race when I close my eyes. Tiffany: What about your social life? Do you have a lot of friends and stay closely connected to your family? Marla: I really don’t have any friends. I talk to people at work but I feel like they don’t want to do anything with me. As far as my family goes, we really don’t talk much. Tiffany: You said you feel jumpy all of the time. Can you explain to me how you feel jumpy? Is there anything that makes you feel more comfortable? Marla: I seem to get scared over the tiniest things and am always watching to see if someone is going to hurt me. I’m more comfortable when I’m alone but still can’t seem to find anything that makes me happy. Tiffany: Have you ever experienced suicidal thoughts or thought about hurting yourself or others? Marla: No, not really. I’m afraid of dying and I could not do harm to anyone. Tiffany: Marla, I think I know what is causing your symptoms but there is just one more question I’d like to ask you. Do you feel as if you are all alone and cannot do anything to change the way you feel? Marla: Yes, that’s exactly how I feel. I feel like no matter what I do nothing ever seems to change. It’s like a cycle that has no end. Now that we have had a chance to discuss mattersShow MoreRelatedPsychological Disorder Analysis1506 Words   |  7 PagesPsychological Disorder Analysis Psy 270 Melissa Guynn 1-22-2012 The purpose of this assignment was to accurately diagnose Marla and to find causes and prospective treatments for her disorder. Marla is a 42 year old Hispanic female who comes to the mental health clinic complaining of having trouble sleeping, feeling â€Å"jumpy all the time,† and experiencing an inability to concentrate. (Joan Rachmel, syllabus description of final assignment) These symptoms are causing problems for her atRead MorePsychological Disorder Analysis1805 Words   |  8 PagesPSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER ANALYSIS Psychological Disorder Analysis Amy Verhagen Axia College of University of Phoenix The diagnosis given to Maria is Dysthymic Disorder. Maria has been having trouble sleeping at night, feeling ‘jumpy’, and not able to concentrate. I suspect this has been going on for a while and possibly co-occurs with other psychological symptoms. Further questioning Maria about her past and present symptom onset will help in confirming this diagnosis to help treat her appropriatelyRead MorePsychological Analysis : Mental Disorder Essay2257 Words   |  10 PagesPsychological Analysis Given the information provided through the summary of facts provided by the court reporter and comparing the facts and possible symptoms of Mr. Wertz to those stated within the most recent edition of the Diagnostic Statistic Manual (DSM), the conclusion that I have reached is that Mr. Wertz does indeed suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. With the description of symptoms provided, it would appear that Mr. Wertz is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Read MorePsychological Disorder Analysis Essay example1519 Words   |  7 PagesPsychological Disorder Analysis PSY/270 March 20, 2011 Psychological Disorder Analysis Marla is a 42-year-old Hispanic female who comes to the mental health clinic complaining of having trouble sleeping, feeling jumpy all of the time, and experiencing an inability to concentrate. These symptoms are causing problems for her at work, where she is an accountant (Axia College). In order to determine Marla condition a clinical interview must be conducted so more information in regards to Marla’sRead MorePsychological Analysis Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder886 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis Paper Jun Chu, 80777295 Psychological Analysis Based on the knowledge of the defendant’s past experience and his report of symptoms, I believe Mr. Wertz suffers from the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He has been directly exposed to the death threat on his deployment both by witnessing another soldier’s death and his own experience of â€Å"daily mortar attacks,† which meets the section A of the diagnosis criteria. His intrusion symptoms include recurrent nightmares related to the battlefieldRead MoreAnalysis of Chapter 13 Psychological Disorders Essay569 Words   |  3 PagesIn Chapter 13 we learned about Psychological Disorders. Psychological disorders can’t always be seen in everyday life, but it’s something they have to deal with every day. Psychologists have tried many different approaches to aid in a various amount of disorders and have tried to figure out the causes of them. There are many different perspectives on how to deal with a problem and analyzing it. The Psychological Approach has many different perspectives to it. In the psychodynamic perspective theRead MoreCognitive Behavioral Therapy1111 Words   |  5 Pagesinterventions for adults with anxiety disorder appears to be individual forms of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The mean total societal costs were lower for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as compared to Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Apeldoorn et al, 2014). In particular, self-help books are cost effective compared with other forms of treatment options. Drugs and group based psychological interventions does not appearRead MoreInfluence on Behavior and Psychological Disorders Essay658 Words   |  3 PagesRunning head: INFLUENCES ON BEHAVIOR AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS Presentation Influences on Behavior and Psychological Disorders Presentation Jocelyn F. Oatman Sofia Moran University of Phoenix Introduction to Psychology PSY 103 Michelle McCoy-Williams October 29, 2008 Influences on Behavior and Psychological Disorders Presentation The previous evaluation on the pathophysiology of anxiety constantly records the requirement for more examination on biological characteristics of childhoodRead MorePossible Causes and Effects of Internet Addiction1189 Words   |  5 Pagespersonality disorder and if not treated properly can have a significant effect on the patient socially, psychologically and occupationally. It will be argued that the psychodynamic approach to find an underlying disorder will be a more effective approach to an intervention for an individual addicted to the internet. I will be discussing the possible intervention options, and possible causes and effects of internet addiction disorder. As well as why I believe that there is an underlying disorder and whyRead MoreThe Secret Window And Dissociative Identity Disorder1096 Words   |  5 PagesThe Secret Window and Dissociative Identity Disorder The Secret Window is a film released in 2004 directed by David Koepp and written by Stephen King. The main issue in this film is one of a psychological basis which keeps the audience on their toes and maybe even slightly confused until all of the pieces fit together at the end of the film. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the psychological issue that plagues the main character, Mort Rainey (portrayed by Johnny Depp), and identify any

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Themes Of Trauma In The Great Gatsby - 1849 Words

Art often represents the challenges overcome by individuals as they search for life meaning. Gus Van Sant’s Good Will Hunting, released on12 March 1998, follows the story of protagonist Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, who has Attachment Disorder. Abused as a child, he has trouble developing meaningful and appropriate relationships with adults and women. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, published on 10 April 1925, is a story told by involved narrator Nick Carraway, who was once Jay Gatsby s neighbour. Over the course of a summer on Long Island, Carraway reflects on the incidents of the roaring 20’s. Fitzgerald’s famous romantic tale explores, Jay Gatsby, a financially successful man motivated by his obsession to recapture his†¦show more content†¦This abuse has left him defensive which explains his, at times, mean and hurtful demeanour. The composers explore the idea of shame to interpret and consider the difficulties of living up to the social ideal. Fitzgerald illustrates Gatsby’s pursuit to self actualisation through recurrent symbolism of green light and the eyes. Van Sant uses his scenes to develop and reveal the ideas of where Will’s initial shame originates. Gatsby’s shame reveals he feels something wrong or damaged within himself. From this shame Gatsby creates a persona, changing his name, and moulds himself against his poor upbringing in a lavish display of wealth and ostentation. The drive of this stems from the loss of Daisy. The eyes are powerful symbol, which Fitzgerald explores in demonstrating the notion of who is watching?, who is listening? The characters in his novel are typically guilt free with their actions, however they are afraid of being seen and the negatives of being seen. Similarly Will, feels shame about his upbringing when he retells his childhood stories saying; â €Å"He used to just put a belt, a stick, and a wrench on the kitchen table and say, â€Å"Choose.†Ã¢â‚¬ . The director highlights the abuse suffered by Will through graphic imagery. The camera fixates, for an extended period, on forensic photos showing Will’s physical abuse as a cumulative tool of image and dialogue. Through these formative experiences Will learned to physically fightShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1567 Words   |  7 PagesScott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, and Ernest Hemingway’s, The Sun Also Rises, act as an exploration of Americans’ shift in values, post-World War One (WWI). These authors do so by commenting on the excessive partying and drinking, the falsification of relationships, and the lost generation of the veterans who fought in the Great War. In their novels, Fitzgerald and Hemingway discuss the timeless parties and superfluous drinking in society post-WWI. The Great Gatsby is characterized by JamesRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1636 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s: Two Perspectives, One Story F. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby and Toni Morrison s JAZZ both tell the story of the 1920s in America, but from opposite points of view. Both authors provide us with two compelling narratives of the societal shift that took place in America after World War I had come to an end. Although the accounts share many of the same general topics, as well as the historical era, it is difficult to imagine how the two stories could be so different from one anotherRead MoreGood Will Hunting Analysis1921 Words   |  8 PagesFitzgerald’s â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, published on 10 April 1925, is a story told by the involved narrator Nick Carraway, who was once Jay Gatsbys neighbour. Over the course of a summer on Long Island, Carraway reflects on the incidents of the roaring 20s. Fitzgerald’s famous romantic tale explores, Jay Gatsby, a financially successful man that is motivated by his intense desire to recapture his former lover, Daisy, now married to Tom Buchanan. The texts explore the themes of trauma and redemption. appealsRead MoreVladimir Nabokovs Lolita Essay1368 Words   |  6 Pagesor rather arousing, his ‘excessive desire’ for underage girls† (94). Here, Straumann explores the unreliability of Humber t’s narration by claiming his story of Annabel as simply an excuse for his actions. Child molesters blaming their actions on traumas in the past was exactly the event critics fear if the ideas in Lolita become widespread. Proceeding from mental disorders, Humbert brings up his other â€Å"side† who mistreated Lolita. This ushers in dissociative identity disorder to the novel, anotherRead MoreResearch Paper F Scott Fitzgerald2343 Words   |  10 Pageson America. His novels contain recurring themes that establish the facets of modern American society with which he avidly disagrees. His characters Jay Gatsby and Armory Blaine both portray men in American society who have through various ways acquired wealth, but their wealth has not brought them happiness, which is what they had truly longed for. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novels, The Great Gatsby, and This Side of Paradise, both male characters Jay Gatsby and Armory Blaine respectively representRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald2387 Words   |  10 Pages People were finally alive following a time of great nationwide tribulation, and constantly dancing to the tune of jazz music throughout the big cities of the country. The affluent were living in more excess and luxury than ever before, while the poor were steadily rising towards socio-economic change. The music, the art, and the literature were at the peak of creativity and from the inception of this roaring decade, came the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925), later turned intoRead MoreCensorship Is Monitoring Or Withholding Information Essay1694 Words   |  7 PagesHunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, and To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fahrenheit 451, and many other classics. In a book known for being commonly banned or challenged, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, he created a world ruled by censorship and fear in the novel, Fahrenheit 451. Censorship is a common theme in literature. Genres from sci-fi to classic romantic literature explore the damage that can appear from hidingRead MoreThe Modernist Movement Of Literature2005 Words   |  9 Pageseras of literature. Near the beginning of the twentieth century, the events of the first world war solidly destroyed peoples’ illusion of the good in the world and caused themes of destruction and loss to prominent in modernist literature. The writing of the Modernist Movement ultimately â€Å"attempted to bear witness to the trauma of the war and its consequences† (Tate 10). The model of destruction provided by the war caused the rebellion of authors against tradition story and writing structures becauseRead MoreEssay on 103 American Literature Final Exam5447 Words   |  22 Pagesand restrictions. (B) The self is grounded in an â€Å"unconscious,† where forbidden desires, traumas, and unacceptable emotions are stored. (C) Most psychological problems can and should be treated by new medications. (D) Patients should deal with traumatic experiences and their resulting fears by repressing them. Speaking about or analyzing trauma only intensifies its power and ill effects. 16. The term â€Å"Great Migration† refers to: (A) the enormous influx of eastern and southern European, as well as

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Crystal Shard 23. Besieged Free Essays

string(30) " fight Kessell on even terms\." Caer-Dineval’s fleet trolled the southernmost waters of Lac Dinneshere, taking advantage of the areas left open when the people of Easthaven fled to Bryn Shander. Caer-Konig’s ships were fishing their familiar grounds by the lake’s northern banks. They were the first to see the coming doom. We will write a custom essay sample on The Crystal Shard 23. Besieged or any similar topic only for you Order Now Like an angry swarm of bees, Kessell’s foul army swept right around the northern bend of Lac Dinneshere and roared down Icewind Pass. â€Å"Up anchor!† cried Schermont and many other ship’s captains as soon as they had recovered from the initial shock. But they knew even then that they could not get back in time. The leading arm of the goblin army tore into Caer – Konig. The men on the boats saw the flames leap up as buildings were put to the torch. They heard the blood-crazed hoots of the vile invaders. They heard the dying screams of their kin. The women, children, and old men who were in Caer-Konig had no thoughts of resistance. They ran. For their lives, they ran. And the goblins chased them and cut them down. Giants and ogres rushed down to the docks, squashing the pitiful humans who beckoned helplessly to the returning fleet, or forcing them into the cold death of the lake’s waters. The giants carried huge sacks, and as the brave fishermen rushed into port, their vessels were pummeled and crippled by hurled boulders. Goblins continued to flow into the doomed city, yet the bulk of the vast army’s trailing edge flowed past and continued on toward the second town, Caer-Dineval. By this time, the people in Caer-Dineval had seen the smoke and heard the screams and were already in full flight to Bryn Shander, or out on the docks begging their sailors to come home. But Caer-Dineval’s fleet, though they caught the strength of the east wind in their rush back across the lake, had miles of water before them. The fishermen saw the pillars of smoke growing over Caer-Konig, and many suspected what was happening and understood that their flight, even with their sails so full of wind, would be in vain. Still, groans of shock and disbelief could be heard on every deck when the black cloud began its ominous climb from the northernmost sections of Caer-Dineval. Then Schermont made a gallant decision. Accepting that his own town was doomed, he offered his help to his neighbors. â€Å"We can not get in!† he cried to a captain of a nearby ship. â€Å"Pass the word: away south! Dineval’s docks are yet clear!† * * * From a parapet on Bryn Shander’s wall, Regis, Cassius, Agorwal, and Glensather watched in horror as the wicked force flowed down the stretch away from the two sacked cities, gaining on the fleeing people of Caer-Dineval. â€Å"Open the gates, Cassius!† Agorwal cried. â€Å"We must go out to them! They have no chance of gaining the city unless we slow the pursuit!† â€Å"Nay,† replied Cassius somberly, painfully aware of his greater responsibilities. â€Å"Every man is needed to defend the city. To go out onto the open plain against such overwhelming numbers would be futile. The towns on Lac Dinneshere are doomed!† â€Å"They are helpless!† Agorwal shot back. â€Å"Who are we if we can not defend our kinfolk? What right do we have to stand watching from behind this wall while our people are slaughtered?† Cassius shook his head, resolute in his decision to protect Bryn Shander. But then other refugees came running down the second pass, Bremen’s Run, fleeing the open town of Termalaine in their hysteria when they saw the cities across the way put to the torch. More than a thousand refugees were now within sight of Bryn Shander. Judging their speed and the distance remaining, Cassius estimated that they would converge on the wide field just below the principle city’s northern gates. Where the goblins would catch them. â€Å"Go,† he told Agorwal. Bryn Shander couldn’t spare the men, but the field would soon run red with the blood of women and children. Agorwal led his valiant men down the northeastern road in search of a defensible position where they could dig in. They chose a small ridge, actually more like a crest where the road dipped slightly. Entrenched and ready to fight and die, they waited as the last of the refugees ran past, terrified, screaming because they believed they had no chance of reaching the safety of the city before the goblins descended upon them. Smelling human blood, the fastest runners of the invading army were right behind the trailing people, mostly mothers clutching their babies. Intent on their easy victims, the lead monsters never even noticed Agorwal’s force until the waiting warriors were upon them. By then it was too late. The brave men of Termalaine caught the goblins in a crossfire of bows and then followed Agorwal into a fierce sword rush. They fought fearlessly, as men who had accepted what fate had dealt them. Dozens of monsters lay dead in their tracks and more fell with each passing minute as the enraged warriors pressed into their ranks. But the line seemed endless. As one goblin fell, two replaced it. The men of Termalaine were soon engulfed in a sea of goblins. Agorwal gained a high point and looked back toward the city. The fleeing women were a good distance across the field, but moving slowly. If his men broke their ranks and fled, they would overtake the refugees before the slopes of Bryn Shander. And the monsters would be right behind. â€Å"We must go out and support Agorwal!† Glensather yelled at Cassius. But this time the spokesman from Bryn Shander remained resolute. â€Å"Agorwal has accomplished his mission,† Cassius responded. â€Å"The refugees will make the wall. I’ll not send more men out to die! Even if the combined strength of all of Ten-Towns were on the field, it would not be able to defeat the foe before us!† Already the wise spokesman understood that they could not fight Kessell on even terms. You read "The Crystal Shard 23. Besieged" in category "Essay examples" The kindly Glensather looked crestfallen. â€Å"Take some troops down the hill,† Cassius conceded. â€Å"Help the exhausted refugees up the final climb.† Agorwal’s men were hard-pressed now. The spokesman from Termalaine looked back again and was appeased; the women and children were safe. He scanned up to the high wall, aware that Regis, Cassius, and the others could see him, a solitary figure on the small rise, though he could not pick them out among the throng of spectators that lined Bryn Shander’s parapets. More goblins poured into the fray, now joined by ogres and verbeeg. Agorwal saluted his friends in the city. His contented smile was sincere as he spun around and charged back down the grade to join his victorious troops in their finest moment. Then Regis and Cassius watched the black tide roll over every one of the brave men of Termalaine. Below them, the heavy gates slammed shut. The last of the refugees were in. * * * While Agorwal’s men had won a victory of honor, the only force that actually battled Kessell’s army that day and survived were the dwarves. The clan from Mithril Hall had spent days in industrious preparation for this invasion, yet it nearly passed them by altogether. Held by the wizard’s compelling will into discipline unheard of among goblins, especially varied and rival tribes, Kessell’s army had definite and direct plans for what they had to accomplish in the initial surge. As of this point, the dwarves were not included. But Bruenor’s boys had other plans. They weren’t about to bury themselves in their mines without getting to lop off at least a few goblin heads, or without crushing the kneecaps of a giant or two. Several of the bearded folk climbed to the southern tip of their valley. When the trailing edge of the evil army flowed past, the dwarves began to taunt them, shouting challenges and curses against their mothers. The insults weren’t even necessary. Orcs and goblins despise dwarves more than anything else alive, and Kessell’s straightforward plan flew from their minds at the mere sight of Bruenor and his kin. Ever hungry for dwarven blood, a substantial force broke away from the main army. The dwarves let them close in, goading them with taunts until the monsters were nearly upon them. Then Bruenor and his kin slipped back over the rocky ledge and down the steep drop. â€Å"Come an’ play, stupid dogs,† Bruenor chuckled wickedly as he disappeared from sight. He pulled a rope off of his back. There was one little trick he had thought up that he was anxious to try out. The goblins charged into the rocky vale, outnumbering the dwarves four to one. And they were backed by a score of raging ogres. The monsters didn’t have a chance. The dwarves continued to coax them on, down the steepest part of the valley, to the narrow, sloping ledges on the cliff face that crossed in front of the numerous entrances to the dwarven caves. An obvious place for an ambush, but the stupid goblins, frenzied at the sight of their most-hated enemies, came on anyway, heedless of the danger. When the majority of the monsters were on the ledges and the rest were making the initial descent into the vale, the first trap was sprung. Catti-brie, heavily armed but positioned in the back of the inner tunnels, pulled a lever, dropping a post on the vale’s upper crest. Tons of rocks and gravel tumbled down upon the tail of the monster’s line, and those who managed to keep their precarious balance and escape the brunt of the avalanche found the trails behind them buried and closed to any escape. Crossbows twanged from concealed nooks, and a group of dwarves rushed out to meet the lead goblins. Bruenor wasn’t with them. He had hidden himself further back on the trail and watched as the goblins, intent on the challenge up ahead, passed him by. He could have struck then, but he was after larger prey, waiting for the ogres to come into range. The rope had already been carefully measured and tied off. He slipped one of its looped ends around his waist and the other securely over a rock, then pulled two throwing axes from his belt. It was a risky ploy, perhaps the most dangerous the dwarf had ever tried, but the sheer thrill of it became obvious in the form of a wide grin across Bruenor’s face when he heard the lumbering ogres approaching. He could hardly contain his laughter when two of them crossed before him in the narrow trail. Leaping from his concealment, Bruenor charged at the surprised ogres and threw the axes at their heads. The ogres twisted and managed to deflect the half-hearted throws, but the hurled weapons were merely a diversion. Bruenor’s body was the true weapon in this attack. Surprised, and dodging from the axes, the two ogres were put off-balance. The plan was falling into place perfectly; the ogres could hardly find their footing. Twitching the powerful muscles in his stubby legs, Bruenor launched himself into the air, crashing into the closest monster. It fell with him onto the other. And they tumbled, all three, over the edge. One of the ogres managed to lock its huge hand onto the dwarf’s face, but Bruenor promptly bit it, and the monster recoiled. For a moment, they were a falling jumble of flailing legs and arms, but then Bruenor’s rope reached its length and sorted them out. â€Å"Have a nice landing, boys,† Bruenor called as he broke free of the fall. â€Å"Give the rocks a big kiss for me!† The backswing on the rope dropped Bruenor into the entrance of a mineshaft on the next lowest ledge as his helpless victims dropped to their deaths. Several goblins in line behind the ogres had watched the spectacle in blank amazement. Now they recognized the opportunity of using the hanging cord as a shortcut to one of the caves, and one by one they climbed onto the rope and started down. But Bruenor had anticipated this as well. The descending goblins couldn’t understand why the rope felt so slick in their hands. When Bruenor appeared on the lower ledge, the end o’ the rope in one hand and a lighted torch in the other, they figured it out. Flames leaped up the oiled twine. The topmost goblin managed to scramble back on the ledge, the rest took the same route as the unfortunate ogres before them. One nearly escaped the fatal fail, landing heavily on the lower ledge. Before he could even regain his feet, though, Bruenor kicked him over. The dwarf nodded approvingly as he admired the successful results of his handiwork. That was one trick he intended to remember. He slapped his hands together and darted back down the shaft. It sloped upward farther back to join the higher tunnels. On the upper ledge, the dwarves were fighting a retreating action. Their plan was not to clash in a death fight outsside, but to lure the monsters into the entrances of the tunnels. With the desire to kill blotting out any semblance of reason, the dimwitted invaders readily complied, assuming, that their greater numbers were pushing the dwarves back into a corner. Several tunnels soon rang out with the clash of sword on sword. The dwarves continued to back away, leading the monsters completely into the final trap. Then, from somewhere deeper in the caves, a horn sounded. On cue, the dwarves broke away from the melee and fled down the tunnels. The goblins and ogres, thinking that they had routed their enemies, paused only to whoop out victory cries, then surged after the dwarves. But deeper in the tunnels several levers were pulled. The final trap was sprung, and all of the tunnel entrances simply collapsed. The ground shook violently under the weight of the rock drop, the entire face of the cliff came crashing down. The only monsters that survived were the ones at the very front of the lines. And disoriented, battered by the force of the drop and dizzied by the blast of dust, they were immediately cut down by the waiting dwarves. Even the people as far away as Bryn Shander were shaken by the tremendous avalanche. They flocked to the north wall to watch the rising cloud of dust, dismayed for they beieved that the dwarves had been destroyed. Regis knew better. The halfling envied the dwarves, safely entombed in their long tunnels. He had realized the moment he saw the fires rising from Caer-Konig that his delay in the city, waiting for his friend from Lonelywood, had cost him his chance to escape. Now he watched helplessly and hopelessly as the black mass advanced toward Bryn Shander. * * * The fleets on Maer Dualdon and Redwaters had put back to their home ports as soon as they realized what was happening. They found their families safe for the present time, except for the fishermen of Termalaine who sailed into a deserted town. All that the men of Termalaine could do as they reluctantly put back out to sea was hope that their kin had made it to Bryn Shander or some other sanctuary; for they saw the northern flank of Kessell’s army swarming across the field toward their doomed city. Targos, the second strongest city and the only one other than Bryn Shander with any hope of holding out for any length of time against the vast army, extended an invitation for Termalaine’s ships to tie up at her docks. And the men of Termalaine, soon to be numbered among the homeless themselves, accepted the hospitality of their bitter enemies to the south. Their disputes with Kemp’s people seemed petty indeed against the weight of the disaster that had befallen the towns. * * * Back in the main battle, the goblin generals that led Kessell’s army were confident they could overrun Bryn Shander before nightfall. They obeyed their leader’s plan to the letter: The main body of the army veered away from Bryn Shander and moved down the swath of open ground between the principle city and Targos, thus cutting any possibility of the two powerful cities linking their forces. Several of the goblin tribes had broken away from the main group and were bearing down on Termalaine intent on sacking their third city of the day. But when they found the place deserted, they abstained from burning the buildings. Part of Kessell’s army now had a ready-made camp where they could wait out the coming siege in comfort. Like two great arms, thousands of monsters raced south from the main force. So vast was Kessell’s army that it filled the miles of field between Bryn Shander and Termalaine and still had enough numbers to encircle the hill of the principle city with thick ranks of troops. Everything had happened so quickly that when the goblins finally stalled their frenzied charge, the change seemed overly dramatic. After a few minutes of breath-catching calm, Regis felt the tension growing once again. â€Å"Why don’t they just get it over with?† he asked the two spokesmen standing beside him. Cassius and Glensather, more knowledgable in the ways of warfare, understood exactly what was happening. â€Å"They are in no hurry, little friend,† Cassius explained. â€Å"Time favors them.† Then Regis understood. During his many years in the more populated southlands, he had heard many vivid tales describing the terrible horrors of a siege. The image of Agorwal’s final salute out in the distance came back to him then, the contented look on the spokesman’s face and his willingness to die valiantly. Regis had no desire to die in any way, but he could imagine what lay before him and the cornered people of Bryn Shander. He found himself envying Agorwal. How to cite The Crystal Shard 23. Besieged, Essay examples