King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild - Essay Example Apparently, industrial revolution became a major tool of change among the whites and the blacks. So many Africans became sycophants of white rulers simply because of the nature of their rule. In addition, a strong relationship existed among the whites and the colonialists that gave the blacks a recognizable strategy of making sure that some issues were approached in a technologically sound way. Some items of trade like ivory, rubber, guns, and steam boats were mainly used by colonialists to enhance their strategy and to provide a better way of realizing their goals. During that particular era, slaves were the main target for colonial masters (Hochschild 33). Also, new technologies facilitated colonization process by making sure that all the colonial territories were managed in a highly controllable manner. With the use of guns, colonial masters engaged in superior war tactics that finally created a territorial battle among the colonial masters. Most of the colonial masters participat ed in a process that gave an indication of where various communication strategies were practiced. With the kind of knowledge that was available by then, many European powers decided to practice the act of ruling Africa with an iron fist. With the use of technology not withstanding, there was an indication that many countries in African were not ready for any kind of kind of leadership that could ruin their action. Use of superior weapons such as guns and effective means of transport gave the colonialists the power to control the Africans in a manner that reflected strong urge for leadership. Industrial revolution offered many African nations an opportunity to understand the strength of colonial masters. All the relevant aspects were considered by colonial masters. It is undeniable to point out that all the aspects of colonialism originated from the desire by colonial masters to offer the best of their services in Africa. Nevertheless, a substantial number of colonial groups based th eir success on the use of superior weapons and technology. A perfect illustration of technology application is when the Africans are colonized from a perspective that is not the will of the many local people (Hochschild 76). Again, the success of colonialists was significantly as a result of use of superior weapons. Africans were defeated on the grounds that many colonialists were using highly superior weapons. For example, there was no way an African was allowed to use a gun during the war. This was simply a strategy by many colonialists to avoid the undermining of public image. There was a perception by then that Africans could make easily in any battle if their weapons were crude and inferior. Also, the colonial masters in most parts of the African continent decided to investigate the influence caused by such kind of battles in common people. The outcome therefore revealed clearly that so many people within the continent had a strong perception about the colonialism and its negat ive effects. The ultimate impact of the technological approaches became the final indication of how African colonies could be ruled (Hochschild 45). The killing of many Congolese never appeared in the American news and media simply because African was perceived as a dark continent. The massacre went unnoticed and many people were killed with the use of superior weapons. Unlike the Nazi massacre in Germany, the killing of so many

Life's greatest miracle Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Life's greatest miracle - Term Paper Example The producer of the program, Julia Cort notes that the urge to procreate is fundamental to all insects, birds, primates among others. DNA is a molecule responsible for carrying genetic material. It has been 4 billion years since the first discovery of this core molecule of life (Lifes Greatest Miracle). Bacteria replicate by cloning, that makes the parent and the clone identical with the exception of fornication mutants. Cloning as a type of reproduction is disadvantageous in that the species are prone to wipe out in case of a detrimental disease. Sexual reproduction on the other hand involves a male and female organism. Genes from each parent are vital for copulation to take place. The off spring from sexual reproduction is different from the parents and others. Sex results to difference. Variety is advantageous to a population because it translates to survival of a species. Sperm formation takes place in the testicles of a male organism with an approximation of 100,000,000 sperms per day (Lifes Greatest Miracle). Each sperm carries a unique genetic package. Miosis is the process that eggs and sperms undergo for them to exist (Lifes Greatest Miracle). The medical photographer explains the process with the aid of sex cells (egg and sperm). A pair of chromosomes in a sex cell replicate each forming two strands of chromosome attached at the centre. The chromosome then condenses to from an X shape. The partners coil around each other at specific points resulting to the transfer of genetic material. As mentioned earlier, sexual reproduction promotes diversity. Diversity increases the probability of organisms to survive. The narrator tells that majority of males start producing sperms during puberty while in females the creation of eggs onsets as a fetus. The eggs die off over the years. A teenage female outnumbers the adult female in terms of eggs in the ova ry. However, in comparison to a sperm, an egg is of quality rather

High Feeding Costs Limit Dive Time Essay Example for Free

High Feeding Costs Limit Dive Time Essay Despite their massive appearance, the largest whales (and also the largest predators) have shorter dive time compared to other smaller fishes. Our hypothesis is that ‘lunge-feeding’ (the whales’ feeding behavior), is energetically expensive resulting to inability to dive at lower depths and at longer time intervals. This study is aimed at determining how and why the largest whales exhibit shorter dives by examining how lunge-feeding affects their behavior and dive duration. Methods In order to determine how and why the largest whales exhibit shorter dive times compared to other fishes, we have to study how its lunge-feeding behavior affects whales’ overall behavior and their dive time limit. In gathering data, we used remote sensing techniques. In this experiment, we used the TDR â€Å"time/depth recorders† technique since it is the most applicable method considering that the subjects were not in a controlled environment. The TDRs actually recorded the oxygen level of each tagged whale. After some time, the TDRs were collected and the results were analyzed through specialized software that translates the data from the TDRs. Results showed that the whales move faster when at the ascent (or climbing) portion of the dive while it showed that whales move significantly slower during descent. Recovery time spent at the surface was also viewed as an important factor in determining the effect of lunge-feeding. Our tests showed that there is a correlation between the number of lunges and the time spent recovering at the surface. Finally, using optimality models, we were able to compare the results of the actual study to the predicted outcome. The result was a common cost for lunge dives which indicated the high energy cost during lunge dives resulting to shorter dive duration. Results and Discussion Results of this experiment showed that there is a relationship between the number of lunges and the surface recovery intervals. The TDR analysis showed that whales move faster during ascent and move significantly slower when at descent. This indicated that lunge-feeding is energetically expensive. We were able to measure the high energy cost of lunge-feeding using the remote sensing technique. Whales usually recover at the surface after each dive and the length of stay at the surface is relative to the number of lunges it makes during the dive. The more lunges the whales make during feeding, the more time it spent at the surface for recovery. The optimality models showed the relative differences between the lunging-costly model versus the no-cost model. In the lunging-costly model, observed forage depths, vertical speed, number of lunges, time spent recovering at the surface, are some of the variables that were examined to provide an outright solution. Conclusion Based on the results of this experiment, it has been found out that lunge-feeding in large whales is an energetically expensive activity. Using the TDR technique to record the energy cost of lunge, we were able to deduce that the more lunges a whale makes, the more time it spends recovering at the surface, usually regaining oxygen levels. Therefore, the high energy requirements of lunge-feeding limit the dive time and depth of dive in large whales. Reference: Acevedo-Gutierrez, A. , Croll, D. A. , and Tershy, B. R. (2002). â€Å"High Feeding Costs Limit Dive Time in the Largest Whales†. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 205, 1747-1753.

Academic and Research Skills for Business

Academic and Research Skills for Business AC. 1.1 Assess your own strengths and weaknesses. Strengths English Language Skills Very good communication and oration skills Have helped me in conveying my views better then anybody else. Evidence: The positive feedback that I get whenever I give presentation or seminar from various people around me. Academic Skills Good comprehension skills They have been helping me to quickly read and understand the academic subjects. Evidence: The comprehension skills helped me in research that I conducted to complete my assignments. This is the reason why, I score good grades along with positive feedback that I always cover a wide-range of issues while writing any research paper. Person Skills Adoptable to any type of environment This quality has been helping me to withstand any challenging situation. Evidence: I had lived along with my papers, friends flat, hostel and several other places till now and I am managed to deal with all kinds of people and situations. My Weaknesses Academic Skills Poor organization skills Due to poor organizational skills, I am failing to manage the time. Evidence: It is evident from the way I miss the deadlines often. I have been missing the deadlines to submit the assignments. Academic Skills Poor analytical skills I am unable to analyze the numerical and statistical data. Evidence: I failed to develop statistical reports several a times in last one year. AC.1.2. Using this information, set targets for self-improvement These targets were developed based on SMART criteria, which emphasizes on principles such as Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Specific According to this principle, the target should not be ambiguous. It should directly deal with the problem that the individual has been facing. Measurable According to this principle, the target should be developed in such a way that it helps in measuring the progress of the individual in acquisition of a particular skill set. Achievable According to this principle, the target should be within the reach. Unrealistic targets might push the individual into the anxiety and depression if things are not going in a favorable way. Relevant-According to this principle, the target should give an opportunity to the individual to grow the skill set in the future. Time-Bound According to this principle, the target should clear information about when it is being completed. Â   Â   Based on the weaknesses indicated in AC.1.1, I had come up below mentioned targets for self-improvement. To enhance my numerical and analytical skill sets within one year from now; the target date is 20th November, 2017. To enhance my organizational and leadership capabilities within three years; the target date is 20th November 2019. AC. 2.1 Outline the process for carrying out primary research from different sources The process of primary research is a tedious process as it involves in collection of data from the instruments such as Questionnaires, Focused Group Discussions and Semi-structured Interviews. Activity Time Participants Resources Questionnaires: It is one of the important primary research instruments that help the researcher in collecting the quantitative data from the research participants. However, the researcher can also collect the qualitative data by inserting open ended questions in the questionnaire. In a nutshell, the questionnaire should comprise of a right mix of both open-ended and close-ended questions. The questions should not be leading to situations that can cause anxiety among the research participants. It is very important to avoid the personal questions to ensure that the questions dont lead to unwanted situations. The biasedness of the researcher can result into variances in the final results of the data collected from the questionnaire. 30 Days 25 People Peers, Computer Survey Monkey Software, Courier, Emails, Physical Questionnaire, and Mentor Focused Group Discussions: This is another primary research instrument that majorly helps the researcher to collect the qualitative data on the research problem. The researchers will make use of this method when they are in dire need of in-depth information about a research issue. According to this method, the researcher should gather a team of seven to eight highly skilled people for a group discussion and make them to put forward their views and contradict others views on a particular issue. The researcher is expected to have a set of questions that help in guiding the discussion. It should be ensured that the discussion should not go more than 90 minutes. 1 Day 7 People Discussion Room, Mediator, Notepads, Pencils, Computer, Projector, Video Recording Tools. Interview: It is another primary research method that helps the researcher to collect the explorative or descriptive data from the research participants. Interview emphasizes on face-to-face meeting of the researcher and research participant. In order to conduct an effective interview, the researcher should develop a questionnaire that comprises of several open-ended questions. However, the researcher can get the opportunity to ask follow-up questions during the process. Interviews or Semi-structured interview are chosen as research method when sample sizes on smaller. 1 Week 15 Discussion Room, Interviewer, Notepads, Pencils, Computer, Projector, Video Recording Tools. AC. 2.2 Outline the process for carrying out secondary research from different sources Activity Time Resources Desk Research It refers to an activity wherein the individual collects the important secondary data on a research problem from the place where he or she sits. 5 Days Secondary Sources available on Internet Note Making In this step, the focus of the researcher would be on noting down the important points that arise from the research. The researcher can make use of MS Word to note down the points. 5 Days Notepad, Microsoft Word Software and Researcher. Recording Sources This is the step where the researcher records the important information about the sources that he or she has used to collect the data. To carry out the secondary research, the sources such as magazines, books, newspapers and old research papers are used. 1 Day Internet Collation of Data Collation is a process of comparing the data which has been collected from various secondary sources. The collation helps the researcher to come up with concrete ideas related to the research problem. 5 Days Internet and Computer Evaluation of Sources This step emphasizes on evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the sources used for secondary research. The process of evaluation should focus on checking whether the author is reputed and experienced and the publisher is credible or not. 2 Days Internet and Computer Reference List The secondary research study would be referenced according to the formats such as APA, MLA and Harvard. 1 Day Internet, Computer and M S Word. AC. 3.1 Noted key points of information from a variety of sources using active listening skills and reading strategies Note Making Techniques for Active Listening The techniques such as usage of the symbols, shorthand and acronyms had helped me in taking notes without losing the focus on listening. Acronym Acronym refers to the shortened form of a phrase or a sentence. Normally, an acronym is formed from the initial letters of the phrase. For example, the acronym for Masters in Business Administration is MBA. Symbols Symbols are the customized and pictorial representations that could be used to replace the words or phrases. The symbols help in making notes quickly. For example, the symbol *** would be used to indicate the importance of the concept or topic. Shorthand People use shorthand extensively while making notes without losing focus on the listening. The shorthand emphasizes on making use of the symbols and acronyms extensively to write the content. Note Making Techniques for Reading Loud Reading Aloud Reading louder gives an opportunity for the reader to understand the content better. If the reader does not understand the content, he is expected to read twice or thrice to understand it better. Paraphrase Paraphrasing is a process of rewriting the content in such a way that it does not lose its originality in meaning. Summary Summarizing, as the name indicates, is the process of writing the summary for a large content. While summarizing, the writer should try to convey the entire meaning that the research report or essay conveys. Synthesis Synthesizing refers to the collation of the information which is collected from various secondary sources. The synthesis technique would be helped when the individual plans to derive conclusions from the secondary data. Active Listening Skills Employed while Making Notes Acknowledging Acknowledge is a term used while describing an activity of accepting a truth. By acknowledging, the listener accepts that he has understood the content given by speaker. Eye contact -This is a process of looking into ones eyes closely during the discussion. The eye contact helps the listener to follow the speaker and his emotions. Body language Body language of the listener clearly indicates his interest levels towards the speaker and the content he has been speaking. By showcasing appropriate body language such as sitting stiffly and nodding head, the listener can motivate the speaker to do his job in better manner. Concentrating and understanding what is being said The listener can display his active listening by concentrating and trying to understand what is being said. Asking doubts is one of the important aspects in attempting to understand what is being said. Techniques used for Reviewing Notes Re-reading Reading multiple times help the reader to review the content and make effective notes. Rereading helps in shortlisting what should be noted down and what not very easily. Checking understanding Every time after reading, the reader should check his understanding levels. If he did not understand anything in the first attempt, he should follow the rereading technique. The process of checking the understanding levels should go on till he grasps the entire gist of the content. Clarifying/expanding Clarifying and expanding are possible only when the reader identifies the areas that he did not understood and get them clarified. The process of clarifying the doubts should go on till he reaches saturation on the topic. Examples where I have noted key points of information from a variety of sources using active listening skills Note taking has been one of the mundane activities for me. Since I am attending the Business Administration Course, I got the opportunity to take notes on several occasions. The foremost occasion was the time when I was attending the classroom sessions. During the classroom session, I took the notes on important concepts related to Management. Some of the topics I covered while taking notes are scientific management, management styles, marketing planning and business planning etc. My college arranges seminars very frequently. These seminars are given by the external industry experts. They speak about practical applications of the management concepts and career opportunities in the management field. Since I am very curious to know about the career opportunities, I did never miss taking notes of seminars. In addition to the management course, I have been undergoing training that helps me in improving the personal and functional skill sets. During these training and development sessions, I have taken notes regarding the steps that could help in enhancing my communication skills and comprehension skills. These notes have significantly helped me to enhance my communication and comprehension skill sets. My listening in a day continues till I sleep. I have purchased several audio files that offer me information about how to enhance my motivation levels and interpersonal skills. I take notes when I was listening to these audio files. Examples of where I have noted key points of information from a variety of sources using reading strategies Management is a vast subject and needs a comprehensive reading. To get all-round knowledge on the management concepts, I have been reading several books, journals, magazines, classroom materials, case studies, literature reviews and practical application guides. Every time I read any of the above mentioned sources, I never forget to take notes of important concepts. For example, in my classroom, the material would be distributed immediately after the class. The material sometimes is not included with the speaker notes. At this point in time, I just go through the slides and write down the speaker notes for them. This practice has significantly helped me in the past and has been helping me during my management course too. Another example where I have taken notes is case study analysis. Every week, our teachers distribute the case studies and ask us to analyze and give practical solutions. At this point in time, we go through a wide-range of e-books, online journals and magazines to gain knowledge on the case study problem and take notes of the important points that help in coming-up with appropriate solutions for case study. In addition to that, I have subscribed numerous of the online libraries to read journals and magazines whenever I have the free time. While accessing these online libraries, I never forget to take notes. AC. 3.2 Example Where I have Paraphrased and summarized information. While I am writing the class room assignments, essays, term papers, research reports, research proposals and dissertations, paraphrasing and summarizing are two important things that I always remember. Since I know that using others work without acknowledging them is equal to crime, I ensure that the paper that I write is properly paraphrased and summarized. Every time I am writing an assignment, I go through several books, magazines, journals and newspapers to gain knowledge on the subject area. Until I gain complete knowledge on the subject area, I dont start writing the assignments. Only upon gaining the knowledge, I write the papers in my own words. If the concepts are too complex in nature, I opt for paraphrasing. On the other hand, I summarize the lesser complex subject areas. 4.1 Create a plan for research on a chosen topic in business The research plan refers to the procedural structure that emphasizes on drawing table or a flowchart that discloses information about activities involved in the research process and duration for each activity and resources required for each activity. Activity Resources Required Duration Research Topic Secondary sources of data and mentor 7 Days Research Objectives: Guides the researcher to go in right direction during the process of research. Secondary sources of data, internet and mentor 5 Days Literature Review: In the first step, the secondary data is collected about the research problem. The secondary sources used to collect data are books and journals. Computer, M.S Office, Secondary sources of data and mentor 25 Days Research Methodology: This emphasizes on choosing research method, sampling technique, and data collection methods. Internet, Peers and Mentors, Secondary sources of data and mentor 10 Days Questionnaire Preparation: Based on the knowledge acquired from the secondary data, the questionnaire would be developed. Peers, Computer Survey Monkey Software, Secondary sources of data and Mentor 5 Days Collection of Data: Surveying the research participants. Courier, Emails, Physical Questionnaire, 35 Days Data Analysis: Microsoft Excel Software Application or SPSS has been used to analyze and present the collected data. SPSS, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Internet and Computer 15 Days Documentation Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Internet and Computer 15 Days 4.2 Draft a piece of research work using appropriate reference techniques Amdam, R. P. (1996). Management Education and Competitiveness: Europe, Japan and the United States. Routledge, London and New York It has been chosen because it compared the quality of education between Europe, Japan and the United States. According to Amdam (1996), education accessibility, which includes limitations of education visa and migration issues, would also influence the decisions of students while choosing Business Schools. Though there are numerous of universities of The United States provide quality education, which is equivalent to the quality education provided by most of the top Business Schools of the United Kingdom, it is very difficult for students to get visa for the United States. Craig, R. J., Clarke, F. L. Amernic, A. H. (1999).Scholarship in University Business Schools. Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 12(5), 510-524. Affordability factors such as cost of living and tuition fees play a major role in decision making process of students while selecting a Business School. Moreover, UK universities are known for offering good scholarships when compared to universities in other countries. Employment Prospects is one of the very few attractiveness factors of Business Schools. The factor relates to the outcome of the education. The employment prospect is nothing but value of the education provided by the Business School in the labor market. The draft of my research consists of the questionnaire that I have sent to the students and data collected from them. Questionnaire What is your country of origin? Asia b. America c. Europe d. Africa e. Others Europe 7 Africa 3 Asia 9 America 5 Others 2 What attributes related to Education has influenced you to choose the UK Business School over Business Schools of other countries? Diverse courses in the business administration, Reputation Academic support and scholarship Availability of Resources Quality of the Infrastructure Diverse courses in the business administration. 9 Reputation 7 Academic support and scholarship 4 Availability of Resources 5 Quality of the Infrastructure 7 Employment Prospects influenced my decision to Yes b. No Yes 19 No 11 Affordability such as living cost and tuition fees are reasons for choosing UK as an education destination to study business administration Yes b. No Yes 5 No 17 Personal Security is an important reason for choosing UK for Business Administration Yes b. No Yes 19 No 7 Good education accessibility programs of the UK influenced my decision of choosing UK as an education destination. Yes b. No Yes 20 No 9 AC. 5.1 Final draft, produced to a professional standard Title: Investigation on why students choose to study in Business Schools of the United Kingdom Chapter-1: Introduction The United Kingdom has been one of the highly successful countries that attract international students for its Business Schools. The United Kingdom has focused on areas such as internationalization of UK institutions, adoption of innovative technologies for delivering education and elimination of resource constraints to meet the demands of domestic as well as international students to attract the students from various countries. There are several reasons behind students choose business schools of the United Kingdom over other business schools located in other European Countries and American Countries. By emphasizing on this trend, this small research paper investigates why students choose to study in Business Schools of the United Kingdom. Research Aim: The primary aim of the research study is to understand major reasons behind students choosing Business Schools of the United Kingdom over Business Schools located in other Countries. Chapter-2: Literature Review According to Amdam (1996), education accessibility, which includes limitations of education visa and migration issues, would also influence the decisions of students while choosing Business Schools. Though there are numerous of universities of The United States provide quality education, which is equivalent to the quality education provided by most of the top Business Schools of the United Kingdom, it is very difficult for students to get visa for the United States. Affordability factors such as cost of living and tuition fees play a major role in decision making process of students while selecting a Business School. Moreover, UK universities are known for offering good scholarships when compared to universities in other countries. Employment Prospects is one of the very few attractiveness factors of Business Schools. The factor relates to the outcome of the education. The employment prospect is nothing but value of the education provided by the Business School in the labor market. Chapter-3: Methodology Data Collection Sources and Research methods: The data for this research study will be collected by using both primary and secondary sources. Secondary sources used for this study are books, magazines, journals and old research papers. Primary instruments used for this research study are questionnaires. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used to analyze and present the data. Sampling: With the help of the non-probability convenience sampling, desired research participants for this research study have been selected. Non-probability convenience sampling has been used as a sampling technique because it gives an opportunity to choose the participants based on the accessibility and convenience of reaching (Cooper, and Schindler, 2008).The sample size of the research study is 22 international students who have been studying in various business schools of the United Kingdom. Data Collection Process: Online survey method has been used to collect the data from the selected target research participants. Statistical Tool: The data is analyzed and presented with the help of Microsoft Excel. Chapter-4: Discussion on Findings, Conclusion and Recommendation 44% of the international students who have been studying in UK business schools have said that they chose UK because it offers diverse business courses than any other countries. 89% of students have also said that the higher number of employment prospects is the major reason for choosing UK as a destination for business administration course. However, the same does not hold true for affordability. When asked about affordability as a reason for their preference of UK business school, more than 70 percent of students have negated with the statement, indicating that affordability is not a real reason for their preference towards UK business schools. Nearly 70 percent of the students have also said that personal security offered by the government of the United Kingdom has also influenced their decisions to study in the United Kingdom. Conclusion and Recommendations Some of the important factors influencing the international students choosing business schools of the United Kingdom over other countries are personal security given by the government, ability of the universities to offer diverse business courses and higher number of employment prospects shown by the universities. The other factors such as affordability an easy access to education are not really influencing their decision in choosing UK as an educational destination. It is recommended for the top managements of colleges in the United Kingdom and other countries to focus majorly on the providing higher employment prospects, offering diverse range of the educational courses and provision of personal security in order to attract more international students. AC. 6.1 Write up your findings on your Personal Development Plan After following the PDP for six months, I could able to achieve moderate success in in controlling my aggression. The activities, processes and techniques that I followed throughout the year have ensured that slowly control my aggressive behavior. I have used the techniques such as meditation and relaxation techniques to control my aggressive behavior. However, I am still not confident of their effectiveness in practical environment. The recent group discussions have indicated that I am still aggressive while interacting with others. This is the reason why, I again kept the aggression under the areas of development in the skills audit. During the last six months, I did not really focus on increasing my analytical and leadership skills. However, I tried to gain basic knowledge about the statistics, leadership and management approaches by reading a wide-range of books. AC. 6.2 Develop your action plan, making notes of further actions required for improvement. Objectives of Personal Development Plan. To enhance my numerical and analytical skill sets within one year from now; the target date is 20th November, 2017. To enhance my organizational and leadership capabilities within three years; the target date is 20th November 2019. ActionPlan I should become familiar with numbers, multiplications, fractions and divisions. I should learn fundamental formulas that help me in solving complex problems. I will undergo practice tests on regular basis. I will approach a mathematical or statistical tutor who can personally assist me during the process of improvement. I should get trained on the statistical tools such as SPSS and SAS Ill collect the feedback from my peers and tutor on regular basis to check the progress. I should read a wide-range of books and journals that give me knowledge about the management and leadership styles. I should undergo online training programs to learn more about management and leadership skills. I should work in a team to observe peers and business managers how they implement var

The War of the Stars :: Essays Papers

The War of the Stars In 1975, a young director named George Lucas wrote the story of the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker. The story was so long that it had to be broken up into a pair of trilogies, the first trilogy focusing on Anakin himself and the second focusing on his son, Luke. He determined the second trilogy to be the most exciting and resolved to film that one first. Unbeknownst to Lucas, he was creating what would soon become one of the most widely recognized and revered science fiction epics of all time. The epic is known to all, young and old, as Star Wars. The incredible popularity of the Star Wars universe was surprising to Lucas when he first made it. In fact, every producer he proposed the idea to rejected it, except for one: Twentieth Century Fox. At this time, science fiction (also called sci-fi) was not in any respects a profitable movie idea, but Lucas was determined to make his film. The executives of Twentieth Century Fox had seen Lucas’s previous film, American Graffiti, and vowed to produce Lucas’s next movie. Lucas made a deal with Fox that would end up making Lucas a multi-millionaire. The deal seemed so ridiculous to Fox that they thought they were ripping him off. In 1977, the first film of the second trilogy, Star Wars: A New Hope, was released, smashing box offices across the country and soon becoming the most successful film in North American history. In 1978, Lucas began production of the second chapter of the trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back. He financed the film out of his own pockets. The movie was released in 1980 and again smashed box offices, becoming the most successful movie of 1980. Soon thereafter, Lucas made The Return of the Jedi, the final chapter in the trilogy. It was released in 1983 and grossed over 265 million dollars. Just before its completion, however, Lucas announced that he was leaving the Star Wars project for another time, when computer generated effects were more advanced and cost-effective. For the next sixteen years, even without new films, the Star Wars universe continued to expand, gaining more fans every year. Many books telling the tales of the future and past of Star Wars were published. A handful of cartoon shows appeared on television, although none were overly successful.

Media Control: The Spectacular achievments of propaganda Essay

Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda. Synopsis of the book. Chomsky examines and explores the use of propaganda in the mass media. His focus remains on the â€Å"elite† as he would call them, or the corporations and politicians that control the mass media in our country. He speaks of how the U.S. government used propaganda in order to gain support for our country’s involvement in wars from Wilson’s presidency to Bush Sr., and now in our so-called â€Å"War on Terror† brought upon by George W. Bush. He explains how he believes this elite group of people control the minds of those that are less educated, and without an open minds. He believes that propaganda has been used through the mass media to guide this population towards supporting political interests. Why I chose this book. I had heard from many of my friends about Noam Chomsky and how he may just be the most important intellectual alive today. So while I was helping my friend with an assignment of hers I came across this book at her house. I flipped through a couple of pages and decided to use this book for this project. I thought it would provide a new insight into the role of our government in the media. How this book relates to this class. This book discusses the governments role in the media. Although Chomsky’s views might be considered somewhat extreme by some standards, his message s important. We have discussed the government manipulation of the media. For example, President Roo...

Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique

Historically, the romantic period in classical music is regarded as a finite time-span during which a substantial number of loosely â€Å"aligned† composer who enjoyed no overt or demonstrable relationship to any artistic movement flourished. The Romantic movement in classical music is generally understood as occurring during â€Å"first half or three-quarters of the nineteenth century† (Mason, 1906, p. 2). and chief among the recognized composers are â€Å"Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Berlioz, Chopin, Liszt,† (Mason, 1906, p. 2). and a great many others.Although the word â€Å"romantic† as it relates to classical music is rooted in historical grounds, a specific, if overall loose, set of aesthetic principles is also discernable in the work of romantic composers. The aesthetic principles of romanticism in classical music arise primarily from a willingness to innovate and approach music from interesting and novel viewpoints. In its widest definition, ro manticism in music refers to â€Å"interest in novel and strange elements of artistic effect. â€Å"(Mason, 1906, p. 4). and also a pursuit of beauty as a â€Å"fixed element in every artistic organization,† (Mason, 1906, p.4). which distinguishes romantic work from non-romantic works on aesthetic grounds. Symphonie Fantastique, by Hector Berlioz is considered by many critics to represent the most complete expression of Berlioz's romantic aesthetic. Berlioz expresses himself quite innovatively in the symphony as is evident by his contribution to â€Å"programme† music, or the articulation of â€Å"melodies, not as materials for a purely musical development, but as symbols of characters or other dramatic motives, thereby anticipating the leit-motif idea which later became so prominent in the work of Wagner and Liszt.† (Mason, 1906, p. 277). Because Symphonie Fantastique deals with the theme of human love, Berlioz is able to give full-flight not only to his aest hetic concepts involving prototypical leit-motifs, but also to a notion of emotional expression which is also thematically integrated in the overall work. Because of this Symphonie Fantastique† â€Å"remains one of his most characteristic productions. † (Mason, 1906, p. 276), and one which fully realizes the tenants of romanticism as described above.In addition to innovative use of melody and theme, Berlioz experimented with musical arrangements and the generation of unique sound-scapes via experimentation with instruments: Love of the bizarre and the unusual led him often to employ rare instruments, or to use the ordinary ones in freakish ways. The harp, the English horn, and the cornet figure frequently in his scores, and he likes to direct that the horns be put in bags, that the cymbal be suspended and struck with a stick, that the drums be played with sticks covered with sponge.(Mason, 1906, p. 285) The end-result is a symphony which is as revolutionary in conceptio n as it is in execution. The exotic, the unusual, the fanciful and the imaginatively dynamic are all heralds of the romantic aesthetic. In Symphonie Fantastique, Berlioz eschewed rigorous allegiance to tradition to create what, to any early critics, must have seemed like a self-indulgent score; however, the repetition of key leit-motifs throughout the symphony lend the work a classical structure and bearing which allows the more experimental passages to succeed.Such a creative dispersion of linear and non-linear creative expression might also be regarded as a hallmark of the romantic aesthetic. In conclusion, Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique is a quintessential example of romantic music, falling squarely within both the historical and aesthetic contexts generally attributed to the romantic movement in classical music by scholars.By immersing in an intellectual revolution through music, as one critic remarked, Berlioz was able to apply a â€Å"vivid and manysided intelligence† (Mason, 1906, p. 258). to his idealized visions. As a composer who refused to â€Å"worship at an orthodox shrine,† (Mason, 1906, p. 258) Berlioz contributed a depth and renown to the romantic movement that is still important to this day. References Mason, D. G. (1906). The Romantic Composers. New York: Macmillan.