Tally

TALLY . ERP9 FEATURES Advantages of Tally. ERP 9: †¢ Powerful remote capabilities that boost collaboration †¢ Easy to find qualified personnel †¢ Easy to customize †¢ Low cost of ownership via quick implementation, Tally Integrator, Support Centre†¦ Functions & Features: Accounting All your accounting requirements are supported and more. Accounting, also known as bookkeeping, is the recording and classifying of financial transactions into the books of accounts and associated registers.Let us look at the some of the ‘needs' for which businesses maintain books of accounts: †¢ To fulfill legal requirements – records as per standards and practices †¢ To pay taxes to various bodies – statutory needs †¢ Keep the business running – manage receivables & payable, cash, bank†¦ †¢ Keep a watch on the pulse of the organization – key performance indicators †¢ Respond to queries – to locate the right tr ansaction immediatelyWe have been perfecting this ‘simple' recording – accounting – from over twenty years. All this to deliver better, faster and more flexible ways to fulfill your needs, not just maintain books of accounts. A few examples will illustrate: †¢ With the entry of a voucher (this is what we call all accounting transactions) all books of accounts, all reports, all totals & sub-totals are updated instantly.There is nothing more that needs to be done – whether you are inserting a forgotten entry, or correcting one †¢ Taxation requirements of all the states of India are available, in the prescribed formats †¢ Supporting tasks like reminder letters, delayed interest, ageing, bank reconciliation †¢ One single dashboard to look at all important business ratios †¢ Drill down from any report, even the Balance Sheet, right to any voucher or filter and search †¢ Data entry in the language of the users choice – and re port in any other language (from the languages supported) †¢ Mark vouchers that are draft as ‘optional' and convert these to final- with one button click Financial Management & Controls Tally. ERP 9 comes with rich features & financial reports that give you the necessary management and control of your business. A few of these are listed below: †¢ Funds Flow & Cash Flow reports – help you ocate bottlenecks †¢ Bank reconciliation – keeps your bank books in sync, and identify unclear instruments †¢ Customer Credit Limits – to limit risk of default and large losses †¢ Budgets – keep tabs on projected expenses against actuals †¢ Mark vouchers postdated – these will reflect into the books of accounts only on/after that date †¢ For needs where reports have to consider a transaction that has not happened (say salaries for this month that get paid the next month) vouchers (called ‘reversing journals') can be ma rked to ‘disappear' for reports post a specific date †¢ â€Å"Scenario† management – helps you with your business forecasting and planning. You can use optional, reversing journals and memorandum vouchers, to aid in recording provisional entries that are useful for interim reports †¢ Multiple inventory valuation. You can decide one valuation method for the business, and be able generate financial reports using any other valuation method – as the statutory method may not be appropriate for your needs, your bankers and for other decisions †¢ Cash balances can go negative – you can get warned if this is about to happen, or see reports and make the necessary corrections Several business exceptions are available (negative stocks, negative ledgers) – for you to exercise control over these activities †¢ A one-screen business ratios with drill down right up to the transactions – help you to correct course frequently †¢ Item wise & document wise profitability statements to control revenue leakage and inappropriate pricing †¢ Internal audits are supported with audit controls – authorized users can mark vouchers as ‘audited' and can get to see reports on changes made post audit, and the name of the person making the change Inventory Accounting & Management If you deal in goods, of any type, you'll appreciate the Inventory capabilities in Tally. ERP 9.You can comprehensively record all types of inventory transactions, using goods receipt notes, delivery notes, stock journals, manufacturing journals and physical stock journals. All stock movements are fully recorded and maintained in stock registers. Developed for all manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers or traders a small list of features are briefly described below: Manufacturers: †¢ Bill of materials and Manufacturing Journals, to record material conversions †¢ Compound bill of materials support, for units that conta in assemblies †¢ Multiple locations (go downs) †¢ Excise for manufacturers, including all documentation and invoice †¢ Costing for jobsDistributors ; Wholesalers: †¢ Multiple price lists, with effective dates of applicability †¢ Use multiple units of measure (say KG's & grams) †¢ Dual units of measure (say KG's and bags, to support variations as happens in commodities) Traders: †¢ High speed billing, with support for POS printers †¢ Bar code support †¢ Automatic application of taxes †¢ Service billing ; service tax †¢ Integrated sales return in bills †¢ Print bills (and any other document) in the customers language Common: †¢ You can choose to de-link the computed inventory value to automatically appear in your financial statements – and enter this figure manually. †¢ Stock ageing reports, to identify slow and non-moving stocks †¢ Invoice profitability reports to keep a pulse on sales †¢ Multi-cur rency transactions – buy and sell across the world – with integrated forex gain/loss calculations †¢ Physical stock take records to adjust physical vs. actual stocks †¢ Maintain batch ; expiry details Purchases ; Payable's: from Order to Payment Tally. Read also Recording General Fund Operating Budget and Operating TransactionsERP 9 delivers the entire purchase cycle whether the need is the complete purchase order goods receipt – rejections & returns – advances, debits & payments or a single payment entry, fulfilling all needs. To ensure that you have the right stocks and minimize carrying costs, Tally. ERP 9 delivers the following to improve purchase orders: †¢ Define Re-order levels as a definite number or based on consumption †¢ Define minimum quantity to order as a definite number or based on consumption †¢ Pull up a report that shows the stock position, including complete details of open purchase orders, sales orders that need to be fulfilled – check on past purchase history, and then place orders †¢ Optionally stagger delivery dates in the POWhen receiving goods: †¢ Make entries in accordance with supporting documentation, including errors your suppliers could have made (say of mu ltiplication & round off) †¢ Incorporate additional costs †¢ Automatically manage input taxes †¢ Flexibility allows receipt of goods, quantities and rates different from that ordered – since this is common in real life †¢ Record samples & free items (using different ‘actual' & ‘billed' quantities) †¢ Multiple receipts for one order or one receipt for multiple orders, or against verbal orders In case there is a need to add other costs (say coolie and cartage) these additional charges can be apportioned to the cost of goods purchased. Supplied goods may not match your needs and these are managed by the ‘Rejections Out' inventory voucher. Supplier dues, input taxes and inventory positions are updated.Suppliers often indicate likely profits, which may not be met. In case such assurances are made, you can look at Item profitability reports, and get the facts right. You could then negotiate a rebate and record this as a debit note. Keep ta bs of how much is due to whom, when. Manage advances, payable s & postdated checks. Ensure there are no errors in payments – print checks from Tally. ERP 9. Sales & Receivables: from Order to Receipt The lifeline of a business, efficiencies in sales operations, both of goods & services, directly impact growth and profitability. The need to optimize and keep a close watch here requires exceptional capabilities from your business IT system – and Tally.ERP 9 meets these demands. The sales process is supported with the following documents: †¢ Quotations – records of quotes †¢ Sales orders – accepted customer orders †¢ Deliver Notes – documents that accompany goods †¢ Sales Invoices/Cash Bill – to record the sale †¢ Credit Notes – for financial adjustments †¢ Rejections in – for goods returns †¢ Receipts – for advances and receipts Do you have cash sales (sales across the counter)? With supp ort for Point of Sale printers, bar codes and receipts in multiple tenders, you POS enable your business at no additional cost. Product sales may come with added services – and the integrated product & service billing will close this.Enforce credit limits, where needed. Along with the Payment Performance of Debtors report you can identify persistent problems and take necessary business decisions. Interest for delays & reminder letters aid in collection. For businesses engaged in Excisable goods, you get full support for Excise for Traders & Manufacturing Excise – matter of fact a business could be both! Make multiple deliveries from one order, or one from multiple orders – this common need is available across all documents of the sales process. Do you have multiple classes of customers? You can easily setup multiple prices (even in advance and specify the date from which they are effective).Discounts against the line, or for the document, additional charges as a percentage or lump sum, automatic round off of bill totals, automatic computation of VAT & Service tax, returns & exchanges are all available. Need to verify that you are making the desired sales margins? Item wise and bill wise profitability reports will help you keep tabs. Multi-company A set of account books represents a ‘company' in Tally. ERP 9. Therefore, if you decide to maintain your personal accounts you would create a ‘company'. Many businesses do have more than one legal entity – and so will require multi-company support. Since each company is a distinct ‘data base', building technical support for this is not difficult.However, with multiple companies, several needs often arise beyond the mere facility to record transactions that need to be addressed,. Principally, you would like to look at consolidated reports since these are often more meaningful to you than statutory reports of each company individually. You can therefore ‘group' compani es and have the reporting ability as if this were a ‘company'. You could also ‘group' these on demand or as required. So Partner A, could group companies in which he is a partner (say Companies P, Q ; R) and Partner B could have a group with Companies Q, R ; Y. With multiple companies, you would probably need to compare them to see relative figures. In Tally.ERP 9, while seeing a report for Company P, you could pull up another column alongside that shows figures from Company Q (and any more companies). You can now continue to drill down the report and continue to see these comparisons. Quiet often with multiple companies, the need arises to create the same ledgers ; post transactions to more than one company. This can be accomplished with the click of a few keys – you save immense time by not having to re-enter data and avoid data entry errors. In special circumstances, where there are needs like a Purchase Order entry becoming a Sales Order in another company, ou r Service Partners will be able to work with you, understand specific requirements and build a solution around the Data Synchronization capability.Security: With multiple companies, possibly including personal accounts, you may need to control who gets access to which companies, and to do what. You can set up users, grant or deny access and these are defined for each company. Remote Access: You choose to specify which company is accessible remotely. You choose which remote users have access; you decide what access a remote user gets. Central User Management: Users come and go. You might also have a password policy requiring users to change passwords every few weeks. You can take advantage of the ease of central user and password management that Tally. NET identities carry – and even remotely manage these while not in office. Multi-Period A ‘financial year' is truly suited to business reporting and statutory needs.In reality, business spans across financial years, so â⠂¬Ëœreal needs' get constrained by these financial periods. As an example, receivables (Sundry Debtors) is an area that is frequently plagued by ‘confusion' the need to send reminders, resend statements of accounts and persistent follow up – may require that you need to look at figures from date ‘x' to date ‘y' – and one or more financial periods can be between these two dates. With Tally. ERP 9, you can specify any date range and perform any operation that you need to. Comparison of Periods, say Q2 this year vs. Q2 last year, often required for shareholder and statutory reporting are easily accomplished. You may also need to break up periods into smaller chunks, instead of the ‘year'.While looking at the reports, you can instantly view them broken into periods of your choice (daily, monthly, quarterly etc). For studying trends, locating unusual figures, or comparing activities for different periods, this is invaluable. Take the case of budgets. Say for a five year long project – and for various ledgers you need to have a budget set up for five years, another for each year, another two that are 2 ? years†¦ you can setup such budgets, and compare budget vs. actual for any! In effect you can ‘zoom out' as well as ‘zoom in' to any period of your choice. Any changes made or a transaction inserted anytime, are instantly carried forward – no matter how far back these are made (from a security standpoint, you might need to restrict data entry or hanges to transactions prior to a specific date – this is available via the User security control features). Multi-Cost/Profit Centers As a business transacting in multiple currencies, you will appreciate the effortless usability of Tally. ERP in this area. Say, you make purchases from a supplier, and transact in a currency different (say $) from that of your base currency (say INR). You'd like to keep track of the dollars due, as well as the $ amount s due for each bill. This way you get to know your foreign currency requirements as well as cross check the accounts in $. At the same time you would want to see outstanding and other financial reports in INR.Since this figure depends on the exchange rate as on the date of the report, generating these are time consuming. With Tally. ERP 9 all reports are generated automatically – all that is needed is that the forex rates be available for reference. Foreign exchange gain & loss entries are ‘posted' automatically (as a notional entry), whenever any report is taken. The day you decide to make these entries regular (say end of the financial year) you can post the required accounting Journal (with software assistance). Importers and exporters maintain bank, customer & other accounts in foreign currencies (like the example of the supplier) – you can maintain these in any currency required.As a branch or subsidiary of a foreign entity, or for reporting, you may need to generate reports in a currency other than the base, at some exchange rate. This capability is available across all reports. You may need to compare companies having different base currencies – switch one company to use the currency of the other, or switch them both to a third! Basically, every amount field in a Tally. ERP 9 voucher is multi-currency enabled. This allows you to conduct business in ways that manual systems permit and most IT systems fail to provide. It is possible for a supplier to, say, send a quote for items in INR, some in US$ and some in â‚ ¬. Multi-units Most businesses will use several units of measure, even if the belief that just one (pieces) is used.Take purchases – you could order in the units you are comfortable with, and you receive goods in a different unit – for e. g. , order in Pcs, receive in KG's. Similarly you could record sales in the units that your customer is comfortable with. The flexibility of this ‘compound' unit of measures is to ensure that Tally. ERP 9 does not get in the way of your way of working. Like in the case of multi-currency, every quantity field is inherently multi-unit ready. Some commodities, say cotton, have ‘peculiar' problems – the unit of stock used for this commodity is ‘bales', yet trade is in Kg's. With changes in weather, cotton looses or gains weight due to changes in moisture content.If you used Kg's for your records, you would loose the ability to manage stock count and stock take of bales; if you used bales, you would have a mismatch in the actual quantity transacted. This problem is compounded in real life – since each bale carries a different weight of cotton. With Tally. ERP 9 you can manage all these, with the support for multiple units of measure. Now, you can record both units in transactions – Kg's and bales at the same time. Stock valuation will be done in Kg's; inventory count can be managed in bales! You receive some supp lies – the Invoice shows 5 Pcs. and the actual count shows 6 Pcs.! Were you to enter your receipt as 6 Pcs. there will be a mismatch with the voucher and physical document which will result in an audit objection. Entering as 5 Pcs. would mean that one piece is not recorded†¦ Tally. ERP 9 supports ‘actual' and ‘billed' quantities – thus delinking the inventory count from the financial impact of the transaction. With this you can also receive and deliver free samples and manage the many variations that occur now and then. Therefore compound units, alternate units and billed/actual quantities should deliver the capabilities needed for most, if not all, of your requirements. Multi-Location Inventory Even the simplest of organizations will have inventory in more than one physical location.As organizations get bigger, inventory will require active ‘management' with more warehouses (go downs, as we call it in India), racks ; shelves and stocks at projec t locations. Take the case of multiple sales outlets, each with one go down. Each purchases items at different prices and sells them over time. You need to take a call on the value of stocks at each of these outlets as if they were independent units – and not apply the company average. With Tally. ERP 9, each outlet will act as an independent unit from a costing perspective. Sales from each outlet will reflect the appropriate cost, and not the company average (which can skew profitability of both outlets).Seen at the company level, the cost behavior ignores these go downs – making reports and financial analysis appropriate at that level. Go downs can contain go downs – to allow management to the bin level. For various jobs (projects) and sub-jobs, the use of go downs and cost centers in Tally. ERP 9 give a high level of reporting and analysis – on inventory and financial aspects of jobs. Multi-Budgets ; Scenarios Budgets are a measure of the results expec ted for the planned activities for a company. Whether you formally plan budgets or not, you will be working against several budgets – Revenue, Production, Expense, Financial, Investment and so on. Once these budgets are recorded, you would periodically want to check up how your business measures up against this plan.And once you get a handle on the variance, you would probably take decisions on course corrections – record possible outcomes of these changes (as scenarios) and compare against the budgets once again. This is a powerful planning mechanism that provides the flexibility to work in a changing /dynamic environment. With Tally. ERP 9, you can set up any number of budgets – and to make this easy, budgets can roll up into ‘group' budgets and these can roll up again into ‘master' budgets: the people who come up with the budgets can make entries and the roll-up is automatic (and can be overridden at the rolled up level as well). While viewing any report, you can choose to pull up the budgeted figures as well, along with a variance column. You could just as easily pull up budget figures alone – and make these available to various people.A ‘scenario' is the name given to a specific combination of vouchers that will be included to deliver a report – you can include and exclude different voucher types and build as many scenarios as needed – say one where a product launch is on time and another where it is delayed by three months. You could then view actual figures against a scenario. You could also see the variance between a scenario and the budget! Budgets and Scenarios are powerful tools when used by themselves; used together they deliver unprecedented power to help plan ; monitor your business. TALLY REPORTING ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Modifying Reports (Options) Balance Sheet Profit ; Loss Account Stock Summary Trial Balance Day Book Cash Book P etty Cash Book Bank Book Journal Register Ledger Purchase Register Sales Register Ledger-wise Outstanding Reports Interest Receivable Interest Payable Cost Category Summary Statistics Stock Transfers Stock Valuation Methods BOM – Cost Estimate Daily Balance of Cash/Bank Book Stock Query Negative Stock Item Movement Analysis Stock Ageing Analysis Multi-Column Cash Book Purchase Register-Extract Sales Register-Extract Cash Flow Summary Funds Flow Summary Budgets Overdue Receivable Overdue Payable Age-wise Receivable Negative Ledger Debit Note Register Credit Note Register Reminder Letter Confirmation Letter ? Comparative Profit and Loss Account ? Vertical Balance Sheet with Working Capital ? Comparative Quarterly Balance Sheet ? Income ; Expenditure Statement

Local Law Enforcement Essay

Stages/Steps in the Hiring Process: First step is the applicant processing division to identify the most qualified applicants. Second step is the Pre-hire interview, next is a medical exam and then take a written psychological test. Next one will take a job standard test and an oral psychological interview. Last but not least a character investigation and any other additional requirements under exceptional circumstances. Specific Requirements: Applicants must be at least 17 ½ years of age by the last day of filing of the exam they are applying for. . Those applicants who are 35 and over and have active United States military service may deduct up to six years from the age requirement. If by mail: Applications must be submitted/postmarked by the filing deadline of the exam they are applying for. Candidates must be at least 21 years of age on or before the day of hire. Candidates must be a United States citizen on or before the day of hire. On or before the day of hire, candidates must have successfully completed either: Sixty (60) college credits with a 2.0 G.P.A. from an accredited college or university, or Two (2) years of full-time, active military service in the United States Armed Forces with an honorable discharge and have a high school’s diploma or its equivalent. Candidates must reside either within one of the five boroughs of New York City or one of the surrounding counties of New York City; Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, Nassau or Putnam Counties on the day of hire. Candidates must possess a valid, unrestricted New York State Driver’s License on the day of hire. Candidates must pay a $75.00 fee for fingerprinting as part of the investigation process. Candidates must pass a drug/alcohol screening. Candidates must pass a character and background investigation. Pay Scales: Police Academy 44,744; after 6 months 46,288; after 1.5 years 48,173; after 2.5 years 53, 819; after 3.5 years 58,786; after 4.5 years 62,455; after 5.0 years 69,005; after 5.5 years 90, 829. †¢Candidates must compete in the required written examination and pass additional screening procedures. †¢Candidates must be legal residents of Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County or one of the five boroughs of New York City at time of appointment and maintain residency. †¢Candidates must be at least 17 but less than 35 years of age on the date of the written exam; provided, however, that time spent on military duty or on terminal leave, not exceeding a total of 6 years, shall be subtracted from the age of any applicant who has passed their 35th birthday, as provided in subdivision 10-a of Section 243 of the New York State Military Law. †¢Candidates must be citizens of the United States at time of appointment. †¢Candidates will be required to submit to a background investigation prior to appointment. †¢Candidates must possess a valid New York State driver’s license at time of appointment. †¢Appointments are determined on an individual basis by the Nassau County Civil Service Commission, however, anyone with a felony conviction may be excluded from being a Nassau County Police Officer. †¢No college education is required to take the written examination; however, 32 credits of college education are required for appointment. Those candidates who have not attained that level of education but are otherwise eligible for appointment will remain on the eligible list and will become eligible for appointment after they have obtained the necessary college credits. Pay Scales: Get paid while you train in the Police Academy;$34,000 starting salary;$107,319 after 9 years;12% shift differential; Education incentive pay Title of Agency (3): City of New York Department of Correction Web Address: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doc/html/home/home.shtml Stages/Steps in the Hiring Process: The primary responsibility of the Applicant Investigation Unit is to ensure the New York City Department of Correction hires the most qualified candidate to join the uniform members of service. The candidates are investigated, evaluated medically, inclusive of an agility test, and physically to determine their fitness for duty in all aforementioned areas. The New York City Department of Correction investigates thousands of candidates; however, only the most qualified for the position are selected.

Calvinism Was Founded By John Calvin Religion Essay

Calvinism Was Founded By John Calvin Religion Essay Calvinism was founded by a man named John Calvin (Theopedia, par. 1). John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509 in France and died on May 27, 1564 at the age of 54 (Rieske, par. 1). John Calvin was brought up Roman Catholic by his mother, Jeanne Le Franc (Rieske, par. 1). John Calvin’s father, Gerard, was an attorney, raised by seafaring men (Rieske, par. 1). At the age of eighteen, John’s education process was complete (Rieske, par. 2). After John Calvin’s education and studies were complete, John became a humanist and a reformer, instead of following Roman Catholicism (Rieske, par. 2). To know about a religion or a denomination, one should study also about the founder and the background to his or her life, so that we can know where they came from and where the process of their doctrine beliefs came from. The five main points to Calvinism are: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election (Predestination), Limited Atonement, Irrisistable Grace, and also the Perseverance of the Saints (Humphreys, par. 13). The First of the five points of Calvinism is Total Depravity (Calvinism, par. 4). Every man deserves Hell and is worthless without the presence of God in their lives (Calvinism, par. 4). Adam and Eve and everyone after them were censured by a just God because of original sin (Calvinism, par. 4). The second point is Unconditional Election or Predestination (Humphreys, par. 13). God felt sorry for mankind and sent Jesus to save some sinners, but not all (Calvinism, par. 5). These are known as the Elect and their fate was decided by God before they were born (Calvinism, par. 5). This is not a matter of choice, for the person, but a decision of God (Calvinism, par. 5). Calvinist seem to determine among themselves who is likely to be elected by a persons behavior (Calvinism, par. 6). The points of Limited Atonement and Irrisistable Grace fall with this as well (Humphreys, par. 14-18). The point of Perseverance of the Saints means that once God saves so meone, they will always be saved (Humphreys, par. 19). Calvinism teaches that believers don’t need priests (Calvinism, par. 8). Calvinists observe both communion and baptism (Calvinism, par. 8). Our God does not need to check the time for anything because He knows when, where, and how everything will happen (Theopedia, par. 5). God keeps himself hidden from non-believers but reveals Himself to those who already know Him, or will know Him (Theopedia, par.5). In the later history of Calvinism, people have modified John Calvin’s teachings to serve their own purposes and the beliefs of the Reformed Tradition of Protestant Christianity, which Calvinism was the most prominent in (Theopedia, par. 5). When Calvinism first started it suddenly became very popular all around the world (Calvinism, par. 3). John Calvin and many more of his co-pastors were originally from France but left because of their religion, so they moved to Geneva which became a trading city of about 10,000 p eople (Grell, par. 8). The Old Testament is mainly where Calvin got his inspirations from (Grell, par. 10). Calvinism is not comprehensible without remembering the persecution of Christians (Grell, par. 10). Some people thought that the idea of Predestination produced anxiety from asceticism and capitalism (German, par. 11).

HR Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

HR Strategy - Essay Example It meant laying off part of the work force, sometimes indiscriminately as far as the employees’ functions were concerned, amounting to a hermorrhage of critical talent the company sorely needed to recover. This time around, during the financial crisis of 2007 and the subsequent recession, human resources managers are approaching their task of rationalizing their company’s workforce with a greater view towards the subsequent repercussions. This paper shall examine how human resources planning, flexibility, and recruitment take place in the context of an economic recession. According to Goss, recessions and trade crises enhance the challenges of the international competitive environment. Emphasis in planning shifted to survival mode and generally aimed at coping, resuting in downsizing, finding greater efficiencies, building ‘leaner and fitter’ organizations. It meant lay-offs, rethinking production processes and rationalizing them, and improving managerial control mechanisms. Industries undergo a â€Å"shake-out† where some leading companies, because they were debt-ridden, fall out, new leaders (usually those less leveraged and more cash-rich) emerge, and the fittest who survive move up. Emphasis was placed on value in all expenditures. Clements reported on the result of a recent survey conducted among HR managers, directors and professionals. Some firms saw opportunity in the crisis situation, and aimed not only at coping but in taking advantage of the situation to restructure and consolidate for the eventual recovery which is sure to happen sooner or later. Organizations in general became flatter, with emphasis placed on flexibility, adaptiveness and change, decentralization and devolution of responsibility to cost and profit centres, and a hard look at the strengths and weaknesses that impacted upon the effectiveness of the organization. Management of people tended towards greater participation and commitment,

A increase in income tax Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A increase in income tax - Essay Example As explained above if consumers cut back, the suppliers will reduce production while laying off workers, and then consumers will have even less money to spend in which case the cycle will repeat and thus begins a recession/depression like sequence. Consumers lose the most from this in the long term as explained, purchasing power will continue to drop and some workers will eventually lose their jobs which can send more shockwaves through the economy. Example: In the housing bust, consumers lost their jobs in the recession and were not able to pay for mortgages, thus defaulting. Banks then reduced their lending and consumers continued to reduce spending. Due to this suppliers had to cut their supply and more workers had to be made redundant. This cycle continued and spread throughout not only the United States but the world as banks defaulted on their debt. 3) If the government is attempting to increase government revenue an alternative is to decrease the tax rate to a maximized level where businesses and consumers would want to spend more and thus cause more revenue in the long term and the government would be receiving more revenue than at the previous tax rate. 4) A tax rate increase definitely affects the GDP and GNP due to the loss in production the aforementioned cycles would create. In the short run the tax increase doesn’t affect the GDP and GNP but in the long term Consumers would spend less and thus suppliers would produce less and lay off workers, and consumers would spend even less creating a vicious cycle that causes a

Marketing in France Report II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing in France Report II - Essay Example Some countries have banned some or all the forms of alcohol advertising (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18960770). In France, advertising for any drink that has alcohol content that is above 1.2% is prohibited on television, radio (between 5 pm to midnight, and on Wednesdays) and on print media that are targeted at teenagers and kids (http://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/jul/26/advertising). Advertising is allowed in the remaining printed media, on radio between midnight and 5 pm, billboards, posters, and leaflets. Since 2009, using the Internet was allowed except on websites that target the youth or related to sports (Nic, Gormley, and Usher 61). Given this information, we will gear our advertising more towards internet marketing because of the media restrictions through television. The French government is stepping up its effort so as to gather more of the taxes that owners of TV set are to pay to assist public service broadcasting. This has led to the private TV companies t o respond by increasing up their rates of advertising making the advertising cost high and this contributes towards effective regulation of liquor consumption and moral responsibility (http://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/jul/26/advertising). Overall use of TV for advertising in France stands at 35.4% (Austin, Barnard, Galli and Hutche, 3). The competition between Television stations in France has become intense. TV also has to compete against the other media, i.e. radio stations that are commercial, public sector and the press. At the same time, expansion in the TV sector has led to jockeying for dominating the market so as to win for advertisers and audience. The market in supplying through the TV is relatively open and the costs are lower as compared to the other forms of media. Print media advertisements greatly vary and this depends on the publication, number of insertions, circulation, quantities (if it is flyers, direct mail, handouts,

Critically analyse why treaties on human rights do not grant rights Essay

Critically analyse why treaties on human rights do not grant rights directly to individuals - Essay Example nited Nations High Commissioner for Human rights, human rights are inherent to all human beings regardless of their nationality, colour, religion, language, place of residence, sex or any other identifiable status of the individual (Ramcharan, 2010). Universal human rights are expected to be indivisible, interrelated and interdependent and human beings should enjoy such rights without any form of discrimination. Steiner arguesthat ‘human rights violations still occur within a state rather than high seas or outer space outside the jurisdiction of any one state’ (Ramcharan, 2010, p 45). In this case, states are expected to assume the obligations of protecting and fulfilling human rights to their citizens through positive actions lead to enjoyment of the basic human rights and respecting such rights (Steiner, Alston & Goodman, 2008). The UN charter that aims at ensuring global peace and fundamental human rights has led to numerous conventions that have been adopted in order to protect individual human rights and protect the citizens from atrocities such as genocide and torture (Bayefsky, 2001). Majority of the rules have been codified in to customary rules of international law thus binding even the countries that have not ratified the conventions. Each state has the responsibility of safeguarding individual human rights within its territory, but as Turkin emphasized ‘conventions on human rights do not grant rights directly to individuals’ since the rights will vary from state to the other or from region to region due to government structures and regional treaties and declarations of human rights (Provost, 2002, p 98). In this paper, I will demonstrate that all states have a duty to respect the universal fundamental rights within territories, prohibit discrimination and have the duty to respect such rights and co-operate with other states in attainment of such objectives. Thesis: treaties on human rights treaties grant rights directly to i ndividuals. State

Quiz1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Quiz1 - Essay Example However, halting the talks means that the world losses the gains that would have come from multilateral trade. The rules responsible for governing antidumping laws and other important rules in trade are managed by the world trade organization WTO and the preferential trade agreements, but in case of conflicts, the WTO’s rules prevailed over the PTA. This means that countries like the U.S impose rules on other weaker partners that are rejected by other economies such as the Indian and the Chinese economies (Bhagwati). Without the multilateral trade agreements, templates developed by big economies such as the U.S rule over other countries. Additionally, the templates extend to other fields outside trade like the environmental issues as well as the labor standards. The U.S is seeking major emerging economies with similar ideas about trade so that they can form their own templates. When such ideas are combined, they will benefit the stronger trading partners and oppress the other members. Moreover, third world countries will have little influence on overall ideas suggested by the developed countries. This implies that the hegemonic countries like the U.S will benefit from the agreements alone. Such interests have made these developed countries to halt the talks that may take time to reach an

The film's place either within its genre (s) or as a type of art Essay

The film's place either within its genre (s) or as a type of art cinema - Essay Example Highlighting the reasons why it is considered the biggest success of all time and how it contributed to the growth of Indian Cinema. To fulfill this rigorous task, the analysis is segregated in to sections; it will be initiated by an introduction of the Indian cinema, followed by an analysis on the movie. A discussion will be presented, on the kind of fashion; the movie forwarded which eventually transformed the Hindi Film Industry. The transnational perspective along with the will be presented in the methodology. The Indian Cinema The Indian Film industry or 'Bollywood' is often surmised as the temples of modern India. They lure the public with their magical colors, hues and light, gods and goddesses are admired, followed and even worshipped. Writer, Vijay Mishra goes on to elaborate that the movie madness among Indians is similar to a devotee visiting a shrine and religiously following his idol. According to a research, 800 films are released each year more than 11 million people v isit cinema halls every day; these are also exported to more than 100 countries worldwide (Mishra, 2002). 1931 was an important year in the history of the visual world in India when the first sound film 'Alam Ara' was released. The Indian Cinema grew by leaps and bounds during these eight decades. Initiated with black and white movies until 60’s, followed by Eastman Colors during the 70s and graduating to the unbelievable virtual world of 3d today (Nihalani G. et al, 2003). The movies are generally 3 hours long and a typical bollywood movie is packed with a complete doze of entertainment, a hero who is an ideal son, and a boyfriend who possesses multitalented genes, he is the knight in shinning armor, he dances, he sings, he knocks down the villain, takes revenge and concludes the movie in a happy ending (Grant, 2011). The Various Genres The Indian audiences today have accepted all genres of movies, including some based on very dark and serious subjects known as ‘experi mented movies’. The term is however, referred to a movie which belongs to a completely unique genre and is not considered under the category of the most popular genres like romantic, romantic comedy, family drama, or action movie (Carty, 2006). This trend of experimenting is not new, in fact there is an Indian movie from the 70’s which brought a storm of transformations and offered a spectacular experience to the audience, breaking the moulds of the popular 'family drama or romantic' genre which dominated the industry for many decades ( Chopra, 2000). The movie was 'Sholay' and it brought along a revolution within the Indian Film Industry, its success is recorded in golden words. Movie World Pre-'Sholay' Until 1960, the film industry was under the domination of production companies, artists and technicians were employees and worked under contracts. In the late 60's gradually, artists took the freelancing method which resulted in a huge 'star system' which was centered on distributors. The studio system ended as the artists chose to work beyond any contractual obligations, as freelancers they started demanding the remuneration proportionate to the success of their recent movie. The superstardom was being associated with many male

American Indians Today Essay Example for Free

American Indians Today Essay The Native Americans were the primary citizens of America long before white men set on foot in the area. When the Europeans conquered the American soil, an estimated 10 million Indians composed the Population of America. It is situated at the north of the country, present-day Mexico. According to history scholars, the Native Americans were believed to settle in the country approximately 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. (nativeamericans) The Native Americans were able to get into the country through the land-bridge situated from the northeastern Siberia into Alaska. The primary Indian cultures in North America is classified into Sandia, discovered in 15000 BC, Clovis in 12000 BC and Folsom in 8000 BC. The identification of the Native Americans should not be misguidedly understood as the Indians of Asia since the term was coined by Christopher Columbus when he mistakenly believe the Native Americans as part of the islands of America as part of the Indies in Asia. (nativeamericans) When the Europeans arrived in the country, the Native Americans welcomed them graciously and considered it a marvel to see white men. Considering also the technologies the European brought, the Native Americans were impressed with their conquering guests. However, as the Europeans started to degrade the forests inhabited by the Native Americans, the Native Americans realized the real intention of the Europeans that has consequently disturbed the balance in their nature. Aside from the natural resources employed by the European conquerors, even the Native Americans were seen as a commodity for manpower and labor. (Berkhofers) The Native Americans began to attribute the Europeans into soulless creatures that were in their territory to destruct their natural environment. Not only did the Europeans abuse the environment, they also brought diseases that were infectious to the Native Americans. This eventually led to several uprising of the Native Indians. (Berkhofers)The Europeans were accustomed to conquests, so the Native Americans responded against the Indian Wars and the Indian Removal Act which enabled the Europeans to have ownership of the country. It was a great disadvantage for the Native Americans because of their number, lack of weapons and unwillingness to cooperate even at their own expense. In a final blow against the Native Americans, U. S cavalrymen massacred Indian warriors, women and children in 1890. (Native America: Portrait of the People; Thomas) For many years, many have believed that the Native Americans are extinct cultures. That is why many American Indians are advocating their right to be known as a culture which fought hard and survived whatever they have experienced in their own native land. Many American Indians are still trying to establish their own identity in a country that has become to be white men populated.

Mainstream Literature Does this Worsen the Text?

Mainstream Literature Does this Worsen the Text? How far does conceding to the popular mainstream strip a text of its literariness? (Explore the ways in which your chosen essay texts negotiate competing demands of literary and the popular) William Faulkner said of Ernest Hemingway: He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary (UOI, 1947) attempting to demean the literariness of his works. Hemingway responded; Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? I know them all right. But there are older and simpler and better words, and those are the ones I use. (Ross, 1950) His response to Faulkners elitism suggests that a text does not have to adhere to the implicit, often judgemental rules that define a piece of work as literary in order to be worthy of such a title. Using the poems of Linton Kwesi Johnson and The Hunger Games by Susanne Collins, I will analyse how both authors navigate the fine line between what is popular and what is literary, and whether this affects the overall impact of their work or its integrity as literary fiction. I intend to argue that a text does not have to present itself in a literary fashion in order to be considered worthy of the te rm literary, and similarly, literary texts can exist without conforming to the demands of mainstream culture whilst still being appreciated by modern society. In its simplest definition, literature is simply a written work; it is only when we place the boundaries of what is considered intellectual, or art, upon it that there becomes any kind of speculation as to whether a writers work is literary or not. In contrast, popular culture is a term associated with primarily Western entertainment, news, technology and sports. In its initial conception, the idea of popular was one associated with the uneducated working class, in comparison to the literary culture of the upper classes. Pop culture was the culture of those outside the power establishment; it was entirely separate from scorned and excluded by those in power, who had their own official culture (Berrong, 1986). As a result, there is an ongoing elitism toward popular culture, with many labelling it trite or unintelligent, or suggesting that low culture stress substance, form and being totally subservient; there is no explicit concern with abstract ideas or even with fictional forms of contemporary social problems and issues content to depict traditional working class values. (Gans, 2008) As a result, creators and audiences of popular culture are by association considered to be superficial or lacking in intellect. Popular fiction is defined as plot-driven fictional works, written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre, (French, 2010) so as to appeal to mainstream readers who buy into the pre-existing format because it is familiar, recognisable and easily digested. These so-called conventions of popular fiction are specific settings, roles, events and values that define individual genres and their subgenres (McKee, 1997) and often, publishing houses are known to present obligatory guidelines for authors to follow in order to have their works considered for publication. Any literature in fitting with these conventions is usually considered separate from literary fiction by critics for being stereotypical and poorly written; those texts are created solely to provide escapism to its readership as opposed to meaningful, carefully crafted prose that might incite thought or action. Literary fiction refers to works that hold so-called literary merit, which here means that they compr ise of political commentary, comments on societal hegemonic ideologies and the human condition. Like its popular counterpart, literary fiction is written purposely with its own set of conventions in mind, with the difference being that the focus of the works involved lingers more on themes than on fast-paced plot progression or audience appeal. It is arguable that pop culture is the easiest way to appease the mainstream, an audience fundamentally made up of young people; technology has transformed culture, especially popular culture, into the primary educational site in which youth learn about themselves and the larger world (Giroux, 2000). There has always been contentious debate regarding the discrepancies between high art, a category into which literature falls, and popular culture. However, it is arguable that this debate is obsolete; the distinction between the two is blurred just because a piece of work is easily accessible and appeals to the masses, does not necessarily sacr ifice its credibility or deem it an unintelligent piece of work that is lacking in thought. A televised adaptation of Austens Pride and Prejudice, or Baz Luhrmans modern reimagining of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, for instance, could be considered literary in an intertextual manner, being as their origins hail from classic literature. For instance, author John Storey would argue that the quantitative definition of culture has the problem that much high culture is also popular (Storey, 2014), making the two difficult to separate into distinguishable categories. It also could be said that pop culture is more intrinsic to society than so called high art, because it wields so much influence over the general public and which media they do or do not consume; in the struggle over the symbolic order that characterizes our times, popular culture developed by name brands and various forms of media, including the Hollywood film industry is crucial in creating the identities and representat ions that our youth embrace (Reynolds 2006). Linton Kwesi Johnson is a Jamaican writer based in the United Kingdom the second living poet, and the only poet of colour, to be immortalised in the Penguin Modern Classics collection. Johnson is a dub poet a genre that is, according to him, overcompensation for deprecation and as a writer, refuses to conform to English standards of poetry; he uses Creole patois as a political statement, defying the expectations society holds for poets. This phonetic, unstandardized transcription of his own language is certainly not that of great literary figures Jane Austen, George Orwell or Charles Dickens, and yet, he has been awarded the Golden PEN award in 2012 for a Lifetimes Distinguished Service to Literature. His idea of poetry has been passed through generations, and did not simply consist of standard Received Pronunciation English or what was deemed publishable but included traditional slave songs. Johnsons poetry is heavily inspired by the Black Panther movement, a group in which he be came active during his school years; their belief being that violence in the face of constant racism is necessary, using militant revolutionary force against the racist police and segregation of 1960s London. He himself describes his writing as a political act [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] poetry was a cultural weapon (Wroe, 2008). It was during Johnsons childhood that the SAS law, or the 1824 vagrancy act, was reintroduced, which enabled the police to arrest someone they suspected had intentions of committing a crime, allowing police to exploit and arrest people of colour in London without any evidence. The subject matter of his poetry is usually political, depicting his experiences as an African-Carribean living in Britain, but has also focused on foreign policies and police brutality. Johnsons poem If I woz a tap natch poet serves not only as an example of his subversion from the conventions of literary work but simultaneously describes his rejection of the canon, and his interstitial position between musician and poet, between high art and popular culture, between politics and aesthetics (McGill 2003). For instance, he begins if I waz a tap-natch poet, like Chris Okigbo, Derek Walcot ar T.S Eliot (Johnson, 2004); the opening challenges any predispositions suggesting that canons operate according to transparent principles of coherency or homogeneity. Chris Okigbo signals an alternative to the Western Canon advocated by critics. In contrast, Derek Walcott is a Nobel laureate, and his appearance suggests a movement back towards conservative tastes. However, the inclusion of T.S. Eliot demonstrates that the canon Johnson is crafting is unfortunately one made up entirely of people of colour. He continues by saying if he were top-notch himself, he would write a poem so h dyam deep/dat it bittah-sweet (Johnson, 2004), implying that the works of Okigbo, Walcott and Eliot create work that is deep or poses intellectual questions, a prerequisite of literariness. Moreover, the poem appears to carry another irony when analysed more thoroughly in that T. S Eliot appears as a token white poet, which is reflective of the way in which right-wing institutions that anthologise the zeitgeist of the times, such as anthologies, are known for including very few people of colour, sometimes just a single person, to demonstrate supposed diversity and avoid criticism or backlash from minorities. On perhaps the other end of the literary spectrum to Johnson is Suzanne Collins, an American writer, renowned for her young adult dystopian trilogy The Hunger Games. She was born in Harvard, Connecticut but being the daughter of a military officer, consistently moved across America. Consequently, inspired by her fathers career in the Air Force, her work tackles themes of war and its effects on the world, including poverty, starvation and innocent civilian death. The Hunger Games is set in Panem, a post-apocalyptic America made up of the Capitol and 12 surrounding districts; every year, two children from each district, male and female, are chosen to take part in an obligatory, televised fight to the death, known as the Hunger Games. The staggering popularity of her work resulted in her being named one of Time magazines most influential people of 2010 and as of March 2012, became the best-selling Kindle author of all time. It is not unusual for creators of literature to use so called p op culture tropes and appropriate them into high culture works; with the blurred lines of literary and popular first identifiable in the Romantic period where romance fiction became a substantial influence on future literature, despite having been previously disparaged. More recent examples include Andy Warhols use of the Campbell soup can in his pop art, as well as artist Jeff Koons conceptualising kitsch and pornography, subject matters often vilified for lacking in culture or finesse, to create new work which is supposedly worthier of the label high art. This same technique of intertextuality and the idea that any one piece of literature is created by combining several others is arguably evidenced in Collins dystopian novel; on the surface, it is a young adult romance implementing the typical formulaic conventions and character archetypes evidenced in the majority of mainstream pop culture, arguably inspired by the critical success of Stephanie Meyers Twilight saga. However, when discussing the origin of The Hunger Games, Collins cites the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur as the most significant inspiration for her book a classic Greek tale wherein Minos forces the people of Athens to sacrifice 14 women and children to be slaughtered by the Minotaur in the never-ending labyrinth. She also interweaved the concept of the Roman gladiator games; an all-powerful and ruthless government, people forced to fight to the death, and the games role as a source of popular information (Scholastic, 2010) and in doing so, she successfully brings re nowned, classic Greek literature to the mainstream audiences, albeit in a more easily digestible fashion, by reimagining the stories in a fashion that appeals to pop culture fans. Contrastingly, Johnsons poetry focuses not on fabled morality tales, but on real life issues of racism, segregation and police brutality, particularly in London, where he grew up. It can be assumed that, as this is not a topic to which popular culture utilise for its audiences, he does not concern himself with the opinions of critics, or of his audience for that matter, on his work. It is my understanding that it is more important for Johnson to promote anti-racial messages and protest against the mistreatment of people of colour. Johnson himself said that writing anti-establishment poetry during the Race Riots could be considered an act of protest, an act that could have been to his great detriment as a result of the United Kingdoms fervent racism. This shows Johnson to have integrity he is writing about what he believes is important and worth saying; one way to perform a test of literary merit must be, first, the sincerity of the writer. I would be willing, I think, even to add t he seriousness of purpose of the writer (Peters, 2006). From this, one can argue that Johnsons sincerity in his writing of his experiences, and his determination to express anger and encourage reactions to political issues makes his work literary. In If I waz a tap-natch poet, he purposely distinguishes himself from any of the other writers he mentions; he seems to exist in a liminal space, and it is difficult to discern where he sees himself within the hierarchy of literary and popular. It is arguable that he doesnt consider himself a part of either category, because neither of them serve any importance to him. However, whether a text is deemed literary or popular is very rarely a decision made by its own creator; Johnson is simply distancing himself from the process, as he feels it is unnecessary. Although his work holds no evidence of popular culture references, it is certainly popular amongst a specific minority group; people of colour. They have experienced many of the atrociti es he writes of, and can relate to them in a way that the white Western mainstream cannot. As a result, I would argue that Johnsons writing is certainly popular amongst a niche audience, and that appealing to the mass market is not the only category that makes a text worthy of the title. Johnson first became active in the poet community in school, but he was not published until 1974, in the journal Race Today. In the same year, Harper Lees controversial bildungsroman To Kill a Mockingbird was also released. Both Johnson and Lee tackle the subject matter of racism, albeit in different areas of the world, and Lees novel is regarded as one of the greatest of our generation. The difference between Harper Lee and Linton Kwesi Johnson is that one is a privileged white woman, and the other a Jamaican man of working-class background, whose poetry is not isnt carefully pre-packaged in the standard Oxford Dictionary English, the mainstream being young white heterosexual teenagers, who of cour se, prefer to access literature in this way. Johnson is angry about his mistreatment, and that of so many other people of colour, at the hands of white policemen and politicians and civilians. When declaring a text worthy of literary merit, critics significantly consider the moral or messages the story is trying to create, usually through the medium of symbolism or allegory. The metonymic concept of bread and circuses becomes particularly apt when looking at The Hunger Games, as the Latin translation Panem et circenses served as inspiration for the name of the novels fictional setting, Panem. The phrase, first used by Juvenal, who was degrading the sheep-like nature of common people, their selfishness and obliviousness to wider concerns and civic duty, alludes to an appeasement with a lack of substance. It refers to the way in which supposedly democratic governments make use of superficial distractions to satisfy the immediate, shallow requirements of a populace in order to continue to manipulate them for hegemonic gain. Although this could make reference to the Capitols attempts to placate the districts so they cannot overthrow their regime and dismantle their hierarchy, it could also be an allegory for the way in which popular culture works in the real world. When taking a Marxist reading of the novel, it is arguable that Collins was inspired by the Industrial Revolution, most noticeably the living conditions in 19th century Europe. Katniss illustrates this by saying What must it be like, I wonder, to live in world where food appears at the press of a button? How would I spend the hours I now commit to combing the woods for sustenance if it were so easy to come by (Collins, 2008). Collins plot coincides with Marxs socialist philosophy; Panem is comprised of two groups, the proletariat, or the people of the districts, and the bourgeoisie, or the Capitol. This highlights what is a fundamentally unfair system wherein the majority of wealth is held by the minority whilst the general public struggle to maintain a living. This is further evidenced by President Snows hosting of the Hunger Games, themselves, wherein his government hold complete power over the Districts and their people, who have absolutely no hope of ascending to higher status. Katniss, the protagonist of the novel, lives in the district that is hardest hit by the Capitols regime. She represents the lowest of the proletariat, whereas the closer the districts are to the Capitol, the more advantageous; Its tempting, so tempting, when I see the bounty waiting there before me. And I know that if I dont get it, someone else will. That the Career Tributes who survive the bloodbath will divide up most of these life-sustaining spoils. (Collins, 2008) Here, Katniss describes the Career tributes are more likely to survive, having received training for their entire lives to prepare for the games. Whilst Districts One and Two still have to supply children for the games, this is a mere faà §ade, bread and circuses; Snow makes the districts think everything is equal, but in actuality, the Career tributes are much likelier to survive and win the Games, thus maintaining the bourgeo isie whilst slowly killing off the poor. However, Katniss follows the Marxist ideology and seizes the means of production. Collins writes Without a victor, the whole thing would blow up in the Gamemakers faces. Theyd have failed the Capitol. Might possibly even be executed slowly and painfully, while the cameras broadcast it to every screen in the country (Collins, 2008) By refusing to conform, rejecting the role of victor and encouraging Peeta to do the same, this forces the Gamemakers to change the rules and allow both to win. Katniss is still aware, though, that the Capitol would have the power to make an example of the Gamemakers to restore order. These allusions to Marxism and communist theory imply that there is a lot more depth to Collins work than it at first seems; by incorporating themes of real life class issues, she is commenting on societal problems and posing a moral question regarding Americas modern class system. When asked how he would define literariness, critic Walter Van Tilburg Clark declared the final test of literary merit, is the power to endure obviously such a test cannot be applied to a new or recent work, and one cannot, I think, offer soundly an opinion on the probability of endurance (Peters, 2006). Here, he is arguing that the most significant criterion of the definition is that if a text can endure, it can be considered worthy of literary merit. It is not, then, necessary for a text to follow the other rules regarding context, connotations or conveying a higher meaning; if a text is popular, it is likely to endure. The Hunger Games Trilogy spent 50 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated to the screen as a multi-million dollar film series. Such a lengthy stay at the top of a highly-regarded rating system is suggestive of endurance, and therefore, regardless of the issues the trilogy presents in terms of stereotypical pop-culture tropes and character moulds, it can be defined as literary. In addition, the concept of literariness is one that is inherently subjective; particularly because aesthetic value is entirely based in personal preference. It is, according to critics, a relic of a scholarly elite.Similarly, the predispositions regarding popular texts and its dismissal as uncultured also seem to be outdated views stemming from old-fashioned beliefs. The examination and understanding of popular culture, therefore, is necessary to understanding ourselves, our identities and the world that surrounds us. A text that is considered brilliant by one, will be terrible to another; we each have different interests and tastes, and there is never going to be unanimity when defining literary and popular and the difference between them. The study of popular culture enables us to consider literature in a less judgemental, more open-minded fashion, voiding the inherent laws of what makes a text literary or fundamentally good. Popular cultur e does not exclusively lend itself only to companies to churn out poorly-written prose lacking in value and increase financial revenue, although it is manipulated by those in power to detract from real life issues; just because this is the case some of the time, it doesnt define all literature that falls into the category of popular as unworthy of also being literary. The two terms are not mutually exclusive, and a text does not give up its right to being one by adhering to some characteristics of the other. The spectrum of defining literary and popular categories, albeit arbitrary in nature, which are not binary opposites in terms of literature, is, in my opinion, one that is entirely personal, and each individual will hold opinion on where any given text falls; that does not make them true, as there are no correct answers. Word Count: 3496 _____________________________________________________________________ References Johnson, L. K (2002) If I Woz a Nap-Natch Poet, Mi Revalueshanary Fren: Selected Poems London: Penguin Collins, Suzanne (2008) The Hunger Games New York, Scholastic University of Iowa (1967) An Interview With William Faulkner The Western Review: A Literary Quarterly, Volume 15, Number 4 Ross, Lillian (1950) Profiles: How Do You Like It Now, Gentlemen? The New Yorker, F. R. Publishing Corporation, New York. Berrong, R.M (1986) Rabelais and Bakhtin: Popular Culture in Gargantua and Pantagruel University of Nebraska Press Gans, Herbert J (2008) Popular culture and high culture Basic Books. pp. 8-10 Storey, J (2014) From Popular Culture to Everyday Life Routledge French, C.T Literary Fiction vs Genre Fiction[online] http://www.authorsden.com/categories/article_top.asp?catid=10id=18884 (accessed December 2016) McKee, R (1997) Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting New York: HarperCollins. p. 87 Giroux, Henry (2000) Stealing Innocence: Youth, Corporate Power and the Politics of Culture, New York, St. Martins Press Reynolds, W (2006) Cultural curriculum studies, multiplicity and cinematic-machines Journal of Curriculum Theorizing, Caddo Gap Press Wroe, N (2008) I did my own thing [online] https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/mar/08/featuresreviews.guardianreview11 (accessed December 2016) McGill, R (2003) Goon poets of the black Atlantic: Linton Kwesi Johnsons imagined canon Textual Practice, Vol. 17, Issue 3 Scholastic (2010) Video: Classical Inspiration, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins [online] http://ww(w.scholastic.com/thehungergames/videos/classical-inspiration.htm (accessed December 2016) Bill, M; Peters, N (2006) Howl on Trial: The Battle for Free Expression City Lights Books. p. 224. Poland as a Potential Market: Environmental Analysis Poland as a Potential Market: Environmental Analysis 1.  INTRODUCTION Servcorp is an Australian-owned services company that specialises in the provision of business solutions. Its main offerings include fully-serviced office packages (office space bundled with IT and communications infrastructure and accompanied by IT and administrative staff), virtual office products such as communications and address services, and meeting rooms for hire (Servcorp, n.d.). Servcorp has expanded its operations into New Zealand, the U.S., Asia, and Europe. While the company operates in the UK, Belgium, and France, it does not currently operate in Poland. In this report, I will analyse five environmental factors relevant to the consideration of Poland as a potential market for Servcorp. These are the country’s political and legal environment, economic environment, trade and financial environment, social and cultural environment, and infrastructure. The ensuing discussion will integrate these findings and provide an overall outlook for Poland. Finally, based on these analyses, a number of recommendations will be put forward regarding Servcorp’s potential expansion into Poland. 3.  ANALYSIS OF THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT 3.1.  Political and legal environment Poland has become one of the most politically stable European countries since it joined the European Union (EU) in 2004 (Bujnicki, 2013). In 2012, Poland ranked below the OECD average on the FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index (where a lower score indicates fewer restrictions on FDI) (OECD, 2012). Poland also has a number of state aid measures in place to attract foreign investment. For example, the country has 14 Special Economic Zones; these areas have relaxed income taxation rules and have the appropriate infrastructure in place for starting a business, though businesses require a license to operate in these zones (Lex Mundi, 2013). In Poland, then, Servcorp would find political environment that actively encourages FDI with the view that it is vital to developing the country’s economy. While Poland has few restrictions on FDI, its overall regulatory environment is somewhat complex. The World Bank (2013) ranked Poland 45 of 189 countries on the ease of doing business in 2013, though pointed out that the country’s tax system remains complex and outdated. It takes an average of 685 days to enforce contracts in Poland compared to the OECD average of 529 days, and a number of other bureaucratic hurdles remain (World Bank, 2013). For Servcorp, these factors mean that the company might have to do substantial research into Poland’s tax system, as it contains intricacies not present in Australia’s taxation laws. Property registration is a vital consideration for Servcorp, as the nature of the business means that they must acquire office space to hire out to clients as well as a building for their own use. The World Bank (2013) ranked Poland 54 on the ease of registering property. This is compared with a rank of 40 for Australia; however, there is only one more procedure involved in registering property in Poland than there is in Australia, so red tape in this arena is only slightly more pronounced. 3.2.  Economic environment Real GDP growth in Poland ranged from 1.6% to 6.8% during the period 2005-2012; Poland was the only country in the EU to experience a growth in GDP during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis (OECD, 2013). Real GDP in Poland is expected to grow by 2.7% in 2014 and 3.3% in 2015 (OECD, 2013). However, Poland experienced a small slump in economic growth in 2013; recent changes in fiscal policy have been aimed at encouraging economic growth through expanding the budget deficit and eliminating restrictions on fiscal stimulus measures (Onoszko Krasuski, 2013). Overall, demand for the modern services provided by Servcorp may increase as Poland’s citizens experience an increase in wealth and the economy continues to grow at a healthy rate as a result of these fiscal measures. The slight downturn in real GDP growth in 2013 has been accompanied by low inflation (Eglitis, 2013). This is promising for Servcorp, as it means that the business may be in a better position to make long-term plans with the knowledge that their purchasing power will not decline, and borrowing costs may be lower. With the Polish government’s planned relaxation of fiscal policy, however, Servcorp must continue to track changes in inflation given that these measures may work to raise inflation. 3.3.  Trade and financial environment Relevant bilateral agreements between Australia and Poland include the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and the Double Taxation Agreement (DFAT, 2013). These agreements ensure that the interests of foreign investors are protected in Poland, and in the case of the latter agreement, that foreign businesses do not have to pay taxes on their business profits in each of the two countries. In short, both agreements are conducive to Servcorp doing business in Poland. A discussion regarding tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in Poland will not take place here as Servcorp is not seeking to export to or import from Poland—rather, this report considers the risks and opportunities Servcorp faces in establishing operations in Poland. For similar reasons, free trade agreements that Poland has with other European countries will not be discussed here. In 2012, Poland ranked 37 on the Financial Development Index, which along with other factors, considers a country’s financial stability (World Economic Forum, 2012). Specifically, the WEF found that Poland performed particularly well in terms of the stability of its exchange rate and banking system. The leniency with which currency transactions are treated in Poland depends heavily upon the nature of the relationship between the transactor’s home country and Poland (Lex Mundi, 2013). Because Australia has a tax treaty with Poland (ATO, 2012), Australians can expect to face minimal problems when engaging in currency transactions in Poland. It appears that Servcorp would face little financial risk in the country. 3.4.  Social and cultural environment In Poland, 60.9% of the total population live in urban areas (Central Intelligence Agency, 2013). This is compared to 80% in the UK, 97% in Belgium, and 85% in France. Poland’s comparatively low rate of urbanisation suggests that there may be less of a demand for the services that Servcorp offers (office space, IT and communications infrastructure for businesses) in Poland compared with the other European countries in which the company operates. Religion plays a prominent role in Poland, with 89.8% of the population identifying as Roman Catholic (Central Intelligence Agency, 2013). Servcorp must recognise and close business on religious occasions that are not recognised as national holidays in Australia, such as Corpus Christi. Poland also tends to score highly on uncertainty avoidance, meaning that citizens may reject unorthodox or innovative ideas put forward by some businesses (The Hofstede Centre, n.d.). This poses a small risk to Servcorp given that much of their product offering rests on their â€Å"virtual office† innovation; Poles may be wary of this unfamiliar idea. In terms of corruption, Poland’s score on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in 2013 was 60 of a possible 100 (where 100 indicates no corruption whatsoever), above the world average (Transparency International, 2013). However, there is some concern that Poland does not have the appropriate frameworks in place to manage the growing risk of foreign bribery that comes with its expanding economy (OECD, 2013). Servcorp must be aware of this risk while simultaneously recognising that bribery is not an endemic part of Polish culture. 3.5.  Infrastructure Poland’s score on the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) in 2012 was 3.10 (where the maximum possible score is 5) (World Bank, 2012). This is substantially lower than the 2012 scores received by the European countries in which Servcorp currently operates (the UK, Belgium, and France, which received scores of 3.95, 4.12, and 3.96 respectively). The OECD (2013) remarked that the quality of Poland’s transport and communications infrastructure â€Å"are among the lowest in the OECD† (p. 217). A finding of particular concern is that Poland’s fixed broadband coverage is the lowest in the EU, at only 69.1% (Point Topic, 2012). Poland’s relatively low fixed broadband coverage may prove problematic for Servcorp given that a substantial portion of their business model rests on their provision of modern IT and communications infrastructure to organisations. When acquiring office space for company use as well as for hiring out to clients, a constant concern may be whether or not there is broadband access at that location. Though this is an issue, things may be set to improve: a joint venture between Hawe and TP Teltech is aimed at substantially improving Poland’s broadband infrastructure (van Blommestein, 2012). 5.  REFERENCES Australian Taxation Office. (2012). Countries that have a tax treaty with Australia. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.ato.gov.au/General/International-tax-agreements/In-detail/Tax-treaties/Countries-that-have-a-tax-treaty-with-Australia/ Bujnicki, P. (2013, February 23). Zloty climbs as Fitch revises Poland rating outlook to positive. Bloomberg News. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-22/zloty-climbs-as-fitch-revises-poland-rating-outlook-to-positive.html Central Intelligence Agency (2013). The World Factbook: Poland. Retrieved January 7, 2014, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pl.html DFAT. (2013). Poland country brief. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/poland/poland_brief.html Eglitis, A. (2013, November 15). Polish October inflation rate drops to lowest in four months. Bloomberg News. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-14/polish-october-inflation-rate-drops-to-lowest-in-four-months.html Lex Mundi. (2013). Doing business in Poland. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.lexmundi.com/lexmundi/Guides_To_Doing_Business.asp Ministry of Treasury (2012). Fast growth of business services sector in Poland and prospects of its continuation – business services centers are becoming Polish specialty. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://msp.gov.pl/en/polish-economy/economic-news/3641,Fast-growth-of-business-services-sector-in-Poland-and-prospects-of-its-continuat.html OECD (2012). FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.oecd.org/investment/fdiindex.htm OECD. (2013a). Country statistical profile: Poland. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/country-statistical-profile-poland_20752288-table-pol OECD. (2013b). Poland – Economic forecast summary. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.oecd.org/eco/outlook/polandeconomicforecastsummary.htm OECD. (2013a). Poland needs strategy to meet growing risk of foreign bribery. Retrieved January 7, 2014, from http://www.oecd.org/daf/anti-bribery/polandneedsstrategytomeetgrowingriskofforeignbribery.htm OECD. (2013b). Economic policy reforms: Going for growth 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2014, from http://www.oecd.org/inclusive-growth/Economic%20Policy%20Reforms%202013%20Going%20for%20Growth.pdf Onoszko, M., Krasuski, K. (2013, July 17). Poland to relax budget and fiscal rules to stimulate economy. Bloomberg News. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-16/polish-government-relaxes-budget-fiscal-rules-to-boost-economy.html Point Topic. (2012). Broadband coverage in Europe in 2012: Mapping progress towards the coverage objectives of the Digital Agenda. Retrieved January 7, 2014, from http://point-topic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Point-Topic-Broadband-Coverage-in-Europe-in-2012-Final-Report-20130813.pdf Servcorp. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved January 6, 2014, from http://www.servcorp.com.au/en/about-us/ The Hofstede Center. (n.d.). Poland. Retrieved January 7, 2014, from http://geert-hofstede.com/poland.html Transparency International. (2013). Corruption Perceptions Index 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2014, from http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2013/results/#myAnchor1 van Blommestein. (2012). Is Poland finally getting out of the broadband slow lane? Retrieved January 7, 2014, from http://www.zdnet.com/is-poland-finally-getting-out-of-the-broadband-slow-lane-7000003129/ World Bank. (2012). Logistics performance index: Quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure [Data set]. Retrieved January 7, 2014, from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/LP.LPI.INFR.XQ World Bank. (2013). Doing business 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www.doingbusiness.org/~/media/GIAWB/Doing%20Business/Documents/Annual-Reports/English/DB14-Full-Report.pdf World Economic Forum. (2012). The Financial Development Report 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2014, from http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_FinancialDevelopmentReport_2012.pdf

Bohr and the Periodic table :: essays research papers

Bohr's Model   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three main parts of an atom the electrons, protons and the neutrons. Each part has charge. It is rather positive, negative, or neutral. An electron always has a negative charge. Protons always have negative charges. Then finally the neutron is a neutral charge or a charge of zero. If the charge of the whole atom it zero that means there are an equal number of positive and negative pieces. An electron can be found anywhere around the nucleus, and the protons and neutrons are in the nucleus. You can not pin point were the electrons are but the area that it can be in is called a shell. Periodic Table   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the periodic table the horizontal rows are called periods, and the Vertical columns are called groups. Elements that are in the same row have something in common. Elements in the same period have the same number of atomic shells. Every element in the top row has one shell for its electrons. The second row has two shells for their electrons. Now, the most shells for one element is seven. Less specific groups are called families. Families are grouped by their chemical properties and how the elements react with the outside world. The columns in the periodic table are mostly used to make families. A family of elements can be found in many different ways. An isotope is an atom that is missing or that has an extra neutron. Ionic Bonds   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ions are atoms with an extra electron or a missing electron. But a normal atom would be neutral because it has the same number of electrons as the atomic number. If you are an atom and you are missing one electron, it does not mean that you are another atom, but you are not a complete atom either. You are something new, an ion. The goal of an atom is to be happy. If you have filled shells you are called stable. When you give up the extra electron you are attractive and other atoms want to bond with you. The two main types of bonding are covaent and electrovalent. Ionic bonds are really groups of charged ions held together by electric forces. Covailent Bonds   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Covailent compounds happen when the electrons are shared by the atoms.

Divisive, but Effectual: Reinstating the Draft Essay -- U.S. Military

Ever since World War II, the last war that garnered full American support, the percentage of American citizens enrolling in the U.S. Army has diminished significantly. The U.S. is a major military power in the present world; American soldiers are engaged in many multi-theater positions, consequently dispersing troops over various regions worldwide. As only one in ten citizens has served in the US Army, American knowledge of military conditions is rapidly lessening along with the national harmony that complements such knowledge. Therefore, the comprehension that American security is closely associated with a formidable military never resonated within the greater part of modern American citizens. Although antiwar activists may decry compulsory conscription as unconstitutional, it needs to be reinstated in order to solidify the meaning of being an American citizen, boost the economy by providing jobs, and unify the American people with enhanced homeland security. Generally, reinstating the Constitutional draft would solidify the meaning of being an American citizen. Often, wealthier and more privileged people are able to ask for exemption from serving, so representation of soldiers in combat is composed of less-privileged citizens. With compulsory conscription, all American citizens, men or women, ages 18-26 are subject to be recruited for the armed forces. In fact, only 4 members of the 107th Congress who voted in favor of the Iraq war had children serving there. Politicians would know how it feels to have loved ones in a war, instead of freely speaking about wartime without experiencing it in any way. 1 (206) Americans feel that public support for war in foreign countries is not strong because the soldiers fighting are poorly rep... ..." CQ Researcher Outline, January 11, 1991. http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1991011100 (accessed March 19, 2012). "Binding the Nation: National Service in America." U.S. Army War College, 2008. http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/parameters/Articles/08winter/grigsby.pdf (accessed March 12, 2012). â€Å"Learn about National Service." Americans for a National Service Act, . nationalserviceact.org (accessed March 19, 2012). Greenblatt, Alan. "Upward Mobility." CQ Researcher, April 29, 2005. http://www.cqpress.com/product/Researcher-Upward-Mobility-v15-16.html (accessed March 14, 2012). Farrell, Brenda S. "Military Personnel: Evaluation Methods Linked to Anticipated Outcomes Needed to Inform Decisions on Army Recruitment Incentives." U.S. Government Accountability Office, September 19, 2008. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-08-1037R (accessed March 19, 2012).

The Architecture of Moshe Safde Essay -- Architecture

Moshe Safdie is an architect who really examines how a building can shape an area. Not only how the space may look but its functionality, impact on the environment, and impact on the surrounding community. He seeks to engage and enrich the communities making unique and inviting spaces to fit the needs of each project. (Safdie Architects) One of Safdie's most well known buildings is Habitat 67 (or Habitat). The concept of Habitat began in Safdie's master's thesis. He submitted the idea to the 1967 World Exhibition and, when it was accepted, established his own firm to help see its completion. (Safdie Architects) A series of carefully planned and stacked concrete blocks, Habitat seeks to create a space where every resident of the apartments would have access to natural lighting and a private garden area. It was the building that launched Safdie into a very successful career at a fairly young age (being 29 when it was built). The use of natural light and intimate spaces inside larger vessels have carried throughout all his work regardless of exterior design. (TED) Due to his Jewish heritage and early success, he established a second office in Jerusalem in order to help restore the city. (Sheets) In 1976, one of the projects he received was an extension of Yad Vashem Holocaust museum to be dedicated to the one and a half million children that died during the Holocaust. He felt there were already so many museums dedicated to information about the Holocaust that he wanted to take a different approach to this one. Instead of old clothing and drawings of the survivors, he proposed they tunnel into the hill to a cave below and using images such as photographs and a single candle to convey the heaviness of the loss of the children. T... ...ometimes I don't like the messages I see, pieces such as Serrano's Piss Christ conveys a message that a Jackson Pollack just doesn't. Pendulums can only swing so far before they come back. The art world, like everything, reflects this. It seems the reverse has already began in many ways though only the future will say for sure. Works Cited Arc Space. 1 August 2005. 1 June 2012 . Architect's Newspaper. 1 June 2012 . Safdie Architects. 31 May 2012 . Saieh, Nico. ArchDaily. 26 July 2010. 1 June 2012 . Sheets, Hilarie M. "Architectural Extrovert." ARTnews April 2011: 60-63. TED. March 2002. 31 May 2012 . The Architecture of Moshe Safde Essay -- Architecture Moshe Safdie is an architect who really examines how a building can shape an area. Not only how the space may look but its functionality, impact on the environment, and impact on the surrounding community. He seeks to engage and enrich the communities making unique and inviting spaces to fit the needs of each project. (Safdie Architects) One of Safdie's most well known buildings is Habitat 67 (or Habitat). The concept of Habitat began in Safdie's master's thesis. He submitted the idea to the 1967 World Exhibition and, when it was accepted, established his own firm to help see its completion. (Safdie Architects) A series of carefully planned and stacked concrete blocks, Habitat seeks to create a space where every resident of the apartments would have access to natural lighting and a private garden area. It was the building that launched Safdie into a very successful career at a fairly young age (being 29 when it was built). The use of natural light and intimate spaces inside larger vessels have carried throughout all his work regardless of exterior design. (TED) Due to his Jewish heritage and early success, he established a second office in Jerusalem in order to help restore the city. (Sheets) In 1976, one of the projects he received was an extension of Yad Vashem Holocaust museum to be dedicated to the one and a half million children that died during the Holocaust. He felt there were already so many museums dedicated to information about the Holocaust that he wanted to take a different approach to this one. Instead of old clothing and drawings of the survivors, he proposed they tunnel into the hill to a cave below and using images such as photographs and a single candle to convey the heaviness of the loss of the children. T... ...ometimes I don't like the messages I see, pieces such as Serrano's Piss Christ conveys a message that a Jackson Pollack just doesn't. Pendulums can only swing so far before they come back. The art world, like everything, reflects this. It seems the reverse has already began in many ways though only the future will say for sure. Works Cited Arc Space. 1 August 2005. 1 June 2012 . Architect's Newspaper. 1 June 2012 . Safdie Architects. 31 May 2012 . Saieh, Nico. ArchDaily. 26 July 2010. 1 June 2012 . Sheets, Hilarie M. "Architectural Extrovert." ARTnews April 2011: 60-63. TED. March 2002. 31 May 2012 .

Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development Essay

1. Carl Roger’s Humanistic theory is based upon the idea that everyone has the potential to make a contribution to society and be a good and likeable person if his or her needs are fulfilled. Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers led the humanistic theory movement and it was Maslow who developed the â€Å"pyramid of needs†. Sigmund Freud’s Humanistic theory is based upon the idea that everyone has the potential to make a contribution to society and be a good and likeable person – if their needs are fulfilled. Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers led the humanistic theory movement and it was Maslow who developed the â€Å"pyramid of needs†. Sigmund Freud believed that people have three levels of awareness, which are the conscious, preconscious, and the unconscious. Freud developed a detailed theory on how our own thoughts and feelings affect our actions. It is known as Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory. 2. The five basic traits that most describe differences in personality are Neuroticism – A tendency to easily experience unpleasant emotions such as anxiety, anger, or depression. Extroversion – Energy, surgency, and the tendency to seek stimulation and the company of others. Agreeableness – A tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic towards others. Conscientiousness – A tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement. Openness to experience appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, and unusual ideas, imaginative and curious. Erik Erikson maintained that personality develops in a predetermined order. Instead of focusing on sexual development, however, he was interested in how children socialize and how this affects their sense of self. He saw personality as developing throughout the lifetime and looked at identity crises at the focal point for each stage of human development. These eight stages were Trust Versus Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativist vs. Stagnation, Ego Integrity vs. Despair.

Father of Science Fiction: H. G. Wells

H. G. Wells is the True â€Å"Father of Science Fiction† At the very end of the Victorian Era, there emerged a man of literature the likes of which the world had never before seen. Some know him best as an English novelist, though most of his works were not novels. Some call him a political and social commentator, due to the didactic themes in many of his works. Due to inclusion of the social and natural sciences in his works, he is also known as a popularizer of science.His devotion to the development and establishment of future studies as a science most certainly garnered him the reputation as an early futurist. His pervasive influence in the development of the science fiction genre is indisputable. However it was his masterful weaving together of futurism and speculative fiction into a single body of work dedicated to the future of mankind that earns H. G. Wells the title of â€Å"The Father of Science Fiction†. Herbert George Wells was born in Bromely, Kent, England in September of 1866, the son of a maid and a professional cricketer.When he was eight years old Wells broke his leg and began reading library books to pass the time, stimulating his desire to write. He attended a number of schools throughout his early life, acquiring an xtensive background in physics, astronomy, and chemistry. He even studied biology under Thomas Henry Huxley at the Royal College of Science, acquiring extensive knowledge in the theories of evolution. Joining the school Debating Society nurtured his interest toward social issues and reform.Wells considered himself a socialist and was a member of the Fabian Society that included other such notable members as George Bernard Shaw and Virginia Woolf. At that time he also founded The Science School Journal, allowing him a forum to develop his pen for literature, expressing his iews on society and perfecting his burgeoning fiction. After doing some teaching, he eventually graduated from The University of London with a Ba chelors of Science in zoology. His prolific writing career that followed included hundreds of works over the span of fifty years.His talent for combining the possibilities of science and technology in the form of fictional stories that became known as â€Å"science fiction† or as the genre was known in Britain at the time, the â€Å"scientific romance†. Science fiction as a modern literary genre is distinguished by its use of real cientific ideas and concepts to form a story that is plausible within a futuristic or alternative-world setting. The imaginative elements of science fiction are largely possible within the realm of scientific theory and fact.This differentiates science fiction from other speculative genres such as fantasy and horror in that those works are not concerned with scientific and technological possibility. Even Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818), though certainly innovative in using themes of science fiction, is more accurately classified as a horro r novel. Horror and fantasy genres also delineate rom science fiction in that they include magical and supernatural elements that are absent from the realistic and logical science fiction genre.Though some story elements of sci-fi can be purely imaginary, accurate depictions of science and technology are used to tormulate realistic conjectures ot the tuture, or even alternative timelines of the present or past. What distinguishes H. G. Wells from earlier authors who delve into themes of modern science fiction is that he studied science as a primary disciplinary field and applied his knowledge in a literary fashion, focusing on scientific and technological plausibility. All of Wells' scientific romances contain realistic elements that are based on applied scientific methodology and knowledge.Some of these include such famous works as The Time Machine (1895), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898). Though Wells is considered the â€Å"Father of Science Fictionâ₠¬ , it is often argued that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is the first work that could be considered true science fiction. Many of the innovative themes used by Mary Shelley unquestionably fall into the realm of modern science fiction. Never before had any story been written about a man of science† (the term â€Å"scientist† was not yet coined and would not be until 1834) that performs â€Å"experiments† in a â€Å"laboratory'.Written as a response to the recent Industrial Revolution, Shelley uses fantastical scientific innovations to explore the moral and ethical consequences of technology, a device used by nearly all modern science fiction writers, including Wells. However, unlike Wells, Shelley's works include precious little in the way of actual scientific fact or theory, leaving the audience to speculate about their plausibility. Her education, though broad and advanced for a oman of the Romantic era, was in literary studies and included no instruction in th e natural or physical sciences.Her sources were limited to discussions with her peers of earlyl 9th century experiments in vivisection and galvanism, the latter of which is an antiquated term for the stimulation of muscles by electric current, applied in the case of Frankenstein to the reanimation of dead tissue. Her scientific education is in contrast to Wells, who had an extensive educational background in the sciences. Although Shelley's science is neither plausible nor the main focus of her story, its ealistic nature made Frankenstein truly frightening to her audience, which was her intention in using such scientific elements.Shelley had originally conceived the work as a horror story, thus her themes of science fiction become secondary to the theme of horror as the focus of the work. She inspired the archetype of the â€Å"monster† that followed in literature and film. Though Shelley's idea of using science merged with fiction was innovative for the time and implemented by later writers (including Wells, and not for another 80 years), Frankenstein's designation as science fiction remains ncillary to that as a landmark novel of the horror genre.The title of â€Å"The Father of Science Fiction has also been applied to popular French writer Jules Verne, but is more accurately applied to H. G. Wells. While certainly a brilliant and talented writer that heavily influenced science fiction as a genre of literature, Verne's novels can easily be disputed as works of true science fiction. Much like Shelley's Frankenstein, the works of Verne contain elements and themes that are considered scientific but accessory to his primary literary theme.Much attention is given to Verne's Voyages Extraordinaires, a series of fifty-four stories hich include such famous works as Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), From the Earth to the Moon (1865), and Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea (1869). At the time of their publication, the technological advancements pre sent in Verne's works had been extrapolated by him to aid in his fantastic voyages, but would soon atter become scientific realities. This earned him the reputation ot being a technological prophet, a reputation also held by Wells.Some of his prophecies that came true include the electric submarine, the helicopter, and a â€Å"projectile† to carry passengers to the moon. Although Verne's scientific prophecies were at times more grounded in reality than those of Wells, they were made almost primarily in the area of transportation, unlike Wells, whose prophecies were made in multiple areas of science. The argument can be made that Verne himself inspired these technological advancements. Many pioneering submarine, aviation and rocketry innovators have credited Verne as the inspiration for their successful inventions. However, Jules Verne was in no way a scientist. He was educated as a lawyer and studied geography, the latter of which inspired him to write his stories of adventur e and travel. Verne argued incessantly that his stories were not meant to be read scientifically, and even stated â€Å"l do not in any way pose as a scientist†2. The science he did use in his stories was well researched; Verne often spent time in the company of the best contemporary scientists of his day, consulting them on possibilities of future technology that he could realistically yet fantastically apply to his adventure stories.While not all science fiction writers are scientists, the case of whether Verne or Wells is â€Å"The Father of Science Fiction† can favor Wells as the true â€Å"Father† when it's argued hat Wells' scientific educational background gives him credibility and authority. His use of scientific elements as the primary theme of his works (unlike Verne, whose science was used as an auxiliary to the theme of adventure) makes him more deserving of the title. Also, Verne's title of â€Å"technological prophet† passed to Wells because of his dedication not Just to science but also the serious exploration and inquiry of the future.In 1901, H. G. Wells wrote a book called Anticipations of the Reactions of Mechanical and Scientific Progress upon Human Life and Thought which is onsidered the â€Å"first comprehensive and widely read survey of future developments in the short history of predictive writing†3. Wells was not the first person to take seriously the study of the future, but rather he had access to a vast amount of early speculative writings, including some utopian novels that explored the future state of society, that he combined into a single body of work.With the development of scientific thought during the 18th and 19th centuries and the movement of scholars away from religious apocalyptic future inquiry, scholarly thinking and literature that ealt with general human progress instead of eschatology began to emerge. The development of social sciences that studied human interaction showed predictiv e power when applied to how future society might develop. Many 19th century novelists such as William Morris synthesized sociology with speculative fiction perfecting the utopian novel that gives an image of an ideal society set in the future.Earlier works inherited by Wells that included futurist themes often had a different purpose than the actual scientific study of the future such as exploring God and nterpreting history. In Anticipations, all the early tendencies toward future thought were combined by Wells into the first volume of work that gave complete attention to futurist ideas and systematically explored the future. Like the works of Verne, Anticipations investigates the future of transportation, accurately predicting major highways and interstates as well as the prevalence of motor vehicles.He accurately predicts the rise ot suburbia and huge metropolises as an enormous unbroken sprawls of middle-class life. The book also dwells extensively on the future of world rder an d government, even predicting the formation of the European Union. After the publication of the book, the Royal Institution requested a lecture on future study, which he published under the name The Discovery of the Future (1902). The lecture calls for a whole new science to establish an ordered and working vision of the future, and is known to this day to be the birth of future studies.Wells continued this theme with other works dedicated to the future such as A Modern Utopia 1905), The Future in America (1906), What is Coming? (1916), A Year of Prophesying (1925), The Fate of Homo Sapiens (1939) and many, many more. His work The Shape of Things to Come (1933) is a fictional outline of future history, the title a phrase coined by Wells that has been used countless times and is still used today. The term â€Å"foresight† used in Anticipations was also coined by Wells.Wells' other accurate future predictions include lasers, cell phones, the Internet, and the atomic bomb (a phr ase he used in his book The World Set Free [1914] to describe the bombs that would not be developed until the 1930's). The attention that Wells gave to surveying the future not nly established future studies as a legitimate science, but also helped firmly established future thought as a major theme of science fiction. Before Wells published Anticipations, he published his first and most well-known novel The Time Machine (1895).The story features a scientist known only as â€Å"The Time Traveler† who built a device that can move through time. This device is known as a â€Å"time machine†, a term coined by Wells and still used to this day in reference to such a device. The Time Traveler Journeys forward in time almost 800,000 years and meets a peaceful society of child-like humans known as the Eloi. He also meets the frightening race of Morlocks that live underground and are keepers of the technology that achieve the above-ground serenity.The Time Traveler also soon lear ns that the Morlocks feed on the Eloi, and that their technology is used to keep the Eloi passive. He comes to the conclusion that the two races are a product of Darwinian evolution and the large gap between the social classes of British society. He speculates that the Eloi were once the leisure class, and due to their conquest of nature with technology they have become feeble in an environment where intelligence and strength are no onger necessary for survival. He also speculates that the Morlocks are descendants of the oppressed working class.This application of Darwin's theories as a literary motif echoes Wells' education under Huxley who was known as â€Å"Darwin's Bulldog†. Before publication of The Time Machine, the premise of time travel as a plot device had been used very little. There were some old folk tales and less than a handful of modern fictional works that had included time travel. The idea was certainly popularized by Wells and considered the inspiration of a ll later science fiction works that feature time travel. Like Anticipations, it also established time settings in the future as a major element of science fiction.Wells is the first author to use modern science fiction elements to compose social and political commentary. The Time Machine famously illustrates the possible future consequences of a stratified society that becomes too dependent on technology and will be subject to a form of extreme social Darwinism. In The War of the Worlds, Wells examines Victorian attitudes and values. In his story of Martians attempting to colonize Earth and exterminate humans, Wells provides an imaginative vehicle tor ommentary on British Imperialism.Wells also explores morality and technological ethics, specifically within the realm of vivisection and genetic engineering in his novel The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896). The use of science in a fictional setting to make a didactic point is a reoccurring theme in Wells' scientific romances. It has since then became a major literary device in modern science fiction works to explore the impact of technology on society and humanity. In his best-known and most influential work, 2001 : A Space Odyssey (1968), British author Arthur C.Clarke explores the moral and hilosophical implications surrounding technology and artificial intelligence, evolution, and alien life. Clarke was strongly influenced by Wells; he was even vice president of the H. G. Wells Society. The British author C. S. Lewis was a champion of science fiction that is philosophically reflective and includes a moral point. He created his Cosmic Trilogy as a direct influence by H. G. Wells, citing his novel The First Men in the Moon (1901) as â€Å"the best sort [of science fiction] I have read†4.Out of the Silent Planet (1938), the first book in Lewis' trilogy, is so similar to The First Men in the Moon that the opening age says â€Å"Certain slighting references to earlier stories of this type which will be found in the following pages have been put there for purely dramatic purposes. The author would be sorry if any reader supposed he was too stupid to have enjoyed Mr. H. G. Wells fantasies or too ungrateful to acknowledge his debt to them. â€Å"5 Wells' influence on science fiction extends to many more authors, including British science fiction author Olaf Stapledon.Stapledon himself was a heavily influential writer, contributing many ideas to the genre of science fiction. Stapledon and Wells orresponded for over a decade, both creating ideas together and borrowing from each other. In his book The Billion Year Spree, Brian Aldiss calls Stapledon the â€Å"greatest of Wells' followers†6. Wells' science fictional reach extended beyond the sphere of British authors and diffused quickly to America, where his influence can be seen in such notable science fiction authors as Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein.During the 19th and 20th centuries, when the idea of the utopia as story element be gan to have a prominent place in literature, Wells himself wrote a number of utopian novels such as A Modern Utopia (1905) and Men Like Gods (1923). Wells progresses the idea of the utopia with his novel The Time Machine by turning the theme into an anti-utopia point of view. He illustrates the seemingly utopian society of the Eloi, and upon the discovery of the violent Morlocks, the world transforms into a horrifying dystopia.In his novel When the Sleeper Wakes (1899) about a man who falls asleep for two hundred years and wakes up in the future, Wells gives definitive form to the dystopia as a science fiction theme. This theme was taken up by later authors, most notably the British authors George Orwell and Aldous Huxley in their amous novels Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) and Brave New World (1932) respectively. These two novels have been explicitly touted by their authors as directly influenced by the works of Wells, and have in turn influenced many other authors, works, philosopher s, thinkers, and even nations and governments.The achievement of H. G. Wells in the development of science fiction as a respected and important literary genre is unquestionable. His background as a scientist combined with his adept queries on futuristic ideas provided a springboard into an illustrious and intluential literary career His creative inventions ot science fiction themes such as the time travel, alien invasions, and invisible men have taken their place as staples of sci-fi literature.This, along with his numerous coined terms, technological prescience and populizing of proto-science fiction themes into mainstream literature designate Wells as the most important science fiction writer the genre has ever seen. And when his pervasive influence on future science fiction writers is regarded along with his other contributions, the only conclusion that remains is that H. G. Wells is the true â€Å"Father of Science Fiction†. Works Cited Wells, H. G. Anticipations of the R eactions of Mechanical and Scientific Progress upon Human Life and Thought.