Measurement Guidelines Essay Example for Free

Measurement Guidelines Essay Management guidelines must be developed to create a benchmark of expectations. â€Å"Without measuring the effectiveness of strategy on a timely basis, makes it not only difficult to determine alignment, management is always working with lagging information† (The Executive Corner, 2004). Each step of the final solution will be measured to meet the businesses needs. The human resources department will define three main competencies of each department within sixty days. In order to ensure effectiveness, the competencies will have to be approved and agreed on by the CEO and senior management. Once this phase is completed, the human resources department will commit to training managers on employee behaviors. To ensure training is successful, the managers are tested to assess material understanding. It is estimated that in a maximum of 90 days, Riordan should achieve a predetermined number company goals by their employees. Long-term effectiveness is measured by an employee surveys. A recommendation for an additional survey between 6-12 months for employees to complete will go out. This survey will look for feedback on new processes and the current development and training strategies. The employee turnover rate should be less than industry standards to achieve success. A last of measure of success will be tied to Riordan’s performance output. References The Executive Corner. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.businessbuilders.bz/archives/06-15-04.htm

Completing Thesis: A Reflective Statement

Completing Thesis: A Reflective Statement Normally I set date to start my assignments am not a person who starts things earlier and finish it earlier, I set a time to start up things but anyway I finish my work on time. But after the last day of my dissertation advice session I start working on my thesis from that day. In the dissertation advice session the information given to complete the reflective analysis was major cause which helped me in to make my reflective report successfully. That daily dairy idea not only helps me in this project but also for normal activities of my life I started noting some important things. To complete the thesis I worked practically by talking to lot of people and I did studied lot of books, journals and internet materials and some thesis which is written by some one relates to topic. t took me almost 2 months to finish this thesis with all my hard work involved in it. When I started doing a thesis I found it difficult as I never did research like this as my previous education is based on exams and question and answer session. But this is the first time I am doing a project with lot of field work and lot of time I spend for understand the logistics management and the challenges faced by them. When I started doing this project I was not guided by any one and I was blank. Because I dont know what to write and how to start. Then I felt like going slowly to understand the topic first. What the topic says and what are the challenges faced by the apparel industry in logistics market. As one of my friends directed me what thesis is and what is the solution we should find for the topic. Which is set by the university. Before working for project I started collecting informations like articles, journals, websites and books related to supply chain management and logistics. Group discussion held after the advice session was useful that I come to know about the opinions and ideas of my group mates which was different from one another and was very useful. Every day colleagues came with several ideas which were followed by all the members of the group. But after meeting several people and after getting lot of information about the topic and different answer from different people and different book and journal says different things about the logistics world. It was bit confusing to start with but by setting a time limit to myself to write what I learned every three days. At the end of the month I saw what I wrote after 3 days. Then I consolidate it as a report. These are my basic step I took to start a thesis. But I find difficult in finding the information practically which is meeting the apparel industry managers and staff. As I find hard to get appointments to get information and the information they provide is not fulfilled my questions. But still I did not lose the hope. I did lot of try at last in few stores like Zara in Croydon high street and M S in Guildford had a good response to my entire question. I would like to state few of the answers provided by the managers in Zara, MS and few more stores. As I had several question relating to the topic. I went to Zara, Next and MS apparel stores to find out their logistics performance. First one I went is Zara in Croydon high street surrey. Were I found good information about their logistics strategy and the manager of the store started out by saying the apparel manufacturers and retailers mantra for the new millennium? Speed to market. Its the last leg of the right product, right market, right time race and its all about logistics. And he told the companies started concentrating and started investing heavily on investing on logistics as it is the back bone of the fashion industry. If I say you my personal opinion Zara logistics performance is excellent as it is vertical integration to ensure control over supply chain, and proximity. Zaras centralized distribution facility gives the chain a competitive advantage by minimizing the lead-time of their goods. Zaras internally or externally produced merchandise goes to the distribution centre. This is cost-effective due to the close proximities of the distribution centre in Arteixo and their factories in Coruà ±a. In the distribution centre, products are inspected and immediately shipped, since Zaras distribution centre is a place where merchandise is moved rather than stored. Then, to increase delivery speed, the shipments are scheduled by time zones and shipped by way of air, and land. The typical delivery time within and outside Europe is between 24 to 48 hours. It was an informative session I had in the Zara store and I was amazed with their logistics performance and the lead time to the shelf is best than all other brand. Like M S and Next lead time is longer than Zara lead time and these brands are horizontally integrated. But I found there is a disadvantage in vertical integration which I asked this question to a M S store in Guildford, Surrey. Zaras strategy also creates some weaknesses. Their vertical integration has more Advantages than drawbacks but it is important to recognize its limitations. Vertical integration often leads to the inability to acquire economies of scale, which means they cannot gain the advantages of producing large quantities of goods for a discounted rate. Higher costs are then incurred for the Inditex Corporation. Inditex also has to support their own high capital investments for their chains and be able to financially back their Technology and skills beyond those currently available within the organization. Zaras speedy and recurrent introduction of new products incurs increased costs as well. They have higher research and development costs. They also have elevated costs due to the constant changeover of production techniques to create their different apparel lines. That also means that employees must be trained in order to use the new manufacturing techniques, which again leads to increased costs. Traditional retailers do not experience higher costs in all of these areas. I found lot of information from local shopper till the managers about the logistics performance of lot of the apparel market like TK Maxx, Self Fridge, John Lewis and more. The outcome all are finishing at the end is right product at the right time and reducing the lead time to the shelf is always challenging to the logistics market. During my collection of information I came across some problem, I shifted from Luton to London in the beginning instance I find difficult in searching books and other related journals, but by the advice given by one of my friend I came to know libraries nearby it helped me in collecting information. I made a timetable for myself every week and worked according to it. Mostly I go to libraries and collect informations during day and after I return home I took rest for myself for some hours and then go through the information collected by me on that day and will take notes for my thesis. Once unfortunately I got a call from one of my elder cousin who is working in dubai and when he asked me about my studies I told him that am working for my project and by saying him the topic he gave me phone numbers of some persons who working in logistics sector. The information which was collected by me through phone from logistics managers who are working for ETA groups in middle east countries gave me a detail idea about the challenges which their company face and it was useful for me to research on the basis what exactly affecting apparels. From the day I started working whoever I meet I just put them my dissertation question and take note of the points given by them. For getting additional information and opinions of people I questioned them and comment their ideas and opinion in between which makes them to give answer and which helps me in theoretical argument. This is where the stage I taught myself how to approach people in collecting information and getting ideas. Each person tell their views what challenges their company face and I came to know that some challenges which are major in some countries are not a big problems in other countries. So then I started my work focus on different countries challenges in port and other clearing process. Then I realised that my ability to research on a issue was improving and I felt much confident. Previously while working for my assignments I compromise if I didnt get certain information. But I felt that compromise doesnt wins an argument, so I was very much strict in what I want and I didnt used any substituent if I couldnt get information related . I tried and kept pressure on myself to finding things what is needed for me in completing successful thesis. I find some difficulty in working during weekends after returning from my work. So entirely in the first month I couldnt able to work for my project during week days. Later I realised that am wasting time and even started working on weekends. This two and half month I heard many people saying even the person who talks with me in phone says your quite reserved than before. This is because my minds always think about the project that i need to submit and most of my words I had with my friends were about my project. Normally I am a talkative guy in nature but this time span made me and showed me a person who listens more than speak. I believe that this field work made me to think and act rather than before. Now I do started following the quote plan and implement. I even feel my patience was more than before. I even watched some short videos in Google and YouTube and some of the interview posted by people related to logistics and supply chain management as it was in a visualisation mode It helps me more in understanding the concepts and I made it as my hobby whenever I feel bored i use to watch songs but after starting my project I started watching videos related to logistics. It also took me in interesting way and motivated to watch more videos of such type. After collecting information from different ways like media, books, magazine, newspaper, journals, internet and meeting several professional and non-professional people I came to a understand a change in supply chain strategy and the current supply chain strategy in rapidly developing market. I couldnt able to be in contact with my group members often as am far from them so most of my time with them were in phone and I too asked suggestions and gave them suggestions in finding information. And there was a huge difference in the way of working for project among my group mates and the incidents and experience which we shared was useful for us in going to find more information. To make my work more easier in finding resources I even spoke with some seniors colleagues who finished their masters successfully they told about their time span spend for finishing the thesis and problems faced by them this made me aware to get rid of some problems which I may face in finding and working for data collection. I even quote a line for myself while going through data collection. That suggestion can be asked from everyone but decision should be decided only by my own. I felt there was one mistake which I made in this project work is I collected and take notes not in unique order that I should do my project .i mixed notes and it was quite difficult for me to arrange and make it. I get tensed several times because I was not confident and proper and was in a dilemma in making paragraph. I doubt myself which I need to mention first and follow other things. But quietly I came on it and did that accordingly in my best way. When I finished my theses I felt much happy that I havent felt happy like this when I finish my normal assignments. I believe that the effort I insert for this project in double the time which I work for assignments. After collecting information from different ways like media, books, magazine, news paper, journals, internet and meeting several professional and non- profession people. I come to a understand a change in supply chain strategy and the current supply chain strategy in rapidly developing market. But after collectively found some information about the topic I put myself in the place of a logistics manager and what will I do if I face this problem. I put myself in lot of question. This I thought because I felt like after my studies I have to face all the challenges and question I am thinking currently. I thought I will inter relate my questions and the challenges faced in my thesis which I did and more over this thesis made me think as a manager for a logistics apparel firm and it put me in a confident that I am capable of taking decision and I am capable of managing a logistics firm and I come to know what are the challenges and what are the disadvantage currently facing by the logistics operation. What is jazz? What is jazz? What is jazz? This question has been debated throughout the 20th Century, as jazz has proven difficult to define. The dictionary definition of Jazz states jazz as â€Å"a genre of music that originated in African-American communities around the late 19th – early 20th century†. Regarding its musical features, jazz relies heavily on the use of improvisation and syncopation as well as incorporating elements such as blue notes and poly-rhythms. The birth of jazz into Americas multicultural society has led many to believe that Jazz in one of Americas pristine art forms, parallel to the western classical tradition in Europe. But does this make jazz an American way of creating music, and therefore Americas classical music? This assumption leads to questions about identity and race as a social construct. Jazz emerged as an indigenous form of music that reflected the American ideal of the individuals freedom of expression. However throughout its discourse, jazz has continually evolved from casual improvisations into a set of musical elements that can characterize and define each classical style. However each new classical jazz style carried emerging ideas of ethnic black identity as a sub cultural crisis point. For example, the Blues period was a reflection of slavery, dixie jazz was an early reflection of crayol life and swing represented the commercialisation of black musicians. This implied the idea that jazz music was a reflection of race which articulated African American feelings and thoughts of the socio-political injustices of the time into the music. It is this struggle for identity and equality that in many ways, suggests jazz is a metaphor for the American idea of democracy. However the introduction of jazz to the black community was initially seen by the white as transgressive. It gave the black community emancipation from race, but not an emancipation of race. In essence, jazz created black people who spoke like middle class white people. This subverted their ethnic identities, which created a new socio-ethnic black stereotype, allowing the black man a redefined status. This led to many artists such as Dizzie Gillespie to create a new black intellectual image, as the social boundaries began to break down. Yet it could also be argued that this merely replaced one stereotyping with another. As jazz became more popular, white jazz bands such as the Benny Goodman Orchestra (1935-1939) began to emerge. However, music critic/poet LeRoi Jones saw problems with appropriating jazz. As a champion of the African-American population, he believed that black music belonged to black people. He saw white jazz musicians as thiefs that steal music from black people. How can jazz be seen as Americas classical music if America is divided on its appropriation? However, over time this view changed. Some 50 years later, jazz arguably transformed from a single, guarded expression of the consciousness of African Americans to a national music. This identity of jazz emerged in 1987, when the 100th congress of the U.S.A recognized jazz as â€Å"a national treasure to which we should devote our attention, support and resources to make certain it is preserved, understood and promulgate† (Price 2003, 1). This was a unique American phenomenon which appropriated jazz as a national symbol. Jazz historian/critic Grover Sales book Jazz: America’s Classical Music (1984) initiated this discussion of jazzs importance a few years earlier. The main proposition in the book was that jazz was a serious form of music that should be regarded as equally important as Western classical music, despite its differences. In 2001, the same statement was made in Ken Burns documentary Jazz (2001) by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. This started another debate as to whether jazz should be perceived as Americas classical music or whether jazz and classical music should remain separate. On the one hand, jazzs emergence as a form of popular music in the United States, like classical music was performance orientated, with jazz schools such as the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) formed in Chicago, 1965. This association, much like a conservatoire aimed to give young African-American jazz tutelage. As a genre, jazz music has also evolved through different forms, levels of complexity, literacy and excellence. Because of this, it shared many similarities with classical music. It is also argued that, like the classical music of other cultures, jazz has been time tested. In the early 20th century; it became a standard and a model, later established value and most of all was native to the African-American culture. A culture which, echoed its struggles, decade by decade through music. Jazz serves, in a sense, as a musical mirror, reflecting how not only the African-American jazz community saw themselves at different times in their history, but als o how society portrayed them, for example in the way Hollywood movies portray the 1920’s and 30’s using the jazz of those decades to underscore the pictures. Trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis, believed in promoting the appreciation of both Classical and Jazz music. Born in 1961, Marsalis career progressed from teacher, to music educator, becoming Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, winning nine Grammys in both genres in the process. But despite his talent, critics opposed Marsalis views. Scott Yanow criticized his â€Å"selective knowledge of jazz history† and that he considers â€Å"post-1965 avant-garde playing to be outside of jazz and 1970s fusion to be barren. Marsalis was also criticized for pressing his opinions as producer and on-screen commentator in the Ken Burns documentary Jazz (2001). The documentary focused primarily on legends Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, presenting jazz as a lineage of great men and as Americas classical music. Marsalis also covered the years 1920–1965 more than later decades, and almost disregarded 1970 jazz completely. In response to the film, music journalist David Adler wrote, Wyntons coronation in the film is not merely biased. It is not just aesthetically grating. It is unethical, given his integral role in the making of the very film that is praising him to the heavens. Grover Sales opinion in 1984 supported Marsalis view, but he too was also criticised. Emmett price, associate professor of music and one of the worlds leading experts on African-American music, opposed Sales saying; â€Å"There is nothing classical about jazz. Classical implies static, non-changing; a relic frozen in time. J azz has never been static, non-changing or frozen. (Price 2003, 1). Prices interpretation is questionable, as the idea of classical music as a relic frozen in time is controversial, however his point about jazz being the opposite of this is hard to disagree with. The genre of jazz has been constantly evolving through the decades, with the emergence of fusion as a hybrid musical form. Can any classical genres, such as music from the Romantic period be described as a hybrid form to the same level as fusion is to jazz? Immediately there is difficulty classifying jazz as a classical music. Jazz is a constantly changing art-form that nowadays refers to new and evolving genres (such as acid jazz, punk jazz in the 90s). Arguably, the idea that jazz is never finished evolving challenges Sales 1984 claim of it being a form of classical music. The word classical implies a level of unchanging, solidarity, so is it appropriate to label the ever-changing jazz climate as classical music?

Charlotte Haldanes The Last Great Empress of China :: Chinese History Essays

Charlotte Haldane's The Last Great Empress of China â€Å"Never again allow any women to hold supreme power in the state. It is against the house-law of our Dynasty, and should be strictly forbidden. Be careful not to permit eunuchs to meddle in Government matters. The Ming Dynasty was brought to ruin by eunuchs, and its fate should be a warning to my people†(Haldane 259). These were the final words of the last great empress of China, Tzu Hsi. In a sense this statement was ironic. For almost 50 years this one woman ruled China with a graceful but iron fist. The Last Great Empress of China, written by Charlotte Haldane, is the story of how Tzu Hsi (1861-1908, rose to power and managed to keep it. Known by several names through out the course of her life, Tzu Hsi was intelligent, beautiful, and had a voice that could charm anyone. Chosen as an Imperial Concubine in the third class, Yehonala (as she was known at the time) took great care to win the favor of the current Empress Dowager. Her next step was to win the favor of the young Emperor Hsien Feng, which she accomplished with the help of the Chief Eunuch, who she had also won over. In her quest for ultimate power the luckiest event that befell her was the birth of her son. Because the Empress Consort Sakota failed to produce an heir, Yenonala’s son was to become the heir apparent, raising her to the position of first rank concubine. Throughout the course of her life, Tzu Hsi played her cards well, continuously increasing her power. Tzu Hsi’s thirst for power caused her to be the center of several scandals over the course of her reign. It is said that she arranged the death of the Empress Consort Sakota (also known as the Tzu An) and two influential concubines whom she deemed a threat to her authority. Not being able to accomplish these deaths on her own, Tzu Hsi turned to those closest to her, the royal eunuchs. Though the eunuchs as a rule were not to speak unless spoken to first, the Chief Eunuch, whoever he was at the time, became her closest confidant.

My Antonia Essay: Weak Structure and Powerful Drama :: My Antonia Essays

Weak Structure and Powerful Drama in My Antonia Much of the earliest criticism of My Antonia focuses on the apparent failure of the narrative. Many critics take the title of the story and its introduction at face value. When the story says it is to be about à ntonia, it must be about her! Therefore, many critics see the stunningly crafted pieces of "variation from a theme" -- the stories of Peter & Pavel (the Russians and their wolves) and the sections of the novel dealing with the hired girls Lena Lingard and others-- as divergences which weaken the overall structure of the novel. In other words, these stories distract us from the real story, that of à ntonia and her relationship with Jim. Other critics talk mostly about the landscape of Cather's stories, the way the pioneer story and the struggle with nature is a vital piece of her work. This is partly why, I think, Cather has been viewed as a minor writer of "local color" for so long. Because she sketches her landscapes with such simplicity and yet detail, many critics do n ot look past the landscape to see the characters and the true drama that they play out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An example of a critique which accepts the critical opinion that the novel is "defective in structure" is James E. Miller's 1958 essay "My à ntonia: A Frontier Drama of Time." I group his essay here because he spends the bulk of the essay arguing that the defect of structure is overcome when we look at the cyclical nature of time in the novel as its unifying theme. This article does seem to be one of the first ones that looks to disprove the "failure" of Cather's narration. Of course, by disproving this argument, Miller is still working within the context of failure/success which I don't think other writers (read male authors) are judged by.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Miller begins his argument by pointing out that many critics "have felt the unified emotional impact of My à ntonia and have grappled with the puzzling problem of the book's actual lack of consistent central action or unbroken character portrayal" (Miller 52). Miller argues that there seems to be no consistent character portrayal, "The action in My à ntonia is episodic, lacks focus and abounds in irrelevancies"(Miller 52). But Miller believes that there is a consistency within the novel, that of the evocation of feelings which the reader has. My Antonia Essay: Weak Structure and Powerful Drama :: My Antonia Essays Weak Structure and Powerful Drama in My Antonia Much of the earliest criticism of My Antonia focuses on the apparent failure of the narrative. Many critics take the title of the story and its introduction at face value. When the story says it is to be about à ntonia, it must be about her! Therefore, many critics see the stunningly crafted pieces of "variation from a theme" -- the stories of Peter & Pavel (the Russians and their wolves) and the sections of the novel dealing with the hired girls Lena Lingard and others-- as divergences which weaken the overall structure of the novel. In other words, these stories distract us from the real story, that of à ntonia and her relationship with Jim. Other critics talk mostly about the landscape of Cather's stories, the way the pioneer story and the struggle with nature is a vital piece of her work. This is partly why, I think, Cather has been viewed as a minor writer of "local color" for so long. Because she sketches her landscapes with such simplicity and yet detail, many critics do n ot look past the landscape to see the characters and the true drama that they play out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An example of a critique which accepts the critical opinion that the novel is "defective in structure" is James E. Miller's 1958 essay "My à ntonia: A Frontier Drama of Time." I group his essay here because he spends the bulk of the essay arguing that the defect of structure is overcome when we look at the cyclical nature of time in the novel as its unifying theme. This article does seem to be one of the first ones that looks to disprove the "failure" of Cather's narration. Of course, by disproving this argument, Miller is still working within the context of failure/success which I don't think other writers (read male authors) are judged by.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Miller begins his argument by pointing out that many critics "have felt the unified emotional impact of My à ntonia and have grappled with the puzzling problem of the book's actual lack of consistent central action or unbroken character portrayal" (Miller 52). Miller argues that there seems to be no consistent character portrayal, "The action in My à ntonia is episodic, lacks focus and abounds in irrelevancies"(Miller 52). But Miller believes that there is a consistency within the novel, that of the evocation of feelings which the reader has.

Finding the Light in the Dark with Bipolar Disorder Essay example -- B

Finding the Light in the Dark with Bipolar Disorder Affecting nearly one percent of the population of the United States, bipolar disorder has quickly become one of the leading forms of mental illness (Spearing). While advancements in medical science and technology have allowed researchers and physicians to understand its elements more clearly, the effects of bipolar disorder are tragic and often deadly. Often the negative results occur due to a lack of proper diagnosis: some seventy-five percent of bipolar cases go untreated (Spearing). Through proper education and public awareness, this serious disease can be properly diagnosed, treated and possibly cured. Bipolar disorder, as defined by the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, is a mood disorder that causes a person to suffer extreme emotional changes and shifts in mood. Previously known as manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder causes alternate periods of mania and depression. To fully understand the effects of this disease, it is important to comprehend the meanings of mania and depression. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines mania as â€Å"excitement manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behavior, and elevation of mood.† Depression, on the other hand, is defined as â€Å"a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death.† (Merriam-Webster). The combination of the two results in emotional chaos. Of all psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder is the most common, affecting between one and two million Americans (Spearing). While it affects males and females equally, there are a few distinctions that can be made about those who do have it. Amongst men, early onset bipolar disorder is more frequent while there is higher rate of rapid cycling, mixed states, and cyclothymia in women (Wurztel 28-31). Also, according to one survey, an estimated 59% of bipolar patients experienced their first symptoms when they were children or adolescents (Harakas G2). Studies show that bipolar disorder occurs in 1% of all age groups (Bipolar Survivor). Evanston Northwestern Hospital claims, â€Å"There is some indication that the incidence of bipolar disorder may be increasing.† While it is important to understand that bipolar disorder is a disease separa... ...ith, Gwendolyn Puryear, Ellen McGrath, Nancy Felipe Russo and Bonnie R. Strickland, eds. Women and Depression: Risk Factors and Treatment Issues. Baltimore: Electronic Publishing Services, 1990. Lieblich, Julia. "Managing a Manic Depressive." Harvard Business Review .May-June (1994): 20-32. McAtee, Jane. Personal interview. 1 Nov. 2003. McCredie, Scott. â€Å"When a Child is Mentally Troubled: Warning Signs Help Parents Know When to Seek Help.† The Seattle Times. 2 Oct. 2002: A7. McManamy, John. McMan's Depression and Bipolar Web. 1 Oct. 2003. 2 Oct. 2003 . Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster Online: the Language Center. 1 Oct. 2003. 2 Oct. 2003 . Pendulum Resources. Bipolar Information. 23 Sep. 2003. 2 Oct. 2003 . Spearing, Melissa. Bipolar Disorder. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Mental Health, 2003. Stuttaford, Dr. Thomas. â€Å"Mania That Inspired a Genius.† The Times. 29 May 2003, sec. Features, Health: 8 Wetzel, Mary C. "Strengths and Limits: Report by a Bipolar/Unipolar Self-Help Group." Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal 14 #4 (Apr 91): 81-86 Wurztel, Elizabeth. Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994.

Culture of India and Western Culture

| | Mounting western culture degrading India on the whole. Have you ever seen the pictures of Jatindranath Mukerjee or Chandrasekhar Azad or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose? Apart from being leading revolutionaries of the Indian freedom struggle, these three great personalities had something more in common. Almost in each picture you will find each of them clad in perfect Indian attire or dhoti-kurta. Do you find the same dress among Indians still? Unfortunately, it is becoming almost extinct more and more and the day is not far when its best position will be in the museum of any Indian metropolis. What inference can you draw from this lamentable specimen? Western influence is rising in the Indian society by leaps and bounds and its intensity is rising with the passing of each year almost. There is hardly any doubt that the entire course is moving contrary to the dreams of the founding fathers of independent India in August 15, 1947. They had thought that the country, winning independence after the freedom struggle of almost two centuries at a stretch, would regain its vigor and set up its basis, rooted in its own intrinsic culture, with conviction. What we are witnessing at the moment is not sad or unfortunate only but just the opposite also. Within the seven decades of national independence influences of Indian culture have started to drain almost. Even if there is any, it is under the greater protection of the western umbrella. Well, you don’t have to go anywhere else – a few glimpses of the Indian television scenario or cable television’s are going to be enough. Gone are the days when the Indian television industry used to speak in favor of national harmony, secular traditions and unity in diversity. These days, the messages of national unification have ceased to come to the fore and the programs have been replaced by reality shows dominated by women clad in skimpy dresses. These sorts of shows go against the age-old Indian traditions and in a word, affront Indian values only. But Indians are so wild that they have little time for the national stature. Is India developing then or on the wane? You have to make the decision. Culture† and â€Å"Tradition† are more significant in a country like India which has always een cherishing its rich culture and heritage and it’s quite well known for it worldwide. But these things are just on paper and are slowly losing their sheen. Why? India is known by her people. We, the younger generation are the representatives of India in a true sense of the word. Even in history, we come across various incidents where the youth took the lead to bring about a change and get India independence from the British rule. We, the Indian you th have always been the power and pride of India. We are the sole cherishers of India’s pride and its heritage which actually lies in its culture, its diversity, its uniqueness. In such a scenario, where the point of a rich cultured country like India is facing the problem of losing its culture, are we, the youth; the Indian youth not ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? Are we not putting our own self image, our self respect, our mother India’s pride at stake by doing so? Just think about it my dear friends. There is no problem as such when we follow the western culture to some extent. The problem is we are forgetting our culture to a greater extent. Why should we do so? 21st century youth doesn’t mean forgetting the motherland and following or in short adopting western lifestyle in totality. Every culture has its own pros and cons. We individuals should be strong enough to take the good and throw off the bad. But what are we doing now? It’s a shame to see that â€Å"India’s pride†; â€Å"We Indian Youth† doesn’t have even a bit of importance for India’s pride and heritage, its culture; and we are easily influenced by western culture. Right from our clothing, till the music, the films, our attitude, our lifestyle, in short every aspect of our life has totally changed. â€Å"Change doesn’t happen on its own; it’s we who bring about the change. † But by this change, our mother India has lost its sheen and beauty; its place; its uniqueness in the world. AND WE, THE INDIAN YOUTH, PRIDE OF INDIA; ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. Friends, it’s high time now and we got to think about this now or never. â€Å"STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE†!!!! Essays on negative impact on India because of western culture? The culture of India has been shaped not only by its long history, unique geography and diverse demography, but also by its ancient heritages. Regarded by some historians as the â€Å"oldest living civilization of Earth†, the Indian tradition dates back to 8,000 BC and has a continuous recorded history for over 2,500 years. But due to the increasing development†¦ Due to globalization†¦ the rich culture of India is disappearing. The most impact is of western culture on India culture. Western culture is based more on materialistic factors where as our culture has a spiritual base. The culture of India is been disappearing by many ways†¦ the youths in India do not respect their elders, the families in India live separate†¦ And thus have lost contacts with their other relatives†¦ The big point which is making the culture of India to disappear in bollywood†¦ the dressing style of the actresses, the slang word used in movies are been influenced the youth to bad step of life. The young ones try to act the same as these actors do which is very bad to the culture of India†¦ The lack of morals, the lacking faith in God, having late night parties, the influence of drugs and alcohols, least interest in Indian languages like Sanskrit, Hindi, Celebrating mothers day, fathers day, valentine day, fools day etc rather than celebrating our Indian festivals and thus wasting their precious time of life, Thinking to be independent at an early age Effect of western culture on Indians? The effects of the western culture on the Indians would be a high range of things. ne would be influential styles many of the youth started t change dhow they dressed because of the west culture. also their cooking, and language. many Indians were drove away from their native homeland. nowadays they all live on Indian preserves. Take a look around i doubt you will see Indians riding on a horse. You might say well I'm an American. Where did you ancestors come from? Probably from over s eas. Well actually the only true Americans would be the Indians being that they were born and raised on American soil. I could go on and on, but i think that's enough | Impact Of Western Culture CHEERS†, and the party starts. With booze, fags and skimpily dressed girls who move their bodies to be the cynosure and to attract males. Everyone is wearing branded clothes, imported watches, designer accessories and what not. These things have become the necessities of the Indian youth and even the older generations. A father-son duo sitting together and enjoying their drinks, women going to pubs and discos and getting involved in obscene acts and girls taking their boyfriends to their homes to have a jolly time with parents and otherwise too. What can one infer after reading the above lines? I guess, the first answer would be that India is changing over the course of time. India, as the name flickers, one thinks of religion, traditions, art and culture and it’s apt to think so because India is the country which is famous for its diversity in these aspects. The land where the great Raja Ram Mohan, Tagore, Gandhi transformed the thinking of people and removed the social stigmas like sati pratha the practice of widows being forced to sit on the pior of their husbands), untouchability and many more. India was known as â€Å"Sone Ki Chidiya† (The Golden Bird) but the shine has faded away gradually with the change in I, YOU and WE. Indian society has evolved into a mixed breed of Western and Indian culture. People are becoming too much casual in both their personal and professional lives, how a â€Å"Good Morning Madam† has now become â€Å"Hi Diksha†, how a â€Å"Namaste Daadu† has become â€Å"Hey Grandpa†, courtesy the western culture. The western culture has proved to be a setback for Indian culture, its rituals, its traditions and mannerism. The Indian morning which used to begin with bhajans and kirtans now begins with the rock of Metallica and the punk of Greenday. The age of losing virginity has gone down to teens — following the western culture, these days it has become a casual and usual trend to lose virginity as teenagers. The way in which Hollywood movies have created an†¦

Keats’ attitude towards women Essay

Q- Keats wrote that he struggled to settle his mind on women, by turns adoring them as angels and reviling them as whores. Discuss Keats’s attitude to women in at least three poems in light of this opinion. Keats once wrote in a letter to Fanny Brawne â€Å"You have ravish’d me away by a Power I cannot resist: and yet I could resist till I saw you; and even since I have seen you I have endeavoured often ‘to reason against the reasons of my Love’- I can do that no more†. The quote, from John Ford’s ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, ostensibly encapsulates Keats’ attitude towards women. Through the variation of female characters presented in his work, from the evil seductress in La Belle Dame Sans Merci to chaste pure Madeline from The Eve of St. Agnes, Keats cultivates the impression of being simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the opposite sex, enthralled by their sensuality yet wary of their seemingly alien nature. This repulsion is depicted quite clearly in La Belle Dame Sans Merci or ‘The Beautiful Woman Without Pity’. Keats’ allusion to the medieval romance by French poet Alain Chartier immediately transports the reader into a fairy tale setting. The poem adopts the form of a folk ballad, yet merely mimics traditional love ballads as Keats’ female protagonist is depicted as having a far darker purpose. The contrast between the traditional ballad form and the cruel titular woman creates an ominous tone that continues into the first stanza of the poem. The poem consists of two speakers, the first of which hails the ‘palely loitering’ knight and asks ‘O what can ail thee’. The eeriness of the poem is reinforced when the unknown speaker asks a second time, ‘O what can ail thee, knight at arms’, the repetition of the question creating a ghostly refrain. The alliteration of the ‘L’ sound in ‘palely loitering’ creates a sense of listlessness that is furthered through the bleak landscape where ‘the sedge has wither’d from the lake, and no birds sing’. From this the reader can infer that the knight is a desolate emotional state, which is echoed, by his surroundings. Keats’s use of pathetic fallacy is furthered when the first speaker remarks that the ‘harvest’s done’ thus leaving the knight in a literal winter as well as a figurative one. As knights are often held as paragons of courage and power, Keats makes the reader aware that something preternaturally powerful must be at work. This preternatural being is ‘full beautiful-a faery’s child’, a tempestuous seductress who enthrals the hapless knight. So besotted is he, that he thinks nothing of following her to her ‘elfin grot’ where she ‘lulled’ him asleep. On the one hand, the verb ‘lulled’ can be seen as a treacherous attempt to secure the knight’s affections and allay his suspicions about La Belle’s otherworldly nature, on the other it can be viewed as a calming gesture, that has been misconstrued by the knight like every other aspect of the ethereal woman. Alluding to medieval mythology, Keats paints La Belle as a succubus, a femme fatale able to suck the life from the chivalrous knight through dreams. We, as the reader are only offered the descriptions and opinions of the knight-at-arms, and know nothing of this lady save for his presentation of her. As such, feminist critics could argue that unkind depiction of her character stems from the inversion of patriarchal values depicted in the poem. The knight is not a helpless victim of fancy, for it was he who first approached La Belle, and it was he who made her ‘a garland for her head, and bracelets too, and fragrant zone’. These objects, seemingly tokens of their courtship can be seen not only to decorate but to bind, enslave and enclose. La Belle Dame Sans Merci deviates from popular literacy tropes by depicting a lovelorn male in a state of decline and anguish after being rejected by the cruel female who is the object of his desires. However, instead of creating a female character to be applauded, Keats turns La Belle’s rejection of the knight into a rejection of morality itself. La Belle is never fully described, a longhaired faceless beauty who enslaves the knight with her feminine wiles. As such, La Belle can be seen to represent all women, an idea that is furthered when Keats speaks of ‘pale kings and princess too, pale warriors, death-pale they were all’. The repetition of the sickly adjective ‘pale’ in conjunction with the paradigms of masculinity found in kings, princes, and warriors furthers the idea of female sexuality corrupting the values of men, thus assuring their downfall. Keats creates a direct parallel to the malevolent succubus in La Belle Dame Sans Merci through male protagonist Porphyro from his poem The Eve of Saint Agnes. ‘St. Agnes Eve- Ah, bitter chill it was! The owl for all his feathers was a-cold; the hare limped trembling through the frozen grass, and silent were the flock in woolly fold’. Just like La Belle Dame Sans Merci, Keats through use of natural imagery depicts a desolate surrounding. However, in this case the frozen countryside is the result of a natural winter and not the spells of a cruel enchantress. This idea is further through the listing of animals; the ‘owl’, ‘hare’ and ‘flock’ are vastly different from the birdless wasteland. Keats conjures in the reader the vision of a harsh winter through use of adjectives ‘cold’, ‘frozen’ and ‘chill’. The depressed nature of this bleak landscape is broken by ‘Music’s golden tongue’ and ‘silver snarling trumpets’. The verb ‘snarling’ conjures in the reader images of savage dogs or wolves and is a startling contrast to the muffled snow covered outside world. The harsh ‘Ar’ sound in ‘snarling’ creates a growling effect and effectively conveys the ferocity and fervour of the music being played. Keats’ use of precious metals gold and silver simultaneously emphasise the value of the music, and livens the frozen world female protagonist Madeline lives in. Discussing the presentation of Madeline, critic Bateman states that ‘she’s no Fanny Brawne, she’s timid and subdued’. Paraded in front on numerous gentry who hold no appeal to her, Madeline longs to escape from the public eye and anxiously awaits the ‘hallowed hour’ of St. Agnes Eve. The adjective ‘hallowed’ holds within it highly religious connotations that encapsulates the sacred nature of St. Agnes Night. The use of religious imagery is prevalent throughout the poem, and is expressed quite exquisitely through Madeline. Madeline is a paragon of virtue, a virgin so pious that she ‘seemed a splendid angel†¦save wings for heaven’. Surrounded by the light of the ‘wintry moon’ Madeline is transformed into an ethereal being, one with no  match on earth. Far from evoking Diana, goddess of the moon and chastity, the scintillating moonlight throws â€Å"warm gules† on Madeline’s breast thus drawing attention to her body as ‘she knelt, so pure a thing, free from mortal taint’. The noun ‘taint’ suggests contamination, a polluting stain that cannot be removed. After the touch of a man, Madeline will no longer be pure, and as such loose that which makes her heavenly. Through use of ‘aged creature’ Angela, Keats creates a counterpart to female protagonist Angela. The noun ‘creature’ brings to mind something other, an alien entity that lacks humanity. Far past the age where she can enjoy the innocent and puerile rituals of St. Agnes eve, Angela is depicted as everything that Madeline is not. Old, frail and feeble, she is constantly shaking due to her ‘palsied’ state and seems prone to fits of forgetfulness, reminding Porphyro that he she cannot trust her ‘dizzy head’. She lacks any strength of character and is easily manipulated by Porphyro, thus enabling him to carry out his seduction on Madeline. One the one hand, the constant listing of physical and mental deficiencies allows Keats to create a strong contrast to thriving Madeline, on the other hand, Keats can be seen as conforming to overused stereotypes- the pious young virgin and the feeble elderly crone. As such, his female characters become a flat â€Å"2D† portrayal, lacking any real depth of personality. Jack Stillinger states â€Å"regardless of the extent to which Keats identified with his hero, he introduced enough overtones of evil to make Porphyro’s actions wrong within the structure of the poem†. On the one hand this statement can be held true, with Porphyro’s actions revealing him to be a ‘cruel man’ and ‘impious’ and on the other, Porphyro’s actions take on a romantic light, and any indiscretions made can be seen to be the actions of a lovesick fool. Mirroring La Belle’s presentation as a succubus, Keats once again draws on medieval mythology. This time however, the male not the female entertains supernatural elements. As such, Porphyro becomes an incubus. Like succubae, an incubus holds power over the opposite sex, and often carries out their seductions through dreams. Unlike La Belle however, Keats does not demonise Porphyro for his sexual  nature and portrays his fantasies of possessing Madeline in a romantic light. Despite their similar situations, the difference in the presentation of La Belle and Porphyro truly illustrates Keats’ attitudes towards women. Keats wrote about empathetic identification, claiming â€Å"if a sparrow come before my window, I take part in its existence and pick about the Gravel†. Keats is able to identify with the sparrow, yet seems unable to create female characters who are not enticing femme fettle’s like Lamia and La Belle Dame Sans Merci, or vapid feeble characters like Madeline and Angela. Keats’ treatment and depiction of his written characters is highly similar to his treatment of Fanny Brawne, finding in her aspects of that which disgusted him in La Belle Dame Sans Merci and enchanted him in The Eve of St. Agnes. In a letter to her he wrote â€Å"I cannot live without you, and not just you but chaste you; virtuous you.† As such, that which drew Porphyro to Madeline also drew Keats to Miss Brawne. Keats however, also echoes the obsessive yearning of the knight from La Belle Dame Sans Merci, writing to Fanny â€Å"you are to me an object intensely desirable.† This desire is shown most strongly in Ode To Fanny, one of the last poems Keats wrote after suffering his first lung haemorrhage. As Keats drifted closer towards death, his infatuation with Fanny became something of an obsession with critic Richardson claiming that Keats â€Å"had transfigured Fanny in his imagination, his passion creating in her the beauty which for him became the truth†. Keats ascribes Fanny with miraculous healing abilities, imploringly asking her to ‘let my spirit blood! O ease my heart.’ Bloodletting was an ancient practice said to relive the body of ill humours and cure maladies. Is this case however, it is not Keats’ blood that is causing his ailments but his damaged soul. Only Fanny can cure his heartache, making him entirely dependant on her. Throughout the ode, Keats is intensely focused on Fanny’s virginity, painfully aware that he will never be able to claim her sexually. Keats calls her his ‘silver moon’ and asks that she stay ‘unravished’ by another’s ‘amorous burn’. Through mentioning moonlight, Keats invokes Artemis, Greek Goddess of chastity entreating Fanny to remain pure. The long vowel sounds  in ‘amorous burn’ speak of consuming passion while the verb ‘burn’ contains connotations of fiery lust, thus furthering the idea of Keats’ fixation with Fanny’s sexuality. Whilst the colour silver is typically linked to purity and the moon, it will also tarnishes over time thus loosing its lustre. Keats knows that Fanny, like the silver, will one day no longer be pure, yet he still asks that no other ‘with a rude hand break the sacramental cake’. The use of the religious metaphor ‘sacramental cake’ to r ather crudely refer to the hymen, reduces Fanny to nothing more than a body for a man to sate himself in. Keats discounts her worth as a person in favour of highlighting her worth as a sexual object meant only for the pleasure of men. Keats employs the use of simplistic rhyme when stating ‘must not a woman be, a feather on the sea’. The juvenile rhyme scheme brings to mind that of a nursery rhyme, an idea that is corroborated by the equally infantile rhythm. Seemingly scornful of her emotions, and rather unable to comprehend that women are able to know their own minds, Keats wrote to Fanny â€Å"you do not feel as I do- you do not know what it is to love†. It is perhaps this view that nurtures Keats’ distrust and envy which prompts his rather hyperbolic proclamation ‘may my eyes close, Love! On their last repose’. The use of the rather clichà ©d â€Å"I would die without your love† conjures in the reader images of powerful emotional manipulation. The reader has to question if Keats is really in love with Fanny like he claims, or if his obsessive infatuation has created an idealised image of what love is, and projected it on the object of his affections. Despite what other characteristic or personality aspects they may possess, Keats paints women as seductresses, entrapping the hearts of unsuspecting men. In regards to the women he writes about, even pure chaste Madeline is presented as having ensnared poor Porphyro. Whilst some of this can be excused due to oppressive patriarchal paradigms that presented women as objects to be obtained, the vast majority of the unfair presentation stems from Keats’ own feelings and opinions. Keats is seemingly unable to view women as fully autonomous human beings, and treats even Fanny as a succubus that has enthralled him, yet even so he elevates her into an ideal. The paradoxical nature of their relationship- characterised by both love and  loathing can be seen to be reflected in his attitudes towards women, leaving him simultaneously enchanted and repelled. Bibliography http://feminism.eserver.org/theory/papers/lilith/labelle.html http://www.keatsian.co.uk/keats-poetry-belle.php http://www.mibba.com/Reviews/Book/4500/John-Keats-La-Belle-Dame-sans-Merci/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/poetry_ccea/loveanddeath/labelledamesanmerci/revision/1/ http://www.englweb.umd.edu/englfac/JRudy/Keats-letters.pdf http://www1.umassd.edu/corridors/bestessay259.html http://literarism.blogspot.co.nz/2011/03/eve-of-st-agnes-keats.html http://research.library.mun.ca/353/3/sensuous_embodiment.pdf Richardson, Joanna. Fanny Brawne: A Biography. Norwich: Jarrold and Sons, 1952. Print.