Monday, September 30, 2019

Why Was Cinema Going so Popular in the First Half of the Century?

Frances Connolly Year 1 Modern Britain Linda Polley 16th May 2006 Essay Why was cinema going so popular in the first half of the century and why did it decline after 1950? Both the rise in popularity of cinema going and its spectacular decline are not only well documented and discussed, but surprisingly, have generated little general disagreement among historians. Eddie Dyja states categorically that cinema popularity is easily explained, ‘it is cheap accessible and glamorous’1. Where as most of the blame for the decline is attributed to the advent of television.Each is correct; however neither is the complete explanation of either scenario. No study would be complete without examining the social aspects of the cinema going experience, audience participation as well as demographics. The impact of the war cannot be ignored. A war time social survey in 1943 found that seventy percent of the adult population admitted attending the cinema regularly. James Chapman tells us th at during this period ‘larger groups of the population are relatively better represented in the cinema audience than they are in the publics reached by other media’2.Similarly, to explain the decline in cinema solely in terms of television is to ignore the fact that television had actually been around for some time before the decline. Also although the rapid decline began in 1945 television wasn’t widely available until after the coronation in 1953. 3 In addition, an examination of both what was happening in the industry and particularly to the cinema buildings themselves sheds further light on the decline of audiences.The first public screening of a film in this country before a paying audience was on 20th February 1896. It was orchestrated by French magician Felicien Trewey using a Lumiere cinematograph, at Regent Street Polytechnic in London. Admission was 1s and it marked the beginning of Britain’s fifty year love affair with the cinema. Luke Mc Kernan and Stephen Herbert tell us that by ‘the close of the nineteenth century it was firmly established as a medium of entertainment, instruction and experiment’. During the first 10 years of the twentieth century Britain was at the cutting edge of developments with the work of men like William Friese Greene who made the first moving picture on celluloid film in Hyde Park. Another British man, George Albert Smith, actually devised the first colour system Kinemacolour in 1908. Interest in innovation and scientific advancement coupled with a political will to change the lot of the poor meant that this new, cheap form of entertainment appealed to an increasing number of people.Social developments in the early twentieth century, for example Lloyd George’s ‘peoples budget, meant that a slowly increasing number of people had money to spend on non essential items. Also increasingly, those people with money to spend were women and they needed a socially acceptable venu e for their entertainment, the cinema fitted the bill. As they bore the brunt of the drudgery of daily life so their need for escape and a vision of another world was greater. Not only the choice of film but the whole nature of cinema going were factors which drew audiences.The early small ‘flee pits’ where local communities gathered to socialise, Marwick suggests that ‘eating, dozing and, for young couples courting, were all part of the experience’5. Behaviour was somewhat less than decorous; it was accepted practice for audiences to shout at the screen and across the auditorium, making it a much more interactive experience. The films either in the silent era or the early talkies showed a world that the average working class audience could not know about any other way.Even when the images were idealised and less than accurate they provided a glamorous escape from the reality of poverty. When the ‘dream palaces’ typified by the Odeon cinemas bu ilt by Birmingham Businessman Oscar Deutsch began to replace these small local cinemas they simply added to the glamour of the occasion by providing atmosphere from the moment a person entered the building. Film choice was a similarly crucial indicator of the reasons people went to the ‘pictures’. The most popular films were in general the American imports.The industry there had expanded exponentially, the studio system created by the major studio owners and the huge home audiences allowed for the production of big budget high quality films on a tremendous scale. The studios spent vast amounts of time and money marketing not only their films but their stars. Creating a culture of stars, Hollywood royalty who’s every action was big news, world wide and whose salaries could not be conceived of, by the poor working class audiences in Britain who devoured their films.Cinema really came to pre eminence as ‘the entertainment of the masses’ during the war. Michael Sissons and Phillip French tell us that ‘whether it involved Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable cheering up the boys with displays of leg, or Noel Coward and John Mills inspiring them with displays of stiff upper lip,’6 the cinema made a significant contribution to the war effort. In effect, as well as entertaining the cinema now served a higher purpose. War was declared on 3rd September 1939, and although war fare did not immediately reach British shores the effects began to show quickly.Gas masks were issued, blackouts enforced, shelters built, rationing introduced and sand bags were stored everywhere space could be found. On 7th September 1940 the Blitz began and London saw seventy six consecutive nights of bombing. Altogether sixty thousand British civilians were killed and two out of every seven houses was damaged. The brunt of this devastation was born by the working class, in such circumstances it is easy to see why the need for escape was greatly increased. Add to this the social changes brought about by necessity during the war and the rise in cinema attendance is easily understood.Conscription drained the country of young men, (in fact conscription was extended to single women between the ages of nineteen and twenty four,) at a time of greatest need. This drew women, particularly significantly married women into the general work force for the first time. This gave women economic and social freedoms as never before. This same lifting of traditional restrictions was extended to the young. Many young people had to be left to their own devices and the cinema provided a couple of hours of cheap baby sitting. Matinees were a staple for the young and dreaded by the cinema owners.The best seats were only a shilling and at least half the audience paid less. Combined with this, the war years saw an eighty percent rise in wages. An average weekly wage in 1938 was approximately fifty three shillings and three pence; by 1945 this had risen to nin ety three shillings. The cost of living in this same period was only thirty one percent. 7 With married women working some households now had two incomes for the first time put simply there was more money to be spent on leisure when there was limited choice of suitable leisure so the cinema was an excellent option.When we come to examine the evidence for the decline in cinema attendance it is blatantly obvious that television played a considerable part. The opportunity to watch events of national significance such as V. E. Day parades and the marriage of Princess Elizabeth from the comfort of the home was a great advantage and gradually did draw an audience. When the Queen was crowned in 1953 there was a concerted effort made to ensure that the whole nation could see the coverage on television if they so wished and twenty million did.After this date the steep incline of the attendance figures graph can without much fear of contradiction be attributed to the upsurge in television pur chases. However, by this stage the decline in audience numbers had already been significant. Many of the reasons for the increase in popularity can also help to explain its demise. An examination of the cinema building themselves shows several points. Firstly the change from the small local cinema had brought about a change in the experience which actually reduced the social aspect of the experience.By moving the location from town centres people no longer met their friends and neighbours, the new cinemas discouraged rowdy and licentious behaviour so the experience became less of an interactive, social occasion. The purposes the old cinema building were put to adds another dimension to the debate. Many were converted to dance or bingo halls, the former for the young the later for their parents. The variety of activities which had become acceptable during the war had increased, when people particularly the young went out they wanted to interact with the opposite sex as well as their friends.Youth as a separate group with expendable cash were now demanding other forms of entertainment as well as the cinema. In addition to this many of the big cinemas were no longer that new and provided a much less glamorous environment at an ever increasing cost. In his study of the geography of cinema going in Great Britain Barry Doyle found that during the period when cinema attendance was at it’s peak the number of cinemas especially in urban areas was correspondingly high. As new large out of town cinema complexes began to spring up many of the more convenient cinemas closed.He suggests a possible correlation between the decline of cinema attendance and the availability of access to cinemas. 8 Another factor in the decline in cinema attendance can be found in the film industry it self. The British film industry at this time was experiencing a ‘golden age’; its films were well received and more critically successful then ever before. However the picture w as something of a mirage. During the late twenties the financial situation for British production companies was so dire that production was all but at a standstill.In an attempt to bolster the industry The Cinematographers Trade Bill was introduced in 1927, in essence it was a quota system whereby owners were forced to show at first five percent (rising as high as forty five per later), British films in their theatres. 9 In practice what happened was that the British production companies had neither the money nor the infrastructure to produce sufficient good quality films. They made terrible film which in turn gave the American studios the excuse and the opportunity to buy up or into British companies.Films could then be made in Britain using British talent using American money which could be shown within the quota system as British. This did have the short term effect of supporting the British film industry but drained revenues out of the country. So when the Americans hit problems as happened after the war there was no way of filling the gap. After the war the studio system in America could no longer sustain itself, the stars were demanding independence and freedom to choose their own material this meant ever increasing production costs.At the same time the studios lost their other main source of revenue, ownership of the distribution and theatre chains. This monopolistic practice was curtailed when they were forced by the American government to divest themselves of their theatre empires in 1949. 10 American Film simply cost more and there were less of them available. Perhaps the greatest threat to the British cinema came from the British Government who’s interference in the industry had devastating consequences at this time. An audience once lost is hard to regain.In 1947 Dr Hugh Dalton was Chancellor of the Exchequer and in an attempt to curtail the flow of revenues from the country to America decided (without any consultation with the industry), to impose a seventy five percent duty on all imported films. This resulted in the American film industries embargo on Britain. No films until the tax was rescinded. After many machinations committees and discussions, it was lifted and the only tangible action taken was to raise the price of admission thus alienating the public even further.According to the figures of the British film Institute five of the top ten films of all time were made in the nineteen forties and one, the oldest in the list Snow White and the seven Dwarfs was made in 1937. This is because cinema attendance in that decade were ten times higher than today. The changing face of British society throughout the early part of the century meant that the majority working class group had both time and money to spend on entertainment and the cinema provided a social and socially acceptable environment to spend that time and money.In the ‘Good Housekeeping’, Magazine of 1942 there is an article entitled ‘B udgeting for Victory’. In it the housewife is advised to reduce costs as much as possible, yet some provision for ‘Holidays and amusements’ is still allowed. 11 So even at a time of great national crisis spending on entertainment is accepted as an essential all be it a minimal one. The decline in popularity was more complex than it seems at first with many factors playing a small part not least access. However it cannot be disputed that television with its convenience and it aid to status put the final nail in the coffin.It has been estimated that more people owned a television in 1960 than owned a refrigerator. 12 Showing it to be of significance in its own right as a symbol of the growing affluence of British society. By the late fifties early sixties entertainment and the need to be seen to be doing well was of more importance than any convenience which might be gained from the purchase of an item that could not be displayed. So the cheap medium of the enterta inment of the masses to the occasional, one option out of many, in under a decade. ReferencesChris Wrigley, ‘Blackwell Companion to British History, A Companion to Early Twentieth Century Britain’, (Blackwell Publishers ltd, 2003) Alan G. Burton, ‘The British Consumer Co-operative Movement and Film,1890-1960’, (Manchester University Press, 2005) Brian McFarlane, ‘The Encyclopedia of British Film’, Methuen, London,2003) Eddie Dyja, ‘BFI Film Handbook 2005’, (London 2005) Shay Sayre, Cynthia King, ‘Entertainment and Society Audiences Trends and Impacts’, (Sage Publications,London,2003) Claire Monk, Amy Sargeant,’British Historical Cinema’, (Routledge, London 2002) Robert A.Rosentone, ‘Revisioning History, Film and the Construction of a New Past’, (Princton University Press,1995) Marcia Landy, ’British Genres Cinema and Society 1930-1960’, (Princeton University Press,1991) Jeffrey Richards, ‘The Age of the Dream Palace Cinema and Society in Britain 1930-1939’, (Routledge, London,1984) John Hill, Pamela Church Gibson, ‘The Oxford Guide to Film Studies’, (Oxford University Press, 1998) Paddy Scannell, David Cardiff, ‘A Social History of British Broadcasting’, (Basil Blackwell Ltd, Oxford, 1991) John Barnes, ‘The Beginning of the Cinema in England 1894-1901’, ( University of Exeter Press 1998) Charles Barr, ‘Ealing Studios’, (Studio Vista, London,1993) Robert Murphy, ‘Realism ans Tinsel Cinema ans Society in Britain 1939-49’, (Routledge, London, 1992) Michael Sissons, Phillip French, ‘Age of Austerity’, (Greenwood Press,Connecticut,1976) Arthur Marwick, ‘British Society since 1945’, (Penguin Books, London,2003) Arthur Marwick, ‘War and Social change in the Twentieth Century’, (Macmillan, London,1974) James Chapman, ‘The British At War Cinema State and Propaganda 1939-1945’, (I. B.Tauris Publishers, London, 1998) Barbara Dixon, ‘Wartime Scrapbook, Good Housekeeping’, Collins and Brown, Chester, 2005) Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, vol 22, no 3, 2002 Frank Kessler, ‘Introduction: Visible evidence – But of What? Reassessing early non fiction cinema’ Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, vol. 23, no. 2, 2003, Adrian Smith, ‘Humphrey Jennings’ Heart of Britain (1941):a reassessment Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, vol. 23, no. 1, 2003, Barry Doyle,’The Geography of Cinemagoing in Great Britain,1934-1994: a comment’ Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television,vol. 23, no. 4, 2003, Josephine Dolan,’Aunties and Uncles: The BBC’s Childrens Hour and liminal concerns in the 1920s’ Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, vol. 25, no. , 2005, Su Holmes, ‘Designed Specially for Telev ision purposes and technique: The Development of the Television Cinema Program in Britain in the 1950s’ Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, vol. 24, no. 4, 2004, Sue Harper, ‘A Lower Middle-Class Taste Community in the 1930s: admissions figures at the Regent Cinema, Portsmouth,Uk’ Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, vol. 25, no. 4, 2005, Lawrence Black,’Whose Finger On the Button? British Television and the Politics of Cultural Control’ Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, http://www. zenbullets. com/britfilm/article. php? art=history The British Film Resource 1890-1910, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. bftv. ac. uk/ , The Centre for British Film and Television Studies, accessed April 10th 2006 http://news. bbc. o. uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4051741. stm BBC News Entertainment, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. bbfc. co. uk/about/index. php British Board of Film Classification, accessed April 10th 2006 ht tp://www. bfi. org. uk/nftva/ British Film Institute, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. britishcinemagreats. com/cinema_history/pre_british/page_1. htm British Film History, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. history. qmul. ac. uk/research/BFIproject. html Queen Mary University of London, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. ealingstudios. co. uk/history_home. html Ealing Studios, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. filmsite. org/pre20sintro. tml ,Film History before 1920, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. bafta. org/site/page13. html , British Acadmy of Film and Television Arts, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. movinghistory. ac. uk/index. html Moving History, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. screenonline. org. uk/film/id/448216/index. html BFI, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. victorian-cinema. net/sources. htm , Who’s Who of Victorian Cinema, accessed April 10th 2006 http://www. pinewoodshepperton. com/html/filmography/filmography. htm Pinewood, access ed 3rd May 2006 http://www. screenonline. org. uk/people/id/460162/index. html Denham Studio, accessed 3rd May 2006

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Arguing an Opinion †Invention List Essay

In the last twenty years technology has changed society and our culture. We now live in a world that couldn’t have been imagined fifty years ago. Many of these changes have come through computers and connectivity. The Internet is changing the way we live and date. It has made finding your soul mate just a quick click away. By using online dating services you can peruse profiles from the comfort, and security of your home. You can read thousands of profiles , view pictures of people in your area or around the world ,, and then decide whether to move forward with conversations and dating or move on to the next pond. Having the ability to get to know someone via email and messaging is far superior to meeting someone in a hot sticky bar. Online dating allows you the ability to get to know the other person before going to the first date. Since some people tend to be more comfortable expressing themselves through written communication, they tend to open up more during the initial interaction When using an online dating service there isn’t any guesswork about the person you are getting to know. You can be very specific when listing your wants and it is easier to find someone that shares yourvalues.. Setting up a profile unique to your needs and interests helps attract others with similar hobbies and morals. When viewing your matches you already are being connected with others that meet the specific criteria listed in the questionnaire you filled out when completed your personal profile. If there is any question about what a match listed it can be cleared up easily before meeting, via messaging or phone conversations. With the accessibility that the internet provides, online dating can alleviate the jitters associated with meeting someone for the first time. You can talk to someone via email, text message, or on the phone until you are comfortable with meeting your soul mate for the first date. When you meet for the first time it is a welcomed event. You are able to get the awkward introductions and small talk out of the way, and your first date doesn’t have to result in a ‘drink fest’ to rid yourself of the nerves from being in an uncomfortable situation. Technology has changed the face of dating indefinitely and gives you the ability to meet people you would never have the opportunity to meet in your day to day life. While others may still be on the hamster wheel of dating, you can end the monotony and find your soul mate in just a few short clicks.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Strategic Sourcing within DoD at the Operational Level Thesis

Strategic Sourcing within DoD at the Operational Level - Thesis Example But, it so happens that when hard workers develop great amenities, the fellow nations tries to copy those technologies either in a friendly or in a forceful manner. However, the nation which has toiled so hard to develop those technologies knows the effort which it has put in for gaining those utilities and as such would not be ready to forego that advantage for any friendly gesture. The resultant would be a war. As such, the nation with great amenities should always be watchful of this dilemma and be on its toes to avoid such war situations so as to safeguard its best technologies. This is the main reason that all the nations around the world maintain their own defense departments to create a fear of loss to their neighboring countries. This fear could be maintained only when secrecy of the technology developed is maintained. The same is the case with the Department of Defense (DoD) of U.S.A. with its headquarters in Pentagon. The main purpose of DoD is to maintain and supply forces of military in order to avoid situations of war and safeguard the nation. In this journey, it is forced to develop sophisticated technology for which a lot of resources have to be procured including the precious human effort thereby stretching itself to find out ways and means of fulfilling its mission of nation’s security. Along with such development, care should be taken to safeguard that technology so that, in the game between two nations, enemy nations do not become conversant with those inventions. Hence, ultimate secrecy has to be maintained at every point thereby impeding the commercialization of the unique inventions which were developed for defense purposes. It so happens that during such inventions, an off shoot of those inventions stands to be of immense help to the common man that if known its utility, their commercial value could be established with no doubt. For instance: Rayban sunglasses, were originally developed for air force pilots to ban the

M7A2- Corporate Social Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

M7A2- Corporate Social Final - Essay Example The paper will provide an introduction of the benefits of CSR, the roles played by technology in enhancing CSR and challenges associated with technology in CSR. Finally, the paper will make recommendations for further research. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) entails all voluntary activities that are undertaken by business organizations in order to promote the social welfare of the society (Benn & Bolton, 2011). Companies participate in CSR through conserving the environment and meeting the differing needs of all stakeholders in the organization. Accordingly, CSR promotes business sustainability through ethical practices, making social investments and ensuring transparency in all business activities (Sims, 2003). Modern corporations adhere promote human rights, environmental protection and diversity in order to meet the social expectations of the society. In deed, CSR ensures that businesses acknowledge the negative impact of their operations on the natural environment in order to undertake measures that will conserve the ecological environment and control climate change (Sims, 2003). Modern technology has played numerous roles in facilitating business operations and CSR activities. For instance, sup erior manufacturing technology leads to higher product quality and efficiency in the manufacturing process thus reducing raw materials wastage. Johnson & Brennan (2002) asserts that the emergence of internet and associated communication technologies has enabled the businesses to monitor the changes in stakeholder needs and establish channels of communication that aim at maintaining cordial relations (Crane, 2008). Proponents of CSR assert that technology can be used to improve the ‘triple bottom line’ through financial, environmental and social returns. In this case, the technology will enhance the human resource processes such as recruitment, retention and risk management in order to minimize instances

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Revolutionaries and Self Martyrs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Revolutionaries and Self Martyrs - Essay Example Revolutionary movements in the 1960s also included Palestinian groups like the Al Fatah and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Inspired by communism and supported by the USSR, they advocated a strategy of guerilla warfare and terrorism to liberate Palestine. The concept of people’s war was developed as Palestinian leaders understood that Muslim states were incapable of mounting any serious military opposition to Israel. Urban terrorist warfare was the goal of these movements as they learned about it from revolutionary movements in Palestine, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, China, Cuba and Algeria. The Palestinian network in the 1970s was the main financier and supporter of European, African and Latin American revolutionary movements. The late 1970s was a turning point as the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Many Arab and Western governments began to recruit young people to wage a holy war against the Soviets. Another phenomenon was the rise of the Islamic revolution in Iran which b egan to view not only the US and Israel as enemies of Islam but also the Arab regimes. The 1980s saw the rise of Afghan groups who were bolstered by an influx of volunteers from the Muslim world and weapons from the West. Iran began to export its own revolution especially in Lebanon where it trained and armed Hezbollah. This group was responsible for the first suicide bombings and kidnappings against Western targets. Both Islamic fundamentalist and secular revolutionary movements have shared many similar goals.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Are entrepreneurs born or made Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Are entrepreneurs born or made - Essay Example From these definitions, it logically follows that entrepreneurship is the process that the entrepreneur undertakes to achieve his goals; or in simplistic terms, what an entrepreneur does. This paper will present a number of behaviours skills and attributes that are necessary for entrepreneurial success and will try to understand if these behaviours and skills are inherent or if they can be acquired through learning and social conditioning. Furthermore there exists rich literature on entrepreneurial processes that delineates theories and models which form the bases of entrepreneurial success. These theories and models provide insight into the undertaking successful entrepreneurial ventures. Together these models and behaviours will prove or disprove the notion that entrepreneurs can only be born. An entrepreneur is characterized by behaviours and endowed with skills that set him apart from other people. These particular attributes are the essential constituencies of an entrepreneur an d their underlying theories become the focal point of the discussion of whether entrepreneurs are born or made. This paper will seek to critically evaluate a number of theories and models of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial process in order to reach to a conclusive answer to this question. Entrepreneurs are creative, innovative and opportunity-seeking individuals who have a preference for taking initiative and moderate risk. This creativity enables them to see things in different contexts, devise new solutions to problems and craft new approaches to doing business. An entrepreneur will desire sense of responsibility to and ownership of his work as he is committed to it. Another distinguishing characteristic of entrepreneurs is that they are very flexible. They adapt very easily to the changing environment to meet the need of their customers and businesses. One reason for this is that they have an internal locus of control. Entrepreneurs believe that they are responsible for the outcomes of their businesses and therefore do not attribute failure to external factors. They believe in making their own luck and shaping their own destiny. An entrepreneur is more likely to prefer achievement over money which makes him a highly motivated individual. This motivation then channels positive energy that transcends to the enterprise too. Behaviours are different from skills and, as such, an entrepreneur also possesses some distinctive skills. As decision makers entrepreneurs rely on their gut feeling and this skill aids in decision making when there are information constraints. They can think strategically and possess negotiation and persuasion skills. Entrepreneurs make their enterprises a success as they have a vision for leading their organization, shaping its dynamics and seeing through to its commitments. A number of models and theories have been coined to explain entrepreneurial behavior and process. The Stage model of growth by Scott and Bruce (1987) explain s the growth of enterprises in terms of five stages; inception, survival, growth, expansion and maturity. During the inception stage the business is starting up with inconsistent growth. The business and its products are constantly being modified and the functions of the business are not

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Federal Government Role in Public Education Research Paper

Federal Government Role in Public Education - Research Paper Example From this discussion it is clear that  one of the key reasons as to why a national Pre-K 16 curriculum would actually improve the quality of education as there is overall continuum of education between K-12 and other post-secondary education system being followed at colleges as well as universities. It has also been argued that lot of students actually entering into the country’s college and university system are significantly unprepared for reading, writing as well as mathematics. These deficiencies can create significant disadvantage for the students because of the gap between the high school competencies and readiness for college. There is therefore a critical misalignment between K-12 and post-secondary standards and it can create significant disadvantage for the youth.  As the study highlights  one of the common pitfalls of having a national Pre-K-16 curriculum is the lack of information regarding the overall expectations of various stakeholders involved. The misali gnment between the goals and expectations of teachers and institutions at both the post-secondary education institutions actually can make the case for development of national curriculum stronger. There is also a lack of shared knowledge as well as standards which can ensure uniform assessment of the students at various levels. A national curriculum for Pre-K 16 would actually allow the institutions to actually track the educational trajectory of the students and better assess their strengths and weaknesses to ascertain better future options for the students.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Introduction to service marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Introduction to service marketing - Assignment Example The study also highlights the benefits as well as shortcomings of some of the modes of integrated marketing communication. The Indy event is Queenslands premier sporting event which had an average attendance of about 297, 835 people. This event has generated over seven hundred jobs in several industries had has pumped more that fifty million US dollars into the Australian economy. The importance of the event can be gauged from the fact that the Queensland government injected over ten million US dollars towards the promotion of the event which it right describes as an amount spent well. The Indy event is a four day motor rally which is in the existence for about thirteen years. This event is also popular in the international markets and has over seven hundred acclaimed media persons from across the world who come from over 195 countries from across the globe. In 2002, the Indy event was placed in the Queensland Tourism Awards Hall of Fame for the third consecutive year. There are certain characteristics of services that makes a particular service brand unique and pragmatically difficult for managers to capture. The augmented services offering model helps in identifying brand differentiation sources. (Ozment, 1994) This model states that as a charecteristic of most of the services there are three basic components which forms the managerial way of constituting the process. The three components are stated below namely, The Indy event must be organised in such a away that it is fully accesible to people form all over the world. As the event is held in Queensland Austrailia hence it is properly accesible to both the guests as well as the racists who participate in the event. The event managers must also ensure that the consumer participates in the event both passively and actively in the event. The event organisor must ensure that guests are fully satisfied and they promote the event (word of mouth communication) amongst their

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Joking Apart Essay Example for Free

Joking Apart Essay Joking Apart is a BBC television sitcom written by Steven Moffat about the rise and fall of a relationship. It juxtaposes a couple, Mark (Robert Bathurst) and Becky (Fiona Gillies), who meet and fall in love before getting separated and finally divorced. The twelve episodes, broadcast between 1993 and 1995, were directed by Bob Spiers and produced by Andre Ptaszynski for independent production company Pola Jones. The show is semi-autobiographical; it was inspired by the then-recent separation of Moffat and his first wife. Some of the episodes in the first series followed a non-linear parallel structure, contrasting the rise of the relationship with the fall. Other episodes were ensemble farces, predominantly including the couples friends Robert (Paul Raffield) and Tracy (Tracie Bennett). Paul-Mark Elliott also appeared as Trevor, Beckys lover. Scheduling problems meant that the show attracted low viewing figures. However, it scored highly on the Appreciation Index and accrued a loyal fanbase. One fan acquired the home video rights from the BBC and released both series on his own DVD label. (more) Recently featured: Stonewall riots – Hippopotamus – Ten Commandments in Roman Catholicism

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Appearance Vs Reality Essay Example for Free

Appearance Vs Reality Essay Throughout life we are constantly seeing new perceptions of things and in turn constantly changing our perception of reality. The Key concepts of Appearances and Reality were explored through the use of Paradox, Point of View and Verisimilitude, within the texts The Truman show (Peter Weir) and Relativity (Escher). These concepts were used to effectively portray the key differences, and deeper meanings of Appearance and Reality. The way in which we view an object, situation or concept, greatly affects how we interpret its reality. This concept is explored by using Point of view to change the viewer’s ideas about the True reality of within the Truman show. The whole idea and notion of our reality is based upon what we see, what we grow up with. We learn from a young age what we see isn’t always the truth, and therefore we adapt our reality to what we already know. This is the same for Truman Burbank, a 33 year old average man. He is the unknowingly star of a television show all of his life. Everything he does and says is recorded and televised uninterrupted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Like us Truman has never questioned his life as his point of view has never been given the opportunity to change. That was until a series of incidents occurred that changed his Point of view. A key change in Truman’s point of view is when a series of onset glitches lead him to see a different reality that clashes with what he knows. These events lead him to become erratic and quite demented (Evident by the erratic car trip with Meryl), eventually leading to a point where Truman has Meryl by the throat with a set of dicers and Meryl screams’’ Somebody do something’’. This quote leads Truman to the core belief that there is something wrong with his reality and that he will not stop until he finds out what is real and what is not. This eventually leads him to the point in which he leaves the T. V set and has discovered the through a new point of view his true reality. This is Through the use of Point of view; the audience is able to observe how changing views can lead to a new reality. Reality or the Truth can be very hard to identify from an Appearance. The concept of Verisimilitude is very evident in Escher’s Relativity through the use of conflicting images and vectors to reveal the hidden truth. Escher’s relativity is an image that at first is very perplexing. A series of staircases intertwined in what appear at first to be impossible. The image can actually be viewed in different points of view, each of which changes the intention of what is real, and what is not within the image. E. g. persons are waking up/down a staircase and when the image is rotated, they are now walking upside down and defying gravity. The way, in which we observe it at any angle, an object within the image is wrong. The almost impossible picture, riddled with false appearances has still got reality within it. Using verisimilitude we are able to see that although the image has several false appearances, one of them must be the true reality, otherwise the image could not exist. The problem for the viewer though , is how can we judge one false truth as more real than the other, this means that no matter what our first appearances are always not going to reflect the true nature of the reality around us. The Truman show explores the Paradox of appearance and reality, and how that changes our final point of view towards a situation. In the Truman show we start off with the interviews of the cast, this is our first insight into how the show operates. A key quote which sets a paradox within the film is when Truman’s best friend Marlon says ‘’Nothing you see on this show is fake. It’s merely controlled’’. This is contradictory to the very nature of the show, it’s a show which is meant to have the Truth in it, e. g. (TRUE MAN), he is the reality of the show and yet his reality is a false appearance. How we never question the nature of reality is also explored when Christof the director says ‘’ we accept the reality with which we are presented’’. This is another paradox as we explored before a false reality is also representative of the truth. Truman himself is accepting of the reality he is presented because he initially never had a reason to change his point of view. But through the film the paradoxes of the false reality and the Truth clash, revealing a deeper truth, which is revealed at the end of the film to Truman. The use of a Paradox to reveal a hidden truth between Appearance and reality is effective within the Truman show as it allows the Audience to change their point of view and observe how it is changed in others. The composer Peter Weir (The Truman show) and Escher (Relativity) both used Point of view to change the perceived reality of the persona and the viewer. Paradox and Verisimilitude are both mechanisms for the changes towards a true reality and are used by each composer to explore effectively the differences and similarities of Appearance and Reality.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Uptake of Family Planning Services among Students at MSU

Uptake of Family Planning Services among Students at MSU DETERMINANTS OF BEHAVIOUR STUDY INTO FACTORS RELATED TO UPTAKE OF FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS AT MSU CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Family planning is the action taken by individuals to prevent or delay pregnancy and is achieved through the use of contraceptive methods. Family planning services include confidential advice about methods of contraception, confidential advice about STIs, pregnancy tests, diaphragms, IUDs, insertion or removal of the contraceptive implants, condom distribution and education both to females and males. Some services have dual advantages (assist in child spacing and also in protection against STIs), example is condom. Background The world’s total fertility rate has dropped dramatically, from 5 children per woman in the early 1950s to 2.1 children per woman today, largely owing to more widespread use of modern contraceptives, especially in the developing world. (Creanga et al. 2011), this shows a tremendous success of the program over the years. Having seen that there is now high sexual activities in colleges, family planning was introduced in colleges with the aim of reducing unwanted pregnancies, and STIs occurrences. Also from a global perspective, use of modern contraception has risen slightly, from 54% in 1990 to 57% in 2012. From a regional perspective, the proportion of women aged 15–49 reporting use of a modern contraceptive method has risen minimally or plateaued between 2008 and 2012. In Africa it went from 23% to 24%, in Asia it has remained at 62%, and in Latin America and the Caribbean it rose slightly from 64% to 67%.(WHO) this showing appreciation of use of modern contraceptives. Family planning has been seen to assist in pregnancy-related health risks in women, reducing rates of unintended pregnancies, family planning also reduces the need for unsafe abortion, helping to prevent HIV/AIDS, empowering people and enhancing education, reducing adolescent pregnancies, slowing population growth (â€Å"WHO | Family planning,† n.d.). However under family planning there is modern family planning and natural family planning, both involves methods for achieving and avoiding pregnancy. NFP involves methods that are based on observation of the naturally occurring symptoms and signs of the unfertile and fertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle whilst modern FP does not involve observation of the fertile and infertile phases of the woman cycle but involves the use of drugs, devices and surgical procedures in an attempt to reduce pregnancy. Modern contraceptives involve methods like the pill, injectable, implants, IUDs, male and female sterilizations, condo ms, the diaphragm, spermicides whilst natural family planning methods involves methods like withdrawal( coitus interuptus) where a man withdraws his penis from his partners vagina, and ejaculates outside the vagina, (WHO) periodic abstinence, the billings method. NFP has been seen to have other advantages compared to modern FP in the sense that NFP does not have any side effects, it is inexpensive, it fosters mutual communication between the wife and the husband, boyfriend and girlfriend, it is environmentally friendly and it promotes marital chastity but however both they prevent pregnancy. Geographic setting MSU is a university in Zimbabwe found in the midlands province in a central town known as Gweru. Narrowing down to its precise location, it is 10Km south east of Gweru which is the provincial capital for midlands province. MSU was established in the year 2000 with a strategic goal of establishing a fully semesterised university with 10 faculties, 18000 students, 900 teaching and 400 support staff with the requisite service and infrastructure by the year 2015. The vision of the university is to be a unique, development oriented, pace setting and stakeholder driven university that produces innovative and enterprising graduates. MSU is currently found at the former Gweru teachers college (main campus) and off campus at the Batanai complex in Senga Township, Telone training centre and part of the Institute of manpower planning and development. MSU is a fully semesterised and modularized university which enrolls twice every year thus in March and August for four and five year program with third level being of work related learning in industries and other relevant work places. MSU has got an undergraduate school, post graduate school and a visiting school where those visiting students attend classes for a week per month and they complete their studies in 3 years. MSU is honesty, integrity, and hard work driven and has a passion for excellence which is tempered by self-discipline and care for others, it is also driven by sensitivity to gender equality and equity, needs of the disadvantaged, African culture and devotion to self-sufficiency and professionalism. adapted from university website: www.msu.ac.zw PROBLEM STATEMENT Despite the high numbers of condoms being distributed monthly at MSU, high numbers of STIs are still being reported at the school clinic. In 2011 a total of 286 were treated for STIs at the school, in 2012 a total of 790 students reported with an STI at the school clinic. In 2013 a total of 616 students reported with an STI at the school clinic. There is also presumed occurrences of unwanted pregnancies around the school. Table 1: statistics for the uptake of family planning services at the school in the year 2013 Table 2: statistics for the uptake of family planning services at the school in the year 2012 Table 3 2013 STIs statistics at the school from Jan Dec Table 4 2012 STIs statistics at the school from Jan Dec It will therefore be necessary to explore the factors that influence uptake of contraception or family planning services by students at MSU SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The findings of the study will help in identifying gaps/loopholes in service delivery and service uptake by students therefore contributing to the addressing of these loopholes. The findings of this study will help or is important in the following: Coming up with interventions to assist in the Prevention of teenage pregnancy Prevention of transmission of sexually transmitted infections Reveal the factors associated with the uptake of family planning services by MSU students Reveal the challenges faced by students trying to access family planning services Help come up with strategies/recommendations to curb or address the challenges CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW Many studies have been done with the aim of finding the factors as to why people adopt to family planning services. Several studies have achieved this goal of identifying the factors that contributes to the uptake of family planning services, be it socio economic, cultural, behavioral, religious. Studies relating to behavioral factors affecting uptake of family planning services Below is a detailed review of the studies which highlighted factors which determine/influence uptake of family planning be it negatively or positively. In a study by Kibret, 2003 it was indicated that students had high knowledge of contraceptives and where to get them but level of usage of contraceptive was low. Reasons were lack of access to services, carelessness, unplanned sexual intercourse and pressure from sexual partner of which these factors reduce the uptake of FP and not only that a study by (Anochie and Ikpeme, 2003) indicated that students in the developing world exhibit little knowledge and little exposure to contraceptives implying that if students in the developing world have little exposure to contraceptives they might have the knowledge about the contraceptives but not comprehensively because if exposed to the contraceptives they might not be able to know how they are used, thus supporting the study by Kibret, 2003 but the study didn’t comment comprehensively as to why these students in the developing world exhibit little knowledge to contraceptive use. Another study by (Orji et al., 2005) highlighted the most commonly used contraceptives by undergraduates students and indicated that condoms were the most commonly used contraceptive. However the study did not give a complete description of why it is the commonly used compared to other contraceptives. (Lebese et al., 2013) then looked at a study on the factors influencing the uptake of contraception services by Vatsonga adolescents in rural communities of Vhembe district in Limpopo province, South Africa. The findings revealed that adolescents were aware of the availability of contraception services although they lacked comprehensive knowledge about contraception and contraceptives which lead to negative attitudes towards using the services, also cultural health beliefs and attitudes were also identified as barriers to the uptake and use of contraceptives. This study also supports the study by Kibret, 2003 and (Anochie and Ikpeme, 2003) that knowledge is there but there is no comprehensive knowledge and understanding of contraception. (Dangat and Njau, 2013) conducted a study on knowledge, attitude and practice on family planning services among adolescents in secondary schools and provided ample evidence for the reason against use of FP services amongst this group. Out of the 316 respondents interviewed, 171 (54,8%) mentioned the issue of FP causing infertility, some thus 101 (32,2%) said it reduces sexual pleasure, 91 (29%) said it’s a behavior that promotes promiscuity, 88 (28,3) mentioned the issue of causing diseases to the reproductive organs, 82 (26,8%) mentioned the issue of that the behavior shows a trend of multiple sexual partnership, 67 (21,5%) mentioned the issue of causing severe bleeding, some from the study thus 46 (14,6%) said it causes death, 151 (48,1%) from the study group said FP causes damage to the uterus. Generally this study tried to capture students view on the factors that reduces uptake of family planning in schools. The same study showed that a greater population of the school was being encouraged to take family planning services by their parents 187 (59,2%) and a smaller proportion was being encouraged by their religious leaders, further study should be done so as to try and explore the reason as to why religious leaders has a smaller proportion than parents. According to a study by (Kiragu and Zabin, 1995) of contraceptive use among high school students showed that certain beliefs reduce the uptake of FP services by students. The findings pointed misconceptions such as some amongst the students believe that a girl cannot be pregnant if the girl washes her genitals after sex thus 2,7% males ,1.4% females gave an incorrect response whilst 16,3% males, 26,3% females gave a I don’t know response to the question and also that a girl does not get pregnant if the girl jumps up and down after having sex 5,6% males , 2,6% females gave an incorrect response to the question whilst 28,1% males, 36,4% females gave a I don’t know response to the question, some students didn’t even know that using a condom could prevent STIs thus 11,2% males, 21,1% females gave an incorrect response whilst 16,8% males , 35,6% females gave an I don’t know response to the question. Another question was that a girl cannot get pregnant if she ha s sex standing up 8,8% males , 5,0% females gave an incorrect response to the question whilst 26,1% males , 39,2% females gave an I don’t know response to the question. Another issue was on the question that a girl can get pregnant even if she has sex only once 18,7% males, 11,2% females gave incorrect responses whilst 11,3% males , 14,5% females gave an I don’t know response to the question. This shows a trend of knowledge gaps at the school as far as FP and sexual reproductive health issues are concerned and this shows that knowledge is an important factor in the uptake of family planning services as knowledge can affect the uptake positively or negatively. Another study by (Getrude Namazzi, 2013) highlighted important factors on the theoretical framework that the researcher categorized as health related factors and client related factors which my study might borrow from the researchers study as they impose an effect to the uptake of family planning needless of the fact that the researcher applied them to women attending child health clinic when the researcher was conducting a study on missed opportunities for modern family planning services among women attending child health clinics. On client related factors was age, lack of knowledge on FP, fear of side effects on modern contraceptives. On health related factors was long waiting time, long distance to health facilities, limited funds for service delivery, stock outs of contraceptives and also inadequate motivation of health care workers. In a study conducted by(Seeri and Maheshwaran, n.d.) on the knowledge, attitude of rural college students regarding contraception, the study gave evidence that the students had positive attitude towards FP as among the 426 college students that participated, 50% of the students felt that family planning improves the following such as, 62,5% said it improves health of people, 54% said it improves quality of life, 51% said it solves social problems whilst 32% said it prevents occurances of unwanted pregnancy. Having a positive attitude towards FP can motivate college students to take up FP services thus boosting uptake in schools. However in the study there was under utilization of FP as the study noted that knowledge regarding various contraceptive methods was poor. This was also evidenced by looking, comparing the % awareness of each method with the % awareness of other studies. For instance in the study by(Renjhen et al., 2010), the % condom awareness was 85%, OCP was 40%, as compar ed with 70,9% condom awareness and 30,8% OCP awareness for this study. The study really gave ample evidence that contraceptive and sex education is needed to increase the uptake of FP among college students. Another study by (Relwani et al., 2012) on exploring the emergency contraceptives knowledge, attitude and practices of engineering college girls found out that knowledge of EC was low among the students therefore contributing to underutilization of the method. In the study a strong association between source of information and level of knowledge was noted. The study further support the study by(Seeri and Maheshwaran, n.d.) that to promote use there is need for education and it further explains the strategies for promoting use which the study recommended spreading of accurate information through medical sources which are reliable. The study by (Seeri and Maheshwaran, n.d.) and (Relwani et al., 2012) share something which is, the college students from both studies had positive attitudes but their knowledge was poor and mis informations were high. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK The model that will be used to conduct or carryout the study is the PRECEDE PROCEED model but focusing on phase 4 which is the educational and organizational diagnosis. It has got three categories which the study will look at which are predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors. Predisposing factors are those antecedents to behavior that provides rationale for the behavior (uptake of family planning services) Enabling factors are the antecedents to behavior that enables motivation to be realized Reinforcing factors are factors subsequent to a behavior that provides the continuing reward or incentive for the behavior and contribute to its persistence or repetition. OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS Uptake of family planning – in this study uptake of family planning means the use of family planning services for instance contraceptives by students at midlands state university in midlands province Student at MSU – in this study it is any person male or female who is taking lectures or learning at Midlands State University. Contraception – in this study means any method of birth control which prevents conception such as condoms, diaphragms On campus/ off campus – in this study on campus means at the campus, off campus means outside campus. Year 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2 – in this study 1.2 means students at MSU who are in their first year but in their second semester, 2.1 means those students in their second year but in their first semester, 2.2 then means students in their second year and second semester. Predisposing factors any characteristic of a person or a population that motivates behaviour prior to the occurrence of that behaviour, for example knowledge, attitudes, values, beliefs, perceived needs and abilities (Green et al., 2005). Reinforcing factors – these are rewards and punishments following or anticipated as a result of behaviour. They serve to strengthen the motivation for behaviour. These include family, peers, Health Care Workers, the media and others (Green et al., 2005). Enabling factors characteristics of the environment that facilitate action and any skill or resource required to attain a specific behaviour. These include accessibility and availability of programmes, resources and services, skills, money and time, facilities (Green et al., 2005). PURPOSE OF THE STUDY To find out the factors associated to the uptake of family planning services among MSU students RESEARCH QUESTION What are the factors that are associated or factors that influence the uptake of family planning services among MSU? RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study will be to: Broad Objective Identify the behavioral factors that influence the uptake of family planning services by students of MSU Specific Objectives Determine the predisposing factors related to uptake of family planning services by college students Determine the reinforcing factors associated to uptake of family planning services by college students Determine the enabling factors influencing the uptake of family planning services by college students

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Meaning of Life in Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut :: essays research papers

In his science fiction novel The Sirens of Titan, Kurt Vonnegut attempts to answer the meaning of life and ultimately comes with the answer that in order "to realize that a purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved." (220). However, giving such a straightforward and blunt answer obviously hints that Vonnegut's sarcasm to such a simple solution. Throughout the novel, Vonnegut ridicules religion and science simultaneously in order to come to the ultimate "answer" to the mankind's purpose of life. The Sirens of Titan gives a great sense of direction and compactness. It is astounding in that the novel with its science fiction nature creates human warmth. Three reasons for this phenomenon present themselves. Vonnegut's skill has been developing in 7 years and the science fiction disposition offers the reader more impassiveness. Also he is more informative in this particular work. Like many other Vonnegut's books, The Sirens of Titan was influenced by Vonnegut's experiences from World War II. Although the war is not the novel's major target, it has a significant affect on it. Winston Niles Rumfoord's believes that "'everything that ever has been always will be, and everything that ever will be always has been" (20). In order to escape Dresden with a newer vision, Vonnegut cleverly attempts to rid himself of his youthful philosophy (romanticism and liberalism) by acquiring background from Rumfoord's theory of time and by isolating to define the visual problem caused by Dresden. Vonnegut also describes the Martian Army planning a failed attack on Earth. He illustrates the soldiers on the planet as unthinking puppets forbidden by radio. In order to embed the antenna into a soldiers' intellect, one's head must be shaved and bald. Vonnegut also men tions people who are volunteers. As you can see Vonnegut's description of a soldier is quite ironic. Another significant point in the novel is Vonnegut's believe of God and other religions. He illustrates how ppl blindly and enthusiastically follow Gods and their religions and how ridiculous it is. "Boaz's home vault had a boor on it, a round boulder with which he could plug the vault's mouth" (200). For instance, he also "had slept with his door open, he would have awakened to find himself pinned down by hundreds of thousands of his admirers. They would have let him up only when his heart stopped beating" (142).

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Theories of Aggression Essays -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Theories of Aggression "Two Gunman at Colorado School Reportedly Kill Up to 23 Before Dying in a Siege." On Tuesday, April 20, 1999, two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, of Columbine High School, shocked the nation when they entered the school armed with guns and explosives, killing fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives. Stories of random violence and aggression such as this all too often plague the media. While the attention of the nation has recently been focused on the Colorado slayings, history reveals countless other similar crimes of aggression targeted towards innocent individuals. In both Nazi Germany and the more recent Bosnia conflict, ethnic cleansing has been used to violently eliminate certain races. In the early 1990s, Timothy McVegh's vengeful intentions led him to use a car bomb to kill hundreds of innocent people in the explosion of the Oklahoma City Federal Building. In these cases, the culprits were seemingly normal people that displaced their aggression on innocent bystanders for a variety of reasons. What is the cause of this unleashed aggression toward society? How can we come to explain such acts of aggression and violence? Are they a result of societal influences, or are some individuals biologically predisposed to crime? This paper attempts to analyze some of the prevailing theories of aggression. The theories can be classified into three groups: innate or biological theories, drive theories and social learning theories. In light of the evidence produced for each, it is my goal to formulate a conclusion about which particular theory seems most substantiated and reasonable. Sigmund Freud is well known as the father of psychoanalysis. In his early theory, Freud ass... ...h murders and violence, we must regard aggression as a summated response to many factors. Individually, the factors probably are harmless, but when united, they can be unleashed as aggression in which case terrible crimes take the lives of so many innocent people. WWW Sources 1)Freud's Theory http://home.fgi.net/~freud/index.htm 2)Freud Biography http://werple.net.au/~gaffcam/phil/psych1.htm 3)Instinct Theory http://www.student.richmond.edu/~efecteau/instinct.html 4)Aggression Theories http://rock.uwc.edu/psych/psy330/outlines/aggression.htm 5)Theories of Aggression http://www.unn.ac.uk/academic/ss/psychology/resource/it/1/HAZ.HTM 6) The Theoretical Development of Aggression http://academic.csub.edu/~lvega/dustin2.html 7) Aggression and Violence: Examining the Theories http://www.nursing-standard.co.uk/vol12-27/research.htm