Monday, September 30, 2019

Bad Sugar Essay

Unnatural Causes In this video â€Å"Bad Sugar† the Pima and Tohono O’odham Indians of southern Arizona have the highest diabetes rate in the world. This affects more then half the adults in this Indian group, but a century ago diabetes wasn’t even heard of. What has happened to the health of the Pima Indians? During the 20th century the river water was used by white settlers and Pima’s local Indians went into poverty and became dependent on the U. S. government. This resulted in the Indians eating tepary beans, cholla buds and wild life these everyday ood items changed to white flour, lard, processed cheese and canned foods. Needless to say this had a big impact on the Pima Indians. This exclusive documentary shows crucial evidence on how we pour more money into drugs, fad diets, medical technologies, but is it deeper then that? Evidence shows there’re more to bad habits and unlucky genes. If we can find a solution to poverty we can solve many of the problems that individuals deal with on a day-to-day bases. As a future educator I will teach them strategies and help improve their daily exercise. Teaching hem strategies will help them to become independent with their exercise as well as quality nutrition and realize how truly Important It Is, which should lower the diabetic rate. Goals: 1 . Promote healthy lifestyles to prevent risk factors for pre-dlabetes, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke 2. Improve the detection, control and treatment of risk factors and pre-diabetes for the prevention of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke 3. Improve the detection, control and treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease to prevent complications and disabilities and reduce the severity and progression of disease

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Environmental Education Essay

David W. Orr delves deeper into Rethinking Education. as he relates to the importance and reason of education and this affirms the six principles that serve as guides to rethinking of education. One of these is the contention that the goal of education is not mastery of subject matter but the mastery of one’s self. Having the power of knowledge means that it must be well-used. Included here also is the contention that one cannot claim that he/she knows something unless he understands the effects of this kind of knowledge on actual people as well as actual communities. Learning is also a process and not just an end product of something (Orr, D. (May/June, 1999) People who are geographically informed must understand how humans should live in different kinds of physical environments. They are not confined to the familiar mid-latitudes but also those that seem less conducive to settlement such as the Arctic and the Equatorial rain forest. It is important that they are equipped with the necessary knowledge of how the physical features of these environments play in shaping human activities. The physical environment differs in their carrying capacity. People sometimes fail to understand this which leads to environmental disaster. For example, cyclical environmental change, especially in semiarid environments, can give particular problems for humans which again can lead to desertification, famine, and mass migration, just as what happened in the Sahel of north-central Africa. Man has to comprehend that the relationship between any environment and its inhabitants is mediated by decisions about how much to consume and in what ways to consume. Water needs to be conserved properly and proper recycling can have critical effects on patterns of environmental use. Good teacher must learn how to motivate, inspire, be led and lead, while making the environment safe for risks and mistakes. They must also demonstrate the ability to lead by example, ethically, morally and purposefully. Good educators regularly communicate the vision and empower the culture within the organization. They continue to build trust and lead the challenges of a constantly changing workplace and society. They understand that it is necessary to incorporate balance not only in the lives of others, but their own as well. This encourages their students to think about life and work differently. The success of a well-managed organization is dependent on one’s ability to organize, direct and motivate the efforts of the individuals. An effective coach needs to know the interplay of all theories of management into action in order to be successful as a whole. Students and young people need to be introduced into various cultures around the world in the framework of a â€Å"melting pot perspective† and cultural relativism (Cushner, McClelland, & Safford, p. 68-70). This would require a new set up or a reorganization of schooling to further illuminate young people on how to assimilate world consciousness as they engage in it through the Internet. Young people must be taught how to accept values and cultures by either assimilating them or by just respecting them as they are. There should be more cultural understanding between people around the world and it is best being taught as school subjects. If more and more people are properly oriented with the language, religion, belief system and other cultural elements of other nations, I guess we would feel more connected with one another and we will be more culturally sensitive and accepting of other fellows. This cultural orientation should also be strengthened by historical and social courses about these other nations. We already have these subjects now but these lack focus and emphasis on its global connections or the links between histories of various nations, their cultures and the global events that unfold and what we ordinarily share in a multicultural technological setting. Educational policy must be able to answer the needs of people. For instance, people need to overcome some of the life chances which had been experienced by parents. Teachers need to be aware4 of children who needs special nurturing because they show special talent in areas where the school progressed (Aitkin, 2005). However, the usual problem is that people seldom find it easy to start from scratch. Society is able to address the performance of these young people No matter what the space provided, the surface of the earth demonstrates the physical diversity in terms of soil, climates, vegetation, and topography. These factors affect the range of environmental contexts for people. People who are geographically informed must understand how humans should live in different kinds of physical environments. They are not confined to the familiar mid-latitudes but also those that seem less conducive to settlement such as the Arctic and the Equatorial rain forest. It is important that they are equipped with the necessary knowledge of how the physical features of these environments play in shaping human activities. I can now understand the dilemma of some administrators of nursing homes. They are burdened with so many responsibilities to take care and ensure that people who avail of their services are attended to and such services are sustained long-term. These efforts are also coupled with corresponding financial burden to sustain the expenses that go with the various challenges that confront them. Retiree assistance, funds from the federal government and its subsidiaries may very well support the medical needs of the low-income and medically-needy people, yet the administrators realize that by meeting the demands of their tasks requires more than any management skills, analytical minds or well-rounded experience to go with such tasks. For what the challenges require most of them is that sincere heart to really care for and be concerned with so many people who are frail, chronically ill, and those who are less fortunate who may not have the resources to sustain their respective illnesses as they become old with no one to depend on during their last few years of their lives. REFERENCES Aitkin, Don. Rethinking education continued. Article Retrieved Jan 22, 2009 at: http://newmatilda. com/2005/04/20/rethinking-education-continued Cushner, K., McClelland, A. , and Safford, P. Human Diversity in Education : an integrative approach, 3rd ed. 2000. Experiencing the Difference: The Role of Experiential Learning in Youth Development. Conference Report: The Brathay Youth Conference Orr, D. (May/June, 1999) Rethinking Education. The Ecologist, 29, 3. White, M. (July, 1999). (ed). Experiencing the Difference: The Role of Experiential Learning in Youth Development. Conference Report: The Brathay Youth Conference (Ambleside, England, July 5-6, 1999).

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Nutritional protocol for hypothyroidism Research Paper

Nutritional protocol for hypothyroidism - Research Paper Example Based on reliable clinical studies and experience of the medical experts on the field, he or she points out the array of nutritional factors that may affect thyroid functions as to lead the readers in making informed choices in their pursuit for a problem-free thyroid and in the end live healthily. Pathology and Etiology The thyroid gland which is located in front of the neck, is the particular body part central to the study of hypothyroidism. However, some cases are due to the malfunctions in the pituitary gland or in the hypothalamus. The most common cause of hypothyroidism all over the world is iodine deficiency -- prevalent among impoverished nations. A number of women develop hypothyroidism after pregnancy, called postpartum thyroiditis (Lowrance 15). Other common causes include congenital or birth defects, radiation treatments targeted in the neck area which may damage the thyroid gland, radioactive iodine used in treating hyperactive thyroid and surgical operations on the thyr oid gland (Koumourou 53). Certain substances such as amiodarone, lithium, methimazole, propylthiouracil and ultimately excessive amounts of radiation precipitate hypothyroidism. People over 50 years old and mostly female have high-risk determinants to develop such disease (Pratt and Levy 22). Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are the hormones that account for the total thyroid hormones that flow in the bloodstream. These hormonal constituents maintain biological activities in the body that affect the metabolism of cells. When these processes are disrupted, then the anatomical regularities will also be disturbed that may lead to the following symptoms: sensitivity to cold, joint or muscle pain, fatigue and weakness, constipation, brittle hair or fingernails, pale and dry skin, weight gain, and depression. If left untreated, late manifestations such as thickening of the skin, thinning of bodily hair, slow speech, hoarseness, and decreased sense of taste and smell will occur (Fe nton 26-30). Myxedema coma, the most serious form of hypothyroidism though rare, can result in death for people who remain untreated. Dietary Restrictions Laboratory tests and medical examinations are required to know exactly what type of hormonal malfunctions or thyroid defects are suffered by the patient. Whether it is autoimmune thyroiditis or hypothalamic disease or just a severe case of iodine deficiency, diagnosis is needed in order to establish the most appropriate and efficacious nutritional protocol (Rubin 70). With the exception of certain conditions, the treatment of hypothyroidism necessitates a life-long medical attention and care. The commonest procedure focuses on hormonal replacement using Levothyroxime, however, clinical studies and experience show that the dietary intake of those with hypothyroidism is also a determining factor in the alleviation or in the worsening of the disorder (Hueston 1718). Because hypothyroidism slows down the metabolic process, knowledge o n what to eat and how to eat is pivotal for those who have the disease (Ain and Rosenthal 258). Goitrogens, or foods containing enzymes which catapults the growth of goiter, block the absorption of iodine in the thyroid gland and may disable thyroid functions, should be religiously avoided. Soya, cassava,

Friday, September 27, 2019

English Language in London School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

English Language in London School - Essay Example So children who learn more than one language get confused and make mistakes with their second language - English in this case. They speak English using the tone of their first language. Most affected is their pronunciation as they get confused which way to pronounce the words. Their teachers pronounce in one way (usually the correct one) and their parents pronounce the other way (usually with their native language accent). Blake and Moorhead (1993, p. 93) excellently observes " This situation exists in England among the children of immigrants, particularly those immigrants who have a strong sense of community and want to maintain their culture even though they live in a 'foreign' environment." Research has shown that students who know two languages are more competent in acquiring the third language in comparison to students who know only one. This attribute affects their performance in school too. In fact bilingual children are better in studies. Mercer and Swann (1996, p.254) state, " mother tongue and second language teaching came closer together, influencing each others' practice in interesting ways, especially in a new emphasis on literacy and wider educational outcomes for bilingual learners of English." It has been proved by studies that those who can speak a second language have a deeper understanding of the cultures of others and they have a greater control, grasp and sense of their own identity. Remarkable results have been achieved by the research devoted to the effects of early second language acquisition. According to the website of 'Secrets d' enfance' - a bilingual school, " the learning of a second language turns the child's mind to the world and other cult ures which will enrich him throughout his life." It has been proved that those who have knowledge of second language, experience a positive development in all the activities related to studies. Students, who know more than one language score statistically higher on standardized tests, have stronger problem solving capabilities and have better overall academic performance than those who are monolingual. So benefits of speaking a second language outnumber the benefits of speaking a single language in all spheres of a student's life. c) How do parents and teachers contribute to the early language development of multilingual children The teachers play a major role in language acquisition. Besides the use of words the teachers have the option of using non-verbal communication in sending the message across - like facial expression, gestures, proximity to the listener and eye contact. They make use of accent, volume, stress and intonation patterns. Being in close proximity with pupils help in getting the feedback instantaneously. If needed they repeat instructions again and again or rephrase the words for better understanding. In the beginning the pupils might feel very conscious to speak in front of the class but the teacher creates a very warm and friendly atmosphere and make pupils know that most of their classmates are going through the same phase. The instructions directed

Thursday, September 26, 2019

External influence on health care organization Essay

External influence on health care organization - Essay Example P.R. Manager: External influences most applicable to the organization include political, trade and industry and socio-cultural, ecological and complementary external pressures upon healthcare policy proposals and organizational agendas. A comparison with eternal elements affecting medical organizations reveals the balance in significance of each factor towards the organization’s performance (Mannion, 2000, p. 111). However, the internal features have straight, instant, and authoritative impacts. These effects are far more open to adjustment at a domestic level of the organization than eternal factors. An organizational discussion should appreciate individual experience alongside objective information. As a result, the debate will promote positive change within the organization (Ford, Menachemi & Phillips, 2006, p. 108). Joining the organization creates the utmost confidence that has systematic expertise in association administration and understanding of the current healthcare frameworks. As a healthcare administrator, I will be able to prove valuable as I progress and exploit opportunities in my profession (Ford, Menachemi & Phillips, 2006, p. 106). Daake, D. and Anthony, W. P. (2000). Understanding Stakeholder Power and Influence Gaps in a Health Care Organization: An Empirical Study. Health Care Management Review: July, Volume 25 - Issue 3 - pp

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Information System Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Information System Development - Essay Example System developers can create new systems according to the needs of users on request or they can have foresight and anticipate users’ needs then create systems with this in mind (Whetten 2002, p. 45-71,). As systems are created by human beings, they cannot be entirely perfect, but trying to reach perfection and minimizing errors should be priority when creating systems. This is because users tend to move on fast from systems that are prone to failures, errors and mistakes, thus running the reputation of firms creating such systems and wasting time and money. With this in mind, system developers should strive to get as many details as possible about users’ needs in order to create systems in line with their needs, and one that works efficiently to meet these needs and requirements. Development of systems usually follows a systematic set of steps in order to ensure that systems produced work in accordance with the way they were supposed to. Missing any step in the developm ent might lead to errors that could easily be avoided. These steps also make it easy to pinpoint where mistakes have been made, hence it is easy to go back and rectify the errors, rather than tearing down the whole system to find the error. The order of steps in system development begins with a feasibility study to determine if the system is worth creating in the first place or not. After the worthiness of the project has been established, the planning process is next. Planning involves setting goals, timelines and determining all the necessities required in order for the project to be carried out successfully. Planning also involves coming up with a budget, creation of a team that will be in charge of the project, assigning of duties to the various team members, determining the chain of commands and to whom progress of the project will be reported, determining external; players and partners and the parts they will be playing in the project and sorting out other details. Failing to plan on any aspect touching the development of a system will have disastrous effects on the whole project (Blanchard & Fabrycky 2006). Systems analysis is a step that involves looking into the current systems in order to determine what users want that is not in these systems, then going ahead to create systems that give users what they need and require. After this has been determined, the system has to be designed, with the needs of users in mind and other anticipated needs (Caspi et al. 2005). In the designing of the system, several aspects are considered including detailed descriptions of its main features and how they work, screen layouts, business principles, legalities involved and other forms of documentation. This part is where the load of the work lies. After this is the implementation stage. Here, the code that is unique to the system being built is written. Code writing involves various numerical, alphabets and symbols that should not be easy to crack or identify by unauth orized users or authorities. Next is the integration of all the various separate parts of the system, as developed by the different people in the team, in order to make a whole part. The integration step involves the setting up of the system and testing it in order to determine if the end product is as required, to check for errors and potential weak points that might lead to the system not operating. Any errors found are rectified at this stage, and the

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The objectives of any international organization are identical to the Essay

The objectives of any international organization are identical to the objectives of that organizations strongest member Discuss - Essay Example In this backdrop, the objectives of global / international organizations should be in tune with both the ideology and requirements of majority of the member nations to see that the results of their programs and policies would benefit majority nations. Simply speaking, international organizations should strive to fulfill the aspirations of majority of the world population. But, as in most of the democratic countries, most of the international organizations too have been conspicuously playing to the tunes of their richest and strongest member nations downgrading their very global objectives. But it may be wrong to say that the 'objectives of any international organization are identical to those of its strongest members'. It can be true with most of the organizations but certainly you may find some exceptions. Each and every international organization is formed with certain highest global objectives. For that matter, no international organization's objectives can be localized or regionalized as the very purpose is global and international. The United Nations Organization (UNO) tops the list of international organizations and its objectives are crystal clear. When the UNO was formed in 1945 after the disastrous World War II, its objectives were boldly declared. The very first point in the Preamble of the UN charter talks about its determination to save succeeding generations from the repetitions of war (Internet, Charter of the United Nations). The UN's other objectives included respecting the equal rights of men and women all over the world, treating all big and small nations with equal respect and creating suitable conditions under which all nations abide by the international treaties and principles of international law and justice. According to the charter, these objectives should be ac hieved by establishing good neighborly relations among nations, solving problems through peaceful means, and not resorting to armed force except for in the common interests. These objectives, call them UN charter or law, are no doubt very sacred in letter but they have lost their much talked about sanctity in spirit and practice. Over a period of time, the UN has lost its independence due to the arm-twisting tactics of its strongest members. In fact, the very purpose of the launching of the UN was severely defeated with the formation of the Security Council in which certain member nations were endowed with veto powers. The UNO should function in the most democratic manner and go by the majority decisions of the General Assembly but this veto power through which a few countries could reject the majority decisions or impose their will on majority nations has seriously denied the UN its due role in achieving its objectives. The launching of the UN formed part of the beginning of the era of international law and justice but due to the bullying nature of some of its bigwig members, the implementation of international law too has run into rough weather. It is an acknowledged fact that the USA, the richest country of the world, is the strongest member of the UN (Thakur, 2006, p. 53). Over a period of time, the US forced the UN to act as per its whims and fancies turning the prestigious international organization into a puppet. The UN, supposed to be the instrument for the global peace, became

Monday, September 23, 2019

Shakespearean Tragedies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Shakespearean Tragedies - Essay Example However, in the plays of Shakespeare, the tragic hero is always a noble man who enjoys some status and prosperity in society but possesses some moral weakness or flaw which leads to his downfall. External circumstances such as fate also play a part in the heros fall. Evil agents often act upon the hero and the forces of good, causing the hero to make wrong decisions. Innocent people always feel the fall in tragedies, as well. Shakespeares tragedies are, for the most part, stories of one person, the "hero," or at most two, to include the "heroine." Only the Love Tragedies (Romeo and Juliet; Antony and Cleopatra) are exceptions to this pattern. In these plays, the heroine is as much at the center of action as the hero. The rest of the tragedies, including Macbeth, have single stars, so the tragic story is concerned primarily with one person. The tragic heros nature is exceptional, and generally raises him in some respect much above the average level of humanity. Shakespeares tragic heroes are made of the stuff we find in ourselves and within the persons who surround him. But, by an intensification of the life which they share with others, they are raised above them; and the greatest are raised so far that, if we fully realize all that is implied in their words and actions, we become conscious that in real life we have scarcely known anyone resembling them. They have a fatal gift that carries with it a touch of greatness (fierce determination, fixed ideas); and when nobility of mind, or genius, or immense force are joined to it, we realize the full power and reach of the soul, and the conflict in which it engages acquires that magnitude which stirs not only sympathy and pity, but admiration, terror, and awe. Shakespeare wrote tragedies from the beginning of his career: one of his earliest plays was the Roman tragedy Titus Andronicus, and he followed it a few years later with Romeo and Juliet. However, his most admired tragedies

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Business Strategic Plan and Presentation Essay Example for Free

Business Strategic Plan and Presentation Essay http://www.homeworkbasket.com/BUS-475/BUS-475-Week-5-Individual-Final-Strategic-Plan-and-Presentation Resources: Vision, mission, values, SWOTT analysis, balanced scorecards, and communication plan Write a 700- to 1,050-word section for your strategic plan in which you add your strategies and tactics to implement and realize your strategic objectives, measures, and targets. Include marketing and information technology strategies and tactics. Develop at least three methods to monitor and control your proposed strategic plan, being sure to analyze how the measures will advance organizational goals financially and operationally. Finally, recommend actions needed to address ethical, legal, and regulatory issues faced by the organization, and how they can improve corporate citizenship. Combine your completed strategic plan. This includes the vision, mission, values, SWOTT analysis, balanced scorecard, and communication plan. Your consolidated final strategic plan should be 2,800 to 4,200 words in length. Prepare three to five Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® slides in which you briefly outline the vision, mission, values, and balanced scorecard that you have developed for your business. For More Homework Goto http://www.homeworkbasket.com

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Poetry Is Key Essay Example for Free

Poetry Is Key Essay I interview Amani because she is a teenager guided by mentorship. She revealed to me how being mentored by positive, loving, and caring people has changed who she is as a person. She said â€Å"I see a big change in myself. It’s like my whole life I’ve been so angry and upset, and it was all because I was being misguided and I didn’t have the chance to become who I am now. † This interview helped me because It kind of showed me what type of response I should be getting from the kids in my program. It is simply a calibration of how the kids that decide to participate in my mentorship program should react. Frohman, Denice. Denice Frohman Gangsta Poetry YouTube. YouTube, 16 June 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. This video is a video of a youth poetry mentor for PYPM (Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement) who also participated in the Unliter Us Campaign. In this poem she speaks about differ writing tools (metaphors, similes, personification, etc) and different types of poems (haiku, slam, etc). She also talks about motivating the youth to get involved in poetry and imagination. This poem will help me because It is not only an introduction to different types of poetry and all types of writing tools but it’s in a cool poem that, to me, will make the kids want to know more and be less reluctant to participate in my program. Howard, Zora. Zora Howard Mama (lyrics). YouTube. YouTube, 04 Mar. 2011. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. This is a video by a youth slam poet alumni named Zora Howard who is now on a traveling adult poetry group called Strivers Row. This video is of a poem she performed. The poem is in letter form so it starts out saying, â€Å"Dear Son,†. Evidently, she is talking to her son in the letter. Her son is in the army and she’s writing him on his birthday just reminiscing about all the things they used to talk about and do before he was drafted into the army. This poem will help me because performance wasn’t at a competition so the tension is low and she’s just releasing. Although, from my knowledge, the poem is just not real fact for her, it still tells a story in it. It will show the kids how to turn a poem from a regular free  form poem into a letter or a story. James, Cliche M. Who Needs Mentorship. Personal interview. 27 Jan. 2013. I interview the mom of a boy who had never had any form of mentorship to ask her if she thought that mentorship was important and who did she think that it was for. She said that she thinks that it is a difference between â€Å"needing† mentorship and â€Å"wanting† it. She feels as though kids who going down the wrong road in life or kids who just have pain in there life that is hard to let go of should have mentorship. This interview helped me with my research because it, for the most part, proved to me that I made the right choice in targeting kids who have some pain in them, kids that practically have nothing to look forward to because of the situation that their parents are in. James, Nasir. The Importance of Mentorship. Personal interview. 27 Jan. 2013. I interview my nephew, a 15 year old boy who has had mentorship every super since he was 12. I asked him what the importance of mentorship was. At first he was a little reluctant because he though that he didn’t get much out of it but when I began to ask him other questions to break it down. Questions like was there anything about his personality that changed because of the interaction with someone who you could put your trust in and things like that. He ultimately said that after 3 years of being in contact with his mentors, he has seen a difference in who he is and that being with them, he now knows what kind of man he wants to be. He also said that if he didn’t have mentors, he would still have become a good person it would have taken a bit longer. This interview was important because I wanted to know how younger teens felt about mentorship because if they didn’t care, then there would be no purpose of me doing it in the long run because it wouldn’t have changed anything. Lissaint / Strivers Row, Carvens. Praise by Carvens Lissaint. YouTube. YouTube, 02 Feb. 2011. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. This is another video of a youth poet alumni from New York city. He is another member of the poetry group called strivers row and in his younger years, he was on the NYC poetry team that went to the nation wide poetry competition BNV (Brave New Voices) which  premiered on HBO in 2006. This poem is about poetry and every sense that plays a part in writing and speaking poetry. I think that this will help me because I know that a lot of people have a single story about poetry. A lot of people don’t really know what it cane be and in this poem, the poet Carvens Lissaint, touches in on all of that . Mans, Jasmine. Michelle Obama by Jasmine Mans. YouTube. YouTube, 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. This is a video of yet another strivers row poet. Jasmine Mans was on the NYC team in 2006. This is a video of a poem she recorded called Michelle Obama. This poem is about how first lady Michelle Obama inspires young black women to be great and do great things. It tells them that because she did it, that they can. I think that this will be a good video to use in my program because when I visited the shelter, there was a significant number of girls and I think that showing them this will help them find confidence. Perrin, Brianna. The Importance of Mentorship. Personal interview. 30 Jan. 2013. I interview a senior named Brianna Perrin about her experience with mentorship and community service to get a better understanding of how she felt about it afterward. I also got a chance to find out what she took from the experience as a person who had been mentored and decided to pass it on. I think that this interview was very helpful and very successful. It gave me a perspective of a person who had the same urge as I had. She expressed to me that to her it was more than just helping others and I feel the same way. Going to the shelter is about more than helping others its also a branch of growth for myself. Poetic Devices. Poetic Devices. N. p. , n. d. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. This is a link to a list of poetic devices. This link will be useful because I know that even I don’t know so It’ll help me and help the kids at the program. Poetry. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. I decided to use this link because some people think that poetry is only one thing, when in all actuality, poetry can be many things. This will be helpful because it will give a mor formal introduction than me saying this is was a metaphor is. It will actually explain to them what things are and how they should be used. I also think that this will show the kids the overall brand of poetry so that they know that poetry can be almost anything. This will be just an outline for what I want the kids to take from this program come April or May. Shearlds, Khalil. Mentorship. Personal interview. 7 Jan. 2013. This is the Manager, Center for Parenting Early Childhood Education at the People’s Emergency Center. I interviewed him about the importance of mentorship and who needs it. This interview was important for me to do because this is what he does on a day to day basis. He mentors kids to show them where they can go and to let them know that they don’t have to stay planted in a place where they aren’t happy just because someone put them there. This will be important in the long run because, not that I already didn’t know, i will always know my mission. What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy? What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy? N. p. , 05 Apr. 2007. Web. 04 Jan. 2013. This is a link to the definition of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I was talking to someone about my capstone and they told me that my whole idea fell along the lines of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. When I looked it up it actually told me a lot about myself and why poetry seemed to work for me. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that is directed toward dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviors and cognitive processes. It’s basically disturbances of your feelings triggered by the things and stresses that you go through. This helped me because it told me almost exactly what these kids are going through inside. Young, B. I Am A Queen Urban Word NYC BNV Semis 2008. YouTube. YouTube, 24 July 2008. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. I decided to use this video of a New York City Poet B. Young. This poem was about his theory of why he would want to be a queen in the game of chess because it’s not about being the protected, he thinks that the protecter is the most important. I decided to use this video because I think it is a good perspective for young men to A realize how important a Queen/girl is and B to understand that being the protected or being the person who everyone who is always being looked after isn’t always who you want to be, sometimes you want to be apart of something bigger. Z. , Sharvon. Philly Youth Poetry Movement. Philly Youth Poetry Movement RSS 20. N. p. , 01 Feb. 2013. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. This is the website for PYPM or Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement. This is the where I got my mentoring from so not to incorporate and utilize this source would be foolish of me. This website will give me the latest updates on the PYPM team, there videos and events that I could possibly invite my teens to. I can use the videos posted on the website and some of the ideas from poetry workshops to use during my program.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Nineteenth Century Romantic Period

Nineteenth Century Romantic Period What is music.The dictionary says music is, an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner (Dictorniary.com). Most people would also have to agree that music is a sound that comes out of passion and that the maker of the sound is expressing what music is to him/her to the entire world. We as individuates get to pick what kind of music to listen to and what kind of music has interest to us. The Romantic Period was loved by many individuals because it let the composers express the music the way they choice to. The music was simple and had a lot of emotional expression to it. Romantic music goes back to the particular period, theory, and practice of about 1815-1910. The romanticism in the Romantic Period of the early 19th century made this kind of music a movement that describes the expansion of the structures within a composition and improved pieces by having more passion and expressive to them. The expansion o f the forms made it easier to identify the work to the artist, for example by the elements of form, key, instrumentation and the like of the work. The Romantic revolution in a way one can say in the literature became a similar revolution in the music during this time period. Romantic music is certainly related to the romanticism in literature, and also to visual arts, and philosophy. It was believed that Romantic music struggled to uplift emotional expression and also struggled with power while saving or even extending the formal structural from the classical period which occurred before the Romantic period even started. The 19th century had musical language. The composers analyzed the music to poetry and its rhapsodic and narrative structure to create a more systematic starting point when composing and even performing the concert music. Romantic composers wanted to expand the form therefore they used longer melodies and when the composers wanted grater harmonic, the work of art in the music ran more fluidity as a result. The Romantic period was indeed a time of great revolutions. Passion was the key element that made the Romantic period what is was rather than reason. Passion went side by side with imagination. The Romantic period was about composers trying something new, something out of the box, something that was never tried before and most importantly, something that identified who the said composer was. This was the way some individuals fought back during the American Civil War. Individuals fought back with their feelings and most importantly with their emotions when the Industrial Revolution began to replace everyone with machines. As stated, emotions ruled the arts during this time period, the Romantic period had more artistic freedom than other periods before it, and a big part of that was due to emotions and the imagination of these wonderful composers. The Romantic period brought a new musical form with it called tone poem which told a story kind of like a ballad. These stories and music were about exotic places and wonderful events. Tone color was another important creation. Tone color is when a special sound makes an instrument or voice sound different from another. The new instruments created new tone colors while the old instruments produced different tone colors as they were played in new ways. Virtuosic was also very big for the Romantic period. Virtuosic is something that many individuals can relate to. The composers and musicians showed off their talents by playing very difficult sections of music. Franz Liszt which will be talked about later on was one of these famous piano virtuosos. If he was to be related to something in the present time, Liszt would have to be what a rock star is today. When thinking of the Romantic period, the most popular instrument would have to indeed be the piano. Frederic Chopin which will be talked about later on was the best known composer of piano music. Many new instruments were also inv ented during the Romantic period such as the tuba, saxophone, and the old instruments were improved and were better than before. The 19th century introduced many -isms, such as nationalism, impressionism, supernaturalism, and symbolism. The Romantic Period was about emotion, longing, imagination, literature, dreams, and program music taking place. The composers status rose during the Romantic Era. Composers were more liked by the public. The Industrial Revolution made it possible for every middle class home to have a piano. The music was being taken to extremes during this time period. The composers stretched out the forms into their works. Not only was it possible to have a piano in every middle class household because of the Industrial Revolution but it made it possible for regular people to make and experience music in their own homes in the comfort of their family and friends. Frederic Francois Chopin, Franz Ritter von Liszt, and Felix Mendelssohn in my opinion had to be some of the greatest composers of the 19th century. Frederic Francois Chopin was born in 1810 and died in 1849 at a young age. It is said that at the young age of 39 Chopin died of tuberculosis. Chopin was born in the village of Zelazowa Wola, in the Duchy of Warsaw to a French father, and a Polish mother. As Chopin got older he left to go to Paris where he was indeed making a living as a composer and a piano teacher, and from time to time he was also giving a few public performances for fun. His compositions were written primarily just for the piano as a solo instrument. The piano meant everything to Chopin, and the piano was the most popular instrument of the Romantic Period as stated before. Many people have said that Chopin was a Nationalistic composer. Nationalism is a love of ones country and the desire to see ones country free from invaders. His music speaks to these feelings of patriotism and freedom (Todd 55). It is believed that Chopin invented musical forms such as the instrumental ballad. The instrumental ballad is in a wa y like a story having a dramatic or exciting episode in it or even a narrative. The twist is that this episode or narrative is placed in a song, poem, or even a verse by a person such as a composer. Stories that are looked at as ballads include but are not limited to, historical accounts, familial traditions, or fairy tales. These three examples communicate the fact that these ballads are indeed heard from oral tradition; a story passed on from generation to generation. The ballad usually has three stress lines which are called a balled meter, and simple repeating rhymes, which are often repeated with a refrain. It is also said that Chopin was also responsible for major innovation in the piano, here are just a few; sonata, mazurka, waltz, and prelude. Chopin wrote four Sonatas. A sonata is a musical composition of three or four movements of contrasting forms. Using the word sonata from the Latin and Italian sonar it means to sound. Three for piano solo and one for piano and cello. His sonatas were targeted of much abuse that Chopin had four of his maddest children under the same roof. The traditional Sonata form is A-B-A. Chopins first sonata was titled Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.35, this was composed in 1839 at Nohant near Chateauroux in France. This sonata consists of four movements; the first is the Grave; Doppio movimento, second is the Scherzo, third is the Marche funebre: Lento, and the forth is the Finale: Presto. In the first movement I feel as if the song features a stormy opening maybe to introduce the theme while the second theme has more of a calmer relaxed feel to it. The third movement begins and ends with the funeral march in B flat minor which is what gives this sonata its title. The finale contains a whirlwin d of notes played in unison. There is not a single rest of chord until the final bars. In the finale there are a lot of dynamics, the volume changes very often. As I listen to this sonata I feel my mind drifting off and I mean that in a good way. I am thinking of memories and I imagine myself staring out by the window on a rainy day while this is playing in the room. I feel very calm and very at peace when I hear this sonata, but at the same time I feel as if this sonata is very slow and down that it kind of makes me bored in the middle of it. A mazurka is a moderately fast Polish country dance which was popular in Europe during the Romantic Period. These Polish folk dances are in triple meter with a heavy accent on the second or third beat of every measure. For example: (1-2-3|1-2-3 or 1-2-3|1-2-3). The Mazurkas, Op. 6 contains four of the first mazurkas that Chopin published. No. 1 in F minor uses Polish folk rhythms and modes. This Mazurka starts out with a piano section in which the theme is started. The second theme is started in fortissimo. Fortissimo is used in dynamics to refer to the volume of a sound or note. Fortissimo means very loud and it is the highest dynamic there is to capture the volume of sound or a note. These two passages both end with repeats. The third theme is introduced as an ostinato, which is a phrase that is persistently repeated in the same musical voice that an ostinoto always has equal sounds. Chopin composed a total of 58 mazurkas. Another famous mazurka by Frederic Chopin was his Mazurka i n B-flat, op.7, no.1. The melody of this mazurka stands out in the uppermost voice while the lower voices play a strictly supporting role. The texture is homophonic because of the high melody of the piece. This work is a character piece; it has short works that capture a particular character, not the character in a story but in the sense of a characters mood. This piece of music by Chopin is a great example of musical nationalism and a great example of how Chopin used nationalism in his music. There are no voices just the piano heard in this mazurka but the piano is playing the part of the vocalist. A drone bass is a single pair of notes that are repeated over and over again which is used in this song. This mazurka uses a lot of scales (Do-Re-Mià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) that go up and down. This mazurka is popular with the pianist opening with a theme that consists simply of an ascending scale- a serious of steps going up in an upward motion to p which is soft. Then later the mode changes to mystery or contemplation and the series of scales go down in a downward motion to pp which is very soft. This is when rubato is taking place. Rubato in music just basically means when the tempo is being pushed and pulled by the measures. A waltz is a ballroom and folk dance that is performed in a closed position. A waltz is a piece of music that is in triple meter; a waltz also has a 1.2.3 1.2.3. count and is usually a slow tempo. Waltzes have one chord per measure and the root of the chord is the first note. Chopin himself composed 20 waltzes. A prelude is a short piece of music in which the form of it may vary. Chopins Waltz in D flat is a popular Waltz that many are familiar with. It is popularly known as the Minute Waltz. Chopin wrote this waltz in 1847; therefore it was composted during the middle of the Romantic Period. Chopin did not intend for this waltz to be played in one minute usually this performance of the waltz is about one and half to two and a half minutes. While listening to Chopins Waltz in D flat, I very much enjoyed the Waltz. It is very fast and I like that it keeps to a rhythm. I also like how some of the notes are loud and out there for the listener to hear very clearly, and then after a while the notes just fade away and are very quite. It makes the listener want to pay extra close attention to the notes, and then when the listener does, the notes surprise the listener and come back louder like they were played before. I was also imagining a big ballroom full of people dancing and that is not because this is a Waltz. The truth is the feel of the music. This kind of mu sic makes you want to ballroom dance in a way. Franz Ritter von Liszt was born on October 22, 1811 and died on July 31, 1886. He was born to Marie Anna Lager and Adam Liszt in the village of Raiding in Sopron Country, which is now in Hungary. Liszts father played the piano as well as many other instruments and he taught Faranz Liszt how to play the piano at the young age of seven. Then at the age of eight, Liszt began composing. At the age of nine, Liszt appeared in many concerts and after the concerts, a group of well off Hungarians offered to finance Franz music education abroad. He was a Hungarian composer, a wonderful pianist and a teacher. Liszt was becoming popular during the 19th century throughout Europe for the great skill that he had as a performer. He is said to be the greatest pianist of all time. Many individuals are influenced by him as an important composer and a conductor who contributed to the modern development of the art of all time. He contributed to the invention of the symphonic poem. The symphonic poem is a lso called a tone poem and is a piece of orchestral music in a single continuous section (a movement) in which the content of a poem, a story or a novel, a painting, a landscape or another (non- musical) source is illustrated or evoked (dictornary.com). The term of symphonic poem was first applied by Franz Liszt himself to his 13 works. Liszt also developed the concept of the thematic transformation as part of his musical form and making departures in harmony. Liszt was known as a prolific composer. His career followed his changing personal and professional life. He was not afraid to mix professional and personal life together. Liszts piano works are said to be difficult to the average person. Liszt also liked to expand his musical ideas into poetry and painting. The largest and well best known music of Liszt has to be his original piano work. He was known for taking previously done works and revising them for example, Annees de Pelerinage which means years of pilgrimage in English has gone through some thoroughly revised process by Liszt. Many people have said that Liszts piano works are divided into two different classes. The first class are his original works such as the piece called Harmonies poetigues et religieuses and the second class are the fantasy works that have been done by other composers, for example Liszts transcriptions of songs done by Schubert. Liszt is well known for composing almost six dozen original songs with a piano accompaniment. A lot of the songs were in German or French, and only one song was done in English. As of today a lot of Liszts songs have been forgotten by the public. Liszts songs should be played and remembered forever because he loved the idea of programme music. Programme music is much that is intended to evoke extra musical ideas. His own view on this was that music can be taken from the preface of the Album dun Voyageur (NAME PG). One thing that great composter need to be is noted teachers and Liszt was the most noted teacher of the 19th century. Liszt piano concerto no.1 consists of four movements. Allegro maestoso, Quasi adagio, Allegretto vivace, and Allegro maziale. During the Allegro maestoso, the piece begins and the theme is introduced by the orchestra. Then following is the piano with an octave that spans four octaves. The duet is quiet and is formed between the clarinet and piano making the passage peaceful. The main theme soon takes over again there after. Introduced in the adagio section is the cello and the double bass. They are introduced in serene, unison cantabile prior to the rest of the string joining sections. The double bass and cello descend before the joining of the piano in una corda. The piano develops further while using the string theme. A strong fortissimo is played as the climax is reached. Prior to this a descending diminuendo scale is played. The orchestra joins in full after a slight pause following the same theme but instead a cello is played as the piano is played quickly. This introduces a new passage. The windward section is now playing a new theme as the piano is in the upper register. The passage comes to an end with the piano. Staring the Allegretto vivace is a string quartet. There after the piano resumes, playing the same theme as it further develops. Giving the concerto its unique form, the last two movements are reintroduced and combined. The ending of the movement ends the same the same way the first movement began with a piano passage ending in F-minor. During the Allegro marziale animato begins with a descending E-flat scale which plays before the orchestra plays the slow woodwind section that was played in the previous movement. The brass is used to decorate the melody in this movement. This movement continues to bring all the themes out at different times while combining them all together. Liszts Piano Concerto no. 1: Allegro maestoso-Tempo giusto makes me feel as if Im at a dinner party listening to this song playing. I very much enjoy the part when the piano and the orchestra are played together. The whole song just gives this feeling of excitement at some parts with the cello being played then when the piano and orchestra is playing together I get this sense of being at a real piano concerto. This song is making me feel as if its a real professional song that is being played for entertainment. Liszt fell down the stairs of a hotel on July 2, 1881. It was believed that Liszt was in good health before the accident of his death accorded. Later on when he got checked in for his accident, it was shown that Liszt had dropsy, asthma, insomnia, a cataract of the left eye and chronic heart disease (NAME PG). Liszt later died in Germany, on July 31, 1886. He died at a normal age at the age of 74. Felix Mendelssohn originally named Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy was born on February 3, 1847 in Hamburg Germany and was raised by a highly intellect Jewish family. He first began studying the piano after his family had moved to Berlin under Ludwig Berger and then studied composition under Karl F. Zelter. As a child, Felix played the piano and the violin. He showed a great level of talent as a child proving that he was a prodigy. Not only did he show that he was musically gifted, but he was also artistic and proved to be gifted in foreign languages. It was believed that Mendelssohn was not just a great composer but also an artist. His giftedness included drawing, watercolors, and oil paining. He also drew humorous sketches and cartoons in the text of his drawings. Music and art go with each other and both are great works of art. Clearly Mendelssohn was a very gifted man. Mendelssohn also had a normal life like most people do. He got married to Cecile Jarnrenaud on March 28 , 1937. They had five children together which they named: Carl, Marie, Lilli, Felix, and Paul. Mendelssohn traveled across the European content to study music such as Paris where he studied the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Sebastian Bach along with his sister Fanny who was said to be the one to introduce him to music as a young child. Mendelssohn most defiantly got his ideas for music from some of the greatest composers of the earlier time as stated by Mozart and Bach. Mendelssohn was inspired by the many musical masters, especially Bach. Mendelssohn composed eleven symphonies, five operas, and many other piano pieces. These pieces were only the beginning of his highly talented musical career. At such a young age and at the beginning of his musical career, he managed to impress every audience member and proved his musical talent. His first concert that he preformed in front of a public audience was at the age of nine. At age fifteen in 1924, Mendelssohn wrote his very first full orchestra symphony in C minor, Op. 11. String E-flat major which he wrote at the age of sixteen truly showed the power of his musical talent. His best known early works were, This Octet, and the overture to Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream: Wedding March. Mendelssohns overture to Shakespeares play, A Midsummer Nights Dream is written in sonata form. It is a one movement work with no repeat of the exposition. The work captures the chaotic, magic spirit of any enchanted forest. There is this pull against the world of fantasy and the world of reality. The real are the two pair of human lovers while the unreal are the fairies. The transformed unreal is the workmans head that is changed to a donkey during the end. This work has a story to it therefore it is program music. The artists thought it was important to integrate purely instrumental music with ideas which is what Mendelssohn clearly did here. Mendelssohn also wanted to create characters through sound. There are five opening measures of this work. The first measure is entirely winds, it draws to the enchanted forest such as setting the story out for the audience. The second measure is the high- pitched figure in the strings. The third measure is the loud theme, it reflects the heavier world of the pair of humans and its ruler (Theseus). The fourth measure is the first theme in the secondary key area. When the human lovers fall in and out of love with each other. The last measure is a loud, braying theme which is associated with Bottom, the head of the donkey. The workmans head is changed into a donkey is when the fifth measure is introduced and finished. Sonata form includes the exposition, development, recapitulation, and the coda. In the exposition, all the opening themes are introduced in the tonic key area. Moves from tonic to new key area. This is the first binary section of the sonata form. Then in the development the temeses are being developed from the expositions that they were introduced in. This is when the new key area moves into the unstable key area(s). In the recapitulation the opening theme(s) in the tonic are returning. This is when the unstable key area(s) move to tonic again. Then the return of theme(s) are still in the tonic. This is the second binary section. Then coda in Italian means tail, which indicates the movement to a close after the recapitulation. The coda is the ending where new music usually shows up that has not been heard in the rest of the work so far. Now in this work of a sonata form, the characters are introduced in the exposition. In the development the exposition does not need to be repeated. T he scurrying theme heard here is associated with the fairies. In the recapitulation all the main themes are brought back to the tonic. Then the coda is when it ends the work as it began. During the coda the listener can hear long held notes being played by the winds. After Mendelssohns death on November 4, 1847 it was believed that the death of his close sister Fanny six months before Mendelssophns death caused him great distress in his life. In his wake he was mourned both in Germany and England. That just comes to show what a great reputation he had. In England his reputation was very highly looked upon for an extremely long period of time. Mendelssohns popular piano music will always remain popular to his fans especially the overture to Shakespeares: A Midsummer Nights Dream: Wedding March. The 19th Century Romantic Period must have created an impact to future generations. The Romantic Period to date created old technologies for later generations to use. The Romantic Period also made it okay to turn poetry into songs. This era showed that not every song has to be about falling in love and having a happy fairy tail ending. It showed people that it is okay to write and sing about the dark side of things. Romantic Period made it possible for future generations to express themselves into the songs that the composers write nowadays. The Romantic Period had passion in the music that was performed. This passion carried along to the future generations. Celine Dionne, Taylor Swift, and many more artists put passion into their songs. It is the songs that have passion that the audience enjoys listening to over and over again. People enjoy going to the concerts, enjoy and wants to buy the CDs, because the people want to hear songs that have passion in them and songs that they can r elate to. I honestly believe that the 19th Century Romantic Period had a lot of impact on our generation and will have impact on many more generations to come. Individuals learn and grow from the past. People take old ideas and try to make them new, but they also keep the initial thought of the idea going. The new ideas that are represented have to start from somewhere. It is like adding a new larger step to an idea that was perfect in the past, but just adding a little something more to make that idea even better now in the present. The events and changes of society have greatly affected music. Such as the attitudes, ideas, inventions, discoveries, and various historical events of society all played a big role in inspiration of 19th century music. During the 19th century, the industrial revolution was in its prime. The industrial revolution had a huge impact on the music of this time period by the implementation of new technology into musical instruments. Some of the innovations included newly redesigned mechanical valves and redesigned key for brass and woodwind instruments that improved sound quality and ease of play. The uprising of the middle class impacted the development of music as well. Prior to the 19th century music era, a vast majority of composers were living on the patronage of aristocracy. Most of the audiences of the performances were of mostly upper class music savvy individuals and were small in numbers. Large audience concerts such as festivals and public events were often wrote by composers of the Romantic Era. The audiences of these performances were mainly paying customers and didnt have vast knowledge of music that the upper class did. Composers of the Romantic Era did not want music to be segregated among a particular class of society. Instead it is stated that the purpose was to write music that was to be heard (Young 1967, 527). During the 19th century, the importance of nationalism became increasingly important and projected into the music and other various arts of the Romantic Era. Nationalism was expressed in the music by implementing native unique elements of native cultures like folk songs and dances. Using elements such as rhythm and melody by composers, the diversification of the musical language was increasing especially during the end of the 19th century. Nationalist music written by composers contained many different elements from various cultures. Music from one country may contain elements from another and incorporate it into one. For example Bedrich Sm entana and Antonin Dvorak of Russia used elements and themes from Czech songs and folk dances. Chopin also wrote some of his pieces in such forms as polonaise and mazurka which was originated from polish folk music. It can be said that during this time music became very politically charged in a global scene.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Essay --

The Jazz Age was a movement that began during the early 1920s, which jazz music and dance came about with the establishment of mainstream radio and the end of the World War I. Also known as the Roaring Twenties, the period of American prosperity and economy in growth and symbolized not only a dynamic change in music, but also the daily life of Americans. â€Å"The American people had long parties complete with flappers, speakeasies, illegal bathtub gin, and young people doing the Charleston long into the night (Nash, 677).† Culturally and socially, the Roaring Twenties was a time of fast change, creative innovation, and high-society antics. New technologies, soaring business profits, and higher wages allowed more and more Americans to purchase a wide range of consumer goods. Prosperity also provided Americans with more leisure time, and as play soon became the national pastime, literature, film, and music caught up to document the times. The jazz age was developing rapidly and it started to create conflict between the American people. First of all, the 1920s was a decade of social and cultural change. The American people started working on the economic growth which brought change into their lives. One of the major changes in the jazz age was the living style of Americans. There were changes such as gender roles, new styles and lots of entertainment during the 1920s. Furthermore, the Nineteenth Amendment granted American women the right to vote. This meant that women can now work and gain financial independence. The change had brought many opportunities for women and they gained social freedom. One of the major styles was the flapper’s fashion for women. â€Å"The term "flapper" first appeared in Great Britain after World War I. It was ther... ...nd brought change into their lives. In conclusion, the 1920s may seem to be a golden age of flappers, bootleg gin, constant parties, literary masterpieces, sports heroes, and east wealth. However the truth is much more complicated. More than most decades the 1920s was a time of paradox and contradictions. It was a time of prosperity, yet a great many people, including farmers, blacks, and other ordinary Americans, did not prosper. It was a time of progress, when almost every year saw new technological breakthrough, but it was also a decade of hate and violence. It was a time of rapid change, but violence was taking over many things that the people believed it was their right to speak out and fight for freedom. It was hard times for the African Americans because if racial issues and the birth of the second Ku Klux Klan made life difficult for the African Americans.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Discontinuity in Self-Reliance and When I Consider How My Light Is Spen

Discontinuity in Self-Reliance and When I Consider How My Light Is Spent  Ã‚        Ã‚   Ralph Waldo Emerson emphatically proclaims in "Self-Reliance" that "the highest merit we ascribe to Moses, Plato, and Milton is that they set naught at traditions but spoke†¦what they thought" (515). Emerson declares that Milton’s greatness is attributed not to conformity but rather to originality. Milton’s break with consistent expectations is epitomized in his use of a Petrarchan sonnet in the poem "When I Consider How My Light Is Spent." Nonconformity and discontinuity in a man’s approach to life are the doctrines espoused by Emerson in his work "Self-Reliance," and Milton embodies an Emersonian outlook while inwardly searching for personal truth in his sonnet. The lack of formal structure in the works of the two authors enhances rather than inhibits the reader’s grasp of the literature. Although both Emerson and Milton employ a discontinuous literary style in their respective works, Emerson revels in his lack of continuity to further prom ulgate his ideology of nonconformity and inconsistency while Milton’s use of discontinuity is procured in an attempt to understand his place before God. The foundation for comparing the two works will be based on the following definition of discontinuity: any literary approach that deviates from standard structural form. The absence of formal structure in Emerson’s "Self-Reliance" has been derided by some critics as an "insuperable handicap" to an appropriate understanding of the work (Warren 200). A thorough examination of the work, however, evokes two fundamental claims: Emerson provides a basis for some semblance of structure, and complete continuity is antithetical to the fundamentals of Emerson’s "Se... ..." The American Tradition in Literature. Eighth Edition. Ed. George Perkins. New York. McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1994. Milton, John. "When I Consider How My Light Is Spent." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Sixth Edition. M.H.Abrams et al. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1996. Nicolson, Marjorie Hope. John Milton: A Reader’s Guide to His Poetry. New York: Octagon Books, 1983. Packer, B.L. "Emerson’s Fall: A New Interpretation of the Major Essays." 19th Century Literary Criticism 38 (1993): 200-208. Robinson, David M. "Grace and Work: Emerson’s Essays in Theological Perspective." 19th Century Literary Criticism 38 (1993): 223-230. Warren, Joyce W. "Transcendentalism and the Self: Ralph Waldo Emerson." 19th CenturyLiterary Criticism 38 (1993): 208-213. Wilson, A.N. The Life of John Milton. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1983.      

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Philosophy Communication Barriers Essay

(a) How does James think of my intending to say something? Does he think of it as a process in consciousness? James argues that our phrasing â€Å"intended to say† is an almost wrong explanation on a subconscious or even psychic thing that it happening within our minds.   The point is that we never consciously form the words in our minds or even draw upon our memory banks to call to mind images of the thing that we mean to say. Instead, it is an unconscious function of the mind that we hear something and choose to respond to it with some form of language. In the event that the language we choose is wrong, we often react with the phrase. â€Å"What I meant to say was†¦Ã¢â‚¬  James argues that this happens when the precognition of our own mind fails to work rapidly enough to anticipate the reaction of the person we are speaking to and choose the proper words to convey to a thought stream to that specific person. On the most basic level, it means that our minds did not act quickly enough to substitute the proper word into a sentence. For example, imagine talking to your best friend about her sister. The intended sentence would be, â€Å"How’s she doing?† As the speaker you would not have planned out the conversation or thought specifically about what to ask, but when you speak and say, â€Å"How’s he doing?† the immediate response is to say, ‘I meant she. How’s she doing?’ there is never a point at which the conscious mind stops and chooses the words to use. This might therefore make an interesting discussion for linguists and psychologists to determine how speech actually happens. James argues that it is a subconscious thing, which implies then that speech is a learned ability you can train the subconscious mind. Take for example learning to speak another language fluently.   Teachers argue that you cannot speak another language fluently until you can think in that language. The premise is basically the same as what James has argues. If you are completely fluent in the language and someone asks,   â€Å"Que es el nombre del gato?† You will be responding with the cat’s name before the image of the cat is even called to mind. If you are less than fluent, you will need to translate the question before you can answer, thus moving the response from the subconscious speech centers to the conscious mind. [(b) Can the arguments Wittgenstein employs against the idea that understanding words is a conscious process be adapted to show that intending or meaning to say words is not a conscious process that begins before I say them   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wittgenstein argues that the meaning of a word is defined as we use it, not by some memory flash card system begun when we are children.   This then would explain in English the tendency to crease euphemisms and phrases which cannot be translated literally based on the presumed meaning of the individual world. To use his argument, if language were a conscious thing, human speech patterns would always be precise and would never relay on simile, metaphor or any other form of literary device. Instead, in essence, he is arguing that because language to create imagery that is not a specific reflection of the exact meaning of what is said, it is a subconscious action. Likewise then, if the use of language is subconscious and not dependent on a specific meaning when a word is chosen, Wittgenstein’s argument can easily be developed to explain that the use of words or even the development of an answer is not necessarily a conscious thing. Think of it as a sort of language autopilot. Our subconscious mind understands what is being discussed and how to respond to it before the conscious mind has a chance to understand the nature of the question. Therefore, the subconscious mind can formulate a response and begin it before the conscious mind starts to speak. In the event that the conscious mind disrupts the process and inserts its own words, the subconscious mind can send it a message that says, ‘What I meant to say was†¦.† c) James claims that intending to say something is or provides an anticipation or premonition (=knowledge in advance) of the words I will say or think. Do Wittgenstein’s remarks in section. 187-192 show that James is laboring under some misunderstanding about this? Explain. Wittgenstein’s remarks indicate that James is misunderstanding the functioning of the mind by calling the natural process of communication between the conscious and subconscious premonition. He would argue that the act of speech is a sort of subconscious act, with only specific forms of speech coming from the conscious mind. If both parts of the mind are working in proper harmony, the subconscious can formulate and plan a response long before the conscious mind can even think about it. However, this is not a self-premonition or anything as supernatural as James might be implying. Instead, it is a factor of the understanding of the human brain and how it works. Since the body cannot, by definition, understand the workings of the subconscious, we simply must accept that these incidences occur when the subconscious works more rapidly than the conscious mind.   Wittgenstein argues that this is not a premonition, but simply evidence that the mind works much faster than we appreciate. 2.) P. F. Strawson writes: States or experiences†¦owe their identity as particulars to the identity of the person whose states and experiences they are. From this it follows immediately that if they can be identified as particular states and experiences at all, they must be possessed†¦in such a way that it is logically impossible that a particular state or experience in fact possessed by someone should have been possessed by anyone else. The requirements of identity rule out logical transferability of ownership. [Individuals, p. 97] (a) Briefly describe Wittgenstein’s treatment of the idea that â€Å"another person can’t have my pains† in Philosophical Investigations Section 253. (Describe the aims and strategy of his remarks.)[ Wittgenstein disagrees with Strawson, with a tongue-in-cheek sarcasm to illustrate that in the event of Siamese twins, two people could share the exact same pain. Ultimately, though his goal is to demonstrate that identity is not as important to the identification of pain as far as location and intensity. Whether a person has the exact same headache that you are having is not nearly as relevant as the fact that they have had a headache in the past and can therefore commiserate with the pain that you are feeling.   In essence, he is arguing that the sameness of the pain is also irrelevant. When discussing the human condition, it is more important to draw parallels between like circumstances than to throw up semi-rational boundaries such as the identifiers that Strawson used. While it may technically, maybe, be impossible for more than one other person to feel the exact same pain that you are feeling, in the human nature of inexact speech we often use the phrase â€Å"same pain† to indicate that we have been in similar circumstances. Drawing unnecessary barriers by pointing out that our individuality will affect the way that we feel pain does nothing to promote a greater understanding of pain, the nature of the individual, the nature of empathy or the human condition. If Strawson were attempting to define the uniqueness of the individual, his commentary might have been relevant, but in a discussion about the nature of pain, it is divisive and irrelevant. The point is to discuss the sameness of the human condition in that while we may have different understandings of pain, we can interrelate via the concept of pain. For example, two women with menstrual cramps may not be experiencing the same intensity of pain or even the same location, but they can relate based on the similar circumstance. (b) Do observations like those in his PhilosophicalRemarks *2 account for all the ways we use the expression (same) pain?] Wittgenstein’s examples via Philosophical Remarks perhaps do not go far enough in disavowing Strawson’s claims, but he does make a good start. By arguing that the criteria of identifying the sameness of pain involves location and intensity as criteria rather than identity of the person feeling the pain, Wittgenstein effectively argues that Strawson’s claim is false. What he fails to discuss are the non-physical sources of pain and whether they can be the same pain or if Strawson is closer to the mark when using inaccurate language to describe emotional trauma. But here too, if Wittgenstein had desired, he could argue that Strawson’s claim is fundamentally flawed. Again, we go first to the example of identical twins that are raised together. Though there might be some differences in their emotional makeup, for the most part, they are going to feel emotional pain in the same way. But even if we forgo the genetic aspect ad simply discuss emotion as an end result of experience, it seems ludicrous to assume that each of the six billion people on the planet will have experienced life in a completely unique way and will therefore never have the same pain as another person. (c) Push Wittgenstein’s investigation one step further. We say things like this: â€Å"I had two bad headaches today: one in the morning and one in the afternoon†. What are â€Å"criteria† for sameness and difference in such cases? The primary criteria for sameness and difference in this case would be the location of the headache and its intensity. For example, a tension headache might begin at the base of the spine and radiate upward, a sinus headache might begin just below the eyes and a migraine might be a throbbing in the temples. Each can be described as a bad headache depending on the severity and each is unique in its location. However, often people who are prone to headaches will have them in the same location and are given to saying, â€Å"I had that same headache again† to indicate to the listeners that this is a recurring problem in the same location with the same intensity. When language is used precisely, this is an inexact statement, but if the primary purpose of language is to convey meaning to the listener, this can be a much simpler way of saying â€Å"I have a headache again in the same spot as I did yesterday and it hurts the same amount.† Much like with the other discussion, Wittgenstein seems to be challenging his fellow philosophers regarding their choice and use of the language. Because the language itself is inexact, making a claim simply based on the language usage is invalid. (d) Do these cases vindicate Strawson? I do not believe these issues vindicate Strawson at all. It appears that he was doing exact what Wittgenstein was trying to warn against: he was using an imprecise example of language to erect a barrier to human empathy that need not exist. Generally speaking, when a person uses the phrases, â€Å"I feel your pain† it is to indicate that I have been in a similar circumstance and have felt pain because of it. As such, I can empathize with your pain. However, people simply do not talk that way and to expect them to do so is illogical. Therefore, Wittgenstein rebukes Strawson, fairly gently, trying to make him understand that the same is not always the same.   It makes perfect sense when you consider the propensity in English to use the phrase â€Å"exactly the same†. Though sameness implies that two things are alike, we have learned to differentiate between things that are similar and thus the same in casual conversation and things that are identical.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Analysis and Interpertation of “Stolpestad”

Stolpestad by William Lychack I believe that we often consider the fact that we don’t get enough out of our lives. We think a lot about whether we live our lives to the full. Maybe someone chooses not to live an exciting life where every day, is a new day and a new opportunity. Whether we live a boring life – sometimes alone, sometimes with a family – we still wonder if we get enough out of our every day and avoid living a stagnant life. But is that even possible? Or does some just choose to live a predetermined life – which might make them feel secure because it’s something familiar – even though they might find it boring?But maybe it’s not possible to live a secure life with a family and a good job without getting tired of it? Maybe some people are just stuck in a boring life, without doing something to change it. I believe that is what we see in this short story by William Lychack, where we hear about police officer Stolpestad and h is stagnant life. Stolpestad certainly seems to be stuck in a routine – a boring life, where every day is the same. Day in and day out. As mentioned above we hear about the main character Stolpestad. He’s a police officer who doesn’t seem to be pleased about how his life turned out to be.He doesn’t seem happy about his job and it just seems like his life is at a standstill: â€Å"Was toward the end of your shift, a Saturday, another one of those long slow lazy afternoons of summer – sun never burning through the clouds, clouds never breaking into rain – †¦ † The day is described in a bit negative way because of the choice of words such as â€Å"long† â€Å"lazy† and â€Å"slow†. But it also seems like both these word and the weather description are a symbol of Stolpestad’s life. Everything seems a kind of inadequate – just like the weather.The sun is never really shining so much that it’s sunny, but at the same time, it’s not really rain either. The weather seems a kind of stagnant – just as Stolpestads life. A characteristic feature of this short story is the narrator view. The story is told in 2. Person but at the same time the text refers to Stolpestad as a â€Å"you† which means that it seems like it’s actually Stolpestad who’s telling the story. Maybe even telling the story to himself. The way this short story is written is a kind of what you would find in self-help books – and not in the ordinary short stories.Besides that it’s not quite clear when the persons in the story are actually speaking and when it’s just actions and Stolpestad’s thoughts: â€Å"Maybe you’ll take that glass if water after all, you say – the boy sent into the house – the woman asking if you won’t just help them. Doesn’t she want to call a vet? No, she tells you – the boy pushing out of the house with a glass of water for you – you thanking him and taking a good long drink, †¦Ã¢â‚¬  This quote also shows that the text is a bit difficult to read because it’s hard to figure out whether people is actually speaking or if the text is just written in a spoken language.There’re lot of things which symbolize Stolpestad’s life. For instance there’s the weather, but also the setting is a symbol of his boring life. Everything is described in a negative way: â€Å" †¦ the odometer like a clock ticking all these bored little pent-up streets and mills and tenements away. The coffee shop, the liquor stores, Laundromats, police, fire, gas stations to pass – †¦Ã¢â‚¬  The shops Stolpestad passes are plain and a kind of colorless, and it’s something he sees every day. We also hear that he passes his old childhood which means that he actually never really moved away.He just stayed in the same old town where he was born. Maybe therefore you could say that he never really got any further in his life. He just stayed â€Å"along the same sad streets. † The main theme in this short story is clear all the way through the text, and there’re a lot of symbols of Stolpestad and his life. A couple of them is ready mentioned, but also the dog, which he is supposed to shoot, is a symbol of Stolpestad. The dog is injured and about to die, but still it’s a live even though its condition might seem critical.You could say the same about Stolpestad. He is a kind of a living dead person, because it seems like his day is done in â€Å"zombie-mode†. He doesn’t get very much out of his life, he’s just trying to survive another day at the office, with the wife, the children and the sad streets. So the main theme – and also the conclusion – is that stagnation isn’t something good. You have to wake up and get something out of the day and your life, instea d wasting your precious time at endless bar visits and a job where you don’t even want to go.Stolpestad is really stuck in his life, and he doesn’t get any further, and maybe that’s what the point of this story is all about. William Lychack is trying to tell us that we shouldn’t just settle for a boring life. We should go out there and find who and what we wanted – and where we wanted it. But whether Stolpestad actually wants or tries to break with his stagnant life is uncertain but it could seem like it in the end of the story, where Stolpestad is actually heading toward the woods – maybe a symbol of something different or something new.But in the end Stolpestad is stuck in his life.. and reality stands in the door – and she wants her husband to come back inside again, and back to his every day routine. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Stol pestad by William Lychack. Page 1. line 1-4 [ 2 ]. Stolpestad by William Lychack. Page 2. line 62-66. [ 3 ]. Stolpestad by William Lychack. Page 1. line 3-5 [ 4 ]. Stolpestad by William Lychack. Page 1. Line 11

Sunday, September 15, 2019

The Impact of Branding Strategies of New Luxury Brands on Nigerian Young Customers: A Study of Tiffany Amber

Executive Summary: The global fashion industry is a highly evolving market with diverse needs and innumerous wants. While the tastes of consumers may differ, the aim of the luxury fashion brand industry is to associate brands with feelings of prestige, importance, status, and grandeur for customers. While the Western fashion industry is highly developed, the Nigerian fashion industry is slowly progressing into prominence as young affluent Nigerian consumers begin to appreciate Ankara fabric. However, these young affluent Nigerians are also highly comfortable with wearing Western labels, which makes it highly important for Nigerian fashion brands to appropriately brand their product lines to appeal to young Nigerian customers. This study focuses upon the impact of branding strategies of luxury fashion brands in Nigeria upon young consumers and aims to discuss the various branding strategies used and their effectiveness. The study aims to apply special emphasis upon the brand Tiffany and Amber which is known for its uniqueness and use of luxuriant fabric and vibrant colors. With the use of a closed-ended questionnaire, the study is designed to be both qualitative and quantitative in nature as it will contact 60 Tiffany and Amber customers through email for their opinion regarding the brand prominence and branding strategies employed by Tiffany and Amber and their effectiveness. The study will conclude by providing recommendations according to the data obtained. Chapter 1: Introduction1.1 Introduction:Fashion is an evolving term which may have a different context in every culture and may be redefined frequently. It is also a concept which may be defined differently by each individual and may be used as a source of expressing his/her personality. Hence, the fashion industry has a wide scope all over the world and is filtrated by numerous designers attempting to gain their market share by becoming the favorite of the fashion conscious (Okonkwo, 2009a). While fashion trends evolve and the tastes of various target markets differ, designers and brands have used specific branding strategies in order to increase their appeal to consumers and influence them into purchasing their products and wearing their styles (Ahmad, 2011). As different designers target separate target markets, the fashion industry is dispersed according to consumer characteristics which include gender, age group, socio-economic class, occupation, and the type of clothing needed amongst innumerous other characteristics(Okonkwo, 2007b). Accordingly, as the world has fashion hubs which are countries or cities which promote and spread fashion, such as Paris, the West can be considered the global hub for the remaining world as most successful designers attempt to influence the Western fashion market to gain recognition. While Nigerian or African fashion was not highly prominent in the West previously, Nigerian designers have gained recognition and formed their own luxury brands (Okonkwo, 2009a). This dissertation will seek to explore the branding strategies of Nigerian luxury brands, specifically Tiffany Amber, in context of socio-economic class, magnitude of fashion, age group, and other relevant factors which influence the branding strategy of a luxury brand. Accordingly this proposal will commence with an explanation of the background of the topic and the company Tiffany Amber and continue by stating the rationale for the study, research objectives/aims, and the research questions. The next chapter in the proposal will contain a brief literature review covering some of the main points in the literature concerning branding strategies of fashion luxury brands and summarizing the points that the dissertation will seek to explore. The proposal will commence with describing the research design and methodology including methods of data collection and data analysis and conclude with a short summary of all the relevant crucial points in the proposal.1.2 Background:Fashion is not a necessity but is usually a luxury exploited by and available to consumers who are willing to purchase fashionable clothes and have the resources to do so. One of the largest groups of consumers who are influenced by fashion are the young generation or young consumers and this particular target market is also known to spend the most upon purchasing fashionable clothing. Accordingly, designers of luxury brands incorporate different branding strategies within their marketing plan in order to increase their influence upon young consumers (Kotler, 1988). This study particularly focuses upon studying the impact of branding strategies of new luxury brands upon young Nigerian consumers belonging to the upper-middle class and those who have the resources to afford luxury clothing and have access to luxury fashion brands. The study will discuss their fashion choices with relation to luxury and non-luxury brands and their reasons for choosing fashionable clothing such as maintaining an image, looking young, and price and status amongst other factors. Society has always classified individuals according to a number of characteristics and accordingly given them labels such as frontrunners and followers, powerful and weak, elite and poor, and many other universal social categorizations (Kotler, 1988). Thus, individuals are then classified according to factors such as treasure, prestige, capability, education, profession, and even place of residence. These separate factors together form the classification of socio-economic class which is one of the most important consumer characteristics in luxury fashion clothing Tynan et al, 2010). Accordingly, African luxury fashion brands are seeking to make their impact upon the Western fashion market by adopting various branding strategies to appeal to the affluent youth. While the development of African fashion has previously been slow, African fashion brands are gradually entering the Western fashion market featuring Nigerian designers in the lead (Jennings & Ude, 2011). Designers such as Deola Sagoe, Violet Hecksher, and Adebayo Jones have all made their mark as high-end fashion brands which provide and design clothes in the categories ofhaute dressmaking, avante garde, and bridal fashion clothing. They produce commendable work in their own design fields and clearly communicate their brand image in their collections and customer service, representing concepts such as reliability, custom fitting, vibrance, entertainment, and comfort (Chavelier & Mozzalovo, 2008). However, Deola Sagoe exceeds the limitations of other Nigerian fashion designers and features a highly innovat ive high-end fashion line which is not seen elsewhere within the realms of Nigerian fashion. Thus, it is evident that Nigerian fashion has been thriving for some time and has made commendable progress in the last five years. Previously, Nigerian designs such as Ankara were not used daily and Nigerian designers were not paid much regard. However, now consumers under the age of 40 have begun to appreciate the beauty of Ankara and regularly wear garments designed by Nigerian designers. Designers have currently become proud of the country-of-origin of their products and often promote this feeling of patriotism by labeling clothes with emblems saying â€Å"Proudly Nigerian† (Keller & Lehmann, 2006). Due to the new popularity of Ankara fabric and the skills of fashion designers, the Nigerian fashion industry has currently taken a whole new path and is on the road to success, putting Nigerian fashion designers in a better position to target the youth and develop appropriate branding strategies to promote their luxury brands. This dissertation seeks to explore these branding strategies, specifically those employed by the luxury fashion brand, Tiffany Amber (Wilcox et al, 2009).1.3 Company Background:The brand, Tiffany Amber, was incorporated in the fall of 1998 by the brand’s owner and founder, Folake Folarin Cokar, who lived most of her youth in Europe exploring various fashion trends and fashion philosophy in order to later transmit her fashion sense and passion in her new brand. Unlike other Nigerian luxury brands, Tiffany Amber is specifically designed to suit the modern African woman and offers a unique blend of traditional African design with an international aesthetic which is part of the brand’s unique selling proposition. The brand is also widely known for its ultra feminine cuts and pieces created with the most luxuriant fabric and specific emphasis to detail. Unlike other African fashion designers, Tiffany Amber has successfully made a mark in the global fashion market while winning numerous awards and featuring its designs at the New York Fashion Week. The brand’s success can be attributed to a number of things which may include the brand’s specific emphasis to detail and femininity or the brand’s branding strategy of featuring itself under a foreign brand name rather than a local Nigerian brand name (Anheir & Isar, 2008).1.4 Rationale for the Study:While Western fashion and the fashion industries of other countries are well-developed, Nigerian fashion is a newly emerging concept and a newly prosperous industry. Thus, while all major fashion brands indulge in strategized marketing and promotion of their brands, there is little insight into how Nigerian luxury fashion brands adopt branding strategies to make consumers more aware of their brand and increase their prominence. Moreover, while the youth are highly appreci ative of Nigerian fashion in Nigeria, there is a need to understand whether Nigerian designers are effectively targeting the youth and increasing the prominence of their fashion brands or whether there is need for improvement in their branding/marketing strategies (Cayla & Arnold, 2008). While this would not have been an issue previously, with the current success of Nigerian fashion and its penetrating prominence in the Western fashion market, it is essential to study whether Nigerian luxury fashion brands such as Tiffany Amber are effectively using branding as a source to increase consumer awareness (Ahmad, 2011). If branding strategies and marketing plans are not coordinated and presented effectively, it may affect the success and acceptance of Nigerian fashion amongst young consumers. This was not previously a highly researched topic as the Nigerian fashion industry was not highly prominent and was not given due regard, hence there is little insight into this area of research (Shukla, 2011). This study can shed light upon whether the Nigerian luxury fashion market is effectively using branding strategies to gain prominence amongst young consumers and whether young consumers are aware of various Nigerian brands. It can also shed light upon the different types of branding strategies used in the Nigerian fashion industry and how these can be improved to exploit the opportunities available for Nigerian fashion amongst young consumers, if they are not currently being used at optimum level (Phau & Prendergast, 2000).1.5 Research Aims:Principle Research Aim: Exploring the depth of Nigerian fashion culture and the use of branding strategies by luxury brands to gain prominence amongst young consumers.Research Objectives:Aims to critically analyze and explore fashion culture in Nigeria as well as the contemporary fashion industry Aims to critically analyze the development and success of luxury fashion brands in Nigeria and their strategy of targeting young consumers Aims to explor e brand awareness of luxury fashion brands amongst young consumers in Nigeria Aims to critically analyze and explore the branding strategies of luxury fashion brands in Nigeria Aims to explore the branding strategy employed by Tiffany Amber and effectively make recommendations for improvement in light of the information gathered in the studyResearch Questions: Primary Research Question: What types of branding strategies are used by Nigerian luxury fashion brands and are they effectively targeting and increasing brand prominence amongst young consumers?Subsidiary Research Questions:What does fashion culture in Nigeria represent Are young consumers aware of various luxury fashion brands in Nigeria What branding strategies are being used by Tiffany Amber and how can they be improved to increase the brand’s acceptance by young consumers1.6Hypothesis:H0: young Nigerian customers are not aware of brand prominence of luxury fashion brands. H1: young Nigerian customers are aware of brand prominence of luxury fashion brands Chapter 2: Literature Review2.1 Concept of Branding:A brand name is a source of recognition for a product range which gives it a distinct identity and differentiates it from the products of competitors. If it were not for the concept of branding, it would not be possible for fashion designers to gain recognition in the industry and set themselves apart from their counterparts offering similar clothing and styles. A brand name represents a number of concepts and is a source of equity for a business which adds value to the business beyond the value of its material assets. Moreover, it is also a source of communication between the customer and the brand owner which gives off several cues to the customer regarding the product (Amankwah et al, 2012). A brand name is particularly important in the fashion industry and all luxury fashion brands are dependent upon the development of their brand name in order to add value to their brands. For example, Louis Vutton produces a leather handbag which is produced at a cost of approximately ?150 including the cost of overheads, but the bag is sold at a price of ?750 because of its unique style, the brand’s equity, and the brand associations that arise in the minds of customers when purchasing the brand (Wissinger, 2009).The luxury fashion brands industry aims to associate feelings of prestige, importance, power, hi-fashion, and uniqueness within customers regarding the brands they purchase. Thus, the industry’s main aim is to develop their brand name through branding strategies to represent concepts which are highly attractive for affluent customers and influence them to pay a high price for their products while also frequently purchasing their products (Fillis & Remtschler, 2 006). 2.2 Branding Strategies:In order to promote their luxury fashion brands in the eyes of customers, brand owners and managers implement a number of branding strategies. The branding strategies include extending the brand life cycle, increasing brand prominence, creating a brand image and brand position in the market, using celebrity endorsements, and using a foreign brand name amongst other innumerous branding strategies (Atwal & Williams, 2009). Many brands attempt to attract customers through constant innovation and offering completely new looks. Thus, this leaves customers guessing and at a stage of surprise as they are not sure of what to expect from the brand. While this strategy can significantly increase customer interest, it can also be harmful in the sense that it may cause brand confusion for customers and they may not be able to associate an appropriate image with the brand. Some brands attempt to increase their sales by increasing brand prominence and ensuring that customers are well aware of their brand. This may involve sponsoring events, featuring the brand in movies, advertisements, and basically ensuring the brand name is visible wherever possible (Ahmad, 2011). While this may be effective in ensuring that customers are well aware of the brand and it is at the top of their minds, but it may also cause customers to think that the brand has lost its uniqueness if the brand is made too prominent and is featured in the wrong places (Danziger, 2004). Many brand managers feel that their brand will sell itself if the correct brand image is projected and the brand is positioned appropriately. This is one of the most important branding strategies for luxury brands as this determines their identity in the market and how they are perceived by customers. Luxury fashion brands often prefer to create a brand image of uniqueness, importance, high status, and exquisite style. However, they may differ in the manner that they position themselves in the market as some brands may wish to position themselves as traditional brands while others may wish to project themselves as contemporary brands for example (Wilcox et al, 2009). Another very popular branding strategy for luxury fashion brands is using celebrity endorsements or hiring brand ambassadors which are well-known people who represent or use the brand in order to promote it to customers. This is usually considered an effective strategy in the case of luxury fashion brands as using celebrity endorsements often adds an aura of prestige and status to the brand (Keller & Lehmann, 2006). One of the popular branding strategies in brands originating from less developed countries is adopting a foreign brand name in order to give the brand a more Westernized image and possibly even hiding its country of origin. This is one of the strategies adopted by numerous Nigerian fashion designers, such as Tiffany Amber, and touches upon the next topic of the country of origin effect (Tynan et al , 2010). 2.3 Country of Origin Effect:The country of origin effect is seen within brands originating from different countries and how consumers perceive them based upon their c ountry of origin. For example, it may be difficult for a Chinese fashion designer to name a global fashion brand under a Chinese name and then effectively compete with other fashion brands such as Zara, Marie Claire, and numerous others as Western consumers may not be able to completely relate to the brand. It may also be difficult for consumers to associate themselves with the brand or perceive it as a high quality brand. Hence, many brands originating from less developed countries are made to adopt a Western name in order to at times hide their country of origin or relate to customers more effectively. This practice is often seen in Nigerian brands and may be a cause for their recent success in the global market, including brands such as Tiffany and Amber. Accordingly, these brands give off specific psychological cues to customers (Cayla & Arnould, 2008).2.4 Psychological Effects of Branding:Customers wearing branded products often choose to wear these brands because they give the m psychological satisfaction more than for the specific quality or style they offer. For example, a consumer wearing a simple dress which is not branded may not feel as confident as a consumer wearing a dress with a specific emblem or logo on it (Okonkwo, 2007b). Moreover, brands give customers a sense of belonging and may give them the feeling that they belong to a specific group of people who use a particular product. Thus, many consumers feel that they are cool, stylish, of high status, rich, or fashionable because they are wearing a particular brand. Hence, consumers, specifically young consumers in the contemporary fashion market, feel that they are recognized through the brands they wear. The same situations holds true for Nigerian consumers (Danziger, 2004). 2.5 Nigerian Young Consumers:Young Nigerian consumers are becoming increasingly affluent and have a substantial amount of discretionary income to spend upon fashion clothing. Moreover, with the increase in education and a wareness, Nigerian consumers are increasingly becoming fashion conscious and feel highly comfortable wearing Western labels. However, with the current prominence of Nigerian fashion, some young consumers are beginning to wear Ankara fabric and appreciate Nigerian fashion (Kawamura, 2011). However, a lot of the young generation may not be explicitly aware of Nigerian fashion brands and thus may not be targeted properly. The Nigerian fashion industry is in danger of losing such individuals to the Western fashion industry if the correct branding strategies are not implemented and young consumers are not given the feelings of prestige, honor, status, and style while using the brand (Jennings & Ude, 2011). These concepts must be explored in greater depth within the dissertation. Chapter 3: Research Methodology:3.1 Research Philosophy:The research conducted will be exploratory in nature as it seeks to investigate a topic which has previously not been explored in great depth. The study will be designed to be both qualitative and quantitative in nature as it will rely upon qualitative data in order to derive an outcome regarding the branding strategies employed by Tiffany and Amber and other luxury brands and also use a quantitative questionnaire in order to derive an outcome regarding the perception of young Nigerian customers of Tiffany and Amber (Kawamura, 2011).3.2 Research Design:The research will be designed in order to gain maximum in-depth information regarding the branding strategies of luxury brands and also provide a degree of control to eliminate interviewer/researcher bias and other problems associated with only qualitative research. Hence, the research design will depend upon both qualitative and quantitative data and both primary and secondary d ata. Primary data will be gathered through the means of a questionnaire conducted with Tiffany and Amber customers and secondary data will be collected for the literature review through online databases, journals, books, websites, magazines, and other sources (Berg, 2004).3.3 Research Strategy:The research process will begin with the collection of data for the literature review and critical analysis through online databases, journals, and other relevant sources after which a conceptual framework will be formed against which the new data collected is to be analyzed. According to the findings in the literature review, a comprehensive questionnaire will be dispersed to 60 Tiffany Amber young customers (under the age of 40) to gain their opinion regarding their knowledge and association with the Tiffany Amber brand. The data will then be analyzed and compared to the results obtained in the literature review in order to arrive at a conclusion (Berg, 2004).3.4 Data Collection Method:The most appropriate data collection method for this study would be to first gain explicit permission from Tiffany and Amber to contact their customers regarding the study and get a list of email addresses of approximately 60-80 young customers from their database. As some customers may not be willing to participate in the study, approximately 80 customers will be sent questionnaires through email out of which 60 responses will be used for the purpose of the study. The method of email will be used to promote convenience and promptness of responses (Patton, 1990).3.5 Data Analysis:As the questionnaire will be closed-ended, the data obtained from the questionnaire will be analyzed through the use of statistical software such as SPSS. This software is chosen for its appropriateness and accuracy in analyzing such data. The data involving single variables will be presented in the form of bar and pie charts and frequency tables. The data involving two or more variables will be presented in the form of statistical correlation analysis.3.6 Quality of Research:The research needs to ensure validity and reliability and in order to increase the quality of research, it is essential to ensure that the information is interpreted without interviewer bias/resp ondent bias. Questions should be designed to ensure that they are not loaded or leading questions and arouse a level of interest within the respondent in order to avoid dishonest responses due to boredom (Patton, 1990).3.7 Ethical Considerations:There may be a few ethical considerations that must be made when conducting the study which include the situation in which Tiffany Amber may be reluctant to speak of or disclose its branding strategies. Moreover, customers may also be reserved of answering personal questions for fear of misappropriation. In order to reduce the influence of these issues, respondents must be guaranteed anonymity and the researcher must ensure that he/she informs the respondents that he/she is not directly associated with Tiffany and Amber.3.8 Limitations:The limitations of the study include the fact that the study focuses only upon a single Nigerian brand, Tiffany and Amber, and results cannot be generalized towards other brands. Moreover, the sample populatio n used is not representative of all the Tiffany and Amber customers and also does not represent the opinions of the customers of other luxury brands (Cooper & Schindler, 2003).3.9 Timetable: The time table shows the most time spent on activities such as reading literature, drafting the literature review, awaiting tutor feedback, and acting on the final feedback given. These activities are given the most emphasis because they are crucial points in the research process and require extensive time to complete. It is highly essential to spend ample time exploring as much literature as possible in order to develop a full-fledged conceptual framework. Hence, approximately a week and a half is required in order to properly read all relevant sources. Drafting and writing out the literature review is likely to take approximately two and a half weeks as it is essential to appropriately form the arguments and the critical analysis as this is the main foundation of the research. As supervisors and tutors are likely to have a number of students to advise, it will take them some time to provide feedback and thus this is also a milestone in the research process. Analyzing the data is likely to take a shorter period of time than the other activities as it certain statistical functions must be used on SPSS and the data must be interpreted accordingly. The most important part of the research process is acting upon final feedback and ensuring the dissertation is up to the mark in all regards which includes activities such as proofreading, formatting, and correcting any mistakes. Chapter 4: Conclusion In a highly diverse and enticing fashion market, it is essential for Nigerian brands to promote brand awareness and prominence as Western brands do in order to ensure that they continue to appeal to young consumers. In order to do so, they may use a number of branding strategies that have preliminarily been explored in the literature review and will be explored in more depth and detail in the dissertation. However, as Western brands gain increasing prominence and implement effective branding strategies, it is becoming more essential for Nigerian designers to implement highly effective branding strategies to appeal to the youth (Kotler, 1988). With the example of Tiffany and Amber, the study will aim to appropriately explore the branding strategies that this particular brand employs and provide recommendations for improvement accordingly. This study can also lead to further research around the topics of how Nigerian branding strategies are different from the West and understanding how young Nigerian customers perceive the branding strategies of the West compared to those of local brands. Thus, this information can be highly beneficial for the fashion industry to develop a more strategically appropriate marketing plan and become as competent and prominent as Western fashion brands. The study can also lead to studies in other sectors of the developing Nigerian market such as accessories, technology, home decor, and others. References Ahmad, S. (2011). Globalisation and brands.BRANDS AND BRANDING. Amankwah, A. M., Howard, E. K., & Sarpong, G. D. 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