Robert Clive - Biography of 18th Century British General

Robert Clive - Biography of 18th Century British General Born September 29, 1725 near Market Drayton, England, Robert Clive was one of thirteen children. Sent to live with his aunt in Manchester, he was spoiled by her and returned home at age nine an ill-disciplined troublemaker. Developing a reputation for fighting, Clive compelled several area merchants to pay him protection money or risk having their businesses damaged by his gang. Expelled from three schools, his father secured him a post as a writer with the East India Company in 1743. Receiving orders for Madras, Clive boarded the East Indiaman Winchester that March. Early Years in India Delayed in Brazil en route, Clive arrived at Fort St. George, Madras in June 1744. Finding his duties boring, his time at Madras became more livelier in 1746 when the French attacked the city. Following the citys fall, Clive escaped south to Fort St. David and joined the East India Companys army. Commissioned as an ensign, he served until peace was declared in 1748. Displeased at the prospect of returning to his regular duties, Clive began to suffer from depression which was to plague him throughout his life. During this period, he befriended Major Stringer Lawrence who became a professional mentor. Though Britain and France were technically at peace, a low-level conflict persisted in India as both sides sought an advantage in the region. In 1749, Lawrence appointed Clive commissary at Fort St. George with the rank of captain. To advance their agendas, the European powers often intervened in local power struggle with the goal of installing friendly leaders. One such intervention occurred over the post of Nawab of the Carnatic which saw the French back Chanda Sahib and the British support Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah. In the summer of 1751, Chanda Sahib left his base at Arcot to strike at Trichinopoly. Fame at Arcot Seeing an opportunity, Clive requested permission to attack Arcot with the goal of pulling some of the enemys forces away from Trichinopoly. Moving with around 500 men, Clive successfully stormed the fort at Arcot. His actions led to Chanda Sahib sending a mixed Indian-French force to Arcot under his son, Raza Sahib. Placed under siege, Clive held out for fifty days until relieved by British forces. Joining in the subsequent campaign, he aided in placing the British candidate on the throne. Commended for his actions by Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder, Clive returned to Britain in 1753. Return to India Arriving home having amassed a fortune of  £40,000, Clive won a seat in Parliament and aided his family in paying off its debts. Losing his seat to political intrigues and needing additional funds, he elected to return to India. Appointed governor of Fort St. David with the rank of lieutenant colonel in the British Army, he embarked in March 1755. Reaching Bombay, Clive aided in an attack against the pirate stronghold at Gheria before reaching Madras in May 1756. As he assumed his new post, the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj Ud Daulah, attacked and captured Calcutta. Victory at Plassey This was partially provoked by British and French forces reinforcing their bases after the beginning of the Seven Years War. After taking Fort William in Calcutta, a large number of British prisoners were herded into a tiny prison. Dubbed the Black Hole of Calcutta, many died from heat exhaustion and being smothered. Eager to recover Calcutta, the East India Company directed Clive and Vice Admiral Charles Watson to sail north. Arriving with four ships of the line, the British retook Calcutta and Clive concluded a treaty with the nawab on February 4, 1757. Frightened by the growing power of the British in Bengal, Siraj Ud Daulah began contacting the French. As the nawab sought aid, Clive dispatched forces against the French colony at Chandernagore which fell on March 23. Turning his attention back to Siraj Ud Daulah, he began intriguing to overthrow him as the East India Companys forces, a mix of European troops and sepoys, were badly outnumbered. Reaching out to Mir Jafar, Siraj Ud Daulahs military commander, Clive convinced him to switch sides during the next battle in exchange for the nawabship. As hostilities resumed, Clives small army met Siraj Ud Daulahs large army near Palashi on June 23. In the resulting Battle of Plassey, British forces emerged victorious after Mir Jafar switched sides. Placing Jafar on the throne, Clive directed further operations in Bengal while ordering additional forces against the French near Madras. In addition to overseeing military campaigns, Clive worked to refortify Calcutta and endeavored to train the East India Companys sepoy army in European tactics and drill. With things seemingly in order, Clive returned to Britain in 1760. Final Term in India Reaching London, Clive was elevated to the peerage as Baron Clive of Plassey in recognition of his exploits. Returning to Parliament, he worked to reform the East India Companys structure and frequently clashed with its Court of Directors. Learning of a rebellion by Mir Jafar as well as widespread corruption on the part of company officials, Clive was asked to return to Bengal as governor and commander in chief. Arriving at Calcutta in May 1765, he stabilized the political situation and quelled a mutiny in the companys army. That August, Clive succeeded in getting Mughal emperor Shah Alam II to recognize British holdings in India as well as obtained an imperial firman which gave the East India Company the right to collect revenue in Bengal. This document effectively made it the ruler of the region and served as the basis for British power in India. Remaining in India two more years, Clive worked to restructure the administration of Bengal and attempted to halt corruption within the company. Later Life Returning to Britain in 1767, he purchased a large estate dubbed Claremont. Though the architect of the growing British empire in India, Clive came under fire in 1772 by critics who questioned how he obtained his wealth. Ably defending himself, he was able to escape censure by Parliament. In 1774, with colonial tensions rising, Clive was offered the post of Commander-in-Chief, North America. Declining, the post went to Lieutenant General Thomas Gage who was forced to deal with the beginning of the American Revolution a year later. Suffering from a painful illness which he was attempting to treat with opium as well as depression regarding criticism of his time in India, Clive killed himself with a penknife on November 22, 1774.

Remote Sensing - Overview, Types and Applications

Remote Sensing - Overview, Types and Applications Remote sensing is the examination or the gathering of information about a place from a distance. Such examination can occur with devices (e.g. - cameras) based on the ground, and/or sensors or cameras based on ships, aircraft, satellites, or other spacecraft. Today, the data obtained is usually stored and manipulated using computers. The most common software used in remote sensing is ERDAS Imagine, ESRI, MapInfo, and ERMapper. A Brief History of Remote Sensing Modern remote sensing began in 1858 when Gaspard-Felix Tournachon first took aerial photographs of Paris from a hot air balloon. Remote sensing continued to grow from there; one of the first planned uses of remote sensing occurred during the  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹U.S. Civil War when messenger pigeons, kites, and unmanned balloons were flown over enemy territory with cameras attached to them. The first governmental-organized air photography missions were developed for military surveillance during World Wars I and II but reached a climax during the Cold War. Today, small remote sensors or cameras are used by law enforcement and the military in both manned and unmanned platforms to gain information about an area. Todays remote sensing imaging also includes infra-red, conventional air photos, and Doppler radar. In addition to these tools, satellites were developed during the late 20th century and are still used today to gain information on a global scale and even information about other planets in the solar system. For example, the Magellan probe is a satellite that has used remote sensing technologies to create topographic maps of Venus. Types of Remote Sensing Data The types of remote sensing data vary but each plays a significant role in the ability to analyze an area from some distance away. The first way to gather remote sensing data is through radar. Its most important uses are for air traffic control and the detection of storms or other potential disasters. In addition, Doppler radar is a common type of radar used in detecting meteorological data but is also used by law enforcement to monitor traffic and driving speeds. Other types of radar are also used to create digital models of elevation. Another type of remote sensing data comes from lasers. These are often used in conjunction with radar altimeters on satellites to measure things like wind speeds and their direction and the direction of ocean currents. These altimeters are also useful in seafloor mapping in that they are capable of measuring bulges of water caused by gravity and the varied seafloor topography. These varied ocean heights can then be measured and analyzed to create seafloor maps. Also common in remote sensing is LIDAR - Light Detection and Ranging. This is most famously used for weapons ranging but can also be used to measure chemicals in the atmosphere and heights of objects on the ground. Other types of remote sensing data include stereographic pairs created from multiple air photos (often used to view features in 3-D and/or make topographic maps), radiometers and photometers which collect emitted radiation common in infra-red photos, and air photo data obtained by earth-viewing satellites such as those found in the Landsat program. Applications of Remote Sensing As with its varied types of data, the specific applications of remote sensing are diverse as well. However, remote sensing is mainly conducted for image processing and interpretation. Image processing allows things like air photos and satellite images to be manipulated so they fit various project uses and/or to create maps. By using image interpretation in remote sensing an area can be studied without being physically present there. The processing and interpretation of remote sensing images also have specific uses within various fields of study. In geology, for instance, remote sensing can be applied to analyze and map large, remote areas. Remote sensing interpretation also makes it easy for geologists in this case to identify an areas rock types, geomorphology, and changes from natural events such as a flood or landslide. Remote sensing is also helpful in studying vegetation types. Interpretation of remote sensing images allows physical and biogeographers, ecologists, those studying agriculture, and foresters to easily detect what vegetation is present in certain areas, its growth potential, and sometimes what conditions are conducive to its being there. Additionally, those studying urban and other land use applications are also concerned with remote sensing because it allows them to easily pick out which land uses are present in an area. This can then be used as data in city planning applications and the study of species habitat, for example. Finally, remote sensing plays a significant role in GIS. Its images are used as the input data for the raster-based digital elevation models (abbreviated as DEMs) - a common type of data used in GIS. The air photos taken during remote sensing applications are also used during GIS digitizing to create polygons, which are later put into shapefiles to create maps. Because of its varied applications and ability to allow users to collect, interpret, and manipulate data over large often not easily accessible and sometimes dangerous areas, remote sensing has become a useful tool for all geographers, regardless of their concentration.

To what extent does the success of E-Learning depend on the nature of Essay

To what extent does the success of E-Learning depend on the nature of an organisations culture - Essay Example In accordance with a report published in 2009 by CIPD, e-learning is a term, which appeared for fist time in 1999. As noted in the above report, two are the key forms of e-learning, as identified in organizations globally: ‘the web-based training and the Supported Online Learning’ (CIPD 2009). Current paper focuses on the examination of a particular aspect of e-learning: its relationship with organizational culture. Emphasis is given to the potential dependency of e-learning on the nature of an organization’s culture. The role of e-learning within modern organizations is critically reviewed. Then, the interaction between e-learning and the culture of each organization is critically discussed, taking into consideration the findings of studies that have been published in the particular field. 2. E-Learning as an element of the organization In accordance with Rosenberg (2006) e-learning is likely to provide solutions in ‘informational or instructional organizational problems’ (Rosenberg 2006, p.72). The above description of e-learning is, partially, opposed with the most common role of this framework, as a tool covering various organizational needs, as analyzed below. On the other hand, Cross et al. (2002) note that the quality of e-learning, as part of an organization’s plans, is not depended on the funds invested on the relevant project. Rather, it is an issue of managing effectively the resources available and being aware of current challenges of the organization’s internal and external environment. However, the following problem should be highlighted: the term e-learning is often too vague (Servage 2006, p.304), i.e. the parts and the role of the relevant schemes are not clearly explained. This fact can have the following implication: the targets set by the scheme’s initiators are n ot achieved while valuable time and funds are spent without having the chance to be paid back. Despite the value of e-learning, its use in organizations is still limited, mostly because of its requirements. In accordance with a series of statistics published in CIPD, e-learning is mostly used in large organizations, at a percentage of 79% than in medium organizations – the organizations with less than 250 employees are likely to use e-learning just at a percentage of 39% (CIPD 2008). It should be noted that the benefits of e-learning have not been made clear to employees. This problem is reflected in the following fact: in organization where e-learning schemes are available, the percentage of employees participating in these schemes is not over 60% (CIPD 2008). Moreover, the use of e-learning as the unique learning process within organizations seems to be avoided. In a relevant research developed by CIPD (2008) it was proved that most organizations (95%) prefer a blended lear ning scheme, i.e. a learning scheme in which e-learning is combined with other e-learning processes (CIPD 2008). The research developed by Servage (2006) led to the following finding: ‘cost and technology are the most common challenges of e-learning’ (Servage 2006, p.304), a problem which cannot be easily resolved. The use of e-learni

McDonald's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

McDonald's - Essay Example In case of McDonalds’ regular operation General Manager is controlling assistant and staffs who are mainly focusing on selling different products and offering services to customers. In case of McDonalds’ decision makings are done in a decentralized manner. McDonalds’ has divided its organization structure into three geographic locations. Those are 1) USA, 2) Europe and 3) Asia pacific, Middle East and Africa. Chief operating officers of those three regions directly reports to the CEO for all company related operations. Company’s geographical organization structure has three main hierarchies for operating globally. This organization structure is very simple and well designed. The main products of the McDonalds’ are hamburgers, chicken sandwiches of different types, French fries, breakfast items, desserts and soft drinks. In some markets McDonalds’ also sales vegetarian dishes and salads. It also sales some seasonal foods like McRib. Company is also offering soup in Asian market. It has given lots of importance to the local food. Company has done great localization of their menu. They also maintained local food taboos in different countries like India and Indonesia. McDonalds’ also sells beer in Germany and in various Western parts of Europe. McDonalds’ also provides different services to its customers like free Wi- Fi. Customers can access the Internet facilities by using their mobile phones and laptops without any charges. More than 11,000 restaurants have this super service around the world. The McDonalds’ is having a prepaid card service. It is named as Arch Card. This card helps customers for quick and convenient way of payment at McDonalds’. Customers can buy from any McDonalds’ restaurant with the help of this card (Molch, 2009, p. 182). Company is providing services in terms of giving space for child parties. These services are provided in limited locations. McDonalds’ is World’s largest

Air quality Essay Example for Free

Air quality Essay The quality f air that we breathe in today has significantly reduced over the years. Atmospheric air contains nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and rare inert gases. Of these, the two highly inevitable ones are oxygen and carbon dioxide. Theses are important for the survival of life n the planet: 02 is useful for animals and CO2 for photosynthesis in plants. The quality of these gases is determined by availability and its pollution-free state. Both factors have contributed to the present unfavorable status quo of these gases with respect to the sustenance of life on the planet. THE TREND Many conferences have held in nations of the world; quite a handful of International Summit have held to address the prevalent menace of environmental pollution that threatens all lives on the Earth. Daily, the number of endangered species increase, and many plants and animals have already gone into extinction as a result of the pollution affecting the quality of atmospheric gases available for daily cellular functions. Human activities such as deforestation and degradation, water pollution through oil spillage and poor river basin development programs have indeed played significantly roles. Besides, exhauist from mechanical equipment and vehicles, gaseous wastes from manufacturing industries, pollution with indiscriminate use of plants chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, etc have contributed to the reduction in the quality of air available to plants. This has affected the produce of plants, and the health of animals including humans. RECYCLING One must realize the fact that plants constitute a major recycling pathway for the purification of atmospheric air. Photosynthesis uses sunlight and such inorganic molecules like CO2 to produce organic compounds in the from of glucose. This is consumed by animals to produce CO2. O2 is used in oxidation of food in animals with carbon dioxide as byproduct. This pathway is important in determining the quality of atmospheric CO2 and O2, a byproduct of photosynthesis. This implies that any process, natural or man-made, that alters this pathway will affect the recycling process and the availability of good quality air for life. The threat of destruction of rainforest would have tremendous impact on future levels of these gases: It would cause an automatic alteration in the pathway describes above. Plants population would reduce and animals would suffer greatly for this. As a result of this imbalance, atmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide would change accordingly. CONCLUSION The quality of atmospheric oxygen and CO2 has changes over the years. The threat of rainforest destruction would worsen the change in the future. REFERENCES www.climatechangeissues.com/files/science/Plimer.doc

No One Told Me It Was Wrong :: Vietnam Technology Computers Essays

No One Told Me It Was Wrong As Viet Nam steps into the global economy, its citizens take advantage of any new business opportunities available. From a western point-of-view, a local computer shop might be nothing new, but for a country coming to terms with technology of the 21st century, an internet shop, computer parts and services, or technology education facilities are lucrative and profitable. So profitable, in fact, that along some streets, there are several competing stores close to one another. Not just in the cities like Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) or Hanoi, the small towns and villages, are quick to follow their urban brothers and sisters. The duplication of software, acquired for free or bought cheaply, is what fuels the businesses. Software is given out for free with new hardware purchases, or duplicated for a small minimal fee, much less than the actual price that software companies sell them for. Distribution of pirated software is cheap and profitable, and is the cause of much concern in the global market, as we will explore in this paper. Software piracy is where most of the money is made in these computer shops, and it is because of this that Viet Nam maintains the leader among countries with the highest piracy rates. Though many business owners are aware of the consequences of such actions, many others, especially those in the developing towns and villages, are oblivious that pirating software has economical and ethical implications. How do you know a deed is wrong if you have not been informed so, especially if the deed has successfully been turned into a business opportunity by so many others around you? While considering the moral and ethical implications of software piracy in Viet Nam, one must consider the culture and economic situations as well. Background According to Gros and Meir, software piracy is "unauthorized duplication, distribution or use of computer software," [1] of which there are 5 types, as listed below: . Publisher Patent and Copyright Infringement: Company X copies a piece of software or process from Company Y for profit. This is a common form of software piracy, but is easy to identify and combat. . Industrial Piracy: This occurs when individuals or groups duplicate and distribute software on a large scale for profit. . Corporate Piracy: Company X purchases one copy of a piece of software, installs it on No One Told Me It Was Wrong :: Vietnam Technology Computers Essays No One Told Me It Was Wrong As Viet Nam steps into the global economy, its citizens take advantage of any new business opportunities available. From a western point-of-view, a local computer shop might be nothing new, but for a country coming to terms with technology of the 21st century, an internet shop, computer parts and services, or technology education facilities are lucrative and profitable. So profitable, in fact, that along some streets, there are several competing stores close to one another. Not just in the cities like Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) or Hanoi, the small towns and villages, are quick to follow their urban brothers and sisters. The duplication of software, acquired for free or bought cheaply, is what fuels the businesses. Software is given out for free with new hardware purchases, or duplicated for a small minimal fee, much less than the actual price that software companies sell them for. Distribution of pirated software is cheap and profitable, and is the cause of much concern in the global market, as we will explore in this paper. Software piracy is where most of the money is made in these computer shops, and it is because of this that Viet Nam maintains the leader among countries with the highest piracy rates. Though many business owners are aware of the consequences of such actions, many others, especially those in the developing towns and villages, are oblivious that pirating software has economical and ethical implications. How do you know a deed is wrong if you have not been informed so, especially if the deed has successfully been turned into a business opportunity by so many others around you? While considering the moral and ethical implications of software piracy in Viet Nam, one must consider the culture and economic situations as well. Background According to Gros and Meir, software piracy is "unauthorized duplication, distribution or use of computer software," [1] of which there are 5 types, as listed below: . Publisher Patent and Copyright Infringement: Company X copies a piece of software or process from Company Y for profit. This is a common form of software piracy, but is easy to identify and combat. . Industrial Piracy: This occurs when individuals or groups duplicate and distribute software on a large scale for profit. . Corporate Piracy: Company X purchases one copy of a piece of software, installs it on

Tattoo Essay

TATTOO Indians , Japaneses , American and African civilizations maked a tattoo for ornamental. In many civilizations tattoo used for protection to sickness and evil spirits. Tattoo used for emphasize the position of the individual in society (slave,lord,soldier,etc. ) A. C. 2000 in egypt , first tattoo found in mummy. Britons,Gauls and Thracians interested to tattoo art. Hellen and roman civilizations used tattoo for slave nd guilties people. First christian people wrote Jesus name to their body.Tattoo swords coming from Tahiti language â€Å"tautau†. Tattoo was used romantic feeling , patriotism or religionist aim but in 20 century just prof tattoo makers doing this art who has a licance . Because of hygiene problems and contegion as like AIDS. Tattoo , people usually say its a kind of an addiction. Well I think they are mostly right. But it depends on the people for sure. Some people are getting inked just for the model they like. Some are getting inked to tell others the th ings he has on deep inside his mind.People also say inked people will be regretful in the future cause they think tattooed people will get bored of their tattoos. Actually there is no really something like that. Tattoo is a way to show people what or who you are. Its a lifestyle. Or maybe just art. Tattoo will be a taboo for those forever. And the most amazing thing for some others,us. I love tattoo , I think tattoo isn't a sin . If you are ready tk get inked, you got to make sure you are doing it safe. You need A clean place and the professional hands .Its your body and There is no return at all. Price is never the same at tattoo studios. There is only one reason,quality. You re getting a painting on your body, get it well done! When you are getting inked, you need to be sober. If you drink alcohol,that makes your blood run faster and that means more blood out. Yes some of your blood would want to get out of your veins the pain of tattoo changes for the people. Some people says it a little bit hurts. Some even faint. Nothing to worry though. I think it's worth a shot.

Banksy’s Artwork in Detroit

Once again, all of the pieces Banksy put up in Detroit have either been destroyed by the owners of the walls upon which they were created – not knowing the signiflcance of the work – by Individuals looking to profit from the sale of the work, or, in the case of this image, ‘preserved,' significantly altered, or ‘destroyed' – depending on one's perspective – by individuals in the community seeking to save them from their Inevitable destruction, It Is equally Important to recognize that they surely (and undoubtedly) would have been destroyed in one way or another.Street rt is one of the only – if not the only – plastic arts that embrace's its own eventual demise. It Is, In other words, and Its practitioners are eminently aware of this, inherently ephemeral. As this [SLIDE – GO SLOW HERE] sequence of images [SLIDE] by a Street Artist known as Mobstr indicates. [SLIDE] The inherent ephemerality [SLIDE] of these works of art Is the result [SLIDE] of a relatively unique set of contextual circumstances [SLIDE] and social relationships of power within which most street artists ply their trade. [SLIDE] Just now, I referred to these pieces as works of art and I believe that that's how they should be regarded.Not as vandalism, not as a crime, not as a nuisance, or blight – however all of these descriptors are accurate, once again, depending on one's perspective. There is no other contemporary art movement that works at the same scope [SLIDE] and grandeur as street artists' do. They consider walls that sometimes stretch horizontally [SLIDE] for entire city blocks as a canvas of massive proportion. They see the blank concrete of a high rise and think of It not as private property, or the structure of someone's home or business, but as a concrete canvas.The sheer size, complexity, [SLIDE] and detail involved in ome of street art's most notable exemplars qualifies it as an artform par excellence. However, In the eyes of the law, the majority of property owners. or In the by laws of municipal city councils, this is, for the most part, not the case. Once again, and for the most part, in the eyes of the law [SLIDE], street art is vandalism and property damage that upsets the stability of city life and the sensibility of city dwellers, making them fear for their safety on the streets of their city.From this perspective, street art needs to be eradicated, erased, and/or tuffed out,' as the terminology of the street calls It, as soon as possible. Removing graffiti and street art Is akin to fixing the broken windows that, if left unrepaired, as the infamous story told by Wilson and Kelling goes, will lead to further crime, disregard for private property, the apparent safety of others, and an overall degeneration of the city as a space reserved almost exclusively, according to David Harvey, for commerce and private property rights.Succinctly, then, the life expectancy of a piece of street art [ SLIDE] is very short. It is around buffing out the work of street artists, however. There are at least four other factors that make the work of street artists inherently ephemeral. In addition to municipal officers buffing out pieces, the second factor limiting the life expectancy of street art, are property owners themselves [SLIDE]. When a piece of private property gets tagged without the permission of the property owner, the inclination of the property owner is to get to rid of what they consider to be vandalism as soon as possible.This is especially the case when the owner isn't aware of the value of certain pieces. This one [SLIDE], done by Banksy in Melbourne, Australia, was apparently destroyed when, someone's father was house sitting and he thought he would do his son-in-law a favour by getting rid of it. However, and generally speaking, the commercial value of street art by the vast majority of street artists, save a very select few, is close to nil. If you're a street arti st and you're not Banksy, you breaking proverbial windows all the time.Property owners, then, seeking to maintain the aesthetic integrity of their property, are the second cause of street art's limited life expectancy. The third cause is other street artists themselves. Ever since the appearance of graffiti on the subways and walls of New York City [SLIDE] and Philadelphia in the late 70s and early 80s, graffiti and street art have been caught up n a clandestine contest that revolves around territoriality, prestige, ego, and fame, based on the courage and capacity to get one's tag up in the most dangerous and visible locations possible.Looked at from these five different perspectives, street art is one of the few ‘plastic arts' that is planned, designed, and created in full knowledge that the end product will, in one way or another, disappear or be destroyed over time – and in some instances, very short periods of time. This inherent ephemerality is, of course, where th e digital camera and the Internet become incredibly important implements in the treet artist's quiver.As much as these artists are reliant on the physical qualities of cinder block, concrete, wood, and steel, to exercise their creative vision, they are equally reliant on the immaterial, virtual, and distributed hardware and software characteristic of the Web 2. 0 era, to document that which in all likelihood, and in the very near future, will disappear for one of the five reasons listed above.Taking into account the ephemeral transience of street art from the perspective of the artists themselves, these same artists can, then, as much as they are regarded as street rtists, also be regarded as digital artists, digital photographers, albeit digital artists and photographers that go to great lengths, and put themselves at great risk, in the preparation of their compositions.This point is important enough to recognize, but to stop here would be to cut short a more in depth examination o f the practice of creating street art and the absolute importance of the concrete yet entirely transient and stochastic qualities of the urban canvas to the art form. As I hope to demonstrate, the vagaries of the urban fabric serve only to reinforce the point Just ade regarding the importance of the digital camera and the Internet.AWKWARD – The very particular qualities of the surfaces upon which this kind of art is produced – the individual qualities of very particular walls – and the either serendipitous or pre- planned incorporation of trash, foliage, or other elements of the natural (or stretched canvas upon which other forms of art are produced – play an incredibly important role in the creation of street art. Reciprocally, and at the same time, they also underscore the importance of the digital camera, the digital photograph, and the Internet to the preservation and dissemination of the works themselves.I think this can best be explained by referenc e to the photographs themselves. If we look at this piece by Banksy for instance, [SLIDE] created in the run up to the London Olympics in 2012 and around the same time as his ‘Slave Labour' piece, we see a pole-vaulter falling backwards, not quite making it over the barbed wire fence and onto the discarded mattress below. For the time being, I'm less interested in a semiotic reading of the piece than I am in paying attention to the actual physical things that play a part in the construction of this semiotic meaning.The mattress and the fence are absolutely integral elements of the piece. They are as important to the work as the pole and the pole-vaulter. If absent, for whatever reason, the piece itself wouldn't be the same piece. Or, rather, it would be an entirely different piece, with an entirely different meaning. For instance, after this photograph was taken, there is a good chance that the mattress might have been discarded, the fence taken down in order to install the re quisite Plexiglas. The point being, that the artist has obviously deemed these elements of the urban fabric to be elemental to the overall work itself.If removed or altered in any way, as they surely will be, the work is no longer that of the artist. Much like deleting scenes from Hamlet would fundamentally alter the play as Shakespeare intended it, removing the mattress alters the piece as Banksy intended it. If the mattress goes missing, is moved, or shifted, the artwork, as the artist envisioned and created it, is no longer. This example [SLIDE] too, indicates how important the actual elements of the urban fabric are to the piece. They are intricately woven into the artwork itself.This is becoming ever more important and prominent in Banksys work and†¦ f I can speculate for a moment, I think this has everything to do with his politics – I presume he's a ‘he' at least – it has everything to do with his politics, the market value of his work, and the propen sity of property owners to remove it and auction if off, or of municipal councils to put it behind Plexiglas. So what would happen if this wall was cut out and moved to a gallery, into a private salon, or placed behind Plexiglas? Or what if we simply come back in Winter?Well, of course, the flowers that this boy is vomiting would die. They would either be uprooted and killed, squashed behind the Perspex and killed, or in time, and as a esult of the elements, die of natural causes. This is, of course, in addition to, and on top of, the fact that the piece itself has a very limited shelf life for the five reasons described above. As mentioned previously, once the work of street art is finished, the artist responsible for its production turns his/her back on it, in effect abandoning the work, leaving it to live or die as the street sees fit.Before doing so, however, and for the most part†¦ The work, as the artist intended it (and as he/she created it), is documented with a photogr aph. This practice too has its historical lineage. SLIDE] These are slides taken by Martha Cooper, a photographer, along with Harry Chalfant, responsible for archiving the early history of graffiti on the streets of this fair city we all find ourselves in today. Without the photographs of Cooper and Chalfant, not to mention the artists themselves, this important stage in the history of arguably one of preserved for us to see today.The photographic record of these inherently ephemeral works, then, preserves them and at least some of the context within which they existed at the time of their creation. In a manner of speaking, then, not only oes the digital photograph enable the preservation and dissemination of the artwork in a state that the artist obviously approved of, but the physical act of taking the digital photograph is the final brush stroke that signifies the piece is finished and the artist is done with his/her work. The moment at which he/she can turn around and walk away. Much like an oil painter who, when the canvas is completed to his/her satisfaction puts his/her name to the piece [SLIDE], the digital photograph serves as the street artist's signature of sorts. [SLIDE]lt signifies that the work is as the artist ntended it and that, in the state it was when the photograph was taken, is complete. So, again, similar to the signature in the top right corner of the Picasso, the signature is a sign that signifies the painting is complete. The digital photograph plays much the same role.Once again, it functions in much the same way as the artist's signature in that it denotes that the artist is happy with the result and the scene looks as it should. One of the more provocative questions that this pushes to the fore of our investigation, is, then, what if the piece is altered or removed from the context in which it was created for any reason whatsoever? SLIDE]. Extracted from the broader landscape that plays such a pivotal role in its interpretation and m eaning. Does it continue to be a Banksy for instance? And I think there's a very good argument that it does not.Doesn't the digital photograph of the work – in the place where the artist created it and inclusive of the elements so pivotal to its meaning – more accurately represent the artwork than the ‘salvaged' (or preserved) work [SLIDE] when it's placed in the white cube ofa gallery? And I think the answer is, yes, yes it does. If this is the case, then, the photograph serves not only as the signature of the artist, but because f the ephemeral nature of the work and the resolute importance of the surroundings to it's meaning also as a work of art itself – albeit one that reciprocally depends on spray paint to be completed.As mentioned earlier, in these instances, the street artist can be equally considered a digital artist, albeit a digital artist that goes to great lengths and puts him/herself at great personal risk in the preparation of their composit ions. This piece [SLIDE] was placed inside the perimeter of the dilapidated and abandoned confines of a Packard Assembly plant – a 3-and-a-half illion square foot ruin [SLIDE] on the south east side of metro Detroit. To be honest, and in my opinion, the piece itself isn't one of Banksys best [SLIDE].It is, however, notable because it makes specific and pointed reference to the very particular and exact location in which it was created. It is, much like a lot of his more recent work, heavily context dependent. â€Å"l remember when all this was trees. † And it is this this' [SLIDE] that I think distinguishes this piece. At the end of the process of filling in the stencil, and writing the phrase, Banksy metaphorically signs the piece by taking a hotograph of it. And he takes the photograph of the piece as he wanted it to look – knowing full well that it will probably disappear in the near term.The stencil itself is frame left, [SLIDE] with the ruins occupying fram e right, inviting the viewer of the photograph to complete the story the boy is telling by following the implicit directions offered in the word bubble. This is how Banksy wanted us to see the piece. This is he wanted it interpreted. The location and the broader context in which it is placed is, in fact, as important (or more so) than the image of the boy himself. This photograph, then, is a more accurate representation of the artwork in the way the artist created it than the actual piece that is now housed in a Gallery in South West Detroit.The only thing that marks the place of the original – in January of 2012 at least [SLIDE] – this too has probably changed – is an odd tangle of colourful fabric whose origins and purpose are impossible to verify – other than the fact that they are placed at the exact location where the piece was once located. Completely extracted [SLIDE] from the context that constitutes an incredibly important part of the canvas' its elf, the meaning of the piece as the artist intended it, no longer makes sense.Or perhaps, and rather, it still makes sense, but the sense that is now being made is not that intended by its creator, but, rather, by those persons who ‘saved' it from its eventual destruction†¦ or by somewhat obsessed academics like myself. Therefore, by moving the piece and extracting it from the place that is part and parcel of itself – that plays such an important role in the work – those individuals that preserved it, or saved a relatively small portion of the piece, did so by means of destroying the larger piece which might include the 3. million square feet that constitute the abandoned factorys footprint.In the absence of these 3. 5 million square feet, we no longer have a piece of street art by Banksy, but a roughly 7†² x 7†² corner of a piece that forms part of a much larger work of art. The fact that the photograph is also a poor representation of these 3-an d-a-half million square feet is something I'm still thinking through†¦ To concluders however, and completely omitting from consideration any conversation regarding the ephemeral nature of street art in relation to Benjamin's notion of the ‘aura' as it relates to works of art that o longer in exist, something I'm going to take up in my book†¦ s a result of the ephemeral nature of street art and the fact that the urban canvas is part and parcel of the artwork itself†¦ I would like to conclude by reiterating that as much as street artist's can be thought of as artists that work within (and with! ) the very concrete confines and materials of the urban fabric, they can also, and perhaps better, be thought of as digital artists that go to great lengths in the preparation of their compositions. Thank you so much for your time and attention today. YouVe no idea how much I appreciate them both.

Marketing Strategy of Levis Essays

Marketing Strategy of Levis Essays Marketing Strategy of Levis Paper Marketing Strategy of Levis Paper The Marketing Strategy Employed by Levis Missing In order for a new brand to establish itself in its market and for its products to sell successfully, thus achieving company goals and shareholder profitability, a number of key principles concerning consumer behaviour have to be fully grasped and addressed. As well as producing a range of new, exciting and quality garments, the firm will need to ensure that its products are cleverly and thoughtfully marketed to the appropriate consumer groups. In this report I will look at the marketing strategy employed by Levis on their new Anti-Fit style jeans, and at the importance of consumer behaviour in deriving this strategy. I will also look at the importance of a clear and up to date comprehension of the factors that affect consumer behaviour, paying particular attention to the key role that perception will play in forming consumers attitudes towards the new range of designer jeans. I will continue on to show how favourable perceptions about Levis brand identity will have a positive effect in raising consumer motivation to purchase a product from their range. The fashion industry at this time; a time of increasing disposable incomes and incidence of recreational shopping, is intensely competitive. We can draw on many examples to highlight the point that; companies who have established a strong and clear brand image, have tended to command a larger market share than those companies whos image is either unfavourable, for example old fashioned, or unattached to specific and clear values. Establishing a strong and istinguishable brand image for the Anti-Fit range of jeans is the central idea behind Levis marketing strategy for breaking into the competitive market and ultimately gaining a favourable share of the market for designer jeans. Creating the right brand image is largely dependent upon being in tune with the mindsets, beliefs, values and aspirations of the modern, well-informed consumer. Moreover ensuring that the consumer perceives the firm to be in tune with their way of thinking and holding similar values centrally to the Levis bra nd identity will be the key to ensuring marketing success. When advertising the Anti-Fit product Levis must ensure that its messages are clear and perceived by the desired audience in the intended manner. Evans, Moutinho and Van Raaij (1996) believe that aâ‚ ¬Ã‚ ¦the more we understand about the perceptual process both generally and of the target market concerned, the more we can ensure that the intended receivers of the message will interpret it in the intended manneraâ‚ ¬Ã‚ ¦ (pp. 55). The notion of branding can have significant effects on consumers perceptions of product characteristics and attributes. Studies have shown customers can often not tell the differences between the various brands but labels and their associations definitely influenced their evaluations. (Consumer Behaviour G R Foxall) This shows that customers perceptions of products can derive from marketing effort alone; brand images and brand differentiation can be the consumers only guide to want satisfaction. This is particularly evident in a highly branded stylised market such as the jeans market. Therefore pursuing the correct marketing campaign is essential to appeal to the target audience, in an already highly differentiated market. When shopping for designer jeans consumers are more likely to consider purchasing a brand product from his or her awareness set than from a company whos brand image he or she has not been exposed to. Brand awareness is an obvious precondition to purchase. (Jobber 2004) The purchase of a pair of designer jeans may be considered neither a high involvement nor low involvement purchase, where involvement may be thought of as aâ‚ ¬Ã‚ ¦the degree of perceived relevance and personal importance accompanying brand choice (Blackwell, Miniard and Engel 2001: quoted in Jobber 2004). The following model is an amalgamation of Fisbein and Ajzens model for high involvement purchases and Enrenberg and Goodharts model for low involvement situation. [IMAGE] The influences at work when shopping for designer jeans. The purchase of a pair of designer jeans is seldom undertaken with the same abandon and low risk as, for example, the purchase of a pair of socks. Jeans may be worn and enjoyed for many months, even years. Therefore the consumer would want to ensure that the jeans will remain comfortable, fashionable and flattering for more than a few outings. Creating a brand that is seen to be fashionable, desirable and having a degree of exclusivity, is vital for attacking the designer end of the jeans market. Referring to the model above and what has been written up to this point, suppose two comparably priced jeans were tested, both equally well fitting and both well styled. A consumer may be swayed by brand snobbery, wishing to attach herself to the brand he or she believes matches his or her beliefs and attitudes and will result in greater approval from his or her significant references. The more aware a consumer is of a brand, the more likely he or she may be to purchase its product. Perception of products and brand identity has a big impact on consumer purchasing behaviour, within a dynamic fast moving market, such as the jeans market; where style and originality is the key. Perception is defined as the entire process by which an individual becomes aware of his environment and interprets it so that it will fit into his own frame or reference (Walters in Consumer Behaviour G R Foxall 1977). People become aware of their environment through the five senses, therefore sensation is the process by which perception begins. Also important is the process of interpretation, which depends on the socio-psychological meanings the individual attaches to the object perceived. Everybody perceives things differently and this is important when thinking about grouping people into a particular market segment or marketing a brand in a particular way, as potential consumers may not interpret such things with the same meaning as intended. 0% of stimuli are received through sight, therefore when marketing a new range of designer jeans visual stimuli are a key method of attracting potential consumers. Potential customers within such a competitive market have a number of factors influencing their purchasing behaviour. Consumer buying is motivated by something more than awareness; it depends on the consumers needs and drives, tastes and aspirations, attitudes, personality and social environment. Products are not only purchased for their functional values but also, for the social and psychological meanings they convey. The purchase of a pair of jeans is linked, to what extent is dependent on the individual, to the formulation and shaping of a consumers self-image. Purchasing a pair of jeans will to some degree shape a persons self-image and the way others may perceive them. As marketers, a company must align the consumers self-perception and the image they intend to project to others, with the attributes and values they perceive to be attached to the company and its associated products. Grubb and Grothwohl (1967) suggest image research within marketing seeks to link the psychological construct of an individuals self-concept with the symbolic value of the goods purchased (p 23). A consumer will purchase goods that they believe will either enhance their self-image, or those which help the consumer to feel closer to their self image. Therefore we may think of goods, in this case designer jeans, as symbols that communicate something about the individual to his significant references (p 24). The selective nature of perception and attention act as a way of coping with the constant bombardment of stimuli, the precise manner in which the person allows some messages to penetrate while rejecting others depends on values, motives and attitudes as well as social situation. With a prior knowledge of this aspect of consumer purchasing behaviour, it is clear that when selecting and targeting potential consumers marketing strategies must incorporate a wide range of factors to appeal to a market segment which may encompass people with wide ranging beliefs, attitudes and values. For example marketing for young, trendy professionals looking for up to the minute style may represent a particular market segment but within this segment individuals may have varying beliefs or values. Therefore, by simply targeting a segment of the market we cannot assume homogenous perceptions of a new product. Differing attitudes to a particular strategy may be widely evident, therefore understanding consumers purchasing behaviour in relation to differing perceptions will give a wider insight into possible effective strategies.

Not Winning a Contest Doesnt Mean Your Writing is No Good

Not Winning a Contest Doesnt Mean Your Writing is No Good Not Winning a Contest Doesnt Mean Your Writing is No Good Not Winning a Contest Doesnt Mean Your Writing is No Good By Maeve Maddox The votes are in and the winners announced for the Second DWT Short Story Competition. Congratulations to winner Violet Toler and runner-up Easton Miller. Your stories pleased many readers. Contests are rough on writers. If we enter and dont win, its very hard to shake the feeling that our writing isnt any good. Possibly it isnt. But another possibility is that it just didnt appeal to the judgesin this case, 667 DWT readers from every walk of life and from many different countries and cultures. Hey, you cant please everybody! I didnt read all 97 entries, but I did read the eleven that made the final cut. And I read the tabulation of the votes with interest. The two entries I liked best came nowhere near the top in the voting. My picks were Crazy Fay by Sherry Roth and 2 AM and Counting by Katrina Mohr. Crazy Fay by Sherry Roth In this story, set during a Florida hurricane, a middle-class woman glimpses a homeless woman in a coffee shop. The images are striking and the language fresh. I especially like the detail of the raindrop earrings: Several people stood in line ahead of me, including one woman who had matted, wet salt-and-pepper hair, with rainwater droplets bizarrely hanging from her earlobes like a poor excuse for earrings. I tried not to stare, but those little droplets had me mesmerized. For her part, she didn’t seem to notice them. Roths descriptions and the inner dialogue of the narrator work together towards a poignant climax in which the narrators good intentions, belatedly conceived, come to nothing. Now thats true to life. 2 AM and Counting by Katrina Mohr I cant say I liked Katrina Mohrs story about the drug addict, but I certainly admire her skill in taking me inside the head of a junkie waiting to rob a liquor store. From the first sentence I know that hes a man who thinks about consequences and contingencies: The car window was crank-powered, not electric, but he preferred it that way. He never warmed up to the idea of being entombed in his car should it refuse to start. The author chooses words and descriptions to appeal to all the senses: the silver Zippo hissed he watched the smoke rise with his breath in the cold air The ashtray was full, spilling butts and gray-white powder Bruises along the underside of his arm throbbed impatiently and he felt like he was about to puke again. Congratulations to Daniel for generating so much participation in his second DWT writing competition. I look forward to the next one. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Handy Expressions About Hands50 Nautical Terms in General UsePhrasal Verbs and Phrasal Nouns

A Comparison of Motivation Factors in the UK and China Essay

A Comparison of Motivation Factors in the UK and China - Essay Example From this essay it is clear that the managers should consider what motivation is appropriate for each category of employees in order to achieve required change or performance . The timing of motivation is also necessary to make the desired change at the right time. There is a direct relationship between employee motivation and organization performance. The scope of this document is to examine various factors that motivate employees and provide a comparison of employee motivation in the telecommunication industry between China and UK. In addition, the report will analyze the performance of the telecommunication industries of the two countries and establish any relation between employee motivation and performance. The study will involve only secondary data obtained from peer-reviewed sources but will not include any primary data.This paper declares that  employee motivation is one of the core long-term success elements in many organizations, even though, some employers always try to overlook its importance. â€Å"Work Motivation is a set of energetic forces that originate both within as well as beyond an individual’s being, to initiate the work-related behavior and to determine its form, direction, intensity,and duration†.  Employee motivation is an internal disposition of a person to be focused on and approach positive inducements and shun disincentives. The employee motivation factors can be categorized as those based on their needs as described by Maslow theory.