Australian Paper Mfg

The fourth option Is one that focuses on diminishing the environmental impact of Amp's operations. While the fourth option has merit in alleviating environmental concerns, it does not have a costive financial impact on Amp's operations. AMP created four distinct products that serve the specific needs of four consumer segments. These segments include offset printing, copy paper, taprooms, and recycled paper. The respective segments all offer different contribution margins to Amp's operations and vary greatly in their respective growth in demand over the next six years.The key operational decision is one that affords AMP the flexibility to use additional capacity to meet the growing demands of the most profitable sub-segments of the uncoated fine paper market. Conclusion AMP should choose the option outlined by the group general manager that affords the most flexibility to meet the growing demand in the uncoated fine paper market. That being considered, AMP must also meet the predeterm ined returns required by its parent corporation, Amoco.These targets are required for the release of capital to AMP, and while Amoco has set minimum return thresholds, AMP should strive to create the largest return on investment to its parent company. Option 1, described in the Appendix, satisfies this obligation to Amoco and allows AMP the most flexibility In using Increased capacity. This option also allows AMP to return considerable cash flow over the five year period without overextending Its operations beyond the market demand.Identification Key operations generalness They key operations challenge for AMP is the need to adapt its operations strategy in order to expand its capacity and meet the growing demand in the uncoated fine paper market. AMP is currently at its maximum throughput capacity and must invest considerable capital to expand its operations. The company is contemplating several different courses, each with valid business context, and must ecocide which option allo ws AMP to best meet the growing demand while maintaining and developing further competitive advantages.Operations Strategy Amp's operations strategy focuses on superior customer service and quality compared to its competitors in the fine paper industry. AMP made the decision to enter the uncoated fine paper market in 1987 and used its experience in paperboard manufacturing to Jump start this expansion. As the success of Amp's fine paper production ramped up, the company deemphasized its dependence on the paperboard market. This business decision influenced Amp's operational decision o invest in efficient technology that allowed it better quality and cost advantaged compared to its competitors.Furthermore, AMP opted to vertically integrate its operations to include pulping for non-recycled paper and the collection of used office paper in order to gather raw materials to compete in the recycled paper market. Customer Needs AMP competes to satisfy its customers' needs of quality and en vironmental performance. The company invested considerable resources in state of the art equipment that provides superior fine paper via four distinct offerings: Printing, Darting, CopyRight, and Right.Printing was designed to satisfy the offset printing needs of businesses, Darting was designed to suit form creation, CopyRight was created for everyday copying, and Right was a recycled office paper offering targeted at the environmentally conscious customer. Each of these products met the specific quality standards of its target customers. AMP utilized superior technology that created a higher quality paper than any of its competitors. Amp's investment in more efficient technology also paid off in satisfying the environmental considerations of its customers.The processes and equipment that AMP used rated fewer organogenesis than the old machines and processes of Paper Company of Australia (PICA), Amp's chief competitor. Furthermore, Amp's investment in Right scored the endorsement o f the World Wildlife Fund for its respect for and positive impact on the environment. This coupled with Amp's initiative of the â€Å"AMP Office Paper Chase† (Upton, 1993, p. 13) placed the company well ahead of its competition in terms of satisfying the environmental performance needs of its customers.Business context Tort Immediate Decision The market for uncoated fine paper was projected to grow at a rate of 6. 5% annually for the next ten years. The market for copier paper alone, a sub-segment of uncoated fine paper, was projected to grow at a rate of 10% per year for the next decade. The CEO of AMP stated â€Å"If we sit still, we'll get hurt sometime before the year 2000. Whoever takes the next big step will have it made in Australia†¦ If PICA decides to expand†¦ What will their net increase be† (Upton, 1993, up. 15-16)?In addition to these financial considerations, AMP and the Australian paper market at large continue to face mounting pressure from env ironmental groups that are opposed to any further expansion of the paper industry. Environmentalists have urged paper manufacturers to â€Å"think globally, act locally' (Upton, 1993, p. 16) and to â€Å"reduce first, reuse second, and recycle third† (p. 16). In order to either satisfy the requests of the environmentalists or to contradict their wishes, AMP must make an operational decision sooner rather than later to avoid these mounting pressures.Analysis and Evaluation of Critical Decision Factors Competitive Analysis AMP has quickly established itself as the growing force in the domestic uncoated fine paper market in Australia. Its chief competitor is Paper Company of Australia PICA). PICA dominated the Australian uncoated and coated fine paper market for many years with virtually no domestic competition. Pica's processes and equipment are out-of-date and still rely on machinery that was manufactured in the sass.PICA also forced its customers to purchase its products thr ough merchants, while AMP developed a direct sales approach with customers. The secondary source of competition exists among the imported paper products in the Australian market. Low tariffs allowed for international competitors to enter the market and compete with domestic paper supply. Until AMP opted to enter the uncoated fine paper market, each domestic paper manufacturer in Australia kept to its own markets.Five Forces The rivalry among competing sellers in the fine paper market in Australia is fairly strong because the cost for consumers to switch products is low, the products are weakly differentiated, the competitors are roughly equal in size, many import competitors exist, and there are high exit barriers due to the high fixed costs and capital investments required to enter the fine paper market. The advantages that AMP and PICA benefit from include the rising demand for fine paper in the market ND domestic competition is limited to these two competitors. The threat of pote ntial new competitors is fairly weak in the fine paper market.This is because high barriers to entry exist in the fine paper market, including high economies of scale, experienced-based cost advantages for existing firms, high capital requirements to enter the market, and restrictive environmental policies on paper contest new entrants and the existing members generally stay in their own lanes. The potential risks associated with new entrants to the market include the rapidly growing demand for fine paper and that existing industry members could make operational changes to concentrate on the growing recycled paper segment of the fine paper market.The threat from other firms offering substitute products in the Australian fine paper market is very low. Virtually no substitutes exist for paper, and at this time, the business and personal computer market is Just beginning to take shape. Supplier bargaining power in the Australian fine paper market is also very weak. This is because both AMP and PICA have vertically integrated their operations. AMP controls its own foresting, pulp mills, and paper manufacturing plants. While he foresting areas are limited, AMP has utilized a replanting strategy which creates more trees than it presently uses in its operations.Therefore, there is no need to use outside suppliers for its operations. The bargaining power of buyers is only a moderate risk to AMP and the Australian paper market. Buyers have limited power because the cost of switching products is low and the products are generally undifferentiated. However, the buyers are small and numerous relative to the sellers in the market, buyer's information regarding sellers is limited in quantity and quality, ND buyers are generally not price sensitive in this market because paper purchases are a small part of the total purchases and cost structure of most organizations.STOW Analysts The STOW Analysis for AMP reveals the following: Strengths ; Highest quality domestic paper prod ucts ; Most efficient domestic paper-making technology with customers ; Direct relationships ; Focused products on four distinct customer segments ; Satisfy customer needs of quality and environmental performance ; Part of a larger company (Amoco) with ability to invest capital in growth ; One of only two domestic fine paper manufacturers in country strength in fine paper processes Right paper product Weaknesses ; Expertise in paperboard has translated to ; Endorsement of World Wildlife Fund for ; Relatively new to the fine paper market ; Brands/products not as well-known as heritage market brands Insufficient capacity to meet growing demand ; High expansion costs/capital required ; High fixed costs Opportunities ; AMP Office Paper Chase initiative to gather more recycled paper ; Ability to expand Ana capture greater snare AT growing Tine paper market ; Recycled paper market growing with support of environmentalists Non-chlorine bleaching process technologies available ; PICA is in the corsairs of environmental groups Threats ; Mounting pressure against expansion from environmental groups Possible legislation/litigation against manufacturing processes ; PICA may invest in new technology/opt to expand its operations ; Import competitors may create newer, higher quality, and/or low cost products to gain market share ; New competitors, domestic or international, may enter the market ; Disease that affects trees/replanting efforts Financial Analysis AMP had no presence in the uncoated fine paper market in 1986. I Long-term Uncoated Fine Paper Market in Australia (000 tones) 11986 1 I Category I Forecast I Demand I I Continuous Forms I PICA I Make Share I Imports I I Category I Demand I I Offset Printing 144 178 16 17. 7% I Copier 10 1150 166 144. 0% 1302 195 I I Recycled 131. 5% I 130 123 176. 7% I Total Amp's contribution margin per product is driven first by its recycled paper, then its copier paper, followed by offset printing paper and continuous forms.Copier paper comprises the largest percentage of Amp's manufacturing, followed by offset printing, continuous forms, and recycled paper, respectively. Contribution Margin for AMP in I 11989 I Tones I Produced 117,000 | 28,000 125,000 | 7,000 I Contribution I per tone | $460 1260 1490 1610 I Total Contribution I Share 7820,oho 124. 7% 123. 0% 138. 7% 113. 5% I I Copier I I Total The group general manager of AMP outlined four potential capital projects in the case study. Each of these options and their respective costs relative to the capacity they provide are outlined in the table below. Option 1 provides the best cost per tone AAA t 01 IANAL capacity galena AMP. Upton 3 proposes no allotment capacity Tort I Evaluation of capital expenditures and options I Lipton 1 I I Machine 3 at Marble expanded from 70,000 to 100,000 tones for $MOM I Capacity may be used for expansion of any fine paper product production (installation time) 30,000 additional capacity I I Unknown: Time from investment to I Additional capacity Capital required 1,166. 67 I Price per tone of I Lipton 2 I Fairfield expansion from 7,000 tones to 1 5,000 tones for $MOM I Capacity may be used for expansion of recycled paper 8,000 2,250. 00 I Lipton 3 Investment in technology to reduce organogenesis has no impact on Amp's capacity or throughput respectively, with no return on investmentI Requires $MOM and $MM I | $MOM investment would reduce throughput by 5% I Lipton 4 I I Investment to purchase/ install new paper machine with 150,000 tones capacity for $MOM I I Capacity may be used for expansion of any fine paper product I lunation: cost of new pulp mill associated with this project, return garnered from selling excess pulp capacity, I Demand for coated paper market 1 50,000 I Capital required 2,333. 33 Price per tone AT allotment capacity Alternative Recommendations Option 3 from the financial analysis has been eliminated, as it offers no additional capacity. Because additional capacity represents the lar gest opportunity for AMP, only capital projects that yield greater capacity should be considered at this time. The remaining three options and a combination option are presented in the table in the Appendix. Recommendation and Plan of Action It is recommended that AMP utilizes Option 1 immediately.Option 1 is the only option that provides a near-immediate increase in capacity while satisfying Amos's requirement (Amp's parent company) off 20% rate of return. The first option provides over $32 million in positive net present value and a 36. 1% internal rate of return over the course of the next five years. Option 1 also yields the most flexibility in satisfying the growing demand in the uncoated fine paper market. Option 2 does turn a positive net present value of $1. 8 million for AMP, but only provides a 10. 67% internal rate of return. Because the project only yields an additional 8,000 tones of capacity, it cannot satisfy the rate of return requirements of Amoco.The third option r equires the largest outflow of capital and produces the highest level of capacity. However, market demand is insufficient to Justify this capital expense at this time. This is further supported by the negative net present value and negative rate of return calculations. Option 4 combines the first two options, in which case the combined capacity and capital outlay collectively satisfies the required return for Amoco. However, the net present value and the internal rate of return are lower with the combined option than the first option. Competitive Advantage If AMP acts on the recommendation to move forward with Option 1, it will gain the competitive advantage of capacity.However, even with the added capacity granted y Option 1, AMP can only expect to reach parity with the capacity of PICA. This is supported by Pica's current output of 108,000 tones of uncoated fine paper and Amp's current output of 77,000 tones. With neither domestic competitor in position to take full advantage of t he market's growing demand for uncoated fine paper, which will reach 305,000 tones by 1995, import competitors may gain the largest competitive advantage. ‘s principle competitive advantage In ten market Is ten quality AT Its products Because AMP has invested considerable capital into newer technology than PICA, it is n a better position to continue this domestic lead over its rival.Similarly, Amp's investment in more efficient technology has placed it in a better position to deal with the environmental concerns associated with paper manufacturing. Conversely, Pica's outdated technology and processes create more pollution and have caused it to become the target of environmentalist groups. Impact to Business, Customers, and Competitors If AMP is able to enact Option 1, it stands to gain over $15 million in additional cash flow per year, in addition to $32 million in positive net present value over the course of five years, and a 36. % return on its investment. This increase in capacity will also allow AMP to match the output of the market leader, PICA.The customers of the Australian paper market stand to benefit from Amp's additional capacity in terms of quality, availability, and environmental performance. AMP uses more efficient technology to create higher quality products. The increase in capacity from AMP will allow these products to be available to more consumers. Amp's emphasis on recycled paper manufacturing will also help to satisfy the growing demand in this segment and assuage environmental concerns about increased domestic paper manufacturing PICA will be impacted, at least short term, by the increased capacity created by AMP through the utilization of Option 1. This increased capacity will allow AMP to continue its momentum in gaining market share. However, the uncoated fine paper market is growing quickly.By 1995, even with the utilization of Option 1 by AMP, neither PICA nor AMP will have sufficient capacity to meet the market demand for unc oated fine paper. Therefore, import competition will also have a strong advantage in gaining market share. The only way to prevent the market demand increases from benefiting international competitors is for AMP, PICA, or another domestic competitor to considerably expand capacity and/or enter the uncoated fine paper market. AMP must act quickly to continue its growth in the uncoated fine paper market. The market is expanding rapidly, and with both AMP and PICA operating at full capacity the market is ripe for the company that can create it. Option 1 is the most logical operational choice for AMP that also makes good business sense.Option 1 quickly expands its current capacity by 30,000 tones per year in the most versatile ill that can use the capacity to meet any demand that arises in the market. Adding any additional options presented brings down NAP and AIR for the company. However, AMP should closely monitor the uncoated fine paper market for the next several years Ana reevaluat e ten expected level AT mean IT . ten mean accelerates at a faster-than-expected pace, or once demand has reached a level in which it becomes possible for AMP to Justify the significant capital investment of a new pulp mill and large capacity machine, it should consider expanding its capacity to take advantage of this growing demand. References Upton, David. (December 13, 1993). Australian Paper Manufacturers (A). Harvard Business School. 9-691-041.

Volunteering and Community Involvement

Volunteering is a fulfilling experience. Many people do not take the opportunity to pursue volunteer pursuits for a variety of reasons. In fact, for most people, it is a time-consuming endeavor. Personally, I began my volunteer experience while I was a high school student as a reading tutor for elementary students. Ever since that first volunteering experience, I pursued any volunteer opportunity available to me – from helping Somalian students with homework to being a Big Brother to a fourth grade student.So why should we volunteer? Why should we involve ourselves in an experience that does not have any financial value, is time-consuming and the motives are generally negative and wrong? The answer is clear: We should volunteer to support the general welfare of our communities and world. First, we should volunteer so we can garner the benefits through community involvement. Volunteering is not just a fulfilling experience – it is a chance for an individual to be a part of their community.Community involvement is a great way to build a resume and volunteer positions can be a great form of on-the-job training. Many skills can be obtained through the wide variety of volunteer opportunities available. Another positive to volunteering is the chance to learn about the diverse communities in our society. Tolerance is bred through understanding. When we understand the different cultures in the communities around us, then we are able to accept the differences between us.Also, a volunteer can bring their personal skills and enthusiasm to community sites, which in turn will positively impact other lives, as well as their own. However, some communities do not offer the unique diversity setting as a volunteering option; therefore a person must look to other positive qualities to volunteering. Another positive of volunteer work is the enhancement of education and development of a career network. One of the best ways to learn is through experience; as a result, volunteering is a great way to enhance skills.There is no better way to gain knowledge than to work at an organization hand-picked to fit personal needs and interests. Many educational experiences cannot be taught in a classroom. Additionally, a career network can be established through volunteering. Networking is an incredibly important part of searching for jobs and building careers. Community involvement is one of the best ways to make connections and foster relationships that do just that. Not only will a network be formed, many people who volunteer at an organization are offered permanent positions.If the volunteer is a student who recently graduated from college, this is an excellent way to start a career. However, if the lack of pay is a drawback; consider one more thing – variety. The variety of volunteer opportunities is endless. Volunteering can range from reading to non-English speaking children to building houses for the poor and disenfranchised. Natural disasters create many volunteer experiences in which an individual can travel to remote locations in order to clean up after a disaster, meanwhile creating relationships with a variety of people.Long-lasting friendships are created through volunteering because each person values their rewarding work. Volunteers are surrounded with like-minded people and see the positive change they are making on their society and world. Although volunteering is not a paid position; it is evident that many life skills are gained from volunteering which wealth cannot provide. Yes, work without pay can be a hard thing to do. However, the experiences gained from volunteering should off-set that disadvantage.From community involvement to development of a career network, it is clear that volunteering is a fulfilling experience. Creating long-lasting friendships, traveling to remote locations and seeing the fruits of your labor are additional reasons why volunteering is something to consider. The volunteer opportun ites are endless as long as the personal motives are positive and good. As Mahatma Gandhi said: â€Å"Be the change you want to see in the world† – be that change.

International Business Academic Career Major Plan Research Paper

International Business Academic Career Major Plan - Research Paper Example I strive to be a positive moral example to my friends and family. I serve as a source of advice, strength, and experience to the people around me. Am an ethical compass with which guides me in my ambitions and professional life. I try to be a guide for people close to me to live a simple and less material life focusing on the balance of all things (Villmow 2014) By participating in community outreach programs, I have had an opportunity to demonstrate that I wish well for humankind. Helping people voluntarily in orphanage homes and hospitals has reaffirmed that given the needed resources; I can do all that is possible to positively change the society. I have severally over my long vacations and my interaction with students has proved my ability in the teaching profession. By being delegated high-level duties in my working environment, I will prove what is in me, that is yet to be utilized. Teaching high-grade classes will mold all the skills and abilities to give my best to the students and the whole community. Ever since I was a young child, my interests have been in helping people, especially young people in succeeding in their duties. This has helped me stick to my career choice by knowing that no other career fits me bests as teaching and helping people achieve their dreams. Looking back at the challenges I had while growing up and studying, I want to see no one else undergo the same. I will support the young people in their research so that the world can get the doctors, engineers, and teachers it lacks. I will further my education by taking another course at the master’s level and attend training and seminars that will strengthen my abilities. I will be good to others and associate with them well, be it, my family or workmates.  

How Disney Markets Nutrition to Children Research Paper

How Disney Markets Nutrition to Children - Research Paper Example Bob Chapek, the President appointed in September 2011, is responsible for the Disney Consumer Products (DCP) throughout the world. Furthermore, he oversees the Disney publishers and online shopping portals which is one of the largest of its kind in the world (Disney, 2012). In 2007, Jennifer Anopolsky, the Vice President of the company, announced that they are making changes in their nutritional products to remove added fats from the diets. Further, she said that it is their first move towards the commitment of a positive change in the long run (Disney, 2012). The paper will, thus, discuss the booming marketing strategies used by the company to promote their nutritional products among retail consumers. Discussion The first initiative Disney has taken is to include two experts: Dr. Keith Ayoob and Dr. Jim Hill. The former is the Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and the later is the Director of Human Nutrition Centre (Federal Trade Commission, 2007). They along with the compa ny’s experts introduced a dietary guideline that will provide health benefits to the people and children. The guideline included separate standards for main meals such as non-inclusion of snacks or dairy products, limited calories, sodium and sugar, and commitment to using zero grams added fat. Thus, the people around the world started feeling that the company is thinking about their health concerns such as obesity being one of the major problems. Furthermore, the company has implemented significant healthy options in their Disney Parks to attract children and families. Disney Parks and Resorts mostly consist of the Disney food products which are enjoyed by the families visiting those places. Therefore, the kid meals included standard ingredients that benefited the health of the children. Prior to the change, the default kids’ meal consisted of fries and soda compulsorily, whereas, at present, the compulsory inclusions will combine vegetables, fruits, juices and many m ore choices of healthier products (Bell & Winig, 2009). Snacks items by large are the most convenient consumable among the food items. However, it has been noticed that snacks have affected many people’s health who availed these items. The growing concern is that snacks items are available in each and every corner of a country due to its conveniences which are being consumed on a regular basis mostly by the office goers. Thus, Disney ensured that they include such varieties in their snacks portfolio which will be healthier and importantly will not increase obesity. Therefore, the company included large varieties of fruit carts and nutritious products such as nuts in their snacks. Furthermore, the company insisted on selling products directly to retailers. They created or designed products in their company but manufactured them through the licensing companies.

Civil Rights in Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Civil Rights in Politics - Essay Example The media is a powerful tool when it comes to shaping public opinion. One news story that negatively affected American public perception towards the U.S government in particular the NSA is the Snowden spying claims. Mainstream media spotlighted the story creating mistrust for the government by the citizenry. The media provided details of how the government was intruding into personal privacy by reading people’s mails and text messages. One can argue that were it not for the widespread media coverage the Snowden story received, there would have been little impact on the U.S citizen perception of the U.S government. Today, the average U.S citizen does not trust the government, all due to the media coverage of the Snowden and by extension the wiki leaks story. The second event where a media story has negatively affected public perception of the government and in particular the institution of the presidency is the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction story. After the 9/11 attack, the U.S government convinced the public by capitalizing on the raging emotions at the time that Saddam Hussein was the problem and that Iraq was harboring weapons of mass destruction. However, all this euphoria around Iraq was crashed when the mainstream media revealed conspiracies around the Iraq war including CIA reports showing that they had prior knowledge that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, and that Saddam was never a threat to the United States. The media also increased negative public perception.

Task Motivated Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Task Motivated Leadership - Assignment Example According to Kinicki & Kreitner (2011), the concept of task motivated leadership approach usually emphasizes the organizational roles and responsibilities. This assumption also ensures the proper structure of an organization, which can ensure minimization of the problems being faced within an organization. The task motivated leadership approach usually applies in order to reduce the degree of uncertainty in a particular society. This approach also provides a significant direction with clarity, helping an organization to establish identification in a meaningful manner. The task motivated leadership approach is correspondingly used to establish distinctive properties with the coordination of several small parts in the short-run by organizations. Contextually, it has been identified that several mutual interactions usually involve in a systematic approach, following the Task motivated leadership style, in order to accomplish the objective of an organization (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2011). The other leadership style described by Kinicki & Kreitner (2011), i.e. the relationship-motivation leadership approach, usually concentrates on the sustainability needs of an organization more than the task-oriented profitability needs. Based on the sustainability notion, this approach pays due significance towards sufficing the requirement of the employees in an organization. Leaders following this particular leadership style are observed to be much concerned about preserving employee satisfaction, considering the value based notion that employees are the most critical resources of the organization. The relationship-motivation leadership approach herewith focuses on the aspects of power distribution within an organization.  

Public Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

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Managing&Leading Change Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

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Early Modern Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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The Importance of Warming Up Prior To Playing Golf Essay

The Importance of Warming Up Prior To Playing Golf - Essay Example Warming up prior to a game of golf not only enhances flexibility, it prevents injury and improves one's’ game. By warming up ones’ body otherwise tight muscles are stretched and lengthened decreasing the chance of pulling and straining while allowing for optimum performance during ones’ swing. In today’s society, golfers range in ages from teens up to seniors. Certainly, as we age our flexibility decreases and our bone structure changes creating greater challenges physically. Age does not necessarily have to be a detriment to one’s game. It is the approach and preparation that must change. One must treat the body as a finely tuned instrument and by doing so; warm it up prior to execution of the game. A strategic warm up allows the golfer to mentally and physically prepare for the game by going through each stage as if on the green. There is much to consider in the game of golf such as ones’ stance, grip, and setting up of the ball position an d the swing. Where golf looks as though it is an easy and lackadaisical sport, the entire body is in motion when a golfer is taking a swing. One must engage the head and neck muscles, the hands, arms, wrist, shoulders, trunk, legs, hips and the back when golfing. Imagine going into the green cold sans warm up to swing a club and the possible injuries that could occur. What exercises should the warm up programme include? One should focus on doing 10 minutes of continuous exercise to raise the temperature of the muscles, thus avoiding muscle stiffness. Where he found intense stretching is not extremely important, one should perform actions that are similar to what they are about to engage in following the warm up. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine (Fradkin, Finch, Sherman, 2001) a study was held to determine the proportion of golfers that actually warmed up as well as their warm up behaviours. Researchers directly observed golfers over a three-week period and found o nly 53.4% actually warmed

Grendal and Existentialism Essay Example for Free

Grendal and Existentialism Essay Gardner chose to display the philosophical idea of existentialism in his novel, Grendel. Grendel, the main character, shows proof of supporting these ideas. Existentialism related to the basic idea of individualism, in which each individual is an isolated being too which is cast into an alien universe. In this literary theory, it is believed that the world possesses no inherent human truth, value or meaning. Existentialists believe that there is no god and no heaven, and Gardner uses this belief in his novel â€Å"They sense that, of course, from time to time; have uneasy feelings that all they live by is nonsense. They have dim apprehensions that such propositions as ‘God does not exist’ are somewhat dubious at least in comparison with statements like ‘All carnivorous cows eat meat. ’† (pg 64-65) Observing from a different viewpoint, this realm of thought gives individuals freedom to do as they please, without possessing any external pressures. In a world without sense, all choices are possible. One has the freedom to make each decision based on one’s own personal code of ethics and commitment to one’s self, as opposed to being swayed by societal pressures or religious beliefs. This principle gives people sovereignty; it makes people happy knowing they have no responsibilities in life. Grendel views the world as an open space of â€Å"nothingness† to which he entered, to which the nothingness where it must end. He comes to the realization that his own, along with every other individuals existence is merely just a flash in time, in a billion billion billion years, everything will have come and gone several times, in various forms (page70). He possesses the belief that all men are mechanical. He is given the opportunity to observe and study them, introducing him to the idea of conformity, with the desire that he too can find meaning in this world. At the beginning of the novel Grendel demonstrates pure innocence. With the story of his first encounter with men, after getting his foot stuck in a crack where two old tree trunks joined he yells â€Å"Mama! Waa! Waa! †, with an urgent need to define things and find a meaning for himself. But as the novel progresses, Grendel turns into a monster and taking up the ideas that â€Å"the world [is] nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears (21-22). It is because of events like this that Grendel started to take existentialist views on the world, then when he met the dragon these beliefs started to enhance. When the dragon enters the plot, he convinces Grendel to attack King Hrothgar’s Mead Hall, in hopes of possessing a purpose and fitting into the world, allowing him to temporarily exist with mankind. Following the incident, he continues to possess the ability to think for himself, he detaches his thoughts from his previous decisions to view the situation objectively. In doing so he comes to the realization that he will never mesh with this world completely and feels trapped and empty, like a monster with visions of himself killing the men. Struggling to keep his own sanity, Grendel comes to the realization he cannot continue to live his life this way, realizing he is in complete isolation. It is not until his depression, that he comes to the realization he does not want to live the life of a monster, making the decision to refuse to kill Unferth as well as Wealtheow, realizing it had no purpose, going against his previous role, with great desire to give his life meaning. However, it is not until he, the unstoppable monster, surrenders to Beowulf, allowing him to rip his arm from his socket, giving in to his â€Å"design,† when he is able to attain true happiness. Grendel’s desire for meaning goes against all beliefs of existentialism. From the beginning of the novel, to the middle, and all the way to the end, we see Grendel go through many different changes. The reason he is an existentialist in the middle of the novel is because he kills with no meaning. There is no purpose for his kills; he is just confused with life and does what others tell him, which is to kill. Finally when Grendel starts thinking for himself he realizes that there is no purpose to killing, this is when he finally decides he does not want to be a monster. A true monster finds joy out of his kills and thinks of it as a victory, which is what truly proves Grendel is not a monster.

History of US and Chinas Relationship

History of US and Chinas Relationship Li Luo Patricia Fillipi The Inquiry Project Nixon’s visit to China Introduction Have you ever tried to live your life without â€Å"Made in China†? Well, for most people this thought is absolutely crazy. However, one woman in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, wanted to find out. In 2005, she and her family pledged to spend one year without buying anything from China (Adams). The result could be both a success and failure: they went through the whole year without buying any products made in China, but this experiment completely turned a daily life upside down. They had to spend much more time and money to find substitute products. For some of the goods, they simply couldnt find a non-Chinese alternative one, which made their life even tougher (Adams). This experiment clearly proves the close relationship, especially in the field of economic and trade, between the United States and China. But how did this relationship establish? Well, it all started with Nixon’s visit to China in 1972. After the end of World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union had been involved in a deep geopolitical conflict known as the Cold War. The United States’ main allies were Western Europe and Japan, while the Soviet Union dominated Eastern Europe and had supported the Communist China. To counter the threat from the Soviet Union, the U.S. had conducted the anti-Communist foreign policy towards the Eastern Bloc, including China. The deep confrontation between mainland China and the United States continued for 20 years. However, by the late 1960s the international situation was beginning to change regardless of these antagonisms. After the death of Stalin in 1953, â€Å"Soviet Communism and the Chinese version began to diverge,† (Gordon) and a crack developed in Sino-Soviet relations. As border fighting broke out between Chinese and Soviet troops in 1969, the alliance between China and the Soviet Union completely collapsed. China found itself against its old ally and still being isolated from the Western world by the American policy of containment. At the same time, the United States government began to rethink their impractical foreign strategy in Asia. As the president, Nixon hoped to gain the support of China to put pressure on North Vietnam to negotiate an end to the Vietnam War. He also sought, through China, to put pressure on Soviet to reconcile the conflicts and thus put America in the vantage in relations with the two communist powers (Gordon). In 1971, National Security Advisor and future Secretary of State Henry Kissinger took two trips to China – the first made in secret – to consult with Premier Zhou Enlai. After all these preparations, Nixon finally embarked on his trip to China in 1972. Over the course of this visit, the two governments negotiated the Shanghai Communiquà ©, an important step toward improving relations between the United States and the China after many years of hostility. Nixons visit to China in 1972 was a very important event in U.S.-China history. It was the first time a United States president had visited the People’s Republic of China. This trip ended over two decades of estrangement and confrontation between these two countries and marked the normalization of U.S.-China relations.This trip altered the relations with Soviet Union and the balance of the Cold War, kept the world peace and laid the groundwork for the future development of U.S.-China relations. Furthermore, this event greatly changed the American’s perception of China as well as their lifestyle. Body Impact on the U.S.-Soviet relations and the Cold War The relationship between the United States and Soviet Union was the most important relation before the disintegration of USSR. During the Cold War, the hostility among these two countries and their allies shaped the main character of international environment, both nations devoted themselves to promote economic and political ideologies and competed for international influence along these lines. Two decades after the Second World War, Soviet-American tension had become a way of life. However, between the late 1960s and the late 1970s, there was a thawing of the ongoing Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. As the nuclear arms race was incredibly expensive, and both nations faced domestic economic difficulties as a result of the huge expense on military research, both sides became in accommodations to create a more stable and predictable international systems (â€Å"Dà ©tente†). Actually Nixon’s visit to China also helped inaugurate the period of dà ©tente. By the early 1970s, the relationship between the Soviet Union and China showed signs of strain. Nixon decided to use the conflict to shift the balance of power towards the West in the Cold War. If the United States improved its relationship with China, the Soviets would have no choice but to cooperate with the U.S., or risk being isolated from both east and west. Clearly, the Soviet Union chose the first option. â€Å"With both sides willing to explore accommodation, the early 1970s saw a general warming of relations that was conducive to progress in arms control talks† (â€Å"Dà ©tente†). In practical terms, dà ©tente led to formal agreements on arms control and the security of Europe. In May 1972, just three months after the trip to China, Nixon visited Moscow, two governments signed the Antiballistic Missile Treaty during the first round of Strategic Arms Limitations Talks, which set limits on the production and deployment of ballistic missiles and antiballistic missiles (â€Å"Treaty†). In 1975, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe met and produced the Helsinki Final Act, which recognized political borders, established military confidence building measures, created opportunities for trade and cultural exchange, and promoted human rights (â€Å"Conference†). In the late 1970s, the relationship between United States and Soviet Union went down again due to their difference visions at dà ©tente, but a series of positive treaties achieved during this time eased the tension between East and West, and avoided conflicts or wars among both si de. (â€Å"Dà ©tente†). Impact on the U.S-China relations â€Å"This was the week that changed the world, as what we have said in that Communique is not nearly as important as what we will do in the years ahead to build a bridge across 16,000 miles and 22 years of hostilities which have divided us in the past. And what we have said today is that we shall build that bridge.† -Richard Nixon, February, 1972, in Shanghai Diplomatic estrangement between the United States and China went back to the 1940s. After the Chinese civil war ended in 1949, the Communists established the People’s Republic of China on the Chinese mainland while soldiers and officials of the defeated Republic of China fled to Taiwan. For the 30 years that followed, the United States continued to recognize the Republic of China as the only legitimate government of the entire country (Gordon). Since then, the Taiwan issue became one of the main obstacle that lies between the United States and China. A mutually acceptable accommodation on the Taiwan issue was indispensable for the U.S.-China rapprochement. When Nixon visited Communist China in 1972, the two governments issued the Shanghai Communiquà ©. In this Communiquà ©, the People’s Republic of China affirmed that Taiwan was a part of China, and that it opposed all attempts to create two Chinas. The United States declared that it â€Å"acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain that there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China,† and that it did not challenge that position (â€Å"Joint†). The United States also noted the importance of finding a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue and that it intended to withdraw remaining U.S. troops from Taiwan (â€Å"Joint†). Despite persistent differences over Taiwan, the Communiquà © indicated that the two sides, had agreed to subordinate the issue to the pursuit of common interests. The principles established in the Shanghai Communiquà © laid the foundation for future cooperation between the two countries even while acknowledging continuing disagreements on the subject of Taiwan, and provided the basis for the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1979. Impact on the domestic society in the United States James Smith, a businessman dealing with apparel trade, has lived a life that probably would have been much different if Nixon hadnt made his historic visit to China in 1972. As He recalled the path America and China have taken to arrive at todays close ties. â€Å"When I was young, all I learned from school and media was that China had a huge population. Their people were so poor, they relied on bicycles in the city and primitive plows in the country,† James told our reporter (Torry). â€Å"I knew there was a conflict between the United States and China.† Back in the 1950s and 1960s, China was commonly known as Red China, or Communist China, among Americans. However, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, relations between China, the United States, and the Soviet Union changed. Ideological divergences between China and the Soviet Union and tensions along the Sino-Russian border, led China and the United States to consider the strategic value of the normalization between two countries. In 1971, a breaking news was broadcasted by the U.S. media: the American table tennis team was invited to visit Beijing. This event opened the door to friendly contacts between the people of the two countries and it brought to the vast changes in popular opinion – with a majority of Americans came to favor the recognition of the People’s Republic of China for the first time as well as P. R. China’s entry into the United Nations (Kusnitz, 135). The Ping-Pong diplomacy marked a thaw in Sino-U.S. relations that lay the foundation of President Nixons visit the following year. On February 21, 1972, Air Force One landed in Beijing, President Richard Nixon, accompanied by a large delegation of officials and journalists, showed his citizen that he was a bold leader by being the first U.S. president to meet with Chinese officers in more than twenty years. Indeed, Nixons China visit, which was shown on TV and featured on the cover of virtually every newspaper and magazines in the U.S., created tremendous repercussions among American society (â€Å"Knocking†). â€Å"It was like this big news. It was kind of like an explosion who would have expected that?† said James. â€Å"This was a phenomenal diplomatic coup, and there is not a simple word that captures the nature of this relationship,’’ (Torry). But, to some, the trip was due to happen. Mary Smith, wife of James Smith believed the visit was a natural correction of hostile relations. â€Å"I wasn’t surprise about this actually. How can you deal with international affairs w ithout the participation of such a big country? I didnt think China as our enemies, we just share different ideology. I was glad Nixon made this move.† said Mary. Nixon’s actions appear to have been well received by most of the press and public. This trip even have led to an increase of the favorability that Americans viewed China. One of the poll held in Minnesota in April 1972 showed that thirty-one percent of people reported their impressions of the mainland China had changed, with twenty-nine percent now responded that they were more favorability inclined toward China than before Nixon’s visit (Kusnitz, 139). In late 1978, Chinas new leader Deng Xiaoping decided to open the country up and take economic reforms. As a business man, James Smith saw the great opportunity behind this act. â€Å"It was like an untapped goldmine, it had a vast pool of cheap labor and a huge consumer market. You can never find a better place to invest.† Not long after, he set up a small clothing factory in Guangzhou, and sold its product to China or back to America. The story that followed is the rapid growth of Chinas economy for three decades, in which the United States played a major role, both as a key trading partner and investor. Now, the former small clothing factory James Smith found has turned into a big company, â€Å"It was like a dream, I never thought I could go this far.† James said. Today, the U.S. and China are locked into a relationship of economic interdependence. For those who lives in America, their perceptions of China have changed dramatically as Chinas economy has grown and the economic relationship between U.S. and China gets closer. â€Å"There was a lot of appreciation of Chinas rising economic role and the opportunities that presented. Now, when you walk into a store, it’s just hard to find something that is not made in China. I cannot imagine what would happen if Nixon didn’t go to China in 1972, maybe our life could be completely different.† Mary said. Conclusion As two of the major powers in the world, every action of United States and China can have great impact on our history and our society. Nixon’s visit to China was the beginning of U.S.-China relations and the turning point of the Cold War, no one can deny the importance of this event in our history. As a matter of fact, this part of history was easily ignored by most people in America, but if there wasn’t this event, the world would be completely different: China might not be the second-largest economy and worlds largest trading nation. America might still face the conflict with the Soviet Union. As for ordinary Americans, without Nixon’s visit that formed the basis of U.S. China economic relations, our life could be inconceivable: When you walk in a market, you just cannot find any product not â€Å"Made in China†, would those things be replaced by goods produced by other countries? Or like the case in the introduction part, people just find an alternative one, and had to live a harder life? We must admit that nowadays, U.S. and China are so interdependent that both countries cannot live without each other. The cooperation under the globalization shaped the main character of U.S.-China relations. It brought prosperity and peace for both countries, which are cannot be acquired by conflicts, wars or confrontation. History is the guidance that lead people towards the future. It can give us a lot of experience to help people solve the problem and make the right decision. Nixon’s visit to China is a very good example, it contributed to the development of international relations and showed people the fact that cooperation is better than confrontation. However, peace usually doesn’t come easy, it need countries and their people to put aside the differences, prejudice, maybe even the hostility that have been accumulated for a long time. The accommodation between the United States and China was not accomplished by only Nixon’s visit, it was reached by a series of negotiation and compromises. As for now, although the Taiwan issue remains a problem between America and China, both countries still work hard to maintain a close relations and work together to create a peaceful world. Peace is one of the most precious things in the world, we should cherish the hard-earned peacetime our ancestors provided, and help to create a better world for the entire world and all of our human beings. Work Cited Adams, Gordon. â€Å"Seven Questions: Can You Live Without China?† Foreignpolicy. Graham Holdings Company. 11 Jul. 2007. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. 1975. Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe: Final Act. Helsinki: Secretary of State for External Affairs. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. â€Å"Dà ©tente and Arms Control, 1969–1979.† Office of the Historian. United States Department of State, n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2014 Gordon, John Steele. â€Å"Nixon in China.† American. American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. 19 Feb. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. Kusnitz, Leonard A. Public Opinion and Foreign Policy. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1984. Print. United States of America. U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs. â€Å"Treaty between the United States Of America and the Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems.† U.S. Department of State. 26 May. 1972 Web. 10 Apr. 2014. United States of America. United States State Department. Bureau of Public Affairs. â€Å"Joint Statement Following Discussions with Leaders of the Peoples Republic of China.† Office of the Historian. 27 Feb. 1972. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. United States of America. United States State Department. Bureau of Public Affairs. Memorandum of Conversation. Office of the Historian. 12 Apr. 1971. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.

A Reflection of Fashion

A Reflection of Fashion A Reflection of Fashion â€Å"We live not according to reasons, but according to fashion.† Without fashion, people live without the light of humanity. Fashion creates different color and style through clothes, pants, jewelries, shoes, bags, and other goods. It definitely makes life meaningful, brighter, more emotional, and more beautiful. In addition, fashion is not just clothes but it is the most fragile art and can form pop culture. The world has been changing through the fashion trends since the 1950s until nowadays, the popularity of fashion magazines and eco-fashion, and the interactions among fashion, music and sports. Due to the baby boom in the 1950s, there was a high demand of clothing for children and women. First let me talk about the real meaning of â€Å"Baby Boom.† A baby boomer is a person who was born during the Post-World War II. A group, they were believed to be the healthiest and wealthiest generation during that time, and among the first to grow up genuinely expecting the world to improve with time. One of the unique features of boomers was that they tended to think of themselves as â€Å"a special generation,† very different from those that had come before. In the 1960s, as the relatively large numbers of young people created a very specific rhetoric around their group. This rhetoric had an important impact in the self perceptions of the boomers, as well as their tendency to define the world in terms of generations, which was a relatively new phenomenon. Seventy-six million American babies were born between 1946 and 1960, representing followers that would be significan t on account of its size alone. This cohort shared characteristics like higher rates of participation in higher education than previous generations and an assumption of lifelong prosperity and entitlement developed during their childhood in the 1950s. The age wave theory suggests to an economic slowdown when the boomers start retiring during 2007-2009. Boomers were coming of age and influenced many people at the same time across the world. For instance, Britain was undergoing Beatlemania while people in the United States were driving over to Woodstock, organizing against the Vietnam War, or fighting and dying in the same war; boomers in Italy were dressing in mod clothes and buying the world a Coke; boomers in India were seeking new philosophical discoveries; American boomers in Canada had just found a new home and escaped the draft. Also, the boomers found that their music, most notably rock and roll, was another expression of their generational identity. Transistor radios were personal devices that allowed teenagers to listen to â€Å"The Beatles† and â€Å"The Motown Sound.† Those group musicians inspired their listener to follow their step include fashion and behavior. For example, young girls wore dresses and young boys wore jeans and t-shirts. The Beatles musical innovations, as well as their commercial success, inspired musicians worldwide (Big Star: The Story of Rocks Forgotten Band). A large number of artists have acknowledged â€Å"The Beatles† as an influence or have had chart successes with â€Å"covers of Beatles songs.† On radio, the arrival of The Beatles marked the beginning of a new era; program directors like Rick Sklar of New Yorks WABC went as far as forbidding DJs from playing any pre-Beatles music (Fisher, Marc, 2007). The â€Å"Shea Stadium† which they op ened their â€Å"1965 North American Tour† attracted what was then the largest audience in concert history and is seen as a landmark event in the growth of the rock crowd. Emulation of their clothing and especially their hairstyles, which became a mark of rebellion, had a global impact on fashion (Gould, Jonathan, 2008). More broadly, The Beatles changed the way people listened to popular music and experienced its role in their lives. From what began as the Beatle mania fad, the group grew to be perceived by their young fans across the industrialized world as the representatives, even the personification, of ideals associated with cultural transformation. As icons of the 1960s counterculture, they became a channel for bohemianism and activism in various social and political arenas, fueling such movements as womens liberation, gay liberation and environmentalism. After the World War II, women craved for femininity, glamour, sexiness style and the use of synthetic material.Dior fulfilled all the dreams of the feminine woman in the early 50s. In 1947, Christian Dior presented a fashion look of material was a bold and shocking stroke.His style used yards of fabric.Approximately ten yards was used for early styles.Later Dior used up to eighty yards for newer refinements that eliminated bulk at the waist. The New Look and new approach to fashion was a major post war turning point in Fashion History. Diors timing made his name in fashion history. After the war women longed for lightheartedness in dress and desired feminine clothes that did not look like a civilian version of a military uniform (fiftiesweb.com). Life magazine called Dior as the New Look in 1947.Evening versions of the New Look were very glamorous and consisted of strapless boned tops with full skirts and were ultra feminine. Diors New Look dominated the fashion world for about ten years, but was not the only silhouette of the era.In 1956 was the year that introduced visible changes that separate the early fifties from the late fifties. It places that fashion era firmly alongside the stuffy formality of the forties, while putting the post 1956 period firmly into the start of the lively live style, anything goes sixties fashion period, often dominated by the young of the day. There were those in the 1950s that rebelled against the perfect groomed look, so often associated with Grace Kelly elegance. Leslie Caron and Audrey Hepburn both often wore simple black sweaters, flat shoes and gold hoop earrings coupled with short haircuts. They gave a continental alternative often described as chic and had many fashion followers seeking to embrace the modern. As a new, more open-minded society evolved, women moved to more relaxed clothes instead of wore dress rules that were associated with formality for decades. Marilyn Monroe appeared in the 1950s and became a fashion legend. Marilyn Monroe personified Hollywood glamour with an unparalleled glow and energy that charmed the world. Her swaying hips made her more attractive and seductive, which increased her sexual appeal. Her natural hourglass body was perfect for the 1950s where womanly curves were the desirable body image of the fashion era that made her as a 50s sex goddess. Her apparent vulnerability and innocence, in combination with a natural sensuality, has endeared her to the global consciousness. She dominated the age of movie stars to become, without question, the most famous woman of the 20th Century. Her ideal body would be considered too heavy by todays beauty standards. However, her image is still popular in the 20th century. At the beginning of 1960s, the fashion style was similar to 1950s. Jacqueline Kennedy became the â€Å"lady like† trendsetter for the first half of sixties where there were clean suits, sleeveless A-line dresses, pillbox hat, and also gloves (Drake.Marin.k12.ca.us). She was the wife of the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. During her husbands presidency, Jacqueline Kennedy became a symbol of fashion for women all over the world. She hired French-born American fashion designer and Kennedy family friend, Oleg Cassini, in the fall of 1960 to create an original wardrobe for her as First Lady. From 1961 to late 1963, Cassini dressed her in many of her most iconic fashion, including her Inauguration Day fawn coat and Inaugural gala gown as well as many outfits for her visits to Europe, India and Pakistan. Her clean suits, sleeveless A-line dresses and famous pillbox hats we re an overnight success around the world and became known as the Jackie look. Although Cassini was her primary designer, she also wore ensembles by French fashion legends such as Chanel, Givenchy, and Dior. More than any other First Lady her style was copied by commercial manufacturers and a large segment of young women (firstladies.org). In the years after the White House, her style changed dramatically. Gone were the modest campaign wife clothes. Wide-leg pantsuits, large lapel jackets, silk Hermes head scarves and large, round, dark sunglasses were her new look. She often chose to wear brighter colors and patterns and even began wearing jeans in public. (Jackie Kennedy: Post-Camelot Style). She also experimented with different styles, often wearing a large amount of jewelry, hoop earrings with her hair pulled back, and gypsy skirts. In the 1959, the U.S. government declared the war on Vietnam. This became the turning point for youth culture to reject this idea of war because it was a sign of rebellion to kill many innocent people. The idea encouraged youths to be involved in demonstrating the theme of â€Å"freedom† toward songs and the most important was the fashion styles. The style was called the â€Å"hippie† or â€Å"flower children† in which both genders wore similar clothing such as tight Levis bell-bottoms that flared wide at the knee, and were covered with decorated patches (Fiftiesweb.com). Men and women wore their individual garments such as leather vests over bare chests or tee shirts and dressy loose blouses (Fiftiesweb.com). Tune In, Turn On, and Drop Out was the motto of the hippie movement, a significant countercultural phenomenon in the 1960s and early 1970s that grew partially out of young Americas growing disillusionment with U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Hippies w ere mainly white teenagers and young adults who shared a hatred and distrust towards traditional middle-class values and authority. They rejected political and social orthodoxies but embraced aspects of Eastern religions, particularly Buddhism. Many hippies also saw hallucinogenic drugs, such as marijuana and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), as the key to escaping the ties of society and expanding their individual consciousness. The immediate precursor to the hippies was the so-called Beat Generation of the late 1950s, including the poet Allen Ginsberg, who became a hippie hero. But where the coolly intellectual, black-clad beats tended to keep a low profile and stay out of politics, the hippies were known as much for their political outspokenness as for their long hair and colorful psychedelic clothing. To express their protests, and to â€Å"turn on† others, the hippies used art, street theater and particularly music. Folk music and psychedelic rock-the Beatles album Serge ant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band was a prime example for both crucial aspect of hippie culture. This culture reached its peak in the summer of 1967, when a concert in San Fransiscos Golden Gate Park kicked off the start of the so-called â€Å"Summer of Love.† The event introduced the music and culture of the hippies to a wider audience and inspired thousands of young people around the country. In 1969, more than 500,000 people attended the Woodstock Music and Art Festival in New York, and event that symbolized the best aspect of the hippie movement. There was also a dark side to the hippie culture. A time magazine reported from San Fransiscos public health director saying that the city was paying $35,000 per month for treatment for drug abuse for 10,000 hippies (history.com). Therefore, the â€Å"hippies† style clothes was much more popular among teenagers because both sexes could express the similar idea and fashion compared to â€Å"lady-like† trend in which it only concentrated on female with showing good-manner lifestyle. The theme of â€Å"freedom† continued to be the most important fashion statement in the 1970s where it promoted disco and punk style. Many teenagers during this time period came to clubs to socialize with other teenagers. The outfits that they wore included gold lame, leopard skin, stretch halter jumpsuits, and white clothes that glowed in ultra violet light to capture the 70s disco fashion perfectly (Fashion-Era.com). To counter social stylish fashion, another theme appeared for the â€Å"rebellious† adolescent called the â€Å"punk† style, which was known as an anti-fashion. Punk clothes suited the lifestyle of lower class, and communicated through ripped jeans, torn t-shirts, and random haircut (Fashion-Era.com). When compared, one seemed respectable and wholesome, while the other made the wearer seem like a homeless person. In 1980s â€Å"Glamorous† became the main theme as the television show â€Å"Dynasty† appeared and inspired over 250 million viewers around the world. This show influenced especially female audiences to dress lavishly and use both fine and costume jewelry (Ultimatedynasty.net). This idea portrait was to spend a large amount of money in order to show off ones economics status. Moreover, most women wore shoulder pads with such ornaments as diamond, pearl, and gold chain. Dynasty the 1980s television fantasy soap series promoted fashions which enlarged the shoulder. One of the main characters was played by the naturally broad shouldered film star Linda Evans. Nolan Miller, the Dynasty film set costume designer decided to go with her big shoulders and gave slight emphasized to them. Every other actor had to be shoulder padded, but with more depth to match her shoulder. Many who watched did so for a look at the 80s fashions which were always over the top and frankly camp. 1 980s fashion favored applied decoration on suits and T-shirts and beadwork on clothing which all pandered to the ideals of a time of conspicuous consumption.The 1980s was a time of greed and individuals living a lie that they had everything whether it be fashion, champagne or property. Many fell into debt as the only way to acquire an 80s lifestyle for many was via the credit card. Lavish used of both fine and costume jewelers was worn day and night on the show and it drifted into mainstream fashion. Big, almost huge gilt fashion earrings several centimeters across drew attention to faces drowning in shoulder pads. Stones could be fake or real. Diamante, pearls and gold chains were intended to tell the rest of the world you had arrived. The women in Dynasty wore all the trimmings of jewellery along with a wide range of lavish covetable underwear and lingerie (fashionera.com). Similiarly, the concept inspired the male fashion style. For instance, Michael Jackson in The Thriller was the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The album was released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records as the followed-up to Jacksons critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall. Thriller explored similar genres to those of Off the Wall, including funk, disco, soul, RB, and pop. Thrillers lyrics dealed with themes included paranoia and the supernatural. With a production budget of $750,000, recording sessions took place between April and November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California (thelakestudio.com). Assisted by producer Quincy Jones, Jackson wrote four of Thrillers nine tracks. In just over a year, Thriller became—and currently remains—the best-selling album of all time, with estimated sales between 70-110 million copies worldwide, as well as the best-selling album in the United States (thel akestudio.com). Thriller ranked number 20 on Rolling Stone magazines 500Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2003, and was listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers at number three in its Definitive200Albums of All Time. Thriller was preserved by the Library of Congress to the National Recording Registry, as it was deemed culturally significant. Such clothing that Jackson wore red, black leather pants and jackets, one glove, and sunglasses influenced male to follow Jacksons style (Fashion-Era.com). Moreover, The Miami Vice also inspired gentleman to wear colorful shirts with expensive suits. Miami Vice was an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The show became noted for its heavy integration of music and visual effects to tell a story. The series starred by Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984-1989. Unlike standard police procedurals, the show drew heavily upon 1980s New Wave culture and music. It is recognized as one of the most influential television series of all time. People magazine stated that Miami Vice was the first show to look really new and different since color TV was invented† (nbc.com). The clothes worn on Miami Vice had a significant influence on mens fashion. They popularized, if not invented, the T-shirt under Armani jacket-style, and popularized Italian mens fashion in the United States. Don Johnsons typical lin eup of Italian sport coat, T-shirt, white linen pants, and slip-on sockless loafers became a hit. Even Crocketts unshaven appearance sparked a minor fashion trend, inspiring men to wear a small amount of beard stubble, also known as a five oclock shadow (or designer stubble) at all times (New York Times). On an average episode, Crockett and Tubbs wore five to eight outfits, appearing in shades of pink, blue, green, peach, fuchsia and the shows other approved colors. Designers such as Vittorio Ricci, Gianni Versace, and Hugo Boss were consulted in keeping the male looking trendy. Costume designer Bambi Breakstone, who traveled to Milan, Paris, and London in search of new clothes, testified that, The concept of the show is to be on top of all the latest fashion trends in Europe.† Jodi Tillen, the costume designer for the first season, along with Michael Mann set the style. The abundance of pastel colors on the show reflected Miamis Art-deco architecture. During its five-year run , consumer demanded for unconstructed blazers, shiny fabric jackets, and lighter pastels increased. After Six formal wore even created a line of Miami Vice dinner jackets, Kenneth Cole introduced Crockett and Tubbs shoes, and Macys opened a Miami Vice section in its young mens department. Crockett also boosted Ray Bans popularity by wearing a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer (Model L2052, Mock Tortoise), which increased sales of Ray Bans to 720,000 units in 1984. Many of the styles popularized by the TV show, such as the t-shirt under pastel suits, no socks, rolled up sleeves, and Ray-Ban sunglasses, have today become the standard image of 1980s culture. The influence of Miami Vices fashions continued into the early 1990s, and to some extent still persists today. Therefore, those trends imitated the audience to dress like the famous movie stars on screen. As the result â€Å"glamour† trend for female and male was the most principal fashion in nineties to show the more expensive stuff people put on their dress to be look alike famous icon celebrities the more stylish they will be. Similarly to â€Å"freedom† fashion style in the sixties and seventies, the term â€Å"expression† became the slogan of the nineties. The mood of society in the final decade of the last millennium was more defining than what was actually worn. So much more was on offer globally, and many people lost interest in fashion as necessary and important to their lives when business rules for dressing relaxed. Working from home became common. By the edge of the 21st century dressing down in every aspect of life became an acceptable norm. Ordinary retail clothing sales, textile manufacturing industries and stores all declined from a less active more casual marketplace. The range of fashion goods available was huge in the 1990s, but no one knows the real answer why retail sales were often slow-moving. The main driving force of fashion was the striving to achieve individuality. Fashion increased as fast as it could be relayed by the media and Internet and only by styling oneself r ather than slavishly following a particular designers fashion look, could individuality be achieved. Rapid distribution of information and a more relaxed attitude to clothes has led to a certain inevitable uniformity in cities thousands of miles apart. The consuming years of the 1980s less became more in the 1990s. Not everyone adopted minimalism, but many did as they sought to blend and fit with an increasingly aggressive urban society. For instance, the silhouette became neater as shoulder pads finally died and jewellery became non existent or chic in its fineness and barely there quality. People ensured that designers of today are likely to be influenced by street fashion. But all too frequently they pick up an idea at the street level source. They have an eye to global commercial profits from effect on their ready to wear ranges. This makes for a lack of creativity as clothes develop homogenized uniformity. In a market saturated with retail outlets, clothing sales have been falling. The consumer simply has too many shopping places to choose from, so spending power gets spread very thinly between all the outlets or directed to specific branded goods. Moreover, the view towards millennium or dressing down became widely known when many people lost interest in fashion. However, this situation made people come up with a trend called the minimalist style such as mini skirt, or tank top. Moreover, there appeared punk or gothic style in which both females and males wore black clothing, used make up, spiky hair, black pants, and color hair. The variety of colors was also popular during this time period as a way to express peoples feelings. For example, people wore red t-shirts to show happiness, and wore blue for relaxation. Thus, the idea to express themselves and to present their feeling toward colors became the most important style during the 1990s. Fashions today is still affected by the trends from 1950s-1990s. It becomes the primary role for peoples lives because in essence, it reflects who people really are. Fashion has become a most important component to pop culture in every country. Individual values and social issues are often portrayed in the types and styles of clothing people wear. Susan Kaieser, a professor at University of California, stated that historically fashion has been influenced by subcultures and racial/ethnic communities (Worldandi.com). Fashion is marketed to appeal to the consumers and to create a desire to purchase new trends, despite the reality that there is not actual need for new clothing. Environmentalists have recognized the excess spending on clothing ‘needs. People have sought to purchase the trend in order to stay in style for generations. Environmentalists have begun placing responsibility on society. This enlightenment makes consumers and industries pay more special attention to the env ironmental danger and over indulgence that clothing might create. In order to be a part of resolving environmental problems, ideas have stimulated a new way of manufacturing and purchasing a product. This trend has brought attention to the way industries should be marketed a product in an environmentally healthy way. This development is labeled eco-fashion (Beard, 449). Eco-fashion, thoughtful to the way a product was generated, despite the environmental or human expenses, became more of a social issue. Now, manufactures feel the need to assemble a product that is trendy of good quality, yet not exploiting to any natural or human resource. Concentration on developing a great product required more than just a focus on the end result. Natalie Domeisen (2006) reports that the United Nations is promoting products that committed to using organic cotton, minimum labor standards, and using recycled materials to manufacture a new product (13). Even though the materials are altered, the sophistication of the product is not. To complete the sophisticated shopping look, some industries have created accessories that are re-usable shopping bags (Beard, 449). Thus, the new concept was to repl ace the non environmental throw away plastic bags. All of those new industry changes reflect trends popular to eco-fashion. Purchasing a product that is considered to represent eco-fashion allows the consumer to become a part of solving the global environmental issues. Clothing made with organic cotton and minimum labor standards create job opportunities that would change economic issues in other countries. The 1980s brought huge attention to the development on the conditions it took to provide a product to the consumer (Beard, 450-1). Companies that modify the production techniques by avoiding sweatshops and animal experimentation discover that their product is more marketable to the consumer. Another newer tradition that has been practiced by many cultures is shopping at vintage and second hand shops. In previous decades, the idea of purchasing second-hand clothing was considered mostly by low-income families or students on a fixed budget (Beard, 457). The current trend has become the thrill of discovering a brand name piece of clothing, still in good condition, for an extremely discounted price. The negative aspect is that the selection is usually limited; however, this creates opportunities to add unique pieces to ones wardrobe. What once was considered embarrassing, shopping at a second hand store, has now become socially acceptable. Choosing to purchase vintage and second had clothing has become more than a new fashion trend. It has become influential to the society of the culture. Fashion trends consist of more than just where a consumer shops. Trends are shaped by how the consumer shops. A new shopping development has become popular and it has become a new twist on an old concept: using magazines. Sogo, Metro, Matahari and other popular retail stores have provided catalogs that allow products to be bought without ever having to leave the convenience of home. Now fashion magazines such as Oriflame, Sophie Martin, and others have begun to adapt to this same idea. Fashions magazines are beginning to be created for basic shopping knowledge to the consumer without all of the extra articles. The traditional fashion magazines provided opportunities to browse and to dream what they would look like wearing the fashion that was most current and popular. However, these magazines did little to provide consumers with the knowledge of where to purchase the product. Today, professional women do not have the time to browse, and they are more concerned with where they can pu rchase the product at the best deal, instead of the traditional mall browsing (Aster, 22). Magazine editors have recognized the need for convenience. The new trend in fashion magazines is seen in the publication of Lucky and Fashion Shop. The focus of these magazines of concentrated on consumers that have income of $50,000 or more. These magazines are high quality and more about the product and very effective (Aster, 22). Fashion promotions printed in these magazines have proven to be very expensive. The cost for an advertiser to place a one page ad can vary from $4000 to $61000 (Aster, 22). However, the effectiveness and concentration on a specific demographic of consumers, outweighs the expense. Magazines created to promote fashion are publicized around the world. The trends from different cultures are absorbed into foreign cultures. Information on new fashion styles and products send the idea that this new trend is very important. It is seen in the Russian society that the model of what was traditional has changed. A famous Russian magazine, Kresti ‘Yanka (â€Å"Peasant Woman†), in the past had published knitting patterns, recipes and family life advice; now the magazine includes articles on weight loss, skin care, love advice, and fashion styles (Merridale, 32). Ten years ago, Russian consumers would not have been able to purchase products easily from around the world. The emphasis on popular trends was not as bold. In todays culture, the fashion style influences most areas of daily life (Merridale, 32). Russian women and teenage girls desire to imitate the fashions that are most popular. Personal choices of style to women have become common. No longer do the desires of the old exist. Although narrow minded from the older generation and poverty within the country are still present in Russia, the consumers are entering the 20th century embracing new trends in fashion. Poverty and fashion do not seem to be two words that should be included in the same sentence. However, it is seen how the evolution of both are transforming the world. Aside from poverty and fashion, the world is also affected by the interaction among music, sports and fashion. With modern forms of media such as internet, cable televisions, and DVDs, fashion really spreads its influences into every country around the world. Fashion and music are two important factors that enrich pop culture. Music influences fashion, and fashion trends define each type of music. Fashion helps musicians express their personalities and their unique style. Standing out from the others is the most important things to the musicians since being different always impresses the audience. For example, Elvis Presleys out of ordinary style dominated fashion trend in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s with tight jump, wildly colorful suits whipped around, and long fit jeans. Elviss style is considered one of the most remarkable influences of music to fashion. Everybody loved not only his music, but also his unique fashion sense. Also, in Sonya Rehmans writing about the interaction between music and fashion Tracing Trends of Fashion through Music, Elton John is famous for the suits, crazy hats, dark glasses and rings. The Beatles get up reflected their music- with their bowl-shaped, identical haircuts, and their suits bobbing their heads in unison. Black lipsticks, colored contact lens with freak get-ups are Marilyn Mansons fashion style. Kiss defined the fashion trend of super hero-ish costumes, black and white bat-inspired make-up and glittery go-go boots. Also, Poison, Whitesnake, and Gun n Roses, men with razor- cut fringes, long hair, leather pants, makeup and bling was st andard. (Sonya Rehman 2007). In conclusion, fashion has made an impact on music, no matter how small or large, it creates the connection between music and style. Therefore, fashion and music are inseparable. Not only does music affect fashion trends, but fashion also influences music, especially hip-hop which has seemed to go hand in hand with fashion. In her writing about hip-hop generation Rap and Race: Its Got a Nice Beat, But what About the Message?, Rachel Sullivan wrote, â€Å" Seventy-eight percent of adolescent said that baggy clothes were in, 76% said pro sports apparel was in, and 69% said hooded sweatshirts were in.† (Sullivan 241). Moreover, people can find a variety of famous labels in hip-hop songs such as Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Chanel, or Adidas. For instance, in the song Lil Kim and Notorious B.I.G sing in the song Drug, â€Å"My flows first class and yours is Coach like the bag, the Prada mama, my girls rock Chanel and smoke marijuana, admiring my shoes by Gucci,† (Kitty Ryan). Since hip-hop is becoming more and more popular in pop culture, it is definitely one of the best tools to advertise fashion. That famous fashion brands appe ar more often in hip-hop proves how popular and important fashion is. Undoubtedly, fashion and music are irreplaceable factors since they interact with each other to become a voice to speak to the world of pop culture. Besides music, fashion has dramatic influences on sports. In fact, sportswear has a greater global impact than high fashion since sports is one of the most important areas in pop culture. Fashion not only makes people more comfortable and confident when playing sports, but also makes sports it more stylish and trendy. Back in the early 1920s, sports fashion became popular, especially in golf and tennis. By 1917 Vogue urged women to put their overskirts in a shoulder bag once on a mountain slope. In his writing about the sports fashion C20th Sports Costume and Sports Dress Fashion History to 1960, P

Ethnics of Shermans March :: essays research papers fc

Your Name Teacher Name Class and Section  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Date Ethics of Sherman’s March   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  General William Techumseh Sherman’s March through Georgia and South Carolina was the turning point in the American Civil War. After heavy fighting in Tennessee and Kentucky General Sherman requested permission to take a large force of men on a campaign to the Atlantic Ocean through North and South Carolina, Georgia, then turning North back through the Carolinas and Virginia. The goal of the campaign was to divide the Confederate states by going through the middle of them and destroying anything of military value. General Sherman’s March did achieve its goal from a military standpoint but the manner his army accomplished its goal was ethically improper. Perhaps the most famous portion of Sherman’s March was his campaign from Atlanta to Savannah and then to Colombia, South Carolina.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The unique aspect of Sherman’s March was they would go without a supply line. â€Å"Sherman took from his three armies a picked force of sixty-two thousand, culling out what he called ‘the sick, the wounded, and the worthless,’ leaving the balance of his army with General Thomas to deal with General Hood.† (Kennett) Also included Sherman’s force was Brigadier General Judson Kirkpatrick’s contingent of Union cavalry. Feeding an army is a most difficult task when operating without a supply line. Thanks to Union spies Sherman found â€Å"that he would have no trouble feeding his army on what could be found locally, ‘eating out’ the country he passed through.† (Kennett) Food would be collected for the majority of the army by special foraging teams organized by divisions. This left Sherman’s wagons free to carry ammunition and other supplies necessary to military operation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  General Sherman had several objectives in mind when setting out from Atlanta aside from reaching and taking Savannah. Important objectives included destroying any buildings that could assist the Confederacy. Other valuable targets to the Union included excess livestock, railroad tracks and depots, and cotton and tobacco fields. Perhaps most critical to General Sherman was to defeat the Confederate spirit. â€Å"When requesting permission to proceed with his campaign Sherman wrote to General Grant ‘I can make this march and make Georgia howl.’† (Woodworth) Sherman’s presence in the heart of the South was an insult to the pride of local residents, and the fact the Confederate Army could do little to stop it severely belittled national unity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Perhaps the most difficult obstacles General Sherman faced in his march to the sea were weather and terrain.

Museum Assignment: Portrait Comparison Between the 17th and 19th Centur

The Flemish seventeenth century artist Peter Paul Reubens and the nineteen century French artist Jean Auguste Dominque Ingres had little in common besides their occupation, as both utilized very different styles in their art. Reubens’s work is classified under the Baroque style, a period between 1600 and 1750 as a contrast to the prior perfection of Renaissance art, whereas Ingres’s work is under Neoclassicism, which praised the Greek and Roman classics that inspired the Renaissance artists (Kleiner). Yet the two separate time periods and painting styles that influenced the painters also share small similarites, through visual quality and iconography. Reuben’s portrait of Susanna Fourment and Ingres’s portrait of Franà §oise Poncelle clearly belong to the specific artistic movements, but some aspects of painting remain timeless, with each artist drawing inspiration from prior work. Peter Paul Reubens’s paintings were heavily influenced by his studio’s location in Antwerp. The city’s banking industry led to an emphasis upon works that a family could purchase, often within the upper middle class instead of the immensely wealthy. This emphasis allotted more time to be put into portraiture, in place of the large scale church altarpieces or palace paintings, which could be displayed in the family’s homes with more modesty. The Baroque period, a term that comes from the Portugese word â€Å"barroco†, or â€Å"irregularly shaped pearl† (Kleiner), is known for its bright colors, emphasis on reality’s relationship to fantasy, theatric quality, and dramatics. Many of Reubens’s paintings are allegorical, colorful, and inspired by numerous artists of the past as well as his current time. After the Renaissance period, artists took the classically influ... ... This painting style emphasized natural human form instead of Smooth finishes replaced thick swirls or dabs of paint to accurately convey the human form, which is shown explicitly in Ingres’s portrait. Although both pieces are portraits, each portrays the subject in differing manners. The harsh lines and blurred strokes convey a mysterious attachment to Reuben’s portrait, whereas the defined lines and photographic detail within Ingres’s portrait attach a formal connotation. The demand for home based patronage spread from Antwerp in the late sixteen hundreds into the early eighteen hundreds in France, yet what makes a portrait truly exemplary moved with the time shift. Each work reflects the time period while continuing to explore parallels between various artistic styles as well as movements, connecting artists together through their differences and similarities.

The Jihad Trap :: September 11 Terrorism Essays

The Jihad Trap    The war America is engaged in after the attacks on the WTC, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania is a war for the hearts and minds of average Muslims around the world. Bin Laden, if indeed he is the mastermind behind the attacks, has set a trap for the US into which it must not fall. By attacking the US as part of a jihad ("a holy war"), Bin Laden is in fact claiming to Muslims to represent their grievances and to represent real Islam. He is in effect saying: "Muslims, I share your grievances unlike your corrupt and authoritarian governments; I am the only one doing something about it. I have destroyed the symbols of American capitalism and stopped the heartbeat of world finance which the US dominates." The US, as well as moderate Muslims the world over, must unite and deny him this symbolic victory and must not accept to engage him in combat on these terms. We should not let him define the terms of our intellectual and symbolic battle. As a professor of Islamic law I have researched the law of jihad and can state unequivocally that the war Bin Laden has engaged us in cannot be labeled a jihad. Furthermore, I believe a strong case can be made that he has acted contrary to the tenets of Islam and can be ostracized from the community of believing Muslims. Moderate Muslims will agree with me, certainly, as they are horrified by this attack and are desperate to have it disassociated from their religion. The West must provide moderate Muslims a way out of Bin Laden's trap. According to Islamic law there are at least six reasons why Bin Laden's barbaric violence cannot fall under the rubric of jihad: 1. Individuals and organizations cannot declare a jihad, only states can; 2. One cannot kill innocent women and children when conducting a jihad; 3. One cannot kill Muslims in a jihad; 4. One cannot fight a jihad against a country in which Muslims can freely practice their religion and proselytize Islam; 5. Prominent Muslim jurists around the world have condemned these attacks and their condemnation forms a juristic consensus (ijma`) against Bin Laden's actions. This consensus renders his actions un-Islamic; 6. The welfare and interest of the Muslim community (maslaha) is being harmed by Bin Laden's actions and this equally makes them un-Islamic.