Why do we need to focus on the concept of secularism if we want to understand the role of religion in contemporary affairs?

Introduction Globalization in the 21st century has resulted in greater diversity of peoples and religious pluralism across the globe. Alongside a global resurgence in religion, this trend has engendered new patterns of interaction and shifting perceptions in the modern political and public sphere (Thomas, 2005; Hurd, 2008). This scenario poses a direct challenge to the modern political system internationally as it upholds secular politics as the universal foundation for international relations favoured for the stability and peace it engenders. Concern regarding the potential for social conflict and violence has heightened since the events of September 11, 2001 as well as the present tensions among secularist Western nations and religious states of Turkey and Iran. These challenges give the problem of religious pluralism much of its urgency (Thomas, 2005). Secularism refers to a movement that seeks for rejection, indifference, or exclusion of religion and religious considerations in contemporary a ffairs. In political terms it refers to the belief that religion should not play a role in government, education, or other parts of society in the quest towards the separation of and/or reduction of ties between religion and government (often referred to as the church and the state) (Taylor, 2010). This is deemed necessary to enable the protection of the rights of religious minorities among other positions in a pluralist society, and therefore to enhance democracy (Taylor, 2005). Given its success in Western democracies ending the sectarian violence in Europe and enabling the peaceful stable co-existence of various communities in the United States (Hurd, 2008), the concept is however viewed with disdain and suspicion in non-Western states and cultures especially those with predominant Muslim beliefs. This sentiment derives from the system’s assumption of moral high ground leading to its belittling of other cultures and alternative approaches; contempt for religion in public l ife; and the legitimizing of regressions of negotiations with regard to alternative approaches (Taylor, 1998). This paper explores the need to focus on the concept of secularism in order to understand the role of religion in contemporary affairs. The endeavour of this exploration is to find a solution to challenges in the dominance of secularism in the modern public and political sphere which engenders resistance and and portends violent conflict. Secularism’s meanings, history and transformations, its dominant varieties, as well as its strengths and limitations are focused upon in following sections. History of secularism Secularism is a political tradition which has continued to evolve over eight centuries sharing important relationships with religious traditions such as Judeo-Christianity with which it sustains complex ties, and Islam, its primary alter-ego with which it maintains a long-standing relationship (Philpott, 2000). The ‘secular’ notion has through time taken on a range of meanings with the earliest reference, saeculum, traced to the 13th century referring to a dualistic opposition within Christianity. Often with negative connotations, this term was used to distinguish ‘worldly’ clergy from those living in seclusion in monasteries (Taylor, 2010). The term gradually shed off its ‘Godless’ and profane connotation by the 16th century acquiring a new description of a transforming world. To secularize in the latter instance referred to the conversion from religious/priestly to civil possession or use. This process is described by Casanova (1994; 24) as th e ‘passage, transfer, or relocation of persons, things, function, meanings, and so forth, from their traditional locations in the religious sphere to secular spheres.’ Onwards from the 19th century, further transformation led secularism to assume its present recognition in current language which describes a movement†¦ ‘expressly intended to provide a certain theory of life and conduct without reference to a deity or a future life’ (Hurd, 2008). Secularists, therefore, refers to those of the belief that the church (the religious) and the worldly are in a continued historical contest, in which the world is gaining an upper hand irreversibly. Two characteristics of secularism are revealed in its relevance to international relations and the political sphere. Secularization’s earlier reference to the ‘acquisition or possession’ of land (church properties) and people, usually by state actors, entailed massive appropriation and expropriati on and often instigated religious wars (Asad, 2003). Despite secularization’s contemporary reference to the separation of the church and the state predominant in Western circles, its meaning and connotation in the above context (now overshadowed), is still retained in many non-Western contexts (Taylor, 1998). For instance, with particular regard to the Middle East, the principle of secularism has served to legitimize the suppression of local practices and political establishments. This has contributed to the hegemonic attempt to transform or to ‘take possession’ of the region in pursuit of contemporary Western ideals (Hurd, 2008). In the second instance, an important characteristic derived is secularism’s presumption to clearly distinguish between transcendental and temporal matters. In its definition of what is considered ordinary, or mundane, it by default assigns a place for religion with the secular notion only making sense relative to its religious co unterpart (Hurd, 2004). As Asad (2003; 192) argues, secularism defines itself as the foundation upon which the ‘religious’ is fashioned; the point at which dialogue on theology is hatched in the discourse of modernity. It thus assumes itself to be above the fray holding alternative approaches particularly those associated with religion in condescension and as threatening. These characteristics present distinct sets of problems: first, is its potential to jeopardize democratic politics given that groups or individuals dissenting to the secular approach are considered threatening to stability and are shut out of public deliberations. Secularists, for example, generally shun non-theistic public philosophies and are notably extremely wary of political Islam (Davie, 2003). This is the reason, for instance, politics of Turkey and Pakistan in support of a civic role for Islam and which involve non-secular and non-Western platforms and partiesare frowned upon and are worrisome to Western secularist ideals. They threaten the boundaries that secularists impose between the sacred and the secular (Banchoff, 2007). Dislike and disapproval consequent to this makes Western powers, regardless of their actual policies, to be perceived as backing the repression of Islamist parties which increases the potential for terrorism (Hurd, 2008; Bruce, 2003). Contrary to secularism’s self-representation, it has sometimes been associated with the unjust, domineering and violent yet within the movement, there is a predilection to associate religion with these negative traits in the public sphere (Taylor, 1998; Hurd, 2008). Secularism’s automatic linkage with democracy and public order is thus questionable. An indiscriminate secularism in an increasingly interdependent, pluralist and globalized world in which individuals and groups derive morality from different sources is prone to risks. These risks include potential uprisings from adherents and supporters of al ternative non-secular/non-Western approaches shut out from negotiations between religion and politics and in pursuit of public order (Banchoff, 2007; Davie, et al, 2003). Given secularism’s dominance in successful Western democracies, there is also a risk of blindness to its limitations. The following section describes two varieties of secularism and explores their implications for international politics and affairs in the public sphere which have been shown to be significant (Hurd, 2008). Laicism and international relations Laicism refers to the belief in the need to exclude religion from the public realm of politics and confining it to a space where it cannot threaten the liberties of â€Å"free thinking† citizens and political stability (Taylor, 1998). This belief forms the essence of present-day political thought. Through a complex and contested process, this approach attempts to limit and to regulate ‘religious’ disputes thus provide an authoritative and self-reliant public space (Philpott, 2000). The consequent separation of the church and state was intended to serve as a basis for provide the basis for cohesive politics and efficiency in the face of diversity and religious pluralism. Laicism relegates religion and associated beliefs to ‘things’ to be studied or an inferior culture conflicting with the ideals of modern living, politics and development (Hurd, 2008). Consequently, secularism has been described by some as having a strain of dogmatism given its propensi ty to validate a single authoritative basis of public ethics and reason (Taylor, 1998). The policing and constant delineation of this boundary poses challenges especially when society diversifies to contain substantial numbers of adherents of non-Judeo-Christian religions often suspicious of such endeavours (Hurd, 2008; Casanova, 1994). There are therefore calls for a more vibrant pluralist approach in the public sphere. Judeo-Christian secularism and international relations Through its acknowledgement of a place for religion in politics, this approach avoids the pitfalls that befall laicism. In its ‘common ground strategy,’ codes of political order and peaceful co-existence are agreed upon by members of a political community based on common doctrines (Taylor, 2010). However, these common set of values has its roots in Christianity which is a significant feature defining Western civilization (Philpott, 2000). It should be noted that many other religions around the world have complicated patterns of church-state relations as Christianity (Hurd, 2004). The challenge for global relations in this regard, is that secularism, however defined, ends at the boundaries of Western civilization which portends a fault line between the West and non-West ‘common grounds’ (Davie, et al, 2003; Thomas, 2005; Myers and Brodeur, 2006). Such a common ground exclusively dependent upon Western religious traditions is thus ill equipped to meet the dema nds of contemporary societies in and outside the West. In this regard, the common ground therefore becomes a representation of one among many parties or interests (Davie, 2003; Davie, et al, 2003; Philpott, 2000). With these limitations of the dual approaches of secularism, it is necessary in the interest of foregoing international relations and contemporary affairs to rethink the secular social reality. There might be need to approach secularism as among possible solutions to modern challenges associated with religion and public order. The secularization paradigm has served well as a model for the accommodation of religious pluralism and diversity in the public sphere, guiding decision-making in various contexts (Banchoff, 2007; Taylor, 2005). Yet consensus on secular public order is not universally shared and is sometimes viewed unkindly, with contempt, or out rightly rejected by those dominated and/or excluded as â€Å"religious†; those who disagree with the transcendental /temporal divide; and those who feel that their politics, culture and territory has been ‘taken over’ or is challenged through secularist justifications. Also included are those who feel closed out of public debate and discourse (Haynes, 1998; Casanova, 1994; Bruce, 2003). Secularism belittles non-Western alternatives in the negotiation of religion and politics, expressing contempt for religion in public life, particularly with regard to Islam, and legitimizes repression of negotiations of such alternative approaches. Through its insistence of neutrality and identification with rationality, freedom and the democratic, secularism engenders what is described by Honig (Hurd, 2008; Casanova, 1994) as resistances and remainders. The latter constitute those within secularism who seek to upset conventional assumptions about morality, rationality and good. Secularism strives to silence these by shifting them onto the category of the religious in clearly dangerous tendencies wit h potential to incite violence and counter-reactions (Hurd, 2008). At present, secularism lays claim to the right to define the role of religion in politics and in so doing closes off important debates regarding possible alternative moral bases and public order. This, in turn, makes secularists to be perceived as seeking to privatize and to define the political domain (Banchoff, 2007; Bruce, 2003). This engenders hostile responses and criticisms against its hegemonic objectives and aspirations from among the excluded with some resorting to extreme tactics to air their grievances (Banchoff, 2007; Haynes, 1998). Such eventualities are not solely attributable to extremist religious belief as commonly perceived (Thomas, 2005), but as shown can be in response to secularism’s fervent attempts towards the universalization of secular modernity through its specific model. In both its varieties, secularism occasionally acts as a belief intolerant of other beliefs, exhibiting a tendency to restrict political space (Taylor, 1998; Myers and Brodeur, 2006). It is widely agreed that secularism, including its clearly anti-religious variants, needs to be re-evaluated as a model for the organization of public life through the exploration of its implications for contemporary affairs. This is particularly needful with regard to states outside of historical Christendom and settler colonies upon which secularism is foisted upon (Davie, et al, 2003; Thomas, 2005; Hurd, 2008). It seems that secularism operates blindly with regard to its unforeseen implications and the consequences of its tendencies to pursue the universalization of its mores. Its zealous struggle against religious intolerance blinds it to its own inadequacies while it claims moral superiority and displaces violent and antidemocratic tendencies to the domain of ‘religion’ and religious fervour or unrestrained commitment (Taylor, 2005; Hurd, 2004). Though secularism purports to be external in the te rritorial contest between religion and politics, it is not as its history and nature locates it within the spectrum of theological politics (Philpott, 2000). Religion is an ingrained marker of collective identity and entails the submersion of ultimate meaning in people’s beliefs and practices, including social and institutional practices (Banchoff, 2007). There are social and political challenges posed by emergent religious pluralism inherent in the interaction among religious groups in society and politics. A clash of religious communities in the political arena may cause core pillars of democracy to falter: minority rights and majority rule (Banchoff, 2007; Bruce, 2003). Religious tensions may undermine effective government by the majority and, as well, dominant traditions may seek to constrain minority groups. However, a multiplicity of faith traditions presents not just challenges for governance and social cohesion but also opportunities for a more vibrant political cultu re and civil society. For instance, rising faith communities (especially Islam) are engaging democratic processes wherever they reside in the world, and secular majorities and established religious groups are also accommodative (not just resistant) to the new dynamic cultural and political landscape (Haynes, 1998). In foregoing discourse, this paper does not propose the reversal of secularism or the reinstatement of religion in the public sphere. In its stead, the secular ideas of democratic politics should be broadened to acknowledge positive contributions of other approaches such as the non-secular and the non-Western to pubic life and religion. There must be developed a space for continuous discourse among religious traditions, as well as among the religious and the secular so as to transcend the volatile limitations of the secularist approaches. This would also enable the incorporation of a non-hegemonic place for religion in politics addressing the conflicting legacy of secular ization in public sphere in the West and outside it. If this is not addressed, those excluded may eventually haunt and destabilize the same closures that bring about their exclusion. It is therefore imperative for the international community to consider the support of pluralistic democracy which inevitably might entail support for religious parties rather than propping up secularist political solutions. Minority voices in the new dispensation need to be heard. Remedy through the reconsideration of procedure is deemed insufficient given secularism’s prior assumption of itself as above the fray; marking its domain and associating itself with rational argument, tolerance, justice, common sense, public interest, and public authority (Davie, et al, 2003; Thomas, 2005). It thus derides religion as that which is not. Most secularists refuse to acknowledge the possible functioning of alternative non-secular and yet democratic models of order in the public sphere which could be legiti mate rivals to its dominance (Banchoff, 2007; Davie, et al, 2003; Taylor, 2005). Conclusion Focus on the concept of secularism affords us the opportunity to observe that the current foundation of international politics is far from being neutral or universal given its religious heritages and character to which it seems oblivious. Secularism’s self-confidence in its objectivity and neutrality which then drives its hegemonic aspirations may therefore be a threat to the preservation of global peace and security. It is thus argued that for value pluralism to hold, relations in contemporary affairs including the international public sphere (international relations) must distance themselves from secularist history and especially its connotations and negative perceptions. The secular foundation of modernity, particularly secularism’s assumptions concerning the inevitability of secularization, must be reconsidered and better relations among states and religions fostered in order to strengthen political interdependence and international freedom, as well as to forestall conflicts from conflicting values. The majorities must respect religious freedom but must also grapple with varied traditions such as Islam which incorporate different views of social obligation and personal responsibility – some which are at odds with dominant secular views. Therefore, the secular foundation must be exchanged with a post-secular project in which secularism and religion are considered on equal footing. References Asad, T. 2003. Formations of the Secular, Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press Banchoff, T. (ed.) 2007. Democracy and the New Religious Pluralism, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Bruce, S. 2003. Politics and Religion, Cambridge: Polity Casanova, J. 1994. Public Religions in the Modern World, Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press Davie, G. 2003. ‘The Evolution of the Sociology of Religion’ In: Michele Dillon (ed.), Handbook of the Sociology of Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 61-84. Davie, G., P., Heelas, and L., Woodhead (eds.) 2003, Predicting Religion: Christian, Secular and Alternative Futures. London: Ashgate. Haynes, J. 1998. Religion and Global Politics, London & New York: Longman Hurd, E. 2004, ‘The Political Authority of Secularism in International Relations’, In: European Journal of International Relations, Vol. 10, no. 2 Hurd, E, 2008. The politics of secularism in International Relations, Princeton: Princeton University Press. Myers, S. and P. Brodeur, (eds.) 2006, The Pluralist Paradigm: Democracy and Religion in the 21st Century. Scranton and London: Scranton University Press Philpott, D. 2000. â€Å"The Religious Roots of Modern International Relations.† In: World Politics 52 (January): 206-245. Taylor, C. 1998. ‘Modes of Secularism,’ In: R. Bhargava (ed.) Secularism and its Critics. Calcutta: Oxford University Press, pp. 31-53. Taylor, P., 2005. Freedom of religion: UN and European human rights law and practice. Cambridge: CUP Taylor, C. 2010. â€Å"The Meaning of Secularism,† In: The Hedgehog Review, fall. http://www.iasc-culture.org/THR/archives/Fall2010/Taylor_lo.pdf Thomas, S. 2005. Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations, London: Basingstoke

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CULTURAL STUDIES & DIVERSITY - Assignment Example On the other hand, increase in the birthrate also impacts the organizations in the United States. Increase in birth rates will lead to an increase in population growth. Rapid population growth is accompanied by a proportionate increase in the supply of the labor force. This implies that the rate of job creation should match the rate of labor supply in United States. However, the rate of labor supply has outstripped that of job creation. This shows that the quantity of individuals looking for employment opportunities increases more rapidly than the number of jobs being created. This kind of problem possesses menace to the organization and the employees since there arises conflicts. Change in marital and family arrangements also is a demographic change in the organizations. Change in marital status of people will be reflected by an organization by changing is target market for products. Organizations that keep with the trend in changes in marital status are at a competitive advantage b ecause they can segment their market accordingly. The more data about the change in conjugal status that business leaders have, the more important the information will be on account of it can yield extra experiences on the patterns in change in conjugal status. Diversification in the organization is always viewed as a risk but of late, organizations are getting diversified because of the advantage, it gives them. Diversification of organizations is that aspect of taking risk by investing in many businesses. One of the advantages that this strengthen an organization is in terms of leadership competence. Organization leaders who conduct many businesses for the organization learn new skills of leadership and management hence strengthening the organization. Elsewhere, diversification puts an organization at a competitive advantage. This is because diversification leads to the organization benefiting from its vast operations, unlike its competitors. Another advantage that an

Influence of Baroque Music to Classical Music Essay Example for Free

Influence of Baroque Music to Classical Music Essay Music of any period reflects, in its own way, some of the same influences, tendencies, and generative impulses that are found in the other arts of that time (Donna, 2005). Thus the word baroque, usually used despairingly by eighteenth-century art critics to describe the art and architecture of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, came to be applied also to the music of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. After some years after the death of Johann Sebastian Bach, the ornate, formal and strict form of the High Baroque became â€Å"old-fashion† and lost its favor. Music slowly began to change form the style and forms of the High Baroque to a simpler yet tuneful form around 1750. The period following the Baroque is called the Classical period. The transition to the new styles and forms of Classical music was, like all transitions, rather complicated. The use of the baroque bass figure lost its taste and became obsolete. The preference of a simple structure rather than polyphonic constructions became dominant most especially in secular music. There was also a preference for one clear melodic line without melting with many others. Although baroque music differs greatly from classical music, they have striking similarities as evident in specific styles and forms. Though Classical composers tend to avoid the antiquated Baroque, one cannot fully abandon the styles and forms of the immediate predecessors. Instead, these styles were further developed to form a new meaning and use on the new musical structure. Forms like the opera and orchestra revolutionized—the former branching out from serious to variety, and the latter have a complete upheaval. Moreover, on the late Classical period, great composers such as Beethoven and Mozart studied the works of Baroque composers Bach and Handel. The later works of the classical composers were characterized of having innovative yet powerful polyphony inspired by Bach’s masterpieces, and contrapuntal melodic lines imbued with the oratorios and suites of Handel. General characteristics of baroque music Baroque composers were united in a common goal: to express or represent a wide range of feelings vividly and vigorously. They sought musical means to express or arouse the affections.  Rather than they express their personal feelings, composers wanted to represent human emotions in a generic sense (Norton, 2010). The music is regarded for its distinct, formal compositional styles and forms. Style Various styles laid the foundation of baroque music. Expressive and expansive in melody yet deeply rooted in chordal harmonies, baroque music is typically highly rhythmical and quite easy to listen to. The comfortable regularity and lively rhythmic qualities of much of baroque music have made it appealing to many modern listeners. For more detailed listeners, one can interpret the music having poignant and stirring melodies, engaging conversation-like dialogues in sound, and rich harmonies and textures (Daniels Wagner, 1975). Modality was replaced by tonality which gave a strong feeling of joy or lament. In 2008, Ferris explains that composers developed and theoreticians articulated the tonal system, in which every note of the major or minor scale bears a specific relationship to every other note, and all of the pitches are more or less similar to the tonic. Composers at that time recognized and utilized triad chords as an entity, which resulted to meaningful and consonant units of sound. The use of triads most especially the three principle chords (tonic, dominant, and subdominant) paved a stable and harmonic direction to tonal music (The Baroque Period). Thus, the tonal system of harmony was wholly adopted during the seventeenth century. In addition, the continuous use of the polyphonic texture during the Early Baroque was revolutionized to form a new texture—the homophony. Imitative polyphony (more than one melodic line) was an extremely important factor in writing and playing music (The Baroque Era, Kamien, 2008). New forms of polyphonic music were developing because baroque composers felt that the art of counterpoint was essential to their artistry. On the other hand, the homophonic method (a musical technique that displays a vast separation amongst the melody line and the accompaniment) was gaining acceptance and use quite rapidly (The Baroque Era). The homophonic musical style played a significant role in opera and solo vocal music because it ocused the listener’s concentration in the poetic melody of the singer. Most pieces in baroque music have the basso continuo which gave way to uniformity and unity. Basso continuo, or figured bass, is an accompaniment which consists of a bass part with numbers which specify the chords to be played above it. Musical works containing a continuo part helped to convey harmonic support of chords under the melodic line (The Baroque Era). Kamien (2008) states that basso continuo is usually played by at least two instruments: an organ or harpsichord and low melodic instrument like the cello or bassoon. Kamien (2008) also adds that â€Å"the organist of harpsichordist plays the bass part with the left hand which is also played by the cellist or bassoonist. With the right hand, the keyboard player improvises chords or melodic line by following the numbers. Because the numbers only indicate a basic chord, the performer has a wide field of freedom. † With continuity of rhythm and melody, baroque music also features continuity of dynamic level. This means that the volume stays the same for a period of time, and then there is a sudden shift to a different dynamic level. There are no gradual changes in dynamics (such as a crescendo or decrescendo). Terraced dynamics were used as the main keyboard instrument was the harpsichord, which could only be played in two modes, either forte (loud) or piano (soft), precluding the ability to accomplish crescendos or decrescendos (Kamien, 2008). Moreover, baroque composers fashion their work with different kinds of ornamentation. For Baroque musicians, ornamentation is not merely decoration that has no intrinsic value but rather the chief way of moving affections. One should, therefore, try in his ornamentation, as in all other aspects of his interpretation, to effectively communicate the sense of the music. In a lyrical movement, baroque performers intensify the expressiveness through the use of smooth melodic ornaments and appoggiaturas, in a brilliant movement, incorporate virtuosic ornaments, and in a movement that seems complete, add almost nothing besides essential cadential trills (www. musebaroque. fr). Eventually, both vocalists and instrumentalists recognized the principal ways of ornamenting a melodic line. First, brief formulas called ornaments—such as trills, turns, appoggiaturas, and mordents—were added to certain notes to emphasize accents, cadences, and other significant points in the melody (Norton, 2010). Second, more extended embellishments—such as scale and arpeggio passages, and other types of flourishes—were added to create a free and elaborate paraphrase of the written line (Norton, 2010). Forms In 1573, a group of musicians and intellectuals came together to discuss various subjects, especially the desire to revive Greek drama. This group of individuals is known as the Florentine Camerata, they wanted lines to be sung instead of simply being spoken (Styles of the Baroque Period). The group developed a new vocal style based on the music of the ancient Greek tragedy. This new style followed the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech. It was sung by a soloist with only a simple chordal accompaniment and was, thus, homophonic; the Camerata rejected polyphony because it would obscure the all-important text (Kamien, 2008). Together with the opera, the oratorio stands as a major development in baroque vocal music. Like opera, the oratorio is a large-scale composition for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra usually performed during the Lenten season in the oratory, from which its name was derived; it is usually set to a narrative text. Oratorio differs from opera in that it has no acting, scenery, or costumes. Most oratorios are based on biblical stories, but usually they are not intended for religious services (Tovey, 1956) The genre reached its heights in the late baroque period in the works of George Frederic Handel such as the Messiah with its well-known chorus of continuous praise of Hallelujah. Likewise, the baroque mass is an instrumentally accompanied vocal music tended to be a conservative musical form. As the seventeenth century progressed, masses began to incorporate concertato style and to have instrumental accompaniments. These developments led to the five masses of J. S. Bach, whose B Minor Mass is one of the towering monuments of Western music (Daniels Wagner, 1975). One of the most significant aspects of the Baroque period was the emergence of independent instrumental music. Its development was not entirely what the Florentine composers had intended; â€Å"the new forms†, Kitson (1966) stated, â€Å"were by-products of reform†. The use of the modal system was broken down, and establishment of the major-minor tonality were considered. But, the old contrapuntal style was not abolished entirely. The known form of during the Baroque is the fugue. According to Kamien (2008), a fugue, written for a group of instruments or voices, or for a single instrument, is a polyphonic composition which is based on one theme called subject. Composers wrote fugues both as independent pieces and as sections within preludes or toccatas (Norton 2010). Throughout a fugue, different melodic lines, or â€Å"voices†, imitate the subject. Fugue subjects usually have a clearly defined character and a lively rhythm. Music that had become associated with various social dances began to separate itself and became a type of independent instrumental music. The baroque suite is a set of dance-inspired movements, all in the same key but different in tempo, meter and character. It is performed by a solo instrument, a small group of instruments, or an orchestra (Wright, 2008). The movements of a suite are usually in AABB form. The section A, which starts from the tonic key then shifts to the dominant, is balanced by the section B, which starts from dominant then shifts to the tonic (Kamien, 2008, p. 103). Moreover, the orchestra during the baroque period was a performing group on instruments of the violin family. The baroque orchestra was consisted of ten to thirty or forty players. At its core were the basso continuo and upper strings. The use of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments are variable depending on the demand of the piece to be played. An aria (in English works sometimes called an â€Å"air†) signifies a melody apart from the harmony, but especially a musical composition for single voice or instrument, with an accompaniment of other voices or instruments. The aria in Bach’s suites is a short binary movement in a flowing rhythm in not very slow common or duple meter (Tovey, 1956). Influence of baroque music to classical music In the middle of the 18th century, Europe began to move toward a new style in architecture, literature, and the arts, generally known as Classicism, which sought to emulate the ideals of Classical antiquity and especially those of Classical Greece. Changes in musical perception on style and form are likely caused by a sum of economic, religious, sociological and political factors. It is interesting to examine the music created within the hazy boundaries between the periods. Style Norton (2010) believes that â€Å"at its best, Classical music reached a consistently high standard and possessed the qualities of a noble simplicity, balance, perfection of form, diversity within unity, seriousness of purpose, and use of ornamentation. † The transition to the new style was rather complicated. There was a general relaxation of formality, and for a while nothing much to take its place (Daniels Wagner, 1975). The relaxation in the court life favored the Rococo (derived from the French word rocaille referring to the artificial rockwork), a reaction to the formalism, rigidity, and seriousness that had become characteristics of the Baroque, and a decorative style that was lighter, smaller in scale, and wittier than the Baroque (Daniels Wagner, 1975, Kitson, 1966). The melody most typically consisted of a series of a series of short motives, repeated several times and cast in four or eight measure phrases. The melody is also generously supplied with a variety of trills, mordents, and the like. Classical music is basically homophonic. It seemed a proper alternative to the heavy polyphonic textures of the High Baroque. However, texture is treated as flexibly as rhythm. Pieces shift smoothly or suddenly from one texture to another. A work may begin homophonically with a melody and simple accompaniment but then change to a more complex polyphonic texture that features two simultaneous melodies or melodic fragments imitated among the various instruments. In addition, polyphony was piously maintained when it came to church music. It was used for intensification, contrast, and development in the late works of Haydn and Beethoven The most far-reaching event of Rococo music was the development of the simple two-part dance form of the Baroque, through a gradual enlargement and refinement, to the sonata-form of the Classical period. The end result was a form that remained in a dominant position in the field of instrumental music for almost two hundred years (Kitson, 1966). Indeed, it is a marvel of structural flexibility, capable of the greatest conceivable variety of expressive content. By the beginning of the eighteenth century, it was generally cast in a form consisting of three movements arranged in fast-slow-fast sequence. In sonatas and other pieces for violin, gradual increases and decreases of dynamics had long been employed; a theorist addressed the problem of crescendo and decrescendo receiving considerable attention. The Italian opera orchestra, too, had been familiar with swelling of tone. The solution is the borrowing a baroque style. Terraced dynamics had provided composers with one means of achieving contrast. Operas employing this device were widely performed throughout Europe. Form The practice of the baroque era was the standard against which new forms was measured, and there came to be a division between sacred works, which held more closely to the Baroque style from secular works, which were in the new style. A new orchestra developed during the classical period. It was a standard group of four sections: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion unlike the baroque which could vary from piece to piece. The number of musicians in a classical orchestra was greater than in a baroque group. Classical composers exploited timbres of each instruments. Unlike baroque composers, they did not treat instruments interchangeably. The Classical composers were the first to orchestrate for instruments like clarinet, trombone, and piccolo (Daniels, Wagner, et al, 1975). According to Kamien (2008), â€Å"the classical orchestra had developed into a flexible and colorful instrument to which composers could entrust their most powerful and dramatic musical conceptions. The mass continued to be an important form for Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. During the Classical period, masses involved orchestra, soloists, and choir in a fully integrated work, using organizational principles derived from instrumental forms (The Classical Period). The majority of Mozart’s masses were in Missa brevis type, the simultaneous setting of several lines of text, or the omission of certain sections of the mass, becau se the Archbishop Colloredo of Salzburg had no patience with long Masses. Effects of the influences of baroque music Long after the Baroque era ended, and their music was all but forgotten, both Handel and Bach were rediscovered in the Classical era. All great Classical composers like Mozart and Beethoven, after Bach and Handel, studied their works and learned from them in grasping and further developing Bachs and Handel’s science of baroque composition in such a way, that something entirely new emerged, pointing into the future. Proficient Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The works of Bach, such as the B-minor Mass and the six motets, and Handel, for example, the Messiah had deeply influenced the works of Mozart in his last years of writing music. Mozart was thoroughly familiar with the music of Handel. During his childhood trip to England, he became well acquainted with Handels music and he never lost his taste for it. One can hear Handels influence in some of Mozarts early works, such as The Solemn Vespers, and in later works such as the Great Mass and the Requiem Mass in D minor. In fact, the opening page of Mozarts Requiem, beautiful as it is, is merely a reworking of the opening choral movement of Handels funeral music for Queen Caroline (Langlois, 2008). At the age of thirty, Mozart, visiting the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, upon hearing a Bach motet for the first time, exclaimed â€Å"Now there is music from which a man can learn something. † Then, the choirmaster at Leipzig gave Mozart a copy of the score to all six of the Bach motets. They were a profound influence on his late style. In the last two years of his life, Mozarts counterpoint became even more exquisite and complex than before (Langlois, 2008). Moreover, Mozart was attracted to the main genres in which Bach excelled—keyboard sonatas, keyboard concertos, symphonies and operas. Bach’s singing-style themes, tasteful use of expressive motives, suspenseful harmonic ambiguities, and consistent thematic contrasts became permanent features of Mozart’s writing (Portowitz). Ludwig van Beethoven Having Mozart as his model for his compositional styles, Beethoven had been familiar to the styles of the works of Bach and Handel. He continuously borrowed ideas, techniques and texture of the music of the baroque in his latter musical career. In his later years, wanting to compose certain pieces in a more contrapuntal style, Beethoven worked hard at mastering counterpoint. He studied the music of Bach, Handel, and even of Palestrina. In his late music, he developed a style of counterpoint that is more reminiscent of Handel than Bach. His fugues in his late period are very rhythmic in nature and quite unique in the history of music (Langlois, 2008). Beethoven showed his constant concern with the work of J. S. Bach. He constantly requested copies of newly published editions, for example, a copy of the B-minor Mass, from the well-known publishers in Leipzig and Zuurich. In Beethovens sketchbooks, interspersed among work on his own compositions, there are numerous entries of short or long passages from Bachs works, among them, the Chromatic Fantasy, and fugues from The Well-Tempered Clavier and The Art of the Fugue (Cramer, 2001). For Beethoven, the sense and aim of the study of his predecessors, was indeed his own further development, toward new ideas. Beethoven described this very clearly in a letter to the Archbishop Rudolph, in which he clearly names Bach and Handel as the only true geniuses, among his predecessors: The aim of the world of art, as indeed in the whole creation, is freedom, progress; if we moderns have not the same firmness as our ancestors, yet the refinement of our manners has in many ways enlarged our sphere of action.

Sports nutrition in swimming

Sports nutrition in swimming BMS-3033  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   SPORT NUTRITION URN6041693 Choose a sport of your choice. Critically discuss the nutritional requirements of this sport. Give examples where appropriate to illustrate your answer Swimming is a very competitive sport worldwide with different events like 50 to 1500 meters with time duration of 22s to 16 minutes respectively. Moreover, with four different strokes freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke. With typical training programs with the aim to increase lean body mass, and decrease body fat levels over the season Petersen et al. (2006). Sport nutrition plays a very important role especially for elite athletes. The goal of this essay is to discus more specifically the dietary needs for athletes that compete in the 50 and 100 meters distance events. In the 50 and 100 meters events in particular event swimmers relies on the production of large power outputs with highly coordinated and efficient technique in a short range of time. This power output rely on the anaerobic glycolysis and high energy phosphates. Therefore, the main type of muscle fibre developed in athletes in training for 50 and 100 meters event is Type2 a and 2 b of muscle due to the speed of contraction, short length of time, anaerobic capacity using high energy phosphates (ATP and creatine phosphate) and glycogen as fuel, however due to the nature of the high intensity aerobic activity with training sessions from 1.5 up to 4 hours a day there is no question that type 1 fibres muscle is developed. Training Overall training programs for elite swimmers are based on experience of successful coaches rather than scientific evidence of superior performance outcomes. There seems to have difference in opinions among coaches regarding to training sessions. Some opt for training only in the pool and others use less sessions in the pool (more specific training) but add cycling and running sessions to improve aerobic capacity. Generally the pool workouts consist of aerobic warm-up and cool downs, training aims to improve techniques in starts and turns, and sets of repeated bouts of swimming at different intensities depending on the goal wanted, in this case sprint. Moreover, generally 40% of the training intensity less than 80% of VO2max, from 40% to 60% at intensities of 80% vo2max, and less than 5% at >100% Vo2max.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sherman and maglischo (1992) have estimated the energy requirement of swimming training at approximately 16.8 to 22.6 MJ.day-1(4000-5400 kcal.day-1) for males working 4 hours a day and between 14.2 to 16.8 MJ .day-1(2400-4000kcal.day-1) for females working 4hours a day, although these factors will vary within each athlete physical condition and technique performance. Nutritional Chalenges The nutritional issues and challenges for swimmers are to prepare a nutrition strategy to provide fuel to cope with large energy demand, promote recovery for each session, achieve optimal levels of lean body mass and body fat as well as keep the vitamins and minerals within normal levels during the different phases of training in the season (E.g. high volume training, taper or off-season). However, swimmers struggle to cope with large energy needs not only for training but for competition some common issues are presented below: Training High energy requirements due to fluctuations in growth patterns (growth spurt in adolescents), changes in training volume or simply active gain of muscle mass. Irregular eating patterns due to a busy time table. Social and cultural issues. Poor nutritional knowledge. Adjusting energy intake Competition Adjusting energy intake during taper to prevent excessive gain of weight and body fat. Adequate fuel stores for the day of competition. Postrace recovery between different competitions or between heats, semifinals, and finals. Training program vs. competition nutritional requirement Therefore the nutritional requirement in order of priority for pre-training, training and post training (same for competition) are: rehydration, refuelling and recovery. Pre-training Training Post training Consideration in use of supplements.

An Introduction About Aldi Commerce Essay

An Introduction About Aldi Commerce Essay The reason of this assignment, analysis the Porters five forces and value chain and explain how information technology affects the business (base of Porters five forces and value chain) of ALDI. ALDI is a known retail shop in UK, actually it a Germany base business organisation, its one of a medium size grocery related chain shop in UK, lat few years they are doing business in UK. Michel Porter has written difference view how do IT helps an organisation to achieve their goal and provide better service for customer, the activities what is doing by an organisation is influenced by IT, IT helping any business organisation to complete their work properly and gaining profit easily, Information technology lead an organisation to achieve the final goals of it, information technology is combine of computer base work, study, development and application, which helps an organisation to analysis the performance of it, by using Information an organisation can understand how should its go ahead fo r next step, in below I am discussing how analyzed the Porters five forces in ALDI and how they effects on the activities of ALDI, and the way how IT helps an organisation (ALDI) to improve and achieve its goal. 02. An introduction about ALDI ALDI is the short form of Albrecht Discount. Its a global discount supermarket chain based in Germany. ALDI working in UK as a medium type of supermarket. The main product of ALDI is daily necessary household product, dairy food, vegetable , alcoholic product like wine ,beer ,whisky etc .ALDI also selling difference type of dress for male, female and kids. ALDI is selling retail product, founded at 1913, founder Karl Albrecht and Theo Albrecht. The head office of ALDI is in Essen, Germany. Mathew Barness is CEO of UK operation. 03. Competitors of ALDI Local superstore Off licence Iceland Wait rose Even TESCO, Sainsbury, ASDA also competitors of ALDI. 04. Porters five forces Porter finds out five things that work together to change the work of a competitor in a business organisation (Michel E Porter-2003). Those all are- Threat of a new entrance Bargaining power of supplier Bargaining power of customer (buyer) Threat of substitute product Degree of competitive rivalry All of those forces are very important to analysis any business organisation, threat of new entrance, supplier bargaining power, customer bargaining power , substituted product, competitive rivalry all of these effect any business organisation, in below I am analysing those forces on ALDI and showing how IT helps ALDI to maintain and overcome those factors and go ahead to its goal. 04.1. Threat of the new entrance: ALDI is familiar retail shop, but there are some reasons which create the threat of new entrance. Because of economic reason ALDI need to give lower price in difference product but its not profitable. For new entrance its complicated to achieve goal to sell product in lower price. Selling product within lower price decrease the profit of an organisation and make it more difficult to achieve goal (Mahdi Khosropour-2000), as a result sale of lower price can be a risk for ALDI. Access to supply and distribution is easy but sell is not high by new entrance. Product could be sale in same price in difference store and ALDI but product are same in food retail industry so loyalty of customer is low. In these cases new entrance could be a threat for ALDI. But most of the customer of UK is brand conscious, sometimes customer care brand more than price and ALDI have some of attractive product which attract the customer and attract them to ALDI. 04.2. Bargaining power of supplier: This force indicates the power of supplier which can effect by the large grocery chain and fear the risk of large supermarket. As their have lots of small supplier of product all over the UK so the bargaining power of the supplier is fairly low for ALDI. As their have lots of supplier in market so any supplier dont want to lose their business contract with a supermarket like ALDI, as a result ALDI getting Good product within reasonable price. 04.3. Bargaining power of buyers: Customers are always careful about price and their bargaining power is too high in market, their have lots of opportunity to chose the right product on reasonable price (Edward J.szewczak. coral R Snudgrass-2002). Porter said that the more product that become standardized or undifferentiated, the lower the switching cost and hence more power is yielded to buyers. (Porter M 1980) Their have (in market) lots of competitor of ALDI where slight difference of and more standardised as the switching cost is low so buyer can move another brand too easily. To convince the customer ALDI is giving difference types of promotional offer. ALDI photo voucher Voucher code ALDI discount code Promotional code These all are to convince customer as the bargaining power of buyers are high. 04.4. Threat of substituted product: Threat of substituted is really very high for ALDI, the large supermarket like TESCO, Sainsbury, ASDA, Morison they all are bringing same product at market so customer can be more attractive to them. If ALDI give the low price for substituted product may be their sell will increase but their have a risk of lose, as gaining profit is the main purpose of a business that why substituted product is being a threat of ALDI. 04.5. Threat of new competitor: The threat of new competitor is nearly very low in food retail industry. Where lots of organisations are already doing business a new organisation cant achieve their goal easily (Dan Davis-2005) for a new retail industry its need a huge investment beside major brand like TESCO, Sainsbury, ASDA, and Morison already captured the market. In these view threat of new entry is low for ALDI. 05. How information technology effect on Porters five forces on ALDI Information technology is a combine of study, development, application, implementation and support of computer based system. Information technology is using each and every business organisation to achieve their goal easily and completely (Kathy Schwalbe-2010) ALDI is using information technology for its business purpose. In bellow I am explaining how information technology effect on ALDI (Porters five forces) Because of information technology all information is being spread to all over the world, as a result when ALDI was in new position at market IT helps it to provide information to all customer so on beginning ALDI got help from IT. Every business is being face with their supplier, IT helps ALDI to minimise the bargaining power of supplier, how do ALDI will best product in reasonable price and from where IT can gather knowledge very easily from difference source of internet, so bargaining power of supplier decrees because of information technology. On the other hand, because of information technology bargaining power of buyer is being high, customers are being able to know about product too easily, customers can collect knowledge from difference source of IT like internet, advertisement of difference media like TV, magazine and newspaper. To minimise the bargaining power of customer ALDI also getting helps From IT, ALDI is providing its promotional information to customer by advertising in difference way which is the part of IT. When any chain grocery market launch any new product on market ALDI take these information and try to create same category product as a result ALDI can survive itself with a new product. ALDI is an established chain shop, ALDI dont have too much threat of new competitors, when its face the threat of new competitors IT can help ALDI to reduce these threat. 06. Value Chain To provide the best customer every business doing the value chain analysis, Michel Porter introduce value chain analysis on business organisation, inbound logistic, operation, outbound logistic, marketing and sales, services, infrastructure, HR, technological development, procurement those all are included in value chain. (Michel Porter-1985). In below I am showing value chain as activities of an organisation. 06.1. Activities of ALDI Activities means the work of any organisation, business activities means the business related work for any business organisation. Business activities helps any business improve their profit, how good a business doing is depends on the activities of those business (Kathy Schwalbe-2010), so improve any business, business need to be more active and conscious about the business activities, their have two difference part of any retail business activities, so we can define the activities of ALDI in two parts, those ares- Primary activity Secondary activity 06.1.1. Primary Activities: Primary activities means the primary work of any organisation, a business organisation is doing their primary activities to collect product from supplier, payment of supplier. Bring product to store, store product to warehouse, and decorate the product to shop floor, marketing of product, sales and delivery of product those all are part of primary activities. To make easy the business activities every business organisation is doing their primary activities in two ways, which helps any business to complete their activities easily (Carroll W. Frenzel Jonn C. Frenzel-2004) ALDI is doing their primary activities in two ways- Inbound logistic Outbound logistic Product which are use for sale -receive, store and disseminating process of those product is called logistic. Inbound logistic: The process of a business organisation collect product (product for sale) is called inbound logistic. The way ALDI is doing their inbound logistic those are- Every business need to order to their supplier for the product, thats the first work of inbound logistic, thats the first step of getting product , in these stage ALDI orders to their suppliers for product When ALDI orders to supplier, supplier approves the order and send product to the difference store of ALDI To get right product in right ALDI do kitting and sequencing For quality control ALDI is doing inspection, replying and differencing ALDI manage a good relationship and cash flow with supplier by vendor And managed inventory When all the process become finish ALDI store the product in their warehouse Outbound Logistic: Gaining profit is the main purpose of any business organisation, without profit a business cant run their business, to achieve profit business need to provide service or product or to customer(Mahdi Khosrowpour-2000). The process of a business organisation to distribute the product or service to customer is called outbound logistic. Process of outbound logistic in ALDI: ALDI follow a process for its outbound Logistic, Marketing Sale Delivery Marketing: The way business give knowledge to customer about their product is called marketing, to attract the people about people business need to do marketing about product. Their have lots of way to do marketing, giving advertisement to difference media like newspaper, TV, magazine, talk to customer directly those all are way of marketing. To achieve any business you need to make aware about your product to customer, ALDI is making aware customer about their product by giving advertisement on difference media like newspaper, TV and magazine. Sale: Sale is the one of major function of business (Dan Davis-2005), without sale a business cant earn profit. The way ALDI sale their product its as usual like any other retail shop, customer visit the shop and chose product, pay bill on till, ALDI also take phone reservation for special buys. Delivery: Delivery the product to customer is the final part of outbound logistic, when customer chose any product and collect these product from shop floor and pay money on till product is ready for customer, if customer make a reservation for special buy, they have to be collect product from shop. In here I want to highlight that ALDI dont do home delivery. 06.1.2. Secondary Activities: Procurement, technology development, human Resource, IT infrastructure those all are part of secondary activities (Michel E porter-2003) Procurement: Procurement is a process of buying services and products, in this process preparation, processing, demand, receipt, payment approval all are included. In below in am showing the include process of procurement for ALDI To improve the business policy of ALDI, its following a procurement process, those all are- To buy product from supplier ALDI make a plan for parching ALDI do standards of plan as its can buy best product within reasonable price Development of specification To get right product ALDI research about supplier, after research its prefer the best supplier for collecting product and select the best supplier for product Analysis of value After analysis value ALDI find out the source of finance Negotiation of price In these stage ALDI make decision to do final purchase Contract to the administration is the next procurement process after final purchase ALDI control the inventory and store product After all of these processes as a final stage ALDI do disposals and related function of disposals. Technology Development: Technology development is research and development and the use of research and development, research of a product help to improve the quality of product, by researching its possible to develop the quality of product (Ronald Zigili-1992) ALDI is doing research with the product and service and developing new product, when any other retail shop bring a new product to market ALDI research those product and develop a better product and lunch it to market as result sales increase. Technology development helping ALDI to gain the aim of ALDI, increasing sale is the most effective way to earn profit (Edward J. Szewczak. Coral R Snodgrass-2002) as sale is increasing because of technology development ALDI is gaining profit easily. Human Resource: Human resource or manpower is the main driving power for an organisation; organisation cant do anything without human resource (Edward J. Szewczak. Coral R Snodgrass-2002). Human resource means the human power who is working with an organisation, technologies supporting us in every way of life, but human have to be manage the technology, without human resource technology cant do anything. For business purpose ALDI is recruiting human resource from difference sector, for managerial level to shop floor member. A huge number of people working for ALDI, after requite a stuff ALDI trained the stuff for better service, people who is directly related with customer service they can provide better customer service by getting training , managerial level people also getting training for better service . ALDI is selecting best people for its business organisation, to recruit best people ALDI is following the recruiting process, when ALDI need any stuff, they advertise on their website and collect the application from candidate , its select the best candidate , after selection candidate need to face on interview, ALDI select the best candidate by interview and see all the quality of candidates, are they qualify for work or not, by doing all of these process ALDI is bringing best people for services. Overall, its clear that the people who is working with ALDI they are the best qualify and giving best service for organisation. Infrastructure: Infrastructure is combine of people, technology, system, procedures, policies, processes and intellectual property, all of these elements are co-related with each others. ALDI is maintaining a good relation with those chains as a result its being able to maintain a better organisation infrastructure. The stuff of ALDI is maintaining the chain of command so its being able to provide better service for customer and gaining profit easily. 07. How information technology effect on value chain of ALDI Today world is world of technology, any person or any business organisation cant do anything properly without help of technology and information technology, as ALDI is an business organisation its cant do anything without use of information technology. Firstly, Information technology influence the primary activities of ALDI, inbound logistic to outbound logistic all of these process are being success properly because of information technology , information technology helps ALDI to collect products for supplier, online order to supplier, granted order by supplier, sending process(transportation) those all are being done easily because of information technology Information technology working like blood circulation in business word, now days any business cant think about their business without help of information technology (Gerge Reynolds-2009). ALDI is doing marketing using advertisement of difference media like newspaper, website, TV magazine those all are part of information technology. Information technology is helping ALDI to develop their sale, attract customer by giving difference type of advertisement is increasing sale of ALDI, customer want to collect their product as early as they need, giving phone reservation to ALDI store is making easy for customer buying product and when they come to the store, ALDI deliver their product by checking phone reservation, which are the part of information technology Considering all of those issues, I can say that information technology influencing the primary activities of ALDI. Secondly, information technology is helping ALDI to make a better procurement process and all the process are being done by using of information technology , for technology development, research and develop a new product IT helps it to collect information from difference sources , manage and recruit human resource, maintaining IT infrastructure all are being possible by using of information technology. 08. Conclusion: Today is day of information technology; information technology is affecting every step of life. Information technology is effecting the every business and every organisation, from the above we can see that how information technology influenced the business of ALDI, its also showing the how information technology helping ALDI ho to work in every step of business and how to overcome the risk of business, within less business how to achieve maximum goal of business, all of those policy are described on above.

Essays --

Thought to be an oncogene, a gene that has potential in transforming normal cells into tumor cells, p53 was regarded as the most prominent tumor suppressor gene [1]. P53 is a gene which signals apoptosis (programmed cell death) if a cell cannot be repaired due to an extensive amount of damage. As stated in the textbook, p53 regulation occurs by an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase known as MDM2 [1]. "Controlling the controller" is a statement that describes the molecular interaction where the presence of MDM2 targets the p53 for proteosome via degradation. With three main checkpoints in cell cycle, the literature states p53 functioning from G1 into S phase in a chaotic cell [2]. The normal state of cells is to keep p53 levels low in order to prevent uncontrolled apoptosis and random cell cycle arrest from occurring. In a further note, although p53 promotes apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, cancer may result from p53 unable to recognize the problematic site. In turn, a mutation in p53 may result engaging in new activities. These activities include cellular transformation, tumor metastasis,...

Visual Effects Created By E.E. Cummings In His Poetry Essay -- Cumming

Visual Effects Created By E.E. Cummings In His Poetry Edward Estlin Cummings, commonly referred to as E. E. Cummings, was born on October 14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was a source of vast knowledge and was responsible for many creative works other than his poetry, such as novels, plays, and paintings. He published his first book of poetry Tulips and Chimneys in 1923. Many of his poems are known for the visual effects they create through his unusual placement of words on the page, as well as, his lack of punctuation and capitalization. The manner in which Cummings arranges the words of his poems creates an image in the reader's mind of the topic he is discussing, such as a season or climbing stairs. His visual style also brings emotions, such as loneliness or cheerfulness, to the reader's mind. Due to this creativity, Cummings won many awards, such as the National Book Award and the Bollingen Prize in poetry (Marks 17). In his poem "l(a", the words are arranged in such a way that they are falling down the page. He only puts several letters of each word on a line and then continues to spell the word down the page. The main focus of the poem is about loneliness and the words almost appear to be "lonely." He uses parentheses around the phrase "a leaf falls," which appears in the middle of the poem. The remaining letters in the poem spell "loneliness." When these are placed together in the same poem, it creates an effect that there is a leaf falling from a tree to the ground where it will be lonely because it will be separated from the tree. Cummings emphasizes the image of being alone or aloof by using two versions of the word one. On the first line, he uses the letter "l," which also looks like the number "1." On ... ...number of visual effects in his poetry. He combined the lack of punctuation, capitalization, and creative spacing with his topics, such as the seasons, to convey his messages. Some readers find the visual effects in his poems disconcerting and feel that they are meaningless because of it. However, others find his visual effects helpful in gaining a deeper understanding of his poems and the messages he was trying to convey. Cummings' poems were definitely meant to be viewed rather than simply listened to so that the reader can benefit from the full effect of them. His poetry does not follow traditional rules and is very unpredictable. As a result, they leave more room for your imagination to soar. Works Cited: Cummings, E. E. Poems 1923 ‚ 1954. New York : Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1926. Marks, Barry A. E. E. Cummings. New York : Twayne Publishers, Inc, 1964.

Why Is This Topic a Controversy Today

Why is this topic a controversy today? Social media is considered to be any website that allows social interaction. (pediatrics) These include Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and gaming sites to name a few. Social media is a controversial topic, as it is believed that the youth of today spend far too much time using social media instead of interacting face -to-face with people. Therefore it is possible that they lack the proper communication skills they will require to be successful in life.Most jobs require face-to-face interaction. Children have too much access too and are spending too much time using forms of social media. 52% of all children now have access to one of the new mobile devices at home (smartphone, ipad, etc. ) (commonsensemedia. org) According to a recent poll, 22% of teenagers log on to their favorite social media site more than 10 times a day and more than half of adolescents log onto a social media site more than once a day. pediatrics) By the age of 5 more th an 50% of children regularly interact with a computer or tablet device, and by 7 or 8 they regularly play video games and teenagers text an average of 3,400 times a month. (www. cnn) These are just a few of the available stats to support the inappropriate amount of time spent on social media of the youth today. It is through the childhood and teenage years that one develops socially and emotionally.It appears that most of this generations’ social and emotional development is occurring while on the Internet and cell phones. 75%of teenagers now own cell phones, and 25% use them for social media, 54% use them for texting, and 24% use them for instant messaging. (pediatrics) According to another study, kids that spent more time using social media reported lower grades, and lower levels of personal contentment, more likely to get in trouble, more sad, and more bored. (commonsensemedia. rg) A major controversy is that some children are accessing inappropriate sites as there are no protective safeguards to prevent this. One such example is Facebook which requires users to be at least 13 years of age to open an account. Last year more than 7. 5 million American kids under the age of 13 had joined Facebook. (www. cnn. com) The time spent using social media takes a child/youth away from actual physical activity. We are already considered to have a large obese population; this will just continue to foster that.This in turn leads to other problems such as increased health issues and in turn increased medical costs for a society that already has a health system that is being taxed due to insufficient funding and staffing. A final but very significant area of controversy due to the use of social media by today’s youth is the increase in cyber bullying. It is far easier to say something online than it is to someone’s face. There are several alarming statistics with regard to cyber bullying. Below are just a few from the site (www. internetsafety101. rg) -66% of teens who have witnessed online cruelty have also witnessed others joining:21% say they have also joined in the harassment -52% of parents are worried their child will be bullied via social networking sites -1 in 6 parents know their child has been bullied through a social networking site -one million children were harassed, threatened or subjected to other forms of cyber bullying on Facebook during the past year. How are children and youth being represented? Children are being represented as the major users of social media, and therefore they are focusing their sites to attract the child users.Children are drawn to use social media as it is a very human need to be heard and connect with others and there is a desire to make a difference and influence the world around them. (blog neilson) Although there are many negatives attached to social media, one of which is that social media takes children and youth away from reading traditional books. Another side of this equation is t o find innovative ways to use social media to motivate children and youth to learn about books or obtaining information from other sources than traditional reading material.

Response to a Graduation Speech Essay

E. Goldson, (2010) wrote a valedictorian address, â€Å"Here I Stand†, a speech dedicated to explain that too much concentration and effort towards memorization and following directions can hinder or distract creativity and the general learning processes.. Goldson describes the educational experience as an uneventful routine Goldson (2010) stated, â€Å"Perhaps, you only learned how to memorize names, places and dates to later on forget in order to clear your mind for the next test. School is not all that it can be.† Goldson (2010) moves on with her speech belittling her own accomplishments by stating, â€Å"I cannot say that I am any more intelligent than my peers. I can attest that I am only the best at doing what I am told and working the system.† There has to be more to life than a dull routine of going to school, following all directions, and then preparing to work. This sort of depressing picture is usually painted by a negative attitude. However, Goldson proves to have a superior attitude in order for her to gain the position of being top of her class. Goldson shows real talent in her creative writing, unless someone else wrote this speech for her. She must have a more probable reason to belittle her own achievements. One trap some teenagers of high school fall into is displaying a vain or conceited demeanor. Goldson most probably wanted to gain respect from her audience by presenting a humble tone to avoid being accused of thinking of herself as being better than everyone else. Also, most high school students love to show contempt once in a while just to have an outlet of the stress associated with a high school crowded with students many of whom do not want to be there.. This speech definitely shows rebelliousness against the structure of our education system. This criticism of our educational system appeals to the rebel student in her audience. Who can deny that the system is not perfect and that there is always room for improvement? However, Goldson’s speech does not offer any solutions to help improve the system. She does not appreciate her own writing skills, reading comprehension, math abilities and good memory. All of these attributes Goldson gained by following directions and doing extra credit can actually enhance new ideas, inspire creativity and open many opportunities. Think of all the scholarships Goldson could take advantage of. Her grades alone qualify her for the most prestigious universities. The only reference Goldson (2010) used to back up her claim was a hypothetical conversation between a Zen student and master. There is no proof this conversation took place, and so it is most likely to be fictitious. The simple truth of the matter remains; that several highly educated people have proven that Godson’s argument is outright weak. People in real life have proven beyond any doubt that education does now, and has in the past; inspired new ideas. John F. Kennedy, for example, graduated from Choate (high school) in 1935. He graduated Harvard University in 1940. Martin Luther King Jr. shows tremendous credit to Yonge Street Elementary School, and Booker T. Washington High School: because of his high score on the college entrance examinations in his junior year of high school, he advanced to Morehouse College without formal graduation from Booker T. Washington. Having skipped both the ninth and twelfth grades, Dr. King entered Morehouse at the age of fifteen. From there he then received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College in 1948 at age 19 and his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1951 from Crozer Theological Seminary and Ph.D. from Boston University in 1955. Goldson failed to recognize the opportunities she had well earned from her experience in Athens high school. It was most likely due to her low esteem that Goldson failed to recogonize the skills and abilities learned from her hard work and dedication in Athens High School. She did, after all, bring discredit to achieving the top of her own class of 2010. References Goldson E. (2010, June 25) Here I Stand Retrieved from: http://laborenglishzone.blogspot.com/2013/07/here-i-stand-graduation-speech-by-erica.html

Interview on High School Experience Essay

Russ Posten, neighbor and close family friend, entered the breakfast room of my house for the interview, happy and positive, true to his nature. Sitting down, eager to begin, he gave me a brief over-view of his life. He lived in California until fifth of sixth grade, when he moved to Spokane, Washington. He started off at Jefferson Elementary, â€Å"was poured into Sacajawea Middle School, and dumped into Lewis and Clark. † In elementary and middle school he reported being socially awkward, but for Posten, high school was a time of social prosper. While these four years were a lot of fun, they were also very trying and life-defining. During the high school years, Russ was a social butterfly. Though many factors had an effect on him, he feels that the social set which he belonged to was very important. â€Å"I wasn’t a jock, and I wasn’t a popular kid. [†¦] My set was not singular. † Posten and a few close friends were liked by everyone, and were always busy. He estimates that he dated twenty to thirty girls during high school. His current friendships are very diverse. A lot of my friends are very diverse- some die-hard redneck idiots—why am I friends with these people? But they all have redeeming qualities. † We both chuckle, and Russ agrees to a banana-chocolate chip muffin, just out of the oven. He casually added that not having a clique helped to formulate the interactions he has with others today. For Russ, sophomore year was extremely life shaping, due to the death of two close frien ds. Andrea Richards, a close friend who was dating a buddy, committed suicide. On Russ’ seventeenth birthday, â€Å"She tried to take an entire bottle of Advil, and by the time she realized what she had done, she didn’t want to die, but it was too late. †At this point, Russ’ tone changes dramatically, as he shifts uncomfortably in his seat â€Å"There was a huge ordeal; they were trying to save her. It was very traumatic. † Within six months of Andrea’s death, a close friend, Chip, also died. These experiences continue to affect Russ. â€Å"I guess for me, it made me very pragmatic in life, and steered me towards certain things, like my religion [He is Buddhist]. This is because I saw a lot of death in high school. † Noting that his favorite part of high school was the social aspect, Posten admits that he â€Å"honestly hated high school†. His least favorite part was thinking that, â€Å"the whole educational process was a joke. † In elaboration, Russ told me that he took college much more seriously because he genuinely cared about what he was studying. Wishing he had been a bit more studious, Posten has another major regret: lack of school-sport involvement. Russ recollects, with mock-shame, â€Å"The baseball team drafted me as a pitcher, but I couldn’t play if I didn’t cut my hair. And I didn’t cut my hair. † All most twenty years later, he still finds himself wondering what might have come of it, had he joined the team. Posten needs to pick up his daughter, who is a third-grader at Jefferson, and I need to leave for ballet. As he walks out the door, Russ half-jokingly adds that if my English teacher ever need a guest speaker, 1992’s ASB president is always available.