Kings Speech

Jordan Blume Blume 1 22/09/11 The Kings Speech Review Refurbished History The King’s Speech is a moving film which provides viewers with an auto- biographic view on King George VI’s reign to power. Set in the 1930’s, The King’s Speech accurately conveys a believable setting and experience through the acting and camera work. Every emotion portrayed by the characters can be witnessed and felt first hand. One can literally feel for the characters and perhaps even relate at some points. Berty’s stubborn and quick tempered personality make it difficult for him to succeed, until he meets Lionel, an elderly man who sees something in Berty, the potential for greatness. Lionel stands by Berty; helping and pushing him outside his comfort zone, trying to eliminate or at least control his speech impediment. The title of King George VI is Berty’s and with Lionel’s help, the two work to overcome the odds and live up to the standards that are king. The Kings Speech is deserving of all the awards it received because it is a great movie. The historical content is accurately portrayed through flawless acting, sensual music, and lessons that anyone can learn from and appreciate. The visual and emotional experience overwhelms viewers making this an enjoyable and award deserving movie. Blume 2 After watching The Kings Speech, one could say that it had an unexpected appeal to it; not something that you would normally like, but did for some reason. Its easily seen the time and energy that was put into the movie, as the scenes all flowed nicely, the music matched what was happening, and the emotions were felt beyond the screen. Even the camera work is well done and edited in a way which strengthens the overall finished product. â€Å"This is art, not just cinema. He doesn't frame everyone in the middle or even just to one side or another, he uses the colors, the atmosphere, the sets, every detail on the walls and everything around them to bring the entire frame, and subsequently the entire film, to life with a stunning elegance. [Alex Billington] Tom Hooper, the director, was nominated for Best Director, and won rightfully so. He adequately transformed history into a present day master piece, while still accurately displaying past events truthfully and with great detail. Drama films tend to drag on, not keeping the attention of most for very long, this is not the case with The Kings Speech. The character Lionel, although not th e main character, kept the movie going at a good pace with his witty humour, always sarcastic tone, and comforting personality. Berty’s character, on the other hand, rectified the same feelings only in a different manner. Berty is a negative character, while Lionel is more positive, and viewers can without doubt feel the struggle the future king has to go through. Anxiety, pressure, doubt, and giving up are all aspects which can be felt outside the screen. A good film is able to make the audience think and feel alongside the characters on the screen. The Kings Speech definitely does this through great acting, directing, and the obvious time and energy spent creating this masterpiece. Blume 3 The title that is King, is passed down from generation to generation, granted that its kept in the family. This is what happened in The Kings Speech, which is based off true events. Colin Firth plays the king, and all throughout the duration of the film we see him partaking in what seems to be a life or death struggle, with his stammer. He was born into a royal family, which didn’t help the situation at all, and thus is expected to fulfill his duty with speeches and public matters. â€Å"The highest of distinctions, is service to others. [King George VI] One will notice that after it is official Berty is to become king, the characters struggle seems to take an immense downward spiral, until meeting his speech therapist and future friend; Lionel. The kings stammer seems to have rooted from past events, which haunt him to the present day. This could perhaps hold true, as Berty becomes disoriented and defensive when being pushed outside his comfort zone. Nevertheless, Li onel does just this, allowing Berty to do things he never thought possible. Berty and Lionel share a unique bond; that which is different yet more recognizable, from the other characters in The Kings Speech. They meet early on, when characters are still being introduced, thanks to Berty’s wife; Elizabeth, who sought out help for her troubled husband. An unlicensed speech therapist, being Lionel, decides to take on the King’s problem after meeting with him. The two clash heads initially until things start to take a turn for the better. Berty has an impulse which tells him he cant do things, whilst Lionel is that voice that is pushing him and telling him that he can in fact overcome his mental block. â€Å"-who’s unconventional techniques helped the second in line Blume 4 o the British throne gain his ’voice‘. † [Gloria Goodale] Berty seems to think that he is unable to beat his flaw, damaging his ego more every time he fails. Prior to Lionel, his therapists seemed to only target the direct problem without going deeper to find out why the problem exists in the first place. In order to dig deeper, Lionel pushes Berty outside of his comfort zone which he carefully built up over the years, allowing Lionel deeper entry into the problems core. It takes a strong mind to deal with mental and psychological issues, and an even stronger mind to overcome those burdens. Berty, or rightfully; King George VI, beat the odds and overcame his underdog status by allowing his problem to be explored and treated by the right person. The Kings Speech is not only a movie, its an enjoyable experience for the eyes, ears, and mind. Through stunning and artistic camera work, to superfluous directing, this film is more then worthy of the awards it received; including best picture, best director, best actor and best original screenplay. Emotions can be felt outside the screen and within the viewers as they witness the cinematic masterpiece that is The Kings Speech. The director, screenplay writer, editors, and actors all deserve the awards they received for their marvellous and exorbitant performances. After taking into account all that has been noted, one must make the decision themselves; but over all, it cannot be argued that the Kings Speech is a movie that will go down in history. Works Cited Blume 5 Billington, Alex. Toronto Review: Tom Hooper's Exceptional ‘The King's Speech'. September 20. 2010. 20/09/2011 Brit Royals. Royal Family History. (King George VI) 20/09/2011 Goodale, Gloria. The Real Story Behind ‘The Kings Speech’. The Christian Science Monitor. February 16. 2011 19/09/2011

How an Outside Influence Acts as a Powerful Force

Within ‘Othello’ Iago appears cunning, the confidence he has allows him to act as an outside force manipulating the relationship between Othello and Desdemona. The interpretations of the outside influence are questionable throughout the three texts. The issue in ‘The Great Gatsby’ of whether Jay Gatsby corrupts Daisy and Tom Buchanan’s marriage because he loves her or whether she is a material desire; and whether Jed’s mental state or Joe’s rationality in ‘Enduring Love’ is to blame for the corruption between the contemporary couple, Joe and Clarissa. Iago’s ability to observe allows him to gain control of Othello and seek revenge.Whether this is for the goodness of his community or due to jealousy is unknown. However, through language, form and structure it is clear that a gradual decay in both love and morals takes place. Iago’s performance creates the impression that he is a heartless character as no true fr iendship, love or morals are shown. â€Å"I am not what I am†, he is a devious onlooker who aims to destruct happiness, yet the reason for this remains uncertain. Iago can be classified as an outside force due to his dishonesty and cruel intentions, which often only the audience is aware of due to his mysterious actions. Beware my lord of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster†. The audience is positioned to understand that William Shakespeare is presenting irony as Iago is warning others of jealousy, when perhaps he is tied down by his own. Utilising personification also foreshadows the cruel intention Iago has to damage the contentment in Othello’s life. A clever choice of words allows Iago to deliver the impression that he is a loyal and honest man. Throughout the play he sets the stage to ensure Othello and Desdemona’s relationship becomes corrupt, denying himself of any responsibility.This contrasts to Jed Parry in ‘Enduring Love’. Lead b y his belief in God, a strong emotional attachment is made with Joe, one which Jed is persistently honest about. With the belief that God â€Å"has sent me to you† Jed ignores Joe’s resistance and does not seek revenge, instead rejection brings him closer to Joe. This categorises Jed as a contemporary villain, as he goes against traditional values of a villain. Perhaps, due to Iago conforming to the conventional idea of a Shakespearian villain, the reader may classify him as a more effective outside.He places himself outside of situations; he observes, manipulates and watches Othello crumble. Whereas Enduring Love presents a contemporary villain who moves beyond traditional expectations of causing unhappiness; bitterness is replaced with calm tones, â€Å"Love has given me new eyes, I see with such clarity, in such detail†. Jed’s bizarre approach arguably challenges the reader more than Iago’s evasive behaviour. Written in 1603, ‘Othello†™ touched upon a major issue in Europe of this time period; the intermingling of Muslim religion and culture with the West.Ironically, Othello is sent to protect the Venetians from the influence of Muslim Turks even though he is ‘the Moor’. Iago uses the issue of Othello’s race to present him as a misfit; â€Å"Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, or else the devil will make a grandsire of you†. Shakespeare plays on 16th century beliefs through the symbolism of the â€Å"devil†. It was thought that often the devil took the shape and form of a black man. Insensitive words corrupt Othello’s reputation of â€Å"valiant†. Othello has determination, loyalty and commitment towards his â€Å"gentle Desdemona†.This causes him to resist 16th century attitudes tawards race. â€Å"Let him do his spite†¦I love thee gentle Desdemona†. Repelling obstacles is key to achieving an idyllic relationship. Jay Gatsby is similar t o Othello, not in race, but due to issues of social class. Jay Gatsby represents the ‘new’ rich from West Egg, he lacks social connections so he flaunts his wealth. This is an issue F. Scott Fitzgerald mocks throughout, as this novel presents a social commentary upon the corrupt state of materialism in the 1920’s.Fitzgerald uses many references to time throughout the novel. Fitzgerald delivers the message that everything in this lifestyle is temporary– emotions, actions, parties, or feelings, because they are all fuelled through material objects. | Nick Carraway, the narrator describes Jay Gatsby as, â€Å"running down like an over-wound clock†. The simile signifies both Gatsby’s consuming desire to stop time and his inability to do so. This may be the reason why he is selfish in pursuing Daisy as he has no respect for Tom, who lives in East Egg, a place for the established upper class.

Agility Resilience in organisation

The purpose of this business report is to examine AH Moor's approach to organizational agility and resilience; cooking specifically at the promotion of leadership and enterprise workforce. It explores the benefits to the organization of the implementation of a systematic plan for selecting, motivating and developing employees with the requisite skills and demonstrated behaviors to operate effectively in highly uncertain, highly unstructured environments and demonstrating how enabling this improves organizational outlook.As organizational resilience and agility is seen as a systematic property, both individual and organizational levels are explored. In today's global economic climate businesses need to sustain a competitive advantage to remain above the competition. It Is the geopolitical uncertainty, with unprecedented changes and Instability and business discontinuities that demand organizational agility and organizational resilience. Unforeseen circumstances Like the terrorist acts of September 1 lath had adverse effects on businesses that dealt with commodities such as gold, and the company was no exception. The sudden hike in gold price resulted in the company losing millions, and the lack of agility and resilience the organization possessed meant it paid greatly with the years that followed. Presently, in the many is undergoing major transformational changes to its corporate strategy and development, and a change that the new HER team is pushing towards is changing the way recruitment is being carried out.Arguably, human talent is capital; talented persons carry within them, in their knowledge and expertise, important parts that are means of production. Intellectual capital and talented labor force is now central to many business enterprises (Riveter & Kline, 2000). It Is argued adequate Job fit needs to play Into consideration to allocate correct personnel to handle a demanding Job ole within the gold/jewelry sector given the businesses geographical locat ion and fierce competition which is ever-growing due to rising gold stocks.In addition with the recent rapid development of the united Arab Emirates has seen greater rise in competition. At the individual level, resilience can be explained through occupational stress or burnout that account for the continuation of or even increases in worker performance and psychological well-being in the face of difficult work conditions (Carver, 1998; Mismatch & Letter, 1997). At the organizational level, characteristics of organizations (e. G. Man resource practices, organizational culture and values) have been related to agile reactions and continued survival under volatile, demanding work conditions (Horned & Orr, 1998; Mammal, 1998). An organization's capacity for resilience Is rooted In a set of Individual level knowledge, skills, and ablest and organizational routines and processes by which an organization conceptually positions itself, acts decisively to move forward, and overcome the poten tially debilitating consequences of a disruptive shock (Lenience- Hall & Beck, 2009).A organizations capacity for developing organizational resilience s achieved through strategically managing human resources to create individual competencies among core employees, that when combined at the organizational level, make it possible for organizations to effectively absorb uncertainty, develop situation-specific responses to threats, and ultimately engage in transformation activities so that they can capitalize on disruptive surprises that potentially threaten the survival of the organization.The lack of focus given to personnel selection has also highlighted an inability for staff to cope with the stressful pressures that come with working within gold and a highly charged industry. The company is situated in the popular Gold Soak region, where hundreds of retail shops and close to a hundred wholesale distributes are situated simply in that area alone. As a result competition is highly ch arged and the company has seen rates of turnover and absenteeism risen and levels of mental and physical well-being have deteriorated.It is the increased competition associated with the acceleration of market changes that have put pressure on organizations to react quickly whilst re-inventing themselves in response to external pressures. Study of individual differences reveals certain personality emissions such as locus of control, hardiness, and self-esteem relate to people's reaction to stresses. Rooter (1996) proposed that having an internal locus of control (believing you can control what happens in life) moderates the relationship between stresses and strain such that a strong internal locus is associated with less strain.This idea is in line with Karakas idea of perception of control. Giordano (2000) found Iranian business managers with higher levels of hardiness, the better their health and performance despite stressful situations. If there is a miss-match between individuals and the organizational culture; source of stress if a person believes organizational functions as unclear and unpredictable could lead to role ambiguity; Coco (1948) found non participation in decision process and uncertainty led was a predictor of strain, Job related stress.Literature findings are clear in regard to the implementation of stress on employee wellbeing through a behavioral, psychological and physiological perspective. Where the effects of strain can lead to the deterioration of memory, reaction time, accuracy and task performance. Modality (1986) found stress associated with less sensitivity, warmth and tolerance awards patients amongst nurses, Gaston school found association between unsupported work environments and quality of work performance in NASH staff.There is also evidence that on simple tasks moderate levels of arousal or stress seem to aid performance (Dawson et al. , 2009). Schaeffer (2004) found burnout was predicted mainly by Job demands and to lesser ex tent, Job resources; that is related to turnover intention and health problems; and that it mediates the relationship between Job demands and health problems. Three broad methods can be utilizes here to help reduce and manage stress that are grouped in three categories- remarry, secondary and tertiary interventions.The primary level of this hierarchy includes modifying and eliminating stresses. In relation to company this would include giving people more control over their Jobs and work environments; redesigning tasks they are required to do; giving flexible work schedules. Skimpier et employees to adopt to different ways of working. Bond & Bunch (2000) designed cluster of interventions that led employees having more input into decision-making and control over workloads, and put systems in place for getting advice form mangers quicker on vague tasks.Employees from intervention group reported less ill health, and higher Job performance. Perceived control in interventions group underp inned these positive outcomes. Also found individual differences appears to interact with the changes in control where Higher psychological flexibility benefited more, showing individual differences can lead to different outcomes for different employees. At a Secondary level focus on individuals response to stress, and focus more on employees than changing aspects of the organization.Increasing levels of social support for staff experiencing high level of stresses in organizations found ewer medical errors and malpractice claims in hospitals, and an increased agility and resilience in stressful environments (Murphy, 1996). This findings were also supported by Frees (1999) who looked at blue collar workers and also found social support exhibited less anxiety, and strain. Tertiary symptom directed, focus on helping individuals cope with consequences of stresses, again focus is on individuals rather than focus on organizations.One approach to provide medical care in house or outsourced for employees, another approach is PAP. Cooper and Saudi (1994) found improvements in mental health and esteem of those participating n Peeps within organizations, suggesting they can be helpful with stress, however approach this is a reactive approach not proactive because it doesn't prevent it, deal with problems after they arise rather than focus on creating positive work environments which minimize stresses.There has been rapid increase in compensation claims for work-related stress in recent years (Dyer, 2002). Furthermore it's been reported that growing proportion of employee absences may be accounted for by anxiety, and depression (McLeod 2003) and such circumstances have been found to have an effect on productivity, absenteeism, and occupational injuries. There is growing literature which argues that workplace counseling helps alleviate these issues, as well as improve employee problems.Here, it is argued the implementation of external sources through contractual agreements would be deemed beneficial as there is a lack of organizational resources and trained staff within HER to provide services, and furthermore consolidating in external counseling may be viewed as safer alternative where employees may fear of the level of confidentiality within their sessions. It should be noted not only is counseling being suggested to combat issues of individual and organizational stresses but also deal tit the impending issues of lack of diversity within the organization at present and the ongoing issues in relation to this.There are numerous studies that point out the benefits of counseling. In particular a substantial systematic review by McLeod (2001) found counseling to reduce work related stress in more than 50% of people, levels of sickness and absence reduced by 25-40%. There were clinically significant improvement in levels of anxiety, depression and stress reported in 60-75 of clients. AH Nor fails to implement development of employees through training to enable raciest, or learned routines that will provide a first response to any unexpected threats.Important organizational procedures and conduct are tied closely to of company beliefs and those beliefs then become core values which are the basis of day-to-day behaviors that translate intended strategies into actions (Hammond, 2002). Behavioral preparedness helps bridge a gap between divergent forces of learned resourcefulness and counterintuitive agility and merging forces of useful habits.A combination of useful habits and behavioral preparedness create a foundation of rehearsed and habitual expert routines that ensure an organizations initial and intuitive response to any situation will create options that than constraints (Ferrier, Smith, & Grimm, 1999). The principle behind the selection process is that individual differences between people in attitudes and skill and other personal qualities, and people are not equally suited for all Jobs therefore it is important to match the r ight person to the right Job.The main elements involved in designing and implementing personnel selection procedure can be outlined in the personal selection paradigm (Patterson and Ferguson, 2007). AH Nor possess no competency framework or reliable recruitment methods. It is suggested that the initial first steps required is a Job analysis to take place within the company recognizing the tasks that are assumed and the competencies required, including tasks that will remain stable over time.The goal of Job and competency analysis is to provide an evidence based specification to attributes that act as criteria for decision making during the selection and guide the choice of assessment techniques. Assessments are selected based on correspondence between the attributes they assess and those identified in the Job and competency analysis. It can be difficult to describe certain the behaviors associated with writing a complex financial report there for competency analysis has become very popular.It has been agreed that competency analysis goes beyond rigid boundaries of the Job title by taking into account the organization objectives vision s and strategy of staffing requirements (Livens and Sanchez 2007). Although the effects of faking are not understood but this can be reduced with providing feedback as research has suggested if individual knows the test will discussed later makes them think twice, also assessor is able to determine if individual was honest based on feedback session if they are unable to meet the data.Schmidt et al 1979, showed gains of over $1 m dollars per annum could be expected if ability tests were used to select park rangers, similar gains were also reported for computer programmer selection (Hugs & Manager 1959). Psychometric testing has grown popular in recent years, and it can be used in two ways in selection. It can provide a more detailed assessment of Job candidates and better manage applicants. They consist of tests of maximum perform ance which are tests of ability aptitude, linked to general intelligence, or specific facets like verbal, numerical and abstract etc.Tests of performance which are personality assessments. They are designed to assess aspect of individuals ability, choice of test is dependent on information gleamed from the job and competency analysis. These types of tests are used alongside early stage assessments it helps selector determine minimum acceptable level of ability for Job role, those below cut score are rejected. In Hunter and Schmidt (1998) meta-analysis general ability tests are right up with work sample and structured interviews with validity of 0. 1 . In combination with an integrity test (which would extend to personality assessment drawing on integrity-relevant traits), the validity rises to 0. 3. The particular HER system configuration that will leads to a capacity for organizational resilience. Moreover, it is important to recognize that while human capital, Just like many other assets, can be applied toward multiple ends; opportunity does not mean that the leverage potential will be realized.For example, creative problem solving routines, a clear sense of purpose, high levels of intellectual and social capital, and a propensity for iterative, double-loop learning which are elements contributing to a capacity for resilience can also contribute to developing organizational change trainees and promoting dynamic capabilities (Oriole and Savings, 2003). The perspective and mental agility that stem from needed cognitive abilities provide a foundation for an organization to be able to learn from the consequences of the actions it undertakes within its complex actions and thereby be more effective in dynamic competitive environments.Useful habits such as continuous dialogue and the trust that results from deep social capital provide the raw material for constructing meaning and making difficult choices in ambiguous situations. However, it takes deliberate intent to ensure that particular outcomes are realized. It is argued that it is the comprehensive bundle of desired employee contributions, HER principles and HER policies that enables a firm to develop a capacity for resilience (Lenience-Hall and Beck, 2011).Therefore it is argued that HER policies, practices, and activities are vital for an organizations capacity for resilience, and that organization's capacity for resilience is a multilevel collective attribute emerging from the capabilities, actions, and interactions of individuals and units within the company. Employee contributions, HER practices, and HER policies are the primary integrating mechanisms or achieving a collective resilience capability. Organizational resilience is an increasingly necessary collective competence for the company that operate in highly charged environments and those characterized by Jolts and surprises.Investments in human capital to develop employees who are adept learners, strong communicators, and skil led at creating strong interpersonal ties creates a foundation for both a capacity for resilience and effective knowledge management. Similarly, developing organizational skills such as â€Å"radicalized ingenuity' (Cutout, 2002)), using action to happen cognition (Wick, 1995), and counterintuitive thinking (Meyer, 1982) contribute to both a capacity for resilience and innovation. References Bond, F. W. & Bunch, D. (2000). Mediators of change in emotion-focused and problem- focused worksheet stress management interventions.

Assessing Infrastructure Failure Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assessing Infrastructure Failure - Assignment Example This refers to the events which may be the cause of the simultaneous disturbance of various which may not connect or depend on any type (Perrow, 2007, p.  13). Each of the failed infrastructures may lead to recurring cascading failures of their dependant infrastructure. Some of the key policies to ease the infrastructure sector would be to check on corruption. Politicians and senior officials may acquire public resources to keep up their power status (Weidler, 2012, p.  45). This can lead to incomplete or low quality infrastructures which cannot withstand natural calamities. A corruption free declaration would help improve in infrastructure development. Improvement in rural access leads will play a very important role in a country’s economy which will help in infrastructure development as it will help decentralization of industries and transport of goods. The status of our infrastructure is a challenge to the Security Department. Good infrastructure boosts security’s mission in a way that security officials can counter any security threat in less time. Otherwise, poor infrastructure will pose a challenge in a way that it will take time to alert the security officers for help. A regime can plan for change in policy by conducting seminars to teach its citizen about construction of important infrastructures and be open about the total cost to avoid any type or creating chances for corruption and any other vice that may hinder

Case character Conceptualization Research Paper

Case character Conceptualization - Research Paper Example Nash being a genius mathematician becomes devastated and withdraws himself from society. In this essay an attempt would be made to analyze the case and find a probable solution by making use of the ‘Cognitive Behavioral Theory.’ Presenting the Problem Nash had a mental health problem, schizophrenia, which had surfaced during middle age and stood as a stumbling block between his work and family. The gravity of the problem increased so much that Nash had to leave his job as a professor and eventually became institutionalized. His wife and his roommate Charles stood by Nash, as the depths of his make- believe or imaginary world surfaces. The precipitating set of circumstances could have stemmed from the fact that he was frustrated about not being able to come out with something unique in the mathematical arena, being a Math prodigy himself. His actions of arrogance and anxiety showed the extent of his stress and suffering. This problem had never occurred before but manifest ed itself when he could not accept his failure. He suffered a harrowing experience for many years to come to terms with himself and finally during the 1970’s he makes his foray into the world of academics by returning once again to teaching and research. Relevant History Nash being a Mathematical genius had always aspired to create something original and unique that would be useful to society and the world at large. However, when his attempts failed to materialize, he withdrew himself from social circles and became a recluse in his own world. His obsession about making a significant contribution towards the subject of Math and the failure to achieve it had probably triggered his schizophrenia and led to his institutionalization. As a patient he exhibited his anger and frustration through his actions because he was trapped in a helpless situation. However, his wife Alicia did not give up on him and stood by him all through his suffering years because she had great faith and tr ust in his capacity as an outstanding Mathematician. Interpersonal style When Nash realized that he had failed in his attempt to make the unique contribution towards the subject he loved so much, it affected him so badly that he withdrew himself from social circles and led the life of a recluse, till he could function no longer and had to be institutionalized. It was the faith and love of his wife Alicia together with medical help that gradually brought him around from the depths of his misery, to once again surface back to normal life and finally win the much coveted Nobel Prize for his great contribution towards Economics in 1994. Alicia is steadfast in her duty as a loyal wife and brings about her husband’s redemption by helping him triumph over his misery and make a success of himself by winning the Nobel Prize. In this case there were polarities related to pursuit, withdrawal and submission. These polarities can be explained thus – Nash tried hard to pursue his dr eam of doing something original and unique in the field of Math, being a Math genius himself. When he found that he could not succeed he became frustrated and withdrew from society. Finally, with great support from his wife and close family and friends, he admits submission and was soon on the road to recovery which eventually helped him to fulfill his long lost dream of making a signific

Internaltion Political Topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Internaltion Political Topic - Essay Example What is a terrorist and how does one define terrorism? The age old adage that â€Å"one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter† (Bergesen & Lizardo 2004) rings true and the term terrorist has been notoriously difficult to define. Seeking to address the difficult definitional questions surrounding these terms, this essay will compare and contrast definitions offered by scholars at the forefront in the study of the terrorist phenomenon. Despite the definitional challenges surrounding the terrorist phenomenon, a definition of â€Å"terrorism† is integral and this term must be defined so as to provide our theoretical basis. Bruce Hoffman, world renowned terror scholar and expert of the use of terror as a political tool, understands the slippery nature of defining the term and argues that first and foremost, terrorism is a political concept. Secondly, terror is about power and the use of this power to enact political change (Hoffman 2007). Another pro minent international terror theorist, Gà ©rard Chaliand, argues that terror is a tool which targets the mind. From this perspective, terror is â€Å"the most violent form of psychological warfare† (Chaliand et al. 1999) and terrorism is a means to power and control through violent means. While both of these definitions shed insight into the terrorist phenomenon, Dr. Mia Bloom, the world’s foremost expert on the suicide terror phenomenon, defines terrorism in a different fashion. According to Bloom, terrorism is â€Å"premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetuated against noncombatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience† (Bloom 2005). Taken together, all of these definitions are comprehensive enough to guide this essay and complement our analysis of the global terrorist phenomenon. As has been thoroughly documented,

Nasser speach Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nasser speach - Assignment Example Even though the critics say that it did not change much in the country but it did show that the Arabs are aware. They are not merely masses that were just being sold and divided between borders and oil reserves. Even though the thoughts in Nassers narrative are appealing but nothing much has changed. One thing is for sure that the Arabs are aware, and they want to determine the destiny of their nation. Later in the documents Nassir talks about what the Arabs should do if they really want to take their fate into their hands. He says that their approach must aspire to the latest scientific tools and achievements. Embracing technology and education will be the greatest weapons in their hands. By acquiring new equipment, Egyptians industry will have its distinct position compensating for the production progress that started in other countries much earlier. He speaks of the United Arab Republic making foreign policies in the best interests of its people and not for a handful of rich Arab families. It is hard to discourage such passionate idea by Nasser, but the reality of the Middle East does not reflect his

Research paper from Supply Chain Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Paper from Supply Chain - Research Proposal Example This is easier said than done. Although Singapore is well located and well connected by all modes of transport, the uncertainties of a supply chain have to be understood in order to achieve plan its management. Having a good range of suppliers is not enough as the chain involves logistics as well. Apart from this there are different priorities and concerns of each of them and for a specific operation the entire chain has to work on agreed schedules and timelines so that both short and excess supplies and timely deliveries are organized in a way that all links in the chain have a chance to make a fair margin. If it not a win-win situation for all stake holders then the link will break and the entire supply chain management will become distraught. In the current worldwide scenario many disruptions contribute to the disruption of the supply chain. The latest among them being terrorism that knows no boundaries and respects none. Risk management has therefore become a huge concern. The other more normal constraints are different perceptions of the stakeholders, logistics and storage issues. The objective of this research is to identify the obstacles to good supply chain management in Singapore and to suggest possible remedies. Purchase is the foundation of making an effective Supply Chain. A good purchase will often result in better margins. Organizations have specialist purchase departments. Since there are individuals who finally make decisions their judgment, whether individually or in groups, are influenced by the environment they work in. Kohli (1989) proposed that influence is a function of personal resources or power. Sheth (1973) maintains that the psychological world of the decision makers affects purchasing behaviour. This will include the special knowledge the purchaser has acquired, the training he has received, the skills he has developed and the seller networking he commands. Best Practices

Financial Risk (Masters Level) Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Financial Risk (Masters Level) - Coursework Example It indicates the highest possible loss amount, which some portfolio will likely lose within a given time period at specified confidence level. A good example would be 95% daily VaR for $1 Million, could mean the likely hood for the same portfolio to lose over a million dollars within a worst day happens to be below 5%. In no way does this mean that such portfolio may not lose over a million dollars. The truth is that over one hundred days, the portfolio would be expected to lose over $1 million for five time approximately. In addition, this does not mean that an individual would not collectively loose significantly more along a longer horizon. Banks, mutual funds, hedge funds as well as other financial service companies or even brokers can utilize value at Risk. Most of such firms use VaR in prediction of size of outlying losses of the future, or even gains that their portfolios or those of their clients might experience (Ran & Jin, 2008: p 1). Most firms make use of VaR in the determination of needed collateral from an execution customer for some margin loan utilized in trading financial instruments, for instance. Buy-side entities like hedge funds make use of VaR in determining whether the allocation of a portfolio does exceed investment mandate or a current risk tolerance (BPL, 2015, 2). Despite the fact that VaR was not used broadly before mid-1990s, the measure’s origin date further back in time. Markowitz Harry and others developed the mathematics, which underlie VaR in portfolio theory context (Glyn, 200:p 32). However, their efforts aimed at a different destination (devising equity investors’ optimal portfolios). Specifically market risk focus as well as the co-movements effects in such risks are core to the manner in which VaR is computed (Ronald, Kees, & Rachel, 1999: P 2). The Motivation for VaR measures utilization, though, arose from the crises, which affected financial service firma through time as well as supervisory responses to such

Evaluate a range of employee development methods and barriers to Essay

Evaluate a range of employee development methods and barriers to effective learning within organisations - Essay Example â€Å"Development is a continuous improvement process that occurs at both the organizational and individual level. At the organizational level, leaders must actively manage the overall talent mix. Effective leaders recognize the need to fill key positions with individuals who have a competitive advantage in performing their roles when compared with their peers across the industry.† (Koch 2007) This competitive advantage stems from the organizational efforts to train and develop its individuals in a way so as to add value to their expertise as well to the overall organization. History is filled with examples where companies have placed immense emphasis on its employee development programs. Organizations come up with new and novel ways to train and motivate their employees and build their career for the benefit of both the employee and the organization. The learning based interactive system developed by IBM in the 1980s lead to marked improvement in the work quality of its emplo yee. Although when this system was developed IBM was losing from its competitors and incurring loses, but the company in its difficult time did not let do of its employee development and the new and innovative learning system helped the firm come back in business. The employee development methods form the basis of improving employees’ skill and technical expertise. â€Å"Employee Development methods fall under two general categories: on-the-job and off-the-job methods. The on-the-job methods consist job rotation, assistant-to positions, mentoring, special projects, and committee assignments, while off-the-job methods consist of formal education and outdoor training.† (Medina 2006) Talking of the on-the-job training, the most common method is the job rotation which is the systematic movement of an employee from one position to the other in the same or different departments. This method claims to develop employee understanding of the overall organization by moving the em ployee and making him actually do what is required in each unit of the organization. â€Å"Numerous firms have used job rotation, including American Cyanamid Baker Hughes, Ford and Prudential Insurance,† (Griffin & Moorhead 2011) The proponents of this method argue that this type of development is required by the organization in order to familiarize the employee with all the departments and technologies and methodology that the firm uses. But the opponents argue that it makes the employee jack of all trade and master of none. According to them when employees move from one department to the other, the shorter time span adds to the confusion resulting in errors that decreases the productivity of the employee. Another off shoot of the job rotation is the job enlargement which is also known as the horizontal loading of work. It involves the increasing of number of tasks in the same job as performed by previous employees. The rationale behind the inclusion of increasing number of tasks is to reduce monotony of the worker. But this kind of loading takes a toll on the time required to complete the job thus resulting in a decrease in the efficiency. However firms have gained some advantage such as employee motivation due to

How Dell Uses Effective Strategy to Gain Competitive Advantage Dissertation

How Dell Uses Effective Strategy to Gain Competitive Advantage - Dissertation Example Dell being among the primary sellers of computers is what has led to the question of what type of strategy is often utilized. Learning about the type of strategy being initiated by Dell is significant as it enables the reader to understand what it takes to be the best in the market. Therefore, the strategy that is being utilized by Dell Corporation is the direct sales approach. Dell Corporation direct sales approach is one of the most successful strategic innovations of the past that has generated positive results for the company. The firm was able to come up with a model that undercuts its competitors on price, forge closer links with its clients and offer shareholders a return several times as compared to the market price. Significantly, Dell’s direct sales model was initially singularly suited with the intention of maximizing the cash conversion cycle. The firm was able to carry little inventory in the process because it bought components on a just-in-time basis. The signif icance of the approach is customers often paid Dell Corporation more quickly than it paid suppliers, and, as a result, cash flow at Dell was positive. Furthermore, little inventory for Dell led to the reduction in component costs that could easily be passed rapidly to clients. The outcome of the process, therefore, led the firm to improve its competitive position in the market. Furthermore, the direct sales model made Dell an industry and shareholder’s sweetheart, a high-tech pioneer with seemingly limitless growth.

Write a critical comparison of two pieces of research Essay Example for Free

Write a critical comparison of two pieces of research Essay Rationale When choosing the two pieces of research to compare, I sought a topic that interested and was of relevance to me. According to Hammersley and Scarth (1993) the function of educational research is to inform policy-makers and practitioners and consequently to improve education (p.216). Subsequently the aim of this essay is not only to draw a critical comparison between the two pieces of research, but also to inform me, as a student teacher, on the findings of the role of teachers beliefs of gender in mathematics and so advise my future practice. In my last SE placement I found myself teaching a mixed year class of which boys made up two thirds of the pupils, this highlighted to me some of the gender issues that can manifest themselves in the primary classroom, I had previously not had experience of. The school had a policy on gender, which contained strategies for raising the achievement and interest of boys in lessons, particularly in literacy. When observing the male teacher conducting literacy and history lessons I found that many of the texts were tailored to the boys interests, such as information texts on robots or science fiction. In other classes I observed taught by female teachers, I did not see the use of any resources specifically targeted at boys. I found that because the class contained more boys than girls and had a male teacher, much of the talk and topics had a male theme. However, I did find that the boys were strongly motivated and that many of them responded in a very positive manner to a male role model, which can often be lacking at primary level. It was clear when I took over the teaching of the class I found it more difficult to develop a rapport with the boys than I had in my previous SE placement where the class teacher had been female. There has been research conducted on the effect of the gender of a teacher particularly in mathematics, but there are no conclusions to support my observations. Most teachers indicated that their gender does not necessarily influence their treatment of their own students, or the way that either male or female students related to them. There has been also been research conducted to examine the affect of teacher gender on pupils achievement in mathematics. Li (2001) quotes Sahas (1993) conclusions that whether a teacher is male or female does make a difference for student achievement, students with male teachers had better achievement in mathematics than those with female teachers (p.66). The experience within this class illustrated to me the distinction of boys and girls in primary education and how they respond to different stimuli, whether that be teachers, work, resources etc. As a mathematics specialist the fact that the topic investigates teachers gender-related beliefs within that subject is of particular interest to me. I have not had any experience of working with teachers who hold different beliefs about girls and boys achievement, but I have never held a discussion with a teacher about what they attribute their pupils success in mathematics to. The research papers provide an insight into teachers attributions and whether these are differentiated by gender. Any implications raised by the outcomes of this research will inform my future practice. Historical Context of Topic Over the last 25 years, there has been a variety of studies conducted to examine teachers beliefs about, or attributions of, causation of their students achievement successes and failures. Research conducted by Clark and Peterson (1986) found that a teachers causal attributions are important because perceptions of why his/her students succeed or fail in achievement situations has an impact on the teachers expectancies for students future achievement success. They also concluded that the sex of a student has not been shown to be a major factor affecting teachers attributions. However Fenema et al (1990) stated that a close reading of the literature shows that most studies dealing directly with teacher attributions have not included gender as a variable (p.57). There are some studies to show that researchers hold different beliefs about appropriate learning experiences for boys and girls. Stage et al (1985) reported that teachers do not have lower expectations for girls performance in mathematics than they do for boys performance, however teachers have been found to provide more encouragement for boys then for girls to learn mathematics. In 1998, the Scottish Executive for Education produced a Primary Schools Support Pack, which details gender issues in raising attainment. The document states that research evidence in attainment shows that in mathematics: boys have generally more positive, or sometimes more polarised, attitudes; boys have more confidence, are less dependent on teachers explanations, and devise their own methods and short cuts to solutions; girls tend to underestimate their abilities and are easily discouraged. Research carried out by Gorard et al (2001) on the patterns of differential attainment of boys and girls at school showed that in mathematics, girls have a small achievement gap over boys at level 2, but at level 3 to A levels, boys hold a small achievement gap over girls, which increases over time. Context According to Hammersley Scarth (1993) it is important to understand the context in which a report is produced (p.217). Fenema et al carried out their research in the United States of America in 1990. The subjects were 38 female 1st grade teachers from 24 elementary schools. Tiedemann carried out his research 10 years later in 2000 in a North German city. The subjects were 52 3rd and 4th grade teachers of which 5 were male. It is not clear from the research papers how they both chose their samples. However, it seems likely that both used a form of cluster sampling. Denscomb (1998) states that the logic behind cluster sampling is that, in reality it is possible to get a good sample by focussing on naturally occurring clusters of the particular area the researcher wishes to study and schools are a good example of a naturally occurring cluster. (p.14). Cluster sampling comes under the heading of probability sampling which is based on the idea that people or events that are chosen are done so because the researcher has an idea that these will be a representative cross-section of people in the population being studied. Denscomb (1998) adds that cluster sampling can save a great deal of time that would have been spent travelling to various research sites throughout the land. However, he states that one must remember the aim is to achieve a representative cluster and this could be obtained through random or stratified sampling (p.13). Fenema et al (1990) chose to study only female teachers; this may be because this is an accurate representation of the population, if there were little or no male 1st grade teachers. If they had particularly chosen to research female teachers attributions and beliefs this would have been stated somewhere in the research paper. Tiedemann however, had 5 male teachers within his sample of 52. It could be presumed that if a stratified approach was used, male teachers therefore, represent approximately 10% of teachers in the population he studied. Denscomb (1998) acknowledges that random sampling is likely to provide a representative cross-section of the whole, however he adds that stratified sampling has a significant advantage over random sampling in that the researcher can assert some control over the selection of the sample in order to assure that key people or factors are covered by it and are representative of how they are in the wider population (p.13). Purpose Fenema et al (1990) states that research had not investigated whether or not teachers hold different beliefs about girls, boys and mathematics. Therefore their study aimed to identify successful and unsuccessful mathematics students and the accuracy of their identification; teachers attributions of the causes of successes and failures of girls and boys and teachers beliefs about the characteristics of their best girl and boy mathematics students (p.56). They did not hypothesise about what they expected to find, but outlined a set of questions they wanted to answer. Tiedemann (2000) research title is very similar to that of Fenema et als (1990) and he quotes Fenema et als (1990) research in his review of the literature. His aim is not to re-test their findings, but to test for perceptual bias in teacher beliefs about gender in their teaching of mathematics at elementary schools (p.194). Tiedemann (2000) believes that it is still difficult to draw any conclusions with confidence. He is however working 10 years later and uses research conducted after Fenema et als (1990) to make a hypothesis of what he expects to find in relation to teachers attributions and beliefs. Bell (1999) identifies that it is useful to make statements about relations between variables as it provides a guide to the researcher as to how the original idea may be tested and they can attempt to find out whether it is so among the subjects in the sample (p.25). Cohen Manion (1994) agree that hypotheses and concepts play a crucial part in the scientific method, also known as positivism, defined as all genuine knowledge is based on sense experience and can only be advanced by means of observation or experiment. Positivism, however, has been challenged from many quarters (p.11), Cohen Manion (1994) quote Kierkegaards (1974) theory of existentialism saying that people should be freed from objectivity and having to discover general laws to explain human behaviour, but instead consider ones own relationship to the focus of the enquiry, which is the capacity for subjectivity (p.23). Tiedemann (2000) states an underlying assumption of his study, that there is no difference in gender achievements or teacher beliefs in mathematics. Cohen Manion (1994) criticise embarking on a study having pre-interpreted the world to be researched as the assumptions of the researcher can influence upon the results (p.25). Methods Both Fenema et al (1990) and Tiedemann (2000) used questionnaires to gather data. Fenema et al (1990) used two types of questionnaires, one being a structured individual interview the other a non-direct questionnaire, in their research. Denscomb (1998) states that a structured interview, which involves tight control over the format of the questions and answers, is similar to a questionnaire that is administered face to face. He adds that structured interviews lend themselves to the collection of quantitative data, which was the type of data Fenema et al (1990) did gather. There are issues to consider when deciding to conduct a questionnaire directly. Denscomb (1998) states that research shows when questioning people face-to-face informants respond differently depending on how they perceive the person asking the questions. In particular the informants answer may be tailored to match what they feel fits in with what the researcher expects from them or to what they perceive to be the researchers point of view (p.116). As already stated the researchers assumptions of the study can affect the outcome. For example in Fenema et als (1990) structured interview the teachers might not readily admit that the pupils lack of success is due to them not providing the support for the child even if it is their belief. In the case of Tiedemann (2000) his underlying assumption that there is no difference in gender achievements or teacher beliefs in mathematics could be perceived by the informant who modifies their response to this expectation. Cohen Manion (1994) cite Kitwoods (1977) critique of direct contact questionnaires; he states that there is a trade off between reliability and validity. If the researcher develops an atmosphere where the respondent feels at ease the more likely they are to disclose true information which is necessary to the validity, however reliability is enhanced by rationalisation, but when the interviewer becomes rational and calculating the less likely the situation will contain a human element and the more calculated the response is likely to be (p.282). Denscomb (1998) reflects on both types stating that questionnaires, which are conducted without direct contact, remove the impact of face-to-face interaction (p.88). Cohen Manion acknowledge the bias that can impact upon direct interaction, but it allows for greater depth than is the case with other methods of data collection (p.272). By Fenema et al (1990) using both types of questionnaires, they have experienced the advantages of both. Tiedemann (2000) used only the non-direct contact and therefore his study as Cohen Manion (1994) stated could lack greater depth and a human element. Fenema et al (1990) and Tiedemann (2000) employed similar styles of questionnaires to collect data about teachers attributions. Both used a non-direct questionnaire, which contained statements about the pupils that the teachers had to estimate on a scale. Fenema et als (1990) sex-role stereotype questionnaire was an adaptation of another researchers method of data collection. The 20 descriptors, concerning characteristics of the teachers best mathematics pupils, contained 2 opposing statements, the teachers responded from high agreement to the right phrase to high agreement with the left phrase. The structured interview and questionnaire used by Fenema et al (1990) and the questionnaire used by Tiedemann (2000) all contained closed questions where the answers are restricted to options supplied on the questionnaire. Denscomb (1998) acknowledges both the advantages and disadvantages of closed questions. He states that the structure of such a questionnaire provides the researcher with information which is of the same length and that can be easily compared, quantified and analysed. In the case of both research papers where the results were of a statistical nature, it would seem closed questions were the most suitable to use. Denscombe (1998) notes the disadvantages saying there is less scope for respondents to supply answers which reflect the exact facts of true feelings of a topic and as a result of this the respondents may become frustrated by not being able to express their views fully in a way that accounts for any sophistication, intricacy or even inconsistencies in their views (p.101). Fenema et als (1990) questionnaire overcomes some of the limitations of closed questions by allowing teachers to rank their agreement with the phrases from 1 to 5, enabling them to strongly agree with one phrase by marking 1 or 5, or to indicate a modification by marking 2, 3 or 4. Tiedemanns (2000) questionnaire similarly is structured to allow teachers to respond on a three-point scale of true, not true and partly true. However Bell (1999) cautions against the use of ambiguous words such a partly true, which may mean something different to each respondent (p.121). In Fenema et als (1990) attribution interview each teacher chose their 4 most successful mathematic students and 4 most un-successful students to attribute the cause of their success or failure. The paper does not state the criteria for how the students were classified as most or least successful, this information however is crucial to understand the teachers beliefs of what constitutes success or failure in mathematics, which is central to the research question. Tiedemann (2000) however states the criteria of a successful or failing mathematics student. He chose three bands of performance level that the students would fall into, 2 from the upper level, 2 from medial and 2 from the lower performance level. These bands were derived from performance grades attributed to the children in a similar way children in the UK are levelled from performance in QCA or SATs tests. One of Fenema et als (1990) objectives however was to discover how accurate the teachers were in selecting their most and least successful students. This was done by testing all 314 girls and 368 boys taught by the teachers and matching the results to the accuracy of the teachers choices. Therefore, it was important that the teachers chose the students as it gave a greater insight into whether they were able to identify their most and least successful students. However, it is important to note that there will always be the issue of whether the test results of the students are wholly valid. The test questions were read to the students by a trained tester. This immediately puts visual learners or children with poor memory at a disadvantage. According to Felder Silverman (2002) visual learners remember best what they see pictures, diagrams, flow charts, time lines, films, and demonstrations, verbal learners however get more out of words, spoken or written and therefore could have an advantage in this form of spoken test. Dyslexic students may also be put at a disadvantage from this style of test. These children, who are often able mathematicians, according to the British Dyslexia Association (2002) tend need more time when completing mathematical activities due to contributing factors such as poorer short-term memory and slower writing speeds. They can also have problems with auditory processing. Fenema et als (1990) test had a time limit, again putting some children at a disadvantage. Results Fenema et als (1990) and Tiedemanns (2000) results opposed each other in two particular aspects. Fenema et al (1990) concluded that in both the most and least able categories, teachers attributed girls success and failure to effort considerably more so than for boys. Tiedemann (2000) however found that teachers thought that girls profited less from additional effort than boys and had to exert relatively more effort to achieve the level of actual performance in mathematics. Under the category of ability, both research papers contrasted each other in their findings. Tiedemann (2000) states that teachers attributed failure in girls more to low ability, whereas Fenema et al (1990) found that boys success was attributed more to ability than girls success. When analysing the results obtained by both parties one must take into account the differences in their research methods and contexts. The researchers did not study children of the same age, in fact the children in Fenema et als (1990) research were 3 to 4 years younger than in Tiedemanns (2000). The research was conducted in differing countries and Fenema et als (1990) sample size (pupils) was double that of Tiedemanns (2000). Denscomb (1998) reflects on issues when using a sample of 300 or less (Tiedemanns (2000) being 312). He states that extra attention needs to be paid to the issue of how representative the sample is and caution is needed about the extent to which generalisations can be made on the basis of the research findings (p.24). Does this mean therefore that Tiedemanns results are less viable than Fenema et als (1990) due to his sample size? This would have to be investigated in relation to how representative his sample was. Fenema et al (1990) may have a larger sample but there is no information on how representative it is. Denscombe (1998) also states the smaller the sample the simpler the analysis should be, in the sense that the data should be subjected to fewer subdivisions (p.24). Tiedemann however divides his questionnaire in 6 categories containing 21 items; according to Denscomb (1998) this can dilute results (p.24). The issues of bias and validity in terms of Fenema et als (1990) interview should also be taken into account. As previously discussed these issues can affect results and more information on how the interview was conducted is needed before an analysis of its reliability can be conducted. To close, it is difficult to draw clear and unequivocal conclusions from both these sets of research, although Fenema et als (1990) study follows more of the advice for gaining reliable results, such as more than one method of data collection and a large enough sample size. Bell (1999) states that in the analysis, interpretation and presentation of data, care has to be taken not to claim more for results than is warranted. Li (2001) states that when studying all the literature, including both the research papers analysed here, on gender-related beliefs in teachers, the results are inconclusive. Bibliography Bell , J. (1999) Doing Your Research Project Bucks: OUP Cohen, L. Manion, L. (1994) Research Methods in Education London: Routledge Denscomb, M. (1998) The Good Research Guide Maidenhead: OUP Li, Q. (2001) Teachers beliefs and gender difference in mathematics: a review Educational Research Vol. 41 No. 1 pp. 63-76 The British Dyslexia Association (2002) Mathematics and Dyslexia http://www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk/main/information/education/e07maths 01/06/03 Tiedemann, J. (2000) Gender-Related Beliefs of Teachers in Elementary School Mathematics Educational Studies in Mathematics Vol. 43 pp. 191-207 Felder, R. M. Silverman, L. K. (2002) Learning Styles and Strategies http://www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/ILSdir/styles.htm 01/06/03 Fenema, E. Peterson, P. L. Carpenter, T. P. Lubinski, C. A. (1990) Teachers Attributions and Beliefs About Girls, Boys and Mathematics Educational Studies in Mathematics Vol. 21 pp. 55-69 Gorard, S. Rees, G. Salisbury, J. (2001) Investigating the Patterns of Differential Attainment of Boys and Girls at School Oxford Review of Education, Vol. 27 No. 3 pp. 411-428 Hammersley, M. Scarth, J. (1993) Beware of wise men bearing gifts: a case study in the misuse of educational research in Gomm, R. Woods, P. (ed) Educational Research in Action London: Chapman Ltd

Dolls House

Dolls House Comparing the Views on Womens Position in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice and Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House Abstract The research conducted in order for this essay to be written wasnt like that which would be conducted during a science experiment or a mathematical problem solving. The research undertaken for this essay was very analytical. It delved deeply into two famous literary works of the nineteenth century. The research was mainly carried out because of the interesting difference between the two works and the extremely strong female protagonists. What the main idea of this research essay was was comparing the views on womens positions in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen. The literary works are only seventy years apart, yet societys views changed so drastically in those seventy years that it is difficult not to be interested in studying the two works. To truly understand the views of women in these two publications, one must read the two thoroughly as well as research what kinds of events were occurring at the times of the publications. When Pride and Prejud ice was published, society in the book was identical to society in real life. When A Dolls House was published, womens rights were beginning to become more prominent in society. Of course, even then, there were still some old fashioned minds. Torvald Helmer was the epitome of what Ibsen disapproved of. As many people analysed, Ibsen wrote this play to make the world move forward quicker. It is unknown whether or not his play actually made a huge impact; however, womens position in society has changed drastically since. Even between the two publications, there was a dramatic change. Nora Helmer was an inconceivable character to Jane Austen. By the time Ibsen had his play performed, women were beginning to think independently and seek independence. The findings evident in this essay will not change the world or stop global warming. However, they do make a person think how differently life was lived in the nineteenth century. Introduction For a period in history, the only thing that seemed to plague women was the prospect of marriage. Even if a woman didnt necessarily want to marry she would be forced into thinking of it because it was all that surrounded her. In the early 19th century, it was not hard to understand that women in society were believed to be simple creatures, who didnt want more than a lovely home to sit in and neighbouring women to gossip with. In 1813, Pride and Prejudice, a novel that supported all these social thoughts, was introduced to the world. This novel was written by Jane Austen and is probably one of the most famous love stories of all time simply because all women love to read about a love that survived the good and bad times. Jane Austen was a woman in the time where marriage was all one should think of as a young lady. Not seventy years later, a play was performed for the first time, titled A Dolls House. This play was written by playwright Henrik Ibsen and illustrated strongly contrasting themes to those present in Pride and Prejudice. Whilst Pride and Prejudice centres on a woman in want of a husband, A Dolls House focuses on the other side of marriage; the side of marriage nobody wanted revealed when it was first performed. Ibsen wrote his play at the time when women were beginning to be thought of in society as something more than just females. In his play, Ibsen created a character that began seeing past the prettiness of marriage with her husband. She began to think for herself and understand that there is more to learn about the world and one cannot know it unless one seeks it. Two writers, less than seventy years apart, with entirely different attitudes as to how the world should be seen, in the eyes of a woman. Both existed in the same century, yet they were worlds apart when it came to societys views on women and their position. Jane Austen believed it only natural for marriage to be on a young lady of marriageable ages mind. Henrik Ibsen, on the other hand, thought it inappropriate to show marriage as always being a traditional destiny. Ibsen portrayed women as independent or, at the very least, seeking independence. He succeeded when attempting to portray women as more than hopeless young ladies whose life goals were to be married. Both are entirely conflicting stories; both are incredibly successful. Character Comparisons Two very different stories would obviously have two very different protagonists. Pride Prejudice and A Dolls House are no exception; the former, Elizabeth Bennet; the latter, Nora Helmer. They are vastly different but are not the only characters that are comparable in the two novels. Elizabeth Bennet compared to Nora Helmer Elizabeth lives with her mother who is a lady who badgered and pestered her five daughters about marriage. Elizabeth, being a woman in the times when marriage and economy was everything to a woman, has differing views to her society. Elizabeth does not believe in betrothing herself to someone she is not compatible with. Elizabeth is a unique woman. Compared to all other women in that time, she is intellectual and cares about more than money and worldly possessions. She does not want to marry a man she cannot converse with. Even though Elizabeth is a different woman who fancied more than the average woman in the early 1800s, she still wanted to marry a man she could live with. If she didnt, she would have to be married to him for life in misery. Divorce was not ever thought of in the times of Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters. Therefore, if you were betrothed to somebody, you would be betrothed to them for the whole of eternity. It was considered completely unladylike and ungrateful, a lso, to leave your husband. If a woman was married to a man who was supporting her well and who was giving her all she wanted and she decided to leave him, society would look at her as an unappreciative wife who is not satisfied with anything. It was not understood in those old times that two people were not compatible. All that was thought of when marriage was brought up was if hes a man who can support this woman with whatever happens. Consequently, Elizabeth wanted to marry but she wanted to marry someone she was compatible with, someone she could spend the rest of her life with and not regret it. Marriage is what she wanted but it wasnt the marriage that her mother or the rest of society would ever understand. Nora Helmer is a house-wife. She knits and shops, just as a house-wife should. She never complains that her life isnt satisfying. However, Ibsen was clever enough to conceal her true feelings until later on in the play. As the audience analyses Nora, it is realised that her life was never pleasing; there was always something lacking in everything she ever did and never did she realise it until it was almost too late. Nora is tired of living in a home where she is treated as a doll would be treated pampered and adored for her physicality. Eventually, she realises that living with Torvald Helmer is not the way she wants to live. There is so much to see out there in the world; so much to learn about; and here she is, living in a dolls house, confined to a town that is not wide enough for her mind, nor exciting enough. Finally, she leaves her dismal life in the dolls house, to live her own life, to learn things shes never known before, to travel to places she has only ever heard of. She wanted to experience life, as shed never seen it before and she could not do that whilst living under the same roof as Torvald Helmer. Both these women are of great depth and intrigue. Both Elizabeth and Nora have different thoughts to those of the normal flow of their surroundings. Elizabeth didnt want to marry for money and end with a husband who couldnt even converse with her, unusual as it was in her time. Nora did not want to be imprisoned in a home, which offered no comfort, no excitement, no learning opportunities. Both characters are similar in the ways that they both went against the usual course of those around them. However, they are different in the things they wanted ultimately. Elizabeth wanted to marry someone compatible. Nora wanted to stay away from marriage life and learn more about the world and herself before committing to anything more. Pride and Prejudice ends with both Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Bennett celebrating their marriages to Fitzwilliam Darcy and Charles Bingley. A Dolls House, on the other hand, ends with Nora walking to the world, ready to embrace whatever the world has to offer. In less than seventy years, the stories written about women and their position changed drastically. Women were beginning to be seen as more capable and as more equal. It was also known that marriage was not all that would cross their minds. After all, it isnt that women are desperate to get married the society and the situation society put women in only made it seem that way and by the time Henrik Ibsen wrote his play, those types of thoughts were beginning to waver. Torvald Helmer compared to Nils Krogstad and Dr. Rank Torvald Helmer is a man who believes in particular positions for men and women. He doesnt believe women should provide, as Kristina Linde is planning to do for Nils Krogstad. He is a traditional man with an outdated way of thinking living in a society, which is rapidly changing. Torvald Helmer is stuck in the times, which Austen described in her novel. He is, however, only joined by a few. In A Dolls House there are two other male characters whose way of thinking was definitely changing with that of society. Nils Krogstad and Dr. Rank both believe in equality of men and women. Ibsen created these two characters as a way of contrasting to Torvald. Both Krogstad and Rank have different views. Krogstad completely agrees with the idea of Ms. Linde working to provide for her family. â€Å"I ran a little shop, then a small school, and anything else I could turn my hand to.† (Ibsen, H. A Dolls House. Act one; page 157). Rank also would sit and have many discussions with Nora, treatin g her like an equal adult. Torvald never once had a serious conversation with her, which proves how little he thought of the supposed equality between them. In the beginning of the play, it seems to the audience that everybody thinks as Torvald does when Kristina states, â€Å"A wife cant borrow without her husbands consent† (Ibsen, H. A Dolls House. Act 1, page 160). From this statement, it seems as though the society Nora is living in is just like the society Elizabeth Bennet was living in. Nora also states, â€Å"I was lucky enough to get a lot of copying to do†¦it was tremendous fun sitting there working and earning money. It was almost like being a man.† (Ibsen, H. A Dolls House. Act 1, page 162). This line suggests that women were not to work as men did in that society. However, when Dr. Rank is introduced, these ideas change. When Rank enters the home intending to see Torvald, he does not go away when he hears he is busy. Rather, he sits with Nora and conve rses with her, like equal adults. â€Å"Bankrupt! In less than a month, perhaps, I shall lie rotting in the churchyard† (Ibsen, H. A Dolls House. Act 2, page 191). Rank discusses matters of seriousness with Nora, whilst Torvald does not. It is clear that Rank has a mind that is changing with the changing society. â€Å"Helmers too sensitive to be able to face anything ugly I wont have him in my sick room† (Ibsen, H. A Dolls House. Act 2, page 191). Rank explains that Torvald is very sensitive. It is understood that he does not even speak of serious things with people other than Nora. He is clearly the odd one in this novel because everybody else has the same frame of mind but he seems to be stuck in the days that were even changing in Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy compared to Mr. Charles Bingley Two other men that are contrasting characters are Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Mr. Charles Bingley of Pride and Prejudice. Both have distinct views on society and the ideas that society lives on. Both men are owners of a very large fortune Mr. Darcy slightly wealthier than Mr. Bingley. The two are the best of friends; however, their characters could not be more dissimilar. At the first ball at Meryton, each of their characters is decided by the surrounding society. â€Å"Mr. Bingley was good looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners†¦he was lively and unreserved.† (Austen, J. Pride and Prejudice. Volume 1, chapter 3, page 12). Mr. Bingley is liked by everyone that was acquainted with him almost instantly. It was his lively disposition. â€Å"Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mein; and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes of his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year.† (Austen, J. Pride and Prejudice. Volume 1, chapter 3, page 12). He is looked at as handsome and even more handsome when theyve heard of his fortune. However, their views on Mr. Darcy soon change. â€Å"(He) danced only once, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world.† (Austen, J. Pride and Prejudice. Volume 1, chapter 3, page 12). The mens differences do not only go so deep as personalities. They are also different in what they want ultimately. Of course, as was the tradition at the time, they each want to marry; however, Mr. Bingley is not so fussy with who his future bride is to be. Mr. Bingley is much quicker to label a woman as ‘accomplished also, which adds to the differing views of him and his friend. â€Å"It is amazing to me how young ladies can have patienc e to be so very accomplished, as they all are,† quotes Mr. Bingley (Austen, J. Pride and Prejudice. Volume 1, chapter 8, page 35). Mr. Darcy, of course, scolds him for thinking such a thing. It is clear that Mr. Darcy has a much more different idea of what an accomplished woman is. After describing an accomplished woman, Mr. Bingley listens to Mr. Darcys words, â€Å"All this she must possess and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading,† (Austen, J. Pride and Prejudice. Volume 1, chapter 8, page 35). To the reader, it is obvious that Mr. Darcy, intentionally or not, is describing Elizabeth Bennet as accomplished. It is even more evident what the two friends views on women are when they choose their wives. Mr. Bingley chooses Jane for her unmistakable beauty and kind nature and nothing more. His affection for her is not based on an intelligent mind or extensive reader. Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, favo urs Elizabeth. Although she is not as handsome as Jane, her mind is more developed. She takes pleasure in reading and having intellectual conversations. Mr. Darcy clearly wants this for a bride. By joining Mr. Darcy with Elizabeth and Mr. Bingley with Jane in matrimony in the end of the novel, it is clear what Austen wants the reader to learn: marry someone you are compatible with. Although Mr. Bingley marries Jane for her attractiveness, their marriage was compatible because each is kind natured and good spirited. The two are not intellectuals, like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. In fact, they are quite the opposite, yet their marriage still works. When comparing the two main men of this novel, it is possible to say that Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley are the male counterparts to Jane and Elizabeth Bennet, which is possibly why their marriages worked in the end. Writers Purpose As writers, both Austen and Ibsen had distinct purposes for writing what they did. When reading their works, it is clear to many that each wanted to encourage the public to begin to think differently to the society they lived in. Austen did agree with her society, essentially. She approved of marriage but wanted the reason for marriage to change in the mind of the public. Ibsen, however, promoted womens independence and ensured his audience went away with new ideas about the equality between the sexes. Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice to allow woman the understanding that marrying for money, instead of compatibility, was never the correct path to walk on. Even though both Jane and Elizabeth did marry wealthy men, they did it for love rather than the money involved. They married for the important fact that they connected with their partners on a higher level than how highly they thought of the money they possessed. In the times when Austen published this novel, the thinking of Elizabeth and Jane were never believed to be possible. Austen took this to her advantage and publicized intellectual thinking and brought thoughts of compatibility into relationships. Other than Elizabeth and Jane Bennett in Pride and Prejudice, the characters mostly think about marrying for support and security more than anything else. Naturally, she disapproved of women marrying bad men. By creating a character like Elizabeth, the audience could understand that she most definitely found it quite inappro priate for a man and woman to marry without any love. However, Austen didnt completely disapprove of women marrying for money. She understood that there are certain circumstances, which cannot be avoided sometimes. In her novel, she wrote about Charlotte Lucas, who was a girl uncertain of her economic future. She married Mr. Collins for his apparent wealth and the belief that she would be financially secure with him as a husband. Although she understood her uncertain economic future, Austen used this comparison to her benefit. Charlotte and Mr. Collins marriage became one of comfort, not one of love and affection. Austen did not forget to remind the reader that their marriage was anything but successful because Charlotte married for money. She also disapproved of marriage based solely on attraction, as was Mr. and Mrs. Bennets relationship. â€Å"Her father captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour, which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and liberal mind, had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her† (Austen, J. Pride and Prejudice. Volume 3, chapter 42, page 194). Their marriage was all that Austen was against. What she disapproved of, also, was the reality that women could not inherit fortunes. For example; in the case of Mr. Bennett who had four daughters and no sons, he would have to pass his fortune on to the next male in the family, who was Mr. Collins, who hadnt even been acquainted with the Bennet family. Austen did not understand why Mr. Bennetts daughter couldnt take over his fortune, when they obviously deserve it much more so than Mr. Collins. She showed her disapproval of this by using the voice of Mrs. Bennet. â€Å"I do think it is the hardest thing in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own children,† (Austen, J. Pride and Prejudice. Volume 1, chapter 15, page 54). In the end, what could be said about Austen s purpose to write such a deep and meaningful novel is that she meant great things for it. She wrote to teach women of the world that they should find their place in the world. Their minds should not constantly revolve around marriage and finding marriage. They should learn to be comfortable with their surroundings and themselves and only think of marriage when a man that is compatible with them comes along and steals their heart with what he does and says, and not with how much money he possesses. Henrik Ibsen wrote his play in a time when womens rights were starting to become noticed. Womens right to independence played a magnificent role in Ibsens A Dolls House. That is essentially what he was building towards, right from the commencement of the play. The entire purpose for his writing of this play was to broadcast the fact that women should begin thinking for themselves. He wanted women to believe they could make it on their own; that they did not need a man to help them along the way. Henrik Ibsen wrote this play not seventy years after Jane Austen wrote her novel. Immediately as the first few pages are read, it is quite obvious that Ibsen is looking in to the future. His construction of Nora is quite fantastic. As a reader, it is interesting to note that Nora Helmer is a completely inconceivable character for Jane Austen. Never would Austen even think that a woman could leave her husband in order to learn more about herself and the world. Nora is an excellent model of wha t many women thought about in the late 19th century. Marriage was beginning to lose its rose-coloured magic. The stories speaking of happy marriages were slowly beginning to melt away to reveal much less pretty images. Ibsen succeeded when attempting to write these thoughts down as a play. He succeeded in the fact that when the audience watched as Nora walked to the world, a new woman, they all cheered and agreed with all her reasoning. Because Noras action provoked this reaction, it is apparent that his mission was fulfilled. His mission to rid the minds of all people of the inequality between men and women was accomplished. By employing the use of Kristina Linde, who worked and provided for her family for many years, Ibsen showed that it was not a bad thing. Kristina learnt more about herself and the cruel world she lived in. Evidently, it might have worn her out and tired her however, she came out of it a better, more-rounded and more experienced woman who could take on anything and not back down. Unlike Nora, who was frustrated all her life because she was missing something she desperately wanted. She moved from her fathers home, where she was treated like a doll, to her husbands home, where she received the same treatment. She never worked a day in her life, and because of this, she never stopped dreaming of it. When she did work, behind her husbands back (for that was the only way she could), she commented that they were the three most enjoyable weeks of her life. Ibsen used Noras character to show that a woman who has been treated as though she is a fragile porcelain doll for all of her existence will not ever know how to truly think for herself. He used this character to show that having everything done for you and never knowing truly what the world around you is about is something one should never hope for. Even though Ms. Linde was awfully weary, Ibsen made his audience believe that this is the life, which should be sought after. In Pride and Prejudice, the society that Elizabeth Bennett lived in was not one which questioned a lot of things. Whatever is put in front of them, they believe it. They did not question things that seemed unusual to them. They did not question for fear their thoughts and beliefs would be confused and proved wrong. Desire for society did not exist in Austens Pride and Prejudice, unlike in A Dolls House. Nora wanted to learn more about the society and world she lived in. Elizabeth Bennett and the people she knew really only cared for the people they were already acquainted with. They would not go out of their way to learn more about what is happening in other parts of the world, or even the country. In A Dolls House Ibsen made it clear that Nora wanted to see as much of the world as she possibly could. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen only wrote about marriage and the never-ending quest to find the right person to marry. Whilst Austen showed that marriage was what all women wanted ultim ately, Ibsen showed that marriage life could be restricted. Ibsen also showed that traditional husbands implement several restrictions on their wives, which eventually denies the women the ability to grow, emotionally and physically. Ibsen attempted to tell the audience that if a man did everything for his wife and protected her from everything, there is no possible way she could grow into a more developed, more experienced, more agreeable person. Conclusion Two novels: different in purpose but equally great. Jane Austen lived in a different society to Henrik Ibsen. She agreed with the most part of her society, except that women shouldnt marry for financial security they should marry those that are like them. Her novel ended in two compatible marriages. Marriage was still the ultimate destination for women as well as men but it wasnt the kind of marriage that her society looked at. Women then were expected to marry for security and a fine house. Austen wanted to change these ideas and ensure that women believed that the fortune of a man is not what should be looked at when looking for a potential husband. Ibsen did not agree with his society. In fact, he wrote his play in order to change the society he lived in. His play went against everything the society believed in. Women were not allowed to leave their husbands whenever they wanted to. That is why he wrote the play he wanted womens positions to change and they did. When Nora wal ks to the world, she received cheers from the crowd. Independence, from then on, was desired and thats what Ibsen wanted. Both of the novels are fantastically written and the message is printed loud and clear. As the years go on, it is evident that each of these literary works has made an enormous impact on society. Ibsen helped womens fight for independence move more rapidly, whilst Austen made women all over the world seek a man that was like them, not just had a fortune that could buy them a home big enough for one hundred. Bibliography Books 1. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. England: Penguin, 1996. 2. Ibsen, Henrik. A Dolls House. England: Penguin, 1965 3. Spence, Jon. Becoming Jane Austen. 2nd ed. London: Continuum, 2007. Websites 1. Cummings, Michael. J. A Dolls House by Henrik Johan Ibsen: A Study Guide. Retrieved: 18/07/09. 2. Haker, Ann. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Retrieved: 18/07/09. 3. Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austen. Retrieved: 13/07/09. 4. Pride and Prejudice. Retrieved: 13/07/09. 5. Pride and Prejudice. Retrieved: 05/02/10. 6. Yurgaitis, Daniel. A Dolls House. February 16, 2004. Retrieved: 18/07/09.

How Teenagers Consume Media

How Teenagers Consume Media Digital media is profoundly transforming consumer behaviour and traditional media business models. While creating new opportunities, its disruptive influence is being accelerated by the global recession. At the vanguard of this digital revolution are teenagers. While their habits will obviously change (especially when they start employment), understanding their mindset seems an excellent way of assessing how the media landscape will evolve. To this end, we asked a 15 year old summer work intern, Matthew Robson, to describe how he and his friends consume media. Without claiming representation or statistical accuracy, his piece provides one of the clearest and most thought provoking insights we have seen. So we published it. There are several issues that immediately jump out from the piece. Teenagers are consuming more media, but in entirely different ways and are almost certainly not prepared to pay for it. They resent intrusive advertising on billboards, TV and the Internet. They are happy to chase content and music across platforms and devices (iPods, mobiles, streaming sites). Print media (newspapers, directories) are viewed as irrelevant but events (cinema, concerts etc.) remain popular and one of the few beneficiaries of payment. The convergence of gaming, TV, mobile and Internet is accelerating with huge implications for pay-TV. For mobiles, price is key both in terms of handset prices  £100-200 as well as taking pay as you go as opposed to contracts. Mid-range feature phones still dominate, meaning that Sony Ericsson does well as thats their sweet spot. High-end smartphones are desirable but too expensive. Most prefer to own separate devices for music, and messaging. Texting is still key and use of new data services limited due to cost. Wi-Fi is more popular than 3G. While these trends will not necessarily surprise, their influence on TMT stocks cannot be underestimated. How Teenagers ConsumeMedia Radio Most teenagers nowadays are not regular listeners to radio. They may occasionally tune in, but they do not try to listen to a program specifically. The main reason teenagers listen to the radio is for music, but now with online sites streaming music for free they do not bother, as services such as last.fm do this advert free, and users can choose the songs they want instead of listening to what the radio presenter/DJ chooses. Television Most teenagers watch television, but usually there are points in the year where they watch more than average. This is due to programs coming on in seasons, so they will watch a particular show at a certain time for a number of weeks (as long as it lasts) but then they may watch no television for weeks after the program has ended. allows them to watch shows when they want. Whilst watching TV, adverts come on quite regularly (18 minutes of every hour) and teenagers do not want to watch these, so they switch to another channel, or do something else whilst the adverts run. The majority of teenagers I speak to have Virgin Media as their provider, citing lower costs but similar content of Sky. A fraction of teenagers have Freeview but these people are light users of TV (they watch about 1  ½ hours per week) so they do not require the hundreds of channels that other providers offer. Newspapers No teenager that I know of regularly reads a newspaper, as most do not have the time and cannot be bothered to read pages and pages of text while they could watch the news summarised on the internet or on TV. The only newspapers that are read are tabloids and freesheets (Metro, London Lite) mainly because of cost; teenagers are very reluctant to pay for a newspaper (hence the popularity of freesheets such as the Metro). Over the last few weeks, the sun has decreased in cost to 20p, so I have seen more and more copies read by teenagers. Another reason why mainly tabloids are read is that their compact size allows them to be read easily, on a bus or train. This is especially true for The Metro, as it is distributed on buses and trains. Gaming users, which has had an impact on phone usage; one can speak for free over the console and so a teenager would be unwilling to pay to use a phone. PC gaming has little or no place in the teenage market. This may be because usually games are released across all platforms, and whilst one can be sure a game will play on a console PC games require expensive set ups to ensure a game will play smoothly. In addition, PC games are relatively easy to pirate and download for free, so many teenagers would do this rather than buy a game. In contrast, it is near impossible to obtain a console game for free. Internet Every teenager has some access to the internet, be it at school or home. Home use is mainly used for fun (such as social networking) whilst school (or library) use is for work. Most teenagers are heavily active on a combination of social networking sites. Facebook is the most common, with nearly everyone with an internet connection registered and visiting >4 times a week. Facebook is popular as one can interact with friends on a wide scale. On the other hand, teenagers do not use twitter. Most have signed up to the service, but then just leave it as they release that they are not going to update it (mostly because texting twitter uses up credit, and they would rather text friends with that credit). In addition, they realise that no one is viewing their profile, so their tweets are pointless. Outside of social networking, the internet is used primarily as a source of information for a variety of topics. For searching the web, Google is the dominant figure, simply because it is well kn own and easy to use. Some teenagers make purchases on the internet (on sites like eBay) but this is only used by a small will) so that they can transfer it to portable music players and share it with friends. How teenagers play their music while on the go varies, and usually dependent on wealth -with teenagers from higher income families using iPods and those from lower income families using mobile phones. Some teenagers use both to listen to music, and there are always exceptions to the rule. A number of people use the music service iTunes (usually in conjunction with iPods) to acquire their music (legally) but again this is unpopular with many teenagers because of the high price (79p per song). Some teenagers use a combination of sources to obtain music, because sometimes the sound quality is better on streaming sites but they cannot use these sites whilst offline, so they would download a song then listen to it on music streaming sites (separate from the file). Cinema Teenagers visit the cinema quite often, regardless of what is on. Usually they will target a film first, and set out to see that, but sometimes they will just go and choose when they get there. This is because going to the cinema is not usually about the film, but the experience -and getting together with friends. Teenagers visit the cinema more often when they are in the lower end of teendom (13 and 14) but as they approach 15 they go to the cinema a lot less. This is due to the pricing; at 15 they have to pay the adult price, which is often double the child price. Also, it is possible to buy a pirated DVD of the film at the time of release, and these cost much less than a cinema ticket so teenagers often choose this instead of going to the cinema. Some teenagers choose to download the films off the internet, but this is not favourable as the films are usually bad quality, have to be watched on a small computer screen and there is a chance that they will be malicious files and insta ll a virus. Devices Mobile Phones 99% of teenagers have a mobile phone and most are quite capable phones. The general view is that Sony Ericsson phones are superior, due to their long list of features, built in walkman capability and value ( £100 will buy a mid-high range model). Teenagers due to the risk of it getting lost do not own mobile phones over the  £200 mark. As a rule, teenagers have phones on pay as you go. This is because they cannot afford the monthly payments, and cannot commit to an 18-month contract. Usually, teenagers only use their phone for texting, calling. Features such as video messaging or video calling are not used -because they are expensive, (you can get four regular texts for the price of one video message). Services such as instant messaging are used, but not by everyone. It usually depends whether the phone is Wi-Fi compatible, because otherwise it is very expensive to get internet off the phone network. As most teenagers phones have Bluetooth support, and Bluetooth is free, they utilise this feature often. It is used to send songs and videos (even though it is illegal) and is another way teenagers gain songs for free. Teenagers never use the ringtone and picture selling services, which gained popularity in the early 00s. This is because of the negative press that these services have attracted (where the charge  £20 a week with no easy way to cancel the service) and the fact that they can get pictures and music on a computer -then transfer it to their phones at no cost. Mobile email is not used as teenagers have no need; they do not need to be connected to their inbox all the time as they dont receive important emails. Teenagers do not use the internet features on their mobiles as it costs too much, and generally, if they waited an hour they could use their home internet and they are willing to wait as they dont usually have anything urgent to do. Teenagers do not upgrade their phone very often, with most upgrading every two years. They usually upgrade on their birthday when their parents will buy them a new phone, as they do not normally have enough money to do it themselves. Televisions: Most teenagers own a TV, with more and more upgrading to HD ready flat screens. However, many are not utilising this HD functionality, as HD channels are expensive extras which many families cannot justify the added expenditure. Many of them dont want to sign up to HD broadcasting services, as adverts are shown on standard definition broadcasts, so they cant see the difference. Most people have Virgin Media as a TV provider. Some have sky and some have Freeview but very few only have the first five channels (BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel Four and Channel Five). Computers: Every teenager has access to a basic computer with internet, but most teenagers computers are systems capable of only everyday tasks. Nearly all teenagers computers have Microsoft office installed, as it allows them to do school work at home. Most (9/10) computers owned by teenagers are PCs, because they are much cheaper than Macs and school computers run Windows, so if a Mac is used at home compatibility issues arise. Games Consoles: Close to 1/3 of teenagers have a new ( What is Hot? Anything with a touch screen is desirable. Mobile phones with large capacities for music. Portable devices that can connect to the internet (iPhones) Really big tellies What Is Not? Anything with wires Phones with black and white screens Clunky brick phones Devices with less than ten-hour battery life Disclosure Section Morgan Stanley Co. International plc, authorized and regulated by Financial Services Authority, disseminates in the UK research that it has prepared, and approves solely for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, research which has been prepared by any of its affiliates. As used in this disclosure section, Morgan Stanley includes RMB Morgan Stanley (Proprietary) Limited, Morgan Stanley Co International plc and its affiliates. 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The stocks total return is expected to exceed the average total return of the analysts industry (or industry teams) coverage universe, on a risk-adjusted basis, over the next 12-18 months. Equal-weight (E). The stocks total return is expected to be in line with the average total return of the analysts industry (or industry teams) coverage universe, on a risk-adjusted basis, over the next 12-18 months. Not-Rated (NR). Currently the analyst does not have adequate conviction about the stocks total return relative to the average total return of the analysts industry (or industry teams) coverage universe, on a risk-adjusted basis, over the next 12-18 months. Underweight (U). The stocks total return is expected to be below the average total return of the analysts industry (or industry teams) coverage universe, on a risk-adjusted basis, over the next 12-18 months. Unless otherwise specified, the time frame for price targets included in Morgan Stanley Research is 12 to 18 mon ths. Analyst Industry Views Attractive (A): The analyst expects the performance of his or her industry coverage universe over the next 12-18 months to be attractive vs. the relevant broad market benchmark, as indicated below. In-Line (I): The analyst expects the performance of his or her industry coverage universe over the next 12-18 months to be in line with the relevant broad market benchmark, as indicated below. Cautious (C): The analyst views the performance of his or her industry coverage universe over the next 12-18 months with caution vs. the relevant broad market benchmark, as indicated below. Benchmarks for each region are as follows: North America SP 500; Latin America relevant MSCI country index or MSCI Latin America Index; Europe MSCI Europe; Japan TOPIX; Asia relevant MSCI country index. 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The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) was developed by and is the exclusive pro