Cost sheet basic

18th Century Swimwear During the 18th century, spas where men and women engaged in public bathing began appearing in France and England. Men and women still bathed infrequently for recreation and it was considered as therapy. Modesty was of prime importance with style not much of a consideration in those days. The first suits were far from practical or comfortable; ladies went as far as to sewing lead weights into the hem of the bathing gown to prevent the dress from floating up and exposing their legs.With the introduction of railroads, ocean-side beaches became popular for sunny ecreations and a need to wear bathing suits was felt to protect the skin from the harsh sun and being modest and strongly against any skin show. This 1797 Gallery of Fashion print shows two ladies protected by face-shading bonnets, shawls and gloves as they 1858 Bathing Suit typically worn by the French and English. Early 19th Century Swimwear Even though the 19th century Swimwear was not very high fashion and stylish for the masses a strong need was felt for a fashionable outfit for swimming or Sea Bathing.This is because Sea Bathing was considered as a recreational activity which was only taken up by the wealthy. The Activity itself was considered fashionable. Along with this new outdoor pastime came the need for a stylish garment for the privileged lady of fashion. Here we will follow the path of the fashionable bathing suit, which began long before the modern day bikini. Bathing Machines In The Early 19th Century Bathing machines were roofed and walled wooden carts rolled into the sea Some had solid wooden walls others had canvas walls over a wooden frame.The Bathing Machine was a popular etiquette followed by women of the 19th century The use of bathing machines indicated swimming still being an activity where a lot of attention as paid to modesty and revealing one's body in public was considered to be Inappropriate. As it was an activity taken up only by the wealthy, That Class was very particular about keeping up appearances and not being inappropriate in public.Mid 19th Century Swimwear In the Mid nineteenth Century Bathing dresses continued to cover most of the female figure However the era of bathing suits was over, and then came the heavy flannel â€Å"Turkish† pants and â€Å"Paletot â€Å"Dresses The Main reason behind the use ot tlannel fabric was its quality of high opacity as compared to other Fabrics even when it was et This is another Indicator that skin show was still looked down upon. Late 19th Century Swimwear The swimsuits consisted of bloomers and black stockings.By 1855, drawers were added to prevent the problem of exposure. Women still refrained from swimming too much; the prevailing attitude of the day was that it was mainly a male prerogative. The â€Å"Princess† cut was introduced, consisting of a blouse and trousers in one piece. The skirts were replaced with cotton-like trousers. There was also a separate skirt that fell below the knee and buttoned at the waist to conceal the fgure. A ruffed cap or a straw hat completed the ensemble.

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 3

After a good night's sleep, I went to work the next morning, feeling a bit more optimistic about life. I decided Tawny had probably already scored last night, and Niphon was on his way to the airport. Plus, I'd get to see Seth soon since he had made my place of employment, Emerald City Books & Caf? ¦, his writing headquarters. Yes, it wouldn't be such a bad day. Due to my ex-manager's complicated pregnancy, I'd recently inherited her position. This had left my old assistant-manager position vacant, and we'd ended up hiring Maddie Sato who just happened to be the sister of Doug Sato – the other assistant manager. It had been a stunning display of favoritism, and Doug had thrown a fit, complaining how we'd just lowered his coolness rating by ten points. As it was, Maddie already lived with him. She'd come to visit after his recent hospitalization and never really left. She had a second job as a freelance writer at a feminist magazine, and working at Emerald City gave her a more stable source of income. I liked Maddie. She was smart and capable and had a twisted sense of humor that spoke to mine. She worked well with customers and was always very polite in a professional capacity. For example, she could get caught up talking with Seth about ‘writerly' topics and function beautifully. But, when it came to friendlier and more interpersonal stuff, her social skills were a bit lacking. After a particularly analytical writing discussion, Seth had once made an off-hand comment about her childhood, and she'd frozen up. Seeing him with someone even more socially awkward than he was had been amusing, but mostly I'd felt disappointed at her relapse. I'd made good progress in getting her to come out of her shell and knew how fun she could be. I wanted everyone else to see it too. Today I found her upstairs in the caf? ¦, sitting at the table Seth had staked out with his laptop. It apparently wasn't a writerly day because Doug sat with them. He and Maddie appeared to be in some sort of heated argument. Seth sat between them, looking like he desperately wanted to be somewhere else. Catching my eye, he gave me a pleading look. I purposely slid a chair up beside him, forcing Doug to scoot his own chair over. No one knew Seth and I were dating, and the Sato siblings were so caught up in the discussion they didn't think anything of the chair placement. â€Å"What's going on?† I asked. â€Å"It had better involve the fate of the store to be detaining the entire management team.† The holidays were nearly upon us, and business was insane lately. Maddie had the grace to look embarrassed, suddenly remembering her duties. She opened her mouth to speak, but Doug interrupted her. â€Å"My illustrious sister's an insensitive bitch.† Maddie rolled her eyes. â€Å"He has some crazy ideas about Beth.† I sighed. â€Å"Look, if this is about the time Beth wore leg warmers here – â€Å" â€Å"Don't remind me of that,† grumbled Doug. â€Å"My illustrious brother has this crazy idea that Beth just broke up with someone,† explained Maddie. Both looked at me as though they expected me to set this matter straight. Puzzled, I glanced back and forth between them. â€Å"Why's that crazy?† â€Å"Because she has a cold,† said Maddie. â€Å"She said she has a cold. That's why she's sniffling.† â€Å"She's pretending to have a cold,† cried Doug. â€Å"What kind of sick and twisted world is this when an asshole like me is the one to notice heartache in the masses? For God's sake, her eyes are all red.† â€Å"Cold,† Maddie repeated firmly. She considered. â€Å"Or maybe allergies.† â€Å"In December?† The two of them bickered on. Beside me, Seth fought – and failed – to keep a straight face. I studied the way his lips curved into a smile, liking their shape and recalling how they felt. I turned my attention back to the siblings, enjoying the show. Finally, after about five more minutes, I remembered I was an authority figure and not a slacker employee. â€Å"Why is this a big deal?† I asked. â€Å"Because she's wrong,† Doug said. â€Å"I'm just trying to prove that.† Maddie sighed. â€Å"You're like a twelve-year-old.† â€Å"Am not.† He jabbed her in the arm. â€Å"Okay, enough.† I pointed to Doug. â€Å"You, register.† I pointed to Maddie. â€Å"You, my office.† â€Å"Ooh†¦you're in trouble,† Doug told her. â€Å"I'm going to show her how to process orders,† I growled. Maddie's eyes gleamed with anticipation, dimples appearing in her round cheeks. She ate up new tasks. â€Å"Female favoritism,† said Doug. â€Å"You like her better than me, don't you? It's okay. You can tell me. I can take it.† â€Å"Go. Both of you. I'll be down in a sec.† I looked at Seth when they were gone. â€Å"This is why I don't have children,† I told him. That wasn't true, of course. Not true at all. Children simply weren't in the cards for succubi. â€Å"Although†¦I think Doug's actually right,† I mused. â€Å"As crazy as that is. I saw Beth on my way in.† Seth smiled. â€Å"Maddie's a good writer and super smart, but she's kind of oblivious to other people.† I gave him a wry look. â€Å"I thought that was true about all writers.† â€Å"Some are worse than others.† â€Å"Shocking. You rode in a car with her for, what, four hours? What'd you guys talk about?† â€Å"Writing.† I sighed. â€Å"I wish she'd relax around people other than Doug and me. She's hilarious. She came up with the idea to Silly String Doug's car after he said Betty Friedan was PMSing when she wrote The Feminine Mystique.† â€Å"I'm not sure I'd describe that as ‘hilarious' so much as ‘scary.' Besides, that was your idea,† he reminded me. â€Å"You two are dangerous. Your whole soul-stealing act seems kind of softcore compared to the stuff you and Maddie concoct.† I grinned. It was true. I hadn't really hung out with a lot of women in the last century or so and was discovering I'd been missing out. â€Å"You have no idea. Social awkwardness or not, she's the best thing that's happened to me in a while.† â€Å"Oh?† â€Å"Well, present company excluded of course.† â€Å"Sure. Whatever you say.† â€Å"Hey.† I almost grabbed his hand, then remembered we were in public. â€Å"There's no competition. You're a better cook. And a better kisser.† â€Å"I didn't realize you'd tried her out.† â€Å"Well, you know how much I like writers.† My smile slipped a little as my mind switched subjects. I'd been thinking about my energy loss all morning, particularly since I'd probably be seeking my hit tonight or tomorrow. Jerome had blown the matter off, but like usual, I couldn't let it go. I decided then that I'd go visit my friend Erik Lancaster, Seattle's local mortal source of occult knowledge. He seemed to know more than my cronies half the time. I extended the invitation to Seth, and he agreed to come with me. I was glad. I had often thought it might do him some good to talk to another human who regularly dealt with the supernatural. This was as good of a time as any. Seth met me at my place after work, and we microwaved a quick dinner before heading out. As we walked down the stairs of my building, he teased me about Maddie again. â€Å"You guys were working in the office a while. Sure you weren't making out?† â€Å"Not too much,† I assured him. He laughed and caught hold of my hand. I jerked him toward me. Our lips met in a kiss, and as the warmth of his body stirred mine, I had no doubts about what the best thing in my life was. After a few sweet moments, we followed the drill and separated, our reluctance making the disentanglement a bit awkward in execution. â€Å"Yeah,† I told him. â€Å"She's definitely not as good a kisser as – â€Å" I cut myself off, grimacing as I felt Niphon coming toward us. His immortal aura felt slimy and musky. I stepped farther away from Seth and glared down the sidewalk at the approaching imp. Seeing me, he waved a hand in greeting. â€Å"Excuse me a moment,† I muttered. I skipped down the steps and blocked Niphon from getting within earshot of Seth. â€Å"What do you want?† â€Å"Attitude, attitude, Letha,† he tsked. â€Å"Succubi should be charming and cordial at all times.† He peered beyond me. â€Å"Is that the human boyfriend? Can I meet him?† â€Å"You can go the fuck away. You're supposed to be keeping an eye on Tawny.† â€Å"I have been,† he said cheerfully. â€Å"That's why I came to see you. I followed her last night. She was quite confident in her abilities but had some difficulty arranging an assignation in the end. Poor thing. It seems she may take longer than suspected in getting established. Fortunately, I'll stay with her until the end.† His mocking concern dug into me, just as he'd intended. â€Å"Is that all you came to tell me? Because I'm leaving now. I've got to be somewhere.† â€Å"Of course, of course,† he simpered. He gestured vaguely in Seth's direction. â€Å"I didn't mean to interrupt your heated moment, even if it looked like it was about to cool down.† A sudden look of realization crossed his face. â€Å"You don't sleep with him, do you? You've got some sort of noble sense of duty about absorbing his life. That poor, poor man.† Niphon laughed. â€Å"Oh, Letha. You are one of the most fascinating creatures I've ever come across.† I turned my back on him and stormed up to Seth. â€Å"Come on, we're leaving.† â€Å"Who was that?† he asked as we walked away. â€Å"He's an imp. And an asshole.† Even almost a block away, I could still just barely catch Niphon's taunting laughter. I tried to ignore it as Seth and I walked to his car. Listening to my friends tease me about Seth was annoying enough. From Niphon, it was unbearable. Fortunately, I calmed down by the time Seth and I got on the road. I instead focused on seeing Erik and hopefully getting my mystery solved. Erik ran a store up in Lake City called Arcana, Ltd. Unfortunately placed in a strip mall, it nonetheless possessed a warm, cozy feel. Dim lighting shed a tranquil air, and the bubbling of small fountains mingled with the soft sounds of a CD player emitting harp music. Books, jewelry, candles, and statuary cluttered up every inch of free space. The sweet scent of nag champa hung in the air. â€Å"Neat,† said Seth, peering around as we entered. Erik glanced up from where he was kneeling behind a stack of books. He'd grown a mustache since last I saw him, and I liked the way the gray hair stood out against his dark brown skin. A gentle smile bloomed on his face. â€Å"Miss Kincaid, what an unexpected pleasure. And you have a friend.† He rose and walked to us, extending his hand toward Seth. â€Å"Erik, this is Seth Mortensen. Seth, Erik.† They shook. â€Å"A pleasure, Mr. Mortensen. You keep good company.† â€Å"Yes,† said Seth, smiling in return. â€Å"I do.† â€Å"If we're lucky,† I said silkily, â€Å"Erik will have time for tea. He only serves decaf, so that should make you happy.† â€Å"Of course I have time,† said Erik. â€Å"I doubt there's any man who doesn't have time for you, Miss Kincaid.† I shot Seth a teasing look when Erik left to put the tea on. â€Å"Ah, now there's someone who appreciates me. You wouldn't see him shirking me for a book.† â€Å"If memory serves, you worship those books. Besides, how else am I supposed to keep you in the lifestyle you're accustomed to?† â€Å"If memory serves, I paid the last time we went out.† â€Å"Well, yeah. I was just letting you play liberated so that you and Maddie wouldn't go vandalize my car.† When our tea party commenced around Erik's small corner table, I was surprised to hear Seth engage Erik in conversation on what it meant to be a mortal among immortals. Seth wasn't usually so forthcoming, and I wondered just how much immortal weirdness troubled him. â€Å"It puts my sense of time awry,† remarked Erik. â€Å"I see people like Miss Kincaid who stay young and beautiful forever. It makes me feel as though no time has passed. Then I look at myself and see the new wrinkles. I feel the aches in my bones. I realize I will be left behind†¦they will go on and continue to shape the world without me.† He sighed, more with bemusement than sadness. â€Å"I wish I could see what will happen next.† â€Å"Yes,† Seth said, surprising me. His eyes looked dark and solemn. â€Å"I know what you mean.† I glanced over at him, seeing something I'd never noticed before. I knew he must think about the future and his own death – all mortals did – but only now did I realize how much he really thought about those things. Looking at both men, I remembered they would eventually die, and it made something in my chest grow cold. For the space of a heartbeat, I could almost see Seth as wrinkled and gray-haired as Erik. â€Å"Morbid much, you guys?† I asked, trying to affect a blas? ¦ air. â€Å"I didn't come here to bring everyone down. I've got to pick Erik's brain.† â€Å"Pick away,† he said. â€Å"Well†¦you know how I need, uh, life and energy to survive, right?† An idiotic statement. Of course he knew. â€Å"Yesterday morning, I woke up, and my entire stash was gone.† Erik considered. â€Å"That's normal, isn't it? It fades over time.† â€Å"Not this quickly. Especially since†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I stopped, suddenly realizing having Seth here might not have been so wise after all. â€Å"I, um, had just gotten a refill the night before.† Both men kept neutral expressions. â€Å"And you did nothing out of the ordinary?† â€Å"No, Jerome thinks it was mental stress.† I shrugged. â€Å"I don't think I was that stressed. I dreamed†¦a weird dream†¦but nothing stressful.† â€Å"Dreams are powerful,† Erik said. â€Å"And sometimes stress can take more out of us than we realize. Unfortunately, I know little about dreams, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He frowned, and his gaze suddenly turned inward. â€Å"But what?† â€Å"I know someone who might be able to help. Someone who specializes in dreams.† â€Å"Who?† This sounded promising. Erik took a long time in answering. When he spoke, he seemed unhappy to give up the words. â€Å"Someone who might as well be signed and sealed to your side. His name's Dante Moriarty.† I snickered. â€Å"That can't be his real name.† â€Å"It's not, though I'm sure some of your imp and demon friends would know him by any name. He's a con artist†¦among other things. Considers himself a magician too.† â€Å"I deal with corrupt people all the time,† I pointed out. â€Å"Doesn't bother me much.† â€Å"True,† agreed Erik. He still looked troubled, which I found puzzling. Although not evil himself, he interacted with me and others of my ilk on a regular basis without blinking. I wondered what it was about one human that would bother him so much. â€Å"I'll get you his contact information.† He sought out Dante's card, and I browsed around the store while Seth used the bathroom in the back. The old storekeeper handed me the card when he found it. â€Å"I like Mr. Mortensen a great deal.† â€Å"Yeah. So do I.† â€Å"I know. I can tell.† I looked up from a display of bracelets, waiting for more. â€Å"You talk and move around each other in a way you're probably not even aware of. It's like how lovers usually interact†¦but it's something more too. You have a continual sense of each other, I think, even when not together. There's a burning in the air between you.† I didn't know what to say to that. It sounded nice – but a little intimidating too. â€Å"I've never met another of your kind who's exactly like you, Miss Kincaid.† He hesitated, his normally wise-and-competent expression flickering into uncertainty. It was a rare look for him. â€Å"I don't know how this will turn out.† Seth emerged then, picking up that he'd interrupted something. He glanced between the two of us, and I rested a reassuring hand on his arm. â€Å"You about ready to go?† â€Å"Sure.† I scanned the rest of the jewelry counter, only half-noticing the contents. Suddenly, I did a double-take and leaned over one of the cases. â€Å"Erik, where do you find this stuff?† He and Seth looked over my shoulder. â€Å"Ah, yes,† said Erik. â€Å"The Byzantine rings. By the same artist who made your ankh necklace.† â€Å"Your artist has a real knack for historical detail. They look just like the originals.† He walked around the counter and lifted out the tray with the rings. I picked one up. It was an ordinary gold band. Rather than any sort of mounted gem on top, it bore a smooth and flat disc, almost the size of a dime. Greek letters were engraved into the metal. â€Å"What do they mean?† asked Seth. I tried to explain the long-lost custom. â€Å"It's a benediction. Like a prayer for the couple. This would have been a wedding ring.† I examined another depicting Christ and the Virgin; still another showed a tiny man and woman facing each other. â€Å"I used to have a ring almost like this,† I said softly, turning it over in my hands. Neither man said anything, and I finally returned it to its tray. On the way home, Seth gently asked, â€Å"What happened to your ring?† I stared out the window. â€Å"It's not important.† â€Å"Tell me.† I didn't respond, and he didn't ask me again. When we got back to my place, I saw no sign of Vincent and figured he was out investigating with Charlie's Angels. Newspapers were scattered across my kitchen table; he apparently liked to keep up on current events. Morbid events, at that. One of the headlines was a story I'd heard the other day about a crazy man who'd killed his wife after having a vision of seeing her with another man. Mortals did creepy things sometimes. Okay, a lot of the time. Seth sat on my couch and leaned forward, hands clasped together. I'd sensed his mood shift when I wouldn't answer in the car. â€Å"Thetis†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You want to know about the ring.† â€Å"The ring doesn't matter so much. It's just†¦well, I've seen you get like this. Something bugs you, something you remember. But you won't talk to me about it. There are days I feel like you don't tell me anything.† I sat down next to him, avoiding eye contact in a way he often did. â€Å"I tell you plenty.† â€Å"Not about your past.† â€Å"I have a lot of past, and I talk about it all the time.† â€Å"Yeah†¦I guess.† He absentmindedly stroked my arm. â€Å"But you don't talk about your mortal past. Before you were a succubus.† â€Å"So? Does it make a difference? You're with me now. You know the kind of person I am now.† â€Å"I do. And I love that person. And I want to know what's important to you. What made you who you are. I want to know what hurts you so that I can help.† â€Å"You don't need to know that to know who I am. My human past doesn't enter in to anything,† I said stiffly. â€Å"I can't believe that.† Again, I didn't answer. â€Å"I don't know anything about that part of your life,† he continued. â€Å"I don't know your real name. What you really look like. Where you grew up. I don't even know how old you are.† â€Å"Hey, it's not just me. You have plenty of things you don't talk about,† I pointed out, trying to deflect the attention. â€Å"What do you want to know?† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I groped for something I didn't know much about. â€Å"You never talk about your dad. How he died.† Seth answered immediately, without hesitation. â€Å"Not much to tell. Cancer. I was thirteen. According to a therapist Mom made us see, I withdrew into a world of fantasy to cope.† I leaned my head against his shoulder, knowing he'd expound on anything I wanted to know – in a subdued, Seth sort of way. It was ironic considering his normal conversational reticence, but that was how he operated. He believed relationships had to have an open exchange of honesty and baring of souls. I supposed he was right, but there were too many dark parts of my soul I didn't want to share. Parts I was afraid would scare him off. I knew Seth well enough to realize he wouldn't push this issue anymore tonight, but I could also sense his hurt and disappointment. He didn't ask me these questions to upset me; he did it out of sincere affection. That didn't make it easier, unfortunately, and I fought my anxiety and long-buried pain to try to offer him something. Anything. Anything to show I was making an effort in this relationship. My original face and name were dead to me, obsolete reminders of the woman I'd left behind, never mind Niphon's insistence on calling me Letha. Seth would never know those things. We sat together for a long time while I decided what I could give up. Finally, with the words sticking in my mouth, I said, â€Å"I grew up in Cyprus.† The air grew tense as we both waited for more. â€Å"In the early fifth century. I don't know exactly what year I was born. We didn't really keep track of those things.† He exhaled. I hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath. Slowly, carefully, he put an arm around me and pressed his lips against my hair. â€Å"Thank you.† I buried my face against his shoulder, not knowing what I hid from. I'd barely given him anything – just a couple of pieces of trivia. Nonetheless, yielding that tiny bit from a place in me I wanted to hide from was powerful. I felt exposed and vulnerable without fully understanding why. Seth gently stroked my hair. â€Å"Is the ring from around that time?† he asked. I nodded against him. â€Å"It'd be worth a lot then, I suppose.† â€Å"I lost it,† I whispered. He must have picked up on the anguish in my voice. He held me tighter. â€Å"I'm sorry.† We stayed together a while longer that night, but I knew he wanted to go home and work at his own place. Unable to deny him, I shooed him away, though I had a feeling that he would have stayed if I'd asked it. Once he was gone, I went into my bedroom and closed the door. Kneeling in front of my open closet, I pulled out box after box, setting them haphazardly around the room. My organization lacked something – like, say, organization – and it took me a while to sift through the clutter of junk. Finally, I produced a shoebox covered in dust. Lifting the lid, I felt my breath catch. Old, brown letters lay stacked with a few photographs. A heavy gold cross on a fraying string lay among the papers, along with other small treasures. I carefully hunted around until I found what I wanted: a bronze ring, green with age. I held it in my hands, still able to discern the engraved couple atop the mounted disc. It was a cruder job but still very similar to Erik's modern renditions. I ran my fingertips along the ring's edges without knowing what I did. I even tried it on, but it didn't fit. It had been made for larger fingers than I had now. I refused to shape-shift to the right size. I kept the ring out for a few more minutes, thinking of Seth and Cyprus and all sorts of things. Finally, unable to stand the ache within me, I put the ring back into its box and buried it once more in the closet.

American dream in The Great Gatsby Essay

In todayÊ ¼s society, it seems that everyone strives to be at the top, and for many people, the top means the most success, and success means money. The American dream- to go from nothing to the pinnacle of success- is apparent both in the novel The Great Gatsby and in the modern world. Another apparent aspect of the American Dream is second chances, Gatsby, along with many other Americans today strives for second chances, Jay Gatsby seems to be the epitome of a man trying to find the American dream. Gatsby was not always the rich extravagant man who throws luxurious parties that we meet in the beginning of the novel. His motives for rising to the top of the social ladder and acquiring wealth may be different than most peoples motives for achieving the American dream. GatsbyÊ ¼s lust for the American dream came out of his quest to one day finally be with the love of his life, Daisy. This bring up another aspect of the American dream: second chances. More than anything, Jay wants a second chance with Daisy. He â€Å"had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again† and that he could get Daisy back. He does everything in his power to try to achieve this. ! Much of the American dream seems to be materialistic, and Gatsby definitely represents these materialistic parts of the American dream. He has the big house, the nice car, and throws his money around on his extravagant parties. Ultimately though, Gatsby does not achieve the second part of the American dream; second chances. Gatsby is murdered and never gets to spend his life with Daisy which is all he ever really wanted after he got out of the war. GatsbyÊ ¼s â€Å"dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him.† Katerina Bessey Monday, December 10, 2012 12:23:31 PM ET Material wealth definitely still exists in todays society. Many peopleÊ ¼s motives for achieving this material wealth is to be accepted by society. This relates to the way that Gatsby wants to achieve material wealth so that Daisy will fall back in love with him. Daisy encompassed everything about wealth even â€Å"Her voice is full of money,† which is why Gatsby thought wealth was the only way to her heart. People often think that material wealth means success which is why it is  associated with the American dream. I do not necessarily agree with this, but it is definitely how society perceives it. I think this is especially the way todayÊ ¼s youth perceives success they think the material things like nice clothes, cars and houses show how successful a person is. In the setting of The Great Gatsby, the people who have the nice cars and homes are the ones who are perceived as successful. These people may not be the happiest, or have the most morals, but in terms of materialistic things, they are the most successful. ! Second chances always have been, and I believe always will be associated with the American dream. Gatsby and many of the other characters in the book and looking for second chances in life. People have always associated America with opportunity and second chances at things. Everybody wants to be able to have a second chance at something they fail, or something that doesnÊ ¼t go quite as planned. Today, people almost expect to get second chances at things. This seems to be largely due the precedent that was set by the American dream. American itself has been seen as the land of second chances since colonial times. People came here for new opportunities and a second chance at life. People still come to America today for that very same reason. Christianity today is another example of second chances. It allows people to Katerina Bessey Monday, December 10, 2012 12:23:31 PM ET  repent and be fully redeemed and â€Å"reborn† allowing people to achieve a new start, or a second chance.  Though the American dream has changed slightly since the 1920Ê ¼s, Jay Gatsby portrays many of the aspects of it that are still present today. Mr. GatsbyÊ ¼s lust for material wealth to gain a second chance with the love of his life and journey from â€Å"rags to riches† are still part of the American dream for many people in our modern world.

Connectivism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Connectivism - Essay Example It is not with the human beings by birth or we cannot call knowledge as an innate part of human beings. The learning theories of behaviourism, constructivism and cognitivism regard knowledge as acquirable and identify various ways with the help of which, a person is able to learn in this world. According to the learning theory of behaviourism, the knowledge that a person keeps or attains by means of experience or rationality can be assessed by means of change of behaviour (Gredler, 2005). When a person attains knowledge, his/her behaviour changes with the acquisition of knowledge. The behaviourism philosophy can be defined as a philosophy that deals with the transformation of behaviour as an indication of learning (Vaill, 1996). Therefore, in behaviourism learning theory deals with the transformation of behaviour of an individual as a sign of his/her learning. Learning theory of behaviourism regards learning as wholly external. Constructivism is also based on the philosophy of constructivism. According to the learning theory of constructivism, knowledge comes to a person with the help of his/her past experience (Gredler, 2005). A person is able to learn on the basis of his/her past experiences in terms of knowledge acquisition. Knowledge is acquired by means of comprehension of experiences that a person goes through in his/her life time. According to the constructivism theory of learning, learning is something based on internal input of a human being (Gredler, 2005). As far as congnitivism is concerned, according to the learning theory of cognitivism, a person is able to get knowledge similarly as the computer does. An input is required, there is some memory where the knowledge is stored on temporary bases and then this knowledge is coded for future employment. Cognitivism also categorizes knowledge as an external element (Vaill, 1996). These theories

Analysis of the Business Environment - Oil Prices Coursework

Analysis of the Business Environment - Oil Prices - Coursework Example There are a number of intrinsic features of oil supply and demand that are significant to any study of crude oil price instability. Important features encompass competing price and income elasticity, a bifurcated and complex supply response, variable data quality, single currency prizing and the interaction of multiple refined oil product market with discrete elasticity of supply and demand. Consequently they do have a shock on elasticity of supply and demand and can have an impact on the wide-ranging elasticity of the crude oil market (Williams 1996). It is generally understood that OPEC (organization of petroleum exporting counties), has the biggest oil reserves in the world, and is accountable for most of the supply and pricing of petroleum products. OPEC is a permanent intergovernmental organization which at present consists of 12 oil producing and exporting countries, as members spread across three continents of America, Asia and Africa (Taylor 2006). The 12 member’s stat es of OPEC are: Algeria, UAE, Angola, Qatar, Ecuador, Kuwait, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Causes of Short Run Price Movement of Oil Global oil prices have more than tripled since the year 2003, and volatility has become the rule rather than the expectation. The market price of oil is volatile in the short run. This is because of the following causes: 1. The price elasticity of supply The price elasticity of supply is a measure used to measure the connection between the change in quantity supplied and change in price (Kellick 1995). If supply is elastic, producers can raise output without rise in cost or time delay. If supply is inelastic, firms find it hard to alter production in a given period of time. The price elasticity of supply is equated to the Percentage change in quantity supplied divided by the percentage change in price When the result of this is: More than one, then supply is elastic, Less than one then supply is price inelastic, Zero, then supply is preferably inelastic and When the result is infinity supply is perfectible elastic following a change in demand. Factors That Affect Price Elasticity of Supply of Oil Several factors affect the price elasticity of supply of oil, these are: a) The spare production capacity- the spare production capacity of oil have reduced over the years, this has been one of the major reason for the rapid increase in the prices of crude oil. When there is spare capacity, businesses can expand output easily to meet rising demand pressure on cost (Wakeford, 2010). However, when this spare capacity lacks then the business cannot be able to increase production and would mean that the high prices will persist due to the scarceness of the commodity (Clo, 2000). b) The period involved in the production process – when supply is more price elastic the longer the time period that a firm is permissible to adjust its production levels. In some markets for example in agricultural mark ets, the quick supply is fixed and is determined generally by planting decision made mouths before, and also the climatic condition, which have an effect on the overall production (Gibbs 2010). c) Factors substitution possibility-when factors substitution is achievable at low cost, then supply will be elastic. When factors are highly specialized as in our case here then

Global business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global business - Essay Example The learnt from the report will help a reader to analyze the internal and external aspects of business of the newspaper industry in details. It has been analyzed in this report that the newspaper industry has grown more competitive and digital in nature down the years. Table of Contents Introduction 4 Findings 4 PEST Analysis and its Business Benefit 4 PEST Analysis of the Newspaper Industry in the Developed Economies 4 SWOT Analysis of ‘The Guardian’ 6 Lewin’s Field Force Analysis 8 Field Force Analysis of the Newspaper Industry in the Developed Economies 8 Conclusion 10 Introduction Over the time mankind has combated several wars to develop and enhance their personal skills. Literacy is considered as one of the key indicators for economic development in a nation. It has been proved infinite number of times that the contribution of education in the field of growth of welfare and well being is perilous. In the contemporary world, it can be stated that those nation s that possesses high literacy level are able to perform better in the global market places. The worlds of economic, social, cultural and political life of human beings have series of unremitting incidences. The improvement of literacy and growing awareness of the individuals about the current situations in the world around them have augmented the austerity of popularity of newspapers. Even today, despite the different types of media like television, internet etc., the use of newspapers positions itself at the zenith in the global media industry. However, it would be interesting to note that the nature of the print media industry in the developed and developing economies is substantially different. This report will throw a light on the newspaper industry in details for especially the developed economies and would also compare the same for the developing countries in the globe (Westwood, 2005). Findings PEST Analysis and its Business Benefit PEST is actually an acronym for the four w ords political, economical, social and technological. It has been analyzed by the scholars that this technique of analysis helps to implicitly analyze the business environment of any industry. This helps the analysts in the industries to formulate efficient business strategies for their respective business segments. The future impending business difficulties and the risks can also be minimized with the help of a good PEST analysis for a company. It is also true that the opportunities in a business and resources can also be used in the most cost effective manner with the help of PEST analysis of a business firm. PEST Analysis of the Newspaper Industry in the Developed Economies Political In the developed economies, the impact of political changes on the newspaper industry is massive. A new legislative act or the occurrence of an election or the emergence of a new political turmoil brings about large changes in the nature of interests of the reporters in the newspaper industry. The po litical parties in the developed economies like U.S. influence the newspaper companies to create readership interests according to the requirements. Though the newspaper industry does not desire much of political regulations over its operations, political intervention does matter to its operations.

Managing and Motivating Employees in their Twenties Essay

Managing and Motivating Employees in their Twenties - Essay Example In this case, education involves introducing new ideas to them, particularly ideas involving technology. To manage young people effectively, mangers will also need to devolve their decision-making process. Young people will work better if they are consulted during the decision-making. An autocratic management system is likely to attract rebellion and uncooperativeness from young employees. Organizations that have young people in their twenties as the main employees are likely to succeed if they increase employee’s authority in making decision. Unlike past generations, current generation of employees in their twenties prefer short-term goals and objectives (Fertik, 2011). Managers are therefore, encouraged to set projects that can be completed within a short period. This is because the generation is always after instant results due to their short concentration span. Although managers of young people need to do all they can to motivate employee, it is important to maintain standard and orders. This will involves incorporating appropriate and professional disciplinary measure for employee who compromises the organization’s rule. Firing non-performing employees will promote order and discipline among young

Personal Identity Theft Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Personal Identity Theft - Dissertation Example In defining this terminology, Blair (2011) identifies three steps undertaken by such criminals: trying to obtain another person’s information, trying to misuse the obtained information and finally, executing the crime with the intention of victimising the target. Recovery from this crime could be frustrating, expensive and time consuming for the victim. The objective of paper is to come up with a sensitization framework of educating the public on identity theft and to establish ways of preventing the crime. To achieve this, this paper will give a background of the crime, articulating the forms in which it could be executed. Determining the prevalence of the crime would be important in forming the basis of discussion on prevention measures and the public awareness. Guided by the findings from the secondary sources, the review will finally recommend effective public education strategies. The paper is divided into two sections. The first section focuses on the previously publishe d papers that have discussed the identity theft background and history. Various forms of identity theft including physical forms and technology-based forms will be discussed in this section. In the second section, the paper seeks to develop a sensitization program that would appropriate in enabling the society to deal with the cyber crimes in the most effective way. PART 1: LITERATURE REVIEW Early approaches to identity theft Despite the newness of the name identity theft, the phenomenon is old with the early forms adopting the simple forms of impersonation. Impersonation refers to the imitation of another person so as to defraud others, usually for personal gains (Hoffman & McGinley 2010). The early imposters imitated... Despite the newness of the name identity theft, the phenomenon is old with the early forms adopting the simple forms of impersonation. Impersonation refers to the imitation of another person so as to defraud others, usually for personal gains (Hoffman & McGinley 2010). The early imposters imitated the talking, dressing and behaviour of others, which with time became ineffective as other more effective personal identification theft forms emerged. Stolen, fictitious and forged identification documents together with financial account information catalysed identity theft. Today, technology has transformed the usage, collection and storage of personal information making identity theft a more complex crime. Hoffman and McGinley (2010) cite the Biblical story of Jacob who masqueraded as Esau so as to receive his father’s blessings as among the early forms of identity theft. This was propagated by Rebecca, the mother, who was determined to ensure that her son Jacob and not Esau receiv es her husband’s blessings. With the father’s poor visibility due to old age, Esau’s dressing was used to disguise his smell and application of goatskin to fool the touch of the hairy Esau. In the Middle Ages, the 1450 Cade’s rebellion gives a story of John Aylmer who changed his name several times, organised a rebel army, all in an attempt to overthrow the England King Henry VI (Hoffman & McGinley 2010). Despite his failure, John has been widely considered as an opportunist motivated by the desire for personal glorification.

Progressive Era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Progressive Era - Essay Example According to Campell1, progressives were mainly comprised of middle class citizens who desired things to change. They believed that education and information were the key towards a better and fair society. Simon argues that, historically, there have there have been two primary chains of progressive thought concerning the proper relationship between politics and faith: secular and one emerging from religious social beliefs2. Secular progressive thought was associated with enlightened linearism. It is sceptical about particular religious beliefs, and exigent about keeping religion out of politics and politics out of religion. Thomas Jefferson and James Maddison advocated for religious conscience, freedom of conscience and separation of church and state. Liberalism caused a premium on rationality, self-determination, and personal morality above faith, public morality and church authority. Liberalism looked to establish a constitutional order in America that would stop the merging of government and religion that was prevalent in Europe3. During the progressive era, many religious leaders viewed liberalism as a taboo and worked hard to stop its spread. The Catholic Church was the dominant church at the time. They discorded with the liberal conception of faith and politics until the reconciling of Catholic teaching with liberal democracy. Eventually, these progressive beliefs triumphed in the country since many Americans accepted that one can practise their faith while keeping some religious beliefs from taking over the government and jeopardising the religious freedom of others. Another powerful chain of progressive thought came directly from religious beliefs during the social gospel movement. The preachers argued that they should apply everyone their teachings to solving public problems. Several protestant ministers and theologians in the 19th century such as Jennings Bryan and settlement founders such as Jane Addams espoused this belief4. Later,

The Traditional CD Marketing Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Traditional CD Marketing Company - Essay Example There has been a lot of change in the retailing environment in association with the issue of downloading digital resource. At the same time, many modern players in the retail CD market have cut out on the branch style of the organization and have streamlined so that they have fewer corporate offices and zones, and more time and attention to pay to its stars and customers. In terms of price, the competition is that of a rivalry between the traditional CD of music, bought at a retailer in a brick-and-mortar form, versus a song or album that is downloaded over the internet. â€Å"Nearly all of the leading OMPs provide the same standard set of features and pricing: $0.99 singles, a dedicated software client, and an extensive catalog of music from the five major labels plus many independents† (Lin, 2009). The current research must also look at the vital issue of how many people are downloading music for free over peer to peer (p2p) networks, or paying minimal amounts through servic es like iTunes, therefore seriously threatening the recording industry’s and the traditional CD retailing industry’s profits. From a modern perspective, one can also take a traditional view of the overall industry, in terms of development, production, distribution and retail, talking more about making CDs than about making mp3 files, and focusing on cost requirements for making a hit in music, developing this as a sort of artist investment process. On the other hand, in considering marketing and promoting costs, it is important to register the popularity of free internet downloading and how much of a threat this represents. The current research examines economic concepts before putting them in the context of CD vs. digital song retailing.

Mass Media and Its Influence in Shaping Ideas Essay Example for Free

Mass Media and Its Influence in Shaping Ideas Essay Dramatic advances in mass communication and transportation during the past 50 years have truly created a global village; a mass society. Things occurring anywhere are now quickly known everywhere. Mass media both overwhelm us with information and help us to sort it out. The development of mass media has had a great influence on our lives. We have come to depend on it for information and so forth. In doing so, we allowed it to affect important aspects of our lives. Media, why is it has been a hot topic of discussion in our nowadays society? We find that in our country, Malaysia, the mass media plays a very crucial role in influencing and changing the thinking of our current society. Taking this one issue as an example; the issue that has been a viral recently, which is Public Resurrection Rally or also known as Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat. Apart of being famously spread through media in internet such as online news and videos, surely the main mass media including television, radio and newspaper also made a wide coverage on this issue no matter they are supporting it or not. However, for sure when they differ in their goals and interests, hence the way they report about the issues also differ. This different ways of reporting thus causes varying acceptance in society. Quoting one finding by Shanto Iyengar in his book entitle ‘Is Anyone Responsible? ’ while he was doing an evaluation on the effects brought by news on television concerning political issues, he found that the carriage of the issue through the news on the TV has developed an understanding of the general public towards the political problems occurred. Meaning to say here, it could be the media who the one creating the issue permitted, or it could be media too who provides the solution for it. We cannot deny the enormity of the power and influence of the media in shaping the flow of thinking of our society. When there is only one issue raised by the media, then the issue will also be followed by the society either through their leisure or through serious discussion, through their words, as well as through their status shared on Facebook or Twitter. And that’s why, Iyenger again mentioned together with his friend; Donald Kinder in News That Matters, â€Å"when television news focuses on a problem, the publics priorities are altered, and altered again as television news moves on to something new. Sometimes, the issue raised is only one. However, different ways of putting up the stories may cause different way of viewpoint. It may be that with dealing on an issue will make people have a good look toward one party or side. Meanwhile, it can also be that with another way of handling an issue may causes people to have bad sentiment at one side. Mass media, if they are honest, thus the true way of thinking can be mould among the society. Conversely, if they deviate and go off from the principle they should be, then so goes the pattern of thinking that will exist in the community. Thinking of how great is the influence of media in determining the current mindset of society; media thus should be honest and trustworthy in carrying any issue or theme into the community. Seeing the reality of nowadays media, it is not easy for them to stand as a natural institution or unequivocal to any party. When the media were in favour of any party, then the way they play with an issue or problem will always favour to the side they support. Sometimes, mistakes and glares made by the side supported no matter how big would it be are usually hidden or removed by creating offense related to the other side which have different ideology or schools of thought. Any media if it is used for the benefit of one party, surely it will be a mouthpiece of the party. Hence, all reports, news, issues taken will surely favour them. Media should act as a tool to educate the community. Media plays an important role in developing the mindset of society, whether to form a good and clean mindset or the other way around. Media should not be exploited to manipulate people to have the wrong way of thinking. The effect will lead to duping of the society itself.

Some of the Technological Advancements that Shaped Modern Theater Essay Example for Free

Some of the Technological Advancements that Shaped Modern Theater Essay In 1998 the movie Shakespeare in Love took the Oscar’s award for best picture. It was a movie with a title that seems not to promise much but what it lacks in hype it made up in substance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The most endearing aspect of the movie was the realistic depiction of what theater was in the Renaissance period and most importantly what theater was before the modern age. The movie will help explain why theater was such a powerful communication device when radio, television and the Internet was yet a thing of the distant future. The movie was able to show its effect on the audience and the community at large. The acclaimed movie was also able to explain the influence and the spellbinding effect it has on the artists involved in the production, from the playwright down to the stage hands.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is one last thing that needs to be realized when watching Shakespeare in Love and it is something that serious students of the craft was able to identify easily but perhaps other less discerning failed to do. And this is the depiction of how a play was staged before the advent of the technological advancements that defined the modern age. This means there was no electricity at the time when Shakespeare started out as a weaver of stories and plays. There was nothing that can be seen in terms of technological breakthroughs in sound, lighting and stage design. All of these components found in the modern theater can be taken for granted by modern theater enthusiasts but it is better if one reminds himself or herself what it was like before all these inventions came to be.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This study aims to contribute in the appreciation of the evolution of theater through the centuries. But most importantly this is done to help chart the future of the staging of plays, drama, comedy, opera, etc. By doing so, the people who love theater and all it represents can become some sort of watchmen safeguarding the essence of theater from the possible distortion. The possible distortion of its beauty can easily come from the source of its current status – technology. This study aims to look at some of the technological advancements and inventions that created the modern theater. It also briefly touches on the need to preserve what is intrinsically â€Å"theater† so to speak. Illusions and Engineering   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Imagine staging a play at the time when power tools and forms of heavy equipment is still in the drawing boards of some artists and not even scientists. After that thought begins to sink in then imagine the implications in terms of trying to properly interpret fiction, a work of imagination. Simply put how can one show the audience a disappearing act or the appearing of a spirit from the abyss? There is no way to do that unless actors learned how to become â€Å"The Flash†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   So, when stage designers came up with their first attempt in realism the audience were thrilled and how plays get to be interpreted was never the same again. Like the movies, theater seeks to reach a level of realism to satisfy the audience, the critics and the producers of the play themselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the first technological developments documented was described by Hopkins in his book, illusions and magic on stage. It was the invention of the â€Å"Trap†. The author described it this way: The trap is one of the oldest and most primitive means of producing stage illusions, and it is in use to day in most theaters and opera houses. The principle is very simple [] The actor,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   singer, or devil who is to make his sudden appearance upon the stage stands on a platform which is hoisted to the stage level by means of winches turned by the stage hands. (1990)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As seen in the above mentioned inventions most of the earlier technological advancements rely on muscle power. There were very little improvements with regards to the age old use of pulleys and levers etc. But in the advent of the Industrial Age and the perfection of electric power; technological developments in all aspects of living in general and theater in particular suddenly improved to breakneck speed. Electricity brings with it many wonders, gadgets and equipment. The first major change is the ability of the director to manipulate light and sound. Lighting and Sound became part of the science of staging plays and operas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When electricity was tamed and transformed into something less dangerous, the number of applications for this invention went to the roof. The theater benefited much, especially at the advent of the Digital Age. The Computer   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Computer came from humble beginnings until it dominated modern life. There is no industry or profession that was not transformed by this technological development of the 20th century. To be more accurate there is no profession or industries that do not stand to benefit from this technological marvel. And of course theater is no exception. In the later half of the 1900s computers and software contributed to the dizzying rate of evolution in theater production. What will be discussed next are examples of what are the current trends in staging plays and operas. Computer Aided Lighting   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the â€Å"Stage Lighting Handbook†, Francis Reid discussed some of the features of modern methods of managing stage lighting that is aided by a computer and software and he wrote: Several software programmes have been written to aid management of the lighting process particularly organizing paperwork, keeping it up to date and printing it out [] Software is also available to track the progress of each light in each cue, with instant information   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   displayed on screen or in print [] Most of these lighting management techniques use information technology to speed up processes which have hitherto been done manually. (2002) Technology in Sound   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   John Leonard made an interesting study of primitive technology in the production of sound effects in theaters more than two hundred years ago. In his book he described how men in that era tried to mimic rain. It is by the use of a device that allows peas to drop on panel and the desired effect is rain pelting on rooftops. Leonard also described a contraption that allows cannon balls to roll down a trough; this action produces the sound of thunder. The gadget was aptly named â€Å"Thunder Run† (Leonard, 2001).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the same book, Leonard made the transition of describing modern gadgets and this time computers, microchips, and complex electronics make up modern instruments for creating more realistic sounds. Still Leonard made this remark: It is tempting to believe that because we are so advanced technically [] we should ignore the past and how our predecessors managed things [†¦] we have a bewildering range of play-back options, CDs, synthesizers, digital signal processing, smart loudspeakers and the smallest of microphones that can be hidden in an actors hair. (2001)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This same sentiment was echoed by Patrice Pavis who was alarmed at the speed of development of theater which for her defeats the purpose of theater and she said, â€Å"Theater tends towards simplification, minimalization, fundamental reduction to a direct exchange between actor and spectator† (1992). Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The world of theater is indebted to technological marvels that made the staging of plays less difficult. Technology also allows producers and directors of plays/operas to have that satisfaction of achieving realism as much as possible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   But purist and other serious students of theater warn against over complication that may rob theater of its true power. As seen on the movie Shakespeare in Love, a play can easily move the audience sans electricity, complicated stage design, expensive lighting equipment and sophisticated sound amplification and effects. If no one believes this, then just think of how Greek tragedies and Shakespearean plays survived through the ages if theater was not successful in its primitive form. References Hopkins, A. (1990). Magic: Stage Illusions, Special Effects and Trick Photography. Courier Dover Publications Reid, F. (2002). The Stage Lighting Handbook. UK: Routledge. Leonard, J. (2001). Theater Sound.  New York: Routledge. Hiram, M. (1972). The Theater of Today.  Manchester, NH: Ayer Publishing. Pavice, P. (1992). Theatre at the Crossroads of Culture. New York: Routledge.

Economic Model Of Price Determination In A Market Economics Essay

Economic Model Of Price Determination In A Market Economics Essay As an economic model of price determination in a market, the relationship between supply and demand is a topic being discussed for a long time. We may think of demand as a force which tends to increase the price of a good, and also that supply as a force which tends to reduce the price. According to the microeconomics theory, the price P of a product is determined by a balance between production at each price (supply S) and the desires of those with purchasing power at each price (demand D).It concludes that in a competitive market, the unit price for a particular good will vary until it settles at a point where the quantity demanded by consumers (at current price) will equal the quantity supplied by producers (at current price), resulting in an economic equilibrium of price and quantity. When the two forces balance one another, the result will be that the price neither rise nor fall, but stay stable. This is the analogy that leads us to think of the stable or natural price in a particular market. It is called the equilibrium price. As we know, iPhone now has attracted great attention and become a heated topic. Here, we take it for example: if every consumer wants and can afford an iPhone, and APPLE Company is willing to provide each of them one iPhone, the demand and supply is in equilibrium status. In addition to the theory above, is there any relation among supply demand and the market? How to measure the relation? Is there anything else to measure the functions of supply and demand in market? Or they have some links when influencing the market? There are three theses concerning this topic for further discussion. The first thesis I have chosen is written by David Huffman. The author insists that supply and demand is measurable. (Another thesis I introduce below is the opposite: ) He tries to resort to retail Market Place to addresses these questions because he thinks the database of Retail Market Place can provide a direct comparison between retail sales and consumer spending by industry and it can therefore measures the gap between supply and demand. In his thesis, he holds the view that there are two ways by supply or demand to measure activity in a retail market. The article is mainly divided into three parts to probe into this topic: Market Supply (Retail Sales); Market Demand (Retail Potential); The Leakage/Surplus Factor (Supply and Demand). One point must be emphasized is that Leakage in an area represents a condition where a markets supply is less than the demand. For such factors, it seems that to measure the market by using supply and demand as a tool is doable and useful. There is another thesis by an anonymous author also discusses the relation of supply, demand and market. Ordinarily, there always exist different price levels where individual buyers and sellers are satisfied so that the sum total will create a market or equilibrium price. But in reality, there will be some exceptions, because a market price is not a fair price to all participants in the marketplace. Not only when there is no increase in the quantity of product demanded, but also when there is a shift in demand due to changing consumer preferences will influence the market price and reach a new equilibrium. So does the reaction to the short run or long run changes. The charts below are separately describing change in equilibrium price and shift in demand. In most regions, iPhone is not only a cell phone but more than an apparatus of making telephone calls and writing text messages. iPhone has been a symbol of some players, and people distinguish their identity from using iPhone: They have a keen sense of popularity; They enjoy being a member of their circle and they like communicating with real friends or net friends; They eagerly break the tradition and desire something newà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Though the price of iPhone is high enough to restrain most consumers, many people choose iPhone for proving themselves different. Such relation of supply and demand decides that iPhone occupies in the High End of the market. If the price of iPhone decreases, on one hand, it will surely attract more consumers, but on the other hand, many previous buyers will quit because iPhone is no longer unique and rare. But in the article written by JUSTIN WOLFERS in 2009, the author argues that supply and demand are difficult to measure. At the very beginning of the article, the author raises the question of Catherine Rampell, Does lowering the price of broadband increase its use, which brings a research and a series of data and diagram trying to figure out the demand curve. However, the reality is always beyond the theory only in the textbook. Sometimes to our surprise, the result is different though the source of data is the same. The author gives an example to illustrate it: a supply-obsessed economist were interested in asking Does increasing use of broadband raise its price? so that he might examine data on broadband prices and adoption rates. He expects to see more broadband correlated with higher prices because the supply curve is upward sloping but undoubtedly the result will be opposite for a demand-obsessed economist. As we know, there are many types of factors taking effect. On one hand, the determinants of supply include production costs, the technology of production, the price of related goods, firms expectations about future prices, number of suppliers, etc. On the other hand, the determinants of demand comprise income, tastes and preferences, prices of related goods and services, expectations and number of Buyers. Whats more, it is believed that factoring in of Marketing also has something to do with the curves because marketing drives demand in some way. In a wide variety of historic and current examples, we find more and more evidence that with shifts in demand or in supply causing changes in price and quantity, we can explain changes in quantities as well as prices as the equilibrium of supply and demand. The changes in price and quantity are coordinated in many ways that can be not only understood but also predicted, at the premise that we understand the theory of supply and demand. As the topic of the article, the author thinks that the factors influencing the equilibrium are far more complicated so Supply and Demand Are Hard to Measure. To some extent, that is because prices and quantities are determined by both supply and demand. The author has a new idea that nationality has influence and it indeed makes a difference. It is pointed out that prices and quantities differ across countries, which breaks the traditional theory of If both curves were the same in every country, broadband prices and use would be the same in every country. Some people may even argue that income skews the opportunity cost of broadband ownership. It seems strange that iPhone sells extraordinarily well Mainland China. Maybe you will surprise that in such a developing Asian country, though a small portion of people can lead a tremendous change. Its true, and its certain that China has been the greatest purchasing power only after the USA on luxury goods, let along iPhone. Consequently, what makes supply and demand hard to measure is the reality: the world is indeed a mixture of both cases. The author owes this to an identification problem, with a bit sense of humor, which arises precisely because prices and quantities are determined by both blades of the supply and demand scissors. The example of iPhone indeed proves that demand and supply are hard to measure. Many people bought iPhone not because they need it but for other reasons. Some bought for keeping up with the latest trend, some bought because other people recommended, some bought for showing off, and some bought for having a tryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Here comes the consequence of over demand. Whats more, if the APPLE Company restricts the supply so that iPhones seem scarce to consumers, many people will squeeze and swarm forward to get simply one iPhone, even late at night before its release. Some luxury companies also promote their articles in limited edition and as a result supply and demand is unequal. We can bring the same example to every day life. If we compare the price of water to the price of diamonds, there is a dramatic difference. The price of water is very cheap and we use it everyday, not only for drinking, but also for washing cars, watering plants, and for flushing the toilets. Most importantly water is crucial for our life. Diamonds on the other hand, has no significant influence to our lives other than showing off. Diamonds are for sure luxury products, but its components are simply carbon. If we assume that the price of water is extremely expensive, would we still use water to wash our cars or flushing the toilets? If the price of diamonds are as cheap as water, will people still ware it on their fingers or as an engagement gift? It all comes down to the theory of scarcity. Water is cheap simply because its easy to get and the world has sufficient of it, diamonds are expensive because it takes millions of years to form and its hard to find. Generally, there is still something worth digesting after reading and some problems remain unsolved. With much doubt, some readers raised a list of questions. For instance, supply and demand curves must be linear? If supply and demand curves shift around in different geographical regions, or in different periods of time, then shall we get to assume that economic equilibrium is well-defined? Whether the author assumes the shifts occur because of how preferences are distributed or because preferences change, it seems that theres no guarantee that exchanges are approaching an efficient allocation of resourcesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The three theses above have a sequence from concrete to abstract. In fact, in the marketplace, it is rarely possible for supply and demand to go the path we have designed. On one hand, supply and demand can be used to describe and measure the market, but on the other hand, for the factors are numerous, the curve is a result of price and quantity as well as a combinat ion of demand and supply, and surely these reasons make the relationship of supply and demand hard to measure.

Escape to the Impossible - Original Writing :: Papers

Escape to the Impossible - Original Writing They’d been crawling for what seemed like days, or hours. How could they know? They could no longer contemplate the time, it seemed a long time ago when something as alien as time came into their lives. Even if they cared how would they know anyway? It was always dark down here, darker than anything the pair had ever known. Always on your sore hands and knees trudging through sewage pipes holding the faeces of an entire city’s population, each of them blissfully unaware of what was going on in their own spotless backyard. Simon accidentally sniffed before a sneeze, he instantly regretted it, the smell hit him like a shock wave, and he gagged, then explosively threw up into the suffocating darkness. But nothing came out, just a dribble of what was left of his acidic stomach juices, they had not eaten in days and were both famished and weak. â€Å"Simon, are you all right?† said Jasmine, his younger sister, who used to be very pretty until the day they had taken her and Simon away to the Camp. Now her eyes spoke of wordless horrors and her sleep was tormented by the private tortures she had endured. Now her cheeks were thin, her beautiful blonde hair straggly and dirty, and she had bags under her eyes from the lack of sleep her nightmares produced. â€Å"Yeah, in a minute.† Simon croaked, his throat burning still from his vomiting. They carried on crawling in silence. Oh and the silence, they dreaded it, imagine silence in the pitch black and then hearing the distant echo of footsteps, squelching through the unpleasant remains of dead rats and drunken takeaways. Not knowing whether they were real or unreal and that these might be the footsteps of someone tracking them – they too may be lost in the underground maze of pipes and sewers. Sometimes one of the two would try to hum a tune, but the silence like an animal instantly smothered them, until their humming

Essay examples --

In the given constraints of Cost, Bulkiness and Portability we will design a smart phone based Fundus imaging device. Device application software will solve the more problem like: Automatic Glaucoma Detection and Image Enhancement problem so that its doesn't required trained user for operation. That will be possible by embedding the Optical(image capturing unit), Electronic (Microprocessor), Communication media(Wi-fi,Blue-tooth,Web etc) and Data base in a single device (Figure 2.1). This section will capture magnified fundus image in CMOS Camera. To make its possible by interfacing direct ophthalmoscope with CMOS Camera.Ophthalmoscope is an instrument that is use for examining the interior structures of the eye, especially the retina, consisting essentially of a mirror that reflects light into the eye and a central hole through which the eye is examined. Here it will interface device and human eye. We will used smart phone high resolution ($>$ 5MP) Camera for the same. Use a mobile phone holder (Rapid Prototype Model) to mount Mobile phone camera on ophthalmoscope. section{Image Accusation and Data management} Optical image of the fundus is converted into digital form by Mobile phone inbuilt Camera. Initially capture image/video is saved in local on board memory or SD Card. This section handles the data organization and management work such that we can easily find out any patient data.To organized data it will do flowing task: egin{enumerate} item{Create Folder whose Name is same Patient ID} item{Save Image/Video in that folder} item{Right and Eye Information is used to do file naming .} end{enumerate} section{Image Processing} This section will perform all the image processing task, that is widely separated into two ... ...paration of around 10 mm. The ophthalmoscope used provides an easy entry into the eye, together with a wider field of view to better observe eye conditions. paragraph{} The unit captures the fundus image in a JPEG format, which gets stored in the phone. The image is then processed for detection of its optical disk and cup, after which the respective areas are calculated to compute the CDR for setting up the threshold for the affected eye. The image processing operations as discussed above are inbuilt in the Android Application. paragraph{} The setup for capturing the fundus image of a person's eye using the developed system is shown in figure 2.2. The system is held very close to the person's eye to be detected for Glaucoma. The real time application on the phone displays the image. Also, it prints out the result in a format which can easily be interpreted.

Declaration of Rights and Sentiments :: essays research papers

Many Americans realized their own oppression as they worked to the end of the institution of slavery. When two of these women, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, were denied the right to sit as delegates at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, they were angered to the point of action. Eight years later in Seneca Falls, New York, the first American women's right convention was held. Elizabeth Cady Stanton presented the following declaration. When, in the course of human events, it becomes necesary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature's God entitle them, a denet respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course. We hold these truths to be self-evident;that all men and women are treated equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with the certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these right governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends , it is right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, and to insist upon the instituiton of a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experiences hath shown that mankind are more diisposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolitionist the froms to which they were accustomed .

The Reason of Ball Mill’s Uneven Discharging

For ore dressing process, grinding is a continuation of the ore crushing process, and is a final finishing before ore sorting. Grinding the material evenly or not seriously affects the production efficiency of ball mill. Uneven ball mill’s discharging may be caused by the following two aspects: Firstly, the feeding grinding materials cause the uneven discharging. When water into the grinding material is high, it may cause the ball mill grinding â€Å"full† phenomenon. If the water into the grinding material is too much, you can reduce the feed rate of ball mill, dry grinding materials, strengthening ventilation in ball mill, and join the way such as grinding material processing. Secondly, the high temperature of the inside of ball mill causes a â€Å"bag†. If grinding temperature is too high, we should control the grinding material temperature, the water spray in mill, and increase the grinding body drench water, strengthen the inside ventilation, join the grinding material, and reduce the ratio of feeding. The two phenomena can make the grinding ability declined dramatically. In the usual operation,we will strictly control the water into the grinding material and the temperature of the ball mill. Henan Zhengzhou Mining Machinery Co. , Ltd. specializes in the production of ore ball mill. The midheaven axis uses the steel casting, the inside lining is detachable, rotates the big wheel to use the casting to roll the tooth processing, tube in vivo besets with by the wear-resisting backing, has the good resistance to wear.

Organizations and Behaviour Essay

Requirement 1: 1.1Compare and contrast different organisational structures and culture (P1.1) 1.2 Explain how the relationship between an organisation’s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business (P1.2). 1.3 Discuss the factors which influence individual behaviour at work (P1.3) Requirement 2: 2.1Compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organisations (P2.1). 2.2Explain how organisational theory underpins the practice of management (P2.2) 2.3Evaluate the different approaches to management used by different organisations (P2.3) Requirement 3: 3.1Discuss the impact that different leadership styles may have on motivation in organisations in periods of change (P3.1) 3.2Compare the application of different motivational theories within the workplace (P3.2)3.3Evaluate the usefulness of a motivation theory for managers (P3.3) Requirement 4: 4.1Explain the nature of groups and group behaviour within organisations (P4.1) 4.2Discuss factors that may promote or inhibit the development of effective teamwork in organisations (P4.2). 4.3Evaluate the impact of technology on team functioning within a given organisation (P4.3) Evaluate the factors that promote the development of effective teamwork of Zara and derive a valid and rational conclusion. (D1) Assume you are the Human Resource Manager of any business, how would you take the responsibility for managing and organising activities of your business in the context of the organisation behaviour? (D2) Points will be awarded to those who demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinking to give answer. (D3)

Modernity and Literature Essay

Modernity by itself is a very abstract concept which can be associated with all new experiences in history. It is largely temporal because what is modern today is the old or obsolete tomorrow. Modernity is said to be a logic of negation because it tends to give importance to the present over the past, and at the same time also frowns over the present with respect to the future. From a purely historical perspective however, the society which evolved in Europe after the French Revolution of 1789 can be termed as modern in so much so that there is a marked difference or break in the way of thinking, living and enterprise between the societies after and before the French Revolution. The evolution of the modern society was not a process that happened overnight. The roots of the modern society and its gradual evolution can be traced back to the beginning of the eighteenth century. In fact the period from that point in history to the French Revolution is termed as the period of intellectual Enlightenment when there was a radical change in philosophy, science, politics, arts and culture. It was on these new forms of knowledge that the foundation of the modern society or modernity was based. Defining the Traditional Many scholars have tried to analyze the basic or instinctive nature of human beings in attempts to track back how modernity could have affected the core individual. In his book Leviathan, Hobbes deduced that in an environment uninfluenced by artificial systems or in a ‘state of nature’ human beings would be war like and violent, and their lives would consequently be solitary, poor, brutish and short. Rousseau however contradicts Hobbes. He claims that humans are essentially benevolent by nature. He believed in the ‘noble savage’ or the concept that devoid of civilization human beings are essentially peaceful and egalitarian and live in harmony with the environment – an idea associated with Romanticism. Human beings have however lived in communities and formed societies since the very early ages. In what is now known as the ancient world or the world of classical pagan antiquity typical of the societies of Greece and Rome, the concept of the ‘new’ or ‘change’ was absent. Time, like the seasons, was supposed to move in cyclical order, repeating itself with regularity cycle after cycle with nothing new or changed to break away from the established order. The people were steeped in more superstitious and religious beliefs which ruled almost every aspect of their lives. Christianity brought about changes in the belief systems of the ancient world. Christianity postulated that time was linear, that it began from the birth of Jesus Christ and would end with the apocalypse and the second coming of Jesus. This was a linear concept of time that moved in a straight line and not in a cycle that kept coming back to the same point. The Foundations of Modernity It was during the Enlightenment period that the Christian concepts of time and history were secularized to give way to the modern approach to change and progress. There were many other basic changes during the Enlightenment. The key ideas which formed the basis of the enlightenment period were autonomy and emancipation, progress and the improvement of history and universalism. The development of scientific knowledge gave rise to religious skepticism. People were no longer willing to submit blindly to the dictates of ordained religion. In other words they attained emancipation from the shackles of religion that had governed almost all aspects of their lives. This emancipation led to autonomy of the individual. Individuals began to decide for themselves instead submitting to an external authority such as religion. The people now decided by themselves what kind of authority, rules and regulation would be good for them, and such authority must be natural and not supernatural. Enlightenment encouraged criticism. Enlightenment thinkers did not hold anything sacred and freely criticized, questioned, examined and challenged all dogmas and institutions in their search for betterment or progress. Thinkers such as Voltaire defended reason and rationalism against institutionalized superstition and tyranny. The belief that there could and should be a change for the better came to be a prominent characteristic of modernity. The critical attitude of enlightenment thinker to contemporary social and political institutions paved the way for scientific studies of political and social studies and subsequent evolution of better forms of such institutions. The scientific revolution during the period, culminating in the work of Isaac Newton, presented a very practical and objective view of the natural world to people at large, and science came to be regarded very highly. Scientific inquiry was gradually extended to cover new social, political and cultural areas. Such studies were oriented around the cause-and-effect approach of naturalism. Control of prejudice was also deemed to be essential to make them value free. Enlightenment thinking emphasized the importance of reason and rationality in organization and development of knowledge. The gradual development of the scientific temperament with a paradigm change from the qualitative to the quantitative is also very evident in Europe of the time. People came to believe that they could better their own lot through a more scientific and rational approach to everything. The concept of universalism which advocated that reason and science were applicable to all fields of study and that science laws, in particular, were universal, also grew roots during the period. People began to believe in change, development and progress – all basic tenets of modernity as we know it today. Autonomy to decide for their own good, gave the people the right to choose the form of authority that could lead them as a society or community towards a better future and progress. This opened the doors to the emergence of states with separate and legally defined spheres of jurisdiction. Thus we find that modernity represents a transformation – philosophical, scientific, social, political and cultural – at a definite time in history at a definite spatial location. This transformation also represents a continuum up to the present in so much so that its basic principles are inherent in the societies and nations of today. The period of enlightenment can be seen as one of transition from the ‘traditional’ to the ‘modern’ forms of society, from an age of blind beliefs to a new age of reason and rational. Different Perspectives on development of Modernity Different political and philosophical thinkers have however developed different, and sometimes contradicting, theories of the development of modernity. Friedrich Hegel and Karl Marx are two of the leading thinkers whose theories run counter to each other. For Hegel, the development of modernity was a dialectical process which was governed by the increasing self-consciousness of what he termed as the collective human ‘mind’ or ‘spirit’. According to Hegel, the dialectic process of development of the mind comprised three stages, with two initially contradicting positions synthesizing into a third reconciled position. Human beings live what Hegel called an ‘Ethical Life’ or in a social environment shaped by customs and traditions. This ethical life has three stages: the first is the family, which is dissolved in due course, the second is the ‘civil society’ that a person builds up as a result of his social interactions beyond the family and greater relations, and finally the third stage of the ‘state’ which Hegel defines as the highest form of social reason. For Hegel therefore, the formation of the modern state is the mark of modernity when human beings achieve the ultimate stage of social existence. Hegel believed as individuals or families, human beings are too selfish and self-centered co-exist in harmony and work for development. It is the state that is able to integrate the contradictions of different individuals, and not market forces. Since the state by itself is composed of political institutions, Hegel’s theory equates the development of the modern state or modern political institutions with modernity. Marx took a completely opposing view, when he asserted that material forces drive history. For him the state by itself is not an ideal entity for the integration of human beings into a cohesive whole for their development as a nation or a society. According to him it is the material forces comprising social and economic forces that drive history towards modernity. People engage in production for their means of subsistence, they bind together and form states for the sake of production. Different forms of productions create different class relations. It is to maximize production and gain the maximum benefits and advantages that people bond together in different classes in the form of the modern state. The different ways in which production is organized give rise to complex forms of social organization because a particular mode of production is an entire way of life for the people who are involved in it. For Marx social existence is not consciously determined by human beings, rather, it is the other way round: their social existence determines their consciousness. When there are contradictions between productive forces and the social relationships of production, class conflict arises. For Marx, therefore, modernity is defined by the state of social existence. Marx acknowledges that ‘capitalism has been the most productive mode of production, and it contains the most potential for the realization of human freedom’. This very dynamic characteristic of capitalism is born out of its destructiveness for all traditional social constraints such as religion, nation, family, sex, etc. But it is the same destructiveness and creativeness that creates the experience of modernity in Capitalism. This vital association between capitalism and modernity from none less that Marx himself establishes that the capitalism that evolved after the period of enlightenment in Europe has been acknowledged as the modern era of the period of modernity by Marx. Marx however states that capitalism is exploitative, and because it is exploitative, its full potential cannot be harnessed for the benefit of all. He therefore advocates communism which is a system of planned and conscious production by men and women of their won free will. This brings us to the question whether humanity has already passed through a stage of history that has been termed as modernity, and has moved on to the postmodern era (Mitchell, 2009). Another important point is regarding the placing of modernity. Modernity is understood to be a process that began and ended in Europe, and was later exported to other parts of the world. Thinkers like Marx tend to differ. He saw Capitalism emerge as a ‘rosy dawn’ not in England or the Netherlands but in the production trade and finance of the colonial system (Marx, 1967). Therefore, though the concept of modernity can be defined in various ways, it definitely refers to the process of evolution of the human mind and the society to a point where people were able to come together for their own advantage and benefit and work for unceasing development under a collectively formalized authority such as the nation state. It can also be state with a certain degree of assertiveness that the period from the beginning of the Eighteenth Century to the French Revolution in 1789 actually marked the period of active development of modernity in Europe. The concepts that were nurtured during the period bore fruit immediately afterwards in Europe and the West and later spread to the rest of the world. The world has continued since on very much the same basic principles but with far more advanced technologies and superior social, economic and political approaches. Influence of Modernity on Literature Modernity had a profound influence on literature. As people began to think differently, they also began to write differently. The modernist ideas of religious emancipation, autonomy, reliance on reason, rationality and science, and on development and progress began to find expression in the literature that developed even during the period of enlightenment and thereafter. This new form of literature came to be known as the Modernist Literature. Modernist literature tended to vent expression to the tendencies of modernity. Modernist literature, as also modernist art, took up cudgels against the old system of blind beliefs. Centering around the idea of individualism or the individual mind, modernist literature displayed mistrust of established institutions such as conventional forms of autocratic government and religion. It also tended not to believe in any absolute truths. Simmel (1903) gives an overview of the thematic concerns of Modernist Literature when he states that, â€Å"The deepest problems of modern life derive from the claim of the individual to preserve the autonomy and individuality of his existence in the face of overwhelming social forces, of historical heritage, of external culture, and of the technique of life. † Examples from two Greats A few examples of Modernist literature will serve to make its characteristics more clear. Rene Descartes (1596 – 1650) is considered to be one of the early enlightenment thinkers whose literary works opened the avenues to the modern era. Known as the founder of modern philosophy and the father of modern mathematics, Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician and scientist whose influence has served to shape the beginnings of Modernist literature. In his famous work, The Discourse on Method, he presents the equally famous quotation ‘cogito ergo sum’ or ‘I think, therefore I am’, which about sums up the very principle of the basis of the modern era. â€Å"I observed that, whilst I thus wished to think that all was false, it was absolutely necessary that I, who thus thought, should be somewhat; and as I observed that this truth, I think, therefore I am (COGITO ERGO SUM), was so certain and of such evidence that no ground of doubt, however extravagant, could be alleged by the sceptics capable of shaking it, I concluded that I might, without scruple, accept it as the first principle of the philosophy of which I was in search† (Descartes, 1637). In this work, Descartes drew on ancients such as Sextus Emiricus to revive the idea of skepticism, and reached a truth that he found to be undeniable. â€Å"Descartes started his line of reasoning by doubting everything, so as to assess the world from a fresh perspective, clear of any preconceived notions. In other words, he rejected man’s reliance on God’s revealed word, placing his own intellect on a higher plain† (McCarter, 2006). David Hume (1711 – 1776) was a philosopher, economist and historian from Scotland, and was considered a notable personality both in western philosophy and of the Scottish Enlightenment movement. In his works, he had a way of projecting the errors of scepticism and naturalism, thus carving out a way for secular humanism. In his most famous work, ‘An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding’, Hume asserts that all human knowledge is imbibed through our senses. He argues that unless the source from which the impression of a certain entity is conveyed to our senses is identified, that entity cannot exist. The logic would nullify the existence of God, a soul or a self. â€Å"By the term impression, then, I mean all our more lively perceptions, when we hear, or see, or feel, or love, or hate, or desire, or will. And impressions are distinguished from ideas, which are the less lively perceptions, of which we are conscious, when we reflect on any of those sensations or movements above mentioned †¦It seems a proposition, which will not admit of much dispute, that all our ideas are nothing but copies of our impressions, or, in other words, that it is impossible for us to think of anything, which we have not antecedently felt, either by our external or internal senses†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Dover Philosophical Classics, 2004) In the same work Hume also postulates two kinds of human reasoning – Relation of Ideas and Matters of Fact. The former involves abstract concepts such as of mathematics where deductive faculty is required, and the later is about empirical experiences which are inductive in nature. This postulate has come to be known as Hume’s Fork. Hume, along with his contemporaries of the Scottish Enlightenment, also proposed that the basis for principles of morals is to be sought in the utility that they tend to serve. This shows the questioning nature of modernist literature not only of religious but also of moral and social norms and values. A very visible influence of modernity is therefore seen in the works of Hume. Present-day Modernist Literature If modernity influenced literature, it also used literature to shift from a philosophical and theoretical domain into the practical lives of people. Modernity could infiltrate into the lives of people through literary works that defined and reiterated the legitimate new modes of classification. Old literary forms with traditional meanings attached to them were reworked, allowing readers to modify or contravene the older meanings. â€Å"This opening-up process allowed readers to glean new meanings that modified or contravened the older ones. In the course of these changes, words, forms, and institutions altered their meaning in British life: they, and the practices they comprised, referred differently†¦. modifying ‘reference potential’ in literature fed back into how readers responded to changes in life†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Rothstein, 2007) In art and literature, many critics view ‘modernism’ as a new trend in the field of art and literature, defined basically by stylistic and structural variations. They would not accept the fact that ‘modernism’, it is basic approach, was the principles of modernity rendered plausible in literature and art. Modernity has always tried to hold up the world in new perspectives. Similarly, modernist literature opens up the world in all its forms – theoretical, philosophical, aesthetical and political – for fresh scrutiny. Even in its present form, modernist literature attempts to break the objective world of the realist. â€Å"Modernist writing †¦ takes the reader into a world of unfamiliarity, a deep introspection, a cognitive thought-provoking experience, skepticism of religion, and openness to culture, technology, and innovation† (Melton, 2010). Modernist literature exhibits a fascination with the workings of the mind, and how reality is reflected by the mind. The questioning of life, with or without the presence of God, is another trademark of the philosophical and theoretical moorings of modernist literature. Charles Darwin’s work challenges God as the Creator and presents the process of natural selection in the survival of life. This led to modernist literature of time travel, of questioning the existence of individuals and the purpose of the universe. Modernism brought about a new openness in the areas of feminism, bisexuality, the family, and the mind. In the world of today, modernist literature still display much of the characteristics of the times in which it first took shape. A very important theme of modernist literature today is a feeling of being alone in the world – a feeling stemming from estrangement or alienation. Characters are often presented as being depressed or angry. A second common trait is that of being in doubt. â€Å"It may be disbelief in religion, in happiness, or simply a lack of purpose and doubt in the value of human life. Finally, a third theme that is prevalent is a search for the truth† (Foster, 2010). Then there is a third theme in which the alienated character is always in the search for truth and seeks answers to a plethora of questions relating to human subjectivity. In all these characteristics are to be found the same questioning nature, the same denouncement of blind beliefs and the same dependence on reason and rationality that the Eighteenth Century enlightenment thinkers had pursued. The character is alienated and estranged because he or she questions all that is deemed not right by his or her own mind; the character questions the beliefs of religion and other institutions which are not based on reasoning; and finally the character seeks answers and the truth. â€Å"Modernist literature encompasses the thematic fingerprints of a rebellious, questioning, disbelieving, meditative, and confident type of form, which was conceived out of a change in the belief of humanity, the mind, a God, and the self brought on by the shift from capitalism to an ever-increasing society of revolutionary changes† (Melton, 2010). References Descartes, R. , 1637, The Discourse on Methods. Dover Philosophical Classics, 2004, David Hume, An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, Dover Publications Inc. Foster, J. , 2010, Modernism in Literature and History, Available: http://www. helium. com/items/743749-modernism-in-literature-and-history Karl Marx, 1967, Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, 3 vols. , New York: International Publishers, 1:703. McCarter, J. , P. , 2006, Literature of the Modern Era, The Puritans’ Home School Curriculum. Melton, L. , 2010, Modernism in Literature and History, Available: http://www. helium. com/items/809291-modernism-in-literature-and-history Mitchell, T. , 2000, The Stage of Modernity, Available: http://www. ram-wan. net/restrepo/modernidad/the%20stage%20of%20modernity-mitchell. pdf Rothstein, E. , 2007, Gleaning Modernity, Earlier Eighteenth Century Literature and the Modernizing Process, Rosemont Publishing and Printing Corp. , Associated University Presses. Simmel, G. , 1093, The Metropolis and Mental Life.