Friday, September 4, 2020

Performance Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Execution Management - Assignment Example There are different sorts of execution the board designs that an enterprise may choose to utilize. The two most conspicuous kinds of execution the board plans are key execution the executives plans and authoritative plans (Customwritingtips, 2013). Key plans place accentuation on the long haul. As a component of a key presentation plan an association must survey the outer elements that influence the association. Managerial execution plans centers around the present moment and on the inner variables that can be adjusted to accomplish positive change in an organization. The utilization of execution the executives impacts the workers of an association in an assortment of ways. Execution the board improves the inspiration of the laborers. It does an increasingly viable activity of remunerating representatives that are performing. The corporate culture of a firm is upgraded by the utilization of execution the executives. Firms that execute execution the board ordinarily experience a profi tability blast. Utilizing execution the board can help track representative execution better. The complete remuneration of representatives increments. Regardless of the advantages related with execution the executives there are additionally cons related with its usage. Frequently business related pressure increments as an immediate outcome of the utilization of execution the executives. Collaboration and cooperation diminishes among the workers. At the point when execution the board is utilized rivalry among the workers rises. ... Workers likewise feel a more noteworthy strain to perform. Three different ways to decide singular execution are close to home perception, criticism, and execution surveys (Aprioritylearning). Execution the executives influences the pay that the representatives get for their work. The conventional pay arrangement of paying a fixed compensation or continuously has demonstrated to be ineffectual. At the point when representatives are paid a fixed remuneration for their work they lose inspiration. In an organization that utilizes execution the board the laborers that accomplish higher efficiency get higher prize. Low entertainers are antagonistically influenced in light of the fact that they get lower remuneration. The pay framework under execution the executives is more attractive. Organizations get more noteworthy proficiency from its remuneration plan under execution the board. A great deal of variables ought to be viewed as when beginning an exhibition the board plan. It is imperati ve to appropriately prepare the laborers on the various viewpoints and ramifications of the presentation the board plan. During the initial not many long stretches of usage the workers ought to experience a direction period. The aptitudes of the laborers ought to be lined up with the activity necessities of the program. The organization needs to decide whether the firm has sufficient money related assets to pay for the additional pay of the laborers. The corporate culture of the business is another factor that ought to be thought of. The effect the arrangement will have on worker relations must be evaluated. Authoritative costs are probably going to increment under execution the board. The adequacy of the arrangement must be followed. Organizations must investigation the drawn out effect of utilizing execution the executives and they likewise need to manage the momentary outcomes. It is critical to incorporate a decent

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

The Giant Panda Conservation Project Free Essays

In spite of the fact that pandas are profoundly respected and have a generally low number of common predators, they are an imperiled species. People have seriously undermined the panda’s presence additionally with the goal that now there are less than 1,600 of them left in nature. This serene animal with an unmistakable highly contrasting coat is venerated by the world and thought about a national fortune in China (WWF, 2013). We will compose a custom paper test on The Giant Panda Conservation Project or on the other hand any comparable point just for you Request Now The bear additionally is of exceptional significance to the World Wildlife Fund. The panda has been WWF’s logo since its establishing in 1961. This paper will look at the adequacy of, and issues identified with, the monster panda preservation endeavors. The rarest individual from the bear family, pandas live primarily in bamboo woods high in the mountains of western China, where they stay alive as a rule on bamboo. They should eat from 26 to 84 pounds of it consistently. China’s Yangtze Basin locale, which holds the panda’s essential territory, is the geographic and financial heart of this blasting nation. An expanding number of streets and railways are being made all through the woods, which detaches panda populaces and forestalls mating. Timberland demolition additionally decreases pandas’ capacity to get to the bamboo they have to endure. The Chinese government has built up in excess of 50 panda saves. In any case, just around 61 percent of the country’s panda populace is ensured by these stores. With the assistance of preservation associations and different gatherings, they have ensured more than 45 percent of the last uneven areas, approaching more than 6,000 square miles of mountain and woods territory known to be occupied by wild pandas. They have likewise saved hallways of new bamboo for their security from tamed creature brushing, and human obstruction (International, 2013). Chengdu is known for being the old neighborhood of the mammoth panda. In 1987, when it became clear that pandas were genuinely jeopardized in the wild, the Chinese made the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Beginning with only six pandas from the wild, they’ve effectively reproduced in excess of 100 pandas. The work done at Chengdu and other rearing places costs a large number of dollars a year. Specialists accept that of all species on the planet, the monster panda is the one animal groups wherein the most cash is being put resources into to spare. This has lead a few progressives to contend that an excessive amount of is being spent to spare the mammoth panda. â€Å"I think we need to make extreme choices,† British natural life master, Chris Packham, said. â€Å"I imagine that, eventually, we must be realistic just as wistful. You know, we can’t permit our heart to lead our preservation head†¦ and in the event that we channel this much into only one animal varieties, at that point numerous others which could be far superior helped, numerous others species, however networks and biological systems, could be better ensured to the detriment of one feathery, cuddly bear† (Snow, 2013). Packham is in the minority here, however an ever increasing number of researchers are beginning to concur with him. The Chinese government has had a lot of accomplishment in instructing the general population about the eventual fate of the mammoth panda, by setting set up assurance against poaching, and even weapon control for the stores. By instructing general society, an ever increasing number of pandas have been brought to the Research Center for recuperation and clinical consideration because of wounds or ailment. Logging has been restricted in the stores and the bamboo halls. The streets giving access to the stores are additionally being watched to help forestall anybody entering without express power, for the consideration or investigation of the earth or the pandas. In any case, as Packham states, â€Å"Pandas are remarkably costly to continue onward. We burn through a great many beats on essentially this one animal varieties, and barely any others, when we realize that the best thing we could do is care for the world’s biodiversity hotspots with more noteworthy consideration. † His perspective is that without a natural surroundings, there is nothing to work with. His proposal is that we take all the money we spend on pandas and purchase rainforests with it. He understands that it is the normal reaction to need to invest cash and energy in the panda since they are so charming and cuddly. They simply pull at peoples’ heart strings in light of their appearance. The pandas are emblematic of what he alludes to as single-species protection: I. e. , an attention on one creature. This methodology started during the 1970s with Save the Tiger, Save the Panda, Save the Whale, etc, and it is presently outdated. His conviction is that pandas have had an important job in raising the profile of preservation, however maybe ‘had’ is the correct word. Panda traditionalists state that the panda is a lead animal varieties. In any case, we’re likewise saving Chinese backwoods, where there are numerous different species. For whatever length of time that this protection works, Mr. Packham states that he is totally supportive of it. Be that as it may, a few animal categories are more grounded than others. The panda is definitely not a solid types of bear as he would see it. It has gone herbivorous and eats a sort of food that isn’t ll that nutritious, as is ceasing to exist gradually. It is defenseless to different infections and, up to this point, has been practically difficult to raise in imprisonment. This species additionally has an exceptionally constrained region of home, which is diminishing, since the Chinese populace continues discovering approaches to utilize their property. While Mr. Packham’s focuses are legitimate, it appears he overlooks the way that pandas assume a critical job in the bamboo timberlands where they meander by spreading seeds and encouraging development of vegetation. Likewise, in the Yangtze Basin where pandas live, the backwoods are home to natural life, for example, predominate blue sheep, multi-hued fowls and other imperiled species, including the brilliant monkey, and different flying creatures that are not found anyplace else on the planet (WWF, 2013), making the panda a successful banner boat animal categories, which is something that Packham himself expressed merited protecting. One conviction is that huge creatures can be amazingly valuable in the reason for preservation. Littler animals regularly don’t need a major natural surroundings to live in, so in preservation terms, it’s better to endeavor to spare something further up the evolved way of life. By doing this, you are ensuring an a lot bigger zone, which will likewise incorporate the littler creatures. Pandas are a genuine model for the messages you need to put out on living space preservation. We partner Borneo with the orangutans, the southern seas with the blue whale, and the North with polar bears. So it is with China and the panda bears (Snow, 2013). Many venerate the panda bear and their safeguarding is essential to the Chinese culture. Individuals react to their circumstance, which has any kind of effect. References Benedictus, L. (2009). Should pandas be left to confront termination? | Environment | The Guardian. Most recent US news, world news, game and remark from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian. Recovered April 27, 2013, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/condition/2009/sep/23/panda-elimination chris-packham International, C. (2013). Dangers to Pandas. Protection International. Recovered April 28, 2013, from http://www.conservation.org/learn/biodiversity/species/profiles/pandas/pandas/review/Pages/threats.aspx Snow, K. (2013). Are mammoth pandas worth sparing? †Rock Center with Brian Williams. Rock Center with Brian Williams. Step by step instructions to refer to The Giant Panda Conservation Project, Papers

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Gay marriages in colorado Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gay relationships in colorado - Assignment Example Notwithstanding, about a month prior, news was coursing wherever concerning the Colorado senate’s section of a bill. The Colorado Civil Unions Act was to furnish same sex couples common associations with legitimate rights. These rights incorporate the appropriate for gays and lesbians to settle on clinical choices concerning their accomplices and option to get representative advantages as straight individuals do. Gay relationships have picked up acknowledgment in Colorado and the world everywhere with the headway of gay associations. It has gotten worthy to the point that there are wedding organizers for gay relationships. Indeed, even the houses of worship are recognizing gay relationships and some like the First Presbyterian Church are thinking about administering gay relationships. The point is, be that as it may, in any case questionable and exceptionally discussed in light of the fact that not every person has grasped the gay way of life. A model is the Colorado Springs, which is an individual from the Presbyterian Church. It is taking steps to pull out of the Presbyterian Church, should the primary church grasp the gay culture and acknowledge gay

Essay Examples on Michelangelo Essay Example

Exposition Examples on Michelangelo Paper first Essay Sample on Michelangelo Michelangelo was conceived in 1475 and kicked the bucket in 1564 he passed on at 89 years old. His complete name was Michelangelo Buonarroti. He was an Italian painter, stone worker, modeler, and artist . Michelangelo believed the male bare to be best subject in craftsmanship, for the most part in light of the fact that at the time men were considered in charge of everything.Even while being a planner he attempted to show humantension through windows or even entryways. Michelangelo adored a test, regardless of whether it be scholarly physical,or imaginative. In painting figures, he picked represents that were hard to draw. He gave his work various implications alomost unrecognizable just to what the observer needed it to be. He was succesful at what he did at this point when he passed on they discovered a lot of his work incomplete as though he had a brain square. Michelangelo was conceived in the little town of Caprese in Tuscany and grew up inFlorence. Florence was the creative foc al point of the early Renaissance. Michelangelo went to a grammer school as a result of the cases his folks needed to nobility.Although his father disliked craftsmanship Michelangelo prefferd it to his school work From 1490 to 1492 Michelangelo livedwith Lorenzo de’ Medici (known as Lorenzo the Magnificent), around then he was the main craftsman of Florence. The Medici house was a gathering place for logicians specialists, and poets.This was an incredible time for michelangelo to examine and watch different craftsmen. Different craftsmen showed michelangelo the craftsmanship and love for composing. Which was Michelangelo’s most significant piece was the Sistine church during the time of 1508 through 1512.Michelangelo was likewise extremely strict. In this way, he communicated his own convictions most obviously in his later work. His later drawings are of christian convictions, for example, the crucifixtion of people.Throughout his vocation Michelangelo interacted with influential men. second Essay Sample on Michelangelo Michelangelo was one of the most popular and fruitful individuals of his time. Michelangelo went to a school set up by Lorenzo the Magnificent in the nurseries of the Palazzo Medici. There he would have approached the Medici assortment of collectibles, just as a specific measure of educational cost from the occupant ace, Bertoldo di Giovanni. Michelangelo was an ace in more than one area.Atfirst, Michelangelo was generally well known for his models, for example, the Pieta, Moses, David, and Pope Julius IIIs tomb.After Lorenzos demise the school separated and Michelangelo would perform casual post-mortems so as to improve his dominance of the human form.The design that made Michelangelos notoriety is the Pietà ¢.The Pieta is a figure with Jesus lying in the lap of Virgin Mary.Michelangelo communicated the passionate, human parts of Mary morning over the body of her dead son.Because of his investigation of the human body the Pieta was incredibly point by point particularly in the musc les and vein! s.When cutting models he accepted that the figures he cut were at that point in the marble and he had tofree them.He later taken a shot at David, which was made out of an imperfect stone and summarized all that he had learned.It represented city pride . It took him four years to, in his own words, free the figure detained in the marble.As well similar to a stone worker, Michelangelo was additionally an exceptional painter.Pope Julius III employed Michelangelo to paint the roof of the Sistine Chapel.The nine scenes of the Sistine Ceiling switch back and forth among enormous and littler rectangular areas that are bolstered by agnostic sibyls and Hebrew prophets. So as to pass on the scriptural stories, Michelangelo utilized his aptitude to romanticize the essential idea of every scene into more than 300 key figures and motions. We will compose a custom article test on Essay Examples on Michelangelo explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom exposition test on Essay Examples on Michelangelo explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom exposition test on Essay Examples on Michelangelo explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer

Friday, August 21, 2020

Egalitarian Companies Are More Innovative

Talk about the upsides and downsides of the accompanying articulation: â€Å"Egalitarian organizations are increasingly creative. † A populist organization exists with equivalent human rights for all workers, paying little mind to social financial salary, race, root, sexual orientation, strict or political convictions. A great many people see populist as reasonable as it makes a well disposed workplace. a libertarian workplace doesn’t rely upon sets of expectations and customary administration jobs. This permits representatives to work as an increasingly comprehensive work power. it advanced shared obligations among laborers and advances collaboration. A populist workplace doesn’t rely upon expected set of responsibilities and conventional administration jobs to characterize representatives and structure workforce. This permits representatives in an organization to exist without orders and capacity as increasingly comprehensive workforce. Workers may feel progressively valued and contribute thoughts to the company’s development and generally course and operational methodologies. Stars. In associations, chain of importance is something beyond a human inclination, it’s a handy need. The reason for an association is to assemble differing gifts and capacities so as to deliver merchandise and ventures. In the cutting edge world, we have innovation to increase this yield. We have to split assignments, coordinate them with the correct individuals (since not all individuals have equivalent aptitudes), and afterward incorporate them for clients. Someone needs to give the bearing to get this going adequately at each stage and level. This is the place the job of the boss, supervisor, group pioneer, or official comes in. Without this direction and choice capacity, we would have complication. There are many, organizations that have since a long time ago demonstrated accomplishment through their structure. In certain market situations there need severe adherence to principles, necessities, arrangements, and so forth ierarchies can help guarantee top quality is constantly present. ie wellbeing offices. Furthermore, using masters or specialists inside an association or system, is regular. Not every person can do everything. Limits can be increasingly penetrable with the goal that individuals can share data, assets, and thoughts to make the entire undertaking progressively fruitful. Getting this going is rarely simple, yet it can’t be done at all without pioneers who have the position to break the ties among gatherings and people who have various dreams of what ought to be finished. There is no preferable method to do this over through customary progression. Alongside that, it may not be cost, time or quality withstanding to let everybody wander indiscriminately without bearing. The correct mix and parity for any one specific association will rely upon the pace of progress in the business, the capacities of the representatives, and the assets accessible to make a move. The requirement for administration will consistently exist. There will consistently be a requirement for visionaries, individuals who can impact others, and individuals who can execute. Cons. While chains of importance were the supported type of sorting out before, they ought not be the key plan in business. Chains of importance, portrayed by close controls, incorporated dynamic, and obvious sets of expectations, regularly estrange representatives and advance an individualistic work mindset. Customary administration frameworks are progressively a disappearing breed, not, at this point important or pertinent in today’s progressively human-capital-driven working environment. The absence of sets of responsibilities, compliment associations, and adaptable methodology would almost certainly fit better for authoritative conditions that are new, youthful, or quickly developing. With an exceptionally quick pace of progress, compelling sets of responsibilities may keep people away from making a move. Administration is indispensable in driving forward rules that can be followed up on. With visionary methodologies that consider enabled activity, numerous extraordinary things can be accomplished. Recognize three associations that you see as being creative. Association advancement is the effective execution of inventive thoughts in an association. The three associations that I see as being imaginative seem to be; Facebook, Apple and Microsoft. Every one of the three organizations have figured out how to be innovative and continue an upper hand. They have additionally kept up quality and type of their administration and item extra time. Distinguish the advancement and its effect upon every association. Facebook development has pulled in billions of individuals to their site. They have a proceeding with development of intuitive face book correspondence that has made examples of advancement additional time. Facebook has made a market upper hand. Facebook has utilized particular intensity to continue its development and maintain a strategic distance from duplication by contenders. Face book have kept up a steady change by having their individuals sign in for nothing and furthermore by improving the Facebook execution as a prevailing site. Facebook is an informal communication administration and site. As of January 2012, Facebook had in excess of 800 million dynamic clients. Clients must enroll before utilizing the site, after which they may make an individual profile, include different clients as companions, and trade messages, including programmed warnings when they update their profile. Moreover, clients may join basic intrigue client gatherings, sorted out by working environment, school or school, or different qualities, and classify their companions into records, for example, â€Å"People from Work† or â€Å"Close Friends†. Face book development as pulled in 7 billion user’s around the world. It has likewise propelled a Spanish rendition. Apple, perhaps the best trailblazer keep on propelling new innovation I. e. IPhones, iPods. And so on after some time Apple keeps on making more up to date economical innovation. Apple Inc. together with auxiliaries offers structures, fabricates, and showcases versatile correspondence and media gadgets, PCs, and compact advanced music players; and sells related programming, administrations, peripherals, organizing arrangements, and outsider computerized content around the world. Its items and administrations incorporate iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple TV, the iOS and Mac OS X working frameworks, iCloud, and different frill and bolster contributions, just as a scope of purchaser and expert programming applications. As of September 24, 2011, the organization had 357 retail locations, remembering 245 stores for the United States and 112 stores globally. Apple Inc. was established in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California. Microsoft Corporation creates, licenses, and supports a scope of programming items and administrations for different processing gadgets around the world. The company’s Windows and Windows Live Division portion offers PC working framework that basically incorporates Windows 7 and Windows Vista working frameworks; Windows live set-up of utilizations and Web administrations; and Microsoft PC equipment items. Its Microsoft’s Server and Tools section gives Windows Server working frameworks, Windows Azure, Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Azure, Windows Intune, Windows Embedded, Visual Studio, Silverlight, framework focus items, Microsoft counseling administrations, and item bolster administrations. This section additionally offers undertaking counseling administrations; and preparing and confirmation to designers and data innovation experts, just as assembles independent and programming advancement lifecycle instruments for programming draftsmen, engineers, analyzers, and task chiefs. The organization gives online data and substance through Bing, MSN entrances, and adCenter, just as Atlas online instruments for sponsors. Its Microsoft Business Division section offers Microsoft office; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft SharePoint; Microsoft Lync; Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM; and Microsoft Office Web Apps, just as office 365, n online assistance, offering Microsoft Office, Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync. The company’s has made incredible inovative Entertainment and Devices Division section gives Xbox 360 diversion stage, which incorporates the Xbox 360 gaming and amusement comfort, Kinect for Xbox 360, Xbox 360 computer games, Xbox LIVE, and Xbox 360 embellishments; Mediaro om, an Internet convention TV programming; and Windows Phone that give Microsoft Office and Xbox LIVE usefulness. It showcases and conveys its items and administrations through unique gear makers, merchants, and affiliates, just as through on the web. Microsoft was established in 1975 and is headquartered in Redmond, Washington. (www. mocrosoft. com) William Chuck,(management) 2010 Custom Edition.

Saturday, August 8, 2020

A Guide to Storytelling with Mind Maps - Focus

A Guide to Storytelling with Mind Maps - Focus Businesses use storytelling to inspire the people who work for them and sell the next great idea. Teachers use stories to help students learn concepts. Journalists tell important stories that help citizens understand the world around them. And, of course, writers and creators use stories to take us to new worlds through film, books, songs, video games, comics, and more. Being able to tell a great story is an invaluable skill. It’s no secret that storytelling is powerful. In fact, our brains even act differently when we hear a story instead of just hearing facts and figures. But good storytelling is hard work, and it takes a lot of planning and thought. Look no further than these famous writers’ outlining methods for proof. The next time you’re trying to weave the perfect narrative, don’t reach for a notebook or a napkin to scribble notes or start an outline. Instead, try using a mind map to boost creativity and think through or organize the story you want to tell. Why do mind maps work for storytelling? The best stories bring many parts together into one complete vision, just like a puzzle. To craft a story, first you need to have a general idea of the overall picture you’re trying to paint. Mind maps help you do that. “To me, the biggest benefit of a plot mind map is being able to see my story on a single sheet of paper,” says writer Kate Brown. “I can see concurrent events side-by-side, and I can see how each plot element ties into the whole with a glance.” Working from one large map also helps you more easily introduce new ideas, ask the right questions and build up the details of your story so that when you’re ready to start writing, you have what you need. Especially when you’re starting from scratch, you don’t want to be boxed in with a linear format like an outline or text notes. Mind maps give you the freedom to explore all the different paths your story could take and connect story elements in important ways to weave an effective narrative. Methods like outlines also don’t easily allow for visuals like mind maps do. Images or graphics can provide inspiration and act as references as you shape your story. Say you needed to go into detail describing a scene. Having a picture right there in your mind map to look at can help you think up the perfect descriptive language. How to use mind maps for storytelling There are lots of different aspects of storytelling which mind maps can help with. Use mind maps to: Cure writer’s block There’s nothing worse than sitting down to write and coming up empty. The next time you experience a bout of writer’s block, start a mind map. By mapping anything that comes to mind, soon “you’ll have an easy-to-read, visual map that makes the connections between ideas jump off the page,” writes marketing strategist Jamie Lee Wallace. “Now, the blank screen that was freaking you out looks like a fresh canvas and you feel like Monet on one of his more inspired days.” Focus your story Once you have an idea you want to pursue, use mind maps to pin down your story’s key take-aways and hone in on what you most want your audience to walk away thinking, feeling or knowing. “Every storytelling exercise should begin by asking: Who is my audience and what is the message I want to share with them?” says writer and editor Carolyn O’Hara. “For instance, if your team is behaving as if failure is not an option, you might decide to impart the message that failure is actually the grandfather of success. Or if you are trying to convince senior leaders to take a risk by supporting your project, you could convey that most companies are built on taking smart chances.” Whatever that key message is, you can use it as the central idea of your mind map to figure out the best way to impart that lesson. Another way to focus your story if you’ve already drawn a map is to go through the map and highlight the most promising concepts or ideas of your narrative. You might end up stripping out ideas that don’t get highlighted or making new maps that focus on just those key items you’ve identified. Establish important connections You can easily reinforce crucial relationships between characters, scenes and plot points using arrows. This helps to add context and think through meaningful connections you might want to emphasize when you start writing. For example, a mind map might help you realize that two characters share the same values or uncover connections between a character’s past and his or her actions. Spot the gaps We all know that one person who loves to point out plot holes in movies. And plot holes can keep even the most experienced writers up at night. Mind maps make it easy to spot unfinished plot points or dangling threads in your story. “Since a mind map is not linear, blank spaces are not only forgivable, they become compelling reasons to think more about the story youre developing,” writes Paul Donovan Campos. If you’re a business storyteller, this can be really useful when telling your brand story because the map can help you anticipate where your audience might be skeptical or have questions. Add layers and context Mind maps help add layers to a linear plot, and while you work on your map, you’ll likely spot natural subplots and develop context around your story. You’ll be able to better understand how your story fits into the bigger picture through mapping it. For example, if you’re telling a story about leadership to your company, a mind map can help you understand how to frame that story in the context of your company’s mission and values. If you’re creating a whole new world with your story (think Harry Potter or Game of Thrones) mind maps can help you create a world that seems real. And with a mind mapping tool like MindMeister, you’ll never run out of room like you would on paper, so you have the freedom to go deep into the details. Write realistic characters Mind maps can also help you write characters who are true to life. Through mind maps, you can freely explore your characters’ communication styles, history, appearance, relationships, defects, and ambitions. Then when you’re writing, you can reference your character mind maps to think through what they would do or say in a certain situation. Begin and end your story When I’m writing an article or blog post, I always leave the intro and conclusion for last. Introducing a story and wrapping it up can be the toughest part of writing. Mind maps give you the big-picture view of your story, making it easy to spot natural points where your narrative could start and finish. And because of their free structure, you can more easily reorganize elements in a mind map to make sure your story flows well from beginning to end. Practice and present If you’re telling your story in front of a live audience, practice can help you become a lot more comfortable. Whether you’re pitching a product, trying to motivate a crowd or drive an audience to action, practicing your presentation with MindMeisters  presentation mode can help you calm your nerves and boost your confidence in your storytelling abilities. “There’s a misperception that great storytellers can whip these yarns out of their hats and deliver with aplomb,” writes Kristi Hedges, author of Power of Presence: Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others. “The best stories are well-told stories â€" because they get better with each telling.” Maybe you’re a CEO hoping to energize your employees with a story at your next company gathering, or perhaps you’re aiming to become the next J.K Rowling. No matter what kind of tale you’re telling, mind maps are a useful tool that can help you go from a blank page to a complete story that improves understanding, entertains or inspires. Get Started with Mind Mapping! Try MindMeister If you liked this article you might also enjoy:  How to Create High-Value Blog Content with MindMeister and Your Kindle. A Guide to Storytelling with Mind Maps - Focus Businesses use storytelling to inspire the people who work for them and sell the next great idea. Teachers use stories to help students learn concepts. Journalists tell important stories that help citizens understand the world around them. And, of course, writers and creators use stories to take us to new worlds through film, books, songs, video games, comics, and more. Being able to tell a great story is an invaluable skill. It’s no secret that storytelling is powerful. In fact, our brains even act differently when we hear a story instead of just hearing facts and figures. But good storytelling is hard work, and it takes a lot of planning and thought. Look no further than these famous writers’ outlining methods for proof. The next time you’re trying to weave the perfect narrative, don’t reach for a notebook or a napkin to scribble notes or start an outline. Instead, try using a mind map to boost creativity and think through or organize the story you want to tell. Why do mind maps work for storytelling? The best stories bring many parts together into one complete vision, just like a puzzle. To craft a story, first you need to have a general idea of the overall picture you’re trying to paint. Mind maps help you do that. “To me, the biggest benefit of a plot mind map is being able to see my story on a single sheet of paper,” says writer Kate Brown. “I can see concurrent events side-by-side, and I can see how each plot element ties into the whole with a glance.” Working from one large map also helps you more easily introduce new ideas, ask the right questions and build up the details of your story so that when you’re ready to start writing, you have what you need. Especially when you’re starting from scratch, you don’t want to be boxed in with a linear format like an outline or text notes. Mind maps give you the freedom to explore all the different paths your story could take and connect story elements in important ways to weave an effective narrative. Methods like outlines also don’t easily allow for visuals like mind maps do. Images or graphics can provide inspiration and act as references as you shape your story. Say you needed to go into detail describing a scene. Having a picture right there in your mind map to look at can help you think up the perfect descriptive language. How to use mind maps for storytelling There are lots of different aspects of storytelling which mind maps can help with. Use mind maps to: Cure writer’s block There’s nothing worse than sitting down to write and coming up empty. The next time you experience a bout of writer’s block, start a mind map. By mapping anything that comes to mind, soon “you’ll have an easy-to-read, visual map that makes the connections between ideas jump off the page,” writes marketing strategist Jamie Lee Wallace. “Now, the blank screen that was freaking you out looks like a fresh canvas and you feel like Monet on one of his more inspired days.” Focus your story Once you have an idea you want to pursue, use mind maps to pin down your story’s key take-aways and hone in on what you most want your audience to walk away thinking, feeling or knowing. “Every storytelling exercise should begin by asking: Who is my audience and what is the message I want to share with them?” says writer and editor Carolyn O’Hara. “For instance, if your team is behaving as if failure is not an option, you might decide to impart the message that failure is actually the grandfather of success. Or if you are trying to convince senior leaders to take a risk by supporting your project, you could convey that most companies are built on taking smart chances.” Whatever that key message is, you can use it as the central idea of your mind map to figure out the best way to impart that lesson. Another way to focus your story if you’ve already drawn a map is to go through the map and highlight the most promising concepts or ideas of your narrative. You might end up stripping out ideas that don’t get highlighted or making new maps that focus on just those key items you’ve identified. Establish important connections You can easily reinforce crucial relationships between characters, scenes and plot points using arrows. This helps to add context and think through meaningful connections you might want to emphasize when you start writing. For example, a mind map might help you realize that two characters share the same values or uncover connections between a character’s past and his or her actions. Spot the gaps We all know that one person who loves to point out plot holes in movies. And plot holes can keep even the most experienced writers up at night. Mind maps make it easy to spot unfinished plot points or dangling threads in your story. “Since a mind map is not linear, blank spaces are not only forgivable, they become compelling reasons to think more about the story youre developing,” writes Paul Donovan Campos. If you’re a business storyteller, this can be really useful when telling your brand story because the map can help you anticipate where your audience might be skeptical or have questions. Add layers and context Mind maps help add layers to a linear plot, and while you work on your map, you’ll likely spot natural subplots and develop context around your story. You’ll be able to better understand how your story fits into the bigger picture through mapping it. For example, if you’re telling a story about leadership to your company, a mind map can help you understand how to frame that story in the context of your company’s mission and values. If you’re creating a whole new world with your story (think Harry Potter or Game of Thrones) mind maps can help you create a world that seems real. And with a mind mapping tool like MindMeister, you’ll never run out of room like you would on paper, so you have the freedom to go deep into the details. Write realistic characters Mind maps can also help you write characters who are true to life. Through mind maps, you can freely explore your characters’ communication styles, history, appearance, relationships, defects, and ambitions. Then when you’re writing, you can reference your character mind maps to think through what they would do or say in a certain situation. Begin and end your story When I’m writing an article or blog post, I always leave the intro and conclusion for last. Introducing a story and wrapping it up can be the toughest part of writing. Mind maps give you the big-picture view of your story, making it easy to spot natural points where your narrative could start and finish. And because of their free structure, you can more easily reorganize elements in a mind map to make sure your story flows well from beginning to end. Practice and present If you’re telling your story in front of a live audience, practice can help you become a lot more comfortable. Whether you’re pitching a product, trying to motivate a crowd or drive an audience to action, practicing your presentation with MindMeisters  presentation mode can help you calm your nerves and boost your confidence in your storytelling abilities. “There’s a misperception that great storytellers can whip these yarns out of their hats and deliver with aplomb,” writes Kristi Hedges, author of Power of Presence: Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others. “The best stories are well-told stories â€" because they get better with each telling.” Maybe you’re a CEO hoping to energize your employees with a story at your next company gathering, or perhaps you’re aiming to become the next J.K Rowling. No matter what kind of tale you’re telling, mind maps are a useful tool that can help you go from a blank page to a complete story that improves understanding, entertains or inspires. Get Started with Mind Mapping! Try MindMeister If you liked this article you might also enjoy:  How to Create High-Value Blog Content with MindMeister and Your Kindle.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Searching for Identity An Analysis of Richard Wrights Native Son and Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man - Literature Essay Samples

Richard Wright and Ralph Ellison, both African American authors active in the middle of the twentieth century, took on the challenge of exploring and exposing the adversity that African Americans faced through their writing. They brought to light the issues of discrimination and the negative effects that racism was having on not only African Americans but society as a whole. Wright and Ellison, in their respective novels Native Son and Invisible Man, depict African American protagonists who are restricted by racism and struggle to develop their own identities in the early twentieth century, resulting in unwanted identities and, occasionally, a lack of identity itself. Wright and Ellison both had similar encounters with racism that greatly impacted their writing. They were both natives of the southern United States and moved north to urban areas. Wright first moved from Mississippi to Memphis, then to Chicago, and later New York where he met Ellison, who had moved from Oklahoma (â€Å"Richard Wright†). When they met in New York, Wright served as a mentor to Ellison and helped him to grow as a writer (â€Å"Ralph Ellison† 1516). Wright’s influence on Ellison is evident through the similarities in their writing styles and content. They both reflect on their personal experiences with discrimination in their novels and many details in their novels are woven from their own encounters. For example, Ellison’s unnamed narrator in Invisible Man even mirrors his own migration from the south to New York City. By pulling from their own experiences, Wright and Ellison are able to make their writing come alive because such autobiograp hical techniques add depth, detail, and vibrancy. The settings of the novels set up an environment that is restrictive for the black protagonists. Although Native Son is set in the relatively northern city of Chicago, Bigger Thomas still experiences repressive discrimination because he is black and perceived as inferior. Even though he lives in a place where race relations are better than race relations in the South, white supremacy and division are rampant. African Americans in the novel were restricted to living in the Black Belt, a neighborhood restricted to African Americans: â€Å"The car sped through the Black Belt, past tall buildings holding black life† (Wright 70). African Americans may have lived in the same city as white people, but they were not equal and still had to live in separate areas and neighborhoods. Similarly, in Invisible Man, the unnamed narrator experiences racism even after he moves to the North in New York. Initially he is taken aback by all the freedoms of African Americans when he first arrives in Harlem; his treatment here is so different from how he was treated at his black university in the South. He is in awe: â€Å"Then at the street intersection I had the shock of seeing a black policeman directing traffic—and there were white drivers in the traffic who obeyed his signals as though it was the most natural thing in the world† (Ellison 159). The simple scene shows such a contrast to what the South must be like since he is so shocked about what he sees, and it gives the reader an idea about the conditions of the South. This initial scene of the unnamed narrator describing Harlem makes it seem like such a great place full of freedom and equality for African Americans; in reality, it ends up being just as oppressive, because white people still control his life through their power and influence. While the physical location influences the black protagonists’ restrictions in both novels, the time period plays the more important role because of how race re lations were in the early to mid-twentieth century. No matter where the African American characters go, they were going to experience racism and discrimination because of how widespread it was at the time. As aforementioned, the setting traps the black protagonist in a limiting environment, which strongly contributes to the theme of an individual in a restricted society. This theme manifests itself throughout both novels as the racism the protagonists are constantly subjected to traps them in an internal struggle for identity. The setting, especially the time period of the novels lays the groundwork for the restricted society, but it is the vivid depictions of racism that both authors employ that paints the picture of a restrictive society. The racism that the protagonists face isolates them from other people and essentially society because they are divided from the white characters. As a result of the division and discrimination, they are kept from equal opportunities, further isolating them and fostering their individual struggles for identity. Racism is a prominent feature in both novels that continually serves to raise internal conflict for the black protagonists because it restricts them by leaving them without identities. The restrictive society turns Bigger Thomas to a life of crime in pursuit of an identity; he reflects the racism and discrimination that he feels from white people back to them, â€Å"To Bigger and his kind white people were not really people; they were a sort of great natural force, like a stormy sky looming overhead, or like a deep swirling river stretching suddenly at one’s feet† (Wright 114). He expresses that white people are not even humans, just as white people felt like him and other African Americans are not even humans. Wright strengthens this idea through a simile comparing white people to an ambiguous natural power. This â€Å"natural force† is what restricts Bigger and makes him feel like he has no other option than to commit crime as both a way of finding an identity and overcoming the white power by breaking the rules set forth in their restrictive society. Similarly, Ellison shows how the unnamed narrator was trapped by society because he always experienced being told who he was, mainly by white people of power, and was never able to figure it out for himself: â€Å"All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too†¦ I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer† (Ellison 15). In reflection on his life, the unnamed narrator discovers how he was so trapped by society and the only way he could become free was by declaring himself an invisible man. His only escape from the chains of society was by retreating to the underground. Wright and Ellison show how white power oppresses their black protagonists, mainly through striking depictions of racism. Wright and Ellison both use color imagery wherever possible in their novels as a way to describe and identify people; as a result, the white society attempts to force chosen identities on the protagonists based on the color of their skin. Wright uses color to describe everyone in the novel, even the most insignificant and irrelevant characters that appear. Furthermore, he applies this same tactic to not only people but objects as well. For example, the description of a young girl includes, â€Å"She looked like a doll in a show window: black eyes, white face, red lips† (Wright 62). Indeed, just in a simple simile depicting a doll Wright used three different color words. By doing this, Wright emphasizes the significance of color by repeating it in the descriptions of everything; indeed, he develops color as an important symbol throughout the novel. Through the manifestation of color, he represents the division in America at the time and is able to emphasize the intolerance of w hites. Wright’s steadfast repetition and emphasis on color mirrors the biased and intolerant vision of whites. By weaving all of the colors together, Wright develops color imagery; however, it is ironic how even though he places such an emphasis on color through the repeated imagery, he fails to paint a colorful world. He establishes a two-toned world of black and white; moreover, only rarely does he include colors other than black or white in descriptions (Faulkner 3592). The emphasis on color imagery helps the reader to understand how Bigger felt trapped and lose his identity in the overwhelming sea of colors that seemed to control his life. Ellison also develops a strong pattern of color imagery in Invisible Man, but in a different way. While Wright throws it in the reader’s face by making sure to use color diction in nearly every sentence, Ellison uses it in a more subtle but equally effective way by employing color imagery but often more for symbolic purposes. For example, when the unnamed narrator is mixing paints in the paint factory, he only works with white paint because it is the most important one to the company, â€Å"‘White! It’s the purest white that can be found. Nobody makes a paint any whiter. This batch right here is heading for a national monument!’† (Ellison 202). His boss shows such enthusiasm for the white paint by repeating ‘white’ three times, which he follows up by showing its prestige since it will be used for a national monument. This emphasis is meant to mirror and be symbolic of the prestige of white people. Ellison is trying to convey that just as the white paint is superior to all other paints, white people are superior to all other people. He furthers his point in this scene when the unnamed narrator mixes the paint wrong, â€Å"The paint was not as white and glossy as before; it had a gray tinge† (Ellison 203). Even the slightest imperfection in the paint that makes it no longer the purest white yields this reaction from his boss, â€Å"‘What the hell, you trying to sabotage the company?’† (203-204). This is significant because it shows that something that is not the purest white is no good and unworthy. The smallest deviation from the color white in one batch of paint was hyperbolically able to sabotage the entire paint company. Ellison translates this idea to how white people felt about colored people at the time, and how even the slightest bit of color in someone makes them inferior. Ellison develops color imagery carefully in Invisible Man through repetition of color diction with underlying messages. Color imagery is an effective tool for emphasizing race relations since the issues surrounding racism and discrimination revolved around something as seemingly trivial as the color of someone’s skin. It is an overt way of showing the power of race over changing the protagonists’ identity. Wright and Ellison also use a light and dark motif in order to emphasize the racial tensions in Native Son and Invisible Man. In Native Son, Wright uses snow as a recurring symbol throughout the novel. The snow begins to fall once Bigger kills Mary and burns her body, and it is often at night when the falling snow is mentioned. Wright creates a picture of the light, white flakes mixing and juxtaposes it with the dark, night sky: â€Å"Around him were silence and night and snow falling, falling as though it had fallen from the beginning of time and would always fall till the end of the world† (Wright 184). This shows the interaction between light and dark, white and black. The white overpowers all the darkness throughout the novel, covering the city and burying Bigger as he tries to evade the authorities. Ultimately, it is the whiteness that wins out as the snow finally stops falling once Bigger is arrested. Wright is trying to point out that he light presents obstacles for the dark; just as, the white people in society present obstacles for the black people. Ellison presents the light and dark motif in another interesting way through his invisible unnamed narrator. Instead of being lost in the darkness that the white society has put him in, the narrator embraces the light in order to confirm his invisibility, which is the identity he has searched for his entire life: â€Å"I now can see the darkness of lightness. And I love light. Perhaps you’ll think it strange that an invisible man should need light, desire light, love light. But maybe it is exactly because I am invisible. Light confirms my reality, gives birth to my form† (Ellison 6). He learned to embrace the light, which represents the white society, in order to make his own identity of invisibility. Instead of trying to overcome the light with his own darkness, he faded into the light so that his new identity of invisibility could be confirmed, â€Å"Without light I am not only invisible, but formless as well† (Ellison 7). Although he has managed to acquire an identity by his own means, he was still driven to it by the power of light. Ellison does this to show the unnamed narrator’s struggle for identity was able to come to an end by not only embracing his blackness but light as well to secure an identity. The light and dark motif used by Wright and Ellison accentuates the power struggle between African Americans and the white society. Wright and Ellison also investigate the implications of racism in their novels is by introducing foil characters for the black protagonists. These authors use white characters to create contrasts that are the exact opposites of Bigger and the unnamed narrator. They do this in order to create a stark juxtaposition between characters to mirror the divide in society during the early twentieth century. Wright develops a contrast between Bigger Thomas and Mary Dalton, for example. Obvious differences exist such as race, gender, and wealth. Furthermore, Mary is oblivious and proves to know little about blacks. Although she tries to befriend Bigger, it is insulting because she does not take into account his feelings or wants; she is unable to relate to blacks because of the way society conditioned her to view them. She is a symbol and her ignorance represents the ignorance of whites in the early twentieth century (Bradley 2018). Similarly, Mr. Norton in Invisible Man tries to befriend the u nnamed narrator and pretends to understand his situation. While it seems like a nice gesture, in reality, it offends the unnamed narrator because it comes off as condescending and insensitive to his situation. Mr. Norton does not realize that he does not want his pity; he just wants his own freedom and equality. Mary and Mr. Norton’s oblivious ignorance clashing with Bigger and the unnamed narrator’s uneasy and offended responses lead to conflict that highlights the underlying racism of society. In Native Son, Wright consistently uses animal similes to build and showcase the racism of society. Wright often compares the African American characters in the novel to animals through the use of similes; furthermore, this works to dehumanize blacks by portraying them as subhuman. The comparison is simple but effective because it is repeated so frequently throughout the novel; also, it is powerful because it brings to the readers’ attention the main idea that white Americans think less of African Americans, which is the source and drive for racism, segregation, and discriminatory acts. For example, a bystander describes Bigger, â€Å"‘He looks exactly like an ape!’ exclaimed a terrified young white girl who watched the black slayer† (Wright 279). In this simile, by comparing Bigger to an ape, he becomes less human because of the association with an animal. Specifically, it draws a comparison to a primitive ancestor of the human species, which makes it seem like he is an underdeveloped human. This strengthens the idea of white supremacy as this exact simile and other similar ones are repeated multiple times throughout the novel. It burns the idea into Bigger’s mind that he truly is lesser than the white people verbally attacking him. Wright is able to stress racism through his use of literary features. While Wright develops a focus on animal similes to put emphasis on racism, Ellison develops the symbolism of the Sambo doll. The Sambo dolls are little black dolls made out of paper and appear in the novel when they are being sold on the street. Clifton, the man selling them, is dancing them around like puppets, â€Å"A grinning doll of orange-and-black tissue paper†¦which some mysterious mechanism was causing to move up and down in a loose-jointed, shoulder-shaking, infuriatingly sensuous motion, a dance that was completely detached from the black, mask-like face† (Ellison 431). Ellison uses the Sambo dolls as a symbol for African Americans, and the strings that are making the dolls dance and move around are representative of the white society, who has a hold and control over African Americans at the time (Jarenski). This showcases the situation of the individual restricted by society because it takes it to such an extreme since the puppeteer has sole control; all moveme nts are controlled and restricted by the one in charge. This adds to the idea that African Americans are oppressed by white people. The racist environments that Wright and Ellison create have a negative impact on their black protagonists. The segregation and persistent discrimination that they are surrounded by oppresses them. They are kept down by the racist society and not given the same chances. For example, Bigger acknowledges his unequal opportunity because of his race, â€Å"‘I could fly a plane if I had a chance,’ Bigger said. ‘If you wasn’t black and if you had some money and if they’d let you go to that aviation school, you could fly a plane,’ Gus said† (Wright 17). This shows how the racist society oppresses not only Bigger, but all African Americans because of their lowered social standing on account of their race. The unnamed narrator in Invisible Man finds himself in similar situations as well. For example, throughout the novel his various jobs include servicing white men as their driver and being restricted from higher level office jobs and forced to ta ke a job in a paint factory. His opportunities are limited. Owing to the racism and discrimination that the black protagonists are consistently battered by because of their environment, they become oppressed and have little to no freedom or equality. As a result of these feelings of oppression, a common theme of fear arises in both Native Son and Invisible Man. Indeed, fear begins to consume the lives of the oppressed black protagonists. Wright describes the fear and oppression of African Americans, â€Å"They hate because they fear, and they fear because they feel that the deepest feelings of their lives are being assaulted and outraged. And they do not know why; they are powerless pawns in a blind play of social forces† (Wright 390). He shows here how their fear comes about as a result of their oppression since their lives are violated by the intervention by white people. They have no say in their own lives and identity. In turn, it is the fear that Bigger felt that turned him to violence to gain an identity. In Invisible Man, the unnamed narrator’s eventual realization of his fear is what sets him free to find his identity. He realized that everything he ever did was in reaction to the fear he felt; it controlled his life, â€Å"I didn’t understand in those pre-invisible days that their hate, and mine too, was charged with fear† (Ellison 47). Nonetheless, it is the fear he constantly felt that came from his oppression and always held a grip over his life. Once he became aware of it, he became his own person and broke free from the identity given to him. The culmination of the racist environment that oppresses and instills fear in the black protagonists rests in the struggle for an individual in a restricted society to develop an identity. Wright develops this through Bigger, who searches for an identity. He feels lost in a sea of white since he is unable to be recognized by any white people in society. Throughout Native Son, Bigger struggles with his only identity being black, â€Å"It made him live again in that hard and sharp consciousness of his color and feel the shame and fear that went with it, and at the same time it made him hate himself for feeling it† (Wright 347). The only recognition he ever received from anyone was about his race, and it is not until he accidentally finds himself on a spree of criminal activity that he gains notoriety and along with that, an identity. On his path as a criminal, he feels liberated from the chains he was always trapped in, â€Å"never had his will been so free as in this night and day of fear and murder and flight† (Wright 239). Although it is not the identity Bigger wanted, he is happy and satisfied because he is finally noticed by white people; indeed, he feels pride at the fact that white people are paying attention to him, â€Å"The papers ought to be full of him now. It did not seem strange that they should be, for all his life he had felt that things had been happening to him that should have gone into them. But only after he had acted upon feelings which he had had for years would the papers carry the story, his story† (222). It is then when Bigger feels he has gained an identity because of the fact that he is recognized. This recognition from the white community that now fears and hates him gives Bigger the satisfaction of having his own identity. Ellison explores the same search for identity through the unnamed narrator. The protagonist is so lacking in an identity that his name is not ever told. This dissociates himself from the reader as well as from himself. The reader follows him on his journey through life where he is always defined by what people tell him and the identity that other people tell him to take on. When he joins the Brotherhood, he is told, â€Å"This is your new identity† (Ellison 309) as he is given a new name and a new person to become and act as. He never had the chance to be his own person and claim his own identity. His environment kept him down. It was not until he was able to embrace his invisibility and realize its power that he found an identity that he was comfortable with in the underground, â€Å"I would take up residence underground. The end was in the beginning† (Ellison 571). He managed to find peace and happiness away from all the people who tried to control his life; indeed, t hey could not reach him in the underground. Ellison shows the extreme lengths that the unnamed narrator had to take in order to escape. He emphasizes how letting go of what society was telling him and embracing invisibility allowed him to find an identity as an invisible man, â€Å"So after years of trying to adopt the opinions of others I finally rebelled. I am an invisible man† (573). It is important to recognize how the unnamed narrator reached a point of finding an identity, and Ellison even takes it to such an extreme point when he writes, â€Å"I myself, after existing some twenty years, did not become alive until I discovered my invisibility† (6). This shows the true power of identity by equating identity with life. Richard Wright and Ralph Ellison expose through their respective novels, Native Son and Invisible Man, the struggles that African Americans face in the discriminatory society of the twentieth century United States. Furthermore, they demonstrate the adverse effects of such prejudice, including a loss of identity and the inability to find one. Through their protagonists, these authors show the dangers of racism; society as a whole is able to have such a negative impact even on determined individuals by taking away something as simple, personal, and natural as an identity. Works Cited Bradley, David. â€Å"Richard Wright.† Black Literature Criticism. Ed. James P. Draper. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 1992. 2018-2020. Print. Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: Vintage International, 1995. Print. Faulkner, Howard. â€Å"Richard Wright.† Critical Survey of Long Fiction. Ed. Carl Rollyson. Vol. 7. Pasadena: Salem Press, 2000. 3588-3596. Print. Jarenski, Shelly. â€Å"Invisibility embraced: the abject as a site of agency in Ellison’s Invisible Man.† MELUS 35.4 (2010): 85+. General OneFile. Web. 8 Dec. 2015. Ed. Nellie Mckay and Henry Gates Jr. New York: Norton, 1997. 1515-1518. Print. Richard Wright. American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography in Context. Web. 8 Dec. 2015. Wright, Richard. Native Son. New York: Harper Bros., 1940. Print.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Causes Of Drug Addiction - 895 Words

The causes of drug addiction Frank Zappa once said â€Å"A drug is neither moral nor immoral -- it s a chemical compound. The compound itself is not a menace to society until a human being treats it as if consumption bestowed a temporary license to act like an asshole.† What causes people to be addicted to drugs? Most people know the bad things that will happen to drug users: they become addicted. Curiosity is the first major cause that leads to drug addiction throughout the nation. The second cause is the desire to escape from reality through drugs and can lead the user to become addicted. Lastly, the everyday environment around the individual can push him or her to become addicted to drugs. Drug addiction is a serious problem that is caused by curiosity, escapement from reality, and the environment around us. The first cause is simple curiosity. The metaphor curiosity killed the cat is true when it comes to drug addiction. Most people have heard about drugs, and are curious to experience them because they heard about what effects that the drug can bring. These people have heard that drugs can be fun, or make a person feel and act different. They have seen their friends or family members behave differently while on drugs, and they want to see how it really feels for themselves. The moment when a first time drug user uses a drug, most likely they will become addicted to the substance and will do whatever is necessary to feed the addiction because of curiosity.Show MoreRelatedThe Causes of Drug Addiction1430 Words   |  6 PagesThe Causes of Drug Addiction What causes a man to risk losing his family or worse his freedom for the ability to get high? What causes a parent to risk not only their own health by smoking but also the health of their children? The answer is addiction. Alan I. Leshner, PhD states that the â€Å"essence of addiction [is an] uncontrollable, compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences.† He goes on to say, â€Å"This is the crux of how many professional organizationsRead MoreThe Causes Of Drug Addiction979 Words   |  4 PagesThe causes of drug addiction What makes a person addicted to drugs? Most people know the bad things that will happen to drug users: they become addicted. Curiosity is the first major cause that leads to drug addiction throughout the nation. The second cause is the desire to escape from reality through drugs and can lead the user to become addicted. Lastly, the everyday environment around the individual can push him or her to become addicted to drugs. Drug addiction is a serious problem thatRead MoreCauses Of Drug Addiction836 Words   |  4 PagesDrug addiction continues to be a major social problem in any country. Despite all efforts of trying to control the manufacturing and trading of these illicit substances, drug traders still somehow find a way to continuously distribute these drugs around and destroy thousands of lives through various clandestine laboratories that have sprouted from different parts of the world. More than seeing the amount of money being spent on something as unnecessary as taking illegal substances is how it hasRead MoreCauses And Effect Of Drug Addiction1227 Words   |  5 Pages Causes of Drug Abuse Relapse Ahmad Al-Nassr Introduction Drug abuse is a developed psychic and physical interaction between a living organism and a drug whether an animal or a human being. It is characterized by behavior that includes compulsion to take drugs in order to experience the psychic effect. Sometime it is to avoid the discomfort of the absence of the drug in the body system. Drug addiction causes intolerance so that drug addict can be dependent on drugs more than one drug (GenevaRead MoreAddiction : A Familiar Term For Most Of The World1603 Words   |  7 PagesBehavior Dr. Kelly Bordner April 26, 2015 Addiction Addiction is a familiar term for most of the world. By its simplest definition, addiction is habitual drug use that causes negative effects on the user’s health and social life despite efforts to stop using (Pinel, J.P. 2013). Drugs have been a part of human society for thousands of years. The quest to alter one’s consciousness is not a new one. Millions of people worldwide suffer from various forms of drug addiction. Yet for such a common affliction,Read MoreEffects Of Drug Addiction On Children1450 Words   |  6 PagesEffects of Drug Addiction Drug addiction is caused when chemicals from drugs are released into the brain and cause one to become dependant on a drug or substance, which ultimately becomes a new way of life. Drug addiction is bad because it causes negative health effects such as brain damage, emotional stress, and could possibly cause one to overdose resulting in death. In addition, drug consumption is bad for one’s social life because it is a way of fitting in and giving into peer pressure. FurthermoreRead MoreGambling Essay1227 Words   |  5 Pagesvarious addictions in the world today such as, drug, alcohol, sex, eating, or gambling addictions. One might ask the question, is one addiction more serious than another or are all addictions equally destructive? In particular, is an addiction such as gambling as serious as an addiction to drugs or alcohol? Research suggests a gambling addiction is less severe than a drug or alcohol addiction because drug or alcohol addictions are psychological and phys ical, can cause other addictions, can resultRead MoreEssay On The Effects Of Drugs739 Words   |  3 Pagesof things that can harm your body. A major one is drug. Not only does drugs harm your body, but also effect your behavior and people around you. Drugs come in many forms, from drinking to smoking. â€Å"Tobacco is one of the world most used drug, and it’s responsible for an estimated 5 million deaths worldwide each year† (Addiction and Health). Abusing drugs can cause mental, health problems, and also effect the people around you. The use of drugs cause people to experience mental issues such as behaviorRead MoreAlcohol And Drug Addiction Among People Of Different Ages861 Words   |  4 PagesAlcohol and drug addiction are two important topics in today’s society. Alcohol and drug addiction affects people of different ages with different backgrounds and ethnicities. There are many researches and studies regarding underlying reasons and roots of these issues. Just as many other addictions, these addictions have psychological, biological, and sociological roots to it. This paper will discuss research findings regarding the main points, roots and underlying reasons of alcohol and drug addictionRead MoreInformative Speech Outline on Addiction to Prescription Drugs799 Words   |  4 PagesInformative Speech – Topical Orientation General purpose: Addiction to prescription drugs Specific purpose: To inform my audience about the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, some common drugs that cause abuse, and their effects and some common treatments. Pattern: People living in today’s society must be aware about the dangers that prescription Drugs can cause them, as well as the people around them. Introduction: * Attention : Is it possible

Monday, May 18, 2020

Teenage Pregnancy in Malaysia - 5374 Words

TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN MALAYSIA Introduction News headlines such as â€Å"The trials of teen mothers† and â€Å"Teen probed for throwing baby from window† can be seen in our papers every other week as we are faced with the ever-growing problem of teenage pregnancy. In most reported cases, these hapless young women even attempt to abandon their new-borns in the most harrowing ways. Sexuality without social maturity often leads to pregnancy. These mothers are at high risk of not finishing school which often leads to them and their children living in poverty. Teenage pregnancy has become a rampant social issue and it has emerged to become a very disturbing trend in Malaysia. A large number of girls have seek help from the Welfare Department about†¦show more content†¦Self-concept also affects behaviour. The symbolic-interaction approach has the roots in the thinking of Max Weber (1864-1920), a German sociologist who emphasized the need to understand a setting from the point of view of the people in it. Symb olic interactionism is also another term used to describe the study of individual human interaction in its social context. The word ‘symbolic’ refers to the fact that people interact with one another in society, they use the range of signs and symbols that have particular meanings in that society-everything from words to gestures to styles of dress. The fact that people don’t always agree on the meanings of particular symbols makes life interesting, as each person tries to achieve their social goals by using the symbols to their advantage. Life is a stage, and each person may play a number of different characters. The structural functional approach is defined as a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Emile Durkheim, one of the founders of sociology used what has been called an ‘organic metaphor’ for society. Durkheim said society is like a human body-one big thing made up of many smaller parts. Your body is made of many different systems (nervous system, respiratory system, digestive system) that are themselves made up of organs (brains, lungs, stomach), and the organsShow MoreRelatedTeenage Pregnancy : A Social Issue1551 Words   |  7 PagesTeenage pregnancy rates have been declining in the United States, but when compared to pregnancy rates in other industrial countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom they are still relatively high. (Office of Adolescent Health, 2016). Teenage pregnancy is defined by UNICEF, as an adolescent between the ages of thirteen to nineteen becoming pregnant. (UNICEF Malaysia Communications). Teenage pregnancy is viewed as a social issue because of the way it affects a country’s economy, the mother andRead MoreTeen Pregnancy947 Words   |  4 PagesFACT SHEET WORLD POPULATION DAY 11 JULY 2008 Young People and Family Planning: Teenage Pregnancy DEFINITION Teenage pregnancy is defined as a teenage girl, usually within the ages of 13-19, becoming pregnant. The term in everyday speech usually refers to girls who have not reached legal adulthood, which varies across the world, who become pregnant. THE CURRENT SITUATION †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Half of the world’s population are under 25. Some 1.8 billion are aged 10-25, history’s largest generationRead MoreTeen Pregnancy Research Paper1273 Words   |  6 Pages The Effects of Pregnancy Among Adolescent Girls Heather Thedford HS 2013: Health Communications Texas Woman’s Universityâ€Æ' DESCRIPTION Teenage pregnancy is defined as a teenage girl, usually within the ages of 13-19, becoming pregnant (Unicef 2008). These are young girls that have not yet reached adulthood, who are engaging in unprotected sex and have conceived a child from that encounter. Risk Factors Associated with Teen Pregnancy Teen pregnancy has severe health risk factors for theRead MoreFactors that Contribute to Social Illness in Brunei Darussalam732 Words   |  3 PagesSocial illness is an outcome of a negative way of social life. It really can change and control the mind-set of the people where this illness is not easily treated. It a concern to countries such as Malaysia, Japan and other countries including Brunei Darussalam as this social illness kept growing. It was unknown that when this phenomenon had started. It becomes more noticeable in the 20th century. Social illness also arises in Brunei Darussalam though it is not at a high rate even so it still doesRead MoreTeenage Pregnancy Among The Under 18 Years Old London Borough Of Lambeth Over The Last Decade?2198 Words   |  9 Pages(Assessment 3) Progress Research Exercise. Student Name: Linda Imo Student ID: 14005361 What are the contributing factors of the prevalence in teenage pregnancy among the under 18 years old in London Borough of Lambeth over the last decade? Abstract This research study is about investigating the contributing factors of teenage conception and unintended pregnancy in Lambeth and aims to look the impact of government intervention and strategies, as well as campaigns in tackling and reducing its numbersRead MoreMaternal Mortality : Developing Countries1600 Words   |  7 PagesJulianna Fischer Mrs. Weekman Honors English II – 3rd 3 May 2016 Maternal Mortality in Developing Countries Around the world, 830 women die every day from preventable complications during pregnancy and delivery (â€Å"Maternal mortality† 1). A death during a pregnancy or within 42 days of delivery is referred to as a maternal death (Semba and Bloem 34). The issue of maternal death in developing countries is an often unaddressed and urgent need. Things like poverty, a lack of access to quality healthcareRead MoreTeaching Sex Educational Subject at School Should Be Done or Not3195 Words   |  13 PagesTeaching sex educational subject at school should be done or not A review on philosophical and educational perspective Abstract The issue of incorporating sex education in schools of Malaysia is still debatable. Some parents think sex education in school is essential to Malaysian youths to reduce sexual related social problems. While a greater section of people still believe that it is unnecessary to slot in sex education as a separate subjectRead MoreThe Modern Plague Of Overpopulation2111 Words   |  9 Pagescountries of Sudan and the South Sudan in 2012 over oil-rich regions between the South Sudan s Unity and Sudan s South Kordofan. And there have been territorial disputes in the South China Sea involving Brunei, the People s Republic of China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. More conflicts sparked when Egypt cut off gas supply to Israel and when Argentina seized YPF, the nation’s largest oil company, from Spain. Argentina also re-ignited The Falklands Crisis of 1770. The crisis was a diplomaticRead MoreEarly Marriage4549 Words   |  19 Pagesbecause of the fear that the girl ma y lose her virginity before she gets married since many regard it as the paramount attribute to a girl’s esteem. (Mathur, S, et al 2003) A survey had revealed that early marriage was considered as a solution of pregnancy outside of marriage. (Huq and Amin, 2001 as cited in Mathur S et al, 2003) And in the third world countries, marriage shortly after puberty is common among those living traditional lifestyles (Joyce, 2001). 2. Opponents’ Views Against Early Marriage Read More Asian Family Essay3443 Words   |  14 Pagesthis new change, â€Å"people are relying less on the family, which in turn is creating new relationships between old and young and women and men.† The change has promoted a lot of social change and economic change in many of these countries, such as Malaysia. By urbanization, many of these people are being influenced by the modernization and western technological advancements. These influences include democracy, education, communication, economical developments, medical advancements, employment, and

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

A Comprehensive Cheat Sheet for Fractions

Here is a cheat sheet, a basic outline of what you need to know about fractions when you are required to perform computations that involve fractions. In a nonscientific sense, the word computations refers to problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You should have an understanding of simplifying fractions and calculating common denominators before adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions. Multiplying Once you learn that the numerator refers to the top number and the denominator refers to the bottom number of a fraction, you are on your way to being able to multiply fractions. To do so, you multiply the numerators and then multiply the denominators. You will be left with an answer that might require one additional step: simplifying. Lets try one: 1/2 x 3/41 x 3 3 (multiply the numerators)2 x 4 8 (multiply the denominators)The answer is 3/8 Dividing Again, you need to know that the numerator refers to the top number and the denominator to the bottom number. You also need to know that in dividing fractions, the first fraction is referred to as the dividend and the second is called the divisor. In the division of fractions, invert the divisor and then multiply it by the dividend. Put simply, turn the second fraction upside down (called the reciprocal) and then multiply the numerators and the denominators: 1/2 Ã · 1/61/2 x 6/1 (the result of flipping 1/6)1 x 6 6 (multiply the numerators)2 x 1 2 (multiply the denominators)6/2 3The answer is 3 Adding Unlike multiplying and dividing fractions, adding and subtracting fractions sometimes requires that you calculate a like, or common, denominator. Thats not necessary when youre adding fractions with the same denominator; you simply leave the denominator as it is and add the numerators: 3/4 10/4 13/4 The numerator is larger than the denominator, so you simplify by dividing and the result is a mixed number:3 1/4 However, when adding fractions with unlike denominators, a common denominator must be found before adding the fractions. Lets try one: 2/3 1/4 The lowest common denominator is 12; thats the smallest number each of the two denominators can be divided into with a whole number as a result. 3 goes into 12 4 times, so you multiply both the numerator and denominator by 4 and get 8/12. 4 goes into 12 3 times, so you multiply both the numerator and denominator by 3 and get 3/12. 8/12 3/12 11/12 Subtracting When subtracting fractions with the same denominator, leave the denominator as it is and subtract the numerators:9/4 - 8/4 1/4 When subtracting fractions without the same denominator, a common denominator must be found before subtracting the fractions:For example: 1/2 - 1/6 The lowest common denominator is 6. 2 goes into 6 3 times, so you multiply both the numerator and denominator by 3 and get 3/6. The denominator in the second fraction is already 6, so that doesnt need to be changed. 3/6 - 1/6 2/6, which can be reduced to 1/3.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Situational Theory Of Situational Leadership - 926 Words

The Situational Approach The Situational Approach is a leadership style that essentially focuses on leadership in different situations. The premise of the theory is that different situations demand different kinds of leadership (Northouse, 2015, p. 92). The idea is that in order for a manager to be successful in all situations, he or she must be able to adapt. Effective [situational leadership} managers provide individual followers with differing amounts of direction and support on different tasks and goals, depending on the follower s developmental level (Avery Ryan, 2002, para. 5). Situational leadership can be broken down into four categories that combine supportive and directive behaviors. They are a high directive-low supportive style (directing approach), high directive-high supportive style (coaching approach), high supportive-low directive style (supportive approach), and low supportive-low directive style (delegating approach) (Northouse, p. 94-95, 2015). Directing Approach - High Directive-Low Supportive Style There are situations when it is important for a leader to direct, but does not need to be supportive to be an effective leader. In this approach, the leader focuses communication on goal achievement, and spends a smaller amount of time using supportive behaviors (Northouse, 2015, p. 94). Leaders using the directive approach spend time illustrating the responsibilities of subordinates and closely monitors their work to make sure that they getShow MoreRelatedSituational Theory And Situational Leadership1542 Words   |  7 PagesSITUATIONAL APPROACH Developed by Hersey and Blanchard based on Reddin s 3-D management style theory, the situational approach to leadership, is a very broadly used and accepted leadership style and it is used in a lot of organizations for leadership training and development (Northouse, 2012). The main premise of the Situational Leadership approach is that there is no one size fits all to leadership style and that different types of situations will require different kinds of leadership. In orderRead MoreSituational Leadership Theory1119 Words   |  5 PagesSituational Leadership Theory Since there is no special or one precise type of leader, numerous leadership styles and theories have surfaced. This is because a different situations require different type of leadership styles. In many occasions, leadership theories help to predict the best leadership style to employ in a particular situation. This essay seeks explain why situational leadership theory is useful and relevant in developing an effective leadership culture. It is this writers hope thatRead MoreSituational Leadership Theory Of Leadership1542 Words   |  7 Pagespowerful people? What do they have that the average person does not? Well, that answer is leadership skills. They did not know when they were born that they were going to become big leaders, but as they were growing up they learned what skills it took to allow them to become different from everyone else and become leaders. As we all know there is no magic when it comes to leadership. You either have the leadership skills or you don’t. While it is a learned behavior that begins at almost birth and isRead MoreLeadership Theories Of Situational Leadership866 Words   |  4 Pagestalked about leadership theories: Situational Leadership. The model, which celebrates a multitude of leadership styles instead of a single solution, has been considered a transformative and essential new way to manage and to lead. But what does it mean to be a situational leader? Is it always beneficial to change your approach to leading the troops? In this guide, we’ll examine the development of situational leadership, study its core elements and discover the qualities a situational leader mustRead MoreSituational Leadership Theory Of Leadership Essay1214 Words   |  5 PagesSituational leadership can be defined as a concept that helps understand leadership in terms of changing environment. Situational leadership theory was developed in 1969 by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard. This type of leadership depends upon each individual situation. This theory requires an individual to analyze the needs according to a particular situation and then act towards it. Ability or maturity of the followers are equally important than leader who leads the situation. Situational leadershipRead MoreSituational Leadership Theory And Organizational Leadership1660 Words   |  7 PagesSituational Leadership Theory and Organizational Leadership Why are some employees happier and more satisfied with their work environment than others? Why are some teams within the same organization more productive than others? How can you get subordinates to trust your decisions, readily cooperate with others and follow your lead? The answer to these questions boils down to one thing; effective leadership. For our purpose, effective leadership can be defined as the art of influencing individualsRead MoreLeadership Theory : The Situational Leadership Model1769 Words   |  8 Pages Situational Leadership Model Denise Watson Professor Anderson Leadership October 7, 2015 Abstract Over the years, scholars and management theorists have cultivated several leadership styles that they have encouraged people to apply and try to implement. However, most of these theories have shown various short comings. Typically, none of these styles has proven to work best in diverse situations. In the late 1960’s, the Situational Leadership Model was developed. In this paper, I willRead MoreSituational Leadership Theory And Organizational Leadership1422 Words   |  6 PagesSituational Leadership Theory and Organizational Leadership Dwight D. Eisenhower said, â€Å"Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.† Leadership is the art of directing others in the pursuit of reaching a common goal or desired outcome. At the most essential level, a leader is a person who inspires, encourages and directs others toward fixed goals. Great leaders are able to motivate their team through the coaching, establishment, and settingRead MoreLeadership Theories/ Approaches (Situational and Transformational Leadership)2362 Words   |  10 Pagescome to people on this is to achieve Leadership but to be able to do it, it is imperative to understand its meaning, its strengths, its weaknesses and all concepts that may help individuals and organizations to approach it in their modern world. Thanks to these needs, many researchers have been looking for answers and ways to represent what is leadership significance. The purpose of this essay is to analyze and discuss two theories/approaches of leadership, in order to gain a better understandingRead MoreLeadership Research: The Situational Theory Essay742 Words   |  3 PagesSituational theory Beginning in about 1950, the emphasis in leadership research shifted from the trait approach to the situational approach. In 1948, Ralph Stogdill survey of trait research concluded there were no universal leadership traits. In 1949, J.K. Hemphill published a book focusing completely on the situational factors in leadership. Thus, a new emphasis came into leadership research, not on whom or what the leader is, but on where leadership occurs and the condition under which it occurs

American Beauty †Paper Free Essays

American Beauty In the movie â€Å"American Beauty† there is a list of interpersonal conflicts. Lester and Carolyn Burnham are a seemingly ordinary couple in an anonymous suburban neighborhood, whose marriage and lives are slowly unraveling. They both have become so distant but remain together to keep up appearances. We will write a custom essay sample on American Beauty – Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now This relationship shows all the factors that Daniel Dana considers being a conflict. Two people are independent; they each need something from the other, both parties blame the other or find fault with them for causing the problem, one or more of the parties is angry or emotionally upset, the parties’ behaviors are affecting their relationship with each other and/or their relationships with others. †(Dana, 2000) In the movie there are many conflicts but the interpersonal conflict that stands out is that between Lester and Carolyn. The conflict between Lester and Carolyn is hard to ignore. They have stopped communicating effectively to one another. Lester is a middle aged man, whom sees no satisfaction in his life anymore. Carolyn is a middle aged woman, whom only shows her satisfaction, but it is a mask; to make it seem that she is happy. Lester, at first, seems to have a passive communication style, compared to Carolyn’s aggressive communication style. In the narration from Lester in the beginning of the film; he seems to be tired of his life and how it is going. They live in a big white house with a red door and a white picket fence; living the American dream. Unfortunately it is anything but. They have a daughter Jane who Lester believes he has failed. One night, Lester and Carolyn go to one of her work functions. Almost immediately they go their own ways at the function. Carolyn is being entertained by the â€Å"King† of real estate, drinking. While Lester has found himself outside with the new neighbor boy Ricky Fitts, smoking the illicit drug marijuana. When they go home and are in bed, their problems come to fruition. At this point the â€Å"blame game† comes into the picture; with much negativity. They fight back and forth sarcastically, saying hurtful things, until Carolyn jumps up out of bed and bursts out â€Å"This isn’t a marriage†. Then Lester finally speaks up and tells her what he has been feeling for years. One factor is the lack of sex between them. Also, he states that he has been her puppet for years; since she received her realtors license, and finally that he has been extremely unhappy. Then he continues saying that the only reason she is mad and saying anything is because he is finally fighting back. His dramatic and angry speech makes Carolyn silent. At this point in the film, I am more aware that they haven’t had effective communication to resolve their conflicts, for many years now. This situation escalated from their root cause of both of them becoming withdrawn, and not resolving their conflicts. When conflict erupts, emotions are involved, and the relationship can be threatened if the conflict is not resolved amicably. †(Sole, 2011) I think what started their downfall, years ago, is that they avoided conflict. This can be destructive in any relationship and/or marriage. If you don’t have the skills of resolving conflict; you run the risk of ruining your m arriage, separate friendships, and shatter your family. Since both parties did not obtain the skills necessary to resolve their conflicts, it resulted in Carolyn stepping out of their marriage; to have an affair with her real-estate rival, Buddy Kane the â€Å"King†, of real-estate. Also, resulting in Lester acting out, quitting his job, smoking marijuana, buying a 1970 Pontiac Firebird, and working out to impress a 17 year old girl; what some may call a mid-life crisis. Amazingly enough, this could have all been resolved, as long as they both are willing with positive emotions during their conflicts. Research has shown that interjecting positive emotions, along with negative emotions, during discussions result in happier marriages. I think that is Lester and Carolyn would have used some basic elements like humor, light-hearted fun, or some playfulness during their conversations, their marriage could have remained happy. Then if they could know and understand one another’s communication style, they would be better at resolving conflicts between them. Lester started out having a passive communication style, and then it quickly moved to a passive-aggressive communication style. I believed this happened because he was fed up with how his life was going and started to display resentment. With negative feelings, this indirectly sabotaged his life. If Carolyn held an assertive communication style, rather than an aggressive communication style, I believe they would have been able to eventually resolve their conflicts. All in all, if they had effective interpersonal communication, they would have continued to go down the path, to be a happily married couple. References Sole, K. ,Making Connections: Understanding Interpersonal Communication,(2011),BridgePoint Education Inc. Retrieved From: https://content. ashford. edu/books How to cite American Beauty – Paper, Essay examples

Live Show at St John-at-Hackney Church, London by Frightened Rabbit free essay sample

Following the release of their new album, there’s been some concern that Frightened Rabbit may have lost the integrity which gives their urgent, earnest songwriting its appeal. Worryingly, Pitchfork labelled the Scots’ latest effort Painting of a Panic Attack lacking in â€Å"the levity and humour† for which songwriter Scott Hutchison’s brand of self-contempt is so beloved. In the music industry flooded with guitar bands, it is easy to become semi-disposable – and it is largely Frightened Rabbit’s literary lyrical style which distinguishes them. It is true that this record feels formulaic when compared to ardent breakthrough The Midnight Organ Fight, and perhaps even a little less sincere. This could be attributed to Scott Hutchison’s romantic contentedness. The singer relocated to LA in order to live with his girlfriend in what for once in his songwriting life seems to be stable if not untroubled relationship, thus removing the artistic bedrock of heartbreak from which the previous albums have been mined. We will write a custom essay sample on Live Show at St John-at-Hackney Church, London by Frightened Rabbit or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, Hutchison’s lyrics about this transition, from straightforward yet pleasingly morbid ballad ‘400 Bones’ to the reflective ‘Still Want to be Here’, are some of the most imaginative and mature to be found in any of their back catalogue. It seems more to be the case that, having enlisted producer Aaron Dessner of The National, the Rabbits have lost a little of the acoustic energy which underpins Hutchison’s cogent and nuanced delivery so well. However, with this slicker production, Frightened Rabbit have gained a welcome brooding, pensive texture, even if their governing formula has become more apparent. As for a lack of levity, this claim can be thoroughly dismissed in light of their playful approach to performance. The church setting, too, apart from being wryly appropriate for the rapturous reception, provides an extra element of humour. Midway, Hutchison kneels to apologise not only for his own sins but those of the audience, gleefully aware of the irony of singing â€Å"clutching a crisp new Testament, breathing fire/will you save me the fake benevolence, I don’t have time† in such a setting. Perhaps the most exquisite moment comes when, during set-closer Keep Yourself Warm, Hutchison takes to the pulpit amidst dry ice and lasers. Perhaps tonight’s triumphant silliness arises out of a sense of safety– as Hutchison acknowledges early on, his listeners have resisted the â€Å"pressure to move with the times†, and it takes little to persuade this audience to enjoy themselves. Accordingly, tonight’s energy is derived in part from the excite ment of a dedicated fan base who have not had the opportunity to bawl out these neglected ballads in over three years. Despite the gig being in London, far from Scotland and the US, there is a genuine sense of homecoming. That is not to say that the gig is perfect. Although irrelevant in this instance, the performance’s ability to seduce new listeners is limited. The technical production is inconsistent, with the lyrics obscured by throbbing guitars, and so what makes this band so unique is unapparent to those unfamiliar with the material. In a set saturated with anthems, the expansive choruses and earnest instrumentals would become repetitive in this hour and a half performance without sublime lines such as â€Å"How can I talk of life and warmth/When I’ve a voice like a gutter in a toxic storm?† to entice. Furthermore, by filling the set with enormous songs, the Rabbits risk becoming tedious. The gig lacks the emotional troughs which authenticate peaks – although with such convivial stage presence and the almost unconditional love the fans (who have been supporting this slow release to fame for a decade), it hardly matters. Overall, this is a celebratory concert imbued with a humour and silliness it is difficult to capture on a recording. For the British fans – whose numbers seem to be dwindling following Hutchison’s relocation – this is something of a bittersweet celebration as the gruelling American tour dates vastly overshadow the three played in the UK. Although certainly at the peak of their artistic and showmanship capabilities, the sense of Frightened Rabbit as a small band who belong to their fans is slipping slightly, for better or for worse. Perhaps, these shows may be a finale for the FRUK contingent; but a worthy one nonetheless.