The Parisian Culture

Paris is one of global cities where different cultures, values, beliefs, and social behavioural patterns are mixed as a result of historical and political processes. Paris as the capital of France inherited the main products of the French colonial politics that influenced the cultural pattern in the city.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Parisian Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The main outcome of these processes is the development of the unique cross-cultural encounters that include the elements of both European and Islamic cultures (Fredette, 2011, p, 46). In order to understand the key features of the Parisian culture that are connected with the traditional cross-cultural communication in this region, it is important to analyse its aspects in terms of hybridisation, stereotyping, and political influence. Thus, the paper aims to answer the following question: what aspects of cross-cultural encounters are typical for Paris as well as what origins are associated with those modern intercultural interactions observed in the city. In spite of the fact that the diversity of the Parisian culture is a result of prolonged processes, the main focus of this discussion is on the development of modern cross-cultural communication during the last two decades. From this point, it is important to state that the modern Parisian culture includes different interdependent cultural groups that interact and influence each other significantly, while leading to creating the unique Parisian culture known as the blending of the European and Islamic cultures. The Development of the Parisian Culture during the Period of 1990s-2010s The Parisian culture of the 1990s was characterised by following the cross-cultural patterns typical for the previous decades. The main focus was on the increased flows of immigrants from the former colonial countries as Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.Advertising Looking for research paper on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In spite of the fact that the large flows of Muslim migrants were the result of the labour and immigration policies developed in the 1960s-1970s, the active arabisation of the city became observed only in the late 1980s. The reason is that during the 1970s, the flows of immigrants and refugees also included people with the Vietnamese, African, and Caribbean origins (Kidd Reynolds, 2014, p. 81). Thus, the society paid attention to the arabisation of Paris only when the first mosques and centres of the Islamic culture became actively built in Paris (Ogan, Willnat, Pennington, Bashir, 2014, p. 31). Therefore, it is important to conclude that during the period of 1990s-2000s, the interactions of the Algerians, Moroccans, people with the Vietnamese and Caribbean origins, and other Muslims developed according to the patterns typical for the era of post-colo nialism in France. The situation changed in 2000s-2010s, when the impact of the European nations on the French culture increased significantly, and the conflict in the cross-cultural interactions intensified because of being based on the cultural, religious, and political misconceptions. The 1999 census in France demonstrated that the number of immigrants from the European countries increased significantly, and the immigrants from Italy, Spain, and Portugal were represented as 45% in comparison with 39% of immigrants from the African countries (Meng Meurs, 2009, p. 129). However, although the racial and cultural pattern of Paris became more diverse, the visible presence of Islam in the city increased in contrast to the development of principles of the European integration in France.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Parisian Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Concepts Important to Discuss Cross -Cultural Interactions in Paris To start the detailed analysis of the cross-cultural encounters typical for the Parisian culture, it is necessary to explain such concepts guiding the discussion as hybridisation, stereotyping, and political impact. Cultural Hybridisation Hybridisation is the cultural process typical for the post-colonial era, during which interacting cultures partially change and transform while acquiring the features of each other (Rozbicki Ndege, 2012). The result of such processes is the construction of the new mixed cultural pattern based on the historical memory and having the features of cultures typical for minorities, different ethnicities and identities (Gaviria Emontspool, 2015, p. 182). The domination of one culture is changed with the contamination of elements characteristic for several cultures, and this result of cross-cultural relationships leads to creating the unique hybrid culture, identity, and knowledge. Stereotyping Stereotypes are simplified m eanings and rather standard associations that are used by people in order to speak about the members of other racial, ethnic, or cultural groups. While focusing on cultural stereotypes, representatives of different cultures are inclined to ignore individual differences typical for persons as well as avoid the deep understanding of the unknown culture (Ogan et al., 2014, p. 28). In many cases, stereotypes as generalisations of behaviours typical for members of different cultural groups are not supported with cultural studies.Advertising Looking for research paper on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Politics of Cross-Cultural Encounters Cross-cultural and intercultural encounters at different territories are highly influenced by political processes and they lead to consequences in the form of political decisions. In order to regulate intercultural encounters and avoid conflicts typical for cross-cultural relations, the tools of politics are used to determine regulations for colonialism, migration, and even tourism (Rozbicki Ndege, 2012). In this context, politics regulates the relations of cultures within social networks while determining the areas of impact in intercultural encounters. Still, the results of political regulation of cross-cultural relations are often new conflicts and racial aggression. The Aspects of Cultural Hybridisation in Paris Paris can be discussed as the city that is open to the active cultural hybridisation in terms of traditions, values, customs, cuisine, language, and art. The population of Paris is often discussed as transethnic and demonstrating al l the features typical for hybridisation, especially while referring to the Maghrebi-French identity. For instance, the French language used by the Moroccans in Paris known as the Maghrebi French significantly differs from the pure French language used by the native Parisians because it is characterised by the pronunciation and melodic pattern typical for Arabic languages. There are also differences in the art. The immigrants from Maghreb often follow the culture of the Berbers, and they bring it to the Parisian environment. When the pure Parisian art is westernised and represented in paintings, architecture, and literature, the art of the Berbers follows the Arabic patterns, and it is represented in leather goods, jewellery, and unique woven carpets (Kidd Reynolds, 2014, p. 24). However, those Maghrebis who live in Paris during a long period of time are inclined to mix their cultural heritage with the Parisian culture while contributing to hybridisation. The other examples of the cultural hybridisation in Paris are musical traditions combining the elements of the Arab and French music, the mixed cuisine, linguistic changes, and patterns in architecture and art (Kidd Reynolds, 2014, p. 59). Thus, the culture of poor suburbs in Paris inhabited by the Algerians and Moroccans gave the origin to the unique mixed art developed in Paris that assimilated the elements of the Islamic culture into the French culture. While focusing on the social causes of the cultural hybridisation, it is important to emphasise intermarriages. People born in Paris during the period of 1970s-1980s were often brought up by mixed couples, and the era of the 1990s resulted in the social appearance of the active youth who were tolerant and open to cross-cultural interactions (Meng Meurs, 2009, p. 128). The revolts of students against the racial discrimination in the city and the whole country became the particular feature of the 1990s. As a result, today the majority of the Parisian resid ents note that they have the hybrid identity because of their family backgrounds, and this aspect makes their social interactions easier. In spite of the fact that the blended cultures resulted in developing the tolerant attitudes in the Parisians to different races and ethnicities, there are still conflicts among the citizens of Paris that are based on the religious background because of the problems of non-conformity and ‘otherness’. The process of arabisation promoted by the Muslims in Paris in the 1990s was in contrary to the focus of many French people, including authorities, on the Muslims’ integration in the Parisian culture. The result of these processes is the hybrid Parisian culture that developed in opposition to the political movements in the country as a social process, involving people who developed their intercultural connections (Kidd Reynolds, 2014). Thus, many Parisians identify themselves as French Muslims who were born in mixed families or ad opted Islam because of changes in their views. In 2000s-2010s, the Islamic communities of Paris focused on accentuating the details of the Islamic culture as unique in the context of Paris through building mosques, cultural centres, and new bazaars. However, the real effect of such processes is the further interaction of cultures associated with the Parisians’ interest in different traditions. Therefore, it is also impossible to speak about the processes of integration because the French people also inherit the Islamic culture in form of music, language, and art (Kidd Reynolds, 2014, p. 29). One of the reasons of such processes is the fact that the culture of Paris was never truly homogenous. Stereotyping in the Parisian Culture In the Parisian culture, the problem of stereotyping is a consequence of migration rates increased in the 1980s-1990s, and it results in the prejudiced attitude toward the representatives of the Islamic religious groups and other migrants from the No rth African region. During the period of 1990s, many French perceived migrants in Paris as poorly educated and illiterate, and this fact influenced the segmentation of labour in the city and the problem of disadvantaging the immigrant minorities (Fredette, 2011, p. 46). In opposition to this stereotype, the Muslims developed their own stereotypes regarding the French according to which the French are seen as highly individualistic and intolerant. The development of such stereotypes was supported by the fact that before the 2000s, the French regarded the Muslims as problematic citizens who avoided integration in the French culture (Fredette, 2011; Kidd Reynolds, 2014). The era of 2000s led to the development of new stereotypes regarding the Muslims among the dominant French population in Paris. The events of 2001 in the United States affected the public opinion in Paris as a global city significantly, and the level of anti-Muslim attitudes and even hatred against the Islamic culture increased in comparison with the data for the 1990s (Ogan et al., 2014, p. 30). Still, the Parisians are inclined to develop the strong movements against stereotyping and racism in the society, and they actively support the idea of equality in the social environments of Paris in order to fight social injustice in relation to cross-cultural interactions (Kidd Reynolds, 2014). The reason is that the blending of French and Islamic cultures influences each aspect of the social life in the city and reduces the focus of the citizens on stereotypes. The Role of Politics to Influence Cross-Cultural Encounters The religious and racial conflicts within the Parisian culture are the results of prolonged interrelationships developed between the Muslims and Europeans, and they are also the result of colonialism and specific politics selected by the French government in order to regulate the problematic issues. During the era of the 1990s, the Parisian culture was significantly politically charg ed in terms of revising the laws regarding the immigration in France. In the 1990s, the politics regulated the key aspects of immigration from the countries of Maghreb (Kidd Reynolds, 2014). The situation changed in the 2000s-2010s because of the increases in levels of migration and tourism between the European countries that resulted in changing the cultural patterns observed in Paris. The improvements in the principles of cooperation between the European countries led to intensifying connections in the sphere of education, business, and art. As a result, the authorities in France focused on separating the church and the state while banning the wearing of the hijab by the Muslim women in public places in 2004 (Wagner, Sen, Permanadeli, Howarth, 2012, p. 522). The main focus was on accentuating the homogeneous French culture dependent on the integration of Muslims. Nevertheless, the actual result of the law was the increased opposition of the Islamic groups in Paris because the po litical authorities failed to see the culture of France as hybrid, multi-faceted, and dynamic. In order to address the religious activism and the increased number of Islamic movements affecting the cross-cultural relations in Paris and France in the 2010s, the authorities focused on promoting the exchange of knowledge between nations in order to change the attitudes of the Parisians to minorities in the culturally diverse city (Meng Meurs, 2009, p. 129). The reason is in the necessity to improve the cross-cultural communication and to affect the peaceful co-existence of communities in the context of increased racial, ethnic, and cultural conflicts developed in the world communities. Conclusion The Parisian culture can be discussed as a result of the prolonged cross-cultural interactions of the people of Arabic and European origins caused by the eras of colonialism and further post-colonial cooperation. This mixed culture has the features of opposite traditions and value systems bas ed on the differences in religions. The modern urban environments of Paris can be considered as the visual representations of the cultural blending that affects the city’s life. In spite of a range of anti-Muslim stereotypes in the world and France, the Parisians work to develop their cross-cultural relations in the most peaceful manner, and the youth activism plays the key role in overcoming the racial and religious prejudice. However, not all decisions made by the French authorities can be discussed as effective to address intercultural problems. The laws of 2004 banning the wearing of hijab by the Muslim women were significantly opposed by the Islamic community because they violated the values of the French Muslims that discuss themselves as equal members of the Parisian society. The actions of the authorities could be analysed in case of developing globalisation tendencies, but the uniqueness of the Parisian culture is in the fact that a representative of any culture can feel comfortable in Paris as the global city. Therefore, modern regulations are more appropriate to address the cross-cultural interactions in the region. References Fredette, J. (2011). Social movements and the state’s construction of identity: The case of Muslims in France. Studies in Law, Politics, and Society, 54(1), 45-75. Gaviria, P., Emontspool, J. (2015). Global cities and cultural experimentation: Cosmopolitan-local connections. International Marketing Review, 32(2), 181-199. Kidd, W., Reynolds, S. (2014). Contemporary French cultural studies. New York, NY: Routledge. Meng, X., Meurs, D. (2009). Intermarriage, language, and economic assimilation process: A case study of France. International Journal of Manpower, 30(1/2), 127-144. Ogan, C., Willnat, L., Pennington, R., Bashir, M. (2014). The rise of anti-Muslim prejudice: Media and Islamophobia in Europe and the United States. International Communication Gazette, 76(1), 27-46. Rozbicki, M., Ndege, G. (2012). Cros s-cultural history and the domestication of otherness. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. Wagner, W., Sen, R., Permanadeli, R., Howarth, S. (2012). The veil and Muslim women’s identity: Cultural pressures and resistance to stereotyping. Culture Psychology, 18(4), 521-541. This research paper on The Parisian Culture was written and submitted by user Aubrey Goff to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Your Guide to Creating a Personal Brand That Will Make You Stand Out

Your Guide to Creating a Personal Brand That Will Make You Stand Out When you’re on the job hunt, you have one fantastic thing working for you. Not your lucky interview shoes. Not even your resume (though a great one is a necessary part of any job search). It’s you. Your personal brand is a tool in your arsenal that can really help you stand out from a crowd of similar resumes, and get to the next steps. If you’re not sure what your brand is or what it should be, let’s walk through what it means to have a brand, and how to build it. Why Do You Need a Brand?Think about what branding is, and does. It tells a story about a product, usually about its quality and reliability. Every commercial, every ad, every website- they’re all trying to tell a story. You need this car because it’s reliable and energy efficient. You need this soda because it means you’ll create happy memories with friends and family while sipping cold drinks. You need to get your news at this site because it is fast and accurate. Whatever that company wants you to think about their product, they try to convey via branding.You can apply that same thinking to your own life and career. What do you want people to think of when they think of you? It should be a clear, to-the-point message. Claire is an innovative problem-solver. Manny is a results-focused manager who leads his team to exceed sales goals. Terry prioritizes efficient service and top-notch customer experience. Having that kind of elevator pitch about yourself ready to go not only gives you a punchy line to use with recruiters and interviewers, but also gives you a center point around which you can build your resume, cover letter, interview prep, etc. It takes the pressure off of the hiring manager to figure out just who you are, and lets them concentrate on how you would fit in, and what experience and skills you bring to the table.How to Identify Your BrandIt’s okay if you don’t know yet what you want your brand/narrative to be. If you havenâ €™t really thought about it before, it’s not likely you’ll instantly hit an â€Å"a-ha† moment that sums up your professional essence into a catchy one-liner. Start by asking yourself some key questions:What is the best quality you offer, or service you provide, when it comes to your career? Do you have a stellar customer service record? Do you have an eagle eye for detail? Are you great at bringing different kinds of people together to get a project or task done? Could you sell anything to just about anyone? Think about your most â€Å"sellable† quality as a professional and as a potential employee.What do you value most in a job/company? Personal values are important (you wouldn’t want to take a job that violates your personal beliefs), but here we should be focusing on what you value in your career. For example, if helping others is important to you, then that’s a core value, and you may want to focus on teamwork or customer service i n your personal branding. Other examples of core values might be innovation, creativity, strong reputation, global focus, environmental responsibility, or work-life balance.What are you passionate about? What drives you? Why did you choose this field in the first place? Why do you want to continue and grow in it? Figuring out what motivates you and pushes you forward can help you really zero in on what your personal brand can be.What are your talents? What have you been recognized for, in the past? What do you think are your natural strengths? What can you do better than other people? Again, for this exercise focus on work-related talents, or general life talents that could be applied to your job. If you’re a stellar trombonist, that’s great, but how does that apply to your career in retail sales? If at all possible, connect your talents to specific outcomes or accomplishments at work.What are your goals? This can help you start to focus your brand, aligning your curre nt story with where you want to be. Be as specific as possible in naming your goals- ones like, â€Å"I want to be making double my salary in ten years† or â€Å"I want to be CEO† are not helpful. A more effective approach here would be thinking about the next five years or so, and the milestones you’ll need to hit.Once you have all that information gathered (just notes, nothing too complicated), you can start identifying the most important parts, and distilling them down to just a sentence or two. I am a highly organized people person. I am a creative thinker with a passion for helping others. I am a whiz at finding new ways of doing things to make my job more efficient. I am good at team-building, and want to take my leadership skills to the next level.Finding your personal brand story isn’t the end result here, though- now you have to put it into action.5 Steps to Build Your BrandHere comes the â€Å"hard work† part- or at least the more time-co nsuming part. These are the things you should be doing to bolster your brand, and make sure you’re getting the message out there.1. Build your social media profile.If all of your current social media accounts are personal ones, where you post pictures of your most recent vacation, talk about what you’re watching on TV, or posted stuff throughout your, uh, younger and more carefree days, it’s time for an upgrade. Switch personal Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts to private settings, to be enjoyed only by you and your personal friends and family. Companies and hiring managers don’t hesitate to do online searches these days, and the last thing you want them turning up at the top of the search page is that unfortunate photo of you from your old Cancun spring break. Sure, it may have been years ago now, but a margarita funnel doesn’t exactly say â€Å"professionalism.† Shutting those away from public consumption definitely helps in projec ting only the best (and least controversial) image of yourself. Make sure you do basic searches for your name on a few different search engines to see what comes up- and what kind of damage control you’ll need to do.If you’re starting new accounts for your brand, keep it simple- use a variation on your name. Search for people in your field, professional associations, or blogs and sites in your field, and add them so that your new feeds are chock full of useful information. When you post content, make sure you’re posting things that are engaging, on topic, and focused. You don’t need to post every day just for the sake of posting, but try to get in the habit of posting at least a few days a week. The point is to engage and raise your profile, not lurk.2. Create a personal website.Existing social networks are great, because they’re easy to use and have built-in pools of people and content so that you can get up and running right away. But you should also take the step of building your own personal website, which you can use as a kind of living resume/business card/snapshot. You don’t need to be a graphic design expert- and if the late 90s/early 00s taught us anything, it’s that people left to their own devices will end up using weird gifs and blinding color combinations. Lucky for us now, there are lots of great tools that let you build a custom site from a series of options.On your site, you have total freedom. You can host your resume (with even greater detail), write a blog, post-how-to videos, post a portfolio of your work, link to your social media profiles- whatever you want to include. Make sure you emphasize the top points you came up with during your â€Å"what is my brand?† exploratory phase. If you include the link to this site on your resume or in your cover letter, it’s a chance to let the reader get to know you better.And don’t forget to keep things consistent: the messaging from your social media profiles should be the same high points you hit in your website. The clearer and more cohesive your message is, the more memorable it’ll be.3. Get a business card.Seems like a throwback, doesn’t it? But sometimes there’s no replacement for the good old-fashioned act of handing someone a card with all of your contact info on it- especially in situations where you don’t have time to spell out your personal URL. Plus, you’ll have extras to put in those fishbowls at restaurants and potentially win a free lunch (bonus!).4. Build your network.What good is a brand if no one knows about it? Start making connections (or at least more of them). Find people in your field you find interesting, and follow them. Engage in conversations online about your field. Post interesting articles you find, or talk about ideas you have for your field. Look up old colleagues who are still in your field, and re-open that connection.5. Keep engaging.Thereâ⠂¬â„¢s no point where you’ll be able to say, â€Å"There’s my brand, it’s done. I’m just gonna sit here and wait for opportunities to roll in.† Maintaining your brand is going to be a crucial part of the process. For one thing, you don’t want your brand to start looking outdated. For another, it’s your own reputation you’re holding here, so you want to at least keep an eye on your social media profiles to make sure you’re not missing anything, or ignoring attempts by others to engage you.Finding and building your brand is one of the best investments you can make in your career. It helps you figure out what your best qualities are as a job applicant, and can help you make the best decisions for your career overall. If you make these maintenance tasks part of your daily and weekly routines, you’ll be living your brand without even realizing it, and will be your own best brand advocate.

Pippin II of Herstal - Mayor of the Palace - Pippin the Younger

Pippin II of Herstal - Mayor of the Palace - Pippin the Younger Pippin II was also known as: Pippin of Herstal  (in French, Pà ©pin d’Hà ©ristal); also known as Pippin the Younger; also spelled Pepin. Pippin II was known for: Being the first Mayor of the Palace to take effective control of the kingdom of the Franks, while the Merovingian kings ruled in name only. Occupations: KingMilitary Leader Places of Residence and Influence: EuropeFrance Important Dates: Born: c. 635Becomes Mayor of the Palace:  689Died:  Dec. 16, 714 About Pippin II : Pippins father was Ansegisel, the son of Bishop Arnulf of Metz; his mother was Begga, the daughter of Pippin I, who had also been a mayor of the palace. After King Dagobert II died in 679, Pippin established himself as mayor in Austrasia, defending the autonomy of the region against Neustria, its king Theuderic III, and Theuderics mayor Ebroà ¯n. In 680, Ebroà ¯n defeated Pippin at Lucofao; seven years later Pippin won the day at Tertry. Although this victory gave him power over all the Franks, Pippin kept Theuderic on the throne; and when the king died, Pippin replaced him with another king who was, essentially, under his control. When that king died, two more puppet kings followed in succession. In 689, after several years of military conflict on the northeastern border of the kingdom, Pippin conquered the Frisians and their leader Radbod. To solidify the peace, he married his son, Grimoald, to Radbods daughter, Theodelind. He secured Frankish authority among the Alemanni, and he encouraged Christian missionaries to evangelize  Alemannia and Bavaria. Pippin was succeeded as mayor of the palace  by his illegitimate son, Charles Martel. More Pippin II Resources: Pippin II in Print The link  below will take you to a site where you can compare prices at booksellers across the web. More in-depth info about the book may be found by clicking on to the books page at one of the online merchants. by Pierre Richà ©; translated by Michael Idomir Allen Early Carolingian RulersThe Carolingian EmpireEarly Europe Whos Who Directories: Chronological Index Geographical Index Index by Profession, Achievement, or Role in Society The text of this document is copyright  ©2000-2016 Melissa Snell. You may download or print this document for personal or school use, as long as the URL below is included. Permission is   not  granted to reproduce this document on another website. For publication permission,  please   contact  Melissa Snell. The URL for this document is:http://historymedren.about.com/od/pwho/fl/Pippin-II.htm

Healthcare Model Presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Healthcare Model Presentation - Essay Example The inequality in the Mexican healthcare is being felt in two folds. The first aspect of the inequality is the urban-to-rural inequality, where the population in the urban areas of the country has a better healthcare access, compared to those living in the rural areas (Garman, Johnson & Royer, 2011). The other aspect of the inequality in the Mexican healthcare system occurs in the form of the rich-to-poor healthcare access inequality, where the rich are better placed to access both high quality and also affordable healthcare services, compared to the poor, whose access to healthcare is hindered by both cost and distance to healthcare service facilities (Ruelas, 2002). Therefore, in addressing the inequality in the Mexican healthcare, both aspects of the rural-urban coverage as well as the rich-poor healthcare disparity are the core issues that must be resolved. Problem statement Healthcare services provision has greatly advanced over the decades in Mexico. Consequently, statistics ha ve shown that the mortality rate has declined, while the birth rate and the life expectancy rates have greatly improved, from a mere life expectancy of 42 years in 1940, to the current 73 years by 2012 (Barraza-Llorens, Panopoulou & Diaz, 2013). While this is a notable achievement of the healthcare system in Mexico, further statistics have emerged to the effect that, 52% of the Mexican population finances their healthcare services out of their pocket (Johnson & Stoskopf, 2010). This notwithstanding, even the very poor population, especially in the rural areas and the informal settlements around the city prefers to go for the private healthcare provider services, not because the quality of the healthcare is poor, but because the accessibility of such healthcare facilities, especially regarding their locations have left the poor without a choice, but to go for the private services (Barraza-Llorens et al., 2002). This scenario is in sharp contrast with the situation in the urban areas, which are populated by the middle-and the high-class population, where the access to public healthcare services is easily accessible, owing to strategic locations of such facilities within the urban rich regions. Therefore, while the government is striving towards ensuring that the whole of its population is either covered by the public or the private healthcare practice, it has not been able to address the issues of urban-rural, and the rich-poor health inequalities (Ruelas, 2002). Purpose statement Effective assessment of the success of the healthcare system should be based on both the quality of the healthcare services provided, as well as on the burden of paying for such services that is borne by the patients (Barraza-Llorens, Panopoulou & Diaz, 2013). The healthcare system in Mexico is especially problematic in some of the employment sectors, where some employees are covered by a duo-system of both private and public healthcare services, while the other category is uncovered. Further, the distribution of the public

Consumer Culture in terms of Social Status and Identity Essay

Consumer Culture in terms of Social Status and Identity - Essay Example The global arena, as experienced in the contemporary arena, has undergone through various changes, as historically provided. History provides a review of the evolution of Man, which culminated in great advancement during the past two centuries in terms of different contexts. The 20th century was indeed the hallmark of human irony, where various contexts influenced and were in turn affected by human civilization. Thus despite the clashes of human ideology, which inadvertently resulted in two deadly global wars, and a 45-year long Cold war, the real winner of all this was an unlikely candidate. What do I mean by this? That while the United States became the eventual global leader, the century did not culminate in its political ideas’ dominance in global affairs rather it was the concept/ aspect of consumerism that won. Consumer culture, individualism, individual strive for success, and materialism became the dominant identity factor, which portrayed then and still does, Man’s ultimate gains (Cross, 2002). While the political and economic spheres had been influential in humanity’s existence, as portrayed throughout history, it is the 20th century, which ultimately defined Man. In the superpower itself, and increasingly across the globe, the visions of a political society of active citizenship and stable, shared values did not become enshrined in the human subconscious. Rather, the seemingly passive, yet dynamic society became ingrained in material consumption in the manner. Jhally (2006) portrays that this is what has come to define our current society, the geopolitical, social and economic factors notwithstanding. To augment the aforementioned drive has been the greatly influential aspect of globalization. Despite the great expansion of government, the very basic ideal of political life being primary to social coexistence and human interaction, it has receded to the  background; paving way for a consumer public.

The Trends Of Operating Systems Information Technology Essay

The Trends Of Operating Systems Information Technology Essay In short, the operating system is the brain of a computer. The computer only works depending on what kind of operating system it is using. Most people prefer to use Windows than other systems because it is being globally used. The people who chose Macs over Windows did so because Macs works very smoothly for them, they are virtually virus free and that the hardware are also sleek and high-end looking. Linux users prefer to use Linux because it is an open source and not only are they virus free, but they also can download the software for free over the internet. It does not matter what kind of Operating System the consumer wishes to use because it all comes down to their own preferences. 5 Task 2-Presentation 6 Task 1-Report What products does my local area import? What products does my local area import? You can research one product, a type of product, or several different products. You will need to look at the current trends and how these are changing, and how they are expected to change in the future. You should look at the reasons behind the trends. You can research this online and also get information from local business or shops. You do not necessarily have to look at large scale imports in major industries it could be a small store which imports fruit and vegetables from a nearby farm. Operating System The Operating System-or OS for short-used on a computer really depends on what type of computer the consumer itself is using. The operating systems version will have to depend on users preferences and what they are aiming to achieve with the product. If a person buys a Sony VAIO, he or she is most likely to use Windows as his/her computers operating system, and if the person buys an Apple, it would be Mac because the system has been pre-loaded into their computers. A computer is considered useless if it is without its operating system. Current Trend: In Brunei, Microsoft Windows is being widely used and preferred at the moment. Reason being is that most of the consumers primary computers operating system is Windows. Thus, a lot of the people prefer to use Windows because it is what they are familiar and comfortable with. It is also easier for them to do their work since most of them-be it at school or in the office-still prefer Windows than other operating systems and they can easily sync their work without having to change their files format to suit the operating system they are using. However, the Windows users have to deal with virus prone software that are highly disliked by the consumers as the virus will corrupt their work. Even with anti-virus programs installed into their computers, they still get virus threats every now and then because when you buy a PC, you get both the hardware and software from different companies, which makes it vulnerable to virus attacks because Windows allow various types application to be download into the system and viruses are one of them. Changing Trends: Macintosh was the first computer ever produced, however Windows gained popularity because it sold itself to big companies such as IBM. The government has recently introduced Mac to students by providing public schools with MacBooks so that their students can be Apple literate. The public people, although not in a very large number, are also slowly starting to shift to Mac because they feel that it is much more secure and reliable in terms of virus handling and crashing programs than Windows because Macs applications and computers are both made Apple. Since Macs applications are made to work generally the same way, it would be easier for users to learn and navigate throughout the system. Apple build their own computers and software so it rarely crash or freeze or even catch a virus because its design. Apples browser, Safari alerts users when an item has finished downloading as well as continually making free security updates with the option of having it automatically downloaded. Future Trends: Even with the currently slow Windows to Mac conversion in Brunei, there are people who also wish to switch from Windows to Linux, but not in a very large number. Why people would want to switch to Linux is because not only Linux is freely distributed, its functionality, flexibility and sturdiness has made it the main alternative for proprietary UNIX and Microsoft operating systems. Not only that most of their software are virus free but the system also automatically updates them. Major computing companies have embraced and supported Linuxs development and it has been adopted worldwide primarily as a server platform and is getting more common for home and office desktop. Whether its a scientist, a hacker, a student or someone who wants to store everything on the internet, theres always something for everyone, but if there is not any flavour of Linux for you, you could always tailor one for yourself. You can install Linux on your computer, your tablet, your phone or even your washing machine and it will run just fine. Linux is very flexible in that way and that flexibility is what makes it so powerful and is why many labs, servers and companies use Linux. Chart: According to the survey conducted, 69% people who did the survey are Windows user, 27% of them uses Mac and the remaining 4% uses Linux. 1 out 4 Windows user, who are using Windows 7 wishes to move to Mac because Mac is much better in terms of virus handling and it is cheaper compared to when they buy a PC. 1 out of 8 user wishes to move to Linux because they are interested on how it works as Linux is a free open source that are powered and developed by the community. 3 out 4 Windows user, who are using older versions of Windows, wishes to upgrade their PC to Windows 7 because: This version of Windows has improved itself in such a way that the users can multi-task easier on it than on the previous versions. It keeps the system safe by having a built-in protection against spyware and other malicious software, and it also encrypts the entire drive. Users will spend less time waiting for their PC to get ready if they use the Sleep Mode because it is made to do so. It is also designed to reconnect to their wireless network faster so it will be ready in seconds. It has added features such as Pin and Jump List and it is able to navigate lots of open windows. Users can turn their PC into a Wi-Fi hotspot and share any kind of Internet connection wirelessly with any Wi-Fi enabled devices by using Connectify. Conclusion: In short, the operating system is the brain of a computer. The computer only works depending on what kind of operating system it is using. Most people prefer to use Windows than other systems because it is being globally used. The people who chose Macs over Windows did so because Macs works very smoothly for them, they are virtually virus free and that the hardware are also sleek and high-end looking. Linux users prefer to use Linux because it is an open source and not only are they virus free, but they also can download the software for free over the internet. It does not matter what kind of Operating System the consumer wishes to use because it all comes down to their own preferences. Task 2-Presentation The topic of your report- what you chose to investigate. The topic is about Operating System. The conclusion of your report. In short, the operating system is the brain of a computer. The computer only works depending on what kind of operating system it is using. Most people prefer to use Windows than other systems because it is being globally used. The people who chose Macs over Windows did so because Macs works very smoothly for them, they are virtually virus free and that the hardware are also sleek and high-end looking. Linux users prefer to use Linux because it is an open source and not only are they virus free, but they also can download the software for free over the internet. It does not matter what kind of Operating System the consumer wishes to use because it all comes down to their own preferences. The research that support your conclusion. Mac Vs. PC: Myth-Busting Guide For Consumers (http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/mac-vs-pc-myth-busting-consumer-guide/) The Benefits of Mac Vs. PC (http://www.brighthub.com/computing/mac-platform/articles/61625.aspx) About Linux (http://www.linux.org/info/index.html) Survey Form (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VRV8K3G) How the research supports your conclusions and how you came to these conclusions. I found the information needed from the internet and from the survey I have conducted. My conclusion speaks about the consumers preferences on which type of Operating System they will then wish to choose. The steps you took to research your report. I first understand the question. Then, I thought of topic and then proceeded to come up with ideas for my report from the internet. I gathered information from each of the Operating Systems official website, except for Linux as there is not any existing official website, and other websites that compares what kind of Operating System the public prefers to use. How you conducted research I have conducted a survey on Survey Monkey (http://www.surveymonkey.com) so that the public people can provide me with information I need to complete my report. I have gathered information through the internet from a search engine, Google, to find relevant websites. How you evaluated the sources I took the relevant points and compared them with each other to confirm that what I wrote in my report in accurate. Why you chose your sources They are reliable. They provide clear explanations on each of the products. I can comprehend their clarification on the subject. The steps you took to write and edit your report. I gathered as much information I can get and then summaries the indentified relevant points and I tried to avoid repetition. How you feel about your ability and skills as a writer My writing skills are not so brilliant because I cannot interpret the things I visualised onto paper very well. Your strengths and weaknesses Strength: I have a fairly good vocabulary so it made my task somewhat easier. Weakness: I had trouble identifying key points in the gathered information. I also had trouble composing the report because of my lack of key point identifying skills. I spent too much time on thinking of what kind of information to collect. What you would change next time and why I wish to improve my time managing skills and identifying skills in written form so that I will not submit my work so close to the due date and I can ignore irrelevant information.

Endurance of the Human Spirit

Endurance Of The Human Spirit The Iliad and the movie Precious, based on the novel Push by Saphire, both share a common theme where the main characters depict an uncommon endurance of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Although in The Iliad, war is horrible and bloody, the spirit of Achilles is never broken by this adversity because, like Precious, who suffers physical, mental, and sexual abuse at the hands of her parents, their human spirit is the driving force behind their desire to overcome their challenges. As a result, the endurance of their human spirit is strengthened and they emerge victorious.These two characters reflect the uncommon strength of the human spirit because when their body is defeated, or their mind is loaded with emotion, this drive within them pushes their limits. A character analysis of Achilles and Precious is farfetched because they are two very distinct characters in two very different worlds. According to Greek Mythology Achilles' character existe d long before the biblical Jesus Christ. This means he lived more than 3000 years ago, whereas Precious, is a an illiterate, obese 16-year-old girl with two children who lives in the New York City ghetto of Harlem.However, these two distinct characters have commonality when we look beyond their physical being and look within their souls. Here, Achilles and Precious possess an unyielding human spirit that serves as an engine that keeps them moving forward in the face of impossibility. From a superficial analysis, Achilles and Precious are both warriors in their own ways. It is obvious that Achilles is a warrior because he is one who fights in the armies of Kings and battles enemies for gain. He is no ordinary fighter, but a fearless and skilled one who is recruited for his physical strength and success.Agamemnon enlists him to fight for his army when he goes to war with the Trojans because he is aware of his exceptional skill. Therefore, in his own eyes and in the eyes of others, Ach illes is a warrior. This characterization is not as obvious when we analyze Precious. Precious is a warrior even though she does not know it and others do not regard her as one. She became a warrior because she was born into a family of physical and sexual abuse. At the age of 3, her father started to sexually abuse her and her mother's constant humiliation only served to degrade her.However, it was due to this unfortunate circumstance the she developed into a warrior. Precious is battling her drug addicted, alcoholic, and emotionally unstable mother. In the movie there is a scene where she is at the top of the stairs in her home, with her mother below tossing a pan at her while telling her that she is â€Å"stupid bitch (Precious). † In this case, her parents are the enemies she has to defeat to survive. This can destroy you unless you have a strong will. Each has a reason to develop a drive to prevail.It is this strong desire to overcome in the face of physical impossibilit ies that sets them apart from ordinary people. Achilles and Precious have an inner human spirit that drives them to overcome the obstacles in their lives. Achilles continually strives to be a great fighter because he wants to be remembered after one-thousand years. This is partially his motivation and he demonstrates this when he utters, â€Å"You talk of food. I have no taste for food – what I really crave is the slaughter of blood and the choking groans of men. † (Homer 495).Here, after a successful battle, Agamemnon is commanding that a feast be prepared for the soldiers. Achilles strongly rejects his gift and says that there is no time for eating when he has rage for fighting in his heart. Achilles has only one thing on his mind and that is to fight because his drive is his desire to be recognize. This does not completely characterize Achilles because towards the end of the movie, when he kills Hector, and Priam is begging Achilles for his body, he says, â€Å"No more, old man, don't tempt my wrath, not now! Don't stir my raging heart still more.Or under my own roof I may not spare your life, old man †¦ suppliant that you are †¦. † (Homer 606). It is obvious that Achilles has many characteristics. Here, he is fearless, selfish, and at the same time compassionate. Unlike Achilles, whose human spirit was driven by selfish reasons to be grand and recognized, Precious was motivated by a desire to be remembered. Initially, Precious is an insecure, weak and helpless person. Her father rapes her and cannot depend on anyone to defend her. This incestuous relationship is a heavy weight for her to carry.However, she does eventually gather the strength and stands up for herself. This is very evident when she states, â€Å"The other day I cried. But you know what? Fuck that day. That's why God, or whoever, makes other days. â€Å"(Precious). Here, we have a powerful statement by Precious who has endured so much emotional and physical a buse. By the time she makes this statement, she has given birth to two children by her own father and has endured enormous mental abused by her mother. Her mother states, â€Å"Don't nobody want you, don't nobody need you. (Precious). This type of abuse can cause anyone to commit suicide. It is a crippling experience for most people, but Precious build up the strength to defeat the abuse and believes there is another day. Even though she has given up on the notion of God, she still believes in herself. This is Precious' reflection that her human spirit will survive anything. It may appear that Achilles and Precious do not have anything in common because almost everything about these characters is different, but as their characters develop, we learn otherwise.First, we have one character who physically survives and the other one dies. However, each one is a warrior in their own way and in their own world. As warriors they must choose between fighting or giving up. What makes both of these characters extraordinary is their inner will to fight challenges that appear insurmountable. Achilles is recognized as a great warrior, but his spirit develops even stronger than his own physical body due to his experience in the battlefield.Precious also develops into a warrior as she fights the sexual and physical abuses of her parents. She demonstrates that she is a strong person because she ends up being a survivor and not a victim of her parent's abuse. Both of these characters demonstrate that the human spirit does not surrender and will overcome just about anything in life. Works Cited Precious. Dir. Lee Daniels. Perf. Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey. 2009. Film. Troy. Dir. Wolfgang Petersen. Perf. Brad Pitt, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom. 2004. Film.