Charles Fraziers Cold Mountain Essay -- Charles Frazier Cold Mountain

Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain In Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier describes the epic journey home of wounded Confederate soldier Inman from Petersburg to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Inman’s physical voyage home is paralleled by the mental journey made by his sweetheart, Ada, in her transformation from ‘city girl’ into ‘mountain woman’. The story is woven around the experiences of Inman and Ada trying to rebuild their lives from the desperation and disaster of the war, all the while trying to find a way to see each other again--whilst they are so far apart. It also blends the horrors of war into their current lives, and the corruption that has scarred them forever. Inman and Ada’s respective ordeals help develop the themes of war, homeland, women and children which this essay aims to reveal. The motivation behind Inman’s desertion, when he â€Å"set his foot on the sill and stepped out of the window†, is not an issue that Frazier ever invites his readers to question. Having been surrounded by the dying, having witnessed the horrors of the first industrialized war which pitted countryman against countryman through the eyes of Inman, one feels deep sympathy. The horrifying battle scenes further add to the sense of the impermanence of escape offered by the war: â€Å"The fighting was in the way of a dream, one where you foes are ranked against you countless and mighty. And you are weak. And yet they fall and keep falling until they are crushed.† Frazier’s somber cataloging of the horrors of war creates enormous sympathy for his protagonist’s desertion, making it eminently justifiable. Inman’s disinterest in the issues of the war serves to show the lie of the common soldier’s involvement in the war. Frazier would posit that it is the job of the common soldier just to die, and in the most inhuman way possible: "Inman could hear the firing, but also the slaps of balls into meat. A man near Inman grew so excited, or perhaps so weary, that he forgot to pull the ramrod from his barrel. He fired it off and it struck a Federal in the chest. The man fell backward, and the rod stood from his body and quavered about with the last of his breathing as if he had been pierced by an unfletched arrow." Inman’s return home to a deeply changed place where he no longer has a role is indicative of the common fate of soldiers. What he has seen and done marks him out so distinctively fr... ...ich their mothers had been before their assimilation of each others characteristics. In the light of the horrors of the Civil War, and of Inman’s death after having journeyed home, it is also spiritually important for the novel that something of worth is seen as coming from all the hardship. There is nothing which could possibly equate with the magnitude of the birth of a child, offering hope where Inman’s wasteful death had seemed to banish it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Odyssey, closely alluded to in Cold Mountain, imposes a multitude of trial and tribulations on Odysseus and Penelope. Inman takes on the role as the modern American hero who is irreversibly changed by the circumstances of the war, enduring ‘rainy days’ and waves of hardship to return to his sole hope-giver, Ada. The individual experiences of the young couple liken to peeling an orange; each peel unveils images of the horrors of war, the romance with one homeland, the women’s strength and of the importance of children, all of which construct the themes that soundly define the novel. Biblography This paper aims to discuss the themes in the story "Cold Mountain", that is revealed through Inman and Ada’s respective ordeals.

Analysis of Online Article

Student Name LING 305W Project #1 Final Draft – Handout 23 February 2012 Genre Analysis of the Online Article, ‘Superfoods’ Everyone Needs Genre: online article Author: Susan Seliger Target Audience: variety of ages; healthy people, healthy cooks, people who want to eat better, people with illnesses, diseases, or other health ailments Article Title: ‘Superfoods’ Everyone Needs Source: www. webmd. com Date: February 2007 Author’s claim: â€Å"A healthy diet incorporating a variety of†¦ superfoods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer. (para. 4) My analysis tool: COLFV model, which stands for five elements—content, organization, language, format, and values Blueberries—one of the superfoods Seliger describes. Source: www. sciencedaily. com My claim: Using the COLFV model to analyze the genre of this informative online article, I find that Seliger effectively uses organization, language, and values; however, the content and format of the text could be improved. CONTENT: Feature 1 – Percentages * In reference to the outside source, Elizabeth Somer, Seliger includes percentages. I’d say about 50%-70% of suffering could be eliminated by what people eat and how they move: heart disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension can all be impacted. † (para. 3) * By including these percentages, the reader can easily refer to them in the text. * Percentages make the comment more tangible. Feature 2 – Comparisons * The author compares age with calcium levels for adults (para. 12). For example, the author includes: â€Å"Age 9-18 – 1300mg; age 19-50 – 1000mg; age 51 and over – 1200mg,† in bullet point format on separate lines. These comparisons by age and level of calcium help readers find which level fits them. * These comparisons are important, however, the ages are limited to adults. Albeit the first group includes children from ages 9-18 , it can be useful for readers to be informed about the levels for younger children. ORGANIZATION: Feature 1 – Classification * Seliger classifies each highlighted superfood in the subheadings. For example, blueberries are the â€Å"antioxident superfood† (above para. 5) whereas tea lowers cholesterol and inhibits cancer (above para. 1). * These classifications help distinguish the beneficial properties of each superfood. Feature 2 –Expansion * Describing the preferred form of beans to purchase for the superfood, fiber, Seliger cites Dr. Ann Kulze (para. 10). Kulze expands beyond the dried, fresh and frozen form of beans by mentioning that consumers should try to avoid canned beans as they contain high amounts of sodium usually. LANGUAGE: Feature 1 – Informal * The author uses vocabulary like â€Å"guess what? † (para. 1) and â€Å"yummiest† (above para. 3). * Seliger does a great job of connecting to her more general audience by using infor mal vocabulary. This shows readers that an expert, like Seliger, is more similar to them. Feature 2 – Acronyms * â€Å"ECGC† is described as a powerful antioxident by the author (para. 11). * Including acronyms can help reduce reading time for readers. * This particular acronym is not defined by each of its letters. This leaves members of the target audience to search for its definition or to overlook it. FORMAT: Feature 1 – Subheadings â€Å"Soy – Superfood to Lower Cholesterol† (above para. 9) and â€Å"Calcium† (above para. 12) are two of the subheadings used by Seliger. * Subheadings nicely guide the reader to the specific content. Specifically, each superfood receives its own section with a subheading and a paragraph description. Feature 2 – Bullet points * Fourteen items (superfoods) after the fourth paragraph and the comparisons by age after the twelfth paragraph receive their own lines with bullet points. * Bullet points help a reader quickly and easily follow emphasized text. Seliger does a great job of including the fourteen superfoods with bullet points as it resembles a shopping list. In fact, a reader could potentially print this portion of the article and refer to the bulleted items as a shopping list at the supermarket. * The comparisons could be enhanced for better reader interpretation if the content were inserted into a table or graph rather than in bullet points. The reader could refer to a visual such as a table more easily and compare each age group side-by-side. VALUES: Feature 1 – The author and the target audience share the same interest in good health. â€Å"A healthy diet incorporating a variety of the following superfoods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer. † (para. 4) * For the readers (as described in the target audience on page one of this handout), this line directly connects the benefits of eating superfoods. Feature 2 – The aut hor and the audience share the same understanding that health can be improved. * The author refers to Somer in regards to an additional benefit of Omega 3s being a depression reducer (para. 7). * For the target audience, additional benefits support Seliger’s plea to eat superfoods. Reference Seliger, Susan.

Hamlet Insane or Sane Essay - 783 Words

Hamlet- Sane or Insane In Shakespeares play Hamlet the main character Hamlet experiences many different and puzzling emotions. He toys with the idea of killing himself and then plays with the idea of murdering others. Many people ask themselves who or what is this man and what is going on inside his head. The most common question asked about him is whether or not he is sane or insane. Although the door seems to swing both ways many see him as a sane person with one thought on his mind, and that is revenge. The first point of his sanity is while speaking with Horatio in the beginning of the play, secondly is the fact of his wittiness with the other characters and finally, his soliloquy. After talking with the ghost, Hamlet,†¦show more content†¦The final point to prove that he was a sane person through out the play is his famous soliloquy (Act 3 sc1 line64-98). At this point in the play he should be thinking about the outcome, but instead he contemplates weather it is better to be alive or dead. Is it nobler to fight his troubles and end them or to die? He asks himself if it is better to be asleep forever, or suffer the pains of life. He talks about when we sleep we dream and what happens if there is a bad dream and you cant getup. He dreads of something after death and wants to know if he should suffer his sorrows, which he is used to, or travel to the unknown and kill the king, but he is afraid of the unknown. He believes that a conscience is bad and that all it does is make a coward of all, conscience makes cowards of us and clouds instinct. He then realizes he is too intelligent to do this. To summarize his thoughts, he has basically said why do we choose to live when death is an easy response to misery, but he answers his own question and then goes on to describe his burden but then sees what his action of revenge must be. Does an insane person go through this type of mental thought. Most think not, showing that he is well witted and knows what life is and what he mus t do. Insane, no, more or less a manic depressant. One with a quick change of mood, not in and out of sanity. In conclusion, Hamlet wasnt a person who wasShow MoreRelatedSanity in William Shakespeares Hamlet Essay1037 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeares Hamlet Hamlet is a play about a man who has had a father killed by his uncle, after this act of treachery the uncle then marries Hamlet’s mother. Hamlet is sane in this play because prior to going â€Å"insane† he informs us he is going to. If Hamlet were truly insane he would not be able to tell others that he is going to act insane as of a certain point in time. Hamlet would try to deny insanity, not pride himself in the fact that he is insane. Hamlet uses insanityRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare866 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet, the son of the former King of Denmark is in a state of depression due to his father’s murder which was committed by his uncle. This is followed by the marriage of his mother and the same uncle who killed his father; this forces Hamlet into a state of misery. Upon learning that his father was murdered, Hamlet is also told by his father’s ghost to get revenge. Throughout the play, Hamlet often pretends to be insane or in a state of madness. This is all apart of how he will plan to kill is murdererRead More Hamlets Sanity Essay1522 Words   |  7 Pages Hamlets Sanity Throughout Shakespeare?s play, Hamlet, the main character, young Hamlet, is faced with the responsibility of attaining vengeance for his father?s murder. He decides to feign madness as part of his plan to gain the opportunity to kill Claudius. As the play progresses, his depiction of a madman becomes increasingly believable, and the characters around him react accordingly. However, through his inner thoughts and the apparent reasons for his actions, it is clear that he is notRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1650 Words   |  7 PagesIs someone considered mad or insane simply because they are different, and they, in turn, see the rest of the world as insane? William Shakespeare s play Hamlet is about a complex protagonist, Hamlet, who plays the role of a tragic hero. He encounters several misfortunes from experiencing his beloved father’s death, witnessing his mother s incestuous remarriage to his uncle, and seeing his father’s ghost. Due to all of this, Hamlet fa lls into a deep depression. Hamlet begins his journey by seekingRead MoreHamlet: The Irrational Prince Essay1138 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare’s Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, named Hamlet, is the main character that’s going to avenge is fallen father. Shakespeare makes the audience wonder if Hamlet is really mad or he is just presenting some excellent acting skills that make it seem as if he has really gone insane. We must consider if he has gone mad, could be due to the loss of his father and if he is just simply acting mad, could that be to confuse his enemies? And hide is intensions? One thing is for certain and that is Hamlet cannotRead MoreHamlets Insanity1513 Words   |  7 PagesIs Hamlet Insane or Sane? Throughout the play of Hamlet, one of Shakespeares most famous tragedys the main character, Hamlet is faced with the responsibility of getting vengeance for his fathers murder. He decides to pretend madness as part of his plan to get the opportunity to kill Claudius who was the suspected murderer. As the play goes on, his portrayal of a madman becomes believable, and the characters around him respond quite vividly. Through his inner thoughts and the obvious reasonsRead MoreHamlet and One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest766 Words   |  4 Pageshave been asked if Hamlet, McMurphy and Chief Bromden are crazy or sane. Hamlet is the main character from a play by William Shakespeare called Hamlet. McMurphy and Chief are characters from a novel by Ken Kesey called One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. There have been many scenes in the play where Hamlet might seams crazy but without a doubt he is sane. Even though McMurphy do some crazy things he is definitely not crazy because he i s aware of his actions and he does all these insane things just to makeRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet 1253 Words   |  6 Pages Shakespeare’s Hamlet is an intricate play where many themes are connected; themes that help develop the play. The issue of death and disease, both physical and emotional is very important throughout the play, as well as fate. The play also questions insanity, as well as dishonesty and moral issues. Of course, who could fail to remember the illustrious phrase ‘To be or not to be’, where Hamlet not only ponders about life and death, but also life’s other mysteries as well. Though these themesRead MoreWas Hamlet Faking His Insanity? Essay572 Words   |  3 PagesIn Hamlet, he seems to be mad, but there is a question that everyone asks when reading or watching this play â€Å"was it, or was it not true that Hamlet was faking his insanity, really suffering, or maybe even both.† First, this is what insanity is: ins anity is acting crazy, but not knowing that they’re acting crazy. Also, it’s going through a lot of stress at the same time causing you to act stranger then a normal person. Hamlet was not totally insane. It doesn’t fit. I’m not saying that Hamlet wasRead MoreIs Hamlet Really Insane?1404 Words   |  6 Pages1st, 2015. Was Hamlet Really Insane? William Shakespeare, a renowned poet and playwright, wrote the play Hamlet at the turn of the 16th century– which has become known and enjoyed around nearly the entire world. Ever since it was written more than four centuries ago, there has been a decently large amount of debate between Shakespearean scholars, casual readers, literary critics, and sometimes even psychologists and psychoanalysts about whether or not Hamlet ever truly went insane at any time during

Hamlet Decisive End, Indecisive Approach Essay - 742 Words

Decisive End, Indecisive Approach In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the titular character struggles to engage in his desired plan of revenge. Hamlet shows throughout the play that he is inconsistent, indecisive, and unsure of himself, as well as his actions. The play focuses on Hamlet’s revenge; however, he continuously fails to happen at opportunistic moments. Throughout the play, Hamlet insists that he intends to avenge his father’s death through the murder of Claudius, but Hamlet fails to act on occasion because of his indecisive personality. Shakespeare’s character, Hamlet, is known for his indecisive personality. It is a trait that humanizes Hamlet in the sense that every man is flawed. However, this feature is Hamlet’s main†¦show more content†¦Now Hamlet uses a rational â€Å"now he is praying; And now Ill dot./ And so he goes to heaven;/ And so am I revenged. That would be scannd:/ A villain kills my father; and for that,/ I, his so le son, do this same villain send/ To heaven†(p.79). Hamlet uses this â€Å"logic† to further justify his inconsistency between his actions and his motive. Finally, during the last scene, Hamlet encounters yet another chance to avenge his father’s, and now also his mother’s murders after his fencing match against Laertes. Claudius tries to kill Hamlet by poisoning him, and poisons Gertrude instead; this is the final breaking point of Hamlet. After the death of his mother Hamlet, can no longer hold back and strikes his foil through Claudius’s heart. Then, he forces the poisoned wine down his throat. This occurrence yet again shows Hamlet’s indecisive character. He plans out the vengeance of his father’s death so many times perfectly, but kills Claudius without a plan and everyone witnesses the murder. Throughout the play, he clearly analyzes every plan to kill Claudius. During this analysis, not once is he concerned with what will happe n to him for murdering Claudius. He considers what would happen to Claudius for killing him during prayer. He considers what will happen to Claudius for killing his father, but not once does he worry that he could get punished because his vengeance will make him a murderer too. The only instance Hamlet worries about the afterlife is during

Ikea-Value Chain - 1221 Words

1. Introduction IKEA is one of the most successful manufacturing and retail furniture companies operating in today’s global marketplace. IKEA manufacture from the bottom up, top down furniture that offers environmentally friendly, state of the art designed furniture that is both affordable and attractive to its customers via their online, catalogue and worldwide distribution channels, with a logistics network that are low cost footprints with the enforces on cost efficiencies couple with technology, product design, excellence and customer satisfaction. IKEA was founded by Ingvar Kamprad in a small village in Sweden. Its Scandinavian–style home furniture offer attractive designs at affordable prices. And IKEA is obtainable from 275 stores†¦show more content†¦Moreover, IKEA wants its wide range of customers to choose products at an affordable price that are durable, as well as safe and environmental friendly (IKEA sustainable report, 2011). 4.3 Outbound Logistics IKEA’s products are manufactured all over the world and they have been committed from their outset to offer furniture to its customers at affordable price. This has been possible because of the efficient outbound logistics. Smaller packaging allows customers to transport the purchased products in their own vehicles. By supplying products to their clients and customers in this form, this smaller packaging of products allows the company to maximize space in warehouses and at store level thus enabling IKEA to store considerable amount of products (IKEA sustainable report, 2011). 4.4 Marketing and Sales IKEA’s products meet the needs of all customers by providing well- designed and safe furniture at low price, opening up their products to customers from the moderate income group offering them the opportunity to buy this furniture. IKEA aims to lower the prices of its products by decreasing the cost involved in the transportations logistics and storing. IKEA offers catalogues as well as their online webpages to its customers to choose from their wide range of products, these catalogues are the daily innovations of IKEA’s efforts and creativities. The catalogue is valid for 12 months period offering new andShow MoreRelatedValue Chain Analysis: Literature Review and Application on Ikea2782 Words   |  12 Pages2012 Aisling Lynch C09687271 Aisling Lynch C09687271 Stratgic management the value chain concept: literature review and application analysis on IKEA Stratgic management the value chain concept: literature review and application analysis on IKEA Contents * Introduction * Origination * Porter’s Value Chain Concept * Linking of the Value Chain * Focus on External Sources * The Future - Conclusion * Ikea Example * References Declaration I, the undersigned, declare that thisRead MoreValue Chain-Ikea2677 Words   |  11 PagesAccording to Echeat (2006), the IKEA had more than 175 stores spread over 31 countries at the end of 2002 and worldwide sales of about 12.8 billion euros in 2004. During the IKEA financial year 2001-2002, a total of 60,000 people are employed by IKEA worldwide and there are 323 million people visited IKEA stores around the world (Kronos, 2006). IKEAîâ€" ¸ mission is to offer consumers good value for their money. The typical IKEA customer is young low to middle income family. IKEAîâ€" ¸ success in the retail industryRead MoreIkea Value Chain Analysis1530 Words   |  7 PagesIKEA is a strong, competitive leader in the global furniture market, providing low-cost home good products and other services to its consumers. It has developed strategies that empower and increase value to shareholders, provide affordable products to consumers of all demographics and continues to seek ways to reduce costs and be environmentally sustainable while maintaining the quality and affordability of its services. An overview of the Value Chain and its most influential components demonstratesRead MoreValue Chain Management of Ikea4524 Words   |  19 PagesIKEA Purchasing Strategy Jerry, Yeung Siu Hang TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2. INTRODUCTION †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 1. Company Background History 2. Company overview 3. Vision and Mission 4. Key Objective to build an efficient purchasing system to maximize the profit margin 3. Related Background†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 1. What is the definition of purchasing Management 2. What is the definition of Purchasing Management inRead MoreValue Chain : Competitive Advantage1300 Words   |  6 PagesValue Chain as Competitive Advantage If a firm sustain profits that exceed the industry average, said firm is said to have a competitive advantage. The goal of any given business strategy is to achieve a competitive advantage. Moreover, the goal of a successful business strategy is a sustainable competitive advantage. The question is how does a firm create that competitive advantage? According to Michael Porter, to achieve a competitive advantage, a firm must perform one or more value creating activitiesRead MoreValue Chain : Competitive Advantage1444 Words   |  6 PagesValue Chain as Competitive Advantage If a firm sustain profits that exceed the industry average, said firm is said to have a competitive advantage. The goal of any given business strategy is to achieve a competitive advantage. Moreover, the goal of a successful business strategy is a sustainable competitive advantage. The question is how does a firm create that competitive advantage? According to Michael Porter, to achieve a competitive advantage, a firm must perform one or more value creating activitiesRead MoreIkea Case Study Questions1745 Words   |  7 PagesMKT 4001 CONTEMPORARY MARKETING STRATEGY Ikea CASE STUDY Lecturer: Dr. Ian Michael BY SALMAN MAQSOOD SHEIKH M00122796 Word count - approx. 1700 WORDS Question 1 Develop a profile of the typical ikea customer. To what extent does this profile vary across countries? Ikea has managed to create an unbeatable atmosphere throughout each and every store they have opened world-wide. 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We can’t have the right goals with the wrong strategy. There is no value or competitive advantage to the improper planning of a strategy. Many people rely on Senior Management, rather than spawning a proper strategy themselves. Porter doesn’t believe that we need to be so passive at the lower levels of a company. The voicesRead MoreAnalyzing Porter s Five Forces And Value Chain Analysis Essay1809 Word s   |  8 PagesIngvar Kamprad, IKEA is a multinational group of companies that focus on ready-to-assemble furniture, appliances, and home accessories. The very first IKEA store named Mà ¶bel-IKÉA, opened in Almhult, Smaland(Mà ¶bel means â€Å"furniture† in Swedish), to currently, September 2016, have 389 stores in 48 different countries. With the 389 stores, IKEA successfully creating over â‚ ¬30 billion and over â‚ ¬3.5 billion net profit with the continuous development and expansion. In a very competitive market, IKEA remains industry

The Effects of Economic Globalization on Cultures Around the World Free Essays

This paper attempts to explain the possible effects of economic globalization on cultures around the world. It concludes that there is a possibility for American culture to be spread all over the world, and become the dominant culture of the globe. In doing so there is a possibility for the loss of culture in all nations and it being replaced with American culture. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effects of Economic Globalization on Cultures Around the World or any similar topic only for you Order Now This paper also discusses the potential loss of national identity among nations, and especially among smaller, lesser known, and developing countries. It also discusses possible causes for this phenomenon as well as possible solutions. Although economic globalization is often thought of as an over-hyped fad of the 1990s (Naim, 2004) it has already begun on a large scale, and the consequences of which can be seen around the world. Economic Globalization can be defined in this case as the expansion of global financial markets, the growth of multi-national organizations, and the standardization of economies on a global scale (Tavin, Hausman, 2004). This type of globalization has a profound effect on cultures around the world. Culture can be defined as the shared ideals, values, and beliefs that people use to interpret experience and generate behavior, and that are reflected by their behavior. In this case, the effect economic globalization has on the artistic facet of culture will be the focal point. As the phenomenon of economic globalization progresses it will become easier for corporations to become multi-national. The first corporations that are able to succeed in doing this will create monopolies or oligopolies in their respective markets, making it extremely difficult or impossible for smaller corporations to compete, thus driving them out of the market. With fewer companies leading the marketplace, there will be a smaller range of different products to choose from. If these corporations’ good or service is art, this will have a profound effect on culture. Varied art forms will decrease, and of the art forms that survive they will be homogenous around the world. This has already started. Because the United States is the sole remaining global superpower, it is almost always American corporations that have the means for their corporations to spread. In doing so they spread almost exclusively American culture. Thus the more homogenous culture becomes around the world, the more it will become like that of America. This phenomenon is often referred to as Americanization. Economic globalization has and continues to create a culturally homogenous world based on American culture, which has negative consequences to both foreign nations, as well as North America. Economic Globalization has already been implemented on a large scale. In the same way the introduction of the telegraph, and the steam engine was hailed for shrinking the world, the advent of the Internet and the jet engine have done so in a colossal way (Naim, 2004). These inventions have not only allowed economies to communicate and visit each other more rapidly than ever before, but they have allowed for the rapid movement of capital, information, and labour. Companies such as McDonalds, Starbucks, and Guinness Beer have expanded their markets to almost every country in the globe, and have maintained their stringent policies of quality control. So much so, that it is said to be difficult to tell the difference between a Guinness draft straight from the St. James Brewery in Dublin, Ireland, and one brewed and bought in North America. The movement of labour has also been rapidly increasing. Automotive companies such as Volkswagen have moved almost all production to their plants in Mexico from where they were originally built, in Wolfsburg, Germany. Goods also move much more freely between countries now due to advances in technology and transportation, but also due to the removal of international tariffs between countries. The North American Free Trade Agreement, for instance, has decreased, and in some cases completely removed the tariffs between Canada, the United States, and Mexico (Stiglitz, 2004). With the free movement of labour, capital, information, and goods comes a growing interdependence between nations. In the case of Volkswagen for instance the hundreds of employees working in the VW plants in Mexico are almost entirely dependant on the German economy. If Volkswagen were to for some reason go bankrupt, all of these employees would then lose their jobs. This interdependence among nations can lead to a complete loss of national identity, an extremely important part of a nation’s culture (Dougherty, 2004). As corporations expand their hold on the global markets experiences in almost every nation become standardized. Especially when it comes to the varied art forms around the world. Huge American corporations export American culture that in turn crushes developing culture in smaller countries. This is most definitely the case in the music as well as film industries. The four largest record companies account for nearly 80 percent of the industry, and are largely U. S. owned (Van Elteren, 2004). These music giants are Universal Music, BMG SONY Music, EMI, and Warner Music. Because these four companies own such a large part of the market share, it is almost impossible to for local and regional music forms to compete and sustain themselves, mainly because they have no means of distribution. Also, because these companies are largely U. S. owned, and their largest market is the United States, they spend more time promoting and exporting American music than any other. On April 27th 2005 The Australian and U. S. top 40 shared 25. 7% of the same singles, and 6 out of the Australian top 10 were also listed on the American top 40 (Top 40 Charts, 2005). Even more shocking is that over 60% of the artists on the Australian top 40 were from North America. Of the Australian top 40, 3 listings were most notably significant in regard to the spread of North American Culture. Firstly at number 16, was Kelly Clarkson, the winner of a completely American competition, American Idol. Secondly, at number 17 was Simple Plan, a band from Montreal, Quebec. This is a practical example of how this trend has indeed reached home. Finally, at number 27 was Avril Lavigne. This is significant as it clearly illustrates just how successful the phenomenon of globalization has become. Avril Lavigne is from a very small town in Ontario called Nappanee, which has a population of 7760 (Med Hunters, 2005). Even though she is from such a small town, with the age of globalization the world is in, it has become possible for her, through these huge multi-national music companies, to export her music to the other side of the globe. These multi-national music corporations are taking advantage of their ability to distribute their music around the world, which in turn contributes to a musically and culturally homogenous world, one of American culture. The same phenomenon that is being seen in the music industry is also being seen in the global film industry. The American film industry is by far the largest in the world, with such companies Warner Brothers and Universal leading the market. 93. 1% of all the films in the United States are made by American companies. The same can be said however for many foreign countries as well. The U. S. controls 81. 4% of the United Kingdom’s film industry, 80. 6% of Australia’s, 67. 0% of Spain’s, 65. 4% of the European Union’s as a whole, 59. % of Italy’s, and 51% of France’s (Global Policy Forum, 2005). With the American film industry controlling such a large portion of the global industry, it becomes increasingly difficult for local and regional films to sustain themselves. The reason for which is that making films requires a significant amount of money; this money is usually procured from these large motion picture companies. The difference between t he film and music industry, or any other medium for that matter is that films have an inherent ability to pass on culture more efficiently than through any other means. Films can pass on and influence such aspects of culture such as dance, art, fashion, language (such as slang), and music all at the same time. This only further encourages a homogeneity of culture. American culture continues to be spread around the world through other media as well. American television stations such as MTV and CNN are being broadcast all over the world, as are American radio stations. More recently it has become even easier for American culture to be spread, through the Internet. American television shows can be watched and downloaded from anywhere on the planet, and almost every major radio station in the U. S. now has the ability to stream their broadcasts live worldwide through the internet. One reason the spread of American culture is a problem is because of the general lack of knowledge among U. S. citizens about other countries. Without much knowledge of foreign cultures Americans truly miss out on the many positive aspects other cultures can bring to a melting pot such as the U. S. There is however more statistics about the U. S. so it is easier to make this claim only about them, but the problem is most likely stemming from Canada as well. Because it is American culture that is being spread around the world, if American culture was more knowledgeable about foreign cultures, it would be spreading a more diversified culture. One reason there is this lack of knowledge could be because American citizens don’t travel to foreign nations to experience different cultures. Eighty-three percent of U. S. citizens do not have a passport, and of those that do fifty percent of them are over the age of 60 or under the age of 5 (Goodman, 2005). If no Americans are traveling one can conclude that they either have no interest to travel, or lack the knowledge to know where to travel. American students have extremely limited contact with the outside world and are becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of the world (Goodman, 2005). Traveling or not however, the ignora nce of the American people extends further. Eighty-seven percent of adults with a college degree in the United States cannot find Iraq on a map of the world. This is a country that the U. S. is at war with, and the citizens still have no interest or clue about it. This may come from a sense of superiority. A sense that the U. S. is the only country worth knowing about because they control so much of the world’s political and economical markets. Seventy percent of American are unable to name the president of Russia, a former global superpower who was the US’s rival during the Cold War (Goodman, 2005). The same amount cannot name the position that Kofi Annan holds either (Goodman, 2005). Perhaps a sense of superiority comes from the fact that sixty percent of Americans believe that they have a fully functioning missile defense system protecting them from foreign nations, terrorists and rogue states (Goodman, 2005). Although the larger countries of the world, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia may be able to somewhat resist Americanization, this is only because they have a strong cultural background already established. The same cannot be said for all countries of the world however. For developing countries, to use a cliche, â€Å"Resistance is futile†. As American culture sweeps the globe the smaller, lesser known, and developing countries are devoured in its path. With no way for these countries to spread their culture to the rest of the world, and with the constant importation of American culture, there own national identity and culture is destroyed in the process (Dougherty, 2004). The problem lies also with politics. In smaller countries is it sometimes political-suicide to suggest not siding the United States, for fear of being shunned by the developed world, and thus perpetuating the un-developed status of their country (Worth, Kuhling, 2004). Because of this, political leaders of these countries tend to side with U. S. on foreign policy, and only increase the effect of Americanization. Although in this age of globalization it may be impossible to stop Americanization or at least the standardization of experience around the world, one can change the type of experience, and one can change American Culture. Almost undoubtedly American culture will eventually take over as the leading force around the world. Instead of trying to stop this spread, one must consider the alternative, to change American culture. If American culture were more representative of the all the cultures around the world, the standardization of experience would cause much less of a problem, because all nations would benefit from the spreading of a variety of different cultures, and not just that of the U. S. There are a few ways in which the U. S. can accomplish this task. The U. S. must increase the education of varied international art forms within their schools. American schools must teach about foreign art and music, as well as to instruct students about global events, and current political and economic topics. Another way is for America to increase the importation of different cultures. They can achieve this through traditional media such as the television, and radio, or through non-traditional ways such as thro ugh foreign exchange students. The U. S. has more than 4,000 accredited institutions of higher learning, which accounts for about one-third of the world’s capacity (Goodman, 2005). If these institutions were to strive to bring only 100 foreign exchange students to their campuses, an immense difference would be made in the way American students view other cultures. American must also be made aware of the responsibility they have as the sole remaining global superpower. America has the opportunity, as well as responsibility, to make the world a much better place by diversifying their own culture and spreading it. In doing so they would be making the world more tolerant and understanding of other cultures, as well as spreading the positive aspects of each different culture. In this new era of globalization the potential for a loss of culture around the world is high. As the phenomenon of Americanization expands, the world stands to lose its cultural variation in regard to all art forms, such as music and film. There is also a possibility for the loss of national identity as well as the complete eradication of cultural and national identity among lesser known, smaller, and developing countries. Although the standardization of experience around the world may be impossible to avoid it is possible to counteract in some regards the negative aspects that come with this homogeneity of cultures. If the world, and especially America, becomes aware of their responsibility to spread a culture that represents those of all nations around the world, many positive things can be spread through Americanization. How to cite The Effects of Economic Globalization on Cultures Around the World, Papers

Moments of Impact free essay sample

George Bernard Shaw once said, â€Å"Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.† I came to this realization by experiencing a moment of impact that reshaped my perspective on life forever. For most people, these moments are influenced by outside forces of awe-inspiring individuals, but for me, my cousin was that outside force, and her bad decisions launched the impact into place. As I looked around, I saw the same familiar surroundings as I did a year ago. I watched the little boy, too young to realize where he was, hug his mom goodbye as the officer took her away.Then I returned my attention back to my cousin who had been rambling on about how bad the food was. Although I visited her the last time she was in here, I still wasn’t used to seeing her in a jumpsuit. We will write a custom essay sample on Moments of Impact or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She continued to complain about her living arrangements and apologized to my mom, who was like a mother to her as well, for her involvement in drugs, but my mom was not having any of it. By witnessing my cousin’s downfall, I realized that after you make a mistake and deal with the consequences of it, you cannot make that same mistake again because, in actuality, it would not be a mistake at all, it would simply be a choice made on your own free will. What people don’t realize is that they have to learn from each mistake and take responsibility for repeated ones, otherwise the people around you will eventually get tired of your choices. This realization has impacted me to think about which decisions are really worth making, and, when I do make a mistake, I will grow from it instead of repeating it again and again. Unless I learn from my mistakes each time and mature, being in the top four percent of my class, inducted into National Honor Society, voted team captain of my soccer team, and doing continuous volunteer work will mean nothing. Because I don’t want to risk my accomplishments that I have already made and plan to make in my future, I intend to never repeat past mistakes and, instead, correct them so I can grow as an individual. The success of my future is too crucial for me to throw away just because I would rather repeat foolish mistakes. My cousin holds an important role in my life, not because she made the right decisions but because she chose to make the wrong ones. My belief is that our actions and decisions are a reflection of influenced interpretations of past experiences, and that is why this experience will be beneficial to me. I will interpret this impact in such a way that I can only succeed in my choices. Moments of impact, whether they are influenced by a great muse or someone merely capable of choosing the right path, their ripples of effects are determined by my interpretation of them. That is why I choose to take advantage of these effects so that my future will never become a path of repeated mistakes.