Nike and “King Consumer”

Popular culture, indeed, has always held athletes in high esteem, dating back to the days of the ancient Greeks and the first Olympiad events, thousands of years ago.   However, in recent decades, talented athletes in sports which had in the past been relegated to the upper class, such as tennis, are now embraced by the masses of all socioeconomic levels.   A case in point is the Russian tennis phenomenon Maria Sharapova.   Admittedly, she is an excellent tennis player, but there are countless other talented tennis players who have not gotten even a fraction of the media attention as has Sharapova. Taking a closer look at this pop culture frenzy, the adoration that has been showered upon Sharapova and many other athletes comes down to how our culture has influenced advertising (USA Today); more specifically, one can clearly argue that Sharapova and others grabbed their biggest share of fame once they began to commercially promote products such as Nike brand clothing and shoes, showing the power of advertising to focus the love of the masses on someone based on an image seen in commercials, as well as the ways that culture has influenced product brands. The Rise of Consumerism As was alluded to in the introduction of this paper, the common denominator in the rise of athletes to god-like status in society, and the growth of companies like Nike into multi billion dollar marketing machines, can all be attributed to the masses, leading to academic studies of consumers in such frequency that terms like consumerism have been coined to identify the analysis of the behavior and power of the consumer to dictate how the business world ultimately operates, what it offers to the public, and how the future of consumer goods will unfold. Experts in the study of consumerism have attributed the rise of consumerism itself to the global spread of what can best be described as material desire; in other words, the economic freedom that many parts of the world have been exposed to for the first time over the last quarter century or so has bred a new generation of consumers, who have the desire to possess consumer goods and finally have the financial means to buy them (Sussman).   Especially desirable are the â€Å"brand name† goods which consumers view as a symbol of affluence; the Nike â€Å"swoosh† symbol, for instance, is something that people consider a sign of success when it appears on their shoes or clothing. This, in itself, speaks volumes about the extent of consumerism with the use of a simple, yet telling example.   Because of the availability of foreign made, inexpensive clothing and shoes, it would make sense that if one merely wanted to keep warm or protect their feet, they would buy the least expensive, yet functional merchandise they could obtain; however, more often than not, consumers will pay much more than they have to for clothing items because of the presence of a Nike symbol or any of a score of others which have universal appeal.   In fairness to Nike and others, they do make products of sufficient quality and functionality, but also in fairness, one can find goods of similar, or even superior quality at lower prices, â€Å"sans swoosh† if you will.   The difference, once again, is the power of consumerism to dictate what one should wear on their bodies to be considered worthy in society. Catering to King Consumer When looking at the role of the consumer, it can fairly be said that we are really looking at â€Å"king† or â€Å"queen†, as marketing efforts target, and effectively reach, both genders.   In the case of Nike, the understated in fact speaks volumes; for example, the previously mentioned Maria Sharapova is presented by Nike as â€Å"just a tennis player† (Nike-United States).   In this case, what is not said actually screams out to the consumer.   The implication on the part of Nike is clear- their products hold the potential to bring out greatness, or to satisfy the highest needs of the most talented athletes like Sharapova.   This speaks volumes not only about the power of advertising, but also a bit about our culture. Culture’s Influence on Advertising The all-powerful consumer also wields a great deal of influence in terms of how companies like Nike advertise their products.   Going back to an example similar to the one in the previous section, Nike, in investing multiple millions of dollars in advertising, could purchase quite literally a ton of advertising year-round, but will spend the same amount for one quick television advertisement during the Super Bowl. The reason why is that the consumer dictates that for Nike and others, Super Bowl advertising is a command performance, much like attendance at a family dinner party to maintain harmony with one’s siblings.   This is indicative of both the power of the consumer to direct marketing strategy, and the power of the media to create powerful companies quite literally overnight in some cases (Kellner).   In the words of our old friends at Nike, consumerism and culture are tied together as such: â€Å"In a commercial culture that blends celebrity, product, and image, it is only natural that the sports shoe transnational Nike – as well as many other corporations – would purchase   star power to promote its products. Accordingly, I argue that the Nike connection calls attention to the extent to which media culture is transforming sports into a spectacle that sells the values, products, celebrities, and institutions of the media and consumer society† (Kellner, p. 64) . Culture is also a powerful ingredient in the consumerism mix; when one takes a look at the styles of clothing and shoes that Nike offers, as well as their advertising, it is clear that urban culture is a strong influence, leading to farm kids in Iowa, for example, wearing Nike gear, even though the closest they may have ever come to city life is seeing graffiti on a tractor trailer rolling through their town, on the way to somewhere else.   The point to be made is that popular culture is a driving force in marketing today. Conclusion In an image-obsessed society such as ours, material goods can, and do, create legendary, larger than life individuals, who in turn sell billions of dollars in products, and the cycle continues.   As a conclusion, perhaps the old saying is the best: â€Å"consumer is king†! Works Cited Kellner, Douglas. Media Spectacle. New York: Routledge, 2003. (Nike-United States  Ã‚   2007)Nike-United States. 2007. Nike, Inc.. 5 Mar. 2007 . Sussman, Charlotte. â€Å"Consumerism in World History: The Global Transformation of Desire.† The Historian 66.1 (2004): 211+. â€Å"Tennis Royalty Crowned by Prince.† USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) Nov. 2005: 78+.    Nike and â€Å"King Consumer† Popular culture, indeed, has always held athletes in high esteem, dating back to the days of the ancient Greeks and the first Olympiad events, thousands of years ago.   However, in recent decades, talented athletes in sports which had in the past been relegated to the upper class, such as tennis, are now embraced by the masses of all socioeconomic levels.   A case in point is the Russian tennis phenomenon Maria Sharapova.   Admittedly, she is an excellent tennis player, but there are countless other talented tennis players who have not gotten even a fraction of the media attention as has Sharapova. Taking a closer look at this pop culture frenzy, the adoration that has been showered upon Sharapova and many other athletes comes down to how our culture has influenced advertising (USA Today); more specifically, one can clearly argue that Sharapova and others grabbed their biggest share of fame once they began to commercially promote products such as Nike brand clothing and shoes, showing the power of advertising to focus the love of the masses on someone based on an image seen in commercials, as well as the ways that culture has influenced product brands. The Rise of Consumerism As was alluded to in the introduction of this paper, the common denominator in the rise of athletes to god-like status in society, and the growth of companies like Nike into multi billion dollar marketing machines, can all be attributed to the masses, leading to academic studies of consumers in such frequency that terms like consumerism have been coined to identify the analysis of the behavior and power of the consumer to dictate how the business world ultimately operates, what it offers to the public, and how the future of consumer goods will unfold. Experts in the study of consumerism have attributed the rise of consumerism itself to the global spread of what can best be described as material desire; in other words, the economic freedom that many parts of the world have been exposed to for the first time over the last quarter century or so has bred a new generation of consumers, who have the desire to possess consumer goods and finally have the financial means to buy them (Sussman).   Especially desirable are the â€Å"brand name† goods which consumers view as a symbol of affluence; the Nike â€Å"swoosh† symbol, for instance, is something that people consider a sign of success when it appears on their shoes or clothing. This, in itself, speaks volumes about the extent of consumerism with the use of a simple, yet telling example.   Because of the availability of foreign made, inexpensive clothing and shoes, it would make sense that if one merely wanted to keep warm or protect their feet, they would buy the least expensive, yet functional merchandise they could obtain; however, more often than not, consumers will pay much more than they have to for clothing items because of the presence of a Nike symbol or any of a score of others which have universal appeal. In fairness to Nike and others, they do make products of sufficient quality and functionality, but also in fairness, one can find goods of similar, or even superior quality at lower prices, â€Å"sans swoosh† if you will.   The difference, once again, is the power of consumerism to dictate what one should wear on their bodies to be considered worthy in society. Catering to King Consumer When looking at the role of the consumer, it can fairly be said that we are really looking at â€Å"king† or â€Å"queen†, as marketing efforts target, and effectively reach, both genders.   In the case of Nike, the understated in fact speaks volumes; for example, the previously mentioned Maria Sharapova is presented by Nike as â€Å"just a tennis player† (Nike-United States).   In this case, what is not said actually screams out to the consumer.   The implication on the part of Nike is clear- their products hold the potential to bring out greatness, or to satisfy the highest needs of the most talented athletes like Sharapova.   This speaks volumes not only about the power of advertising, but also a bit about our culture. Culture’s Influence on Advertising The all-powerful consumer also wields a great deal of influence in terms of how companies like Nike advertise their products.   Going back to an example similar to the one in the previous section, Nike, in investing multiple millions of dollars in advertising, could purchase quite literally a ton of advertising year-round, but will spend the same amount for one quick television advertisement during the Super Bowl. The reason why is that the consumer dictates that for Nike and others, Super Bowl advertising is a command performance, much like attendance at a family dinner party to maintain harmony with one’s siblings.   This is indicative of both the power of the consumer to direct marketing strategy, and the power of the media to create powerful companies quite literally overnight in some cases (Kellner).   In the words of our old friends at Nike, consumerism and culture are tied together as such: â€Å"In a commercial culture that blends celebrity, product, and image, it is only natural that the sports shoe transnational Nike – as well as many other corporations – would purchase   star power to promote its products. Accordingly, I argue that the Nike connection calls attention to the extent to which media culture is transforming sports into a spectacle that sells the values, products, celebrities, and institutions of the media and consumer society† (Kellner, p. 64) . Culture is also a powerful ingredient in the consumerism mix; when one takes a look at the styles of clothing and shoes that Nike offers, as well as their advertising, it is clear that urban culture is a strong influence, leading to farm kids in Iowa, for example, wearing Nike gear, even though the closest they may have ever come to city life is seeing graffiti on a tractor trailer rolling through their town, on the way to somewhere else.   The point to be made is that popular culture is a driving force in marketing today. Conclusion In an image-obsessed society such as ours, material goods can, and do, create legendary, larger than life individuals, who in turn sell billions of dollars in products, and the cycle continues.   As a conclusion, perhaps the old saying is the best: â€Å"consumer is king†! Works Cited Kellner, Douglas. Media Spectacle. New York: Routledge, 2003. (Nike-United States  Ã‚   2007)Nike-United States. 2007. Nike, Inc.. 5 Mar. 2007 . Sussman, Charlotte. â€Å"Consumerism in World History: The Global Transformation of Desire.† The Historian 66.1 (2004): 211+. â€Å"Tennis Royalty Crowned by Prince.† USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) Nov. 2005: 78+.   

Crime and Interview Essay

In addition, the culture of the company may also be one of the most decisive factors in the choice of the employers. For this reason, during the interview the above knowledge may as well help employees to attract the interviewers. Secondly, practicing before going to the interview is very important. After having well understood almost everything about the company, employers should practice some typical questions with a friends. They can interview each other to have a good reaction to some unexpected questions that might be raised during the talks. Moreover, they can also use a mirror or tape recorder to practice themselves. After finishing this step, employees will talk fluently so that they can have high appreciation from the interviewers. Last but not least, the employees should check everything again carefully on the day before the interview. The white, pale blue or pale yellows are the best shirts for an interview. Besides, they must have polished dress shoes. Everyone who wants to wear a suit, it must be conservative and below knee-length. A good-looking appearance will have a good first impression on the interviewers. In addition, they must check the traffic routes to make sure the timetable, practice again and get a good night sleep. They should relax and keep calm as it is very necessary. In conclusion, if people want to get a good position in a big company, they should follow the three above works, as these are the most effective and important in the preparation for an interview. These will help them to be more confident and have bigger opportunity to apply for their favorite job. Nguyen Thi Le Thuy – Writing Experience 3 Having a good interview is a stepping stone of having a good job. However, there are some methods that would be hardly known by people. This essay above pointed three important works you should prepare before going to an interview. Easily to be seen that the topic of the essay is how to have a good interview for a job. The writer wrote this essay in the form of an example essay. In this example essay, the writer’s main idea is three main works people should do before the interview. The introduction begins with the first paragraph that has a strong thesis statement â€Å"It is necessary for people to know the preparation for the interview including three main works†. There are three main supporting ideas. The first point is research the company. With this point, she demonstrated by an example. The second is practice before going to the interview. In this advice, the writer showed the reason why they should practice before going to the interview. The final point is check everything carefully before the interview. The writer also give some ideas about clothes we should wear, timetable and have a good sleep before the interview. The linking words used in the essay is quite rare â€Å" Therefore, in addition, for example, moreover†. On the other hand, these linking words is used quite appropriate. In the conclusion, the essay ends with a strong conclusion paragraph that provided insight on the thesis statement. â€Å"In conclusion, if people want to get a good position in a big company, they should follow the three above works, as these are the most effective and important in the preparation for an interview†. To sum up, this essay obviously have a clear outline. Ideas is arranged quite logic and appropriate. Although the linking words and example are used rarely, the ideas still connect fluently. Section B. A research essay Abstract : Capital punishment  or the  death penalty  is a legal process whereby a person is put to death by the  state  as a punishment for a crime. The judicial decree that someone be punished in this manner is a  death sentence, while the actual process of killing the person is an  execution. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as  capital crimes  or  capital offences. Capital punishment has, in the past, been practised by most societies;  currently 58 nations actively practise it, and 97 countries have abolished it (the remainder have not used it for 10 years or allow it only in exceptional circumstances such as wartime). It is a matter of active controversy in various countries and states, and positions can vary within a single  political ideology  or cultural region. Although many nations have abolished capital punishment, over 60% of the world’s population live in countries where executions take place. Keywords : capital punishment, death penalty, crimes, abolish Outline : I. Introduction : Thesis statement: Many feel that all civilized communities should abolish the death penalty. II. Body – Wrongful execution – Closure family – Discrimination III. Conclusion Abolishing Capital punishment : A controversial issue In all societies, many cases occur where a criminal must be punished, so that they can be taught a lesson, and they can stop committing crimes. There are many different ways of punishing criminals: one is the death penalty. The issue of the death penalty has been avidly discussed throughout history. Some people support the idea of the death penalty, since they say it is only fair for one to forfeit their life if they take the life of another. Others feel that the death penalty is not fair, and fear that many innocents have been penalized for something they did not do. The issue of capital punishment deals with the moral issues of many people with different opinions within a community. It is a cruel punishment, and many have stated that legal systems should be able to devise another punishment to replace it. Prejudice is present in cases involving the death penalty. Many feel that all civilized communities should abolish the death penalty. First of all, it can seem dreadfully unfair to the families of those found to be innocent after the fact, if they are executed for crimes they did not do. If the Courts of Justice were to misjudge a person and claim them to be guilty, they cannot repair their mistake once that innocent person is dead. Executing an innocent is just as wrongful as any murder committed by in public. Perhaps it can also be considered murder if the jury causes the death of an innocent. Francois Robespierre, a well-known French revolutionist, once said, â€Å"Human judgments are never so certain as to permit society to kill a human being judged by other human beings. Why deprive ourselves of any chance to redeem such errors? † (Goldenman 1998). It is unjust for anyone to make judgments about others, and to decide whether they should live or die. Courts of Justice are known to make numbers of errors, which means it is unreasonable to allow defendants with the least doubt of guilt to be sentenced to death. John Stuart Mill, the famous philosopher, wrote that capital punishment – another term used for the death penalty – is a wrong done to innocents. It is impossible to restitute all wrongful executions ever made. â€Å"If by an error of justice an innocent person is put to death, the mistake can never be corrected; all compensation, all reparation for the wrong is impossible. (Blacks 1999). The courts of justice and all legislative bodies bear the onus, and should regard it with great respect, because if they do not, they become no different from wrong-doers in society who commit the crime of taking another’s life. It is a grave mistake to consider the death penalty as the main method to solve cases, or the best way to discourage crime, because wrongful convictions do occur, and it has been shown that the institution of the death penalty is no great disincentive. There are other methods of punishment, such a long prison terms, which can serve to exact reparation for heinous crimes. The first cause of wrongful convictions is faulty or false information given by witnesses. For example, a US Army Sergeant, named Timothy Hennis, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in South Carolina in 1986. One witness said he saw Hennis at the site of the murder, but the witness had mistaken Hennis for someone who looked like him. Some witnesses lie to ensure the defendant is convicted of murder. This usually happens when the actual killer attempts to shift the blame to someone else, so they can get away with it. In most cases, it is rather difficult to tell who the murderer is, and is based most frequently on who can tell the most persuading story to police. Because of this, the death penalty is the worst solution in most cases, because it does little to solve the case in a more clement way. Secondly, a great number of people consider capital punishment an evil act, because it is a cruel punishment exacted without just cause. It is might seem prudent to punish murderers with death because it tortures them, but their families, and the victims’ families, might think differently. The horror of a sentence of execution is compounded by years of waiting. Death row inmates are kept in solitary cells, where they are likely to be confined for twenty-three hours of each day. Interaction with others is kept to a minimum. Perhaps this kind of treatment might be punishment enough. Many consider the ultimate form of punishment as no disincentive for the crime of murder, and feel it increases killing, rather than diminishes it. They also hold it to be morally wrong. There are many difficult issues to deal with after a death sentence, which puts the family of the convicted person into as much discomfort and strife as the sentenced person. The most horrifying part is that they are constantly reminded of what will happen. The horrors of execution, the preparation for it, the psychological infliction of pain and the actual means of execution are considered by many to be barbaric. A whole sector of the community feels that it is an evil act to have any person put into that circumstance. â€Å"In criminal justice, combining this kind of ritualism with killing is considered an aggravation of murder. Yet this is the kind of death the state imposes on those it executes. Black 1998)† To punish evil with evil, the writer continues, and to exact an eye for an eye, and measure for measure, is to become as callous as the criminals. The last point, discrimination is also created by dint of the death penalty. In some cases, the court is prejudiced against the defendant. The reasons for their prejudice might be what they consider ignorance, racial bias, or poverty, as well as other undesirable traits. These characteristics can affect the way a judge and jury adjudicates the defendant. The family of a convicted person is also made to suffer from referred guilt and connectedness to crime, which is rarely repairable. Race is often an issue. Clarence Brandley, a black school janitor, was convicted in 1981 and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a white high school girl in Conroe, Texas. He was told by the police officer that since he was black, he had to be guilty of the murder. Judge Pickett stated about the case, â€Å"The conclusion is inescapable that the investigation was not conducted to solve the crime, but to convict Brandley† (Goldenman 1998). Prejudice in the court case proceedings has often contributed to the execution of many innocent people. Many supporters of the death penalty argue that it will deter violent crime. Dudley Sharp(2000) states, â€Å"The incapacitation effect saves lives – that is, that by executing murderers you prevent others from murdering, thereby saving an innocent life. The evidence of this is conclusive and incontrovertible. † People of this opinion believe that murderers would think twice before killing, because they fear death. This idea has been shown to be entirely false. Murderers rarely consider the consequences before they commit a crime. If all murderers think of the consequences before they kill, the murder rate would be lower in legislative areas where the death penalty exists. In fact, it has been shown that murder incidence remains the same when regions that carry the death penalty are compared with those with no form of capital punishment. There is no conclusive evidence to prove that the death penalty deters crime. To sum up, it does make sense that all criminals should be penalized to preserve peace and justice. Murderers are criminals, and deserve to be punished for their crime, but not with their own death. The death penalty has many flaws. Innocent people can lose their lives for crimes of which they bear no blame. The death penalty is considered to be highly immoral. It is a form of cruel and unusual punishment. People suffer greatly, both emotionally and physically, before their execution, and their families likewise. Capital punishment is not an antidote for violent crime. It is perfectly possible to deprive murderers of their freedom and throw them in prison for the rest of their natural lives. References Curry, Tim. Cutting the Hangman’s Noose: African Initiatives to Abolish the Death Penalty. (Archive)  American UniversityWashington College of Law. Gaie, Joseph B. R (2004). The ethics of medical involvement in capital punishment  : a philosophical discussion. Kluwer Academic. ISBN  1-4020-1764-2. Dudley Sharp (2002). Abolitionist and Retentionist Countries. Amnesty International. Law Center June 25 Francois Robespierre (1998). The Dealthe Penalty : Three things you should know. Goldenman Johnson, David T. ; Zimring, Franklin E. (2009). The Next Frontier: National Development, Political Change, and the Death Penalty in  Asia. Oxford University Press. ISBN  978-0-19-533740-2. John Stuart Mill (1999). International Polls and Studies. The Death Penalty Center Judge Pickett . Juvenille Execution. The Commandments, Neg. Comm. 290, at 269–271 (Charles B. Chavel trans. , 1967). Kronenwetter, Michael (2001). Capital punishment: a reference handbook  (2nd ed. ). ABC-CLIO. ISBN  1-57607-432-3. Kronenwetter, Michael (2001). Capital Punishment: A Reference Handbook  (2 ed. ). ABC-CLIO. ISBN  978-1-57607-432-9. McCafferty, James A (2010). Capital Punishment. AldineTransaction. ISBN  978-0-202-36328-8. Mandery,  Evan J  (2005). Capital punishment: a balanced examination. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. ISBN  0-7637-3308-3. Marzilli, Alan (2008). Capital Punishment – Point-counterpoint(2nd ed. ). Chelsea House. ISBN  978-0-7910-9796-0. Mary E. William (2006) . The Death Penalty: Opposing Viewpoint. San Diego Timothy Brook, Gregory Blue (1905). Death by a Thousand Cuts. The Times higher Education. Woolf, Alex (2004). World issues – Capital Punishment. Chrysalis Education. ISBN  1-59389-155-5. Simon, Rita (2007). A comparative analysis of capital punishment  : statutes, policies, frequencies, and public attitudes the world over. Lexington Books. ISBN  0-7391-2091-3. List of people who were beheaded

Cultural Diversity in Music and its positive and negative effects on Society Essay

American music is a melting pot of various genres of music. From the times when the country was colonized American music has come a long way. Rock and Roll, Hip-hop, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz and Country are among the internationally renowned genres. The more indigenous genres include Gospel, Louisiana tejoles, and Hawaiian music and American Folk music. Music intertwines with various aspects of American identity such as race, ethnicity, gender and social class. Of these race is perhaps the biggest driver of any particular genre of music. Hip-hop, jazz, soul and R&B have long been considered as an African –American tradition as has the country music genre been the tradition of whites in America. The mixing of cultures from has permeated popular culture in an unprecedented fashion. Because of its crossover appeal, music is a great unifier of diverse populations. It has gone from the fringes, to the suburbs, and into the corporate boardrooms. Over the last forty or fifty years music has been one of the biggest influential factors in teenage society. So, there’s no problem in assuming that our present adult society is built with some of the ideas taken from the music industry of the yesteryears. Positive Effects: Music in America has and continues to play a very positive role in the society. The emergence of folk music during the 20th century, and particularly the rise of popular folk music of the 1960’s, is probably the best example of music affecting society. The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing and the largely unpopular war in Vietnam was well underway. Folk music is, inherently, music played and sung by and for everyday people—music for the masses, so to speak. Naturally, when a culture becomes aware of radical changes that awareness gives way through expression. Folk singer and songwriter Woody Guthrie began writing â€Å"protest music† and songs in support of popular movements of the day. Other folk singers such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez followed suit. For the first time, music was not only a vehicle for expression, but it was also a way to mobilize and inspire listeners to think differently and take action. Country music typically embodied idealistic thinking, shunning capitalism and material comforts. It is about everyday people doing everyday things-the bars they go to, the people they have lost, their dreams, their loves, and their friends. Country gives people something to relate to besides urban hip-hop, rap, heavy metal, and pop. As far as society as a whole, for the most part country singers are considered fairly wholesome-they aren’t in the tabloids for drugs and explicitly wanton behavior (not saying they don’t & they are all perfect! ) but their images tend to be cleaner than musicians belonging to other genres so it gives the younger generations people to look up to. Both Hip-Hop and R&B have impacted society in many ways, mainly well. R&B and Hip-Hop have, in their own way, addressed the challenges of African-American individuals, provided help and strength, and left an impact that has been widely debated throughout the years. Many people equate gangsta rap and other isolated artists or songs with all rap and, even worse, Hip-hop in general. This is a huge fallacy because 90% of rap is either something that helps society or at least something that doesn’t hurt it. Consider, for example, feminist rap. Feminist rap goes against any misogyny in other types of rap and forces society – especially men who objectify women—to take a step back and see that what is going on in the cases of gangsta rap is wrong. Another example of a form of rap that helps society is political rap. Political rap from artists such as Public Enemy encourage the black community to stand up for their rights and to become politically active so that they do not get taken advantage of. Rock musicians too have sometimes attempted to address social issues directly as commentary or as calls to action. During the Vietnam War the first rock protest songs were heard, inspired by the songs of folk musicians such as Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, which ranged from abstract evocations of peace Peter, Paul, and Mary’s â€Å"If I Had a Hammer† to blunt anti-establishment diatribes Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young’s â€Å"Ohio†. Other musicians, notably John Lennon and Yoko Ono, were vocal in their anti-war sentiment both in their music and in public statements Negative Effects: The introduction of rock and roll music in the 1950’s brought with it the fear that its lyrics and new rhythms would adversely affect young listeners. That fear has carried over into the twenty-first century, but now the criticism is focused primarily on heavy metal and rap. It has been suggested that the lyrics in these types of music promote aggression, bigotry, deviant sexual activity, suicide, violence, drug use, and homicide. This issue also arises in the field of medicine. The American Academy of Pediatrics fears that rock lyrics are potential threats to the health and well being of adolescents. These concerns include pregnancy, drug use, sexually transmitted diseases, accidents, and suicide. Rap music is infamous for its inflammatory remarks towards women. Thus the two most popular forms of music for adolescents revolve around themes of disrespect and sexual imagery. Furthermore, the effects music lyrics have on mood, suicidal ideation, aggression, and stereotyping have been questioned. The massive popularity and worldwide scope of rock and roll resulted in an unprecedented level of social impact. Far beyond simply a musical style, rock and roll influenced lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language in a way few other social developments have equaled. From its beginnings, rock and roll has been associated with youth, rebellion, and anti-establishment. The blend of black influences, suggestive lyrics, and wild response by the younger set made rock and roll appalling and threatening to the older generation. The ability to shock the elders in turn became part of the appeal of the music to young generations. The rock and roll lifestyle was popularly known as being associated with sex and drugs. Many of rock and roll’s early stars (as well as their jazz and blues counterparts) were known as hard-drinking, hard-living characters; during the 1960s a decadent rock lifestyle became more publicly known, aided by the growth of the underground rock press which documented such excesses, often in exploitative fashion. Conclusion: The impact of American music on society is definitely a positive one. An artist’s music can be positive through lyrics by saying all the things the person listening wants to say. It can also inspire other people to do good things such as the song Imagine by the Beatles. Music enhances creativity. Writers block, it is said, can be cured by a bout of music listening. Although there has been a great deal of negativity that has centered on music, the positive far outweighs the negative. The negative effects of some genres of music, which are the commercialization of music, the loss of creative edge, and the sex, violence and misogyny, are over shadowed by positive effects like political awareness, societal awareness, anti-sexism, and racial awareness. References: 1. How Music Affects Society http://www. musicguidebook. com/articles/how-music-affects-society 2. Cultural Diversity in Music http://www. areditions. com/rr/index/set_musa. html 3. Effect of Rap and Heavy metal http://library. wcsu. edu/dspace/bitstream/0/35/1/tropeano. pdf

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 9

Economics - Essay Example To enhance our perception of the situation let us first brush up on the underlying economic concepts. First consider the difference between the economic short run and long run. The short run is defined as that period of time in which at least one input of production is fixed while the long run is defined as the time frame over which all factors of production are variable. A simple way to distinguish would be to consider the shifts in the scale of production. In the short run the scale of production is fixed. A particular scale of production is represented by a short run average cost curve. Again in the long run the scale of production varies. The Long run average cost curve is an envelope of the infinite number of short run average cost curves. However it is critical to note that the Long run average cost curve by no means an envelope of the minimum points of the short run average cost curves. The individual short run optimums are the minimum points of the short run average cost curv es but in the long run the optima vary as the scale of production itself is now variable. The Long run average cost curve is U shaped under traditional assumptions. The falling part is explained by reduction in per unit cost with all factors variable due to efficiency gains of expanding the scale. These are known as scale economies1. Again the upward rising portion is explained by per unit long run cost rises due to decline in efficiency and is known as diseconomies of scale2. Let us now consider the situation of Engines R Us. In the given situation it produces at the minimum efficient scale of production. The minimum efficient scale of production refers to the minimum amount a firm can produce that minimises its long run average costs (Varian, 1990). For a continuous and U shaped long run average cost curve, the minimum efficient scale of production is the output level that corresponds to its minimum

Investigation on Whether Nokia Should Quit the UK Essay

Investigation on Whether Nokia Should Quit the UK - Essay Example The main research objective is find out whether it would be viable to minimize expansion of the Nokia brand in the U.K market. Nokia as evident from the analysis has been experiencing a decline it its market share in the named market. Competition has stifled with other companies providing equal or better quality mobile handsets. Handsets are now a requirement for a majority of people. Statistics has shown a decline in number of handsets purchased and an ever increasing number of smartphones acquired. It is a technologically changing world that can be attributed to this trend. People want the best, and since it is affordable, they can get it. Nokia holds a high popularity of mobile phone manufacturing companies in the world. It had the biggest market share of mobile users, but this is changing. This research focuses on finding out changes in the performance of Nokia and if it is a viable idea for to withdraw itself from the U.K market. In trying to answer this, several factors have to be investigated on the reasons that have led to this aftermath in the Nokia Company. 1.2: Research objectives. The research problems highlight the areas of importance in this study. They seek to encompass the most crucial factors involved in this project. They revolve around the Nokia Mobile statistics. They are, to determine the factors behind the decline of Nokia smartphone market share, changing trends in the mobile market, to identify measures to be taken against this issue and know if it is wise to leave the U.K market or not. 1.3: Research questions What are the reasons for declining market share in U.K, how can it be controlled and what are the appropriate ways to control it. 1.4: Statement of problem Factors influencing Nokia mobile market share the U.K and factors influencing changes in the mobile market in U.K 2.0: LITERATURE REVIEW In recent times, with the advancement of technology, operating systems became one of the major determinants of a company’s performance in the market. With the need for faster and efficient mobile systems, there has been competition on who provides the best operating system customers prefer in the U.K. Apple has the most popular OS scooping a share of 42%, Blackberry with 36% and android with a share of 12%. It is surprising because Nokia, known for its popularity and with the changing trends and stiff competition, stands to make its way to the top or quit the smartphone market for better standing mobile companies. This research focuses on finding out what appropriate measure to take, whether quit or continue in the race of attracting customers to use their smartphones. In trying to investigate this, it has to identify the gap existing the company and the competitors. Strategies used in pricing, promotion, quality provision and the 4ps of marketing have a large part in determining the performance of a company’s products. For example, while price may not be a substantial factor to consider because of affordab ility in the current market of smartphones it is still pertinent to know that is the crucial factor customers consider for any product. They may want to operate in the market with the highest margins. This can only be realistic in a monopolistic market where they are the sole suppliers of a product. That is why the Nokia Company have to identify what strategy to use to maintain their share, increase it or exit the market. They should

Investment Risks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Investment Risks - Essay Example It is also important to note that the relative degree of risk against the return does not need to be in linear relation i.e. it is not necessary that the risk and return increase in same proportion however, if risk increases, it is necessary that the return must increase too in order to compensate the investors for taking increased risk. (Ante, 2009). The above graph therefore indicates that the investment four has the highest risk and highest return whereas investment 1 has the lowest risk and lowest return. This graph also indicate that the investors may be preferring different combinations of the investments i.e. the investment that is providing lowest returns may be made in the government treasury securities whereas investment providing highest returns may made in the stocks of a corporate as the stocks provide highest returns and also carry greatest risk among all instruments of investment. It is important to understand that the expected return is always calculated by multiplying the return with the probability and the resulting figure is called the expected return on any investment. Therefore the investment that provides highest expected return shall be chosen over other investment. The investor should choose an investment that pays a guaranteed return of 7% because given the overall probability of different returns, the investors will get the expected return of 5% with a probability of 0.5 whereas the investment providing 7% result has the probability of 1 that means the expected return will be 7% which is highest as compared to other investment. The higher the probability greater are the chances that the return will be guaranteed therefore an investment with a lower probability will yield lower expected returns whereas an investment with higher probability of getting the same return will yield higher expected returns. Therefore in this case, since the probability of getting 7% return is

The Sales Plan for Ontela PicDeck Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Sales Plan for Ontela PicDeck - Essay Example Consumers also reflected increased affinity of sending photos through the use of electronic mails and also storing photos on the in the effective desktop which is enabled through the use of the PicDeck service. The major competitors for Ontela PicDeck can be evaluated to be like Eye-Fi and Transcend that offer technology solutions relating to data transfer in a wireless medium and also in the storage of the same in memory cards. It is observed that wireless technology companies like Eye-Fi and Transcend enable the collection of a large number of photos and thereby contribute in transferring the same to other devices based on the wireless medium and also through the use of the cloud interface. Eye-Fi and Transcend have viewed as the significant players in the wireless market ineffective transfers of a large number of photos from cameras to Smartphones and also from mobile devices to computers. It is observed that where Transcend tends to generate a 32 GB Wi-Fi card for around $72.45; Eye-Fi tends to generate a 16 GB Wi-Fi card for around $89.74. In terms of price and storage features, Transcend tends to be the most appealing product let alone the performance and technology competence of Eye- Fi. Technology offered by such companies contributes in effectively sharing the contents between the mobile phones and laptops and personal computers such that the same can be further shared through the use of electronic mails and social platforms like Facebook (Perlman 2013).