Thursday, October 31, 2019
Business research method Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Business method - Research Paper Example The steps include, theoretical framework and hypothesis development, measurement, sampling, quantitative and qualitative analysis. This paper intends to show how the problem at hand can be taken through the processes of research discussed in following sections. Chapter 4 Theoretical framework and hypothesis development This chapter provides an exclusive description of a research process through a theoretical framework and hypothesis development. This process includes identification of variables and basic features of a theoretical framework. In addition, the process involves development of a hypothesis. In most cases the hypothesis developed revolves a round the situation at hand. There are four types of variables namely dependent, independent, moderating and mediating variables. It is imperative to note that this research process involves labeling and linking variables amongst themselves wit the intent of forming a theoretical framework (Uma, 2010). A theoretical framework is a signi ficant aspect of any research method since it provided the overall direction of a research process. More over, the theoretical framework is regarded as the foundation of any hypothetical-deductive research. It forms the basis of the hypothesis that will be developed. The process of building a theoretical framework involves the introduction of definitions of variables in the model, developing a theoretical model intended to provide an evocative demonstration of the theory and coming up with a theory that is intended to provide a justification for associations amid variables in the model. After developing a theoretical framework, development of testable hypothesis follows. These hypotheses are intended to examine whether the theory is sound suitable or not. Statistical analyses should then be used to test the hypothesized associations. It is notable that the entire research rests on the theoretical framework (Uma, 2010). This study observes that advancing a superior theoretical framew ork is fundamental to probing the problem under exploration. It is imperative to note that the theoretical framework provides a conceptual base to proceed with research, which includes proper understanding of the associations of variable network. A variable refers to anything that can assume varying values. Some of the examples of variables include production units, motivation and absenteeism. An independent variable is one that affects the dependent variable. This implies that both the independent and dependent covary in such way that a change in the dependent variable leads to change in the independent variable. Consider the example below Independent variable Dependent variable On the other hand, a moderating variable performs the role of imparting strong contingent effect on the relationship amid the independent and dependent variables. More over, the moderating variable modifies the initial relationship between the two variables. Having considered the basics of variables the nex t but most critical step is the development of theoretical framework (Uma, 2010). As observed earlier the theoretical framework forms the sure base of the entire research project. It is imperative to note that the framework is based on logical development, clear-cut description and elaborated network of relationship amongst the variables. The variables should be relevant to the problem under investigation. Above all, this study observes
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Healthy Eating Habits of African Americans Essay Example for Free
Healthy Eating Habits of African Americans Essay America is an overweight nation with many being considered obese; African Americans in particular, make up a considerable fraction of the population due mainly to culturally poor eating habits and inactive lifestyles. The latest Gallup-Healthways well-being Index survey shows that up to 63. 1% of the US population was overweight or obese in 2009. That means two out of every three adults and 17% of children in this country are overweight. Out of that number, approximately 60% are African American men and 78% African American women. The survey also says that African Americans were the most likely to be obese at 36. 2% compared to a national average of 26. 5%. Disturbingly, African Americans rank at the top of many similar health studies. This group is at a higher risk for chronic diseases. Chronic diseases are normally lifetime diseases that have no cure, but can be treated and maintained. African Americans lead all other ethnic groups in the nation in most statistics on obesity. Even though the numbers are alarming and a bit sobering, there are a variety of unhealthy habits that help contribute. The top reasons for many of these social and health issues lifestyle choices that can be prevented by proper education on health and fitness. For many Americans, poor lifestyle choices make for vulnerability to an assortment of health issues. One of the challenges for African Americans to overcome is healthy food choices. The cultural diet that many African Americans share makes this even more of a hurdle so to speak. African Americans have a rich family tradition of soul food that can present problems for todayââ¬â¢s less active lifestyles. Many African Americans accept the notion that soul food is African-American recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. ââ¬Å"Soul foodâ⬠meals traditionally depend on high levels of sugar, fat and salt for flavoring. Even though this may have some degree of truth to it, decreasing portion sizes and modifying recipes, can insure that blacks continue their cultural heritage of family eating traditions without expanding their waistlines. Decreasing the holesterol, fat and sodium content in their diets; African Americans can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes complications. Often these instructions by doctors and fitness experts result in dishes that can seem unfamiliar. According to the Department of Agriculture, (2002)11% of American households did not have access, at all times for to enough food for their family to support an active and healthy lifestyle. There is a direct relationship in the diets and eating habits of African Americans based on their socioeconomic status and education. African Americans have this and other cultural challenges to overcome. For example frying food is common method of cooking for African Americans due to the fast cooking time and versatility of meals that can be arranged quickly. The lack of affordability of higher quality meats, vegetables and fruits can also impact the opportunity leaner diets. A large amount of African Americans are on the poorer end of the poverty scale. Families scrambling to barely feed their households often select the cost conscious foods versus nutrition. The average African American family household income according to the Economic Census Bureau report (2007) was $33,916 compared to $54,920 for non-Hispanic White families. These issues are by no means excuses and in fact, change easily by a focus on health education and better diets alternatives. Meals can be modified by purchasing meats with less fat, fresh, green vegetables and fruit. African Americans can choose also choose better cooking methods such as baked, grilled or broiled. These methods can reduce saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium while keeping the original, intended flavor of the food. Many cookbooks and recipes have been created to offer options and alternative to traditional soul food and unhealthy ââ¬Å"quickâ⬠meals. African Americans of all ethnic groups in the United States have shown the most difficulty choosing diets that are low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This would require a huge change in diet quality and working against this is the greater marketability of packaged and processed foods. The packagings of processed foods seem strategically designed to attract certain demographics and African Americans do not seem to be exempt. African Americans have the highest risk of almost all diet-related disease when compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are all leading causes of death in blacks. Itââ¬â¢s a well know fact that being overweight can be dangerous to our health, however African Americans have to worry more about life-threatening disease like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain forms of cancer. African Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as non-Latin white adults. Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent in African Americans because fat interferes with bodyââ¬â¢s ability to use insulin. Death from heart disease was 30% more likely among African Americans compared to their white counterparts. (2005, CDC) The most serious forms of cancer like lung, prostate, breast, and stomach also are more likely to be a cause of death in blacks than whites. These often fatal diseases can be traced back to poor eating habits. Heart attacks are often discovered to start from blockage of arteries from high cholesterol and saturated fat. Proper screening and regular checkups is a proactive way to early detection. Many African Americans do not get blood screenings or physicals regular, let alone have a primary-care physician. Changing to more active lifestyles and a regular exercise routine are critical ingredients needed to reduce the chances African Americans have for stroke and heart attack. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Americans were 50% less likely to participate in active physical activity as non-Hispanic whites. Considering this, itââ¬â¢s of no surprise that they die from heart disease and stroke almost twice the rate of Whites also. A professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana, Robert Newton Jr. , PhD, said in his Exercise for African Americans article that one of the perceptions of African Americans have is the belief that work provides sufficient exercise. Many African Americans are blue collar workers and often do strenuous jobs. He goes on to say other so-called barriers African Africans declare prevents them from regular exercise are myths like messing up their hair styles or dislike of public showers. Whether there is any validity to these claims or not, African Americans must educate themselves on the benefits of regular exercise and the affects of an in-active lifestyle. There are many books, programs, clubs and social activities that offer the specific, specialized support African Americans need in order to improve their overall health as a group. Many unhealthy habits of African Americans can be changed by simply adding in a regular exercise routine. Regular exercise brings along with it the desire to eat healthier. African Americans will first need to make some tough and ometimes unfamiliar choices. Choosing a family doctor or primary care physician is a positive step in the right direction. This is especially important when there are current health issues or one hasnââ¬â¢t been active lately. Educating themselves around the specific trends and downfalls they have as an ethnic group, can be a motivating factor in a lifestyle change. Also, developing a regular exercise routine will take firm commitment and discipline. One of the easiest ways African Americans can incorporate this into their current lifestyles is to start sneaking it into their daily activities. For example, they could take the stairs instead of the elevator at work, or go for walks during breaks or lunches. Even doing housework at a fast past can get the heart rate up and pumping. Yard work like raking leaves can provide extra-curricular activity too. Gym memberships and personals trainers can be a barrier to some African Americans due to the costs and fees associated with them. African Americans donââ¬â¢t have to look very far to find alternatives. Various local churches sponsor health programs or have created fitness committees to help improve their congregations health. A lot of companies sponsor mini-marathons or charity races to help a local cause and keep its staff in better physical shape. African Americans are still at the highest risk for a shorter life expectancy due to generations of poor eating habits and a lack of general health knowledge. These trends are evident in many Americans, but disproportionately still more in African Americans. With continued focus, attention and education by experts, schools, churches, even media and society as a whole, there can be a cultural shift. African Americans can close the gap between them and other ethnic groups in health statistics like obesity and body mass indexes (BMI). This is especially essential between blacks and non-Hispanic whites where the biggest gaps are evident. Chronic and diet related diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and cancer can all partly be attributed to lifestyle choices. Healthful living, proper diets, and active lifestyles can greatly improve the health of all Americans, but essentially the African American people.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
The Brewery Industry In Nigeria
The Brewery Industry In Nigeria The brewery industry belongs to the manufacturing sector under the Nigerian Stock Exchange (This Day, 2011). It dates back to over six decades with the birth of the pioneer company; Nigerian Breweries in 1949 with of star larger beer, followed by Guinness Nigeria in 1962 with Guinness stout. The major products in the brewery industry are beer, stout and non-alcoholic drinks (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011). For the purpose of this paper, beer will be used to connote lager and stout. The industry experienced a boom in the 1970s due to the fledging oil industry and rapidly increased from less than five n 1970 to over thirty by 1980 (Obot, 2000). The ownership of the firms in the industry are either public or state-owned with or without foreign partnership. There are challenges of high operational costs due to importation, expert-skilled labour, maintenance of machinery and equipments. These challenges have lead to the closure of quite a number of the smaller firms in the early 80s leaving only the large firms with strong financial base.. At present, there are thirteen brewery (Nigerian Custom Service, 2011) companies left with only four listed under the Nigerian Stock Exchange (This Day, 2011). The industry is at the maturity stage of its life cycle but still remains one of the striving industry in the Nigerian manufacturing sector. It has a direct employment of over 30,000 personnel and an indirect employment of over 300,000 thousand personnel as a result of the firms providing ancillary services to the industry (Equity Research report, 2006). Nigerian Breweries and Guinness Nigeria are the two major players in the industry with . Nigerian Breweries leading the market with about 65% market share while Guinness Nigeria follows with about 25%. They both enjoy economies of scale and have good return on their investment (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011). Analyses of Macro-environmental factors Every industry is affected by factors in the environment in which they operate. These factors which they have no direct control over, may either impact positively or negatively on the industry. The factors used for this analysis are Political, Economic, Social and Technology. Political The Nigerian political history after independence in 1960 has been characterized by a compendium of military and civilian governments. The military regimes had adversely affected the real sector, an example was the ban placed on importation of barley; the raw material for production of beer, by the military government of Buhari in 1987 (Porter Phillips-Howard, 1994). However the past twelve years of civilian government has witnessed relative stability in most parts of the country except for the restiveness in the Niger Delta region, which has dwindled the countrys crude oil revenue. It is expected that the on-going elections will successfully usher in a new civilian government that will further stabilize the polity and create an enabling environment that will attract foreign investors and stimulate the resuscitation of the real sector (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011). Economic Nigeria operates a mixed economy which encourages the co-existence of both the private sectors and the state in the market place. It is an emerging economy with potential economic power given the abundant resources. The countrys economy is well diversified along sectoral classification with the oil sector accounting for over 80% of its GDP, through crude oil export thereby making its revenue highly susceptible to the vagaries of the trends in the international market (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011). The economy is supported by a very resilient and strictly regulated financial system that has gone through several reforms within the past decade. While the exchange rate has been relatively stable in the past two years, interest rates have been closely regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria while efforts to bring inflation rate below single digit has been elusive. Other factors that have contributed to the harsh economic climate in Nigeria are lack of power and inadequate infrastructure. The period between years 2000 and 2010 has witnessed the closure of more than 850 industries. However, with the trend of increase in the manufacturing GDP over the past years (i.e. 2008: 3.6%, 2009: 4.2%), it is expected that a stable terrain will continue to attract investors in years to come (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011). Social Nigeria with its population of about 150 million is a huge potential market for investors. The country is the second largest beer market in Africa after South Africa. South Africa with a population of 47.9million according to 2007 statistical data, has a beer consumption per capita of 50 hectolitres while Nigeria has 10 hectolitres per capita. Industry operators are of the view that the existing firms capacity are not enough to meet the demand of the market, and there is therefore room for expansion (Momoh, 2009). Nigeria is a diverse country with over 250 ethnic groups. The population of the country gives a religious spread of Muslims(50%), Christians(40%) and indigenous religions(10%). The Muslims and Pentecostal Christians do not indulge in beer consumption due to their religious beliefs (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011) The above notwithstanding, beer consumption remains a social activity in Nigeria and the sale of the commodity has continued to increase from year to year.. Technology The brewery industry is highly capital intensive. This accounts for the reason why the ownership structure is either public and/or state-owned with/without foreign partnership. The technology for the industry, spare parts and expert technicians are not available in country and therefore highly dependent on foreign exchange. Guinness for example has Diego of Ireland as its foreign partner (Trade Invest, 2009). The ban on importation of barley in 1987 necessitated the industry to settle for local substitute of maize and sorghum as raw materials for its production. The resultant plant conversion to accommodate the new raw material input-mix cost Nigerian Brewery a whopping sum of 100million naira! (Equity Research report, 2006). One of the major challenges facing the industry is the maintenance of equipments and machinery. The players commit huge financial resources in technology and upgrades in order to remain competitive (Equity Research report, 2006). Analysis of Industry Competitiveness using Porter Five Forces Industry competitiveness is said to determined by bargaining power of buyers, power of suppliers, threats of new competitors, threat of substitute products and rivalry among existing firms. The profitability of the industry is determined by these five Forces as they influence prices, costs and required investment (Porter, 1985). Bargaining Power of Buyers Buyers create demand in the market and their bargaining power would represent a strong competitive force if they have sufficient bargaining leverage to influence and obtain price concessions and other favourable terms and conditions of sale (Thompson et al, 2010). In the case of the brewery industry, consumers are scattered across specific regions in the country. Some states in the Northern part of Nigeria do not permit the sale of alcoholic beverages due to religious beliefs. The price elasticity demand for sales of brewery products is inelastic, an increase in price may not have a significant impact on demand. A decrease in consumer disposable income may have a small impact on demand, as buyers may go for cheaper brands or substitute products. The introduction of a new product into market that is not related to the brewery industry may compete with brewery products for consumer disposable income. The introduction of GSM service into the Nigerian market in 2003 created a serious competition for the brewery industry (Equity Research report, 2006). The industry has good distribution networks, in fact, they are the buyers in the industry as they control movement of the products from the producer to the retailers, and thus determine the price of the products to a certain extent. This unfortunately does not allow interaction between the producers and the consumers, however the players in the industry especially the two big players strive to maintain contact with their consumers by advertisements, promotion of events and also sponsorships of various programmes and activities (Jernigan Obot, 2006). Bargaining Power of Suppliers Suppliers in the industry include distributors of raw materials, components and finished products. Such components include bottles, crown corks, labels e.t.c. These services are outsourced because the Nigerian law does not permit the brewery firms to produce them (Equity Research report, 2006). There are more distributors and suppliers than existing brewery firms in existence. The raw materials and components being undifferentiated give the manufacturers the luxury to chose their suppliers at will (Equity Research report, 2006). Nigerian Breweries alone has about 147 distributors and wholesalers within the country (Famurewa Orekoya, 2008). However the distributors may pose a threat to the industry during industrial actions. Threat of new Entrants According to Porter, the threat of new entrants will affect the profitability of an industry (Porter, 1985) as the incumbents may be forced to lower their prices in order to discourage new entrants thereby reducing profitability. In the Nigerian Brewery industry, some factors which help to raise barrier to entry include capital requirements, legal costs, economies of scale, distribution networks (oppapers.com, 2011). Nigerian Breweries and Guinness both have foreign technical partners who provide the needed technical and financial assistance (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011). The other companies are mainly public or state owned and are localised within their region. There were no new entrant into the business, until 2009 when SABMiller a South African company came on stream with the acquisition of Peabody Breweries and Standard Breweries. SABMiller strategy in gaining part of the market share was to produce low cost beer for a segment of the market who could not afford the premium brand of the existing market. However Nigeria Breweries was already producing such through Consolidated Breweries one of its subsidiary (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011). Threat of Substitute The availability of substitute may impact an industrys profitability as consumers may decide to switch to a substitute product (Boeing et al, 2008). In Nigeria the consumption of traditional drinks such as burukutu, palm wine and ogogoro has a cultural affinity among consumers in the rural and urban areas. Other potential substitutes include alcoholic drinks such as wine, brandy, vodka and non alcoholic drinks such as malt, juice, soft and energy drinks. The alcoholic drinks are known to be consumed by a higher segment of the society (Jernigan Obot, 2006), while the non-alcoholic drinks are to target the non-beer consuming religious groups. Beer however remains the beverage of choice as some studies carried out have shown its predominant preference over other alcoholic beverages (Obot, 2000). Beer is known to account for 96% of alcoholic sales in Nigeria (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011). Intensity of Rivalry among existing firms This is a measure of the extent to which existing firms compete among each other for customers, this could be price and non-price based (Boeing et al, 2008). In the industry as mentioned earlier, competition is between the two major players, however there are no price wars as the products are differentiated and price differences are insignificant. The industry produces 22 brands of lager and 4 brands of stout besides other non-alcoholic drinks, Nigerian Breweries dominates the market in the larger (Star) segment while Guinness dominates the stout (Guinness) segment (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011). For non-priced based competition, the two companies compete on product innovations, such as packaging, branding and advertisements. Consumers have witnessed innovation of packaging from bottle to can and sip-it packs. Summary of Five Forces A summary of the five forces is hereby presented in the table below using key drivers and resultant effect on industry (Boeing et al, 2008). Table 1 Force Key drivers Effect Power of buyers Concentration is high, no bargaining leverage Low Power of suppliers Suppliers more than Producers Low Threat of substitute Increased growth in substitute industry High Threat of new Entrant High barrier to entry Low Intensity of rivalry Two major competitors Moderate Overall analysis Moderate SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis will be used to measure an organizations strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the industry on a four cell chart (Dibb et al, 2006). Figure 1 Strength Economies of scale Strong financial base Experience High staff turn-over Inflexible technology Cost Control Weakness Opportunity Technology Market growth Good distribution network Govt legislation Continued low margin Failure to capture mkt growth Threat (Dibbs et al, 2006) Recommendations With strength and opportunity, an organization in the industry can capitalize by expansion or acquisition of weaker firms. An organization with opportunity and internal weakness should watch the market slowly and formulate a strategy to build on its weakness. A weak organization facing threat should take the strategic turn-around required, by exiting the business or allow itself to be taken over by a bigger firm. An organization with strength but facing threat should use its strength to overcome its weakness (Dibb et al, 2006) Hirschmann Herfindahl Index (HHI) HHI is a measurement of the concentration of an industry. It is measured by squaring the sum of the market share within that industry . A HHI figure greater than 1800 imply an industry that is considerably concentrated (Boeing et al, 2008). Table 2 Company Revenue (2009)m Market share Market share^2 Nigerian Breweries $1,100 65% 4,225 Guinness Nigeria $ 587.7 25% 625 Others 10% 100 Total 4,950 (Corporate Nigeria, 2010/2011). The HHI measure gives a figure of 4,950 which shows a highly concentrated industry tending towards an oligopoly (Boeing et al, 2008). Conclusion The brewery industry has proved to be a sustainable business in Nigeria with over six (6) decades of operation and having survived years of unstable polity, economic downturns and different government policy and reforms. The industry has been consistently dominated by Nigerian Breweries and Guinness and is sadly tending towards oligopoly with the acquisition of five existing breweries by Nigerian Breweries (allAfrica.com, 2011). Nigeria is still considered one of the least penetrated beer market in the world in terms of its demographic population of over 150million (allAfrica.com, 2011). More investors are definitely welcome, however such investors will need to commit huge capital outlay to build plants or acquire existing firms and also create a strong distribution network in order to compete with the existing firms. Beer consumption is a win-win situation, Nigerians drink when they are happy and wish to celebrate, they also drink when they are sad or emotionally down. The brewery industry will therefore continue to enjoy a sustained growth in the country.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Leadership in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest and Leadership in the Rea
Leadership in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Leadership in the Real World The theme of leadership in the ward does not mirror the outside world very accurately, as in contemporary society a leader of a society or an organisation is almost always accountable to a person senior to him. This is not seen in the novel, as Big Nurse seems to be answerable to no one, in fact, it is arguable that everyone answers to her. A hierarchy or class system operates inside the ward which can be clearly seen throughout the course of the novel. Patients living within the ward are ââ¬Ëclassedââ¬â¢ according to the state of their mental health or to the condition of which they suffer from. Chief describes the method of discriminating patients from one another: ââ¬ËAcross the room from the Acutes are the Chronicsâ⬠¦ Not in the hospital, these, to get fixed, but to keep them walking the streetsâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬â¢ (17) Patients are divided into two categories of Acutes & Chronics: Chronics are those patients who have a condition which is untreatable, ââ¬â¢machines with flaws which cannot be repairedââ¬â¢ (17) and can only be controlled with medical methods. They will spend the rest of their lives inside the ward of the hospital. Patients who are seen as being likely to recover from their illness, and will return to society. Acutes are those patients e.g. Harding, who are seen as being likely to recover from their illness, and will return to society. Chronics can either have full use of their bodies or can be again sub-categorised into Wheelers and Vegetables; Those whose movement is impaired to such an extent, they can only move by being pushed around in wheelchairs. Vegetables are patients who, through excessive ECT ââ¬ËShock Shopââ¬â¢ (18) or through t... ... the rules. Although many countries have abolished the use of corporal or capital punishment for serious crimes, North America is one such a country where, depending on the state, a person may face capital punishment by lethal injection, electric chair or gas chamber. The ward applies corporal punishment in the form of the ECT and it may be argued that a lobotomy is a form of capital punishment because the patient has little or no quality of life left after the procedure, so they might as well have been killed. Ken Keseyââ¬â¢s One Flew Over The Cuckooââ¬â¢s Nest mirrors, in the behavior of itââ¬â¢s characters, contemporary society very accurately and can still be relied on, as a contemporary text, an accurate display of the treatment of patients within a mental hospital today. Works Cited: Kesey, Ken. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. New York: Viking, 1962
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Evaluation of story board ââ¬ÅUnrelated incidentsââ¬Â Essay
My video is intended to portray unrelated incidents in a way which my gcse audience would understand it is also designed to increase the dramatic impact of the poem and there for increase the pupils understanding of the poem. i started the video with the image of big Ben at six oââ¬â¢clock, this is the image used to start the BBC news so I felt that it was an appropriate image to start this poem as it is about the news and how its read. The reason I choose a man with a posh Standard English voice to do the narration for this section is that this is stereotypically the kind of voice used to introduce the BBC news. Also the image and the voice create a image of typical English news which would increase the impact of the next section on the audience. The introduction of the Glaswegian man is the most effective and best way of presenting the poem as written to an audience through a video. The image of the man standing in a field with mountains and a lake in the background, rolling a cigarette is a dramatic contrast to the image from the first section of typical ââ¬ËEnglishnessââ¬â¢. The man is meant to represent the average everyday man from Glasgow, as the poem appears to be a look at that personââ¬â¢s perspective on the news, and the English attitude towards him. The sky would be moving with the storm clouds gathering to show the mans anger at the way his treating gathering and increasing. This section is meant to show the mans disgust at the attitude of the ââ¬Ëscruffââ¬â¢ towards him because of his accent so he would be being sarcastic with these comments. The sky moving would again show the mans anger rising. The image in this section contrast sharply with the next image this should semi-shock the audience increasing the impact. Through out the video I am trying to create a feeling of contrast this is to show how sharply the image of the Glaswegian contrasts with the image of the man with the BBC accent. This scene is showing how the man is different and is rebelling against the constraints of society (a image which members of my teenage audience would agree with there for increasing the impact.) The people in the suits represent the ââ¬ËBBC accentââ¬â¢ and the mans clear dislike of them and opposition to them(shown by his violent walk against the flow.) The people in the suits are also meant to be shown as the ââ¬Ëscruffââ¬â¢ which the man despises. The way the ââ¬Ëscruffââ¬â¢sââ¬â¢ ignore the man shows how they donââ¬â¢t think heââ¬â¢s important enough to worry about. This leads on to the next scene. This is designed to show how the truth is ignored if its spoken by the Glaswegian despite people knowing its true, the man in the suits attitude is showing again how the Glaswegian is ignored because of the way he looks and speaks. The man in the suit shows how society doesnââ¬â¢t care about the man because heââ¬â¢s not part of the ââ¬Ëscruffââ¬â¢. The man is narrating with the clip of Trevor Mcdonald talking to demonstrate one of the ââ¬Ëscruffsââ¬â¢ talking. This image also brings the subject of the video back to the news which is of course the basis of the poem. This scene is then followed by a similar scene, which shows the image of the Glaswegian as one of the ââ¬Ëscuffsââ¬â¢ talking. This section is shown in the newsroom to show how despite being different what the man says is the truth. This section of the poem is about how the man is one of the ââ¬Ëscruffsââ¬â¢. The image of the television is used so that the violent action of the TV being smashed is shocking and contrasting. The reason I have put the man from the bench standing with the hammer and speaking with a strong accent is to put across the message that sometimes people are not what you expect them to be. Also this image is a clear ending with camera fading to black. The entire video is designed to portray the anger, bitterness and contempt the Glasswegian man has towards the ââ¬Å"scruffsâ⬠. It is supposed to show this in a interesting and different way, I think that the dramatic changes in camera shot and scenery would help to keep the interest of the audience. The reason I have chose to include ââ¬ËRage against the machineââ¬â¢ song ââ¬Å"break stuffâ⬠is because the lyrics of this song as well as being well known are also very appropriate for this poem. Lyrics like ââ¬Å"its just the rage built up in side of me, fist in the air in the land of hypocrisyâ⬠would help to portray the poems message also the song would help hold the audiences attention. The reason I chose not to include it during the last section is that it would distract slightly from the narrators words also the last section is very important if students are to understand the poems message. I did not feel the need to portray every image in the poem visually as I felt many were self explanatory using just aural techniques. Also I felt that it would increase the audiences interest if they had to actually search for the meaning and reasoning behind some of my scene choices.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Analysis of Sophoclesââ¬â¢ Creon in Oedipus the King Essay
Sophocles is considered one of the most profound and best tragedians in the Ancient Greek. Sophocles came from a wealthy family and was highly learned and skilled. At young age, he had already seen many plays that were exhibited in ancient Greek theatres during his time. One of his favorite dramatist-writer was Aeschylus, whom he had replaced after a few years. Sophocles had written many plays; scholars estimated that he had written about one hundred and twenty plays yet only a few of them had remained in complete form. Yet, those plays were enough to define the immense tragedian behind the great works that were still venerated today. However, the reasons behind the popularity of Sophocles were due to his style and wit; and as many chroniclers asserted, he always surprised the audience. The plays of Sophocles were mythical and dealt with society- deviant ideas. He also asserted in his plays the act of fate in oneââ¬â¢s life, even though many linguists had described this as force coincidence. Moreover, one of the immortal characters, aside from King Oedipus in the famous trilogy of Sophocles, was Creon. Creon was Jocastaââ¬â¢s brother and one of those who held the Theban throne. Laius, the King of Thebes had entrusted the throne to Creon while he was in Delphi to confer with the oracle. Meanwhile, the Sphinx and its spell had assailed the city. Creon, learning that Laius was dead, had offered the hand of her sister, Jocasta ââ¬â the queen, to anyone who could solve the puzzle. Oedipus, the son of Jocasta who fled from Corinth had solved the puzzle of the Sphinx and was married to his mother. Creon had been instrumental in the fulfillment of the prophecy about Oedipus. Yet, Creon was unaware that Oedipus was the son of her sister. Moreover, Creon yielded the throne to Oedipus. He helped Oedipus in establishing and in strengthening the kingdom. He had been a constant adviser to Oedipus and had been his counter-ego. Creon was liked a brother to Oedipus that he had helped him in those troubled time where the latter was in the midst of discovering that the prophecy which he tried to escape had occurred to him. Yet, in Oedipus the King, Creon had been faithful to Oedipus. He had referred him to Teiresias, the blind prophet in order to know the cause of the plaguing of the city. However, they had known from Teiresias that the reason was Oedipus himself. Nonetheless, Oedipus had accused Creon of treason and conspiracy. Yet, Creon had denied the allegations of Oedipus, pointing out that he would not benefit in overthrowing him. Yet, Oedipus had known that the statements of Teirisias were true, so he requested Creon to put him to incarceration and exile to stop the plague that had been attacking the city. Meanwhile, he also had surrendered the throne to Creon and the latter had accepted Moreover, the character of Creon, in the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles, had been often contrasted to the character of Oedipus. Oedipus was rude in manners while Creon was temperate and kind. Oedipus was rough while Creon was gentle. Oedipus easily jumped into conclusion while Creon was somewhat logical and rational. Even though Sophoclesââ¬â¢ Creon in Oedipus the King was mythical yet that was the ideal characteristic of a king. They should always consult the prophets and the oracles. That was the reason why Creon had consulted Teiresias, the blind prophet, regarding the plague that had been attacking the city. Yet, Oedipus was a very stubborn king. He did not believe the assertions and claims of Teiresias. He tried to assert his own will and his own power as a king. Yet, Creon had been his counsel and after realizing his follies he had yielded the throne to Creon and imposed a self-exile to him. The Creon in Sophoclesââ¬â¢ Antigone was very different from the Creon in Oedipus the King. Even though considered as a sequel to Oedipus the King, scholars had noted a large degree of changes that had occurred to Creon in Antigone. Creon had been considered as a harsh and tyrannical character in Antigone. Yet one of the most enduring character of Creon in Antigone and Oedipus the King was his loyalty to the country. He considered sacrifice of self for the security and betterment of the state as the highest form of honor and service to the country. Yet, he was the one who sought forgiveness in the last part of Antigone, when his son had died due to his decree. Therefore, Creon in the plays of Sophocles had shown the characteristics of a good king. He had been loyal and honest to his country. He upheld the laws and the edicts strictly. He honored the gods and the deities. He honored those who served their countries well and despised those who serve as threats to the country. He had been a good family man. He was not stubborn yet he followed the orders of the prophets and the oracles. He was religious and pious. Yet, even though Friedlander (1999) had asserted that Sophocles plays were not ââ¬Å"family entertainment,â⬠yet the variety of characters and the style was outstanding. The way Socrates projected his play had always attracted audiences, both in his time and in the modern times. He was very creative just like the varied, changing and unique characters like Creon that he had created. References Friedlander, E. R. (1999). Enjoying ââ¬Å"Oedipus the Kingâ⬠by Sophocles Retrieved May 22, 2007 from http://www. pathguy. com/oedipus. htm Sophocles. (2006). Oedipus the king. New York: Filiquarian Publishing.
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