Analyse a discourses in 'Discourses and Variation' subject Essay - 1

Analyse a discourses in 'Discourses and Variation' subject - Essay Example These talk back methods enable community involvement and discussion of interactional energy with instructors through conversation (Williams, 2004). User review of retail methods illustrates SNS interactions prospective subversion of straight interaction of energy and equalizing instructor and school student accessibility details statements. This review supports statements about the machine-mediated interaction approach (Facebook) to democratize interaction through filtering cues denoting community hierarchies. Learners who could not otherwise criticize educators educational methods in experience to deal with get in touch with for fear of sanction, found in Facebook a safe way to query them. RP posts, ‘I do not care if pain WAS useful to get details. It still goes against the Geneva Conference agreement, and is an obvious attack on individual privileges. What is this world coming to? We’re SUPPOSED to be the excellent people, but the way I look at it we are not doing a very excellent job of displaying it. Torture is incorrect. 100 %. No validation.’ MR posts, â€Å"bunch of generous pansies †¦ do you really experience concern for the same people that blew up a part of our country? Do you think these ‘people’ (and I used that term loosely) would stop to consider what they are (and did) to our prisoners? †¦ I say whatever happens to them is much less than they are entitled to †¦.† PS declares, â€Å"†¦ (of course there are the exclusions †¦Ã¢â‚¬  and even goes to unite himself with team associates by asking, â€Å"†¦ what does [sic] people like us have to concern over issues of this nature?† a participant preserves this design of discussion. QK â€Å"It is not anyone here is [sic] job to persuade you that you are incorrect, but if you are here to task the GROUP’s opinions, back it up. Oh, and cut down on the terminology — AND learn how to perform magic. I think what it comes down to is to THINK before you write,

Joint ventures and strategic alliance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Joint ventures and strategic alliance - Essay Example It also fosters reduction of risks and costs between the parties in different areas. Such areas include relationships with suppliers and the development of new technologies. Strategic alliances are sometimes considered to have equal magnitudes as joint ventures. The difference between the two is where an alliance can accommodate parties that are competitors, and the engagement lasts for a short time as compared to a joint venture. A joint venture, therefore, is a business agreement in which the parties involved agree on certain factors towards the development of what looks like a new entity. The factors are development criteria, finite time, creation of a new entity and new assets by contribution of investment. The parties to the joint venture contribute equity. Per se, they share the expenses, assets and revenue on agreed on basis. Strategic alliances and joint ventures are critical to the organization for a number of reasons. The paper focuses on discussing these reasons and whethe r the reason enables the alliances and ventures to complement global mega-mergers as a global business strategy. There are several critical reasons or important factors that necessitate for the formation of global strategic alliances and joint ventures. Per se, they are the benefits that international businesses may accrue from such alliances and ventures (Chou et al., 2014 p. 42). There are many motivational factors that may drive the firms to enter into the ventures or alliances. Per se, the use of strategic alliances and joint ventures is increasingly gaining popularity. A growing number of globally multinational firms are finding it better to carry their operations under such umbrellas. Firms argue that under such agreements, each party can bring to the table complementary strengths. Such powers enable the companies to gain significant competitive advantages (Chou et al. 2014, p. 42). The firm’s knowledge

Proxy Server Essay Example for Free

Proxy Server Essay Annotations: This research paper is an extract from an about 100 pages enfolding diploma thesis of Martin Eisermann, student at the Fachhochschule Rosenheim (University of Applied Sciences), Germany. It contains the results of performance tests, accomplished with MS Proxy Server 2.0, MS ISA Server and Linux Squid Proxy. This work reflects the personal impressions and test results of the author, made with web performance testing software, described later in this document. The paper is a translation from German into the English language, so it might not be written with the best phraseology. Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Windows XP, Internet Information Server (IIS), Web Application Stress Tool, Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server, Proxy 2.0 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries/regions. Other products and Company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of the respective owners. 1. Executive Summary This technical research paper contains the results of a performance test scenario with the Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) server, which should make clear, how good proxy servers can improve the speed of a web server. At the beginning, it describes the structure of the test scenario, with aspects of hardware and software. Then, a product will be chosen from a variety of different test tools, which compete with each other. The benefits and drawbacks of every product will be elucidated. The next chapter explains, which products will be compared with the MS ISA server and why they were selected. The following test results are representing the biggest section in this research paper. Finally, there is a short summary of the newly gained cognitions. 2. Test scenario To get an impression, how proxy servers can improve the performance of a network or of a single web server, the following scenario was build: 100 Mbit 100 Mbit Webserver (IIS 5.0) Proxy Server Workstations ill. 1 The workstations shown in illustration 1 are simulating the internal LAN (local area network) clients, which are among themselves connected with a fast Ethernet switch (100 Mbit). The web server, which is also connected with 100 Mbit, simulates the Internet. However, this network capacity is mostly not found in small and/ or middle enterprises, but for compensation, the web server is an outdated machine. The technical data of all components used for the tests is described in table 1. Technical data: System web server proxy server Workstations CPU Pentium AMD Duron Pentium II MHz RAM 200 800 400 96 MB 512 MB 256 MB OS Win XP Prof., IIS 5.0 variable Win NT 4.0 Prof. Tab. 1 3. Test tool selection In the Internet, it is not difficult to find programs, which can execute diverse performance tests for web servers. Many of them, especially if they are build for Linux, are free of charge, but if one likes to have graphical analysis it gets more difficult. Often one has to decide using a Microsoft Windows 32-bit application, which, in general, costs a lot of money. Another problem is the possibility to integrate a proxy server to the web testing tools. Most tools dont support that. Of course, this is comprehensible: which operator, who wants to test his web server performance, likes the results be influenced by a proxy? But in this scenario, it is absolutely necessary. Regarding this two product selection preconditions, there arent left a lot tools. Three remaining products are the WebPolygrah Benchmark Tool from Measurement Factory, Microsofts Web Application Stress Tool and the Web Performance TrainerTM from Web Performance Inc. On a first look, they all three seem to offer the wished functionality. a) WebPolygraph Benchmark Tool: The WebPolygraph Benchmark Tool is freely availably at http://www.webpolygraph.org. The tool was originally developed for Linux based systems, but in between there are also MS Windows 32-bit binaries downloadable. The actually available documentation in the Internet is not sufficient to set up a test environment quickly and without intensive knowledge of the product. More examples and more detailed descriptions would help a lot. A graphical user interface is not implemented, too. b) Microsoft Web Application Stress Tool Also freely available is Microsofts web testing utility, the Web Application Stress Tool. It is downloadable at http://www.microsoft.com. The documentation, which can be found in the Internet, is clearly structured and useful. The handling of the product is intuitive for experienced Windows users. The missing integration of a proxy server in its configuration setup, makes the tool nearly useless, but Microsoft offers a solution: one have to install the Microsoft Proxy Client (or the Microsoft ISA Firewall Client) on the machine, which is used to perform the web tests, then the tests are working suitable. There is only one more problem left, which will get clearer in the next few minutes: There is no proxy client or firewall client available for Linux! And because there is a Linux product in the test environment, the Stress Tool is not useful at last. c) Web Performance TrainerTM 2.4 Finally, the software product from Web Performance Inc. (http://www.webperformanceinc.com) fulfilled all preconditions: graphical user interface, proxy configuration, easy understandable, Internet based documentation. All installation problems and handling questions where answered fast and competent. The product handling is similar to the Web Application Stress Tool, but there are versions for both, Linux and Windows operating systems. The demo version only supports an amount of 25 users, but Web Performance Inc. offered a time limited 3000 user version, for the tests. At this point many thanks for that again. 4. Test specification The web content for the tests is completely static, that means pictures and html-files, No dynamic pages like asp or php were inherited. Reason: these pages are normally not cached in a proxy server. The amount of data used is about 4.8 MB. The test run time is determined to 30 minutes. Significant performance differences should be visible within this time. The Web Performance trainer v2.4 can increase the number of concurrent users by 25 every minute. So, at the end of the test, a maximum number of 750 users can poll the web server. 5. Choosing the proxy products If someone tests the speed of a web or proxy server, he would not now, if his results are good or bad, if he doesnt make a comparison with other products. For this reason, beside the ISA server, the Microsoft Proxy 2.0 and a Linux Squid proxy were other test candidates. The decision for MS Proxy 2.0 is easy to explain. It is the original product, Microsoft build the ISA server on. It also runs on Windows 32bit operating systems and Microsoft propagates, that the ISA server runs about 10 times faster. The Linux squid proxy is in the test field, because it has the same functionality like the MS proxy versions, but runs on a completely different platform. Another reason is, that Linux and squid are both freeware products and thats a big advantage. 6. The test results The most important results, if one tests the performance of web or proxy servers, are described with the data: Total Hits, Errors, Hits/sec and Bytes/sec. In all following diagrams, the colors are defined as follows: Total Hits Errors red Hits/sec Bytes/sec black yellow (with factor: 0,001 kB/sec) green 6.1 Web server (standalone) For a first view, the next two illustrations are showing the test results of the web server, without a proxy: Ill. 2 Ill. 3 While the 30 minutes test duration there were only 111.451 hits and 298.778 errors recognized by the Web Performance TrainerTM and only 470 users could by simulated at all. In the first minutes of the test, the amount of kilobytes per second is relatively high (~ 550) but from minute 11:00, they decrease to an average number of 165 kb/s. A stable result of only 50 hits per second can be metered. Already explained before in this paper, the used web server is an old computer, so these bad results are nothing to wonder. How good the results could get with proxy servers in front of it, will be shown in the next chapter. 6.2 MS Proxy 2.0 vs. MS ISA-Server In a first step, the two Microsoft products will be compared with each other. Already their total hits within this 30 minutes, differ a lot. The ISA-Server has about four times better results than it’s predecessor, while the total number of errors is just about three times higher. MS Proxy 2.0 – Total Hits: 206.953 – Errors: 74.572 Ill. 4 Ill. 5 MS ISA-Server – Total Hits: 781.851 – Errors: 232.879 So, the superiority of the new product is verified. Surprisingly, the count of errors of the MS Proxy 2.0 loose their nearly parallel growth with the total hits line in the 8th minute, and increase much slower in the next 22 test minutes. For this effect couldn’t be found a reason. MS Proxy 2.0 – Hits/Sec – kB/s Ill. 6 MS ISA-Server – Hits/Sec – kB/s Ill. 7 The comparison of the hits/s, shows that the MS Proxy 2.0 cannot exceed the previous peak values of the web server a lot, but holds them constantly (~ 550 kB/s at ~120 hits/s). Whereas the ISA server lies with it’s ~500 hits/s explicit over the MS Proxy 2.0. A ten times higher rate, shown in the small illustration 8 (submitted by Microsoft), cannot be proven. Ill. 7 6.3 Linux Squid vs. MS ISA server The second test candidate is the squid proxy server, based on the operating system RedHat Linux version 7.2. The software products can be downloaded freely from the Internet (http://www.redhat.com; http://www.squid-cache.org). The squid version, used for the test, is release 2.4 stable 1-5. Linux Squid – Total Hits: 1.335.949 – Errors: 303.204 Ill. 9 MS ISA-Server – Total Hits: 781.851 – Errors: 232.879 Ill. 10 This comparing test shows significantly, the higher performance of the squid proxy in opposite to the MS ISA server: it is nearly doubled. The amount of not completed requests is irrelevant higher. Further results like hits per second and kilobytes per second are making this even clearer. Linux Squid – Hits/Sec – kB/s Ill. 11 MS ISA-Server – Hits/Sec – kB/s Ill. 12 In the first six minutes, ISA and squid are competing with each other and are reaching values of 2.600 kb/sec. But then, the performance of the ISA server slackens and even decreases to an average value of 2.200 kb/s. Whereas the performance of the squid proxy reaches its limit not before the maximum possible network throughput rate (at 100 Mbit) of about 4450 kb/sec in the 9th test minute. Then the average value also decreases a little until circa 4300 kbytes per second. 7. Summary The squid proxy, running on a freeware product, is apparently the fastest proxy server within the three test candidates. Its normal implementation is not hard, if the corresponding administrator has little knowledge about Linux. On the other hand, which corporation is in the need of this high caching rates? Who has 750 users that make 1.35 million web requests in 30 minutes? So, if there is already a Windows based network, which perhaps already implemented a MS Proxy 2.0 server, there is no real need to change to a Linux proxy variant instead of updating to an ISA server. On further reason, to prefer the MS ISA server instead of the squid proxy in an existing Windows based network, might be, that all already implemented user groups can be left and later used in the ISA server configuration after an update. Implementing the authorization structure of a Windows 2000 or NT domain on a Linux computer is certainly possible, but probably not easy for a typical Windows Administrator. And implementing the users on two security

Male Representation In Soap Operas Media Essay

Male Representation In Soap Operas Media Essay The purpose of the following research paper is to present the Male Representation in Soap Operas and the understanding that the audience has of the male characters in this genre. In order to do so the first step was Literature Review, so I have read books and e-books which concerned the audience attitudes in television in general and the representation of masculinity in television. From each book have been selected carefully the chapters that were relevant with the topic, in order to create an idea in relation with the topic. Articles and periodicals had been read in relation to the topic. In this paper I have discussed three research methods. Two methodologies have been discussed hypothetically, questionnaires and intensive interview. As a pilot methodology I used focus groups, that I tested in real and provided findings for this paper. The findings from the focus groups were that the audience understands the two types of male characters and shows their preference in the traditional Man who represents power. They dont prefer the sensitive man who isnt in control. The audience prefers to see unrealistic situation of a social class they can never be a part of rather than watch the life of everyday people. Introduction Soap Opera was originally introduced in the American audience in the 1930s in the radio. It was dramatized series. The name of it was given due to the sponsors and the commercial presented by detergent companies. It has been present in programs ever since, it has spread worldwide and followed a remarkable development of characters situations and relationships. We witness the development of male and female characters and their course throughout the decades. The male representation in Soap Operas is very important as well as the development of society and the way men are involved. We notice at first the typical father in the 1950s who gradually turns into a rich, successful smart businessman who is surrounded by pretty, kind and evil women and men. Also he becomes a sensitive man who isnt afraid anymore to express fear, anger of love. The male role model changes according to the needs and demands of the society. This project will focus on how man is present in Soap Operas and how the audience follows their presence. Literature Review Rethinking the Media Audience By Pertti Alasutari In order to create an idea about how to approach my topic Male Representation in Soap Operas, I should begin with finding what actual audience is. In chapter 9 it is mentioned that four (4) criteria must be followed so as to characterize someone as an audience member, Firstly, the exposure of an individual or group of individuals to a particular message of any mass medium. Secondly, the writer considers the attention given to the message and if it is decoded. Thirdly, the ability of the group to retain the information and store for the future. Fourthly, Alasuutari mentions the shaping of the individual or group perceptions and beliefs concerning a subject. Another chapter which helped me to establish a thorough image about audience in Soap Operas is chapter 8. In chapter 8 John Tullach, mentions that even though the majority of Soap Operas follow the popular topics, there are other as well which follow less expected frames such as cultural topics. Thats how I realize that the audienc e could be broader and different of what I had in mind. So, I found the information I read very helpful as I understand that, not only women of all ages are the audience of Soap Operas but also men should be considered as viewers as well. Serial Monogamy: Soap Opera, Lifespan and the Gender Politics of Fantasy By Christine Scodari This book provides me with many details about relationships among families, men, women, children, friendship. But especially in chapter 4 which gave me information about older woman, younger man relationship and the opposite, older man, younger woman. As we know from our own experience as television viewers mass media has created the image of the old rich man that has all the power, no matter how this power is portrayed (ex: beautiful young woman, expensive car, mansionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). Traditionally older rich men have young attractive women authority, power, wealth-are framed as sexually appealing, Scodari,(2004). On the other hand older women over 40 simply do not appear as romantic leads, Scodari,(2004). In other words Soap Operas are based on the standard theme of love but in variations having to do with age, status, money and appearance. So, we see the appearance of the young kind, poor man and the old rich, bad man, the two classic versions of Soap Opera male characters. Chri stine Scodaris book successfully confirmed my observation through personal experience the standard characters of men in Soap Operas. Screen Tastes, Soap Opera to satellite Dishes By Charlotte Brunsdon Having read Screen Tastes, Soap Opera to satellite Dishes by Charlotte Brunsdon I realized that Soap Operas are the reflection of our society. Soap Operas are not only an important part of television history but also the representation of the contemporary society. In other words at some point women become as important and influential as men. So, men are sometimes even behind women in jobs and even in families. Precisely in the sixth chapter through the series Widows that focuses on the influences men may have on women in order for them to be stronger and smarter. The series also provokes questions about whether we can speak of masculinity and femininity in relation to practices of television viewing Brunsdon,(1997). In other words even though Soap Operas are originally viewed by female audience only, eventually gain male viewers as well. That is even if men are not present the masculine model influence women and leads their way. We see then another side of male representation in Soap Operas. This book gave me good information about my topic. Even though it is written in 1997, the data provided can be used even todays research. Masculinity and Popular Television By Rebecca Feasey This particular book deals exclusively with the topic of this Research Paper Male Representation in Soap Operas. Rebecca Feasey author of this book examines the theme of masculinity in television. A lot of studies have been done on TV as the history of it and its pervasiveness present a lot of interest .Furthermore the practically unlimited number of programs makes the  field of research practically endless. Also the easy access to the medium should be taken into consideration. Finally the existence of previous texts makes TV welcome by everyone. Masculinity presented is rather fixed, stable and unalterable ,Feasey(2008). Men are formed by the cultural environment that makes their masculinity available to study. Hegemonic masculinity: this term is used in the book to define white, heterosexual, competitive, individualist and aggressive men, Feasey(2008) who are present everywhere. This male is strong, successful, capable and authoritative, Feasey(2008). Man represents power. This is the ideal image of men. A standard idea of man having dominance over woman. Therefore masculinity is a set of exterior and interior features followed by men in all aspects of their lives. In all Soap Operas men are presented as friends, fathers, heroes and martyrs, Feasey(2008). All types are set in social and sexual debates of the period. Having read the second chapter of the book I noticed that hegemonic masculinity type and the dominant male role co-exist. There seems to be a representation of men in domestic drama and the status of men in the broader population. In the history of Soap Opera we see the focus on family, relationships and friendships. This creates the following male characters: the sensitive new man, the decent husband, the hero and of course the villain. When the woman has problems with her husband, there comes the Sensitive New Man who will listen to her, give advice and be supportive. There is also the Decent Husband who will not cheat on his wife and he will be good and kind. Another type is the Hero who sees life in a romantic way that makes him attractive to women. Finally, there is the Villain how always souses troubles and manipulates men and women. Another characteristic on male characters in Soap Operas is that men start expressing their feelings. They are no longer as hard as rocks but they start to express emotions to other men. They have intimate, deep conversations. According to a research conducted by psychopathologist Simon Baron- Cohen men have got pathological difference with women. We must mention that due to their brains inability to use the emotional activity in the right hemisphere men are at a disadvantage compared to women. Women have emotion in both hemispheres thats why they are more emotional. Men are brought up to be hard and not showing feelings. So men expressing feelings and emotions and showing sensitivity are opposed to stereotypes existing so far and introduce a new type of man. We see that there is no privacy for the Soap Opera characters as all conversations happen in a big range of places. So, everything can be witnessed by everyone so no secrets are kept in the long term. Another conclusion I have made after reading this book is that men fear the presence of a stronger man who will question their authority and try to take over him and his belongings. What used to be seen as a way of keeping femininity could now easily show how men take over private sphere. This way the public and the personal field are somehow mixed. Fatherhood and paternity are largely debated in Soap Operas. Fathers are important; they strive for their children wellbeing. They can even be single fathers so in total control of their upbringing. The paternity of children is often questioned in Soap Operas. This makes women having control over men as only they know the actual truth. The first Soap Operas  such as Dallas (1978-91) and Dynasty (1981-9) revolved around the central male protagonist who owned a business and tried to keep the balance between job, family, love and friends. The patriarchal American hero would often fail in order to regain more strength after suffering and adventures. To summarize this book offers information about the Male Representation in Soap Operas. On one hand we see that a man having a Hegemonic Masculinity has power, wealth and brains but, on the other hand se we that men start to express their feelings and emotions. Masculinity and Popular Television by Rebecca Feasey, has been very useful as it provided me with a lot of figures about my topic. It also helped me make a clear image about how to conduct my methodology about designing the questions which will complete my project. Academic Journal Soap Operas men in the 90s By Carol Traynor Williams This article focuses only on male representation in Soap Operas in the 90s. Mainly mentioning General Hospital and the Bold and The Beautiful we see the presence of men in them and their interaction with women and other men. It is clearly stated that men are manipulated by women in all aspects of life: their jobs, their families, their friendships. Men seem to be in control of things but there is always a woman pulling the strings. In The Bold and The Beautiful Ridge Forrester is loved by Brooke who is always influencing him and makes him agree with her by use of her femininity. Eric Forrester his father alike is influenced by Stephanie in all his decisions. Also is The Young and The Restless we see that men come from one woman to another, changing them without hesitation in order to have more money or more fame. I have realized that Soap Opera writers who were asked about their inspiration concerning male characters they answered that the formation was based on womens desire to be with a stronger, rather villain man who would sweep women off their feet and run away with. This helped me a lot with my task as it gave me information about Soap Opera that was really famous in Greece in the past. I had a clear idea about male characters their thoughts, their incentives and I will use it in my focus group. Periodical Hard Work Always Pays Off: Jobs, Families, and the Evolution of a TV Myth By Mary Ann Watson In this periodical article by Mary Ann Watson, there is information about male, representation in TV series since the 1950s. The development of male characters through the decades, helped me in better understanding the presence of men in the Soap Operas. At first, the male character was the typical representative of the contemporary society as well. He was a father, who followed the motto Hard Work Always Pays Off. This meant that if a man worked hard, his efforts would have positive results for himself and his children. As decades passed, we see that the male stereotypes changed as women start having active roles and are not happy with only being mothers and housewives. The course of male characters justified the present of men in the Soap Operas in the 80s and the 90s. They have evolved from ordinary everyday men to rich, handsome, smart men who are ready for everything but are influenced at some level by a pretty, smart woman. As this task focuses only on male representation in Soap Operas, this article was useful in order to see how male characters developed and so understand better the reason why writers present men in Soap Operas this way. Web Why Do Men Watch Soaps? By John Beadle John Beable in January 12, 2010 was the news columnist of www.Soaps.com . The title of his article attracted my attention in a way that after all the several book and articles that I read in order to build the basic knowledge for this topic, the same question was raised. Because in general, the Soap Opera focuses on and deals only with women. This is not entirely true and the representation of male characters in Soaps proves that they created their own history and their own development based on the changes of our society. So, Beadle in his article sets the question of Why do men watch Soaps? and gives his explanations about the reasons. One reason why the men watch soaps is that at first they were trapped in this because their wives were viewers. He characterizes this process slow, in other words they didnt even realize how this happened. Second, John Beable sets the Myth that only gay men watch Soap Operas. He doesnt reject this Myth. He makes clear that not only gay people watch Soaps but straight men as well, with the small difference that straight men dont admit it. Third, the writer of this article confirms that his mother was viewer of Soap Opera and points out that this activity of watching soaps was something normal. Finally, in the college they started watching unwillingly but eventually were introduced in the plot and need to know how it goes. This statement confirms also what Rebecca Feasey says in her book, Masculinity and Popular Television, that the majority of the male audience starts w atching Soap Operas while they are in College. This article was pleasant to read because it was in some point of view, a confession by a man who admitted openly watching Soaps as everyone else. The criteria for watching werent based on gender or other factors. It didnt provide with new information about Soaps, but by the use of humor he expressed what urges men as well to watch Soaps. Methodology Questionnaire The first research method that seemed appropriate for this topic was questionnaires, so it would be one of the two hypothetical methods. Soap Operas even in our days are surrounded by fame almost as it happened ten (10) years ago. One very typical example of fame and continuity is that The Bold and The Beautiful is a Soap Opera show that even today is broadcasted and has numerous viewers. Taking the opportunity of that , this Soap Opera was welcome by the Greek Television in the early 90s.It became popular very quickly and soon everyone talked about Ridge and Caroline. If carefully planned and prepared a questionnaire, it would be a good way to examine how the audience were understanding the representation of male characters through this particular Soap Opera. By using this method I would have the opportunity to capture the participants attitude towards the representation of man and more specific the focus would be of two main characters of The Bold and The Beautiful Ridge and Thorne. This quantitative method of research and gathering information is a good opportunity to get answers about how the audience understands male characters from Soap Operas. The method of questionnaire is structured and conducted, it has numerous advantages and disadvantages. The cost of conducting a questionnaire as research method is significantly low and the process is straightforward if we compare it with other methods of research and in relation to the important information we can collect. Furthermore, this method gives to the researcher and the participant a geographical independence because the only equipment that is necessary for the completion of this research, are only paper, pens and the participant of course. Moreover, a lot of studies have been done beforehand. So I can easily acquire material to help me work with. Opposing the advantages of this methodology, a questionnaire may have number of limitations. First of all and the most important disadvantage of the questionnaires is that, the independent variables cannot be controlled or manipulated. Second, the wrong use of word and questions by the researcher can make the content unclear to the participant with the result of not collecting the right answers. Closing one more disadvantage of survey methodology is the response of the participant to the researcher with fake data or fiction answers. This option can destroy the result of the survey by the time that the data that are gathered are not true and would be able to form different/ false findings of the research. This is the questionnaire that I would give to the participants about the Representation of Male Characters in Soap Operas. The purpose of the questionnaire is the method of research and it was designed to identity if The Bold and The Beautiful viewers can identify the male representation. Questionnaire Please choose the answer that that corresponds to your viewpoints. Please specify your sex. Male Female Please specify the age group that you belong. 18-25 26-35 36-45 45+ Did you watched any Soap Opera Yes No If yes, which one? The Bold and The Beautiful General Hospital Other Did you watch it every day or occasionally? Daily Occasionally Did you find the time the Soap Opera was aired convenient for you? Convenient I missed it sometimes What did you like the most of these Soap Operas? Plot Characters Actors/ Actresses Did you usually watch the episodes alone or this company? Alone With company ( Family, friends ) Did you discuss the plot, the characters or any other aspect of the Soap Opera episodes with others? Yes No Sometimes With whom did you usually discuss it? Family Friends How did you find the depiction of male characters? Realistic Unrealistic Interesting What characteristics of male characters attracted you most? Appearance Power Brain Sensitivity How similar are Soap Operas male characters with person of real life? Very A little At all Did you like watching a sensitive side of men in Soap Opera? Yes No How realistic was it to watch sensitive men in Soap Opera? Very Little At all Intensive Interviews The case of the Male Representation in Soap Operas is an issue that has not received a lot of attention, because Soap Opera as a genre originally focuses on women audience who were the first audience through the history of TV. Because of that, male characters were originally supportive (secondary) characters on the plot and they were less memorable to the viewers. But this is not a fact because several Soap Operas based their success on their male characters, for example, Ridge for The Bold and The Beautiful who was the object of pleasure for the female audience. This example will lead the second hypothetical methodology into the Intensive Interviews. I decided to use Intensive Interviews as the second methodology. One-on-one interviews would be able to provide detailed background about the reasons respondents give specific answers. (Wimmer and Dominick(2011)) . From this method the researcher can collect data from the interviewer that regard opinions, motivations, feelings and experiences. Also allows the observation of nonverbal responses and furthermore allows to the interviewer to form the questions based on the response of the interviewee. Of course this method has advantages and disadvantages. Intensive interviews or in-depth interviews provide the advantage based on the freedom that provides to extract information form the participant about the specific topic and gain accurate answers of sensitive issues. Also the Body language, the tone of voice and gestures would give the advantage to the researcher to form the questions according to the feedback received from the participant. The disadvantages of Intensive interview are quite a few. Generalizability is one of the negative aspects. It has to do with nonrandom sample that is used from the researcher. Questions that do not follow a certain pattern can provide answers very differentiated than the question. Second, interviewer bias, is another disadvantage of this method. Because of the personal contact that the researcher has with the interviewer, they can come up with in a dialogue. In that case the researcher is very likely to share information and opinions with the interviewers and vice versa. In this case the answers o f the intensive interview will not be accurate and would not be considered as correct data. Taking into account this risk, the researcher should be careful and avoid sharing information with the participants in order to control the interview. Finally, the researcher should keep the duration of the interview as short as possible in order to avoid having a tired participant who most probably will not answer honestly and will only want to end the interview. The Actual Interview After the participant and the interviewer shake hands and formally introduce their selves, in order to form a comfortable atmosphere, the questions which are designed based on the theory about Intensive interviews will go on: You are familiar with the Soap Opera as a television genre? Have you watched The Bold and The Beautiful? Since you are familiar with this Soap Opera, can you tell me why you watched it? Could you tell me what the plot of this Soap Opera was about? Do you remember any male character? And why? Could you describe Ridge and Thorne? Cloud you say the main characteristics of those two characters? What was their main difference? Could you choose which one of those two characters was more representative male character in real life? What makes you, remember those characters at the most? Pilot Focus Groups The research method that will be discussed and be actually tested is Focus Groups. The reason is because by definition The focus group, or group interviewing, is a research strategy for understanding peoples attitudes and behavior. (Wimmer and Dominick,(2011)). I decide to apply this methodology in the pilot study of this Research paper because of the four (4) characteristics of this technique. First, the focus groups involve participants (people) and second those people share the same characteristics and interest to this particular Soap Opera topic. Third, focus groups give the opportunity of qualitative data collection. The data would be able to present an image about the better understanding of the topic and to reveal a greater collection of opinions about the specific topic of the focus group. Fourth characteristic is that the focus group gives a flexibility on the questions the majority of which are planned to be asked are predetermined but they can provided further questions to the participants in order to reach the goal of this research. The Focus Groups methodology would be the pilot method of this Research paper but before we have to point out the advantages and disadvantages of this method. There are five (5) advantages. The first is that the Focus Groups allows the collection of preliminary information about the topic or a phenomenon (Wimmer and Dominick,(2011)). The preliminary information could be used in the pilot study in order to have the formation of the idea that would lead the research in clearer results and might be used for future researches. Second advantage of this method is that a focus group can be conducted very fast. Third, is the cost of a focus group which is very attractive for the researchers and the participants. Fourth, the flexibility in the questions is one big advantage. The follow-up question which would be created by the moderator to the participants gives the opportunity to focus on the important points that come up from the conversation. Also the researcher can provide to the participants before the focus Group, to complete a written questionnaire that covers the material of the focus group. Final advantage is the dynamics that a group can offer, because the questions would be formed based on the peoples spontaneous answers in a sense that the data collected would be more complete and less inhabited than the data that individual interviews can provide. On the other hand, the disadvantages are a few. First the group leader, one of the participant who would take the role of the leader in the group in a sense that he/she would try to attract the attention and monopolize the conversation. Also this participant would try to force his/her opinion to the other participants. If the researcher faces a situation like that, he should be able to control this kind of situation by motivating the other participant to express their opinion. Second, groups of 4-6 persons is not recommended for gathering quantitative data, because the aim of the focus group is to collect qualitative data such as why? and how?. Third, the researcher who would monitor the focus group should be skilful in order to identify and puss the participants with further questions for further information. Fourth, is the weakness which small groups have that there are no representative population samples. Fifth, the researcher in order to take the data from the focus group so as to examine and document it is recommended to use technological equipment such as recording equipments( tape recorders, video camera). Those might distract participants attention and make them not act normally in the group. Finally, if the participants of the group are allowed to lose or be confused on the topic, then the data would not be useful. The procedure In order to pilot focus group for my research about Male representation in soap operas I have to follow a number of methodological steps of preparation in the conduction of focus group. 1) I have to define the precise topic of the research, 2) I have to choose samples that represent my topic in the best possible way, 3) I have to determine the number of the group necessary, 4) I have to prepare the mechanism ( the room that the research would take place, the video wall and other required equipments), 5) I have to prepare the materials for the research, such as video clips to be shown, photographs, recording machines and the questions that would lead the groups based on the materials. 6) I have to conduct the session, 7) after the end of the focus group I will have to go though the answers and the findings and conduct the results. Material The material that will be presented to the participants of the focus group would be from the Soap Opera The Bold and The Beautiful. The series was showing on Greek television and during the 90s it had a great success and many loyal viewers. In the materials there will be two (2) photos of the male characters Ridge Forrester (Ronn Moss) and Thorne Forrester (Wilson Harmon). The characters are chosen because of their being lead characters in this Soap Opera for more than 16 years. More precisely Ronn Moss has been the protagonist since 1987until even today, and Wilson Harmon has been a protagonist since 1996 until today as well. Also they are chosen because of their different characters. The first is a representative example of the Man with power, money and the second is the example of the New Man, the sensitive, the supportive male character in the soap opera. The material will be only photos because of the participants of the focus group which I will explain further down. The Group The group is designed specifically about this specific Soap Opera. It consists of women who are engaged with the topic and will provide with information about those two characters and how they understand the masculinity of their characters. All those 6 women belong on the age group of 30-45. All of the participants were watching these Soap Opera during the 90s as college students. The Questions The questions that I asked the participants in order to make the conversion are the following: Did you watch Soap Operas? Do you remember The Bold and The Beautiful? What was all about? (in terms of plot) Can you identify this man? Which was the character that he played? Could you characterize him in one word? What did you like on him? Please notice that those questions were only in order to motivate the conversation and show to the participants what I want them to recall from their memories and discuss about. There is the possibility of not using all of them. Findings The findings of the focus group were at the very first point very clear, without the researcher trying to categorize the two characters into power and sensitive. The group expressed very clearly their favor about the Man of power instead of the New man. As Rebecca Feasey points out in her book those characteristics given to male characters are usually represented in Soap Operas and they serve women. So, in the findings the focus group confirmed that there are two types of characters in soap operas and the classic Man still attracts women. Women like to see a man in control who can take care of every situation. Conclusion   Male Representation in Soap Operas   was a topic very close to me, as it has interest and provides informational background. It was an ideal topic for my fist contact with actual research. Based on curiosity at the beginning, of why men are not a popular research topic, especially since   the world is created by them, for them. This research experience came to change this stereotypical idea. During the whole process of this research, from the day that I started thinking about the topic, the literature review which created another dimension about television in general, what it was in the 30s an

Unprincipled Ambition in Shakespeares Macbeth :: Free Macbeth Essays

Unprincipled Ambition in Macbeth      Ã‚   The Bard of Avon saturates the pages of the tragedy Macbeth with ugly feelings of ambition - unprincipled ambition which is ready to kill for itself. Let's thoroughly search out the major instances of ambitious behavior by the husband-wife team.    Samuel Johnson in The Plays of Shakespeare explains the place of ambition in this tragedy:    The danger of ambition is well described; and I know not whether it may not be said in defence of some parts which now seem improbable, that, in Shakespeare's time, it was necessary to warn credulity against vain and illusive predictions. The passions are directed to their true end. Lady Macbeth is merely detested; and though the courage of Macbeth preserves some esteem, yet every reader rejoices at his fall. (133)       Blanche Coles states in Shakespeare's Four Giants that the protagonist's ambition was not the usual narrow, personal ambition:    He has admitted to a vaulting ambition. We have no other evidence of personal ambition except, possibly, his own word in this speech. Onrushing events crowd the thought out of his mind and out of our view. We do have ample evidence of his ambition for his family, ambition for a son who might succeed him. [. . .] We think normally of ambition as a personal thing, but it is not always so. Macbeth's stupendous imagination, as revealed later in the play, gives him a breadth of vision altogether out of keeping with a narrow, personal ambition. (50-51)    In "Memoranda: Remarks on the Character of Lady Macbeth," Sarah Siddons mentions the ambition of Lady Macbeth and its effect:    [Re "I have given suck" (1.7.54ff.)] Even here, horrific as she is, she shews herself made by ambition, but not by nature, a perfectly savage creature. The very use of such a tender allusion in the midst of her dreadful language, persuades one unequivocally that she has really felt the maternal yearnings of a mother towards her babe, and that she considered this action the most enormous that ever required the strength of human nerves for its perpetration. Her language to Macbeth is the most potently eloquent that guilt could use.   (56)    Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare interpret the main theme of the play as intertwining with evil and ambition:   

The Good Earth :: essays research papers

The novel The Good Earth is a story of a man living in Chinese society around the time of the Chinese Revolution. Though the story is a work of fiction, some of the events in the story were actual events that the author, Pearl S. Buck, witnessed or experienced during her life while in China. The area of China that the story takes place in is based after the town Nanhsuchou where Buck lived for a period in her life. The main character in the story is Wang Lung, a hard working, but poor, farmer. At the age of marriage, and being of low class, Wang Lung, and his father decide that it is best that he marry a slave, who would be less expensive than other possibilities. Also, if it were to be a slave than it was less likely to being a pretty wife, and they did not want their woman to be pretty. To have a pretty wife would mean that she would have to be kept beautiful and pretty which was expensive, and they were not rich. Wang Lung needed a wife of low maintenance, who would be willing and able to help work the land. Also, a wife who was pretty would be more likely to be looked at and desired by other men and less likely to be a virgin still. The most important thing in Wang Lung’s life is his land. To him, the land is everything; his work, his food, his standing in society, his sustenance. It is, essentially, his life force. His understanding is that as long as he has land, he has enough, and to live without it would seem impossible. It is said that every seven or eight years the gods feel the need to punish the people, and they do so sometimes by flooding the precious land. This can be a life threatening occurrence depending on how long the flood stays. The floods take over all of the fields, killing most or even all of the crops. Without their crops to harvest, people starve, and many die. One of the first floods that takes place during the novel is not as bad as some. It kills much of the crops, but they are able to survive on what they have stored and what they are able to purchase. Many in the nearby village are not as lucky, and many starved to death.

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To what extent does the representation of past events and recollections lead us to a boundless consciousness of the complexity of human attitudes and behavior? In exploring the Inherent tensions between history and memory and by acknowledging the specific authorial choices, we are lead to a heightened consciousness of the complexity of human attitudes and behavior. Mark Baker holds a tight reign of control over his work by deciding what to keep and omit throughout his non-fiction prose text, the Fiftieth Gate.While Rugged juxtaposes our knowledge about the Vietnam War with a very personal and poignant recount in their song and video ‘l was only nineteen'. Baker identifies selectivity, tensions and similarities between past events and recollections that are revealed through the blend of different text types and features in addition to characters emotions and actions. Whilst Rugged utilizes first person and film techniques in order to achieve identical effects. Baker adheres to h is objectives by making specific authorial choices which initiate partial views.These views originate a boundless consciousness of the complexity of human attitudes and behaviors. ‘It always begins In blackness, until the first light illuminates a hidden fragment of memory. ‘ Baker uses the Imagery and motif of light to portray memory as fragmented and subject to fulfillment by history. In the first and last line of the fiftieth gate history Is perceived as merely an artificial construct, providing only one version of the past. Baker's specialized decisions allow him to develop a broader understanding and through growth, the complexity of his human attitudes and behaviors become apparent. L realist how deeply buried is his pain. I eave always pitied myself for the grandparents I do not have, rarely considering my father's own orphaned state† (pop). Bloodcurdling is evident through Bakers own statement, his attitudes begin to change as a result of his one sided view s to history, which allow baker to focus on specific aspects of his parents memory. ‘I would prefer to leave the Idea of me rather than bits and pieces' p. 304 Baker's decision to study his parents memories, by fulfilling them with history, causes his own bloodcurdling.Baker realizes memories are more valuable since history Is bits and pieces' of the whole story. Bakers change and development of attitudes and behaviors Is consequent to his authorial editing with regards to his methodology and objectives within the Fiftieth Gate. In contrast to Baker's partiality when examining history, Rugged accentuates memory's partiality, in reference to war stories from the song ‘l was only nineteen'. And the Anza legends didn't mention mud and blood and tears/ and the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real. These lines refer to the Juxtaposition between memories retold by the persona's father about war and the experiences of the persona himself. Rugged uses dual scen es running simultaneously during these lines to enhance the disparity between the calm music and the harshness of the Vietnam War. Which contrasts Bakers bloodcurdling due to specific authorial choices of the way history Is analyses In the fiftieth gate. Through comparison of Baker's bloodcurdling and Residuum's emotive language It becomes obvious that history Is multi-faceted and cannot be taken on face value. O his dual role as Historian and Son and his validation of his parent's memories by history, therefore expanding the awareness of the complexity of human attitudes and behaviors. Genie: ‘Stop interrogating me. Because I don't have a number means I didn't survive? (p. 194) gate 32. This recording of Genie, portrayed through italics, expresses her depressed and reluctant attitude toward reciting memories to her son due to the lack of historical Justification. The tension between history and Genie's memory evokes a change in her attitudes and behaviors, causing Genie to be against Bakers exploration in to his parent's memories.In contrast Yogis accepted Bakers leadership since his memories are confirmed as a result Yokel's collective memory ND varied historic evidence. Yokel's was a past written on a page of history shared by other survivors. My mother could not point to any one†¦ ‘ (p. 136). Bakers Juxtaposition between his fathers authenticated memories and his mother's lack of, represents the contrasting tension between history and memory and its effect on different people. Yokel's attitudes and behaviors were changed to accept Bakers questions since his memories were supported largely by past events.Rugged, similarly to Baker, examines the ever surmounting tension between history and Emory to increase our acknowledgement of the complexity of human attitudes and behaviors. ‘Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon, God help me, he was going home in June. ‘ Rugged with the use of rhyme trivialities a histori cal event,' kicked the moon', to increase the impact of the persona's memory of a friend's death. ‘he was going home in June' emphasizes the tension and neglecting of history since Franker's leave in June was 11 months after the moon landing, focusing of the significance of the memory rather than the historical event.The complexity of the reasons attitudes and behaviors, like Genie and YOGIS, have been further analyses through his reaction to the labyrinthine relationship between history and memory. In exploring the inherent tensions between history and memory and by acknowledging the specific authorial choices, we are lead to a greater awareness of the complexity of human attitudes and behavior. Mark Baker and Rugged, with in the texts fiftieth Gate and ‘l was only nineteen', Juxtaposes and agree on how the perception of the complexity of human attitudes and behavior is heightened do to the directions and tensions of history and memory.