Puritain Essay Essay Example

Puritain Essay Essay Puritanismfirst originated in the 1560s when a group of men wanted to purify the church of England of bishops, church courts and other remnants of Catholicism.The basic principles of Puritanism were from those who were Swiss reformers, Huldreich Zwingli and John Calvin.They removed organs and ornaments from the churches and the substituted ordinary dress for clerical robes.They also discontinued choir singing to simplify church services. People were called Puritans because they found fault with the Decrees of the Convocation.They were also called Protestant Non-Conformists.A Puritan was an English Protestant who believed that the Reformers of the previous century did not carry their reforms far enough.The also felt that the church needed to undergo further purification from what the already considered to be unscriptural and corrupt forms of worship that were instituted by the Roman Catholic church.Self-discipline in prayer, study, and worship were deeply stressed on the puritan spir itual life.Samuel Taylor Coleridge once said that, the Puritans, were the most remarkable body of men which the world has ever produced. In the late 1620s, the Puritans started establishing their colony at Massachusetts Bay.The Boston and Plymouth colonies were distinct political and religious entities.Although there were many differences between the two groups, they were friendly with each other. The Puritans wanted to remain as part of the English establishment, and work for biblical reform.As they immigrated to New England, they got their ;Englishness; status.They saw the main reason of their colony as a biblical witness, a ;city on a hill; that would set an example of biblical righteousness in the church for Old England and the rest of the world to see. English Puritans were known as Friends (Quakers), Baptists, Congregationalists, Seekers, Presbyterians (Scotland), Ranters and Lev

Probable changing role of trade union over the next ten years The WritePass Journal

Probable changing role of trade union over the next ten years Abstract Probable changing role of trade union over the next ten years ). Unions worldwide have been struggling to come to terms with these changes. Among the adversities facing unionism are unfavourable political and institutional conditions, structural changes in the economy, global competition, employer sponsored forms of employee participation, legal constraints and a growing trend in outsourcing among many others (Wright 2011). A combination of these challenges seems to have precipitated a significant fall in union membership. While there has been a decline in union membership, the challenge remains for the unions to find ways to prevent a further decline and weakening of trade unions’ position. The question then arises: what should unions do to prevent a further decline in membership and to consolidate on their current position? Incorporating cutting-edge research, this paper examines the probable changing role of trade union movement in the United Kingdom over the next ten years. As a starting point, the paper is going to define trade union, examine trade union responsibilities and practices, conduct a brief history of employee relations and analyze the basics of employees’ industrial relations. What is a trade union? Trade unions refer to organizations set up with the sole purpose of protecting and standing for the interest of its members in the workplace (Kelly 1998). Many activists view it as a movement for justice that is based on power emanating from workers’ solidarity (Kelly 1998). Their existence is mainly to voice concerns facing individual workers such as the work conditions, pay and conditions of employment. By bringing workers together, their power is magnified and they have a higher chance of exerting influence and voicing their opinions on matters regarding their work. Responsibilities of trade unions As noted above, the primary aim of trade unions is to protect and further the interests of its members. Trade unions are able to ensure this protection by: Obtaining satisfactory pay rates (Farnham 2000) Negotiating for their bonuses Ensuring satisfactory working conditions Negotiating for the renewal of their employment contracts and revision of their job descriptions where necessary (Farnham 2000). Negotiating for their promotion Securing adequate work facilities It is clear that the unions have the interests of workers at heart. It is also important to note that trade unions are part of the society and that they have played a central role in ensuring national integration. The other important responsibilities of trade unions include: Achieving industrial peace Ensuring national integration through minimizing the number of industrial disputes (Bach 2002). Inculcating discipline in the work environment Helping employees with social adjustments. That is, the unions help workers from different backgrounds adjust to the new rules, policies and working conditions. Incorporating a sense of corporate social responsibility in workers (Blanchflower 1996). The unions ability to effectively carry out these functions, however, depends on union density and membership. The smaller the number of union members, the lesser their power and influence in employment relationships. It is striking, however, to note that unions especially in the developed economies have in the past years lost membership. In the UK, for example, the union density stood at 30% during the year of 2000 but by 2010, union density had dropped to a figure of 27% (Wright 2011, p.2). This downward trend has been reported to be more pronounced in the private sector. Although membership in the private sector remained relatively stable, there still was a decline in union membership, albeit at a slower pace (Wright 2011, p.2). The explanations put forth for the decline in union membership have been manifold stressing certain political, social, economical, structural and institutional changes. These changes will be examined in detail in the sections below. Employee relations Undoubtedly many of us experience work as employees and as such managing the employment relationship with our employers is of critical importance. Given the relentless changes outlined above which have prompted the decline of union membership, the importance of employee and industrial relations cannot be sidelined. In this respect, employment relations concerns itself with the management and regulation of employment relationship. This term, which was traditionally conceived as industrial relations, is concerned with power distribution between management and employees (Bryson 2005). Traditionally, the term Industrial relations has been used in reference to the management of the relationship between trade unions and management, as well as management of associated processes such as industrial conflict, negotiation and consultation, and collective bargaining (Ebbinghaus 2002). The shift has largely been a result of a range of developments in the economic, political, social and legal context of employment relationship witnessed in the past few decades. The emergence of new techniques for managing employment relationship such as the HRM, combined with structural changes to a service dominated economy, changing social attitudes, employer sponsored forms of participation and a decline in union power have all resulted in a more diverse employment landscape. Changing nature of employment relations Explanations for the decline in union membership have been attributed to the changing nature of employment relations. Undeniably, employee relations in the past 10   years centered on trade unionism, industrial disputes and collective bargaining. Trade unions were viewed to a large extent as workplace adversaries that negotiated with employers on matters regarding employees work (Gennard 2005). The relationship between employer and individual employee was perceived as secondary. This is no longer the case in today’s employment relationship as the development of new techniques to managing employment relationships such as the HRM, have led to a steady decline in union power and influence (Wright 2011). Unlike in the past, tripartism, strikes and collective bargaining have lesser relevance in the current employment relationship and this has led to a decline in union membership. This is evident from the Workplace Employee Relations Survey conducted in 1998. According to the findings obtained from this survey, 47% of the workplaces in UK had no union members (Wrights 2011, p.5). Moreover, unlike in the past where arrangements could be made between an employer and trade union to recognize union membership as a prerequisite to employment; todays legislative changes have led to an end in this arrangement (Craden Hall-Jones 2012). Trade unions bargaining power has shrunk dramatically in the recent years given the changing societal attitude and the new forms of development   which have provided employers with the bargaining initiative and extended to them unilateral control over the workplace. According to Taylor (2012), currently only an estimate of around a third of employees in the UK have their pay and conditions determined through collective bargaining agreements. This is in sharp contrast with the preceding years where this number was significantly large. In 1984, for example, the percentage of British employees who had their pay determined through collective bargaining agreements was 70% (Taylor 2012). This indicates a decline in the union’s bargaining power over the years. This has further been compounded by the break-up of national bargaining structures, legal constraints imposed on industrial actions and the changing societal attitudes towards unionism; all of which have precipitated the downward trend. Moreover, instead of reacting to and accommodating unionism managers have also become innovative, developing new techniques to manage employment relations such as the HRM. Research has confirmed that this is one of the main reasons behind the decline in union membership.   Due to the development and implementation of new techniques of managing employment relations such as the HRM, the number of union members in the UK has continued to decline. This can be seen in a research conducted by CIPD in 2004 on the changing nature of employee relations work in organizations in the UK.   Interviews with HR executives from the leading organizations in the UK formed the basis of this study. From this study, it was found that the role of the trade unions and their collective bargaining power had significantly declined (CIPD 2012). Based on the analysis, the study was forced to conclude that a further decline in union was more likely to happen in the near future. Undeniably, the driving force for the downward trend has been the changing nature of employee relations. There has been a shift in focus of employee relations from working with trade unions to a more contemporary focus on improving employee participation and business performance without the need for unions. In order to explore on the probable changing role of trade unions in the UK over the next 10 years, we are going to conduct a PEST analysis of trade union in the present times. PEST Analysis Among the range of issues that will be taken into account are: Political factors Economic factors Technological factors And Social factors Political factors Political factors, in this context, include legislation and government policies as well as foreign influences especially from the EU. In the past, trade unions were protected from the law of conspiracy and they had a right to picket peacefully (Bach 2002). However, a series of strike actions in the 1970s culminated in the drive for ‘anti-union laws’ which have since undermined the position and the role of the unions (Bach 2002). Legal restrictions imposed on the unions against recruiting new members have thus contributed to the downward trend. In addition, unions have generally been cut out of the political loop. Furthermore, the integration of most European countries has changed the environment in which trade unions act (Blaschke 2000). Over the past two decades, this integration has moved beyond its narrow economic basis to impact on other key areas such as social policies, macroeconomic policies and industrial relations (Blaschke 2000). This expansion is anticipated to change the structure facing unions by creating challenges as well as opportunities. The integration is likely to undermine existing national trade union arrangements and at the same time create a new arena of policy that is open to influence from trade unions. Economic factors Fragmentations in the labour market, enterprise bargaining and a shift   to individual contracts as well as the growing trend of outsourcing to other firms have also been reported to have precipitated into the decline of union membership (Ebbinghaus 2002). Moreover, the growth in ‘atypical’ and indirect forms of employment including self-employment and agency labour has also been suggested to have contributed to the weakening of the bargaining power of trade unions (Wright 2011). These forms of atypical and indirect employment have been facilitated by an increase in migration and workforce participation. Representing such workers in atypical jobs has been quite challenging to trade unions. Such cases of atypical and indirect employment have not only been a challenge for the unions, but have also presented challenges to regulators and enforcement bodies mandated with the responsibility of upholding labour standards. The downward trend in unionism is also attributed to the structural changes in the economy. Over the past few years, the resolution of industrial conflict has been given less priority and the focus of government has shifted to the international performance of national economies (Craden Hall-Jones 2012). The threat of communism seems to be fading away. In addition global competition has made cost-reduction increasingly important for management (Craden Hall-Jones 2012). This has resulted in a change of focus of IR policy. This is expected to continue over the next ten years with the aim of Industrial Relation policy likely to change from being a mechanism of avoiding industrial conflicts to one that is more focused on enhancing competitiveness (Craden Hall-Jones 2012). Given that this change has received overwhelming support from the government, it is obvious that the management priorities will increasingly change and the unions will be expected to justify their existence, perhaps   in terms of added value in the workplace. Social changes When considering the reasons behind the decline in union membership, some aspects of social origin must be taken account of. Ideally, in this case, the attitude of employees and the general public towards unionism matter a lot. However, public opinion on the importance of trade unions in employee relations seems somewhat vague. Some have shown mild support for trade unions whereas others have remained on stout opposition. What is clear, however, is the changing management attitude towards trade unionism in the UK. The change in management attitude from negotiating with the union representatives towards negotiating with employees on an individual basis seems to have contributed to this downward trend (Gennard 2005). Attitudes to work and towards trade union recognition have changed over time. This is also anticipated to continue to impact on trade unionism in the UK over the next ten years. The focus of employee relations in the near future is expected to be more on individual employee rather than employees as a collective body. Technological factors The decline is also attributed to rapid development and implementation of easily transferable technologies. Rapid technological changes have created problems in the domain of industrial relations given their impact on employment and the nature of skills (Craden Hall-Jones 2012). Undeniably, this change has received an enormous amount of resistance from the trade unions due to fears of unemployment and redundancy of the workers. For example, the trend of outsourcing of non-core activities of a firm to other organizations has contributed to the decline in union’s collective bargaining power (Wright 2011). Outsourcing tends to affect the relationship between a firm and trade union as it provides the firm with the bargaining initiative, extending to the firm unilateral control over the workplace. The implementation of such transferrable technologies weakens the unions. Prospects of union revival Given the various legislative changes and restrictions imposed against industrial actions, one may ponder whether there is possibility for the government in the near future to restore good relations with trade unions and whether there is a possibility for union revival. Will unions still be perceived by the government as conspirators? Are trade unions going to be viewed forever as bodies to be tightly controlled by government regulation? How will the government restore good relations with trade unions?   And, are we likely to see prospects for union revival with the power that they once wielded? Most of the restrictions were however imposed on trade union activities back in the 1980s. But the fact that most of these complex restrictions still remain even after years of Labour governments indicate how far apart the government and unions have grown. Trade union activists also wonder why there has been little support from the media for the many attempts by trade unions to pressurize the government to repeal anti-union laws. For example, in 2006, though supported by over a hundred MPs, the Trade Union Freedom Bill disappeared in the face of government hostility without a trace (Moher 2012). Moreover, it is hard to find any journalistic or academic appreciation of the positives and contributions made by the unions on democracy (Moher 2012). The decline in union power and influence over the workplace raise serious doubts about the prospect for unions revival and their ability to recover their position as collective bargaining institutions. There are however a number of revitalizing strategies which may be adopted by trade unions in order for them to consolidate their position. Revitalization strategies Trade unions in the UK may respond to the membership losses in various ways. The remaining unions may, for example, merge in order to consolidate resources and improve on their economies of scale (amalgamation). Other strategies which may be adopted include: formation of partnership, commitment to the organizing agenda, and using the learning agenda among many others (Kelly Frege 2004). Amalgamation In order for the unions to revitalize in the near future, they have to merge with other unions. Union mergers will help them respond to the structural changes and member composition. Additionally, this will help them to reap greater benefits from economies of scale, increasing their influence in the workplace. Partnership In future, trade unions in the UK will in the next ten years be required to justify their existence. They can for example provide evidence on how they are going to bring an added value to employers. In this respect, the concept of partnership may play a vital role. Currently, research evidence on the success of partnership at work seems somewhat divided but it is still early to determine the significance of partnership agreements (Taylor 2012). However, it is clear that majority of unions are increasingly playing a part in such agreements and that most unions have began to formalize such agreements with companies. In future, the Unions will be expected to justify themselves in terms of ‘added value’ to the workplace (Taylor 2012). Organizing agenda Additionally, unions will in the next ten years be expected to commit themselves to the organizing agenda, a key strategy for their revival (Wright 2011). Beyond recruitment, the organizing agenda serves to empower workers by giving them skills to maintain organizational strength and instilling a culture of workplace activism (Alexander Gilmore 1999). Learning agenda There is also the need for the union to deliver learning opportunities to its members besides just representing them. This is an area with much promise as the learning agenda allows trade unions to position themselves around appealing themes such as inclusion, dignity and skills improvement, thereby broadening their bargaining dialogue with employers (Wright 2011). The union will in future be expected to use the learning agenda to ensure their revitalization. Conclusion One of the most significant findings in this analysis is the changing role of trade unions and the decline in unions membership and collective bargaining power. Union membership seems to be dwindling and their collective bargaining power weakening. The change has been attributed to a range of factors, most of which have resulted from the changing nature of employee relations. Among the adversities identified as facing unionism are unfavourable political and institutional conditions, structural changes in the economy, global competition, employer sponsored forms of employee participation, legal constraints, changing societal attitudes, labour market fragmentation, enterprise bargaining, a shift to individual contracts as well as the growing trend of outsourcing among many others. A combination of these challenges seems to have precipitated a significant fall in union membership and contributed to the decline in the union’s collective bargaining power. The challenge, however, is for the unions to prevent further decline in union membership and weakening of their position. Given the downward trend in union membership, there is need for trade unions to justify their existence by adopting distinctively different roles.   This requires profound re-thinking of the roles and practices of trade unions. Reference Alexander, R. and P. Gilmore, (1999) â€Å"A strategic organizing alliance across borders†, In: M. Tillman and M.S. Cummings (eds) The Transformation of U.S. Unions. Voices, Visions and Strategies from the Grassroots, Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc. pp.45-67 Anderson et al, (2002). The changing roles of public sector unionism. Working paper No. 83, pp.2-13 Bach, S. (2002), Public-sector Employment Relations Reform under Labour: Muddling Through or Modernization? British Journal of Industrial Relations, 40, 2, pp. 319-99. Bacon, N., and P. Blyton, (2004) â€Å"Trade Union Reponses to Workplace Restructuring: exploring union orientations and actions†, Work, Employment and Society, 18(4), pp. 749-773. Blanchflower, D.G., (1996). The role and influence of trade unions in the OECD. National Bureau of Economic Research and Centre for Economic Performance, LSE, pp. 5-39 Blaschke, S. (2000), Union Density and European Integration: Diverging Convergence, European Journal of Industrial Relations, 6, 2, pp. 217-36. Bryson, A., (2010). Resilient unions: strategies for growth Bryson, A., (2005). ‘Union effects on employee relations in Britain’. Human Relations, vol 58 (9), pp. 1111-1139 CIPD, (2012) Employee relations: an overview. Cox, T., and R. Mason, (2000) â€Å"Trends and developments in east central European industrial relations†, Industrial Relations Journal, 31(2), pp. 97-114. Craden, C. and P. Hall-Jones, (2012). Trade union reform change is the only constant, Ebbinghaus, (2002). ‘Trade unions changing role: membership erosion, organizational reform and social partnership in Europe’. Industrial Relations Journal, P.2-20 Farnham, D., (2000) Employee relations in context. 2nd edition. Chartered Institute of Pers. Gennard, J., (2005) Employee relations. 4th edition. Chartered Inst of Pers/Develop, pp.350-357 Kelly, J. and C. Frege, (eds) (2004) Varieties of Unionism: Strategies of Union Revitalization in a Globalizing Economy,Oxford: Oxford University Press. Kelly, J. (1998) Rethinking Industrial Relations: Mobilization, Collectivism and Long Waves, London: Routledge. pp. 35-56 Moher, J.G., 2012. Trade unions and the law history and a way forward? [Viewed on 19th November 2012] available from historyandpolicy.org/papers/policy-paper-63.html Taylor, R., (2012) The future of employment relations. An ESRC Future of Work Programme Seminar Series, pp 23-35 Wright, C.F., (2011). What role for trade unions in future workplace relations? Acas Future of Workplace Relations discussion paper series, pp.2-15

Hobbes, Machiavelli and Moral Relativism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hobbes, Machiavelli and Moral Relativism - Essay Example The morality that The Prince espouses has immortalized the famous notion that the ends justify the means, that a ruler should not concern himself with abstract concepts of virtue and ethics in the effort to hold power. In this realist construct, since the ruler is power, the idea of sacrificing power in the interest of the virtuous rule is not only an irrelevant idea, it becomes illogical. In this perspective, Machiavelli argues that the ruler must â€Å"learn to be able not to be good and to use this and not use it as necessity dictates.†1 â€Å"Necessity† is the operative word in this idea, and emphasizes the â€Å"real-world† morality of Machiavelli’s invention. â€Å"The Prince must govern in the real world with men as they are, and not in some ideal world where men behave as they ought to.†2 To Macchiavelli, actions bear an intrinsic â€Å"virtue† of their own, regardless of whether those actions can be identified as â€Å"evil.† In other words, if the ruler, by his actions, is able to solidify his power and thus keep his rule secure from those who seek to supplant him, then he has, by definition, done good. Though Thomas Hobbes disagreed with Macchiavelli concerning the role of the state, the two agreed on this 2 point: â€Å"In stressing the power of the sword and the inefficacy of mere words, Hobbes was following Macchiavelli.†3 Both Hobbes and Macchiavelli concur in the political â€Å"virtue† of fear and power, and that â€Å"there should be no limitations placed upon the rights of rulers.†4 For both Hobbes and Machiavelli, metaphysics has no place in the real world of men, the world in which power is the only real currency. The effective ruler is never one who would consider virtue to be anything more than an abstraction, which can in no way aid him in wielding and maintaining power. Morality has a slightly different meaning for Hobbes, who proposes a â€Å"natural condition of ma nkind,† in which there is chaos, a condition devoid of political organization or power.5 In this natural state, Hobbes argues that there is no possibility of morality because there is nothing to give it context and meaning. Hobbes counters that in a commonwealth, the organized political state in which all have a place, it is essential, and the individual’s bounden duty, to obey those who hold power. Hobbes may have followed Machiavelli in the fundamental beliefs concerning the primacy of power and authority over ideas and moral ethic, but he diverges from Machiavelli over the doctrine that morality is something that not only exists within the bounds of the political state, but is something that the individual must concede to the state for his own well-being and that of society. Hobbes was writing from firsthand knowledge about religious warfare, specifically, the horrific experiences of the English Civil War, the outcome of which had forced Hobbes to flee England to avo id Cromwell’s wrath over his proposition that obedience to unrestrained royal authority must be absolute. 3 Hobbes postulated a form of human equality for which Machiavelli does not allow. Yet Hobbes’ â€Å"equality† is not in the same vein as that of the ancient Greeks, or the great philosophers and writers of the Enlightenment. In Hobbes’ view, â€Å"men should be seen to be equal politically because of a decisive point of equality: every human being, even the strongest and smartest, is susceptible to being killed by others.†

Do thr right thing Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Do thr right thing - Movie Review Example The cause of disagreement arises when Sal who owns the pizzeria dismisses Buggin a black American young man who protests about the wall of fane at the restaurant. Racial discrimination is evident in Sal’s restaurant when he speaks rudely at Buggin. The wall of fame in this restaurant contains only Italians and no black celebrity is included in the list and photos of fame within the restaurant. Racism intensifies when Mookie asks Vito Sal’s son who is a friend of a black American Mookie about any black celebrity. Vito is ignorant about any black personality despite living in black neighborhood for over 10 years. Sal’s racism continues when he refuses to pay Mookie who has been working for him as a pizza delivery. The way the police officers deal with Buggin and Raheem also indicates racism. The two police officers kill Raheem instead of apprehending him and suing him for inciting a crowd against the Sal. Back at Mookie’s place the care take r of Hector Mookie’s son is Italian and speaks to the son in Italian. Mookie yells at her informing her that he would like his son to speak in English in

Application of Nursing Theory Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Application of Nursing Theory - Assignment Example As a result, nurses often turn to nursing theory in order to make sure that they are able to help the patient in the best possible way. Part II: The Problem Nursing theory and Rehabilitation Around the world, the issue of rehabilitation is becoming a very big issue which many nursing centres have to deal with. The number of individuals who need to be rehabilitated every year is increasing every year. And so has the severity of the cases because people are now indulging more deeply in harmful drugs and alcohol. Rehabilitation is becoming an issue and many nursing professionals working in rehabilitation centres are finding it harder to be able to treat the individuals (Strong, 2013). As a result, there is an increasing need for all the stake holders to come together and develop a solution. In the United States, the problem of ineffective rehabilitation is being blamed on so many stakeholders including the following; Policy makers have been accused of making ineffective and irreverent h ealthcare policies which make it harder for rehabilitation of addicts to be effective. Policy makers are accused of failing to recognize addiction as a healthcare problem and therefore this offers very little government help for addicts, thus leaving them to have to pay the expensive costs of rehabilitation which are in often cases prohibitive and thus always leads to the patient relapsing to their vices. Justice system is also accused of failing to recognize addicts as patients and in most cases sends them to prison instead to rehabilitation centres. For instance, most addicts who are arrested with drugs are sentenced to prison terms where they end up using these drugs even more because they are readily available in the prison environment. However, it is the nursing professionals in the rehabilitation centres who end up getting the largest blame especially when they are not able to rehabilitate individuals who are struggling with addiction (Strong, 2013). Needless to say, there nee ds an overhauling of the rehabilitation process in order to help the individuals who find themselves in this deadly health problem to be able to live life again. While the policy makers and the justice system have their shares to do, the nurses should use the available resources in order to be able to help these patients and give their lives back to them. To be able to solve this issue, it will be necessary to be able to come up with ways to handle as many rehabilitation patients as possible within the limited resources available for nurses. The nurses will need to know how to deal with the patients and help them to overcome their issues without failing. Part III: Using Nursing theory to address the problem Self-care deficit nursing theory (Orem B Model of Nursing) The self-care deficit nursing theory was developed by Dorothea Orem between 1959 and 2001 and is postulated upon the argument that patients are more likely to get their health back if they are allowed to participate in th eir own healthcare. This theory is important in the treatment of rehabilitation patients due to the very nature of these patients. More than any other type of patients, a rehabilitation patient needs to relearn how to depend on himself and become self efficacious. Failing to restore this ability in the patient will also mean that the patient will relapse back to their old habit (Johnson & Roberson, 2012). Unlike most healthcare issues that nurses

Access and consent in public photography

Access and consent in public photography Difficulties in obtaining literature I thought it would be appropriate to start this chapter with a foreword, explaining the difficulties I had in obtaining relevant literature for this review. Whilst conducting an initial search for literature, it became quickly apparent that very little other primary research had been conducted on this subject. To confound matters, the only literature that had been conducted was extremely dated. As a result, there was little other material that I would be able to compare my research to. The one piece of research that was directly relevant was a chapter in Image Ethics by Lisa Henderson – Access and consent in public photography. This chapter will receive a thorough review in a latter section of this review, as its importance as the only other comparable piece of primary research cannot be understated. The only other papers I found that were comparable in terms of content were legal review papers, usually specific to a particular nation. Both Dunedin and Ludlows papers at first glance seemed to be similar in content to my working title (Dunedin 2007; Ludlow 2005). Upon closer inspection though, their applicability was limited. Both dealt with photography as a form of privacy invasion, however, the large bulk of both papers was review of the legislation covering these issues in New Zealand and Australia respectively. Whilst some the content was arguably valuable, I felt that discussing legal legalisation of countries outside of the UK would be irrelevant in the context of my interviews. As there is little to no comparable primary research to base this review upon, I have instead aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the relevant issues that may occur during the interview process. These include, an overview of the laws in the UK that govern photographers rights, A social history of amateur photography and the advent of the Kodak and specific review of Hendersons Access and Consent in Public Photography. The Law The law is fundamental to many of the arguments covered in this dissertation. The UK law in particular, covers many aspects of photographers rights and details exactly when and how they may intrude upon the privacy of others. Despite issues such as the intrusion of privacy, are more of a modern product of legal development, their creation can be attributed in part to the onset popularisation of amateur photography as a result of the hand camera. In this aspect, it can be argued that photography is on the forefront of ethical and moral issues surrounding privacy and the protection of intellectual property. In particular, this section will focus on the laws surrounding photography of private property, invasion of privacy and harassment, and photography of children. There exists much material on copyright issues pertaining to photography. I have purposefully excluded these issues from this review because I felt it was less relevant to the overall purpose of the dissertation as compared to the issues involved in actually performing the act of taking the photograph. Private property As a rule of thumb, photographers do have the right to take photographs of private property from public spaces (Macpherson 2009). Photographers also have the right to take photographs on private property provided they have the owners permission to do so. Conversely however, any owner of private property has the right to refuse access to a property upon entry, and this includes taking photographs of said property. Macpherson notes that, in addition, photography is restricted upon entry to other areas of private property that some might consider public, including â€Å"museums, stately homes, for example, and by most concert venues† In addition, the use of a of a long lens to take to an picture of a private property, such as a persons residence, is an invasion of privacy if the photograph is taken without the owners consent, even if it is taken in a public space (Macpherson 2009). Exceptions in Public Spaces The UK has two exceptions, where photography is prohibited in openly public spaces. These specifically, include Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square in London. Photography in these areas is prohibited from commercial photography, for example, it could not be used in business adverting or for selling prints (Greater London Authority 2002). Non-commercial photography is not prohibited, for example, tourists taking photographs are unrestricted in their photography in these areas. Harassment In general, any harassment of a person is illegal. Obviously this term is extremely broad but photography in certain circumstances can be viewed as harassment. Macpherson notes that â€Å"Harassment is essentially behaviour that causes alarm or distress, and it refers to a ‘course of conduct not a single incident.† (Macpherson 2009) This means that this behaviour has to be repeated at least twice to count to amount to harassment; however, two separate incidents have the potential to occur in a short period a time, for example, if a person repeatedly tried to photograph of an unwilling subject. Invasion of Privacy As it stands, the UK does have laws governing an individuals privacy. This right to privacy has developed through the interaction of the European Convention on Human Rights with domestic law through the Human Rights Act 1998. This may result in certain prohibitions on the practice of photography. Specifically Article 8 of European Convention on Human Rights gives every individual the right to protect their private family life, correspondence and home from the intrusion of others. Whether this right is directly a result of the Human Rights Act 1998 or is judicially created, is a matter that has been widely discussed (Morgan 2004). Whilst, the right to privacy is protected by Article 8 of the convention, Article 10 detailing freedom of expression, contradicts this right in terms of photography As a result, courts often have to judge each case in terms of its own merits (Human Rights Act 1998). To confound matters, article 8 is in a stage of flux, and laws surrounding the privacy of ind ividuals are often altered, creating the potential for further confusion among both photographers and members of the general public. When specifically considering the case of photographing in public spaces, the core of the issue lies in whether a person could have a reasonable expectation of privacy, however, the degree to which is asserted is a matter of debate. Data Protection Despite there currently not being a case of such, there is still a possibility that photographs may be subject to the Data Protection Act (Data Protection Act 1998). This act monitors and protects all aspects pertaining to personal information. Whilst the act does not specifically mention privacy as a concept, the label of ‘personal information can relate to almost any aspect of an individuals intellectual property, whether this includes their image, is a question that has yet to be clearly stated ,but is a matter that will no doubt be debated in the near future. Protection of Children The law protects children in exactly the same way as adults when considering the issues we have already considered in terms of harassment, data protection and invasions of privacy. However, in addition, children are also protected by the child protection act. It is illegal both to take an indecent photograph of a child, or to edit an image in such a way that a photograph becomes indecent. These laws are detailed in the Protection of Children Act (Protection of Children Act 1978). Macpherson notes that while it is not illegal to take photographs of children under the age of 16 in public places, it may well arouse suspicion from the police and may result in investigation of motives (Macpherson 2009). In addition he notes that other activities and events put on by local councils, such as fairs and school-based events, may well have strict rules about photography of children which can be enforced. Security National Security has become an issue of chief importance in the light of recent terrorist activity. One of the most published examples is the fact that is now illegal to transfer or publish a photograph of a police constable, members of the armed forces, or other security related personnel under new counter terrorist legislation (Counter-Terrorism Act 2008). This rule is somewhat moderated by the fact that the accused photograph would have to be of a nature that would prove useful to terrorists. The accused are capable of defending themselves if they manage to provide a reasonable excuse, nevertheless, the focus of this legislation is arguably still a case of ‘guilty before proven innocent. This law has been met with considerable resistance, with journalists recently staging a protest against the legalisation at Scotland Yard. In an news article covering the protest, Victoria Bone notes â€Å"That means anyone taking a picture of one of those people could face a fine or a prison sentence of up to 10 years, if a link to terrorism is proved The law has angered photographers, both professional and amateur, who fear it could exacerbate the harassment they already sometimes face.† (Bone 2009) A Cultural History Of Amateur Photography The Advent Of Personality And Privacy The advent of a formal understanding of privacy is an issue that is central to this entire dissertation. I wanted to examine the advent of privacy as a concept because it is so inextricably linked to many of the issues that arose through my interviews, aiding my latter analysis. Many of the issues pertaining to the evolution of privacy can be found in Mensels paper Kodakers Lying in Wait: Amateur Photography and the Right of Privacy in New York, 1885 -1915 (Mensel 1991). At first glance of this paper, I was concerned of its potential use because I wanted to focus on the UK, as many of these issues are culturally relative. Despite this, upon further inspection, the concepts the paper produces are universal in their applicability. In addition, many of the issues of privacy do appear to have developed in Victorian New York in a way that is both traceable and easily understood. The first of Mensels key references in the development of privacy is author Warren Susman. Susman has written a wealth of information on the fundamental changes that occurred in American society in the early 20th century. Perhaps the most important of these changes was the shift between being a â€Å"culture of character† to a â€Å"culture of personality†. In her book ‘Culture as History: The Transformation of American Society in the Twentieth Century (Susman 1984) Susman describes how self-awareness developed within society, subtly and yet fundamentally. He argues that for much of the 1800s that society was defined by the nature of â€Å"Character†. Character was defined as form of self-awareness where people examined their own morality. From Susman: â€Å"In the age of self-consciousness, a popular vision of the self defined by the word character became fundamental in sustaining and even in shaping the significant forms of the culture. Such a concept filled two important functions. It proposed a method for both mastery and development of the self. In fact, it argued that its kind of self-control was the way to fullest development of the moral significance of self. But it also provided a method of presenting the self to society, offering a standard of conduct that assured interrelationship between the social and the moral.† This matter of expressing oneself to society was a crucial trigger for a wide reaching social change. For Susman, the advent of character was the first step on the road to society developing personality and consequently, the concept of privacy. Despite these insights, Mensel argues that Susmans use of words such as ‘character and ‘personality are inappropriate because such distinction between them was not recognised at that time. Another key reference that Mensel cites in his paper, is the writing of renowned journalist EL Godkin. Godkin was at the forefront of the development of privacy as a concept and was one of the first to write specifically on the matter. His article in Scirbners magazine ‘The Rights of the Citizen was one of the first writings to consider â€Å"The right to decide how much knowledge of [an individuals] own private affairs the public shall have† (Godkin 1890). Godkin saw privacy as â€Å"a distinctly modern product, one of luxuries of civilisation†. Having recognised the advent of privacy as a new phenomenon, Godkin was also conscious of the threats to privacy that the behaviours of modern society represented. He was particularly concerned with the behaviour of the media in intruding peoples personal lives: â€Å"The Chief enemy of privacy in modern life is that interest in other people and their affairs known as curiosity, which in days before newspapers created personal gossip [A]s long as gossip was oral, is spread, as regarded any one individual, over a very small area, and was confined to the immediate circle of his acquaintances. It did not reach, or but rarely reached, those who knew nothing of him. It did not make his name, or his walk, or his conversation familiar to strangers† Godkins writings on the issues of privacy and how it may be intruded upon, inspired a strong desire within some sectors of the society, to protect their privacy with legal means. Some social commentators have argued that Godkins work was the direct inspiration for Warren and Brandeiss groundbreaking article, ‘The Right to Privacy, that argued for privacy to be protected by law (Warren Brandeis 1890). Ironically , it would appear that Godkin was actually opposed to using the law as a method of protecting privacy. According to Mensel, this was partially due to the fact that a jury in such a trial would be most likely â€Å"be composed of the same ‘depraved classes that were responsible for the advent of sensationalist journalism and intrusive photography profitable† (Mensel 1991). Despite Godkins objections, Warren and Brandeiss article was a huge success. Combining elements from varied and estranged fields of law, they managed to formulate an argument that the law could protect the â€Å"thoughts, sentiments and emotions† of the general public (Warren and Brandeis 1890). This issue was especially important to the authors because of the threat generated by â€Å"Recent inventions and business methods† These included the new journalism style that was similarly disregarded by Godkin, in addition a previously unconsidered threat in the form of the newly invented Kodak hand camera. The Social Impact Of The Kodak Camera Photography, prior to the invention of the hand camera, was a difficult and cumbersome process that was only left to the reserve of a minority of experts. It was certainly not the highly accessible hobby that it became in later years. As Jenkins notes: â€Å"From the time of the introduction of commercial photography in 1839 until the late 1870s, the technical complexities of the photographic process were so great that only professional photographers and a very few avid amateurs chose to pursue the practice. In the 1870s the photographer had, for example, to prepare the photosensitive materials; adjust the camera settings; expose, develop, and fix the glass-plate negative; and print and fix the positive paper copy.† (Jenkins 1975) This situation changed permanently and dramatically with the invention of the hand camera, invented by George Eastman. This camera used an innovative new technology that used dry plates and allowed for instantaneous exposures. This new technology came to change not only how photographs were taken, but who took them. Perhaps the widest reaching effect of the introduction of the Kodak was to allow members of the public with no little to no previous experience of photography to take acceptable quality pictures. Whilst this may have seen as a positive step in terms of the reputation and esteem of the photographers, the advent of thousands of amateur photographers had the opposite effect. In the late 19th century, in America, prominent newspapers such as The New York Times produced articles on what came to be known as The Camera Epidemic (The New York Times 1884). These articles disregarded the mass popularisation of photography to the extent of a labelling it a national scourge. Reports written by members of the public of the growing problem of â€Å"camera lunatics appear frequently in letters to the major publishers. A different article in the New York Times (NYT 1884) went as far to liken amateur photographers to the mentally ill: â€Å"it has not occurred to a single medical man that the first noticeable increase in the percentage of lunatics in this country and in England took place about a year after the introduction of dry plate photography We need search no further to find out why our lunatic asylums are crowded. These reports are a potent reminder of the disregard many people felt for the advent of the hand camera at this time. One article detailing Secretary of Treasury, Charles Folger marked as an oddity for having â€Å"a most extraordinary fondness for being photographed†, In the same article as the author describes Folgers picture being taken be describes â€Å"..while the camera does its deadly work† (NYT 1884) Examples such as these highlight the publics distaste for these new amateurs. One particularly violent solution was offered in The Amateur Photographer1885: There is but one remedy for the amateur photographer. Put a brick through his camera whenever you suspect he has taken you unawares. And if there is any doubt, give the benefit of it to the brick, not to the camera. The rights of private property, personal liberty, and personal security birthrights, all of them, of American citizens are distinctly are distinctly inconsistent with the unlicensed use of the instantaneous process. (The Amateur Photographer 1885) Access And Consent In Public Photography – A Review This essay, written by Lisa Henderson, is essentially a review of an unpublished masters thesis – Photographing in Public Places: Photography as social interaction that was produced while she was a student at the University of Pennsylvania in 1983. I first encountered this essay while studying a book called Image Ethics: The Moral Rights of Subjects in Photographs, Film, and Television published in 1991, the essay however is also revised and reprinted in a book called The Photographer Reader published in 2003. The gap between these dates was a good initial indication that the essay had occupied a unique niche in terms of describing issues of privacy caused by photography from a social standpoint. Indeed, it is the only comparable piece of literature I have found on the subject. Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain a copy of the original thesis. Thankfully, the essay alone contains a detailed summary of the most pertinent results. This section will review these results so that I may be able to compare the findings of our research during my analysis and conclusions. Hendersons results are subdivided into three main categories: Settings, Subjects and Strategies. I will purposefully avoid repeating the reference (Henderson 2003), all of the following material is adapted from the most recent version of her essay in The Photography Reader, all statements can be directly attributed to this essay. Settings Henderson begins this chapter with four elements that she has defined as being key when considering the setting of photographs: 1) The familiarity of the setting 2) Whether the setting is is considered a â€Å"front† or â€Å"back† region of a larger area 3) How frequently photographs are taken in the setting and 4) The purpose of the event within the setting. Familiarity, according to Henderson, is key in defining how comfortable a photographer feels taking photographs in a given setting. She notes that familiarity is key because it allows a photographer to achieve a state of â€Å"normality† By understanding their subject audiences, photographers can blend into specific cultural settings and make their subjects feel at ease. The language used in this case is interesting. Henderson implies that a state of â€Å"normality† is beneficial because photography is an abnormal action. The terms of â€Å"front and back† are adapted from theatrical stage language and define a photographers route of access. Back regions involve a photographer to imitate the image of a consummate professional going about day-to-day business, they can achieve this by being accompanied by a official such a police officer or by â€Å"pretending† to be on official business. Front entrance occurs when an event implies a photographers presence is not unusual. Henderson argues that photographers are more comfortable when surrounded by their own kind. A mob has the effect of drawing attention away from the individual, making it easier for a single photographer to achieve â€Å"neutrality† in their setting. Again, the language here implies neutrality is beneficial in order to avoid unwanted attention. Again, events where photography is expected, such as press conferences, are easier for photographers because photography is the expected norm at such an event. Subjects Henderson introduces this section with what some would argue, is an extremely bold statement: â€Å"No group of people is categorically off-limits or of no interest to photographers†. This statement is modified by adding that many different groups at treated differently by photographers, Age, gender ethnicity and social class all require a modification of strategy be it an invitation to take a photography or an act of â€Å"intimidation in others†. Henderson notes that a common subject for many amateur photographers can be found in street performers performing various formal and informal activities. Individuals performing musical, theatrical or other forms of entertainment are ideal according to Henderson, because photography is usually a welcome presence or â€Å"flattery† for many street performers who are keen for attention. They also allow the photographers to remain relatively unnoticed among a crowd of stationary observers. Strategies Henderson describes a plethora of different strategies in order to gain access to their subjects. These strategies are eased if the photographer shares common characteristics with their subjects, she cites ethnicity, social class and social background as being key in determining the ease at which a photographer can gain access to their subjects. Interestingly, she notes that children are an exception â€Å"Photographing children is an exception. Children are thought to be less self-conscious about their appearance and less likely to anticipate the â€Å"possible horrors† of photographs and they might appear in publication† This comment is of particular interest because it reflects the culture of the time in which it was written. Indeed children would be considered an exception in photography in recent times, more likely for the fact that they were a subject to be avoided due to possible fear of being labelled a sexual deviant. A mass paranoia about paedophilia was not p resent in the early 1980s to the same degree that it is currently. Henderson describes a variety of different strategies that may be employed to gain access to their subjects. The majority of these involve the photographer assuming a role where he/she can appear as â€Å"un-alarming† as possible by either assuming an official role or by blending in with the crowd. Conclusions Hendersons work serves an interesting social insight into the behaviour of photographers. However, there are several factors that would be interesting to have been more informed on. She mentions that this work is based on interviews with 15 ‘photographers, it becomes clear in the subsequent prose that these photographers consist of a mix of amateurs, professionals and photojournalists, which does seem a wide variety for such a small sample. In many ways, the paper exudes a feeling of disapproval, photographers are seen as taking steps to remain â€Å"un-alarming† and seeking to try and gain an appearance of â€Å"normality†. Photographers are also seen as adjusting their approach to different social groups by â€Å"intimidating† them, although direct quotations or evidence to support this claim is not provided. In many regards, this paper seems to follow the line of the amateur photographer as a 19th century â€Å"camera lunatic†. Whilst informative, it does seem somewhat odd that this one-sided approach to the issue remains the only obtainable source on the behaviour of the photographer and their considerations of privacy.

Free Macbeth Essays: Foreshadowing the Apparitions -- GCSE Coursework

Foreshadowing the Apparitions in MacBeth One would question the credibility of the enigmatic apparitions within Macbeth's renowned Act IV, Scene i. Shakespeare gains the audience's acceptance of the three mystically summoned apparitions through methodically foreshadowing a supernatural event is about to occur. Each stance of Shakespeare's foreshadowing -- cauldron potions, Hecate, the second witch's awareness of MacBeth, and stage direction -- contributes to the believability of the apparitions' appearance in the play. The fact the witches were mixing a "poisoned (IV,i,5)" concoction upon the entrance of MacBeth implies "trouble (IV,i,10)." Three witches circling around a cauldron, throwing in items such as "baboon's blood (IV,i,37)" foreshadows something dark and mysterious will happen. Hecate, the queen of the witches, "commends (IV,i,39)" the witches for their "pains (IV,i,39)," upon entrance to the witchery drenched stage. Hecate also uses a device similar to the royal we. She implies that the entirety of the populous will benefit from the outcome of the p...

The Standards of Professionals

While reflecting on the moral questions posed by the statement ‘when a reporter makes a mistake in a magazine article, you can run a correction; but when a health care worker makes a mistake, someone can die’, it is relevant to delve into the idea that some professionals should be held to a higher standard than others. This is not a correct ideology in assuming that morality is more important at any one time or place or by one person over another.Just as the previous reflection on morality revealed the importance of individual sovereignty, the application of this should be noted in that this is the only universal ethic that can and should be placed on all individuals. The strength of this position of moral sovereignty is that each person has a humanistic right and responsibility to follow their ethical reasoning without outside interference. A health care worker is morally responsible for caring for patients in a competent way, but a reporter is just as much affected, if not more so, by individual decision making.Reporters may feel threatened by superiors to report inaccurate news and in doing so this could have intense ramifications for dispensing disinformation. This can lead to character assassination for a political candidate, as one example. The disadvantages of looking at this model, is that as stated previously, the responsibility of a reporter can be held to a higher degree of standards, due to the fact that health care workers are not coerced into saving lives, they simply must. In contrast, reporters must weigh in their journalistic pieces on outside influence, such as their superiors and their audience.Individual sovereignty is still a standard that can be used universally, as the true illustration of a moral and rational actor is the ethical actions taken without influence or coercion in any profession. This means thinking and acting individually with only the altruistic motives of those around this actor in mind. As well, individuals i n all professions can reap the benefits of their right to sovereignty and successful actions while the price to pay, individually, is the effects of their errors. References Joseph Joel., (2003) Business Ethics: An Introduction. New York, Blackwell Publishers.

Definition of Adams-Onis Treaty

Definition of Adams-Onis Treaty The Adams-Onis Treaty was an agreement between the United States and Spain signed in 1819 which established the southern border of the Louisiana Purchase. As part of the agreement, the United States obtained the territory of present day Florida. The treaty was negotiated in Washington, D.C. by the American secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, and the Spanish ambassador to the United States, Luis de Onis. The treaty was viewed as a significant event at the time, and contemporary observers, including former president Thomas Jefferson, lauded the work of John Quincy Adams. Background of the Adams-Onis Treaty Following the acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase during the administration of Thomas Jefferson, the United States faced a problem, as it was not entirely clear where the border lay between the territory obtained from France and the territory of Spain to the south. Over the first decades of the 19th century, Americans venturing southward, including Army officer (and possible spy) Zebulon Pike, were apprehended by Spanish authorities and sent back to the United States. A clear border needed to be defined before minor incidents on the border escalated into anything more serious. And in the years following the Louisiana Purchase, the successors to Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe, sought to acquire the two Spanish provinces of East Florida and West Florida (the regions had been loyal to Britain during the American Revolution, but following the Treaty of Paris, they reverted to Spanish rule). Spain was barely holding on to the Floridas. And was therefore receptive to negotiating a treaty which would trade away that land in return for clarifying who owned land to the west, in what today is Texas and the southwestern United States. Complicated Territory The problem Spain faced in Florida was that it claimed the territory, and had a few outposts on it, but it wasnt settled. And the region wasnt being governed in any sense of the word. American settlers were encroaching on its borders, essentially squatting on Spanish land, and conflicts kept arising. Escaped slaves were also crossing into Spanish territory, and at time U.S. troops ventured into Spains land on the pretext of hunting fugitive slaves. Creating further complications, Indians living in Spanish territory would venture into American territory and raid settlements, at times killing the residents. The constant problems along the border seemed likely to erupt at some point into open conflict. Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. In 1818 Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans three years earlier, led a military expedition into Florida. His actions were highly controversial in Washington, as government officials felt he had gone far beyond his orders, especially when he executed two British subjects he considered spies. Negotiation of the Treaty It seemed obvious to leaders of both Spain and the United States that the Americans would eventually come into possession of Florida. So the Spanish ambassador in Washington, Luis de Onis, had been granted full power by his government to make the best deal he could. He met with John Quincy Adams, secretary of state to President Monroe. The negotiations had been disrupted and nearly ended when the 1818 military expedition led by Andrew Jackson ventured into Florida. But the problems caused by Andrew Jackson may have been useful to the American cause. Jacksons ambition and his aggressive behavior no doubt reinforced the fear that of the Spaniards that Americans could be coming into the territory held by Spain sooner or later. The American troops under Jackson had been able to walk into Spainish territory at will. Spain was beset by other problems. And it did not want to station troops, which would have to be supplied, in remote parts of Florida to defend against any future American encroachments. There was no escaping that if American soldiers could march into Florida and just seize it, there was little Spain could do. So Onis thought he might as well dispense with the Florida problem entirely while dealing with the issue of borders along the western edge of the Louisiana territory. The negotiations were resumed and proved fruitful. And Adams and Onis signed their agreement on February 22, 1819. A compromise boundary was established between the U.S. and Spanish territory, and the United States gave up claims to Texas in exchange for Spain giving up any claim to territory in the Pacific Northwest. The treaty, after ratification by both governments, became effective on February 22, 1821.  The treaty was eventually followed by other treaties that essentially confirmed the boundaries set out in 1821. An immediate result of the treaty was that it reduced tensions with Spain, and made the likelihood of another war seem remote. So the military budget of the United States could be cut and the size of the U.S. Army reduced in the 1820s.

Italian Renaissance Laocoon and His Sons by Baccio Bandinelli

Italian Renaissance Laocoon and His Sons by Baccio Bandinelli Introduction Sculpture, just like any other ancient work of art intrigues people to date. The special and moving expertise and creativity that characterize artistic sculptures of different eras remain a point of debate as many researchers and scholars venture into the field each trying to study and understand these pieces of work.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Italian Renaissance: â€Å"Laocoon and His Sons† by Baccio Bandinelli specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Among the most prominent eras of sculpture that has attracted much attention is the Italian Renaissance with the Laocoon and his sons sculpture being a point of interest. This paper provides a research on the artistic works of this period with the aim of constructing a reasoning concerning the artists of this period, the reasons for engaging in these activities. The paper analyzes the characteristic features of some artistic sculptures from t his period as the inference for drawing conclusions. Among these, the primary study will be on the Laocoon and his sons sculpture by Baccio Bandinelli. Laocoon and his sons Laocoon and his sons, is a sculpture created by Baccio Bandinelli between 1520-1525, yet the exact date is a mystery. It stands up in display at the Museo Pio Clementino in Vatican.1 The level of detail of this sculpture represents the hard work and the efforts Bandinelli put into that piece of work to present a perfect present of the king of France Francis I as directed by Cardinal Bernardo Divizio.2 The piece of work involved a first step in wax modeling, followed by a cartoon study and later on, the sculpture in marble. This sculpture is not just an artistic articulation that has no underlying subject matter. This sculpture tells the story of Trojan priest Laocoon and his two sons (Thymbraeus and Antiphaters) while they are struggling to free themselves from the grip of the sea serpents sent against them by Ne ptune, the god that protected the Greeks.Advertising Looking for research paper on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The story tells how Laocoon had forewarned the Trojans about the mysterious horse found outside the walls and thus brought upon himself and his two sons the wrath of Neptune.3This therefore points out to the fact that this work is not only an artistic entity but also expresses spiritual autonomy. Other renaissance sculptures In this paper, it is important to include other Italian Renaissance sculptures, which will help in creating a concrete picture of the characteristic features of the period and will be useful for the purpose of comparison. One of the sculptures from this period is Bacchus. The artistic sculpture, which was sculpture between 1496 and 1497 by Michelangelo, lay in display in Bargello Museum, Florence. This sculpture just like many others has a story to tell..4 In this statute, the s culptor painted the god as obsessed with wine. This statute, however, did not gain the approval of Michelangelos patronage but on the contrary, it was considered distasteful. For this very reason, this piece of work did not achieve fame as an outstanding artistic work. Another example of a renaissance sculpture that will be useful for this study is the Pieta by Michelangelo. As opposed to the Bacchus, this is a sculpture of a god with too many human emotions. This particular sculpture shows a young mother holding a lifeless child in her arms. Furthermore, unlike the Bacchus, this piece of work has achieved fame and it was the only Michelangelo’s work that was ever signed.5These three pieces of work will be a point of reference in this paper in examining the characteristics of the renaissance sculpture and comparing it with other periods. Characteristics Visual The Laocoon and his sons is a 123cm statute made of white marble with seven interlocking parts of marble. This sculpt ure shows Laocoon with a wrinkled face curved out of the marble and the eyes of the sculpture appear to be half shut creating the impression of struggle and pain.6Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Italian Renaissance: â€Å"Laocoon and His Sons† by Baccio Bandinelli specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The artist articulates with detail the struggle that the priest has while trying to free himself from the snakes with a detail of the exposure of veins in his left hand. Another physical representation of the struggle is the raising chest of Laocoon as he tries to prevent the head of the snake from biting his hip. The deadly serpent has bit the younger son of Laocoon and he appears to be passing out. Another stunning appearance of the sculpture is how Laocoon has his head cocked to one side with his eyes looking upward. The two sons of Laocoon appear to have their heads raised and looking up to their father in pain and desperation as the older tries to free himself from the entanglement. The highly ornamented nature of the statute, for instance, the appearance of the body parts twisting in different directions allow the audience to make deductions for meaning.7 For instance, the arrangement of limbs in this sculpture can show the confusion and desperation as the mind of the priest tries to coordinate all his limbs to free himself from the poisonous snake. Another outstanding visual attraction of this sculpture is the level of realism the artist employs. First, the size of the statute brings up the actual size of an average person. This makes it easier for the audience to identify with the statute as a representation of an actual happening. Another very important point to note in this statute is the combination of expressions, motions and physical appearance as curved out by artist. This harmonious combination brings out the statutes reality without creating mixed emotions or interpret ations. On a different note, the sculptor choice of color adds an anesthetic value to the sculpture without necessarily demeaning the theme of the work.8 The evidence to this is the fact that Bandinelli chooses white color for the priest, his sons and the snakes to represent their religious positions for the priest and son and a divine position for the snakes. Another aspect of the physical appearance that cannot escape notice is a stylistic combination of proportions and emotions. In this statute, the size of the two sons is significantly smaller than that of Laocoon. In this sculpture, as the smaller son of Laocoon collapses, his head lifted with his eyes looking at the father.Advertising Looking for research paper on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The other son goes about the struggle but again he still lifts up his face towards the father. This creates an impression of responsibility the Laocoon had over the cause. It brings out the pain of the two sons suffering because of their father’s mistake. A combination of all the visual aspects of the sculpture explains why this artistic work remained an inspiration for many artists in the renaissance era and today. Historical context The Laocoon sculpture is of a great importance and stands out as influential in history of art. In its time, it influenced art in Italy creating a great impression and impact on the Italian Renaissance art. Michelangelo is one of the people who could not forget the importance and impact of the sculpture. Michelangelo explores this interest in his consequent works the dying slave and the rebellious slave9. The Laocoon sculpture comes out as one of the highly preferred and outstanding outputs of the art of painting and sculpture. The piece of work enjoys massive support that it was a sculpture of all times. This particular work by Bandinelli stands out as exclusive. At the retrieval of original statute, records show that one of the arms, the right arm of Laocoon was missing. According to Bandinelli, the arm protruded upwards something that the consequent artists, like Sansovino, later concurred.10 However, some other artists were of a different opinion. For instance, according to Michelangelo, the arm did not have this characteristic but instead he believed the arm appeared bent. This is one of the major aspects, on which the rivalry between Bandinelli and Michelangelo was rooted. Later on, the rivalry on the arm favored Bandinelli opinion, which gained acceptance across Europe, thus marking the beginning of his rise to prominence. Chief among the reasons for support was the fact that Bandinelli casted wax for arm of the original sculpture. After this, he also received a request from Guilio to make the Cardinal’s scul pture. This showed that Bandinellis work was better that Michelangelo’s. One of the most astonishing facts is that Michelangelo was present when the Laocoon sculpture was unearthed in Rome.11This means that he knew much about the sculpture but his recognition would not match that of Bandinellis, who unlike him was not present. The classical Laocoon inspired Michelangelo in his consequent sculptures, well shown by the â€Å"Christ in the last judgment† sculpture. Later, Michelangelo’s argument received acceptance with the first bent arm discovered in Rome. Come 1950s this had spread all over with a turn of events, which saw Michelangelo, receive much recognition. Shortcomings Despite all these strengths and the influence this particular artistic work has brought to the history of sculpturing, it is not without shortcomings. First, consider the nudity of Laocoon and sons. The turning and the twisting show exaggerated emotions, which make it hard to understand the drama in the drama. Many sculptures originate from texts i.e. written materials.12 In the case of the Laocoon and sons, the sculpture uses a complicated art where several aspects need further explanation. A good example is the choice of nudity over clothing raises more questions than answers for the interpreters and thus makes it hard to interpret the work. Other aspects of the sculpture also requires support from texts, as they cannot be deducted from the sculpture. For instance, the coming out of snakes from the sea is a contextual part of the sculpture’s story, which is not evident in the sculpture. The age of Laocoon’s sons is another important aspect Bandinelli used in this sculpture, yet with possible conflicting evidence. Given that the young men stand for innocence, and the serpents, as portrayed, are too cruel to attack the innocent ones, consider the sculpture in this manner; the two sons are of medium age as their size depicts, however, their physique seems to be of grown up men.13 However, if artist matched their physique with their size, the message of the match would be lost. On the other hand, if their sizes matched their physique, also the match would be lost. Moreover, presenting the younger sons as babies would result into loss of the aspect of physique, thus loosing also the match of the sculpture and the message. Although the work by Bandinelli is more conventional, this fact does not render its worthless. The sculpture has many lessons people can learn up to date. They are more useful to art students who in their capacities would want to refer, compare, and learn. Functions One of the most important aspects of art is the fact that they are not just works that bare no meanings. On the contrary, artistic work plays an important role in the society. This requires that the information contained in these artistic works can be interpreted. In this aspect, sculpturing in the Italian renaissance era was not an undertaking for mare en tertainment or beauty but incorporated important information, which reflected the values, culture and beliefs of people. One of the most outstanding functions of sculpturing is reflection on the religion. The Laocoon sculpture heavily represents the religion of the ancient Greece by incorporating their gods in the story. Laocoon, the center of the sculpture, is a priest Trojan priest of Neptune.14 This aspect brings out the religious practice of the Greek at the time of this sculpture. The aspect of religion is not only prevalent in this piece of work alone but other sculptures like the Bacchus (Roman God of Wine); bare the same reflections in the background. These two sculptures depict intense reference to mythological beliefs of the societies in which they existed. This therefore brings out the spiritual aspect of the society. Another function of sculpturing that cannot escape our knowledge is that of passing on moral lessons. In the Laocoon and his sons, the punishment of the Lao coon priest who disobeyed the god was his death and that of his two sons. This work was not to intrigue any feelings of piety but rather to depict the deserved punishment of the deviant priest.15The interpretation of the Pieta by Michelangelo sculpture is moral in nature as it depicts the moral duties of children to their parent. Accordingly, this kind of interpretation stands out in implying the moral obligations of man to the gods. Finally, sculpturing is an important aspect of retaining the cultural heritage of a group of people. These sculptures, besides their interpretations as discussed above, play an important role in preserving history. Furthermore, they are useful for reference purposes for generations, which come after them both for religious, anesthetic and even artistic purposes. Conclusion As it can be seen above, the Laocoon and his sons sculpture is not just like any other piece of work but on the contrary is unique and influential. From the discussion, it is evident that the sculptures change the history. Its retrieval from Rome triggered a rebirth in the Italian renaissance history of sculpture and in addition to this; it triggered historical events, which remain important in the world history. Again, despite the centuries that this sculpture has lived over, it remains a source of inspiration to many students and artists. It is doubtless that this is both a historical piece of art and a conventional source of inspiration. Bibliography Barkan, Leonard. Unearthing the past: archaeology and aesthetics in the making of  renaissance culture. New York: Yale University Press, 2001. Goffen, Rona. Renaissance Rivals: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Titian. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002. Haskell, Francis, and Nicholas Penny. Taste and the Antique: The Lure of Classical  Sculpture 1500-1900. London: Yale University Press, 1981. Hibbard, Howard. Michelangelo. New York: Harper Row, 1974. Jameson, Anna. Legends of the Madonna: as represented in the fine arts. London: Longmans, Green, 1891, 2006. Janson Horst, Titians Laocoon Caricature and the Vesalian-Galenist Controversy.  The Art Bulletin. Vol. 28, No. 1 (1946). Pollitt, John. The Art of Ancient Greece: Sources and Documents. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990. Seymour Howard. Laocoon Re-restored. American Journal of Archaeology. London: Oxford University, 93.3 (1989). Stewart, Andrew. Hagesander, Athanodorus and Polydorus. in Simon Hornblower,  Oxford Classical Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.1996. Richard, Brilliant. My Laocoà ¶n alternative claims in the interpretation of artworks. CA: University of California Press, 2000. Wallace, William. Michelangelo: the Artist, the Man, and his Times. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Footnotes 1  Leonard Barkan. Unearthing the past: archaeology and aesthetics in the making of renaissance culture. (New York: Yale University Press, 2001), 68. 2 Rona Goffen. Renaissance Rivals: Michelange lo, Leonardo, Raphael, Titian. (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2002), 122. 3 John Pollitt. The Art of Ancient Greece: Sources and Documents. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990), 49 4 Francis Haskell and Nicholas Penny. Taste and the Antique: The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900 (Yale University Press, 1981), 243. 5 Francis Haskell and Nicholas Penny. Taste and the Antique: The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900 (Yale University Press, 1981), 237. 6 Seymour Howard. Laocoon Re-restored, American Journal of Archaeology 93.3 (Oxford University Press, 1989), 422. 7 Francis Haskell and Nicholas Penny. Taste and the Antique: The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900 (Yale University Press, 1981), 233. 8 Francis Haskell and Nicholas Penny. Taste and the Antique: The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900 (Yale University Press, 1981), 233. 9 Horst Janson, Titians Laocoon Caricature and the Vesalian-Galenist Controversy, The Art Bulletin, Vol. 28, (New York: H. A. Abrams 1946), 49 10 Richard Brilliant. My Laocoà ¶n alternative claims in the interpretation of artworks, (University of California Press, 2000), 29. 11 William Wallace. Michelangelo; the Artist, the Man, and his Times. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009), 16. 12 Anna Jameson. Legends of the Madonna: as represented in the fine arts (London: Longmans, Green, 1891), 37. 13 Howard Hibbard. Michelangelo. (New York: Harper Row, 1974), 56. 14 Andrew Stewart. Hagesander, Athanodorus and Polydorus, in Hornblower, Simon, Oxford Classical Dictionary, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996), 568 15 Richard Brilliant. My Laocoà ¶n alternative claims in the interpretation of artworks, (University of California Press, 2000), 34

Time Value of Money Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Time Value of Money - Essay Example Therefore, to make a certain investment, the opportunity costs should be low (David, 1984). Time value of money shares a direct relationship with the prevailing interests in a market. As the interest rates rise, the value of a dollar today will rise accordingly. When the interest rates follow the decreasing pattern, the value of money also sees a down sliding. This is because the interest rates play a very important part in determining the future value of a lump sum or the present value of a future lump sum; it is dependent on the interest rate. Therefore, they are directly related to each other. There are many other aspects which are related to the time value of money. The future value of an amount of money can also be calculated keeping in mind the time value of money. Making it simpler, the future value of a dollar is the dollar or any other amount that it earns with the help of an interest over a period of time (David, 1984). For example, if $1000 are invested today for an year at 5% interest rate, after an year it will give us $50 dollars and the total received would be $1050. However, if the same amount is invested in the long run for years, compounding will take place and at the end of second year, the interest will be earned on $105. This compounding will go on for the number of years the investment is made. If P is considered the principle amount of money that is invested, i is termed as the interest rate at that time, then the future value of a dollar would be given as P(1+i). When compounding for two years, the equation changes to P(1+i)(1+i) or, FV=P (1+i)n Where P is the principal amount, i is the interest rate and n is the periods for which the investment is made. With increasing interest rates, the future value also keep on increasing. With changing interest rates, the above formula would be applied separately for the different rates. Present Value The present value of a future investment can also be calculated keeping in mind the time value of money. The present value of a future investment is the current value of that payment that is to be received in the future. Discounting is the process that is employed in this case. This is the opposite of finding the future value of a present sum (Gary, 1978). Simply, it is calculated by dividing the future value with the same interest factor which was multiplied in the first case. PV=FV/(1+i)n Where FV is the future value, PV denotes present value, and (1+i)n is the interest factor. In finding out the present value, discounting is being done, therefore, this concept shares and inverse relationship with the time value of money. As the interest factor that determines the time value of money is divided, the value of the present value decreases resulting in the inverse relationship. Opportunity Costs Opportunity costs are the benefits that a person is giving away in spending the money in a certain kind of way. In other words, it is the benefit lost in choosing one alternative over another alternative. For this to be true, the opportunity costs should be really low for an alternative to be chosen. Higher the opportunity costs, lesser are the chances that the alternative may be chosen by a risk aversive personality. It can be termed as the basic relationship that exists between shortage and selection. Rule of '72 Rule of '72 is a simple mathematical shortcut that is used in finance in order to find out when

Quantitative 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Quantitative 1 - Assignment Example research study will be based where the aim of the study is to determine the extent to which quantitative research is appropriate and robust in its application to the human and social context. There are different reasons that have been postulated for the conclusion that quantitative research is appropriate and robust when applied to human and social context including the nature of quantitative research (Fassinger & Morrow, 2013, 70). This is the use of models and a scientific methodology that ensures the data or results from the research are objective and there is no personal relation or biasness by the researcher attributed to the lack of association of the researcher to the participants. This is different from qualitative researcher where objectivity is lost from the high association of the researcher with the participants. This allows quantitative research to be preferred and appropriate for human and social sciences research. The ability of getting the one truth that exists in the human perception under investigation is the main reason for the preference of quantitative research as it maintains this objectivity. The other reason for the assertion is the possibility of replicating the results of quantitative research when conducted by different personnel (Bless et al., 2006). Different researchers can be able to come up with the same results as a measure of confirming the results made by previous research is consistent. This is due to the making of the same assumptions in the research and the use of a predetermined format and well laid out methodology in carrying out sampling, data collection, and analysis. This is not possible in qualitative research due to the possibility of different researchers making different assumptions and using different analysis or being biased. There is a clear specification of the dependent and independent variables in quantitative research study of social and human context. This allows for the better understanding of causality