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Teacher immediacy Essay Example

Instructor promptness Paper Instantaneousness can be depicted as mental and physical closeness to another human (Gorham, 1988). Generally...

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Teacher immediacy Essay Example

Instructor promptness Paper Instantaneousness can be depicted as mental and physical closeness to another human (Gorham, 1988). Generally, quickness has two segments, non verbal and verbal. Non-verbal promptness practices have been arranged into things such at grins, eye to eye connection, imparting at short separations, body places that are forward inclining and additionally loose, positive signals, contact, and assortment in vocalizations (Christophel, 1990; Kearney, Plax, Smith, Sorenson, 1988). Verbal instantaneousness would incorporate self-revelation, utilization of we, approaching understudies by name, and diversion (Gorham, 1988; Kearney et al. , 1988). Obviously educator quickness impacts instructor adequacy, understudy inspiration, and understudy learning (Gorham, 1988; Rodriguez, Plax, Kearney, 1996). What is muddled is the connection between educator instantaneousness, saw instructor sex, and understudy eagerness to take part. For this investigation, the variable of educator nonverbal and verbal instantaneousness practices will be understudy written about a 34-thing measure (Christophel, 1990). Seen Gender of the Instructor Because the understudies will give an account of the sex qualities of the educator, this variable is named as seen sex. Sex and sexual orientation are not terms that are tradable today in correspondence research (Campbell, Gillaspy, Thompson, 1997). The term sex typically alludes to organic contrasts among ladies and men while sexual orientation frequently alludes to the social, mental, and social convictions people have about themselves as being male or female (Pearson Davilla, 2001). We will compose a custom paper test on Teacher promptness explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom paper test on Teacher instantaneousness explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom article test on Teacher promptness explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer For this examination, sex is characterized as the sex kind of an individual dependent on how much that individual has disguised the attributes the general public has esteemed as manly and ladylike, and these manly and female qualities are depicted by the BSRI dependent on a judgment regarding whether American culture saw those attributes as increasingly attractive in people, separately (Bem, 1974). As instructive correspondence specialists, we are keen on the degree to which our understudies have disguised societys norms for being manly or ladylike and how this disguise impacts how understudies conceptualize and arrange educator sexual orientation characteristics. One approach to quantify impression of sex jobs is to utilize the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) made by Sandra Bem (1974). The BSRI regarded manliness and womanliness as two separate measurements and asked respondents to self-rate from a rundown of character characteristics (Auster Ohm, 2000). Every respondent would be characterized into one of four gatherings: gender ambiguous (high manly/high female), manly (high manly/low ladylike), ladylike (low manly/high female), and undifferentiated (low manly/low female) (Pearson Davilla, 2001; Wheeless, Dierks-Stewart, 1981). In the first examination, Menzel and Carrel (1999) found no huge connection between the natural sex of teachers and understudy ability to take an interest. What is muddled is both the connection between saw educator sex and understudy eagerness to take an interest and the connection between saw instructor sex and instructor quickness practices. For this examination, the variable of saw sexual orientation of the teacher will be understudy provided details regarding a 20-thing BSRI. Readiness to Talk Understudy eagerness to talk is a significant segment of the study hall condition, however shockingly it is uncommon for most of understudies partake in entire class conversation (Green, 2000) Oral understudy support is connected to dynamic learning (Steinert, Snell, 1999), and educators use class conversations to create basic reasoning aptitudes (Garside, 1996) and to improve understudy correspondence fitness (Zorn, 1991). Besides, understudy in-class discourse is regularly a way that educators check their academic adequacy, and teachers additionally use understudy discourse to assess understudy learning (Cooper, 1995). Regardless of the significance of understudy discourse in understudy learning, in a conversation setting that joins thirty-five understudies or less, 15 percent of the understudies will be liable for 75 percent of all understudy discourse (Green, 2000). As a result of this difference in understudy interest, it is imperative to examine factors that could impact understudy ability to talk. Menzel and Carrel (1999) found the degree of understudy ability to converse with be decidedly connected with understudy learning; they likewise contended that study hall exchange is imperative to contemplate on the grounds that it is an impression of compelling guidance. When estimating eagerness to talk in class, it appears to be sensible to acknowledge Menzel and Carrels (1999) fuse of the factors of understudy intrigue and state inspiration, kind of support condition, guest plan, and level of dissension with thoughts examined, particularly since the specialists factually assessed their instrument for inward legitimacy and found these factors important in contemplating understudy readiness to talk. For this examination the variable of understudy eagerness to talk in class is self-given an account of a 19-thing measure joining the previously mentioned factors (Menzel Carrel, 1999). Purposes and Objectives This investigation tries to repeat parts of the first examination done by Menzel and Carrell (1999), with organic sex being supplanted by sexual orientation of educator, which is characterized as mental sex attributes and understudy wrote about the abbreviated BSRI. As recently examined, research has emphatically corresponded educator promptness practices with understudy readiness to talk (Menzel Carrell, 1999). Past examination has not researched two possible connections: between understudy readiness to talk and saw teacher sex qualities, and between educator instantaneousness practices and saw teacher sexual orientation attributes. Theory and Research Questions: H1: An understudies ability to talk in class will decidedly change dependent on educator promptness conduct (verbal and nonverbal joined in one variable). RQ1: Will an understudies ability to talk in class fluctuate as a component of the understudy detailed apparent sexual orientation of the teacher? RQ2: Is there a connection between teacher instantaneousness conduct (verbal and nonverbal consolidated in one variable) and understudy revealed apparent sexual orientation of the educator? With respect to our informational collection, we studied junior college understudies while Menzel and Carrell (1999) reviewed college understudies. Given the contrasts between the instructive plans of some junior college understudies and the instructive plans of college understudies, we thought about whether length of arranged training could affect how understudies gave an account of the three factors of our investigation. Considering this, we offered a last exploration conversation starter.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Increasing Population & Overall Growth of India-Free-Samples

Question: Talk about the Increasing Population and Overall Growth of India. Answer: The quick development or blast of populace is considered as a revile. For example, populace upheaval is a shelter for European created nations, similar to Spain and Italy, where populace is declining. In opposite, the creating nations like India, populace blast are going about as a revile, as it is hampering the general advancement of the nation. For example, creating nations like India, are as of now confronting an asset deficiency, which is restricted to meet the fundamental requirements for the developing populace; also, with fast development, the assets accessible for every individual is additionally diminished, prompting the wonder like destitution, lack of healthy sustenance and other wellbeing and riches related issues among the individuals (Bloom). In this exposition, in this manner, the key center is bolster the postulation articulation the expanding development of Indias developing populace prevents its improvement as a nation. How the negative results of populace developme nt is influencing the countys generally speaking development would be talked about here, to legitimize the proposal explanation. India is the second most populated nation around the world, comprising roughly a fifth of the world's all out populace. India is a creating nation, along these lines, the nation is confronting a few monetary and policy centered issues, one of the key reason for the impediment of the countrys development has been professed to be the populace development. Each side of the nation speaks to a noteworthy increment in populace. Till 2016, the present populace of India is 1.327 billion. Till 2016, the birth pace of this creating nation is 19.3 births per 1000 individuals, while demise rate is 7.3 passings per 1000 individuals. Nonetheless, the general development pace of the nation is 1.19 %, assessed in 2016 (Aiyar et al.). In a report by the Indian government, it has been portrayed that the nation will overwhelm Worlds most crowded nation, China inside 2025; the announcement is a key issue of discussion between the populace specialists and driving pundits, who are contending that this qui ck development, if not controlled appropriately, thwarts the striking development story of the nation. Right now Chinas populace is 1.371 billion; in this manner, if stay uncontrolled, India would not set aside enough effort to overwhelm Chinas populace. A few populace specialists at the worldwide level have been cautioned that, turning into the most crowded nation on the planet, a few hundred million Indians would need to live in destitution. The article gave by the National Population Stabilization Fund asserted that with the continuation of the ongoing development pace of populace, India would have the option to twofold its populace size inside next 50 years, which would make its manageable advancement out of reach. Subsequently, the impractical improvement would raise a few social and medical problems inside the populace (Sen et al.). For example, as the assets are restricted, neediness and joblessness would be raised, alongside the financial frailty of the destitute individuals; at last, these would prompt high paces of adolescent pregnancies; because of being uneducated. In any case, contending these past proclamations, the official chief of Population Foundation of India and previous magistrate of Indias enumeration told that the quick populace development may give extra profit to the countrys financial dependability through next 25 years, if the interest in human asset and wellbeing is expanded and kept up. It has been contended by Ezeh et al. that after roughly 70 years of autonomy, the present situation of the nation is steady, which is for the most part because of populace. The nation can't duplicate its assets, in a relative rate with the quickly developing populace. Therefore the accompanying negative effects are expanding upon the populace. Joblessness For the created nations like India, it is hard to produce work for the colossal populace relatively with its fast development. Other than inadequate industrialization, absence of assets is expanding the quantity of ignorant, particularly in rustic territories; consolidating both the variables, the joblessness is turning into an expanding pattern because of quick populace development in the nation (McDonald et al.). Labor usage because of financial downturn and moderate business advancement just as development exercises the quantity of jobless individuals is ascending in the nation, which is thusly making other wellbeing and social issues be raised like neediness, ailing health, melancholy and others. Weight on foundation One key purpose for the expanded joblessness is that tragically the infrastructural offices are not similarly creating with the populace development. Thus, the results incorporate absence of transportation, correspondence, training, lodging, social insurance and diminished personal satisfaction. It has been accounted for that with the expanded populace, the quantity of stuffed house, ghettos and traffic clog are expanding relatively (Buhaug et al.). In this way, it very well may be deciphered that the fast populace development in pulling the general nation back against its general manageable development and advancement. Asset use With the expanded interest of quickly developing populace, the regular assets, similar to land, water, woods and different assets are over-misused, which will cause a noteworthy shortage of asset in closest future, showing a flawed future for the people to come, in this way obstructing a feasible development of the country. Diminished creation and expanded expenses With the quickly developing populace, the country ought to likewise focus on expanding the food creation and dispersion, which have not been done in India. The expanded creation needs expanded cost, which the country can't meet; along these lines, swelling is the key result of fast development of populace in India (Cassen). Unjust salary circulation notwithstanding the social and medical problems, a noticeable disparity is fundamentally being presented in the general public, through inconsistent asset usage by various populace. In this manner, while one social gathering is making progress and contributing towards the countries development through financial maintainability; the rest gatherings, who are being distraught from this inconsistent circulation of assets and salary, are pulling the whole populace in reverse. Not just the economy and wellbeing of the country is being influenced by the results, rather nature is essentially being influenced by the fast populace development in India, impeding countrys generally speaking development. Kuo and Gioietta uncovered that the nation's populace development is forcing an expanding trouble on the nation's restricted and consistently debasing characteristic asset base. The nation is endeavoring to adapt to the quick populace development and financial downturn because of industrialization, which is prompting ecological issues through uncontrolled development of urbanization, and industrialization, augmentation and strengthening of farming and the common living spaces pulverization. For example, three essential segment factors including birth, passing and movement rate are adding to the adjustments in populace size, conveyance, piece, which are bringing up a few issues with respect to the circumstances and logical results upon the earth. It has been asses sed that India is offering territory to around 17.86 % of the all out total populace, inside 2.4 % of universes land zone (Debata et al.). Therefore the, countrys land region is forcing a high weight on its every characteristic asset. The resultant outcomes incorporate fast deforestation, for urbanization and making more environments for the expanding populace. The quick deforestation is causing the depletion of natural life and harming the ecological parity. The outcomes remember change for climate, progressively natural contamination, which are adversely influencing the farming and food industry. What's more, with more interest of the expanding populace, other normal assets, similar to the water, land and other regular assets are investigated reliably, prompting the outcomes like water lack, soil fatigue, air and water contamination (Saikia). Because of these results, climate change and characteristic cataclysms are being expanded, which causes loss of financial and different assets, prompting ruined development of the general populace. Medical problems are likewise expanding because of natural harm, similar to more skin malignancy and contamination related maladies (Coale et al.). Neediness and inconsistent dissemination of assets alongside restricted open doors driving individuals to live beneath the destitution line, in this way causin g overburdened populace thickness and control of condition. The outcomes of this marvel are advancement of stuffed houses and hammer regions in urban territory, who makes due in restricted asset, constrained or no training and joblessness. Consequently, the weight on the earth increases each day as the populace develops, pulling the populace and obstructing the countries development. Evaluating the national and worldwide issue, it has been uncovered that it is essential to control Indias populace quickly, to support the countrys development. For this cooperatively the legislature of India, strategy producers, lawmakers and different partners should start a solid approach identified with its populace, for keeping a harmony between the countrys financial development and the requests of developing populace. Albeit a few stages have been as of now embraced, these ought to stress more on control of the populace (Mehta). Mindfulness identified with government assistance and instructive status of ladies and young ladies ought to be expanded, training identified with anti-conception medication, battles identified with safe utilization of preventative and decrease of adolescent pregnancy ought to be upgraded, free dissemination of contraceptives and condoms among poor people, encouragin

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Cha-Ching! How to Budget in College

Cha-Ching! How to Budget in College Ever since I began writing blogs, I’ve learned about various topics like how to manage classes, how to stay involved while still being a full-time student, etc. Something that came to my mind that could be useful for many of us is a quick discussion on budgeting. We’ve all heard that college students are broke, and while it is true that we have tuition and books to pay for during our four years, I’ve come up with a few tips that I have implemented in my life to help me save a few extra bucks at the end of the day! Check your bank account. Checking your bank account is the most important thing to do. Sometimes it can be difficult to check it daily given our busy schedules. Set aside a few minutes every day to keep tabs on your account activity. This will ensure there are no discrepancies and youre aware of how much you have and are spending. Set financial goals. This past semester, my goal was to save enough money to be able to buy graduation gifts for my close friends and family at the end of the semester. No matter how big or small, it is nice to have a goal to work toward so that you don’t lose track of what you’re saving for. From: Kiplingers Financial Planning Create a budget. I prefer creating a weekly budget of how much I allocate for food, social activities, and miscellaneous costs throughout the week and over the weekend. Create an excel sheet or some sort of organized document that can list out your budgeted money for the week/month. Many programs have templates for budgeting that are completely free to use! These are just a few basic tips I think every student should follow to help with budgeting money. I have been following these few steps the past two semesters and I have seen my savings grow in my bank account. Being mindful of where and when you spend your money is a tough but important thing to do. This is especially vital as we will soon enter the real world where we will deal with more money. But before that happens, it’s important to take responsibility for our earnings and put them to good use! Kripa Class of 2020 I'm majoring in Psychology, minoring in Spanish, and pursuing a pre-dental track. It seems like I’m all over the place, but that’s what I like about college! I get to choose to study what I’m interested in, and I’m happy to be doing just that at Illinois.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Restrictions of Reputation in William Wycherley’s The...

Restrictions of Reputation in William Wycherley’s The Country Wife In William Wycherley’s The Country Wife, the hypocrisy of the character’s actions undermines their verbal definitions of what is truly honorable or virtuous. Through the use of this persistent hypocrisy, Wycherley implies that there is a disconnect between what is said and what is done. Wycherley suggests that there is no honor in words as they can have a multitude of meanings, and exposes the duplicitous function of language as the veneer that reflects an inherently dishonorable society. For many of the characters in the play, honor only exists through their words and is associated with reputation rather than virtue, which Wycherley exposes through the use of another deceiving character, Horner. Yet, despite these negative characteristics of certain members of society, Wycherley does not criticize their choice of deception; rather he appears to suggest that it is a necessary tool and those that k now how to use it will reap their rewards. With this in mind, Wycherley implies the mask of deceit and falsities has become the actual face of Restoration society, suggesting that the mask acts as a social restraint that needs to be exposed as such and subsequently changed. The minor characters in play immediately reveal that their view of honor is synonymous with their reputation. This is especially true in the case of Lady Fidget’s â€Å"virtuous circle,† as their convoluted discourse exposes their lack of virtue

Saturday, May 9, 2020

##ing Suffering Through Music An Analysis Of Sonnys...

Jameka Gaston Dr. Basaninyenzi English 102 11/29/17 Expressing Suffering through Music: An Analysis of â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† Written in 1957 by James Baldwin, â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† is a short story where music plays a dominant role in defining characters, specifically Sonny. The story has three main topics of discussion, family struggles, drug addiction and most importantly music. In the beginning Sonny’s older brother, a high school algebra teacher. He reads about him being arrested for selling heroin. He is disappointed and thinks about the future of his students. The narrator doesn’t talk to his brother until the tragic death of his daughter. After Sonny is released he moves in with the narrator and his wife. After being confronted about Sonny†¦show more content†¦Originating from the deep south, blues and jazz music is rooted from the African American culture. Blues is a musical genre that has its own musical progressions. There are many types of blues, as times moved ahead it devel oped more sounds. For example, there is Country blues, Delta blues, Chicago blues, Jazz blues and more. The central idea of blues is that one is able to overcome sadness and personal adversity. Blues originated on southern plantations, creators were slaves in the nineteenth century. These slaves found that this music was not always about their self-pity, but about saying what you feel and â€Å"letting your hair down.† It was away to have fun and escape the everyday life that slaves had to endure. Blues originally came upon the Mississippi Delta near New Orleans, but spread to other urban areas. After a while, blues became one of the biggest elements of African Americans well known music. Blues evolved from performances on the streets and juke joints to entertainment in theaters. People like Etta James, B.B. King, Billie Holiday and John Mayer made blues popular among the world. Sonny decides he wants to be a musician at a young age, something that his brother had a hard time dealing with. Sonny teaches his self how to play piano. His urge to play the piano was his way of showing that he was ready to let go of his suffering. â€Å"They certainly couldn’t throw him out. Neither did they dare to make a great

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Business Enviroment Free Essays

HND Business Management Unit 1:Business Environment Outcome 1:Understand the organizational purposes of business. Outcome 2:Understand the nature of national environment in which the business operates Outcome 3:Understand the behaviour of organizations in their marketenvironment Outcome 4:Assess the significance of global factors that shape nationalbusiness environment Scenario Understanding the relationship between businesses and the environment within which the business operate is very important in shaping the behaviour of the business. In your role as an assistant to the Business Development Manager, you will need to develop strategies that allow your organization to meet its purposes in ways that comply with the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks. We will write a custom essay sample on Business Enviroment or any similar topic only for you Order Now This would involve intensive research on the organizational purposes and the nature of the environment in which the business operate. TASK One: Group presentation – 25 March 2013 (PT): Exam – 25 March 2013 (NR) (P1, P2, P3) P1Identify the purposes of different types of organization. P2Describe the extent to which an organization meets the objectives of different stakeholders P3Explain the responsibilities of an organization and strategies employed to meet them Guidelines to achieve * P1: You must describe different types of organizations in order to identify the purposes of the organization (e. . public sector, municipality, charity, private sector, PLC, and briefly explain aims, purpose and objectives of each etc). Discussion of vision, mission, goals an objectives of various organizations will be needed * P2: Discuss different types of stakeholders involved with an organization Stakeholders could include staff, unions, suppliers, customers, banks, shareholders, national and local media, community, authorities, government etc. Describe the extent to which an organization meets the objectives of its stakeholders; Stakeholders mapping, analysis and suggested strategies * P3: Summarize areas of responsibilities to customers, owners, shareholders, employees, suppliers, to physical environment and possibly to local, national and international community, etc Explain strategies (long term approaches) employed to meet them by a specific organization. TASK Two: Report – 22 April 2013 (P4, P5, P6, M1) P4Explain how economic systems attempt to allocate resources effectively P5Assess the impact of fiscal and monetary policy on business organisations and their activities P6Evaluate the impact of competition policy and other regulatory mechanisms on the activities of a selected organization. M1Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions Guidelines to achieve: * P4 : Briefly describe main economic systems like socialism, state economy, etc. and explain how each economic system attempts to allocate resources (people, raw material, money etc) effectively; * P5 : Explain the governmental policies (e. . monetary, fiscal, social,) explain how the taxation level, interest rate, value of the pound and euro will positively or negatively affect business organization, * P6 : Choose any national or international organization and discuss how it is constrained by competition policies e. g. regarding monopolies and by regulations (good examples might be UK supermarket chains or airpo rt operators) * M1 : Analyse the economic system and governmental policies of the UAE and evaluate how does the UAE attempts to allocate resources effectively. TASK Three: Report – 22 April 2013 (P7, P8, P9, M2, D1) P7Explain how market structures determine the pricing and output decisions of businesses P8Illustrate the way in which market forces shape organizational responses using a range of examples P9Judge how the business and cultural environments shape the behaviour of a selected organization M2Select and apply appropriate methods to different market types D1Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions Guidelines to achieve: P7: Describe different market structures (perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, etc. ) and describe how they affect pricing, distribution, product and service offering (good example is where there is a substantial competition, many suppliers and range of products and services for customers to choose from, another example is where there are few providers, little competition but high demand) * P8 : Discuss the market forces like, demand and supply, pricing deci sions, customer expectations, market conditions, competition etc. nd explain how the organizations need to respond to or react to those market factors ( for examples: supermarkets offering many more old brands, or low cost products ) * P9 : Select any national or international business organization and describe how it changes its behavior with changes in the external environment for example in conditions of recession, demographic change, etc. you can also consider if the organization changes over and see how it would respond to cultural differences * M2 : Analyse the market structures prevailing in the UAE in the Aviation Industry. D1 : Realistic improvements should be proposed for effective government policies and allocation of resources against defined characteristics for the success of the UAE economy based on the analysis done in the Merit work. TASK Four: Report – 22 April 2013 (P10, P11, P12, M3, D2) P10Discuss the significance of International Trade to UK business orga nisations P11Analyse the impact of global factors on UK business organizations P12Evaluate the impact of policies of the European Union on UK business organizations M3Present and communicate appropriate findings D2Demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinking Guidelines to achieve: * P10 : Describe the importance of International Trade and reasons of going international. You need to look at import as a mean to satisfy business raw material needs and customers needs but more importantly you must look at export and consider how much the UK earn from this and how critical it is for the UK economy * P11 : Research and discuss the negative and positive impact of global factors (PESTEL) on UK business organizations . you could look on the negative effect on the euro problems, consider factors such as shortage of raw materials, metal, food, etc. r growing demand from developing countries for products and services * P12 : Discuss the developments of European Union and European Monetary Union; Describe at least two EU policies (working conditions, welfare, and freedom of labour movement) and look on the positive and / or negative effects these might have on UK businesses * M3 : Analyze the implications of European Union policies on a selected UK b ased business organization (using any two EU policies) * D2 : Assess the current situation of EU and EMU and express your critical thinking on the decision of the UK to not be a part of the EMU policy. TASK| CRITERIA| ASSESSMENT| DUE DATE| 1| P1, P2, P3| Group presentation (PT)Exam| 24/26 March 201325 March 2013| 2, 3 and 4| P4 – P12, M1, M2, M3, D1, D2| Individual report| 22 April 2013| Note: * Follow the report style (Arial font, size 12, with 1. spacing, black color) with appropriate title page, page numbers, Titles sub-titles, Introduction, Conclusion, Bibliography; * Turnitin Certificate is mandatory otherwise the assignments will not be graded. * Sources of information and references are not included in your word count * Word length: Approx. 3500 words (outcomes 2-4) If you need any further assistance with this assignment please contact your tutor How to cite Business Enviroment, Papers

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Langston Hughes Essays (1388 words) - African-American Poetry

Langston Hughes Langston Hughes was one of the first black men to express the spirit of blues and jazz into words. An African American Hughes became a well known poet, novelist, journalist, and playwright. Because his father emigrated to Mexico and his mother was often away, Hughes was brought up in Lawrence, Kansas, by his grandmother Mary Langston. Her second husband (Hughes's grandfather) was a fierce abolitionist. She helped Hughes to see the cause of social justice. As a lonely child Hughes turned to reading and writing, publishing his first poems while in high school in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1921 he entered Columbia University, but left after an unhappy year. Even as he worked as a delivery man, a messmate on ships to Africa and Europe, a busboy, and a dishwasher, his poetry appeared regularly in such magazines as The Crisis (NAACP) and Opportunity (National Urban League).1 As a poet, Hughes was the first person to combine the traditional poetry with black artistic forms, especially blues and jazz. As a leader in the Harlem Renaissance of the twenties and thirties Hughes became the movements best known poet. He published two poetry collections, The Weary Blues (1926) and Fine Clothes to the Jew (1927).2 Mainly because of the depression Hughes became a socialist in the 1930s. He never joined the Communist party, but he wrote many radical poems and essays in magazines like New Masses and International Literature and spent a year in the Soviet Union. In 1939 Hughes moved away from the political scene. During the war he supported the Allies with patriotic songs and sketches and published a collection of poems Shakespeare in Harlem (1942). He attacked segregation, especially in his column in the black weekly Chicago Defender, where he created a comic but keen black urban Every man, Jesse B. Semple.3 In 1947, as lyricist with Kurt Weill and Elmer Rice on the Broadway opera Street Scene, Hughes received great success. Hughes bought a house in Harlem, where he spent the rest of his life. Hughes still feared for the future of urban blacks. His point of view became immense and included another book of poetry, almost a dozen children's books, several opera libretti, four books translated from French and Spanish, two collections of stories, another novel, a history of the NAACP and another volume of autobiography, I Wonder As I Wander (1956). He also continued his work in the theater, pioneering in the gospel musical play. Blues began in the south and slowly made its way into the great cities of the North. As the great migration began people took what they knew in south to the north. This included music. Langston Hughes living in Harlem was caught up in the new rhythm of music and based many of his poems on it. As a boy he remembers hearing the blues perfomed in Kansas City. "Hughes was fascinated with black music, tried his hand at writing lyrics, and was taken with the possibilities of performing music and poetry together" 4 "Besides having both a love of this music and the common black folk it was created by and for, one of the reasons that Hughes began to draw on the blues tradition for writing his poetry is that he hoped to capitalize on the blues craze." 5Though the markets for music and poetry were quite different, he thought he could somehow merge the two. "Hughes was a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance. He borrowed extensively from blues and Jazz in his work, and in doing so, set the foundations for a new tradition of black literacy influences by Black music."6 Langston Hughes employed the structures, rhythms, themes and words of the blues that he heard in the country, the city, the field, the alley and the stage. When he used the musical and stanzaic structures of the blues to write his poetry he most often relied on the twelve-bar blues which is the widely used structure. These are often called blues in the classic form and about half of his blues poems fit this structure. "I tried to write poems like the songs they sang on seventh street"7 In 1926 Hughes published his first book of poems called The Weary Blues. This collection of poems contains many that involve the sounds and rhythms of the blues. The first poem in the collection is called "The Weary Blues". The title of the poem basically tells the reader what the poem is all about. The description in the poem is very well. It almost feels like

Friday, March 20, 2020

the child and society essays

the child and society essays Growing up in Brooklyn was never always an easy thing to go through; however, it did have its moments. There were the summer time games of stick ball and rat tag, corner cards and dice, but what brought a smile to Tonys face the most as he sat reminiscing the days gone by, was the people. The people were always great, they had their faults and issues, but they were his people, and this was his home. And, as Tony sat on his balcony in the same old wooden chair his father use to sit on all those years ago, he felt at ease, a surge of wisdom running thru his mind as he stared onto the streets of his neighborhood. Some children gathered around a fire hydrant shooting water out of one spout, in their shorts, as he had at the same hydrant all those years ago. That hydrant was always easy to open. The old men sat out side Vitos Deli playing checkers and talking politics. Vito died many years before, but the men still came and the name never changed. The younger men, slicked back hair, leath er jackets and smoking non-stop sat out side the local pool hall and bar, whistling at the young girls walking to the market. This was the same Brooklyn he had run away from. It had never changed, clothes hanging from the balconies and rooftops, the shops were the same, and even the old cars were still driven and parked along the streets. Most of all, the people were the same, maybe they were the sons and daughters of the old generation, but they were still the same people. How strange the world is, Tony thought, you can never know what to expect. He remembered what his mother said to him when he was sixteen, he never understood it then, he thought she was just trying to translate some old Italian proverb, but now he understood, now he knew what she meant, if he only he had realized then, things would have been so different, but how was he to know, he was only a kid, and kids were not expected to know adult things at that age. Children were at ...

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Exciting Chiang Mai Attractions Top 20 Things to See and Do

Exciting Chiang Mai Attractions Top 20 Things to See and Do SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Chiang Mai, the ancient city in northern Thailand, is lovingly referred to asthe Rose of the North. Founded in 1296, Chiang Mai has over 300 Buddhist temples shining within and around its city walls. The modern city grew up besidethese golden shrines and crumbling monasteries, creating the beautiful, laid-back city that’s a favorite among travelers and expats today. I was fortunate enough to spend a month in Chiang Mai, and I’ve never felt such a sense of cultural fascination, well-being, or quality of life for the cost of living. When friends ask me for recommendations about Thailand, I have one that trumps all the rest. Go to Chiang Mai, I tell them. You’ll love it. Top Things to Do In Chiang Mai: Table of Contents I’ve picked out the top 20 things to do when you visit Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. Since it’s a long list, here’s a table of contents to help you jump to any particular Chiang Mai attractions that stand out. Gaze at Golden Temples Shop, Sample, and Stroll Through the Markets Make Friends With Elephants Get a Thai Massage Take a Thai Cooking Class Watch Muay Thai (Thai Boxing), or Go to Muay Thai Training Camp Experience the Unforgettable Yi Peng Festival Explore the Trendy Neighborhood of Nimmanhaemin Take a Yoga Class Chatwith a BuddhistMonk Visit the Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand Go Rock Climbing Go Whitewater Rafting Zip Line Over the Jungle Go Jungle Trekking Attend a Traditional Khantoke Dinner and Show See a Cabaret Show Rent a Motorbike Check Out Chiang Mai University Get a Bamboo Tattoo One thing that often gives me pause about traveling to a new place is exactly how to get around. Before delving into this list of what to do in Chiang Mai, read this quick note ongeography and transportation. A Note on How to Get Around Chiang Mai One important thing that you should know about Chiang Mai geography is that there’s an old town and a new town. The Old City is a square area located inside stone walls. These walls were built inthe 13th century to defend Chiang Mai from Burma and the Mongol Empire. There are lots of hotels, hostels, restaurants, and tour agencies geared toward tourists in the Old City. The newer part of the city is everything outside the walls. Most people who live in Chiang Mai live outside the city walls. You can find plenty of restaurants, cafes, markets, and shops outside the walls, too. The square section on this Chiang Mai map is the Old City. It's surrounded by the remains of a stone wall from the 13th century. My suggestions for Chiang Mai attractions are scattered within and outside thecity walls, and some take you further afield into the surrounding hills and jungle. Since the city is so friendly to travelers (in fact, it’s trying to become a UNESCO-recognized â€Å"Creative City,† and its tourism sector is part of that initiative) you’ll find that transportation is easy and cheap. You can take tuk tuks, a songthaew (a pick-up truck that may make several stops), or arrange for transportation as part of a tour activity. Songthaews are less expensive than tuk tuks - usually less than a dollar for trips inside the city - and tuk tuks shouldn’t be more than $3.00. Most prices, even for organized Chiang Mai tours, are negotiable! Now let’s delve into the top 20 things to do during yourChiang Mai trip. In case you were wondering, yes, there will be lots of recommendations for delicious Thai food to eat. 1. Gaze at Golden Temples Chiang Mai is a center of Buddhism, and you’ll see lots of temples and monks in orange robes as you walk along its streets. Since its foundation over 700 years ago, Chiang Mai has had a lot of time to build shrines to Buddha. In fact, there are hundreds of intricately carved temples throughout the city, as well as crumbling ruins dating back to the 13th century. The temples are beautiful, with elaboratecarvings, detailed murals, bright colors, large Buddhas, and statues of elephants and other animals. I always felt a pervasive sense of calm stepping inside the colorful temples, surrounded by flowers and incense wafting through the air. Walking around the streets and stepping into temples is agreat way to spend a morning before the afternoon heat sets in. Below are a few special temples that you should visit, but I bet you'll find your own favorites, too. Chiang Mai Temples You Should Visit Wat Doi Suthep: This is the most famous temple in Chiang Mai and is recognizable as a symbol ofthe city. It was built in 1383 and perches atop a mountain about 15 km outside Chiang Mai. Wat Doi Suthep is a brilliant gold temple surrounded by chedi, Buddhist mound-like structures also known as stupas. To get to this temple, you can climb 304 steps flanked by mosaic serpents or take a tram. At the top, you’ll see sweeping views over Chiang Mai and airplanes landing in the distance. Wat Chedi Luang: At 82-meters, this 14th century temple is one of the largest in Chiang Mai. You can find the colorful Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai’s historic center. Wat Phra Singh: Come to Wat Phra Sing to see the impressive and large golden Phra Buddha Singh statue. This temple was built in 1345 and restored in the 1920s. Wat Buppharam: Step just outside the city walls to see this 1497 temple. It has beautifully intricate mosaics and the largest teak Buddha image in Thailand. Wat Suan Dok: This temple is unique for its Sri Lanka-style architecture. It’s surrounded by white stupas and was founded in 1370. Wat Chiang Man: Built in 1297, this temple is special for its quartz crystal Buddha statue and detailed elephant statues. Temple Etiquette: What You Need to Know Both men and women should dress modestly to enter temples. You should cover your knees and shoulders, so no tank tops or shorts allowed inside. Some of the larger temples, like Wat Doi Suthep, will have shawls, pants, or wraps for you to rent, but smaller temples won’t, so you should go prepared. Similarly, don’t wear hats or sunglasses inside, and you should always take your shoes off before entering a temple. Beyond clothing, you should also be careful about gestures. It’s considered rude to point at others or the Buddha with your hands or your feet. It’s also expected that people back away from Buddha, rather than turn their back to him, when leaving the temple. Even though Chiang Mai can get hot, it’s generally a good idea to bring some sort of covering when meandering through the old city. I regret the times I saw a beautiful temple andcouldn’t go in because of my bare shoulders! 2. Shop, Sample, and Stroll Through the Markets There are so many bustling street markets throughout Chiang Mai, it’s almost hard to understand how they all fit! Some are daytime markets selling fresh fruits and vegetables, others are night markets for dinner, drinks, and shopping, and others fill the streets once a week for vendors to sell their crafts. Discovering new foods and crafts at the markets was one of my favorite things to do in Chiang Mai. Note that the food tends to have fixed prices, but everything else is usually fair game for haggling. Below are my recommendations for must-see markets in Chiang Mai, followed by some tips for what to eat and buy! Chiang Mai Markets You ShouldVisit Night Bazaar: This market’s open every single night from 6pm until midnight. It’s mainly a shopping market with a huge number of clothes, souvenirs, shoes, watches, and other goods. Some indoor shops sell real designer brands, but most goods out on the street are knock-offs. You won’t find as many high quality crafts here as you will at other markets (but you will find lotsof pirated DVDs). There are restaurants all around the market, as well as a big outdoor food court and Muay Thai ring behind it. The Night Bazaar sprawls along Chang Klan Road. Morning Market at Chiang Mai Gate: This morning market opens at 4:30 am and goes until noon at Chiang Mai Gate. Locals come here to buy fruits, vegetables, spices, and other foods. You can especially get a taste of local life if you show up early. Stalls with cooked food open up in this same spot around 5 pm for dinner. Wua Lai Street Saturday Market: This Saturday night market stretches the length of Wu Lai Road from 4:30 PM until around 10 PM. In addition to delicious food, you can find beautiful handicrafts made of wood, paper, and silk. The area is also known for its silver-making studios. Ratchadamonoen Road Sunday Market: The Sunday night market is similar to the Saturday night one. It stretches over a kilometer down Ratchadamnoen and Pra Singh Roads and is ever-growing! You’ll find amazing food stalls, traditional handicrafts, artwork, and clothes. Come here, rather than the Night Bazaar, for authentic Thai crafts. Keep in mind that it can get packed by 6 or 7. You might end up doing a slow shuffle through big crowds. Warorot Market: This large market in the center of Chiang Mai is open all day, every day. Some stalls close down around 6 pm, while others stay open well after dark. The main attraction is the countless food stallsselling all manner of Thai snacks, cooked foods, meats, and fresh fruits and vegetables. You’ll also find handicrafts and textiles from northern hill tribes on the side streets. Warorot Market is located at the end of Chiang Moi Road, near the Ping River Muang Mai Market: Touted as a â€Å"raw fooder’s paradise,† Muang Mai Market is great for wholesale fruit at unbeatable prices. It’s smaller than some of Chiang Mai’s other markets. You can also buy vegetables, meat, and seafood here. Muang Mai Market is open from dawn until dusk and is located on the northeastern side of the old city on Muang Samut Road. What to Eat Now let’s get toa subject of utmost importance - food! Chiang Mai street food is incredible and oh so cheap. You’ll probably end up spending somewhere between $1 and $3 for some of the best dinners of your life. Make sure to try khao soi, the speciality dish of Chiang Mai. It has egg noodles in a coconut curry broth and is usually served with lime, roasted chili, mustard greens, shallots, and crispy egg noodles on top. If you’re looking for stir fry, some great options are pak boon fai deang (morning glory), pat kha pao (a stir-fry with chili and basil), and pat prik gaeng (a red curry stir fry). Kaen khanun, or jackfruit curry, is also a delicious, unique kind of curry. Khao soi is the specialty of Chiang Mai. So. delicious. For meat, you might try the khao kha moo (stewed pork shank or knuckle often served with boiled egg, raw garlic, pickled mustard greens and chilly vinegar), kai yang (barbecued chicken), or sai oua (a grilled herb sausage). You might also try larb, usually ground pork or chicken cooked with spices and sometimes the blood of the animal. Some ubiquitous dishes you might be familiar with are pad thai, pad see ew, and tom yum soup, a spicy soup with lemongrass, kaffir lime leavs, galangal (Thai ginger), lime juice, fish sauce, and chili peppers. Two of my favorite snacks I discovered in the markets of Chiang Mai were steamed quail eggs, often sweetened with coconut, and miang kham, bite sized snacks wrapped inside cha plu leaves. They usually contain peanuts, ginger, chillies, shallots, green mango, and onions and are a taste explosion of sweet and spicy. You’ll also be able to find crickets and other insects to snack on, but for some reason I never found myself in the mood... Finally, you’ll see fresh juices and smoothies everywhere with all kinds of familiar and exotic fruits. One fruit that you should try for the experience - though maybe not the taste - is durian fruit. Hailed asthe King of Fruits, this controversial fruit is loved by some and despised by others. I’m glad I tried it, but to be brutally honest, the texture and taste reminded me of warm garbage. Durian, king of the (gross) fruits. What to Buy at the Markets One of my favorite things to buy at the markets was clothing. You can find colorful patterned pants, dresses, jumpers, shirts, and scarves at super reasonable prices, though the quality can vary. You’ll also find leather sandals and handcrafted jewelry. You’ll find traditional crafts made of wood, silk, ceramics, and paper, as well as prettylacquerware, typically bowls, boxes, and bracelets. You can also find lots of soaps and lotions with natural ingredients - coconut oil is a big ingredient. You may also be interested in the singing bowls, which are used for meditation and relaxation. The typically hand-hammered brass bowls come with a handle that you move around the outside at a steady pace to produce a steady ringing sound. Again, the Saturday and Sunday night markets are the best places to find traditional handicrafts, while the Night Bazaar has a lot of clothes and knock-off goods. 3. Make Friends with Elephants One of my most memorable experiences from Chiang Mai was visiting elephants. Three things I learned: elephants have very thick, wiry skin, their eyes show a great deal of intelligence and understanding, and they will eat a huge cluster of bananas in one gulp if you leave itunattended on the ground. You might have heard the sad statistics about elephant endangerment in Asia as a result of poaching and habitat destruction, as well as the huge problem of mistreatment of elephants in the tourism industry. Elephants are not actually supposed to carry weight on their back for longer than a few hours a day, and many tour agencies force them to carry people and wooden structures for eight hours or more. They also suffer abuse at the hands of their owners who want them to be docile for visiting tourists. Fortunately, there are three great elephant sanctuaries outside of Chiang Mai that rescue abused elephants and provide them with a caring, safe environment to live. These sanctuaries invite visitors to meet the elephants and learn about ethical and sustainable eco-tourism. In general, it’s best to look for a place committed to humane practices that will let you meet, feed, and bathe elephants, but not ride them. Below are three suggestions for elephant sanctuaries outside of Chiang Mai where you can meet and make friends with these magnificent animals. Elephant Sanctuaries Outside Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park: This center for elephant rescue and rehabilitation is probably the most established and well known among travelers. Also a rescue for dogs, cats, and buffalo, Elephant Nature Park lets you visit for a half day, full day, or overnight stay. It also has options for week-long volunteering. These are the prices for the day and overnight visits. You can find all the details on the Elephant Nature Park website. Short visit: 9 - 3:30, 2,500 baht, about $72 Full day visit: 7:40 - 5:30, 2,500 baht, about $72 Overnight visit: 7:40 am to 5:30 pm next day, 5,800 baht, about $166 Elephant Jungle Sanctuary: I stayed overnight in Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, the newest center that opened in mid-2014. You can visit for a half day in the morning or afternoon, a full day, or a full day with an overnight. These are the visiting options: Half day morning, half day afternoon: 1700 baht, about $49 Full day: 2,400 baht, about $69 Full day with overnight: 4,900 baht, about $140 I had an amazing experience staying overnight. I met fellow travelers from all over the world, learned from the sanctuary’s owners, and got a tour of their village (which, surprisingly, was a Christian village with a church). We made dinner, drank locally made rice wine, and went on a morning hike with one of the sanctuary’s elephants. The full day before also involved feeding and spending time with elephants and bathing them in the river and â€Å"mud spa.† Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary: Like the others, this sanctuary cares for rescued and retired elephants. This 500-acre center was named after its first rescued elephant who broke his back legs and received the first elephant wheelchair. People typicallystay at Boon Lott for at least one night. The price to stay in their guesthouse is 5,000 baht per night, or around $140. 4. Get a Thai Massage Tara Angkor Hotel/Flickr There’s a huge spa industry in Chiang Mai, and you’ll see massages advertised everywhere throughout the old city. There are casual places where you can just walk in to higher end dayspas that offer multi-hour combined packages. While people may have an association of cheap massage places with sex work, I didn’t find that to be an issue here, at least not at places in the Old City. For the most part, I’d say use your best judgment that the place is casual, but not seedy. Thai massages range from only about $5 to $15 for an hour. Most places offer a variety of massage types, but you should definitely try the traditional Thai massage when you’re in Chiang Mai. It’s an ancient healing practice that targets pressure points. You’ll be given loose clothes to put on. In addition to rubbing, the massage therapist will compress and stretch parts of your body and put you into passive yoga positions, like supine twists. I was a little nervous trying it for the first time, but I absolutely loved it. I did have a couple Thai massages where the pressure was way too intense, but I just asked the massage therapist to use a lighter touch. Massage parlors also offer foot massages, head, neck, and back massages, coconut oil massages, and skin treatments. It’s customary to tip for good service, perhaps 50 to 100 baht (between $1.50 and $3.50). Also note that you should always take your shoes off before entering; the first part of the massage will be washing your feet. Here are a few recommendations for spas in Chiang Mai. Where toGo for a Thai Massage Kiriya Spa Vana: This higher end spa has beautiful ambiance and amazing massages. Thai massages are 500 baht (about $14) for one hour. It also has lots of other options for massages and skin treatments, like citrus massage oil massage, cappuccino body scrub, and a chocolate, cinnamon, and ginger body mask. It’s a good idea to make an appointment, but they may be able to take walks in at quieter time of days. Address:47/14 Samlan Road Nimman House: This spa also has a nice ambiance and great massages, and the prices are a bit lower. A Thai massage is only 250 baht (about $7), and some of its other offerings include hot oil massages, milk cream massages, body scrubs, facials, and steam rooms. The mattresses are on the floor, rather than raised up. You usually don’t need to make an appointment. Address: 59/8 Nimmanhaemin Road Le Lux Thai Spa: This more casual massage place gives high-quality massages in a communal room. Hour-long Thai massages are only 200 baht (about $5-$6). Address: /6 Moonmuang Road Green Bamboo Massage: This spot uses organic, homemade cosmetic products. Thai massages are 250 baht (about $7). Some other massages on the menu include coconut oil, aloe vera, warmed bamboo stalk, and Tok Sen, a deeper technique that involves a â€Å"wooden stick and hammer.† Address:1 Moon Muang Road Cheeva Spa: Cheeva is one of the top-rated spas in Chiang Mai. It also has the most expensive Thai massage at 1,200 baht (about $34). It also has all kinds of spa packages that are two to four and a half hours long. Address: 4/2 Hussadhisewee Road Beyond these recommendations, you can also walk around the Old City and find numerous Thai massage places with hour-long massages between 200 and 250 baht. I went to a few random spots, and the only negative experience I had was that the pressure was too intense. The massage therapists lightened up when I asked. 5. Take a Thai Cooking Class If you’re a fan of Thai food, then you might be interested in learning how to make it! Several Thai cooking schools around Chiang Mai offer half day and full day classes, where you’ll learn to make a variety of dishes. Most classes first take you to a market, where you buy and learn about fruits, vegetables, and spices. I made tom yum soup, green curry with chicken and vegetables, pad thai in an omelette, and sticky rice with mango. It was delicious; my only regret was not being able to eat it all. The prices are typically only about $30 per person. Thai Cooking Schools in Chiang Mai Here are a few of the top cooking schools in Chiang Mai. In choosing, you should think about whether you want to do a full-day or half-day course and whether you want to drive out to a farm or go to a school in the city. All of the classes include transportation, and most share similar options on the menu - usually a type of curry, stir fry, appetizer, noodle dish, and dessert. As far as I know, all of them can be vegan or vegetarian. Thai Farming School: This class takes you out to the owner’s organic farm for cooking. First, you’ll get picked up from your hotel around 8:30 AM and head to a market to pick out ingredients. You’ll be back at your hotel around 4:30 or 5:00. The price, which is all inclusive, is 1,300 baht (about $37). Before your cooking class, you’ll get a guided tour of a market and pick out fruits, vegetables, and spices. Basil Cookery School: You can take a morning (9-3) or afternoon (4-8:30) class at this school in the city. You’ll learn seven dishes, and the classes are limited to one to seven people. The price 1,000 per person, or about $29. Thai Orchid Cookery School: This school in the Old City also keeps its classes small at between two and ten people. The full day course from 9:30 to 3 costs 1,200 baht (about $34) and the half day course from 10 to 1:30 costs 1,200 baht (about $26). 6. Watch Muay Thai (or Go to a Muay Thai Camp) Muay Thai is a combat sport similar to boxing, but fighters also use their elbows, knees, and feet. When they practice this â€Å"Art of Eight Limbs,† Muay Thai fighters use parts of their body to mimic weapons. Their hands are the sword and daggers, shins and forearms are armor, elbows are hammers, and legs and knees are the axe and staff. You can find Muay Thai matches on a nightly basis throughout Chiang Mai, though the more authentic fights that locals attend happenonce a week. If you’re interested in learning Muay Thai, you could also take classes or attend a longertraining camp. Muay Thai Matches in Chiang Mai Thapae Boxing Stadium: This stadium hosts 6 to 8 Muay Thai matches every night from Monday to Saturday. Tickets are 400 baht ($) for regular admission and 600 baht ($17) for ringside â€Å"VIP† seats. You can just show up. The entrance is on Moon Muang road, opposite Thaphae gate. Kawila Boxing Stadium: This less touristy stadium hosts fighters who are competing to become nationally known. It holds ten fights every Friday at 8. The prices are also 400 baht for regular admission and 600 for VIP seats. Kawila is one block south of Thapae Road. Loi Kroh: Fights are held here three to four nights a week on Loi Kroh Road behind the Night Bazaar. You’ll see both Thai and foreign Muay Thai fighters. The prices are the same as the other stadiums. You probably don’t need VIP seats - all the chairs are plastic and you can pretty much sit wherever you want. Several gyms offer Muay Thai camps and accommodations so you can learn this ancient form of combat. Muay Thai Training Centers in Chiang Mai All these gyms offer classes for both experienced Muay Thai fighters and complete beginners. Lanna Muay Thai Boxing Camp: Here, you can sign up for a single class or stay for a month or more on site. It’s 300 baht ($8 to $9) for a class and 8000 baht (about $230) for a full month of training. Lanna Muay Thai Boxing Camp:This spot also has single classes or accommodations for a month+ of training. A week costs 2,500 to 3,000 baht ($70 to $85) and a month costs 8,000 to 9,000 baht. High season is November to March and low season is April to October. Lanna Muay Thai Boxing Camp:Santai Gym is another good spot for classes or long-term training. A single day of training is 600 baht ($16 to $18) and one month is 10,000 baht (about $286). Other reputable Muay Thai gyms in Chiang Mai are Gym Bangarang Muay Thai MMA Training Camp and Hongtong Muay Thai Gym. 7. Explore the Trendy Neighborhood of Nimmanhaemin Jill Chen/Flickr Nimmanhaemin is a trendy area northwest of the Old City. While the Old City is more hotels and hostels, Nimmanhaemin is an area where people live. You can find lots of cafes, restaurants, shops, live music, art galleries, spas, salons, clothing stores, and boutiques. There are some really goodcoffee spots with fast, free wifi, thanks for the student population from the nearby Chiang Mai university and Chiang Mai’s group of â€Å"digital nomads,† people who work remotely. Some great Chiang Mai cafes in Nimmanhaemin are Librarista, Marble Arch, Wawee Coffee, Ristr8to, and Coffee Bar. You should also seek out the Nimman Promenade for boutiques and specialty shops, as well as the Ji-Qoo Art Gallery to see works by local artists. If you’re in the mood for a haircut, check out New York New York Hair Studio. It caters to locals and westerners, and I got one of the best and least expensive haircuts of my life there. 8. Experience the Unforgettable Yi Peng Festival Flip Nomad/Flickr Chiang Mai has one of the largest celebrations of the Yi Peng festival of lights every November during the full moon. This celebration of spiritual cleansing and renewal and good luck coincides with Loi Krathong, where people arrange flowers and candles on baskets and float them down the river (these floats are called krathongs). Chiang Mai holds the most elaborate celebrations with three days of parades, fairs, float and lantern contests, fireworks, beautiful decorations on the temples, and beauty contests called Nopphamat Queen contests. You can see and participate in everything for free - just head toward the Ping River - or you can buy tickets for the event at MaeJo University. Tickets for the MaeJo event are about $100. 8. Take a Yoga Class Health and wellness area big focus in Chiang Mai, which you can see with the ubiquitous spas, vegetarian restaurants, and yoga studios. There are great studios throughout the seat with classes suitable for people of all levels. Many classes are geared toward tourists and English-speaking expats, so all of the suggestions below offer classes in English. They typically cost just about $5 to $6 for an hour to an hour and half. Some also offer yoga teaching training, multi-day yoga retreats, and massage therapy classes. Yoga Studios in Chiang Mai Wild Rose Yoga:This studio has classes everyday at 10 am and 6 pm. You can find it on Soi 4/1, a very narrow road (too narrow for cars) off of Phrapokklao Soi 4. Blue Garden Yoga: This studio has daily yoga classes, plus yoga teacher and massage therapist training.Classes are usually at 9 AM and 7 PM. It has a beautiful semi-open space with plants and flowers. Word to the wise: wear bug spray! The Yoga Tree: offers classes in yoga, pilates, dance, and meditation, as well as training courses. It has several classes throughout the day. Other yoga schools in Chiang Mai are Mahasiddha Tantra Yoga School, Om Ganesha Yoga, Wise Living Yoga Academy, Freedom Yoga. 9. Chat With a BuddhistMonk Would you like to learn more about Buddhism, Chiang Mai, northern Thai culture, Thai language, or where to find the best pad thai? You can talk about anything you wantduring these exchanges with Thai monks offered at various temples throughout the week. These â€Å"monk chats† are a really cool opportunity to exchange language, culture, and conversation and gain insight into Thai culture. A lot of young monks participate to practice their English. They’re casual conversations, and you can talk for as long or as short a time as you like. If you’re looking to learn more about Chiang Mai and chat with locals, then you should take advantage of one of these unique opportunities. Times and Locations of Monk Chats in Chiang Mai Here are some of the temples that offer monk chats, along with the times. Wat Chedi Luang: daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. Up to 50 young monks sit outside at large tables to chat with visitors. Wat Suan Dok: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 5 to 7PM Wat Umong: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 5:30 to 7:30 PM MCU Buddhist University, Chiang Mai Campus: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 5 pm to 730 pm Doi Suthep Temple: daily from 1 to 3 pm. 10. Visit the Hill Tribe Villages in Northern Thailand \ Donna Cymek/Flickr The main hill tribe peoples that live outside Chiang Mai are the Akha, the Palong, the Lahu, the Lisu, and the Karen, also referred to as the Long Necks because of the brass rings that women traditionally wear around their necks. Several groups give you the opportunity to visit and learn about the villages in northern Thailand. Ideally, the group you journey with should employ local villagers as guides andliaisonsbetween visitors and the communities. A couple reputable touring groups are Thailand Hilltribe Holidays and All Thailand Experiences. You’ll have the opportunity to go to markets, try new foods, lend a hand on farms, and possibly stay overnight in a village. You can also check out the Baan Tong Luang Village, an exhibition village featuring five hill tribe cultures. You can take a taxi to this exhibition village; no need for a guided tour. . Go Rock Climbing There’s some epic rock climbing outside of Chiang Mai according to a friend of mine. As a non-rock climber myself, I’ll have to take his word for it. The epicness is due to the limestone cliffs surrounding Chiang Mai. One especially famous crag is called Crazy Horse Buttress. You can climb with a group or private guide and rent equipment or bring your own. The best group is Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures. It’s about $57 for a full day of climbing with a private guide, transportation, lunch, and climbing gear. If you have your own gear and don't need a guide, they'll drive you to the crag and back for just $10 or so. They also have multi-day climbing courses and an indoor climbing wall in their gym. 12.Brave the Rapids on the Mae Teng River People of all ages and experiences levels can go out whitewater rafting on the nearby Mae Teng River. Some good rafting tour groups are Siam River Adventures, Chiang Mai Adventure, Active Thailand, and All Chiang Mai Tours. All inclusive day tours are about $52. Some tours combine whitewater rafting with other activities, like jungle trekking or visiting elephants. When you’re not keeping your eye on the rapids, you may see animals,maybe even elephants, in the jungle along the river’s shore. 13. Zipline Over the Jungle Keeping in the theme of outdoor adventure, ziplining is another fun activity in the jungle outside Chiang Mai! You can fly over the jungle and maybe even see gibbons up there with you in the trees. Ziplining is one of the more expensive of the Chiang Mai attractions at about $100 per person. The best groups to take you out for the day are Chiang Mai Zipline (Flight of the Gibbon), Zipline Chiang Mai, Eagle Track Chiang Mai, Jungle Flight, and Flying Squirrels. 14. Trek Through theJungle If you want to get outside but perhaps stay at a normal height and away from any white water rapids, then consider singing upfor a jungle trekking tour. There are literally hundreds of options and tour groups. When trying to decide, look to see if a group is certified the Tourism Authority of Thailand, as that means itmaintainscertain safety standards. Some highly rated trekking groups are Pooh Eco Trek, All Chiang Mai Tours, Trekking Collective Co, and Next Step Thailand. You can go out for a day or stay overnight for one or more days. The cost isaround 1000 baht, or $29, for a full day. Prices tend to go downif you sign up with a larger group of people. 15. Attend a Khantoke Dinner and Show Khantoke dinners are a centuries-old Lanna tradition. You sit on the floor around a bamboo tray laden with a variety of northern Thai dishes. Some of these foods include fried pumpkin, tomato and minced pork dip, red chili, fried chicken, pork curry, and sticky rice. As you eat, you watch traditional Thai dances and cultural performances. Two famous ones are the candle dance and sword dance. You may also step outside to see more costumed dances and (spoiler) surprise fireworks at the end. The dinner is a rather touristy outing, but the dances are really lovely. The dinner, show, and transportation cost about $25; only drinks aren’t included in the price. Two major Khantoke dinner restaurants are Old Chiangmai Cultural Center and Khum Khantoke. 16. See a Cabaret Show John Shedrick/Flickr Cabaret shows, usually with transgender dancers or performers in drag, are popular in Chiang Mai and throughout Thailand. Commonly known as ladyboy shows, they involve choreographed dances and extravagant costumes. The shows can be interactive, so don’t be surprised by some touchy-feely exchanges if you’re in the front row. To see a cabaret show, check out the nightly performance in Chinag Mai in Ansuan Market. It’s every night at 9:30, but you should probably buy your ticket 8 or 9. The ticket includes a drink and a snack. 18.Rent a Motorbike Are you eager to try out your motorbiking skills? There are lots of rental places throughout the city where you can rent a motorbike for a day or more. Rentals can be as cheap as $5 a day, while more powerful bikes for off-roading may cost between $20 and $30 a day. You can drive around the city, or go off the beaten track to explore northern Thailand. One popular motorbike trip takes you to the golden temple on the mountain, Wat Doi Suthep, and on to dirt roads that pass reservoirs. If you're feeling confident with your driving skills, you could also make the mountainous drive to the small town of Pai, which sits north of Chiang Mai. I say you have to be confident because the road to Pai is famous for its 762 curves, as well as its "sick stations" along the way for travelers who chose to take the bus. As someone prone to motion sickness, I didn't make the trip. If I did have the choice, though, I would take a motorbike rather than brave the topsy-turvy bus! If you are renting a motorbike, remember one key piece of information: Thai people drive on the left side of the road! 19. Check Out Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai University sits on over 700 acres west of the Old City. If you’re looking to get into greener spaces, you’ll enjoy walking or biking along its beautiful grounds. Beside the gardens, there are several great cafes, vegetarian and vegan restaurants, a small art gallery, and a geology museum. Due to a recent problem of Chinese tourists sneaking into classes, the university started charging an entry fee of $1 to $2 for visitors. It’s a great place to walk, have a picnic, see how local and visiting students live and study, and step away from the city. 20. Get a Bamboo Tattoo Amanda Roberts/Flickr Want to make sure your trip to Thailand is an experience you’ll never forget? You might commemorate your travels with a traditional Thai bamboo tattoo. Tattooing with bamboo is a technique that’s over 3,000 years old. It involves one or more needles attached to a bamboo stick. One advantage of this technique is that the tattoo has a faster healing time. Buddhist monks would get tattoos for protection and to show faith. Thai soldiers got them as well. According to legend, Thailand has never been occupied because of the power of the soldiers' bambootattoos. There are some traditional sacred tattoo designs called Sak Yant tattoos that are usually performed by monks. Not all monks will tattoo women, as custom prohibits touching between the sexes. While it’s still possible to get a Sak Yant tattoo at various temples, you should be careful about the standards of hygiene. A few highly rated bamboo tattoo parlors in Chiang Mai are Naga Tattoo, Deja Vu Tattoo, and Sam Tattoo. Visiting Chiang Mai: FinalThoughts Chiang Mai is a city that lingers with you. I can still clearly recall the incense-filled halls and clanging bells of beautiful ancient temples, as well as the bustle of night markets filled with unbelievably delicious street food. Not only is Chiang Mai very affordable, but it’s also very easy to navigate. Because tourism is a large part of the local economy, you’ll have no trouble arranging tours and transportation or finding things to do. In fact, you may find that you have too much on your agenda, between your own plans and the people whoapproach with flyers for Muay Thai fights and cabaret shows. Beyond the temples, streetfood, markets, and surrounding natural beauty, I also lovedChiang Mai'sfocus on health and wellness. Traveling can wear you down, but in Chiang Mai you can easily take care of your physical and spiritual health with yoga, Thai massages, steam rooms, fresh vegetables, and an endless array of smoothies. While Chiang Mai has a nightlife scene, it’s not a huge party city like some of the southern Thai islands. You’ll find that fellow Chiang Mai backpackers, travelers, and expats are more interested in culture, outdoor activities, conservation, and amazing food, all of which northern Thailand has in abundance. If you’re traveling to Thailand, then Chiang Mai, the lovely Rose of the North, should definitely be in your plans. After a few days in this happy, laid back city, you might find, like I did, that you don’t want to leave!

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Long term debt alternatives for hospitals Article

Long term debt alternatives for hospitals - Article Example Hospital financing has never been so easy. With lots of options to choose from and government’s encouraging policies to back upon, the financing part of the hospital has become organized and comfortable for all the involved parties.Once the proposed hospital’s capital has been decided, the desired method of the capital funding needs to be determined. In the US hospital industry, approximately 50% of the assets are financed through equity and 50% through debt. Long term debt financing is available from at least four major sources: tax-exempt revenue bonds, Federal Housing Administration insured mortgages, public taxable bonds, and conventional mortgage financing.To obtain debt financing, hospitals must maintain a certain level of financial performance as measured by various ratios of assets to liabilities or income to expenses.The two prominent long term debt alternatives for hospital are:1. Conventional mortgage: A mortgage in which the interest rate does not change during the entire term of the loan and that is not insured or guaranteed by the government. Interest rate is the rate which is charged or paid for the use of money. An interest rat e is often expressed as an annual percentage of the principal. It is calculated by dividing the amount of interest by the amount of principal. Interest rates often change as a result of inflation and Federal Reserve policies. For example, if a lender (such as a bank) charges a customer $90 in a year on a loan of $1000, then the interest rate would be 90/1000 *100% = 9%. 90/1000 *100% = 9%. Lenders typically require a down payment of at least 20 percent on a conventional loan, although you can get a loan with a down payment of 3 percent or even less if you are willing to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI protects the lender if the owner defaults on the loan. Conventional mortgage loans are typically fully amortizing, meaning that the regular principal and interest payment will pay off the loan in the number of payments stipulated on the note. Most conventional mortgages have time frames of 15-to-30 years and may be either fixed-rate or adjustable. While most mortgages require monthly payments of principal and interest, some lenders also offer interest-only and biweekly payment options. 2. Taxable bonds Over the past 15 years, hospitals have invested large sums of money in physician practices and various joint ventures with physician groups. However, these funds come with a catch: control over whatever the hospital has invested in typically is required to stay with the hospital. In many cases, this has created a lot of tension between the two entities -- and this is where bond financing comes in to play. Bonds carry lower rates of interest than bank loans and permit physicians to retain control over their operations. Bonds are a form of debt which has a principal amount (or par value) payable at maturity and bears interest (the coupon rate) payable at certain intervals. Bonds are similar to loans from a bank, except that bonds are typically longer in maturity (20 to 30 years) and are usually sold to third-party investors. Bonds can be taxable or tax-exempt depending on the tax status of the borrowing entity. A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) hospital can borrow on a tax-exempt basis (which affords lower interest rates) due to its nonprofit tax status, whereas, for-profit, private physician groups borrow on a taxable basis. Taxable bonds are issued by a physician group and sold to investors (by the group's investment banker) based on the promise of the group to repay the principal of the bonds and all interest. Since third-party investors will probably not be familiar with the particular physician group, a commercial bank with a good credit rating serves as an intermediary to provide a credit and liquidity guaranty to the investors. The bank then

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Econ 103 Term paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Econ 103 - Term Paper Example China’s growth rate was 10.3% in the previous year, and an estimated 9.2% GDP growth is forecasted for 2012. One of the key concerns is inflation in China, which is expected to hover around the 4.3% mark in the following year, primarily due to higher commodity and food prices, and excessive liquidity in the market. China’s next 5-year plan has laid emphasis on reducing reliance on foreign investments due to risk profiles. Domestic consumption and services will be the target for this fiscal year. Private consumption is expected to increase by 12.6% due to rising incomes and excessive spending patterns, while at the same time exports will target a growth of 20%. Japan’s disaster stricken economy is expected to increase at 1.5% post the earthquake, but the nature of the crisis appears to be short-term to medium term. Compared to other Asian nations, China’s economic performance is still laudable, but the creeping inflation threat must be addressed before it s tarts hampering growth. The slowdown in China’s growth will further exacerbate if inflation is kept unchecked. The Asian Development Banks has emphasized that core inflation rising is an issue for most Asian nations are they house over 2/3rd of the worlds poor population, and hence corrective measures will be required from all facets to ensure that the problem does not spiral out of control. Theory Review & Analysis: There are a number of economic concepts are work here. Two of the most prominent ones include the GDP growth and the corresponding inflation rate in the country. China has witnessed phenomenal growth in recent times, primarily due to rapid increase in manufacturing and merchandising sectors of the country. As the fastest growing economy of the world, there is always that element of keeping the pace of growth within acceptable levels to avoid the heating up of the economic business cycle. Given the case at hand, we need to understand the fundamentals which are app licable in such a scenario. This includes the relationship between money supply and inflation. Another feature in the article is the relationship between interest rates and GDP. China’s economic framework is built on the fact that their GDP grows at a steady pace, so that they can sustain this growth. However, the excessive maneuvering of its key economic indicators has lead to a cause for concern. The first issue which is to be analyzed is the rampant increase in the money supply of the country. There has been a credit boom in China, and accessibility to money is no longer an issue for the common man. With banks pursuing easy lending policies and a positive outlook from the People’s Bank of China has left the money supply unchecked and has triggered an excess amount of liquidity in the system. Now it’s an established fact that the money market is in equilibrium when money supply = money demand. In China’s case, the money supply went up and the demand for money adjusted itself by increasing. Thus the spike in demand for money began. With the interest rates on lower ebb, people realized that the opportunity cost of saving money was forgo able and opted for consumption instead. Another established economic theory is that when demand increases, the economy starts growing until a point is reached when more demand for money just pushes the

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Images of Women in European Art

Images of Women in European Art John Berger is a critic of art, a novelist and a writer. He is also a painter. Berger is known for his book, The G which has won may awards. Berger is also known for his feature an art stick on Ways of seeing. He was born in England in 1926. He attended schools in England and then joined the army. His critic tradition stemmed while teaching drawing in London schools. After dropping from the army he avoided criticizing the Soviet Union but eventually his views of the same union became more acute. It is also beneficial to know that, in 1962, Berger drove himself out of Britain to a self imposed exile. The reason he exiled himself from Britain was because he had considered days in this country distasteful. The article Images of women in European Art is part of Bergers book Ways of Seeing. In this book, Berger has made the reader see art in a different dimension. He argues that the view of the world is not similar with the way it actually is. He uses pictures and not words in first chapters to try to make readers see themselves in a different dimension. An image of Women in European Art has different fallacies that portray the way he sees women in society. He argues in this article that women are sensuous objects that are there to arouse the male audience. He argues that there is a variance in being naked and being nude. Being naked is to be oneself but being nude is to be seen naked by other people. Berger asserts that women are inactive objects that are always available. The article is, therefore, criticized in several ways because of its portrayal of women in the European art. In this article, John Berger reconstructs the way of seeing and attends to perspective and conventions for visual dialogue based on the peoples collective and personal belief constructs. He analyzes the origin of art and the way in which people look at art which he specifies are affected by a chain of learnt assumptions about truth, genius and civilization form. He deals with geometric perspective; the setting of a vanishing point in paintings and the way in which man was induced to believe, he was the center of the uniqueness in the world as the spectator. His discussion of perspective and mans position, as a sole viewer with universal seeing power, informs his discussion of the inherent gender divisions initiated in early works of art. Not only was the viewers perspective god-like and all knowing, but it was overwhelmingly male. More specifically he demonstrates this point i n reference to European art. In the form, of European art, the spectator-owners and painters were always men and these men always saw women as objects. This unequal relationship is so deeply rooted in culture that it still shapes the consciousness of many women. Women in the society always see themselves in the manner in which men see them. They also treat themselves the way men treat them. They explore their own femininity. This is the chief legacy that he points out in this article. It also shapes the way in which the artists view women. Berger was a painter and, therefore, most of his opinions stemmed from his paintings. He clearly distinguished himself as a painter. The paintings of nude women hanged on museum walls were considered as some form of immoral act. They were seen as images of sex. They were considered as images that were there to be used and violated. The male nude forms of male paintings in museums had a different perspective according to Berger. He argued that in the past nude male paintings were seen as a way in which the imitated Christians messiah. They were seen as striving to be like Jesus. In todays paintings, male nudity is seen as not a way of immoral act but as a form of strength. They are considered to be exuding some form of virility. In these present days women, pictures that are nude are seen as a phonographic. These present opinions stem from the past portrayal of women. The question is, is there a difference in a nude man and a nude woman. They are both nude. Why is the woman portrayed in a negative form then? From the deep discussions of the past to the analysis of the present in the use of publicity images, Bergers ideas about the social and beauty assumptions that inform the way we see are fundamental to understanding the image saturated environment and media consumed lifestyle. From art history, and the basics about the changing nature of perspective to spectator viewing and notions of intimacy revealed in European nudes and modern publicity images, promoting lifestyle and brand identities, Ways of Seeing is complete in its dissection of the complexities of the visual culture and comprehensive in its exploration of our reality. Berger has played a role in modern female thinking by exploring how women are portrayed in classical painting and advertising. He takes on the subject so straightforwardly, taking into question the entirety of the womens classical images. Bergers conclusion and that of his interviewees are that the nude womens paintings hanging in the best European museums is nothing more than pornography. The women in those paintings are nothing but objects that can be consumed or violated. He so forcefully speaks against this part of the western canon. However, Berger is not without faults. His appeal of oil paintings portrays them as the highest of visual forms. This may not be the case. In history, photography is somewhat fuzzy, but according to Berger, photography, as a work of art, was finding its way into the finest galleries and museums in the world. Photography is now in the same class with other visual forms of art as almost equal. Bergers reliance on his own arguments and opinions, too, br ings problems. In almost half of his arguments, he has not had a single female critic discussing the subject. Berger proficiently weaves the visual with discussions on the subject of the visual in clear-cut and jargon less language. He clearly presents his views making cautious observations about the visual without looking into art school discussion-style solipsism, ambiguity, tautology, or prevarication. Berger also argues that judging women as beautiful is a way of an artists perspective. In Paris, a woman is judged by how beautiful she looks. Men are the ones who view and judge women as whether they are beautiful or not. This has been incorporated with judgment. A present is awarded to a woman who is tremendously beautiful. This judgment has given birth to what is normally considered like a beauty contest. Those women who are considered to be beautiful, gets the price, and those who are not, do not get any reward. This is how men have set standards for women to use in judging themselves. Does this mean that only women who are considered beautiful by men always win? Is it possible that there are other ways of judging women? Why is it that men are never evaluated in terms of their beauty? Women can also be evaluated a variety of other abilities and not how beautiful they are. There are women writers, painters who have excelled in this field and have won themselves prices (Berger, 197 2). The prizes to be won in beauty contests are owned by the judge. These judges are, in most cases, men. This means that women are available to them. It is also to say that these nude pictures have been placed to satisfy male urge and their desire to possess. Berger argues that, most of the nude paintings in museums have been hung to satisfy the sexuality of a man looking at the picture. Does it mean, then, that nude paintings are hung to satisfy the male sexuality only? Berger also argues that the womans sexuality should be minimized so that the male audience has control of passion being exuded. He further says that women are there to fuel and feed the males appetite. Who will feed the womans appetite if it is only the males that has to be fed? It is hypocrisy that men paint nude pictures of women because they enjoy looking at them and then shove picture to the woman to look at her shame. This is condemning the woman whose picture he had painted to amuse himself. While men look at women, women also look at themselves the way men are looking at them thus making a double audience for themselves. They, therefore, look at themselves as intensely conscious of how they are presented and how they look in the male eyes. He says that a woman who looks at herself is considered as a narcissist while a man who looks at whatever he likes is considered an art connoisseur. Berger argues that only a person can turn someone into being nude. This is taken a step further when Berger points out that the fan owner of a painting becomes the spectator owner of a representation of a woman; therefore, the spectator is depicted as the male and the nude image as the woman who is intended to flatter the man. Male spectators are applied in two ways in the following example that represents a picture: the exchange between Gerty and Bloom and the mention in the painting which was painted in the twentieth century. In Making a spectacle of Herself, Gerty MacDowell in the painting, Katherine Mullin Joyces; suggestive and arousal Gerty are compared to modest and sexually pure Flint of Cummins. She is seen like she is conscious of her beauty and her power to provoke the mans attention, but, Flint is totally unconscious of her beauty. This device is used most of the times to pass on a message to young ones. The prude and modest Flint serves as the role model for youthful Irish women. Mullin states that her reward for her diffidence is her u ltimate marriage to her childhood darling. On the other hand, the sexually open and provoking Gerty is left at the end not married. Why is it, then, that men paint pictures of nude women and later on condemns them? In this example, a naked woman was not married later. It is true even to date that those women who are portrayed as naked in the websites or televisions are rarely married. This is because men believe that they have exposed their nudity in a truly sinful way. Why then did they paint these pictures if they were not destroying the moral reputation of women? Bergers discussions of nakedness are taken further when he asserts that, in western Christian art, nakedness of male is a symbol of a struggle to be more like Christ, while that of female symbolizes lust and sin. The male nudity is, therefore, closer to perfection than that of female. The discussions by Miles, about Adam and Eve, are based on this argument, emphasizing that Eves believed guilt in the fall of man and her creation from the body of Adam have been conventionally treated as the reasons of Eves weakness to Adam. If Eve is a representation of every woman, her imperfections speak to the common limitation of women and their shared sinfulness. Based on Bergers Miles views, the treatment of all women by Christianity as potential witches and the credence of their expected vulnerability to evil are seen as unfairness paid to the depiction of women. There is, therefore, a great reason for the need of a new form of feminist art. Representation of women according to Berger has fallen victim to two systems a) The use of their bodies to provoke the male gaze and the ultimate objectification of women b) The aversive and negative treatment in western Christianity. The two systems are crucial factors that have contributed to the agenda approach used in art, literature, and on screens major types used in gender depiction, which was created by men for themselves. When these are examined, the hidden agenda in representation is exposed, and it sparks one of the most castigatory actions to sexual category politics: women discontinue watching the men in suits and embark on their own representation. In the Judgment of Paris, a story presumably originated by men, starts by displaying the, vanity of female: a dispute of three goddesses over their individual beauty triggers the meeting with Paris, the inducement and the consequences. Then their characters are with vindictiveness and conceit fleshed out, so there is no way that a safe decision can be made by Paris, let alone one that is just. The goddesses are blamed for all of it. Yet this story gives possibilities for the artist (who is not apprehensive with blame) to scrutinize the relationships between power and sexuality. Supposedly, as Berger suggests, Paris and other male viewers have the authority of judgment over the female beauty, but inside the world of the story, the real authority is with the goddesses. In the after effects the argument at Troy was about goddesses who were always responsible for the defeats and victories of men, by their unswerving divine intervention. The goddesss divinity has been artistically represented in various ways. Cranach decided to make their figures bright, but also weak and wife like. They are then infused with vigor by Reuben, but they are on display clearly, for us, as well as for Paris. The figures for Raphael are extremely powerful. They are nude; a world that is naked and filled with parity, but none of the representations undoubtedly represents the power of the power of goddesses over Paris to the level that is achieved by Watteau. The iconographic essentials are in this picture just as they are in Cranach and Raphael. Paris is shown sitting on the lower part of the picture before the key form of Aphrodite. Athena is on the right, and she is already dressed. Hera is retreating at the top of the picture and is followed by Peacock, having said all these. The picture is quite contrary in its components from any that had gone before this because it is representing a valuable genius in this painting; the power of Paris is utterly destroyed. Paris almost cowers, and the way she puts her hands humbly over her head is not a gesture of a judge who is conferring an accolade but that of a supplicant making a submission. Athena and Hera see this too with Hera conceding already and Athena appearing to be shielding herself from the power of the winning goddess. The situation is more intricate that this, for the power that Aphrodite has is openly sexual. All attention is on her as she disrobes (except for Hermes turned away, of course). However, all that can be observed by the spectators in the representation is her lower half. Cupid makes sure that Paris gets a clear view of the genitals of Aphrodites, and that, it seems that it is enough to secure h er victory. Berger considers nudity as a process and not an act. The question is what process? A European humanism, which tried to view nakedness in terms of individuality, argued that nudity should be arrived at by piecing different parts of the body. The reason for this argument is that painting pictures of nude women is a personal interest. There are parts, that he likes most, and, therefore, will want those parts painted for him. Conclusion Bergers representation of these facts about women; can be generalized as fallacies that try to define nudity of women. It is not fair that Berger has these opinions on women. The nude presentation of women poses several discussions on whether women are quite sensual objects that are just there for the amusement of men. The techniques, which Berger has used, are not a fair representation of women. Contrary to Bergers believes, women are not passive in the society and are not sexual symbols. The oil paintings of naked people of whether male or female constitute nudity and should be viewed in the same way as nudity in women is viewed.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Popular Girls Essay

â€Å"Popular girls† is a short story from 2001 by Karen Shephard. She is born and raised in New York and her work has been published in several papers. The short-story sets in the early 80’s where we get some insight in the life of five rich and popular girls. They are self-centered and don’t have the slightest interest in other people. Their entire life is about maintaining their image as a group. The setting is New York, which is the riches city in the US. The city is also known as The big Apple and The city that never sleeps. This reflects in the mentality of these girls. They do speed, and not weed, because they want to get through school as fast as possible. They want to live life in the fast-lane and do extravagant things. Every paragraph of the text concerns some aspect of their life described in details. Every little thing about their life is mentioned. Their life and how they live it, is basically written as some kind of guidebook to popularity. A very important part of this popularity is the labels and the famous places of New York. This just underlines the superficiality of these girls’ lives. Throughout the entire text, the narrator addresses the reader. The narrator seems to be a †us† and a †we†. Somehow it is someone within the group of girls narrating or the entire group as one single unit addressing the reader. By saying things like †You know who we are†(p.1 l.1) and †You can’t get enough of us† makes it very clear, that they are aware of their status. It can also be a way of reaching out to the reader and making the reader remember how school was in the 80’s. Many people could have certain girls in their mind when reading this short story. Even from the very first sentence. The attitude of the text is a bit provoking. The first sentence is also a good example of this. By continuously addressing the reader, it keeps on having the effect of them being superior to not just other people, but you. As if you were actually there at the time. It is very clear that the narrator is focused on the †us† an d †you† and †them†. The popular girls against the rest of the world. You can’t be a part of their clique, but you can be a †friend† of the clique. This can be seen physically by their moat of backpack’s (p.1 l.22).Their other friends can sit on the other side of their moat, but cannot be let in. These girls only focus on their appearance  and of how other people perceive them. They don’t exactly worry about these things, but it constitutes their entire life. Where they go, where they sit, how they sit, it has to be the right way. They are not interested in other people and neither are they in each other,†You’re crying† we say, pointing.†(p.7 l.169) as if this is just a mere fact and they how no idea of how to act upon this. They only like the idea of themselves as a group of perfect friends, which is exactly what they are doing by saying †It’s a performance of us, the group of us† (p.6 l.147) and †Look at you, we are sa ying. Look at you. We are happy together, part of something and not alone, and we celebrate that out loud.†(p.149-151) their entire life is a performance of themselves and the performance of the fact that they are not alone. Perhaps they do feel alone in a life of rich parents that bring back dolls and pearls from business trips for their collection. There is a conflation of identities between these girls as they don’t work as individuals, but just as a group. This is made clear on page 2 line 58. †We walk in the formation of migrating geese.† Here the author uses humor/irony to emphasize the slight silliness of the group when comparing them to poultry. They are basically a herd of animals dependent of each other. Even though they define themselves as a group, Stephanie seems to be the leader, as she is described as a slightly more individual person: †We’re Kaethe and Alina, CJ and Sydney. Stephanie.†(p.1, l.1) here she is singled out as their frontline figur e. Stephanie is the tallest and also in the center of their †geese-formation†. She also dictates the idea of wearing these special rings, which they all obey. The girls have this special bond that consists of a strong †friendship†, but probably because they can’t see a way out. Without the rest of the pack, they would feel hopeless. None of them dares to leave anyone behind. The ending is a picture of their †friendship† whilst they perform as a group, they also make a performance for each other. No one knows them, not even their family and not even their own clique. They put on a performance of their popularity, even for their friends. Somehow, without words, they push each other to do things that are considered â€Å"cool†. But none of them knows when to stop. â€Å"Whatever happens will be performed in front of the group. We ask ourselves weather we can actually do this; (†¦)We are uneasy. Nothing about this whole thing will be graceful. No one is leaving†(p.8 l.198-201) none of the girls wants to be the one  chickening-out, no one want’s to be the one leaving the rest behind. Leaving now would be a kind of betrayal or a sign of weakness. Their obsession of being popular and someone important is a postmodern theme, also seen in: †Not yet, Jayette† by William Boyd from 1981. Although he does not reach this purpose, he has the same goals and views of life as these popular girls. None of them will ever feel complete, with or without these materialistic things.