Mans Journey into Self in Heart of Darkness and A Essays

Keeps an eye on Journey into Self in Heart of Darkness and An Essays Keeps an eye on Journey into Self in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now English Keeps an eye on Journey into Self in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now Hu240 Innate inside each human spirit is a savage insidiousness side that remaining parts subdued by society. Frequently this shrewd side breaks out during times of disengagement from our way of life, and at whatever point one culture faces another. History is stacked with instances of barbarities that have happened when one culture comes into contact with another. At whatever point in a general sense extraordinary societies meet, there is regularly a dread of defilement and loss of self that drives us to find progressively about our actual selves, regularly causing apparent franticness by the individuals who still can't seem to find. The Puritans left Europe in order to find another world to invite them and their convictions. What they discovered was a huge new world, stacked with Indian societies new to them. This staggering social association caused a few Puritans to go frantic and attempt to cleanse themselves of an apparent malevolence. This came to be known as the Salem witch preliminaries. During World War II, Germany made an endeavor to invade Europe. What happened when the Nazis came into power and aggrieved the Jews in Germany, Austria and Poland is notable as the Holocaust. Here, people abhorrent side gives perhaps the most unnerving event of this century. Adolf Hitler and his Nazi partners led strikes of the ghettos to find and regularly kill any Jews they found. In spite of the fact that Jews are the most generally known casualties of the Holocaust, they were not by any means the only targets. At the point when the war finished, 6 million Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, gay people, Jehovah's Witnesses, Socialists, and others focused by the Nazis, had passed on in the Holocaust. A large portion of these passings happened in gas chambers and mass shootings. This abhorrent assault was persuaded chiefly by the dread of social intermixing which would impurify the Ace Race. Joseph Conrads book, The Heart of Darkness and Francis Coppolas film, End of the world Now are the two anecdotes about Mans venture into his self, and the disclosures to be made there. They are additionally about Man standing up to his feelings of dread of disappointment, craziness, passing, and social pollution. During Marlows strategic discover Kurtz, he is additionally attempting to get himself. He, as Kurtz meant well after entering the Congo. Conrad attempts to give us that Marlow is the thing that Kurtz had been, and Kurtz is the thing that Marlow could become. Each human has a tad bit of Marlow and Kurtz in them. Marlow says about himself, I was getting savage (Conrad), implying that he was turning out to be progressively like Kurtz. Along the stumble into the wild, they find their genuine selves through contact with savage locals. As Marlow adventures further up the Congo, he senses that he is going back through time. He sees the agitated wild and can feel the dimness of its isolation. Marlow runs over less complex barbarian societies along the banks. The more profound into the wilderness he goes, the more backward the occupants appear. Kurtz had lived in the Congo, and was isolated from his own way of life for a long while. He had once been viewed as a respectable man, however the wilderness transformed him significantly. Here, isolated from the remainder of his own general public, he found his underhanded side and got tainted by his capacity and isolation. Marlow educates us concerning the Ivory that Kurtz kept as his own, and that he had no restriction, and was a tree influenced by the breeze (Conrad, 209). Marlow makes reference to the human heads showed on posts that demonstrated that Mr. Kurtz needed restriction in the delight of his different desires (Conrad, 220). Conrad likewise lets us know his nerves turned out badly, and made him direct at certain 12 PM moves finishing with unspeakable rights, which were advertised up to him (Conrad, 208), implying that Kurtz went crazy and permitted himself to be revered as a divine being. Apparently while Kurtz had been confined from his way of life, he had gotten adulterated by this fierce local culture, also, permitted his detestable side to control him. Marlow understands that without a doubt, close to the hour of death, does an individual handle the comprehensive view. He portrays Kurtzs last minutes as if a cover had been lease (Conrad, 239). Kurtzs last incomparable snapshot of complete information (Conrad, 239), gave him how awful the human spirit truly can be. Marlow can just hypothesize with regards to what Kurtz saw that made him shout The awfulness! The repulsiveness, however later includes that Since I peeped over the edge myself, I see better the significance of his gaze it was wide enough

Final Case Study Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Last Case Study Analysis - Assignment Example The instance of â€Å"You’ve Got Mail†¦And You’re Fired! The Case of RadioShack† can be viewed as a significant case connected with the part of human asset (HR) which worries about terminating or firing tremendous figure of workers from their separate occupations (Thinkstock, n.d.). With this worry, this paper plans to assess just as to clarify the issues or issues that related in the aforementioned case identifying with RadioShack. Besides, a lot of proposed arrangements would likewise be given to the administration of RadioShack to manage the recognized issues in future. Assessment and Explanation of the Issue Relating to the Case In the year 2006, the supervisory crew of RadioShack took the choice of firing a specific part of its workers attributable to the explanation of its outrageous budgetary strife condition. In such manner, it has been obviously seen that a figure of 400 faculty connected with the organization got an extreme message through email wh ich was The work power decrease warning is as of now in progress. Sadly, your position is one that has been wiped out. The informal interpretation: You're terminated. (Forbes.com LLC., 2013). The significant issue of the case can be seen to be the strategy which the administration of RadioShack followed to fire or to lay off its workers. ... Once saw to be a monster in the electronic market, RadioShack was encountering extreme rivalries from its main business advertise contenders like Best Buy and CompUSA among others. Greater part of the stores of RadioShack that were situated in Canada have been seen to close down because of overwhelming total deficit looked by the organization. It merits referencing that adjustments in the economy can likewise influenced RadioShack tremendously bringing about low shopper spending on electronic items. Inability to embrace just as to execute adequate business systems in agreeing to customers’ request additionally contributed in money related misfortune that endured by the organization. It has been seen that the organization was encountering from disturbance condition and therefore neglected to rival its significant rivals by an extensive level (RadioShack Corporation, 2006). Subsequently, it very well may be attested that the previously mentioned angles were the fundamental drive r that in the end made the organization to lay off or fire its workers by an impressive level. So as to finish up the issue of the case concerning the way toward firing representatives, it has been evidently seen that the administration of the organization received just as executed the technique for email for firing its workers. In this comparable concern, 400 staff having a place with RadioShack have been seen to get an email wherein the accompanying message had been depicted. The message was The work power decrease warning is right now in progress. Sadly, your position is one that has been killed. The informal interpretation: You're terminated. (Forbes.com LLC., 2013). This specific message by means of email identifying with the methodology of firing the workers can be viewed as the significant issue of the case. The end technique which

Effects of Caffeine on the Body

Effects of Caffeine on the Body Addiction Addictive Behaviors Caffeine Print Effects of Caffeine on the Body By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on September 25, 2019 Westend61/Getty Images More in Addiction Addictive Behaviors Caffeine Internet Shopping Sex Alcohol Use Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Caffeine is currently the worlds most commonly used drug. And because caffeine is present in so many common foods and drinks, it is easy to forget that it is a drug. It is even an ingredient in beverages and foods that are marketed to kids. But caffeine has significant effects on the body and physical health. Caffeine is a stimulant drugâ€"it may surprise you to realize that this is the same type of drug as cocaine and meth, substances we think of as hard drugs. Stimulant drugs work partly by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, which causes the same physical effects as the fight or flight responseâ€"speeding up the heart and breathing, making you feel more alert, and increasing muscle tension. And when caffeine is consumed in large quantities, the side effects can range from unpleasant to severe, sometimes even resulting in caffeine overdose. Even when caffeine is consumed in moderation, there is evidence that there are longer-term negative physical effects. This article gives an overview of both the short-term and longer-term effects of caffeine on the body. Effects on the Heart In simple terms, the stimulant effect of caffeine speeds up the heart rate. Research shows that the level of caffeine at which the heart rate is significantly affected is 360 milligrams, the equivalent of about three and a half cups of brewed coffee. For most people who drink caffeine in moderation, this isnt necessarily harmfulâ€"but for people who are prone to anxiety, this may increase the likelihood of panic reactions, because caffeine also increases anxiety, and people experiencing panic reactions often worry they are having a heart attack. In higher doses, caffeine can cause more significant effects on the heart by changing the speed and regularity of your heartbeat. This is known as tachycardia or cardiac arrhythmia and can be serious. If you think your heartbeat is abnormal, check with your doctor. It is unclear at the moment whether caffeine increases the risk of cardiovascular problems in the longer term. Several studies have indicated no increased risk for cardiovascular problems in either men or women related to caffeine intake, but current recommendations are that people who already have heart problems should avoid caffeine, as other studies show that these conditions can be exacerbated by caffeine and other stimulants. This includes children with cardiovascular problems, who may be exposed to caffeine through soda and energy drinks. Effects on Blood Pressure Studies have conclusively shown that caffeine consumption raises blood pressure. This effect of caffeine, known as the pressor effect, is evident across age and gender groups, and is particularly pronounced in people with hypertension (high blood pressure). If you are unsure of whether this applies to you, it is a simple process to have your blood pressure checked by your physician and to get their advice on moderating your caffeine intake. Effects on Bone Density High coffee consumption has been linked to osteoporosis in men and women. Consumption of soft drinks in children is associated with lower bone mass, although this seems to be at least partially accounted for by those children who drink a lot of soft drinks also have a lower intake of milk. In older women, several studies have shown a link between high caffeine intake and lower bone density, while in younger women, this seems of particular concern when the women use progesterone-only contraceptives such as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, or Depo Provera.

Budgeting Process - 10662 Words

1. Nchite and Nsana, (2004): Public Finance Management and Utilization Project- Report on strategies and Mechanisms of an effective system of public finances management in Zambia. 2. Gumboh Steven, (2004): MTEF Manual for Central Government: Zambia. 3. Mudenda Dale, (2005). The budgeting Processes and Economic Governance in Zambia: A Literature Review. 4. Bolnick Bruce, (1995): Establishing Fiscal Discipline: the Cash budget in Zambia. 5. Dinh Hinh, (2000) Cash Budget in Zambia: Stabilizations versus Growth and Poverty Reduction. 6. Mwanawina, I, M, (2002): Transparency and participation in the budgeting process: Zambia Country Report. 7. Mwansa John, (2005): Zambia Public Financial Management Performance Report. 8. Byaruhanga Charles,†¦show more content†¦(Nchite and Nsana, 2004) 1.2 BACKGROUND Since the 1980s, Zambian policymakers have been pursuing a reform programme to increase wealth creation and improve the capita income of the country. Policies have been devised to resolve declining per capita Incomes, the increasing poverty situation, and the declining budgetary allocations and effectiveness of budget implementation. An aspect of this reform process has focused on macroeconomics reform and budgetary policy. (Mudenda, 2005) The budgetary process has over the years become a very important aspect of macroeconomic management, resource allocation and governance in the country. Since 1993, Zambia has attempted a number of budgeting systems which range from cash budgeting to activity based budgeting. The reform programme under the IMF and World Bank has largely influenced the type of budgeting system that the country has pursued. 1.2.1 MEDIUM TERM EXPENDITURE FRAME WORK (MTEF) AND ACTIVITY BASED BUDGETING (ABB) Before the introduction of MTEF and ABB government followed the traditional budgeting approach which was functional and incremental based on a yearly basis. The budget structure was limited to an administrative and broad economic classification. It lacked programmatic classification and was not linked to policy priorities of government (Gumboh Steven, 2004). The structure hid the detailed activities of the programmes being carried out by the Ministries and other spending agencies (MPSA’s). ThisShow MoreRelatedCapital Budgeting Decision Process2039 Words   |  9 PagesCapital Budgeting Decision Process 1. Introduction The maximization of shareholder wealth can be achieved through dividend policy and increasing share price of the mark value. In order to derive more profits, our company shall invest potential investments which always cover a number of years. Those investments involve substantial initial outlay at the outset and the process. 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Neutrino - definition of a neutrino

The neutrino is an elementary particle that holds no electrical charge, travels at nearly the speed of light, and passes through ordinary matter with virtually no interaction. Neutrinos are created as part of radioactive decay. This decay was observed in 1896 by Henri Becquerel when he noted that certain atoms seem to emit electrons (a process known as beta decay). In 1930, Wolfgang Pauli proposed an explanation for where these electrons could have come from without violating conservation laws, but it involved the presence of a very light, uncharged particle emitted simultaneously during the decay. Neutrinos are produced through radioactive interactions, such as solar fusion, supernovae, radioactive decay, and when cosmic rays collide with the Earths atmosphere. It was Enrico Fermi who developed a more complete theory of neutrino interactions and who coined the term neutrino for these particles. A group of researchers discovered the neutrino in 1956, a finding which later earned them the 1995 Nobel Prize in Physics. The Three Types of Neutrino There are actually three types of neutrino: electron neutrino, muon neutrino, and tau neutrino. These names come from their partner particle under the Standard Model of particle physics. The muon neutrino was discovered in 1962 (and earned a Nobel Prize in 1988, 7 years before the earlier discovery of the electron neutrino earned one.) Mass or No Mass? Early predictions indicated that the neutrino may have had no mass, but later examinations have indicated that it has a very small amount of mass, but not zero mass. The neutrino has a half-integer spin, so it is a fermion. It is an electronically neutral lepton, so it interacts through neither the strong nor electromagnetic forces, but only through the weak interaction.

The Hunters Moonsong Chapter Three Free Essays

Bonnie fluffed her red curls as she hurried across Dalcrest’s great lawn. It was so pretty here. Little flagstone paths bordered the lawn, leading off to the various dorms and classroom buildings. We will write a custom essay sample on The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Three or any similar topic only for you Order Now Brightly colored flowers – petunias, impatiens, daisies – were growing everywhere, by the sides of the path and in front of the buildings. The human scenery was pretty awesome, too, Bonnie thought, surreptitiously eyeing a bronzed guy lying on a toWellnear the edge of the lawn. Not surreptitiously enough, though – the guy lifted his shaggy dark head and winked at her. Bonnie giggled and walked faster, her cheeks warm. Honestly, shouldn’t he be unpacking or setting up his room or something? Not just lying around half naked and winking at passing girls like a big †¦ flirt. The bag of stuff Bonnie had bought in the campus bookstore clinked gently in her hand. Of course, she hadn’t been able to buy books yet, as they wouldn’t sign up for classes until the next day, but it turned out the bookstore sold everything. She’d gotten some great stuff: a Dalcrest mug, a teddy bear wearing its own cute little Dalcrest T-shirt, and a few things that would come in handy, like an efficiently organized shower caddy and a col ection of pens in every color of the rainbow. She had to admit she was pretty excited about starting col ege. Bonnie shifted the bag to her left hand and flexed the cramping fingers of her right. Excited or not, al this stuff she’d bought was heavy. But she needed it. This was her plan: she was going to become a new person at col ege. Not entirely new; she liked herself fine, for the most part. But she was going to become more of a leader, more mature, the kind of person who people said, â€Å"Ask Bonnie,† or â€Å"Trust Bonnie,† rather than, â€Å"Oh, Bonnie,† which was completely different. She was determined to step out of the shadows of Meredith and Elena. They were both terrific, of course, her absolute best friends, but they didn’t even realize how terrifyingly in charge they were al the time. Bonnie wanted to become a terrific, ful y in-charge person in her own right. Plus maybe she’d meet a real y special guy. That would be nice. Bonnie couldn’t actual y blame Meredith or Elena for the fact that al the way through high school, she’d had plenty of dates but no serious boyfriends. But the simple fact was that, even if everyone thought you were cute, if your two closest friends were gorgeous and smart and powerful, the kind of guy who was looking to fal in love might find you a little bit †¦ fluffy †¦ in comparison. She had to admit, though, that she was relieved that she and Meredith and Elena were al living together. She might not want to be stuck in their shadows, but they were stil her best friends. And, after al †¦ Thud. Someone crashed into Bonnie’s side and she lost her train of thought completely. She staggered backward. A large male body lurched into her again, briefly crushing her face against his chest, and she tripped, fal ing against someone else’s side. There were guys al around her, shoving one another back and forth, joking around and arguing, paying no attention to her as she was jostled among them, until a strong hand suddenly steadied her in the midst of the turmoil. By the time she found her feet, they were moving off again, five or six male bodies swiping and shoving at one another, not stopping to apologize, as if they hadn’t even noticed her as anything more than an inanimate obstacle in their path. Except for one of them. Bonnie found herself staring at a worn blue T-shirt and a slim torso with Well-muscled arms. She straightened up and smoothed her hair, and the hand gripping her arm let go. â€Å"Are you al right?† a low voice asked. I’d be better if you hadn’t almost knocked me down, Bonnie was about to say snippily. She was out of breath, and her bag was heavy, and this guy and his friends seriously needed to watch where they were going. Then she looked up, and her eyes met his. Wow. The guy was gorgeous. His eyes were a clear, true blue, the blue of the sky at dawn on a summer morning. His features were sharply cut, the eyebrows arched, the cheekbones high, but his mouth was soft and sensual. And she’d never seen hair quite that color before, except on the youngest kids, that pure white-blond that made her think of tropical beaches under a summer sky†¦ â€Å"Are you okay?† he repeated more loudly, a frown of concern crinkling his perfect forehead. God. Bonnie could feel herself blushing right up to the roots of her hair. She had just been staring at him with her mouth open. â€Å"I’m fine,† she said, trying to pul herself together. â€Å"I guess I wasn’t watching where I was going.† He grinned, and a tiny zing! shot right through Bonnie. His smile was gorgeous, too, and it lit up his whole face. â€Å"That’s nice of you to say,† he said, â€Å"but I think maybe we should have been watching where we were going instead of shoving each other al over the path. My friends sometimes get a little †¦ rowdy.† He glanced past her, and Bonnie looked back over her shoulder. His friends had stopped and were waiting for him farther down the path. As Bonnie watched, one of them, a tal dark guy, smacked another on the back of the head, and a moment later they were scuffling and shoving again. â€Å"Yeah, I can see that,† said Bonnie, and the gorgeous white-blond guy laughed. His rich laugh made Bonnie smile, too, and pul ed her attention back to those eyes. â€Å"Anyway, please accept my apology,† he said. â€Å"I’m real y sorry.† He held out his hand. â€Å"My name’s Zander.† His grip was nice and firm, his hand large and warm around hers. Bonnie felt herself blushing again, and she tossed her red curls back and stuck her chin bravely in the air. She wasn’t going to act al flustered. So what if he was gorgeous? She was friends – sort of, anyway – with Damon. She ought to be immune to gorgeous guys by now. â€Å"I’m Bonnie,† she said, smiling up at him. â€Å"This is my first day here. Are you a freshman, too?† â€Å"Bonnie,† he said thoughtful y, drawing her name out a little like he was tasting it. â€Å"No, I’ve been here for a while.† â€Å"Zander†¦ Zander,† the guys down the path began chanting, their voices getting faster and louder as they repeated it. â€Å"Zander†¦ Zander†¦ Zander.† Zander winced, his attention slipping back toward his friends. â€Å"I’m sorry, Bonnie, I’ve got to run,† he said. â€Å"We’ve got sort of a†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused. â€Å"†¦ club thing going on. But, like I said, I’m real y sorry we almost knocked you over. I hope I’l see you again soon, okay?† He squeezed her hand once more, gave her a lingering smile, and walked away, picking up speed as he got closer to his friends. Bonnie watched him rejoin the group of guys. Just before they turned past a dorm, Zander looked back at her, flashed that gorgeous smile, and waved. Bonnie raised her hand to wave back, accidental y clunking the heavy bag against her side as he turned away. Amazing, she thought, remembering the color of his eyes. I might be falling in love. Matt leaned against the wobbly pile of suitcases he’d stacked by the entrance to his dorm room. â€Å"Darn it,† he said as he jiggled the key in the door’s lock. Had they even given him the right key? â€Å"Hey,† a voice said behind him, and Matt jerked, tumbling a suitcase down onto the floor. â€Å"Whoops, sorry about that. Are you Matt?† â€Å"Yeah,† Matt said, giving the key one last twist and, just like that, the door final y opened. He turned, smiling. â€Å"Are you Christopher?† The school had told him his roommate’s name and that he was on the footbal team, too, but the two of them hadn’t gotten in touch. Christopher looked okay. He was a big guy with a linebacker build, friendly smile, and short sandy hair that he scrubbed at with one hand as he stepped back to make way for the cheerful middle-aged couple fol owing him. â€Å"Hi there, you must be Matt,† said the woman, who was carrying a rol ed-up rug and a Dalcrest pennant. â€Å"I’m Jennifer, Christopher’s mom, and this is Mark, his dad. It’s so nice to meet you. Are your folks here?† â€Å"Uh, no, I just drove up by myself,† Matt said. â€Å"My hometown, Fel ‘s Church, isn’t too far from here.† He grabbed his suitcases and lugged them into the room, hurrying to get out of Christopher’s family’s way. Their room was pretty smal . There was a bunk bed along one wal , a narrow space in the middle of the room, and two desks and dressers crammed side by side on the other wal . The girls and Stefan were no doubt living in luxury, but it hadn’t seemed quite right to let Stefan use his Power to get Matt a good housing assignment. It was bad enough that Matt took someone else’s slot as a student and someone else’s space on the footbal team. Stefan had talked him into doing just that. â€Å"Look, Matt,† he’d said, his green eyes serious. â€Å"I understand how you feel. I don’t like influencing people to get what I want either. But the fact is, we need to stay together. With the lines of Power that run through this whole part of the country, we have to be on our guard. We’re the only ones who know.† Matt had to agree, when Stefan put it like that. He’d turned down the plush dorm room Stefan had offered to arrange for him, though, and taken what the housing office assigned him. He had to hang on to at least a shred of his honor. Plus if he was in the same dorm as the others, it would have been hard to say no to rooming with Stefan. He liked Stefan fine, but the idea of living with him, of watching him with Elena, the girl Matt had lost and stil loved despite al that had happened, was too much. And it would be fun to meet new people, to expand his horizons a bit after spending his whole life in Fel ‘s Church. But the room was awful y smal . And Christopher seemed to have a ton of stuff. He and his parents went up and down the stairs, hauling in a sound system, a little refrigerator, a TV, a Wii. Matt shoved his own three suitcases into the corner and helped them bring it al in. â€Å"We’l share the fridge and the entertainment stuff, of course,† Christopher told him, glancing at Matt’s bags, which clearly contained nothing but clothes and maybe some sheets and towels. â€Å"If we can figure out where to put it al .† Christopher’s mom was prowling around the room, directing his dad on where to move things. â€Å"Great, thanks – † Matt started to say, but Christopher’s dad, having final y managed to wedge the TV on top of one of the dressers, turned to look at Matt. â€Å"Hey,† he said. â€Å"It just hit me – if you’re from Fel ‘s Church, you guys were the state champions last year. You must be some player. What position do you play?† â€Å"Uh, thanks,† Matt said. â€Å"I play quarterback.† â€Å"First string?† Christopher’s dad asked him. Matt blushed. â€Å"Yeah.† Now they were al staring at him. â€Å"Wow,† Christopher said. â€Å"No offense, man, but why are you going to Dalcrest? I mean, I’m excited just to play col ege bal , but you could have gone, like, Division One.† Matt shrugged uncomfortably. â€Å"Um, I had to stay close to home.† Christopher opened his mouth to say something else, but his mother gave a tiny shake of her head and he closed it again. Great, Matt thought. They probably thought he had family problems. He had to admit it warmed him a little, though, to be with people who acknowledged what he’d given up. The girls and Stefan didn’t real y understand footbal . Even though Stefan had played on their high school team with him, his mind-set was stil very much that of the Renaissance European aristocrat: sports were enjoyable pastimes that kept the body fit. Stefan didn’t real y care. But Christopher and his family – they got what it meant for Matt to pass up the chance of playing for a top-ranked col ege footbal team. â€Å"So,† Christopher said, a little too suddenly, as if he’d been trying to think of a way to change the subject, â€Å"which bed do you want? I don’t care whether I take top or bottom.† They al looked over at the bunk beds, and that’s when Matt saw it for the first time. It must have arrived while he was downstairs helping with Christopher’s luggage. A cream-colored envelope sat on the bottom bunk, made of a fancy thick paper stock like a wedding invitation. On the front was written in cal igraphy â€Å"Matthew Honeycutt.† â€Å"What’s that, dear?† Christopher’s mom asked curiously. Matt shrugged, but he was beginning to feel a thrum of excitement in his chest. He’d heard something about invitations certain people at Dalcrest received, ones that just mysteriously appeared, but he’d always thought they were a myth. Flipping the envelope over, he saw a blue wax seal bearing the impression of an ornate letter V. Huh. After gazing at the envelope for a second, he folded it and slipped it into his back pocket. If it was what he thought it was, he was supposed to open it alone. â€Å"I guess that’s fate tel ing us the bottom bunk’s yours,† Christopher said amiably. â€Å"Yeah,† Matt said distractedly, his heart pounding hard. â€Å"Excuse me for a minute, okay?† He ducked out into the hal , took a deep breath, and opened the envelope. Inside was more thick fancy paper with cal igraphy on it and a narrow piece of black fabric. He read: Fortis Aeturnus For generations, the best and brightest of Dalcrest College have been chosen to join the Vitale Society. This year, you have been selected. Should you wish to accept this honor and become one of us, come tomorrow night at eight o’clock to the main campus gate. You must be blindfolded and dressed as befits a serious occasion. Tell no one. The little pulse of excitement in Matt’s chest increased until he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. He sank down along the wal and took a deep breath. He’d heard stories about the Vitale Society. The handful of Well-known actors, famous writers, and great Civil War general that Dalcrest counted among their alumni were al rumored to have been members. To belong to the legendary society was supposed to ensure your success, to link you to an incredible secret network that would help you throughout your life. More than that, there was talk of mysterious deeds, of secrets revealed only to members. And they were supposed to have amazing parties. But they were just gossip, the stories of the Vitale Society, and no one ever straight-out admitted to belonging to it. Matt always figured the secret society was a myth. The col ege itself so vehemently denied any knowledge of the Vitale Society that Matt suspected the admissions people might have made the whole thing up, trying to make the col ege seem a little more exclusive and mysterious than it real y was. But here – he looked down at the creamy paper clutched in his hands – was evidence that al the stories might be true. It could be a joke, he supposed, a trick someone was playing on a few of the freshmen. It didn’t feel like a joke, though. The seal, the wax, the expensive paper; it seemed like a lot of effort to go to if the invitation wasn’t genuine. The most exclusive, most secret society at Dalcrest was real. And they wanted him. How to cite The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Three, Essay examples

Consumer Behavior Influences Consumer Needs

Question: Discuss about the Case Study for Consumer Behavior of Influences Consumer Needs. Answer: Consumer Behavior Consumer behavior is the study of the organizations, groups and individuals and the processes that they use to use, secure, select and dispose of products, ideas, experiences and services for satisfying their needs and the impact of these processes on the society and consumer. It is a blend of the elements from economics, marketing, social anthropology, sociology and physiology (Solomon 2014). The different theoretical approaches that have been adopted for drawing on the different psychological traditions and decision making can be classified into five emerging and major approaches. These includes humanistic, cognitive, behaviorist, psychodynamic and economic man. The five personality dimensions are neuroticism, agreeableness, extroversion, conscientiousness and openness to experience that can be attributed to the personality traits (Hanna, Wozniak and Hanna 2013). This assignment will analyze my behavior by the construction of my description as a consumer in association with the con sumer behavior theories. My behavior as a consumer is influenced greatly by the factors like perception, learning and motivation. These are the personal or internal factors. The social or external factors include cultural values, family roles and social norms. Environment and trends influence the external factors to a great deal (Kardes, Cronley and Cline 2014). We choose products according to our personality that expresses our behavior, intentions, emotions and thoughts. I needed a cellular phone and when I reached the market, I was confused between the two products each of Apple and Blackberry. Although I prefer Apple over any other brand because of its singularity, boldness, creativity and innovation, I was tempted to buy a Blackberry this time due to its attractive looks, affordable price and user-friendly features. I faced an approach-approach conflict where I had to choose between two desirable alternatives. After a thorough understanding of my needs, I chose to buy the Blackberry product as it satisfi ed my utilitarian and hedonic needs following my motivational direction. My choice also reflected my innovativeness as I went forward to try a new thing that I have not tried before. The lifestyle of a consumer includes his opinions, values, interests and activities. The purchasing decision and behavior are influenced by the lifestyle of a consumer (Mullen and Johnson 2013). I went to Woolworths supermarket for some grocery and selected organic products as I prefer to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. According to the online VALS survey, I am an achiever and I possess achievement motivation. I am a goal oriented person, hardworking and peer-conscious. To maintain my achiever trait, I have to maintain a lifestyle that supports my achievement motivation. Therefore, I selected organic products from the grocery like black beans and brown rice syrup for maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. I am allocentric and I like to avoid unhealthy foods. Culture plays a crucial role in understanding the behaviors and needs of an individual. An individual is taught from his society, cultural environment, friends and family the common behaviors, preferences and values regarding his culture throughout his life. Therefore, it is important for the brands to take into account the cultural factors that are inherent to the global markets for their product to adapt accordingly with the expectations, behavior, habits and perception of the consumers (Lantos 2015). I have a friend John who belongs to the UK and it is common in his culture to invite friends and colleagues at home for dinner or a drink. It is common in the Australian culture as well and therefore, we share a similar culture of inviting friends at home and spend time together. However, my friend Yuki is from Japan and in his culture, it is not common to invite friends at home and these outings are done with colleagues and friends in a restaurant. My friend Aahil is from Iran and ac cording to his culture, alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited. Therefore, whenever we plan a meet for the colleagues whether it is at Johns place or with Yuki at the restaurant, we prefer the fast food chains like McDonalds and KFC as they do not serve alcoholic beverages and are compatible with almost every culture. Brand equity plays an important role with these cultural factors in consideration and the brand like McDonalds and KFC is very much adaptable to almost every culture in the world. Family holds the most influencing factor for the consumption qualities of an individual. It lays down an environment for socialization that helps him to acquire values, shape the personality and evolve. This also has an impact on his brand perception, consumer habits and the purchase of products. Family habits and perceptions exert a strong influence on the consumer behavior of buying and the consumers tend to maintain the same behavior that is acquired with the families (Griskevicius and Kenrick 2013). My parents used to say in my childhood that Coke contains sugar and so it is not good for my teeth and health. I should refrain from drinking Coke. As a child, this behavior developed in me and now I do not buy the regular Coke. Being a health conscious individual, I prefer to have Diet Coke or Coca Cola Zero over other beverages. From this perspective, it can be stated that the Freudian system of pleasure principle comes to force where my family shaped my behavior where my primary de sire is to maximize pleasure by avoiding the pain. The variants of Coke that I choose for my delight refreshes me without adding up the extra calories and contribute to my fitness. The study of the consumer behavior is largely motivated by the psychology of how the consumers reason, feel select and think between the different and available alternatives. The organizations and firms also take into consideration how the consumer gets influenced by the surrounding environment (Zeugner-Roth, Zabkar and Diamantopoulos 2015). Limitations in the information and knowledge of the consumers influence the marketing outcome and decisions. Therefore, the markets are in a constant process of improving their marketing strategies and marketing campaigns for effectively reaching the consumers. Decision strategies and consumer motivation differ between the various products and differ in their level of interest and importance that entails for the consumers (Hawking 2016). My decision making regarding consumption behavior is modified by the external and internal factors that are based on the principles and traits of needs and motivation. References Griskevicius, V. and Kenrick, D.T., 2013. Fundamental motives: How evolutionary needs influence consumer behavior.Journal of Consumer Psychology,23(3), pp.372-386. Hanna, N., Wozniak, R. and Hanna, M., 2013.Consumer behavior: An applied approach. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. Hawking, S., 2016. Consumer Theories and Models.Consumer Economics: Issues and Behaviors, p.81. Kardes, F., Cronley, M. and Cline, T., 2014.Consumer behavior. Cengage Learning. Lantos, G.P., 2015.Consumer behavior in action: Real-life applications for marketing managers. Routledge. Mullen, B. and Johnson, C., 2013.The psychology of consumer behavior. Psychology Press. Solomon, M.R., 2014.Consumer behavior: Buying, having, and being. Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: prentice Hall. Zeugner-Roth, K.P., Zabkar, V. and Diamantopoulos, A., 2015. Consumer ethnocentrism, national identity, and consumer cosmopolitanism as drivers of consumer behavior: a social identity theory perspective.Journal of International Marketing,23(2), pp.25-54.

The Book of Death Review Essay Example

The Book of Death Review Paper Essay on The Book of Death The Book of Death Pernilla Stalfelt from the date of publication and is still getting from readers is very mixed reviews. Talk about death with children somehow Missed. Many people believe that we should not raise such issues in dealing with the child, so as not to hurt his gentle soul. However, few adults realize that children are much more likely to think about death than they think. Experiencing a huge zest for life in all its manifestations, since the pre-school age kids show interest in death in all its manifestations. Who of us in childhood did not bury corpses found animals, not crushed insects and did not think about what happens to them after death? ( To understand what death is hard hard to not only small, but also large and very large is not always a virtue. from the book). Pernilla Stalfelt one of the few who dared to speak directly with children death and allay their children and often frighteningly unrealistic expectations about the (reverse) side of life. It is unlikely that a book written by a simple childrens language ( when the flowers die, they darken, wither and drop their petals, and when people are dying they become paler and a little heavier than usual seems as if they were asleep.), With illustrations, stylized childrens drawings and funny commentaries, will cause the child psychological trauma. the author is not trying to impose on the children some idea of ​​his death, describes this phenomenon only in a phenomenological way. Pernilla assigns a place very different ideas about death religious, mystical, materialistic and easily, one or two sentences explain the youngest readers the essence of each of them. Any child, depending on the traditions and attitudes taken in his family, will find in the book of the many answers to the main question: What is death, and where the people after the fall? Your answer We will write a custom essay sample on The Book of Death Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Book of Death Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Book of Death Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The only one. in my opinion, the lack of the book is in its text uses Swedish names (Lisen, Stig, tobiko, Ragnar), unfamiliar to our children. Of course, to make a translated books as much as possible corresponding to the original is very important. But in this case I were the publisher (of course, in agreement with the author) would have used Russian names, then the story described in the book, our children would have seemed more intimate and familiar.

What Deferred or Waitlisted Students Can Do to Improve Their Chances

What Deferred or Waitlisted Students Can Do to Improve Their Chances Students that have been deferred or waitlisted from their top choice school face a big dilemma. Should they just sit tight or is there anything they can do to better their chances of getting accepted? Understanding the Difference Between Deferred and Waitlisted Being deferred from a college is not the same as being placed on the waitlist. Most college deferrals occur when a student has applied early action (EA) or early decision (ED) to a college.  When a college defers an applicant, it means their application has been changed to a regular decision (RD) application and will be re-considered during the normal admissions review.  If the original application was a binding ED, it no longer is and the student can choose to go to another school even if accepted in the regular process. Waitlisted means that the applicant has not been accepted but could still be considered if enough students that were accepted choose not to attend the college. Even though being waitlisted sounds better than being rejected, odds of getting off a waitlist are not in a student’s favor. Christine K. VanDeVelde, journalist and coauthor of the book College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step, explains, â€Å"Waitlists were much smaller 15-20 years ago before the common application. Colleges need to meet their enrollment numbers. With more students sending in applications, it is harder for schools to predict how many students will accept their offer so waitlists tend to be larger.† Re-Evaluate if the School Is the Right School Not being accepted to a first choice college can be upsetting. But before doing anything else, students that have been deferred or waitlisted should re-evaluate and determine whether the school is still their first choice. Several months will have passed since a student has sent in their application for consideration. In that time, some things may have changed, and it is possible a student may not be as confident that their original first choice school is still the right choice. For some students, a deferral or waitlist turns out to be good thing and an opportunity to find another school that is a better fit. What Can  Students Do if They Have Been Waitlisted? Students are not usually placed on a waitlist but told that they can choose to be placed on the waitlist.  VanDeVelde explains, â€Å"Students need to respond by submitting a form or emailing the college by a set date. If you dont, you will not be placed on the waitlist.† The waitlist letter will also let students know what, if any, additional information they will need to submit to the school, such as sending in recent grades or additional letters of recommendation. VanDelde cautions,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Colleges usually give clear directions. Its in the students best interest to follow them.† Students that have been waitlisted may not find out until August if they have been accepted, so they do need to make a deposit at another college even if the school they have been waitlisted at remains their first choice. What Can  Students Do if They Have Been Deferred? If a student has been deferred and is 100% confident he still wants to attend the school, there are things he can do to improve his chances. Call the Admissions Office VanDeVelde says, â€Å"A student, NOT a parent, can call or email the admissions office to ask for feedback on why the student wad deferred. Maybe they are concerned about a certain grade and want to see if the student improves over the semester.† VanDeVelde advises students to advocate for themselves in a clear and articulate manner. Says VanDeVelde, â€Å"This is not about bringing pressure. It is about whether the school has room for the student.†Ã‚   Send Additional Information Make sure updated grades/transcripts have been sent in a timely manner. Beyond recent grades, students can also update the school on their recent accomplishments, honors, etc. Students can email this information to admissions along with a letter reiterating their interest and commitment to attending the school. Students may consider sending additional recommendations.  Brittany Maschal, a private college counselor, says, â€Å"An extra letter from a teacher, coach or someone else close to the student who can speak to what they have done to contribute to the university may be helpful.† Do not send recommendations from successful or famous alumni of the school unless the person truly knows the student. Maschal explains, â€Å"Many students ask if these types of letters are helpful and the answer is no. A big name vouching for you generally will not help as a stand-alone factor.† Ask Guidance Office for Assistance An admissions office may provide additional details as to why a student was deferred to a school counselor. A school counselor can also advocate on a student’s behalf. Request an Interview Some schools offer applicant interviews on or off campus with alumni or admissions representatives. Visit the College If time permits, consider visiting or re-visiting the campus. Sit in on a class, stay overnight, and take advantage of any admissions events/programming you may not have during the initial process. Consider Re-Taking Standardized Test or Taking Additional Tests As this can be time consuming, it is probably only worthwhile if the school has directly expressed concern over the test scores. Keep Grades Up and Continue With Activities Many students get second semester senioritis.  Their grades might fall or they may slack off on extracurricular activities–especially if they are feeling dejected about not getting an immediate acceptance from a first choice school.  But these senior year grades can be a determining factor for admission. Guest columnist Randi Mazzella is a freelance writer and mother of three.  She primarily writes about parenting, family life and teen issues.  Her work has appeared in many online and print publications including Teen Life, Your Teen, Scary Mommy, SheKnows and  Grown and Flown.

Analyze a business or industry that is likely to be disrupted by the Essay

Analyze a business or industry that is likely to be disrupted by the trends of the big data, this disruption may create a new business opportunities and new business threats - Essay Example The concept of big data has been arising majorly due to the explosive growth of data flow that is caused by digitization taking place in the society. The digitization and automation of firms in the society has led to huge data storage (Feenberg, 2005).These large volumes of data that is being stored by businesses are very critical in terms of business operations. The concept of big data has provided the firms with the advantage to store large data volumes that were not possible in the early years. As the size of big data is incomparable it provides a very strong knowledge base for the firms operating in different industry. In context of businesses the big data trend allows a firm to transform huge sets of data in the form of advanced products, new services, and even improved marketing techniques so as to reach out to more number of customers. The trend of big data has caused an impact on all possible and similarly it has even effected the advisory firms both business and financial. T he advisory firms acts as a consulting group that helps a firm to manage its functions and also at times it controls various managerial functions of a company. The major opportunities that are created by big data in context of managerial and financial advisory firms are creating of best practice portals and knowledge space (Davenport, 2014). These opportunities are majorly based on knowledge accumulation and professional experiences in context of portal for knowledge space for respective economic sectors, environmental changes in the businesses in relation to legal framework, competition, emerging markets, economy, new services and products, etc. The concept of knowledge space may provide opportunities to the advisory firms or may even result into major threats for these firms in respect to long term operations of these firms. The term big data is normally defined to be larger data

Nursing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Nursing - Research Paper Example The stages of change can be accounted for by using the following measures or constructs: decisional balance and self-efficacy or temptations. The former construct mirrors the person’s reflection of the advantages and disadvantages of the behavior (â€Å"Transtheoretical Model,† n.d.). It involves grouping together different categories of pros and cons, and deliberating which among the two groups is deemed more important. Plotting of the results in a line graph will demonstrate that the perceived value of a pro or a con will have changed over time, depending on the stage of change that the person is at. The self-efficacy, or temptation, construct on the other hand, depicts the co-worker’s confidence to cope with the stresses associated with the behavioral change; or the temptation to fall back to old habits (â€Å"Transtheoretical Model,† n.d.). When plotted in a graph, data will show that self-efficacy increases, while temptation decreases, as the person p rogresses through the succeeding stages of change. By using this model, change of habits and behaviors will be more effective since change is voluntary. Theory of Reasoned Action and Theory of Planned Behavior The Theory of Reasoned Action proposes that â€Å"...the immediate determinant of behavior is intention...† (Kohler, Grimley, & Reynolds, 1999, p. 25). ... Subjective norm, on the other hand, is influenced by the approval or disapproval of the behavior by people important to the person. If washing hands gain a seal of approval from a child’s mother, then the child will have the strong intent to perform the act. A new modification of the aforementioned theory is the Theory of Planned Behavior; it adds an additional factor--perceived behavioral control, to the list that influences behavioral intention (Kohler, Grimley, & Reynolds, 1999, p. 27). Perceived behavioral control refers to the person’s perception of the barriers and resources that can aid or impede the performance of the behavior. Perceived difficulties can have a negative effect on intention, whereas resources can induce a positive effect. By employing these theories in the prevention of infection in the health care setting, the nurse will be able to identify the different beliefs that affect practices in infection control; and educate proper techniques, as well a s correct false notions, so as to focus behavioral intention on proper infection-prevention activities. The most encouraging messages are those that highlight the decline of incidence of infection, as well as the assurance of protection from harm (Kohler, Grimley, & Reynolds, 1999, p. 28). Use of Katharine Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort The foundation of nursing practice, hence nursing theories, came into being in the late 1950s. Before this time, theories applied in nursing were borrowed from other disciplines. In order to affirm its relevance as a profession and to couple nursing art with evidence-based practice, a set of theories were established to support and prove the practicability, as well as the applicability of different nursing interventions. The

Academic Performance of International Students Problems

Academic Performance of International Students Problems Gaw, K. F. (2000). Reverse culture shock in students returning from overseas. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 24(1), 83-104. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.rit.edu/docview/57515934?accountid=108 Personal and academic challenges faced by the international student in Australia Abstract: This research study aims to determine the problems faced by an international student resulting in poor academic performances and also some of the factors that are responsible for the weakness in their study of Kings own Institute (KOI) Sydney. Being new to the abroad learning experiences,students certainly will face many challenges interms of their academic and personal life. Therefore,it will try to identify the problems behind the failures,which not only reduce their grades, but also creates problems in their personal and economic life too. The purpose of this study is to understand the learning experience of international students in this new learning environment. New culture, differences in the learning style, not knowing the proper ways of doing the class assignments,difficulties on managing the job schedule and management of class,difficulties in discourse, the difficulties on language problem further creates a difficulty of adjustment in the new environment. International stud ents from different countries at KOI makes valuable contribution of cultural and language diversity,but at the same time it creates cultural and language differences among student to another student and student with the lecturer and other staff member of the KOI. When student encounter new environment with unfamiliar face,certainly they feel awkward and shy to ask anything or anyone for help which further becomes problematic for them. Hence; the research will look at how things from the new environment are perceived by international students. The consequences of the research will not only be in finding the problems and its causes but also in finding the proper and positive ways to improve and resolve the existing problems and to lessen them somehow by finding out the causes behind the issue. What are the major issues that international students have to face? When they are newcomers in Australia will be the focus question for research. The significance of the study will benefit both the staff member and the future international students who will encounter similar problems at an early phase of starting new abroad experience away from their home. These issues and problems can help the department of KOI to try for more progressive ways to help out and solve the issues of students who are totally lost and confused. Qualitative research method was used for this research project where face to face interviews to try to understand the issues was conducted with the participants. Five international student from different nationality were taken as the respondent for the research interview and questions. Even though the research has its own significance,scope,aims and objectives,the research had some limitation which was unavoided. Because of the limited time and few respondents . The study would have been more authentic if larger group of people from diverse background and disciplines were interviewed to explore more things and see the comparability. The findings of the study showed other challenges apart from language barrier ranging from time management,adopting the Australian culture,the proper ways of doing the assignment without plaigairism and proper referencing of the source,accommodation,social isolation,and financial complication. In addition,the interview question with the international students highlighted how educational workshops,help from friend and colleagues,and individual study improved their difficulties and challenges and turn into a better experience of the new learning environment. All in all, the study will try to understand the views and the opinions of the various participants and try to resolve the issues by comparing and contrasting the problems faced by each participant and also will look at the experiences of the students on their journey of being an overseas student in a different country with different ways of learning. KEYWORDS: Determine, consequences, conducted, resolve, qualitative method, contrasting. The research problem: Studying aboard is a challenging thing for students interms of being able to adjust in every thing that will make things difficult in a new learning environment. The basic purpose of this research will be to seek out the various factors that cause problems for leading to academic failures and also in personal life at Kings Own Institute, Sydney. This research aims to investigate the factors that cause stressful situations for students resulting in poor academic performance and various other issues affecting their lives adversely. Most of the international students are from a second language background, which does not include learning in their first language. Even though they have to take some proficiency test (IELTS) in order to meet the entry criteria to the University and campus, they will have a hard time accessing the resources and also in understanding the lectures because of the new information in the new language too. The main complication faced by the international students is regarded with language and skills needed for academic reading and writing. (Ballard, B. Clanchy, J. (1997). Even though, language difficulties appears to be a problem for many international students,research has shown that mixture of academic experiences,expectations and differences in the learning and teaching practices also creates problem for them. (Ames, 1996; Bilbow, 1989). At a social level, the sense of loneliness, cultural shock, the necessity to find work, managing the class timetable and work schedule at the same time make them feel more isolated and frustrated in the early months. All of these problems are combined with the study and students also have to pass the demand of KOI to remain in the college here as mentioned in their visa status. The danger of failing the KOI subjects brings additional and heavy stress on students as this also decides their permission to stay in Australia too. There are many benefits offered by KOI at academic and social level but students are sometimes too occupied to benefit from these program and as a result,they fall behind their studies. Therefore, the scope of this research will be limited to International students at KOI who will be from non-English background countries, who will be both from the Bachelors as well as Masters strands. If the existing problems are not identified and resolved, then, it may lessen the motivation for the students to move ahead in their life and may cause long-term effects. Background: Australia is regarded as one of the most popular destinations for studying, especially for international students. Educational institutions are of high quality and so regarded around the world. Enrolment for higher studies has increased considerably in recent years. Universal understudies pick Australia for the Australian instruction encounter on offer and for the all around perceived, excellent capabilities. The chance to coordinate with a different scope of residential and universal understudies improves this experience. Australian organizations are additionally looking to widen and expand their understudy populace by creating solid associations and coordinated efforts with establishments abroad and encouraging the development of understudy trade through these organizations. Global understudies, aside from their prompt review pathways, set their sights on their future vocation ways, regardless of whether that is at home, in Australia or a third nation. The entrance to work is an ex ceptionally important resource in pulling in understudies to Australia, particularly in connection to contender nations, for example, the United Kingdom and United States(Australia,Educating globally advice from international education advisory council, p-50-58) Acceptance and demand for Internationalization and Globalization of the world have increased the flow of students from different parts of the world to Australia. The world is going thorug numerous changes in the field of science,technology,media and medicine which is revolutionisng the field of education too. ( NorzainiAzman, Yang Farina Abd. Aziz,2006) . Striving for better opportunities and dreams of a better life has always attracted overseas students to come to Australia. Multiculturalism and biodiversity among the people have further led overseas students to be positive about this country too. International students have always made a positive contribution to their Universities, or college. The flow of cultural diversity and exchange, the increment of financial revenue for the colleges through payment from tuition fees by international students and the cost of living expenses has further had ensured warm welcome for international students in various universities and educational institutes across Australia. Source:  Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Student visa program,Accessed on 18th January,2017,Retrieved from Australian social trends December 2011(ABS) The above graph clearly shows the variation and origin of students in Australia from various backgrounds because of which, all students both native and non-native have developed sensitivity to other students as a result of dealing with students from different backgrounds too. Having students from overseas have always made a positive contribution in Australia. Australia has always been regarded as a developed country in terms of providing facilities to the people in various fields. Employment, education, and the technological field have always been focused on and achieve success in various important fields and given opportunities to the people too. Renowned universities and colleges are found in Australia which provides the best education both practically and theoretically. International students have to deal with many problems. Differences in the education system compared to their home country makes it more confusing for them while doing the assignments and not knowing the accepted way to solve their problems too. Knowledge about the library resources ,proper style of referencing and formats are very necessary for students but they lack such skills which creates further problem for them. (Martin Zimerman, (2012),pp. 290 299). The important part for academic writing is to acknowledge the concerned sources, hence, not knowing the right way to reference the text and sources makes them more confused ,which in a way must be solved by seeking out help form the instructors who can help in summarizing the complex text through academic style. Furthermore, the Instructors can also arrange workshops appropriate for tutoring (Rebecca Moore Howard, p-799-781) Ways of performing their work and carrying it out have to followthe accepted method of the country in which they are working. The language barrier is another factor that makes it difficult for them understand the lectures being given because of their lecturers accent they are not familiar with. Students pretend to understand the lessons in order to be equal to the native speakers because of the limited language proficiency. When students are new to the learning environment they are unfamiliar with the people and the context of the study which makes them shyand introvertwhich makes them worried and tense during social interactions(Australian psychological association,2012) A Better Education determines a better future for the student. Education shapes the students present career and makes them ready for future opportunities so that they can sustain their living and have a better life. Therefore, it is required to address the personal and academic challenges faced by international students and find a possible solution to resolve those issues too. Not only students but the concerned and responsible organization should also show some interest in solving the issues faced by the students in order to help them progress in a more organizedway. Universities and colleges should also organize a workshop program where the international students can be a part of it and be familiar with Study Materials such as the library and make-up classes and extra language and also with other fellow classmates and also with the languages being used for the interaction. The arrangement of the cultural and recreational activities by the Educational institutes can develop a sense of group understanding among other students. Assisting students with clear guidelines required for the assignment, and helping them by providing the sample answers can make them do their assignment better. For the language barriers to be overcome, educational institutions must organize English Development Classes every week (like the ones existing at KOI) in order to be familiar with the various accents (lectures delivered in English), vocabulary, and words. This way, students can understand the topic being discussed in the class and contribute to their conversation being taught in the class too. Universities and colleges should be willing to assist the students socially, culturally and academically. Proper guidance from the teachers, Universities staffs, head of the Faculty members, and a support from their fellow classmates can surely make students lessen their problem regarding the assignment problems, language barriers and other related issues faced by the students. Better and mutual understanding among the teachers and the students will develop the sense of communication, which will help in notifying the issues being raised, existed and the ways to solve those problems in an effic ient and effective way too. Ethical consideration: Being ethical means that your project does not bring harm or disadvantage to anyone who takes part, including yourself-(Lambert, M. 2012). Carrying out an ethical research means to involve the collection of the information and data from people without any intention of harming them and putting them at risk. Therefore the researcher has to conduct the research in an ethical way. Research needs to be undertaken under the Legal frameworks and regulation which must be followed as per the rules and regulations of the concerned institutions. The research project needs to have a detailed plan of the research for the approval to prove the relevance of the research in order to start a research. After that, there needs to be approval from the participants too. Participants of the research have every right to know about the subject matter and need to agree before starting the research. The researcher needs to get approval from the participant and also should provide a consent form. The main aim of the research will be to find a reasonable solution rather than being used for the personal benefit of the researcher. Therefore some of the other factors to be followed during the research process are: Honesty: The researcher should be honest about the information given by the informants and try not to misinterpret or misrepresent it. It should be recorded in the way it is. The researcher should also avoid mis-leading the participants inorderto get an honest answers from them. . So, the researcher needs to be clear in front of the participants about the research and the processes involved in tithe participants of the researcher should be made very clear about the purposes of the study, and also about the methods being used while conducting the research Objectivity: The researcher should be neutral and should avoid biasness interms of sex,race and ethnicity. Prevention of harm and risks, honest and truth, Privacy, confidentiality, anonymity intervention are some of the things to be kept in mind before and during the research. The researcher should avoid bias between the participants too. Confidentiality: The researcher should protect the confidential information and the recorded data given by the informants. Personalinformations and secrets shared by them should not be disclosed and should be kept confidential. Anonymity: In some case the informants are not willing to share their name and contact details. Therefore their anonymity should alswyas be respected and protected making sure that it is not disclosed anywhere. Anonymity of individuals and organisations also has to be maintained(Bryman Alan and Emma Bell,2007) Legality: The researcher should follow and obey the rules and regulations thats needs to be followed without any intention of harming or causing problem to anyone. Survey of Literature: The literature review will look at the research that has been done in the past and published by various authors on the subject matter and the solution for resolving the issues for the challenges faced by an international student for the backwardness in their study and poor performances making their life more stressful. Some of the literature review on the regarded subject matter is mentioned below; Loneliness and international students an Australian study,2008, Journal of studies in international education. United States: Sage Publications, Inc. , 2008. Vol. 12, no. 2 (Summer 2008), p. 148-180. In a study of international student security, consisting of 200 intensive interviews with students, resident onshore in Australia, it was found that two-thirds of the group had experienced problems of loneliness and/or isolation, especially in the early months where students feel more lonely because of having no friends at all and also because of the loss of regular contact with their families, relatives, and friends. According to Higher Education Research Development, Volume 10, Issue 1, 1991, Overseas students bring to Australia a very different cultural, social and intellectual experience from that which awaits them. Reviews of previous studies suggest that their beliefs, values, and attitudes to knowledge, to styles of learning and study, can lead to study shock. A questionnaire survey of a sample of 133 first year overseas students mainly from Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, most of whom were studying for a Bachelor of Business degree, and 76 Australian-born first year students mainly of British and European origin from the same classes, showed that compared to local students the overseas group had significantly greater difficulties adjusting to academic requirements, particularly with regard to managing the demands of study, specifically study methods, independent learning, language skills, participation and time management. Danny Ong, 2009, A UNSW press book, The international students handbook, Living and studying in Australia. The last two decades have seen a second wave statistics of international students coming to Australian Universities. The enormous growth in the number of such students is unequaled around the world. The majority of these students have very positive experiences and surveys generally show a high level of satisfaction. However, many hazards await students, and the Universities and the relevant government have shown a varying ability to address these optimally. Issues such as finding suitable accommodation, health care including a mental health care, homesickness, the costs of living and travel, and the safety of the students are all significant concerns. Andrade, Maureen Snow, (2006) writes, International students in institutions of higher education in English-speaking countries make valuable educational and economic contributions. For these benefits to continue, universities must become more knowledgeable about the adjustment issues these students face and implement appropriate support services. This review identifies factors that influence the adjustment and academic achievement of international students. Adjustment challenges are primarily attributable to English language proficiency and culture. Achievement is affected by English proficiency, academic skills, and educational background. Understanding international student adjustment issues has global implications for intercultural education too. Learning at University: The International Student Experience, Meeri Hellsten and Anne Prescott,  volume 5, no. 3, 2004, International Education Journal: The The journal explains how lack of communication between students and teahers adversely affect the students learning. The stereotype of Asian background students of being slow,and passive infornt of their colleagues and teacher makes them feel like they cant contribute in class discussion because of the inferiority of making mistakes. Yes. Um they [teachers] think its a job. They ask something. We say nothing cause we wanna say but (inaudible) shy. And Im afraid sometimes Ill make a mistake. The above statement from one of the student from the journal mentioned how assumption of an individual can create problems for communicating and also in learning process. The journal also stated how leaving away from family,friends and relatives is an awful experience for younger international students interms of acculturations,adaptation to the new learning environment,and communication problem which lacks support from the teaching staff too. The findings from the study in the journal mentioned the busy schedules of the teaching staff because of which even the students wanted help from the teacher,the student was unable to get any support to solve the issue. Aims and objectives of the Research: The international students come to Australia with the aim of studying and getting a qualification which will lead them to a better life in Australia or other English speaking countries. The aim is to become proficient in English and live possibly in English speaking countries. This is one of the pressures on the students as their parents are pressurizing them . Thats an external challenge but there are numerous challenges arising during their study and stay in Australia. The students not only have to be aware of the program but at social level and academic level the students have to be aware of how they use their English on different profession, socialpeople,academic reading and writing. This review expects to give keen data furthermore, direction not just for ebb and flow and future universal research understudies in Australian colleges, additionally for different instructive administrations and significant government organizations to give more successful support to them (Joanne sin Wei Yeoh,University of Tasmania,pg-1) The social challenges are cultural, in that Australia has very different culture part of which is based on English culture and but part of it now is based on mixed race background of the many other country people who live in Australia. For example; as stated by the (Australian bureau statistics ABS, 2012), the second most spoken language in Australia is Mandarin (1. 6per cent), Italian (1. 4 per cent) and Arabic (1. 3 per cent) respectively. There are many Chinese; there are many Italian and many Arabic and people from all over the world. Andtherefore, there are different cultural habits, and attitudes with which the student must become familiar and must learn not to object to the practices of other people. Thats a very difficult thing for some people. Therefore, the research will look at some of the issues and the questions, which will help for getting more informations. How the international students cope with various challenges occurring in the new learning environment? As a part of the social challenge, there is the food, much of which can be very different to their home country and then there is the behavior of people that are regarded a bad mannered, not standing back for other people or for women. For example in Australia, walking on the left is important, especially in the crowded areas. These are all the things to which students have to get used. But, intellectual or mental problems are also considerably important. The education in Australia is of much more personally oriented rather than group oriented. In that its aimed at individuals and therefore, in that one has to learn virtually twolanguages. One is the language of social interaction and one is the language of professional interaction and the vocabularies of each of those are very important. The research basically aims to evaluate the different factors behind the poor academic performance of the international students of KOI and its effects on their personal life which challenges their stay in Australia. The objectives of the research will be to identify the various challenges faced by the students of KOI and try to find effective solutions and accomplish the aim of resolving those issues and problems in order to make it easier for them to tackle such problems in an easy way. How will they try to understand the different methods of learning? The method of learning in Australia is very much the personal responsibility of the student and they have to get involved in learning as a person not as a member of a group. They have to individualize their learning because the learning that they were doing is the learning so that the person can cope in the society. So, they must as said above have two different vocabularies for personal interaction and the vocabulary language needed for academic interaction. These two languages are very important and are too often neglected by incomers to the society in Australia. The Personal interaction and personal vocabulary for one on one conversation is regarded as extremely important in Australia. The ability to get on with other people in on one on one talk is very important. Inbusiness or in professions there are specific vocabularies and there is almost a specific grammar and this has to be learned by practice. So, in school or for the new comers they have to learn, how to get on with people they dont know and thats important. What are the disadvantages and advantages of being a Non-Native speaker at KOI? Firstly the language used in class is English and the language used by the lecturers and teachers is also English and may be of a kind of English that is different to what you learned because while the lecturers are English speakers, many of them are from non-English speaking cultures. So, some of them would make a difference. The disadvantage also is that the learning of vocabulary learned is specific and one has to learn all the words that deal with that language and in order to get control of the vocabulary needed to cope with that particular profession. Are there a advantage of being a non-native speaker, there are some, in that everyone at KOI, there are many different language background and therefore everyone is forced to speak a clear version of the English language and they are expected to deal with students being aware of that kind of problem and how you use the English at different sector socially, professionally and academically. Research Design: This research study will use a qualitative approach. This methodology will have great role as regard to researcher as they will be involved in every steps taken before and during the research process, planning and reporting. Qualitative approach helps for doing the social issues as there is an active participation and interaction both between the researchers and the individuals involved in it. Thematizing(What is going to be studied), how the research should be designed,How the interviews will be conducted and recorded, are some of the key points to be followed during the process of research based on qualitative research. Here, qualitative researcher must be personally involved in every research process as researcher is the final person to decide what must be included in that particular subject of research. (Anne Sofia Fink, 2000). Interviews have a moral issues; they concern interpersonal exchange of information resulting data about the human personal life and condition. Maintainingconfidentiality,informed consent and secrecy is problematic issue to handle during the data collection from this methodology. The qualitative method will help us get the information through in-depth interviews of the related focus group. It is at this point that the information from the focused group is emphasized. Center gatherings are thought up settings, uniting a particularly picked area of the populace to examine a specific given topic or subject, where the connection with the assemble prompts to information and results. Theresearch will be reliable only if the research question is carried out in similar group of respondents in similar context to get similar results(pg-284-290,Louis cohen,Lawrencemanion and Keith morrission). Since the focused group is normally at the undergraduate level and post-graduate level (dependin g on the countries they are originated from), the participants will be limited and would randomly be selected as its not possible to include every one of them. Students ranging from 4-7will be included from diverse subject background and nation. Interview with several respondents and questions of same topic increases comparability which reduces bias among the participant and their opinon about the topic. (p-355,6th edition,Louis cohen,Lawrencemanion and Keith morrission) Quantitative research is based on numbers and statistics but Qualitative research is not related to the numeric data and  information so everything needs to be recorded as the methodology seek to collect information about a small  number of respondents (Saunders, Lewis, Thornhill, 2009). Recordings from audio will be taken with the approval of the participants in order to study the tone and their way of expression. Everything must be recorded and analyzed in order to include all information and not to miss out on any information provided by the participants. As mentioned above, Interview was taken among students which included the following question: 1. What were the major difficulties you faced while you were new in Australia? 2. What measures did you take to resolve those challenges? 3. What were your expectations before applying and coming to Australia? 4. What were the differences you found in terms of culture between Australia and your home country? 5. What did you do to cope up with following things? Differences in culture Homesickness Job schedules and class management Assignment stress And language problem References: American Psychological Association. (2012). Shyness. Retrieved on January 31st 2017, from http: //www. apa. org/topics/shyness/index. aspx Andrade, Maureen Snow. International students in English-speaking universities Adjustment factors. Journal of Research in International Education 5. 2 (2006): 131-154. Ames, M. (1996). Oxford Brookes: The international student experience. Oxford: Oxford Brookes University.

Mats Ek Essay

Introduction In this essay I will present one of the greatest choreographers of the 20th century, Mats Ek. I will describe his specific stylistic characteristics, themes and dance vocabulary bringing as examples some of his most important re-adapted works such as Giselle, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. Life and career Mats Ek was born in Malmo, Sweden on the 18 of April 1945. He came from a very culturally active background: he was the son of a famous Swedish actor Anders Ek and the internationally recognized choreographer Birgit Cullberg, founder and director of the Cullberg Ballet, his sister Malin was an actress and his brother Niklas a dancer. Mats Ek started his dance studies (Martha Graham technique) with Doya Feur in 1962 alongside with drama studies. In 1965 he became a full time drama student at the Marie College but few years later he returned to dance training at the Stockholm Ballet Academy. His first theatrical working experience began as the producer and then director of the Puppet Theatre in Stockholm. During the season 1980-1981, he was associated with the Nederland Dans Theater as dancer as well as choreographer. Few years later he joined the Cullberg Ballet as a dancer and in 1985 he became the artistic director of it, he directed the company for eight years. He left it in 1993 b eing replaced from Lidstrom and Wennergren Juras. Re-making of the ballet classics â€Å"Over ten years ago I saw it(Giselle) for the first time- with Makarova. She was really gripped me. Already then, I thought the traditional story of Giselle contains many hidden possibilities which are not recognized. There are various trails leading inside, but they are not utilized. They lie fallow or else are powered over† (Ek, Mats interviewed by Tegeder, Ulrich. Create characters, special people. Ballet International,5,1983:19) Mats Ek is a very innovative choreographer of his time, the post modern era. Postmodernism is a movement that rebels against traditional ideas. Mats Ek is an active man of his time fully absorbed by the rebellion that was happening those years. This new ideas incite him to rebel against the traditional ballet classics radically modifying them and giving his own interpretation of them. All of his works are still narrative works but the  storyline of all the ballets is updated. â€Å"The investigation of narrative alleys,epic paths and metaphorical tunnels is what provides the primary stimulus for re-telling those stories by creating new dances† (Giannandrea Poesio, Dancing Times, October 2003 page 23) His alternative storylines are pure reality not fairytales, he is not interested in abstract concepts, he change the conventional viewpoint putting on stage actual themes. He gives the audience a taste of contemporary reality. â€Å"A fairytale is a sweet little cottage, but on the door you can read: Explosive!† Mats Ek The most famous ballets he reinterpreted are traditional ballets such as Giselle (1982), Swan Lake (1987) and Sleeping Beauty (1996). Giselle Mats Ek’s Giselle is something completely different from Perrot’s original version. The character of the young Giselle is completely flipped over; she is not the sixteen years old innocent girl but a passionate and sexual active woman. In Giselle in fact, Ek introduces and shows sexuality and love seen such a sexual one and not a romantic one anymore. (https://secure.staatsoper.de/) Swan Lake â€Å"A lonely, somewhat weaker than the-average-Prince-Siegfried, who questions his sexuality (think Oedipus complex) and his mother’s open issues in attempting to marry him to someone just like herself. The Prince encounters  androgynous creatures, swans that waddle through the ground rather than the graceful water creatures that we know from Petipa/Ivanov.† (http://www.theballetbag.com/2012/07/13/mats-ek-biography/) (http://www.criticaldance.com/reviews/2002/cullberg_swanlake-021023.html) Sleeping Beauty â€Å"The teenager Princess Aurora falls in love with â€Å"the wrong guy† and ends up in a drug-induced coma. Carabosse appears as a drug dealer and tempts Aurora into pricking her finger with the â€Å"needle†. At Aurora’s birth the fairies are maternity nurses and later they are pop culture characters out of a TV show, while the Prince is a spectator.† (http://www.theballetbag.com/2012/07/13/mats-ek-biography/) â€Å"Ek has made an astounding break from the Sleeping Beauty we know and love, leaving not a single stone of Petipa’s edifice standing, renouncing all the choreographic gems cut by the imperial jeweller of the Tsarist ballet† (Vollmer, Horst. Irreverently Classical: Mats Ek stages Sleeping Beautywith the Hamburg Ballet. Ballet International,7,1996:19) Tà ¶rnrosa – Gà ¶teborgsOperans Balett (http://www.danzaballet.com/?p=3497) There are also some works that seem not to follow a precise storyline like Smoke (1995) or Appartement (1999) but they can’t be described as abstract works because oh their strong content. Stylistic elements of his choreography Mats Ek choreography has two main characteristic elements: clarity and irony. All of his choreographies have a direct and immediate message, really easy to understand by the audience. With the new version of the traditional  ballets in fact Ek wants to go straight to the point in the shortest time possible opposing his works to the articulate and often ambiguous traditional ballets. â€Å"Clarity is the choreographer’s key word, as opposed to what he calls the ambiguity of the conventions and the clichà © of classical ballet, â€Å"clarity†, however, should not be mistaken of simplicity. In both Giselle and Swan Lake there lies beneath an accessible, straightforward dramatic construction an intricate amalgam os social, political, cultural and literary references† (Fifty Contemporary choreographers) Another important element of Ek’s choreography, as the quote above suggests, is the dramatic construction of his works. Ek does not just present dramatic situations to the audience but he creates all around an atmosphere of irony. â€Å"Irony is a characteristic element of Ek’s choreography, in which strong images and dramatic situations often contrast with brief, humorous episodes† (Fifty Contemporary choreographers second edition) â€Å"Even amidst the darkest and most poignant moments of a not-so-happy-ending situation, he manages to insert fire-cracking comic sections or references that enhance greatly the dramatic build up by creating a unique game of contrasts and choreographic chiaroscuro† (Giannandrea Poesio, Dancing Times, October 2003 page 25) Clear examples can be found in Giselle and Swan Lake: The two male peasants’ comic duet in front of Albrecht’ fiancà ©e just before the arrival of the aristocratic and the end of the act in Giselle. The three jesters’ dances just before the end of the lack scene in Swan Lake. These comic episodes are introduced with great ability every time a dramatic situation reaches its climax. Themes â€Å"Political, social, racial and sexual concerns informed Ek’s first three creations, Kalfaktorn (1976), St George and the Dragon (1976) and Soweto (1977); psychological themes and gender issues played a part in both House of Bernarda Alba (1978) and Antigone (1979) long before Giselle and Swan Lake† (Fifty Contemporary choreographers second edition) The main interest of the choreographer is to explore the human psychology  and the human relationships. â€Å"In reworking ballet classics, Ek’s creed is to render the characters alive, providing a clear description of their inner emotions and contrasts. The psychological characterization of the role is thus enlarged; the characters’ relationships and their emotional response to the development of the action are considered in greater depth † (Fifty Contemporary choreographers second edition) There are various examples of different human relationships in Ek’s works: Man/Woman in Smoke. â€Å"In â€Å"Smoke† Mats Ek shows the relationship between a man and a woman (Niklas Ek and Sylvie Guillem). Each of them has his/her own life as expressed in their respective solos. They meet and mingle tenderly and violently in two pas de deux. The smoke which comes from their clothes and mouths expresses their communication.† (http://nycdancestuff.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/smoke-by-mats-ek-imz-dance-screen-award-1996-with-niklas-sylvie-guillem/) Family relationships (parent/ child) in Swan Lake as Prince Siegfried are given an oedipal complex or in Sleeping Beauty when Aurora turns against her  parents. Close to this is the very theme of â€Å"motherhood† that is explored many times as well as the one about gender issues in his works. In Giselle, for example, the only activity conducted by the women is giving birth as the eggs brought on stage by the peasant woman seem to suggest. Gender issues are overall explored in The house of Bernarda Alba (1980) since the main character is performed by a man and in Carmen where the main character seems to be much more masculine than her man. Ek is, once again, fighting against traditions; he rebels against the traditional way of characterizing by stylized movements man and woman on stage. Ballet pieces tend to prefer some movements to be performed by female dancers and different ones by males. Ek instead tries â€Å"to cross the boundaries of given gender-specific movements, finding that really interesting† (Ek,Mats in Jensen,Gunilla, Intervista a Mats Ek, Reggio Emilia Danza: Edizioni del teatro municipale Valli,2002, p.38) â€Å"The movement language usefully opens up gender binaries leading to much more contemporary representations of man and woman. He exposes complexities of gender by inverting the far more conventional, steryotiped and idealised figures of traditional ballet† (Midgelow Vida, Reworking texts- inverting bodies, Mats Ek radically reconceived the classics, Ballet Theatre Journal) Rich and poor in Giselle. In this work Ek introduces the social theme of class differentiation. Giselle, completely in love with prince Albrecht who is clearly from a different social class, attempts to transgress the social rules. Finally she will be punished and rejected from her and Albrecht’s social class. White and black in Soweto (1977). The mechanical doll’s endless movements represent the white people’ prejudices against the blacks. They are repetitive movements and they symbolized the unchangeable ideas of the whites about the black people. Society and outsider in the second act of Giselle. Giselle is banished from  her social class and trapped into the mental hospital. This is a clear example of the society oppression. Giselle is banished because mentally disable and considered unable to find her place into the society again. (https://secure.staatsoper.de/922 -spielplan~ballett~veranstaltungen~vorstellung.html) Movement Vocabulary Mats Ek choreography is a totally new and innovative choreography. It is based on contemporary techniques. Ek gives much more importance to the body weight so his steps look more grounded and heavy. The dancers make a very good use of the floor. His movement language is really particular, there is a fluid use of the torso in contrast with the lower part of the body that is usually bend (bend knees). Very interesting is the constant research of opposition between inwards and outwards movements. The dancer seems first to perform a movement that reaches out from his body’s centre that ends being suddenly pulled back. Ek’s movement language reflect his themes and narrative intention, it goes against the original movements of the classical ballet. â€Å"Ek’s choreography inverts the traditional language of the ballet, he eschews ballet codes. He leaves behind the conventions of gendered vocabularies and the structured hierarchy of the pas de deux in favour of more diverse representations† (Midgelow Vida, Reworking texts- inverting bodies, Mats Ek radically reconceived the classics, Ballet Theatre Journal) A clear example is given by the swans in Swan Lake. In the traditional ballet in fact swans are seen as beautiful and ethereal animals perfectly synchronized with each other in every movement. Ek’s swans instead are â€Å"a set of independent earthly creatures that cross the stage with weighty gallops and stamping feet† (Midgelow, Vida). (http://www.cullbergbaletten.se/en/history) References Mats Ek’s experience in different art form really helped to develop his choreography. Mats Ek is not just a dancer but also an actor and puppeteer. In some of the choreographer’s works there are some clear references to literature. Ek seems to be strongly linked to the famous dramatis William Shakespeare. For example the relationship between Prince Siegfried and his mother can remind us the one between Hamlet and Gertrude. Influences and muses His mother, Birgit Cullberg, was the most important Ek’s influence. He dedicated a whole work to her: Old Children (1989). He learned a lot from her while he was sharing with her the artistic leadership of the Cullberg Ballet. There are lot of common themes between the two of them but different stylistic characteristics. Birgit’s style in fact was much more closer to balletic style. â€Å"The attention to psychological characterization, the sensitive portrayal of human feelings, the juxtaposition of strong images and humorous episodes can be seen as typical attributes of both Cullberg’s and Ek’s creations† (Poesio,Giannandrea. Fifty Contemporary Choreographers) (https://birgit+cullberg&oq=birgit+cullberg&gs) Ana Laguna, Ek’s wife, is the inspiring muse of the choreographer. She originated Giselle character, the Swan Queen in Swan Lake and the protagonist in Carmen. â€Å"The character of Giselle would have never been born without Ana Laguna† (Giannandrea Poesio) Ana Laguna, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Mats Ek (http://dansportalen.se/111/-fler-artiklar/nyhetsarkiv/1-23-2010-lena-andren-) Another great dancer who inspired him was Sylvie Guilleme. Ek created for her three works: Smoke, Wet Woman and Bye. Conclusion I enjoyed so much writing this essay. I think Mats Ek is an absolute genius, his choreographies are brilliant original and innovative. I love his reinterpretations of the three ballet classics, and his choreographic style. The movement vocabulary is unconventional and provocative. He is a choreographer simple and in its clarity and spontaneity we recognized his greatness. The messages arrive immediately to the audience, we do not need any explications or help to understand what the choreographer wants to say we just need to seat and enjoy the performance. Bibliography Book: Martha Bremser, Lorna Sanders. Fifty Contemporary Choreographers, Routledge Taylor. London and New York 2011. Accessed on 8th of April 2013 Articles: Pesio, Giannandrea. Mats Ek. The Dancing Times, October 2003. p 22. Accessed on the 12th of April 2013 Midgelow, Vida, Reworking texts-inverting bodies, Dancer Theatre Journal 15(2) 1999. p 4-7. Accessed on the 12th of April 2013 Jensen Gunilla, Mats Ek and the Cullberg Ballet, the Dancing Times. August 1997,p 993. Accessed on the 13th of April 2013