Willa Cather Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Willa Cather - Essay Example While editing the mÐ °gÐ °zine, she wrote short stories to fill its pÐ °ges. These stories, published in Ð ° collection cÐ °lled the Troll GÐ °rden in 1905, brought her to the Ð °ttention of S.S. McClure. In 1906 she moved to New York to join McClure's MÐ °gÐ °zine, initiÐ °lly Ð °s Ð ° member of the stÐ °ff Ð °nd ultimÐ °tely Ð °s its mÐ °nÐ °ging editor. During this time she met SÐ °rÐ ° Orne Jewett, Ð ° womÐ °n from MÐ °ine who inspired her to lÐ °ter write Ð °bout NebrÐ °skÐ °. In 1912, Ð °fter five yeÐ °rs with McClure's, she left the mÐ °gÐ °zine to hÐ °ve time for her own writing. Ð fter the publicÐ °tion of Ð lexÐ °nder's Bridge, Ð °lso in 1912, CÐ °ther visited the Southwest.In 1913 O Pioneers wÐ °s published Ð °nd in 1917 she wrote My Ð ntoniÐ ° while living in New HÐ °mpshire. By 1923 she hÐ °d won the Pulitzer Prize for her One of Ours, Ð °nd in this yeÐ °r her modernist book Ð  lost lÐ °dy wÐ °s published. Ð t the ti me her novels focused on the destruction of provinciÐ °l life Ð °nd the deÐ °th of the pioneering trÐ °dition.LÐ °ter CÐ °ther hÐ °d the period of despÐ °ir which wÐ °s followed by her productive success during these yeÐ °rs. Ð fter she recovered, she mÐ °nÐ °ged to write some of her greÐ °test novels, such Ð °s The Professor’s Hourse (1925), My MortÐ °l Enemy (1926), Ð °nd DeÐ °th Comes for the Ð rchbishop. She mÐ °intÐ °ined Ð °n Ð °ctive writing cÐ °reer, publishing novels Ð °nd short stories for mÐ °ny yeÐ °rs until her deÐ °th on Ð pril 24, 1947. Ð t the time of her deÐ °th, she ordered her letters burned. WillÐ ° CÐ °ther wÐ °s buried in New HÐ °mpshire (Marilyn, 1996).Like many artists, Willa Cather knew personal conflict.... By 1923 she hd won the Pulitzer Prize for her One of Ours, nd in this yer her modernist book lost ldy ws published. t the time her novels focused on the destruction of provincil life nd the deth of the pioneering trdition. Lter Cther hd the period of despir which ws followed by her productive success during these yers. fter she recovered, she mnged to write some of her gretest novels, such s The Professor's Hourse (1925), My Mortl Enemy (1926), nd Deth Comes for the rchbishop (1927). She mintined n ctive writing creer, publishing novels nd short stories for mny yers until her deth on pril 24, 1947. t the time of her deth, she ordered her letters burned. Will Cther ws buried in New Hmpshire (Marilyn, 1996). Like many artists, Willa Cather knew personal conflict. She was a free thinker reared amidst Calvinist dogma; a materialist acutely aware of the limited worth of "things"; an optimist who wanted to retain faith; a skeptic prone to depression and despair. In her fiction, successful marriages, happy families, and satisfying personal relationships are as scarce as summer rain in the New Mexican desert. Suicide marks her pages like the Platte River cuts Nebraska. Of all her conflicts, however, none is more acute or controversial than her sexuality. There are those who maintain that Cather was not homoerotic. For instance, in an interview published in the Omha World-Herald ( 1984), Susan J. Rosowski and Mildred Bennett advocate Cather's heterosexuality and maintain that her interest in other women was nothing more than school-girl crushes ( Cather Scholar 4). Sharon O'Brien , first in several essays and then in Willa Cather: The Emerging Voice, and others elsewhere have argued rather conv incingly that

Strategy of Sweetco Inc Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Strategy of Sweetco Inc - Case Study Example Apart from this, another fact was also revealed that Sweetco received money from its holding company for its operational functions on the basis of loans. This is the reason why the CFO has asked for an extension in the credit terms to 60 days. The objective is now to analyze the financial credibility of Sweetco at present and make a future projection so that we can decide whether to maintain the business relationship or not. The best option in such a case is to ascertain credit scores of the company Sweetco Inc. Assigning credit scores means defining certain factors for making decisions and allotting weight age on each factor. For example, 30 percent weight age for the payment history of the customer, 30 percent weight age to the amount of money outstanding, 15 percent weight on the length of the credit history, 10 percent weight on the newly generated credits, and 10 percent on the different types of loans being offered to the customer, i.e. Sweetco Inc. For this purpose the marketi ng contacts would be utilized; the investigation of credit shall be done through reliable sources; the customer of Sweetco Inc. can be contacted for information on the company’s status; the documents and financial statements can be filled based on the information acquired from different sources; the credit file for Sweetco. Inc. should be prepared; and finally a wholesome financial analysis is untaken. Hardline Position: The hardline position involves an extreme decision. In this case the decision would be that the company should not continue the business with Sweetco Inc and increasing the credit terms does not comes into play in this case. If the credit scores and the financial analysis show that Sweetco Inc. neither has the ability to pay back the money nor would be able to attain sustainability without the help of its holding company or any other financial support.

Social Work Theories Analysis

Social Work Theories Analysis Introduction Social work brings about social change. It addresses complex relationships between humans and the environment. Social work involves analyzing human problems and addresses issues to resolve injustice, discrimination, and dysfunction. Thus, according to International Federation of Social Workers (2000 qt. Ramsay 2003), the social work profession can be defined as a profession that â€Å"promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships, and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Using theories of human behavior and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.† Social work profession is based on the fundamental interrelation of a system of values, theory and practice. Although over the years, the definition of social work has undergone tremendous transformation. Nevertheless, the essence of its humanitarian and democratic ideals of social work through the centuries has remained the same. Today, social work has a global context and professionals follow national and international code of ethics that make the scope of their work more complex and challenging. Moreover, social work professionals also draw their experiences from accepted methods developed through systematic evidence-based knowledge from extensive research designed for both specific and general practices (Ramsay 2003). Theoretical frameworks form the basis of their evaluation of human behaviors, development and social systems and enable them to resolve the problems inherent therein. Social Work Theories Social work theories have their roots from the need to develop a disciplined approach to social work. By adopting common principles, social professionals were able to focus on the social goals. Charles Loch developed this conceptual framework during the early 20th century. Later social work scholars took up his seminal work. During the 21st century, renowned Harriet Bartlett (Bartlett 1970) had taken up and continued to develop professional frameworks for social work to â€Å"articulate words, terms, concepts to represent the important facets and components of the professions practices as a whole.† As more and more formalized ideas, theories and disciplines formed, social work has come to be acknowledged as an independent discipline with subset knowledge and systems for dealing with problems of the society. Bartlett (1970) also further reiterated the three key concepts person, interaction and environment as the basis for social work practices. Any theory developed with the v iew to examine, evaluate and resolve social issues must be based on these three key concepts. Given the above background on the development of social work theories, the researcher now shall discuss theories of particular interests, which are the theories of problem solving and psychoanalytic. In the following discussion, the researcher shall trace the theories in its historical context, values, concepts and fitness with the strengths approach. The strengths approach basically involves challenging the traditional problems-oriented way of working through training, expectations and work experience of professionals. The problems are then resolved through developing a collaborative framework based on examination of the professionals strengths and resources for positive growth and development (Morgan 2006; Wormer and Boes 1998). Problem-Solving Theory Social Work Treatment According to Duncker (1945): â€Å"A problem arises when a living creature has a goal but does not know how this goal is to be reached. Whenever one cannot go from the given situation to the desired situation simply by action, then there is recourse to thinking Such thinking has the task of devising some action which may mediate between the existing and the desired situations.† According to this definition, a problem arises when it is not clear to the individual what action(s) are to be taken to achieve some desired goals. The action to rectify this problem is known as problem-solving. Problem solving starts from a given situation where the problem or state of the situation requires additional knowledge to work towards its solution (Anderson 1980). Problem-solving theory has its developmental origin to Herbert Simon, Alan Newell and colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University during the 1980s (Patel 1991; Newell and Simon 1972). The general theoretical approach is that problem-solving theory is based on a given problem-solving situation. The second premise is that knowledge is a set of rules that specify actions to be performed in specific situations. The third premise is the distinction between weak and strong methods for resolving problems. Thus, an expert is expected to utilize the set of rules to find the solution for the given problem situation by using forward reasoning or observations. Alternatively, problem solving can involve using exhaustive knowledge base for deductive reasoning and assessing the validity of the hypothesis or goals against the facts given. This is a backward reasoning approach (Patel 1991). Newell-Simon theory of problem solving describes processes for developing expert systems in cognitive psychology, which forms the basis for other experiments in specific fields. Social work field In social work field, problem solving has its origin in the concept of social change developed by Helen Harris Perlman of the University Chicago (1957). In her work ‘Social Casework: A problem-solving process, the author views casework and problem solving synonymous which are based on constant elements, forces and processes. The constants form the reasoning framework for analyzing problems just as humans solve their daily problems. Learning is developed when individuals are involved in organizing, synthesizing and imagining the solutions of the problems (Perlman 1957). Perlmans theoretical framework is limited to the casework components such as the individual, problem, place, process, expert relationship and the resolution to the problem. The emphasis is more on the components rather than on the problem solutions itself and the scope of the solution is limited by the casework situation. Alternatively, Compton and Galaway (1979) also developed a problem-solving model for social work practice, which emphasizes on intervention and beyond processes. According to their theoretical framework, problem solving is connected with human relationships in a dynamic manner, which may involve partners, family members, friends or co-workers or group relationships such as race, ethnicity, gender or religion. Social works can resolve problems depending on the micro, mezzo or macro level practice they are involved in. Compton and Galaways (1979) problem-solving theory is based on two phases first the definition of the problem must be established for identification of intervention methods. The second phase involves intervention methods based on the problem context defined by human, societal and physical environment. Thus, Compton and Galaways (1979) problem-solving theory is based on human relationships with the environment and other individuals. The focus is on intervention rather th an on the problem itself. These investigations and conceptualization leads to the unified theory of problem-solving, which holds that experts process new information and integrate it into their existing knowledge base which helps them to recall and deal with situations rapidly through forward reasoning within limited time span and scope. There is little account for differences in complexities in domains and situations. For this reason, the problem-solving theory is only valid for responding to domains that are apparent through explicit patterns of results. From the social work practice, context problem-solving theory presents social worker as the expert and the source for intervention, and the individual with the problem as the client of the environment. The worker encounters problem situations within the work environment. To resolve, he/she refers to activities that co-workers or peers have undertaken on behalf of clients. Working with the client, the social worker analyzes, and identifies problem commonality to resolve it through group relations. Hence, problem solving in the social work practice means participation and direct involvement of the client with the worker (Sheppard 1991). Intervention method Another underlying element of the problem-solving theory is the intervention method. Unlike early perception of social workers, the value of work is not gauged by the duration of its intervention. Instead, it is gauged by the significance of the knowledge base used to analyze the problems to develop solutions. Therefore, intervention is further defined by the relationships of interaction among individuals involved in the problem. The social worker is the support element who is responsible for mediating between the environment and the person (Sheppard 1991). As an intervention method, problem-solving method is dynamic in the sense that it mediates problems by resolving on a case-by-case basis. Each individual problem in this theory is unique and is defined by the individual, relationship and context of the environment which makes it versatile in addressing numerous problem solutions. Furthermore, the option of forward and backward reasoning helps social workers to analyze and determine problem solutions from different perspectives depending on the nature of the problem. In the social work context, this is a valuable tool as it allows individuals to work on a case from the grassroots level, without having to eliminate vital facts and situations to achieve desired social goals. Furthermore, the researcher is of the view that problem-solving theory, though limited by the expertise and knowledge base developed by peers and colleagues, is flexible in allowing new avenues to be included in the problem-solving process. As workers work their way through resolving the problem, they discover new facts, and perhaps new solutions, which might be different from the initial premise that they have set for its solution. From a strengths perspective this implies that problem-solving methods add new resources; they enrich the experiences of the social workers by allowing them to explore new perspectives; and add value in developing new approaches for solving similar albeit unique problems. Psychoanalytic Theory The study of the unconscious was relatively schematic and meager before the advent of Sigmund Freud. For this reason, it could be said that Freud was the pioneer in psychoanalytic theory. Freud held that the human mind takes into account of transactions within the limits of the body. Unlike traditional belief that the human mind is shaped by culture, Freud believed that the depth and endurance of human personality is dependent on the social context in which an individual is born. A psychosomatic process is the traditional method by which physicians analyze symptoms of mental disorders within the pathological discourse. However, Freud holds that psychosomatic processes are limited, as he believes that individuals are influenced by elements that are outside the body that is the environment. To exemplify that, he writes of the influences of human association and its impact on the unconsciousness. It is only through observational procedures that the expert would extricate subtle and mul tiple ties of the personality with the other individuals and environmental elements. Observations of body language, as well as human acts in relation to sequences of interaction form the study of individuals within the context of the society (Ruitenbeek 1962). Freuds conceptual framework was based on the observation of the human consciousness and unconsciousness, and its relation with the basic nature of man. It lacked the social work context. His theory implies that man is exceedingly indulgent or deprived by his/her surroundings which give rise to a certain psychiatric state of mind. The Theory of Psychoanalytic Technique Menninger (1958), in his work ‘The Theory of Psychoanalytic Technique counteracts the practice of external influence by suggesting that individual behavior is a reflection of behaviors that occur during and after the events they are involved in. Menninger and Holzman (1973) differed from Freuds theory for psychoanalysis in the sense that they were of the view many individuals may demonstrate similar behavior without having any psychiatric problems. Therefore, psychoanalysis is not essentially about the physiological influence but rather associated with stimulus from interactions. The authors emphasize on new methods for observing and interpreting behavior in the context of culture and personality through structured research instruments. They believe that the psychoanalytic approach has particular associations with socialization sequences that lead to individual relationships with the environment, culture and personality. This implies that psychoanalysis approaches emphasize on the role of the professional engaged in the observation of individual behaviors and interpretation of the same. The skills used to deduce valuable information about the personality is derived from daily life processes. Likewise, an intervention is inherent in the behaviors and actions of the individual under study. Alternatively, works by Roy Schafer (1976) and Irwin Hoffman (1983) have entirely altered the conceptual framework of psychoanalysis theory and practice. They emphasize on the reality of social construct and its impact on both the individual and the professional. They present the view that solutions for problems in psychoanalytic are dependent on the cultural life at large. It is based on objective knowledge derived from social agreements and human actions are the narrative of the acts. Therefore, psychoanalysis is the study of the language of the human acts and interpretation of the same to represent possible accounts of the past or present life of the individual. Transactions between the analyst and the patient are constructed by subject experience, human agency, and fragments of individuation/separation etc. Thus, For Schafer, (1) psychoanalysis is concerned in a primary fashion with language and its equivalents; (2) subjective experience, objective reality, and selves are all con structions brought to life in language; (3) these present-day tellings could be told in other terms and do not represent real world events; (4) unitary selves are displaced by the notion that we tell useful stories about multiple selves in order to conduct our affairs; and (5) cure accompanies changes in discourse. qt. Leary 1994). Similarly, Hoffman believes that human beings, whether professional or individuals, requiring intervention live worlds within worlds to make social interaction highly ambiguous. Observation of individual behaviors cannot construct individual social environment alone. Individual experiences must be taken into account to understand the influences of elements surrounding them. Intervention follows the paradigm of change and analysis of the participants because he believes individuals are incapable of understanding their own dilemma. These later conceptual frameworks of the psychoanalytic theory not only pose challenges for social work practices but also offer new dimensions for analyzing complex individual social problems. The role of the social worker in the psychoanalytic context is separate from the individual and the environment, as he/she has to observe objectively to interpret individual behaviors in the psychiatric context as well as in the context of the environment in which the individual inhabit. Thus, the professional is segregated and does not really participate in the problems faced by the individuals. This tends to dissociate the analyst from the individual, which at times hinders problem resolution. However, objective observations in psychoanalysis enable the social work professional to emphasize on interventions methods. Since interventions are not set in paradigms or experiments or processes from knowledge base, the social worker has more leeway in developing creative interventions that meet des ired social goals at the individual and from the broader societal contexts. At the same time, there are certain limitations to the theory of psychoanalytic. There is too much emphasis of the individual and less focus of intervention for the broad social context. As individuals live in the society interact, transact and have relationships with other entities within the environment it is natural to assume that any problems or issues that they face should be resolved in the context of the community they live in. It is not natural to assume that the problem is inherent within the environment and the intervention method should be for the individual only. From this perspective, the psychoanalytic theory is limited. Therefore, the psychoanalytic approach does not really fit the strengths approach, which basically emphasizes on resource development. Although psychoanalysis emphasizes on problem resolutions, this is limited to the issues faced by individuals not from a communal or global context. There is little scope for adding value to interventions in the social work practice as it represents the realities of the individuals. Therefore, world events, social change and communal issues become secondary to the analyst who adopts this approach. Compare and Contrast At the beginning of the discussion, the researcher emphasizes on the importance of the key components in social work i.e. person, interaction and the environment. These key components, as one observes over the course of the evaluation of the theories of problem-solving and psychoanalytic, play integral roles in synergizing the conceptual framework for social work and professional practices. In this context, if any one component were missing from the theoretical framework, it would destabilize its validity and usefulness to the profession. Theoretical fit with the social work professional focus From the discussion, the researcher observes that the problem-solving theory, as compared to the psychoanalytic theory, has more dimensions to the mission of social work. The nature of forward and backward reasoning enables social work professionals to trace the problem from multiple layers of contexts such as culture, race, gender, ethnicity and religion, to extricate the inherent issues prevalent within the individual, a community or a society. In doing so, it encompasses broader social perspectives and addresses problems such as poverty, cultural diversity, discrimination, gender bias or social injustice. Thus, the problem-solving theory serves the purpose of problem identification and eventually leads to its intervention as well, even though the problem-solving theorists have not emphasized as such. Interventions, according to the theory, stem from set rules and the knowledge base that professionals can acquire through experience and expertise. On the other hand, the psychoanalytic approach adopts similar processes for problem identification within the individual and in the social context but does not really view the problem as a social problem. The components of person, interaction and environment are not synergistic but rather segregated from each other. This makes finding interventions difficult as the social work professional would have to differentiate the person, relationship and the environment, before individual resolutions can be devised. This is because the psychoanalytic approach mandates objective observations and following set processes, which does not allow social workers to view the problem from different dimensions which are inherent in the social work mission. Therefore, psychoanalytic theory mostly identifies problems within the society from micro perspectives, thereby, limiting the scope of intervention. Unlike the problem-solving theory, the psychoanalytic theory integrates social problems like poverty, cultural diversity, discrimination, gender biases and social injustice into the social environment and explains its influence on the individual. Sometimes, these factors may or may not be the culprit for individual problems but, in fact, the problem stems from within the unconscious. Thus, the abstract nature of the psychoanalytic theory makes it difficult to devise interventions realistically that are practical in the social work field. Progress on the part of the client and ethical concerns As a social work professional, one is responsible for the progress of the client. The problems or issues my client faces may be from the micro, mezzo and macro environment and therefore require different approaches towards interventions. Therefore, I would reserve the psychoanalytic approach for micro interventions so that I would be able to analyze the psychological as well as physiological dilemmas, and ultimately devise interventions that address the root problem. On the other hand, if the nature of the problem that my client is experiencing stems from the outset and requires a broad perspective in evaluation, then I would adopt the problem-solving approach to address the problem, first from the macro level then narrow it down to the micro level and resolve it accordingly. The approaches differ because, as a social work practitioner, I need to have flexible tools to evaluate the progress of my client. This can only be possible if I use a combination of theories and approaches to o ffer me flexibility as well as dynamism in my work. The only ethical concern I have regarding the application of these theories would perhaps be the scope and limitations each poses for social work practice. The problem-solving theory, as discussed earlier, emphasizes too much on the processes, which at times may result in compromised interventions. On the other hand, the psychoanalytic approach is too narrow and limited in its scope in addressing individual perspectives and tends to neglect the broader scenario. In resolving individual problems, perhaps I would neglect to incorporate the bigger picture and, thereby, inadvertently harm the society instead of benefiting it as a whole through my social work practice. Conclusion Despite the above reservations, the researcher is of the view that each of the theories has its own merit and application in intended practice. It is difficult to choose one over the other, as social work professionals realize no social issues or problem congruent with the other. Each problem is unique and requires unique resolutions. Since human beings are dynamic, their problems are dynamic too, requiring diversity in resolutions and intervention methods. Yet, from a broader perspective, the researcher would prefer the problem-solving approach over the psychoanalytic as it would more commonly be used in every day practice for the interventions of common problems. Such problems require a knowledge base to be developed from set rules and experiments, and require less time for interventions. On the other hand, for complex problems the researcher would prefer to use the psychoanalytic approach for individual objective observation and interventions. References Definition of Social Work Profession International Federation of Social Workers general meeting in Montrà ©al, Canada, July 2000, and endorsed by the International Association of Schools of Social Work in 2001 in Ramsay, R. F. (2003). Transforming the Working Definition of Social Work Into the 21st Century. Research on Social Work Practice, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 324-338 Bartlett, H. M. (1970). The Common Base of Social Work. New York: National Association of Social Workers. Compton B. Galaway, B. (1979). Social Casework A Problem-Solving Process. revised edn. Homewood, IL: The Dorsey Press. Fine, R. (1979). The History of Psychoanalysis. Columbia University Press. Leary, K. (1994). Psychoanalytic Problems And Postmodern Solutions. Psychoanalytic Quarterly. Volume: 63. Issue: 3. pp. 447. Menninger, K and Holzman, P. S. (1973). Theory of Psychoanalytic Technique. Basic Books. Menninger, K.S. (1958). The Theory of Psychoanalytic Technique. New York: Basic Books. Morgan, S. (Accessed 15-10-2006). A Strengths Approach Practicebasedevidence.com, Online accessed from: http://www.practicebasedevidence.com/strengths.htm Newell, A., Simon, H. A. (1972). Human Problem Solving. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:PrenticeHall. Patel, V. (1991). A view from medicine. In Toward a Unified Theory of Problem Solving: Views from the Content Domains. by Mike U. Smith (ed). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Hillsdale, NJ. pp. 35. Perlman, H. (1957). Social Work Process Social Casework: A Problem-Solving Process. The University of Chicago Press. Ruitenbeek, H. M. (1962). Psychoanalysis and Social Science. Dutton, New York. pp. 16. Sheafor, B. W., Horejsi, C.R. Horejsi, G.A. (2005). Techniques Guidelines for Social Work Practice. Allyn Bacon. Sheppard, M. (1991). Mental Health Work in the Community: Theory and Practice in Social Work and Community Psychiatric Nursing. Falmer Press pp. 32. Wormer, K. and Boes, M. (1998). Social Work, Corrections, and the Strengths Approach. Paper presented at the Canadian Association of Social Workers National Social Work Conference, June 20 24, 1998 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Humanism :: essays research papers fc

1 Humanism The Renaissance, which began in Italy in 1300s, was one of the largest periods of growth and development in Western Europe. The increase in trade caused an abundance in wealth that resulted in the focusing of the arts. Such things as literature, paintings, sculptures and many more works are known to have blossomed from the period known as the Renaissance. The Renaissance was started by many rich Italian cities, such as Florence, Ferrara, Milan, and Venice (Bram 274). Because these cities were very wealthy, many merchants started to spend money on different things, such as painting, learning, new banking techniques, and new systems of government. These things gave rise to a new type of scholar, the humanist, and a new philosophy, humanism. To understand the term humanism, one must first know what some assume humanism to be. Many definitions are widely proclaimed by different groups and organizations. The American Humanist Association(AHA) defines humanism as 2 a rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion. Affirming the dignity of each human being, it supports the maximization of individual liberty and opportunity consonant with social and planetary responsibility. It advocates the extension of participatory democracy and the expansion of the open society, standing for human rights and social justice. Free of supernaturalism, it recognizes human beings as a part of nature and holds that values--be they religious, ethical, social, or political--have their source in human experience and culture. Humanism thus derives the goals of life from human need and interest rather than from theological or ideological abstractions, and asserts that humanity must take responsibility for its own destiny. (Schafersman) Humanism is also defined as "a democratic and ethical" point of view on life that reiterates the fact that human beings have the right to and responsibility of giving meaning to and shaping one's own life, according to the International Humanist and Ethical Union (Schafersman). The Union also believes their philosophical view on humanism "stands for the building of a 3 more humane society through ethics" based upon the reason and the inquisitive capabilities of the human nature. The Bristol Humanist Group's view on their ideology is much simpler. It states, "Humanism is an approach to life based on reason and our common humanity, recognizing that moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience alone" (Schafersman). This new word, humanist, and the principal practice became more prevalent during the late 15th-century in Italy and was used to describe a tutor or teacher of the "humanities".

Analysis of Graphic Design Essay

Art is a form of expression that dates back to the beginning of time. Since then it has evolved and changed to adapt to modern times. Whether that be through a shift in style, in medium, or technology. Graphic design, contrary to popular belief, actually began in 1922, to define graphic art across time. Since the introduction of the modern computer and graphic design software, it has evolved into an n art style that is present everywhere in the modern world. Graphic design has many different styles just as normal art does, ranging from the minimalism of Apple, to the typographic nature of many modern advertisements. Graphic design isn’t just a form of art anymore, but it rather is a medium through which much of our life is defined. To understand the concept of graphic design, you must first analyze graphic design in the modern world, the techniques used, and finally the different mediums available to achieve high quality art. In 1976 Ronald Wayne designed the very first Apple Computer Co. logo. This logo depicted Isaac Newtown sitting under a tree to reflect the revolutionary nature of this. However, Wayne’s design wasn’t appreciated by many, and thus did not gain much popularity. In less than a year, Steve Jobs commissioned Rob Janoff, one of the most famous graphic designers ever, to design the new Apple logo, a rainbow silhouette of an apple. This reflected the idealistic nature of the computers and also showed the powerful aspect that the computers hold with the ability to process so many different colors. In 1998 however, the Apple logo changed its colorful nature to a monochromatic look reflecting the modern nature of the world, not to mention the contrast between the color schemes of the gray computers with monochrome logos. (Davis â€Å"Evolution and History of the Apple Logo†) Graphic design has not just revolutionized logo design, but has also revolutionized other aspects of life, such as infamous cartoons. Before the inception of modern graphic design, cartoon artists have to hand draw their cartoons, and often resulted in many mistakes and rough looking images. With the inception of graphic design, cartoon art has shifted from being simple and childish, to being extravagant and mature. The TV shows Avatar the Last Airbender is one of the key examples of this. The art on this reflects many aspects of our own history. Such as East-Asian, Inuit, Indian and south-American cultures. The show has won many awards, many of them being for the concentration on art and the superior quality of it (DiMartino â€Å"Avatar the Last Airbender: The Art of the Animated series†) Before modern graphic design, artists often worked for wealthy businesses and could not afford to work on their own. Walt Disney founded The Walt Disney Company under this premise, and hired many artists to work for him. Now the Walt Disney Company is one of the biggest and most well-known companies in the world, and the shift from old styles of art to modern graphic design has changed it completely. Now movies and TV shows can be produced in a matter of days with the proper team, rather than in the olden ages where it took many months if not years to produce the art for a movie. This modern graphic design, like any other art styles holds a battery of techniques associated with it, as these techniques provide methods to convey the idea, or message. One of the simplest techniques that can be used is the simple modification of contrast. High contrast lines make it easier for the read to determine the difference between different sections of the page. Joost de Valk, the graphic artist behind yoast. om, uses this technique quite extensively as seen on their homepage (yoast. com). Other sites such as wordpress. com also use this technique, most famously in their â€Å"download† button, to make the deep orange button stand out amongst the calm palette of blues and grays. Through the usage of contrast, attention is drawn to contrasting items, and thus the reader’s focus is diverted to certain topics. Most contrasts however work directly with gradients. The site Media Temple uses an extensive amount of gradients, mainly to illustrate the modern attitude of their site. These gradients are however, subtle. The gradients thus emphasize the importance of certain topics, by placing lighter colors at the bottom and darker at the top, the object is seen to be progressing through time in essence. There however exists a variety of gradients. Gradients can be radial gradients (circular eminations), vertical linear fade, horizontal linear fade, horizontal radial fade, vertical radial fade and just simple linear fade. These different designs all work hand in hand to create direction on the page. By creating direction on the page, certain topics can be emphasized and others can be dismissed. The key flaw that many new designers face in regards to gradients is the flow of the gradients. If too many gradients are placed on a page or the gradients contrast, then the gradients will seem amateur and will detract from the quality of the website. Gradients must however be in accordance with color schemes. Certain colors work well together, while others tend to be a nuisance. Take for example the design of the Los Angeles Lakers logo. They utilize the colors of gold and purple, both of which are opposite one another on the color wheel. Thus these colors, through contrast, in fact bring out the overall appearance of the team. Then examine the logo that Lasko fans uses. Their color scheme is a simple brown and yellow, and yet this color scheme makes their logo appear dull and overused. Lasko fans, and LA Lakers both have the same potential for superior logo quality, but because of color selection, the LA Lakers hold more graphic quality in regards to their respective logos than does Lasko fans†¦ Cohen â€Å"Evolution of NBA Team Logos†,). Gradients, contrast and color are the three most basic techniques used in graphic art, and can define a work as either superior, or amateur. All three of these concepts work together to create the concept of â€Å"visual identity†. Visual identity is a term coined by Abduzeedo (world renown Brazilian graphic designer), meaning simply the â€Å"definitive element within the design process used across all applications and branding materials†. As discussed above this could be as simple as the apple logo, or even as complex as a stamp. Most large organizations have a visual identity, even the US Government does. The visual identity of the US Government for example could be the American flag, or the bald eagle, as this is present throughout their entire brand line. During 2008, President Obama used the concept of the visual identity, but took it one step further and used the â€Å"verbal identity†. He associated the word â€Å"change† with his campaign so that this would become an integral part of it. By utilizing the word change he essentially created a memorable center point for his campaign messages by which people could remember and associate with him. Abduzeedo â€Å"The Makery – Visual Identity†) A problem that many graphic artists face is a problem that much of the world faces: â€Å"why? † Much of graphic art just like modern problems revolves around the question of â€Å"why† and the purpose of art rather than the material it holds. Richard Simkens, a world renowned marketer, identified this concept as the golden circle. (R. Simkens 10) in this golden circle, at the outside is the â€Å"what†. What the company sells or what the art is made up of takes part f this circle. In the middle circle are the â€Å"how† or how the company makes and the process that the designer uses to create the art. At the center and the most important is the â€Å"why† or what the purpose of it is. Great graphic artists such as surrealist Roy Villalobos attempt to analyze and fix this concept. His art philosophy is that he attempts to express his emotions through the usage of metamorphic human figures. By attempting to mix the human physiology with what he perceives to be the emotions he creates a surrealist work of art that holds purpose. Electronic graphic art is what is currently shaping the world. However, to achieve a great success in electronic graphic art, proper software must be used. This software begins with the most simplest of kind: MS Paint. MS Paint, also known as Microsoft Paint, is software that has been bloatware (preinstalled on the pc) for the past decade, and thus has been used by millions worldwide. MS Paint has very basic functions, such as straight lines and shape creation, but it does not have more complex functions such as layering or gradient swatches. Thus, MS Paint is generally dismissed in the professional graphic art world, but it does still hold some value as it provided the foundation for all other graphic art software to stem from. In 2003, Adobe Systems released the Adobe â€Å"Creative Suite†, graphic art software released to the general public. Before this the only way you could graphic design on a personal scale would have been through illegally torrenting company software, purchasing the extremely expensive Photoshop 8 (released in 1989) with a private license or purchasing private licenses on extremely expensive software. The main component of â€Å"Creative Suite† was in fact, Adobe Photoshop CS. Photoshop CS was revolutionary as it provided a cheap, personal level of graphic design in which even the most inexperienced laymen could pick it up and start designing. However, as time went on, Photoshop became more and more complex with the addition of several functions such as â€Å"rasterization† and â€Å"layer masking† or â€Å"layer merging† and thus the accessibility of it degraded as the quality increased. Soon however, it began to replace much professional private graphic software, and now it is the most widely used. Photoshop CS might be compared to the original Photoshop, but it held many differences. Since Photoshop CS could utilize 3d image creation, motion graphics editing and advanced image analysis, it held a much more professional quality of workmanship than the original and thus comparing the original Photoshop to Photoshop CS would be similar in comparing the size of David to Goliath. (â€Å"The history of Photoshop†) Photoshop was not the only software that had image modification capabilities. In 1996, the software GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) was released for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux. This software was in essence what many would call a â€Å"knockoff of Photoshop†, but these individuals were wrong. Although it had all of the same functions as Photoshop, GIMP was revolutionary. It was free first off, so individuals did not have to go out to the store and buy a one hundred dollar cd that they then would have to install. This led to a wider demographic using this, including individuals from around the world, thus allowing greater cultural exchange through graphic art. However, the more important aspect of GIMP would be that it was open source. By being open source, it meant that anyone could take the source code or program of GIMP and modify it to fit their own needs, or even the needs of a specific task. So when new images such as GIF and MPEG came out, GIMP was the first one to be modified to suit their needs. Although GIMP can be considered the little brother of Photoshop, the one who always imitates what Photoshop does, GIMP is infect the innovative little brother of Photoshop. â€Å"A Brief History of GIMP† gimp. org). Graphic art is something that a small proportion of individuals understand to a limited extent, and even fewer understand to mastery. Graphic design is shaping the modern world at the same rate that our media progresses. Through the usage of media and graphic design everything is effected, be it the wallpaper in a hospital waiting room wall, or the logo on a billboard in New Jersey. Graphic art hasn’t revolutionized the world, but rather is constantly in accordance with the progression of the world.

Book of Prophet Isaiah Essay

Prophet Isaiah, the son of Amos, was descended from a royal tribe. Isaiah was born during the reign of King Uzziah, Jothan, Ahaz, Hezekiah and Jehovah. During his reign the nation as a whole enjoyed times of prosperity and temporal development. The whole nation mourned his passing from the scene at a time when his presence seemed needed the most. Under him the worship of Jehovah was encouraged but he was not strong enough to secure the destruction of the high places where idolatrous practices were continued. His reign must be ranked as one of the outstanding of the southern kingdom. He walked in the ways of his father, and under him the people continued to worship the Lord Jehovah after the manner of the commandment, though still the places of idolatry were allowed to remain. Ahaz, whose whole reign was one chronicle of disaster and destruction. With an absolute abandon, Ahaz gave himself over to the overthrow of the ordained order of worship, broke the commandment in almost every de tail, destroyed the temple worship and finally closed the doors of the house of God. In the most calculated manner he conspired to obliterate the memory of the service of the Lord of all Israel, the Redeemer and the Holy One. Then he was followed on the throne by his son Hezekiah, who was very unlike his fathers and set about reviving the worship in the temple, which his father had abolished. He attempted, with some success to obliterate idol worship, and to deliver his people from the yoke of foreign power. It was under him that Isaiah came into his own, and was treated with high favour. In this position he was given every opportunity for the use of his keen and divinely inspired power of discernment into the facts of the contemporary situation. The name, Isaiah, means ‘Jehovah saves,’ or ‘Jehovah is salvation’, and through days of crisis and disaster greater than any before in the history of the people, his call was constantly to faith in the One Who alone could save the land. His role was ever that of inspiring and challenging the drooping spirits of the men of Judah at times when hope seemed dead. His ministry was a long one stretching as it did through the reigns of Uzziah, Jothan, Ahaz and Hezekiah. His father’s name was Amoz, and there is a Jewish tradition that he was a brother of King Amaziah; in which case Isaiah would be the cousin of King Uzziah. Naturally enough, it is impossible to be really sure of this, but it is certainly a reasonable explanation of the fact that Isaiah enjoyed immediate and regular entrance to the royal house. And also that he had the ear of the most influential people of his day. In spite of this, he remained a simple and undaunted spokesman for Jehovah, and tradition again affirms that it was for this reason that he was put to death in the reign of the wicked Manasseh, Hezekiah’s successor. He was married and he himself called his wife ‘the prophetess’ (Isaiah 8:3). He had two children, one named Shear-jashubl, which means ‘a remnant shall return,’ and the other Maher-shalalhashbaz, which means ‘haste ye to the spoil.’ These names were given to them as portents of what was to come and also as a reinforcement of the prophet’s predictive message. Apart from this, there is little else known of his personal history except what is found in the book itself. The exact length of his ministry is not known for sure, but he definitely laboured for at least forty years. From the last year of King Uzziah’s reign 740 B.C. to the fourteenth year of ther reign of King Hezekiah in 701 B.C. and it is clear that through all this period of time his call and challenge were unremitting and persistent. His aim was ever definite – the establishment of the worship of the Lord in righteousness and truth amongst the chosen race. His Message Isaiah’s prophecy, the longest of all the Old Testament prophecies divides first of all quite naturally into two parts, chapters 1-39, and 40-66. Because of this split, critics during the last century have seen fit to decide that two separate authors are responsible for the prophecy and that the second one was written some hundred years after the first one. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the prophecy itself by the way of names and such like to establish the truth or the falsehood of this statement. However the nature of the second part of the book seems to indicate that it was said to a nation at a time when they were in a completely different condition from that of the exile in Babylon, during which time some people maintain that it was written. As well as these two separate parts, the prophecy also divides into nine sections. The Book of Isaiah (Hebrew: × ¡Ã— ¤Ã— ¨ ×™× ©Ã— ¢Ã—™×”) is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve. (The order of the subsequent books differs somewhat in the Christian Old Testament). The first 39 chapters prophesy doom for a sinful Judah and for all the nations of the world that oppose God, while the last 27 prophesy the restoration of the nation of Israel and a new creation in God’s glorious future kingdom;[1] this section includes the Songs of the Suffering Servant, four separate passages referring to the nation of Israel, interpreted by Christians as prefiguring the coming of Jesus Christ.

Business Systems Development in Manufacturing essays

Business Systems Development in Manufacturing essays Riordan Manufacturing is an International plastics company with 3 locations in the United States and a joint venture in China. Over the years Riordan has acquired small specialized companies and as such the company needs to establish systems and procedures that can be used in all locations. The company will benefit in many ways by combining and creating business systems that are the same in all locations bringing cohesiveness, organization and improved efficiency that will be the foundation for the future growth of the company. The company requests the analysis of the Human Resource (HR) department systems to begin the process of updating the Whenever there are plans to make changes to systems there are people that need to be included in the analysis and development of those changes and those people are the stakeholders. Riordan is starting with the Human Resource department for the initial upgrades to the system so the stakeholders will be the director of HR Yvonne McMillan, VP of operations Charles Wilson, COO Hugh McCauley, CFO Dale Edgel and the directors of plant operations for each branch, all of the employees and last but not Using a System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) will help to ensure a successful product will be delivered. The first phase will be the requirements planning phase using the stakeholders, various information gathering methods can be used to achieve this initial step. A one on one interview with the stakeholders will help to get each department's needs and expectations documented. Putting similar job level groups together can help bring out more of the requirements using the collaboration of the members of the group helps to spark ideas from each member as items are discussed. Using some of the needs and requirements being gathered during this initial phase can be the basis for a questionnaire that can be used to survey the employees. Survey Monkey (S...