What Is Postmodernism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

What Is Postmodernism - Essay Example The essay "What Is Postmodernism" gives a detailed information about postmodernism. One hand, it is quite difficult to provide proper description of the periods when the transitions are happening and on the other hand it is also not possible to figure out properly the main signs of postmodernism. Perhaps it is the 30s, when the first time the term postmodernism was used. During this time postmodernism actually referred to change in historical spectrum of the Western world as well as certain changes that became conspicuous in the prevailing Art forms. It is the 1970s, when postmodernism drew huge attention from scholars in every field. In his book, A Primer on Postmodernism, the author Stanley J. Grenz has commented about prevailing influence of postmodernism, â€Å"First it denoted a new style of architecture. Then it invaded academic circles, originally as a label of theories expounded in University English and philosophy departments. Eventually it surfaced as the description for a broader cultural phenomenon.† If an attempt is made to find the basic concept of postmodernism, it is quite clear from the term itself that postmodernism signifies a movement that seeks to go beyond the modernism and widen the scope as well as significance of modernism. Postmodernism basically follows the main principles of modernism but at the same time it rejects just the modern process of thinking and introduces more aspects to the whole matter. In order to understand postmodernism it is important to understand the modernism.

Analysis Of A Christmas Carol

Analysis Of A Christmas Carol The title of this novel is A Christmas Carol, which is written by Charles Dickens. In this novel, the main character, Scrooge, has a callous personal. He doesnt recognize poverty, kindness, and love. During nights, he faced the four ghosts, who were trying to teach him life lessons. After that, he realizes money is not the only thing that matters in the world. Scrooge learns a great deal about himself and the world him as a result of the visits by the spirits. Marley is Scrooges former business partner, but he died seven years ago. Marleys face came up to Scrooge on Christmas Eve to warn him. The warning is about Scrooges cruel actions towards people. Unless he changes his ways, he will be wearing the big chains. Marley hopes to save his old partner from suffering a similar fate. He is symbolized by the big chain, which is partly made up of money cases and keys. The chain represents greedy and evil deeds on the earth. Scrooge learned that he will also have to wear big chains, if he doesnt change his actions on the community. He found out about needs in this world and the real job of mankind is to involve in the community. The Ghost of Christmas Past is the first spirit to visit Scrooge, and has a childs body with a shining head. The Ghost of Christmas Past is the soul of the disagreement of Scrooges youth and old age. A beam of light display from his head is to show the truth about his past. Scrooge tried to put out the light when he feels that he is unable to hold the memories that the ghost is showing to him and he said I dont know what to do! As he cried and said again I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to every-body! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo! With the presentation of Scrooge past, the ghost makes him realize that he has changed considerably from who he was when he was young. The ghost also makes him realize what he is capable of doing about society. It makes him recognize the good people living in the society, such as Belle and Fezziwig. The Ghost of Christmas Present, who has a magic torch, shows Scrooge the homes of Bob Cratchit and Scrooges nephew, Fred. As the time passes the ghost, who was young when he first became visible to Scrooge, seems to get older. The ghost represents how plenty is the resources, which includes joy, around the society. His torch is in the shape of the Horn of Plenty and when he sprinkles the magic juice on the people, they are filled with the kindness and joyfulness. In both homes, the family members think about Scrooge, although he hasnt been good to either his clerk, or his nephew. Seeing that, Scrooge learned there are people, who care about him, and how he is isolated from society. He also got to realize that a person can be living happily without necessarily get rich. Scrooge figured out that want and ignorance are dangerous for the society. The Ghost of Christmas Future is partly invisible, come to Scrooge and he said Ghost of the Future, as he exclaimed, I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me well, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak to me? but the ghost shows Scrooge about what happens when he dies and also brings the warning of his pitiless death, which is reflected by his past actions. It made comparison between his death and the regretful death of Tim. Scrooge realizes there are only a few people who mourn for his death. On the other hand, he saw a lot of people mourning for poor little Tim. Scrooge learned that in this world, a person shouldnt expect more than what he or she puts into society. Finally, Scrooge gains knowledge of how he must change to become a more generous person if he wants to live as happy as little Tim. The results of the visits by the spirits, Scrooge learns about himself as well as the world. It is important to read this book because it gives the reader knowledge on greediness. It also shows how important it is to live happily during a life span. This book is important to me because I want to make my life model little Tim. They live very happily during his short life time.

Immortality And Mortality In The Economic Sciences :: essays research papers

<a href="http://www.geocities.com/vaksam/">Sam Vaknin's Psychology, Philosophy, Economics and Foreign Affairs Web Sites Roberto Calvo Macias, a young author and thinker from Spain, once wrote to me that it is impossible to design a coherent philosophy of Economy without accounting for the (sad?) fact that we are mortals. This insight is intriguing. It is not that we refrain from Death in dealing with matters economic. What are estate laws, annuities, life insurance policies - but ways to cope with the Great Harvester? But this, admittedly, only scratch the non-profound surface of the question. The industrial revolution taught us that humans were dispensable. The process of production was reduced to minute functional units that people could learn in minutes. Only the most basic skills were required to successfully endure this learning curve. Thus, for as long as humans bred, the supply was inexhaustible. Humans became entirely replaceable, interchangeable (and alienated, in the process). Motion pictures of the period (â€Å"Metropolis†, â€Å"Modern Times†) portray the industrial worker as a nut in a machine, driven to the verge of insanity by the repetitiveness of his work. Yet, this view of human resources is fast becoming extinct in the rich Western countries. Training periods have lengthened, expert knowledge has taken over, the main value added is information. Humans represent a sizeable investment in education. They are no longer an inexpensive resource .With this realization, there came about a revolution in economic relations. Absurdly, inhuman totalitarian regimes (especially Fascism and Communism) were the first to emphasize the importance of the human factor in the total set of means of production. The concept of scarcity was extended (by virtually all the economic systems today) to apply to human resources. All resources are scarce. Economy is the science of trading off : giving up one resource in order to get more of another. The concept of â€Å"opportunity cost† is the first that students of economy encounter. The classic approach included natural endowments in the group of scarce resources. The human element was barely perceived as yet another natural resource. Now it is. The size of the population, its life expectancy, its quality of life, health, education, income – are all important. Economy is the branch of psychology which deals with behaviour patterns and with mental processes which relate to material wealth, with the opportunities to obtain it (=access to it) and with the processes and mechanisms underlying its attainment. Because material wealth can be expressed quantitatively, this specific branch acquired a â€Å"mathematical† nature, a twist not present in other branches of the human

Dear Rebecca and Jessy Essay

Let me start by saying congratulations on your recent engagement. It is an honor being your mother and your future mother in law that you both would like advice on how to effectively communicate in your relationship. In taking an interpersonal communication course, I have learned several concepts that I would like to share with you throughout this letter. I feel that it is only right that I share information I have learned for the marriage you have ahead. I know that you are newly engaged, and this information will prove to be of use in your relationship. It is important that interpersonal communication become the building blocks between both parties. This will highly effect how you interact with one another. It will also impact you listening and speaking skills. The fact that we have been communicating all of our lives does not mean that we do it well. (Sole, K, 2011 ch1.1). It is important to know the main principles and misconceptions in effective interpersonal communication. This is a start to understanding each other. The word communication originated from the Latin word â€Å"communico†, which means â€Å"to join or unite,† â€Å"to connect,† â€Å"to participate in,† or â€Å"to share with all.† These meanings are the goals of improving interpersonal communication. As you too are a newly engaged couple, it is important to be able to do all the above meanings. People have desires to be able to connect, participate, and share with others. Interpersonal communication cannot be avoided. Rebecca be sure to express your emotional barriers with Jessy, talk to him now about your suspicions or concerns about your relationship. Rebecca and Jessy, my first word of advice to you in this new marriage that you will embark upon is to identify barriers that will affect your interpersonal interaction. First address any physical barriers that you think might be an issue now or later on in the marriage. Sit down and figure the challenges that you feel may make a difference, discuss the issues that may be a barrier with one another. For instances being away from family that live in other places, children if that is something you both want, what if a parent gets sick what is the plan for that. S it down and talk about things that are near and dear to you like political, religion what are each other views that a married couple should discuss. In this letter of advice before you Rebecca and Jessy get married. I will cover many areas of interpersonal communication. The first will be describing the process by which self-concept is developed and maintained. Understanding the process in which self-concept is developed and maintained will assist both of you in relating and communicating with one another in an effective manner. This comes by the knowledge that we gain from the world, family, peers and others. Next, you will understand how perceptions, emotions, and nonverbal expressions affect interpersonal relationships. Not speaking to your mate or even showing nonverbal communication can be harmful to your marriage. What is your perception of your mate? Are you able to express your emotions effectively one to another? These are questions that should be meditated on and discussed with one another. Rebecca and Jessy, you must have a good self-concept of one another to maintain a healthy long-lasting relationship. You must be willing to compromise and be willing to change for the better, where the marriage is concerned. My first advice to you both i s to understand how perceptions, emotions and nonverbal expression affect interpersonal relationships. â€Å"You can improve interpersonal communication skills considerably, though, by paying attention to your own nonverbal behavior and those of the people with whom you interact† (Sole, 2011. Sec.5.4, Para 1). We have all heard â€Å"communication is the key in marriage,† and this proves to be true in many different concepts. Having effective communication is a key to build stronger and better in any relationship. A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. How is this achieved? It is important that interpersonal communication become the building blocks between both parties. This will highly effect how you interact with one another. It will also impact you listening and speaking skills. Marriage is a very important step and is not to be taken lightly but I am here to offer you some sound advice on how to an effective relationship before, during and after your wedding. The advice that I will offer will help make and maintain a strong healthy relationship. Marriage is a very important step and is not to be taken lightly but I am here to offer you Rebecca some sound advice on how to an effective relationship before, during and after your wedding. The advice that I will offer will help keep, make and maintain a strong healthy relationship. Even if a person walks aro und with his or her head down all day, it signals a message that maybe this person is sad or distraught. Interpersonal  communication is the exchange of messages between two people to create shared meaning (Sole, 2011). Effective interpersonal communication is shared meaning where all individuals involved come to a mutual understanding in the exchange of words or gestures Communication is important in developing and maintaining relationships. We communicate every day and learning how to effectively do so will strengthen your relationships both personally and professionally. We begin communicating from the time we are born. As we grow and mature so does our ability to communicate. Although communication can be challenging, understanding what communication is, how each of you communicate, the power of verbal and nonverbal expressions, the ability to listen, control emotions and understanding misconceptions, there are ways to make improvements for a healthier relationship. â€Å"The fact that we have been communicating all of our lives does not mean that we do it well†. (Sole, 2011). Before you enter into a new life as husband and wife, I will give you some words of wisdom to help you continue to grow as a couple, be able to communicate effectively and be able to overcome the storms that may come throughout your relationship. Although communication can be challenging, understanding what communication is, how each of you communicate, the power of verbal and nonverbal expressions, the ability to listen, control emotions and understanding misconceptions, there are ways to make improvements for a healt hier relationship. It is important to realize why we communicate. We communicate for a reason. The primary goal of communication is to share meaning and to connect with other people. Understanding these human needs and communication purposes is essential to success as a communicator. (Sole, 2011) There are many purposes for communicating. One of the most basic purposes is to meet personal needs. Humans are social animals; we need to interact with one another. Another purpose is to learn about yourself and others, this is a process that you must continue well into your relationship, I will provide you advice on how to do this. The most important purpose in your case is to build and maintain relationships. Effective communication is the glue that will hold your relationship. While communication has been defined as an exchange of words between two or more people, understanding that communication is more than that will give you both better insights on how to communicate. As Kathy Sole (2011) discusses â€Å"Communication is not simply the exchange of words and  information; it is the means through which we share knowledge, thoughts, ideas, and feelings with other people† (2011, p. xix). Indeed, understanding that communication is more than just words cause people to view it as a complete way to expression themselves. When sharing an expression of yourself to another, it ’s imperative to realize that you are trying to get someone to not only hear but grasp your thoughts. Now that you two have a better understanding of what communication means, it will allow you to conscientiously think about more than just the words but in fact realize. The biggest thing I want you to gain from this experience is the knowledge that communication can make or break your marriage, and to have a long, successful marriage, you must keep the lines of communication between each other open. I hope my insight below can give you guidance as you embark on this amazing journey to a happy life together. Self Concept: How it is Developed and Maintained: â€Å"Self concept is a complex mix of how we see ourselves, what others have told us about ourselves, and what society says we should be† (Sole, K. 2011, 2.1). This can include how you see yourself physically: hair color, eye color, height weight, etc, or it could include how you see yourself in terms of your social personality: whether you are introverted or extroverted, how you interact or meet new people. Your self concept is learned through your communication with other people and how you see yourself, but the good news is, you have the ability to change it if you do not like it. References (2012, 05). Letter of Advice Before You Wed.. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 05, 2012, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Letter-Of-Advice-Before-You-Wed- 990138.html Johnson, T. (2011, March). Healthy relationships lead to better lives. The Nation’s Health, 41(2), 20. Retrieved from the EBSCOhost database. Sole, K. (2011). Making Connections: Understanding Interpersonal Communication. San Diego, CA. Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Demand & Supply , Examine the Argument in Favour & Against Minimum Wage Law in Uk

* BUSINESS DECISION ANALYSIS* * London* *School*of Accountancy & Management Course Instructor: Prof. Armaan Nehal. N. Panchasara (ID no: ST0005944) Masters of Business Administration Assignment: A * (Using Demand & Supply: examine the arguments in favour & against minimum wage law in UK*) * *Total words: 1,402 Demand It refers to the willingness and ability of buyers to purchase goods and services at different prices. Supply It refers to the willingness and ability of sellers to provide goods and services for sale at different prices What* *is minimum wage? A minimum wage is the lowest monthly, daily or hourly that employers may legally pay to their employees or workers. Or in other words, it can be explained as the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. What is minimum wage law in U. K? A National Minimum Wage (NMW) was introduced for the first time by the Labour government of UK on 1 April 1999, and it’s been practiced hence fore. The current minimum wage of UK* as per October 2009 Demand curve of labour: It is assumed that the higher the wage, the fewer hours an employer will demand of an employee. This is because, as the wage rate rises, it becomes more expensive for firms to hire workers and so firms hire fewer workers. The demand of labour curve is therefore shown as a line moving down and to the right. {draw:frame} Supply curve of labour: It is assumed that workers are t o ready labour for more hours if wages are high. Graphical economic representation of this relationship is plotted as the wage on the vertical axis and the quantity (hours) of labour supplied on the horizontal axis. Since increase in wages, increase the quantity supplied, the supply of labour curve is upward sloping, and is shown as a line moving up and to the right. {draw:frame} Effect of Minimum wage law on demand & supply: {draw:frame} Nearly all introductory textbooks on study of economics, it states, increasing the minimum wage decreases the employment of minimum-wage workers. More such textbook says: â€Å"If a higher minimum wage increases the wage rates of unskilled employees above the level that would be established by market forces, the quantity of employment for unskilled workers will fall. The minimum wage will price the services of the lowest productive (and therefore lowest-wage) workers out of the market. †¦ The direct results of minimum wage are clearly mixed. Some workers, mostly those whose previous wages were closest to the minimum, will enjoy higher wages. Other, particularly those with the lowest wage rates, will be unable to find work. They will be pushed into the ranks of the unemployed. If there is rise in the level of minimum wage, then there is rise in level of unemployment, because if the minimum wage is increased the demand for labour falls as it is less profitable for the firms to employ as many people. It is assumed that higher the wages, the fewer hours an employer will demand of an employee, as the wage rate rises, it becomes more expensive for firm to hire workers and so firms hire fewer workers. The demand of labour curve is therefore shown as a line moving down and to the right. While merging the demand and supply curves of labour, we can examine the effect of minimum wage. Assuming that supply and demand curves for labour will not change as a result of raising the minimum wage. If no minimum wage is in the place, workers and employers will continue to adjust the quantity of labour supplied according to price until the quantity labour demanded is equal to the quantity of labour supplied, i. e. reaching Equilibrium price, where demand and supply curves intersect. As shown in above graph. Arguments in Favour of Minimum wage law: Motivates and encourages employee to work more efficiently. By increasing incomes for the lowest-paid workers, the cost of government social welfare decreases. Stimulates consumption of low-income people by putting more money in their hands that spend their entire pay checks. Does not have a substantial effect on unemployment compared to most other economic factors and so it does not put any extra pressure on welfare systems. According to Historical evidence it is noticed at current levels, that it neither hurts businesses nor reduces job creation. A study of U. K. tates showed that businesses' average and annual payrolls grow faster and employment grew at a faster rate in UK with a minimum wage imposed, the study showed a correlation, but did not prove causation to claim. Increases the work ethic for those who earn very little, as employers demand more return from the higher cost of hiring these workers. Arguments in Against the Minimum wage law: Discourages further education among the poor by encourage people to enter the job market. The National Minimum Wage had a negative impact on the staffing levels within our retail stores. The stores are operating for fewer hours as compared to they were several years ago in order to absorb the impact of the strong increases. Businesses spend fewer amounts on training their employees. Reduces profit margins of business owners as employing minimum wage workers, thus it encouraged to move to businesses that do not employ low-skill workers. Businesses try to compensate their effects by raising the prices of the goods being sold thus it caused inflation and increasing the costs of goods and services produced. Does not improve the situation of those who suffer from poverty, it benefited some at the expense of the poorest and least productive. It gave a limitation on the freedom of both employers and employees, and can result in the exclusion of certain groups from the labour force. As a labour market is parallel of political-economic protectionism, it excludes low cost competitors from labour markets, hampers firms in reducing wage costs during trade downturns, and generates various industrial-economic inefficiencies as well as unemployment, poverty, and price rises, and generally impairment of functions. Reduction in quantity demanded of workers, either through reduces in the number of hours worked by individuals, or through reduces in the number of jobs. A NMW set above the free-market wage for certain groups raises the marginal cost of employing people – so firms will cut jobs, reduce hours of work for employees and unemployment will rise. Other workers will demand higher wages to maintain pay differentials (this is known as â€Å"pay leap-forging†). An increase in the total wage bill may cause cost-push inflation and damage the price competitiveness of UK producers in international markets. Young and low-skilled workers will lose out – firms will tend to employ older workers whose experience is greater. There will be a substitution effect of works against younger participants in the labour market. A minimum wage will not ease poverty because many poor households do not have a income earner. Poverty is concentrated in those groups where no one is in paid employment. A minimum wage has little direct effect on these households – better to introduce a minimum income guarantee. A NMW does not take into account regional differences in cost of living and will have a effect of distortion on the way the UK labour market works. Effects of minimum wage law: Effects on the distribution of wages and earnings among low-paid and higher-paid workers. Effects on the distribution of incomes among high-income and low-income families. Effects on the skills of workers through job trainings and the deferring work to acquire education. Effects on profits and prices. Employment effects, the most frequently studied aspect Conclusion Since the introduction of a national minimum wage in the UK in 1999, its effects on employment were subject to extensive research and observation by the Low Pay Commission. The Low Pay Commission found that, rather than make employees redundant, employers have reduced their rate of hiring, reduced staff hours, increased prices, and have found ways to cause current workers to be more productive (especially service companies). Neither trade unions nor employer organizations contest the minimum wage, although the latter had especially done so heavily until 1999. References: Abowd, John M. , Francis Kramarz, David N. Margolis and Thomas Philippon (2000), â€Å"A Tail of Two Countries: Minimum Wages and Employment in France and the United States†, mimeo, CREST, Paris, September. Angriest, Joshua and Alan Krueger (1999), â€Å"Empirical Strategies in Labour Economics†, in O. Ashenfelter and D. Card (eds. ), Handbook of Labour Economics,